BusinessMirror December 10, 2020 by BusinessMirror

Covid-19 foreign loans, grants hit $10.61B By Bernadette D. Nicolas

he government has so far secured $10.61 billion (or roughly P510 billion) in loans and grants from foreign lenders, boosting the state’s war chest against the Covid-19 pandemic. Based on the updated list of the country’s financing agreements on Covid-19 response as of November 23, $9.97 billion in budgetary support financing was already raised by the Department of Finance from various foreign lenders, including the proceeds from the sale of $2.35-billion dollar-denominated global bonds. Of this $9.97 billion in budgetary support financing, $8.02 billion has already been disbursed to the government.

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Meanwhile, a total of $641.36 million in grant and loan financing has been provided in support of various projects to be implemented by agencies involved in Covid-19 response. According to the list, 10 of the financing agreements are with Asian Development Bank, seven are with World Bank, three with Japan, two with Agence Française de Développement, one with China-led Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank and one with ExportImport Bank of Korea-Economic Development Cooperation Fund. In a related development, the Department of Budget and Management (DBM) has so far released P489.09 billion for the government’s fight against the Covid-19 pandemic. According to the latest report of

DBM on Wednesday, it has so far released P96.36 billion under Bayanihan to Recover As One Act (Bayanihan 2), which is set to expire on December 19. Broken down, the DBM said releases under Bayanihan 2 have already amounted to P93.32 billion or 66.66 percent of the P140-billion allocation. The remaining P3.04 billion was sourced from regular funds under the 2020 national budget pursuant to Bayanihan 2. The budget department issued Special Allotment Release Orders (SAROs) to 16 departments and agencies. SAROs are issued by the DBM to authorize agencies to incur obligations not exceeding a given amount during a specified period for the purpose indicated. Apart from the P96.36 billion re-

leased under Bayanihan 2, the government has also disbursed P386.14 billion released by the government under Bayanihan 1 and P6.589 billion under Post-Bayanihan 1. Budget Secretary Wendel E. Avisado earlier said government agencies only need to properly obligate Bayanihan 2 funds so they will be able to use it even beyond December. Properly obligating funds means that concerned agencies must present the Notice of Award and Notice to Proceed as the basis of the said obligation of the Bayanihan 2 fund, according to Avisado. Unobligated Bayanihan 2 budgets will automatically revert to the Bureau of the Treasury after Bayanihan 2 expires, he said.

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Thursday, December 10, 2020 Vol. 16 No. 63

P25.00 nationwide | 2 sections 20 pages | 7 DAYS A WEEK

2021 NATIONAL BUDGET By Jovee Marie N. Dela Cruz

SLOWING DOWN A man in Pasay City takes a break from his chores. The latest Philippine Economic Update released by the World Bank on Tuesday indicated that more than 2 million Filipinos may have joined the ranks of the poor this year as quarantine restrictions reduced household income. World Bank senior economist Rong Qian said the Covid-19 pandemic is expected to slow down the pace of poverty reduction. NONIE REYES

HE Senate and the House of Representatives on Wednesday ratified the committee report on the proposed P4.5-trillion national budget for 2021, which includes the funding for healthcare and economic recovery.

By Butch Fernandez

The committee report was ratified after the bicameral conference committee on the 2021 General Appropriations Act (GAA) approved the budget bill also on Wednesday. It took the panel—led by Sen. Juan Edgardo Angara for the Senate and Rep. Eric Yap for the House of Representatives—just six minutes to convene and approve their reconciled version, following lengthy deliberations. The Senate, ending extended interpellations on the bicameral report endorsing the final reconciled version of the 2021 national budget, voted to adopt and ratify the committee report, paving the way for its submission to Malacañang for signing into law by President Duterte, averting the need for government to operate under the 2020 budget by January. Continued on A2

PANDEMIC, FLAWED RESPONSE DEEPENED INEQUALITY–STUDY By Cai U. Ordinario

HE pandemic and the government’s failure to reach marginalized communities worsened inequality in the country this year, according to a study released by the University of the Philippines Center for Integrative and Development Studies Program on Alternative Development (UP-CIDS AltDev). In an e-mail to the BusinessMirror, UP-CIDS AltDev Convenor Eduardo C. Tadem said the country’s Gini coefficient, a measure of inequality, likely increased this year given the rise in poverty and joblessness. Tadem noted that 40 percent of the labor force has resorted to tak-

Poe pitches OK of tough AMLA to avert ‘grey list'

ing on part-time work, while 30.7 percent of Filipinos experienced hunger this year. Many micro, small and medium industries have also decided to close. “Although there are no official figures on Philippine inequality due to the Covid-19 pandemic, I am certain that the Gini Index has worsened,” Tadem said in an e-mail. “[Amid rising poverty and hunger], the big players have been raking it in and the millionaires and billionaires have increased their net worth.” Tadem also warned that if the government will not prioritize the poor and marginalized communities in its vaccine distribution program, existing inequalities could worsen. See “Inequality,” A2

TADEM: “If the government does not ensure that it prioritizes the poor and marginalized with free or subsidized care, it will follow that only the rich and privileged will get vaccinated first. The existing inequalities that exist in health care in the country will thus be exacerbated.” CIDS.UP.EDU.PH

EN. Grace Poe, warning against international backlash, pressed lawmakers on Wednesday to frontload passage of remedial legislation imposing tougher sanctions against moneylaundering activities, or risk landing on the international Financial Action Task Force “grey list.” “Before us is an important measure that requires our immediate attention,” Poe pleaded, reminding senators that “we are implored to immediately act on it by the Asia Pacific Group on Money Laundering, as a form of national economic emergency, due to the very serious economic costs arising from noncompliance.” In Senate plenary deliberations, Poe pointed out that the remedial legislation seeks to further amend the Anti-Money Laundering Act of 2001 following the “key findings of the mutual evaluation report or MER which evaluated our compliance with the 40 recommendations of the Financial Action Task Force (FATF) on Money Laundering.” She warned that failure to act on the findings would land the Philippines on a so-called “grey list” of noncompliant countries. “If we fail to act now, the FATF ICRG Asia Pacific Joint Group or APJG will place the Philippines on the so-called ‘grey list’, along with countries like Albania, Pakistan, Panama, Syria, Uganda and Zimbabwe, to name just a few,” said Poe. She added that “being on this list is a very strong signal to market participants and regulators globally,” noting that it has “implications which we must avoid as much as we can, especially during the time of a global pandemic.” See “Grey List,” A2

PESO EXCHANGE RATES n US 48.0710

n JAPAN 0.4616 n UK 64.2084 n HK 6.2018 n CHINA 7.3591 n SINGAPORE 35.9410 n AUSTRALIA 35.6254 n EU 58.1899 n SAUDI ARABIA 12.8145

Source: BSP (December 9, 2020)

News BusinessMirror

A2 Thursday, December 10, 2020

Inequality… Continued from A1 “If the government does not ensure that it prioritizes the poor and marginalized with free or subsidized care, it will follow that only the rich and privileged will get vaccinated first. The existing inequalities that exist in health care in the country will thus be exacerbated,” he said.

On the ground

IN a briefing on Wednesday, Mina Justo, an officer of the Alyansa ng mga Samahan sa Sitio Mendez, Baesa Homeowners Association Inc. (Asamba), said they received insufficient help from the government. This forced Asamba to shell out funds to help the community. They gave two rounds of ayuda in the form of rice, sardines, eggs and noodles for the 345 Asamba family members. However, the ayuda did not include those members of their community who were just renting. So when the government’s ayuda arrived, Asamba had to prioritize these renters and provided additional ayuda because the government’s help was not enough. In far-flung areas such as those belonging to the Ayta Mag-indi Community in Porac, Pampanga, the help extended to the Aeta community was also not enough. The ayuda from the local government covered just 20 families. The community had to divide the assistance to as many as 250 families. In this community, out of 950 families qualified for the Social Amelioration Program (SAP), only 417 received assistance from the government. The insufficient help received is a common story among marginalized communities. “It is very difficult for us to keep on waiting and thinking of how and where we can get food because that is the most important. We cannot fight our hunger pangs,” Rowena Osal, a representative of Maigting na Samahan ng mga Panlipunang Negosyante ng Towerville Inc., said in Filipino in a briefing on Wednesday. Apart from food and other basic needs, some 5,000 students in Lumad and Bakwit Schools were marginalized. Rose Hayahay, a volunteer teacher in the Save Our Schools Network, said 178 Lumad schools are closed in Mindanao. Marivic Atacador, President of Bantay Kalusugang Pampamayanan (BKP) in San Jose del Monte, Bulacan, said their group has continued monitoring their community members’ health. They also sought to spread accurate information on Covid-19—all despite many BKP members and their families getting reduced pay or losing their day jobs. These stories were included in the UP-CIDS AltDev study titled “Marginalized Societies and the State in the Time of Pandemic: The Philippine Case,” commissioned by the United Nations Economic, Social and Cultural Organization (Unesco). Researchers spoke to Ayta MagIndi Indigenous People, Lumad “Bakwit” School teaching staff, an urban poor community, a women’s social enterprise cooperative, and a community health workers’ group to understand the unique ways in which the pandemic and lockdowns have affected the country’s most vulnerable. “There is much more that can be done to address the health crisis. It will take a major rethinking of fundamental principles of governance and paradigm resetting for the situation to dramatically improve. What is essential is for the whole of society to work together,” Tadem and UP College of Social Work and Community Development’s Karl Arvin Hapal said in a think piece.

UP-CIDS recommendations

THE UP-CIDS AltDev made eight policy recommendations, such as adopting a whole-of-society approach rather than a whole-of-government approach in addressing the inequalities created by the pandemic. They recommended crafting a concrete masterplan to address the continued rise of Covid-19 cases, as well as restructure and reorganize the management system of the health crisis. The study also recommended: addressing the reliability of data on the pandemic; refraining from incurring more debts and cancelling the existing ones; and enacting a wealth tax on the richest Filipinos to raise Covid-19 measures. It said the agriculture sector must be rescued by extending subsidies and repealing the Rice Trade Liberalization law, writing off amortization payments for agrarian reform beneficiaries, imposing a moratorium on farmers’ debt payments, among others. It advocated economic measures to benefit the working class, such as providing hazard pay at double or triple the regular rate; providing wage amelioration, cash assistance and unemployment insurance; promoting green jobs; and extending a one-time P500,000 grant to micro, small and medium enterprises in exchange for keeping their employees, among others.

www.businessmirror.com.ph

Lopez pins hopes on further easing of quarantine curbs

By Elijah Felice Rosales

RADE Secretary Ramon M. Lopez on Wednesday said he anticipates the government to relax quarantine restrictions in Metro Manila by January to allow several sectors, mostly in entertainment, to resume operations.

In a text message to reporters, Lopez confirmed he tested positive for Covid-19 as assessed by his swab taken on Sunday. He said he was exposed to a virus carrier Tuesday of last week, but opted to keep quiet on which activity he interacted with this person. Further, Lopez said he is asymptomatic and is on isolation as of writing, as he participated in a series of engagements on Tuesday through video conferencing. Among those was a news briefing with Cabinet Secretary Karlo Alexei B. Nograles, where Lopez said he expects the quarantine level in Metro Manila will be relaxed by January. The government may lift quarantine restrictions in the nation’s capital should Covid-19 figures in the re-

gion improve in this holiday season, the DTI chief said. “With the continuing good numbers in Metro Manila, we are hoping that by January, there would be a likelihood that we are in MGCQ [modified general community quarantine],” Lopez said. Metro Manila stays under general community quarantine (GCQ) until the end of the year as per President Duterte’s order. Although most of business establishments are permitted to operate in GCQ areas, activities in the entertainment sector remain to be prohibited. Should Metro Manila transition to MGCQ by January, then it will celebrate the new year with its cinemas, theaters and tourist spots opened on limited capacity.

Minors, seniors

LIKEWISE, Lopez said the government may need to study its policy prohibiting minors and senior citizens from going outside their houses. He argued this restriction should be reviewed for lifting so as to restore consumer confidence and increase demand for goods. “Consumer confidence will create demand, demand will create production, production will create jobs,” the trade chief explained. The World Bank on Tuesday reported 3 million Filipinos may sink into poverty by the end of the year, as millions of breadwinners were left without jobs by the pandemic. Poverty incidence then is seen to jump to 22.6 percent this year,

from 20.5 percent last year, according to projections by the Washington-based lender. Based on the Labor Force Survey, unemployment rate in October worsened to 8.7 percent, from 4.6 percent in the same month last year, translating to at least 3.8 million Filipinos without a livelihood in a recession. As much as the economy needs a boost, the government is hindered in reopening the economy to full capacity by the threats of a surge in Covid-19 cases. The Philippines is nearing 450,000 cases and 9,000 deaths, and the government is only expected to vaccinate people around first quarter of next year.

SENATE, HOUSE RATIFY 2021 NATIONAL BUDGET Continued from A1

Speaker Lord Allan Velasco said the enrolled bill on the budget will be forwarded to Malacañang next week for President Duterte’s signature. “This budget reflects the serious commitment of the Duterte government to defeat Covid-19 and bring the economy back on track,” Velasco said. Speedy approval ensures the nation will not have to live with a reenacted budget in early 2021, and ramps up government response to the continuing Covid-19 pandemic and the required boost to an economy hammered by the virus-induced lockdowns. Administration Senator Christopher Go assured Wednesday adequate funding had been set aside in the Senate version of the 2021 national budget bill, ensuring, Go said, the “smooth rollout of Covid-19 vaccines once these are deemed safe and effective.” Go, sitting as vice chairman of the Senate Finance Committee, expects lawmakers to ratify the final reconciled version of the Senate-House 2021 budget bill before adjourning for a recess on December 18, averting the prospect of government operating on a reenacted 2020 budget by January. He expressed confidence that “legislators are set to ratify a new budget for 2021 through a General Appropriations Act that is sufficient and responsive to the needs of the country and the Filipinos.” As chairman of the Senate Committee on Health and Demography, Go also vowed to ensure “there will be adequate funding for the procurement of Covid-19 vaccines, as well as other health-related priority items, such as enhancements of health facilities nationwide.” He recalled that Budget Secretary Wendel Avisado had earlier disclosed the Duterte government’s readiness to “spend more than P73 billion in order to vaccinate half of the population or 60 million Filipinos.” Asked to elaborate, the sena-

tor said the necessary funding shall be included in the budget even as he clarified that the government will also explore other procurement options from domestic and bilateral sources, multilateral bodies like the World Bank and Asian Development Bank, and through the help of the private sector. “As I am in the Senate, we will help President Duterte look for funding sources,” said Go, adding: “It could be government-to-government, may be loan from World Bank or Asian Development Bank or a tripartite agreement with business groups. What is important is we can buy in timely fashion and help each Filipino get back on the path to normalcy.” He recalled the Department of Health was also directed by the President to “negotiate a series of bilateral agreements with other countries to help ensure smooth and sufficient rollout of vaccines.” Go reiterated President Duterte’s desire to prioritize and provide free access to the poor and the vulnerable, as well as frontliners, such as medical workers, teachers and uniformed personnel, once a vaccine is deemed safe and effective. Go confirmed he shares Duterte’s willingness to be vaccinated in order to raise public confidence in the safety and efficacy of the vaccine, reiterating his challenge to Secretary of Health Francisco T. Duque III and vaccine czar Secretary Carlito G. Galvez Jr. to also be injected first to allay public fear of injections.

Economic relief

HOUSE Committee on Appropriations Senior Vice Chairman Joey Sarte Salceda said the “ball will be in the President’s court early, so there is almost no risk that we will face a delayed budget enactment this year. That can only mean well for 2021 economic recovery.” With the passage of the national budget, Salceda, a member of the bicam, said the country can now focus on economic relief and the Covid-19 vaccine rollout. “The early passage of the 2021 GAA, along with the expected adoption of CREATE by the House later [Wednesday], will be strong foundations of our 2021 bounceback. With these reforms done, we can focus on economic relief and the vaccine rollout,” Salceda added. With the theme of “Reset, Rebound and Recover: Investing for Resiliency and Sustainability,” the 2021

expenditure plan is higher than this year’s budget by 9.9 percent and equivalent to 21.8 percent of GDP. Meanwhile, the top 10 agencies with the biggest allocation under proposed 2021 budget are: Education sector with P708 billion; Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) with P694.8 billion; the Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) with P247 billion; the Department of National Defense (DND) with P205 billion; the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) with P176.6 billion; the Department of Health (DOH) with P134 billion; the Department of Transportation (DOTr) with P87.4 billion; the Department of Agriculture with P68.6 billion; the Judiciary with P44.1 billion; and the Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE) with P36.6 billion.

Infra spending

SALCEDA said that the budget reflected an around P300 billion increase in infrastructure that he sought from the economic managers during the early days of the Covid-19 crisis. “I had conversations with the economic managers. We came up with four agreements. First was an increase for infra spending by around P275 billion. That materialized. Second, the rollout of credit measures that will activate P551 billion in credit stimulus. Third, to set 9 percent as the growth target for 2021. And fourth, to have a third or even fourth stimulus package,” Salceda said. “This was a conversation we had in April. In retrospect, that conversation was prescient. Government should have been more aggressive with encouraging credit and bridging borrowers with lenders. We should still push for another round of economic relief. And we should not concede the growth targets for next year,” Salceda added. Apart from P1.1 trillion for infrastructure, Salceda said the 2021 budget also includes P7.6 billion in additional spending for adapting to the post-Covid life, including items on telecommunications enhancements. The budget also includes P203 billion for health care. The annual appropriations also include P72.5 billion for Covid-19 vaccines. Meanwhile, the two Houses are planning to extend the implementation of Bayanihan to Recover As One Act, which provides P10 billion for Covid-19 vaccines. Yap, who is chairman of the House Committee on Appropriations, said the bicameral conference committee approved several changes introduced by the House. These include additional funding of P44.8 billion for the “Build, Build,

Build” program under the DPWH; and P2 billion for the procurement of personal protective equipment or PPE, P434.4 million for the Health Facilities Enhancement Program, P462 million for the Medical Health Assistance Program, and P100 million for mental health program, all under the DOH. Yap said the DOLE also received a budget augmentation of P3.177 billion, majority of which is for the Office of the Secretary’s Tulong Panghanapbuhay sa Ating Disadvantaged or Displaced Workers Program, or TUPAD. He said the bicam also increased the budget for Livelihood and Emergency Employment Program and the Government Internship Program by P5.09 billion, bringing its total to P19 billion. The bicam also allotted P1.6 billion to the DSWD for its alternative family care program, which is designed to provide protective services for individuals, families and communities in difficult circumstances.

Deficit management

SALCEDA said the 2021 budget deficit is expected to be at 8.5 percent of GDP, saying, however, this can still be narrowed. “The actual budget deficit ultimately depends upon how fast we spend, how quickly the economy recovers, and how well we collect revenues. We cannot slow down spending during the recovery. It is vital that we spend quickly. But, we can make collection more efficient,” he said. “As chair of the House tax committee, I will continue to exercise oversight of the Department of Finance and the revenue agencies. Our partnership has been extremely successful. My term as Ways and Means chair is likely to come down as having passed the most revenue-raising laws in the history of the Fifth Republic. The revenue agencies have also posted all-time highs last year, and are continuously beating their revised revenue targets despite the pandemic,” he added. The lawmaker also assured that his committee has measures worth P651 billion in revenue-raising potential that could be enacted immediately but imposed post-2022. “We can postpone the effectivity of new revenue measures to after the recovery, but I am confident that these will be priced into our credit ratings nonetheless. So, we should be fine,” Salceda remarked. “The trap is to think that once life resumes normalcy in 2021, we should return to some austerity. I disagree. We will expand fiscal space, but we will continue to spend on public goods for the people,” Salceda added.

With Butch Fernandez

Grey list… Continued from A1

For instance, Poe warned that other member-countries and the whole of the European Union will impose an “enhanced due diligence” or EDD on Filipino nationals and businesses that transact within their channels, adding that “this will result in additional cost, paperwork, higher interest rates and processing fees” for Filipinos doing business within the jurisdiction of the European Union. The EDD will also affect numerous overseas Filipino workers, as it would translate to a higher cost of remittance from them. “Hardearned money that could have been used to spend for their families will just go to higher remittance fees,” Poe said, in Filipino. To make matters worse, the Philippines will incur a “reputational risk” that would certainly result in reduced investor and lender confidence, Poe said, adding: “We can only imagine the domino effect that this would trigger to all of our local industries.” She added: “All of these things will be a major setback in our efforts to achieve an ‘A’ credit rating before 2022. This is a scenario that we have to steer away from.” Poe then asked to be allowed to briefly explain to the body the salient features of the measure which, she said, were expertly reviewed and improved with the help of all stakeholders, and fellow Senators Frank Drilon, Imee Marcos, Cynthia Villar, Sherwin Gatchalian and Senate President Pro Tempore Ralph Recto, who participated in the committee hearing. First, she said, the mutual evaluation report seeks to “include real-estate developers and brokers as covered persons because of the fact that real-estate activities are widely used as a front for money laundering and terrorism financing all over the world.” Thus, Poe said, the panel members included real-estate developers and brokers on the list of covered persons when they engage in a single cash transaction in excess of P5 million or its equivalent in any other currency. “To clarify the coverage of Internet-based casinos, we also expressly specified the coverage of offshore gaming operators and their service providers,” she added. “Second, we included the commission of tax crimes and violation of the Strategic Trade Management Act, which relates to the proliferation of weapons of mass destruction and its financing, as predicate offenses to money laundering,” said Poe. She added: “Third, we improved the functions of the AMLC by (1) enhancing its investigative powers through express powers of deputization, power to apply for search warrant, and power to obtain information on ultimate beneficial ownership; (2) authorizing it to implement targeted financial sanctions on proliferation financing; (3) authorizing it to preserve, manage or dispose assets subject of asset preservation order and judgement forfeiture; and (4) prohibiting the issuance of injunctive relief against freeze orders and forfeiture proceedings under its jurisdiction.” She further clarified that for purposes of providing clarity as to the scope and applicability, this measure includes a definition of the terms “proliferation financing”, “offshore gaming operator”, “service providers”, “real estate broker”, “real estate developer”, and “targeted financial sanctions”. Poe particularly thanked Drilon and his team “for generous contributions during the drafting of this bill. His invaluable assistance is truly instrumental in the realization of our collective goal to make the Philippines a true global partner against money laundering.”

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Banking&Finance BusinessMirror

RCBC registers ₧1.58B new-account deposits

izal Commercial Banking Corp. (RCBC) registered P1.58-billion worth of new accounts from its recently launched deposit account, crediting it to competitive interest rates. In a statement last Wednesday, the Yuchengco-led bank said that RCBC OneAccount has already 7,671 accounts on its database, almost half of which are new-tobank clients. Shares in RCBC inched up by 0.84 percent, or 16 centavos, to close at P19.20 each amid the 1.40-percent drop for the benchmark index on Wednesday. RCBC said that the “warm reception” to the new deposit feature was due to its interest rate of 0.15 percent to 1.625 percent, which is 10 times more than the regular accounts. The shift to digital also supported the bank’s acquisition of new clients because RCBC One Account made the account opening process more accessible. “Clients need not open several accounts as all their financial needs will be covered by one single account,” RCBC said. “This provides them simplicity wherein they can choose features that are suitable to their lifestyle.” To recall, the listed bank introduced RCBC OneAccount in June to expand its deposit-taking activities and to provide better banking experience for the customers.

It offers savings, checking and time deposit features in a single deposit account. Clients can also avail of optional benefits, including life insurance, personal accident insurance and waived withdrawal fee should the account holder meet the required average daily balance. In November, t he ba n k launched RCBC Touch, which is a web-based platform allowing an end-to-end digital onboarding process for any type of deposit account. The digital channel features a complete suite of services. It incorporates an electronic Know Your Customer function which captures and validates both customer data and identification real-time. To open an account, RCBC is requiring one valid government-issued ID and a Philippine mobile number. RCBC reported that its net income in the first nine months dropped by 11.3 percent to P4 billion from P4.5 billion year-onyear due to increasing provisions for potential credit losses. As of end-September, the bank recorded provisions for nonperforming loans amounting to P7.22 billion, which is 38.6 percent higher than last year’s P5.21 billion. This, as its loan portfolio—net of interbank loans—rose by 8.6 percent year-on-year to P445.23 billion in the first nine months. Tyrone Jasper C. Piad

Thursday, December 10, 2020 A3

Coconut farmers’ trust fund bill approved on 2nd reading

By Jovee Marie N. dela Cruz

@joveemarie

he House of Representatives on Wednesday approved on second reading the Duterte administration’s priority measure creating the Coconut Farmers and Industry Trust Fund (CITF). Voting through viva voce, lawmakers passed the House Bill 8136 or the Coconut Farmers and Industry Trust Fund Act. The bill seeks to consolidate all assets and benefits emanating from the coconut levy, and creating a Trust Fund, to be used to rehabilitate and modernize the coconut industry for the ultimate benefit of coconut farmers and farmworkers. House Committee on Agriculture and Food Chairman Wilfrido Mark M. Enverga said the utilization of the Trust Fund created under this proposal shall be in accordance with the Coconut Farmers and Industry Development Plan. Enverga, who sponsored the bill, added that the plan shall be prepared by the Philippine Coconut Authority (PCA), in consultation with all the stakeholders concerned, and approved by the President of the Philippines. He said the plan shall be subject to mandatory annual review. The lawmaker said under the bill, the

plan shall set the directions and policies for the development and rehabilitation of the coconut industry within 99 years. “[This will be] guided by the following objectives: to increase incomes of coconut farmers; to alleviate poverty and promote social equity; and to rehabilitate and modernize the coconut industry towards farm productivity,” he said. Enverga added that Congress must first provide a law for the disbursements of the funds, in line with its constitutional authority. He said the absence of a legislative authority in the disbursement of public funds would render the funds idle and no income can be derived from it. “And the farmers are deprived of the help they most need, especially during this most difficult time.” Citing the the Bureau of Treasury, Enverga said the cash component of coco levy assets now stand at P76.4 billion as of December. Also, citing Presidential Commission on Good Government, the lawmaker

said the coco levy assets, including its properties, is now at P300 billion. The bill directs the PCA to submit the development plan to the Office of the President within 120 days from the effectivity of this Act, and complete the Coconut Farmers Registry. Under the bill, the annual utilization of the trust fund includes: 10 percent for shared facilities program; 10 percent for farm improvement through diversification and/or intercropping such as projects on livestock, dairy, poultry, coffee, and cacao production; and, 10 percent for development of hybrid coconut seed farms and nurseries, to encourage selfsufficiency. The bill also allocates the 10 percent of the trust fund for empowerment of coconut farmer organizations such as scholarship program; 10 percent for Health and medical program and; and, 10 percent for their cooperatives. It also provides the following: 10 percent for credit provision through the Development Bank of the Philippines and Land Bank of the Philippines; 10 percent for infrastructure development; 10 percent for training of farmers in farm schools through the Technological Education and Skills Development Authority (Tesda); and, 10 percent for planting and replanting. The bill, meanwhile, reconstitutes the Philippine Coconut Authority to ensure the participation of coconut farmers in the crafting and implementation

of the Plan. Under the bill, the PCA Board shall now be composed of the following: the Agriculture Secretary as chairman; the Finance Secretary as vice chairman; the Budget and Management Secretary; the Science and Technology Secretary; and, the Trade and Industry Secretary. Three representatives from the coconut farmers sector—one each from Luzon, Visayas, and Mindanao—and one representative from the coconut industry sector would also be included in the PCA board. The bill also creates the Coconut Levy Advisory Board, which shall be composed of representatives from the coconut farmers and their organizations, industry associations, civil society organizations, academe, and other stakeholders in the coconut industry. The measure also directs all government agencies holding Coconut Levy Funds and/or assets to transfer any and all monies to the Trust Fund within a period not exceeding five years from the effectivity of this proposal. Immediately upon the enactment of this proposal, the Bureau of the Treasury shall transfer P5 billion to a separate Trust Fund Account. It also provides that an initial allocation of P5 billion shall be available to the PCA, which shall include disbursements for the formulation of plan. However, any unexpended portion of the said fund by the end of each year shall revert to the Trust Fund.

The Nation BusinessMirror

A4 Thursday, December 10, 2020 • Editor: Vittorio V. Vitug

Disasters, conflicts displace close to a million Pinoys in H1–IDMC By Cai U. Ordinario @caiordinario

EARLY a million Filipinos were displaced due to conflict and violence as well as disasters as of the first half of this year, according to Switzerland-based International Displacement Monitoring Center (IDMC). In its mid-year update, the IDMC said there were 66,000 new displacements associated with conflict and violence and as much as 811,000 Filipinos displaced due to disasters. The number of people displaced due to disasters placed the Philippines in the top 3 globally for the most number of disaster-related displacements this year. “The eruption of the Taal Volcano in January triggered about 60 percent of the new displacements recorded in the Philippines in the

first half of 2020,” IDMC said. “The eruption, which lasted for two weeks, led to 506,000 evacuations in all.” Apart from Taal Volcano, Typhoon Vongfong, known locally as Ambo, which hit the country at the height of the lockdowns, forced 300,000 Filipinos out of their homes. The typhoon, the first for the year, also destroyed over 8,000 homes. In terms of conflict, IDMC said, clashes between the military and various armed groups, including the New People’s Army and the ISinspired Abu Sayyaf, have also forced thousands out of their homes. “The Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao was established in early 2019 and has the potential to reduce tensions, but the situation remains fragile,” IDMC said. “The Covid-19 pandemic also triggered around 200 displacements

when people in Lanao del Sur were forced to leave their homes in May because they had violated quarantine protocols,” it added. Historically, the Philippines is included in the top 10 countries with the highest average number of flood and storm displacements in the world. Data between 1980 and 2019 showed that flood-induced displacements in the country were the highest during February, June, August, and January. For displacements caused by disasters, IDMC data showed the highest was in December, November and July. In September, IDMC reported that over 4 million Filipinos were displaced from their homes as an aftermath of armed conflicts and natural disasters in 2019, making the Philippines the country with the

By Jovee Marie N. Dela Cruz @joveemarie

AISING the number of deputy speakers to 28—the highest number of lawmakers holding such a position in the history of the House of Representatives—only means additional budget allocation next year, according to political analysts. Last Monday, House Speaker Lord Allan Velasco administered the oath of office of newly elected deputy speakers, namely, Reps. Arnulfo Teves Jr. (Negros Oriental), Juan Pablo Bondoc (Pampanga), Eric Martinez (Valenzuela City), and Weslie Gatchalian (Valenzuela City). The plenary also elected last

Monday Rep. Bernadette Herrera of Bagong Henerasyon, Rep. Kristine Singson Meehan of Ilocos, Rep. Divina Grace Yu of Zamboanga del Sur, Rep. Rogelio Pacquiao of Sarangani and Rep. Bienvenido Abante Jr. of Manila as new deputy speakers. The common denominator among these lawmakers? They are allies of Speaker Velasco. The election of these lawmakers made the total number of deputy speakers to 28. Some of the perks being enjoyed by deputy speakers are additional budget for their offices and they are automatically become ex-officio members of all House committees, meaning they have voting powers. Political analyst Ramon Casiple

described the election of new deputy speakers as “very partisan move.” “It’s a very partisan move. Nothing much was done, it was just a split of fund,” Casiple noted. Aside from the regular office budget, UP Political Science Assistant Professor Jean Franco has earlier said deputy speakers will have additional budget and additional staff for their offices at the Batasan Pambansa Complex in Quezon City, as well as their district offices. In 2017, the Commission on Audit reported that Congress has spent a total of P4.8 billion for all lawmakers. Meanwhile, other deputy speakers include Rep. Salvador Leachon of Oriental Mindoro, Rep. Ferdinand

Let NBI probe Manguerra’s death, DOJ’s Guevarra says

second-highest internal displacement count in the world and highest in the East Asia and the Pacific region in that year. The center issued the report just before the Philippines marked the September 26 anniversary of Typhoon Ondoy, which dumped record rainfall in just a few hours and turned huge parts of Luzon mainland into virtual swamplands in 2009. Based on IDMC data, around 4.277 million were forced to flee from their houses due to disasters and armed conflict. These include 4.094 million displacements due to disasters and 183,000 displacements caused by armed conflict. There were 364,000 total internally displaced persons (IDPs) in the country due to disasters and 182,000 IDPs due to conflict and violence as of December 2019, the IDMC said.

28 House deputy speakers translate to bigger public spending–analyst

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Hernandez of South Cotabato, Rep. Evelina Escudero of Sorsogon, Rep. Loren Legarda of Antique, Rep. Conrad Estrella III of Abono Party-list, Rep. Prospero Pichay Jr. of Surigao del Sur, Rep. Roberto Puno of Antipolo City, Rep. Eduardo Villanueva of Cibac Party-list, Rep. Michael Romero of 1-Pacman, Rep. Neptali Gonzales II of Mandaluyong, Rep. Lito Atienza of Buhay, Rep. Rose Marie Arenas of Pangasinan, Rep. Rodante Marcoleta of Sagip, Rep. Henry Oaminal of Misamis Occidental, Rep. Pablo John Garcia of Cebu, Rep. Deogracias Victor Savellano of Ilocos Sur, Rep. Vilma Santos Recto of Batangas, Rep. Mujiv Hataman of Basilan and Rep. Rufus Rodriguez of Cagayan de Oro City.

I’d rather that the NBI make the public statement after they have exhaustively examined all possible angles. But one thing is sure, the DOJ and the NBI suffered another major loss.

Justice Secretary Menardo Guevarra

By Joel R. San Juan @jrsanjuan1573

USTICE Secretary Menardo Guevarra said he would leave it up to the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) to thoroughly investigate the circumstance surrounding the death of its counter-terror division (CTD) chief Raoul Manguerra. Guevarra issued the statement as he expressed sadness over Manguerra’s death, saying that it was a major loss to the Department of Justice and the NBI. “I’d rather that the NBI make the public statement after they have exhaustively examined all possible angles. But one thing is sure, the DOJ and the NBI suffered another major loss,” Guevarra said. “Chief Manguerra was the head of the anti-terrorist division of the NBI that was responsible for the arrest of scores of Abu Sayyaf fighters throughout the country, including in Metro Manila,” he added. NBI Deputy Director Ferdinand Lavin also said the agency is mourning the death of Manguerra. “The NBI is in a deep state of mourning. We condole with the family, relatives and friends of Chief Manguerra,” Lavin said. Lawyer Maria Rosario Bernardo, Manguerra’s live-in partner, told police investigators that she received a phone call from a personnel

of NBI-CTD informing her that the official was rushed to the Manila Doctors Hospital due to a gunshot wound in the abdomen and was pronounced dead on arrival. Investigators from the Manila Police District-Homicide Section tried to investigate the case but were barred from entering the NBI premises since the NBI’s Death Investigation Division is already conducting its own investigation. Police said that his driver and a casual employee of the NBI heard a gunshot inside Manguerra’s office at 11:39 p.m. on Monday, December 7.

Suspect in Cebu lawyer’s killing nabbed

IN another development, Guevarra on Wednesday confirmed the arrest of a suspect allegedly involved in the killing of Cebu lawyer Joey Luis Wee. Guevarra said the suspect is now in the custody of the NBI and being further investigated on Wee’s death. Lavin identified the suspect as Fausto Edgard Peralta who was arrested in the evening of December 8 in Laguna. The NBI has yet to confirm whether Peralta was Wee’s gunman or the mastermind. Wee, a former lawyer with the Office of the Solicitor General, was shot dead outside his office building in Cebu City on November 23. Investigators have yet to establish the motive for the killing.

DENR stops illegal small-scale mining ops in Magpet, Cotabato By Jonathan L. Mayuga @jonlmayuga

EPARTMENT of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) Secretary Roy A. Cimatu has ordered the Mines and Geosciences Bureau (MGB) in Region 12 to stop an illegal mining operation in the Municipality of Magpet, Cotabato province. The illegal mining operation was located some 10 kilometers away from the Mt. Apo Natural Park. There is no Minahang Bayan in Magpet town or in Cotabato province, making any small-scale mining operation in the area illegal.

In a news statement, Cimatu reiterated that illegal mining activity is unacceptable. “Whether big or small, any illegal mining activity will have to stop,” Cimatu said, as he also ordered the filing of charges against those behind the illegal mining activity. Cimatu’s directive was an offshoot of a joint operation conducted by the DENR-MGB, the local government of Cotabato, and the Armed Forces of the Philippines in Barangay Don Panaca on December 7. Acting on a tipoff, the team raided the area and discovered a 5-meter tunnel, indicating that the mining opera-

tion was still in its early stage. Inside the tunnel were around 25 sacks, each containing approximately 90 kilograms of ore. Another sack was seen along Balingos River located beside the tunnel. MGB 12 Director Felizardo Gacad Jr. said a cease-and-desist order will be issued against the illegal mining operation, while criminal charges are being readied against the illegal miners and their financiers. “Records from the Provincial Mining Regulatory Board of Cotabato and MGB 12 show that there is no declared Minahang Bayan in the Municipality of Magpet, or in the Province of Cotabato, hence, the operation is illegal,” Gacad said.

According to a report prepared by the MGB 12, there was no ongoing mining activity or operation at the time of the raid, but signs of recent extraction were observed. The report also noted that there was also no heavy mining equipment found in the area, although three shovels and one metal bar were seen outside the tunnel, which indicated that the operations were done manually. The mining operation was a clear violation of Republic Act (RA) 7942, or the Philippine Mining Act of 1995 and its Implementing Rules and Regulations (IRR), as well as RA 7076 or the Peoples Small-Scale Mining Act of 1991 and its IRR.

‘Don’t limit excess rice tariff take to small-farms cash aid’ Instead, the FFF said it proposed that funding for the cash subsidy be temporarily augmented by idle funds of the P10billion Rice Competitiveness Enhancement Fund (RCEF), which is earmarked for farm mechanization, seed distribution, credit and farm extension under the RTL.

The group also decried the lack of consultations with farmers in the crafting of the cash assistance plan. “The senators were responsible for the drop in palay prices, when they passed the RTL without first preparing our farmers and putting in the proper

safeguards. Now they want to appear as heroes by giving small sums of money to farmers affected by their law. They should instead amend the law so that it will stop harming farmers,” Montemayor asserted. Under Republic Act 11203 or the RTL, P10 billion will be set aside annually for the

Tourism arrivals, receipts plunge over 81% in Jan-Nov Romulo Puyat, who also chairs the Philippine Commission on Sports Scuba Diving (PCSSD), attested to the challenges of the diving industry during the pandemic. These include the non-compliance of some dive establishments on minimum health and safety guidelines, decreased revenue and high unemployment rates, inadequate trained medical personnel to operate the hyperbaric chamber, the need to install and maintain mooring buoys to protect

dive sites, and the high cost of Covid-19 tests, among others. Luistro said about “2,000 heads of families” relying on the tourism as a livelihood, lost their jobs due to the Covid lockdown. “I had to find work for them in the construction industry and other sectors,” he added in Filipino. As such, he said he was looking forward to more scuba divers to visit his town, so his constituents could return to their jobs. The PCSSD, meanwhile, committed to

continued from a12

RCEF for interventions to sharpen palay growers’ global competitiveness, particularly the provision of farm equipment, easy credit, high-yield seeds, extension work and training, and research and development. Excess collections are to be used for other forms of financial aid to farmers.

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continue waiving the accreditation fees for dive establishments and professionals; conduct subsidized trainings for dive professionals; organize events that will attract guests; and provide either online or a hybrid platform for selling and promoting dive packages throughout the dive media network and community. As of December 5, DOT Region 4A (Calabarzon) has issued 51 Provisional Certificates of Authority to Operate (PCAO) to dive establishments in

Mabini, Batangas, 28 of which are PCSSD-accredited. Anilao has more than 40 documented dive sites and continuously attracts underwater macro photographers due to the area’s rich underwater wildlife and flora. Last October, PCSSD released a memorandum circular containing health and safety guidelines in the operation of dive establishments. https://bit.ly/2VVr6f8.

Ma. Stella F. Arnaldo

Economy BusinessMirror

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Ex-NSCB official notes decline in children’s math, writing skills By Cai U. Ordinario @caiordinario

VERHAULING the educational system is needed to improve Filipino children’s scores in writing, reading, and math, according to the former head of the National Statistical Coordination Board (NSCB). In his Statistically Speaking blog, retired NSCB Secretary-General Romulo A. Virola said the government should opt to increase its direct support to schools, teachers and students. Virola added that safeguards must also be put in place to protect the Department of Education (DepEd) budget from corruption in order to maximize the spending of the allocation it receives. “I wish the taxpayers’ money that we lose to corruption went instead to the salaries, and training/ retraining of teachers,” Virola said in his blog. “May I suggest to the Metrobank Foundation Inc., which annually searches for Ten Outstanding Filipinos to recognize and honor teachers, soldiers, and police officers, to give more meaning to their program by calling on these outstanding teachers to formulate recommendations on how we can improve the quality of education in the Philippines?,” he added. Virola discussed the results of the SEA-PLM 2019 Main Regional Report, Children’s learning in 6 Southeast Asian countries. He said the SEA-PLM 2019 collected children’s and schools’ responses through paper-pencil tests and questionnaires, conducted with a sample of children that is representative of the school population enrolled at Grade 5 in each country. He explained that the SEA-PLM measured reading proficiency through a scale of 5 bands, ranging from Band 2 and below to Band 6 and above. In terms of writing proficiency, the SEA-PLM scale includes 8 bands, ranging from Band 1 and below to Band 8 and above, while the mathematical proficiency scale includes 8 bands, ranging from Band 2 and below, to Band 9 and above. In terms of reading, Virola said

the Philippines national reading average score is second lowest in the region at 288. The country also had the lowest proportion of Grade 5 children who have attained Band 6 and above and Band 5 reading literacy with scores of 10 and 12, respectively. “Vietnamese children did best followed by the Malaysians, with 82 percent and 58 percent, respectively, of their children having achieved at least Band 6 in reading literacy, so far ahead of the four other Asean memberstates,” Virola said. For writing, Virola noted the Philippines national writing average score is the 3rd lowest in the region. It was only higher than Cambodia and Lao PDR. Data, he said, also showed the country was tied with Lao PDR, Cambodia, and Myanmar with only 5-6 percent of Grade 5 children who achieved at least Band 6 in writing literacy. He said Vietnamese children were the best at writing with 52 percent of Grade 5 children achieving a Band 6 writing literacy. This was followed by Malaysia at 31 percent. “The superiority of the Vietnamese children in writing literacy is so obvious as 20 percent of the Vietnamese children have achieved Band 8, versus a very low 4 percent for Malaysia, 1 percent for Cambodia, Lao PDR and the Philippines, and 0 percent for Myanmar,” Virola added. In the field of mathematics, Virola said no Filipino child achieved Band 9 mathematics literacy, but neither have children from Cambodia, Lao PDR, and Myanmar. Further, around 6 percent of Grade 5 children in the Philippines, Cambodia, Lao PDR, and Myanmar have achieved Band 7 or above in mathematics literacy. He added that Malaysian and Vietnamese children continued to lead with 40 percent and 80 percent achieving mathematics literacy at Band 7 or higher, respectively. “Recalling how excellent my highschool teachers in mathematics had been, I cannot but wonder what has happened to mathematics education in the country,” Virola said.

CDC, BCDA CITED FOR COVID EFFORTS

Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) Officer-in-Charge (OIC) Director of Stakeholders Relations Service Andro V. Santiago (1st from right) from the DPWH Covid Help Desk representing DPWH Secretary Mark A. Villar recognizes the Clark Development Corp. (CDC), Bases Conversion and Development Authority (BCDA) and CDC Health and Sanitation Division Manager Dr. Ma. Clemencita Dobles (first from left) for its efficient health unit, COVID efforts and initiatives, and Covid facilities which were all vital in mitigating the Covid-19 pandemic. CDC OIC for the Office of the President Engr. Mariza O. Mandocdoc (second from right) received the Plaque of Appreciation for CDC. Also in photo is CDC AVP for Administration/Assets Management Division Manager Ma. Zoraida G. Camello (2nd from left), who received the Plaque of Appreciation in behalf of the BCDA. PHOTO COURTESY OF CDC-CD

Editor: Vittorio V. Vitug • Thursday, December 10, 2020 A5

Ecop members told: Implement staggered employee work hours to ease street traffic By Elijah Felice E. Rosales @alyasjah

HE Employers Confederation of the Philippines (Ecop) has called on its members to implement staggered work schedules to reduce traffic during rush hours to the benefit of their employees. In a news statement last week, Ecop reminded its affiliates the economy is just beginning to reopen after nine months and counting of quarantine to prevent the spread of Covid-19. Precautionary measures, such as the wearing of face mask and face shield when out in public, are maintained to make sure people are protected from the virus. The group argued as much as infection and death rates are going down nationwide, including in Metro

Manila—the epicenter of the virus— employers should enforce new measures to prevent a second wave and, worse, another lockdown. As such, Ecop asked its members to consider distributing the hours by which their workers must report to office. In staggering the work shifts, it explained traffic in rush hours will be eased, too, as well as the demand for public transport. In turn, this should help workers travel to site and return to home without having to fight through the usual congestion, especially in Metro Manila, Ecop assessed. The group added the policy will afford commuters in general the space they need in traveling in compliance with government protocols on social distancing. Ecop proposed adopting workshiftsstartingat7inthemorning,

then 8, then 9, under this framework. “[W]e strongly encourage our members, industry associations and the Philippine employers as a whole to implement this measure to the farthest extent as soon as possible in order for us to win the fight against the said virus,” Ecop said. “We also encourage you to find ways to help smaller companies participate in this vital initiative. However, please note that this is voluntary in nature, and not mandated by law,” it added. The call to stagger work shifts was first recommended by the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) in an advisory issued in October, as part of efforts to shift the Covid-19 policy to managing risks instead of avoiding them altogether. In Joint Advisory 20-01, the DTI, with the Departments of Labor and

Employment and of Interior and Local Government, appealed with managements to adopt multiple work schedules to allow employees to travel in batches. Similar to Ecop’s argument, the government said, this will ensure social distancing is observed in public transport units. The advisory also pitched to local governments to cut their curfew hours in line with the national policy to reopen economic activities. The government and the private sector hope the resumption of business operations will reverse the economic setbacks endured by the Philippines from the pandemic. GDP in the third quarter declined 11.5 percent, picking up from the record slump of 16.9 percent the prior quarter, which sank the country to its first recession in after three decades.

MSMEs in construction fear unregulated entry of foreign contractors may deepen sector’s woes By Butch Fernandez @butchfBM

AMMERED by the Covid-19 pandemic, the micro, small and medium enterprises (MSMEs) in the construction sector now worry over a new threat: the possible unregulated entry of foreign contractors. MSME and industry organizations have conveyed this fear to the Senate Committee on Trade, Commerce and Entrepreneurship, which is hearing bills seeking the liberalization of the domestic construction industry. The Construction Industr y Aut hor it y of t he Phi lippines (CIAP), the central authority for the construction sector, considers it “untimely” to add more players to the local construction market amid the pandemic, as proposed by Senate Bill 1008 and its related bills. The latter seek to lift restrictions on the entry of foreign players to the domestic construction industry. The CIAP is chaired by Trade Secretary Ramon Lopez, and counts as board members three secretaries—Silvestre H. Bello III of Labor and Employment, Mark Villar of Public Works and Highways, and Arthur Tugade of Transportation—and the chairmen of the four implementing Boards under the Authority, plus a private sector representative. “MSMEs comprising 97 percent of registered contractors who are reeling from the debilitating effects of the pandemic will further be subjected to foreign competitors whose wider supply chain networks and support from their respective governments will put them at a disadvantage,” noted CIAP in its 13-page position paper. The Society of Philippine Electrotechnical Constructors and Suppliers Inc. (SPECS), which counts licensed electrical construction companies as

WORKERS assemble a huge and intricate steel structure for the elevated railway of the Metro Rail Transit 7 project from North Avenue in Quezon City to San Jose del Monte, Bulacan. Local contractors in the construction industry have recently raised alarm over the possible unregulated entry of foreign competitors into the industry. NONOY LACZA

members, argued that “without the necessary safeguards and programs to develop and strengthen the local industry, it would have an adverse impact on our members, most of whom are MSMEs.” The need for safeguards for the local industry is also echoed by the Association of Carriers and Equipment Lessors (ACEL), whose members are part of the construction equipment supply distribution chain. There are over 15,000 licensed contractors in the country which provide around 4.2 million jobs, accounting for 10 percent of total employment in the country and making it the biggest direct job contributor to the country in the last 10 years. “The entry of foreign contractors with their undue advantage will not only displace current professionals and workers in the industry, but will dampen employment opportunities for returning overseas Filipino workers,” CIAP pointed out.

For its part, the Organization of Socialized and Economic Housing Developers of the Philippines (OSHDP), whose members had been responsible for socialized housing for the less privileged, noted that the proposed legislations would increase the cost of constructing houses, as 100-percent foreign constructors would likely bring in high-salaried foreign engineers and managers. “As you might well know, OSHDP developers operate on a government-mandated price ceiling, and as a result, are very sensitive to increases in the cost structure,” the group told the Senate Committee. According to a position paper presented by the Philippine Constructors Association (PCA), such legislation “would critically impact local players’ particularly the MSME sector, which make up some 97 percent of local contractors.” PCA represents the country’s construction sector with chapters nationwide and

affiliate members from various support industries. In a separate position paper, PCA Marivalley President Wilfredo Reyes said his mostly MSME members are extremely worried that the proposed bills tend to allow the entry even of wholly owned foreign MSME constructors who would bring foreign workers, worsening the current jobs situation of a surplus of people—the result of depressed demand and massive repatriation of overseas Filipinos in the pandemic. “It is apparent that there cannot be any true leveling of the playing field when there are no clear-cut compensating protection and safety nets for local MSMEs in the construction industry when entering foreign firms enjoy considerable protection and support from their own governments,” Reyes said. The PCA Metropolitan Chapter and the Pangasinan Constructors Association also submitted position papers to the Senate committee, raising similar concerns. PCA said it is not averse to the entry of foreign construction companies which are already allowed to operate under existing laws and regulations. “What we are concerned about would be the unregulated entry of foreignowned construction companies without the necessary safeguards and programs for the local construction industry.” CIAP said the liberalization of the construction industry has been accepted and addressed through the years by the formulation and implementation of corresponding laws, policies, and regulations, such as the Special Licenses for Joint Ventures, Consortia and Foreign Contractors, and the Regular License with Annotation for Quadruple A companies, allowing wholly owned or foreign corporations to regularly engage in projects.

BusinessMirror

A6 Thursday, December 10, 2020

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8 STONE BUSINESS OUTSOURCING OPC 5th-10th/f Tower 3, Pitx #1 Kennedy Road Tambo Parañaque City

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DYNA BINARY HOLDINGS INC. 18/f Tower 2 The Enterprise Center, 6766 Ayala Ave., Cor. Paseo De Roxas San Lorenzo Makati City

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FAREAST OUTSOURCE PROCESSING INC. 7th, 8th, 9th Flr. Nu Tower Moa Coral Way Brgy. 076 Pasay City

FU, QIANG Chinese

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43.

PENG, JUNZHI Chinese

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86.

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91.

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50.

WANG, SEN Chinese

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92.

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94.

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FINEST GW CONSULTANCY SERVICE INC. Unit-a Paseo View 16/f Ba Lepanto Bldg. 8747 Paseo De Roxas Belair Makati City

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SHI, JINJIE Chinese WANG, ZUWEN Chinese

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BAOLONG TECHNOLOGY INDUSTRY GROUP LIMITED INC. 20-29th/f Century Diamond Tower Kalayaan Ave. Cor. Salamanca St. Poblacion Makati City

58. 59.

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97.

60.

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BIG EMPEROR TECHNOLOGY CORP. 5f-13f, Jiaxing Tower Building Aseana Avenue, Aseana Business Park Tambo Parañaque City

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CHINA ROAD AND BRIDGE CORPORATION Unit 2605, 2607 & 2609 High St. South Corporate Plaza, Tower 1, 9th Avenue Corner 26th St. Bonfacio Global City, Fort Bonifacio Taguig City

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DENG, GENGCHENG Chinese

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37.

LIU, ZHIGUO Chinese

MANDARIN CUSTOMER SERVICE REPRESENTATIVE

38.

LONG, XINGFU Chinese

MANDARIN CUSTOMER SERVICE REPRESENTATIVE

39.

MAO, LEI Chinese

MANDARIN CUSTOMER SERVICE REPRESENTATIVE

CUSTOMER SERVICE REPRESENTATIVE MANDARIN SPEAKING

NWE SOE Myanmari

CUSTOMER SERVICE REPRESENTATIVE MANDARIN SPEAKING

RIO PRANAYA Indonesian

CUSTOMER SERVICE REPRESENTATIVE MANDARIN SPEAKING

WU, QI Chinese

CUSTOMER SERVICE REPRESENTATIVE MANDARIN SPEAKING

XU, WANLI Chinese

CUSTOMER SERVICE REPRESENTATIVE MANDARIN SPEAKING

ZHONG, YE Chinese

CUSTOMER SERVICE REPRESENTATIVE MANDARIN SPEAKING

GLOBALLGA BUSINESS PROCESS OUTSOURCING Ground Level, Level 2-5 Floor Silver City 4, Ortigas East Ugong Pasig City

MANDARIN CUSTOMER SERVICE REPRESENTATIVE

104.

LIM CHAI YANN Malaysian

105.

CHI, HANDE Chinese

LIANG, PEIEN Chinese

103.

CUSTOMER SERVICE REPRESENTATIVE MANDARIN SPEAKING

MANDARIN LANGUAGE SPECIALIST

25.

MANDARIN CUSTOMER SERVICE REPRESENTATIVE

102.

LEONG CHEE HAO Malaysian

LIU, HUIXIA Chinese

MANDARIN LANGUAGE SPECIALIST

HUANG, JIAJUN Chinese

101.

CUSTOMER SERVICE REPRESENTATIVE MANDARIN SPEAKING

69.

YUAN, YE Chinese

31.

100.

HUANG, QIJING Chinese

MANDARIN LANGUAGE SPECIALIST

71.

MANDARIN CUSTOMER SERVICE REPRESENTATIVE

99.

CUSTOMER SERVICE REPRESENTATIVE MANDARIN SPEAKING

HUANG, YAOKUN Chinese

MANDARIN CUSTOMER SERVICE REPRESENTATIVE

HAN, RONGGUO Chinese

98.

GAO, BOLIN Chinese

68.

CHEN, ZEJIANG Chinese

30.

CHINESE CUSTOMER SERVICE REPRESENTATIVE

FUXINGYING CAIYUN HENTONG, CORP. 7th, 8th, 9th, 10th Floor Eton Ewestpod Chino Roces Avenue Cor. Yakal & Malugay Streets San Antonio Makati City

MANDARIN LANGUAGE SPECIALIST

MANDARIN CUSTOMER SERVICE REPRESENTATIVE

YANG, TENG Chinese

MANDARIN CUSTOMER SERVICE REPRESENTATIVE

YU, QUANHUI Chinese

HAN, PENG Chinese

96.

ZHANG, DI Chinese

70.

29.

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

57.

24.

MANDARIN CUSTOMER SERVICE REPRESENTATIVE

CHINESE SPEAKING CUSTOMER SERVICE REPRESENTATIVE

MANDARIN CUSTOMER SERVICE REPRESENTATIVE

GAO, YIJUAN Chinese

TECK LI YIN Malaysian

CHINESE SPEAKING DATA ENTRY CLERK

XU, YI Chinese

CHEN, FULING Chinese

28.

SOPHIA TIONG YI VOON Malaysian

72.

ZHANG, LI Chinese

CONTRACT MANAGER

73.

CHEN, ZIYONG Chinese

ELECTRONIC TECHNICIAN

74.

LI, HELIANG Chinese

LABORATORY TECHNICIAN

75.

KONG, LINGFA Chinese

LEADMAN

76.

LI, TAOSHENG Chinese

MATERIAL CHECKER

77.

LIN, GUOCHAO Chinese

STEELMAN SUPERVISOR

78.

FENG, GUANGYUN Chinese

SURVEY AIDE

79.

KONG, XIANGFANG Chinese

80.

ZUO, ANYOU Chinese

TECHNICIAN TECHNICIAN

CINATECH LIMITED CORP. 10-1 One Global Place 25th St., Cor. 5th Ave. Bgc Fort Bonifacio Taguig City 81.

HUANG, WENHUI Chinese

DIGITAL COMMUNICATION SPECIALIST (BI LINGUAL IN MANDARIN)

DIGISPARK TECH CORP. Unit 1618 High Street, South Corporate Plaza, Tower 2 26th St. Corner 9th Ave. Bgc Fort Bonifacio Taguig City 82.

LI, XIANG Chinese

ASSISTANT VICE PRESIDENT

83.

LIN, QINGCHENG Chinese

EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR OF SYSTEMS DEVELOPMENT

106.

CHEN, JIANLONG Chinese

CHINESE IT SUPPORT

107.

CHAI, CHENGNAN Chinese

CHINESE IT SUPPORT MANDARIN SPEAKING

108.

CHEN, CAIGUI Chinese

CHINESE IT SUPPORT MANDARIN SPEAKING

109.

CHEN, CHAO Chinese

CHINESE IT SUPPORT MANDARIN SPEAKING

110.

HUANG, LILAN Chinese

CHINESE IT SUPPORT MANDARIN SPEAKING

111.

HUANG, JING Chinese

CHINESE IT SUPPORT MANDARIN SPEAKING

112.

TAN, TINGBIN Chinese

CHINESE IT SUPPORT MANDARIN SPEAKING

DU, KEKE Chinese

CUSTOMER SERVICE REPRESENTATIVE MANDARIN SPEAKING

113.

114.

115.

116.

117.

GAO, DAIGENG Chinese KANG, LEI Chinese LI, CHUNYIN Chinese NIU, DONGGUAN Chinese

CUSTOMER SERVICE REPRESENTATIVE MANDARIN SPEAKING CUSTOMER SERVICE REPRESENTATIVE MANDARIN SPEAKING CUSTOMER SERVICE REPRESENTATIVE MANDARIN SPEAKING CUSTOMER SERVICE REPRESENTATIVE MANDARIN SPEAKING

PEI, ZHI Chinese

CUSTOMER SERVICE REPRESENTATIVE MANDARIN SPEAKING

119.

PENG, CHAO Chinese

CUSTOMER SERVICE REPRESENTATIVE MANDARIN SPEAKING

120.

TIAN, TIAN Chinese

CUSTOMER SERVICE REPRESENTATIVE MANDARIN SPEAKING

121.

WU, KANGDONG Chinese

CUSTOMER SERVICE REPRESENTATIVE MANDARIN SPEAKING

118.

NO.

FOREIGN NATIONAL / NATIONALITY

POSITION

122.

ZHANG, WENXU Chinese

CUSTOMER SERVICE REPRESENTATIVE MANDARIN SPEAKING

123.

ZHANG, CHENG Chinese

CUSTOMER SERVICE REPRESENTATIVE MANDARIN SPEAKING

124.

ZHANG, YUANFENG Chinese

CUSTOMER SERVICE REPRESENTATIVE MANDARIN SPEAKING

125.

CAI, FU Chinese

MARKETING STAFF MANDARIN SPEAKING

126.

LI, TAO Chinese

MARKETING STAFF MANDARIN SPEAKING

127.

LIU, MEINA Chinese

MARKETING STAFF MANDARIN SPEAKING

128.

WANG, JINGJING Chinese

MARKETING STAFF MANDARIN SPEAKING

129.

WANG, YINGCHAO Chinese

MARKETING STAFF MANDARIN SPEAKING

130.

XIE, WENCAI Chinese

MARKETING STAFF MANDARIN SPEAKING

131.

ZHANG, JIE Chinese

MARKETING STAFF MANDARIN SPEAKING

132.

ZHANG, JIAFA Chinese

MARKETING STAFF MANDARIN SPEAKING

133.

ZHONG, LINYI Chinese

MARKETING STAFF MANDARIN SPEAKING

HMR PHILIPPINES INC. Pioneer Cor Reliance Brgy. Highway Hills Mandaluyong City 134.

HOLGATE, ANDREW JOHN British

INTERNATIONAL BUSINESS CONSULTANT

HWA LUN CORPORATION Unit 1606 B Sunjoy Bldg. 525 Lavezares St. Tondo I/ii Manila 135.

SHI, XIANGKUN Chinese

CHINESE PROJECT SUPERVISOR

136.

QIN, JIAN Chinese

CHINESE SUPERVISOR

137.

SUN, GUIXIANG Chinese

WAREHOUSE PERSONNEL

INFOVINE INC. 9/f Y Tower, Moa Complex Coral Way Drive Cor. Macapagal Brgy. 076 Pasay City 138.

CHEN, YUANFANG Chinese

CHINESE SPEAKING CUSTOMER SERVICE REPRESENTATIVE

139.

CHEN, ZHIJUN Chinese

CHINESE SPEAKING CUSTOMER SERVICE REPRESENTATIVE

140.

CHEN, LILI Chinese

CHINESE SPEAKING CUSTOMER SERVICE REPRESENTATIVE

141.

CONG, YAN Chinese

CHINESE SPEAKING CUSTOMER SERVICE REPRESENTATIVE

142.

DENG, LUYANG Chinese

CHINESE SPEAKING CUSTOMER SERVICE REPRESENTATIVE

143.

FAN, FEIPENG Chinese

CHINESE SPEAKING CUSTOMER SERVICE REPRESENTATIVE

144.

FANG, WENJIAO Chinese

CHINESE SPEAKING CUSTOMER SERVICE REPRESENTATIVE

145.

GAO, JIE Chinese

CHINESE SPEAKING CUSTOMER SERVICE REPRESENTATIVE

146.

GAO, ZHI Chinese

CHINESE SPEAKING CUSTOMER SERVICE REPRESENTATIVE

147.

GUO, LIANG Chinese

CHINESE SPEAKING CUSTOMER SERVICE REPRESENTATIVE

148.

GUO, ZHIQIANG Chinese

CHINESE SPEAKING CUSTOMER SERVICE REPRESENTATIVE

149.

HE, TAO Chinese

CHINESE SPEAKING CUSTOMER SERVICE REPRESENTATIVE

150.

HE, ZHICHAO Chinese

CHINESE SPEAKING CUSTOMER SERVICE REPRESENTATIVE

151.

LI, HAOMING Chinese

CHINESE SPEAKING CUSTOMER SERVICE REPRESENTATIVE

152.

LI, XIAODING Chinese

CHINESE SPEAKING CUSTOMER SERVICE REPRESENTATIVE

153.

LI, JIAN Chinese

CHINESE SPEAKING CUSTOMER SERVICE REPRESENTATIVE

154.

LIU, HUIYA Chinese

CHINESE SPEAKING CUSTOMER SERVICE REPRESENTATIVE

155.

LIU, JUNFENG Chinese

CHINESE SPEAKING CUSTOMER SERVICE REPRESENTATIVE

156.

LIU, CHENGCHENG Chinese

CHINESE SPEAKING CUSTOMER SERVICE REPRESENTATIVE

157.

LIU, PAN Chinese

CHINESE SPEAKING CUSTOMER SERVICE REPRESENTATIVE

158.

LIU, QIANYUAN Chinese

CHINESE SPEAKING CUSTOMER SERVICE REPRESENTATIVE

159.

LU, ZHEN Chinese

CHINESE SPEAKING CUSTOMER SERVICE REPRESENTATIVE

160.

MAO, YUANDA Chinese

CHINESE SPEAKING CUSTOMER SERVICE REPRESENTATIVE

BusinessMirror

www.businessmirror.com.ph ESTABLISHMENT / ADDRESS NO.

FOREIGN NATIONAL / NATIONALITY

ESTABLISHMENT / ADDRESS NO.

JGC PHILIPPINES, INC. Jgc Philippines Building 2109 Prime Street, Madrigal Business Park Alabang Muntinlupa City

TAN, GUOMIN Chinese

CHINESE SPEAKING CUSTOMER SERVICE REPRESENTATIVE

162.

TAN, YISHANG Chinese

CHINESE SPEAKING CUSTOMER SERVICE REPRESENTATIVE

163.

TIAN, MENGTING Chinese

CHINESE SPEAKING CUSTOMER SERVICE REPRESENTATIVE

164.

WANG, SHENG Chinese

CHINESE SPEAKING CUSTOMER SERVICE REPRESENTATIVE

165.

WANG, FENGHUA Chinese

CHINESE SPEAKING CUSTOMER SERVICE REPRESENTATIVE

WANG, ZHIJIE Chinese

CHINESE SPEAKING CUSTOMER SERVICE REPRESENTATIVE

WEN, JINGQI Chinese

CHINESE SPEAKING CUSTOMER SERVICE REPRESENTATIVE

166.

167.

168.

169.

XIA, YUHAO Chinese

CHINESE SPEAKING CUSTOMER SERVICE REPRESENTATIVE

XIAO, TONGHUI Chinese

CHINESE SPEAKING CUSTOMER SERVICE REPRESENTATIVE

XU, FANGCHENG Chinese

CHINESE SPEAKING CUSTOMER SERVICE REPRESENTATIVE

171.

XU, QING Chinese

CHINESE SPEAKING CUSTOMER SERVICE REPRESENTATIVE

172.

ZHANG, JIANMIN Chinese

CHINESE SPEAKING CUSTOMER SERVICE REPRESENTATIVE

173.

ZHAO, SIRONG Chinese

CHINESE SPEAKING CUSTOMER SERVICE REPRESENTATIVE

170.

ESTABLISHMENT / ADDRESS

POSITION

161.

INTEGRITY GLOBAL GROUP, INC. 2/f-3/f Ayala Malls Circuit A.p. Reyes Ave. Carmona Makati City

205.

FOREIGN NATIONAL / NATIONALITY

KISHINO, TETSUYA Japanese

POSITION

TREASURER

JSR GROUP OF COMPANIES INC. U-2102 21/f Antel Corporate Center 121 Valero St. Bel-air Makati City 206.

KO, KYUNGWON South Korean

CSR FOR KOREAN CLIENTS

MARKETROLE ASIA PACIFIC SERVICES, INC. 26/f, 27/f, 28/f The Enterprise Center Tower 1 6766 Ayala Ave. Cor. Paseo De Roxas San Lorenzo Makati City

266.

CHINESE SPEAKING CUSTOMER SERVICE STAFF

CHINESE CUSTOMER SERVICE REPRESENTATIVE

212.

ZENG, YUHAO Chinese

HU, BIN Chinese

267.

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

HU, JIAHUI Chinese

CHINESE CUSTOMER SERVICE REPRESENTATIVE

268.

HUANG, GUANGHONG Chinese

CHINESE CUSTOMER SERVICE REPRESENTATIVE

311.

270.

215.

CHINESE CUSTOMER SERVICE REPRESENTATIVE

312.

CHEN, QIUGUI Chinese

KIM, YOSEP South Korean

271.

CHINESE CUSTOMER SERVICE REPRESENTATIVE

216.

CHEN, TINGWEI Chinese

LIU, HUHAN Chinese

272.

CHINESE CUSTOMER SERVICE REPRESENTATIVE

217.

CHEN, CHENGZHI Chinese

LIU, PENGFEI Chinese

TIANYU TECHNOLOGY INC. 42/f Pbcom Tower Ayala Avenue Cor. V.a Rufino Street Bel-air Makati City

273.

CHINESE CUSTOMER SERVICE REPRESENTATIVE

218.

CHEN, SONGCAN Chinese

MA, MINGHUI Chinese

274.

MA, WENTING Chinese

275.

CHINESE CUSTOMER SERVICE REPRESENTATIVE

228.

LIU, DAWEI Chinese

CHINESE CUSTOMER SERVICE REPRESENTATIVE

229.

TIAN, HAIBO Chinese

CHINESE CUSTOMER SERVICE REPRESENTATIVE

230.

WU, GUILING Chinese

CHINESE CUSTOMER SERVICE REPRESENTATIVE

231.

XIE, XIAN Chinese

CHINESE CUSTOMER SERVICE REPRESENTATIVE

YANG, XIAOXU Chinese

CHINESE CUSTOMER SERVICE REPRESENTATIVE

233.

ZHANG, TING Chinese

CHINESE CUSTOMER SERVICE REPRESENTATIVE

MARKETING ASSOCIATE

234.

ZHANG, ZUOSHAN Chinese

CHINESE CUSTOMER SERVICE REPRESENTATIVE

MARKETING ASSOCIATE

235.

ZHANG, RUI Chinese

CHINESE CUSTOMER SERVICE REPRESENTATIVE

MARKETING MANAGER

236.

ZHOU, BINGQUAN Chinese

CHINESE CUSTOMER SERVICE REPRESENTATIVE

TRANSLATOR

237.

ZOU, HAONAN Chinese

CHINESE CUSTOMER SERVICE REPRESENTATIVE

238.

ZOU, HAOQIANG Chinese

CHINESE CUSTOMER SERVICE REPRESENTATIVE

239.

KYAW KYAW KHAING Myanmari

MYANMARI CUSTOMER SERVICE REPRESENTATIVE

240.

YAN YONE SEIN Myanmari

MYANMARI CUSTOMER SERVICE REPRESENTATIVE

241.

DO THI THUY LINH Vietnamese

VIETNAMESE CUSTOMER SERVICE REPRESENTATIVE

242.

NGUYEN DINH THANH Vietnamese

VIETNAMESE CUSTOMER SERVICE REPRESENTATIVE

PHAN VAN LONG Vietnamese

VIETNAMESE CUSTOMER SERVICE REPRESENTATIVE

DIANTI Indonesian

COMPUTER TECHNICAL SUPPORT SPECIALIST

192.

HASNAN Indonesian

COMPUTER TECHNICAL SUPPORT SPECIALIST

193.

NOVINA Indonesian

COMPUTER TECHNICAL SUPPORT SPECIALIST

194. 195. 196. 197.

ZHANG, BING Chinese CHEN, LUBIN Chinese OUYANG, WEIJIE Chinese XU, JIE Chinese

232.

HUMAN RESOURCE MANAGER

191.

COMPUTER TECHNICAL SUPPORT SPECIALIST INFORMATION SECURITY ANALYST INFORMATION SECURITY ANALYST INFORMATION SECURITY ANALYST

ITECHNO SPECIALIST INC. 7/f Aseana I Bldg. Bradco Avenue Aseana Business Park Tambo Parañaque City

243.

NEPC POWER CONSTRUCTION CORP. 15/f Cyber One Bldg. Eastwood Cyberpark City Bagumbayan 3 Quezon City 244.

TANG, WENJU Chinese

MANDARIN STRUCTURAL MAINTENANCE SPECIALIST

245.

LIN, LEBIN Chinese

MARKETING SPECIALIST

LYU, BO Chinese

PROJECT COORDINATOR

247.

WANG, QINGJIE Chinese

PROJECT COORDINATOR

NEW ORIENTAL CLUB88 CORPORATION Sky Garage Bldg. Aseana Avenue, Entertainment City Tambo Parañaque City

CHINESE IT SUPPORT SPECIALIST

CHINESE CUSTOMER SERVICE REPRESENTATIVE

314.

LI, YUTONG Chinese

CHINESE IT SUPPORT SPECIALIST

NGUYEN HUYNH QUANG Vietnamese

CHINESE CUSTOMER SERVICE REPRESENTATIVE

315.

LI, WEILI Chinese

CHINESE IT SUPPORT SPECIALIST

276.

PAN, YU Chinese

CHINESE CUSTOMER SERVICE REPRESENTATIVE

316.

MENG, TINGJI Chinese

CHINESE IT SUPPORT SPECIALIST

277.

PENG, JIALIANG Chinese

CHINESE CUSTOMER SERVICE REPRESENTATIVE

317.

CHINESE CUSTOMER SERVICE REPRESENTATIVE

CHINESE IT SUPPORT SPECIALIST

278.

WANG, CHAO Chinese

QI, FANGXIANG Chinese

WANG, SHIDONG Chinese

CHINESE CUSTOMER SERVICE REPRESENTATIVE

318.

279.

SUN, JIAN Chinese

CHINESE IT SUPPORT SPECIALIST

280.

WANG, LIN Chinese

CHINESE CUSTOMER SERVICE REPRESENTATIVE

319.

SUN, JIAHUI Chinese

CHINESE IT SUPPORT SPECIALIST

281.

WEI, WEI Chinese

CHINESE CUSTOMER SERVICE REPRESENTATIVE

320.

XI, HUIYA Chinese

CHINESE IT SUPPORT SPECIALIST

282.

XING, JUNTAO Chinese

CHINESE CUSTOMER SERVICE REPRESENTATIVE CHINESE CUSTOMER SERVICE REPRESENTATIVE

321.

283.

XU, QIANG Chinese

YAN, JIANWEN Chinese

CHINESE IT SUPPORT SPECIALIST

284.

XU, XIAOLIN Chinese

CHINESE CUSTOMER SERVICE REPRESENTATIVE

322.

ZHAN, KAI Chinese

CHINESE IT SUPPORT SPECIALIST

285.

YANG, YUN Chinese

CHINESE CUSTOMER SERVICE REPRESENTATIVE

323.

IT SUPPORT SPECIALIST

286.

YAO, XIA Chinese

CHINESE CUSTOMER SERVICE REPRESENTATIVE

CELESTE LAW LOKE KUAN Malaysian

CHINESE CUSTOMER SERVICE REPRESENTATIVE

324.

HO, CHIA-HSUAN Taiwanese

IT SUPPORT SPECIALIST

287.

ZHANG, WENHUI Chinese

288.

ZHANG, PENG Chinese

CHINESE CUSTOMER SERVICE REPRESENTATIVE

289.

ZHANG, DAOPENG Chinese

CHINESE CUSTOMER SERVICE REPRESENTATIVE

PHILKO UBINS LTD. CORP. D301 Fil-estate Renaissance Towers D Meralco Ave. Ugong Pasig City 290.

LIM, JUNG HOON South Korean

SLI PROJECT MANAGER

POWERCHINA PHILIPPINES CORPORATION Unit 2101 21/f Bdo Equitable Tower 8751 Paseo De Roxas Bel-air Makati City 291.

ZHAO, ZHIHAO Chinese

GENERAL MANAGER

PRANCING DESEN TECHNOLOGY SERVICES INC. Unit 1620 Burgundy Transpacific Place Taft Ave. 079, Bgy. 727 Malate Manila 292.

ZENG, CHENGPENG Chinese

MANDARIN TECHNICAL SUPPORT

QINGJIAN GROUP CO., LTD. PHILIPPINE BRANCH 1046 U500 Puso Ng Maynila Bldg. A Mabini St. Bgy. 656 Ermita Manila 293.

JIANG, SHAN Chinese

SITE TECHNICAL SUPPORT

RAPOO PRO TECHNOLOGY CORPORATION Unit 8 Robinsons Cybergate Plaza Pioneer Brgy. Barangka Mandaluyong City 294.

BAI, YANGYU Chinese

CHINESE SPEAKING BUSINESS DEVELOPMENT ASSOCIATE

REMITLY, INC. 8/f, Greenfield Tower Mayflower Representative Off Cor. Reliance Brgy. Highway Hills Mandaluyong City CHAN, YU-HSUAN Taiwanese

MANDARIN CUSTOMER SERVICE ASSOCIATE

SAAN FASHION INC. S-34 2/f Lrt Terminal One Pas Brgy. 079 Pasay City 296.

ISLAM, MD SAIFUL Bangladeshi

MARKETING ASSISTANT

SKYLUSTER TECHNOLOGY, INC. 28/f Tower 6789 6789 Ayala Ave. Bel-air Makati City

VAN GOGH BUSINESS PROCESS OUTSOURCING INC. Starmall Las Piñas It Hub Alabang-zapote Rd. Cor. C.v. Starr Ave. Pamplona Dos Las Piñas City 327.

LIU, KUNDE Chinese

COMPUTER TECHNICAL SUPPORT SPECIALIST

328.

PAN, XINRONG Chinese

COMPUTER TECHNICAL SUPPORT SPECIALIST

329.

WEI, YANSHUANG Chinese

COMPUTER TECHNICAL SUPPORT SPECIALIST

330.

XIAO, DONGSHENG Chinese

COMPUTER TECHNICAL SUPPORT SPECIALIST

331.

XIONG, LIFANG Chinese

COMPUTER TECHNICAL SUPPORT SPECIALIST

WANFANG TECHNOLOGY MANAGEMENT, INC. 6-9/f Double Dragon Plaza Edsa Cor. Macapagal Ave. Brgy. 076 Pasay City 332.

NGUYEN VAN HAI Vietnamese

VIETNAMESE CUSTOMER SERVICE REPRESENTATIVE

WISEFENCE INC. Level 40 Pbcom Tower 6795 Ayala Ave. Cor. V.a. Rufino St. Bel-air Makati City 333.

HAN, CHAO Chinese

CHINESE SPEAKING ADMINISTRATION MANAGER

334.

HE, MINHUA Chinese

CHINESE SPEAKING CUSTOMER SERVICE REPRESENTATIVE

335.

HU, HONGYING Chinese

CHINESE SPEAKING CUSTOMER SERVICE REPRESENTATIVE

336.

ZHU, BINCHENG Chinese

CHINESE SPEAKING CUSTOMER SERVICE REPRESENTATIVE

WU, YUMIN Chinese

CHINESE SPEAKING FINANCIAL ANALYST

ZHANG, JIALIN Chinese

MANDARIN MARKETING STAFF

338.

YAN, YUBING Chinese

CHINESE SPEAKING FINANCIAL ANALYST

CHINESE IT SUPPORT SPECIALIST

249.

GUO, HUAN Chinese

CHINESE CUSTOMER SERVICE

299.

200.

LIU, HUI Chinese

CHINESE IT SUPPORT SPECIALIST

250.

LU, LIYANG Chinese

CHINESE CUSTOMER SERVICE

SOMI UNLIMITED SOLUTIONS, INC. 6/f Filinvest Cyberzone Bldg. Cbp1 Bay City Brgy. 076 Pasay City

201.

NGUYEN THOAI HOANG YEN Vietnamese

IT SUPPORT SPECIALIST

251.

YU, HANG Chinese

CHINESE CUSTOMER SERVICE

300.

DO THI PHUONG Vietnamese

VIETNAMESE CUSTOMER SERVICE REPRESENTATIVE

202.

NGUYEN VAN TIEN Vietnamese

252.

ZHANG, HEYONG Chinese

CHINESE CUSTOMER SERVICE

301.

NGUYEN THI NGOC HUE Vietnamese

VIETNAMESE CUSTOMER SERVICE REPRESENTATIVE

253.

CHIANG, CHUNG-CHIH Taiwanese

CUSTOMER SERVICE REPRESENTATIVE

302.

PHAM VAN GIANG Vietnamese

VIETNAMESE CUSTOMER SERVICE REPRESENTATIVE

254.

KHIN MOH MOH HTUN Myanmari

MYANMARI CUSTOMER SERVICE

SPEED QUALITY TECH INC. 3/f Eco Plaza Bldg. 2305 Chino Roces Ave. Extn. Magallanes Makati City

255.

HSIAO, DING-HUA Taiwanese

TAIWANESE CUSTOMER SERVICE

303.

LYU, XIAODONG Chinese

MANDARIN CUSTOMER SERVICE SPECIALIST

256.

NGUYEN KHANH QUANG Vietnamese

VIETNAMESE CUSTOMER SERVICE

304.

TAN, XIN Chinese

MANDARIN CUSTOMER SERVICE SPECIALIST

CHINESE MARKETING SENIOR OFFICER

CHINESE CUSTOMER SERVICE REPRESENTATIVE

337.

LI, QIANQIAN Chinese

LI, XIAOLIN Chinese

TAN, FANGNING Chinese

MANDARIN MARKETING STAFF

199.

204.

326.

ZHANG, CAIYUN Chinese

CHINESE CUSTOMER SERVICE

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

CHINESE CUSTOMER SERVICE REPRESENTATIVE

298.

GUAN, YUE Chinese

SECRETARY

NING, MAOQIN Chinese

MANDARIN MARKETING STAFF

248.

HE, NANA Chinese

325.

PAN, LU Chinese

CHINESE IT SUPPORT SPECIALIST

203.

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

297.

LI, DIKUN Chinese

J & F DEPARTMENT STORE CORPORATION Unit 18 Mandarin Square 777 Ongpin St. 029 Bgy 297 Santa Cruz Manila

CHEF

CHEN, QIULING Chinese

295.

246.

SHENG, WENBIAO Chinese

313.

198.

IT SUPPORT SPECIALIST

MANDARIN TECHNICAL SUPPORT

CHINESE CUSTOMER SERVICE REPRESENTATIVE

LIANG, SHUTONG Chinese

190.

ZENG, XIANG Chinese

CHEN, PAN Chinese

227.

COMPUTER TECHNICAL SUPPORT SPECIALIST

TELOQUET OUTSOURCING SERVICES INC. Upper 2/f Unit B 2444-a Burgundy Transpacific Place Taft Ave. 079, Bgy 727 Malate Manila

214.

CHINESE CUSTOMER SERVICE REPRESENTATIVE

DESSY Indonesian

PROJECT MANAGER

TIANJIN CUISINE GROUP INC. #250 Urban Ave. Pio Del Pilar Makati City

LIANG, ZIJIE Chinese

189.

ISHIYAMA, YOSHIHISA Japanese

CHINESE CUSTOMER SERVICE REPRESENTATIVE

226.

COMPUTER TECHNICAL SUPPORT SPECIALIST

310.

JEONG, JIHOON South Korean

225.

DARMAWAN Indonesian

TAISEI PHILIPPINE CONSTRUCTION, INC. Equitable Bank Tower 23/f P. De Roxas San Lorenzo Makati City

269.

CHINESE CUSTOMER SERVICE REPRESENTATIVE

INVECH TREASURE PROCESSING CORPORATION Ground, 2nd, 3rd, 4th, 5th Floor Six West Campus Mckinley West Fort Bonifacio Taguig City

INVENTORY SPECIALIST

CHINESE CUSTOMER SERVICE REPRESENTATIVE

LIANG, MINJIN Chinese

188.

SELIM, MD Bangladeshi

DATA SCIENTIST

CEN, XIAODAN Chinese

CHINESE CUSTOMER SERVICE REPRESENTATIVE

LI, HUI Chinese

309.

GUAY, JONATHAN MICHAEL Canadian

213.

LI, YANG Chinese

SUN, MEIYU Chinese

SURJOBAN FASHION BOUTIQUE INC. Unit No. 1h-1 Flr. No. G/f, Two Shopping Center Bldg. Taft Ave. Ext. St., Zone 10 Barangay 078, District 1 Pasay City

211.

224.

187.

308.

265.

CHINESE CUSTOMER SERVICE REPRESENTATIVE

186.

CHINESE CUSTOMER SERVICE REPRESENTATIVE

CHINESE SPEAKING CUSTOMER SERVICE STAFF

HUANG, ZHIHUI Chinese

LIU, YICHEN Chinese

CHEN, SISI Chinese

ZENG, ZHIGANG Chinese

223.

BI, CHENGLIN Chinese

261.

SPLITMEDIALABS PHILIPPINES, INC. #86 E. Rodriguez Jr. Ave. Ugong Norte 3 Quezon City

CHINESE CUSTOMER SERVICE REPRESENTATIVE

QING, WENQIAN Chinese

185.

CHINESE CUSTOMER SERVICE REPRESENTATIVE

GUO, FULIN Chinese

CHINESE CUSTOMER SERVICE REPRESENTATIVE

SUN, JING Chinese

CHEN, QIRUI Chinese

CHINESE SPEAKING CUSTOMER SERVICE STAFF

HU, WEIKUN Chinese

184.

260.

YAN, KAILIN Chinese

222.

INTRAMUROS GENERAL SERVICES CONSULTANCY CORPORATION Unit 2-b, 681 Beaterio Street Corner Magallanes Street, 069 Bgy. 655 Intramuros Manila

CHINESE CUSTOMER SERVICE REPRESENTATIVE

210.

MANDARIN SPEAKING CUSTOMER SERVICE REPRESENTATIVE

ZHENG, JIXIANG Chinese

CHEN, DONG Chinese

264.

221.

183.

259.

CHINESE CUSTOMER SERVICE REPRESENTATIVE

176.

MANDARIN SPEAKING CUSTOMER SERVICE REPRESENTATIVE

MANDARIN CUSTOMER SERVICE SPECIALIST

CHINESE CUSTOMER SERVICE REPRESENTATIVE

GUO, ZHAOHUI Chinese

CHINESE CUSTOMER SERVICE REPRESENTATIVE

MANDARIN SPEAKING CUSTOMER SERVICE REPRESENTATIVE

ZHANG, TING Chinese

CAO, SHUYUAN Chinese

CHINESE SPEAKING CUSTOMER SERVICE STAFF

GUO, QIYUAN Chinese

ZHANG, JUN Chinese

307.

258.

TIAN, ZONGBU Chinese

MANDARIN SPEAKING CUSTOMER SERVICE REPRESENTATIVE

182.

MANDARIN CUSTOMER SERVICE SPECIALIST

209.

LAM CANG SAM Vietnamese

ZENG, YIJIE Chinese

WANG, YUN-CHING Taiwanese

CHINESE CUSTOMER SERVICE REPRESENTATIVE

181.

306.

CHEN, ZHENLING Chinese

CHEN, JIANHONG Chinese

MANDARIN SPEAKING CUSTOMER SERVICE REPRESENTATIVE

MANDARIN CUSTOMER SERVICE SPECIALIST

263.

220.

XU, QINGYU Chinese

WANG, PENGYACHEN Chinese

208.

175.

180.

305.

CHINESE SPEAKING CUSTOMER SERVICE STAFF

CUSTOMER SERVICE REPRESENTATIVE

MANDARIN SPEAKING CUSTOMER SERVICE REPRESENTATIVE

VIETNAMESE CUSTOMER SERVICE

LI, HAN Chinese

ZHANG, JIALAN Chinese

179.

POSITION

CHINESE CUSTOMER SERVICE REPRESENTATIVE

MANDARIN SPEAKING CUSTOMER SERVICE REPRESENTATIVE

NGUYEN TUAN ANH Vietnamese

NOCMAKATI, INC. 8,9,10,11,12,14,15,16,17,18 & 19 Floors Century Diamond Center Kalayaan Ave. Cor. Salamanca St. Poblacion Makati City

FOREIGN NATIONAL / NATIONALITY

CHEN, CHUNLIN Chinese

CHEN, CANLIANG Chinese

WANG, CHAO Chinese

NO.

262.

219.

178.

POSITION

CHINESE SPEAKING CUSTOMER SERVICE STAFF

CUSTOMER SERVICE REPRESENTATIVE

MANDARIN SPEAKING CUSTOMER SERVICE REPRESENTATIVE

257.

FOREIGN NATIONAL / NATIONALITY

CAO, HUI Chinese

XUE, KAIXUAN Chinese

SONG, DONGJUN Chinese

NO.

ESTABLISHMENT / ADDRESS

207.

174.

177.

Thursday, December 10, 2020

*Date Generated: Dec 9, 2020 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-NCR Regional Office located at DOLE-NCR Building, 967 Maligaya St., Malate Manila, within 30 days after this publication. Please inform DOLE-NCR if you have any information on criminal offense committed by the foreign nationals.

ATTY. SARAH BUENA S. MIRASOL REGIONAL DIRECTOR

Thursday, December 10, 2020 • Editor: Gerard S. Ramos

Parentlife BusinessMirror

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Let’s have a ‘purpose-filled’ pandemic Christmas: Part II Special virtual background I made in Canva during our Zoom Christmas get-together last weekend with my “Amies Pour Jamais” (Friends Forever) barkada.

Today’s Horoscope By Eugenia Last

CELEBRITIES BORN ON THIS DAY: Raven-Symone, 35; Emmanuelle Chriqui, 45; Meg White, 46; Kenneth Branagh, 60. Happy Birthday: Take your time; rushing into something will be what holds you back. Pay attention to detail, and be responsible for achieving your dreams. Change begins with you, and the more you do on your own, the easier it will be to get things done. Listen to your intuition, not to someone trying to lead you in a different direction. Your numbers are 4, 21, 25, 31, 37, 42, 48.

ARIES (March 21-April 19): Don’t let emotional vacillation stand between you and a good opportunity. A lifestyle change may scare you, but doing nothing will lead to regret. Believe in your ability to make things happen and to handle whatever comes your way. HHH

AST week, I began sharing my plans to make this holiday season a “purpose-filled” one with gifts and gestures. Let me continue this week with my thoughts on this year’s holiday get-togethers. The thing I will truly miss this holiday season is gathering with the special people in my life. I have always looked forward to the catch-up especially with my friends’ kids, the new food we try, and the tons of reminiscing. I have realized the true purpose of these gatherings is in us showing gratitude for how we continue to be there for one another after so many decades. That said, I wanted to make sure we all remember this year’s get-togethers as extra-special despite this pandemic. Below are my recommended tips for virtual gettogethers: 1. INITIATE. Your first gift to your family and friends is to initiate organizing the virtual get-together despite your busy schedule. List down the groups of family and friends you are planning get-togethers with. Since this is virtual, widen your scope to special people you would usually not be able to spend Christmas with due to location. Given the virtual possibility today, your Christmas might even be more meaningful this year by touching base with them. 2. PICK A THEME. This is where your reminiscing starts. Look through past photos and yearbooks. Remember any special name or motto your group might have had. From there, try to make a special virtual background for your get-together. Last weekend, I met up with my high school barkada from Poveda via Zoom. We were supposed to all meet up in New York this coming January. We have not been together as a group since our college days, so the trip

TAURUS (April 20-May 20): Take care of your responsibilities, and keep moving forward. Look over contracts, negotiate and consider your options. Don’t let someone’s uncertainty drag you down. Ask direct questions, and make decisions that are in your best interest. HHH

GEMINI (May 21-June 20): Don’t believe everything you hear or participate in events that go against your beliefs. Be true to yourself, honest about how you feel and determined to live life your way. HHHHH

was really a much-awaited one. I wanted to at least make our Zoom call a memorable one. Our barkada name is Amies Pour Jamais, which means “Friends Forever” in French. I found our old studio photos from high school and made a Canva Virtual Background for the call. We had fun remembering when we took the photos plus other fond memories. I also made a Spotify playlist with 1990s songs for a simple game of “Name That Tune.” Before we ended, I found a YouTube karaoke version of our theme song, “Umagang Kay Ganda” (A Very Beautiful Morning), which left us close to tears as we remembered all we have been through together, and proclaimed how we value having each other for all the years to come. 3. PICK A FEAST. Even if you are celebrating in your own homes, it is a good idea to order the same dishes to feel the togetherness. The good thing now is you can actually order different types of food from one group. I found three practical options n Central Delivery (www.centraldelivery.ph), where you can order your favorites from Popeyes, Kuya J, Landers Central, Da Gianni, Dough & Co., Isla Sugbu Seafood City.

n The Moment Group (www.momentfood.com), for a feast from 8 Cuts, Bank Bar, Din Tai Fung, Manam, Mecha Uma, Mess Hall, Mo Cookies, Ooma, Phat Pho, Shawa Wama. n The Party Kitchen (www.thepartykitchen.ph), where you can choose from Oriental, Pinoy Fiesta, Party Kitchen Bestsellers, Wild Western feast packages. 4. MAKE IT FUN. You can never go wrong with simple games. Here are a few ideas from ahaslides.com and party.lovetoknow.com/holiday-party-themes: Ice Breakers—share a hilarious Christmas memory; Alternative Christmas lyrics—offer the first part of a Christmas carol lyric and get everyone to come up with a better ending; Christmas Karaoke—you can create a room on Sync Video, a free, no-sign up service that lets you precisely sync videos so that every attendant of your virtual Christmas party can watch them at the same time; or Watch2Gether—to watch and sing-along to various karaoke videos together; and Virtual Cocktail Hour—from which you can send out three to four mixed cocktail drink recipes to your guests, along with an ingredients list. Greeting everyone an Advanced Happy “PurposeFilled” Christmas! n

Watsons Card celebrates 2nd anniversary THE flagship health and beauty brand of the global A.S. Watson Group, Watsons, one of the leading health, beauty and wellness retailers in the Philippines, recently celebrated the 2nd anniversary of their loyalty program now with more than 3 million members nationwide. In 2018, the Watsons Card was launched to give its frequent shoppers exclusive perks, discounts, exciting deals and more value for money. To kick-off the 2nd anniversary celebration and Grand Member Sale, Watsons went live on their Facebook page with Hershey Neri hosting, together with Watsons Pharmacist Luis Maximo de Guzman and Watsons Brand Ambassador Marissa Cabas. As a gesture of thanks to its millions of members, the retailer announced deals and up to 50-percent off on more than a thousand selections

of health and beauty products through the Watsons Card Grand Members Sale. The benefits of having a Watsons Card include lifetime membership, earning and redeeming of points,

getting exclusive discounts, 2x bonus points on Watsons Brand products, access to member events, enjoying privileges in select partner establishments, and access to more perks and rewards such as an annual

sale to all Watsons Card members. Meanwhile, Watsons Card members who accumulated at least P35,000 annual spend is entitled for an upgrade to Watsons Elite membership. On top of the Watsons Card benefits, Elite members get to enjoy priority service, free delivery at Watsons online or Call & Delivery service, access to Elite concierge by having a personal shopper and an assigned store officer at the store, exclusive Elite discounts, a birthday treat (earn 10x points on the member’s first transaction during their birth month, five times bonus on Watsons Brand products and access to Elite member events). Members can download the Watsons app on the Google Play Store, App Store and Huawei App Gallery for more information and perks. More details are available at www. watsons.com.ph.

CANCER (June 21-July 22): Steer clear of joint ventures. Handle shared expenses with care, and keep your emotions out of financial decisions. Concentrate on personal improvement, health, fitness and looking your best. How you present yourself to the world will make a difference. HH

LEO (July 23-Aug. 22): Take pride in your home and lifestyle. Strive for perfection, be responsible and do your research before you make a move. A unique offer may tempt you, but you are better off doing your own thing. HHHH

VIRGO (Aug. 23-Sept. 22): Embrace change. Walk away from situations that cannot benefit you. Look for a unique opportunity, and strive to do your very best. What you master today will lead to a new and exciting way to live your life. Romance looks promising. HHH

LIBRA (Sept. 23-Oct. 22): Use your energy wisely. Don’t get caught in someone’s dilemma. Walk away from adversity and toward intellectual stimulation and educational pursuits. A change of heart will help you realize what you want out of life and how to make it happen. HHH

SCORPIO (Oct. 23-Nov. 21): Uncertainty will surface if you are too open about how you feel or what you plan to do next. A reserved approach to prospects, coupled with behindthe-scenes work to put everything in place, will lead to the success you crave. HHH

SAGITTARIUS (Nov. 22-Dec. 21): Consider how you handle and earn your cash. Look at your assets, what others expect of you and what you are capable of doing. Be honest with yourself and others, and offer only what’s reasonable. HHHH

CAPRICORN (Dec. 22-Jan. 19): Deep-six emotional issues for the time being. Stay focused on what you want to accomplish and building a strong, stable home environment that will soothe your soul. HH

AQUARIUS (Jan. 20-Feb. 18): Take note of what’s going on around you. Be observant, but don’t let outside matters consume you. Be diligent when it comes to taking care of your responsibilities, and protect your reputation, position and status as you move forward. HHHHH

PISCES (Feb. 19-March 20): Personal growth, improving your physical appearance and romance will alleviate stress and encourage happiness. Follow through with a creative endeavor, or develop a strategy that helps you utilize your skills to increase your income. HHH Birthday Baby: You are witty, enthusiastic and playful. You are original and audacious.

‘switching jobs’ by ross trudeau The Universal Crossword/Edited by David Steinberg

ACROSS 1 Rough voice quality 5 Insect in a nest 9 WWII vessel 14 Org. for which RBG was general counsel 15 Emma star Taylor-Joy 16 Approaches 17 Most exciting boxing match 19 Yankees legend Jeter 20 One who may control 47-Across at a racecourse? 22 “A likely story!” 23 Pain in the neck 27 One who may control 47-Across at a recording studio? 31 Stare in shock 32 “By yesterday!” 33 Beer ___ (dorm game) 34 Besmirch 35 Humiliate 36 Ipanema Beach locale, informally 37 Good name for an optometrist? 39 Pleasant speaking cadence 40 Frozen reindeer

42 One who may control 47-Across at a railroad terminal? 45 “Pipe down, you!” 46 Singer Grande’s nickname 47 Microsoft Word setting that allows you to see edits 54 Climate activist Thunberg 57 Travel by air 58 Liquefy 59 Not remotely close 60 Tesla CEO Musk 61 Boxer’s warning 62 City with a tilted tower 63 Word after “litmus” or “lab” DOWN 1 Accessibility feature 2 Trendy smoothie berry 3 Little cut 4 Add energy to 5 Greet from a distance 6 Over again 7 In ___ (harmonized) 8 Way up a mountain? 9 Like zombies 10 Makes more formidable, as defenses

1 Sculling implement 1 12 “What ___ the odds?” 13 “Tut-tut!” syllable 18 Wipe, as a whiteboard 21 “With any luck!” 24 Person who makes a goal 25 Vladimir entombed in Red Square 26 “And therefore...” 27 Carey with a signature whistle register 28 Home made of logs 29 One starts with “The Lord is my shepherd” 30 Certain Jamaican, religiously 31 “Party on, Wayne!” “Party on, ___!” 34 Kind of soup at a sushi bar 35 Greeting on Oahu 38 ___ step (basketball feint) 40 It may go under your chin 41 Small line on a leaf 43 Tel Aviv’s nation 44 Much of Mali 48 Manchester man 49 Nobelist Annan 50 Pros at balancing, briefly?

51 Powerful wind 52 Biblical name that anagrams to “nose” 53 Placed in the mail 54 Waze tech 55 Compete in a marathon 56 Obama ___ (2009-2017)

Solution to Tuesday’s puzzle:

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Show BusinessMirror

Women loving boys who love boys: The BL Phenomenon

CAME late into this BL phenomenon. In Ateneo de Manila University, where I taught Japanese cinema for more than 30 years, the Japanese “yaoi” for some reason did not become part of the syllabus. But many in my class knew about it and, I suspect, worshipped at the altar of men loving other men. I know yaoi—the homoerotic romance manga or comics, which became an extension of shōjo manga, or comics for girls. It was called by many names but one term stuck and this was shōnen-ai: “boy love.” It was in the 1970s, however, when the term “yaoi” was developed out of a portmanteau of “yama nashi, ochi nashi, imi nashi” (no climax, no point, no meaning). There are many ways of reading the new term. One was the idea that the new form of storytelling relied more on sex at the expense of more articulated characters and a well-developed plot. But the term could also indicate the opposite of a narrative dripping with sexual connotations—an exploration of a pure love between two boys who do not know if they love each other, or if those glances exchanged between them carry desires or disruption. From “boy love,” the label became “boys’ love” and was used to refer to male-male romance. What separated this form from the older homoerotic literatures was the fact that “yaoi” targeted women readers...at first. Conventions developed out of the form. The most common approach is to have a pair, where one, the “seme,” is the active pursuer and the other, the “uke,” is the passive character who is pursued. This kind of relationship is the wellspring of the “bishonen,” literally “beautiful boy,” whose androgynous features comfort the uncomfortable because he is not only alluring but also non-threatening. To the man after him, the fact of the beautiful boy holds the pretense of a woman. Male rape is a common thread in this kind of literature, with the act either igniting the beginning of a relationship or creating a conflict, which moves the narrative to a soft, dramatic, resolving finish. When the “BL” became a craze in the country, “yaoi” was the unnamed, unacknowledged influence. I would not be surprised if those who fell in love (obsession is closer to the fandom of BL) with BL

did not care about its Japanese origin. There are reasons for this. One is the fact that the Japanese yaoi in cinema never really made inroads in terms of developing an interest the local viewers. Second, it was the Thai BL that sparked the interest of a huge chunk of the audience. In my case as a viewer, it was through the muchvaunted Filipino BL called Hello, Stranger where I first became serious with this genre. The show was going viral and, being around cineastes and film critics, I felt I was the only one not into BL. Streaming over YouTube at the time I was “enjoying” the form was another hit, Gameboys. Eventually, I would be drawn to other BL films by the algorithms of the Internet, where the titles of other BL-oriented works would rear their heads, and caution, as usual, my anthropological antennae to respond to the stimulus out there. Give the popularity of Hello, Stranger and Gameboys in no small measure to their leads (Tony Labrusca in Hello...and the maverick tandem of Elijah Canlas and Kokoy de Santos in the latter). Benefitting from good direction and writing, the two homegrown BL films are above the rest of inspired advocates and apostles of othered love. But these films deserve a separate review and will thus be a footnote in this column for the moment. From a field exposure to the local form of BL, I moved into the Thai BL. My timidity to enter the gate into Thailand’s BL films was framed by my conscious anxiety that the language whose sound I am not into would deter my appreciation of the romance I expected to blossom, or burn like eager ember. At the back of my mind, however, I knew exposure and exposure and exposure to cultures and their sounds are the gut-felt way in easing bigotry, bias and rash judgment. All cultures, other than your own, are a matter of cultivated taste: you taste, try and nurture the sensing of another world. And accept. As with all fieldwork, a key informant was necessary. I had one in the person of this woman who shall remain as Miss Netchaii M. She was into BL of all persuasions and permutations. She would give me links to films and alert me of special “seasons.” It seems the tandem in particular BL films would create such a massive popularity that viewers—all fans— were ready for any second part. Thus, through Netchaii, I met “Tine” (Metawin) and “Sarawat” (Bright). Their story is part of the “Together Series.” The story is thin: it is about Tine who is being harassed by a gay admirer named Green. In order to stop this ardent, abrasive, and funny-looking suitor, Tine has to enter into a fake relationship with Sarawat, the most-sought after and most goodlooking student in the campus. In the end, they end up as lovers. In terms of complexion, the story is all ice-cream and rainbow. Even when they kiss, you are getting two good friends out to enjoy each other’s

company and not shock the audience into retching up. Sotus was my second incursion into the world of Thai BL. At first, I thought the title was a Latin name but the film would reveal the secret of the acronym— “S.O.T.U.S.” stands for Seniority, Order, Tradition, Unity, and Spirit. It is the system that pervades the ethos of the Faculty (the Thai term for College) of Engineering. Sotus is the story of a head hazer (Arhit) and a freshman (Kongpob), who is daring enough to question and fight the system—hazing, junior-senior kinship, and the abuse of authority common in any enforced social stratification. The difficulties faced by the freshman are so insurmountable and the hatred of the senior virulent, one wonders how the film manages to end the plot with the two loving each other to hell and back and hell again. The second inferno takes place in, you guess, it, the second season of the series. And a third, where the reality of any kind of relationship is always infected with the germ of separation and the troubling aspect of an impossible re-union. But re-unite, the Arhit and Kong do. The third is called Together With Me: The Series. The characters are Korn and Knock. It begins with a knockout scene: a young engineering student wakes up, after a night of drunkenness, in bed with his childhood friend. He realizes he had sex with him the previous night. The two decide to keep the “thing” a secret. Grittier than the other two series, Knock and Korn, while still university students, are of the muscled type and appear to summon a different kind of audience. They will eventually love each other but knowledge of their relationship will be limited to their friends. It was from this series that I began to question the earlier impression (shared by many in their writings) that the preponderance of BL films point to an openness of Thai society to gay cultures. Terribly popular also, Knock and Korn would have two other series. In the Together With Me: The Next Chapter, the episodes would dwell on how Korn’s father would start questioning the gender (or sexuality) of his son, to the point of his ignorant fear that his handsome son could turn into a “woman.” As Knock’s father becomes more bigoted, his mother is silent and, we can surmise, tolerant and understanding of his son’s choice. Knock’s parents are more understanding and shown to be ready and accepting about their son’s gender. The most enthralling theme of Thai BL is the presence of women abetting, ignoring, understanding, feeling repugnant, valiantly breaking up the bond between boys so she could insert herself in the autobiography of another boy, or being wildly crazy at the thought that boys do fall in love with each other and become mad, sad, and bad because of love. That will be Part 2 of this column. n

Editor: Gerard S. Ramos

• Thursday, December 10, 2020

SPAT OR SPLIT

HAVE they broken up or what? The actor and his girlfriend have reportedly been living together but it’s strange that during his birthday, the latter didn’t greet him publicly or post their picture on social media with a cheesy declaration of love. It could be that their management had already told them not to be too showy on social media. But the rumor is that they had a big fight weeks ago and the girlfriend, an actress, is still mad. She is known to be temperamental over the smallest things, but she’s also the one who will not bow down to her boyfriend. She’s lucky that he’s so in love with her. So, yes, the fight is still on. They haven’t unfollowed each on other Instagram yet so it’s not official. Has the actor gotten tired of the actress and her temper?

WORDS GOT IN THE WAY

THE actor was interviewed by a popular writer in connection with a big project he is involved with. When the article came out for review by his management, they were dismayed to read that it looked like it was written by a lovestruck 13-yearold instead of a professional. Worse, the writer put words into the actor’s mouth and made him sound so patronizing toward his female costars. That’s not usually the way he talks so the actor’s management talked to the writer and the publication and begged them to remove some parts, including those that made him seem like he was starved for love and sex. They were successful in a way because at least, the horrible ending was taken down, but in the spirit of editorial independence, most parts couldn’t be removed.

NOT HIS TYPE

FROM left: GMA Network Chairman and CEO Felipe Gozon, Education Secretary Leonor Magtolis-Briones, and GMA President and COO Gilberto Duavit Jr.

GMA to air DepEd TV on digital channel for free THE country’s leading broadcast firm, GMA Network has inked an agreement with the Department of Education (DepEd) for the free use of its digital channel to assist in the department’s implementation of the blended learning program. Putting great value in the importance of education in these uncertain and challenging times, GMA is providing nationwide airtime for DepEd TV from 7 am to 7 pm, Monday to Saturday, on its digital terrestrial TV (DTT) channel, Channel 7, on the GMA Affordabox. The memorandum of agreement signing, held virtually on December 4, was led by GMA Network Chairman and Chief Executive Officer Felipe L. Gozon, president and chief operating officer Gilberto R. Duavit Jr., and Education Secretary Leonor Magtolis-Briones. Also present were GMA senior vice president for finance and ICT Ronaldo P. Mastrili, SVP for corporate strategic planning and business development and

concurrent chief risk officer and head of program support Regie C. Bautista, VP and head of Regional TV and Synergy Oliver Victor B. Amoroso, and VP for corporate affairs and communications Angela Javier Cruz. For DepEd, in attendance, as well were undersecretary Alain Pascua, undersecretary Diosdado San Antonio, assistant secretary Alma Ruby Torio, director Abram Y.C. Abanil, director Atty. Marcelo Bragado, Jr., and consultant Darlow Parazo. “GMA Network recognizes the challenges our country faces in the middle of this pandemic and will do its part to support the country’s efforts to curb the spread of Covid-19, while continuing to enrich the lives of Filipinos in ways that we can. It is therefore our honor and privilege to join forces with the Department of Education and provide our TV platform for free to enable our young learners access to broadcast education while keeping them safe at home,” said Gozon.

With GMA as a key partner in promoting the best in the Filipino, Duavit affirmed, “This is part of our continuous effort to deliver ‘Serbisyong Totoo’ to our countrymen, especially in these difficult and trying times. We are deeply grateful for this opportunity to serve our youth by providing this added means by which to learn and grow.” Briones, meanwhile, expressed her gratitude to the network: “All these months that we have been struggling with a pandemic, we have sought ways with alternative learning modes. This has been leading us to the greater use of technology. And we are very grateful to GMA for offering their assistance, their services, and advice as we move on to much more effective ways of delivering blended learning, as well as the other modalities.” Students and parents can catch DepEd TV via Channel 7 on the GMA Affordabox beginning midDecember (on test broadcast). More updates are available at www.gmanetwork.com.

FANS and even his own management continue to pressure the young celebrity into dating a young female actress. But he isn’t agreeable to doing it because he believes they have nothing in common— and he’s right. It’s not that he doesn’t like her. He does. He has, in fact, only respect and admiration for her hard work and dedication. But the thing is that she isn’t her type. He’s already expressed his love for another girl, a model, and the feeling is reportedly mutual. The young celebrity is scared to reveal his love for the girl because he is scared that fans of his former screen partner and the actress people want him to hook up with might bash the girl and call her names.

IDOL’S EX

THIS young actress has always admired another actress, who is well known for her beauty. The young actress also has a crush on the beautiful actress’s boyfriend. She isn’t about to steal him from her idol, so she did the next best thing. She is now dating the actress’s ex, the one she “stole” from another actress who now has her own family. The young actress also hopes that her idol’s romance luck would rub off on her as she’s been unlucky so far. She’s had moderate success in her career and family life but so far, her love life hasn’t been good. Will her new boyfriend bring her that romance luck? Hopefully he will.

A10 Thursday, December 10, 2020 • Editor: Angel R. Calso

Opinion BusinessMirror

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editorial

When Covid is gone

ith the whole world watching, the UK started on Tuesday its mass vaccination program against Covid-19, with a nurse from the Philippines administering Pfizer-BioNTech’s vaccine to Margaret Keenan, a 90-year-old grandmother who was the first person in the world to get the shot outside clinical trials.

Filipino nurse May Parsons, who injected the vaccine to Keenan, is one of about 18,000 Filipinos working for Britain’s National Health Service. In an interview with Good Morning Britain, Parsons said: “I’m really glad to be telling all the Filipinos in the country and in the world that we can make a difference.” She described the Covid vaccination in the UK as a “historical event” for Filipinos globally, who are proud of the care they provide in the medical sector in the middle of the pandemic. Ambassador Daniel Pruce, the British envoy to the Philippines, lauded the Filipino nurse in a tweet. “A fantastic moment! And great to see that the vaccine is administered by Nurse May Parsons from the Philippines—one of the many thousands of Filipino health-care workers making such an enormous contribution to the #NHS,” Pruce said. The Philippines is widely known as the top exporter of nurses in the world. One would not be surprised to find Filipino nurses working in hospitals across the globe. The nursing diaspora can’t be helped because the country produces thousands of nurses every year. According to the Medical Information Research Information Center Global, the Philippines has an annual production of about 38,000 nurses and 4,500 physicians. And Filipino nurses all over the world have the reputation of providing quality care to patients. That’s why countries short of nurses prefer to hire Filipino nurses. In the time of the pandemic, our nurses and other medical workers are the real unsung heroes. Unfortunately, they are overworked and underpaid. According to the Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE), an entry-level registered nurse receives an average salary of P8,000 to P13,500 per month in a private hospital. In a government health facility, the average salary per month is around P13,500. Earlier this year, President Duterte signed the Salary Standardization Law that increases the take-home pay of government employees, including nurses, starting January 1, 2020. But the increase of around P1,500 is relatively insignificant. Filipino nurses in the United States earn an average of more than P300,000 a month. With the rollout of the Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine in the UK, hopes are getting high that the pandemic is beginning to end. President Duterte last week allowed the emergency use of vaccines and drugs against Covid, 10 months into the crisis that has seen more than 443,000 Filipinos infected and 8,670 deaths. Malacañang said on Monday that around 24.6 million Filipinos are on the government’s priority list for its initial vaccination drive against Covid-19. Presidential Spokesman Harry Roque said areas with a high Covid tally like Metro Manila, Metro Cebu and Davao are “geographical priorities” for the vaccination. From these areas, 24,668,128 “sectoral priorities” have been selected, including the following: 1,762,994 frontline health workers; 3,789,874 indigent senior citizens; 5,678,544 remaining senior citizens; 12,911,193 remaining indigent population; and 525,523 uniformed personnel. The list shared by DOH representative, Dr. Aleli Annie Sudiacal, with the House Committee on People’s Participation showed that teachers and school workers in the public and private sectors are sixth in the priority list, followed by the following: 7th: all remaining government workers; 8th: “essential workers” in agriculture, the food industry, transportation and tourism; 9th: sociodemographic groups in significantly higher risk areas other than the senior citizens and indigent population (persons deprived of liberty, persons with disabilities, and Filipinos living in high-density areas); 10th: overseas Filipino workers; 11th: other remaining work force; 12th: students. It is great news that a Covid vaccine will soon be available to Filipinos. This gives hope to our people that the nightmare of this pandemic will soon be brought under control. As we welcome the encouraging news, let’s listen to International Council of Nurses Chief Executive Officer Howard Catton: “A successful vaccination program is so much more than just a quick jab in the arm, and the huge and unprecedented task of vaccinating the people of the world is the public health equivalent of landing someone on the moon. ICN believes mass vaccination programs will face a number of obstacles that only experienced nurses can help to overcome.” Undoubtedly, the success of our fight against Covid-19 will depend on frontline nurses and other health workers. Let’s remember our unsung heroes when Covid is gone.

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Intellectually dishonest liars John Mangun

OUTSIDE THE BOX

S it too much to ask that when presumably educated and intelligent people express a viewpoint, that it be validated with facts and data? Is it too much to ask that “facts and data” be analyzed in context where apples are actually compared to apples?

We live in an era where we essentially must start with the premise that whatever we are told is “fake news” of one sort or another. If you are not initially skeptical, then it probably means you are hearing exactly what you want to hear, regardless if it makes sense. Being intellectually lazy is now the standard, with most people having a dazed mind like a regular customer of a 1930s opium den. There’s an exceptionally low level of what qualifies as “truth” today. Challenging official numbers on anything and everything is acceptable… no… it is an obligation. But you have an intellectual responsibility to provide an alternative based on an analysis that goes beyond allega-

tions that “the government lies.” Of course, governments lie. But by how much? Ten percent? Twenty percent? Five hundred percent? Government, business, and people do not tell the truth, the whole truth, and nothing but the truth. But it is important to quantify and justify the “lying” numbers for two reasons. The first is that politically driven agendas are in themselves “lies.” “Your politician always lies; mine always tells the truth.” That is the basic mindset of the person who says that government lies, without offering a reasonable alternative to the lies. Chinese government economic data has been false, is false, and will continue to be untrue. It is all a bunch

Unless China was running its factories on cow farts—more than 50 percent of its economy then—the GDP data is not true. China just reported its exports to the US increased by 46 percent year-on-year. Except the US reported its imports-from-China data and it is 20 percent lower than what China said it exported. of lies. Case closed. But here is the quantitative and therefore intellectually responsible analysis. Between 1997 and 2000, official figures reported that Chinese real GDP grew 24.7 percent, yet energy consumption decreased 12.8 percent. Energy consumption data was based on looking at the actual output of individual power plants in China. It is easy to fake the top line numbers and extremely hard to change all the internals. Unless China was running its factories on cow farts—more than 50 percent of its economy then—the GDP data is not true. China just reported its exports to the US increased by 46 percent year-on-year. Except the US reported its imports-fromChina data and it is 20 percent lower

than what China said it exported. Equally bogus are the unemployment and inflation numbers in the US. It is as if the US government picks a number that they want and “finds” the data to prove that number. The official annual inflation rate is 1.2 percent ending October 2020. But calculated the same way as it was in 1990, it is 5 percent. Using the 1994 computation method for unemployment, the rate is 26 percent, not the official 6.7 percent. The second reason it is important to quantify and justify the “lying” numbers is this. “For every 50 grams of cinnamon and 25 grams of ground paprika, the FDA allows up 10 rodent hairs. And in cinnamon, up to 400 insect fragments are allowed per 50gram sample.” If you tell me that government is lying about the number of rodent hairs in my cinnamon, there is an important difference between 10 and 1,000 extra hairs. Be intellectually honest and challenge others to do the same. Otherwise, they are just as bad as the liars. E-mail me at mangun@gmail.com. Visit my web site at www.mangunonmarkets.com. Follow me on Twitter @mangunonmarkets. PSE stockmarket information and technical analysis tools provided by the COL Financial Group Inc.

Who can investors listen to when everybody’s wrong? By Barry Ritholtz | Bloomberg Opinion

he year 2020 will be remembered for any number of things, including how wrong so many were about so much. From the pandemic to the election, and from the economy to financial markets, prognosticators did a horrible job. When it comes to Wall Street, it’s easy to see why so few got it right. Coming into the year, not a single strategist had “global pandemic, 1.5 million deaths worldwide, the worst economic downturn since the Great Recession, a 34 percent market crash and subsequent rebound led by a handful of tech stocks” in their 2020 outlooks. But “tail risk” events, whether they be wars, natural disasters or pandemics, regularly upend even the most logical of forecasters. There are lessons in the deductive reasoning errors and faulty data analyses, no matter what the field, that can lead even the savviest market participants astray. Let’s consider three examples from the US Presidential election and what they mean for investors. Beware Coincidence: Moneymaking “ insights” materialize regularly in the firehose of daily market data. Upon closer analysis, most turn out to be a mirage. Determining if these indicators are based on good logic can help an

investor avoid losses. Consider this fact: Since 1928, whenever the S&P 500 Index has risen in the three months prior to a presidential election, the party that controlled the White House won 90% of the time. Julian Emanuel, the chief equity and derivative strategist for BTIG Llc., seized upon this idea in mid-October, saying this and other market data suggest polls may be “underestimating the probability of President Trump getting re-elected.” And he wasn’t the only one to spotlight this datapoint. In the three months prior to this year’s election, the S&P 500 rose 2.3 percent. Annualized, that is a gain of more than 9 percent, which is about average for any given year. Even so, the incumbent lost. The problem with this indicator is that both variables occur quite frequently: Markets tend to go up most of the time, about three out of every four years, and incumbent presidents tend to win re-election—33 out of 44 prior to Trump. If both of these

Investors should be wary of following the advice of pundits and fund managers who get one big call right. Instead, they should attempt to figure out if those pundits or fund managers are uniquely skillful or just got lucky. Untangling skill from luck is always challenging.

outcomes occur about 75 percent of the time, it is more likely that their simultaneous occurrence is coincidental and not predictive. It is a form of denominator blindness, where analysts use data without context. The six-for-six track record is more likely just a reflection of how common each is. Failing to recognize this leads to a misreading as prescience instead of coincidence. Don’t confuse luck with skill: Most pollsters failed to accurately predict the 2016 election, but the Trafalgar Group nailed it. Robert Cahaly’s firm had the most accurate polls in seven swing states: Florida, Pennsylvania, Michigan, North Carolina, Ohio, Colorado and Georgia. Trafalgar even accurately predicted the number of Electoral College votes—306—that Trump would garner.

Trafalgar’s success led many to take note when Cahaly foresaw another Trump win in 2020. He predicted so-called shy Trump supporters would propel him to an Electoral College victory in the high 270s to low 280s, with wins in North Carolina and Florida as well as in Arizona, Georgia, Michigan, Nevada and Pennsylvania. Cahaly got the first two right and the last five wrong, leading to a Trump loss. The popular vote also went to challenger Joe Biden, who received some seven million more votes than the incumbent, leading to 306 Electoral College votes versus 232 for Trump. A better explanation than “shy voters” may be how party affiliation impacted individual responses to the pandemic. Biden supporters were more likely to be in white collar, work-at-home jobs than Trump supporters, and therefore more easily reachable on landlines (computer generated polling does not call mobile phones). Trump supporters were more likely to work outside the home or generally be out and about. Those two factors emerge as a likely source of the undercount of Republicans in the 2020 polling. Thus, if data analyst Nate Silver is correct, Covid-19 led directly to pollsters oversampling Democrats. See “Ritholtz,” A11

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Opinion

Drop it, Donald!

A witness in truth

BusinessMirror

Msgr. Sabino A. Vengco Jr.

Val A. Villanueva

Businesswise

onspiracy theories surrounding elections have a way of sounding crazy everywhere. In the Philippines, in election after election since 2010, the phrases “statistical anomalies,” “hidden servers,” “malicious algorithms,” and “seven-hour glitches,” and countless other allegations have been bandied about. Curiously enough, the same thing is happening in the United States—“the land of the free, and home of the brave”—in the aftermath of their November 3 presidential election. Donald J. Trump’s legal team, led by former New York City Mayor Rudy Giuliani, has taken their electoral protests a notch fancier. However, some political and legal experts have lambasted the team for “setting a precedent in lowering the bar.” Their accusations involve an international conspiracy that lassos in everything from Iran to Venezuela, and Castro to the Chinese Communist Party, all the way to Trump votes that supposedly traveled to Frankfurt and Barcelona only to return flipped for President-elect Joseph R. Biden. Manual recounts in Georgia and in counties of other states have junked these conspiracy theories of electronic-vote flipping. Trump’s lawyers have filed lawsuits alleging election fraud or other irregularities in the battleground states of Arizona, Georgia, Michigan, Nevada, Pennsylvania, and Wisconsin. Thus far, different federal and district court judges have remained unpersuaded. All of Trump’s legal recourses have been dismissed, even in conservativeled courts. Democrat election lawyer Marc Elias has tallied Trump’s win-loss record in court cases to date at 2 to 32. Grasping at straws, and with a runaway imagination, pro-Trump lawyer Sidney Powell even went as far as alleging fraud in Edison County, Michigan, a county you won’t be able to easily find on a map. A few weeks ago, Chris Krebs, a lifelong Republican appointed by Trump as head of the Department of Homeland Security’s CISA, declared that there was no evidence of fraud in the last elections. Days later, during an interview in the CBS TV news magazine 60 Minutes, he called Trump’s claims of fraud “farcical,” “dangerous,” and “nonsense,” and that Americans should have “100% confidence” in the security of the election. “The recounts are consistent with the initial count,” Krebs said, “and to me that’s further evidence, that’s confirmation that the systems used in the 2020 election performed as expected.” More recently, Attorney General Bill Barr, another Trump appointee, told the AP that US attorneys and FBI agents had been working to follow up specific complaints and information they’ve received, but “to date, we have not seen fraud on a scale that could have effected a different outcome in the election.” If Trump were indeed cheated, then all those Republicans who won the election would have cheated as well, owing to the nature of the automated election process. I don’t really have a full grasp of how the automated elections went in the US, but I presume it is basically the same way we did it in the 2016 presidential elections where Bongbong Marcos claimed to have been cheated of the vice presidency. This is why I believe Leni Robredo won the election fair and square, and Marcos is clutching at straws:

Ritholtz. . .

continued from A10

Investors should be wary of following the advice of pundits and fund managers who get one big call right. Instead, they should attempt to figure out if those pundits or fund

While the vote-counting machines are not perfectly tamperproof, any form of cheating presents an insoluble task, given the enormity of resources, manpower, and precise timing required. For one, every vote is logged and stored into the SEALED machine at precinct level. This means that there is foundation for verification. Yes, the final results are ultimately taken from the information transmitted to the Consolidated Canvassing System (CCS), but if any erroneous or anomalous transmissions were detected, such a comparison can easily be done with the results stored in the transmission chain, from the National Board of Canvassers, Provincial Board of Canvassers and Municipal Board of Canvassers, all the way down to the information stored at the precinct-level VCMs. Speak ing of “er roneous or anomalous transmissions,” a timedelayed firewall prevents any other transmissions that are not sent within a set time interval. It would be extremely difficult to synchronize any unauthorized or altered transmissions because the system will only take specific transmissions from specific VCMs at specific times. Any mismatch among these would be immediately reported by the CCS. In the case of failed transmissions, the system protocol is to have the results manually transmitted. While these may seem like a window of opportunity for cheating, the results must still be transmitted by transporting the entire VCM itself via a computer that has been authorized by the system and is also under the care of the Municipal Board of Canvassers. In the US, Trump has gained the notoriety of weaving untruths and “alternative facts.” He flirted with 9/11 and Syrian refugees’ conspiracy theories, and insulted Mexico by accusing it of “bringing drugs, crime and rapists” across the US borders. His main claim to fame, however, was pushing in 2011 and again during this year’s election the so-called Birther Theory, questioning the eligibility of Barack Obama and Kamala Harris to assume public office. In the face of overwhelming evidence that Biden has decisively won to become the 46th US president, Trump has refused to concede, and still insists that this was “the most corrupt election in American history.” Despite being denounced for being a “threat to the Constitution,” and sowing divisiveness, Trump continues to spin tall tales, applying Nazi Joseph Goebbels’ law of propaganda that “a lie repeated often enough becomes the truth.” Unfortunately for him, this time around, American democratic institutions are standing their ground and popping Trump’s illusion of truth.

Alálaong Bagá

he Third Sunday of Advent is defined by the antiphon: “Rejoice! The Lord is near.” Thus, its name Gaudete (Rejoice) Sunday. That we may experience the joy of salvation, John the Baptizer prepares us for the coming of the Lord by his truthful witnessing to the Savior (John 1:6-8, 19-28).

A witness John, called the Baptizer because his signature activity was to prepare the people for the coming Messiah by washing or baptizing them at the River Jordan, was a witness par excellence to the Mighty One coming after him. He was the last in the long line of messengers who proclaimed the Savior to come. The fourth evangelist purposely presents a string of witnesses and testimonies swearing to Jesus: first the Baptizer himself (1:6-8), then the Samaritan woman (4:39), Jesus’ own deeds (5:36), the words of the Jewish scriptures (5:39), the Advocate, the Spirit of truth from the Father (15:26), and finally the disciples (15:27), including the evangelist himself (21:24). In these instances, the testimony of the believer in Jesus moves others to see the truth and the light of faith, and to believe too. John the Baptizer came “so that all might believe through him.” A

witness points beyond oneself to somebody or something that really matters. John was sent to testify to the light, to the Word through whom came life and the joy of humankind. This light shines in the darkness, which has not overcome it.

In truth

John himself was not the light. The temple priests and the Levites sent to John by the leaders in Jerusalem were to make an official investigation regarding the person of John and his trending activities in the wilderness by the Jordan. The Pharisees also got into action, these self-appointed custodians of Jewish law and tradition. John must have been subjected to interrogations and inquiries one after another. The gist of John’s testimony to them and to the world clarified that he could be understood only in reference to someone he was not, the Messiah. John was the “voice in

We all live in a watershed! Dr. Rene E. Ofreneo

LABOREM EXERCENS

yphoon Ulysses bared the grim reality: The government has failed to stop the loggers and miners in killing our forest, as President Duterte himself said. The forest is our first line of defense against typhoons disgorging so much flood water.

Thursday, December 10, 2020 A11

We today do need more voices to bring us the good news of the One still unknown to so many, effective and credible witnesses, who live what they proclaim, to lead us to the light and the truth. Amid all the investigations and testimonies going on in our society and in the church, we still grope in the darkness of untruth and lies, fake statements and self-serving attestations into more and deeper chaos. It will certainly be a howling wilderness for our people if we continue to be deprived of witnesses in truth. the desert” (Isaiah 40:3) crying and alerting the people to “make straight the way of the Lord.” John was only a precursor, a forerunner, a witness to testify to the eternal Word, the life and the light of the world. John himself was never in doubt or confused regarding his own identity and his secondary role in the drama unfolding; he had no illusions about his importance. The categories of greatness in the eyes of his investigators, he turned down with ringing denials: No, he was not the Messiah, nor Elijah, nor the prophet! And he explained the rite of washing he was doing to the people at the river as merely a water ablution symbolic of repentance for one’s sins. It was his and the people’s joint effort to make ready the way of the Lord, so that the

The question is: Have the DENR, CCC and other concerned government agencies ever sat down with the communities in various watersheds to discuss the future? And do the various watersheds, in their current state of care or neglect, have a sustainable future?

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

However, another grim reality must be added: The Department of Environment and Natural Resources, Climate Change Commission (CCC) and other government agencies have failed to institutionalize an integrated watershed management. The complaints of the local government officials from Cagayan and Isabela regarding the huge flow of flood water coming from nearby provinces such as Kalinga, Apayao, Nueva Viscaya and Mountain Province indicate the absence of an IWM for the area. Same story for Marikina City, San Mateo and Montalban/ Rodriguez, which were all inundated by flood water coming from the upper Marikina Valley and the Sierra Madre range. In 2010, the Climate Change Congress of the Philippines (CCCP) headed by Bishop Antonio Ledesma and Chairman Christian Monsod proposed to the then newly established CCC that the “integrated river basin management” strategy be replaced by the “integrated watershed management” approach. As generally defined, the IRBM refers to a coordinated approach in the conservation, management and development of water, land and other resources across a given river basin. The IWM does the same on a bigger geographic scale. The rationale given by the CCCP for the proposed shift is simple: The river basin is part of a bigger watershed. The late Dr. Esteban Godi-

lano, CCCP’s expert on geo-hazard mapping, explained that the whole country can, in fact, be divided into watersheds. He quipped: “We all live in a watershed!” Dr. Godilano defined a watershed based on his geographic and environmental training at Cornell University. He said a watershed is the “geographical area” that covers the land, forests, rivers and streams in the said area. Water flows from the “ridge” (top of a hill or mountain), and gathers and merges with water draining from other areas of the land and forest. Water from the ridge and land eventually joins the river systems and various tributaries before flowing downward, as a body of water, all the way to the “reef” of the sea. Hence, the popular phrase “from ridge to reef.” Based on the foregoing definition, all land within a designated watershed is considered part of the said watershed. This is the reason why the CCCP asked CCC then to adopt the IWM strategy and to help push government to use watershed as the “planning domain.” This implies a trans-regional and inter-provincial system of environmental planning. Dr. Godilano explained that the IWM does not respect administrative boundaries or local jurisdictions because water flows, flooding and landslides do not respect such boundaries or jurisdictions. Typhoon Sendong in 2011 showed the importance of having an honest-

to-goodness IWM. Dr. Godilano was able to predict in 2009 the possibility of massive flooding in Cagayan de Oro based on his analysis of the watershed map in the area. The map shows that rains in nearby Bukidnon province can rush downward to Cagayan de Oro even if the latter is having a sunny day. About 1,200 died when Sendong caused massive flooding in Cagayan de Oro and Iligan, with flood water coming from the hilly parts of Bukidnon and the Misamis provinces. A watershed is disturbed by deforestation, population growth, pollution, road construction, mining, quarrying, swidden agriculture, and so on. And yes, by typhoons and earthquakes. Hence, a comprehensive system of watershed management is critical. At the center of watershed management is water management. Either there is too much water, or too little of it, at the upper and lower parts of a watershed. Mapping the flow of water draining from various parts of the watershed is a major challenge. This mapping, in turn, becomes part of a holistic program of watershed management that seeks to develop a healthy balance in the interaction between the population and the environment. The Food and Agricultural Organization (FAO) lists the following services and functions of a watershed: n Provision of freshwater (particularly upland watersheds); n Regulation of water flow; n Maintenance of water quality;

managers are uniquely skillful or just got lucky. Untangling skill from luck is always challenging. Consider the counterfactual: In one of its post-election autopsies, the Financial Times wrote this: “Money can’t buy you votes: Democratic cash yields meager returns.” To make that claim, one must show

the same election results without any monetary advantage. That is impossible. The counterfactual mental model has you ask, “What would the outcome have been without this factor?” Developed by 19th century Prussian mathematician Carl Gustav Jacob Jacobi, counterfactuals require vary-

ing your perspective. A good example comes from strategist Matt Bennett, of the think-tank Third Way, who observed, “If you don’t have money, you’re likely to lose, but if you do have money, you’re not certain to win.” In logic and mathematics, this condition is described as “necessary but not sufficient.”

A surge in 2020 Democratic spending might have been the difference in the five states that flipped from 2016: Wisconsin, Michigan, Pennsylvania, Georgia and Arizona. But that necessary advantage was insufficient in Florida, with its diverse population and complex political landscape.

long-awaited Savior could so-to-say come faster and arrive sooner. John was committed to prepare the hearts of his listeners, so that when the Word of God and the light of the world came, he would be recognized—the “One” standing among the people whom they do not know, the One whose sandal thongs John knew he was not worthy to untie. Alálaong bagá, to be an effective witness with a credible testimony, John was the personification of truthfulness. In contrast to the “I am” the truth, the life, the light, the way, the good shepherd of Jesus Christ punctuating the fourth gospel, John the Baptizer had humbly and truly: “I am not” the Messiah, Elijah, the prophet. In plain truth, he said he was only “the voice of one crying in the desert.” We today do need more voices to bring us the good news of the One still unknown to so many, effective and credible witnesses, who live what they proclaim, to lead us to the light and the truth. Amid all the investigations and testimonies going on in our society and in the church, we still grope in the darkness of untruth and lies, fake statements and self-serving attestations into more and deeper chaos. It will certainly be a howling wilderness for our people if we continue to be deprived of witnesses in truth. Join me in meditating on the Word of God

every Sunday, from 5 to 6 a.m. on DWIZ 882, or by audio streaming on www.dwiz882.com.

n Provision and protection of natural resources for local livelihoods; n Protection against natural hazards (e.g. local floods and landslides); n Provision of energy (e.g. hydropower); n Biodiversity conservation; and n Recreation. The FAO explains that the above watershed services and functions “…may be threatened by deforestation, uncontrolled timber harvesting, changes in farming systems, overgrazing, roads and road construction, pollution, and the invasion of alien plants. They may also be affected by natural disturbances such as wildfires, windstorms and disease. The deterioration of watershed functions has significant negative impacts, potentially leading to erosion and the depletion of soil productivity; the sedimentation of watercourses, reservoirs and coasts; increased runoff and flash flooding; reduced infiltration to groundwater; reduced water quality; and the loss of aquatic habitat and biodiversity.” The above threats to the watershed requires a holistic and balanced program of protection and preservation of water, forest, land and other resources in the watershed. FAO asserts that watershed planning and watershed stewardship are a must. Watershed management also requires consultation with and getting the support of the communities living within the given watershed area on policies affecting the future of the watershed. These communities include those in the uplands (indigenous people, migrant settler families) and those in the low lands. The question is: Have the DENR, CCC and other concerned government agencies ever sat down with the communities in various watersheds to discuss the future? And do the various watersheds, in their current state of care or neglect, have a sustainable future?

Investors tend to see the world in terms of results rather than processes. We assume identifiable causes leads to specific and measurable effects. The world is far messier and more complex than that. Forgetting this can lead to fundamental errors in our thinking, and costly errors in our portfolios.

A12 Thursday, December 10, 2020

‘Don’t limit excess rice tariff take to small-farms cash aid’

By Jovee Marie N. dela Cruz

@joveemarie

FARMERS’ group on Wednesday opposed passage of a Senate bill mandating the use of excess rice tariff collections exclusively for cash aid for farmers tilling 1 hectare or less until 2024.

The Federation of Free Farmers (FFF) made a statement following the approval of Senate Bill 1927 or the Cash Assistance for Filipino Farmers Act of 2020 on third and final reading last Monday. Under the bill, all tariff collections in excess of P10 billion ever y year shall be given as

cash aid to rice farmers tilling 1 hectare or less. The amount is intended to help farmers cope with declining palay prices and the ill effects of the Covid-19 pandemic. The measure directed the Bureau of Customs to directly remit to the Department of Agriculture

the excess funds. However, FFF National Manager Raul Montemayor said the proposal is highly discriminatory, considering that farmers tilling more than 1 hectare were also affected by plunging palay prices and the Covid crisis. “Farmers working on larger farms could have lost two or three times more than smaller producers if palay farm-gate prices fell below production costs. They were also hit by calamities, and were not immune from Covid,” he said. According to the group, the Senate proposal deviated seriously from the original intent of the Rice Tariffication Law, which provided that excess tariff collections could be used not only for cash aid but also for crop diver-

TOURISM ARRIVALS, RECEIPTS PLUNGE OVER 81% IN JAN-NOV

sification programs, crop insurance, and titling of lands acquired by farmers under the agrarian reform program. “The problems and needs of farmers may change over time, but the Senate has reserved the excess tar iff revenues exclusively for cash aid all the way to 2024. Even then, the money is actually very small and may add up to only P3,000 to P5,000 per farmer per year, whereas farmers’ losses from depressed prices alone could average P20,000 per hectare annually. Then, while the Senate said the amount will also help farmers affected by Covid-19, there is actually no increase in the cash aid for that,” Montemayor explained. Continued on A4

ISITOR arrivals in the country slumped by 82.4 percent to 1.32 million from January to November 2020, due to the ongoing Covid-19 international travel restrictions. Similarly, tourism receipts fell by 81.5 percent to P81.05 billion in the 11 months to November, according to data from the Department of Tourism (DOT). Tourism Secretary Bernadette Romulo Puyat, speaking from Mabini, Batangas, during an online presser, said there may a lift in arrivals in December with balikbayans and their foreign spouses and children, now allowed to come home visa-free. The DOT chief was in Batangas for a meeting with local stakeholders and local government representatives, and expressed her support for the continued development of dive tourism in Anilao. The province is still under general community quarantine, however, and thus most leisure travel activities, except scuba diving, are still prohibited. “The Department is hard at work not only for the slow but

sure reopening of our destinations but also on the persistent but guarded development of the dive tourism industry,” Romulo Puyat said in her opening remarks. She also encouraged dive establishment operators to strictly uphold health and safety protocols as well as to work together to improve the readiness of their area for dive tourism during the quarantine period and onwards to the new normal. In 2019, Batangas received over 311,000 tourists. Prior to the Covid lockdown, the province received 13,704 tourists. Since its reopening to scuba divers in October, Batangas received 3,272 visitors from July to October. The DOT secretar y also praised Mabini Mayor Noel Luistro for underwriting the cost of the RT-PCR tests of the tourism workers in his municipality. “We must continue to hold hands and use this period as an opportune time to reassess our programs, projects and activities to make them more responsive to the needs of the dive tourism sector,” she added. Continued on A4

Plantation Bay gets caught in DOT’s crosshairs anew By Ma. Stella F. Arnaldo

@akosistellaBM Special to the BusinessMirror

HE Department of Tourism (DOT) is keen on pursuing sanctions against MactanBay Plantation Bay Resort and Spa, which has been accused by a parent of not being a child-friendly establishment, especially to those with special needs. In an online presser from Mabini, Batangas, Tourism Secretary Bernadette Romulo Puyat said, “The DOT has already launched an investigation into the matter, and after due notice and hearing, will mete the proper administrative sanctions on the resort.” She added, “The DOT will also coordinate with the Department of Justice [DOJ] for its proper action under the Disability Law, under which the aggrieved party may also file the complaint.” The issue stemmed from the December 6 TripAdvisor review of one @maipages who said lifeguards told her to shush her son, Fin, a child with autism, who was “squealing with delight” as he played in the resort’s swimming pool. “It’s a discriminating experience,” she said, and added, “I will never consider staying here again…. We need a friendly and empathetic environment for kids and families with special needs.” To which, the resort’s resident shareholder Manny Gonzalez responded on December 7, “For your information, uncontrolled shouting is not a symptom of autism. On the contrary, autistic children tend to be silent, non-verbal, and over whelmed and w ithdraw n when faced with strangers. In fact, it is regrettably true that an autistic child will not be happy in any public situation where they may be faced with many unfamiliar people and surroundings. Google ‘Autism’ and verify this for yourself. Therefore this parent is most likely deliberately lying, or has been given an incorrect diagnosis of autism.” This is the second time the

resort has been caught in the crosshairs of the DOT. In 2015, its holding firm, Plantation Bay Holdings Corp., sued then-Tourism Secretary Ramon Jimenez Jr. and other DOT officials at the Ombudsman’s office after receiving a downgrade to four stars under the government agency’s starrating system, from its previous 5-star rating. The Ombudsman dismissed the case twice. The resort is currently rated 4 stars by TripAdvisor’s reviewers.

Magna Carta on PWD

The exchange on TripAdvisor went viral on social media on Wednesday, with netizens calling for a boycott of a resort. The Autism Society Philippines issued its own take on the matter, calling it “an opportunity for disability sensitivity training; and a review of resort’s policies and procedures in compliance to RA 7277, the Magna Carta for Persons with Disability.” The organization underscored that “the law is on your side,” and the parent of the special child “may file a civil case in court or with the Commission on Human Rights for violations of the RA 7277,” if the matter is not resolved. Gonzalez, in a letter posted on the resort’s Facebook page, eventually issued a letter of apology Wednesday evening, saying “I was wrong to question the mother’s motives and deeply regret leaving the impression that we are not supportive of the community of parents and children who have special needs.” He also edited his reply to the mother on TripAdvisor, deleting his comments on autism. However, a scroll through previous complaints about the resort showed similar heavy-handed responses to reviewers, with management even describing some as “bullies and wife-beaters as spouses,” or “professional complainers as hotel guests.” Before @maipages made her review, several other guests over the years also reviewed the resort as not being child-friendly due to its policy of maintaining a quiet ambiance.

www.businessmirror.com.ph

Companies BusinessMirror

Thursday, December 10, 2020

Cebu Pacific seeks to spur tourism via additional flights

By Lorenz S. Marasigan

@lorenzmarasigan

UDGET carrier Cebu Pacific is increasing its capacity this December to accommodate more passengers during the busy holidays, a move that is seen that could help revitalize the tourism and aviation industries and normalize flying safely amid the pandemic.

Cebu Pacific Vice President Candice Iyog said the budget carrier is reopening more domestic routes this month, boosting its capacity to 16 percent of its pre-Covid network from only 10 percent from June to November. This translates to as much as 450 flights per week to 28 domestic and

eight international destinations. Iyog emphasized that the group is implementing a “three-step approach to rebuilding trust in travel,” namely: sanitation, tracking and tracing, and testing. She added that the group has started the review of its projections, as well as its initiatives towards re-

covery, given several Covid-19 vaccines are now underway. “We have to re-forecast our projections, our recovery, I think while everyone is really hoping for the vaccine, I think we cannot afford to wait for the vaccine to get here before we start to confidently fly again because of the impact of travel and tourism to the economy and so it’s really finding the right balance based on the information we have, based on the technology, based on what we have in place today so that we can already start calibrating and moving closer towards where our peers are, where they are at above 50 percent already, we have quite of ways to go,” she said. Iyog noted that Cebu Pacific is actively promoting the resumption of flights amid the pandemic, as “one job in aviation creates 29 jobs in tourism” citing new data from the International Air Transport Association (Iata). As part of its initiatives to spur safe air travel during the pandemic,

Cebu Pacific is launching a “piso sale” from December 10 to December 12 for all domestic and intentional destinations. Travel period for the sale is from August 1 to November 30, 2021. “A lot of us are looking forward to experiencing the wonders of travel again, especially now that we are seeing more domestic destinations reopen its doors for tourists. We firmly believe the holiday season is the perfect time to share this gift with every Juan,” Iyog said. Cebu Pacific, she said, is strictly implementing a “multilayered approach to safety, in accordance with global aviation standards, to ensure guests travel with peace of mind. This includes extensive daily disinfection of aircraft, frequent cleaning of passenger surfaces at the airport and inflight, coupled with the presence of hospital-grade High Efficiency Particulate Air filters onboard that are proven to eliminate 99.99 percent of viruses.

BiotechJP sets up PHL shop for RTE rice By Cai U. Ordinario @caiordinario

JAPANESE firm has set up shop in the Philippines to manufacture packed and ready-to-eat rice for Covid-19 and other emergencies, according to the Japan International Cooperation Agency (Jica). In a statement, Jica said BiotechJp Corp. (BTJP) is using low-protein rice technology and established a factory in Tarlac. Jica said this was made possible by its partnership with private firms which aim to share innovations to address development problems in other countries.

“There are 73 projects which have been implemented with Philippine counterparts to help create jobs and find solutions to common problems in the country, while expanding their business. It’s a win-win relationship,” Jica Philippines Senior Representative Ohshima Ayumu said. Jica supported BTJP in introducing low-protein rice technology in the Philippines to address the growing cases of chronic kidney diseases (CKDs) in the country. The low-protein rice technology helps delay progression of CKD and consequently reduces the costs of medical treatments of patients. The technology is also able to

bring benefits to Filipino farmers by adding value to their rice products, according to the Philippine Rice Research Institute (PhilRice). “For markets like Japan, the pandemic prompted an increase for packed rice products which is also fueled by consumers resorting to online platforms for convenience and safety.” said Egawa Kiyosada, President of BTJP. The factory has a daily production capacity of 20,000 rice packs and will help BTJP meet the demand of a growing market for packed rice. Apart from the low-protein rice, BTJP has also introduced other variants such as ready-to-eat packed rice

with a one-year shelf life that makes it ideal for emergency situations. The BTJP project in Tarlac is part of the Rice Revolution 21 program that aims to develop the province's rice supply chain and is also a partnership with the Yuchengco Group, PhilRice, and Department of Science and Technology-Food and Nutrition Research Institute (DOST-FNRI). This year, back-to-back typhoons and torrential rains left thousands of Filipinos in Bicol, Metro Manila, Rizal, Cagayan, Isabela, and other parts of the country without access to basic goods, relying on stocked food supplies and emergency relief packages.

JFC unveils SM Prime opens first mall in Zamboanga flagship store in UK city

OCAL restaurant chain Jollibee Foods Corp. (JFC) on Wednesday said it continues with its expansion in the United Kingdom with the opening of its Leicester City branch. Known for being home to the Leicester City Football Club, and one of the UK’s oldest cities, the Leicester City opening is the second Jollibee in Britain opening in the span of just two months. Despite lockdown restrictions currently in place in the UK, the opening was still well received by the local community with customers waiting to get their takeout. Physical distancing and other strict safety protocols were enforced to ensure the wellbeing of the customers and the store team. The said store is already Jollibee's third in Britain. “Everywhere, our world-famous Chickenjoy has always been met with excitement and we’re happy to see that Leicester City is no exception,” said Dennis Flores, president of JFC Europe, Middle East, Asia and Australia. “What is amazing with this opening is that 40 percent of the customers were locals from Leicester when usually almost all of the customers during the first weeks are Filipinos as they are already familiar with Jollibee. This is a good indication that our strategy to make Jollibee appeal to the mainstream market is working— allowing us to widen our customer base. We are very much encouraged to see the initial days’ sales outperform projections by double digits, even surpassing the recent blockbuster Liverpool opening," Flores said. To date, Jollibee has over 1,400 stores globally. The company earlier shared its plans to open 50 stores in Europe within the next five years. VG Cabuag

UST in time for Christmas, SM City Mindpro opens its doors in Zamboanga City on Tuesday. It is SM Prime Holdings’ 76th supermall, the seventh in Mindanao, and the first in the Zamboanga Peninsula region. Zamboanga City, 6th most populous and 3rd largest city by land area in the Philippines, is the region’s cultural, economic, and educational center. Highly urbanized, it is a busy port strategically located on the southwestern tip of the Zamboanga Peninsula, on Basilan Strait, and sheltered by Basilan Island. Strategically located in a 13,078 square-meter site along La Purisima Street and Campaner Street in Barangay Zone III, SM City Mindpro will serve shoppers in this bustling city, as well as those in the rest of the Zamboanga Peninsula. These include the provinces of Zamboanga del Norte, Zamboanga del Sur, and Zamboanga Sibugay; as well as the cities of Dapitan, Dipolog, Isabela, and Pagadian. More than that, it will be a catalyst for employment and business opportunities in the area. The four-level 59,383 square meter mall creates a unique identity along the city’s popular thoroughfare and within a short walk to the well-known Metropolitan Cathedral, Plaza Pershing, Paseo Del Mar and nearby pier. Striking glass walls at the main entrances and a dramatic linear overhang stretching along La Purisima Street create an impressive appearance for the mall when approached in every direction The mall’s interiors are distinctly crisp and modern with textures and relaxing colors that give one the sense of being on a tropical holiday in an urban paradise. The SM Store and Mindpro Super-

SM City Mindpro creates a unique identity along the city’s popular thoroughfare with its striking glass walls at the main entrances and a dramatic linear overhang stretching along La Purisima Street. CONTRIBUTED PHOTO

market are SM City Mindpro’s major anchors, along with SM mainstays like SM Appliance Center, ACE Hardware, Watsons, Surplus, Miniso, and Sports Central. It will also have fashion boutiques, jewelry stores, bookstores; as well as a Cyberzone and service and wellness outlets. Eating out options include specialty restaurants, and international and local food chains like Hap Chan, Pancake House, Bigby’s, Buffalo Wings N’ Things, Dunkin Donut, Cinnabon, Pretzelmaker, Chatime, and Macao Imperial Tea. Dining in the mall is experiential, not only because of the exciting food choices in its four levels of restaurants, but also its new dining experiences using touch-free, cashless payment services. Zamboanga based brands like Bay Tal Mal, Turkish Grille Plus, Casa Velyn, South Avenue, Kape Sur, Sophia Jewelry, Oro Italia Fine Jewelry, and more have found their home in SM City Mindpro. The mall also brings great entertainment to Zamboanga City with its four state of the art cinemas. For customer convenience, SM City Mindpro has six parking levels with 481 car slots, 53 motorcycle

slots, 12 for PWD vehicles as well as tourist transport terminals. SM City Mindpro said it is on the forefront of safe malling, enforcing high standard hygiene checks and health protocols in the city through advanced, touch-free technology that creates a seamless shopping experience for all. In line with SM Prime Holdings’ commitment on disaster mitigation measures and carbon footprint reduction, the mall is designed to achieve a sustainable future. 6” CHB walls with an Exterior Insulating Finish System and Variable Frequency Drive (VFD) make it a cost-efficient and energy-saving building. Likewise, its Sewage Treatment Plant has a Treated Water Recycling Tank System that helps in the conservation of fresh water. An Underground Rainwater Tank, on the other hand, can help mitigate the cause of flooding within the mall’s neighboring areas. Solid wastes are managed in accordance to local and national standards of segregation, recycling, reusing and sending to the sanitary landfill. This is even elevated to a more inclusive advocacy in SM Cares’ Trash to Cash initiative.

FDC seals lease deal for its first dual-branded hotel in Camp John Hay By VG Cabuag @villygc

HE group of Gotianun-led Filinvest Development Corp. on Wednesday said it bagged the deal to lease for 25 years a parcel of land in Camp John Hay in Baguio City, on which the company will build its first dual-branded hotel. In a statement, FDC unit Filinvest Hospitality Corp. said it has signed a deal with the Bases Conversion and Development Authority and the John Hay Management Corp. over a 5,700-square meter property. The company said it will build a 200-plus room hotel in the property, which will be the company's first dual brand property under the Grafik and Quest brands and will be managed by Chroma Hospitality Inc. “We thank BCDA and JHMC for trusting Filinvest. Being the center of the Cordillera Region, Baguio City has always been one of the company’s top priorities. This unique opportunity will allow us to develop a full-service hotel in CJH, one of the most prime locations in Baguio. It offers the whole package—exclusivity, nature and panoramic views in the heart of Baguio,” Francis Gotianun, Filinvest Hospitality senior

vice president said. The agreement was signed by BCDA president and CEO Vince Dizon, JHMC president and CEO Allan Garcia and Gotianun in a simple ceremony in Taguig City on Wednesday. “This year may be challenging, but we continue to look ahead and see a bright future. The hotel will be ready to welcome guests in three to four years in line with the full recovery of the tourism sector. As early as now, since the loosening of the lockdown and implementation of more efficient health and safety protocols, we are beginning to see signs of that recovery,” Gotianun said. Gotianun said that the company believes that Baguio will remain a top tourist and business destination due to its unique climate, culture, tourist attractions and accessibility. Travel time has already been cut with the completion of the Tarlac-Pangasinan-La Union Expressway (TPLEx) and will be further reduced once various infrastructure projects are completed. “FHC commits to support the recovery and growth of tourism in Baguio through its investment in world- class hospitality developments. We look forward to being part of the Baguio community and becoming its hotel of choice,” Gotianun said.

Converge ICT names key executives

NAGUIT

SANTOS

ON V ERGE Infor m at ion and Communications Technology Solutions Inc., the country’s fastest-growing highspeed fixed broadband provider, announced the appointment of three new senior executives to help lead its continuing efforts and commitment to elevate Filipinos’ internet experience. The company has named Ulysses Naguit as Chief Information Officer, Albert Santos as Chief Customer Experience Officer, and Albert Benjamin Custodio as Senior Human Resources Director. Prior to joining Converge ICT, Naguit was part of Voyager Innovations where he prov ided technology leadership for value creation and digital innovations to drive the market growth and service performance of PayMaya digital payments ecosystem. He has a strong background in developing and deploying corporate information systems having worked with various companies with local and foreign business operations for the past 20 years in the areas of Investment Management, Fintech, Telecommunications, Cable Television, Courier, Remittance and Real Estate Conglomerate— residences, office buildings, resorts, hotels, convention centers and gaming. At Converge ICT, Naguit will champion the adoption of emerging technologies to drive innovation and enable new ways of business. Naguit is a licensed Engineer and holds a Bachelor of Science degree in Electronics and Communications Eng ineer ing from Mapua Institute of Technology, Executive Program from Asian Institute of Management and Six Sigma from Motorola University. On the other hand, Santos has built a successful career in the Offshore and Outsourcing Industry. His talent and competency in upholding a distinct brand of service delivery has enabled him to hold

key leadership positions in Alorica, Convergys, ePLDT, AIG Philippines, and Citibank. As head of the Customer Experience, Santos is now tasked to constantly enrich the customer journey of Converge ICT’s Residential and Enterprise clients—from customer onboarding through installation, bill payment, and after-sales support. Taking the helm of Converge ICT’s HR department, Custodio brings his 24 years of solid experience and diverse expertise in various areas such as general HR management, recruitment and staffing, learning and development, organization development. He gained considerable expertise having been exposed to top multinational companies across multiple industries including telecommunications, FMCG, life insurance, healthcare, hospitality, engineering & construction solutions, and consumer appliances. “I am pleased to have seasoned chief officers and industry experts joining our formidable management team. As we tread toward hypergrowth and expansion, they will serve as the vanguards of our mission to connect the Philippines and allow them to reap the benefits of having high speed fixed broadband internet,” said Converge ICT Founder and CEO, Dennis Anthony H. Uy. Converge ICT is poised to further expand its fiber infrastructure network beyond Luzon and link the region to Visayas and Mindanao by the end of 2021. As of September 2020, the company reported achieving P10.67 billion consolidated revenues representing a 67-percent year-on-year growth. In the same month, it has deployed a record number of 173,680 fiber-to-the-home ports, marking the highest monthly port deployment in the Company’s history. It currently serves more than 900,000 residential subscribers.

Companies BusinessMirror

Thursday, December 10, 2020

PSE STOCK QUOTATIONS

December 9, 2020

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 PB BANK PHIL NATL BANK PSBANK RCBC SECURITY BANK UNION BANK BRIGHT KINDLE COL FINANCIAL FIRST ABACUS FERRONOUX HLDG FILIPINO FUND IREMIT MEDCO HLDG MANULIFE NTL REINSURANCE PHIL STOCK EXCH SUN LIFE

44.05 44.5 44.8 45 43.9 44.05 46,600 2,061,390 278,450 107 107.5 109.6 109.9 107 107 3,867,920 419,242,958 -43,138,086 83 83.9 82.7 83.9 81.15 83.9 4,549,550 376,195,680 -17,907,840 25.8 25.85 25.9 25.9 25.55 25.85 373,100 9,558,890 1,395,435 11.32 11.34 11.38 11.44 11.16 11.34 1,510,000 17,130,118 -3,669,540 50.95 51 51.75 52.1 51 51 15,335,050 790,666,574 -53,619,330.50 9.68 9.79 9.71 9.71 9.68 9.68 2,600 25,195 30.2 30.3 30.2 30.55 30.2 30.3 392,400 11,888,195 -2,624,220 52.85 53.55 53.5 53.5 52.8 52.85 720 38,207.50 19.1 19.2 19.3 19.3 19 19.2 59,500 1,140,590 19,072 137.7 138 134.9 138.5 134.6 138 984,940 134,808,762 31,872,596 66.9 67 66.6 67.2 66.1 67 103,430 6,925,007.50 -1,336 0.93 0.95 0.91 0.95 0.9 0.95 102,000 93,040 28.9 29 28.2 28.9 27.7 28.9 42,800 1,215,990 -57,000 0.63 0.67 0.64 0.67 0.64 0.67 39,000 25,930 3.7 3.71 3.7 3.78 3.7 3.71 250,000 926,810 7.02 8.16 7.02 7.02 7.02 7.02 700 4,914 1.29 1.3 1.31 1.32 1.3 1.3 269,000 349,790 0.335 0.345 0.335 0.35 0.335 0.335 250,000 83,900 760 790 790 790 790 790 3,910 3,088,900 3,088,900 0.64 0.66 0.65 0.66 0.65 0.66 146,000 94,940 -32,500 156 156.5 156.5 156.5 156 156.1 9,140 1,429,389 -1,238,653 2,000 2,050 2,000 2,000 2,000 2,000 45 90,000 90,000

INDUSTRIAL AC ENERGY 6.29 6.3 6.05 6.3 5.91 6.3 37,959,100 230,968,790 -3,885,242 1.41 1.42 1.42 1.43 1.4 1.41 2,857,000 4,027,160 16,920 ALSONS CONS ABOITIZ POWER 27.1 27.35 27.5 27.5 27.1 27.1 1,610,700 43,964,495 466,335 0.295 0.3 0.3 0.305 0.29 0.3 39,720,000 11,806,350 83,350 BASIC ENERGY FIRST GEN 27.85 27.9 27.85 28 27.8 27.85 575,100 16,023,320 -6,636,220 77.2 77.6 77.5 77.6 76.6 77.2 149,770 11,568,460 -3,702,841.50 FIRST PHIL HLDG MERALCO 299.4 300 298 303.6 298 300 244,570 73,491,864 -14,252,818 MANILA WATER 16.14 16.16 16.22 16.4 16.14 16.16 2,461,800 40,146,156 -2,427,654.00 4.07 4.08 4.03 4.07 4.01 4.07 6,476,000 26,211,130 563,890 PETRON PETROENERGY 3.43 3.5 3.48 3.5 3.48 3.5 81,000 283,270 12.8 12.9 12.7 12.8 12.7 12.8 59,600 758,170 PHX PETROLEUM PILIPINAS SHELL 22.9 23 22.3 23.3 22.3 23 3,143,600 72,283,360 -2,115,295 11.12 11.14 11.06 11.3 11 11.12 1,510,100 16,816,598 -279,064.00 SPC POWER VIVANT 13.9 14.18 14.18 14.18 14.18 14.18 600 8,508 8.35 8.36 8.51 8.53 8.34 8.36 746,800 6,264,944 -841,833 AGRINURTURE 3.64 3.65 3.74 3.77 3.59 3.65 2,206,000 8,116,700 -279,690 AXELUM CNTRL AZUCARERA 14.5 14.88 14.9 15 14.5 14.5 22,800 332,592 17.72 17.9 17.52 17.9 17.52 17.9 1,450,600 25,745,432 5,964,536 CENTURY FOOD DEL MONTE 6.13 6.14 6.12 6.14 6.12 6.14 90,000 551,084 7.38 7.43 7.45 7.48 7.31 7.43 2,009,500 14,870,443 8,480,980 DNL INDUS 10.04 10.08 10.06 10.08 10.02 10.08 6,075,500 61,029,906 5,153,590 EMPERADOR SMC FOODANDBEV 68.95 69 69 70.5 68.5 69 269,100 18,577,430.50 -1,951,434 0.69 0.7 0.7 0.7 0.68 0.7 608,000 416,820 ALLIANCE SELECT FRUITAS HLDG 1.69 1.7 1.66 1.72 1.65 1.7 26,894,000 45,402,510 -300,630 51.5 52 53 53.1 51 52 18,060 952,509 GINEBRA JOLLIBEE 210.4 210.6 209 211 209 210.6 618,320 129,981,676 33,006,286 54.95 55 59.2 59.9 55 55 49,200 2,732,796.50 102,101 LIBERTY FLOUR 8.21 8.6 8.7 8.7 8.7 8.7 1,000 8,700 MACAY HLDG MAXS GROUP 8.29 8.3 8.15 8.32 8.1 8.29 770,300 6,342,207 1,358,821 0.171 0.173 0.169 0.181 0.169 0.173 1,170,000 203,970 31,140 MG HLDG SHAKEYS PIZZA 8.34 8.37 8.3 8.45 8.3 8.37 201,700 1,690,569 1.28 1.29 1.3 1.32 1.27 1.29 9,016,000 11,573,240 -994,470 ROXAS AND CO RFM CORP 4.67 4.68 4.7 4.7 4.51 4.67 42,000 194,910 -61,100 1.79 1.89 1.85 1.89 1.78 1.79 52,000 95,120 ROXAS HLDG 0.116 0.118 0.113 0.115 0.113 0.115 270,000 30,790 SWIFT FOODS UNIV ROBINA 148 148.1 147.2 149.7 146.5 148 1,094,540 161,735,840 46,974,914 1.05 1.06 1.01 1.05 0.98 1.05 17,772,000 18,235,590 504,000 VITARICH VICTORIAS 2.47 2.5 2.5 2.5 2.5 2.5 37,000 92,500 55.25 56.95 56.9 57.25 53.1 57 3,040 170,638.50 CONCRETE A CONCRETE B 56.05 59.7 61.2 61.2 56 59.7 490 29,241.50 1.66 1.67 1.69 1.69 1.65 1.66 10,495,000 17,512,890 24,900 CEMEX HLDG 5.09 5.2 5.05 5.2 5.05 5.06 46,100 235,095 DAVINCI CAPITAL EAGLE CEMENT 15 15.02 15 15.08 15 15.02 9,100 136,918 7.9 7.94 7.81 7.95 7.61 7.9 1,519,400 11,970,126 184,483 EEI CORP HOLCIM 7.11 7.14 7.23 7.29 7 7.14 2,140,200 15,325,912 -652,679 9.15 9.18 8.95 9.28 8.94 9.15 11,695,600 107,061,449 -8,495,852.00 MEGAWIDE PHINMA 8.92 9.19 9.17 9.19 9 9.19 54,800 500,064 -9,140 TKC METALS 0.82 0.84 0.85 0.85 0.82 0.84 407,000 340,130 1.31 1.32 1.25 1.31 1.19 1.31 5,179,000 6,534,580 12,500 VULCAN INDL CROWN ASIA 1.87 1.89 1.9 1.9 1.83 1.87 268,000 497,660 2.59 2.63 2.62 2.64 2.56 2.62 1,895,000 4,943,920 EUROMED LMG CORP 4.42 4.43 4.43 4.43 4.42 4.42 4,000 17,690 4.6 4.7 4.68 4.7 4.68 4.7 7,000 32,820 -14,040 MABUHAY VINYL PRYCE CORP 5.31 5.35 5.25 5.45 5.25 5.35 506,800 2,687,984 -760,795 CONCEPCION 22.8 22.85 22.85 23 22.85 22.85 601,700 13,750,310 -9,191,600 2.67 2.68 2.6 2.71 2.57 2.68 14,970,000 39,628,140 11,842,510 GREENERGY INTEGRATED MICR 7.16 7.2 7.1 7.32 7.1 7.2 345,900 2,503,943 1.12 1.14 1.14 1.16 1.12 1.12 930,000 1,053,150 IONICS PANASONIC 5.2 5.3 5.2 5.21 5.13 5.2 38,300 199,101 1.52 1.54 1.54 1.55 1.51 1.54 1,429,000 2,185,780 SFA SEMICON CIRTEK HLDG 7.12 7.13 6.75 7.14 6.75 7.12 20,364,700 143,916,060 13,622,436 HOLDING & FRIMS ABACORE CAPITAL 0.63 0.64 0.64 0.64 0.62 0.63 8,311,000 5,228,910 12,400 8.45 8.52 8.65 8.65 8.27 8.45 124,100 1,034,256 ASIABEST GROUP AYALA CORP 820 830 864 866.5 820 820 415,850 350,009,165 -94,054,530 45.7 45.75 46 46.05 45.05 45.75 2,956,600 135,268,185 -25,556,525 ABOITIZ EQUITY ALLIANCE GLOBAL 10.64 10.66 10.56 10.66 10.38 10.64 12,250,500 129,502,404 14,265,276 3.15 3.16 3.2 3.22 3.13 3.16 5,489,000 17,453,110 2,656,850 AYALA LAND LOG ANSCOR 6.4 6.5 6.4 6.4 6.4 6.4 14,100 90,240 18,560 ANGLO PHIL HLDG 0.74 0.75 0.71 0.74 0.69 0.74 927,000 672,590 0.98 0.99 0.99 1 0.96 0.98 8,381,000 8,139,200 ATN HLDG A ATN HLDG B 0.97 0.98 0.98 0.98 0.96 0.98 281,000 273,650 -256,020 5.76 5.77 5.64 5.81 5.64 5.77 1,500,100 8,624,536 -729,060.00 COSCO CAPITAL DMCI HLDG 6.05 6.07 6.1 6.24 6.05 6.05 12,545,400 76,962,718 5,845,586 9.32 9.5 9.54 9.54 9.32 9.54 32,100 304,655 -47,700.00 FILINVEST DEV FJ PRINCE A 3.45 3.8 3.79 3.79 3.79 3.79 1,000 3,790 0.21 0.217 0.209 0.21 0.205 0.21 3,460,000 710,370 FORUM PACIFIC 667 669 660 673.5 654.5 669 294,400 196,530,555 33,998,895 GT CAPITAL HOUSE OF INV 4.14 4.16 4.16 4.16 4.13 4.15 63,000 261,730 68 69.3 70.25 71 68 68 2,717,970 188,483,828 -105,105,880.50 JG SUMMIT JOLLIVILLE HLDG 5 5.32 5.12 5.14 5.1 5.1 11,000 56,440 10,752 0.83 0.84 0.81 0.85 0.81 0.83 568,000 468,040 LODESTAR 3.7 3.71 3.71 3.72 3.69 3.7 9,244,000 34,223,590 -157,300 LOPEZ HLDG LT GROUP 13.32 13.48 13.58 13.58 13.12 13.48 4,279,600 57,240,604 1,385,754 0.52 0.53 0.53 0.53 0.51 0.53 530,000 275,690 MABUHAY HLDG MJC INVESTMENTS 1.82 1.92 1.8 1.8 1.8 1.8 5,000 9,000 4.38 4.39 4.48 4.48 4.32 4.39 85,933,000 376,455,420 -107,386,900 METRO PAC INV PACIFICA HLDG 3.85 3.86 3.85 3.86 3.83 3.86 193,000 743,510 0.85 0.87 0.85 0.85 0.85 0.85 234,000 198,900 PRIME MEDIA 2.55 2.99 2.94 2.94 2.94 2.94 6,000 17,640 REPUBLIC GLASS SOLID GROUP 1.17 1.2 1.2 1.2 1.17 1.17 42,000 50,250 266.8 267 255 267 253 266.8 1,470 377,680 12,700 SYNERGY GRID SM INVESTMENTS 1,039 1,045 1,040 1,079 1,030 1,039 290,415 304,025,745 18,458,715 134.9 135 134.3 136.2 134.1 134.9 373,980 50,487,870 -5,242,147 SAN MIGUEL CORP SOC RESOURCES 0.73 0.74 0.7 0.75 0.7 0.74 625,000 450,940 144.8 149 147 149 144 144.8 12,260 1,773,532 -417,213 TOP FRONTIER 0.222 0.226 0.223 0.226 0.22 0.222 1,140,000 254,350 WELLEX INDUS ZEUS HLDG 0.171 0.172 0.172 0.172 0.17 0.172 1,320,000 226,240 PROPERTY ARTHALAND CORP 0.7 0.71 0.7 0.71 0.69 0.71 1,877,000 1,312,630 14,200 7.8 8.21 8.21 8.21 8.21 8.21 1,000 8,210 ANCHOR LAND AYALA LAND 38.7 38.8 40 40.25 38.55 38.7 11,126,800 435,956,155 -77,821,710 1.24 1.26 1.22 1.28 1.22 1.26 292,000 367,830 ARANETA PROP AREIT RT 27.7 27.75 27.75 27.75 27.6 27.7 584,700 16,190,995 717,185 1.66 1.68 1.67 1.68 1.65 1.68 1,008,000 1,682,910 918,490 BELLE CORP A BROWN 0.86 0.87 0.87 0.88 0.85 0.87 5,215,000 4,460,680 305,450 CITYLAND DEVT 0.81 0.82 0.79 0.82 0.79 0.82 149,000 121,120 0.152 0.155 0.154 0.155 0.15 0.155 5,080,000 772,830 CROWN EQUITIES CEBU HLDG 6.02 6.19 6.02 6.2 6 6.19 22,100 133,144 -620 4.98 5.01 4.99 5.02 4.95 5.01 971,000 4,842,910 -1,022,460 CEB LANDMASTERS CENTURY PROP 0.48 0.485 0.495 0.495 0.48 0.485 11,750,000 5,702,350 276,300 0.38 0.385 0.355 0.38 0.355 0.38 48,880,000 17,946,100 113,150 CYBER BAY DOUBLEDRAGON 15.22 15.24 15.52 15.6 15.18 15.22 3,164,700 48,747,312 -9,559,890 DM WENCESLAO 6.7 6.76 6.78 6.78 6.57 6.76 802,800 5,363,894 93,854 0.315 0.325 0.33 0.33 0.315 0.325 11,020,000 3,536,950 60,650 EMPIRE EAST EVER GOTESCO 0.083 0.085 0.083 0.085 0.082 0.084 1,110,000 91,760 1.16 1.17 1.16 1.17 1.15 1.17 12,194,000 14,164,720 -565,400.00 FILINVEST LAND GLOBAL ESTATE 0.95 0.96 0.91 0.95 0.91 0.95 1,757,000 1,639,330 8.6 8.61 8.64 8.64 8.53 8.61 75,100 644,132 43,063 8990 HLDG 1.55 1.56 1.59 1.6 1.53 1.55 6,428,000 10,026,260 448,790 PHIL INFRADEV KEPPEL PROP 3.35 4.48 3.33 3.33 3.33 3.33 1,000 3,330 0.72 0.74 0.73 0.74 0.72 0.74 82,000 59,490 1,480 CITY AND LAND MEGAWORLD 3.95 3.96 3.98 4 3.93 3.96 27,480,000 108,486,670 -60,395,080 0.48 0.485 0.51 0.51 0.48 0.485 277,150,000 135,784,425 -4,162,970 MRC ALLIED PHIL ESTATES 0.4 0.42 0.4 0.4 0.36 0.39 810,000 299,750 1.34 1.35 1.33 1.34 1.3 1.34 755,000 996,470 PRIMEX CORP 19.78 19.94 19.2 19.94 19.08 19.94 11,299,900 223,099,050 48,508,372 ROBINSONS LAND PHIL REALTY 0.28 0.29 0.29 0.29 0.28 0.29 340,000 97,000 1.63 1.65 1.57 1.68 1.57 1.63 2,192,000 3,537,400 -1,192,860 ROCKWELL SHANG PROP 2.7 2.72 2.72 2.72 2.7 2.7 62,000 167,640 2.15 2.19 2.18 2.2 2.12 2.19 229,000 497,000 -8,720 STA LUCIA LAND SM PRIME HLDG 37.9 37.95 38.6 38.8 37.9 37.9 6,796,300 260,115,065 -2,985,405 4.7 4.71 4.8 4.8 4.67 4.7 158,000 745,520 VISTAMALLS 1.87 1.88 1.85 1.94 1.78 1.88 5,128,000 9,565,420 -18,750 SUNTRUST HOME PTFC REDEV CORP 44.95 46 44.8 48 44.8 46 4,200 191,525 4,495 5.02 5.05 4.93 5.08 4.9 5.02 9,249,000 46,486,660 25,750 VISTA LAND SERVICES ABS CBN 12.16 12.28 12.32 12.4 12.16 12.16 401,600 4,921,854 6.09 6.1 6.03 6.12 6.03 6.09 1,369,800 8,324,607 GMA NETWORK MANILA BULLETIN 0.415 0.43 0.415 0.43 0.41 0.43 260,000 108,000 12 12.58 12.6 12.6 12.6 12.6 500 6,300 MLA BRDCASTING GLOBE TELECOM 2,030 2,046 2,040 2,050 2,024 2,046 50,300 102,270,070 -20,982,420 1,325 1,335 1,338 1,350 1,325 1,325 178,260 237,902,125 -42,992,065 PLDT APOLLO GLOBAL 0.067 0.068 0.06 0.069 0.06 0.067 1,289,280,000 83,891,200 -189,210 CONVERGE 15.68 15.7 15.82 15.86 15.68 15.7 5,610,900 88,324,638 -28,872,006 5.85 5.87 6.48 6.66 5.87 5.87 2,573,500 15,796,948 -1,898,910 DFNN INC DITO CME HLDG 7.25 7.29 7.4 7.53 7.15 7.25 98,138,500 720,108,272 6,871,456 1.39 1.41 1.38 1.38 1.38 1.38 16,000 22,080 IMPERIAL ISLAND INFO 0.112 0.115 0.115 0.116 0.112 0.115 1,370,000 157,360 11,500 1.82 1.89 1.81 1.89 1.81 1.89 66,000 120,670 JACKSTONES NOW CORP 4.8 4.81 5.04 5.05 4.8 4.8 12,379,000 60,458,590 -979,040 TRANSPACIFIC BR 0.3 0.305 0.31 0.31 0.295 0.305 14,930,000 4,491,650 -310,450 3.06 3.07 3 3.13 3 3.06 2,576,000 7,879,850 644,200 PHILWEB 2GO GROUP 9.2 9.29 9.2 9.2 9.15 9.2 66,200 607,416 919.9999 15.5 15.6 15.6 15.6 15.5 15.5 230,400 3,591,240 -478,470 ASIAN TERMINALS CHELSEA 5.53 5.55 5.81 5.81 5.51 5.53 6,886,300 38,843,871 134,461 51.3 51.35 51.5 51.5 50.5 51.35 1,001,140 51,169,231.50 -5,507,177 CEBU AIR INTL CONTAINER 119.4 119.8 125.9 125.9 119.4 119.4 2,074,770 253,801,303 -61,438,051 LBC EXPRESS 16.52 16.8 16.28 17 16.24 16.8 97,600 1,630,488 -20,280 0.97 1.03 1.03 1.03 1.03 1.03 41,000 42,230 LORENZO SHIPPNG MACROASIA 7.81 7.82 7.92 7.93 7.8 7.82 5,842,100 45,760,047 -6,133,287 2.12 2.13 2.15 2.18 2.11 2.13 988,000 2,111,660 METROALLIANCE A METROALLIANCE B 2.03 2.15 1.98 1.98 1.95 1.95 9,000 17,760 7.1 7.11 7.1 7.16 7.09 7.1 156,200 1,111,039 -101,104 PAL HLDG 1.67 1.68 1.65 1.68 1.62 1.67 2,906,000 4,789,250 304,810 HARBOR STAR ACESITE HOTEL 1.39 1.44 1.4 1.4 1.39 1.39 108,000 150,220 0.034 0.035 0.034 0.035 0.033 0.034 90,500,000 3,089,200 BOULEVARD HLDG DISCOVERY WORLD 2 2.05 2.03 2.05 2.03 2.04 36,000 73,570 0.62 0.63 0.64 0.64 0.61 0.63 21,232,000 13,150,140 300,800 WATERFRONT CENTRO ESCOLAR 6.65 7 7 7 7 7 2,700 18,900 581 650 555 582 555 582 60 34,360 FAR EASTERN U 9.04 9.5 9.01 9.5 9.01 9.5 2,800 26,316 -4,505 IPEOPLE STI HLDG 0.405 0.41 0.4 0.405 0.395 0.405 20,650,000 8,232,350 -5,796,900 4.96 5.09 5.02 5.1 4.87 5.09 772,500 3,868,293 -147,938 BERJAYA BLOOMBERRY 8.5 8.51 8.65 8.69 8.5 8.5 7,335,400 63,082,649 -37,929,169 2.1 2.11 2.01 2.12 2.01 2.11 222,000 459,520 PACIFIC ONLINE LEISURE AND RES 1.91 1.92 1.9 1.93 1.86 1.91 425,000 803,090 15,010 PH RESORTS GRP 2.97 2.98 2.96 3.02 2.95 2.97 11,780,000 35,071,670 -1,868,540 0.405 0.41 0.415 0.42 0.395 0.405 33,600,000 13,559,900 177,450 PREMIUM LEISURE PHIL RACING 6.7 6.9 6.9 6.9 6.9 6.9 100 690 8.5 8.51 8.5 8.56 8.48 8.51 723,400 6,164,174 2,675,240 ALLHOME METRO RETAIL 1.64 1.65 1.67 1.67 1.62 1.64 2,523,000 4,137,320 -41,760 42.65 42.9 42.8 43 42.55 42.9 1,762,300 75,404,235 -15,314,215 PUREGOLD ROBINSONS RTL 67.4 67.75 68.7 69 65.5 67.4 1,108,190 74,700,091.50 -38,296,745 PHIL SEVEN CORP 109.3 110 110.8 110.8 109.2 110 10,900 1,202,145 108,539 1.7 1.72 1.7 1.73 1.69 1.7 10,037,000 17,146,880 -5,490,320 SSI GROUP WILCON DEPOT 17.98 18 18.04 18.22 17.96 18 1,661,700 29,992,280 17,604,356 0.395 0.4 0.415 0.415 0.395 0.4 3,420,000 1,374,050 APC GROUP EASYCALL 7.82 8.1 7.9 8.09 7.8 8.08 166,500 1,326,265 438 450 450 450 438.2 450 3,230 1,435,622 GOLDEN BRIA IPM HLDG 4.52 4.94 4.51 4.52 4.51 4.52 25,000 112,960 0.74 0.76 0.74 0.76 0.72 0.75 23,218,000 17,198,120 -132,120 PRMIERE HORIZON 5.37 5.5 5.17 6 5.17 5.37 117,000 634,996 45,000 SBS PHIL CORP MINING & OIL ATOK 8.35 8.61 8.5 8.8 8.08 8.61 120,900 1,022,251 APEX MINING 1.8 1.81 1.82 1.85 1.8 1.81 6,461,000 11,739,920 0.0021 0.0022 0.0015 0.0021 0.0015 0.0021 95,184,000,000 177,217,500 342,100 ABRA MINING ATLAS MINING 6.4 6.43 6.29 6.45 6.02 6.4 1,017,600 6,399,346 -1,424,966 3.03 3.14 3.06 3.14 3.05 3.14 123,000 375,430 BENGUET A BENGUET B 3.01 3.1 3.01 3.01 3.01 3.01 8,000 24,080 0.3 0.305 0.305 0.305 0.295 0.305 1,220,000 366,150 COAL ASIA HLDG 2.37 2.4 2.32 2.44 2.31 2.4 362,000 862,380 124,800 CENTURY PEAK DIZON MINES 8.38 8.39 8.39 8.4 8.21 8.38 18,100 151,491 2.34 2.35 2.24 2.36 2.23 2.35 12,729,000 29,444,670 6,234,220 FERRONICKEL GEOGRACE 0.25 0.26 0.255 0.265 0.249 0.26 820,000 209,290 77,950 0.156 0.158 0.151 0.159 0.148 0.158 53,130,000 8,127,650 LEPANTO A LEPANTO B 0.156 0.158 0.152 0.158 0.146 0.158 3,100,000 474,970 34,040 MANILA MINING A 0.0098 0.0099 0.0096 0.0098 0.0094 0.0098 72,000,000 691,000 0.01 0.011 0.01 0.01 0.01 0.01 20,400,000 204,000 MANILA MINING B MARCVENTURES 1.28 1.29 1.23 1.33 1.22 1.29 7,508,000 9,548,150 -39,900 2.96 2.97 2.87 2.98 2.87 2.96 1,439,000 4,213,030 -29,300 NIHAO NICKEL ASIA 5 5.01 4.79 5.1 4.78 5 28,057,000 139,092,000 60,952,680 0.375 0.38 0.385 0.385 0.37 0.375 890,000 334,650 OMICO CORP 0.74 0.75 0.7 0.75 0.68 0.75 5,376,000 3,836,010 ORNTL PENINSULA PX MINING 5.09 5.1 5.21 5.24 5.05 5.1 4,064,500 20,738,394 410,540.00 13.48 13.5 12.6 13.54 12.6 13.48 8,173,500 107,638,072 4,112,182 SEMIRARA MINING UNITED PARAGON 0.006 0.0062 0.0056 0.0063 0.0053 0.0061 347,000,000 2,020,000 11 11.08 10.4 11.1 10.2 11 1,351,100 14,605,274 383,860 ACE ENEXOR ORNTL PETROL A 0.011 0.012 0.01 0.012 0.01 0.012 535,800,000 5,960,600 0.011 0.012 0.011 0.012 0.011 0.012 43,100,000 483,800 27,500 ORNTL PETROL B 0.0091 0.0094 0.0085 0.0095 0.0083 0.0093 217,000,000 1,962,100 8,800.00 PHILODRILL PXP ENERGY 13.36 13.5 13.36 13.78 13.3 13.5 1,247,000 16,823,334 689,114 PREFFERED HOUSE PREF A 100.1 101.9 101.9 101.9 100.1 100.1 730 73,145 514 515 515 515 515 515 30 15,450 AC PREF B1 ALCO PREF B 101.2 103 102 102 101.7 101.7 1,040 105,780 501 509.5 505 509.5 505 509.5 30,050 15,175,475 AC PREF B2R CPG PREF A 101.8 102 101.8 101.8 101.8 101.8 1,540 156,772 100.4 101.9 100.3 101 100.3 101 3,150 316,750 DD PREF FGEN PREF G 111.5 113 110 110 110 110 720 79,200 511 517 517 517 510.5 510.5 60 30,695 -5,170 GLO PREF P 1,029 1,032 1,030 1,030 1,029 1,029 1,000 1,029,005 GTCAP PREF B MWIDE PREF 100.5 100.6 100.5 100.6 100.5 100.5 19,070 1,917,721 97.55 99.9 97.5 99.9 97.5 99.9 510 49,749 MWIDE PREF 2A MWIDE PREF 2B 99 99.4 98.4 99 98.4 99 39,920 3,935,654 100 100.5 99.3 100.5 99.3 100.5 60 5,994 PNX PREF 3A PNX PREF 3B 102.1 104.8 104.9 104.9 104.9 104.9 80 8,392 998 999.5 993.5 999.5 993.5 999.5 2,590 2,573,690 PNX PREF 4 1,002 1,029 1,004 1,004 1,002 1,002 160 160,410 PCOR PREF 2B PCOR PREF 3A 1,069 1,070 1,069 1,069 1,069 1,069 70 74,830 1,111 1,115 1,110 1,115 1,110 1,115 425 472,625 PCOR PREF 3B SFI PREF 1.7 1.79 1.51 1.51 1.51 1.51 1,000 1,510 78.5 78.75 79 79 78.5 78.5 9,780 769,102 -18,142.50 SMC PREF 2C 76.1 76.85 75.8 76.85 75.7 76.85 4,460 338,325 SMC PREF 2E SMC PREF 2F 77.35 78 77.3 78 77.3 78 2,850 220,900 -66,300 76 77 76.05 77 75.8 77 15,750 1,197,978 -60,960 SMC PREF 2G SMC PREF 2H 76 76.95 76.25 76.95 76 76.95 23,440 1,783,297 77.15 77.8 77 77.8 77 77.8 80,640 6,209,676 SMC PREF 2I SMC PREF 2J 75.9 76.8 75.95 76.9 75.95 76.8 4,140 315,677.50 15,190 PHIL. DEPOSITARY RECEIPTS ABS HLDG PDR 12.22 12.6 12.9 12.9 12.6 12.6 4,700 59,870 5.76 5.78 5.64 5.78 5.64 5.76 158,300 910,243 184,563 GMA HLDG PDR WARRANTS LR WARRANT 0.99 1 1 1.03 0.99 0.99 254,000 254,460 -100,020 SMALL & MEDIUM ENTERPRISES ALTUS PROP 14.5 14.58 14.8 14.8 14.44 14.5 439,800 6,398,252 -1,143,418 2.97 2.98 2.92 2.98 2.91 2.97 3,136,000 9,209,730 217,680 ITALPINAS KEPWEALTH 6.16 6.19 6.3 6.3 6.1 6.19 107,700 662,462 2.5 2.69 2.7 2.7 2.7 2.7 8,000 21,600 MAKATI FINANCE MERRYMART 5.82 5.83 5.93 5.95 5.76 5.82 32,850,100 191,705,266 -43,654,234 EXHANGE TRADE FUNDS FIRST METRO ETF 107 108.3 108.5 108.7 107 107 20,020 2,163,269 87,117

www.businessmirror.com.ph

Meralco to slash December power rates as lower Luzon demand cuts gen charge

By VG Cabuag

@villygc

OWER distributor Manila Electric Co. on Wednesday said it is slashing power rates in December mainly on lower generation charge due to decreasing demand in Luzon grid. Power rates for a typical household decreased by P0.0352 per kilowatt hour to P8.4753 per kwh in December from last month’s P8.5105 per kwh. This is equivalent to a decrease of around P7 in the total bill of residential customers consuming 200 kwh. This month’s overall rate is also a net rate reduction of P1.3870 per kwh, equivalent to a bill reduction of more than P277 for a 200-kwh

household, since the start of the year. This the second lowest overall power rate in more than three years, or since September 2017, the company said. Meralco spokesman Joe Zaldarriaga said it remains to be seen if the trend of lower rates can continue in the succeeding months. “We've have one of the lowest rates already in the past years, so looking at January, its too early to tell at this point,” he said.

Meralco said power demand already saw an increase in December. From P4.2018 per kwh in November, the generation charge decreased by P0.0502 per kwh to P4.1516 per kwh this December. All sources of supply registered lower charges this month. Meralco said there was a reduction in charges of P0.1881 per kwh from the Wholesale Electricity Spot Market. The Luzon grid’s power supply situation improved in November following a drop in demand due to successive weather disturbances. From October 2020’s peak demand of 10,344 megawatts, the November 2020 peak demand decreased to 9,886 MW. Also, due to the effects of Typhoon Ulysses, the WESM was suspended by Energy Regulatory Commission from November 12 to 13, 2020. The cost of power from the In-

dependent Power Producers also decreased by P0.2577 per kwh due to improved average plant dispatch and Peso appreciation. Charges from power supply agreements also went down by P0.0214 per kwh with the strengthening of the peso against the US dollar. Meralco said it will abide by the regulator's decision not to cut the power service of those consuming 200 kwh per month, who have not yet paid their bills since the start of the pandemic in March. However, it may start disconnecting the service of those who have unpaid bills by early next year. “Obviously, that (disconnection) may happen. We also need to look at the sustainability of our operations since Meralco is not the only one who provides service but also the electric coops ... we need to pay the (energy) suppliers,” he said.

Solar PHL building large solar projects in 2021

OLAR Philippines said it is on track to construct over 1 gigawatt (GW) of solar projects in 2021 in the provinces of Batangas, Cavite, Nueva Ecija, and Tarlac. Based on data from the Department of Energy (DOE), these projects of Solar Philippines would include the first, second, and third largest solar projects in the Philippines as of date. These projects will nearly double the country’s total installed solar capacity as of 2020, and are equivalent to the power demand of approximately 10 million Filipinos. By 2022, Solar Philippines expects these projects to become the largest single portfolio of solar projects in Southeast Asia. While Covid-19 slowed approval of permits in 2020, the company said it expects a renewable energy-led economic recovery in 2021, spurred by the DOE’s moratorium on new coal plants in the Philippines. “The 1 GW of solar projects are planned to create over 20,000 jobs during construction, which will last until 2022, and support government efforts to boost investments in the countryside," the company said in a statement.

To realize these projects, the company said it is bringing in partners and professionals in line with its new strategic direction. The company has already brought in partners to its operating solar farms in Calatagan, Batangas and Concepcion, Tarlac, and will use these existing operations to fuel its expansion plans. During a television interview last week, Solar Philippines founder Leandro Leviste predicted these advances will encourage others to join the solar bandwagon, adding that, “Hopefully not a single one of the country’s power companies will not be a fellow believer in solar energy by next year.” The company has been increasingly focused on forging partnerships in recent years. In December 2018, it partnered with Korea Electric Power Corp. (KEPCO) for its 63 megawatt (MW) Solar Farm in Batangas. This is KEPCO’s first renewable energy project in Southeast Asia. In June, Solar Philippines inked a partnership with the Razon Group’s Prime Infra to develop a pipeline of projects, representing the largest

Manila Water bags deal in Saudi Arabia

ANILA Water’s consortium with French water distributor Saur Group and Saudi’s Miahona Company, inked a Management, Operations and Maintenance Contract with Saudi Arabia’s state-run water agency, National Water Company. The 7-year agreement covers the implementation of enabling projects and the management of the water facilities and systems of the North West Cluster served by National Water Company. The cluster includes the cities of Madinah and Tabuk, comprised of 300,000 square kilometers of land area, with more than

3 million population. The Manila Water Consortium is set to manage the operational activity of ensuring the delivery of water and wastewater services, billing and collection, as well as customer services. The Manila Water consortium secured the award, outperforming the proposals of seven other groups. This initiative is among the first of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia’s plans to privatize its water infrastructure sector. The country’s 2030 Vision targets to carry out a series of contracts to improve the water distribution services in all of its six clusters.

MIAHONA Chairman Khalid Abunayyan (1st from left) and Saur Company International Director Emmanuel Vivant (3rd from left), representing the Consortium with Manila Water during the contract signing with Saudi Arabia’s water agency, National Water Company represented by its CEO Mohammed Al Mowkley. CONTRIBUTED PHOTO

solar joint venture established in the country. This includes completing the Tarlac 200 MW Solar Farm, the country’s largest solar project to date. According to the DOE website, So-

MUTUAL FUNDS

lar Philippines is developing projects with a total capacity of over 10 gigawatts in over a dozen provinces. The company has indicated that it will make further disclosures on these developments at the appropriate time.

December 9, 2020

NAV ONE YEAR THREE YEAR FIVE YEAR Y-T-D PER SHARE RETURN* RETURN STOCK FUNDS ALFM GROWTH FUND, INC. -A 229.51 -8.78% -6.51% -1.21% -8.87% ATRAM ALPHA OPPORTUNITY FUND, INC. -A 1.3199 -5.73% -5.62% 2.21% -4.49% ATRAM PHILIPPINE EQUITY OPPORTUNITY FUND, INC. -A 3.1799 -13.79% -10.23% -2.63% -13.55% CLIMBS SHARE CAPITAL EQUITY INVESTMENT FUND CORP. -A 0.8166 - 9.31% -6.8% N.A. -9.06% FIRST METRO CONSUMER FUND ON MSCI PHILS. IMI, INC. -A 0.7636 -10.27% N.A. N.A. -10.09% FIRST METRO SAVE AND LEARN EQUITY FUND,INC. -A 5.0072 -5.77% -4.91% -0.93% -6.03% FIRST METRO SAVE AND LEARN PHILIPPINE INDEX FUND, INC. -A,4 0.7708 -9.66% -7.59% N.A. -9.7% MBG EQUITY INVESTMENT FUND, INC. -A 99.52 -5.89% N.A. N.A. -3.59% PAMI EQUITY INDEX FUND, INC. -A 47.2941 -7.7% -4.22% 0.49% -7.78% PHILAM STRATEGIC GROWTH FUND, INC. -A 493.67 -7.42% -4.32% -0.28% -7.34% PHILEQUITY ALPHA ONE FUND, INC. -A,D,5 1.0961 N.A. N.A. N.A. 6.41% PHILEQUITY DIVIDEND YIELD FUND, INC. -A 1.1736 -8.96% -4.65% 0.22% -8.8% PHILEQUITY FUND, INC. -A 34.9361 -7.9% -4.07% 0.93% -7.81% PHILEQUITY MSCI PHILIPPINE INDEX FUND, INC. -A 0.9224 -9.47% N.A. N.A. -9.4% PHILEQUITY PSE INDEX FUND INC. -A 4.8359 -7.3% -3.73% 1.27% -7.42% PHILIPPINE STOCK INDEX FUND CORP. -A 808.9 -7.07% -3.62% 1.18% -7.23% SOLDIVO STRATEGIC GROWTH FUND, INC. -A 0.7321 -14.33% -7.61% -2.94% -14.01% SUN LIFE PROSPERITY PHILIPPINE EQUITY FUND, INC. -A 3.6489 -13.36% -6.02% -0.65% -13.31% SUN LIFE PROSPERITY PHILIPPINE STOCK INDEX FUND, INC. -A 0.926 -7.34% -3.96% 1.04% -7.47% UNITED FUND, INC. -A 3.354 -8.48% -3.41% 1.49% -8.19% EXCHANGE TRADED FUND FIRST METRO PHIL. EQUITY EXCHANGE TRADED FUND, INC. -A,C 108.4934 -7.04% -3.39% 1.94% -7.23% PRIMARILY INVESTED IN FOREIGN CURRENCY SECURITIES ATRAM ASIAPLUS EQUITY FUND, INC. -B $1.1939 22.18% 3.77% 5.94% 16.09% SUN LIFE PROSPERITY WORLD VOYAGER FUND, INC. -A $1.639 22.42% 9.83% N.A. 18.88% BALANCED FUNDS PRIMARILY INVESTED IN PESO SECURITIES ATRAM DYNAMIC ALLOCATION FUND, INC. -A 1.6716 7.39% -2.5% -0.5% 6.96% ATRAM PHILIPPINE BALANCED FUND, INC. -A 2.2918 4.63% -1.41% 1.51% 5.08% FIRST METRO SAVE AND LEARN BALANCED FUND INC. -A 2.6491 1.03% -0.73% -0.41% 0.67% FIRST METRO SAVE AND LEARN F.O.C.C.U.S. DYNAMIC FUND, INC. -A,1 0.2001 -12.39% N.A. N.A. -12.43% NCM MUTUAL FUND OF THE PHILS., INC. -A 1.9745 0.78% 0.75% 2.13% 0.66% PAMI HORIZON FUND, INC. -A 3.802 0.58% 0.04% 1.45% 0.34% PHILAM FUND, INC. -A 16.999 0.52% -0.08% 1.37% 0.23% SOLIDARITAS FUND, INC. -A 2.1042 -0.94% -1.3% 1.14% -0.84% SUN LIFE OF CANADA PROSPERITY BALANCED FUND, INC. -A 3.585 -6.93% -2.68% 0.14% -7.21% SUN LIFE PROSPERITY ACHIEVER FUND 2028, INC. -A,D 1.0248 1.29% N.A. N.A. 0.9% SUN LIFE PROSPERITY ACHIEVER FUND 2038, INC. -A,D 0.9586 -3.45% N.A. N.A. -3.79% SUN LIFE PROSPERITY ACHIEVER FUND 2048, INC. -A,D 0.9425 -4.82% N.A. N.A. -5.1% SUN LIFE PROSPERITY DYNAMIC FUND, INC. -A 0.8916 -8.28% -3.42% -0.61% -8.54% PRIMARILY INVESTED IN FOREIGN CURRENCY SECURITIES $0.039 COCOLIFE DOLLAR FUND BUILDER, INC. -A 2.17% 2.55% 1.93% 2.09% PAMI ASIA BALANCED FUND, INC. -B $1.139 14.35% 3.57% 5.06% 12.55% SUN LIFE PROSPERITY DOLLAR ADVANTAGE FUND, INC. -A $4.4312 15.66% 7.23% 7.14% 13.31% SUN LIFE PROSPERITY DOLLAR WELLSPRING FUND, INC. -A,3 $1.1887 6.64% 3.35% N.A. 5.32% BOND FUNDS PRIMARILY INVESTED IN PESO SECURITIES ALFM PESO BOND FUND, INC. -A 370.3 3.82% 3.25% 2.79% 3.45% ATRAM CORPORATE BOND FUND, INC. -A 1.8977 -0.06% 0.33% 0% -0.23% COCOLIFE FIXED INCOME FUND, INC. -A 3.2103 3.18% 4.56% 4.84% 2.96% EKKLESIA MUTUAL FUND INC. -A 2.2926 3.56% 2.95% 2.38% 3.11% FIRST METRO SAVE AND LEARN FIXED INCOME FUND,INC. -A 2.4473 4.21% 3.45% 2.09% 3.74% PHILAM BOND FUND, INC. -A 4.628 6.57% 4.65% 3.08% 5.83% PHILAM MANAGED INCOME FUND, INC. -A,6 1.3169 5.25% 4.4% 2.59% 4.79% PHILEQUITY PESO BOND FUND, INC. -A 3.9716 5.73% 4.43% 2.84% 4.84% SOLDIVO BOND FUND, INC. -A 1.0363 8.43% 4.05% 2.47% 7.47% SUN LIFE OF CANADA PROSPERITY BOND FUND, INC. -A 3.1888 4.65% 4.69% 3.45% 3.68% SUN LIFE PROSPERITY GS FUND, INC. -A 1.7434 3.45% 3.99% 2.82% 2.49% PRIMARILY INVESTED IN FOREIGN CURRENCY SECURITIES ALFM DOLLAR BOND FUND, INC. -A $482.76 3.35% 2.71% 2.91% 3.07% ALFM EURO BOND FUND, INC. -A Є218.74 -0.35% 0.72% 1.16% -0.48% ATRAM TOTAL RETURN DOLLAR BOND FUND, INC. -B $1.2702 5.46% 3.84% 3.01% 5.22% FIRST METRO SAVE AND LEARN DOLLAR BOND FUND, INC. -A $0.0265 2.71% 1.96% 1.75% 2.71% PAMI GLOBAL BOND FUND, INC -B $1.0905 -0.35% 0.36% 0.72% -0.28% PHILAM DOLLAR BOND FUND, INC. -A $2.5246 5.42% 3.93% 3.6% 5.04% PHILEQUITY DOLLAR INCOME FUND INC. -A $0.0622106 3.23% 2.7% 2.31% 3.17% SUN LIFE PROSPERITY DOLLAR ABUNDANCE FUND, INC. -A $3.1991 1.09% 2% 2.42% 0.75% MONEY MARKET FUNDS PRIMARILY INVESTED IN PESO SECURITIES ALFM MONEY MARKET FUND, INC. -A 129.65 3.28% 3.36% 2.57% 3.04% FIRST METRO SAVE AND LEARN MONEY MARKET FUND, INC. -A 1.0473 1.73% N.A. N.A. 2.05% SUN LIFE PROSPERITY MONEY MARKET FUND, INC. -A 1.2951 2.61% 2.99% 2.61% 2.38% PRIMARILY INVESTED IN FOREIGN CURRENCY SECURITIES SUN LIFE PROSPERITY DOLLAR STARTER FUND, INC. -A $1.0518 1.52% 1.73% N.A. 1.3% FEEDER FUNDS PRIMARILY INVESTED IN PESO SECURITIES SUN LIFE PROSPERITY WORLD EQUITY INDEX FEEDER FUND, INC. -A,D,7 1.1127 N.A. N.A. N.A. N.A. PRIMARILY INVESTED IN FOREIGN CURRENCY SECURITIES ALFM GLOBAL MULTI-ASSET INCOME FUND INC. -B,D,2 $0.98 -1.01% N.A. N.A. -1.01% A - NAVPS AS OF THE PREVIOUS BANKING DAY. B - NAVPS AS OF TWO BANKING DAYS AGO. C - LISTED IN THE PSE. D - IN NET ASSET VALUE PER UNIT (NAVPU). 1 - LAUNCH DATE IS SEPTEMBER 28, 2019. 2 - LAUNCH DATE IS NOVEMBER 15, 2019. 3 - ADJUSTED DUE TO STOCK DIVIDEND ISSUANCE LAST OCTOBER 9, 2019. 4 - RENAMING WAS APPROVED BY THE SEC LAST OCTOBER 12, 2018 (FORMERLY, ONE WEALTHY NATION FUND, INC.). 5 - LAUNCH DATE IS DECEMBER 09, 2019. 6 - RE-CLASSIFIED INTO A BOND FUND STARTING FEBRUARY 21, 2020 (FORMERLY A MONEY MARKET FUND). 7 - LAUNCH DATE IS JULY 6, 2020. "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."

Envoys&Expats BusinessMirror

B3 Thursday, December 10, 2020

SOKOR DONATION

Senator Richard Gordon (right) receives a check from departing Ambassador of South Korea Han Dong-man in November. The senator and PRC president-CEO thanked the Korean government for its humanitarian assistance in aid of the survivors of recent supertyphoons (story below). PHILIPPINE RED CROSS/PNA

THANKS, QATAR

Gordon (second from left) hands a token of appreciation to Ambassador Ali Bin Ibrahim Ahmad Al-Malki during a turnover ceremony at the PRC Headquarters in Mandaluyong City on December 4. The Qatar Red Crescent donated relief goods to assist in the recovery of Filipino families affected by Supertyphoon Ulysses (story below). PNA/JOEY O. RAZON

EU continues to champion human rights, democracy

By Recto L. Mercene

@rectomercene

O one left behind, no human right ignored. With that mantra and in celebration of Human Rights Day today, the Delegation of the European Union in the Philippines has reiterated its commitment to support human rights and democracy, especially at this time of the pandemic. Chargé d’Affaires a.i. Thomas Wiersing announced that together with the embassies of EU’s member-states, the delegation will mark Human Rights Day with different events addressing a wide variety of challenges, highlighting that all human beings are born free, with equal dignity and rights. 2020 is also a special year in the EU’s work on human rights. The Third EU Action Plan on Human Rights and Democracy (2020-2024) was adopted on November 19, providing for a renewed political roadmap that sets priorities for positioning the bloc as a geostrategic and credible global actor seeking to defend EU values and interests. Another milestone is the EU Global Human Rights Sanctions Regime, expected to be adopted on December 7 by the Council of the EU. This regime sends a “strong political message, as the EU will be able to stand up for human rights ever more forcefully.” Considering the issue of disinformation worldwide, the EU Delegation is holding its webinar on “Countering

Infodemic Against this Pandemic” on December 14 from 4 p.m. to 6 p.m., with Pulitzer Prize winner Manny Mogato and academician-journalist Christian Esguerra. They will be joined by Michael Meyer-Resende: cofounder and executive director of international nongovernment organization Democracy Reporting International. He has been working in international relations, diplomacy, media and democracy support for more than 20 years. A lawyer, MeyerResende regularly publishes reports and media pieces on democracy, rule of law, disinformation and other themes. Moderating the webinar is Joyce Pañares, editor of Manila Standard Today.

Set of activities

TOGETHER with EU memberstates, the Philippine-Italian Association, the Cultural Center of the Philippines, Cinemalaya, Gawad Alternatibo, the Commission on Human Rights, Friedrich Naumann Foundation for Freedom and other local filmmakers, the

EU Delegation will screen films focusing on human rights. The film festival dubbed “To be human: A Human Rights Film Screening Special” will feature pieces from Belgium, the Czech Republic, Italy, Sweden, Denmark, Norway, Netherlands and the Philippines, available on vimeo.com/ondemand/ tobehuman (promo code: HUMAN) from December 4 to 13. On December 7, the Embassy of Germany led a discussion on responsible business conduct, as well as the importance of respecting and implementing human rights across the supply chain. The Embassy of Sweden put the spotlight on Filipino youth with its “Democracy Talks in Manila-The Role of Youth Voices in Democracy” on December 8. The embassy, together with the Women Inter Industry Network and supported by the Swedish Institute through the Swedish Alumni Network Philippines, will host “Women X Crisis: The Online Forum” on December 15. It is an open conversation about the experiences of Filipino working women in the roles they play at home, in the office and wherever they choose to take space. The Embassy of the Netherlands will emphasize the need for a free, independent and safe media with its panel discussion on “Journalists without Fear” on December 9 and 10, to be followed by a session on “Human Trafficking and Online Exploitation of Children-The Manila Dialogue” on December 11 and 12. For its part, the Embassy of Austria will hold the awarding ceremony for its Leadership Excellence Award for Girls on December 12.

Strategies, action plans

IN the Philippines, the EU has spelled out its human rights country strategy by focusing on fighting impunity and promoting rule of law; prevention and eradication of torture and other cruel, inhuman and degrading treatments or punishments—including death penalty; supporting an evidencebased approach to fight illegal drugs; supporting human-rights defenders and journalists, as well as promoting the rights of indigenous peoples, internally displaced people, women and children; and the fight against human trafficking. The Council of the EU has just approved the Third EU Action Plan on Human Rights and Democracy 2020-2024. It sets out the region’s level of ambition and priorities in this field in its relations with all third-world countries. While there have been leaps forward, there has also been a pushback against the universality and indivisibility of human rights. The ongoing pandemic and its socioeconomic consequences have had an increasingly negative impact on all human rights, democracy and rule of law, deepening preexisting inequalities and increasing pressure on persons in vulnerable situations. The new Action Plan focuses on long-standing priorities, such as supporting human-rights defenders and the fight against the death penalty. To this end, the EU and its member-states will use the full range of their instruments in all areas of external action to focus on and further strengthen the bloc’s global leadership in human rights and democracy, as well as in the enforcement of the EU Action Plan.

Czech humanitarian project yields shelters, hygiene units

HE Czech Republic is supporting the strengthening of evacuation centers’ capacities while mitigating the spread of the coronavirus disease 2019 (Covid-19) across the Philippines. With financial aid from the Czech Humanitarian Aid programme, alternative shelters, as well as water, sanitation and hygiene (WASH) facilities were provided to four cities nationwide. The project focused on strengthening disaster-preparedness capacities of high-risk urban poor communities and local government units (LGUs) by furnishing safe and sufficient shelter as well as WASH facilities for the current and potentially displaced populations in selected urbanpoor communities of the cities of Malabon and Navotas in the National Capital Region, Cebu in Central Visayas, and Cagayan de Oro in Northern Mindanao. It was implemented in October 2019 by local Philippine organization ACCORD Inc. and became timely this year because of the pandemic. Overall, the project was able to reach some 240,000 beneficiaries from almost 50,000 families

through the provision of alternative temporary shelters like barrel-vault tents and sets of temporary partition, latrines, bathing areas, and portable hand-washing stations in covered-court evacuation camps for the four-targeted cities. Said units were deployed in actual emergencies and in augmented patient-care capacity of city hospitals. Post-pandemic, these units may be used in evacuation centers during emergencies and are designed for ease of use by children and persons with disabilities. The project also supported the set-up of community quarantine facilities in Malabon, and demonstrated low-cost but effective quarantine facilities to other LGUs and national government agencies. Ambassador Jana Šedivá said, “I trust that the intervention significantly improved evacuation center conditions and camp-management services of local governments and augmented local-government capacities in mitigating the spread of Covid-19.”

INAUGURATION of a community quarantine facility in Malabon City EMBASSY OF THE CZECH REPUBLIC

Humanitarian assistance is an integral part of the Czech Republic’s foreign policy. In recent years, its embassy in Manila had also extended the same to those who were greatly affected by supertyphoons of recent years. In 2020, its government has pledged financial

aid to the International Federation of Red Cross or IFRC, in assistance to areas hit by Typhoons Rolly and Ulysses. Furthermore, the Czech Embassy is supporting the education and vocational training of youth in the dense informal settlements of the City of Manila.

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TURKISH AID

Manila Mayor Francisco Domagoso (second from right) receives from Ambassador of Turkey Artemiz Sumer (second from left) a document for the donation of 50 brandnew sewing machines to the city at the Universidad de Manila late in November. PNA/AVITO C. DALAN

More nations assist in post-calamity recovery

ARIOUS countries remain unwavering in sending their aid to the Philippines, weeks after a series of natural calamities slashed through the archipelago. On December 4, Ambassador Saskia de Lang announced the government of the Netherlands’ grant of €600,000 as disaster-relief fund for the survivors of recent Supertyphoons Rolly and Ulysses (international names Goni and Vamco). This will be channeled through the Netherlands Red Cross (NRC) and will focus on building temporary shelter and repairing damaged houses; providing basic needs and support to livelihoods; disaster-risk reduction; water, sanitation and hygiene, or WASH; health; protection, gender and inclusion; as well as migration and restoring family links. An additional €350,000 has also been collected by the NRC through a public campaign for funds in favor of the Philippines. “On behalf of [our] government, I would like to convey our heartfelt condolences to the people and the government of the Philippines over the losses of lives, the displacement of families, and the widespread damages to property and infrastructure,” said De Lang. “Both the Philippines and the Netherlands are vulnerable to extreme weather. Climate change worsens this situation. We stand with the Philippines in these difficult times, and we will continue to cooperate on climate adaptation, water management and disasterrisk reduction. But for now, we focus on the immediate humanitarian response.” She added, “I am also proud of the generosity shown by the Dutch public in contributing to the campaign for funds in favor of the Philippines.” Both governments enjoy a long-standing partnership, sharing Dutch water expertise to cope with the Philippines’s multiple water challenges—including coastal protection, land-use planning, drinking water management and the Manila Bay Sustainable Development Master Plan. Past and current disasters show that they face similar challenges along their coasts and rivers. It said: “Disasters are not a fatality: the aim of [our] cooperation is to turn vulnerabilities into resilience, and sustainable, inclusive development.” The Netherlands government is actively engaging the Dutch private sector to collaborate in these efforts: “Aid and trade go together, and reinforce each other,” the embassy stated.

Qatar’s ‘air bridge’

FOR their part, the Qatari people, through the Qatar Red Crescent (QRC), has donated around $250,000 (approximately P12 million) worth of relief goods to assist in the recovery of Filipino families affected by Ulysses. A Qatar Emiri Air Force C-17 plane transported the items via an “air bridge” established between the two states and landed at the Ninoy Aquino International Airport around 3:56 a.m. on December 4. The Qatar Embassy in Manila said the aid was delivered under the directive of Qatar’s Emir, His Highness Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani, in a “bid to help friends in the Republic of the Philippines.” Abdelmounaim Mhindate, head of the QRC Philippine mission, said the donations would be delivered straight to typhoon-stricken families—particularly those from hardest-hit areas. The relief items include more than 40 tons of various food and nonfood items, in addition to shelter, tents, water and sanitation units, generators, and rescue boats. It will be coursed through the Philippine Red Cross (PRC) to help about 2,500 families—some of whom were displaced following the supertyphoon’s onslaught. “Once we took all these items outside the airport, immediately, [they] will be taken to the affected areas, especially in Rizal and Cagayan,” Mhindate told the Philippine News Agency during the arrival. “There is a very long, historic diplomatic relationship between the State of Qatar and the Republic of the Philippines,” acknowledged the mission head. “The QRC and the PRC, we also have long-standing cooperation and partnership...we have always been

interested [in supporting] the PRC and the Filipino people, especially those who have been affected by natural disasters.” Mhindate said Qatar would continue to support the Philippines, especially with emergency response in times of natural disasters: “We’ll continue our work with PRC to reach those who are exposed to the dangers of disasters, and we will work hard hand-inhand with them.” The Qatar aid program was implemented by the Qatar Charity and the QRC, which in turn coordinated with the PRC to ensure the quick provision of aid, with Qatar Fund for Development as main donor. During the ceremonial turnover, Senator Richard J. Gordon, PRC chairman and CEO, disclosed that the donation is a testament to the volunteer organizations’ mutual support among members of the society. “[The QRC] has been helping us all the time, therefore solidifying our relationship. All these [donations are necessary; we will give them] to the most vulnerable sectors of the community,” he revealed. The contents of the donation include 402 food packages worth $10,765.89; 1,137 food packages worth $31,150.68; thermal blankets; family rifle tents; shelter tool kits; tarpaulins; inflatable boats; mosquito nets; as well as carbon and sand filters, among others. The QRC has been a partner of the PRC in many humanitarian efforts, such as those for Supertyphoon Yolanda (international name Haiyan) in 2013, Typhoon Dindo (Hagupit) in 2014, the Surigao earthquake and Typhoon Vinta (Tembin) in 2017, as well as Ompong (Mangkhut) in 2018, to name a few. One of its notable efforts is the donation of two water tankers and 650 disaster-resilient shelters to “Yolanda” survivors.

SoKor sent support

GORDON likewise thanked the government of the Republic of Korea for donating nearly P10 million as humanitarian assistance for families and communities affected by the recent howlers. The senator and PRC president-CEO personally received a check for $200,000 from outgoing ambassador Han Dong-man during their dinner on November 23. “We thank you for the humanitarian aid, and we will make sure that this will go directly to the people. Kamsahamnida!” Gordon said. He also expressed his and the PRC’s gratitude to the departing diplomat for the numerous donations made by the latter’s government during his stint in the country: “You have done so much to further strengthen ties between our nations, which will definitely be a legacy. On behalf of the staff and volunteers of the PRC, we wish you safety on your next journey, and a life full of happiness ahead. You will always have a second home in the Philippines.” Gordon noted that South Korea, through its embassy here, has always made donations to the PRC whenever disaster strikes any part of the country to help fund the humanitarian operations that they conduct in the area concerned. Its donations for the past five years included a P5-million donation for Marawi City in July 2017 for 20 portable toilets that served more than 4,500 individuals in four evacuation centers in Lanao del Norte and Lanao del Sur. In February 2018, the embassy also donated P10 million for the PRC’s operations on the Mayon Volcano eruption, as well as the distribution of hygiene and health kits for 4,000 persons in evacuation centers, among other forms of assistance. In September 2018, South Korea also donated P16 million for PRC’s Typhoon Ompong operations, which was used to provide affected households with a livelihood assistance amounting to P10,000 each. When a series of strong earthquakes jolted different parts of Mindanao last year, the East Asian country also donated P5 million for PRC’s Mindanao Earthquake Recovery Phase. In January this year, too, it also provided P10 million to facilitate relief operations in communities affected by the Taal Volcano eruption. With reports from Joyce Ann L. Rocamora and Christine Cudis/PNA

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B4 Thursday, December 10, 2020 • www.businessmirror.com.ph

Of Canvas and Moodle: Educators w

By Claudette Mocon-Ciriaco & Rizal Raoul S. Reyes @brownindio

ockdown measures against the coronavirus disease 2019 (Covid-19) has demolished the four corners of the classroom. It wasn’t easy; and still is, as educators put efforts to rebuild those corners that are now situated in learners’ domicile. Educators from the Department of Education (DepEd), the Commission on Higher Education (Ched), De La Salle University, Ateneo de Manila University (Admu), and STI Education Services Group Inc. (STI) have different tags for this new platform for learning. Some call it electronic learning or e-learning, distance education, alternative learning, online schooling, etc. The commonality of these labels, however, is the use of technology, especially the Internet, in molding a generation of students prohibited from physically interacting with each other and their teachers. They also only have a screen as their physical connection with what is called “school.”

Booting up

WITH the recent restrictions brought about by government’s response to a deadly and infectious disease, the DepEd issued an Aide-mémoire, which is defined as “a memorandum setting forth the major points of a proposed discussion or agreement.” Sig ned by Undersec ret a r y Alain Del B. Pascua in July, the Aide-memoire called for the creation and launch of the Learning Management System (LMS) and Electronic Self-Learning Modules (e-SLMs). According to the DepEd, the Covid-19 pandemic has accelerated the need for a platform where teachers can conduct online classes for learners who have access to Internet whenever face-to-face classes are not allowed. The LMS, according to the DepEd, “can be used by teachers and learners who would like to adopt online classes as the mo-

Fr. Johnny Go, SJ

dality by which learning would be delivered.” An LMS is a computer software application that will allow teachers to create virtual classes where they can assign activities that learners need to go through. It is also used to monitor if the activities have been completed, to submit grades and conduct online quizzes to assess learners’ comprehension in conditions where face-to-face classes are not allowed. The LMS will work hand-in-hand with the DepEd “Commons.”

E-learning

ACCORDING to the government agency, the DepEd Commons “is a platform built on the concept of our Grado Network where resources and learning materials are being shared, discovered, reviewed and made alive.” Developed by Intellemina Systems Inc., a homegrown software company, the Grado Network is an online school registration, enrollment and grading system. Intellemina Systems was one of the bidders for the “Supply, Delivery, Installation and One-Year Subscription for Unlimited Users to Learning Tools and Education Continuity Programs Monitoring Application System” project of the DepEd worth P25 million. (Source: htt ps://w w w.deped .gov.ph / wp-content/uploads/2020/10/ MPB_2020c-CB-010.pdf) The DepEd Commons will contain open educational resources (OERs), e-SLMs, video and audio lecture episodes and other digital content that will be used by teachers to assign and schedule the activities that learners will go through in the LMS. The e-SLMs that will be preloaded in the DepEd Commons are in ePub3 format. The format, according to the DepEd, allows the production team to embed videos,

educational games, interactive features and feedback mechanisms that learners can access sans connection to the Internet. “The ability to embed external media into the e-SLMs is extremely powerful and will even allow DepEd to incorporate sign language, subtitles and audibles that can be used by deaf and blind learners,” documents from the agency said. “These e-SLMs can be viewed using a mobile phone or a computer as long as the appropriate reader is installed.” The DepEd chose Moodle for its LMS requirements.

Instructure, Moodle

MOODLE is an open-source computer software application that was released in August 20, 2002. It is among the top 3 most-popular LMS platforms in the world with a market share of 18 percent in the United States and 50 percent in Europe, Latin America and Oceanea. There are currently 157,775 active Moodle sites worldwide that are registered across 242 countries. According to the DepEd, there is a total of 1,859 Moodle sites in the Philippines. These sites include the Ched, Admu, the Asia Pacific College, Miriam College, Mindanao State University, the Technical Education Skills and Development Authority, University of the Philippines, Xavier University, among others. Jesuit priest Johnny C. Go told the BusinessMirror that the Admu has been using Moodle for a decade now, but mainly by the Computer Science faculty and students. Go, who is also the director of the Ateneo Institute for the Science and Art of Learning and Teaching, added that they introduced the Canvas LMS (developed by Salt Lake City, Utah-based Instructure Inc.) for the university’s large-scale migration to online learning. He said the Grade School, Junior High and Senior High students are using Google Classroom.

New philosophy

HOWEVER, Go said that before they selected a platform, they first had to define their own philosophy of online learning. “We didn’t want the Ateneo brand of online learning to be teachers simply going online to do what they do face-to-face,” Go told the BusinessMirror. “We wanted our students’ online learning experience to be more learnercentered, more engaging and, of course, more effective.” According to Go, they “embedded this philosophy into our unique professional training program.” They call this program “Adaptive Design for Learning,” or ADL. “And the university’s over 1,000 faculty underwent the training; equipping themselves not only with digital skills but, even more importantly, with designing learning in an online environment,” Go added. “It was only after we’ve envisioned online learning ‘the Ateneo Way’ did we pick the appropriate platform that is, one that would enable teachers not just to post assignments and files for students to access, but to design learning tasks and activities that students can undergo,” the Jesuit priest said. He cited as an example the “discussion forum,” one of the most commonly-used features this semester in the Canvas LMS. “This is where teachers can ask questions and encourage discussions among students,” Go said. “So learning isn’t just an exercise of consumption but one of collaborative learning not just between teacher and students, but among the students themselves as well.”

Quizzical

ATENEO’S Go said one of the key principles of its ADL is its predilection for “asynchronous learning over our default of simply going synchronous, or delivering our lectures online through a videoconferencing tool like Zoom.” In general, this means selfpaced online modules are available for students to undergo and learn from, but supported by strategically scheduled synchronous sessions, he explained. Go added there are two main reasons for this preference. “First, asynchronous design offers many advantages.” Aside from flexibility in schedule and pace, Go said the learner has more time and opportunity to mull over the matter and prepare before participating in the discussions. “The second reason, of course, is inclusivity.” Go added this is due to the unstable Internet connection in the country. He noted the Admu itself cannot assume 100-percent Internet reliability for all its students. The priest further explained that the preference for asynchronous learning is a general principle offered to Ateneo’s faculty. “But the teachers are expected to exercise their judgment regarding the balance between asynchronous and synchronous sessions since they would be the better judge in terms of what would be best for their students and their disciplines.” Both Canvas and Moodle are used every day and quite heavily by both teacher and student, according to Go.

User experience

ACCORDING to Robert C. Roleda, DLSU Vice Chancellor for Academics, the university uses the Canvas LMS. “Canvas has the functionalities that fits our needs such as files, pages and modules to organize resources; and online activities such as discussions, collaborations, assignments and quizzes,” Roleda told the BusinessMirror. He noted that the LMS also has learning tools interoperability (LTI), “which allows us to integrate third-party tools and applications [e.g TurnItIn for academic integrity]. Studio offers user friendly video creation and/or editing, as well as video-quizzing and discussions capability.” Roleda noted that Zoom uses less, manageable bandwidth. “Canvas is practically used both in the undergraduate and graduate classes,” he said. For this trimester, Roleda said 4,018 courses are on Canvas. “The choice and adoption of Canvas LMS was based on the various dimensions, one of which is scalability and cost,” he added. To get feedback on the use the learning tools, Roleda said a bi-weekly survey is given to students and teachers to monitor their experience of the Canvas LMS. The DLSU observed there is an increase in the students’ and teachers’ overall experience with Canvas. “Both groups expressed performance of the Canvas LMS, familiarity with the platform and availability of support as minor challenges,” Roleda noted. “On the other hand, they ex pressed Inter net connectiv it y and perfor m a nce of t hei r de v ice a s continuing cha l lenges.”

Interactive features

THE Tanco family-controlled STI, on the other hand, uses the NEO, an LMS developed by San Francisco, US-headquartered Cypher Learning Inc. The NEO LMS is a cloud-based

e-learning tool that STI uses “to provide students and teachers a 2-way platform where they can discuss, collaborate, assign and submit homework, take assessments and track learning progress, among others,” STI Vice President for Academics Aisa Q. Hipolito told the BusinessMirror. Hipolito speaks highly of the technology which features gamified elements and real-time collaboration, among others. She added that students “are enjoying the setup as its interactive features such as threaded discussions, video-conferencing and discussion forums make each session more fun and meaningful.” Hipolito said the LMS also benefits the faculty “as it enables them to develop, deliver lessons and monitor students’ progress by

providing them with clear insights on where students fall behind or who could take up extra activities.” “It offers them a central repository where they can easily organize and upload learning modules for their students,” she said. “All of these are conducted behind a virtual wall that provides a measure of authentication, security and privacy.” Hipolito students are using the LMS with their synchronous and asynchronous classes. Right now, there are more than 1,700 STI teachers who are using the platform, according to her. She added that almost 19,000 courses cater to over 62,490 students on the NEO LMS.

Some issues

THESE educators, to note, agree

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Editor: Dennis D. Estopace • Thursday, December 10, 2020

weigh in on new learning platforms Go said they also remind their faculty not to get carried away with these “bells and whistles,” “because when you think about it, they are not at all necessary: a well-designed course can be no less engaging even without them.”

Teachers, parents

WHILE Go said the Admu has yet to undertake a systematic survey among the parents, anecdotes show the status of distance learning. The priest said parents are also still adjusting to the online mode of education as much as their children. “They have very definite ideas about how online learning should look like [how much of it should be synchronous and asynchronous, etc.], which we don’t always agree with.” Meanwhile, Roleda said many parents of DLSU students say that they and their children have already adjusted come the present term. “There were, of course, struggles in the first few months as parents and students adjust to the new routine,” he noted. Roleda said parents acquired a new role as they have suddenly become the extension of the teacher at home. Through constant communication between the administration and the parents, Roleda said DLSU has been able to refine the program that suits the students’ situation at home while still keeping a standard for education despite the mode of learning. “The challenge is still to master the best ‘formula’ for amount of workload, synchronous session and asynchronous activities,” Roleda told the BusinessMirror. “We are still adding and lessening here and there, and we hope to finally find the most optimal combination of tasks considering the many factors that relate to the success of online distance learning.”

Skypixel | Dreamstime.com

Initial feedback

that cost is one of the issues in acquiring these LMS products. “Cost is of course an issue but by no means the most important one,” Go said. “The more important criterion for the selection of our learning platform is the learning experience that we can provide our students.” When evaluating platforms to be used, Go said that Ateneo’s guiding principle “has always been its capacity to address the needs of the kind of online learning it wants to happen, and the ease of use for both students and teachers.” Moreover, he said Ateneo had to strike a balance between these factors. “There are platforms that are much simpler and cheaper, but lacking in particular features that we consider essential,” Go said.

“Others boast of a dizzying array of features, but the feedback on the user experience has not been great.” STI’s Hipolito, meanwhile, said that cost is a factor in choosing the platform. “Nevertheless, STI made sure that the features, accessibility, security and privacy and the overall user experience are not compromised in achieving its goal to leverage on technology for better learning,” she added. She said STI, like the Admu, also conducts regular surveys to identify the challenges being encountered by their students. Moreover, there is an immediate feedback mechanism system in place where students can use to send concerns or problems to their teachers through the LMS,

according to Hipolito.

Internet connection

THESE educators also noted the advantages and disadvantages of the current set-up in teaching and learning. According to Hipolito, since learning is done via online, the health and safety of their students are ensured. “Since some lessons are asynchronous, students are taught how to manage their time and deadlines,” she said adding that student-teacher interaction is more accessible. “Teachers are also encouraged to be more creative with their methodologies to make their lessons interactive and engaging.” Hipolito said the “study-fromhome” set up is also convenient

for students. The downside for them, however, is they don’t receive anymore any allowance for transportation and food. That’s a benefit for the parents, she noted. On the downside, Internet connectivity issues remain. While some have no appropriate gadget, those who do are easily distracted. Some lose their focus while at home due to certain conditions like noise, absence of a private space to study, the need to do household chores, among others, Hipolito said. She noted there’s also limited hands-on training since laboratory lessons are taught via instructor’s online demonstration. “Teachers are also challenged to fully supervise students during online classes,” Hipolito said.

WHILE the DepEd believes these new learning platforms are effective, they are not for everyone. For one, the DepEd emphasized that its LMS is applicable only to learners who have access to internet, which currently number to more than 8 million registeredusers in the DepEd Commons. “It is not recommended, at this point, to require all public schools to adopt only the DepEd LMS for their requirements in conducting online classes as schools may already be using other LMS platforms or there may be features in other LMS platforms that are not available in Moodle,” Pascua said. “All other LMS already being used and made available to schools may continue doing so until such time that their integration with Moodle and the enhancement of the DepEd LMS will be undertaken.” Nonetheless, Go said the university acquired a lot of knowledge about online learning not just through its university-wide professional development programs, but also and especially from one another. “Something happened when we were busy learning how to go online: We suddenly found ourselves with a dynamic and vigorous professional learning community that allowed virtually any educator to consult any colleague or to share tips and strategies with others,” Go told the BusinessMirror. He added that a number of their faculty have enjoyed using the platform for teaching. “Being a new tool, there is a learning curve, and a lot of teachers took hours of training to get themselves familiar and comfortable with using it. Nevertheless, based on initial feedback, many

have found the LMS effective,” Go said.

Valuable lessons

ADAPTING to a new form of teaching and learning is expected to continue with government eyeing a return to school in the near future. However, according to Jesus Lorenzo R. Mateo, Education Undersecretary for Planning, Human Resource and Organizational Development and Field Operations, this won’t happen overnight. “Our transition from distance learning to face-to-face setup will be done gradually,” Mateo told the BusinessMirror. “This is to manifest that we consider the health safety of our learners as a top priority.” The DepEd official added that public officials “are striving to ensure that quality education is given to our Filipino learners and will continue to do so, with or without pandemic.” “In addition, the Philippines has already adopted other learning modalities even before through the Alternative Learning System [ALS].” Mateo’s view is echoed by Atty. Lily Freida M. Milla, CHED Deputy Executive Director IV (officer-incharge). “W hat matters now is that all learning…what happens in the transition will matter in the transformation,” Milla told the BusinessMirror. “And for us, we do not want, as Winston Churchill said, ‘We do not want a good crisis or serious crisis go to waste.’” According to Milla, she believes “flexible learning is here to stay.” “There are so many learning that we have during this pandemic and, therefore, flexible learning is here to stay,” she told the BusinessMirror. “It is not just about whether it’s face-to-face or online learning but more of flexible learning.”

Eyeing return

MILLA noted that for f lexible learning, the CHED is “putting in place many of the policies that will truly transform higher education where you’re not limited to just learn in the classroom but in many other areas and by gaining experiences also in other fora.” She also noted that the pandemic really brought partnerships, both local and international partnerships, coming together and hopeful to learn from each other. “That’s why the Asean community is very important because readily we get to share our experience, what we’ve done in the pandemic and how the universities are coping and transitioning to the new and better normal,” Milla said. “And we can only learn from each other and build from the strength of this partnership, together.” For Ateneo, Go said the current scenario is not just gaining a lot of knowledge on online learning, but about more effective teaching as well. “Online learning makes teaching more visible. Effective teachers continue to do what effective teachers do or even better, but ineffective and yes, mediocre teaching also becomes more evident. This is not something to complain about; it’s something to celebrate because again, it’s an opportunity for teachers to reflect on their practice and learn how to become better teachers,” he explained. As Admu keeps on learning the intricacies on how to handle the new normal, Go pointed out there are both limitations and advantages to teaching online. “Our teachers are becoming better teachers because of all this, so we imagine that we will continue to utilize online learning or at least, its principles when we’re finally able to return to the campus.”

B6 Thursday, December 10, 2020

Skim Coat is Mariwasa’s new addition to its quality product line

ARIWASA Siam Ceramics Inc., the Philippines' leading tile manufacturer is introducing the new Mariwasa Skim Coat, a readyto-use, cement-like plastering mortar suitable for smoothing and finishing off concrete surfaces, as well as pre-casting for interior and exterior application. Skim coating is a texturing technique used to make a wall or ceiling smooth. It

is also used to repair damaged drywall making it a quick, long-term solution for fixing minor cracks, filling a joint, or leveling an existing flat surface. The new product is designed to work even on rough surfaces without leaving any pin holes or cracks while creating a smooth finish that corrects unevenness. Moreover, the new Mariwasa Skim Coat can work for surfaces both indoors and outdoors so that

homeowners don’t have to pay extra just to buy separate materials. Usually, skim coats are grey or white in color. Mariwasa opted to make their skim coat in superfine white to allow the paint that would be applied on the surface to have more vibrancy and a low tendency of shade variation. Available at a reasonable price, the new Mariwasa Skim Coat can help homeowners save more from the usual cost of materials and labor when having walls finished off. Like all Mariwasa products, the brand’s new skim coat underwent a quality assurance check to make sure that it is in excellent condition and aligns with the company’s goal of becoming a complete home solutions provider. Mariwasa showcases the continuing legacy of Filipino craftsmanship and ingenuity locally. It also exports its finished products to other countries in the ASEAN region.

Midas Hotel and Casino’s Yanagi launches tasty, healthy ramen bowls

MAGINE warming yourself up to a hot bowl of ramen on a cold and rainy evening. The ramen, complete with a tasty broth, right to the bite noodles, and a multitude of gourmet toppings, invites your senses to dig in. This experience is exactly what Yanagi Japanese Restaurant brings to Midas Hotel and Casino guests with its newest additions. Yanagi offers five soup flavors to choose from. These are Chashu Tonkotsu, Chashu Miso, Chashu Shoyu, Kaisen Miso, and Kaisen Shoyu ramen bowls. Each bowl comes with a side of chili paste so you can spice up your ramen. Chashu Tonkatsu Ramen is a rich and tasty broth made with pork marrow served with sliced and grilled chashu (pork belly), topped with ajitsuke tamago (marinated egg), menma (fermented bamboo shoots), shiitake mushrooms, negi (chopped scallions), and nori (seaweed). Chashu Miso Ramen is misoseasoned pork broth with a light garlic taste, topped with sliced and grilled pork chashu (pork belly), moyashi (bean sprouts), and negi (chopped scallions). Chashu Shoyu Ramen is savory broth made from fermented soy bean paste and shoyu (soy sauce), topped with sliced and grilled chashu (pork belly), ajitsuke tamago (marinated

ENJOY this warm, mouthwatering dish day or night at Midas Hotel's Yanagi Japanese Restaurant.

egg), shiitake mushrooms, negi (chopped scallions), and nori (seaweed). Kaisen Miso Ramen is a seafood ramen soup topped with shrimp and squid in a tasty miso-based soup broth, topped with, moyashi (bean sprouts), negi (chopped scallions), and nori (seaweed). Lastly, Kaisen Shoyu Ramen is delectable, clear, slightly brown seafoodbased broth with umami flavorings,

topped with shrimp and squid, moyashi (bean sprouts), shiitake mushrooms, negi (chopped scallions), and nori (seaweed). Yanagi is open daily for a la carte dining from 11:00 am to 2:00 pm and from 6:00 pm to 10:00 pm. The buffet is open from 11:00 am to 2:00 pm and from 6:00 pm to 10:00 pm during weekends for only Php2,100 nett per person. For reservations, call 7902-0100 local 8154 or 8255.

Sarangani celebrates culture at online festival

ARANGANI has the unique distinction of being one of the country’s youngest provinces and at the same time, one of the oldest settlements of the 2,000-year old prehistoric man. This ancient allure and modern technology come together as it holds its 18th festival to mark the province’s 28th founding day. Themed “MunaTo: Iba’t-Ibang Maskara, Bagong Kultura”, was be unlike previous observances bursting with culture and color, as it was held electronically online.

The festival is derived from the Blaan phrase Muna Toh or “first people”. Sarangani was created in 1992 from South Cotabato’s coastal towns, and dates back to the Metal Age based on the anthropomorphic burial jars unearthed at the caves in Maitum town. “This year’s festivity put the spotlight on the new heroes—health workers, essential service providers, public servants, and frontliners who are risking their lives to keep the citizens safe”, says Sarangani

Governor Steve Chiongbian Solon. He said that MunaTo 2020 was about helping each other and emphasizing health and safety protocols, essential goods and services, education, and obedience to that ensure the people’s well-being. He pointed out that Sarangani is one of the provinces with the lowest incidences of Covid-19 in the country because of its adherence to stringent health measures, and proactive and God-centered governance. On Nov. 29, the Kastulen forum tackled conversations of workers on the field on material culture appropriation, with resource persons Blaan Fulung Fredo Basino and provincial tribal chieftain, and Carlo Ebeo of the National Commission on Culture and the Arts, and moderated by Malungon municipal mayor Tessa Constantino. The annual Mindanao Week of Peace was streamed at 3:30 pm and highlighted the quest for a just and lasting peace in southern Philippines. Featured on November 30 was “I Survived Covid” true stories and testimonies of Sarangans who recovered, with Malapatan mayor Salway Sumbo Jr. and Donna Panes of the Department of Education Sarangani CID. The games, set at 7:00 pm, is sponsored by Touch Mobile, Globe at Home Prepaid Wifi, and Talk N Text. The three-day fest was livestreamed at the Munato Festival Facebook page.

RED CROSS, RESTART. Residents of Calabanga, Camarines Sur, received Corrugated Galvanized Iron (CGI) sheets for 61 families in Barangay Sto. Domingo and shelter tool kits for 110 families in Barangay Balongay, from the Philippine Red Cross led by Chairman and CEO Sen. Richard Gordon on December 5. The international humanitarian organization has been pouring efforts to the province, and this time around, is helping the Calabanga folks to rebuild their shelters and help them get back on their feet after the onslaught of successive typhoons.

Spread light and joy through ABS-CBN Foundation’s Tulong e-Christmas Cards

HRISTMAS greetings will be made more meaningful this year through ABS-CBN Foundation Inc.’s (AFI) Tulong e-Christmas Cards that are now available on Lazada and Kumu, enabling everyone to spread light and joy not only to friends and loved ones, but also to those who lost their homes and livelihoods due to the recent typhoons. The digital greeting card can be given as a virtual gift this yuletide season while the donation made will benefit families affected by the typhoons. To get one via Lazada, simply make a donation through the ABS-CBN Foundation: Tulong-Tulong sa PagAhon P200.00 Donation Voucher in the AFI flagship store. Once the donation is validated, the donor will receive a Tulong e-Christmas Card through the app. The digital greeting cards were made available on the livestreaming app Kumu starting December 4. Simply watch one of the partner livestream shows, click on carousel, choose the Tulong-Tulong sa Pag-Ahon P200.00 Donation Voucher, and complete the transaction. A confirmation email will be sent with the Tulong e-Christmas Card as attachment. The participating livestream shows on Kumu include “Bawal Ma Stress Drilon” (Mondays, 8 pm); “Hanz Swerte, Hanz Saya” (MWF, 10 am), “Lakas Tawa” (MWF, 11 pm); “Umamin Ka Na” (Wednesdays, 7 pm); “Karerin Natin” (Thursdays, 10:30 am), Seen Zone (Mondays, 1 pm and MF, 10 pm), and other livestreams on the FYE channel. The Tulong e-Christmas Cards project is part of the “Tulong-Tulong Sa PagAhon” public service campaign of the ABSCBN Foundation that was launched last November. It aims to raise funds for the ongoing relief operations of Sagip Kapamilya in areas devastated by Typhoons Quinta, Rolly, Siony, Tonyo, and Ulysses. “We want to offer something that truly

captures the spirit of Christmas. Giving a Christmas card is a simple yet thoughtful way to show another person that you care. But with the Tulong e-Christmas Card, this simple gift is even more meaningful because the sender is not only spreading light and joy to the recipient, but also to a family that faced or is facing dark times this year,” said ABS-CBN Foundation managing director Susan Afan. An estimated 800,000 families were said to be heavily-affected by the consecutive storms, which flooded and buried in mud different areas in the nation. As it has always been done in previous calamities, Sagip Kapamilya immediately responded by bringing relief goods and hot meals to typhoon victims. So far, its relief operations has gone to Aurora, Batangas, Bulacan, Cagayan, Isabela, Marikina, Pampanga, Rizal, Quezon City, and Makati after Typhoon Ulysses. For Typhoon Rolly, the group also went to Albay, Aurora, Batangas, Camarines Sur, Catanduanes, Nueva Ecija, Oriental Mindoro, and Quezon. Help spread light and joy this Christmas through the Tulong e-Christmas Cards now available on Lazada at lazada.com.ph/abscbn-foundation and Kumu. To help or donations, visit abscbnfoundation.com, or follow ABS-CBN Foundation (@abscbnfoundationinc) on Facebook.

Asticom provides job opportunities amid the pandemic

HE pandemic has caused a lot of businesses to shut down, downgrade their operations, or rethink their strategies. This prompted support and shared service provider Asticom Technology to redouble its efforts to offer more opportunities that would generate jobs suited to what the market currently needs. Various initiatives such as Project Alalay, an online platform for talents searching for employment opportunities, allowed Asticom to provide job opportunities for Filipinos even amid trying times. As a result, despite government restrictions especially during the first few months of the community quarantine, Asticom was able to open 2,814 opportunities to job seekers, a quarter of which were given to fresh graduates, employees with no prior working experience, and skilled workers. These range from a wide variety of specializations that may be categorized under IT, sales & marketing, engineering, and other administrative support functions.

“Asticom is all about bridging people to businesses and connecting businesses to the right teams. We are doing this shift to managed services in order to bring better value to our partnerships and help fulfill our clients’ aspirations,” said Mharicar Castillo -Reyes, Asticom President and CEO. Asticom is prioritizing a holistic approach by upskilling its people and managing business operations to adapt to the new normal. It provides shared services from entry level to managerial roles to a multitude of industries including telecommunications, financial technology, information technology, retail, health, logistics, automotive, banking, education, real estate, and aviation. Asticom celebrated its 5th anniversary earlier this year and recognized 183 employees who have been with the company from the beginning. As a shared service company under the Globe Group, Asticom also supports the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals, particularly UNSDG No. 8 which promotes decent work and economic growth by requiring societies to create the conditions that allow people to have quality jobs. To learn more about Asticom, visit https://asticom.com.ph/.

Editor: Anne Ruth Dela Cruz

Health&Fitness BusinessMirror

Don’t allow kids to get hooked on gadgets, parents warned By Rizal Raoul S. Reyes Contributor

hildren aged six to 11 should be discouraged from using and getting hooked on gadgets as they are not yet capable of handling situations and the dynamics brought about by being online. Dr. Geraldine Anne Lobo, a psychiatrist of The Medical City’s Institute of the Neurological Sciences said studies indicate that the brains of children and pre-teens are not yet wired to handle the complex challenges of the digital world. “They are still in the regulatory stage where there is a need for constant monitoring,” Dr. Lobo said in her presentation during the “Virtual relationships in the New Norm: Teen Perspectives, Hard Facts and Practical Solutions” webinar organized by the Institute of Neurological Sciences’ Department of Psychiatry, Section of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry. Although these children belong to the digital generation, Dr. Lobo said parents have a major role to pay on how to control their children when it comes to gadget use, adding that they are accountable for its effects on their children’s behavior. Moreover, she stressed that parental control must prevail all the time. “Don’t’ give them a free reign of the gadget,” Lobo pointed out.

Negative effects

According to the Kaiser Family Foundation, studies have shown that long term exposure to gadgets might have negative effects on the functioning of the child’s brain as it may cause attention deficit hyperactivity disorder, cognitive delays, impaired learning, increased impulsion and decreased ability to self-regulation. Dr. Lobo said parents should put an end to gadget addiction to prevent children from developing bad habits. She said it is important for parents and their children to maintain a baseline

relationship to develop child-positive parenting. “It is a big word in parenting and is defined as the continual relationship of parent and child that includes caring, teaching, leading, communicating and providing for the needs of the child consistently and unconditionally,” Dr. Lobo explained. In terms of parenting style, Lobo said the authoritative style of parenting emerged as the best because it promotes positive parenting. She added positive parenting has has a positive effect on the growth of the child. Although it demands respect and obedience, authoritative parenting promotes communication with the children. She pointed out that authoritative parenting should not be confused with authoritarian parenting which focuses on obedience and punishment. “In a nutshell, authoritative parenting provides support, discipline, warmth and control for the child. Kids need direction and they need a person in authority to guide them on how to deal with the challenges later in life,” Dr. Lobo said.

Balance

Moreover, it has a balance between control and emotional support. In her presentation, Dr. Nerissa Dando, an adolescent medicine and clinical toxicology specialist at The Medical City and Vice President of the Philippine Society of Adolescent Specialists (PSAMS) said the virtual relationship powered by social media is the newer way to connect to people. Although there are positive elements in virtual relationships, Dr. Dando said parents must guide their children in their social media activities. Right now, Dr. Dando said it is difficult to assess the challenges because of the uniqueness of the situation. She added parents must also learn to use technology so they can communicate with their children in a more effective manner. “Technology must be maximized to communicate with the children.”

Treat heart failure, prevent death with new diabetes drug

new diabetes drug has been developed to treat heart failure and prevent death in both patients with and without diabetes. In only one year since the original presentation at European Society of Cardiology (ESC) 2019, close to 30 DAPA-HF sub-studies have been published demonstrating that Dapagliflozin provides its benefit with remarkable consistency in the most representative and easy to identify patient population supporting its early use in clinical practice. Dapagliflozin is the first and only diabetes drug under the sodium glucose transport protein 2 inhibitors (SGLT2i) proven to treat heart failure in patients with reduced ejection fraction (HFrEF) and stands alone as the only SGLT2i with proven efficacy in cardiovascular death (CVD) in HFrEF patients. DAPA-HF is the first outcomes trial with an SGLT2 inhibitor investigating the treatment of HFrEF, with and without type-2 diabetes (T2D). The results showed a clear 26 percent relative risk reduction (RRR) in the composite endpoint of CVD, hospitalization for heart failure (hHF) and Urgent Hospital Visit for heart failure (HF) along with 30 percent RRR in hHF. Dapagliflozin’s significant 18 percent RRR in CVD and 17 percent RRR on All-Cause Mortality remains unmatched. Dapagliflozin has redefined the standard of care for patients living with, or at risk of developing, heart failure. On top of its proven efficacy, its safety, ease of administration, complementary mode of action and benefit in the broadest range of patients mean that it should be supporting the use of Dapagliflozin from prevention in type-2 diabetic patients to early initiation in the heart failure treatment pathway through continuous management of the disease. “AstraZeneca is committed to uplifting the standard of care of Filipino patients by providing them with innovative and accessible treatment. Dapagliflozin is well established in the treatment of type-2 diabetes, and these new findings show the potential of the medicine to reduce the burden of heart failure for many Filipino patients, even if they don’t have type-2 diabetes,” said Lotis Ramin, AstraZeneca Philippine Country President.

Heart Failure a growing concern among Filipinos

Heart failure is a life-threatening disease in

which the heart cannot pump enough blood around the body. It is a global problem, affecting approximately 64 million people worldwide where half of the patients will die with five ears of diagnosis. It is the leading cause of hospitalization for those over the age of 65 and represents a significant clinical and economic burden. Further, studies have indicated that heart failure strikes Asian early, a decade younger than their western counterparts. In the Philippines, heart failure continues to be the leading cause of death, with 74,134 reported cases in 2016. Also, the World Health Organization predicts that from 2.7 million in 2000, the number of diabetics in the country will reach 7.7 million by the year 2030. These 2 diseases are very closely linked to each other, with heart failure being one of the most common complications of diabetes. Dr. Ariel Miranda, interventional cardiologist and head of cardiac catheterization laboratory of Cardinal Santos Medical Center expressed optimism for the detailed results. He said “With the advent of the new studies like DECLARE, DAPA-HF and DAPA-CKD, this drug which was originally made for the treatment of diabetes, is now also proven to have benefits in heart failure and kidney disease. In a sense, this drug that was discovered from the bark of the apple tree is like a drug that keeps on giving. Which somewhat makes the old adage true until now: An apple a day keeps the doctor away.” This was confirmed by Dr. Erlyn Demerre, Director of the National Heart Failure Program of the Philippine Heart Association, “We now see a stronger player in the field of heart failure, Dapagliflozin. Originally used to control sugar, and now offers a new frontier in HF care. It does not just improve the quantity but also quality of lives of patients with heart failure through less symptoms and physical limitations across all ages. A happier and more productive life despite heart failure is I guess the horizon of hope we have with Dapagliflozin.” In the Philippines, Dapagliflozin is only currently approved for glycemic control and the prevention of new or worsening hospitalization for heart failure or cardiovascular death in patients with type-2 diabetes. Dapagliflozin is a prescription medicine. Patient should consult their physicians regarding their condition and treatment.

Thursday, December 10, 2020

HIV tagged a public threat as cases rise daily, DOH says

By Claudeth Mocon-Ciriaco

HILE the country is combating the Covid-19 pandemic, the Department of Health (DOH) assured the public that the agency “remains focused and resolute” in its mandate of preventing and reducing transmission of HIV as 21 new cases are being reported every day.

According to the Department of Health (DOH) HIV/AIDS and ART Registry of the Philippines (HARP), there are a total of 81,169 HIV and AIDS cases reported from January 1984 to October 2020. In October 2020, there were a total of 735 confirmed HIVpositive individuals, 96 percent (704) of whom were male. Among the total number of 81,169 diagnosed cases from January 1984 to October 2020, 94 percent (76,216) were male and more than half (51 percent, 41,163) were 25-34 years old at the time of diagnosis. The regions with the most number of reported cases were the National Capital Region (NCR) with 30,622 cases (38 percent), Calabarzon with 12,467 (15 percent), Central Luzon with 8,005 (10 percent), Central Visayas with 6,827 (eight percent), and Davao Region with 4,477 (six percent).

Continued collaboration Health Secretary Francisco T. Duque III said that the 21 cases diagnosed daily in the country is a public health threat which needs the continued cooperation and collaboration of all local communities, civil society organiza-

tions, key populations at-risk and the whole of government. “Despite the presence of the Covid-19 pandemic, we should all remain focused and resolute in our mandate of preventing and reducing transmission,” Duque said. The health chief stressed that the government wil continue to provide quality HIV and AIDSrelated services that are readily available including addressing conditions that aggravate the spread of HIV infection like poverty, gender inequality, marginalization and ignorance.

Delayed visits Gilead Sciences, Inc. and the Sustained Health Initiatives of the Philippines (SHIP) announced the results of a a pulse survey conducted to evaluate the impact of the Covid-19 pandemic on the access and delivery of HIV care, which includes testing, treatment and prevention, in Asia-Pacific. The results show that more than 90 percent of people living with HIV as well as individuals at-risk in the Philippines reduced or delayed their visits to HIV clinics during the Covid-19 pandemic. Moreover, eight in 10 Filipi-

no respondents were concerned about their long-term ability to access antiretroviral medications, one of the highest percentages amongst all respondents in the Asia-Pacific region. With the latest and highest HIV infection rates in the region, the disruption caused by the pandemic can set back efforts in trying to reduce this incidence rate. The Philippines is one of 10 countries and territories in AsiaPacific involved in the survey. A total of 1,265 respondents, including people living with HIV (PLHIV), individuals at-risk, and HIV care prescribers, were interviewed from the region; 153 of these respondents were from the Philippines. An analysis into the responses in the survey provided additional insights into the disruptions caused by the Covid-19 pandemic: Covid-19 has had the most severe impact on HIV testing in the Philippines. The Philippines reported the highest decline in the frequency of testing across all respondent groups in the region. Access to testing was reported to be most disrupted among individuals at-risk, with 64 percent of them reporting a decrease in frequency of testing. Travel restrictions (68 percent) and concerns of getting infected at point-of-care (68 percent) were the main reasons for the change in behavior. The DOH previously raised concerns over the lack of HIV testing in the country due to quarantine restrictions and travel constraints. Newly diagnosed cases in the Philippines dropped by 68 percent in the second quarter of the year compared to last year, but the DOH’s epidemiology bureau noted that there has been limited access to HIV services since March. Covid-19 has also disrupted preventive care. More than half of at-risk respondents in the Philippines have reported that they had

either decreased or stopped their intake of preventive medications, with 100 percent of them citing travel restrictions as the cause for the disruption. Dr. Kate Leyritana of the Sustained Health Initiatives of the Philippines (SHIP) shared that proper routine testing as well as preventive care are important for affected populations to manage their health to avoid higher risk of health complications. “As such, it is crucial for us to find new ways to provide support and access to adequate HIV care when they experience such constraints,” Dr. Leyritana said. She added that the increased adoption of telehealth services observed during the pandemic is one such mode of care delivery and “we believe that telehealth can bridge the gap in the access to HIV care in the long-term.” As the survey results suggest, there was an uptake of telehealth services with 70 percent of the PLHIV and individuals at-risk in the Philippines saying that they utilize telehealth services to receive care, and expect to be using telehealth in the future for video consultation (45 percent) and refill of medications (32.5 percent). “This pulse survey shows that ensuring access to critical HIV care services is an important public health priority especially when an end in sight to the pandemic remains uncertain. Gilead is committed to collaborating with the HIV community from public health authorities to HIV care prescribers, patient groups and civil societies in the Philippines and across the region to identify strategies that can close the gaps to care delivery to ensure the continuity of vital HIV care services during these challenging times and beyond,” said Boon-Leong Neo, Senior Director, Medical Affairs, Gilead Sciences, Asia-Pacific.

Study reveals curative potential of acai berry against Covid-19 By Roderick L. Abad Contributor

AKING a cue from the advice of medical experts that boosting the immune system is the best defense against Covid-19, a “superfood” can be an effective protection from contracting such an unprecedented health malady. Acai berry, with its anti-inflammatory properties, can be a potential treatment for some Covid-19 symptoms, according to a Canadian study. Researchers from the University of Toronto presented the latest updates on this study during a virtual forum dubbed the “Superfood Acai Berry Against Covid-19 symptoms: How to Harness its Nutrients” organized recently by Philippine wellness company Organique, Inc. “Organique has always believed in ‘prevention over cure.’ This is what has continuously compelled us to provide an affordable, safe, and effective immunityboosting supplement powered by the acai super berry,” Organique CEO and President Cathy Salimbangon told reporters during the webinar. “The findings from the University of Toronto’s study could be ground-breaking as we navigate Covid-19.” Since the outbreak of this novel virus early this year, there has been strong evidence to show that it can trigger the body’s acute inflammatory response, resulting in severe complications such as heart and lung inflammation. Initial medical studies have shown that the extracts of acai berry can potentially control the body’s inflammatory response within normal levels. Also, it can signifi-

cantly reduce NLRP3-mediated inflammation, which prompts the body’s response to ward off infections and stress. The NLRP 3 gene provides instructions for making a protein called cryopyrin. Cryopyrin is a member of a family of proteins which are found in the fluid inside blood cells. NLR proteins are involved in the immune system, helping to start and regulate the immune system’s response to injury, toxins or invasion by microorganisms.

Anti-inflammatory

These were the findings of Dr. Ana Andreazza, associate professor of Pharmacology and Psychiatry at the University of Toronto. She said: “Acai was effective as an anti-inflammatory. It’s important to note that it has a very similar effect on the NLRP3 cell as it does with a damaged mitochondria as we’ve seen.” One of her previous studies, likewise, revealed that acai may even prevent mental stress, another problem brought about by the pandemic and its socioeconomic consequences, such as financial uncertainty,

economic crisis, and long isolation during lockdowns. The promising medical use of acai berry was also highlighted by another research in the Philippines that was conducted by Dr. Joseph Lee, section head of Stone Center Fatima University Medical Center and chairman of the Urology Section of Empire Centre for Regenerative Medicine. “For the duration that we have given acai to our patients, we have noted that they are stable and there is no erratic change to them even if they are on maintenance for high blood and liver enzyme—and those are prone to changes. Basically, through continued monitoring of all our patients and their responses to acai, we have found that acai remains a most promising superfood that can likely live up to all the claims,” he noted.

Bullish

Although much of the research works about acai berry are at their early stages, the researchers remain bullish that they can open doors in the fight against the ensuing pandemic worldwide.

“Within the next six months we can see if it can be shared globally as an efficient treatment. We can see if it can treat the virus, and if ever, be used for prevention, as well as for the actual symptoms. We will also monitor if there are any after-effects in Covid-19 patients two to five years down the line,” Dr. Michael Farkouh said of their ongoing study, with clinical trial tests that are slated to wrap up by the end of the first quarter of 2021. “We expect the first patient to be enrolled in the next few weeks. The first phase will be conducted in Canada and Brazil.” Per the lead researcher and director of the Peter Munk Centre of Excellence in Multinational Clinical Trials, the beauty of their study is that it can be performed remotely. He explained: “We can ship the extract or the placebo and monitor them for any need for hospitalization. We will be checking in on them on day one, day 15, and day 30 for regular monitoring of their clinical status.” Expecting the success of the study, integrative medicine specialist and wellness expert Dr. Sonny Villoria noted that this “can make a huge difference in a country like the Philippines, where many are unable to afford Covid care.” If proven effective, the expert in integrative wellness added that “this is just another reason why the acai berry should be a staple in our lifestyle.” Being a constant believer of the powers of acai since 2009, Salimbangon concluded that Organique will keep on spreading awareness about it until more people have access to these supplements. She stressed: “Maintaining good health means good nutrition—and that could possibly be achieved with supplements like Organique.”

Sports BusinessMirror

B8 Thursday, December 10, 2020

Trinidad puts PHL on wakeboarding map

By Annie Abad

APHAEL “RAPH” TRINIDAD encircled the Philippines on the world wakeboarding map following his rise to No. 2 in the global rankings of the International Waterski and Wakeboarding Federation (IWWF). Only 19, Trinidad finished second in an online competition recently to add to his collection of medals that also include two silvers from the Wakeboard World Championships in Argentina last February and the 30th Southeast Asian Games at the Deca Wakepark in Clark in December last year. Israel’s Lior Sofer took the No. 1 ranking while Germany’s Max Milde was No. 3. Trinidad was the only Asian in the online competition. “My dream is to always put the Philippines on the world wakeboarding map—to show the world that we, Filipinos, have what it takes to compete on the world stage,” Trinidad, a Biology student at the University of Santo Tomas, said. “Because of the pandemic, almost all of the competitions for this year were done online. It was challenging,” he said, adding that his home

park, the Republic Wakepark in Laguna, was closed for three months. Just like in most online competitions, wakeboarding’s virtual competitions were done through videos. “They would give us formats on what tricks were needed for the event and we had to have them on video and sent them to the federation for the judges to evaluate,” he said. “The judges determine our score by looking at how difficult, how clean, how unique and stylish our tricks are,” he added. Wakeboarding wasn’t in Trinidad’s radar as a kid and was into soccer like his dad Reymund Trinidad, who played in semiprofessional leagues with the University of San Jose Recoletos-Cebu. He was 12 when his dad and mom, Jennifer, made him try wakeboarding and he immediately fell in love with the sport. “The first time I tried wakeboarding, I was hooked. Ever since I was a kid, I always loved the water,” he

said. “And what I love about wakeboarding is there’s really no limit to what you can do in the sport. And you get to set your own pace on how you want to improve.” “I am humbled by what I have achieved. And I couldn’t have done it without the support of my parents, my partners [Red Bull, Republic, HILX, JFIT and Supplement Hub] and of course, the whole Philippine wakeboarding community,” he said.

RAPHAEL “RAPH” TRINIDAD rises to world No. 2.

PAULINE TIES PRINCESS P

PAULINE DEL ROSARIO and everyone else in the bubble are playing without caddies.

Sports community opposes bill on full-contact sports HE proposed bill that will ban minors from participating in combat or full-contact sports competitions on safety reasons was beaten, 3-1, during an online House Committee on Youth and Sports Committee hearing on Wednesday. The Philippine Sports Commission (PSC), Philippine Olympic Committee (POC) and national sports associations (NSAs) opposed House Bill 1526, with only the Department of Health (DOH) agreeing to the proposed law authored by Ako Bicol Party-List Representatives Alfredo Garbin Jr. and Elizaldy Co. PSC Commissioner Ramon Fernandez said that

mirror_sports@yahoo.com.ph / Editor: Jun Lomibao

the authors should have asked the sports agency first before sponsoring the bill. “It’s a matter of putting in place safety measures and protocols. They didn’t know that there are different rules for youth and elite sports,” Fernandez said. Muaythai association secretary general Pearl Managuelod, who also represented the Philippine Olympic Committee as one of its directors, said the bill is baseless and unwarranted. “The DOH cited some data mentioning injuries among youth,” Managuelod said. “They cannot make bills arbitrarily over anecdotal evidences and isolate one incident in boxing to [ban] all combat sports.” Managuelod was referring to the DOH representatives citing injuries to minors in full-contact sports. “The athletes’ safety is always the most important to NSAs. They should focus more on reviewing DepEd [Department of Education] and PSC policies on NSAs. We have the technical expertise in our respective sports and we are mandated to govern our sport so they should let us do our jobs,” she said. PSC National Training Director Marc Velasco said that although the sports agency supports the bill’s intention of safeguarding minors in sports, the authors should have presented the positive effects athletic activities to children. “We support the intention of the bill and we will continue to work with Congress in crafting meaningful and impactful legislation for the nation,” Velasco said. Representatives from boxing, judo, karatedo, taekwondo, pencaksilat, kickboxing, jiujitsu, arnis and wrestling also attended the hearing. Annie Abad

OATH OF OFFICE

President Duterte administers the oath of office of the newly elected officers of the Philippine Olympic Committee on Tuesday at the Malacañang. They are president Rep. Abraham “Bambol” Tolentino, first vice president Al Panlilio, board members Dave Carter and Dr. Raul Canlas, auditor Chito Loyzaga and immediate past president Ricky Vargas.

AULINE DEL ROSARIO came out a bit better than Princess Superal in a wobbly frontside finish as she scrambled for a two-over 73 then watched her rival bogey the ninth to force a tie after 36 holes of the International Container Terminal Services Inc. (ICTSI) Riviera Championship of the Ladies Philippine Golf Tour in Silang, Cavite, on Wednesday. Superal, who wrested a one-stroke lead over Del Rosario with a 69 in the first round Tuesday, held sway as she matched Del Rosario’s birdie on No. 10 and bogey on the 14th. But the ICTSI Riviera Invitational Challenge runaway winner at Couples wavered with bogeys on Nos. 3, 6 and 9 for a 74, enabling the 2017 Ladies Philippine Golf Tour Order of Merit winner, who bogeyed Nos. 1 and 8, to join her at 143. That sealed an 18-hole shootout in the final round of the 54-hole championship on Thursday as the third ranked players— Chihiro Ikeda and Daniella Uy—lay six strokes behind at 149. Although no lead is safe at the tricky Langer layout, the multi-titled Ikeda, who also carded a 74, and Uy would need to produce low rounds to spoil the Del Rosario-Superal duel. Uy, who opened with a 74, actually pulled within Superal and Del Rosario with a frontside 34 but the former Junior World champion cracked when the going got tough at the back, bogeying five of the last eight and winding up with a 75. Rookie Chanelle Avaricio and Gretchen Villacencio assembled identical 152s after a 77 and 78, respectively, while Abby Arevalo, who placed second to Superal at the Couples, failed to rebound from an opening 77 with a 78 for a 155. Cyna Rodriguez, a former threetime Order of Merit winner and Ladies Professional Golf Association Tour campaigner, also skied to an 80 for a 156 while Marvi Monsalve also shot an 80 Zanieboy Gialon, meanwhile, produced a pair of three-birdie binges on both nines to spike a stirring six-under 65 as he charged back from joint 18th and into the lead halfway through the ICTSI Riviera Championship at the Langer course also on Wednesday. In a day of changing fortunes, Gialon

put his act together and rattled off three birdies in row from No. 12 then after trading a birdie for bogey on Nos. 16 and 17 for the second straight day, the 31-year-old shotmaker strung up another three-birdie string from No. 4 to fashion out a 32-33 card in hot but windy conditions. That more than made up for his fumbling opening 74 as he took control of the compact field in the P2.5 million event serving as the last of two bubble tournaments marking the PGT restart. He pooled a three-under 139 in a day when erstwhile leader Fidel Concepcion turned from awesome to awful with a sevenover 78. “I played good and hit almost all fairways,” said Gialon, out to end a three-year spell after beating Jhonnel Ababa by six at ICTSI Calatagan Golf Challenge in 2017. He also took notice of his big adjustment on the tough par-four No. 13, which he doublebogeyed in the first round on a couple of wild shots but birdied from eight feet yesterday. In contrast, Concepcion shot five birdies, one less than his lead-grabbing 66 marred by one bogey Tuesday, but he limped with four bogeys, two double bogeys on both par-5s, and holed out with a quadruple bogey on the par-4 14th. He wound up with a 40-38 and tumbled from the top to joint ninth at 144 with Ababa, who rallied with a 68, and Justin Quiban, who faltered with a 74. But a mix of seasoned campaigners and rising stars kept Gialon within sight, ready to pounce in Thursday’s pivotal round, led by Angelo Que, who stayed a stroke off the pace despite a 73 for a 140 in a tie with Ira Alido. The 19-year-old Alido, joint runner-up with Rupert Zaragosa in the ICTSI Riviera Invitational Challenge ruled by Tony Lascuña at the Couples three weeks ago, broke a par-game at the back with three birdies against two bogeys at the front for a second straight 70. Jobim Carlos, the 2018 PGT Order of Merit winner whose game went on a downswing while battling a spate of injuries in 2019, likewise heralded his return to form, albeit late as he closed out with three straight birdies at the front for a 68. He moved to joint fourth at 141 with Zaragosa, who carded a 70.

Obiena moving out of Formia

By Josef Ramos

HE rise of Covid-19 cases in southern Italy has prompted the Philippine Athletics Track and Field Association (Patafa) to find another training center for Tokyo Olympicsbound pole vaulter Ernest John Obiena. Patafa President Dr. Philip Ella Juico said it’s unsafe to keep Obiena at the world pole vault center in Formia, Italy, because of the alarming rise of cases. “We have plans to relocate EJ in case the Formia training center will be closed because of the Covid-19 situation in Italy,” Juico told BusinessMirror. Juico said they are eyeing either Finland or Dubai, but admitted travel restrictions are compounding Obiena’s impending relocation. “Finland is a candidate but many countries don’t accept travelers from Italy at this time. Dubai is also considered,” Juico said. “We’re

preparing because people are talking about center’s closure.” Juico also said he has been in constant communication with Obiena and his Ukrainian coach Vitaly Petrov. “There’s a chance that they may leave their house and the training venue especially once a lockdown will be implemented,” Juico said. Patafa secretary-general Terry Capistrano said the northern part of Italy is also an option because the virus is being contained in the area. “But it’s a hassle to move around especially if it’s not your country. The logistics will be a little bit difficult,” Capistrano said. Obiena will compete in several tournaments before the rescheduled Tokyo Olympics for July 24 to August 8, with the World Indoor Championships set from March 19 to 21 in Nanjing, China, one of the 25-year-old pole vaulter’s priorities.