BusinessMirror December 22, 2021 by BusinessMirror

DTI freezes prices in typhoon-hit areas By Tyrone Jasper C. Piad @Tyronepiad

HE Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) has imposed a price freeze amid the onslaught of Supertyphoon Odette in several areas in Mindanao and Visayas. Trade Secretary Ramon Lopez confirmed on Tuesday that a price freeze on basic necessities and prime commodities is in place for 60 days following the declaration of a state of calamity in certain provinces. According to the Republic Act 7581 or Price Act, basic necessities include rice; corn; bread; fresh, dried and canned fish and other marine products, fresh pork, beef and poultry meal; fresh eggs; fresh and processed milk; fresh vegetables; root crops; coffee; sugar; cooking

oil; salt; laundry soap; detergents; firewood; charcoal; candles; and drugs classified as essential by the Department of Health. Meanwhile, prime commodities refer to fresh fruits; flour; dried processed and canned pork; beef and poultry meat; dairy products not falling under basic necessities; noodles; onions; garlic; vinegar; patis; soy sauce; toilet soap; fertilizer; pesticides; herbicides; poultry; swine and cattle feeds; veterinary products for poultry, swine and cattle; paper; and school supplies, among others. Laban Konsyumer President Victorio Mario A. Dimagiba said it was necessary for a price freeze on goods, especially those for relief operations. This, as prices are expected to rise given the disruptions due to the

onslaught of the typhoon, he said. “They [government] should mobilize logistics service providers to bring basic goods from NCR [National Capital Region] to the Odette areas,” Dimagiba told the BusinessMirror. “We enjoin government and private sector to work hand in hand,” he added. He also called on the bread manufacturers to donate goods, because these are ready-to-eat food items. In a statement sent to the reporters, Lopez noted that the major groceries and supermarkets are complying with the suggested retail prices for basic necessities and prime commodities. However, he noted reports of overpricing of bottled water and generator sets in Cebu and Negros Occidental.

The DTI official said he ordered the Consumer Protection Group and Regional Offices to monitor the retailers and apprehend those who are profiteering amid the calamity. “We will not allow the public to be taken advantage of by unscrupulous individuals and we will not hesitate to file charges against these individuals to the full extent of the law,” he said. T hose found g u i lt y of suc h practice can be fined P300,000 and imprisoned for one year. “The business owners should not take advantage of the already unfortunate condition of our people,” he added. Last week, Lopez said that the typhoon-stricken areas may be subject to price freeze once they are declared under a state of calamity by their respective local government units.

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11-MO BOP IN SURPLUS DESPITE $123-M NOV GAP ‘LATE JOINING, OPT-OUT OF RCEP SENDS WRONG SIGNAL TO INVESTORS’

PHOTO taken by Erwin Mascariñas for Greenpeace shows a heartbreaking scene of destruction, from the air, caused by Super Typhoon Odette in Barangay Punta Bilar, Surigao City. The Department of Trade and Industry has imposed a price freeze on essentials in typhoon-hit areas after reports broke that some quarters were jacking up prices of bottled water and food, items that are hard to find in areas cut off by the typhoon’s ruin of public infrastructure. Story on price freeze above. Other related typhoon stories on pages A3, A4 and A5. By Bianca Cuaresma

@BcuaresmaBM

HE country’s dollar transactions with the rest of the world slumped back to deficit territory in November after its recovery to surplus in the previous month. See “BOP,” A2

EL AY ING the participation or opting out from the Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership (RCEP) may send the wrong signal that the Philippines is not keen on cross-border cooperation, said the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI), which has been lobbying for the trade deal’s ratification. In a statement on Tuesday, Trade Secretary Ramon Lopez explained that the country may appear as not open to closer economic integration, in addition to not being inclined to create a business-friendly environment and provide a stable rules-based system for trading. “This may impact the country’s ability to attract foreign direct investments, especially when compared with our Asean

neighbors that are already part of the RCEP. This may also affect other international trade engagements we are pursuing,” he said. “If our goal is to strengthen the Philippine economy, following the detrimental impacts of the Covid-19, non-participation or delayed participation in RCEP is not a strategic move,” he added. Lopez called anew for Senate concurrence in the ratification of the largest trade deal in the globe in order to allow the country’s participation. To date, six Asean countries and their five free-trade partners have signified their ratification. The deal is set to enter into force by January 1, 2022. See “RCEP,” A2

COA voids textile firms’ ₧390-M illegal TCCs By Bernadette D. Nicolas

@BNicolasBM

HE Commission on Audit (COA) disallowed another set of illegal tax perks worth P390.04 million that were granted to textile companies from 2008 to 2014, bringing the current total of invalidated tax credit cer-

tificates (TCCs) received by these firms to P3.41 billion. Citing a report from the COA Special Audits Office to Finance Secretary Carlos Dominguez III, the Department of Finance (DOF) said P214.38 million of the newly disallowed TCCs were granted to Primeknit Manufacturing Corp. (PMC) while TCCs worth P175.66

million were given to Tai-Cheng Integrated Resource Inc. (TICIRI). These were on top of the previous batches of TCCs received by textile firms worth P3.018 billion that the COA had invalidated. The illegal TCCs were issued between 2008 and 2014 by the One-Stop-Shop Inter-Agency Tax Credit and Duty Drawback Center

(OSS) that is attached to the DOF. Aside from PMC and TICIRI, the other errant textile firms with invalidated TCCs are Silvertex Weaving Corp. (SWC), Knitech Manufacturing Inc. (KMI), Capital-Roll Knit Corp. (CRC), Uni-Glory’s Knitting Corp. (UKC), Miskhu

PESO exchange rates n US 49.9540 n japan 0.4398 n UK 65.9792 n HK 6.4036 n CHINA 7.8349 n singapore 36.5562 n australia 35.5123 n EU 56.3431 n SAUDI arabia 13.3086

See “COA,” A2

Source: BSP (21 December 2021)

Wednesday, December 22, 2021

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Odette now puts Covid-19 jabs goal for ’21 also at risk–NVOC By Samuel P. Medenilla

The National Vaccination Operation Center (NVOC) reported that it will be hard for local government units (LGU) affected by Typhoon Odette to meet

their goals under the second National Vaccination Days (NVD). The government aims to administer 7 million Covid-19 jabs during

the second NVD. But from December 15 to 20, 2021, it was only able to administer 3.7 million vaccines under the initiative. NVOC chairperson Myrna C. Cabotaje said many of the LGUs in Regions 6, 7, 8 and Caraga are still reeling from the effects of Odette and are not expected to mount their inoculation drive until next week. To compensate for the delay in the inoculation drive in these areas, she said they decided to increase the vaccination targets in areas which were not severely affected by Odette. “We will see if we can ramp up [vaccination] in Region 3 and 4-A because the population in Region 7 is high. So if they [Region 7] will not start immediately we will have a hard time achieving

COA. . .

Invalidated tax credits of PMC now total P526.46 million, while those issued to TICIRI now amount to P374.47 million. Aside from these textile companies, the COA has so far issued Notices of Disallowance to the following firms with their corresponding amounts of illegally issued TCCs: KMI, with P114.20 million; UPKM, P127.81 million; and UKC, P241.68 million. Several past officials and employees

of the DOF, Board of Investments, Bureau of Customs, and OSS who were responsible for processing and approving the illegal TCCs issued over the 20082014 period, as well as the recipients and claimants from the six companies, were held liable by COA. Approved applications referred to tax credits on the duties and taxes that exporters supposedly paid, and which they could then use to pay other tax

@sam_medenilla

OLLOWING the widespread destruction it caused in several provinces during the weekend, Supertyphoon Odette (international codename: Rai) is now also threatening the government’s inoculation targets this year.

Continued from A1

Industrial Corp. (MIC), and Universal Pacific Knitting Mills Inc. (UPKM). Topping the list is SWC with the largest amount of illegal TCCs at P906.80 million. Trailing SWC is CRC and MIC, with illegal TCCs amounting to P664.92 million and P451.98 million, respectively.

54 million by the end of the year,” Cabotaje said in a television interview on Tuesday. The government held the second NVDs to help it meet its goal of 54 million fully-vaccinated Filipinos before the end of the year. As of Monday, the Department of Health (DOH) was able to tally 44.2 million fullyinoculated Filipinos. Aside from disrupting the inoculation drive, Typhoon Odette also led to vaccine wastage due to power outages. This left some vaccine vials, which require cold temperatures, without any refrigeration. DOH reported last Monday that 100 Covid-19 jabs in Region 6 were ruined because of such a power outage. Cabotaje said they are currently verifying the status of 24,600 additional Covid-19 vaccines in the same region, which may have also been ruined for the same reason.

liabilities due to the government. The practice of these alleged exporters who illegally obtained TCCs was to sell the OSS-issued certificates or tax credits to other companies at a discount, who would then use the TCCs to settle their own tax liabilities. The COA found that the OSS had issued TCCs to either ghost exporters or to real companies that were not in the export trade or who were nonetheless not qualified for the tax credits issued to them, such as these six textile companies.

RCEP. . .

Continued from A1

Dr. Francis A. Quimba, Research Fellow at the Philippine Institute for Development Studies (PIDS), said that delay or non-participation to RCEP will result in a 0.26-percent drop in the real GDP of the country. “Economies that fail to ratify the agreement [when the rest of the countries do] will be adversely affected. The Philippines and Vietnam are among the countries that have positive export growth once the RCEP is in effect, and much of the growth is coming from new-product margin where innovations stem,” he explained. Lopez said some investments may likely be diverted away from non-participating countries, which means lost opportunities and capital flight. Citing a report, the DTI said that the RCEP region accounts for 50 percent of the global manufacturing output and global automotive output; 70 percent of electronics; and 60 percent of the global value chain (GVCs) for electrical/machinery, petroleum/chemicals, textile/apparel, metal and transport equipment, among others. As such, the department said it is critical for the country to secure preferential access to these value chains. Meanwhile, Dr. Caesar Cororaton, a Research Fellow at the Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University (USA) and a Visiting Scholar at the De La Salle University (DLSU), estimated that the country’s trade balance will improve by as much as $128.2 million due to RCEP by 2031. In addition, Cororaton sees overall welfare increase by $541.2 million, a contribution of 1.93-percent real GDP growth and lower poverty incidence by 3.62 percent in the same period. The Trade department’s statement followed the recent release of a report by the United Nations Conference on Trade and Development (Unctad), noting that the Philippines may lose $100 million worth of exports within the RCEP region with the implementation of the mega trade deal. “The reason for this is the negative trade diversion effects is that some of the exports of these economies are expected to be diverted to the advantage of other RCEP members because they obtained relatively higher tariff concessions,” the UN committee explained. A tariff concession eliminates tariff duties, making trading among RCEP members cheaper. However, Unctad said RCEP members are better served by joining the trade deal. The trade creation for the Philippines, for example, is seen to reach $200 million within RCEP region. Tyrone Jasper C. Piad

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Year-end power restoration in hard-hit areas a ‘challenge’ Continued from A10

In Iloilo, 100% restoration In Iloilo City, MORE Electric and Power Corporation (MORE Power) reported that it was able to register a 100-percent restoration of its energy supply in this southern metropolis in less than 24 hours after Typhoon Odette’s rage which damaged a total of 123 poles, electricity lines and its laterals. MORE Power, according to its President Roel Castro, declared operations as back to normal following the clearing and restoration of subtransmission, feeders, primary and majority of the secondary lines and laterals. As of the weekend, the remaining works are mostly on the secondary lines connecting to the consumers’ residential lines. He emphasized that the speedy and successful restoration work was a product of preparations and contingency plans made by MORE Power even before Odette hit the city. Castro said the prepositioning of logistics and materials needed in the recovery and restoration efforts also contributed to the smooth flow of their operations as well as the shifting of duties of its personnel for them to be given enough time to rest to improve work efficiency.

Meralco’s help

The Manila Electric Co. (Meralco), meanwhile, extended assistance to expedite restoration of electricity services in affected areas. The company said it has coordinated with the DOE and the Visayan Electric Co. (VECO) and sent an advance party in Cebu on December 19 to help assess the extent of damage to power facilities. Meralco will deploy a contingent of around 50 engineers and linemen, 25 of which arrived in Cebu on Tuesday (December 21), to immediately help in clearing operations and power restoration in the province. The company is also coordinating with the Philippine Navy and PLDT, for the transportation of additional personnel, 15 vehicles, 11 generator sets, and heavy equipment to the work site. More personnel and portable generator sets are currently on standby and ready to be deployed to other areas that would need assistance. The Meralco Group, through One Meralco Foundation, is working closely with the Philippine Disaster Resilience Foundation, MVP Group, the government and private sector to provide immediate relief to those severely affected by the typhoon. In addition, Meralco PowerGen Corporation and Global Business Power Corporation are providing 20,000 liters of diesel to help fuel the generator sets of PLDT and Smart, which are working to restore telecommunications services in the affected areas. The DOE also reported only three oil depots are not yet operational. Hopefully, it added, these will be fully repaired by next week. According to DOE Undersecretary Felix William Fuentebella, the oil companies have given assurances of sufficient petroleum supply. “The challenge is to bring these to end-users. There is no reason to worry as far as availability of fuel is concerned. There is no need to hoard because that will only make it harder for the community.”

BOP. . .

Continued from A1

Data from the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas (BSP) showed that the country’s overall balance of payments (BOP)—the data summary of all the country’s transactions with the rest of the world—hit a deficit of $123 million in November this year. This is a reversal of the $1.14-billion surplus registered in October and the $1.43-billion surplus seen in November last year. The BOP is usually considered an important economic indicator in an economy as it shows the level of earnings or expenses of the Philippines with its transactions with the world. A deficit means that the country had more dollar expenditures than its dollar earnings during the period.

11-month BOP Meanwhile, November’s deficit, however, was not enough to turn the tide for the country’s 11-month total BOP position. The country’s BOP remained in surplus in total for the first 11 months of the year at $353 million. The January to November BOP surplus this year, however, pales in comparison with the $11.79-million surplus in the same months in 2020. The BSP said the November deficit reflected outflows arising mainly from the national government’s (NG) foreign currency withdrawals from its deposits with the BSP as the NG settled its foreign currency debt obligations and paid for various expenditures. Earlier this month, the BSP revised its BOP projection to a surplus of $1.6 billion from the earlier $4.1-billion surplus. This means that the country must incur a BOP surplus of about $1.25 billion to reach this projection. Monthly BOP surpluses have exceeded the $1-billion mark thrice for this year: when it hit $2.6 billion in surplus in April, $1.14 billion in October and $1.04 billion in August.

The Nation BusinessMirror

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SC stops delisting of 3 more party-list groups for ’22 polls By Joel R. San Juan @jrsanjuan1573

HREE more party-list groups were able to secure a temporary restraining order (TRO) from the Supreme Court enjoining the Commission on Elections (Comelec) from denying their petitions for registration as party-list groups for the coming May 2022 elections. In three separate orders, the SC issued TROs in favor of Ang Tinig ng Senior Citizens sa Pilipinas Inc., Lingkud Bayanihan Party, and the Mindanao Indigenous Peoples Conference for Peace and Development. Last December 17, the Court issued similar orders in favor of Igorot Warriors International Inc. (IWI) and Alliance for Resilience, Sustainability and Empowerment (ARISE). SC Clerk of Court Marife M. Lomibao-Cuevas said the TROs were given by authority of Chief Justice Alexander G. Gesmundo upon written recommendations by the justices-incharge of the petitions. In the same orders, the Court directed the respondent Comelec to comment on the petitions filed by the three party-list groups within 10 days from receipt of the resolutions. The Court said the three petitions appear “to be sufficient in form and substance.”

Editor: Vittorio V. Vitug • Wednesday, December 22, 2021 A3

Palace eyes creation of ₧10-billion fund for relief, rehab of ‘Odette’-affected areas M

ALACAÑANG is eyeing to create a P10-billion fund for rehabilitation and relief operations in areas devastated by Typhoon “Odette” (international code name Rai). In a news statement issued on Tuesday, Acting Presidential spokesman Karlo B. Nograles said President Duterte decided to increase the initial P2 billion allocation he committed for the said purpose days after concerned agencies reported the extent of the damage caused by Odette. The National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council (NDRRMC) initially pegged the cost of damages to infrastructure and agriculture in Visayas and Mindanao to just over P343 million.

Relief aid

DUTERTE visited local government units (LGU), which were hit by Odette, including Leyte, Bohol, and Cebu, and Negros island over the weekend. He ordered concerned government agencies to provide food packs and water and shelter assistance for families affected by Typhoon Odette. In its latest data, the Department

of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) reported that over 2.3 million people in 4,295 barangays were affected by Typhoon Odette. It noted the government was already able to provide P18.2 million worth of aid to the said typhoon victims. Labor coalition Nagkaisa scored what it said was the slow pace of the distribution of relief aid to affected communities. It urged the concerned agencies to fast-track the delivery of the said assistance and to convene the National Tripartite Industrial Peace Council so the needs of displaced workers could also be addressed.

Market monitoring

NOGRALES said the President also ordered the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) to look into price hikes for some basic goods and now in-demand items such as generator sets, which are now reportedly being sold at twice the usual price in the typhoon-hit areas. Duterte also gave instructions for the clearing of roads and highways in the affected areas as well as the construction of the Kabankalan airstrip in Negros to facilitate

the delivery of relief in the areas hit by Odette. Likewise, he also reiterated his order for the immediate restoration of electricity and communication services in the said areas. In a television interview, Acting Information and Communication Secretary Emmanuel “Manny” R. Caintic said they will try to bring back communication lines in typhoon-hit areas, particularly Siargao, Surigao, and Dinagat Island, before the end of the month.

Finding ways

A LAWMAKER on Tuesday urged the Department of Budget and Management (DBM) and the Department of Finance (DOF) to find ways to replenish the calamity funds between now and until the 2022 national budget allocations are downloaded to agencies and local government units. Deputy Speaker Bernadette Herrera said national agencies must give up a huge chunk of their unspent funds and savings to enable DBM and DOF to gather more resources for disaster response in the aftermath of Typhoon Odette. Herrera, along with Albay Rep.

Joey Salceda said Odette is yet another reminder and clarion call to establish the Department of Disaster Resilience (DDR) and update the National Building Code (NBC), saying the DDR and an updated NBC will make disaster adaptation and mitigation happen. “Every day we delay on these necessary legislative actions means billions of property damage, lives lost and resulting in inflation and shortages in basic commodities,” Herrera said. “The DDR and NBC deserve urgent legislative action. Disaster adaptation and mitigation are the only viable solutions to the predicament of our country as being disasterprone,” Herrera added. For his part, Salceda renewed his call for the creation of the DDR, saying that “nowhere in the Philippines can now be considered safe from natural disasters with climate change” as Odette strikes regions “not usually visited by typhoons.” “Northern Mindanao and Central Visayas aren’t areas that are used to typhoons. Bicol and the Waray regions are. As a result, they are structurally and culturally as used to typhoon preparations as Bicol and

Eastern Visayas are,” he said. “This emphasizes the fact that we can no longer say that one area of the country is typhoon-proof. The climate has changed. Our strategies for dealing with disasters must change too,” Salceda added.

Permanent evac centers

CAMARINES Sur Rep. Luis Raymund Villafuerte, meanwhile, called on Congress to immediately act on his proposal to build permanent evacuation centers, with priority given to calamity-prone areas. He underscored the urgency of the passage of the proposal in light of the recent onslaught in the southern and central Philippines of this year’s strongest typhoon so far to hit the country that has displaced some 400,000 families. Villafuerte also expressed the hope that part of the P4-billion fund that the President thus far committed for relief efforts to about 400,000 displaced families in the Visayas and Mindanao following the destruction w rought by Ty phoon Odette would include the construction of such permanent evacuation sites. Samuel P. Medenilla and Jovee Marie N. Dela Cruz

PNP to stop releasing its tallies Leonen gives ‘tips’ to examinees on hurdling the Bar exams as gaps with NDRRMC noted T By Rene Acosta @reneacostaBM

LL the cities and towns of Agusan del Norte and even Butuan City are already on a state of calamity as aid, personnel and equipment are being poured in the Visayas and Mindanao for relief and disaster operations. The National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council (NDRRMC) said Butuan City and the whole of Agusan del Norte have already declared a state of calamity as they, along with the severely affected provinces, mounts recovery efforts from Typhoon “Odette.” The NDRRMC reported 156 people having died from the typhoon as of Tuesday, nine of which it has already officially validated. The number is comparably low with the figures presented by the Philippine National Police, which already placed the number of fatalities to more than 350 as of Monday evening, citing the consolidated report of its command center. On Tuesday morning, the PNP, through its spokesman Col. Roderick Augustus Balba, said it would stop from issuing figures and identities of casualties from the typhoon, apparently in deference to the NDRRMC. “This pertains to the regular posting of data related to TY ODETTE. In this regard, effective immediately we will refrain from sending data that includes specific name of person/s who presumably perished/missing/injured/recovered during TY ODETTE pending final verification/ validation by the OCD [Office of Civil Defense],” said Balba in a statement.

Still, Balba defended the integrity of their casualty figures, apparently in comparison with the low number of the OCD and the NDRRMC, which have never gotten away from criticisms of being slow in their processes, including in response and casualty validation. “This pertains to Reports of Casualties released by the PNP as regard to reported incidents in our Police Stations during and after the onslaught of Typhoon Odette. The incidents are recorded in the Police Blotter of the PNP Unit and further documented and investigated,” Balba said. “The reported casualties are submitted to Office of Civil Defense and these are subject to validation by OCD, DILG [Department of the Interior and Local Government] and DSWD [Department of Social Welfare and Development],” he added. Meanwhile, PNP chief General Dionardo Carlos said they are exerting all efforts to help in the clearing operation of the different provinces in Visayas and Mindanao that were devastated by Odette. Many national highways and connecting roads have been impassable due to fallen trees and toppled power lines. The PNP said it has been coordinating with other agencies such as the local disaster risk reduction and management offices to make sure that work can be done at a faster rate and mobility can be attained. “We will never cease to help since it is integral in our mission. Calamities such as Typhoon Odette can best gauge the strength of our working force even if some of our personnel are catastrophe victims too,” Carlos said.

HE Supreme Court-Office of the 2020/21 Bar Chairperson on Tuesday released the omnibus guidelines to help the examinees prepare for and hopefully, pass the tedious exams scheduled on January 16, 23, 30 and February 6. Bar 2020/2021 Chairperson Marvic Leonen said the guidelines contain the rules of conduct that examinees should observe during the examinations for their orderly implementation, taking into account their interests, but also those of the host schools, the Bar personnel, and the public. “To serve the interests of Bar examinees and help them pass the 2020/21 Bar Examinations, the Office of the Bar Chairperson issues these Omnibus Guidelines to advise them on how to best prepare for the Bar Examinations,” he added. Leonen reminded examinees that as stated in each syllabus posted in the SC web site “only laws, rules, issuances, with their respective amendments; and canonical doctrines.” He added that Principles of Law are not covered by the cut-off period. “Hence, the Bar examinees need not study materials not covered in

the syllabi,” Leonen said. In order to pass the Bar, Leonen said it is important for examinees to have a good understanding of the basic principles of law and of relevant jurisprudence and must have the ability to understand and communicate in the English language. “Proficiency in English comes from the examinees’ accumulated study of and experience in communicating in this language. Knowledge of law, on the other hand, is based on years of study in law school and in the Bar review classes. To pass the Bar Examinations, the examinees need to exert effort to be as precise as possible in communicating their knowledge of the law in their answers,” Leonen stressed. He also advised the examinees not to leave any distinguishing marks on their answers as it is considered cheating and can lead to disqualification. “Do not write a mantra, motto, prayer to deities, special plea addressed to the examiner or the Bar Chairperson, or any other such extraneous text. Leaving or making any distinguishing mark in any submitted answer is classified as cheating

and can disqualify the examinee from the whole Bar Examinations,” Leonen warned. On the essay part of the exams, Leonen reminded that a mere answer of “yes” or “no” would not be sufficient, thus, examinees should always “briefly but fully explain” their answers. Amid the Covid-19 pandemic, Leonen said proper guidelines and health protocols would be observed during the actual Bar exams. Examinees are encouraged to undergo self-quarantine beginning January 2 and they should limit their movements. “They are to avoid staying in hotels and dormitories where there is highrisk exposure to Covid-19, unless they live in areas outside where the local testing center is located. They may be barred from taking the examinations if it is later known that ‘bar operations’ activities were conducted by their law school in the hotel where they are staying,” Leonen said. The examinees and the personnel would also be required to sign a waiver releasing the SC and the local testing center from any liability if they contract Covid-19 during any

of the four Sundays of the Bar. For every Bar Sunday, all the examinees would be required to present their vaccination cards and Covid-19 test results upon entry. For fully vaccinated examinees, they shall be required to present their vaccination cards and antigen test results, administered within 48 hours before the start of the examinations. While unvaccinated examinees shall be required to present their saliva or nasal RT-PCR test results administered by an accredited Department of Health (DOH) testing facility within 72 hours before the start of the examinations. The cost of the RT-PCR test shall be shouldered by the examinee. He added that all external barrelated activities such as school “Bar operations” would be prohibited outside and within the security perimeter of the local testing center. More than 11,000 law graduates have applied to take the Bar exams early next year while the SC has designated at least 24 testing sites nationwide as part of its health and safety measures during the pandemic.

Joel R. San Juan

Bello: 4.7-million workers benefit from DOLE’s pandemic aid

VER 4.7 million workers affected by the novel coronavirus disease (Covid) received aid from the Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE). In his year-end report, Labor Secretary Silvestre H. Bello III disclosed the said pandemic-affected workers benefited from their P26.1 billion worth of social protection assistance (SAP).

Majority or 2.17 million of the beneficiaries are from the formal sector and received cash aid worth P10.9 billion through the government’s Covid Adjustment Measures Program (CAMP). Under CAMP, qualified workers were given a one-time P5,000 financial assistance. DOLE was able to pay the P9.62 billion worth of wages of 1.99 mil-

lion Covid-displaced informal sector workers through its Tulong Panghanapbuhay sa Ating Disadvantaged/Displaced Workers (TUPAD). TUPAD is an emergency employment program, wherein beneficiaries are provided government work in exchange for a minimum wage. The remaining 540,876 beneficiaries are overseas Filipino workers (OFW), who received a one-time

cash aid worth P5.49 billion through DOLE’s Abot Kamay ang Pagtulong program (AKAP). Beneficiaries of AK AP were given a one-time P10,000 or $200 financial assistance. DOLE implemented the three programs since the onset of the pandemic last year, which caused widespread business disruptions and displaced many workers. Samuel P. Medenilla

AFP foregoes anniversary rites in wake of calamity Farmers receive 17,769

HE military commemorated on Tuesday its 86th anniversary in a somber fashion in solidarity with the victims of Typhoon Odette, bypassing even its program and what was supposed to have been a fly-by by Air Force planes in tribute to the Commander-inChief who is already in his last term as the country’s President. “In these challenging times, brought about by the devastation of Typhoon Odette and the persisting pandemic, we will forego the AFP [Armed Forces of the Philippines] anniversary program, pa-

rade, and fly-by in solidarity and sympathy with our kababayans and in order to not disrupt our on-going humanitarian assistance and disaster response operations,” said the AFP Chief of Staff Lt. Gen. Andres Centino. “We shall celebrate while doing our jobs in the field. This is how we will honor our long history of service and tradition of sacrifice to the Filipino people,” he added, as soldiers and military equipment were sent to the Visayas and Mindanao where they are now helping in the ongoing disaster response operations.

“We may not be able to fully alleviate the suffering of affected families and individuals, but we hope to at least give them a sense of comfort and security in these uncertain times and in the coming holidays,” Centino said. The parade and fly-by by assets and equipment which came in numbers under Duterte would have been the last fitting tribute by soldiers to the Commander-in-Chief who will be vacating the presidency in June next year. Still, the military took note of its outstanding members and

units in a recognition ceremony at Camp Aguinaldo, according to military public affairs office chief Col. Jorry Baclor. During the ceremony, a number of personnel were individually recognized for their achievements, and for groups and stakeholders over their contributions to the peace and security efforts. “We give tribute to the honorable contributions of our model personnel, our valued stakeholders, and the trailblazing units and offices in the general headquarters and in the field,” Centino said. Rene Acosta

machineries under RCEP

HE Philippine Center for Postharvest Development and Mechanization (PhilMech) reported it has distributed at least 17,769 farm machinery units to farmers cooperatives and associations (FCAs) nationwide under its P15-billion mechanization program. PhilMech said the number of units it distributed as of December 19 is 88 percent of the total 20,129 units programmed to be acquired under the funding for the 2019-2021

mechanization component of the Rice Competitiveness Enhancement Program (RCEP). The PhilMech added that it has acquired 19,756 units out of the total 20,129 units as of December 19, translating to an accomplishment rate of 90 percent. Latest data released by PhilMech showed that it has used P12.9 billion out of the total P15-billion fund in purchasing the 19,765 farm machines.

Jasper Emmanuel Y. Arcalas

A4 Wednesday, December 22, 2021 • Editor: Vittorio V. Vitug

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Ease of doing biz: Circular relaxes issuance of construction permits By Tyrone Jasper C. Piad @TyronePiad

HE Anti-Red Tape Authority (Arta) seeks to hasten the process of securing construction-related permits in the country in line with its mandate of ease of doing business. On Tuesday, the Arta, along with other government agencies, signed the Joint Memorandum Circular (JMC) No. 1, Series of 2021 titled “Guidelines in the Processing of Construction-Related Permits.” Other signatories are the Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG), Department of Trade and Industry, Department of Information and Communications Technology, Professional Regulation Commission, Department of Public

Works and Highways (DPWH) and Bureau of Fire Protection. Arta Deputy Director General Ernesto V. Perez said in a virtual event that the JMC’s objective is to “set service standards in processing construction-related permits such as building permits, certificate of occupancy and other related ancillary and accessory permits issued by the local government units.” The JMC calls for the establishment of a one-stop shop for construction permits, both electronic and physical, in all cities and municipalities. It sets standards for processing building permit applications and certificates of occupancy through unified application form and documentary requirements. The prescribed processing period

is 3 to 20 days, depending on the nature of the application. It eliminates some steps of the application and requires only three signatories at most. The JMC also removes the notarization requirements for the application forms. An oversight committee will be established with the DPWH and DILG as the chair and vice chair, respectively. Arta will serve as the secretariat. It is tasked with overseeing the implementation of the standards at the local government level, approving the manual for the JMC’s enforcement and leading the development of a web-based building permit application system, among others. Arta Director General Jer-

emiah B. Belgica said it is crucial to have policy reforms that can shorten the processing period for building permits while lowering the related costs. “We all know that infrastructure development is really essential to the country’s economic growth. It helps alleviate poverty and improve livelihoods by facilitating access to essential services, the establishment of private enterprises, and the creation of jobs,” he explained. “Stagnant construction projects are a sure sign of economic distress, whereas a thriving construction industry indicates a booming economy,” he added. Belgica said that the JMC can also enhance transparency of building permits and ensure sufficient building quality controls.

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‘Odette’ farm damage climbs to ₧500 million By Jasper Emmanuel Y. Arcalas @jearcalas

HE country’s agricultural losses due to the devastation caused by Typhoon “Odette” (international code name Rai) to some 30,192 hectares of farms in nine regions have breached the half a billion peso mark, according to the Department of Agriculture (DA). Based on the latest damage report released by the DA on Tuesday afternoon, production losses have reached 24,812 metric tons (MT) worth P525 million. The DA said about 19,677 farmers and fisherfolk in Calabarzon, Bicol, Western Visayas, Central Visayas, Eastern Visayas, Zamboanga Peninsula, Central Mindanao, Davao and Caraga were affected by the typhoon. “Affected commodities include rice, corn, high-value crops [HVC] and fisheries. These values are subject to validation. Additional damage and losses are expected in areas affected by Odette,” DA said.

The latest damage report showed that rice remained as the most damaged sector by Odette as it accounted for a chunk of the estimated production losses. The DA said rice farmers lost 19,130 MT valued at P422.9 million. The typhoon also destroyed 4,931 MT of corn from 2,611 hectares of farms valued at P78.9 million. The HVC sector’s losses remained at P4.6 million as 140 hectares planted with assorted vegetables and cacao plants were struck by the typhoon. The DA has now recorded losses in the livestock and poultry sector at P3.4 million as the typhoon damaged 3,151 heads of chicken, swine, carabao and duck. The DA said the damage to the fisheries sector has now climbed to P10.5 million with 446 fisherfolks affected as the typhoon damaged produce, boats, gears, fishnets and gillnets. The DA said it has also recorded damage to irrigation and agri-facilities (shallow tube well, rain shelter, crops nursery, green house, fertilizer processing center) amounting to P4.3 million while damage to machinery and equipment were estimated at P418,800. “Prior to Odette, a total area of 11,454 hectares [has] of rice have been harvested from Regions Mimaropa, 6, 8, 9, 11, and 13 with an equivalent production of 34,433 metrictonsamounting to P615.53M,” DA said. “As for corn, a total of 2,452 hectares have been harvested from Region 4A, Mimaropa, 8, 9, 11, and 13 with an equivalent production of 6,965 metric tons amounting to P82.55 million,” it added. DA earlier said the combined data of Regions 4A to 12 showed that Odette may affect 601,088 hectares of rice farms and 265,480 hectares of corn fields. “In rice, the combined area under seedling and vegetative stages is at 170,090 has [29.03 percent], while the area under reproductive stage is at 173,150 has [29.56 percent]. The area under maturity contributes to the remaining 242,574 has [41.41 percent],” it said. “As for corn, the area of crops under the seedling and vegetative stage is at 139,308 has [52.47 percent], while the area under reproductive stage is at 73,348 has [27.63 percent]. Those under maturity contribute to the remaining 52,829 has [19.90 percent].” DA said it is ready to roll out P1.35 billion worth of interventions in areas struck by Odette. The interventions include the P1-billion quick response funds to rehabilitate affected areas and P148 million worth of rice seeds. The DA added that it would distribute corn seeds and vegetable seeds worth P57.6 million and P44.6 million, respectively.

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Solon pushes NDRRMC to declare state of calamity in typhoon-ravaged regions By Jovee Marie N. Dela Cruz @joveemarie

O tap quick response funds, the chairman of the House Committee on Ways and Means on Tuesday urged the National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council (NDRRMC) to recommend to President Duterte the declaration of a state of calamity in several regions affected by Typhoon “Odette” (international code name Rai). Albay Rep. Joey Salceda made the recommendation in the aftermath of the typhoon, which ravaged parts of Visayas and Mindanao. Under the National DRR Act, or Republic Act 10121, the NDRRMC should recommend a declaration of state of calamity to the President. “A declaration will then activate measures such as price controls, reprogramming of funds for repair of infrastructure, and the granting of no-interest loans by the government financial institutions,” Salceda said. Salceda said the declaration would activate an automatic price freeze of basic necessities for areas in a state of calamity under RA 7581, or the Price Act. Salceda also said that there are funds that the government can

immediately mobilize to support hard-hit areas. “The government can mobilize its quick response funds, created under R A 10121, the NDRRM Funds, and the President’s Contingent Fund. Note that both the 2020 and the 2021 budgets for these funds are still valid. You have around P6.5 billion in available fund balances from the NDRRM Fund and the President’s contingent funds, based on latest budget reports,” Salceda said. “There is also the Presidential Social Fund, which is off-budget, and which the President can also immediately mobilize,” Salceda added. “ That comes from PAGCOR [Philippine Amusement and Gaming Corporation], which remitted some P2 billion this year to the Social Fund,” Salceda explained. “So there is definitely money to spare for these areas. When I was Chairman of the House Appropriations Committee, we passed Republic Act No. 9359 for rehabilitation in the aftermath of the Mayon eruption and the Guimaras Oil Spill in 2006. The national government can work with Congress to reprogram some funds from agencies with large outstanding balances,” Salceda said.

DAR trains Quirino ARBs on financial management By Jonathan L. Mayuga @jonlmayuga

SIDE from teaching farmers how to better manage their farm, the Department of Agrarian Reform (DAR) is helping farmers how to better manage their agribusiness ventures. In the province of Quirino, 32 representatives from different agrarian reform beneficiaries organizations (ARBOs) are now equipped with financial management know-hows after training at the Function Hall of the Municipal Office of Aglipay town. In a news statement, Municipal Agrarian Reform Program Officer Girlie Castillo said the training aims to equip the farmers with knowledge on the importance and strategies in managing their organizations’ financial funds. “We want them to learn how to efficiently use their funds. They cannot just disburse their funds just because they need to pay the

organization’s expenses. One of the reasons why businesses thrive is because business owners know the ins and outs of their finances,” Castillo said. Quirino State University lecturers Rodazen Mamaril and Crystal Joi Sabluden served as the resource persons during the activity, where they discussed the scope, objectives, and importance of financial management to ensure that cooperatives, organizations, and agribusinesses will be able to achieve optimum and efficient utilization of their funds. At the end of the training, the farmer representatives from the different ARBOs in Quirino expressed their eagerness to apply the lessons they have learned during the training. Aside from Castillo, Agrarian Reform Program Officer II Gloria Vaflor and Agrarian Reform Program Technologist Regina Sumigcay also assisted in facilitating the training.

DOH logs lowest coronavirus case count on Monday at 168

HE Department of Health (DOH) on Monday logged 168 additional Covid-19 cases; the lowest recorded this year so far. The total number of infections in the country, meanwhile, stood at 2,837,719. The DOH, however, said there were four laboratories that were not operational on December 19, 2021. Also, the low number of cases may be due to the failure of 20 laboratories to submit their data to the Covid-19 Document Repository System. Based on data in the last 14 days, the 24 labs contribute, on average, 4.8 percent of samples tested and 4.5 percent of positive individuals. There were also 372 recoveries and 10 deaths. Of the total number of cases, 0.3 percent (9,384) are active, 97.9 percent (2,777,541) are recoveries, and 1.79 percent (50,794) have died. Of the 168 reported cases on

Tuesday, 159 (95 percent) occurred within the recent 14 days (December 8 to 21). The top regions with cases in the recent two weeks were: National Capital Region, 47 or 30 percent; Region 4-A, 27 or 17 percent; and Region 6, 16 or 10 percent. Of the 10 deaths, six occurred in December 2021 [60 percent, 2 in November 2021 20 percent, one in August 2021 10 percent, and 1 in May 2020 10 percent due to late encoding of death information to COVIDKaya. “This issue is currently being coordinated with the Epidemiology and Surveillance Units to ensure information is up to date,” DOH said. In addition, 179 cases were found to have tested negative and have been removed from the total case count. These 179 are recoveries. Moreover, six cases that were previously tagged as recoveries were reclassified as deaths after final validation. Claudeth Mocon-Ciriaco

Wednesday, December 22, 2021 A5

CHED and DepEd urged to freeze academic affairs in calamity areas

By Claudeth Mocon-Ciriaco

@claudethmc3

HE Student Council Alliance of the Philippines (SCAP), together with other student and youth organizations, on Tuesday urged the Commission on Higher Education (CHED) and the Department of Education (DepEd) for an academic ease to help the students affected by Typhoon “Odette.”

“Their situation is not a question of discipline, it’s a matter of privilege that the broad studentry does not

Clark locators join CDC’s 26th recyclables event

LARK FREEPORT—A total of 75 Clark locators participated in the 26th Recyclables and Hazardous Waste Collection Event (RHWCE) recently organized by the Clark Development Corporation (CDC). The bi-annual event, which was held from December 14 to 16, 2021, was spearheaded by CDC’s Environmental Permits Division (EPD) in partnership with the Environmental Practitioners Association (EPA) and the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) Environmental Management Bureau (EMB). During the event, an estimated partial amount of P850,000 was spent by Clark locators for the treatment of hazardous wastes alone. Treaters/transporters also offered low service fees to the locators as part of their Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) projects. EPA President Engr. Rolando Sta. Cruz said that the 26th RHWCE “was successful in gathering veteran DENR EMB-accredited treaters and transporters,” who are also members of the EPA. EPA, its member-companies, as well as Clark residents are also committed to protecting the environment through the best industry practices. Meanwhile, a total of 1,059 pieces of batteries were collected which is expected to reach a total worth P100,000. CDC-EPD Manager Engr. Rogelio Magat opened the said event and shared the humble beginnings of the RHWCE which started way back in 2003 for recyclables or scrap materials such as papers, plastics, and cartons and used lead-acid batteries (ULAB). According to Magat, it later expanded through the years, and in 2010, waste/used and busted lamps were also included to prevent the disposal of the toxic mercury into the environment. For this year, health care wastes such as syringes used in Covid-19 vaccinations, and personal protective equipment [PPE] such as facemasks and gloves used in health-care facilities were also included in the collection, among others. CDC Health and Sanitation Manager Dra. Clemencita Dobles lauded CDC-EPD for the inclusion of the M501 or health care wastes. Aside from CDC, some of the locators who also donated their health-care wastes are Luzon International Premier Airport Development (LIPAD) Corp., Filinvest Mimosa Inc., SFA Semicon Philippines Corp., Ace Global Technologies, The Medical City Clark, and Donggwang Clark Corp.

have. In these trying times, they need compassion, not pressure. They need help, not punishment if they cannot

comply,” SCAP National Chairperson Ken Paolo Gilo said. SCAP, along with its signatories, pressed CHED and DepEd to consider the most beneficial and proactive step to helping the students affected by the storm by mandating public and private schools to suspend classes, deadlines, and academic requirements. Akbayan Party-list second nominee Dr. RJ Naguit stressed that the suspension of academic affairs amid the disaster will help ease the burden for the affected students. They cited reports showing that in the southern and central regions of the archipelago, the death toll surged to 208, at least 239 were injured and 52 are missing, and more than 300,000 were displaced, a Na-

tional Police tally showed. The National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council also reported in their initial report that the typhoon caused at least P118 million worth of damage to agriculture and P225 million damage to infrastructure. With the grave crisis at hand, students also have limited access to the Internet and power supply, making it difficult to attend online classes and meet academic requirements. Amid the alarming casualties left by the calamity, SCAP calls for support from other student and youth organizations to sign their Unity Statement, asserting “the suspension of classes, deadlines, and academic requirements with utmost consideration for the students during these trying times.”

Wednesday, December 22, 2021

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

Omicron sweeps across nation, Trump reveals he got Covid-19 booster shot; crowd boos him now 73 % of new US infections N

EW YORK—Omicron has raced ahead of other variants and is now the dominant version of the coronavirus in the US, accounting for 73 percent of new infections last week, federal health officials said Monday. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention numbers showed nearly a six-fold increase in Omicron’s share of infections in only one week. In much of the country, it’s even higher. Omicron is responsible for an estimated 90 percent or more of new infections in the New York area, the Southeast, the industrial Midwest and the Pacific Northwest. The national rate suggests that more than 650,000 Omicron infections occurred in the US last week. Since the end of June, the Delta variant had been the main version causing US infections. As recently as the end of November, more than 99.5 percent of coronaviruses were Delta, according to CDC data. CDC Director Dr. Rochelle Walensky said the new numbers reflect the kind of growth seen in other countries. “These numbers are stark, but they’re not surprising,” she said. S c ie nt i s t s i n A f r i c a f i r s t sounded the alarm about Omic ron less t h a n a mont h ago and on November 26 the World Health Organization designated it as a “variant of concern.”

The mutant has since shown up in about 90 countries. Much about the Omicron variant remains unknown, including whether it causes more or less severe illness. Early studies suggest the vaccinated will need a booster shot for the best chance at preventing Omicron infection but even without the extra dose, vaccination still should offer strong protection against severe illness and death. “A ll of us have a date with Omicron,” said Dr. Amesh Adalja, a senior scholar at the Johns Hopkins Center for Health Security. “If you’re going to interact with society, if you’re going to have any ty pe of life, Omicron will be something you encounter, and the best way you can encounter this is to be fully vaccinated.” Adalja said he was not surprised by the CDC data showing Omicron overtaking Delta in the US, given what was seen in South Africa, the UK and Denmark. He predicted spread over the holidays, including breakthrough infections among the vaccinated and serious complications

Becky Gonzalez, left, and her long time friend, Mary Lou Samora, a 71-year-old Covid-19 patient, put their palms together after they shared some encouraging words at Providence Holy Cross Medical Center in Los Angeles on December 17. AP/Jae C. Hong

among the unvaccinated that could stress hospitals already burdened by Delta. Dr. Eric Topol, head of the Scripps Research Translational Institute, said other countries had seen Omicron’s fast growth, but the US data showed “a remarkable jump in such a short time.” Topol also said it’s unclear how much milder Omicron really is compared with other variants. “ That’s the big uncertainty now,” Topol said. “We have to count on it being a lot of hospitalizations and a lot severe disease from Omicron.” CDC ’s estimates are based on thousands of coronav ir us specimens collected each week through universit y and commercial laboratories and state and local health departments.

Scientists analyze their genetic sequences to determine which versions of the Covid-19 viruses are most abundant. On Monday, the CDC revised its estimate for Omicron cases for the week that ended December 11, after analyzing more samples. About 13 percent of the cases that week were from Omicron, not the 3 percent previously reported. The week before, Omicron accounted for just 0.4 percent of cases. CDC officials said they do not yet have estimates of how many hospitalizations or deaths are due to Omicron. Though there remain a lot of new infections caused by the Delta variant, “I anticipate that over time, Delta will be crowded out by Omicron,” Walensky said. AP

Australia’s New South Wales tops 3,000 daily Covid cases

YDNEY—New Covid-19 cases in Australia’s most populous state surged past 3,000 on Tuesday for the first time, adding pressure on Prime Minister Scott Morrison to speed the rollout of booster shots. New South Wales state reported a record 3,057 new coronavirus cases and two deaths over the past 24 hours. There were 284 people in hospitals, up from 261 a day earlier, and 39 in intensive care units, up from 33. Morrison has called an “ informal ” meeting on Wednesday

of the national cabinet, a forum of state premiers and territory chief ministers, as new infections rise in New South Wales and Victoria states. The premiers of those states are likely to press Morrison to cut the interval between a second vaccine dose and a booster shot from six months to four months. Victoria reported 1,245 new Covid-19 cases and six deaths on Tuesday. Health ministers in New South Wales and Victoria have called on the Australian Technical Advisory

Group on Immunization to make “specific determinations” for accelerated booster programs in both states in part to stay ahead of the new Omicron strain of the virus. The advisory group is also reportedly considering changing the definition of “fully vaccinated” to mean those who have had a booster shot in addition to two vaccine doses. While some states in Australia require masks in bars, restaurants and other indoor public settings, New South Wales has resisted a return to mask mandates.

Morrison has also said he does not favor mandates, even in the face of the Omicron variant. He said Australia would have to “continue to calibrate” how it lives with the virus. “The time for that heavy hand is behind us,” Morrison said. It is “the time for knowing and trusting Australians who have proven themselves with one of the highest vaccination rates in the world.” “We have to move from a culture of mandates to a culture of responsibility. That’s how we live with this virus into the future,” he said. AP

EW YORK—Former President Donald Trump revealed he received a booster shot of the Covid-19 vaccine, drawing boos from a crowd in Dallas. Trump made the disclosure Sunday night during the final stop of “The History Tour,” a live interview show he has been doing with former Fox News host Bill O’Reilly. “Both the president and I are vaxxed,” O’Reilly said at the American Airlines Center, drawing some jeers from the audience, according to video shared online by O’Reilly’s “No Spin News.” “Did you get the booster?” he asked the former president. “Yes,” Trump responded. “I got it, too,” O’Reilly said, eliciting more hectoring. “Don’t! Don’t! Don’t! Don’t! Don’t!” Trump told the crowd, waving off their reaction with his hand. While Trump has expressed opposition to vaccine mandates, he has long taken credit for the vaccines developed on his watch. At the same time, he has refused to urge his supporters to take them, even though Republicans remain far less likely than Democrats to be protected. For instance, while other world leaders, including former Vice President Mike Pence, President Joe Biden and Vice President Kamala Harris, received their doses publicly to promote the lifesaving medicine, Trump chose to receive his in private—an acknowledgement of the unpopularity of the vaccine with large swaths of his base. And while he has blamed the Biden administration for high levels of vaccine skepticism, he repeatedly undermined public health recommendations while in office, encouraging the use of unproven treatments and playing down the threat the virus posed as he tried to prioritize economic recovery and secure a second term. Trump had told the Wall Street Journal in a September interview that

he “probably” wouldn’t get a booster shot. “I feel like I’m in good shape from that standpoint,” he told the paper. “I’ll look at stuff later on. I’m not against it, but it’s probably not for me.” The US has been urging all eligible Americans to get booster shots as quickly as possible as the country faces a surge in the new, highly contagious Omicron variant. Both Moderna and Pfizer have said that booster shots of their Covid-19 vaccines appear to offer protection against the new strain, which preliminary evidence suggests can better evade vaccines than previous versions. Trump was hospitalized with Covid-19 in October 2020, weeks before the presidential election, and received experimental monoclonal antibodies treatment. His former chief of staff, Mark Meadows, revealed in a book released this month that Trump was far sicker than the White House disclosed at the time. Before the booing, Trump on Sunday told the audience that they should “take credit” for the success of the vaccines developed while he was in office. “Look, we did something that was historic. We saved tens of millions of lives worldwide. We together, all of us—not me, we—we got a vaccine done, three vaccines done, and tremendous therapeutics,” Trump said. “This was going to ravage the country far beyond what it is right now. Take credit for it. Take credit for it....Don’t let them take it away. Don’t take it away from ourselves.” “You’re playing right into their hands when you sort of like, ‘Oh the vaccine,’” he added. “If you don’t want to take it, you shouldn’t be forced to take it. No mandates,” he said, drawing cheers. “But take credit because we saved tens of millions of lives. Take credit. Don’t let them take that away from you.” Trump aides did not immediately respond to a request for comment Monday. AP

EU approves 5th Covid jab for bloc, one by Novavax T

HE H AGU E , Net her l a n d s —T h e E u r o p e a n Union’s executive branch on Monday authorized a fifth Covid-19 vaccine for use in the 27-nation bloc, giving the green light to the two-dose vaccine made by US biotech company Novavax. T he European Commission confirmed a recommendation from the bloc’s drug regulator to grant conditional marketing authorization for the vaccine for people ages 18 and over. The decision comes as many European nations are battling surges in infections and amid concerns about the spread of the new Omicron variant. Novavax says it’s testing how its shots will hold up against Omicron, and like other manufacturers has begun formulating an updated version to better match that variant in case it’s eventually needed.

“At a time where the Omicron variant is rapidly spreading, and where we need to step up vaccination and the administration of boosters, I am particularly pleased with today’s authorization of the Novavax vaccine,” European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen said. Much about Omicron remains unknown, including whether it causes more or less severe illness. Scientists say Omicron spreads even easier than other coronavirus strains, including Delta, and it is expected to become dominant in some countries by early next year. Early studies suggest the vaccinated will need a booster shot for the best chance at preventing an Omicron infection. But even without the extra dose, vaccination still should offer strong protection against severe illness and death. The Novavax shot joins those f rom P f i zer -BioN Tec h, Mod-

erna, Johnson & Johnson and AstraZeneca as the authorized vaccines in the EU. The bloc has ordered up to 100 million Novavax doses with an option for 100 million more. T he European Commission said the first doses were expected to arrive in early 2022. EU member states have ordered around 27 million doses for the first quarter of next year. Last week, the World Health Organization gave emergency approval to the Novavax vaccine, paving the way for its inclusion in the U.N.-backed program to get such vaccines to poorer countries around the world. T he European Med icines Agency, the EU’s drug regulator, said that it’s human medicines committee concluded by consensus “that the data on the vaccine were robust and met the EU criteria for efficacy, safety and quality.”

Covid-19 vaccines train the body to recognize the coronavirus by spotting the spike protein that coats it, but the Novavax option is made very differently than the most widely used shots. It is a protein vaccine, made with an older technology that’s been used for years to produce other k inds of vaccines. T he Maryland-based Novavax uses genet ic eng ineer ing to g row harmless copies of the coronavirus spike protein in insect cells. Scientists extract and purify the protein and then mix in an immune-boosting chemical. Novava x President and CEO Stanley C. Erck said the company would “ deliver the first protein-based vaccine to the EU during a critical time when we believe having choice among vaccines w ill lead to increased immunization.” Last summer, Novavax reported that a study of 30,000 people

in the US and Mexico found the vaccine was safe and 90 percent effective against symptomatic infection from earlier variants, similar to findings from a trial of 15,000 people in Britain. A follow-up study found a booster dose six months after the last shot could rev up virus-fighting antibodies enough to tackle the extra-contagious Delta variant, which at the time was the biggest threat. The Novavax vaccine was long anticipated to help increase global vaccine supplies, as the shots require only refrigerated storage. But Novavax was delayed for months because of problems lining up large-scale manufacturing. In a statement, Novavax said the Serum Institute of India manufacturer will supply the initial doses for the EU and later doses will come from other manufacturing sites in its global

supply chain. Dr. Gregory Glenn, Novavax’s research and development chief, recent ly told T he A ssociated Press the problem wasn’t producing the spike protein itself, which is straightforward, but capacity to make and bottle large quantities. Glenn said the company now has enough manufacturing capability. It partnered with the huge Serum Institute of India, and two companies recently received emergency authorization of the shots in Indonesia and the Philippines. In addition, Novavax has lined up production facilities in the Czech Republic, South Korea and elsewhere. Novavax has been given emergency use authorization in Indonesia and the Philippines, has applications pending with the World Health Organization and Britain, and plans to file with the US Food and Drug Administration by year’s end. AP

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Germany set to close half of its reactors at worst possible time

ermany is set to close almost half of its nuclear power capacity before the end of the year, putting further strain on European grids already coping with one of the worst energy crunches in the region’s history. The shutdowns of Grohnde, Gundremmingen C and Brokdorf— part of the countr y’s nuclear phaseout—will leave just three atomic plants, which will be taken offline by the end of 2022. Beyond the squeeze on supply, the closures remove a key source of low-carbon power in a nation where emissions are on the rise. After the 2011 Fukushima disaster, Germany vowed to ditch all of its reactors. At the time, the country was a leader in renewables, but the phaseout has left it more reliant on coal and lignite for electricity generation. The nation fell behind in the net-zero race after making major concessions to the coal lobby, to protesters against wind farms and to manufacturers, particularly carmakers. “From a pure emissions perspective, it was always a questionable idea to shut down German nuclear before the plants have reached the end of their lifetime,” said Hanns Koenig, head of commissioned projects at Aurora Energy Research. “It was always clear that the nuclear phaseout would need coal and gas plants to run more and therefore cause substantial extra emissions.” Atomic plants are designed to generate power around the clock, providing valuable backup when the wind doesn’t blow or the sun doesn’t shine. While the shutdowns have been known about for years and are unlikely to cause a spike in prices, the removal of 4 gigawatts of baseload output highlights a dwindling reserve of buffer capacity in Germany. It’s

one reason why prices are higher next year: electricity for delivery in 2022 has jumped more than fivefold this year. The timing could hardly be worse. Power prices are near record levels across Europe, and Germany will need to rely on generation from costly gas and coal for another 20 years or so—before they too are phased out. Keeping the nuclear stations open any longer isn’t an option since that would require hundreds of millions of euros of investment, Koenig said. Increased reliance on fossil fuels will boost emissions further, and Germany is not alone. A number of countries in Europe have ramped up coal-fired power production in recent months as gas supplies failed to meet rebounding demand and wind generation fell short. Germany intends to take all coalfired generation offline by 2038, with the lignite power-plant fleet reduced almost 16 percent by 2024. By that year, high carbon prices and an expansion of renewable power will have cut Germany’s coal production “strongly,” according to the International Energy Agency. And that trend is set to be replicated, with much of Europe deciding to “get out of coal,” leading to a likely increase in renewablepower assets in the long term, said Sabrina Kernbichler, an analyst at S&P Global Platts. Yet in the short term, coal is helping to bridge the supply gap. One German utility, Uniper SE, has postponed the planned decommissioning of its Scholven-B coal plant beyond the end of 2022 following delays in building a replacement gas unit at the site. That’ll provide some relief as market tightness persists. But it won’t help Germany meet net-zero goals. Bloomberg News

China imposes sanctions on US officials over Xinjiang

EIJING—China announced sanctions on Tuesday on four members of the US government’s Commission on International Religious Freedom in retaliation for penalties imposed on Chinese officials over complaints of abuses in the country’s northwestern Xinjiang region. The tit-for-tat sanctions add to spiraling tension over Xinjiang. Washington has banned imports from the region that might be made with forced labor, while activists are calling for a boycott of February’s Winter Olympics in Beijing. China has denied accusations of abuses and earlier retaliated by publicizing calls for boycotts of foreign shoe and clothing brands. The chairwoman and three members of the US panel are barred from visiting mainland China, Hong Kong and Macau, and any assets they have in the country will be frozen, Foreign Ministry spokesperson Zhao Lijian said. Zhao identified those targeted

as chairwoman Nadine Maenza, deputy chairman Nury Turkel and members Anurima Bhargava and James Carr. Zhao gave no indication whether they have assets in China. China threatened to retaliate after the US Treasury announced sanctions December 10 on two officials accused of involvement in repression of Uyghurs and other mostly Muslim minorities in Xinjiang. Beijing is accused of mass detentions, forced abortions and other abuses. Treasury targeted Shohrat Zakir, chairman of the region’s government from 2018 until early this year, and Erken Tuniyaz, who holds the position now and previously, was deputy chairman. “The United States should withdraw the so-called sanctions and stop interfering in Xinjiang’s affairs and China’s internal affairs,” Zhao said. “China will make further responses in accordance with the development of the situation.” AP

Japan upgrades economy for first time in 17 months despite Omicron

apan’s government raised its monthly view of the economy for the first time since the summer of 2020, in a sign of confidence in the recovery even amid risks from the Omicron variant of the coronavirus. In its report for December, the Cabinet Office said the economy has picked up recently as the severe conditions caused by the pandemic gradually ease. By individual components, the government raised its view of consumption, business confidence and the jobs market. The report underscores how

Japan has so far managed to avoid the fast spread of Omicron seen in the US and the UK In the US, the variant accounted for 73 of new cases last week, while Japan had confirmed fewer than 70 Omicron cases in total as of last weekend. The cabinet office said attention should be given to the new variant, but still sees the economy picking up in the short term. Supportive government policies and progress in the country’s return to a semblance of normal life should help, it said. Bloomberg News

Wednesday, December 22, 2021

Sinopharm’s booster shot offers less protection against Omicron

inopharm’s Covid-19 booster shot generated “significantly lower” levels of antibodies against the Omicron variant, in a study offering further clues on how one of the world’s most widely used vaccines stands up against the new strain. A study of 292 healthcare workers given a booster 8 to 9 months after their second dose found that Omicron caused a 20.1-fold reduction in neutralizing antibodies, compared to the performance against the original Wuhan strain. Researchers at Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine said their analysis only assessed one part of the immune system’s response and the vaccine’s efficacy against Omicron still remains unclear.

The findings, which have yet to be peer-reviewed, will fuel concerns that the inactivated vaccine from the Chinese developer may offer inadequate protection against Omicron infection even after a third dose, at a time when many countries are rolling out booster campaigns. Omicron, which infects much faster than the delta variant, has rapidly spread to more than 77 countries in less than one month since first being identified in

The vaccine’s efficacy against Omicron still remains unclear. Bloomberg photo

southern Africa. A growing body of evidence from various studies around the world indicates booster shots could be vital in neutralizing Omicron. On Monday Moderna Inc. said a 50 microgram third dose of its vaccine produced a 37-fold increase in neutralizing antibodies.

Earlier this month initial lab findings showed rival Sinovac Biotech Ltd.’s vaccine—one of the most widely used in the world along with the Pfizer-BioNTech shot—didn’t provide sufficient antibodies after two doses against Omicron and boosters will likely be needed. Bloomberg News

Pentagon issues rules aimed at stopping rise of extremism

ASHINGTON—Warning that extremism in the ranks is increasing, Pentagon officials issued detailed new rules Monday prohibiting service members from actively engaging in extremist activities. The new guidelines come nearly a year after some current and former service members participated in the riot at the US Capitol, triggering a broad department review. According to the Pentagon, fewer than 100 military members are known to have been involved in substantiated cases of extremist activity in the past year. But they warn that the number may grow given recent spikes in domestic violent extremism, particularly among veterans. Officials said the new policy doesn’t largely change what is prohibited but is more of an effort to make sure troops are clear on what they can and can’t do, while still protecting their First Amendment right to free speech. And for the first time, it is far more specific about social media. The new policy lays out in deta i l t he banned activ ities, which range from advocating ter ror ism or suppor t i ng t he overthrow of the government to fundraising or rallying on behalf of an extremist group or “ liking” or reposting extremist views on social media. The rules also specif y that commanders must determine two things in order for someone to be held accountable: that the action was an extremist activity, as defined in the rules, and that the service member “actively participated ” in that prohibited activity. Previous policies banned extremist activities but didn’t go into such great detail, and also did not specify the two-step process to determine someone accountable. What was wrong yesterday is still wrong today, said one senior defense official. But several officials said that as a study group spoke with service members this year they found that many wanted clearer definitions of what was not allowed. The officials provided additional details about the rules on condition of anonymity because they were not made public. The military has long been aware of small numbers of white supremacists and other extremists

among the troops. But Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin and other leaders launched a broader campaign to root out extremism in the force after it became clear that military veterans and some current service members were present at the January 6 insurrection. In a message to the force on Monday, Austin said the department believes that only a few service members violate their oath and participate in extremist activities. But, he added, “even the actions of a few can have an outsized impact on unit cohesion, morale and readiness—and the physical harm some of these activities can engender can undermine the safety of our people.” The risk of extremism in the military can be more dangerous because many service members have access to classified information about sensitive military operations or other national security information that could help adversaries. And extremist groups routinely recruit former and current service members because of their familiarity with weapons and combat tactics. The number of substantiated cases may be small compared to the size of the military, which includes more than 2 million active duty and reserve troops. But the number appears to be an increase over previous years where the totals were in the low two-digits. But officials also noted that data has not been consistent so it is difficult to identify trends. The new rules do not provide a list of extremist organizations. Instead, it is up to commanders to determine if a service member is actively conducting extremist activities based on the definitions, rather than on a list of groups that may be constantly changing, officials said. Asked whether troops can simply be members of an extremist organization, officials said the rules effectively prohibit membership in any meaningful way — such as the payment of dues or other actions that could be considered “active participation.” Pentagon spokesman John Kirby told reporters that “there’s not a whole lot about membership in a group that you’re going to be able to get away with.” He added, “In order to prove your membership you’re probably going to run afoul

of one of these criteria.” Kirby also said that commanders will evaluate each case individually, so simply clicking “like” on one social media post, for example, might not merit punishment depending on all the circumstances involved.

He also noted that the Pentagon does not have the ability or desire to actively monitor troops’ personal social media accounts. Those issues would likely come up if reported to commanders or were discovered through other means. AP

A8 Wednesday, December 22, 2021 • Editor: Angel R. Calso

Opinion BusinessMirror

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editorial

Government must stabilize prices in Odette-ravaged areas

esidents in Visayas and Mindanao where Supertyphoon Odette (international code name Rai) unleashed its fury are now dealing with another scourge: unscrupulous businessmen who want to profit from the misery of their fellow Filipinos. Prices of some items that have become a necessity due to the lack of electricity, such as candles, have gone through the roof. Canned goods and purified water, which are badly needed in areas that were almost flattened by Odette, went up 400 percent, according to typhoon victims. Republic Act (RA) 7581 or the Price Act, mandates that the prices of basic necessities are automatically frozen at their prevailing prices or placed under price control whenever an area is declared under a state of calamity, disaster, emergency, rebellion, war, martial law, or when the privilege of the writ of habeas corpus has been suspended. Section 6 of the law provides that “unless sooner lifted by the president, automatic price control on necessities shall remain effective for the duration of the condition that brought it about, but not more than 60 days.” Under the law, the National and Local Price Coordinating Councils may be convened immediately after the occurrence of a crisis, calamity, or state of emergency. These councils will determine the price and supply levels in the affected areas; and review prevailing prices and recommend reasonable price ceilings, and/or set suggested retail prices. The Department of Trade and Industry noted that the law allows the national government to deputize other government agencies and the private sector for assistance in the monitoring, transport, movement and distribution of commodities. A report from the Philippine News Agency said the Philippine National Police has been asked to apprehend traders and businessmen who immediately jacked up prices of basic goods in calamity-hit areas. According to the report, police units in the regional, provincial, city and municipal levels were given the duty to ensure the proper implementation of RA 7581. Under the law, violators may face imprisonment for a period of not less than one year but not more than 10 years, or a fine of not less than P5,000 but not more than P1 million. Five days after the typhoon slammed Siargao Island, many typhoonhit victims are still in dire need of water, food and toiletries (See, “‘Odette’ cuts wide swathe of destruction in Visayas, Mindanao; 3 deaths reported, in the BusinessMirror, December 17, 2021). A number of areas that suffered the brunt of the strongest typhoon to hit the country this year are still without electricity and would continue to rely on candles. Because of the supply chain disruptions in areas struck by Odette, the high prices of basic goods and other consumer items could be an added burden that victims would have to endure. Authorities need to act swiftly, otherwise the problem of high prices in typhoon-devastated areas would persist beyond the holidays. We urge authorities to implement the necessary measures stipulated in RA 7581 to protect consumers against hoarding, profiteering and cartels with respect to the supply, distribution, marketing and pricing of basic commodities. The government must also see to it that unscrupulous traders who jacked up prices in violation of the law are punished to deter profiteers. Since 2005

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Manny B. Villar

THE Entrepreneur

E have more reasons to be thankful for this Christmas, and one of them is our improving health situation compared to the previous year’s. Thanks to the massive vaccination and observance of health protocols, we can celebrate the occasion safely with our family in a more festive setting. More people are back on the streets and to their workplaces. This is evident in the Christmas rush and heavy traffic along Edsa and other major roads. People have greater confidence to complete their shopping list, while many businesses are on their way to recovery. While the pre-pandemic economic levels may only be achieved by 2022 or 2023, the hectic business activities in the fourth quarter point to a strong growth. The Department of Finance and the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas believe that a 7-percent gross domestic product expansion is likely in this quarter. Much of the robust expansion is attributable to the government’s success in containing the virus and the cooperation of everyone. More Filipi-

nos are recuperating from Covid-19 in December than those getting fresh infections. Active cases have gone down to less than 10,000, marking the lowest level in 18 months. If the trend continues, along with massive vaccination, we would probably be in a much, much better place by next year. The government deserves a pat on the back for a job well done. We also commend the Filipino people for being compliant with health protocols. We have not heard of any group in the country opposing the mandatory wearing of face masks or the vaccination program. We cannot lower our guard, though. The Omicron variant is now in the Philippines, after being detected in two international pas-

sengers. The good news is that the variant is not as deadly as feared, with a South African study concluding that while the mutation may be more resistant to vaccine, it actually causes less severe illness than other strains. Other studies may have different conclusions, though. As the health situation improves, the economy heals. Our gross domestic product rebounded 7.1 percent in the third quarter and would likely sustain the growth level in the fourth quarter to bring our fullyear expansion in 2021 to above 5 percent. Our economic managers have expressed optimism the gross domestic product would return to prepandemic levels by 2022. The threat of new Covid-19 variants may persist in the short term, but I believe the economy is gaining strength to offset possible Covid-19 spikes in the future and accommodate further reopening under alert level 1 starting in January next year. The Asian Development Bank itself is impressed on how the Philippines is managing the economy and the pandemic at the same time. It just revised its 2021 growth forecast for the Philippines to 5.1 percent from 4.5 percent, and the 2022 growth outlook to 6.0 percent from 5.5 percent. The stepped-up vaccination pro-

gram has allowed the economy to slowly reopen, boosting consumer and business confidence. Other parts of Asia are also doing well in managing the pandemic’s rise. The vaccination rates have increased across the region in recent months, with nearly half of the population fully protected against Covid-19 as of end-November, compared with less than a third in August. The increased vaccination rate has enabled many economies to start reopening, resulting in increased manufacturing activity and trade in the region. If we grow faster in 2022, the National Economic and Development Authority predicts the Philippines will be on its way to becoming an upper-middle income country. I share Neda’s optimism. To make this possible, we need to speed up the pace of vaccination further, especially in the provinces, maintain health protocols, including the mask mandate and social distancing measures, and allow more workers to return to work. While we should remain cautious amid the lingering threat of the virus, we have greater reasons to be optimistic and greet one another a Merry Christmas! For comments, send e-mail to mbv_secretariat@vistaland.com.ph or visit www.mannyvillar. com.ph

Polish opposition duo hacked with NSO spyware

By Frank Bajak & Vanessa Gera | Associated Press

ARSAW, Poland—The aggressive cellphone break-ins of a high-profile lawyer representing top Polish opposition figures came in the final weeks of pivotal 2019 parliamentary elections. Two years later, a prosecutor challenging attempts by the populist right-wing government to purge the judiciary had her smartphone hacked.

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Merry Christmas, indeed!

In both instances, the invader was military-grade spyware from NSO Group, the Israeli hack-for-hire outfit that the US government recently blacklisted, say digital sleuths of the University of Toronto-based Citizen Lab internet watchdog. Citizen Lab could not say who ordered the hacks and NSO does not identify its clients, beyond saying it works only with legitimate government agencies vetted by Israel’s Defense Ministry. But both victims believe Poland’s increasingly illiberal government is responsible. A Polish state security spokesman, Stanislaw Zaryn, would neither confirm nor deny whether the government ordered the hacks or is an NSO customer. Lawyer Roman Giertych and prosecutor Ewa Wrzosek join a list of government critics worldwide whose phones have been hacked using the company’s Pegasus product. The spyware turns a phone into an eavesdropping device and lets its operators remotely siphon off ev-

erything from messages to contacts. Confirmed victims have included Mexican and Saudi journalists, British attorneys, Palestinian human rights activists, heads of state and Uganda-based US diplomats. But word of the Poland hacking is especially notable, coming as rights groups are demanding an EU-wide ban on the spyware. The 27-nation European Union has tightened export restrictions on spyware, but critics complain that abuse of it by EU member states urgently needs to be addressed. Citizen Lab previously detected multiple infections in Poland dating from November 2017, though it didn’t identify individual victims then. The Pegasus spyware has also been linked to Hungary, which like Poland has been denounced for antidemocratic abuses. Germany and Spain are reportedly among NSO’s customers, with Catalan separatists accusing Madrid of targeting them with Pegasus. “Once you start aggressively tar-

geting with Pegasus, you’ll join a fraternity of dictators and autocrats who use it against their enemies and that certainly has no place in the EU,” said senior researcher JohnScott Railton of Citizen Lab. Former EU parliament member Marietje Schaake of the Netherlands, now international cyber policy director at Stanford University, said: “The EU cannot credibly condemn human rights violations in the rest of the world while turning a blind eye to problems at home.” The Polish targets see the hack as evidence of a perilous erosion of democracy in the very nation where Soviet hegemony began unraveling four decades ago. Just hours before Zaryn answered e-mailed questions about the hack from The Associated Press, a provincial prosecutor filed a motion seeking the arrest of Giertych, the lawyer, in a financial crimes investigation. Zaryn did not comment on whether the two matters might be related. He said Poland conducts surveillance only after obtaining court orders. “Suggestions that Polish services use operational methods for political struggle are unjustified,” Zaryn said. An NSO spokesperson said Monday that the company is a “software provider, the company does not

operate the technology nor is the company privy to who the targets are and to the data collected by the customers.” Citizen Lab and Amnesty International researchers say, however, that NSO appears to maintain the infection infrastructure. The company spokesperson also called the allegations of Polish misuse of Pegasus unclear: “Once a democratic country lawfully, following due process, uses tools to investigate a person suspected in committing a crime, this would not be considered a misuse of such tools by any means.” In July an investigation by a global media consortium found Pegasus was used in Hungary to hack at least 10 lawyers, an opposition politician and several journalists. Last month, a Hungarian governing party official acknowledged that the government had purchased Pegasus licenses. In 2019, independent Polish broadcaster TVN found evidence the government anti-corruption agency spent more than $8 million on phone spyware. The agency denied the report but Prime Minister Mateusz Morawiecki was more ambiguous, saying all would “be clarified in due time.” In the last four months of 2019, Giertych was hacked at least 18 times, Citizen Lab found. At the See “Polish,” A9

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Virus fears widen as Omicron variant takes hold across US

To teach law in the grand manner Dennis Gorecho

Kuwentong Peyups

By Philip Marcelo And Jill Lawless | Associated Press

OSTON—The nation’s second-largest city called off its New Year’s Eve celebration Monday, and its smallest state re-imposed an indoor mask mandate as the Omicron variant leaped ahead of other variants to become the dominant version of the coronavirus in the US. The moves in Los Angeles and Rhode Island reflected widening fears of a potentially devastating winter Covid-19 surge. Much of the concern is being driven by Omicron, which federal health officials announced accounted for 73 percent of new infections last week, a nearly six-fold increase in only seven days. Omicron’s prevalence is even higher in some parts of the US. It’s responsible for an estimated 90 percent of new infections in the New York area, the Southeast, the industrial Midwest and the Pacific Northwest, federal officials said. The announcement underscored the variant’s remarkable ability to race across oceans and continents. It was first reported in southern Africa less than a month ago. Scientists say Omicron spreads more easily than other coronavirus strains, including Delta, though many details about it remain unknown, including whether it causes more or less severe illness. But even if it is milder, the new variant could still overwhelm health systems because of the sheer number of infections. Organizers of the New Year’s Eve party planned for Grand Park in downtown LA nixed plans for an in-person audience, saying the event will be livestreamed instead, as it was last year. In Rhode Island, which has the most new cases per capita over the last two weeks, masks or proof of vaccination will be required in most indoor establishments for at least the next 30 days. And in Boston, the city’s new Democratic mayor announced to howls of protests that anyone entering a restaurant, bar or other indoor business will need to show proof of vaccination, starting next month. City employees will also be required to get vaccinated. “There is nothing more American than coming together to ensure that we’re taking care of each other,” Mayor Michelle Wu said at City Hall as protesters loudly blew whistles and shouted “Shame on Wu.” Erika Rusley, a 44-year-old Providence, Rhode Island, resident, says recent events prompted her family to pump the brakes on everyday activities. The elementary school teacher and her physician husband pulled their two young daughters from swim lessons this week, limited their play dates and canceled medical appointments, even though the whole family is fully vaccinated. “The past week or so we’ve really just shut things down. It’s just not worth it,” Rusley said. “We’re back to where we were pre-summer, prevaccine. It’s square one, almost.” In New York City, where a spike in infections is already scuttling Broadway shows and causing long lines at testing centers, Mayor Bill de Blasio is expected to decide this week whether the city’s famous New Year’s Eve bash in Times Square will come back “full strength” as he promised in November. North of the border, the Canadian province of Quebec imposed a 10 p.m. closing time for restaurants, banned spectators from sporting events and shuttered gyms and schools and mandated remote work. Across the Atlantic, the World Economic Forum announced Monday that it would again delay its annual meeting of world leaders, business executives and other elites in Davos, Switzerland. But in Britain, Prime Minister Boris Johnson said Monday that officials decided against imposing further restrictions, at least for now. The conservative government re-imposed face masks in shops

and ordered people to show proof of vaccination at nightclubs and other crowded venues earlier this month. It is weighing curfews and stricter social distancing requirements. “We will have to reserve the possibility of taking further action to protect the public,” he said. “The arguments either way are very, very finely balanced.” Johnson’s warning throws into stark relief the unpalatable choice government leaders face: wreck holiday plans for millions for a second consecutive year, or face a potential tidal wave of cases and disruption. In the US, President Joe Biden planned to address the nation on the latest variant on Tuesday, less than a year after he suggested that the country would essentially be back to normal by Christmas. White House press secretary Jen Psaki said the president would issue a “stark warning” and make clear that unvaccinated individuals “will continue to drive hospitalizations and deaths,” she said. US vaccine maker Moderna announced Monday that lab tests suggested that a booster dose of its vaccine should offer protection against Omicron. Similar testing by Pfizer on its vaccine also found that a booster triggered a big jump in Omicronfighting antibodies. The country is averaging nearly 130,500 new Covid-19 cases a day, up from about 122,000 a day two weeks ago, according to Johns Hopkins University data. In Texas, a hospital system in Houston reports that Omicron already accounts for 82 percent of new symptomatic Covid-19 cases it is treating, a dramatic increase from Friday, when testing showed it was responsible for just 45 percent of the system’s cases. But in Missouri, an early epicenter of the Delta surge, the variant still accounts for 98 percent to 99 percent of Covid-19 samples, according to the state’s Department of Health and Senior Services. Meanwhile, hospitals in Ohio have postponed elective surgeries, while governors in Maine and New Hampshire have sent in National Guard reinforcements to help beleaguered hospital staff in recent days. In Kansas, rural hospitals are struggling to transfer patients, with some left stranded in emergency rooms for a week while they wait for a bed. Overwhelmed hospitals as far away as Minnesota and Michigan have been calling looking for beds in larger Kansas hospitals. Often there simply isn’t room. “It’s already as crazy as it can be when you are talking about moving people from Minnesota to Kansas City for treatment,” Dr. Richard Watson, founder of Motient, a company contracting with Kansas to help manage transfers, said Friday. Still, many political leaders are reluctant to impose the stiff measures they resorted to earlier in the pandemic. France is desperately trying to avoid a new lockdown that would hurt the economy and cloud President Emmanuel Macron’s expected re-election campaign. The government in Paris, however, has banned public concerts and fireworks displays at New Year’s celebrations. Lawless reported from London. Associated Press writers Colleen Long in Washington; John Antczak in Los Angeles; Mark Pratt in Boston; Juan Lozano in Houston; Heather Hollingsworth in Mission, Kansas; Keith Ridler in Boise, Idaho; Rob Gillies in Toronto; Geir Moulson in Berlin; Aritz Parra in Madrid; Barry Hatton in Lisbon and Derek Gatopoulos in Athens contributed to this story.

Wednesday, December 22, 2021 A9

S freshies in 1992 at the UP College of Law, the imposing words of Justice Oliver Wendell Holmes, Jr. welcomed us to Malcolm Hall: “The business of a law school is not sufficiently described when you merely say that it is to teach law or make lawyers. It is to teach law in the grand manner, and to make great lawyers.” The UP College of Law was among the first seven Colleges established after the foundation of UP on June 18, 1908 through Act 1870. UP Law has its fine share in Philippine history as it produced four presidents, namely Jose Laurel, Manuel Roxas, Elpidio Quirino, and Ferdinand Marcos aside from at least 22 senators. Fourteen out of the 27 Supreme Court chief justices are from UP Law. With excitement and trepidation, we pursued the dream of becoming (great) lawyers. Traversing the path of legal education was hard to the exponential power, as we immersed ourselves in law books and cases, faced terror professors, pore through volumes and pages of SCRAs, lined up for photocopying at the law library, hurried through classes, reviewed and crammed through lessons, and survived recitations. The seating arrangement was chosen purposely based on one’s affiliation with friends and casepool mates, by luck or by time of arrival

during the first day of classes. The seat plan was strategically optimized to source much-needed information during recitations either through infamous television (codigos) or radio (bulong squad). Magic notes provide the psychological crutch to lean on and assure one’s sense of security. It is a compilation of lectures, explanations, questions and answers given in a class by a professor on a particular subject. Encounters with law professors during the dreaded recitations involved answers that range from direct lifting from the SCRAs “in the original,” for those who studied, to inventions through guess work for those who didn’t. Despite the torture, most of the memorable moments in law school were funny blunders during class recitations. Passing the bar exams is obviously not that easy and seems to be the crowning glory of a student’s life. The bar exams is considered one of the toughest and most difficult among the professional board ex-

ams, having one of the highest mortality rate. It is also a yearly spectacle on the performance of law schools measured on the most number of topnotchers or those scoring the highest passing rate. Eight members of the batch landed as topnotchers: Trina Prodigalidad (1st, 90.6), Recaredo Borgonia, Jr. (4th, 89.65), Shirley Alinea (6th, 89.45), Yasmin Suzette Tan (7th, 89.4), Rosalia Bartolome (8th, 89.3), Amor Datinguinoo (9th, 89.15) and Edgar Bernal (10th, 89.0) for the 1996 bar exam while Teodulo San Juan (7th, 87.775) for the 1997 bar exam. A team of batchmates, including the late CHR chief Chito Gascon, won the country’s first-ever Jessup International Cup in 1995 held in New York. One of the remarkable aspects of the law field is that people attend law school with a vast array of interests and experiences and go on to pursue an equally wide variety of careers. Batch 1996 produced academicians, judges, private and public sector lawyers, government officials, politicians and all types of business professionals across industries. I entered UP Law in 1992 but I took the bar in 1998. I opted to be a working student, and I attended classes at night. As a reporter for a major news outfit, I would do my coverage starting at 9:00 a.m. until 4:00 p.m. then rush to UP for my evening classes. I would read my cases while inside the bus from Diliman to Las Piñas under the strongest light source. Lawyers, as professionals, are

expected to uphold the ethical and moral values that are said to be essential to the fabric that holds society together. “Serve the people. Do not betray your humanity,” says my professor and Supreme Court Associate Justice Marvic Leonen. “Discover your passion. Be patient and compassionate.” Passion for the law is dedication to do what is right. Indeed, it was a long road, but it was also a well-traveled and funfilled journey. We never imagined that, beyond the legal discipline, the batch proved to be a repository of undiminished talents. Nostalgic thoughts are evoked down memory lane. Law school years were indeed difficult moments, but the best and memorable times spent with those who shared the experience. Those years were full of vivid memories that still bring smiles and funny thoughts to all of us, after so many years. It’s been a couple of decades when we left the gates of UP Law but somehow we still get the sense of continuity, a vinculum unsevered by the years we may have all been apart. For UP Law Batch 1996 “Pagbabalik” after 25 years is more than just reminiscing the yesteryears but imbibing that forward-looking attitude, the prospectivity of hope amidst all that we have gone through. Kaya nga tuloy pa rin. Peyups is the moniker of University of the Philippines. Atty. Dennis R. Gorecho heads the seafarers’ division of the Sapalo Velez Bundang Bulilan law offices. For comments, e-mail info@sapalovelez.com, or call 0917-5025808 or 0908-8665786.

Democrats try to ‘build back’ after Manchin tanks $2 trillion bill

By Lisa Mascaro & Farnoush Amiri | Associated Press

Democrats’ priority voting rights legislation that Schumer also promised would come to an early vote. From the White House, Psaki struck a more conciliatory tone than her weekend hardball reaction to Manchin, saying Biden is a “longtime friend” of the senator and the president is focused on moving forward. Vice President Kamala Harris told CBS News “the stakes are too high” for this to be about “any specific individual.” She said, “This is about let’s get the job done.” Steeped in the politics of a state that Biden lost decisively to Donald Trump, Manchin has little to gain from aligning too closely with fellow Democrats, raising fresh questions over whether he still has a place in the party. In a radio interview Monday, he reiterated his position that the social and environment bill has far too much government spending—on child care, health care and other programs—without enough restrictions on incomes or work requirements. But the lifelong Democrat was less clear when asked if the party still has room for him — describing himself as “fiscally responsible and socially compassionate.” Manchin said: “Now, if there’s no Democrats like that then they have to push me wherever they want.” After months of negotiations with the White House and Senate staff members as well as Biden and fellow senators, he lashed out at hardline tactics against him by those he said

“just beat the living crap out of people and think they’ll be submissive.” The next steps remain highly uncertain for the president and his party. Biden returned to Washington from his Delaware home and lawmakers assessed their options with Congress on recess for the holiday break. The president’s reputation as a seasoned legislator who wants to show the country government can work hangs in the balance along with his proposals. Rep. Pramila Jayapal, D-Wash., a leader of the progressive caucus, spoke with Manchin early Monday, but emerged warning her colleagues the senator was an untrustworthy partner who “went back on his word.” Jayapal said Democrats were working with the White House on alternative means of reaching the bill’s goals through executive or administrative actions, without legislation. “We cannot make the same mistakes twice,” she said on a conference call with other progressives. “We cannot hang the futures of millions of Americans on the words of one man.” The White House appeared to take interest in Manchin’s preference for a reimagined bill that would tackle a few top priorities, for longer duration, rather than the multifaceted and far-reaching House-passed version. But it will be extraordinarily difficult for progressive and centrist Democrats to rebuild trust to launch a fresh round of negotiations having devoted much of Biden’s first year in office to what is now essentially a collapsed effort. For example, Manchin wants to authorize the social programs for the full 10 years of a standard budget window — rather than just a few years as Democrats would as a way to keep the price tag down. That change would force painful cuts elsewhere in

The “jaw-droppingly aggressive” tempo and intensity of the targeting — day-by-day, even hour-by-hour — suggested “a desperate desire to monitor his communications,” ScottRailton said. It was so unrelenting that the iPhone became useless and Giertych abandoned it. “This phone was with me in my bedroom and it was with me when I went to confession. They scanned

my life totally,” he said. Most of the hacks occurred just ahead of an Oct. 13, 2019, parliamentary election that the Law and Justice party of Jaroslaw Kaczynski won by a slim margin, leading to a further erosion of judicial independence and press freedom. Giertych was also involved representing an Austrian developer at the time who claimed that Kaczynski,

ASHINGTON—Democrats are struggling to pick up the pieces after Sen. Joe Manchin effectively crushed President Joe Biden’s big domestic policy bill. But they face serious questions whether the $2 trillion initiative can be refashioned to win his crucial vote or the party will be saddled with a devastating defeat. Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer vowed on Monday that the chamber would vote early in the new year on Biden’s “Build Back Better Act” as it now stands so every senator “has the opportunity to make their position known on the Senate floor, not just on television.” That was a biting reference to Manchin’s sudden TV announcement against the bill on Sunday. Biden and Manchin spoke later Sunday, according to a person familiar with the call, first reported by Politico. It was cordial and respectful, said the person who spoke only on condition of anonymity. But the conservative West Virginia Democrat and his party are so far apart, his relationships so bruised after months of failed talks, it’s unclear how they even get back to the negotiating table, let alone revive the sprawling more than 2,100-page social services and climate change bill. “We’re going to work like hell to get it done,” said White House press secretary Jen Psaki, repeating the phrase several times at a briefing but never saying how. The setback throws Biden’s signature legislative effort into deep doubt at a critical time, closing out the end of the president’s first year and ahead of congressional midterm elections when the Democrats’ slim hold on Congress is at risk. Coupled with solid Republican opposition, Manchin’s vote is vital in the 50-50 split Senate on this and other initiatives, including the

Polish. . .

continued from A8

time, he was representing former Prime Minister Donald Tusk of Civic Platform, now head of the largest opposition party, and former Foreign Minister Radek Sikorski, now a European Parliament member.

the package. Despite Biden’s long courtship of Manchin, the senator has been clear throughout that the Democrats’ bill does not fit his vision of what the country needs, even though many residents in his state are low income, some in desperate need of the health, education and child care services the bill would provide. The sweeping package is among the biggest of its kind ever considered in Congress, unleashing billions of dollars to help American families nationwide—nearly all paid for with higher taxes on corporations and the wealthy. For families with children, it would provide free pre-school and child care aid. There are subsidies for health insurance premiums, lower prescription drug costs and expanded Medicaid access in states that do not yet provide it. The bill would start a new hearing aid program for seniors. And it includes more than $500 billion to curb carbon emissions, a figure considered the largest federal expenditure ever to combat climate change. A potential new deadline for Biden and his party comes with the expiration of an expanded child tax credit that has been sending up to $300 monthly directly to millions of families’ bank accounts. If Congress fails to act, the money won’t arrive in January. Talks between Biden and Manchin deteriorated during a final round last week that turned heated, according to a person granted anonymity to discuss the private talks. In a stunning repudiation of his party, Manchin gave the president’s staff just a 20-minute heads-up he was about to announce his opposition to the bill. Associated Press writers Alan Fram, Darlene Superville, Colleen Long and Hope Yen contributed to this report

Poland’s most powerful politician, stiffed him as a deal to build twin business towers in Warsaw fell apart. Revelations of that deal-gone-sour triggered a scandal because Polish law bans political parties from profit—and the towers were to be built on land owned by Kaczynski’s party. Bajak reported from Boston. Associated Press reporter Josef Federman contributed from Jerusalem

A10 Wednesday, December 22, 2021

2K MAIDS STRANDED IN MLA AS SAUDI HALTS PROCESSING OF VISAS

AUDI Arabia has suspended the visa processing of domestic helpers from the Philippines following an impasse between the labor departments of the two countries over rampant abuse on household service workers (HSW) and nonpayment of wages of Filipino workers. Saudi’s labor ministry, the Ministry of Human Resources and Social Development, has ordered the freeze in processing of visa applications and contracts for newly-hired Filipino domestic helpers through their online portal, Saudi media reported. Musaned is the platform used when hiring domestic helpers to Saudi. Saudi Gazette quoted a Saudi investor, Hakim AlKhunaizi, as saying that the “door for new contracts and visas will be opened only if the Philippines reconsiders the decision to send workers.” The Philippines’ Department of Labor and Employment had earlier imposed a de facto temporary ban on the deployment of Filipina workers following the complaint of abuse by a former Saudi military general on his eight Filipina maids, as well as the nonpayment of P4.6-billion salaries and end-of-services pay of 9,000 construction workers in Saudi Arabia. The Saudi labor ministry had assured DOLE that they

have already resolved the complaint against the Saudi general. It also “affirms its keenness on everything that would guarantee the rights of workers of all nationalities.” Al-Khunaizi said it is cheaper to recruit new Filipino maids from the Philippines, than to hire maids who are already in Saudi Arabia. The cost of hiring new maids from the Philippines ranges SR21,000-SR22,000, compared to hiring one who is already in Saudi at SR25,000SR30,000. Vic Fernandez, former president of recruitment group Philippine Association of Service Exporters Inc. (PASEI), said their members have also received word to this effect. “Recruitment agencies who have approved visas for Saudi Arabia are prevented from paying the visa fee with the Saudi Embassy in Manila,” Fernandez said in a statement. Fernandez estimated that around 2,000 Filipino domestic helpers whose contracts have already been processed by the Philippine Overseas Employment Administration (POEA) are now “stranded in Manila till this problem is resolved by DOLE and the Saudi Ministry of Labor.” Saudi Arabia is the largest market for Filipino domestic workers with almost 200,000 HSWs deployed in 2018-2019.

Year-end power restoration in hard-hit areas a ‘challenge’

By Lenie Lectura

@llectura

OWER restoration in Bohol, Siargao, Dinagat, and Surigao del Norte could take a little longer for severely-affected areas hit by Typhoon Odette.

The Department of Energy (DOE) said Tuesday it will be “challenging” task to restore power by New Year in these areas. Nonetheless, the agency said it is committed to restoring and stabilizing power and fuel supply as it fully implements the directives of President Duterte. Officials from the DOE, National Electrification Administration (NEA) and National Grid Corporation of the Philippines (NGCP) said they are all working to restore service in affected areas. According to the NGCP, of the 2,200MW “normal” loading or consumption of the Visayas grid, only

about 800MW or 36 percent is being monitored by NGCP’s Visayas System Operations. While aerial patrols are still ongoing, NGCP has found 12 of its transmission towers and more than 600 transmission poles damaged. Of the 95 transmission facilities affected, NGCP has restored 76, leaving only 19 lines for restoration. The remaining affected 138kV line in Leyte and two 138kV lines in Cebu are targeted to be restored by December 22. One 138kV line in Bohol is also targeted to be restored on December 31. Transmission services in areas serviced by VECO, MECO, and CEBECO II are

already restored. The Paranas-Borongan-Quinapondan and Sta. R ita- Quinapondan 69kV lines servicing the ESAMELCO franchise area were restored on 20 December, bringing back power transmission services in the province One 230kV Line and 15 138kV Lines are de-energized. These lines are ready for energization as soon as power generators are ready to transmit, and distribution utilities are ready to receive power. NGCP has fully restored transmission services to the provinces of Capiz, Antique, Iloilo, Biliran, Camiguin, Misamis Oriental, Misamis Occidental, Lanao del Norte, Zamboanga del Sur, Davao Oriental, Agusan del Norte, and Agusan del Sur. NGCP has augmented its work force—deploying a total of 92 line gangs, or 736 personnel, working 24/7 when weather and safety conditions permit to expedite postTyphoon Odette restoration works. Meanwhile, NEA said there are 74 electric cooperatives (ECs) that are currently undergoing recovery

measures. Within the 11 affected regions, 46 ECs were able to continue normal operations. “The strong winds running with a velocity of up to 220 km per hour, however, managed to interrupt power distribution among 20 ECs. As of December 21, the cost of [the damage] amounts to P299,998,289.78,” said NEA. NEA Administrator Emmanuel Juaneza, who immediately flew to Tacloban to meet with the General Managers of Region 8, said the priority sites of inspection were Southern Leyte Electric Cooperative (SOLECO) and Leyte Electric Cooperatives (LEYECO I, II, III, IV). The Disaster Risk Reduction Management (DRRM) department of NEA reported that out of the cities and municipalities powered by LEYECO V, five have been fully restored as of December 19. These include Calubian, Leyte, San Isidro, Tabango, Palompon. The rest of the affected ECs have been working on restoration following safety measures. Continued on A2

Malou Talosig-Bartolome

Blue Ribbon sets one more hearing into pandemic fund use By Butch Fernandez @butchfBM

ENATE probers will likely need one more hearing to wrap up their inquiry into the Department of Health’s P42-billion pandemic response fund even as the investigating Blue Ribbon Committee chaired by Sen. Richard Gordon continued to grill Pharmally officials at a marathon hearing Tuesday on public funds used to buy billions in supplies. “Everybody is lying,” an exasperated Gordon said as the inquiry stretched way past sundown. He lamented that “nobody (among the resource persons) remembers” details of the procurement of Covid-19 vaccines by local governments and the private sector. Gordon, apparently addressi ng c r it ics of t he prolonged inquir y in aid of legislation, stressed that the Blue Ribbon probe must get to the bottom of t he Pha r ma l ly f und mess because billions of ta xpayers money were misused while the Duterte government is now saying, “we have no more money” while scrambling for funds to help victims of typhoon Odette’s devastation in the south. At the start of the hearing, flashed the passport photo of Jayson Uson, an executive in several companies associated with Davao businessman Michael Yang, as Senate probers have been looking for

Uson for a long time to shed light on the status of finances of Yang’s companies. Yang, who virtually attended Tuesday’s hearing, has repeatedly claimed he had nothing to do with financing the low-capital (P625,000) start-up Pharmally Pharmaceutical Corp., which cornered an estimated P8 billion of the contracts, except to introduce them to Chinese suppliers of face masks, shields, among others. The Senate chief prober, Gordon, signalled probers may need one more hearing before wrapping up their inquiry. “We won’t give up, we are resolute,” Gordon said, signalling that “we will tap relevant agencies to find and charge culprits.” He pressed the Blue Ribbon’s executive director Atty. Rodolfo Quimbo to follow up with the Bureau of Internal Revenue and Commission on Audit on the updated reports they were supposed to send over to the Senate panel. Gordon indicated they will still need “maybe one more hearing” before wrapping up their inquiry into what he described as “the biggest plunder where P9-billion to P10billion was lost.” Since the Blue Ribbon has no mandate to file cases, he said the Senate probe findings and recommendations will be promptly “passed on to the Department of Justice, “para hindi moro-moro [so it will not be just for show].”

POINSETTIAS, traditional Christmas flowers the leaves of which are sometimes thought of as a symbol of the Star of Bethlehem which led the Wise Men to Jesus, are seen at the Dangwa flower market in Manila. NONIE REYES

Tesda can train typhoon victims rebuild homes

OMMUNITIES hit by Typhoon Odette can be organized and trained by the Technical Education and Skills Development Authority (Tesda) to help them rebuild their own homes and enable them to be certified to earn a living as well, according to Senator Joel Villanueva. Villanueva, former Tesda director general, said the tech-voc agency has existing programs that can be tweaked to suit the needs of typhoon victims. Such schemes were implemented years before, where trainers were deployed to equip residents with basic construction skills that they can use to rebuild their houses and become employable. Tesda, he added, has the right skills and personnel, and a wealth of experience to mobilize and organize the affected communities. “Our countrymen can not only use the skills in basic carpentry and house wiring as they rebuild or repair their houses. They can also benefit from the new skills that

can pave the way for new jobs or livelihood,” said Villanueva, chairman of the Senate labor committee, speaking partly in Filipino. “Beneficiaries of the program could undergo a competency assessment test which leads to a national certification II. They can be hired in construction projects or even be self-employed,” he continued. “With more funds and a wealth of experience,” he added, Tesda could be “ a gamechanger in the government response to the needs of our typhoon victims. We look forward to seeing Tesda helping our kababayans pick up with their lives,” Villanueva said. He explained that the trainingcum-production (TCP) method provides practical skills and experience for trainees to use the knowledge they gain. Besides the training, beneficiaries also are provided an allowance to cover part of their basic needs as they get back on their feet. Under Villanueva’s helm, Tesda implemented a training-cum-pro-

duction program in regions which were hit hardest by Typhoon Pablo in 2012. The program covered various construction-related skills training such as carpentry, masonry and electrical wiring. For example, when Yolanda struck in 2013, Tesda mounted the “Pandayan Project” where residents in hardest-hit provinces were given a crash course on basic principles of carpentry and electrical repairs, including a hands-on application of the practical skills. The training adopted a community-based approach to allow community members to band together in building structures in their neighborhoods through bayanihan, the lawmaker recounted. Aside from the training program, participants were provided tool kits and materials they needed. A total of 3,803 houses in eight regions sustained damage, while the number of affected families stood at 276,522, according to the December 20 report of the National Disaster Risk Reduction and Man-

agement Council. The lawmaker also urged Tesda to look into jumpstarting the production of solar night lights, which can be distributed to communities who remain without a stable supply of electricity. The lawmaker said Tesda’s Solar Night Light Assembly should also be able to help beneficiaries light up their homes in the meantime while power restoration efforts continue. The Solar Night Light Assembly “covers knowledge and skills needed to assemble, test, and troubleshoot solar night lamps. This material can also be used to deepen one’s understanding of the process and the system used for turning solar energy into consumable energy using solar-powered generation technology.” Villanueva likewise asked different government agencies to pitch in to the bayanihan effort to help communities rebuild their houses by sharing construction materials, among other needs. Butch Fernandez

BusinessMirror

www.businessmirror.com.ph

ESTABLISHMENT / ADDRESS No.

ESTABLISHMENT / ADDRESS

NAME OF FOREIGN NATIONAL , POSITION AND BRIEF DESCRIPTION

QUALIFICATION AND SALARY RANGE

24 INCH GAUGE CONSTRUCTION INC. L4 Blk. 4, Near Kay Buboy Bridge, San Dionisio, City Of Parañaque

LI, XUE Quality Construction Specialist 1.

Brief Job Description: Reviews, inspects, and documents all construction projects during the construction period of the current Bond Program.

Basic Qualification: Skilled in identifying local construction technologies and construction material sources; Can carry out and monitor testing and inspection of products and materials to ensure the finished product meets quality standards

GAO, JIAXUAN Account Manager 12.

13.

14.

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

LU, QIANG Quality Construction Specialist 3.

Brief Job Description: Reviews, inspects, and documents all construction projects during the construction period of the current Bond Program.

ACCIONA CONSTRUCTION PHILIPPINES INC. 21/f Tower 2, The Enterprise Center, 6766 Ayala Ave. Cor. Paseo De Roxas, San Lorenzo, City Of Makati CARDENAS AMELLUGO, JOSE Superintendent

Brief Job Description: Play a principal role in establishing a top level safety culture by enhancing, communicating, implementing and enforcing safety systems and processes across the project. Advise and assist Area Manager to deliver their packages safely, within budget and program by: monitoring the performance of the foremen and general foremen (supervisory staff) in their areas and reporting/managing deficiencies, actively mentoring supervisory staff to improve the way they execute their roles providing advice to Area Manager on the efficient use of project resources (plant, labour, material, subcontractors) o hold regular meetings with supervisors both individually and in groups to manage/communicate project wide issues paying specific attention to certain areas as the Construction or Area Managers require.

Basic Qualification: Extensive construction supervision experience on important international structure projects. Extensive construction experience in a high density, urban environment. Extensive stakeholder engagement in a construction environment. Excellent communication skills. International experience will be highly values. Fluency in English and/or high level of Spanish is required Salary Range: Php 150,000 - Php 499,999

ACE VELOCITY CONSULTANCY INC. 37/f Lkg Tower, 6801 Ayala Ave., Bel-air, City Of Makati CUI, YAWEN Chinese Speaking Marketing Consultant 6.

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

WU, YUMIN Chinese Speaking Marketing Consultant 7.

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

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

15.

16.

17.

18.

Brief Job Description: To assist customers regarding their queries and promotions KIM, YOUNGSUN Customer Service Representative

Brief Job Description: To assist customers regarding their queries and promotions PARK, MINGCHUL Customer Service Representative

10.

Brief Job Description: To assist customers regarding their queries and promotions

Basic Qualification: 21 years old and above, fluent in Korean language

19.

11.

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

No.

20.

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

Brief Job Description: Great in accounting and management skills

Brief Job Description: Responsible for providing Bluesky Investments Holding Inc. Employees with excellent service

CHIN KOK FUI Sales And Account Executive Brief Job Description: Supervise sales account representative

TAN SHEAU CHIN Sales And Account Executive Brief Job Description: Supervise sales account representative

WANG, YI-TING Sales And Account Executive Brief Job Description: Supervise sales account representative

27.

Salary Range: Php 30,000 - Php 59,999 Basic Qualification: At least 1 year experience in the job mentioned; college graduate, fluent in Mandarin and English

Basic Qualification: At least 1 year experience in the job mentioned; college graduate, fluent in Mandarin and English

28.

29.

30.

31.

32.

Basic Qualification: College graduate, 1 year experience to the related field

Brief Job Description: Shall answer incoming phone calls from Chinese clients and troubleshoot customer technical problems with computer software and hardware.

Basic Qualification: Must be fluent in Chinese language (writing and speaking)

Brief Job Description: Manages the effective implementation of cost, fuel, and on time performance while ensuring that optimization of costs even with flight disruption.

LAI, GUANGHUA Commercial Manager Of PRDP 21.

Brief Job Description: Assist project manager to complete project settlement, schedule management, cost management, risk management and other contract management, responsible for economic contract analysis JIA, TAO Commercial Supervisor Of PRDP

22.

Brief Job Description: Assist the project master contract management and risk control, Follow up the implementation of the contract in the whole process XIONG, YONG Commercial Supervisor Of PRDP

23.

Brief Job Description: Assist the project master contract management and risk control, Follow up the implementation of the contract in the whole process CHEN, FEIER Ship Technician Of PRDP

24.

Brief Job Description: Responsible for the maintenance and management of the construction ship, assist the crew to carry out the construction work, ensure vessel is maintained in optimum working condition and properly maintained. FANG, AIPING Ship Technician Of PRDP

25.

Brief Job Description: Responsible for the maintenance and management of the construction ship, assist the crew to carry out the construction work; ensure vessel is maintained in optimum working condition and properly maintained FENG, ZONGDE Ship Technician Of PRDP

26.

Brief Job Description: Responsible for the maintenance and management of the construction ship, assist the crew to carry out the construction work , ensure vessel is maintained in optimum working condition and properly maintained

Brief Job Description: Responsible for the maintenance and management of the construction ship, assist the crew to carry out the construction work , ensure vessel is maintained in optimum working condition and properly maintained LIANG, JIAN Ship Technician Of PRDP

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

Brief Job Description: Responsible for the maintenance and management of the construction ship, assist the crew to carry out the construction work , ensure vessel is maintained in optimum working condition and properly maintained LI, YANG Ship Technician Of PRDP

Salary Range: Php 30,000 - Php 59,999 Basic Qualification: College graduate, 1 year experience to the related field

Brief Job Description: Responsible for the maintenance and management of the construction ship, assist the crew to carry out the construction work , ensure vessel is maintained in optimum working condition and properly maintained HUANG, GANHUA Ship Technician Of PRDP

Salary Range: Php 30,000 - Php 59,999 Basic Qualification: College graduate; 1 year experience to the related field

Brief Job Description: Responsible for the maintenance and management of the construction ship, Assist the crew to carry out the construction work, Ensure Vessel is Maintained in Optimum working condition and properly maintained HUANG, FU Ship Technician Of PRDP

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

33.

34.

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

Basic Qualification: Minimum of 15 years aviation experience and have overall knowledge of how the aviation industry works Salary Range: Php 150,000 - Php 499,999

CHINA HARBOUR ENGINEERING COMPANY 5/f Rm 501 Ramon Magsaysay Center, 1680 Roxas Blvd., 076, Bgy. 699, Malate, City Of Manila

Basic Qualification: 21 years old and above, fluent in Korean language

Basic Qualification: Bachelor’s degree in accounting, finance, management or any business courses

TAN FONG Accounting Supervisor-mandarin Speaking

BRADY, MICHAEL JOSEPH Adviser-network Control And Operations Support

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

Brief Job Description: Great in accounting and management skills

Basic Qualification: College graduate; 1 year experience to the related field

NAME OF FOREIGN NATIONAL , POSITION AND BRIEF DESCRIPTION GU, JUNFENG Ship Technician Of PRDP

CEBU AIR, INC. Cebu Pacific Bldg., Domestic Rd, Brgy. 191, Pasay City

Salary Range: Php 30,000 - Php 59,999 Basic Qualification: 21 years old and above, fluent in Korean language

DORA LEE SHEAU WEN Accounting Supervisor-mandarin Speaking

HE, YANPING Chinese IT Support Specialist

BIGCAT SOFTWARE SOLUTIONS, INC. 18/f Pbcom Tower, 6795 Ayala Avenue Cor. Rufino Street, Salcedo Vill., Bel-air, City Of Makati TIARA ARYUNI Bahasa Indonesian Language-officer Fund Management

QUALIFICATION AND SALARY RANGE

CAPSLOCK INC. 7th & 8th Flr. Y Tower Bldg., Coral Way Drive Cor. Macapagal Ave., Brgy. 076, Pasay City

ASIAN TECHNOLOGY SERVICES, INC. 11/f Tower 2, Double Dragon, Macapagal Blvd., Brgy. 076, Pasay City CHOI, INTAE Customer Service Representative

Brief Job Description: Meet regularly with other members of the team to discuss progress and find ne ways to improve business

WONG, HIU TUNG Hospitality Specialist

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

ZHANG, YUNJIANG Quality Construction Specialist

NAME OF FOREIGN NATIONAL , POSITION AND BRIEF DESCRIPTION

A11

ESTABLISHMENT / ADDRESS

BLUESKY INVESTMENTS HOLDING INC. Suite 2802 Discovery Center, 25 Adb Avenue, Ortigas Center, San Antonio, City Of Pasig

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

LIU, NING Quality Construction Specialist

No.

Wednesday, December 22, 2021

35.

MO, SHAOTING Ship Technician Of PRDP 36.

Basic Qualification: College graduate; speaks Mandarin fluently Salary Range: Php 30,000 - Php 59,999

37.

38.

39. Basic Qualification: College graduate; speaks Mandarin fluently. Salary Range: Php 30,000 - Php 59,999

WU, GUOZHI Ship Technician Of prdp 40.

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

Basic Qualification: College Graduated: Speaks mandarin FLuently

Basic Qualification: College Graduate: Speaks Mandarin Fluently

Basic Qualification: College graduate; speaks Mandarin fluently

Basic Qualification: College Graduate: Speaks Mandarin Fluently Salary Range: Php 30,000 - Php 59,999

Brief Job Description: Responsible for the maintenance and management of the construction ship, assist the crew to carry out the construction work , ensure vessel is maintained in optimum working condition and properly maintained

XIAO, XUEHUA Ship Technician Of prdp 41.

QUALIFICATION AND SALARY RANGE Basic Qualification: College Graduate: Speaks Mandarin Fluently Salary Range: Php 30,000 - Php 59,999

Basic Qualification: College Graduated: Speaks mandarin FLuently Salary Range: Php 30,000 - Php 59,999

Basic Qualification: College graduate; speaks Mandarin fluently. Salary Range: Php 30,000 - Php 59,999

Basic Qualification: College Graduated: Speaks mandarin FLuently Salary Range: Php 30,000 - Php 59,999

Basic Qualification: College graduate; speaks Mandarin fluently. Salary Range: Php 30,000 - Php 59,999

Basic Qualification: College Graduated: Speaks mandarin FLuently Salary Range: Php 30,000 - Php 59,999

Basic Qualification: College Graduate: Speaks Mandarin Fluently Salary Range: Php 30,000 - Php 59,999

Basic Qualification: College graduate; speaks Mandarin fluently. Salary Range: Php 30,000 - Php 59,999

Basic Qualification: College graduate; speaks Mandarin fluently Salary Range: Php 30,000 - Php 59,999

A12

BusinessMirror

Wednesday, December 22, 2021

ESTABLISHMENT / ADDRESS No.

NAME OF FOREIGN NATIONAL , POSITION AND BRIEF DESCRIPTION XU, JINYANG Ship Technician Of PRDP

42.

43.

44.

45.

46.

ESTABLISHMENT / ADDRESS QUALIFICATION AND SALARY RANGE Basic Qualification: College graduate; speaks Mandarin fluently.

Basic Qualification: College graduate; speaks Mandarin fluently

47.

Brief Job Description: Lead the sales, technical and admin teams. Manage the day-to-day operations and general accounting functions of the company.

57.

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

Basic Qualification: College graduate; speaks Mandarin fluently. Salary Range: Php 30,000 - Php 59,999

Basic Qualification: College Graduate: Speaks Mandarin Fluently

58.

SIBRENKO, ANATOLII Lead Marketer 59.

48.

Brief Job Description: The Chinese Customer Service Officer is a first point of contact for the company’s Chinese clients. The primary role of Chinese Customer Service Officer within the team is to respond to a variety Chinese client’s requests and inquiries via telephone or via live chat GAO, JIANYANG Chinese Customer Service Officer

49.

50.

Brief Job Description: The Chinese customer service officer is a first point of contact for the company’s Chinese clients, The primary role of a Chinese customer service officer within the tea, is to respond to a variety of Chinese clients requests and inquiries via the telephone or via live chat LI, JUNLIN Chinese Customer Service Officer

51.

52.

53.

QI, CHUNLIANG Chinese Customer Service Officer 54.

XUE, SHOUCHUAN Chinese Customer Service Officer 55.

Basic Qualification: Fluent in chinese writing and speaking language Salary Range: Php 30,000 - Php 59,999

60.

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

Basic Qualification: A chinese and fluent in chinese writing and speaking language Salary Range: Php 30,000 - Php 59,999

Basic Qualification: Fluent in chinese writing and speaking language

62.

75.

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

76.

77.

Basic Qualification: Bachelor’s degree in marketing and management or related field Salary Range: Php 60,000 - Php 89,999

Basic Qualification: Assist/help customers, give customers information about product and services

Brief Job Description: Researches and develops various marketing strategies for products and services and implements marketing plans and works to meet sales quotas.

78.

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

Basic Qualification: Can contributes information, ideas and researches to help develop marketing strategies; Can help to detail, design and implement marketing plans for each product or service being offered.

LEI, YUANQUN Mandarin Site Technical Officer Brief Job Description: Reporting urgent maintenance and repair tasks

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

79.

64.

65.

66.

67.

69.

70.

Salary Range: Php 30,000 - Php 59,999 71.

Basic Qualification: Fluent in chinese writing and speaking language 72.

Brief Job Description: Provide and maintain customer service HU, HONG Mandarin Customer Service Brief Job Description: Provide and maintain customer service LI, FANGMENG Mandarin Customer Service Brief Job Description: Provide and maintain customer service LI, MEITAO Mandarin Customer Service Brief Job Description: Provide and maintain customer service LI, ZEPENG Mandarin Customer Service Brief Job Description: Provide and maintain customer service LIU, HONGLIANG Mandarin Customer Service Brief Job Description: Provide and maintain customer service

LIU, JUNMING Mandarin Customer Service Brief Job Description: Provide and maintain customer service

LIU, YI Mandarin Customer Service Brief Job Description: Provide and maintain customer service

PAN, FAQIANG Mandarin Customer Service Brief Job Description: Provide and maintain customer service

80.

56.

Basic Qualification: Fluent in chinese writing and speaking language

73.

QIAO, JINGLEI Mandarin Customer Service Brief Job Description: Provide and maintain customer service

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

DEXIN 999, INC. Red Hotel No. 345, Edsa Cor. Don Carlos Revilla St., Barangay 147, Pasay City

74.

SHAO, JIWEN Mandarin Customer Service Brief Job Description: Provide and maintain customer service

YUAN, LEI Mandarin Customer Service Brief Job Description: Provide and maintain customer service ZHANG, XIAOQIAN Mandarin Customer Service Brief Job Description: Provide and maintain customer service ZHOU, DAMENG Mandarin Customer Service Brief Job Description: Provide and maintain customer service

Brief Job Description: Acts as key liaison between the company’s headquarters and assigned area branches. Responsible for management of operational practices, ensure budget and sales goals are achieved, and train and cultivate strong teams of branch managers

Brief Job Description: Coordinating of training and development within company, identifying training center needs, evaluating training initiatives and maintain staff training records

BUI THI THU BINH Customer Service Representative 81.

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

CHU, WENJUN Customer Service Representative 82.

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

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

Basic Qualification: Knowledgeable in managing incoming calls

HOANG CONG TRI Customer Service Representative 83.

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

Salary Range: Php 30,000 - Php 59,999 Basic Qualification: Knowledgeable in managing incoming calls

HOU, SENKUI Customer Service Representative 84.

Salary Range: Php 30,000 - Php 59,999 Basic Qualification: Knowledgeable in managing incoming calls Salary Range: Php 30,000 - Php 59,999

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

LE ANH DUC Customer Service Representative 85.

Basic Qualification: Knowledgeable in managing incoming calls Salary Range: Php 30,000 - Php 59,999 Basic Qualification: Knowledgeable in managing incoming calls

86.

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

LE DUY HAI Customer Service Representative Brief Job Description: Customer Service

Salary Range: Php 30,000 - Php 59,999 Basic Qualification: Knowledgeable in managing incoming calls

LE KIEU DIEM Customer Service Representative 87.

Salary Range: Php 30,000 - Php 59,999 Basic Qualification: Knowledgeable in managing incoming calls Salary Range: Php 30,000 - Php 59,999

88.

Basic Qualification: Knowledgeable in managing incoming calls Salary Range: Php 30,000 - Php 59,999

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

LE NGOC MINH THU Customer Service Representative Brief Job Description: Customer Service

LY THI KIEN GIANG Customer Service Representative 89.

Basic Qualification: Knowledgeable in managing incoming calls Salary Range: Php 30,000 - Php 59,999

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

NGUYEN HUNG CUONG Customer Service Representative

Basic Qualification: Knowledgeable in managing incoming calls

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

Salary Range: Php 30,000 - Php 59,999 Basic Qualification: Knowledgeable in managing incoming calls Salary Range: Php 30,000 - Php 59,999

QUALIFICATION AND SALARY RANGE Basic Qualification: Knowledgeable in managing incoming calls Salary Range: Php 30,000 - Php 59,999 Basic Qualification: Knowledgeable in managing incoming calls Salary Range: Php 30,000 - Php 59,999 Basic Qualification: Knowledgeable in managing incoming calls Salary Range: Php 30,000 - Php 59,999 Basic Qualification: Knowledgeable in managing incoming calls Salary Range: Php 30,000 - Php 59,999

Basic Qualification: Job-relevant degree/ 5-10 yrs. Supervisory/managerial experience in logistics or operations/ multilingual Salary Range: Php 60,000 - Php 89,999 Basic Qualification: Job-relevant degree/ 5-10 yrs. supervisory/ managerial experience in logistics or operations multi-lingual Salary Range: Php 60,000 - Php 89,999

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

90. XUE, WENNA Chinese Customer Service Officer

Brief Job Description: Provide and maintain customer service

YANG, LAIBIN Network Training Supervisor

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

WU, KUI Mandarin Customer Service

LIU, DASHAN Network Planning Supervisor

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

NAME OF FOREIGN NATIONAL , POSITION AND BRIEF DESCRIPTION

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

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

Basic Qualification: Fluent in Chinese writing and speaking language

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

No.

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

68.

Basic Qualification: Fluent in chinese writing and speaking language

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

ZHANG, JIAHUA Marketing And Sales Agent

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

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

EASTERN GOLD CORPORATION 503, Nueva St, , Binondo, City Of Manila

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

Basic Qualification: A Chinese and fluent in Chinese writing and speaking language

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

CHEN, WEIBO Chinese Speaking Data Entry Clerk

63. Basic Qualification: Fluent in chinese writing and speaking language

Brief Job Description: Leadership skills with steadfast resolve and personal integrity

LI, HUI Chinese Speaking Admin Associate

DATACLICK INTERNATIONAL CORP. E. Rodriguez St., Roxas Blvd. St., Barangay 003, Pasay City CHEN, YOUDONG Chinese Customer Service Officer

QUALIFICATION AND SALARY RANGE

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

61.

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

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

ESTABLISHMENT / ADDRESS

DIGIDO FINANCE CORP. (UNAPAY, AND UNACASH) Unit 3&4 15th Floor Ibp Tower, Jade Drive, Ortigas Center, San Antonio, City Of Pasig

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

Basic Qualification: College degree in Business, Accountancy or similar. Have at least 10 years of industry experience. Proven track record in sale of film, lighting and broadcast equipment.

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

WU, CHENG Mandarin Customer Support Representative

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

Basic Qualification: College graduate; speaks Mandarin fluently.

NAME OF FOREIGN NATIONAL , POSITION AND BRIEF DESCRIPTION LI, XINGYU Mandarin Customer Support Representative

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

CINE EQUIPMENT PHILS., INC. Unit-1 88, Shaw Blvd., Oranbo, City Of Pasig

TAN HWEI YEE, JADE Vice President And General Manager

No.

www.businessmirror.com.ph

NGUYEN THI NGOC HUYEN Customer Service Representative 91.

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

Basic Qualification: College Graduate Level. Preferably with Customer Service or Sales experience. Fluent in Mandarin and Basic English Salary Range: Php 30,000 - Php 59,999 Basic Qualification: College Graduate Level. Preferably with Customer Service or Sales experience. Fluent in Mandarin and Basic English Salary Range: Php 30,000 - Php 59,999 Basic Qualification: College Graduate Level. Preferably with Customer Service or Sales experience. Fluent in Mandarin and Basic English Salary Range: Php 30,000 - Php 59,999 Basic Qualification: College Graduate Level. Preferably with Customer Service or Sales experience. Fluent in Mandarin and Basic English Salary Range: Php 30,000 - Php 59,999 Basic Qualification: College Graduate Level. Preferably with Customer Service or Sales experience. Fluent in Mandarin and Basic English Salary Range: Php 30,000 - Php 59,999 Basic Qualification: College Graduate level and fluent in Mandarin/Basic English Salary Range: Php 30,000 - Php 59,999 Basic Qualification: College Graduate Level. Preferably with Customer Service or Sales experience. Fluent in Mandarin and Basic English Salary Range: Php 30,000 - Php 59,999 Basic Qualification: College Graduate level and fluent in Mandarin/Basic English Salary Range: Php 30,000 - Php 59,999 Basic Qualification: College Graduate Level. Preferably with Customer Service or Sales experience. Fluent in Mandarin and Basic English Salary Range: Php 30,000 - Php 59,999 Basic Qualification: College Graduate Level. Preferably with Customer Service or Sales experience. Fluent in Mandarin and Basic English Salary Range: Php 30,000 - Php 59,999 Basic Qualification: College Graduate Level. Preferably with Customer Service or Sales experience. Fluent in Mandarin and Basic English Salary Range: Php 30,000 - Php 59,999

BusinessMirror

www.businessmirror.com.ph

ESTABLISHMENT / ADDRESS No.

NAME OF FOREIGN NATIONAL , POSITION AND BRIEF DESCRIPTION

TRAN THANH DAT Customer Service Representative 92.

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

TRINH NGOC HIEU Customer Service Representative 93.

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

TRUONG VAN THUYNH Customer Service Representative 94.

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

WANG, GUOBAO Customer Service Representative 95.

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

YIN, XIAOMENG Customer Service Representative 96.

ESTABLISHMENT / ADDRESS

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

QUALIFICATION AND SALARY RANGE Basic Qualification: College Graduate Level. Preferably with Customer Service or Sales experience. Fluent in Mandarin and Basic English

No.

107.

Salary Range: Php 30,000 - Php 59,999 Basic Qualification: College Graduate Level. Preferably with Customer Service or Sales experience. Fluent in Mandarin and Basic English Salary Range: Php 30,000 - Php 59,999 Basic Qualification: College Graduate Level. Preferably with Customer Service or Sales experience. Fluent in Mandarin and Basic English

CHO, YOUNGCHUL Korean Customer Service Representative 108.

Salary Range: Php 30,000 - Php 59,999 Basic Qualification: College graduate level, preferably with customer service or sales experience, fluent in Mandarin and basic English

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

ZHOU, HONGFEI Chief Financial Officer 109.

Brief Job Description: Prepare business reports. Ensures requirements are met. Analyze market trends. Aid management in financial decisions. Maintain up to date financial system knowledge.

97.

Brief Job Description: Develop and manage the content department. Oversee the training of employees/writers and the company operations

HAN, MENG Marketing Assistant 110.

Brief Job Description: Research and identify marketing trends and opportunities. Assess pricing and competitive behavior. Monitors/track product movement. Prepares forecast and inventory reports.

LI, FENPING Marketing Assistant 111.

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

GRANDTECH SUPPORT SERVICES INC. 4/f U-2c One E-com Ctr. Bldg., Ocean Drive, Brgy. 076, Pasay City

98.

99.

100.

101.

102.

CHEN, JINGWEI Site Technical Support-mandarin Brief Job Description: Reporting urgent maintenance and repair tasks

WANG, YUJI Site Technical Support-mandarin Brief Job Description: Reporting urgent maintenance and repair tasks

WEI, XING Site Technical Support-mandarin Brief Job Description: Reporting urgent maintenance and repair tasks

ZENG, ZHAOWEN Site Technical Support-mandarin Brief Job Description: Reporting urgent maintenance and repair tasks

ZHU, YONGQIANG Site Technical Support-mandarin Brief Job Description: Reporting urgent maintenance and repair tasks

Basic Qualification: Proficient in speaking, reading and writing mandarin

112.

Basic Qualification: Proficient in speaking, reading and writing Mandarin

103.

Brief Job Description: Manage master data, including the creations, updates and deletion. Manage users and user role. Provide quality assurance of imported data. Working with Quality assurance analyst. Process confidential data and information according to guidelines.

Brief Job Description: Research and identify marketing trends and opportunities. Assess pricing and competitive behavior. Monitors/track product movement. Prepares forecast and inventory reports.

LIU, LILING Marketing Assistant

Salary Range: Php 30,000 - Php 59,999 113.

Brief Job Description: Research and identify marketing trends and opportunities. Assess pricing and competitive behavior. Monitors/track product movement. Prepares forecast and inventory reports.

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

WANG, JIABIN Marketing Assistant 114.

Brief Job Description: Research and identify marketing trends and opportunities. Assess pricing and competitive behavior. Monitors/track product movement. Prepares forecast and inventory reports.

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

Basic Qualification: Bachelors Degree with experience in Business Management, computer or software, marketing or related field, Must be fluent in both written and and verbal mandarin language.

YUAN, YANG Marketing Assistant 115.

Brief Job Description: Research and identify marketing trends and opportunities. Assess pricing and competitive behavior. Monitors/track product movement. Prepares forecast and inventory reports.

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

ITECHNO SPECIALIST INC. 7/f Aseana I Bldg., Bradco Avenue Aseana Business Park, Tambo, City Of Parañaque CHEN, YAN Chinese IT Support Specialist 104.

Brief Job Description: The Chinese IT Support Specialist (CITSS) is an integral member of the company infrastructure, Application Support, and of the IT Division and is responsible for providing quality IT support of enterprise systems throughout the Chinese clientele. WEI, BINBIAO Chinese IT Support Specialist

105.

VU THI HUONG QUYNH IT Support Specialist 106.

Brief Job Description: Responsible for providing quality it support of enterprise systems throughout the Chinese clientele.

Basic Qualification: A Chinese and fluent in Chinese writing and speaking language

FENG, WEIJIAN Sales Executive 116.

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

Brief Job Description: Identify business opportunities, researching and analyzing sales options. Identify product improvements or new products on industry trends, market activities, and competitors. Responsible in maintaining good relation with customers.

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

Basic Qualification: College graduate, speaks and write fluently (Korean, English)

118.

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

Basic Qualification: Strong Excel skills. Excellent ability to problem solve along with solid analytical skills, understanding of business process, and system optimization. Comfortable with interacting with all levels of management in multiple areas.

Basic Qualification: Candidate must possess at least Bachelor’s/College Degree in Marketing. Detailed oriented. Can work independently. Excellent in written and oral communication skills.

XU, YOUFANG Sales Executive 119.

XUE, KONGRAN Sales Executive 120.

Basic Qualification: Candidate must possess at least Bachelor’s/College Degree in Marketing. Detailed oriented. Can work independently. Excellent in written and oral communication skills.

Basic Qualification: Candidate must possess at least Bachelor’s/ College Degree in Business Studies/Administration/ Management, Marketing or equivalent. Excellent knowledge with communication and interpersonal skills. Active listening skill, resilience, self-motivated and competitive. Able to establish trust with the customer/clients Salary Range: Php 30,000 - Php 59,999

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

ZOU, SILU Sales Executive 121.

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

Basic Qualification: Candidate must possess at least Bachelor’s/College Degree in Marketing. Detailed oriented. Can work independently. Excellent in written and oral communication skills.

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

Basic Qualification: Candidate must possess at least Bachelor’s/College Degree in Marketing. Detailed oriented. Can work independently. Excellent in written and oral communication skills.

Basic Qualification: Candidate must possess at least Batchelor’s/ College Degree in Business Studies/Administration/ Management, Marketing or equivalent. Excellent knowledge with communication and interpersonal skills. Active listening skill, resilience, self-motivated and competitive. Able to establish trust with the customer/clients Salary Range: Php 30,000 - Php 59,999

KARIHOME INC. U-402 4/f Seddco 1 Bldg. Rada, Cor. Legaspi Sts., San Lorenzo, City Of Makati

TSAI, MON-JER a.k.a. HARRY MENG-CHE TSAI General Manager/treasurer 122.

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

Basic Qualification: Candidate must possess at least Bachelor’s/College Degree in Marketing. Detailed oriented. Can work independently. Excellent in written and oral communication skills.

Brief Job Description: Act as Phil. representative and work closely with Karihome Taiwan Office

AARON WIREMU ASHER Australian Business Development Manager 123.

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

Basic Qualification: Candidate must possess at least Bachelor’s/College Degree in Marketing. Detailed oriented. Can work independently. Excellent in written and oral communication skills.

124.

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

LI, SHAOFENG Sales Executive 117.

Brief Job Description: Builds position by locating, Developing and defining and closing business relationships/Identifies trensetter ideas by researching industry and related events publication and announcemtns/Tracks undividual and their accomplishment locates prosposes potential business deals by contacts the potential partners

MAIRHOFER, VIKTORIA Operations Manager

Basic Qualification: Degree of business management or business administration, strong knowledge of all facets of business Salary Range: Php 30,000 - Php 59,999

Brief Job Description: Recruit select train assign schedule coach counsel and discipline employees/ communicate job expectations planning appraising and reviewing job contributions plan and review compensation actions enforcing policies and procedures contricute operations information and recommendations to strategic plans and reviews

Basic Qualification: Bachelor degree business admin or related admin or related fields/A minimum of 3years sales and marketing EXP in customer support is a plus market knowledge conflict resolution fleunt in business communication/ Australlian pref Salary Range: Php 30,000 - Php 59,999 Basic Qualification: Bachelors degree in operations management or related experience in management operations leadership understanding of general finance and budgeting including profiit and loss balance sheet cash flow management excellent communication skills solid financial management fluent in english and german preferred Salary Range: Php 60,000 - Php 89,999

MDBI CONSTRUCTION CORP. 7/f Mdc Corporate Center, Radian St., Arca South, Western Bicutan, City Of Taguig GAC, HERVE Cost Control Advisor 125.

Brief Job Description: Proven experience as a cost and finance manager. Good knowledge of finance and project team player with leadership skills

Basic Qualification: Degree in finance or related field. Must have previous work experience abroad. Salary Range: Php 60,000 - Php 89,999

MEGA-WEB TECHNOLOGIES INC. 6,7,8,9,10,11/f Met Live Bldg., Edsa Cor. Macapagal Blvd., Brgy. 076, Pasay City

126.

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

LI, YAXING Sales Executive

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

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

Basic Qualification: A Chinese and fluent in Chinese writing and speaking language

Basic Qualification: Can speak and read Cantonese, mandarin, and Fukien language

Basic Qualification: College graduate, speaks and write fluently (Mandarin , English)

QUALIFICATION AND SALARY RANGE

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

IMPRIMIS PHILIPPINES INC. Unit 3012 Tower 2 High Street South Corporate Plaza Cor., 9th Avenue And 26th Street, Fort Bonifacio, City Of Taguig XU, CHUNLEI Mandarin Speaking Data Analyst

Brief Job Description: Research and identify marketing trends and opportunities. Assess pricing and competitive behavior. Monitors/track product movement. Prepares forecast and inventory reports.

LIANG, QUNFENG Marketing Assistant

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

Basic Qualification: Proficient in speaking, reading and writing mandarin

NAME OF FOREIGN NATIONAL , POSITION AND BRIEF DESCRIPTION

JUDD WISY GROUP INC. Unit 2c One Ecom Bldg., Ocean Drive Mall Of Asia Complex St. Zone 10 District 1, Barangay 76, Pasay City

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

Basic Qualification: Fluent in Japanese and English; with marketing experience of more than 5 years; knowledgeable in SEO principles

No.

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

GAME8 GLOBAL INC. 3203 Antel Global Corporate Center, Julia Vargas Ortigas Center, San Antonio, City Of Pasig ISHIZAKA, DAIKI Content & Operations Manager

QUALIFICATION AND SALARY RANGE

JIDA COMMUNICATION (PHILIPPINES) INC. 99 Comclark Reliance Center, E. Rodriguez Jr. Ave., Ugong, City Of Pasig

Salary Range: Php 30,000 - Php 59,999 Basic Qualification: College graduate level, preferably with customer service or sales experience, fluent in Mandarin and basic English

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

A13

ESTABLISHMENT / ADDRESS

NAME OF FOREIGN NATIONAL , POSITION AND BRIEF DESCRIPTION ZHANG, XUEJUN Chinese Customer Service Representative

Wednesday, December 22, 2021

EDDY WONG WENG HONG Mandarin Speaking Customer Relations Service Provider Brief Job Description: Open and Maintain customer accounts by recording account information

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

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

127.

128.

CUI, LI Chinese Customer Service Brief Job Description: Managing incoming calls and customer service inquiries LI, QUANJIN Chinese Customer Service Brief Job Description: Managing incoming calls and customer service inquiries

Basic Qualification: Able to speak, Read, and Write chinese language Salary Range: Php 30,000 - Php 59,999 Basic Qualification: Able to speak, Read, and Write chinese language Salary Range: Php 30,000 - Php 59,999

A14

BusinessMirror

Wednesday, December 22, 2021

ESTABLISHMENT / ADDRESS No.

ESTABLISHMENT / ADDRESS

NAME OF FOREIGN NATIONAL , POSITION AND BRIEF DESCRIPTION

QUALIFICATION AND SALARY RANGE

No.

N-PAX SYSTEMS AND CONSULTING, INC. 17f One Global Place Building, 5th Ave., Corner 25th St., Bgc, City Of Taguig TODA, TAKAHIRO Managing Director 129.

Brief Job Description: Manage the day-to-day business and affairs of the company subject to the guidance, control and direction of the board of directors of the company.

Basic Qualification: Knowledge in the nature of day-to-day business operations.

130.

Brief Job Description: Maintains the computer networks of all types of organisations, providing technical support and ensuring the whole company runs smoothly.

Basic Qualification: With bachelor’s Degree in Computer Science or any related course with a minimum of 1 year IT experience and able to speak and write in MANDARIN.

131.

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

JIANG, RONGYAN Chinese Speaking Admin Associate 132.

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

LIANG, YAOJUN Chinese Speaking Admin Associate 133.

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

LIU, CHAO Chinese Speaking Admin Associate 134.

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

ZHANG, QUANYU Chinese Speaking Admin Associate 135.

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

GUAN, JIANZONG Chinese Speaking Business Development Associate 136.

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

HUANG, YA Chinese Speaking Business Development Associate 137.

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

WU, HONGBING Chinese Speaking Business Development Associate 138.

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

146.

147.

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

NEO INCORPORATED North Tower Centrum Bldg., Aseana Avenue, Entertainment City, Baclaran, City Of Parañaque DANG THI HAI YEN Chinese Speaking Admin Associate

139.

140.

141.

142.

143.

144.

Brief Job Description: Customer support and data base services

DENG, HUANHUAN Chinese Customer Service Brief Job Description: Customer support and data base services

GAO, YANYAN Chinese Customer Service Brief Job Description: Customer support and data base services

MA, JI Chinese Customer Service Brief Job Description: Customer support and data base services

MA, QIANG Chinese Customer Service Brief Job Description: Customer support and data base services

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

Brief Job Description: Customer support and data base services

148.

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

149.

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

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

150.

151.

152.

153.

154.

Brief Job Description: Customer support and data base services

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

Basic Qualification: 2yrs Experience

Brief Job Description: Collaborate with team to achieve goal

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

Brief Job Description: Keep posted with market changers and new product

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

RUNGE, CLINTON GEORGE Control And Innovation Superintendent

Basic Qualification: Certificate in relevant fields

Brief Job Description: Lead the team for projects

Salary Range: Php 500,000 and above

CURRAN, JAMES MCINTOSH Mine Foreman

Basic Qualification: Experience in mining industries

Brief Job Description: Supervise and assist mining crew RAYMOND SETIAGANI Process Advisor Brief Job Description: Provides strategic direction

Salary Range: Php 500,000 and above Basic Qualification: Experience in mining industries

164.

Brief Job Description: responsible for providing quality it supports of enterprise systems throughout the Chinese clientele. ESTHER WONG EN REIN IT Support Specialist

165.

Brief Job Description: responsible for providing quality it supports of enterprise systems throughout the Chinese clientele.

166.

Brief Job Description: responsible for providing quality it supports of enterprise systems throughout the Chinese clientele. PHOO PWINT PHYU IT Support Specialist

167.

Brief Job Description: responsible for providing quality it supports of enterprise systems throughout the Chinese clientele. PHUNG MINH PHUNG IT Support Specialist

168.

Brief Job Description: responsible for providing quality it supports of enterprise systems throughout the Chinese clientele.

ZHANG, ZHONGCHENG Mandarin Field Marketing Officer 169.

Brief Job Description: Foster human relationship through communication and distribution of marketing

JIN, CHANGYU Bilingual Technical Support Specialist 170.

Brief Job Description: Evaluates expansions or enhancements by studying work load capacity of computer system LIN, JIN Bilingual Technical Support Specialist Brief Job Description: Evaluates expansions or enhancements by studying work load capacity of computer system

HANLEY, DAVID MATTHEW Ug Electrical Specialist

Basic Qualification: Experience and good leadership

LIU, ZEHONG Bilingual Technical Support Specialist

Salary Range: Php 500,000 and above

Brief Job Description: Initiate and develop corporate objectives and policies and formulate long range project, plans, and programs inline with Omron Healthcare Group Strategy.

Basic Qualification: Two (2) vacant position. JLPT N1 passer; Fluent in Japanese and English (Speak, read and write). At least 5 years working experience in the same field Salary Range: Php 150,000 - Php 499,999

CHEN, ZIXIAN Project Support Specialist Brief Job Description: Provides project management support to the project managers, including documentation management, construction management support and project management software support

Basic Qualification: Minimum of 3 years of working eperience as a project support specialist; fluent in mandarin/basic english Salary Range: Php 30,000 - Php 59,999

171.

172.

Brief Job Description: Evaluates expansions or enhancements by studying work load capacity of computer system PAN, YINGWEI Bilingual Technical Support Specialist

173.

Brief Job Description: Evaluates expansions or enhancements by studying work load capacity of computer system WANG, ZUNJING Bilingual Technical Support Specialist

174.

Brief Job Description: Evaluates expansions or enhancements by studying work load capacity of computer system

157.

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

Basic Qualification: Minimum of two years of working experience in the related field, fluent in Mandarin / basic English

175.

MUTHUKRISHNAN, SELVA KUMAR Gantry Specialist Brief Job Description: oversee erection works using launching gantries

SAMAL, MURARI Senior Erection Supervisor 176.

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

SEATRACE INTERNATIONAL INC. 8310, Sampaguita Street, Santo Niño, City Of Parañaque LEES, JOHN PAUL Consultant

Basic Qualification: College Graduate

Brief Job Description: Administer fitness and wellness programs

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

159.

HERYANTO Bahasa Indonesian Language - Supervisor Trade Specialist Brief Job Description: Ensure that all price changes and delivery of events are timely and accurate YOSEPH EDWIN Bahasa Indonesian Language - Trade Specialist

160.

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

Brief Job Description: Ensure that all price changes and delivery of events are timely and accurate

Basic Qualification: Bachelor’s degree in business, marketing and other relevant courses Salary Range: Php 60,000 - Php 89,999 Basic Qualification: Bachelor’s degree in business, marketing and other relevant courses Salary Range: Php 30,000 - Php 59,999

TIANYU TECHNOLOGY INC. 14/f Socialdesk Tower, H.v. Dela Costa St., Bel-air, City Of Makati CAO, YANG Chinese IT Support Specialist 161.

Brief Job Description: Responsible for providing quality it supports of enterprise systems throughout the Chinese clientele.

Salary Range: Php 30,000 - Php 59,999 Basic Qualification: fluent in Chinese writing and speaking language Salary Range: Php 30,000 - Php 59,999 Basic Qualification: fluent in Chinese writing and speaking language Salary Range: Php 30,000 - Php 59,999 Basic Qualification: fluent in Chinese writing and speaking language Salary Range: Php 30,000 - Php 59,999 Basic Qualification: fluent in Chinese writing and speaking language Salary Range: Php 30,000 - Php 59,999 Basic Qualification: fluent in Chinese writing and speaking language Salary Range: Php 30,000 - Php 59,999 Basic Qualification: fluent in Chinese writing and speaking language Salary Range: Php 30,000 - Php 59,999

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

Basic Qualification: excellent in writing, reading and speaking in bilingual languages Salary Range: Php 30,000 - Php 59,999 Basic Qualification: excellent in writing, reading and speaking in bilingual languages Salary Range: Php 30,000 - Php 59,999 Basic Qualification: excellent in writing, reading and speaking in bilingual languages Salary Range: Php 30,000 - Php 59,999 Basic Qualification: excellent in writing, reading and speaking in bilingual languages Salary Range: Php 30,000 - Php 59,999 Basic Qualification: excellent in writing, reading and speaking in bilingual languages Salary Range: Php 30,000 - Php 59,999

VSL CIVIL WORKS PHILIPPINE BRANCH # 162, 2/f, Unit 201 D Paragon Plaza, Highway Hills, City Of Mandaluyong

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

Basic Qualification: fluent in Chinese writing and speaking language

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

Salary Range: Php 500,000 and above

Brief Job Description: To mentor and assist in mobile underground

QUALIFICATION AND SALARY RANGE

VASTLINE BUSINESS SUPPORT INC. U-504p Five E-com Ctr. Bldg., Pacific Drive, Brgy. 076, Pasay City

Brief Job Description: Troubleshooter of electrical system

SHANG SOFTWARE SOLUTIONS, INC. 11/f Pbcom Tower, Ayala Avenue, Salcedo Village, Bel-air, City Of Makati

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

CHE BAC BUI IT Support Specialist

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

156.

Brief Job Description: Responsible for providing quality it supports of enterprise systems throughout the Chinese clientele.

Basic Qualification: Experience in electrical

Basic Qualification: Knowledge in computer applications with good oral and written communication skills

163.

RESI SARANA ADHIGUNA Process Electrical Advisor

KATO, YUSUKE General Manager 155.

Brief Job Description: Responsible for providing quality it supports of enterprise systems throughout the Chinese clientele. WANG, YUEPENG Chinese IT Support Specialist

Salary Range: Php 500,000 and above

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

Basic Qualification: Knowledge in computer applications with good oral and written communication skills

162.

LUONG NHAT HAI IT Support Specialist

CHEN, FUQIAN Manager Mandarin Speaking

PHAM HUU THU PHUONG Vietnamese Speaking Customer Service Representative

NAME OF FOREIGN NATIONAL , POSITION AND BRIEF DESCRIPTION GAO, XIUCHENG Chinese IT Support Specialist

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

158.

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

No.

OMRON ASIA PACIFIC PTE LTD PHILIPPINE BRANCH 2/f Kingscourt Ii Bldg., 2129 Chino Roces Ave., Pio Del Pilar, City Of Makati

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

THONG KHAI VAN Vietnamese Customer Service

Basic Qualification: Knowledge in computer applications with good oral and written communication skills

OCEANAGOLD (PHILIPPINES), INC. 2/f Cjv Bldg., 108 Aguirre St., Legaspi Village, San Lorenzo, City Of Makati

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

Brief Job Description: Customer support and data base services

QUALIFICATION AND SALARY RANGE

NOVATECH (PASAY) LIMITED, INC. 4th Flr. W Mall Bldg., Diosdado Macapagal Ave. St., Zone 10. Barangay 076, District 1, Pasay City

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

ZHANG, XIAOLIANG Chinese Customer Service

ESTABLISHMENT / ADDRESS

NEWSTAR SHOPPING MART INC. Unit Ii 3rd Floor Silpmpc Bldg., Km. 14, Malinta, City Of Valenzuela

NEW ORIENTAL CLUB88 CORPORATION 8/f Ecoplaza, 2305 Don Chino Roces Ave., Magallanes, City Of Makati

CAI, RUIJIAN Chinese Customer Service

YU, ZHIHAO Chinese Customer Service

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

NANTAI TECHNOLOGY SOLUTIONS INCORPORATED 3rd Floor Net One Center Building, 26th Street Corner 3rd Ave., Fort Bonifacio, City Of Taguig

LI, HAIYUAN IT Technical Support

145.

NAME OF FOREIGN NATIONAL , POSITION AND BRIEF DESCRIPTION

www.businessmirror.com.ph

177.

Brief Job Description: organize equipment and operatives to safely and efficiently operate a launching gantry

ANINDITYO KUSUMONOTO NEGORO Senior Gantry Specialist Brief Job Description: oversee erection works using launching gantries

Basic Qualification: Minimum 10 years of experience in overseeing full span erection works using launching gantries Salary Range: Php 150,000 - Php 499,999 Basic Qualification: Minimum 15 years of experience on bridge construction project. Knowledgeable with the operation of a launching gantry Salary Range: Php 150,000 - Php 499,999 Basic Qualification: oversee erection works using launching gantries Salary Range: Php 150,000 - Php 499,999

W.E.W RESOURCE MANAGEMENT, INC. 50/f Pbcom Tower, 6795 Ayala Ave. Cor. V.a. Rufino St., Bel-air, City Of Makati

178.

179.

LI, ZESHENG Mandarin Speaking Customer Service Representative Brief Job Description: Customer Support for Mandarin Speaking Client WANG, LEI Mandarin Speaking Customer Service Representative Brief Job Description: Customer Support for Mandarin Speaking Client

Basic Qualification: With Knowledge in COmputer Application Salary Range: Php 30,000 - Php 59,999 Basic Qualification: With Knowledge in COmputer Application Salary Range: Php 30,000 - Php 59,999 *Date Generated: Dec 21, 2021

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

Basic Qualification: fluent in Chinese writing and speaking language Salary Range: Php 30,000 - Php 59,999

ATTY. SARAH BUENA S. MIRASOL REGIONAL DIRECTOR

Companies BusinessMirror

Editor: Jennifer A. Ng

Wednesday, December 22, 2021

Average power spot market price climbs by 22%–IEMOP By Lenie Lectura

@llectura

he average spot price of electricity on the Wholesale Electricity Spot Market (WESM) as of December 18 went up to P6.32 per kilowatt hour (kWh) from November’s P5.17 per kWh. The Independent Electricity Market Operator of the Philippines (IEMOP) said Tuesday that the P1.15 increase was due to the thin supply margin caused by forced and planned outages of major power plants. During a news briefing held Tuesday, IEMOP officials attributed the 22-percent increase to the power outage incidents in coal and gas plants

and the impact of typhoon Odette (international code name Rai). “The Visayas grid was disconnected from the Luzon grid [due to] the typhoon. As a result, higher prices were observed in Luzon, which triggered the application of the secondary price cap on December 17,” said Eryl Jansen Gregana, IEMOP market simulation and

analysis senior specialist. The Energy Regulatory Commission (ERC) has suspended WESM operations in Visayas as of December 16. IEMOP said Administered Prices (AP) shall be used for the suspended intervals. Currently, the indicative AP for this period is around P4.6 per kWh. Real-time data from the System Operator showed a demand of around 833 megawatts (MW) as of 10:30 a.m. of December 21. “Administered prices will still be implemented in Visayas because of the market suspension. Other than that, absence of transfer between the grid, prices went up due to generator outages in Luzon,” added Gregana. IEMOP Chief Operating Officer Robinson Descanzo said some 400MW of capacity was not transmitted to Luzon. “The 400MW that was not produced by Leyte and was not transmitted to Luzon, we uti-

lized other generators in Luzon. I think this is partially the reason why prices went up in Luzon. Also, there were major power plants that went offline.” Despite the thin supply margin recorded, IEMOP said demand fell to 9,559 MW from 10,379 MW due to the cooler weather. The same trend was also observed for the system and regional peak demands. As of December 15, IEMOP reported that system peak demand was recorded at 12,096 MW or 579 MW lower than that of the previous month. On a larger scale, the annual system peak demand of 13,752 MW increased by 4.34 percent or around 571 MW. As for the regional peak demand, Luzon peak demand declined to 9,999 MW this December from 10,550MW in November while peak demand in the Visayas also slid to 2,135 MW from 2,154 MW.

FLI lists ₧10-B bonds on PDEx By VG Cabuag @villygc

roperty developer Filinvest Land Inc. (FLI) said it has raised P10 billion from its bond offering, which it listed on the Philippine Dealing and Exchange Corp. (PDEx) on Tuesday. The company said its bond offer, consisting of 4-year and 6-year debt, was four times oversubscribed. The debt paper consists of P8 billion in primary offering and P2 billion as its over-subscription op-

tion. The bonds due 2025 will have an interest rate of 4.503 percent and the paper due 2027 will have a yield of 5.2579 percent per year. The funding tapped from the bond market will allow FLI to implement its capital expenditure program, the company said. “FLI is growing its recurring income portfolio particularly in the logistics and industrial and office space. In addition, we continue to provide the housing requirements of our fellow countrymen as we help build the Filipino dream,” Filinvest President and

CEO Josephine Gotianun-Yap said. “FLI is encouraged by the performance of the residential sector in the first nine months of the year with residential revenues increasing by 23 percent, we are hopeful that we are on the way to economic recovery.” The bond issuance will be the second tranche out of its P30-billion bonds registered in 2020 under the shelf-registered program of the Securities and Exchange Commission. The company issued the first tranche of the shelf registered bonds on November 18, 2020 when it of-

fered some P8.1 billion. BDO Capital and Investment Corp., BPI Capital Corp., China Bank Capital Corp., East West Banking Corp., First Metro Investment Corp., RCBC Capital Corp. and SB Capital Investment Corp. were picked as underwriters and bookrunners for the offer. RCBC-Trust and Investments Group served as the trustee. The company’s net income for 2020 fell 41 percent to P3.73 billion, from the previous year’s P6.28 billion, due to the effects of the pandemic on most of its operations.

Ayala installs PLDT restoration work nears completion EV chargers in Pasig

he Ayala Group on Tuesday said it installed the first ever integrated electric vehicle charging and transport system. The installation, located at Ayala 30th Mall in Pasig, was in support of its commitment to achieve net-zero greenhouse gas emissions by 2050, the company said. Integrated Micro-Electronics Inc. (IMI) was the lead company to bring the EV chargers of TGOOD LINCHR, the world’s largest EV charging infrastructure provider, into the country. IMI’s Chinese factory builds the electronics and assembles the power supply system in the EV chargers of TGOOD LINCHR, one of the company’s partners in the new energy market. “We have been part of this ecosystem on a global basis; and now that we are contributing locally, we are all the more proud to be deeply involved this major disruption here in our country,” Arthur R. Tan, the company’s CEO, said. “We hope to be a catalyst for technology that drives carbon neutrality.” The said charging station is a collaboration among IMI, Ayala Land, TGOOD, GREENSTRUM and Global Electric Transport. The conglomerate announced last October its commitment to achieve net-zero greenhouse gas emissions by 2050. Ayala President and CEO Fernando Zobel de Ayala said the company hopes to develop its greenhouse gas footprint that includes all relevant emissions from the value chain. These include its direct emissions from its units and indirect emissions from the generation of purchased electricity. VG Cabuag

ith last-mile restoration efforts underway, PLDT and wireless subsidiary Smart Communications Inc. (Smart) report that 99 percent of Mindanao fixed services and 97 percent of wireless services are up, including vital communication links in the areas of Misamis Oriental and Surigao del Norte. Meanwhile, 86 percent of wireless services and 60 percent of fixed services in the Visayas have been restored. Customers may experience intermittent service in previously restored areas due to prolonged unavailability of commercial power and transmission lines. PLDT and Smart technical teams are also working round-the-clock in affected areas in Palawan, amid clearing operations and power interruptions. Additional support teams have also been flown from Manila to critical areas via PLDT’s aviation unit to augment resources onground. Helping reconnect Smart and TNT customers to their families, emergency load assistance have been sent to affected mobile users in the following provinces: Agusan del Norte, Agusan del Sur, Basilan, Bukidnon, Compostela Valley, Davao del Norte, Davao del Sur, Davao Occidental, Davao Oriental, Lanao del Norte, Lanao del Sur, Maguindanao, Misamis Occidental, Misamis Oriental, North and South Cotabato, Saranggani, Sultan Kudarat, Tawi-Tawi, Zamboanga del Norte, Zamboanga del Sur, and Zamboanga Sibugay. Earlier, Smart provided emergency load assistance to the provinces that bore the initial brunt, such as Bohol, Dinagat Islands, Southern Leyte, Surigao del Sur and del Norte. PLDT also implemented a bill reprieve to help ease the burden on PLDT Home customers. Af-

SMC donates food to Odette-hit areas C

onglomerate San Miguel Corp. (SMC) on Tuesday said it has activated its network in the Visayas and Mindanao to deliver truckloads of food to areas struck by Typhoon Odette (international code name Rai). The company also said it has dispatched fuel stocks at its Petron installations and provided access to water at its affected manufacturing facilities to help affected communities. San Miguel President and CEO Ramon S. Ang said the company coordinated with various local government units to immediately extend aid to stricken cities and communities, with its donations reaching P30 million as of Monday. Among the provinces San Miguel has been sending food donations to include Antique, Agusan del Norte and Agusan del Sur, Bacolod, Bohol, Biliran, Bukidnon, Cagayan de Oro, Camiguin, Cebu, Dinagat island, Davao del Sur, Eastern Samar, Guimaras, Iloilo, Leyte, Marinduque, Misamis Oriental, Negros Occidental, Negros Oriental, Occidental Mindoro, Oriental Mindoro, Palawan, Siquijor, Surigao del Norte, Surigao del Sur and Tagoloan. “We are one with all our countrymen who were affected by the recent typhoon. There’s a lot of things that are needed right now; we want to help make sure that basic food is covered. We will continue to assess the situation in the coming days and weeks and find more ways to help,” Ang said in a statement. He added that following last week ’s typhoon, the company, through its San Miguel Foundation,

mobilized available resources from its facilities in the Visayas region and nearby provinces as well as Luzon, to bring immediate relief to some provinces. “We are exerting all efforts to reach, and help all affected provinces--with special focus on the hardest-hit areas. Our priority is to get as much food stocks from our facilities all over the country, to the affected provinces in Visayas and Mindanao, and to make sure these are distributed to affected families at the soonest possible time” Ang said. “We are coordinating with the LGUs, who would have the means and capability to distribute aid. Our efforts will continue. All our major businesses are contributing resources. Wherever possible, our facilities in the Visayas region have also started organizing efforts to help surrounding communities. We join all Filipinos in praying for, and working towards the recovery of our countrymen.” In Mandaue, Cebu, Ang said the San Miguel Brewery facility has opened its Henan Cortes water station to the public, providing water for free from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. daily. While the water is not potable, it may be used for washing and other purposes, as water access in the area is still limited. Fuel subsidiary Petron is also set to donate food products to some 3,700 families in its fence line communities in Mandaue and Mactan, Cebu. Ang assured other provinces needing fuel that the company will work to make sure their requirements will be met. VG Cabuag

Meralco helps restore electricity in VisMin

Contributed photo

fected customers in Visayas and Mindanao will not be required to pay for any service fees incurred during the days they experienced connectivity disruptions due to typhoon Odette. Furthermore, there will be no disconnection of service due to non-payment until January next year, and the rebate will be reflected in customers’ January/ February 2022 billing. The company also said more Libreng Tawag and Libreng Charging

(Free Calls and Charging) centers have been set up in Visayas and Mindanao. Alongside free call and free charging services, PLDT and Smart, together with the PLDT-Smart Foundation have commenced relief activities in the hardest-hit communities, starting with Kabankalan, Ilog, Cauayan and Sipalay in Negros Occidental, Maasin in Leyte and Butuan in Caraga. More areas are due for relief work in the coming days.

he Manila Electric Co. (Meralco) has extended assistance to expedite restoration of electricity services in areas that were severely affected by Typhoon Odette (international code name: Rai). The company immediately coordinated with the Department of Energy and the Visayan Electric Co. (VECO) and sent an advance party in Cebu on December 19 to help assess the extent of damage to power facilities. Meralco will be deploying a contingent of around 50 engineers and linemen, 25 of which have arrived in Cebu on December 21 to immediately help in clearing operations and power restoration in the province. The company is also coordinating with concerned offices, including the Philippine Navy

and PLDT, for the transportation of additional personnel, 15 vehicles, 11 generator sets, and heavy equipment to the work site. More personnel and portable generator sets are currently on standby and ready to be deployed to other areas that would need assistance. The Meralco Group, through One Meralco Foundation, is working closely with the Philippine Disaster Resilience Foundation, MVP Group, the government and private sector to provide immediate relief to those severely affected by the typhoon. In addition, Meralco PowerGen Corp. and Global Business Power Corp. are providing 20,000 liters of diesel to help fuel the generator sets of PLDT and Smart, which are working to restore telecommunications services in the affected areas.

Wednesday, December 22, 2021

Companies BusinessMirror

Philex aims to raise $224M for Silangan project–exec

By Jonathan L. Mayuga

@jonlmayuga

hilex Mining Corp. is banking on the recent policy pronouncement of the government to entice local investors to place their bet on its Silangan project in Surigao del Norte. The company is prepared to spend $224 million to jumpstart the Silangan gold-copper mine, Philex CEO Eulalio B. Austin, Jr. and Chief Finance Officer Romeo B. Bachoco told reporters during an online press conference. Officials of Philex were referring to President Duterte’s signing of Executive Order (EO) 130 which lifted the mining moratorium imposed his predecessor, President Benigno S. Aquino III through EO 79. Mining regulators are also confident that Pres. Duterte will eventually lift the ban on open-pit mining which is expected to give the metallic mining sector a big boost. Philex’s Padcal mine life in Benguet is set to expire in 2024 and com-

pany officials are rushing to start the Silangan project. The company is infusing P2.5 billion to P3 billion into the Silangan project which would come from its own funds as well as its P3.1-billion stock rights offering (SRO). “That is a big and significant indication that Philex as the parent company of Silangan is committed to get this project going. That should signal to local investors to participate in the stock rights offer as well as lenders in our loan,” said Bachoco. “We have embarked in a fundraising exercise to finance the inphase development. A combination of stock rights offering which we are undertaking now and a fresh capital

infusion from Philex out of its padcal operation will be injected in the Silangan project and debt portion in the funding requirement.” He said the company is tapping the services of BDO Capital to help Philex complete the P3.1-billion SRO. “We are looking for local investors to slowly ramp up our capacity,” Austin said, admitting that the company’s bid for foreign investors was unsuccessful. “That’s why we are looking at $224 million. Originally, we are looking at $760 million but unfortunately there were some regulatory issues.” “Padcal is expected to be mined out in 2024, we need to start even in our small capacity.” Bachoco said the recent pronouncement of the government in support of the mining industry will be one of the catalysts in the postCovid recovery. “We hope to be part of that process and be part of the economic recovery and nation building of the country.” Philex is developing the Silangan project which has an estimated 571 million metric tons (MMT) of high grade gold and copper in the Boyungan and Bayugo deposits. The Buyungan deposit alone,

which will be the first phase of Silangan, has a mining life of 28 years. “It will be started in a small capacity per day and ultimately, in full capacity 12,000 tons or 4 million metric tons per year,” said Bachoco. He said the Silangan project is expected to be in full capacity within the 9th or 10th year of operation. Silangan Project is one of the bigticket projets under study or under development comparable to other projects like the Tampakan and KingKing Project. Austin said Silangan’s gold ore deposit is higher than that of the other big-ticket projects. “Since Silangan is already in the advanced stage of development, for the pre- development activities we determined that the mineral reserve of Phase 1 of our development is 81 MMT copper grade of .61 percent and gold high grade deposits in comparison to other deposits. It is higher than the existing Padcal mine of Philex also,” said Bachoco. According to Bachoco, foreign consultants were tapped to conduct the feasibility study for the 12,000tons a day capacity of Silangan to be completed.

Smashburger store opens in New York J ollibee Foods Corp. (JFC) on Tuesday said its United States burger joint Smashburger has opened a new branch in New York City. Smashburger is known for its Angus beef burgers, cooked on the grill to sear in the juices and seal in the flavor. An open kitchen, viewable by customers in line, is the main focal point of every Smashburger store, the company said.

T he company said its new branch is located at 669 8th Avenue near Times Square in the US. The fast casual restaurant has opened a total of 17 new stores this year, aligned with the Jollibee’s aggressive expansion program in North America. “With our 8th Avenue location near the hustle and bustle of Times Square, Smashburger will be the destination for mouthwatering burgers. We look forward

to enhancing the energy of this area and look forward to opening more Smashburger restaurants in the Big Apple very soon,” Carl Bachmann, president of Smashburger said. On top of the brand’s burgers, the new Smashburger store menu offers grilled and crispy chicken sandwiches, turkey and black bean burgers and fresh crisp salads. Customers can also buy sig-

nature side items such as Brussels sprouts, SmashFries tossed in rosemary, garlic, olive and its famous dessert, the hand-spun milkshakes. Smashburger’s breakfast menu includes an egg and cheese sandwich on toasted brioche served plain or with either bacon or sausage, a breakfast burgertopped with an egg, bacon and aged cheddar on toasted brioche; and breakfast tots. VG Cabuag

Lalamove supports relief efforts in Cebu By Lorenz S. Marasigan @lorenzmarasigan

n-demand delivery platform Lalamove said it is supporting relief efforts in Cebu, pledging to donate funds to provide immediate support to affected families in the province. Lalamove Head of Regulatory and Strategy Joy Caneba said in a text message that the company has pledged P1 million for the recovery of Cebu. “We have disbursed P500,000 so far to the Office of the Vice President and the Mandaue local government unit. The rest, we intend to give to Cebu Province and Cebu City,” she said. Caneba noted that the assistance is on top of the immediate support the company will provide to its thousands of partner drivers in the province. Lalamove will also launch a program that will provide assistance to its qualified active partner drivers to support them to recover from the impact of Typhoon Odette. The on-demand delivery plat-

form has been operating in Cebu since 2018. In March the company said it saw orders tripling since last year due to the increased demand for its delivery services, as businesses tapped the digital forwarding company to boost their sales. In a statement, Lalamove said the growth trend started in March 2020, when the country was placed under the enhanced community quarantine (ECQ), which forced businesses and individuals to adapt and tap digital solutions for their daily needs. This also boosted the demand for on demand delivery due to limited mobility. Lalamove said it offers small businesses affordable logistics solutions, which then created greater demand for more drivers on the road. Launched in the Philippines in 2017, Lalamove is an on-demand logistics company that matches drivers with customers and SME businesses to fulfill same-day deliveries. It now operates in 25 markets across Asia, Latin America, and the United States.

www.businessmirror.com.ph

PSE STOCK QUOTATIONS

December 21, 2021

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

ASIA UNITED BDO UNIBANK BANK PH ISLANDS CHINABANK EAST WEST BANK METROBANK PB BANK PBCOM PHIL NATL BANK PSBANK RCBC SECURITY BANK UNION BANK BRIGHT KINDLE COL FINANCIAL FIRST ABACUS FERRONOUX HLDG IREMIT PHIL STOCK EXCH VANTAGE

200 8,800 1,349,800 168,290,578 2,370,290 220,518,872.50 201,200 5,212,230 247,600 2,270,580 7,783,370 412,474,946 1,200 11,040 3,500 62,160 100,100 1,908,800 60 3,406 500 9,980 322,280 37,156,553 63,310 6,672,802 144,000 228,880 123,000 506,880 2,000 1,300 12,000 39,460 20,000 17,330 570 123,120 10,000 8,200

45,954,747 -38,198,359.50 -129,750 -320,362 52,466,504 417,770 -4,132,222 443,545 -

INDUSTRIAL AC ENERGY 10.6 10.62 10.7 10.7 10.56 10.6 10,686,600 113,304,106 ALSONS CONS 1.05 1.07 1.03 1.08 1.02 1.03 1,063,000 1,084,640 30.6 30.7 30.65 31 30.6 30.7 566,800 17,399,180 ABOITIZ POWER BASIC ENERGY 0.63 0.64 0.65 0.65 0.62 0.63 9,252,000 5,867,860 27.35 27.4 27.5 27.9 27.35 27.4 271,100 7,444,345 FIRST GEN FIRST PHIL HLDG 71.85 71.95 71.9 72 71.8 71.95 1,242,300 89,429,837.50 298 299 304.8 304.8 299 299 95,390 28,765,954 MERALCO MANILA WATER 24.5 24.55 24.95 24.95 24.2 24.5 1,697,100 41,597,605 3.13 3.15 3.16 3.16 3.13 3.13 275,000 862,220 PETRON PETROENERGY 4.02 4.15 4.02 4.02 4.02 4.02 9,000 36,180 10.5 10.86 10.84 10.86 10.84 10.86 10,000 108,472 PHX PETROLEUM PILIPINAS SHELL 19.68 19.7 19.9 19.9 19.6 19.68 41,500 817,530 SPC POWER 13.8 14 14.24 14.24 13.78 13.8 96,300 1,340,278 1.14 1.15 1.11 1.2 1.11 1.15 350,543,000 407,863,770 SOLAR PH AGRINURTURE 4.11 4.12 4 4.12 3.99 4.12 67,000 270,650 2.88 2.89 2.95 2.95 2.89 2.89 312,000 909,760 AXELUM CENTURY FOOD 26.6 27.1 26.85 27.2 26.6 26.6 1,122,100 30,082,730 16.48 16.5 15.52 16.6 15.52 16.48 710,300 11,563,564 DEL MONTE DNL INDUS 9.2 9.22 9.3 9.31 9.06 9.22 4,829,600 44,574,899 18.9 18.98 18.6 19.5 18.6 18.98 883,600 16,780,264 EMPERADOR SMC FOODANDBEV 69.75 71 71 71 69.75 71 88,980 6,255,937 ALLIANCE SELECT 0.58 0.62 0.61 0.61 0.58 0.61 82,000 49,990 1.21 1.23 1.21 1.24 1.21 1.23 3,756,000 4,594,730 FRUITAS HLDG GINEBRA 110.5 111.3 111 112 111 111.3 6,530 727,740 208.8 209.6 215 215 208.8 208.8 2,404,820 507,201,294 JOLLIBEE MACAY HLDG 5.42 6.69 5.42 5.42 5.42 5.42 100 542 6.62 6.65 6.6 6.65 6.6 6.62 32,300 213,633 MAXS GROUP MG HLDG 0.151 0.164 0.164 0.164 0.164 0.164 10,000 1,640 15.82 15.84 15.88 15.9 15.62 15.84 5,770,300 91,347,478 MONDE NISSIN SHAKEYS PIZZA 9.5 9.51 9.41 9.65 9.41 9.5 602,100 5,719,843 0.63 0.64 0.64 0.66 0.63 0.63 2,739,000 1,764,950 ROXAS AND CO RFM CORP 4.55 4.6 4.65 4.65 4.65 4.65 2,000 9,300 SWIFT FOODS 0.104 0.105 0.105 0.105 0.104 0.104 1,620,000 169,800 127.8 128 127.5 128.5 126.8 127.8 562,940 71,939,962 UNIV ROBINA VITARICH 0.69 0.7 0.7 0.7 0.7 0.7 290,000 203,000 2.4 2.5 2.4 2.4 2.4 2.4 21,000 50,400 VICTORIAS CEMEX HLDG 1 1.02 1.03 1.05 0.99 1 17,138,000 17,122,600 14.4 14.48 14.24 14.54 14.24 14.48 20,100 289,406 EAGLE CEMENT EEI CORP 6.39 6.4 6.35 6.4 6.35 6.4 164,000 1,048,407 5.12 5.18 5.07 5.2 5.07 5.18 74,300 381,428 HOLCIM KEEPERS HLDG 1.29 1.3 1.29 1.3 1.28 1.3 7,020,000 9,058,800 MEGAWIDE 5.04 5.05 5.05 5.07 5.01 5.04 984,700 4,952,797 20.45 20.5 19.8 20.45 19.8 20.45 137,600 2,756,390 PHINMA TKC METALS 0.78 0.8 0.78 0.78 0.78 0.78 68,000 53,040 0.93 0.94 0.93 0.94 0.92 0.93 181,000 168,140 VULCAN INDL CROWN ASIA 1.69 1.72 1.72 1.72 1.72 1.72 5,000 8,600 4.1 4.29 4.31 4.32 4.15 4.15 16,000 68,480 MABUHAY VINYL PRYCE CORP 5.66 5.74 5.75 5.75 5.65 5.74 8,900 50,578 20.5 21 21 21 21 21 100 2,100 CONCEPCION GREENERGY 2.35 2.39 2.34 2.4 2.31 2.39 4,954,000 11,800,300 INTEGRATED MICR 8.68 8.69 8.3 8.7 8.21 8.68 456,100 3,905,794 0.69 0.7 0.68 0.7 0.68 0.7 95,000 66,460 IONICS PANASONIC 5.72 5.73 5.85 5.85 5.7 5.72 31,500 180,927 1.1 1.11 1.07 1.12 1.07 1.11 91,000 101,510 SFA SEMICON CIRTEK HLDG 3.59 3.62 3.51 3.59 3.5 3.59 943,000 3,321,630

40,093,644 -3,639,110 640 -3,903,995 -2,407,091 3,804,370 3,968,250 -310,640 24,120.00 -1,954 14,000 4,165,570 -76,810 119,960 -11,026,950 -29,650 10,732,679 2,829,082 -3,126,809.50 -35,837 -182,420,272 11,742,012 2,648,416 -14,700 -39,891,629 50,400 -292,120 8,268 5,100 40,250 -1,037,389.00 3,106,980 -60,200 -

HOLDING & FRIMS

ABACORE CAPITAL ASIABEST GROUP AYALA CORP ABOITIZ EQUITY ALLIANCE GLOBAL AYALA LAND LOG ANGLO PHIL HLDG ATN HLDG A COSCO CAPITAL DMCI HLDG GT CAPITAL JG SUMMIT KEPPEL HLDG A KEPPEL HLDG B LODESTAR LT GROUP MABUHAY HLDG METRO PAC INV PACIFICA HLDG PRIME MEDIA REPUBLIC GLASS SOLID GROUP SYNERGY GRID SM INVESTMENTS SAN MIGUEL CORP SOC RESOURCES TOP FRONTIER ZEUS HLDG

43.7 123.6 92.1 25.9 9.16 52.85 8.69 17.5 19.1 56.7 19.96 115.5 106.4 1.52 4.07 0.64 3.24 0.86 212.8 0.82

0.92 5.44 881 55.85 11.78 6.12 0.88 0.39 5.12 7.61 576 53.5 6.1 6.11 0.64 9.8 0.375 3.88 2.91 1.12 2.88 1.06 13.26 971 110.7 0.62 120.2 0.166

44 124 93 25.95 9.17 52.95 9.2 17.64 19.14 57.5 20 115.8 106.5 1.59 4.12 0.65 3.33 0.92 216 0.89

0.94 5.99 883 56.25 12 6.14 0.9 0.42 5.14 7.62 576.5 54.4 6.3 7.2 0.67 9.81 0.415 3.89 3.08 1.13 3 1.15 13.28 973 113 0.66 128 0.17

44 126.2 94.5 25.9 9.24 52.9 9.2 17.94 19.4 57 19.96 114.3 105 1.53 4.16 0.65 3.33 0.87 216 0.82

0.94 5.46 878 56.25 11.8 6.18 0.91 0.4 5.08 7.73 586.5 54.35 6.22 6.11 0.64 9.8 0.375 3.9 3.26 1.13 2.99 1.06 12.9 976 112 0.62 122.1 0.166

44 127 94.5 25.95 9.24 53.2 9.2 17.94 19.4 57 19.96 115.9 106.4 1.6 4.16 0.65 3.33 0.87 216 0.82

0.94 5.46 895 56.7 12 6.28 0.91 0.4 5.15 7.74 586.5 54.45 6.22 6.11 0.67 9.8 0.375 3.92 3.26 1.13 3 1.15 13.5 987 113 0.62 128 0.166

44 123.6 92.1 25.85 9.1 52.5 9.2 17.6 19 56.7 19.96 113.7 103 1.53 4.05 0.65 3.23 0.86 216 0.82

0.92 5.44 868 55.8 11.74 6.1 0.91 0.4 5.08 7.56 575 53.5 6.2 6.11 0.64 9.7 0.375 3.86 2.91 1.12 2.99 1.05 12.9 965 110.6 0.61 120 0.166

44 123.6 92.1 25.95 9.17 52.95 9.2 17.64 19.1 56.7 19.96 115.8 106.4 1.59 4.14 0.65 3.23 0.86 216 0.82

0.92 5.44 881 56.25 12 6.14 0.91 0.4 5.12 7.62 576 53.5 6.2 6.11 0.67 9.8 0.375 3.88 3.08 1.12 3 1.15 13.26 971 113 0.61 128 0.166

1,407,000 72,600 381,510 601,100 120,646,900 2,646,500 1,000 150,000 246,600 3,991,300 94,760 1,334,550 42,000 14,700 65,000 778,200 210,000 14,580,000 3,000 51,000 23,000 200,000 3,881,500 194,280 97,870 120,000 6,580 800,000

1,304,060 395,061 336,449,975 33,776,006.50 1,447,607,624 16,220,857 910 60,000 1,261,187 30,401,951 54,740,205 71,714,561 260,670 89,817 41,720 7,598,285 78,750 56,570,220 9,250 57,440 68,870 211,590 51,338,050 188,973,600 10,941,148 74,260 820,110 132,800

PROPERTY ARTHALAND CORP 0.61 0.63 0.64 0.64 0.61 0.61 52,000 33,060 AYALA LAND 34.5 35 35.25 35.5 34.5 34.5 7,115,200 248,093,190 47.4 47.5 47.6 47.6 47 47.5 73,100 3,464,930 AREIT RT BELLE CORP 1.34 1.37 1.34 1.34 1.34 1.34 10,000 13,400 0.77 0.79 0.79 0.79 0.77 0.79 38,000 29,480 A BROWN CITYLAND DEVT 0.72 0.74 0.72 0.72 0.72 0.72 360,000 259,200 0.098 0.102 0.102 0.102 0.102 0.102 30,000 3,060 CROWN EQUITIES CEB LANDMASTERS 2.72 2.75 2.74 2.75 2.7 2.74 566,000 1,538,120 0.39 0.395 0.395 0.4 0.395 0.395 4,360,000 1,722,850 CENTURY PROP DOUBLEDRAGON 6.96 6.98 7.02 7.05 6.95 6.96 281,200 1,961,771 1.78 1.79 1.78 1.79 1.78 1.79 2,022,000 3,609,150 DDMP RT 6.76 6.78 6.78 6.78 6.76 6.78 31,700 214,896 DM WENCESLAO EVER GOTESCO 0.315 0.32 0.33 0.33 0.32 0.32 4,140,000 1,336,550 7.39 7.4 7.39 7.4 7.34 7.4 4,963,000 36,708,271 FILINVEST RT FILINVEST LAND 1.09 1.1 1.1 1.11 1.09 1.09 2,108,000 2,303,520 0.86 0.87 0.86 0.89 0.86 0.87 11,964,000 10,415,470 GLOBAL ESTATE 8990 HLDG 11.36 11.7 11.2 11.9 11 11.7 781,900 8,872,534 1.13 1.14 1.12 1.14 1.12 1.14 5,319,000 6,060,160 PHIL INFRADEV KEPPEL PROP 3.07 3.39 3.07 3.39 3.07 3.39 4,000 12,600 0.87 0.9 0.87 0.87 0.87 0.87 9,000 7,830 CITY AND LAND MEGAWORLD 3.07 3.09 3.05 3.09 3.04 3.09 3,152,000 9,655,450 MRC ALLIED 0.25 0.255 0.26 0.26 0.248 0.25 11,280,000 2,824,620 18.3 18.32 18.32 18.34 18.3 18.32 2,253,600 41,287,070 MREIT RT PHIL ESTATES 0.485 0.495 0.49 0.495 0.485 0.495 920,000 449,450 1.9 1.95 1.96 1.96 1.86 1.95 532,000 1,006,410 PRIMEX CORP RL COMM RT 7.48 7.5 7.55 7.55 7.48 7.5 522,400 3,933,519 18.16 18.28 18.24 18.32 18 18.28 2,259,700 41,035,048 ROBINSONS LAND PHIL REALTY 0.205 0.206 0.207 0.207 0.206 0.206 130,000 26,820 1.49 1.5 1.5 1.5 1.5 1.5 800,000 1,200,000 ROCKWELL SHANG PROP 2.61 2.62 2.61 2.61 2.61 2.61 95,000 247,950 STA LUCIA LAND 2.42 2.89 2.89 2.89 2.89 2.89 11,000 31,790 35 35.3 35.15 35.5 35 35 5,117,100 180,273,595 SM PRIME HLDG SUNTRUST HOME 1.1 1.14 1.15 1.17 1.1 1.14 85,000 97,840 3.35 3.38 3.44 3.44 3.35 3.35 1,215,000 4,095,180 VISTA LAND SERVICES ABS CBN 12.46 12.5 12.5 12.58 12.4 12.46 86,600 1,080,502 GMA NETWORK 13.6 13.68 13.6 13.7 13.56 13.6 444,000 6,044,244 0.42 0.435 0.43 0.44 0.43 0.44 60,000 26,100 MANILA BULLETIN GLOBE TELECOM 3,416 3,480 3,508 3,510 3,416 3,416 24,930 86,165,370 1,849 1,852 1,875 1,879 1,840 1,849 49,940 92,558,755 PLDT APOLLO GLOBAL 0.077 0.078 0.076 0.079 0.076 0.077 31,050,000 2,397,660 31.95 32 31.9 32 31.1 32 4,732,700 150,741,875 CONVERGE DFNN INC 2.5 2.56 2.47 2.6 2.45 2.52 232,000 576,880 5.28 5.29 5.18 5.39 5.17 5.29 6,479,200 33,926,981 DITO CME HLDG IMPERIAL 1.41 1.63 1.41 1.41 1.41 1.41 15,000 21,150 1.25 1.27 1.32 1.32 1.25 1.25 273,000 344,970 NOW CORP TRANSPACIFIC BR 0.295 0.3 0.295 0.3 0.295 0.295 190,000 56,500 PHILWEB 1.86 1.9 1.91 1.91 1.86 1.9 38,000 72,440 7.5 7.6 7.6 7.6 7.5 7.5 50,600 379,570 2GO GROUP ASIAN TERMINALS 13.88 14 14 14 13.88 14 52,700 737,596 1.61 1.65 1.69 1.69 1.61 1.61 371,000 604,070 CHELSEA CEBU AIR 43.15 43.2 43.8 43.8 43.1 43.2 233,200 10,096,580 193 193.2 193.5 196 192.1 193.2 1,928,680 372,511,743 INTL CONTAINER LBC EXPRESS 20.55 22.95 20.55 20.55 20.55 20.55 100 2,055 5.24 5.25 5.4 5.4 5.24 5.25 496,000 2,618,729 MACROASIA METROALLIANCE A 1.06 1.2 1.1 1.2 1.1 1.2 21,000 23,500 HARBOR STAR 0.83 0.89 0.9 0.9 0.89 0.89 25,000 22,460 1.45 1.52 1.5 1.61 1.44 1.44 123,000 188,790 ACESITE HOTEL DISCOVERY WORLD 1.75 1.83 1.93 1.93 1.71 1.83 442,000 792,660 0.465 0.48 0.48 0.48 0.465 0.465 1,070,000 512,800 WATERFRONT CENTRO ESCOLAR 6.5 6.6 6.54 6.54 6.49 6.49 18,800 122,321 7.11 7.6 7.6 7.6 7.11 7.11 1,200 9,071 IPEOPLE STI HLDG 0.345 0.35 0.345 0.345 0.345 0.345 450,000 155,250 6.6 6.89 6.51 7.04 6.51 6.89 73,800 508,754 BERJAYA BLOOMBERRY 6.28 6.3 6.39 6.39 6.26 6.28 4,082,500 25,695,448 PACIFIC ONLINE 1.79 1.88 1.8 1.8 1.76 1.76 13,000 23,080 1.43 1.44 1.45 1.45 1.44 1.44 33,000 47,700 LEISURE AND RES MANILA JOCKEY 1.82 2.4 2.4 2.4 2.4 2.4 150,000 360,000 0.74 0.76 0.78 0.78 0.74 0.76 1,670,000 1,262,030 PH RESORTS GRP PREMIUM LEISURE 0.435 0.44 0.43 0.44 0.43 0.44 620,000 270,100 0.62 0.63 0.61 0.63 0.6 0.63 56,375,000 34,572,380 ALLDAY ALLHOME 8.65 8.71 8.8 8.8 8.64 8.65 340,300 2,960,975 1.38 1.43 1.44 1.44 1.36 1.38 208,000 291,820 METRO RETAIL PUREGOLD 38.55 38.6 37.85 38.65 37.85 38.6 2,874,900 110,414,350 64.3 64.5 64.25 64.8 63.45 64.3 149,420 9,609,561.50 ROBINSONS RTL PHIL SEVEN CORP 88.1 93 88 90.9 88 88.1 20,090 1,785,486 SSI GROUP 1.11 1.13 1.12 1.13 1.09 1.13 2,063,000 2,278,050 30.4 30.5 30.65 30.95 30.35 30.5 1,087,100 33,203,005 WILCON DEPOT APC GROUP 0.23 0.238 0.239 0.239 0.23 0.23 30,000 6,990 4.5 4.6 4.65 4.65 4.65 4.65 1,000 4,650 EASYCALL GOLDEN MV 493 540 540 540 521 540 250 133,350 6.9 7.06 7 7.06 7 7 6,500 45,568 IPM HLDG MEDILINES 1.33 1.34 1.35 1.39 1.34 1.34 11,402,000 15,541,980 0.51 0.52 0.55 0.55 0.5 0.52 18,196,000 9,359,450 PRMIERE HORIZON SBS PHIL CORP 3.85 4 3.81 4 3.81 4 28,000 109,100 MINING & OIL ATOK 5.75 6.07 6.1 6.1 5.75 5.75 180,100 1,045,795 1.34 1.36 1.33 1.38 1.33 1.36 120,000 164,210 APEX MINING ATLAS MINING 5.82 5.84 5.86 5.86 5.76 5.81 407,900 2,375,632 5.05 5.09 5.05 5.05 5.05 5.05 14,700 74,235 BENGUET A COAL ASIA HLDG 0.265 0.28 0.265 0.265 0.265 0.265 50,000 13,250 2.7 2.8 2.6 2.8 2.6 2.8 185,000 517,100 CENTURY PEAK DIZON MINES 5 5.59 5 5.45 5 5 40,100 200,545 2.06 2.09 2.08 2.12 2.06 2.06 1,912,000 3,960,310 FERRONICKEL LEPANTO A 0.128 0.129 0.129 0.129 0.125 0.129 340,000 43,410 0.0086 0.0087 0.0086 0.0086 0.0086 0.0086 5,000,000 43,000 MANILA MINING A MANILA MINING B 0.0089 0.0093 0.009 0.009 0.009 0.009 4,000,000 36,000 MARCVENTURES 1.05 1.07 1.06 1.1 1.05 1.05 408,000 433,370 0.98 1 0.99 0.99 0.98 0.98 16,000 15,830 NIHAO NICKEL ASIA 5.08 5.09 5.1 5.14 5.05 5.09 96,900 491,609 4.7 4.78 4.65 4.7 4.64 4.7 50,114,000 232,531,080 PX MINING SEMIRARA MINING 20.55 20.6 21.1 21.35 20.6 20.6 1,330,600 27,595,220 0.0061 0.0063 0.0061 0.0061 0.0061 0.0061 4,000,000 24,400 UNITED PARAGON ACE ENEXOR 34.15 34.35 34.9 36 33.8 34.35 480,100 16,413,195 0.01 0.011 0.011 0.011 0.01 0.01 45,100,000 463,100 ORNTL PETROL A ORNTL PETROL B 0.011 0.012 0.011 0.011 0.011 0.011 3,200,000 35,200 PHILODRILL 0.0087 0.009 0.0088 0.0088 0.0087 0.0087 8,000,000 69,800 6.01 6.05 6.01 6.1 6 6.01 50,000 300,736 PXP ENERGY PREFFERED HOUSE PREF A 100.5 100.9 100.9 100.9 100.9 100.9 20 2,018 ALCO PREF D 511 514 511 511 511 511 200 102,200 101.1 101.8 101 101 101 101 1,300 131,300 BRN PREF A CEB PREF 43.3 43.5 44 44 43.5 43.5 22,000 962,000 102 103 103 103 103 103 10,150 1,045,450 CPG PREF A DD PREF 101.5 102 102 102 102 102 20 2,040 1,000 1,010 1,000 1,000 1,000 1,000 160 160,000 JFC PREF A JFC PREF B 1,003 1,025 1,003 1,025 1,003 1,003 2,480 2,487,660 98.5 100.8 98.5 98.5 98.5 98.5 140 13,790 MWIDE PREF 2B MWIDE PREF 4 100 101 100 101 100 101 12,550 1,260,273 PNX PREF 3B 102.4 102.5 102.5 102.5 101 102.5 16,110 1,634,500 998 1,000 1,000 1,000 998 1,000 5,260 5,249,950 PNX PREF 4 PCOR PREF 3A 1,062 1,072 1,060 1,060 1,060 1,060 300 318,000 75.75 75.95 75.7 75.7 75.7 75.7 1,200 90,840 SMC PREF 2H SMC PREF 2I 77.3 79.7 79.25 79.45 79.25 79.45 4,980 395,351 76.45 77.45 76.45 76.45 76.45 76.45 670,000 51,221,500 SMC PREF 2J SMC PREF 2K 75.6 76.95 75.6 75.6 75.6 75.6 600,000 45,360,000 50.4 53.5 50.3 50.3 50.3 50.3 300 15,090 TECH PREF B2C TECH PREF B2D 52.15 53.7 53 53.7 52.15 52.15 8,170 429,283 PHIL. DEPOSITARY RECEIPTS ABS HLDG PDR 12 13.3 12.1 12.1 12.1 12.1 50,000 605,000 GMA HLDG PDR 13 13.46 13.02 13.02 13 13 53,000 689,040 WARRANTS TECH WARRANT 0.76 0.79 0.76 0.8 0.76 0.76 151,000 115,630

9,000 50,836,525 6,774,347.50 -6,737,138 523,678 657,723 -4,976,238 3,625,150 -23,059,932.50 1,977,907 -41,396,270 3,157,096 -16,213,095 -3,822,574 -326,210 -150,259,195 819,870 12,990 -11,850 -146,766 433,130 -6,529,037 -304,530 -8,900 188,514 2,894,770.00 -663,320 175,000 422,482 29,100 -31,157 -9,913,234.00 -18,580 6,032,780 -1,150 -1,929,970 -34,323,710 11,123,935 462,700 12,520,535 -493,789 -400 -3,619,635 -18,735,076 51,153 26,609 -17,892,099 17,280 -485,500 1,354,760 1,885,732.00 18,200 12,712,080 1,450,325.50 -816,782 10,900 -13,081,115 134,130 -169,240 146,850 29,300 517,100 79,780 8,480 -143,732.00 -102,520 -5,282,685 17,780 -1,100 -10,217 102,200 -80,800 -65,250 -160,000 -160,480 20,420 50,000 15,090 11,473 -605,000 -26,040

SMALL & MEDIUM ENTERPRISES

ALTUS PROP ITALPINAS KEPWEALTH MERRYMART

21.2 1.26 2.81 2.29

21.25 1.27 3 2.3

EXHANGE TRADE FUNDS FIRST METRO ETF

109.1

109.7

21.55 1.27 3 2.3

22.55 1.28 3 2.37

21.25 1.26 3 2.29

21.25 1.27 3 2.3

64,900 133,000 20,000 3,033,000

1,394,305 169,460 60,000 7,018,660

817,090

109.9 110 109.1 109.1 4,660 509,990 18,523

www.businessmirror.com.ph

Entrepreneur

GCash offers store owners a new way to earn extra By Roderick L. Abad

@rodrik_28

Contributor

OBILE wallet provider GCash is offering an additional opportunity for small entrepreneurs like sari-sari store owners to grow their business. The company introduces the GCash Pera Outlet for them to earn as much as P10,000 a month. “Becoming a GCash Pera Outlet means your sukis in your barangay don’t need to travel far to go to a bayad center or convenience store,” the firm said. “They can avail all of what GCash has to offer, such as Cash In, Cash Out, Pay Bills and Send Money, all through your sari-sari store! NonGCash users can also claim GCash Padala sent to them through your Pera Outlet,” it added. An operator of GCash Pera Outlet can get an increased wallet size of up to P500,000 and cash in is free via GCash agents as well as commission or bonuses from each transaction, according to the company. “Signing up is simple too, because it’s all done through your GCash app. Look for ‘GCash PO’ under business services on your GCash dashboard, fill up the application form and submit your business registration,” GCash said. “Wait for final approval within five to seven business days and once approved, your assigned GCash distributor agent will deliver tarps and posters, so the whole barangay knows they can go to your store to avail of these GCash services,” it added. Using the GCash app, customers can buy load, pay bills at more than 600 partner-billers registered in the app, pay at over 7,000 online partners, send and receive money anywhere in the country. Also, they can pay using QR codes at over 130,000 partner-merchants nationwide, save money while earning interest, and invest money at local and global funds. GCash is part of the portfolio companies of 917Ventures, the biggest corporate incubator in the Philippines wholly-owned by Globe Telecom, Inc. It was recognized by The Asian Banker in 2021 for its outstanding financial inclusion programs impacting more than 40 million Filipinos in the country today.

BusinessMirror

Editor: Vittorio V. Vitug • Wednesday, December 22, 2021 B3

BAYO biz agility: Fashion enterprise thrives in the age of Covid contagion By Rizal Raoul S. Reyes

@brownindio

Contributor

ust like other businesses, BAYO also experienced the heavy impact of the Covid-19 pandemic. Nonetheless, the 29-year old company managed to carry on its business operations because owing its agility to adapt to changing times. “What’s good about our response is that we are able to keep ourselves above water and even beyond that to thrive in spite of what’s going on. It’s the resiliency that is inherent to us Filipinos as well and with the experience we’ve had in the business, somehow it really helped us,” BAYO Chief Executive Officer Anna Lagon told the BusinessMirror. BAYO was able to expand its product offerings when it ventured into the manufacturing of personal protective equipment (PPE). Lagon said this was a new category and has generated the much-needed sales to compensate for the low turnover of sales from its stores since their stores are closed during lockdowns. Going online also proved beneficial, as BAYO’s online store also has been providing a big source of

its revenues. “Our online presence is very robust. It’s giving us a lot of good numbers. It also helped that we have this new feature in our website where you can see your carbon footprint,” Lagon said. “When you buy any product on our web site, the customer would know how many kilos of carbon emission has been used in creating the product. That emission is processed through carbon offsetting which makes our products carbon neutral. That feature involves the customers in making a more responsible purchase and it has a lot to do with the increase of our sales,” she added. At the onset of the pandemic, Lagon described BAYO’s digital readiness as weak. To address the challenge, BAYO revamped its web site and sales platform. The move

resulted in delivering big revenues to the company.

High quality Pinoy craftsmanship

TO weather the Covid-19 challenge, Lagon said BAYO evolved by creating fashionable PPEs, which are also being sold in their stores. Their PPEs received warm response from the market. “In terms of quantity, when our customers order our PPEs, it’s really in volumes. We’ve had an order of 1 million face masks; another one is 500,000 face masks. That will not be comparable with the quantities that we are producing for our regular items,” Lagon explained. Retooling the work force was not a problem for BAYO as it has been engaged in manufacturing clothes for some time. With a highly skilled work force, Lagon said BAYO just needed to provide the necessary equipment to make the PPEs with blue sealant. With this move, BAYO has proven to the cynics that Filipinos are capable of producing high quality PPEs. “Contrary to what people say that local manufacturers can’t produce imported-quality PPEs, we can actually make them and even make them better,” she pointed. BAYO’s medical PPEs, especially the colored white with blue sealant is the most popular product. Now that the situation has become more somewhat stable, bulk orders of PPE have now subsided. Nonetheless, BAYO is getting orders now from

corporations such as banks for the protective wear of their employees. It is currently supplying a number of local government units with minimal margins “because we can’t have the right conscience to use it as a source of our profits.”

Back in harness

Right now, almost all workers in the production unit are back to work. Moreover, Lagon said some workers prefer to work in their homes as most of them are seniors and BAYO continues to support them. One more amazing quality of BAYO as an employer is that it doesn’t encourage retirement. Lagon added that as long as the production workers have the agility and capability to work, they’re always welcome. The senior work force, roughly 20 percent, are also allowed to accept orders from other clients. Lagon said BAYO is open to the arrangement because it will benefit the workers. “But they know they can always come back to us,” she said.

Responsible corporate citizenship

BAYO has tapped a third party doing carbon offsetting for United Nationsaccredited companies to monitor its carbon emission. The rationale is to pursue transparency and provide the company metrics to monitor how far BAYO has gone in terms of carbon emission. Lagon added: “We are preparing our company to do our science-based

targets for our sustainability roadmap. So this is getting our baseline so when we are ready to go to the next step and accelerate our climate accelerator program, the company is ready.” As a participant member of the United Nations Global Compact (UNGC), BAYO is enrolled in the climate accelerator program that can help the company on how it can achieve a carbon zero in their business. “It’s part of the entirety of the business, not just the CSR [corporate social responsibility],” Lagon said. Our sustainability goals are inherent; it’s the core value of the company now. And that’s the direction that we encourage everyone to go because of the threats of climate change.” Lagon wants BAYO to be a green company in the near future. Although it a huge challenge, BAYO is already taking a lot of steps towards that direction. As a sign of solidarity and patriotism, Lagon urged Filipinos to support local businesses to help in priming the economy. “This is the time for every Filipino to support local business enterprises to prop up our economy and help generate the necessary jobs. As a homegrown brand, we continuously provide products that celebrate our being Filipinos. Providing integrity and making our products at par with higher standards assures us of the trust shared with our customers.”

QBO ties up with DICT, start-up cities beyond Metro Manila for ecosystem mapping project

BO Innovation Hub (QBO) and the Department of Information and Communications Technology (DICT) have collaborated for QBOxCities, an ecosystem mapping project that aims to plot out and highlight the resources available to start-up founders, help underserved founders and start-up teams access to resources such as knowledge, expertise and funding to create a more inclusive and collaborative ecosystem. For this year’s ecosystem mapping project, QBO and DICT have selected Tuguegarao, Balanga, Naga, Legazpi, Puerto Princesa, Catbalogan, and Zamboanga. “We’re thrilled to be able to provide more Filipinos with the oppor-

tunity to be part of the Philippine start-up ecosystem. With the support of DICT, we will widen our reach and provide a more inclusive environment for the local start-up community,” says QBO Innovation Hub and IdeaSpace Foundation President Rene “Butch” Meily. The ecosystem maps will provide founders, enablers, and local and national government leaders with information such as media outlets for outreach, knowledge-sharing events, resources for collaboration, skill and idea development programs for founders and start-up teams, hackathons and resources to build a minimum viable product, service providers such as law firms, accounting firms, and tax and HR services, in-

cubation and acceleration programs, co-working and flexible workspaces, and investors. For founders in the regions, the ecosystem maps can be a quick reference guide to discover local resources as they navigate their start-up journey from idea to initial investment. With more industries and organizations pursuing digital transformation projects, the ecosystem mapping project is an opportunity to bring more people into the start-up space, particularly more women, students, professionals, and underrepresented groups. QBO and IdeaSpace Foundation Executive Director Katrina Rausa Chan hopes that the project will be a launching pad for founders and in-

troduce them to various resources, which includes QBO’s Start-up Pinay community, start-up development programs, and community and ecosystem programs. “The Philippine start-up ecosystem is on an upwards trajectory, and we’re working towards ensuring this growth will be inclusive and shared by diverse groups. With the implementation of QBOxCities, the goal is to empower an even more innovative and competitive start-up ecosystem all across the country,” states Chan. A side f rom t he ecosystem mapping activity, QBO will also be organizing online meetups or QLITANs, to give attendees an opportunity to share their insights,

expectations, and concerns regarding their local start-up ecosystem and set up potential collaborations with each other. QBO and DICT will also be organizing a planning session to identify next steps to help the local start-up ecosystem in the city thrive and another session to promote the city’s start-up ecosystem. The ecosystem mapping project is expected to be completed by the second quarter of 2022. For more information and updates about the QBOxCities program, visit www.qbo.com.ph or follow QBO Innovation Hub’s social media pages, @qbophilippines on Instagram and QBO Philippines on Facebook.

ChatGenie raises addl investment in recent fund-raising campaign

ast-growing Multi-Channel Commerce Platform development start-up company, ChatGenie, reached another milestone by raising additional capital in its recent fund-raising campaign as part of Accelerating Asia’s fifth cohort. The funding it secured will enable ChatGenie to expand its reach in distributing its product to as many merchants as possible. Currently, the pandemic-born start-up has provided online payment and automated delivery services to more than 2,500 merchants. With the increasing demand of online businesses now, the investment will also help ChatGenie to expand its operations by growing its team to cater to more clients and scale its services.

Opportunity in crisis

Founded a month before the pandemic hit the Philippines in 2020, ChatGenie proved its relevance in the market as online businesses thrive with more people setting up online stores. It was included in Forbes Asia’s inaugural “100 to Watch” list because of its relevance in the market today. To date, over 2,500 transactions have been done on Messenger, GCash and Viber using ChatGenie and a total of P150 million worth of transactions have been done via the store platform.

It has partnered with a number of notable brands and digital wallet platforms, such as GCash, PayMaya, and PayMongo. In November 2021, it introduced its MSME Booster Program which aims to provide micro, small, and medium enterprises (MSMEs) up to six months of free online store on Messenger, Instagram, Viber, GCash, and other business tools. They provided Filipino MSMEs, who want to try the features of ChatGenie, a three-month ChatGenie Pro subscription for free to help them digitize their businesses.

Promising position in the market

For the fifth cohort, Accelerating Asia picked nine start-ups in Asia, including the Philippines’ end-to-end store platform ChatGenie, for its first batch of investments from its $20 million Fund II. Accelerating Asia is a Singaporebased early-stage venture capital fund that invests in pre-Series A start-ups from across Southeast and South Asia. Cohort 5 was Accelerating Asia’s most competitive selection to date with 550 applications from 30 countries, of which only 1.5 percent were chosen. “With retailers across Asia digitizing at the fastest rate in history, ChatGenie’s platform provides an

ChatGenie founders Ragde Falcis and Nico Nicomedes Jr. are gearing up to get more investors onboard to scale their start-up and serve more clients.

easy on ramp to potentially millions of businesses to more easily interact with a larger customer base more efficiently. The company’s executive team is a perfect fit for executing the business model which is proven by its stellar traction to date. Accelerating Asia is excited to provide support and be an early investor into ChatGenie as it expands across the Philippines and regionally,” Accelerating Asia General Partner Craig Bristol Dixon said. “Accelerating Asia is a great partner for us in the current stage of our business. They provide us with the

tools, network, and mentorship that we need to grow fast,” says Ragde Falcis, co-founder, chief executive officer and chief technology officer of ChatGenie.PH. Among the recent investors of ChatGenie are founders of their own start-up—Shahab Shababi (MyKuya), Farouk Meralli (mClinica), Saul Molla (FlowerStore), Andrew Koger (GoodWork.PH), George Padin (Abstract Digital), Ray Refundo, Earvin Ang and Paul Cualteros (Qwikwire), Aldrich Tan (NextPay), and Dominick Danao (Magpie.im).

“I firmly believe companies will inevitably adapt to digitalization and AI [artificial intelligence]. This is where ChatGenie will be very beneficial to them, especially when people are looking for convenience. Convenience with ChatGenie’s product will be a game-changer for ecommerce here in the Philippines. A platform where it is easy to purchase goods not only will help the start-up ecosystem but also the e-commerce ecosystem here in the country. The timing is perfect for ChatGenie,” said Earvin Ang, co-founder and president of Global Real Estate Solutions Startup, Aqwire, on why he invested in ChatGenie. Shabab Shababi, Founder of MyKuya and CEO of Machine Ventures, see’s ChatGenie’s recent success is a source of inspiration for PH startups to come up with innovative solutions to solve existing market problems. “The pandemic has exposed the areas of our economy that need to be made more resilient. For that we need to simplify the way products and services are offered & make it more efficient. While our venture, MyKuya does that for the services industry, we saw ChatGenie covering this gap for the product sellers in the country. We need a new mindset for this new

world and we are excited for ChatGenie to empower every product seller in the country,” said Shabab.

Looking ahead

IN 2022, ChatGenie hopes to partner with more brands so it could provide its services to businesses that are thriving online. “So far we have been able to partner with one of the biggest telecommunication companies to upsell our product to its business clients. We are looking for more partnerships like this where we can help their existing merchants grow while increasing the value that our partners provide,” said Falcis. “We accepted ChatGenie in the INQBATION: Leveling up B2B Startups six-month program because we saw how much they grew during the incubation period so we were attracted to consider them for investment,” said Ben Alderson, Senior Head of Strategy and Investments of QBO Innovation Hub and Ideaspace Foundation Inc. “We see ChatGenie continuing to grow customer adoption of their core product, adding additional features that make it easier for their users to operate their MSME businesses and expanding to new markets throughout Southeast Asia and potentially even further afield,” he added.

Banking&Finance

Wednesday, December 22, 2021 • Editor: Dennis D. Estopace

BusinessMirror

‘BDO compensation to fraud victims had no added clause’

By Bianca Cuaresma

@BcuaresmaBM

DO Unibank Inc. on Tuesday clarified that there were no changes made to their terms and conditions after the cybercrime incident that affected hundreds of their clients earlier this month. The bank said in a statement that the liability clause circulating on social-media posts is “a regular compliance in the banking industry.” “This has been part of the normal compliance for a long time. There was no added clause due to

the recent incident,” the bank’s statement read. “BDO made exceptions and shouldered the losses not caused by the clients to maintain good customer relationship even if the bank is not legally liable,” it added.

A week ago, the country’s largest bank by asset has been the target of a cybercrime incident, where cash were transferred unknowingly from BDO account holders to a person named “Mark Nagoyo” who has several accounts in the UnionBank of the Philippines Inc. BDO earlier said they are currently processing the reimbursement of close to 700 clients affected by the recent online fraudulent transactions. “We have requested our clients to go to their branch of account and submit documentation to get the refund. The bank will shoulder the losses perpetuated by this cybercrime incident,” the bank said in a statement earlier this month. The bank also said they are “working closely” with the appropriate authorities and the BSP to

prevent further occurrence of the incident. Meanwhile, the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas (BSP) confirmed that they are forming a task force to investigate the recent cybercrime attack on one of the country’s biggest banks. “We are forming a task force composed of cyber and anti-money laundering specialists and legal officers to determine the root causes and possible control lapses involving the incident,” BSP Governor Benjamin E. Diokno told reporters last week. “Guided by relevant laws and regulations, penalties and/or sanctions may be imposed depending on results of the examination. I have instructed that recommendations should be submitted within 30 days,” Diokno added.

Taxumo accepting cryptocurrency in tax payments By Bernadette D. Nicolas @BNicolasBMs

NLINE tax filing and payment platform Taxumo Inc. has begun accepting cryptocurrency as a method of payment for tax dues in a bid to make it easier for Filipinos to comply with their tax duties. In partnership with payment solutions company Dragonpay Inc., Taxumo is also accepting cryptocurrency as a form of payment for subscription upgrades within its platform. Taxumo CEO Eugene Jose Arboleda said there is a growing community of Filipinos who are interested in cryptocurrencies and it has also become a promising way to invest and generate income.

As play-to-earn cryptocurrencybased game Axie Infinity became popular in the country, the Bureau of Internal Revenue (BIR) earlier reminded the public that gains from cryptocurrency are subject to tax. “This is a new development for us at Taxumo. But we expect that as the crypto community learns more about our new feature together with the pressure from the BIR on the community, we will see a rise of people using cryptocurrency to pay their taxes,” Arboleda told the BusinessMirror. Taxumo said cryptocurrency and decentralized finance have a lot of potential to become the main financial ecosystem that many people will operate in. “Given the introduction of Fili-

pinos via Axie Infinity’s Play-toEarn model, adoption is arguably a bit faster in our country than in others. If more Filipinos operate within that ecosystem, it only makes sense to bridge the gap and allow them to pay “real world dues,” taxes being foremost among them, via cryptocurrency as well. At the end of the day, we are enablers that turn the crypto payments into Fiat accepted by the government,” Arboleda said. Currently, this payment method is available for payment transactions that are less than P100,000. Once users check out on the Taxumo platform, they simply need to select “Cryptocurrency” as the preferred payment channel. Taxumo is now accepting cryptocurrencies, par-

ticularly Bitcoin, Ethereum or Tether as these three have high liquidity. Upon proceeding, the billing summary will show the peso amount to be billed and its equivalent amount in whichever cryptocurrency users will select. The conversion rate will be shown on the bottom of the screen, which is locked for 25 minutes and will not be affected with any page refresh as the session is retained. However, Taxumo said they are also looking into accepting other cryptocurrencies in the future. “It makes sense to add more cryptocurrencies in the future, particularly ones that have a higher adoption rate in the Philippines,” Arboleda said. “This is a field we are looking at very closely.”

PhilRatings gives highest rating to Converge bond By Lorenz S. Marasigan @lorenzmarasigan

HILIPPINE Ratings Services Corp. (PhilRatings) has granted Converge ICT Solutions Inc. with the highest credit rating for its planned maiden bond issuance worth P5 billion, with an oversubscription option of up to P5 billion. The domestic credit rating agency rated the bond issuance a “PRS Aaa” rating with stable outlook “due to the Internet provider’s

formidable position in the fixed broadband market following its spectacular growth in recent years and its strong cash flow that provided the company flexibility in its network rollout.” A stable outlook means the rating is likely to remain unchanged for the next twelve months. “Obligations rated ‘PRS Aaa’ are of the highest quality with minimal credit risk. The obligor’s capacity to meet its financial commitment on the obligation is extremely strong,” PhilRatings said in a report.

Converge CEO Dennis Anthony H. Uy said the fundraising activity will bankroll the company’s capital expenditures and its “massive expansion” programs, including attaining its goal of covering 55 percent of Philippine households by 2023. “We’re pleased that our prudent fiscal management, coupled with a strong operational performance, throughout the year has garnered us the highest credit grade from PhilRatings,” Uy said. Converge announced its intent

to issue Philippine-peso denominated fixed-rate bonds in the Philippine Dealing and Exchange Corp., an initial tranche of P5 billion, with an oversubscription option of another P 5 billion. The local bonds are expected to have a tenor of 5 years. For her part, Converge President Maria Grace Uy said gaining the seal of approval from Philratings signals that the company’s debt papers pose minimal credit risk. “Our strong liquidity and market position should give confidence to potential investors,” she said.

Banking pullback gives specialist funds chance

banking pullback is giving specialist funds the chance to plug part of the widening hole in commodity trade finance. A series of industry blow-ups has seen banks such as ABN Amro Bank NV, BNP Paribas SA and Societe Generale SA cut their role in financing the global trade in natural resources. Those lines of cheap credit are drying up as a surge in commodities from wheat to copper increases the need for loans. The trading meltdowns, culminating in the collapse of fuel oil trader Hin Leong Trading (Pte) Ltd. last year, are also accelerating the banks’ shift since 2008 to focus on the industry’s top tier, while smaller trading houses are squeezed. That’s providing an opportunity for funds, although for the moment their presence is just a fraction of the biggest banks, which can have exposure exceeding $20 billion. As traditional lenders withdraw, there’s been an increase in the range and quality of commodities traders seeking non-bank financing, according to Kristofer Tremaine, founder of London-based Kimura

Capital, which has underwritten billions of dollars of loans this year. “Since the liquidity dried up, we’re seeing household names,” he said. “On a risk-adjusted basis, we’re making better returns now than we were when we were just purely financing smaller companies.”

Demand to grow

DEMAND is set to grow, with the long-standing financing gap for global trade widening since the pandemic started. Asian Development Bank figures show a 15 percent increase in unmet demand for trade finance from 2018 to the end of 2020. The regulatory backdrop is also having an impact, with Basel III and the incoming Basel IV making commodity trade finance a less attractive business for banks. Smaller traders also became “unbankable” to some institutions as they shifted to serving the largest players since the global financial crisis, said Sammy Fong, chief executive officer of Asia Pacificfocused fund EASTvine Capital, which started up in 2018.

Funds have sensed an opportunity and are extending their offerings beyond the high-rate, high-risk end-to-end deals they traditionally specialized in. When Dutch asset manager NN Investment Partners started its Flex Trade Finance Fund late last year, it was looking to participate in the billion-dollar syndicated credit facilities favored by banks and large traders. “Historically trade finance funds have chased a lot of risk, aiming for double-digit returns on pretty exotic trades,” said Suresh Hegde, NNIP’s head of structured private debt. “Our strategy is very, very different. We’re chasing a lot less yield.” In light of recent defaults and litigation, partnerships with larger financial institutions offer greater security, said Hegde, who wants to expand NNIP’s fund by more than 12-fold to about $2 billion over the longer term.

Tightening practices

THE experiences of the past couple of years underline that funds seeking growth will also need to tighten

their credit practices with smaller clients, according to Eric Chen, business development manager at GUUD Finance, which manages a digital platform for corporate borrowers. “How a lot of people got hit was going unsecured on payables or receivables, but if you have direct security over the cargo and only release on payment; that is something where the opportunity for funds will lie,” Chen said. Still, he said the question remains whether funds, which typically charge higher interest rates, can play the same role as banks. “There’s for sure a financing gap for small and mid-size traders, but can that be filled by higher-cost finance funds?” said Chen. Kimura, which is eyeing further expansion after more than doubling its asset base this year, doubts whether funds can entirely fill the gap left by banks. “We’ll always be able to provide specialized finance and our investors will make money, but we’re not going to plug a multi trillion dollar hole in the market,” said Kimura founder Tremaine. Bloomberg News

www.businessmirror.com.ph

UnionDigital Bank eyes entry into NFT market By Rizal Raoul S. Reyes @brownindio

boitiz-led Union Bank of the Philippines Inc. (UnionBank) announced last week its entry next year in the market using non-fungible tokens (NFTs). During a virtual media roundtable last December 15, UnionDigital Bank Inc. CEO Ramon Vicente V. de Vera said UnionBank’s digital lender has kept a keen interest on NFTs. With around 250 financial technology companies (fintechs) currently operating in the country, de Vera said the market is ready to accept this blockchain-based technology. Stored on a blockchain, an NFT is a non-interchangeable unit and a form of digital ledger. Nowadays, NFTs are popularly associated with reproducible digital files such as photos, videos and audio. Through its digital ledger, NFTs provide a public certificate of authenticity or proof of ownership. Moreover, de Vera cited a bright prospect for cryptocurrency in the country with 4.36 million owners. “We are also the top in the socialmedia usage in the world six years in a row,” he added. “The Philippines is also number one in Internet usage in the world averaging 10 hours and 56 minutes per day.” Unionbank Senior Executive Vice President Henry Rhoel R. Aguda said the bank is currently partnering with a non-government organization in the usage of NFT selling artworks in the market.

Underserved sectors

AGUDA, also the lender’s chief technology and operations officer and chief transformation officer, said UnionBank’s digital transformation journey has enabled the bank to weather the challenges brought by Covid-19. “The pandemic created this shift to digital, which we now refer to as the ‘new digital normal.’ We changed the way we live, the way we travel,

the way we interact with one another and, basically, we’ve changed forever in terms of how we transact in the financial sector,” he said. To note, Unionbank is the only publicly-listed Philippine bank to be granted a license to operate a digitalnative bank. According to de Vera, they will focus on delivering banking and financial services to underserved sectors. “While UnionDigital aims to empower the country’s digital economy, we also aim to elevate it by bringing trust and governance into the space,” de Vera said. “We embrace innovation like a fintech, but offer all the powers, experience and track record of a fully-regulated bank.”

Plans, promises

DE Vera said they will ensure that customers “have what they need in terms of security, compliance with regulation and proper governance.” De Vera issued this statement days after a Unionbank account named to a certain “Mark Nagoyo” received funds from hacked-accounts of BDO Unibank Inc. Aguda said UnionBank will launch several new solutions aimed at helping workers in the thriving gig economy. He added the bank will participate in the growing interest and opportunities relating to the metaverse. UnionBank Chief Marketing Officer Albert Raymond C. Cuadrante promised the bank “will continue to do even better” in 2022 in terms of delivering “great customer experience across channels and platforms.” He also reiterated that “UnionBank’s goal is not just to help people survive, but to actually enable them to thrive in this new environment through the latest financial technologies. Unionbank’s stock price opened strong at P104 on December 15 after closing at P103.90 the day before. The stock marked a trading volume of 80,640 and settled lower at P103 at the closing of trade last December 15.

Moneybees offers OTC crypto trading services By Roderick Abad

@rodrik_28

Contributor

OMEGROWN cryptocurrency exchange company Moneybees Forex Corp. has pioneered over-the-counter services (OTC) to cater to a growing number of people interested in trading digital currency and yet worried of its risks. Its seven outlets offers face-toface concierge-like services where trained staff answer customers’ questions, show them how to transact online and offline and even convert their digital money into actual physical cash, or vice-versa. These branches are located in major malls as well as luxury hotels. “Moneybees makes exchanging Philippine peso to crypto and viceversa easier for Filipinos by making the steps more familiar,” Moneybees CEO Paulo Roberto del Puerto said. The firm has tied up with established moneychangers, remittance agents and pawnshops that have been doing business in the industry for decades and are duly-licensed and supervised by the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas. “We’ve partnered with establishments that most Filipinos are familiar and find comfortable to transact with. Imagine buying and selling crypto just like you are exchanging a foreign currency like USD [US dollar] to Philippine peso in a physical moneychanger. Aside from the assurance of having a real person to transact with, you have the peace of mind knowing that if something goes wrong with the transaction, you can always go back to the establishment,” del Puerto explained. Moneybees supports most cryptocurrency wallets and exchanges, such

as Binance, Ronin, Bitmex, Paxful and Trust, among others, enabling crypto users to directly exchange their digital currency into Philippine peso or vice versa. “Through our own Online Trading Desk, people can buy and sell crypto with us through chat applications. In this method, customers are also talking to real people and we assign a whole team to help each customer with their transaction. This team is available to them whenever they want to transact, from Monday to Sunday, from 7 a.m. to 12 a.m.,” the CEO added. Unlike other local online cryptocurrency exchanges that have charges and strict and lower daily transaction limits; Moneybees accommodates huge transaction volumes, from P1,000 up to P5 million, free of any transaction fees, according to del Puerto. Trading gaming currencies is also possible with this digital money exchanger. An Axie Infinity game player, for instance, can visit any of its outlets and sell the SLP crypto currency stored in their Ronin wallet for pesos directly. They then receive their pesos in cash, or through their bank account or e-wallet. Another way is to click on the Moneybees portal and sell their SLP through the Trading Desk using their preferred chat application. “Buying and selling with Moneybees is a much simpler process. If you are buying and selling BTC, ETH, AXS, SLP, or other crypto coins, you can simply send your pesos to Moneybees and then receive your cryptocurrency directly into your preferred crypto wallet and vice-versa,” del Puerto said. Moneybees plans to open 100 more outlets in major regions like Cebu, Davao, Baguio, Iloilo, Naga and Bicol.

Image BusinessMirror

www.businessmirror.com.ph

Editor: Gerard S. Ramos

• Wednesday, December 22, 2021

Rebuilding workplace culture PHOTO BY CHRISTINA @ WOCINTECHCHAT. COM ON UNSPLASH

hether all your employees work from home, report to the office daily, or a combination of both, your organizational culture will determine whether your employees will be productive and efficient, or find ways to avoid doing work altogether. What has been effective pre-pandemic might not be as useful now that your employees have experienced how it is to work from home. Given these changes in the workplace, how do you rebuild the culture you envision for your organization? Start with what your people valued the most during the pandemic and leverage on those by incorporating work practices that echo their needs. Your employees should be at the center of your culture-building efforts, and it would be beneficial for you to align their values with your organization’s goals. encourage work practices that help employees become productive and efficient, and find ways to curb those that detract from your goals. Before implementing any cultural change in the workplace, you need to listen to your people and understand their values. In aligning the core value and the vision and mission of the organization to the culture that you envision, anticipate that other people will fall away. this is expected if you want to remain true to what your organization stands for. If done right, people would adjust willingly to align themselves with the organization’s goals. Otherwise, they will always look for a reason to leave, so be prepared to accept that not everyone will align themselves with the organization. to attract and retain the right talent, create a lighthouse identity. In Adam Morgan’s book Eating the Big Fish: How Challenger Brands Can Compete Against Brand Leaders, he defined lighthouse identity as a projection of a distinct and focused perspective to customers such that they notice the organization even if they do not intend to. having a clear understanding of what you provide to customers can help greatly in sharpening your strategy, and makes it easier for your employees to rally behind your purpose. You also need to check for communication loopholes to ensure transparency and easy access to the management’s vision for the organization. For big organizations where access to the executive team is limited, the communications team can create and consistently update knowledge channels for information on management direction, or tap interest groups for easy information dissemination. there are several communication channels you can tap to provide information to people in your organization, but the best way is always by word-of-mouth. When people understand your organization’s objectives and culture, they will tell it not just to co-workers but also to their family and friends.

People also need to understand their role in the entire organization and how they contribute to the overall achievement of its goals. When people know this, they will find purpose in what they are doing and become better engaged. It is difficult to identify indicators that tell if people feel that they belong to the organization, but you can start by looking at pantry conversations, your team’s membership in interest groups, laughter in your department, and other informal metrics. You also need to understand that technology is an enabler, and your organization should capitalize on existing technology to help your people work smarter and more efficiently. there is a disconnect if you invest in technology for remote working when you require your people to report daily to the office. technology should be used to further improve the culture in the workplace, and not to be applied for its own sake. tap the culture-builders in your organization. these are people who may not have formal positions but are respected and followed by your employees. these are people who know who to call in other departments for help, maintain good relations with people they work with, and are natural leaders because of how they draw people to themselves. tapping them can help increase culture-building and provide a model for others to follow. Understand also that performance and learning are dependent on each other. If you do not train your people, they will not improve. training comes in many forms and is not limited to classroom discussions or online modules. Mentoring programs and cross-functional internships can help managers have a better understanding and appreciation for

other departments in the organization. having mentors in the organization also ensures that the next generation of employees understand the core values of the organization and how the vision came to be. this way, you sustain the culture for the next generation of leaders in your organization. But take note also that this does not mean the organization should be unbending. If there is one thing this pandemic has taught organizations, it is to react quickly and adapt swiftly to changes. A significant consideration that management needs to incorporate in workplace culture is how people decide. there are organizations that empower their employees to decide within a certain amount just as long as it contributes to the improvement of customer experience. On the other hand, there are organizations that require all decisions to go through the manager. either way, organizations need to decide which one they want to adapt. Also, take a good look at yourself and ask if there are things you do or say which hinder the development of the culture you want. Sometimes, it is easier to plan and strategize for what is ideal but then get lost in implementation because you do not see how your actions go against the culture you want. Get the opinion of friends or trusted colleagues so you can correct as necessary. Lastly, be patient with results. Culture does not happen overnight, but it would help if you identify behaviors that indicate your organization is getting closer to its envisioned culture. this will also help you adjust your methods to get closer to your target culture. In the end, people will do what they need to do even with minimal supervision when they understand what is expected of them. n

Smartphone brand, foodie hub partner to satisfy holiday cravings the most wonderful time of the year is here, and of course with the season comes gatherings and reunions for families and friends. to make these occasions sweeter and more joyful, we are always looking for good food to share with our loved ones, as we create lasting memories of these fun celebrations. this season, top smartphone brand OPPO has exciting limited-time-only food treats exclusive for users. In partnership with one of the biggest food communities in the Philippines, Let’s eat Pare, OPPO offers loyal users exclusive discounts to the best treats around the metro from 10 food merchants curated by Let’s eat Pare. Offers can be redeemed through the MyOPPO app. how about enjoying a family favorite plus a P20 savings on a delicious whole spring chicken and two dips from Chicken Stop. In the mood for burgers? Buy any flavor of two chicken sliders from Manok Ph for only P250. Stay warm during the so-called ‘ber months with this Ala eh! Special Lomi promo: buy one Special Lomi and get the second at 50-percent off. And when nothing says “home for Christmas” like a Pinoy-style breakfast, buy two packs of Brunchmate Beef tapa and get a free 150mL bottle of Casa Lontoc Spiced Vinegar—the perfect combo for a classic meal. For an extra kick, top your meals with homemade sarsa, atchara and best-selling taba ng talangka from Puro. Buy P1,000 worth of goods and get a free bottle of Puro Sarsang Kamatis. Add color to celebrations as well with a selection of juices, teas, cocktails and more from Prism Cafe. OPPO users get 10-percenter off on their total bill, plus a free order of Croissant taiyaki with any flavor of your choice. Perfect for online celebrations, spoil loved ones

APPLE pie and mango ensaymadas from Lulu.

with snacks galore: get one frozen or ready-to-eat Disney Style Mozzarella Corn Dogs from Starr’s, and enjoy another one for free. Send extra sweetness to loved ones, with Bake On offering 5-percent off on the total bill so that guests can also avail of their best-selling revel bars, cookies, banana bread and more. Celebrate Christmas in style with Aby’s

HOMEMADE goodness from Puro.

homemade, which offers 5-percent off on their best-selling Baby Burnt Basque Cheesecakes. And for only P530, consumers can avail of Lulu’s 6” apple pie and a box of two-piece mango ensaymada, perfect for breakfast and dessert. these exclusive rewards care available until December 31. More information can be found at www. oppo.com/ph.

TELEHEALTH HELPS IN PANDEMIC, CONCERNS LINGER WASHINGTON—Most older Americans have had to use telehealth during the Covid-19 pandemic and many were comfortable with it, but a new poll finds persistent concerns about issues like technology, the quality of care and patient privacy. Comfort levels with remote care can vary depending on factors like age, income level or race, according to the survey from The Associated Press-NORC Center for Public Affairs Research. Doctors, hospitals and other care providers had to cancel visits and surgeries and abruptly switch to remote care as the pandemic unfolded in early 2020. Many patients followed their doctors online and have continued to get care that way as coronavirus cases ebbed and flowed in subsequent waves. Telehealth involves patients and care providers connecting remotely through computers, tablets or phones. They often use video calls but also can trade e-mails or secure text messages. Sometimes both parties just talk on the phone without video. Since the pandemic started, 62 percent of adults age 50 and older have used some form of telehealth, the AP-NORC poll found. Patients most frequently used telehealth for consultations on medications, non-urgent health concerns, wellness checks or to continue with ongoing care to manage a chronic condition like diabetes. The ease of finding an appointment or meeting a specific provider and the chance to get an immediate response were the most common reasons respondents opted for telehealth. Roughly a third said each was a major factor and another third called them minor factors. A majority also cited avoiding Covid-19 exposure as a major or minor reason for seeking care through telehealth, with about a quarter calling it a major reason. Rosa Bivens became a remote care convert during the pandemic partly because it helped her avoid the virus. The 59-year-old Bivens also likes how telehealth allows her to stay connected to her doctor in Maryland while she’s on a temporary work assignment in Germany. Bivens is a military family life counselor, and she says her doctor back home understands the stress she faces in her job and how it affects her health. “That personal relationship is important to me,” she said. The poll found that those who received care through telehealth were generally comfortable with it. Roughly 6 in 10 said they were at least somewhat likely to seek such remote care after the pandemic ends. But many concerns remain. Chief among them is worry about receiving care that is not as effective as an in-person visit. Roughly two-thirds of older adults said they were at least somewhat concerned with that. Many also have some worry about not having a personal relationship with a doctor, running into information security or technical problems, and a lack of privacy. Judy Ostrom, for instance, didn’t use remote care during the pandemic and has no plans to start. “You don’t know who’s walking in and out of the room where the doctor is,” the 60-year-old resident of La Pine, Oregon, said. “I love my family, but sometimes you want your conversation with your doctor to be confidential.” Education about telehealth and a growing familiarity with the practice can help alleviate some of the lingering concerns patients have, according to Mei Kwong, executive director for the Center for Connected Health Policy. Kwong’s California-based nonprofit researches and promotes the use of virtual technology in health care. She noted that once the pandemic started, the clinics and hospitals that were most successful in converting patients to remote care took the time to explain it and even do test runs before people made actual visits. But Kwong, who was not connected to the AP-NORC poll, noted that this sort of education wasn’t widespread. “Prior to the pandemic, telehealth was very niche,” she said. “Then when the pandemic hit, [patients] were just basically slapped in the face with it. Nobody really explained what it was.” AP

B6 Wednesday, December 22, 2021

Destileria Limtuaco makes antibacterial hand soap from Calamansi and Dalandan Liqueur by-product

Your last chance: Grab more turbocharged Car-Regalos from Hyundai

YUNDAI’S once-in-a-lifetime CAR-REGALO deals are extended till December 31, 2021, with more prizes at stake. Drive home a Hyundai Veloster, and get a chance to drive away with another one for free. Join the country’s exclusive community of speedsters with an appetite for performance and unconventional style: The HYUNDAI VELOSTER is a head turner and deserves a second, closer look. Its asymmetrical threedoor layout makes for hassle-free entry for rear passengers. Inside, it’s surprisingly roomier unlike most cars of its class. It doesn’t only look like a sports car. It drives like one, too. The 1.6L GDI engine (Turbocharged-Gasoline Direct Injection) mated with 7-Speed Dual Clutch Transmission cranks out up to 204 horsepower while giving you up to 11.4 km/L of fuel savings (for city driving) and 18.5 km/L (for highway driving). It’s loaded with the latest technology in car entertainment and connectivity—Radio + RDS with 8" INT Display, Bluetooth with Voice Recognition, Wireless Smartphone Charger. And it’s consistently cited among the Top Safety Picks of the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS). The IIHS rating for the American car market includes: a). crashworthiness, or how well a vehicle protects occupants in a crash; and b). crash avoidance and mitigation, or technology that prevents or lessens the severity of a crash.

Here’s how:

CAR-REGALO 2 LOW DP P359,600* CAR-REGALO 3 LOW MONTHLY P22,478* *Veloster 1.6 T-GDi GLS 7DCT It gets better. You still get a chance to win by grabbing any of these easy and flexible Car-Regalo deals. ON THE Hyundai Tucson, Reina, Accent, H100: Zero DP + Free Amortization, or Low Down payment, or Low Monthly Payment. On the Hyundai Grand Starex, Kona, Venue, Ioniq: Low down payment or Low Monthly Payment. Your choice! Every purchase qualifies you to enter the exclusive year-end raffle draw. Here are other fab prizes at stake: For one (1) lucky winner: one (1) year of FREE Shell Fuel worth Php25,000, and

for ten (10) lucky winners: one (1) Shell V-power set each (1 Umbrella, 1 Car Shade, 1 Car Charger). ‘Tis the season of cool deals and you don’t want to miss out on this one. Get your Car-Regalo from Hyundai now! Raffle draw is on January 7, 2022. The winner will be announced on January 14, 2022 on Hyundai.ph, Hyundai Philippines on FB, and the Hyundai Dealership’s FB page. Per DTI Fair Trade Permit No. FTEB129077 Series of 2021. See posters and announcements on www.hyundai.ph and www.facebook. com/hyundaiph for the complete promo mechanics. Visit www.hyundai.ph to learn more about Hyundai’s passenger cars. Request for a quote or apply for an auto loan through the Hyundai Online Market Experience (HOMEPage) at www. hyundai.ph/shop/HOME

SI ANTIBACTERIAL Liquid Hand Soap (Calamansi and Dalandan variants) the fruit pulp exfoliates dead skin, removes dirt and lightens the dark spots & other impurities. SI Antibacterial Liquid Hand Soap is available online through the Destileria Limtuaco and Co., Inc.’s e-store at www. liquorexpress.ph and Shopee. It is also available in leading drugstores and supermarkets. Unimart and Pioneer Center Supermarket. Manille Liqueur de Calamansi and Dalandan are available in 750ml bottles(with tin canister option) and new 500ml and 50ml sizes are also available online at www. liquorexpress.ph. Destileria Limtuaco and Co., Inc., now on its 169th year, has enjoyed loyal following due to its product quality, taste, aroma and smoothness as proof of master blending expertise, technical innovation. It is a 1997 Centennial Awardee of the Philippine Department of Trade and Industry where it was confirmed to be not only the oldest distillery in the country but also the oldest manufacturing company in the Philippines.

‘Joy in The Air’: Aircraft pilot chronicles personal tales of adventure vis-à-vis events in PH aviation history

Food items that you want to eat and send as a gift

OODPANDA introduces exclusive food & beverage brands that will keep you merry & bright. A holiday or any special occasion calls for indulgence and delights that will make family and friends feel loved. But if you opt to stay safe at home but still celebrate the most wonderful time of the year merry and bright, foodpanda has exclusive restaurants where you can order your heart desires this Holiday Season. Fish and chips cooked the right way? Featuring fish and taco meals and Limited Time Only Christmas Menu that is perfect for 3 to 4, golden brown fish sandwiches, fish paired with chicken and fries, Hooked and Cooked packs a serious crunch for your upcoming gettogether at home. Everyone loves a good ‘ol fried chicken that’s freshly cooked, crispy, and juicy. With Jackson’s Fried Chicken, you will also enjoy chicken cooked in a variety of ways from wraps, sandwiches, noodles, or rice. Filling and satisfying,

HE country’s oldest distillery recently announced its latest addition to its essential product line after it launched Consumer Protect 70% Ethyl Alcohol-anti bacterial sanitizer at the start of the Covid-19 ECQ late March last year. SI Antibacterial Liquid Hand Soap (Calamansi and Dalandan variants) is made with the by-product of the country’s premium Philippine craft spirits Manille liqueur de Calamanis and Dalandan. The production process of Manille Liqueur advocates sustainable manufacturing and upcycling initiatives. As part of the company’s thrust to help preserve the environment and reduce its carbon footprint, we developed a line of anti-bacterial hand soap using the by-products from the production of Manille Liqueur de Calamansi and Manille Liqueur de Dalandan. The calamansi and dalandan rinds, seeds, juice, and the mesocarp/endocarp of the fruits are ground into a citrus “mud” and transformed into a natural by-product. This Calamansi and Dalandan mud is used as the essential active ingredients to create “SI Antibacterial Liquid Hand Soap” with Natural Calamansi (Philippine Lemon) and Dalandan (Philippine Orange). Since Manille Liqueur de Calamansi was launched by Destileria Limtuaco & Co., Inc. in 2014, the brand has always championed the Philippines. From the unique zesty freshness of calamansi and dalandan in vodka base, to the packaging concept with Filipino design elements of floral embroidery and callado design that you would find in a barong Tagalog, Manille Liqueur boasts a distinct taste, look and feel that matches the brand’s identity of the best Filipino experience in a bottle. The natural active ingredients from the calamansi and dalandan by-product have whitening and antiseptic properties while

Jackson’s is the ultimate fried chicken experience that you’re waiting for. A potluck meal doesn’t have to look last-minute. Pasteria’s menu includes limited-time offer party trays with wholesome options like Aglio Olio, Shrimp Alla Spicy Marinara, Garlic Butter Shitake, and Shitake Ala King! Aside from they’re beyond flavorful, these party trays are currently on discount, which means you can take advantage of sending an effortless yet tasty meal in minutes! Relish the Holiday Season with Urbanica’s limited-edition drinks, Chocolate Matcha Milk Coffee, and Chocolate Strawberry Milk Coffee. With these luscious seasonal flavors, this unique take on iced coffee is a cozy and comforting surprise gift to all the coffee lovers on your list. Give in to your milk tea cravings and treat yourself with the rich and creamy goodness of Wantea’s special blended drinks: Ghirardelli Strawberry Mousse and Ghirardelli Salted Caramel. These

luscious pick-me-uppers are also guaranteed to put the receiver into a holiday spirit at first sip. Enjoy ice cream in a whole new light with Puro’s artisanal flavors like honeycomb and funky malty. And whether you’re in the team smooth or chunky, there’s a pick in here for you, or your someone special. With foodpanda, you can also take advantage of ordering healthy, hearty, and thoughtful food gifts from other exclusive brands like Noah’s Kitchen, K-Bite’s, Simot, Faasos, IHOP, and Applebees. Much more, for every order throughout December, you can include a Christmas card for free so you can send food gifts with a personal touch and send the same delicious experience to your loved ones. "In this season of giving, foodpanda welcomes all of you to share your joy & blessings with those near and dear, we have a line up of curated brands with offerings that specially cater to the palate of the Philippines. Send a treat, a gift or a feast by way of one of our foodpanda exclusive brands on the foodpanda app," said Karan Bhaskar, Director of New Verticals, foodpanda Philippines. "Give love on Christmas Day! But why wait for Christmas day when we can give love everyday this season. Food is like a hug in a box that we can easily and so conveniently share though various options in the foodpanda platform, we have special menu items prepared for gifting! We will attach the gift tag for you too! So send some love away and order now," said Namee J. Sunico, Head of Kitchens and Concepts, foodpanda Philippines. No need to panic about the Holiday rush as foodpanda riders will take care of all the work from last-minute gifts, your family feast at home, or simply surprising someone who’s far from you, foodpanda has got you covered.

ILOT and TV Host Capt. Jose Mari “Joy” Roa of the flying-adventure program Asian Air Safari writes his first book entitled, “Joy in the Air,” a first-hand account of his one-of-a-kind life journey. Capt. Joy Roa’s path to aviation has not been “calm air and blue skies” all the way. After his very first plane crash-landed on its maiden test flight, he would bounce back from waves of setbacks that would have disheartened fainter hearts. More than just a string of aviation tales – told with a mix of candor and selfdeprecating humor – the 25 chapters of this book trace Capt. Joy’s growth in multiple fronts, beginning in 1977, when his aviation career began. On the most basic level, the narrative describes how a somewhat mischievous young man—bored and in search of direction— stumbled onto his identity after he shifted from motorcycles to airplanes. Not wanting to be boxed in as a pilot, he grabbed charter opportunities, hunted warbirds, and gained proficiency in diverse aircraft, including hot air balloons, floatplanes, turbo props, jets, and helicopters. Blazing trails as an aviation entrepreneur, he set up Air Ads, Inc. and diversified into hangaring; pilotage contracts; aircraft trading, management, insurance support,

and restoration; commuter services, and managing big events like the annual Philippine International Hot Air Balloon Fiesta. Always seeking fun, he organized weekend fly-ins with aviator friends from the Philippines, Japan, Thailand, and Hong Kong—frequenting Boracay, Amanpulo, and El Nido, long before these became popular destinations. As all of these take place, he reflects on the events and changes that shaped the Philippine aviation industry over the years. This volume pauses in 2005, the year Capt. Joy turned 50 and launched the TV show, Asian Air Safari. At that point, by his own admission, he could not lay claim to financial success. His true wealth lay in friendships, networks, shared experiences, and precious lessons learned—in life, in flying, and in business. Filled with aviation photographs collected over the span of 30 years, and chockfull of adventures and misadventures from the Philippines’ far-flung islands to big cities like New York, Tokyo, Paris, and Milan, as well as unexplored places like Sepilok (Malaysia), Lubbock (Texas), Whitehorse (Canada), and Kiev (Ukraine), “Joy in the Air” is a thrilling read for aviators and non-aviators alike. For more information, send an email to: info@asianairsafari.com.

BusinessMirror

Editor: Tet Andolong

Wednesday, December 22, 2021 B7

Millennials observe importance

of investing in real estate By Rizal Raoul S. Reyes @brownindio

UST like the ordinary Juan, Filipino millennials would always prefer to own their residential property rather than rent if they can afford it.

Nevertheless, Kash Salvador, head of Investment and Capital Markets of Santos Knight Frank (SKF) told the BusinessMirror in an interview their decisions in acquiring a property is also driven by supply. “While having a house and lot to live in is ideal, this type of residential real estate also tends to be beyond their budget, if not located far away from central business districts where they work,” Salvador said. The comfortable, accessible and convenient amenities offered by condominium properties have attracted a lot of millennials to invest in real estate. Salvador said financing is one of the main challenges millennials are facing in investing in property. While providing low down payment programs helps, Salvador said millennials will also realize long-term financing prospects for their property and will value liquidity —something that buyers have realized during an economically distressing period such as the pandemic. Like many other demographic segments, the pandemic has changed preferences of millennials in acquiring property. Salvador said the pandemic has underscored the importance of low density space, which has encouraged millennial buyers—especially starting families— to get their own places. Moreover, the emergence of the work-from-home setup is also changing preferences of millennials with regards to property. Salvador said the launching of the real-estate investment trust (REITs) in the market have given millennials additional investment vehicles where they can start putting in capital and work their way up to acquire much larger assets. On his part, Aashish Sharma, senior director of Decision Management Solutions for Fair Isaac Corp. (FICO) in Asia Pacific pointed out that lenders need to study the digital journeys undertaken by customers to access their products and make them better, by reducing the paperwork in their chosen online channel. Sharma said companies must focus on providing digital services at it has been the dominant platform during the pandemic. “Many young Filipinos, and indeed

millennials around the world, became interested in investing in stocks, real estate and cryptocurrencies as they found themselves with plenty of extra time and enforced savings due to lockdowns and travel restrictions,” Sharma told the BusinessMirror in an e-mail interview. For banks and financial technology companies (fintechs), Sharma said FICO can allow organizations to respond and review new market trends very quickly. In fact, Sharma said business-users at the lenders can change offers, risk settings and credit policies in minutes rather than the days or weeks compared to IT and new coding. In 2020, Sharma recalled FICO’s platform was used to deliver a 60-minute mortgage experience in Singapore for regional bank OCBC. This innovation allowed investors to transact even when face-to-face meetings could not take place. “In 2022, we see more of this type of innovation being rolled out across Asia with banks offering mortgages, personal loans, auto loans, credit cards and more using the latest digital channels and technology,” Sharma said.

Bria boasts eco-friendly open spaces, play areas, multipurpose halls, jogging paths and covered courts.

Banking on the millennials Bria Homes observed that young professionals are investing for their future. It was quite different before the pandemic as millennials splurged their earnings on gadgets, weekend parties, and big-ticket items like cars and travel. Red Rosales, president of Bria Homes, told the BusinessMirror in an email interview the lockdowns and quarantine restrictions put a halt on all that. This led millennials to gain a new appreciation for the need for a safe haven. He said millennials realized that the changing living situations were pushing them to buy property as an upgrade from renting or crashing at their parents’ homes. “As a result, a growing number of young Filipinos, looking at the pandemic as a wake-up call, are now taking more interest in the real-estate market,” Rosales said. Responding to this positive trend, Bria Homes continues to expand its portfolio of vertical and horizontal proper-

Millennials will find in Bria Homes the idyllic setting for remote work and learning.

ties. With flexible work arrangements and online learning seen as a long-haul set-up, Rosales is confident millennials will consider cleverly laid-out, welldesigned Bria condominium units as value-for-money homes they can invest in because of their expected appreciation over the years. He said the young potential homeowners will appreciate the integrated features

of Bria’s residential projects because these are likely to prove handy and convenient for them, post-lockdown. Aside from the vibrant communities, Rosales also pointed out that millennials will find in Bria Homes a holistic and sustainable lifestyle and the idyllic setting for remote work and learning. “With Bria’s full transition to the digital space, productivity in both platforms is

ensured,” he said. In their pursuit of an active lifestyle, Bria has provided recreational amenities for work-life balance such as eco-friendly open spaces, play areas, multipurpose halls, jogging paths and covered courts. “Our community designs meet, and even exceed, Filipino millennials’ new standards of liv ing, post-pandemic. Whether in our horizontal developments or our vertical villages, we have the spaces and features that young Filipino residents need for a truly productive life,” Rosales shared. For millennials who value access to key lifestyle destinations, Rosales said all Bria communities were developed within convenient distance to retail establishments, schools, churches, hospitals, government agencies, offices, and banks. As for professionals or entrepreneurs who need to commute or drive every day, Bria projects are also close to major road networks and highways. All Bria developments are adequately secured, solar lighting at night, perimeter fences, and 24/7 CCTV coverage and 24/7 digital customer relations management. Bria Homes urged more millennials to channel their risk-taking capabilities to real-estate investments. “We at Bria Homes assure our young generation that we will continue to expand and upgrade our developments to meet their housing needs and make Bria their perfect postpandemic home.”

Filinvest sees stronger real-estate industry after pandemic

By Roderick L. Abad

DIFFERENT real-estate industry—one that will find a way to rise amid all the challenges and come out more resilient than ever—will emerge in the “next normal,” according to Filinvest. The company’s officers shared this sentiment with other industry experts during the recent Asia CEO Real Estate Forum, which explored how the entire property sector navigated the worst of the Covid-19 crisis, as well as the new market trends and consumer behaviors after the pandemic. “With the survival experience acquired during the last 21 months, we now find ourselves more prepared and capable of sustaining business growth,” said Tristan Las Marias,

executive vice president and chief strategy officer of Filinvest Land Inc. (FLI). At FLI, for instance, he cited that working together helped them become stronger and their employee’s sense of family made the tough days feel easier. He noted that the ensuing health crisis is so far the biggest predicament that the Filinvest has faced and overcome in its 66 years in the business—thanks to its diversification strategies and financial prudence. The group’s equal geographical presence was a vital strategic factor to recover faster. Per Las Marias, they can brace and get through the next disruption through technology and people. Meanwhile, Filinvest REIT Corp. (FILRT) President and Chief Executive Officer (CEO) Maricel Brion-

Lirio discussed how companies like FILRT have already embraced a more human-centric approach in confronting the ill effects of the pandemic, as well as the importance of gaining locator confidence, among others. “To continue the steady pace of recovery, especially in the realestate industry, it is important to gain back the confidence of global locators. We must also aggressively pursue sustainable green and digital initiatives, so we can ensure the business longevity of all stakeholders. The key in gaining locator confidence is by crafting a solid strategy that highlights the key strengths of the facility which our office buildings in FILRT have,” she said. For James Montenegro, country manager of Chroma Hospitality, which operates the group’s hotel brands like Crimson Hotels and

Resorts + Quest Hotels, they had to learn how to recalibrate, recover, and rebuild during the pandemic. “We saw the challenges we went through as opportunities to push ourselves further and learn more about our guests, their needs, and the best ways we can keep them safe. It was during these hard times that we truly got to live out our company slogan—Driven Hospitality, which we achieved by working and rising together,” he said. Reflecting on today’s situation, FLI Chief Sales and Marketing Officer Vince Abejo cited this period as a “test of resilience, leadership, and community.” “Almost two years after the Covid-19 first hit our country, the story is now different. We, at Filinvest, are definitely more optimistic about the near future. The narrative is flushed

with anecdotes of business rebound as more people are traveling and mobility has returned and is slowly stirring economic activities,” he noted. Bullish on what lies ahead of the industry, Filinvest President and CEO Josephine Gotianun Yap underscored that developers must infuse the concept of sustainability in whatever undertakings they have henceforward. “We started our sustainable business back in 2017 when sustainability wasn’t such big of a buzzword as it is today. But I felt it was the right way to go. The real sustainability projects that companies should go into are the ones that make financial sense, so it’s a win-win situation for all shareholders. We are optimistic about the future of real estate in the country in 2022 and the coming years,” she stressed.

BBM-Sara UniTeam eyes sports to save children in Mindanao

LARMED by reports that some 1.8 million youth in Mindanao are severely affected by the continuing unrest in the region, the BBM-Sara UniTeam said it will ramp up sports programs and other productive activities to keep children from violence and develop new athletes who would bring honors to the country. Presidential aspirant Bongbong Marcos and Vice Presidential bet Davao City Mayor Inday Sara Duterte were reacting to a report by Save the Children Philippines, which says that in 2019 some 1.8 million young people from Mindanao were severely affected by the unrest in the strife-torn region. The report added that many young people were injured, sickened and suffered psychological stress as a result of the conflicts, even as many of them were learning how to use guns at a very young age. This developed as the BBMSara UniTeam encouraged Mindanao’s young people to redirect their attention and be active participants in sports development, physical fitness, social and cultural programs. The tandem is convinced that the region can be a rich source of worldclass athletes who only need to be motivated and properly trained for them to follow the likes of Hidilyn Diaz, Nesthy Petecio, Carlo Paalam, and Eumir Marcial, who all brought honors to the country in last year’s Tokyo Olympics, all of whom are from Mindanao. “We believe that to achieve peace in Mindanao, we have to provide the youth the opportunity to engage in sports and other similar activities so they can be inspired and have a direction in life,” the BBM-Sara UniTeam said. According to the BBM-Sara UniTeam, in conjunction with the peace and order programs being undertaken by the government, the projects for impacted youngsters should be organized in order to focus their attention on constructive activities. “Side by side with peace and order, there must be a program for the youth who are adversely affected by the Mindanao conflict,” the BBMSara UniTeam said. “It’s alarming to know that these kids already know how to handle a firearm—that’s where sports should come in.” “Sports and education are the key,” the tandem added. The BBM-Sara UniTeam also stated that it will create a super body exclusively dedicated to boosting grassroots sports programs in Mindanao, as well as building sports facilities such as basketball courts, soccer fields and gymnasiums.

Sports

TSUKII, LIM IN GOLD MEDAL PLAY

BusinessMirror

| Wednesday, December 22, 2021 mirror_sports@yahoo.com.ph Editor: Jun Lomibao

MERALCO-TNT SHOWDOWN AT BIG DOME M

ERALCO takes on TNT Tropang Giga in an expectedly explosive showdown in the Philippine Basketball Association (PBA) Governors’ Cup on Wednesday at the Smart Araneta Coliseum. Defense, according to Meralco coach Norman Black, is his primary concern especially against two of the Tropang Giga’s shortest players—veteran Jayson Castro and explosive rookie Mikey Williams—who keyed their team’s success in the Philippine Cup. “We have to slow down their two man game because Jason [Castro] and Mikey [Williams] create a lot of offense off pick and rolls and dribble drives,” Black said, adding they also need to be cautious of their turnovers because the Tropang Giga’s fast-paced game could work wonders for them. “It’s important that we take care of the ball and limit our turnovers because they are good at scoring off turnover points,” Black added. The match is set at 6 p.m. with the fans welcome to watch at discounted ticket prices at the Big Dome. Meralco import Tony Bishop had a grand debut in the Bolts’ 98-77 rout of the Blackwater Bossing last week. He posted 28 points on 11-of-20 shooting from the field and had 13 rebounds, two steals and three blocks in 38 minutes of action. Now, Bishop’s hunger and winning mentality will be tested anew, but this time against a champion team. “All I can do is to come and play hard every game. I knew the goal of this team even before I came in and its present goal,” Bishop said. “I’m going to give it my all each game and try to win a championship.” He is also prepared himself for a defensive war against TNT. “I can play inside and outside, I am versatile. I can Guard 1 to 5 positions. I run the floor too,” he added. A few days after they bounced back from an opening defeat to the Alaska Aces, 81-77, the Tropang Giga

BARANGAY Ginebra San Miguel’s Arvin Tolentino, seen here in action against Phoenix Super LPG’s Jason Perkins—is named the Player of the Week.

(1-1 win-loss) are hoping to end their lethargic showing in three games. “We have to be patient and try to keep going to find ways,” said TNT Coach Chot Reyes, who drew 20 points from Castro against Alaska but settled for the crumbs with 13 points on 3-of-12 shooting from the field with four rebounds from reinforcement McKenzie Moore. Alaska (2-2) tries to break a twogame slump after a 2-0 start when it squares off with winless Blackwater (0-4) at 3 p.m. The Bossing are hoping to end a 23-game losing streak that started in the lone Philippine Cup in pandemic year 2020. Blackwater’s players Jayvee Casio, Baser Amer, Joshua Torralba, Andre Paras, Kelly Nabong, David

Pitmaster, Marines put relief operations full speed ahead

IOC’s shocking move

NO boxing and weightlifting in the 2028 Los Angeles Olympics? If yes, as reports strongly indicate, we are doomed. Dream no more of medals? According to the presidents of both associations, both events had been removed in the 2028 Olympic program by no less than the International Olympic Committee (IOC). “We have seven years to appeal this initial decision,” said Monico Puentevella, the country’s weightlifting chief. “I’m optimistic that we can still save the situation.” Both events had long been hounded by large scale corruption and doping scandals involving high-ranking officials. Actually, the same nagging issues almost scrapped weightlifting and boxing in the Tokyo 2020 Olympics. Only the collective appeal of many member-nations saved both events, triggering Hidilyn Diaz’s weightlifting gold and Nesthy Petecio and Carlo Paalam’s silver and Eumir Marcial’s bronze in boxing. In all probability, Diaz, now 30, will be retired by 2028. But this early, though, we are not lacking for her

potential successors in the gold hunt, beginning in Paris three years from now. Boxing only pushed through in Tokyo 2020 because the IOC took over the affairs of the Aiba (International Boxing Federation) and managed the events, banning longtime boxing officials from the venues. “The Aiba has until 2023 to comply with IOC conditions,” said Ed Picson, the newly-minted boxing chief. “If they do, then there’s a chance boxing will be reinstated.” But in a shocking move, the IOC has already replaced boxing, weightlifting and pentathlon with skateboarding, sport climbing and surfing in the LA Olympiad calendar. And, unless the IOC makes a change of heart, dopinghit weightlifting will no longer be around in Paris 2024. “This would be unfair if it happens,” Puentevella said. “The 1896 Olympics opened with weightlifting as one of the 12 events that year.” Puentevella told the Inquirer’s June Navarro: “A few rats [in world weightlifting] shouldn’t be a reason to burn the whole house down.” Picson said the IOC was still irked over reports of massive match-rigging incidents in the 2016 Rio Olympics, which independent probers, to their dismay, have found to be true. “Reforms are in order and I hope the Aiba can make the necessary adjustments to appease the IOC,” said Picson. “Bottom line is, it’s the call of the IOC.” Let’s pray and hope the gods of Mt. Olympus would intervene. THAT’S IT Because the Philippine Basketball Association is entertainment, it has scheduled games on Christmas Day at the Cubao Big Dome. And so, even if it’s God’s birthday on December 25, players sacrifice if only to delight the fans. Merry Christmas!

Semerad, Frank Golla and Mike Ayonayon are on the injured list. Arvin Tolentino, meanwhile, stepped up and provided huge contributions in helping the defending Governors Cup champion Barangay Ginebra San Miguel off to a fast 3-0 start in its title retention bid. The sophomore big man posted back-to-back career highs in the team’s last two outings to emerge as the Cignal Play-PBA Press Corps Player of the Week for the period December 15 to 19. Tolentino emerged as the top choice following a tight race that saw teammate Christian Standhardinger and Magnolia’s Calvin Abueva also in the running for the weekly honor handed out by the men and women regularly covering the PBA beat. Josef Ramos

JUNNA TSUKII and Jamie Lim are one win away from emerging as Asian champions.

UNNA TSUKII and Jamie Lim advanced to the gold medal play in their respective classes on Tuesday to pave the way to what could be the country’s best performance in the Asian Karate Championships that’s staging its 17th edition in Almaty, Kazakhstan. The 30-year-old Tsukii showed fiery form in women senior’s 50 kgs class of kumite by crushing South Korean Jung Ji Young, 4-1, in the first round and Hong Kong’s Tsang Yee Ting, 9-0, in the second round. The world No. 2-ranked Filipino Japanese then defeated Al Ajmi Hawraa of United Arab Emirates, 3-2, to barge to the gold medal round on Wednesday where she will face a familiar opponent, Zhangbrybay Moldir of Kazakhstan. Tsukiee, however, has the Kazakh’s number, having beaten Moldir for the gold medal in the Karate Premier League last May in Lisbon, Portugal. Moldir advanced to the final by beating Iran’s Sarah Bahmanyar, 7-5, in the semifinals. Lim, 23, on the other hand, defeated Kuh Chih-Ling of Chinese Taipei, 5-4, in the first round then followed it up with a 1-0 victory over Toitonova Kymbat of Kyrgyzstan in her second round. A 2019 Southeast Asian Games gold medalist like Tsukiee, Lim nipped Jordanian Aldrous Joud, 1-0, in round three to enter to the final round of the women

senior’s 61 kgs class also of kumite. She will meet Sarah Alameri of United Arab Emirates in the final. Alameri beat Murugeesan Mathivani of Malaysia, 7-5. Tsukii and Lim are assured of silver medals that would add to the three bronze medals FilipinoJapanese Lemon Misu (women’s U-21 kumite -61 kgs), Sakura Alforte (women’s senior kata) and John Enrico Vasquez (men’s senior kata) bagged earlier in the championships. Karate Pilipinas President Ricky Lim expressed confidence on the two karatekas’ chances of capturing the gold medals. “We’re very proud and satisfied with their performance. All their hard work have paid off,” Lim said. “Definitely we are aiming for the gold.” Josef Ramos

PSC gives support to athletes, coaches battered by Odette

HE Philippine Sports Commission (PSC) approved the release of a P15,000 cash assistance for each of the 85 athletes and 20 coaches from 24 sports to help them start recovering from the destruction brought about by the Typhoon Odette. PSC Chairman William “Butch” Ramirez has been closely keeping track of the situation since weekend and initiated a relief operation to also send about 10,000 bottled water and 900 units of mattresses to the affected athletes and coaches. The Special Services Office of the Armed Forces of the Philippines, which also oversees the detailed service of the country’s military-athletes, partnered with the PSC to en-

ITMASTER Foundation on Tuesday joined efforts to reach thousands of families affected by Typhoon Odette in Mindanao and Visayas Region by coordinating with the Philippine Marines. According to Pitmaster Executive Director Atty. Caroline Cruz, the foundation saw an immediate need to seek the help of Marines’ 72nd Marangal Batallion to expedite relief operations in the typhoon-ravaged provinces in Southern Philippines. Cruz said she personally checked the actual situation in affected areas and found out that many roads had been destroyed by Odette. Cruz lauded the Marines’ effort which was not limited to transporting relief goods. The Marines also helped the foundation in the repacking of food and hygiene kits intended for the initial target of 100,000 families in Surigao, Bohol, Negros island and Palawan. The foundation is anticipating more requests from local government units which have been forwarding their requests for assistance from Pitmaster Chairman Charlie “Atong” Ang. “With more pleas for our chairman, Charlie “Atong” Ang, to help, we expect to heighten our relief efforts in the next few days,” Cruz said. Although Cruz did not reveal the cost of the foundation’s relief operations, its expenditure on rice, canned food and

sure that these goods and subsequent packages are given to the intended recipients. A P50,000 financial aid for the rehabilitation of the weightlifting gym in Bohol has also been approved for release to start immediate repairs. “My heart breaks for them—we have the pandemic, now it’s Odette,” Ramirez said. He said that it’s during these times when the heart of champions beat stronger. “They are trained to overcome, to survive and to win,” Ramirez said. “They might be sad for a while but the champions in them will prod them to rise up and help themselves and those around them so that together they can get through this.”

hygiene kits may easily reach P45 million. Pitmaster has a main distribution center in Cebu City because of its strategic location. Cruz extended Pitmaster’s gratitude to Easter Visayas Naval Reserve Commander Col. James Lugtu for offering his personnel and transport vehicles that resulted in speedy relief operations. This was not the first time Pitmaster made its presence felt during calamities. It can be recalled the foundation also extended its help to families affected by typhoons in Metro Manila last year.

PITMASTER Foundation Executive Director Atty. Caroline Cruz personally supervises relief operations with personnel of the Philippine Marines.

Saludar defends title in Dominican Republic

ORLD Boxing Association (WBA) minimumweight champion Vic “The Vicious” Saludar III will defend his crown against Dominican Republic’s Erick “Mini Pacman” Pacheco Rosa on Wednesday at the Hotel Catalonia Malecon Center in Santo Domingo. Saludar, 31, arrived in the Dominican Republic capital on Wednesday and dedicated his title defense to the victims of Typhoon Odette which ravaged many parts of the Visayas and Mindanao last week. “This fight is for my fellow Filipinos who were hit by typhoon Odette,” Saludar (21-4 win-loss record with 11 knockouts) posted on his Facebook page, noting that he’s ready for

the challenge of the 21-year-old Rosa who is unbeaten in four fights with one knockout. “He hasn’t met the caliber of boxers that I encountered. I’m ready,” Saludar added. Saludar and Rosa, winner of three regional titles in four bouts, both passed the official weigh-in at 105 pounds without any trouble. Saludar, a former World Boxing Organization minimumweight champion, is accompanied by trainer Jojo Palacios. The winner will face unbeaten WBA Super minimumweight champion Thammanoon Niyomtrong (21-0 with seven knockouts) of Thailand next year. Josef Ramos