BusinessMirror February 10, 2022 by BusinessMirror

‘Health, cybersecurity risks imperil recovery’ G

FORMER senator Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr. waves to the crowd, estimated at 25,000, at the Partido Federal proclamation rally for him and running mate Sara Duterte Carpio on Tuesday night at the Philippine Arena in Bulacan. On Wednesday, the Department of Justice confirmed that the NBI now has custody of a man whose Tiktok account was linked to an alleged death threat against Marcos. Story on page A4. CONTRIBUTED PHOTO

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LOBAL and regional economies may be recovering from the pandemic, but such rebound remains at risk from health and cybersecurity concerns, according to a study by PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP (PwC). Based on the 25th Annual Global CEO Survey-Asia Pacific, PwC Philippines Chairman and Senior Partner Roderick Danao said in a presentation that 76 percent of Asia Pacific CEOs believe the global economy will improve in the next 12 months, the highest level of optimism recorded in 10 years. Risks to this growth include health, with 58 percent of Asia Pacific CEOs saying this is a threat

to their company in the next 12 months; cyber attacks, 44 percent; macroeconomic volatility, 43 percent; climate change, 35 percent; geopolitical conflict, 34 percent; and social inequality, 17 percent. “It seems that better days are ahead of us. We hope we can continue the momentum and sustain the growth trajectory of our respective companies. May Philippine businesses grow in a sustainable manner, taking into account their positive impact on the environment, social development and welfare of broader stakeholders,” Danao said. The data also showed that 6 percent of Asia and the Pacific CEOs said they expect the global economy

to remain the same in the next 12 months, while 17 percent expect the situation to get worse. The results among Asia and the Pacific CEOs are comparable to the results among global CEOs. Some 77 percent of global CEOs expect the global economy to improve; 7 percent to stay the same; and 17 percent to decline. In terms of risks, the PwC study showed that only 22 percent of CEOs in China expressed a higher level of concern for cyber risk in the next 12 months. However, 71 percent of Australian CEOs see cyber risks as the most serious concern, while 76 percent of Malaysian CEOs said the primary

concern is macroeconomic volatility. “This difference reflects the fact that while Asia Pacific’s recovery is optimistic, it continues to be challenged with new, highly transmissible variants and uneven vaccination rollouts. Only China rebounded faster than the rest of the region and is now experiencing growing pains in the form of inflation, real estate bubbles, and supply chain disruptions,” PwC said in a statement. These risks are expected to impact the ability of businesses to sell products and services; attract and retain talent; innovate through technology or processes; and raise capital. C  A

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ADB: REMITTANCE COST FOR S.E. ASIA STILL HIGH www.businessmirror.com.ph

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Thursday, February 10, 2022 Vol. 17 No. 125

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

BSP cites ‘urgent’ need for better climate data

B C U. O

@caiordinario

EMITTANCE costs remain onerous when one is sending money to Southeast Asian countries like the Philippines, the Asian Development Bank (ADB) said. Based on ADB data, the average cost of remittances is the highest in the Pacific at 8.9 percent, but sending money to Southeast Asia via banks costs even more, at an average of 16.6 percent. The rates vary per country, the Asian Economic Integration Report (AEIR) 2022 stated. These rates range from 8.8 percent in the Philippines to as much as 46 percent in Thailand. “The average cost of remitting to Asia and the Pacific has been declining but remains higher than the Sustainable Development Goal target of less than 3 percent by 2030,” ADB said. “Remittance costs have been declining slowly, and existing average costs are still almost double the 3-percent Sustainable Development Goal target,” it added. As of the first quarter of 2021, the global average total cost of remittance was 6.4 percent of the transaction amount, said the report. In Asia and the Pacific, the remittance cost is 5.9 percent while the remittance costs in Central Asia and South Asia are lower than the Asian average.

Winners, losers

WHILE remittance service providers mostly handling cash-based, in-person transfers were significantly affected by the lockdown in 2020, digital remittance service providers experienced a surge in their business. ADB, citing studies, said remittances made through mobile money jumped 65 percent to $12.7 billion in 2020. As a result, the Manila-based multilateral development bank said, more than $1 billion was sent and received every month via mobile money. Remittances sent through mobile money globally cost much less than cash at 3.2 percent, compared with 7 percent for cash and 4.4 percent for debit/credit cards. S “ADB,” A

PESO EXCHANGE RATES

B B C @BcuaresmaBM

BAYANI, a 64-foot stainless-steel sculpture by Filipino-American artist Jefrë Figueras Manuel, is seen outside the DoubleDragon Meridian Park, an office and commercial block in the Bay Area in Pasay City. A real estate and builders’ group is asking the Department of Finance to revisit its orders increasing the zonal value of properties amid the Covid-19 pandemic, saying demand that had been weakened by the pandemic is stunting property prices. NONIE REYES

HE Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas (BSP) believes there is a need for more “climate change-related” disclosures among banks and other local firms in order to move forward the country’s fight against global warming forward. In a recent report on financial stability, the Central Bank said there is little understanding of the country’s actual exposure to climate change agents because there is limited data disclosure involved. “There is an urgent need for better climate change-related disclosures. The lack of granular data limits our appreciation of the financial costs of climate change and the shift to greener energy sources,” the BSP said in the report. Among the examples of granular data the BSP cited include numbers such as physical risk metrics per firm or household, or the exposure of banks to carbon- vs. renewables-based energy producers. “The cooperation of the private sector is necessary, especially on transparency and the quality of ESG reporting to have better datadriven frameworks,” the BSP said, referring to the new metric for S “BSP,” A

NGCP DRAWS PALACE’S ATTENTION TO ‘CRITICAL’ POWER SITUATION IN ’22 B L L @llectura

HE National Grid Corp. of the Philippines (NGCP) wants Malacañang to step in and consider other possible measures to help address this year’s “critical” power situation. NGCP officials led by Vice Chairman Robert Coyiuto Jr. and President Anthony Almeda wrote President Duterte to inform him of the updated forecasted power situation, particularly during the summer months and the May 9 elections. NGCP said that based on updat-

ed power plant maintenance movements plus historical unplanned plant shutdown, the NGCP might issue a yellow alert notice for 15 weeks and red alert notice for 14 weeks in the Luzon grid. A red alert status, which could trigger brownouts, is issued when supplies are insufficient to meet consumer demand and the transmission grid’s regulating requirement. A yellow alert is issued when the excess power is insufficient to meet the transmission grid’s regulating and contingency requirement, pegged at the time at about 495 MW and 647 MW, respectively.

“Red and yellow alerts simply mean that the consumers are vulnerable to power interruptions,” said NGCP. This year’s projected peak demand could hit 12,387 MW for Luzon to occur in week 21. This exceeds the 2019 actual demand by 1,043 MW, marking a 9-percent projected growth rate from prepandemic economic levels. In 2021, actual demand stood at 11,640 MW, also exceeding prepandemic peak demand by 296 MW in 2019. As early as January of this year, a yellow alert notice was isS “NGCP,” A

■ US 51.4360 ■ JAPAN 0.4452 ■ UK 69.6649 ■ HK 6.5997 ■ SINGAPORE 38.2452 ■ AUSTRALIA 36.7510 ■ SAUDI ARABIA 13.7104 ■ EU 58.7193 ■ CHINA 8.0798

Source: BSP (February 9, 2022)

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Thursday, February 10, 2022

BSP...

C  A

sustainability reporting now required of private business. The Central Bank also said the Securities and Exchange Commission’s (SEC) work on sustainability reporting of publicly listed companies is a “promising start” to getting more climate change-related information and enhancing our understanding of risks. Various studies put the Philippines as among the riskiest, if not the riskiest, in terms of severe weather occurrence. “While there is no doubt that climate change is global in nature, the expectation remains that lower-income countries are more vulnerable to losing a larger share of their economic output due to climate change,” the BSP said. The BSP said urgent attention is needed for the country to push its climate change agenda, as gains against sustainability usually take time before its effects are felt by the masses. “As long-term as climate-related risks are, they need more immediate action as well. This is because any gain is also ‘slowburn’ in nature,” the BSP said. In December 2021, BSP Governor Benjamin Diokno urged banks to support the country’s energy transition and shift to mainstream sustainable finance in an effort to “climateproof” the local financial system.

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Women workers now get higher pay than men—PHL stats agency

B C U. O

@caiordinario

OMEN workers now receive higher pay compared to male workers, according to the Philippine Statistics Authority (PSA) Occupational Wages Survey for 2020.

Women now receive a median basic pay of P14,051 per month and a median allowance of P2,507 monthly. This leads to a total pay of P17,008 per month. For men, the median pay is P13,567 per month and allowances reached P2,410 a month. This means, male employees’ median pay only amounted to P15,877 or P1,131 less than that of women. “Median refers to the value that divides the wage distribution into

two equal parts. It is the value where half of the distribution receive more while the other half receive less,” the PSA explained. The median monthly basic pay of time-rated workers on full-time basis across all industries was registered at P13,646 in 2020 or a 0.6percent increase from P13,559 in 2018. PSA said by a major industry group, 13 out of 18 covered industries in 2020 had a higher median

monthly basic pay compared to all industries pegged at P13,646. Time-rated workers engaged in electricity, gas, steam, and air conditioning supply registered the highest median monthly basic pay of P27,253, a 10.7-percent increase from P24,627 in 2018. The median monthly basic pay of workers in the mining and quarrying industry significantly increased by 14.5 percent or a monthly basic pay of P13,272 in 2020 from P11,590 in 2018. Meanwhile, the biggest decline was posted in financial and insurance activities at a contraction of 13.5 percent or P2,500 lower than the median basic pay of P18,486 per month in 2018.

Top paying jobs

BASED on the latest data, the average monthly wage of time-rated workers on full-time basis was recorded at P16,486 in 2020, a

contraction of 9 percent from the P18,108 posted in 2018. PSA said the highest average monthly wage rate was recorded for mathematicians, actuaries, and statisticians in insurance, reinsurance, and pension funding except compulsory social security at P63,368 in 2020. This was followed by computer network professionals in computer programming, consultancy, and related activities; information service activities ranked second with an average wage rate of P59,787 per month. Other top paid jobs: geologists from two different industry groups came in third and fourth, receiving monthly average wage rates of P50,449 for architectural and engineering activities and related technical consultancy firms and P49,090 for mining of coal and C  A

‘Health, cybersecurity risks imperil recovery’ C  A

Some 76 percent of CEOs said health risks will limit the ability of companies to sell their products; 71 percent, macroeconomic

volatility; 69 percent, geopolitical conflict; 60 percent, cyber risks; 58 percent, climate change; and 52 percent, social inequality. In terms of attracting and retaining talent, some 72 percent of

CEOs considered social inequality to impact their company in the next 12 months; 59 percent, health risks; 41 percent, macroeconomic volatility; 29 percent, geopolitical conflict; 27 percent, climate change; and 20 percent, cyber attacks. For innovation, the main threats are cyber risks which 55 percent of CEOs identified could threaten their company in the next 12 months followed by macroeconomic volatility at 28 percent; climate change, 27 percent; social inequality, 26 percent; geopolitical conflict, 24 percent; and health risks, 23 percent.

Raising capital

RAISING capital, based on the results, would be most affected by macroeconomic volatility according to 41 percent of CEOs who said this could threaten their business in the next 12 months. This was followed by geopolitical conflict at 39 percent; climate change, 32 percent; social inequality, 23 percent; and health and cyber risks both at 21 percent. “Translating global and regional economic fundamentals into revenue growth remains the priority. What we are seeing is a diversification of those growth pathways with an increasing regional focus: goods and services produced and delivered in Asia for Asia, leveraging the very best of technology capabilities and local talent. In accessing and growing local talent pools, prioritizing their health and well-being is key,” Raymund Chao, PwC Asia Pacific and China Chairman said. In order to combat these risks, the priorities for CEOs include redefining the balance of short- and long-term profitable growth. Danao said this means aligning their

NGCP...

C  A

sued twice after several generating units already extended their maintenance shutdowns while others derated operations and decreased

ADB...

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However, ADB said, cash transactions remained the dominant transaction type globally and accounted for around 70 percent of remittances sent through the largest remittance service providers— Western Union, World Remit, and Ria. “Advancing digitalization infrastructure will only work if accompanied by measures to develop the digital ecosystems in many migrant-sending developing economies and migrant-host economies,” ADB said. ADB estimates that remittance inflows to Asia and the Pacific declined by only 2 percent in 2020 and are estimated to grow by 2.5 percent in 2021. Global remittance inflows, ADB said, reached $705.5 billion in 2020, a 2.3-percent decline from $722.2 billion in 2019—Asia and the Pacific received $314.4 billion in 2020. In 2020, ADB said Bangladesh, India, Pakistan, the Philippines, and the PRC were among the top remittance recipients in Asia and the Pacific, and globally, accounting for $225.4 billion or 32 percent of global and 71.7 percent of total regional remittance inflows when combined.

Philippines case

costs in order for them to invest in broad markets, products, services, and key talents. CEOs also intend to recalibrate skills which will focus their attention on building capability and capacity locally as well as work toward a shift in leadership skills, particularly making a pivot to empathy and the willingness to embrace change. Danao said the priorities of CEOs also include resetting the conversation which means reframing critical agenda such as Environmental, Social, and (Corporate) Governance (ESG) into realistic tradeoffs and short-term financial goals in order to bring in investors and stakeholders in the conversation. He also said the priorities include reappraising their succession which, for CEOs, means exploring diverse talent pools for different leadership capabilities in order to get the best talents for their companies. The laundry list of CEOs also includes rethinking incentives by conducting a comprehensive review of financial and non-financial outcomes, performance management measures, and reporting. The last priority of CEOs includes reimagining collaborations. Danao said this means proactively exploring and cooperating with various stakeholders such as the government, other business leaders, nongovernment organizations and investors, among others. “The pandemic has taught us that we can mutually build trust through collaboration between private and government sectors,” Danao said. PwC said the are findings were based on the responses of 4,446 global CEOs including 1,618 from Asia Pacific between October and November 2021. Cai U. Ordinario

IN the Philippines, total remittances declined 0.7 percent as 327,511 overseas Filipino workers returned home in 2020. However, major sources of cash remittances to the Philippines recorded higher year-on-year flows. These remittances, ADB said, came from the US accounting for 5.5 percent of the total; Qatar, 8.2 percent; Jordan, 19.4 percent; Singapore, 12.7 percent; and Taipei, China, 15.5 percent in 2020. Meanwhile, ADB said integration among economies in Asia and the Pacific has continued to deepen in areas including new technology and digital connectivity, environmental cooperation, trade linkages, investment, and value chain participation, according to the report. Foreign direct investment into the region also remained resilient, declining by only 1.3 percent in 2020, compared with a 34.7-percent drop globally. Meanwhile, remittance inflows to the region are estimated to have grown 2.5 percent in 2021, after a 2-percent drop in 2020. Tourism remained one of the sectors hit hardest by the pandemic, with international arrivals in Asia and the Pacific dropping 82.8 percent in 2020 compared with the prepandemic average from 2015 to 2019. The AEIR 2022 theme chapter discusses the imperative of advancing digital services trade in Asia and the Pacific. The chapter highlights how rapid digitalization and the Covid-19 pandemic are spurring the growth of digital services trade. It also discusses ways by which economies in the region can capitalize on these opportunities through human capital development, enhanced digital connectivity, regulatory reforms and institution building, and international cooperation.

their committed generation output. “Considering the increasing regularity and severity of unplanned maintenance shutdowns by power plants, it is imperative to include historical data on shutdowns outside the Grid Operating and Maintenance Program [GOMP],” said NGCP. GOMP is a consolidated preventive maintenance schedule of power plants, considering the needed supply to meet the projected demand. This year’s GOMP was approved by the Department of Energy (DOE) last January 10. On May 31 and June 1 last year, rotating

power interruptions were declared when almost 4,000 MW of energy became unavailable to the Luzon power system because of unscheduled maintenance shutdowns and derated operations. The NGCP stressed its updated forecast is “merely projections, and the actual supply-demand dynamic will keep on moving.” Nonetheless, it urged government to look more closely at possible demand side interventions, including but not limited to, the declaration of a special non-working holiday on critical election and counting days. NGCP officials asked Malacañang for its “favorable support on this matter.” “We will be glad to brief the President on this critical matter,” they added.

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Editor: Vittorio V. Vitug • Thursday, February 10, 2022 A3

DOT officials push into ME market by attending Dubai expo By Ma. Stella F. Arnaldo @akosistellaBM Special to the BusinessMirror

S the Philippines reopens to foreign tourists from visafree countries on February 10, hopes are high that a good-sized number of them will be coming from the Middle East (ME). The country’s tourism officials are currently in Dubai to attend the much-delayed Dubai Expo 2020, where the Philippines Pavilion— spanning 1,386 square meters on a 3,163.25-sq-m lot—is reputed to be the largest the Philippines has ever showcased in any expo. Messaging from Dubai, Tourism

Promotions Board (TPB) COO Ma. Antonette Velasco-Allones told the BusinessMirror she was elated with the number of meetings that has been requested with her. These include an audience with counterpart tourism officials and dialogues with travel buyers. “Despite the pandemic, this shows we are still top of mind in many markets,” she said. Velasco-Allones and other tourism officials will also attend the celebration of Philippines National Day in Dubai on February 11 and launch the Philippine Food Festival in Abu Dhabi on February 12. TPB is the marketing arm of the Department of Tourism (DOT). The Dubai Expo is ongoing until March 31, 2022.

Prior to the pandemic, in 2019, arrivals from the ME slipped by 10.4 percent to 73,703, although the drop was smaller than the 11.34-percent fall to 82,251 in 2018. Visa-free countries in the ME include Bahrain, Kuwait, Oman, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, and the United Arab Emirates (UAE).

‘Create the demand’

ACCORDING to the National Tourism Development Plan for 20162022, the ME, along with India and Russia, are considered “opportunity markets” or “new emerging markets” due to their large populations. However, “demand has to be created if not improved” and the Philippines has to foster closer business relation-

ships with their travel trade sector, “[through] the development of tour programs and itineraries [and] invitational trips….” The NTDP added, “The continued presence in travel trade fairs held in the primary urban capitals will also be a vehicle to create interest in the trade. The web and social media can be a cost efficient tool for both general publicity and advertising purposes.” Due to the Covid-19 travel restrictions and their impact on global tourism, the DOT has yet to pin down actual tourist arrivals per market. The DOT had earlier projected a 31.5 percent increase in visitor arrivals from the ME to 108,170

in 2019, with Saudi Arabia, the UAE, and Kuwait accounting for the largest shares. Shopping and sightseeing are the main activities of the tourists from the ME, and among the main purposes of visit are for pleasure or vacation, business, and visiting friends and relatives.

Philippines Pavilion

THE DOT has identified the need for more Halal restaurants and Arabic speakers as a key to attracting more visitors from ME. Meanwhile, the Philippines Pavilion, dubbed “Bangkota,” was designed by architects Budji Layug and Royal Pineda. “Bangkota”

means coral reef in old Tagalog, and evokes the character of the country’s citizens and their global impact. “The Filipino—much like a coral reef—grows into colonies, spread out all over the world; and yet still connected by migration, travel, and technology,” according to the design notes on the pavilion. Bangkota is located in the Sustainability District of the expo and has art pieces by renowned Filipino artists, anchoring specific spaces in the pavilion. It also showcases artisanal, contemporary and practical luxury products and designer pieces, crafted locally, and the Mangrove Restaurant, which features delectable Filipino dishes.

Food tech regulatory board completes guidelines, code of conduct for aspirants By Manuel T. Cayon @awimailbox Mindanao Bureau Chief

AVAO CITY—Members of the country’s newest professional regulatory board on food technology have completed the major guidelines and codes of conduct among professionals in this field, as well as the regulatory framework for higher educational institutions offering courses in food technology. In less than a year that the board was constituted in July last year, the board has crafted at least seven major actions, mostly the codes

of conduct and road map for food technology professionalism. These were: Implementing Rules and Regulations of Republic Act 11052, the law that created the board, and which was initiated by Prof. Ma. Leonora dL. Francisco, president of the Philippine Association of Food Technologists (PAFT) Inc.; adoption of the Professional Regulatory Board of Food Technology seal; Code of Professional Conduct; Guidelines for Registration Without Examination; Professional Competitiveness Roadmap for food technology which focuses on six key result areas to develop professional food technolo-

gists (licensure Examination, CPD/ CPSP, internationalization, registration without examination, inspection and monitoring, and research and development); Constitution and bylaws of the PAFT as an accredited integrated professional organization and schedule of inspection and monitoring of Higher Education Institutions this year. The board was constituted only last year, three years after the law for its creation was enacted. The chairman, Dr. Anthony C. Sales, the Davao regional director of the Department of Science and Technology, was appointed only in July

last year. He was joined on the same month by the board’s first member Remedios Baclig. Its first set of major actions would include this year’s calendar of inspection and monitoring of educational establishments offering food technology courses, developing test questions for licensure examination and developing continuing professional education program for food technologists. The board would also pursue an initiative to link the industry and academe in the area of instruction, research, and internship of students in board programs specific on food technology. It said the program

would provide facilities and equipment for these activities and for students enrolled in programs requiring licensure examinations. “The private sector will also be involved and will be encouraged to donate equipment, facilities, supplies and materials to HEIs for the purpose of enhancing instruction, research and development, as well as internship on-campus,” it added. Meanwhile, the DOST here said a Bachelor of Science in Food Technology (BSFT) is already existing as a four-year degree program “that focuses on the scientific preparation, processing, and distribution of food, involving techniques and processes

that are used to transform raw materials into food.” The DOST said students would be trained to perform and conduct food analysis, comply with food laws and regulations in manufacturing and distribution of food, develop new food products and improve existing ones, and implement quality management systems. It said the program is being offered in many higher education institutions in the country to produce graduates “who can serve as human resources and experts in the food industry and other sectors requiring the skills and knowledge of a food technology graduate.”

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NBI presents TikTok user in alleged death threat vs BBM By Joel R. San Juan

@jrsanjuan1573

USTICE Secretary Menardo Guevarra has confirmed the surrender of the owner of the TikTok account who bragged about an alleged assassination plot against presidential frontrunner Ferdinand

“Bongbong” Marcos Jr. The account owner, according to Guevarra, voluntarily surrendered to the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) on Tuesday and is now being questioned. Guevarra added that the person was advised to obtain the services of a lawyer.

The justice chief added that he has also instructed the NBI to protect the rights of the subject person. “The owner of the Bongbong Marcos death threat account voluntarily turned himself in to the NBI yesterday [Tuesday]. He was advised to secure the assistance of counsel,”

Guevarra said. “I have also directed the NBI to respect the rights of the subject person,” he added. Guevarra, however, begged off from providing other details about the suspect, including his whereabouts right now for security reasons. “For security reasons, the NBI would not give any details for now, hope you understand. Let’s wait till they finish their evaluation,” the DOJ chief said. “It is safer not to give details, including on whether he is at home, in the NBI, or elsewhere, until the evaluation process is completed,” he added. The NBI, however, hastily called for a news conference to present and identify the TikToker who surrendered as Ruel “Bong” Ricafort. NBI Officer in Charge Eric Distor said Ricafort presented himself to the NBIAnti Organized and Transnational Crime Division on Tuesday morning with the help of a friend and expressed his desire to voluntarily submit himself for investigation to clear his name. Ricafort claimed that someone illegally used his TikTok account making it appear that his group plans to assassinate Marcos Jr.

He admitted being a supporter of Vice President Leni Robredo, who is also seeking the presidency. “I want to clear my name. It was not me [who posted it]. I don’t know how I got involved in this,” Ricafort said. The NBI has asked Ricafort’s camp through his counsel to submit his gadgets for forensic examination and to undergo a lie detector and neuro-psychiatric tests. The NBI said it has yet to determine whether it would have to file charges against Ricafort as its investigation is still ongoing. Guevarra stressed that the NBI should be given time to conduct its investigation and evaluate the severity of the alleged threat. The account under investigation, according to the DOJ-Office of the Cybercrime (DOJ-OCC) head, lawyer Charito Zamora, commented a serious threat against Marcos Jr. to a TikTok video posted by another TikTok account with username @joiedevivre420. The post read: “Nagme-meeting kami arawaraw para paghandaang ipa-assassinate naming si BBM. Humanda kayo. [We are meeting everyday to plan for BBM’s assassination. Get ready].” The camp of Marcos Jr. has expressed concern about the alleged assassination plot but assured that this would not affect his campaign for the presidency.

PNP procures ₧576M worth of transport, comms equipment By Rene Acosta

@reneacostaBM

HE Philippine National Police’s (PNP) has beefed up its response capability with the acquisition of more than half a billion pesos worth of additional sea and land mobile assets and communications equipment ahead of the May elections. PNP chief General Dionardo Carlos led officials in the blessing of the new equipment worth P576,667,540, which PNP Public Affairs Office chief Brig. Gen. Roderick Agustus Balba said will support police operations. Among those acquired were 10 highspeed tactical watercraft, 34 6-wheel utility trucks, 123 4x2 patrol vehicles, 170 low band VHF tactical radio sets and 1,628 handheld digital mobile radio transceivers. Balba said the sea craft would add up the existing fleet of police gunboats currently in service with the PNP Maritime Group and Special Action Force for seaborne police operations and preventive patrol along the country’s 36,000 kilometer shoreline and coastal borders. “The PNP is grateful to President Rodrigo R. Duterte and the national government for the gesture of genuine responsiveness to the operational needs of the PNP to perform our law enforcement and public safety mission,” Carlos said during the ceremony. “We can only reciprocate our gratitude through better police service to the people,” he added. The procurement was funded from the PNP Capability Enhancement Program (CEP) for years 2020 and 2021. “These vehicles and communication

equipment make up the backbone of police operations the field that are expected to further boost police patrol and visibility in land and sea environment to meet requirements for greater police presence in communities under heightened Covid alert levels; and to support KASIMBAYANAN SAFE initiatives for the forthcoming 2022 National and Local Elections,” Carlos said.

China grant

AT Camp Aguinaldo, the Department of National Defense received from the Chinese government P1 billion worth of military equipment, part of which would be used for humanitarian assistance and disaster response (HADR) operations. “This military grant from China speaks volumes on how our two nations can be civil, diplomatic and friends despite some issues on territorial claims,” Defense Secretary Delfin N. Lorenzana said during the ceremonial handover of the equipment. Defense spokesman Arsenio “Popong” Andolong said the first batch of equipment worth RMB 76 million arrived in Manila on January 16, 2022, and it comprised of rescue and relief equipment, drones, detectors, water purification vehicles, ambulances, firetrucks, x-ray machines, EOD robots, bomb disposal suits and transport vehicles; and engineering equipment such as backhoes, dumptrucks, forklifts and earthmovers. Andolong said a second delivery worth RMB 54 million, given under the same grant, will be delivered on a later date and will support the capacity of the Presidential Security Group, the Marawi rehabilitation efforts and other humanitarian assistance and disaster response operations.

UST campus to host PPCRV transparency server in polls By Samuel P. Medenilla @sam_medenilla

HE University of Santo Tomas (UST) will soon be hosting the transparency server of the Parish Pastoral Council for Responsible Voting (PPCRV) and the Kapisanan ng mga Brodkaster ng Pilipinas (KBP) for the 2022 national and local elections. Commission on Elections (Comelec) spokesman James Jimenez said the transparency server will be moved for the first time to the UST Quad Arena facility in España, Manila from its previous location at the Pope Pius XII Catholic Center in Paco, Manila, which hosted it in previous polls. This was confirmed by PPCRV Chairman Emeritus Henrietta T. De Villa in a televised interview on Wednesday. She said they opted to relocate the server as well as their election command center since they will need additional space to comply with minimum health standards

amid the lingering Covid-19 pandemic. “The space and size in [Pope] Pius XII is no longer enough for our needs,” de Villa said. The PPCRV official said the facility in UST could accommodate at least 5,000 people, which she said was enough space so they could implement social distancing for the media, who will cover their operations as well as their volunteers. “We can ensure social distancing protocols will be implemented. It also has additional facilities within the floor [of the arena] and below it, which are appropriate for the needs of the command center, especially for the pandemic times,” De Villa said. The transparency server “mirrors” the election results received by the Comelec central server and then distributes it to political parties, PPCRV, and the media in real time. Its creation is in line with the provision of Republic Act 9369 or the Automated Election System Act.

News BusinessMirror

www.businessmirror.com.ph

Thursday, February 10, 2022 A5

PCC and NPC ink pact to address concerns on competition, privacy By Jasper Emmanuel Y. Arcalas @jearcalas

HE Philippine Competition Commission (PCC) has partnered with the National Privacy Commission (NPC) to strengthen the government’s implementation of competition and data privacy laws in the digital economy. In a virtual ceremony, PCC Chairman Arsenio M. Balisacan and NPC Chairman and Privacy Commissioner John Henry D. Naga signed a memorandum of agreement (MOA)

with both agencies agreeing to “work closely on policy implementation and case investigation involving competition and data privacy.” “With the rise of the digital economy, data—including personal data—have become an important source of market power. It falls upon regulators to ensure that data-driven markets develop and mature in a manner that does not harm consumer welfare. With their respective mandates to promote competition and data privacy, there is a need to develop a united

approach between the PCC and the NPC,” Balisacan said in a news statement issued on Wednesday. The MOA facilitates investigation and enforcement support between the PCC and the NPC, including forming joint task forces and notification of matters of common concern, according to the PCC. “It also enables direct consultations between both regulators in the drafting and implementation of policies relating to one another’s expertise,” it said. “To further promote coordination

and cooperation, the agencies also agreed to conduct capacity-building activities, which may come in the form of training or temporary secondments of staff to one another,” it added. The PCC noted that the “accumulation and use” of big data by dominant market players “have been the subject of regulatory scrutiny in many other jurisdictions.” Due to this, the PCC pointed out that “greater” risks of abuses emerge in the areas of data privacy and competition. “In today’s digital economy, data plays a key role in the business model

of many firms. The synergy we are forming through this agreement is a springboard for stronger enforcement of our competition and data privacy laws,” Balisacan said. To date, the PCC said it has inked

IPOPHL, Japan’s CODA tie up to fight content piracy

HE Intellectual Property Office of the Philippines (IPOPHL) has partnered with Japan-based Content Overseas Distribution Association (CODA) to crack down on content piracy. Under the Memorandum of Understanding (MOU), IPOPHL and CODA will ensure the protection of copyrighted Philippine and Japanese works in their respective jurisdictions. Such a mechanism will cover streamlining the exchange of information, research work, data and trends that will enhance enforcement in both countries. “This MOU will be a game changer in our fight against piracy, a matter we must urgently address amid heightened IP violations during the pandemic,” IPOPHL Director General Rowel Barba said.

IPOPHL and CODA will also coordinate on prevention, online piracy monitoring, rolling takedown and site-blocking. Both offices also agreed to participate in consultations for the development of policies toward their shared goal of instilling respect for IP deeper in society. Additionally, IPOPHL and CODA will strive to support each other’s awareness and education campaigns for the stronger protection of copyrighted works. Barba emphasized that with increased digitalization and globalization, cross-border strategies will be critical in creating an enforcement environment that is responsive to the current needs of IP owners, supporting the international growth trajectory of creative economies around the world.

Leni to town mates: Vote for a Bicolana president By Rene Acosta @reneacostaBM

ICE President Leni Robredo is hopeful that the upcoming elections will give the country its first highest leader from the Bicol region, as she spelled out the importance of next year’s presidential poll. The vice president dropped the possibility of the country having its first president from Bicol during the second day of the campaign on Wednesday wherein she solicited the support of her fellow Bicolanos. “Today’s elections are very important, the May 2022 elections. It is important because of so many things. First, this is a chance for the Bicol region to have a Bicolana president,” Robredo said during a campaign stop in Camarines Norte’s capital town of Daet. “Alam po natin na pag tayo ay binigyan ng pagkakataon, malaki ‘yung pakinabang ng buong Bicol lalong lalo na ang Camarines Norte. Kaya ang hinihiling ko po sa inyo, magkaisa tayo,” the presidential candidate added.

At the same time, Robredo encouraged Bicolano voters to make use of the elections to change the kind of politics that has become the norm in the country, asking them to unify behind a government that is not driven by politics, but by a will to serve with decency and competence. “Pagkakataon ‘yung 2022 elections para piliin natin ’yung mga lingkod bayan na ang inaasikaso ’yung tao hindi ang sarili. Kaya dapat po matuto na tayo,” she said. “[Ang] hinihiling ko po sa inyo, magkaisa tayo. Sana po hindi maging dahilan ang politika para magkawatak-watak dahil ang isinusulong naman po natin ang klase ng pamamahala, isang klase ng pamamahala na matino at mahusay,” she added. The presidential candidate said next year’s elections are not just a contest among the candidates, but it will decide what kind of politics and administration that the people would want to choose. Robredo and her team also made a pit stop in the town of Labo on their way to other provinces in Bicol region.

“Cross-border collaboration can help keep the wheels of creativity moving forward and help open greater international opportunities to the Philippine creative industry, which suffered massive job losses in this pandemic,” he added. In the first pandemic year alone, 2020 saw a record number of 31 piracy complaints and reports filed at IPOPHL’s IP Rights Enforcement Office (IEO). According to data from piracy analytics firm MUSO, among the top piracy sites in the Philippines were those that offered Japanese anime shows and movies for downloading. For his part, CODA Senior Executive Director Takero Goto acknowledged IPOPHL for its “long-term contribution and achievements in the protection and promotion of IPs.”

“You have been the leader, playing an integral part, in the Asean by chairing the ANIEE [Asean Network of IP Enforcement Experts] from its foundations,”Goto said. Goto also thanked IPOPHL for its assistance to CODA in its ongoing work to establish the International Anti-Piracy Organisation, which will be a coalition of over 30 companies dedicated to curb the illegal online distribution of anime, manga and other similar copyrighted content. Founded in 2002 as a voluntary organization, CODA is a platform through which content makers and copyrightrelated organizations cooperate to reduce piracy around the world, and to actively promote the international distribution of Japanese content, such as music, films, animation, TV programs and video games. Cai U. Ordinario

Minimum health standards during poll period to control Covid spread pushed By Samuel P. Medenilla @sam_medenilla

OMPLIANCE to minimum health standards during the ongoing campaign for the 2022 national and local elections may help control the spread of Covid-19, think tank OCTA Research Group said on Wednesday. The group issued the statement as nationwide infections continue to decline, notably in the National Capital Region (NCR).

Potential ‘superspreaders’

IN a televised interview on Wednesday, OCTA Research Group member Guido David said the measure would prevent such activities from becoming “superspreader events.” He said this could be achieved if the organizers of events will be hold such activities outdoors or in wellventilated areas and make sure its participants wear facemasks and are vaccinated against Covid-19. “It is possible for us to stop an increase in the number of [Covid-19] cases if we follow such protocols,”

David said. OCTA Research issued the reminder after the Commission on Elections (Comelec) received reports during the first day of the campaign period last Tuesday, wherein minimum health standards were supposedly violated such as the wearing of facemasks. David noted that countries, where enforcement of minimum health standards grew lax suffered resurgence in Covid-19 cases.

Alert Level 1

CURRENTLY, he said, NCR and other parts of the country are now qualified to be placed under Alert Level 1 due to low hospital utilization and high vaccination rates. In a virtual news briefing also on Wednesday, Labor and Employment Secretary Silvestre H. Bello III said he is pushing for NCR to be placed under Alert Level 1 as soon as possible since it will allow more businesses to reopen or operate with bigger capacities. “This is what we need to revive the economy. If the businesses become lively, it will translate to more employment opportunities,” Bello said.

FDA may allow e-pharmacies sans physical stores to sell drugs online

HEFoodandDrugAdministration (FDA) is now eyeing to allow epharmacy,oronlineretailerswithout physical stores to sell drugs online. FDA Officer in Charge Director General Oscar G. Gutierrez, Jr. dis-

closed they are now crafting the guidelines for the new scheme. The e-pharmacy, however, he said, will still be required to have an office address as well as to identify the warehouse where their drugs are being sourced from

in order to be allowed to operate. “So this will be more or less our direction in FDA. We will release the draft guidelines for public comments,” Gutierrez said in a televised interview on Wednesday.

The FDA official stressed e-pharmacy will only be allowed to sell overthe-counter drugs. “This is because the advertising and offering of prescription drugs for sale online is prohibited,” Gutierrez said. Samuel P. Medenilla

Women workers now get higher pay than men—PHL stats agency continued from a2 lignite; extraction of crude petroleum and natural gas; and other mining and quarrying. The list of high-paying jobs are that of production supervisors and general foreman engaged in electricity, gas, steam, and air conditioning supply received an average of P48,502 a month, making them in the top five. Other occupations under Information and Communications Technology (ICT) were also included in the top 10 highest paid jobs. This includes software developers in medical transcription activities at P48,000. The list of high-paying ICT jobs in-

clude system analysts at P47,337 and electronics engineers at P45,331 both in computer programming, consultancy, and related activities; information services activities. “Statistics on wage rates are useful economic indicators and inputs to wage, income, productivity and price policies, and wage fixing in collective bargaining. Occupational wage rates are used to measure wage differences across occupations and industries, specifically wage differentials and wage inequality in typically low wage and high wage occupations,” PSA explained. “Industry data on basic pay and al-

lowances can be used to measure wage differentials across industries, for investment decisions and as reference in periodic adjustments of minimum wages. The wage data collected from the OWS can be used for international comparability as the industry codes and occupation codes used in the survey are the current standard codes used internationally,” it added. The 2020 Occupational Wages Survey (OWS) is a nationwide survey of establishments which employ 20 or more workers. It is conducted every two years to monitor the wage rates of two benchmark occupations and at

most 11 occupations in each of the predetermined 55 out of the 71 industries. In addition to the two benchmark occupations i.e., (1) accounting and bookkeeping clerks; and (2) unskilled workers (except janitors, messengers, and freight handlers), a total of 190 industry-specific occupations were monitored for 2020 OWS. The reference period for the 2020 OWS covers the pay period that includes August 31, 2020. The main topics covered by the survey include occupational wage rates, median basic pay and median allowance of timerated workers on full-time basis.

25 partnerships with government agencies, counterpart competition authorities, and other organizations. The commission’s MOA with NPC marks the first institutional collaboration for 2022.

BusinessMirror

Thursday, February 10, 2022

ESTABLISHMENT / ADDRESS No.

NAME OF FOREIGN NATIONAL , POSITION AND BRIEF DESCRIPTION

ESTABLISHMENT / ADDRESS QUALIFICATION AND SALARY RANGE

No.

AMAZON OPERATION SERVICES PHILIPPINES, INC. B21 Three E-com Moa Complex, Harbour Drive Cor. Bay Shore, Brgy. 076, Pasay City

NGUYEN LE CAM NHUNG Catalog Specialist 1

Brief Job Description: Drives projects and initiatives, collating qa data and proactively providing quality updates to the leadership team. Research and evaluate facts surrounding transactions, identify process deviations with respect to program level defects by conducting audits. Communicates with external customers, financial institutions during the audit process.

Basic Qualification: Proficient in English and Vietnamese (speaking, reading and writing) with an ability to compose grammatically correct, concise and accurate verbal and written responses. Intermediate skill in Microsoft office including outlook, word, excel and MS SharePoint / sql. knowledge of or experience in working with databases. Good process acumen to develop strategic policies to ensure to invent and simplify the process further.

10.

11.

Basic Qualification: Fluency in Mandarin language Salary Range: Php 30,000 - Php 59,999

12.

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

HERMAWAN Chinese Customer Service Brief Job Description: Managing incoming calls and customer service inquires INDRA GUNAWAN Chinese Customer Service Brief Job Description: Managing incoming calls and customer service inquires SUSAN Chinese Customer Service Brief Job Description: Managing incoming calls and customer service inquires

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

13.

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

Brief Job Description: Look for prospective clients of Bank of Taiwan; disseminate information and promote Bank of Taiwan’s products; accomplish duties as allocated or as the situation dictates

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

14.

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

Basic Qualification: Master’s degree holder in finance and investments; at least 25 years of work experience in banking industry; at least 5 years of experience with a local bank in Taiwan

Brief Job Description: Responsible for leading sales teams to reach sales targets.

15.

16. Basic Qualification: Must have an experience on selling machines, can’t speak English and Chinese Salary Range: Php 60,000 - Php 89,999

Brief Job Description: Collaboration with senior stakeholders to establish a comprehensive enterprise service management.

Brief Job Description: Assist the BL Asia Support Services Inc. Executive team in the prevention of any risk impacting operations, P&L, taxes or country statutory and legal requirements.

Basic Qualification: Ability to effectively communicate, both written and verbally (Thai language) Salary Range: Php 60,000 - Php 89,999

LAI, ZHONGYI Chinese Speaking Program Designer Brief Job Description: Assist/Help Customers, Give Customers Information about products and services

ZHOU, MEIQIN Chinese Speaking Program Designer Brief Job Description: Assist/Help Customers, Give Customers Information about products and services

Basic Qualification: With Atleast 6 Months Customer service experience Goodmin Oral Communication and Written Salary Range: Php 30,000 - Php 59,999 Basic Qualification: With Atleast 6 Months Customer service experience Goodmin Oral Communication and Written Salary Range: Php 30,000 - Php 59,999

ZENG, NIANXIANG Mandarin Speaking Customer Service Representative Brief Job Description: Delivering excellent customer service and managing the needs of customer through phone calls and emails ZHANG, QIKUN Mandarin Speaking Customer Service Representative Brief Job Description: Delivering excellent customer service and managing the needs of customer through phone calls and emails

Basic Qualification: Ability to communicate fluently in Mandarin Chinese with customers

23.

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

HUANG, AI-CHI Mandarin Speaking Customer Service Representative Brief Job Description: Manage incoming and outgoing calls, chats, and emails

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

PUDUKODU HARIHARAN, ANANTHASUBRAMANIAN Operations Head

FLASH EXPRESS SOFTWARE (PH) CO., LTD. INC. 11/f Cybersigma, Lawton Ave., Mckinley West, Fort Bonifacio, City Of Taguig

Brief Job Description: Management of operations and IT services in the Philippines

YANG, LILI People Shared Service Center Specialist

BONIFACIO LANDMARK HOTEL MANAGEMENT CORPORATION 2/f Gt Tower International, 6813 Ayala Ave. Cor. H.v. Dela Costa St., Bel-air, City Of Makati

18.

Brief Job Description: Responsible for general HR query management, employee data management, contracts generation and onboarding

YUE, WANLI Product System Specialist 19.

Brief Job Description: Monitor all aspects of a product lifestyle, including long/short-term product development and marketing.

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

Basic Qualification: job-relevant degree/ 5-10 yrs. supervisory/ managerial experience in logistics or operations/ multilingual

26.

20.

HAN, YI Site Technical Support- Mandarin Brief Job Description: Reporting urgent maintenance and repair tasks

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

Brief Job Description: Reporting urgent maintenance and repair tasks

LIU, QINGYUN Site Technical Support- Mandarin Brief Job Description: Reporting urgent maintenance and repair tasks

MAO, KEQI Site Technical Support- Mandarin Brief Job Description: Reporting urgent maintenance and repair tasks

QIN, QIUPING Site Technical Support- Mandarin Brief Job Description: Reporting urgent maintenance and repair tasks

QU, CHUAN Site Technical Support- Mandarin Brief Job Description: Reporting urgent maintenance and repair tasks

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

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

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

PENG, NANXI Mandarin Information System Analyst 27.

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

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

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

HU, XIAOZHOU Mandarin Customer Support Representative 28.

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

YU, CHUN Mandarin Customer Support Representative 29.

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

ZHANG, XIA Mandarin Customer Support Representative 30.

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

LE THI THANH HONG MI Vietnamese Customer Support Representative 31.

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

GRANDTECH SUPPORT SERVICES INC. 4/f U-2c One E-com Ctr. Bldg., Ocean Drive, Barangay 76, Pasay City

LIU, CHUNHONG Site Technical Support- Mandarin

LYU, DONG Mandarin Digital Marketing Officer

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

NAME OF FOREIGN NATIONAL , POSITION AND BRIEF DESCRIPTION

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

Basic Qualification: Minimum 15 years of managing off-shore operations in IT, Fluent in English, Hindi and Tamil

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

25.

Basic Qualification: Ability to communicate fluently in Mandarin Chinese with customers

17.

Basic Qualification: Bachelor’s degree in accounting, finance, economic or relevant field - a certified public accountant - an MBA/ MSC is also desirable proven experience as CFO or relevant role demonstrated excellence in the workplace - in depth knowledge of corporate financial law and risk management practices display a cohesive ability at interpersonal and communication, skills both verbally and written, excellent knowledge of data analysis and forecasting methods - ability to engage with staff at all levels of the organization and exercise sound judgment.

24.

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

Basic Qualification: Bachelor’s degree in information systems, business administration, or equivalent education or experience.

BL ASIA SUPPORT SERVICES INC. 3/f Pamcor Bldg., Pascor Drive, Santo Niño, City Of Parañaque

MORENO, AURORE VIRGINIE MARINE Country Financial Controller

Brief Job Description: Will be providing customer service email support for Spotify customer thru email/chat

22.

DUCEN INFOTEK INC. Unit 1605-1610 Hanston Square Bldg., #17 San Miguel Ave., Ortigas Center, San Antonio, City Of Pasig

BIPO SERVICE PHILIPPINES INC. 10/f South Tower, Sheridan, Rockwell Business Center, Highway Hills, City Of Mandaluyong

MALIK, KARTIK Senior Manager

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

DIGICHROM INC. Unit 2602 & 2603 26/f Pbcom Tower, 6795 Ayala Ave., Bel-air, City Of Makati

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

BGMTECH INDUSTRY CORP. #6085, Tatalon St., Ugong, City Of Valenzuela ZHAO, YAPING Sales Manager

HOMPRAYA, ORATHAI Advisor I, Email Support

21.

DAXIFA CORPORATION Mpire Center 93 West Avenue, Project 7, 1, Bungad, Quezon City

BANK OF TAIWAN - MANILA REPRESENTATIVE OFFICE U-1404 14/f Tower One Exchange Plaza, Ayala Triangle, Ayala Ave., Bel-air, City Of Makati

TANG, YUNG-HSING Representative

Basic Qualification: Extensive background in the preparation of pasties, breads, and desserts

No.

CRONYX INC. No. 4th-10th Flr. Yinhope Bldg., Dela Rama Cor. Zoili Hilario St., Seascape Village, Ccp Complex Subd. Zone 10, Barangay 76, Pasay City

BUDI LIM Investigation Specialist I

Brief Job Description: Responsible for all pastry products with International brand standard as Pastry Chef

QUALIFICATION AND SALARY RANGE

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

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

Brief Job Description: 1. Communicates effectively via email and/or telephone in both Mandarin and English language, with our customer base - buyers, merchants and internal customers. 2. Takes appropriate action to identify and help minimize the risk posed by fraud patterns and trend. 3. Consistently achieves/exceeds weekly productivity and quality standards.

ESTABLISHMENT / ADDRESS

NAME OF FOREIGN NATIONAL , POSITION AND BRIEF DESCRIPTION

VERGNOLE, NICOLAS ANDRE ROBERT DOMINIQUE Pastry Chef

www.businessmirror.com.ph

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

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

KAISER DYNASTY TRADING CORP. Unit 25d 2/f Zeta Ii Bldg., 191 Salcedo St., San Lorenzo, City Of Makati

32.

LUO, JIE Chinese Speaking Brand Marketing Specialist 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

BusinessMirror

www.businessmirror.com.ph

ESTABLISHMENT / ADDRESS No.

ESTABLISHMENT / ADDRESS

NAME OF FOREIGN NATIONAL , POSITION AND BRIEF DESCRIPTION

QUALIFICATION AND SALARY RANGE

LOVE TRAVEL AGENCY, INC. 2f-9 Gateway Bldg., Cartimar, Taft Ave., Barangay 39, Pasay City

LIU, LI-TZU Mandarin Speaking-finance Assistant 33.

Brief Job Description: Process and prepare financial business...; help oversee and manage accounts; create, send and follow up invoices

Basic Qualification: Excellent in written and verbal communication skills in Mandarin; w/ at least 6 months finance asst. Salary Range: Php 30,000 - Php 59,999

MAERSK GLOBAL SERVICE CENTRES (PHILIPPINES) LTD. Levels 6-8 North Wing, Estancia Offices, Capitol Commons, Meralco Ave., Oranbo, City Of Pasig

34.

ROA SALCEDO, ALIZHYA MARIA Lam Collections Team Leader Brief Job Description: Accountable for managing people, setting direction and developing resources

MARIN SANTIAGO, DIEGO ALEJANDRO Ptp Analyst - Spanish Speaker

35.

Brief Job Description: • Receive and check the invoices received from the vendors of Uruguay. Process posting and prepare for payment the approved invoices. • Receive calls from the vendors of Spain and LAM that have inquiries regarding the pending payments in our side. Check the correct payment process of the invoices processed and solve in case any issue show up along the payment process. • Reconcile the Statements of account that the vendors send in order to double check and confirm the same information in our system.

No.

45.

46.

47.

Basic Qualification: Leads and manages employees and sets priorities to ensure task completion Salary Range: Php 30,000 - Php 59,999 Basic Qualification: • Bachelor’s Degree holder. Minimum 6 years relevant experience in Customer Service, Tender, Sales and Performance Management Experience in handling Customer Service transactions/ processes and dealing with direct customers preferred • Good verbal and written English skills for co-ordination with Shipper, warehouse, carriers, end customers. Ability to work under pressure - with high sense of urgency • Detail oriented - ability to perform processes as per pre-defined design. With strong Customer Service Mindset Salary Range: Php 30,000 - Php 59,999

48.

49.

50.

51.

52.

MARCOPAY INC. 8th Floor Three/neo Building, 3rd Avenue Corner 30th Street, Bgc, Fort Bonifacio, City Of Taguig

36.

FUJIOKA, TOSHIAKI President/CEO Brief Job Description: Lead the company and report to the board of directors and its committees.

Basic Qualification: Proficient in Japanese and English background in the shipping industry.

53.

Salary Range: Php 150,000 - Php 499,999 54.

MEGA-WEB TECHNOLOGIES INC. 6,7,8,9,10,11/f Met Live Bldg., Edsa Cor. Macapagal Blvd., Barangay 76, Pasay City

37.

SIA KWANG EU Mandarin Speaking Customer Relations Service Provider Brief Job Description: Responsible for handling service support calls

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

MF CONSULTANCY MANAGEMENT SERVICES INC. Unit 1001 10/f Antel 2000 Corporate Centre, 121 Valero St., Bel-air, City Of Makati

38.

KANG, XIZHAO Consultant Brief Job Description: To share her expertise and knowledge to help business attain goals and solve problems.

55.

56.

Basic Qualification: With strong leadership and interpersonal skills Salary Range: Php 30,000 - Php 59,999

57.

MHI POWER TECHNICAL SERVICES CORPORATION 27/f Robinsons Cybergate Center, Tower 3, Pioneer St., City Of Mandaluyong

39.

KADOSAKI, KIYOTOSHI Technical Supervisor (Japanese National) Brief Job Description: Supervisor for 3d design work for layout & piping.

Basic Qualification: College grad. With more than 20 yrs. Of work experience (inclusive managerial experience) Salary Range: Php 90,000 - Php 149,999

MINDSCAPE CREATIVES INC. Unit 19-o, Burgundy Corporate Tower, 252 Sen. Gil Puyat Ave., Pio Del Pilar, City Of Makati

40.

ZHAN, WEI Mandarin Operations Specialist Brief Job Description: Committed to improving customer experience and operational efficiency

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

41.

42.

43.

44.

Brief Job Description: Managing incoming calls and customer service inquiries BUSTINA Chinese Customer Service Brief Job Description: Managing incoming calls and customer service inquiries

CAO NGUYEN HOAI PHONG Chinese Customer Service Brief Job Description: Managing incoming calls and customer service inquiries

CHAN KWONG THAI Chinese Customer Service Brief Job Description: Managing incoming calls and customer service inquiries

59.

60.

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

MOA CLOUDZONE CORP. 4th-11th Flr. Nexgen Tower, C4 Rd. Edsa Ext., Barangay 76, Pasay City AMRAN Chinese Customer Service

58.

61.

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

62.

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

63.

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

64.

65.

NAME OF FOREIGN NATIONAL , POSITION AND BRIEF DESCRIPTION CHIA CHENG HAO Chinese Customer Service Brief Job Description: Managing incoming calls and customer service inquiries CHIN JIA SON Chinese Customer Service Brief Job Description: Managing incoming calls and customer service inquiries CHONG YEE SEN Chinese Customer Service Brief Job Description: Managing incoming calls and customer service inquiries DANG THI THUY NHIEN Chinese Customer Service Brief Job Description: Managing incoming calls and customer service inquiries DUAN, WEIDONG Chinese Customer Service Brief Job Description: Managing Incoming calls and customer service inquiries GAN JIONG HAU Chinese Customer Service Brief Job Description: Managing incoming calls and customer service inquiries GAN LI LING Chinese Customer Service Brief Job Description: Managing incoming calls and customer service inquiries GAO, FUYIN Chinese Customer Service Brief Job Description: Managing incoming calls and customer service inquiries GE, YI Chinese Customer Service Brief Job Description: Managing Incoming calls and customer service inquiries GRACE KHOR WOOI SEE Chinese Customer Service Brief Job Description: Managing incoming calls and customer service inquiries HA VAN TAN Chinese Customer Service Brief Job Description: Managing incoming calls and customer service inquiries HAN, ZHIYANG Chinese Customer Service Brief Job Description: Managing incoming calls and customer service inquiries HOANG BE LAN Chinese Customer Service Brief Job Description: Managing incoming calls and customer service inquiries HOANG QUOC TUYEN Chinese Customer Service Brief Job Description: Managing incoming calls and customer service inquiries HOANG VAN DAM Chinese Customer Service Brief Job Description: Managing incoming calls and customer service inquiries HOANG VAN TRUONG Chinese Customer Service Brief Job Description: Managing incoming calls and customer service inquiries HU, SIYUAN Chinese Customer Service Brief Job Description: Managing incoming calls and customer service inquiries KELVIN CHIA YONG KIAN Chinese Customer Service Brief Job Description: Managing incoming calls and customer service inquiries LAE LAE YIN Chinese Customer Service Brief Job Description: Managing incoming calls and customer service inquiries LAND JAW HTOI SAN JA Chinese Customer Service Brief Job Description: Managing incoming calls and customer service inquiries

LE THI ANH THU Chinese Customer Service Brief Job Description: Managing incoming calls and customer service inquiries

Thursday, February 10, 2022

ESTABLISHMENT / ADDRESS QUALIFICATION AND SALARY RANGE Basic Qualification: Able to speak, Read, and Write Chinese language

No.

66.

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

67.

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

68.

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

69.

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

70.

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

71.

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

72.

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

73.

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

74.

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

75.

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

76.

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

77.

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

78.

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

79.

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

80.

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

81.

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

82.

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

83.

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

84.

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

85.

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

86.

NAME OF FOREIGN NATIONAL , POSITION AND BRIEF DESCRIPTION LE THI MY HA Chinese Customer Service Brief Job Description: Managing incoming calls and customer service inquiries LE THI THU BA Chinese Customer Service Brief Job Description: Managing incoming calls and customer service inquiries LEI, YUANKE Chinese Customer Service Brief Job Description: Managing incoming calls and customer service inquiries LIU, YANGYANG Chinese Customer Service Brief Job Description: Managing incoming calls and customer service inquiries LUO, ZHILIN Chinese Customer Service Brief Job Description: Managing Incoming calls and customer service inquiries NGUYEN THANH DAT Chinese Customer Service Brief Job Description: Managing incoming calls and customer service inquiries NGUYEN THI CAM TU Chinese Customer Service Brief Job Description: Managing incoming calls and customer service inquires NGUYEN THI YEN Chinese Customer Service Brief Job Description: Managing incoming calls and customer service inquiries NONG VAN VIET Chinese Customer Service Brief Job Description: Managing incoming calls and customer service inquires PAN, LEIXUAN Chinese Customer Service Brief Job Description: Managing incoming calls and customer service inquiries PHAM MINH DUC Chinese Customer Service Brief Job Description: Managing incoming calls and customer service inquires PHAM MINH HIEU Chinese Customer Service Brief Job Description: Managing incoming calls and customer service inquires PHAM NHAT THONG Chinese Customer Service Brief Job Description: Managing incoming calls and customer service inquiries PHAM QUANG LOC Chinese Customer Service Brief Job Description: Managing incoming calls and customer service inquires PHUNG THI THUY Chinese Customer Service Brief Job Description: Managing incoming calls and customer service inquiries PHYO SU AUNG Chinese Customer Service Brief Job Description: Managing incoming calls and customer service inquiries QIN, LIWU Chinese Customer Service Brief Job Description: Managing incoming calls and customer service inquiries RAUGINIA CHEAK YUH CHEAU Chinese Customer Service Brief Job Description: Managing incoming calls and customer service inquiries REESE TAN LIP HUE Chinese Customer Service Brief Job Description: Managing incoming calls and customer service inquiries SIM YUN KHENG Chinese Customer Service Brief Job Description: Managing incoming calls and customer service inquires TANG CHIN LIM Chinese Customer Service Brief Job Description: Managing incoming calls and customer service inquires

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

BusinessMirror

Thursday, February 10, 2022

ESTABLISHMENT / ADDRESS No.

87.

88.

89.

90.

91.

92.

93.

94.

NAME OF FOREIGN NATIONAL , POSITION AND BRIEF DESCRIPTION TEOW BOON PING Chinese Customer Service Brief Job Description: Managing incoming calls and customer service inquiries TJHIA JUANITA Chinese Customer Service Brief Job Description: Managing incoming calls and customer service inquiries WANG, BIAO Chinese Customer Service Brief Job Description: Managing incoming calls and customer service inquiries ZENG, JIEWEN Chinese Customer Service Brief Job Description: Managing incoming calls and customer service inquiries ZHANG, YANFANG Chinese Customer Service Brief Job Description: Managing incoming calls and customer service inquiries ZHOU, LIYAO Chinese Customer Service Brief Job Description: Managing incoming calls and customer service inquiries ZHOU, ZHAOBO Chinese Customer Service Brief Job Description: Managing incoming calls and customer service inquiries ZHU, HEYONG Chinese Customer Service Brief Job Description: Managing incoming calls and customer service inquiries

ESTABLISHMENT / ADDRESS QUALIFICATION AND SALARY RANGE Basic Qualification: Able to speak, read, and write Chinese language Salary Range: Php 30,000 - Php 59,999

95.

96.

Brief Job Description: Provide product/services, information, answer questions and resolve emerging problems

LINDA Indonesian Customer Service Representative Brief Job Description: Provide product/services, information, answer questions and resolve emerging problems

97.

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

GAO, BIN Chinese Customer Service 98.

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

GAO, ZHENGYAN Chinese Customer Service 99.

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

GONG, XIAOPENG Chinese Customer Service 100.

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

GUO, WANLI Chinese Customer Service 101.

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

HU, GUOQIANG Chinese Customer Service 102.

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

HU, HONGYING Chinese Customer Service 103.

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

105.

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

106.

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

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

KEDAAMA Chinese Customer Service 107.

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

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

JIANG, HUI Chinese Customer Service

Basic Qualification: Able to speak, Read, and Write Chinese language

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

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

HUANG, LYUWEI Chinese Customer Service

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

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

LE VIET TIEP Chinese Customer Service 108.

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

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

Salary Range: Php 30,000 - Php 59,999 LI, RENHAI Chinese Customer Service 109. Basic Qualification: Graduate of bachelor degree, willing to work in high pressure environment Salary Range: Php 30,000 - Php 59,999 Basic Qualification: Graduate of bachelor degree, willing to work in high pressure environment

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

LI, WEN Chinese Customer Service 110.

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

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

NEW ORIENTAL CLUB88 CORPORATION 3rd, 5th, 6th, 7th, 8th, 9th & 10th/f, Pearl Marina Building Pacific Drive, Don Galo, City Of Parañaque

DONG, HAOZHE Chinese Customer Service

104.

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

NAME OF FOREIGN NATIONAL , POSITION AND BRIEF DESCRIPTION

HU, QIANG Chinese Customer Service

Basic Qualification: Able to speak, Read, and Write Chinese language

MPOTECH DIGITAL SYSTEM INC. 2/f 331 Bldg., Sen. Gil Puyat Ave., Bel-air, City Of Makati

FEBRY ARISKAYANI Indonesian Customer Service Representative

No.

111.

Basic Qualification: College graduate, preferably 1 year experience in the similar field, speaks and write fluently (Native language) Salary Range: Php 30,000 - Php 59,999

112.

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

LIU, GUANLONG Chinese Customer Service

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

Salary Range: Php 30,000 - Php 59,999 Basic Qualification: College graduate, preferably 1 year experience in the similar field, speaks and write fluently (Native language)

Brief Job Description: Managing Incoming calls and customer service inquiries

LIU, BAOJUN Chinese Customer Service

Basic Qualification: College graduate, preferably 1 year experience in the similar field, speaks and write fluently (Native language)

LIANG, JIE Chinese Customer Service

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

LIU, WENJIE Chinese Customer Service 114.

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

Salary Range: Php 30,000 - Php 59,999 Basic Qualification: College graduate, preferably 1 year experience in the similar field, speaks and write fluently (Native language)

LIU, YANG Chinese Customer Service 115.

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

Salary Range: Php 30,000 - Php 59,999 Basic Qualification: College graduate, preferably 1 year experience in the similar field, speak and write fluently (native language & English)

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

ESTABLISHMENT / ADDRESS QUALIFICATION AND SALARY RANGE Basic Qualification: College graduate, preferably 1 year experience in the similar field, speak and write fluently (native language & English)

No.

118.

Salary Range: Php 30,000 - Php 59,999 Basic Qualification: College graduate, preferably 1 year experience in the similar field, speak and write fluently (native language & English)

119.

120.

LIU, YUQUAN Chinese Customer Service 116.

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

LU, BEIBEI Chinese Customer Service 117.

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

FAN, JIN-XIANG Taiwanese Customer Service 121.

Salary Range: Php 30,000 - Php 59,999 Basic Qualification: College graduate, preferably 1 year experience is the similar filed, Speaks and write fluently (native language and English)

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

KUAN LAN FAH Malaysian Customer Service

Salary Range: Php 30,000 - Php 59,999 Basic Qualification: College graduate, preferably 1 year experience in the similar field, speak and write fluently (native language & English)

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

MAO, GUANGXIN Chinese Customer Service

Salary Range: Php 30,000 - Php 59,999 Basic Qualification: College graduate, preferably 1 year experience in the similar field, speak and write fluently (native language & English)

NAME OF FOREIGN NATIONAL , POSITION AND BRIEF DESCRIPTION

MA, LIANG Chinese Customer Service

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

DINH TU VUNG Vietnamese Customer Service 122.

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

Salary Range: Php 30,000 - Php 59,999 Basic Qualification: College graduate, preferably 1 year experience is the similar filed, Speaks and write fluently (native language and English)

HOANG PHOI PHUNG Vietnamese Customer Service 123.

Salary Range: Php 30,000 - Php 59,999 Basic Qualification: College graduate, preferably 1 year experience is the similar filed, Speaks and write fluently (native language and English)

124.

Salary Range: Php 30,000 - Php 59,999 Basic Qualification: College Graduate , Preferably 1 year experience in the similar field, Speaks and write fluently (Native Language and English)

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

LE ANH TUAN Vietnamese Customer Service 125.

Salary Range: Php 30,000 - Php 59,999 Basic Qualification: College graduate, preferably 1 year experience in the similar field, speak and write fluently (native language & English)

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

HOANG QUOC ANH Vietnamese Customer Service

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

LE XUAN KHUONG Vietnamese Customer Service 126.

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

Salary Range: Php 30,000 - Php 59,999 Basic Qualification: College graduate, preferably 1 year experience in the similar field, speak and write fluently (native language & English)

127.

Salary Range: Php 30,000 - Php 59,999 Basic Qualification: College graduate, preferably 1 year experience in the similar field, speak and write fluently (native language & English)

128.

Salary Range: Php 30,000 - Php 59,999 Basic Qualification: College graduate, preferably 1 year experience in the similar field, speak and write fluently (native language & English)

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

Basic Qualification: College graduate, preferably 1 year experience in the similar field, speak and write fluently (native language & English) Salary Range: Php 30,000 - Php 59,999

Brief Job Description: Managing Incoming calls and customer service inquiries

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

NGUYEN HUU LOC Vietnamese Customer Service 129.

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

Basic Qualification: College graduate, preferably 1 year experience in the similar field, speak and write fluently (native language & English)

LIEU THE HONG LOAN Vietnamese Customer Service

NGO THI LOC Vietnamese Customer Service

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

PHAN VAN CHIEN Vietnamese Customer Service 130.

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

Basic Qualification: College graduate, preferably 1 year experience in the similar field, speak and write fluently (native language & English)

www.businessmirror.com.ph

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

QUALIFICATION AND SALARY RANGE Basic Qualification: College graduate, preferably 1 year experience in the similar field, speak and write fluently (native language & English) Salary Range: Php 30,000 - Php 59,999 Basic Qualification: College graduate, preferably 1 year experience in the similar field, speak and write fluently (native language & English) Salary Range: Php 30,000 - Php 59,999 Basic Qualification: College graduate, preferably 1 year experience in the similar field, speak and write fluently (native language & English) Salary Range: Php 30,000 - Php 59,999 Basic Qualification: College graduate, preferably 1 year experience in the similar field, speaks and write fluently (Native language) Salary Range: Php 30,000 - Php 59,999 Basic Qualification: College graduate, preferably 1 year experience in the similar field, speaks and write fluently (Native language) Salary Range: Php 30,000 - Php 59,999 Basic Qualification: College graduate, preferably 1 year experience in the similar field, speaks and write fluently (Native language) Salary Range: Php 30,000 - Php 59,999 Basic Qualification: College graduate, preferably 1 year experience in the similar field, speak and write fluently (native language & English) Salary Range: Php 30,000 - Php 59,999 Basic Qualification: College graduate, preferably 1 year experience in the similar field, speak and write fluently (native language & English) Salary Range: Php 30,000 - Php 59,999 Basic Qualification: College graduate, preferably 1 year experience is the similar filed, Speaks and write fluently (native language and English) Salary Range: Php 30,000 - Php 59,999 Basic Qualification: College graduate, preferably 1 year experience is the similar filed, Speaks and write fluently (native language and English) Salary Range: Php 30,000 - Php 59,999 Basic Qualification: College graduate, preferably 1 year experience in the similar field, speak and write fluently (native language & English) Salary Range: Php 30,000 - Php 59,999 Basic Qualification: College graduate, preferably 1 year experience in the similar field, speak and write fluently (native language & English) Salary Range: Php 30,000 - Php 59,999 Basic Qualification: College graduate, preferably 1yr experience in the similar field, speak and write fluently (native language and english) Salary Range: Php 30,000 - Php 59,999

PHARMCLE PHILIPPINES INC. Unit 1103 Capital House 34th Street Corner 9th Avenue, Bonifacio Global City, Fort Bonifacio, City Of Taguig KO, MISOON Marketing Manager 131.

Brief Job Description: To assist the President and Marketing team in developing and achieving sales and operating income targets

Basic Qualification: Korean who can speak English and Tagalog Salary Range: Php 30,000 - Php 59,999

PHILIPPINES FIBER OPTIC CABLE NETWORK LTD., INC. Unit 2802-2803, 28th Floor, The Podium, Adb Avenue, Wack-wack Greenhills, City Of Mandaluyong

BusinessMirror

www.businessmirror.com.ph

ESTABLISHMENT / ADDRESS No.

132.

133.

134.

NAME OF FOREIGN NATIONAL , POSITION AND BRIEF DESCRIPTION ZHU, ZHUOJIAN Admin Supervisor Brief Job Description: Provide Guidance and Support to Administration Staff to perform their duties effectively

ZHOU, YAN Assistant Manager Brief Job Description: Assisting the Manager in organizing planning and implementing strategy

LI, FENG Purchasing And Logistics Specialist Brief Job Description: Manage purchase and logistics operations and inventory system WANG, ZIWEI Senior Supervisor For Administration

135.

Brief Job Description: Supervise and Directs Assigned Professional and Administrative Support Staff Coordinates assigned activities with other divisions provides highly responsible and complex administrative support to assigned department

ESTABLISHMENT / ADDRESS QUALIFICATION AND SALARY RANGE Basic Qualification: Minimum of 3 yeras of working experience in the related field, fluent in Mandarin basic English

Basic Qualification: Minimum of 3 yeras of working experience in the related field, fluent in Mandarin basic English

136.

137.

Brief Job Description: Conducting research, survey and interview to gain understanding of the business.

HUANG, VINCENT CHENG-WEN Manager Brief Job Description: Manage the key account & build up directly relation with those key person.

149.

150.

151.

152.

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

153.

138.

Brief Job Description: Assume overall responsibility for developing the annual marketing plan for the organization, for strategic planning, market research programs, field force activities YOON, JAESEONG Marketing Communication Manager

139.

Brief Job Description: Responsible to organize research program for marketing, organize & direct marketing on a regular basis for review of strategy & group activities to promote marketing

Basic Qualification: With previous experience in marketing and connection in Korea, China, Japan, & Vietnam. Good command of English language. Salary Range: Php 90,000 - Php 149,999

154.

155.

140.

Brief Job Description: Attracts potential customers by answering product and service questions; suggesting information about other products and services. BUI THANH THAO Vietnamese Customer Service Representative

141.

Brief Job Description: Attracts potential customers by answering product and service questions; suggesting information about other products and services. CHU KY DONG Vietnamese Customer Service Representative

142.

Brief Job Description: Attracts potential customers by answering product and service questions; suggesting information about other products and services. DANG THI KIM YEN Vietnamese Customer Service Representative

143.

Brief Job Description: Attracts potential customers by answering product and service questions; suggesting information about other products and services. DINH NGOC TU Vietnamese Customer Service Representative

144.

Brief Job Description: Attracts potential customers by answering product and service questions: suggesting information about other products and services DOAN VAN THANH Vietnamese Customer Service Representative

145.

Brief Job Description: Attracts potential customers by answering product and service questions: suggesting information about other products and services HOANG DUC VIET Vietnamese Customer Service Representative

146.

Brief Job Description: Attracts potential customers by answering product and service questions: suggesting information about other products and services HOANG THI HOA Vietnamese Customer Service Representative

147.

Brief Job Description: Attracts potential customers by answering product and service questions: suggesting information about other products and services HUA QUANG THAO Vietnamese Customer Service Representative

148.

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

Basic Qualification: Fluent in Vietnamese (Verbal and written skills)

156.

157.

158.

159.

160.

161.

162.

163.

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

Brief Job Description: Attracts potential customers by answering product and service questions; suggesting information about other products and services NGUYEN TUAN DUY Vietnamese Customer Service Representative

164.

Brief Job Description: Attracts potential customers by answering product and service questions; suggesting information about other products and services NGUYEN VAN HOAI THANH Vietnamese Customer Service Representative

165.

Brief Job Description: Attracts potential customers by answering product and service questions; suggesting information about other products and services NGUYEN VAN HOAN Vietnamese Customer Service Representative

166.

Salary Range: Php 30,000 - Php 59,999 Basic Qualification: Fluent in Vietnamies (Verbal and Written SKills)

Brief Job Description: Attracts potential customers by answering product and service questions; suggesting information about other products and services NGUYEN TIEN THANH Vietnamese Customer Service Representative

Salary Range: Php 30,000 - Php 59,999 Basic Qualification: Fluent in Vietnamies (Verbal and Written SKills)

Brief Job Description: Attracts potential customers by answering product and service questions; suggesting information about other products and services. NGUYEN THI THUY Vietnamese Customer Service Representative

Salary Range: Php 30,000 - Php 59,999 Basic Qualification: Fluent in Vietnamies (Verbal and Written SKills)

Brief Job Description: Attracts potential customers by answering product and service questions; suggesting information about other products and services NGUYEN THI THU Vietnamese Customer Service Representative

Salary Range: Php 30,000 - Php 59,999 Basic Qualification: Fluent in Vietnamies (Verbal and Written SKills)

Brief Job Description: Attracts potential customers by answering product and service questions; suggesting information about other products and services NGUYEN THI THANH PHUONG Vietnamese Customer Service Representative

Salary Range: Php 30,000 - Php 59,999 Basic Qualification: Fluent in Vietnamies (Verbal and Written SKills)

Brief Job Description: Attracts potential customers by answering product and service questions; suggesting information about other products and services. NGUYEN THI KHUONG Vietnamese Customer Service Representative

Salary Range: Php 30,000 - Php 59,999 Basic Qualification: Fluent in Vietnamese (Verbal and written skills)

Brief Job Description: Attracts potential customers by answering product and service questions; suggesting information about other products and services NGUYEN THI BIEN Vietnamese Customer Service Representative

Salary Range: Php 30,000 - Php 59,999 Basic Qualification: Fluent in Vietnamese (Verbal and written skills)

Brief Job Description: Attracts potential customers by answering product and service questions: suggesting information about other products and services NGUYEN THANH TUNG Vietnamese Customer Service Representative

Salary Range: Php 30,000 - Php 59,999 Basic Qualification: Fluent in Vietnamese (Verbal and written skills)

Brief Job Description: Attracts potential customers by answering product and service questions; suggesting information about other products and services. NGUYEN QUANG TIEN Vietnamese Customer Service Representative

SOMI UNLIMITED SOLUTIONS, INC. 10/f Tower 2 Double Dragon Plaza Bldg., Edsa Corner Macapagal Ave. St. Zone 10, District 1, Barangay 76, Pasay City BUI MINH HAI Vietnamese Customer Service Representative

Brief Job Description: Attracts potential customers by answering product and service questions: suggesting information about other products and services NGUYEN HONG CHANH Vietnamese Customer Service Representative

Basic Qualification: Good command of English & Korean language; has previous experience in construction firm Salary Range: Php 60,000 - Php 89,999

Brief Job Description: Attracts potential customers by answering product and service questions; suggesting information about other products and services. NGUYEN HANG NGAN Vietnamese Customer Service Representative

SEA PINE CONSTRUCTION CORP. 6th Floor, R Magsaysay Center Roxas Blvd., Barangay 699, Malate, City Of Manila

KIM, TAE YOUNG Manager For Business Development

Brief Job Description: Attracts potential customers by answering product and service questions: suggesting information about other products and services NGO VAN NGOC Vietnamese Customer Service Representative

Basic Qualification: Lay-out strategy & implementation to align the board committee.

Basic Qualification: Manage department budget for operation and resources to achieve the sales goal.

Brief Job Description: Attracts potential customers by answering product and service questions: suggesting information about other products and services LUONG THI HUYEN NHUNG Vietnamese Customer Service Representative

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

Brief Job Description: Attracts potential customers by answering product and service questions; suggesting information about other products and services. LO CUONG MANH Vietnamese Customer Service Representative

Salary Range: Php 30,000 - Php 59,999 Basic Qualification: Minimum of 3 yeras of working experience in the related field, fluent in Mandarin basic English

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

LE VAN QUY Vietnamese Customer Service Representative

Salary Range: Php 30,000 - Php 59,999 Basic Qualification: Minimum of 3 yeras of working experience in the related field, fluent in Mandarin basic English

NAME OF FOREIGN NATIONAL , POSITION AND BRIEF DESCRIPTION LE THI DUNG Vietnamese Customer Service Representative

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

RUEY SHING REFRIGERATION EQUIPMENT PHILIPPINES CORPORATION 1706 E. Rodriguez Sr. Ave., 4, Immaculate Concepcion, Quezon City CHAO-YI, HSU General Manager

No.

Brief Job Description: Attracts potential customers by answering product and service questions; suggesting information about other products and services NGUYEN VAN QUYEN Vietnamese Customer Service Representative

167.

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

Thursday, February 10, 2022

ESTABLISHMENT / ADDRESS QUALIFICATION AND SALARY RANGE

Basic Qualification: Fluent in Vietnamese (Verbal and written skills)

No.

NAME OF FOREIGN NATIONAL , POSITION AND BRIEF DESCRIPTION

QUALIFICATION AND SALARY RANGE

NGUYEN VAN TUC Vietnamese Customer Service Representative 168.

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

Brief Job Description: Attracts potential customers by answering product and service questions; suggesting information about other products and services PHAM CONG NE Vietnamese Customer Service Representative

Basic Qualification: Fluent in Vietnamese (Verbal and written skills)

169.

Salary Range: Php 30,000 - Php 59,999 Basic Qualification: Fluent in Vietnamies (Verbal and Written SKills)

PHAM THI OANH Vietnamese Customer Service Representative 170.

Salary Range: Php 30,000 - Php 59,999 Basic Qualification: Fluent in Vietnamies (Verbal and Written SKills)

171.

172.

173.

174.

175.

176.

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

177.

178.

LI, SHIYONG Mandarin Customer Support Representative 179.

180. Basic Qualification: Fluent in Vietnamese (verbal and written skills)

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

Basic Qualification: Fluent in Vietnamese (verbal and written skills) Salary Range: Php 30,000 - Php 59,999

Basic Qualification: Fluent in Vietnamese (verbal and written skills) Salary Range: Php 30,000 - Php 59,999 Basic Qualification: Fluent in Vietnamese (verbal and written skills) Salary Range: Php 30,000 - Php 59,999 Basic Qualification: Fluent in Vietnamese (verbal and written skills) Salary Range: Php 30,000 - Php 59,999 Basic Qualification: Fluent in Vietnamese (verbal and written skills) Salary Range: Php 30,000 - Php 59,999 Basic Qualification: Fluent in Vietnamese (verbal and written skills) Salary Range: Php 30,000 - Php 59,999 Basic Qualification: Fluent in Vietnamese (verbal and written skills) Salary Range: Php 30,000 - Php 59,999 Basic Qualification: Fluent in Vietnamese (verbal and written skills) Salary Range: Php 30,000 - Php 59,999 Basic Qualification: Fluent in Vietnamese (verbal and written skills) Salary Range: Php 30,000 - Php 59,999 Basic Qualification: Fluent in Vietnamese (verbal and written skills) Salary Range: Php 30,000 - Php 59,999 Basic Qualification: Fluent in Vietnamese (verbal and written skills) Salary Range: Php 30,000 - Php 59,999

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

WJ GROUNDWATER PHILIPPINES CORP. 24/flr. Philamlife Tower, 8767 Paseo De Roxas, Bel-air, City Of Makati

181.

Salary Range: Php 30,000 - Php 59,999 Basic Qualification: Fluent in Vietnamese (verbal and written skills)

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

WU, NAN Mandarin Customer Support Representative

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

Basic Qualification: Fluent in Vietnamese (verbal and written skills)

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

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

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

Basic Qualification: Fluent in Vietnamese (Verbal and written skills)

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

Brief Job Description: Attracts potential customers by answering product and service questions; suggesting information about other products and services VU VAN MANH Vietnamese Customer Service Representative

Basic Qualification: Fluent in Vietnamese (verbal and written skills) Salary Range: Php 30,000 - Php 59,999

Brief Job Description: Attracts potential customers by answering product and service questions; suggesting information about other products and services VU THI THU TRANG Vietnamese Customer Service Representative

Salary Range: Php 30,000 - Php 59,999 Basic Qualification: Fluent in Vietnamese (verbal and written skills)

Brief Job Description: Attracts potential customers by answering product and service questions; suggesting information about other products and services VU NHAT THANH Vietnamese Customer Service Representative

Salary Range: Php 30,000 - Php 59,999 Basic Qualification: Fluent in Vietnamese (Verbal and written skills)

Brief Job Description: Attracts potential customers by answering product and service questions; suggesting information about other products and services VO THI HONG OANH Vietnamese Customer Service Representative

Salary Range: Php 30,000 - Php 59,999 Basic Qualification: Fluent in Vietnamese (verbal and written skills)

Brief Job Description: Attracts potential customers by answering product and service questions; suggesting information about other products and services TRAN THI LAN Vietnamese Customer Service Representative

Salary Range: Php 30,000 - Php 59,999 Basic Qualification: Fluent in Vietnamies (Verbal and Written SKills)

Brief Job Description: Attracts potential customers by answering product and service questions; suggesting information about other products and services TRAN MINH QUANG Vietnamese Customer Service Representative

Salary Range: Php 30,000 - Php 59,999 Basic Qualification: Fluent in Vietnamese (Verbal and written skills)

Brief Job Description: Attracts potential customers by answering product and service questions; suggesting information about other products and services TRAN HOANG KHIEM Vietnamese Customer Service Representative

Salary Range: Php 30,000 - Php 59,999 Basic Qualification: Fluent in Vietnamies (Verbal and Written SKills)

Brief Job Description: Attracts potential customers by answering product and service questions; suggesting information about other products and services PHAM THI THUY DUNG Vietnamese Customer Service Representative

Salary Range: Php 30,000 - Php 59,999 Basic Qualification: Fluent in Vietnamese (Verbal and written skills)

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

Basic Qualification: Fluent in Vietnamese (verbal and written skills)

Basic Qualification: BSC (Honour) & MBA Strategy/Finance

TURNER, PAUL FRANCIS General Manager Brief Job Description: Key Company Representative dewatering.

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

ZTE PHILIPPINES INC. Unit 1201 & 1202 12th Floor Fort Legend Towers, 3rd Ave. Corner 31st St., Fort Bonifacio, City Of Taguig

182.

Basic Qualification: Graduate of four year course.

CHEN, YINHAN Legal Manager Brief Job Description: Responsible for legal compliance in the company.

Salary Range: Php 30,000 - Php 59,999 *Date Generated: Feb 9, 2022

In the ad material of Notice of Filing of Application for Alien Employment Permits published on December 04, 2021, the name of ALUM, EMILY HELENE MINH THU under CGI (PHILIPPINES) INC., should have been read as AALUM, EMILY HELENE MINH THU and not as published.

Basic Qualification: Fluent in Vietnamese (verbal and written skills)

Any person in the Philippines who is competent, able and willing to perform the services for which the foreign national is desired may file an objection at DOLE National Capital Region located at DOLE-NCR Building, 967 Maligaya St., Malate Manila, within 30 days after this publication.

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

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

Basic Qualification: Fluent in Vietnamese (verbal and written skills) Salary Range: Php 30,000 - Php 59,999

ATTY. SARAH BUENA S. MIRASOL REGIONAL DIRECTOR

A10 Thursday, February 10, 2022

TheWorld BusinessMirror

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

Macron: Putin told me Russia will not escalate Ukraine crisis C

Australia, Lithuania to unite in countering China pressures

By Sylvie Corbet & Dasha Litvinova

The Associated Press

YIV, Ukraine—French President Emmanuel Macron said Tuesday that Russian President Vladimir Putin told him that Moscow would not further escalate the Ukraine crisis. Macron also said it would take time to find a diplomatic solution to the rising tensions, which represent the biggest security crisis between Russia and the West since the Cold War. His remarks on a visit to Kyiv came as the Kremlin denied reports that he and Putin struck a deal on de-escalating the crisis. Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said that “in the current situation, Moscow and Paris can’t be reaching any deals.” Macron met with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy amid mounting fears of a Russian invasion. Moscow has massed over 100,000 troops near Ukraine’s borders, but insists it has no plans to attack. The Kremlin wants guarantees from the West that NATO will not accept Ukraine and other former Soviet nations as members, that it halt weapon deployments there and roll back its forces from Eastern Europe—demands the US and NATO reject as nonstarters. At a news conference after meeting Zelenskyy, Macron said Putin told him during their more than five-hour session Monday that “he won’t be initiating an escalation. I think it is important.” According to the French president, Putin also said there won’t be any Russian “permanent (military) base” or “deployment” in Belarus, where Russia had sent a large number of troops for war games. Peskov said withdrawing Russian troops from Belarus after the maneuvers was the plan all along. Zelenskyy said he would welcome concrete steps from Putin for de-escalation, adding he didn’t “trust words in general.” Macron also sought to temper expectations. “Let’s not be naive,” he said. “Since the beginning of the crisis, France hasn’t been inclined to exaggerate, but at the same time, I don’t believe this crisis can be settled in a few hours, through discussions” Zelenskyy called his talks with Macron “very fruitful.” “We have a common view with President Macron on threats and challenges to the security of Ukraine, of the whole of Europe, of the world in general,” Zelenskyy said. He said France was giving 1.2 billion euros ($1.3 billion) in financial aid to Ukraine and helping restore infrastructure in the

war-ravaged east of the country. Western leaders in recent weeks have engaged in high-level talks, and more are planned against the backdrop of military drills in Russia and Belarus. On Tuesday, the Russian Defense Ministry said that six amphibious landing ships were moving from the Mediterranean to the Black Sea for exercises and two Tu-22M3 long-range nuclear capable bombers flew another patrol over Belarus. Macron said he had not expected Putin to make any “gestures” Monday, saying his objective was to “prevent an escalation and open new perspectives.... That objective is met.” Macron said Putin “set a collective trap” by initiating the exchange of documents with the US. Moscow submitted its demands to Washington in the form of draft agreements that were made public, and insisted on a written response, which was then leaked. “In the history of diplomacy, there was never a crisis that has been settled by exchanges of letters which are to be made public afterward,” he said, adding that’s why he decided to go to Moscow for direct talks. Macron later flew to Berlin, where he briefed Polish President Andrzej Duda and German Chancellor Olaf Scholz, who said their stance was unified, with a joint goal “to prevent a war in Europe.” UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres was pleased to see the high level of diplomatic activity, spokesman Stephane Dujarric said. “The secretary‑general could not be clearer in the need to increase diplomatic activity to avoid any sort of escalation,” Dujarric said. Putin said after Monday’s meeting that the US and NATO ignored Moscow’s demands, but signaled readiness to continue talking. He also reiterated a warning that NATO membership for Ukraine could trigger a war between Russia and the alliance should Kyiv try to retake the Crimean Peninsula, which Moscow annexed in 2014. NATO, US and European leaders reject the demands that they say challenge NATO’s core principles, like shutting the door to Ukraine or other countries that might seek membership; but they have offered to discuss other Russian security concerns in Europe. US President Joe Biden has said any prospect of Ukraine entering

French President Emmanuel Macron, left, winks as he shakes hands with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy after a joint news conference following their talks in Kyiv, Ukraine on February 8. Diplomatic efforts to defuse the tensions around Ukraine continued on Tuesday with French President Emmanuel Macron arriving in Kyiv the day after hours of talks with the Russian leader in Moscow yielded no apparent breakthroughs. AP/Efrem Lukatsky

NATO “in the near term is not very likely,” but he and other alliance members and NATO itself refuse to rule out Ukraine’s future entry. Biden met Mond ay w it h Scholz, who also will travel to Kyiv and Moscow on February 14-15. They threatened Russia with grave consequences if it invaded, and Biden vowed that the Nord Stream 2 Russia-toGermany gas pipeline, which has been completed but is not yet operating, will be blocked. Such a move would hurt Russia economically but also cause energy supply problems for Germany. British Prime Minister Boris Johnson, in an article in the Times of London, also urged allies to finalize heavy economic sanctions that would take effect if Russia crosses into Ukraine. He said the U.K. is ready to bolster NATO forces in Latvia and Estonia as he prepared to meet the Lithuanian prime minister in London to show support for the Baltic nations. Johnson said he was considering dispatching R AF Typhoon fighters and Royal Nav y warships to southeastern Europe. Britain said Monday it is sending 350 troops to Poland to bolster NATO’s eastern f lank. It already has sent anti-tank weapons to Ukraine. More than 100 US military personnel arrived in Romania ahead of a deployment of about 1,000 NATO troops expected in the country in the coming days, Romania’s Defense Minister Vasile Dincu said. US officials have said that about 1,000 alliance troops will be sent from Germany to Romania, a NATO member since 2004. Romania borders Ukraine to the north. About 1,700 US soldiers from the 82nd Airborne are also going to Poland. US officials have portrayed the threat of an invasion of Ukraine as imminent—warnings Moscow has scoffed at, accusing Washington of fueling tensions. Russia and Ukraine have been locked in a bitter conflict since 2014, when Ukraine’s Kremlin-

friendly president was ousted, Moscow annexed Crimea and then backed a separatist insurgency in the east of the country. The fighting between Russia-backed rebels and Ukrainian forces has killed over 14,000 people. In 2015, France and Germany helped broker a peace deal, known as the Minsk agreements, that ended large-scale hostilities but failed to bring a political settlement of the conflict. The Kremlin has repeatedly accused Kyiv of sabotaging the deal, and Ukrainian officials in recent weeks said that implementing it would hurt Ukraine. After meeting Macron, Putin said without elaboration that some of the French president’s proposals could serve as a basis for a settlement of the separatist conflict, adding that they agreed to speak by phone after Macron’s visit to Kyiv. Peskov said such a call would take place “in the nearest future.” Macron said both Putin and Zelenskyy confirmed they were willing to implement the Minsk agreements—“the only path allowing to build peace ... and find a sustainable political solution.” Macron also said the presidential advisers of France, Germany, Russia and Ukraine will meet Thursday in Berlin on the next steps. “It will take time to get results,” he said. Zelenskyy was mum on where Ukraine stands on implementing the Minsk agreements and whether he assured Macron that Kyiv is committed to do so, saying only that his country views Thursday’s meeting “very positively” and hoped for a subsequent meeting by the four leaders. German Foreign Minister Annalena Baerbock, visiting the front line in eastern Ukraine’s Donbas region, said she wanted “to get an impression of what it means that we still have war in the middle of Europe.” Germany has given Ukraine about 1.8 billion euros in aid since 2014, part of which is helping those displaced by fighting. AP

Thailand’s central bank holds rates, warns of inflation risks

hailand’s central bank held off raising its benchmark interest rate to support a nascent economic recovery, even as it sees rising risks from inflation that has breached its target range. The Bank of Thailand’s ratesetting committee decided unanimously Wednesday to hold the key rate at a record-low 0.5 percent for a 14th straight meeting, as expected by all 24 economists in a Bloomberg survey. Economies globally are seeking

to navigate a recovery path between tenacious virus variants and inflation pressures, while Southeast Asia faces a particular risk to capital flows as the US Federal Reserve prepares to raise interest rates. Indonesia, which decides policy Thursday, has turned hawkish, while Singapore has tightened policy twice since October. The Thai bank “is likely to remain somewhat cautious about the economic outlook in the wake of rising Covid cases. However, its job will have become more

complicated” as price pressures build, said Mitul Kotecha, chief emerging markets Asia & Europe strategist at TD Securities in Singapore. “With inf lation rising and major central banks becoming more hawkish, pressure to shift policy will grow in the months ahead.” The baht was up 0.1 percent to 32.89 per dollar at 2:17 p.m. local time. The benchmark SET Index Stock extended the day’s gains to 1.3 percent, reaching its highest level since August 2019.

Prime Minister Prayuth ChanOcha’s government has resumed quarantine-free visa entry and planned talks on travel bubbles with China and Malaysia to revive its tourism industry. Meanwhile, it’s also controlling key food and fuel prices to help minimize inflation’s impact on consumers. Consumer prices accelerated by 3.23 percent in January, the fastest since last April and above the central bank’s 1 percent-3 percent policy target range for this year set in December. Bloomberg News

ANBERRA, Australia—The foreign ministers of Australia and Lithuania agreed Wednesday to step up cooperation on strategic challenges, in particular pressures from China. Lithuania’s Foreign Minister Gabrielius Landsbergis and his Australian counterpart Marise Payne met Wednesday at Parliament House. Australian exporters have lost tens of billions of dollars to official and unofficial Chinese trade barriers covering coal, wine, beef, crayfish and barley that have coincided with deteriorating relations with Beijing. Lithuania, a country of 2.8 million in the Baltic region, more recently drew Beijing’s ire after breaking with diplomatic custom by agreeing that Taiwan’s office in its capital Vilnius would bear the name Taiwan instead of Chinese Taipei, a term used by other countries to avoid offending Beijing. “For quite a while, Australia was probably one of the main examples where China is using economy and trade as a political instrument or, one might say, even as a political weapon,” Landsbergis said. “Now Lithuania joins this exclusive club...but it is apparent that we’re definitely not the last ones,” he added. Payne said she agreed with Landsbergis on the importance of like-minded countries working together with a consistent approach to maintaining the international rules-based order, free and open trade, transparency, security and stability. “There are many colleagues with whom the foreign minister [Landsbergis] and I work and engage on these issues...the more I think we are sending the strongest possible message about our rejection of coercion and our rejection of authoritarianism,” Payne said. Landsbergis welcomed Australia to World Trade Organization consultations over a complaint

by the European Union accusing Beijing of holding up goods—both from member nation Lithuania and from EU companies that use Lithuanian components—at China’s borders. “We need to remind countries like China or any other country that would wish to use trade as a weapon that like-minded countries across the globe...have tools and regulations that help withstand the coercion and not to give in to...political and economic pressures,” Landsbergis said. C h i nese Foreig n Mi n i st r y spokesperson Zhao Lijian said Tuesday that China was adhering to WTO rules in its dealings with Lithuania. “ The so-called ‘coercion’ of China against Lithuania is purely made out of thin air,” he said Tuesday. “China urges Lithuania to face up to the objective facts, mend its ways and come back to the right track of adhering to the one-China principle. It should stop confounding right with wrong and maliciously hyping things up, let alone trying to rope other countries in to gang up on China,” Zhao said. The one-China principle holds that Taiwan is part of China and the Communist government in Beijing is China’s sole legitimate government. Lithuania’s first embassy in the 31-year history of bilateral ties opened in Canberra on Wednesday. Lithuania also offered support for Australia reaching a free trade deal with the EU. Australia plans to open a trade office in Lithuania soon. Landsbergis said disruptions by China and Russia of the “global rules-based order” required an international response. “We have to act counter-disruptively. That means reassuring and strengthening our ties and, actually, this rules-based order that provides security for some of us and prosperity also for the others,” he added. AP

EU’s chip production plan aims to diminish dependency on Asia

RUSSELS—The European Union announced a $48 billion plan Tuesday to become a major semiconductor producer, seeking to curb its dependency on Asian markets for the component that powers everything from cars to hospital ventilators and game consoles. At a time when natural gas shortages and Europe’s reliance on Russia for energy shows the political risks of economic dependency, the 27-nation bloc is moving to boost its economic independence in the critical semiconductor sector with its Chips Act. “Chips are at the center of the global technological race. They are, of course, also the bedrock of our modern economies,” European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen said. The plan still needs the backing of the EU parliament and the member states. T he EU move m i r rors US President Joe Biden’s $52 billion push to invest in a national chip-producing sector to make sure more production occurs in the United States. As the economy has bounced back from the Covid-19 pandemic over the past year, there has been a supply chain bottleneck for semiconductors. In Europe, some consumers have had to wait up to almost a year to get a car because of a lack of spare parts. “The pandemic has also painfully exposed the vulnerability of its supply chains,” von der Leyen said. “We have seen that whole production lines came to a standstill.” “While the demand was increasing, we could not deliver

as needed because of the lack of chips,” she added. As a result, factory belt lines ground to a halt, some factories had to temporarily close and workers were left unemployed because of lack of electronic parts. Semiconductors are the tiny microchips that act as the brains for e ve r y t h i ng f rom s m a r t phones to cars, and an extended shortage has highlighted the importance of chipmakers, most of which are based in Asia, to global supply chains. Von der Leyen said Europe’s Chips Act will link research, design and testing and coordinate EU and national investment. The 43 billion euro plan pools public and private funds and allows for state aid to get the massive investments off the ground. The prospect of massive industrial subsidies at first seems like a blast from Europe’s past, when overreaching state involvement stifled creativity and kept ambitious newcomers out of the market. The EU itself has been trying to undo this over the past decades with rigorous vetting whether state aid was not impeding competition. The EU Commission promised that every Chips Act project will be carefully vetted on anticompetitive grounds, but that the sheer size of setting up production facilities demand a push if the bloc is to become a global player. “Europe needs advanced production facilities, which come, of course, with a huge upfront cost. We are therefore adapting our state aid rules,” said von der Leyen. AP

Agriculture/Commodities BusinessMirror

www.businessmirror.com.ph

Editor: Jennifer A. Ng • Thursday, February 10, 2022 A11

‘Odette’ reduces fertilizer supply in Visayas By Jasper Emmanuel Y. Arcalas @jearcalas

VER 8,000 50-kilogram (kg) bags of fertilizers worth nearly P13 million were damaged by Typhoon Odette, putting pressure on the country’s supply of the farm input, the Fertilizer and Pesticide Authority (FPA) said. FPA, an attached agency of the Department of Agriculture (DA), said licensed warehouses owned by nine fertilizer handlers in five regions were struck by Odette last December. “A total of 8,312 bags of fertilizers in different grades were among the assets damaged by the typhoon, accounting for around 415,600 kilograms of quality compromised fertilizer stocks in said provinces,” it said in a recent statement. “Handlers such as the Cardinal Farm Supply accounted for 4,492 bags in Surigao del Norte, while the Atlas Fertilizer Company accounted for 2,547 bags in Cebu and the Falcor Marketing Corporation 1,031 bags in Negros Occidental.” The FPA said it conducted the monitor ing of affected areas last December and released the

results last Monday. The agency pegged the estimated value of compromised fertilizers at P12.96 million. “The provinces of Surigao del Norte, Cebu City, and Negros Occidental constituted 97 percent of the total value with P6.45 million, P4.15 million, and P1.92 million, respectively,” it added. Based on FPA data, the typhoon damaged bags of ammonium sulphate, complete fertilizer and muriate of potash worth P2.79 million, P2.79 million, and P3.91 million, respectively. Odette also destroyed bags of urea valued at P1.64 million. “Despite the recorded damages, prices of fertilizers will not be affected, and the importation prices will still dictate their prices,” the FPA said. However, data released by the FPA showed that there is a shortage of fertilizer in Odette-affected provinces of Palawan, Negros Occidental, Cebu, Bohol, Leyte, Southern Leyte and Surigao del Norte. “Based on the current fertilizer stock inventory of January 24-28, 2022, all affected provinces have insufficient fertilizer to supply the estimated recommendation

A WORKER holds a handful of refined potash in a storage barn at the Nutrien Ltd. Cory potash mine in Saskatoon, Saskatchewan, Canada, on August 12, 2019. JAMES MACDONALD/BLOOMBERG

except for the Urea and Muriate of Potash [MOP] in Negros Occidental,” it said.

Based on FPA’s computation, the total recommended fertilizer in all affected provinces stood at 3.010

million 50-kilogram bags while total supply was only at 947,624 50-kilogram bags. The FPA based its

computations on the recommended fertilizer use per crop and current fertilizer stock inventory as of January 24 to 28. “To mitigate the problem, alternative sources of fertilization should be used. For Coconut, green manure like ipil-ipil and farm organic wastes such as manure of cattle, carabao, pig, goat, chicken, compost, and night soil can be used to replace part of the commercial fertilizer requirements,” the FPA said. “Coconut crown residues as organic fertilizer and nitrogen-fixing legumes can substitute for Ammonium Sulphate as N-sources while cocopeat and husk may used for chlorine,” the FPA added. The FPA said it is currently negotiating with China to secure a fertilizer supply deal to help Filipino farmers cope with the spike in the prices of fertilizer grades. Prices have more than doubled to P2,500 per 50-kg bag. The Philippines is offering to buy urea from China at $500 per metric ton, lower than prices quoted in Europe but higher compared to some China commodity exchanges. (Related story here: https://businessmirror.com. ph/2022/02/01/phl-talks-to-chinaon-fertilizers-as-prices-soar/).

Production of vegetables, root crops declined in 2021 DA offers grants to FCAs

HE country’s production of major vegetables and root crops fell in 2021, according to data from the Philippine Statistics Authority (PSA). PSA data indicated that potato output posted the steepest decline at 9.25 percent. Production last year dipped to 103,060 metric tons (MT) from 113,560 MT in 2020. Onion production posted the second steepest decline last year. Output contracted by about 5 percent to 218,050 MT from 229,540 MT. PSA data also showed that the output of cabbage and mongo last year fell by 4 percent year-onyear to 124,570 MT and 35,510

MT, respectively. Cassava declined by 1.82 percent to 2.56 million MT (MMT) from 2.607 MMT while sweet potato production fell slightly to 545,900 MT from 546,890 MT. PSA data also showed that eggplant production last year grew to 244,370 MT from 242,730 MT in 2020 while ampalaya output rose to 88,390 MT from 87,800 MT. Tomato production last year rebounded to 225,530 MT from 222,000 MT in 2020. Consumers saw higher vegetable prices in certain months last year as the country grappled with supply issues, such as rains brought

about by the habagat or southwest monsoon and typhoons. The BusinessMirror broke the story last August 2021 that certain vegetables in Metro Manila were more expensive than meat products. For example, cabbage was sold for P180 per kilogram (kg) to P300 per kg while the price of pechay ranged from P150 per kg to P270 per kg. At the time, the price of a whole dressed chicken in Metro Manila wet markets ranged from P125 per kg to P170 per kg. Last year, the DA projected that the country may suffer a 79-day shortage of vegetables. The supply shortfall for 2020 was estimated at about 434,840 MT.

Agriculture Secretary William D. Dar recently directed the agency’s regional field offices (RFOs) to ensure the smooth and efficient delivery of food products from provinces to major metropolitan markets. “We are enhancing production in areas and provinces around Metro Manila, such as Central Luzon, and creating a quadrant of food baskets around the NCR [National Capital Region],” he said. “[The] RFOs have been tasked to empower farmers’ cooperatives and associations to directly export their surplus fruits and vegetables to metro areas,” he added. Jasper Emmanuel Y. Arcalas

FAO unveils method for measuring rural poverty

HE Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) has published a report in collaboration with the Oxford Poverty and Human Development Initiative (OPHI), which introduces an innovative Rural Multidimensional Poverty Index (R-MPI). FAO noted that the majority of the world’s poor live in rural areas, but reliable and harmonized information on their numbers and conditions is difficult to come by. The R-MPI broadens existing methods for measuring rural poverty by taking a closer look at rural people’s capabilities: food security, the quality of their nutrition; their

education, and living standards. Moreover, FAO and OPHI added two key aspects affecting the life of rural dwellers in particular: access (or the lack thereof) to adequate agricultural assets and exposure to environmental and other risks and social protection. “Despite the fact that a range of poverty measures already exist and are commonly used, harmonized information on rural poverty, which could inform a sound and homogeneous measurement, is less readily available,” said FAO Chief Economist Maximo Torero Cullen said at the report’s launch. “The R-MPI includes innovative

indicators on the adequacy of agricultural assets ownership, rural social protection and risk exposure. In the application proposed in the report, the R-MPI makes use of innovations in the risk dimension, combining household survey with geospatial data.” The R-MPI builds on the notion that a single dimension, such as household income, does not accurately capture poverty in rural areas. It is now widely recognized that hardship means much more than an empty bank account. That notion is reflected in the Global Multidimensional Poverty Index (MPI), which was launched in

2010 by the United Nations Development Programme and OPHI and covered 109 countries and 5.9 billion people in 2021. The R-MPI, which expands the scope of the global MPI, also includes an innovative combination of geospatial and survey data that quantifies rural dwellers’ risks of exposure to drought, floods or heat waves. “The launch of this innovative Rural MPI is an important first step to shape the data environment and the discussion on how to continue to advance the understanding of rural poverty with the objective of ending it in all its forms and dimensions,” said Sabina Alkire, Director of OPHI.

eyeing cluster swine farming

HE Department of Agriculture (DA) said it will provide a P5.5-million grant to farmers’ cooperative and associations (FCAs) that would venture into cluster swine farming in Cagayan Valley. DA Regional Field Office (RFO) 2 Executive Director Narciso A. Edillo said eligible FCAs could get P5.5 million to jumpstart their pig production plans. The FCAs must be registered with the Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE), Cooperative Development Authority (CDA) or Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). “We are accepting FCAs that have the inclination and preference for swine repopulation provided they have the land component and have met the requirements as registered in DOLE, CDA or SEC and the grant of P5.5 million will be downloaded to them for building that cluster farm,” he said. “If you are really interested and you have an area, write to us. Send us your letter of intent.” Narciso said FCAs, such as agrarian reform beneficiaries, farmers associations, and indigenous peoples’ organizations, in African swine fever (ASF)-certified free areas and with tight biosecurity measures are eligible. “For Cagayan Valley, we have 103 clusters: 40 in Cagayan, 38 in Isabela; 15 in Nueva Vizcaya; 8 in Quirino and 2 for Batanes. It is very

important that they too, should have an adequate space a kilometer away from residence areas.” Narciso added that the DA-RFO 2 has also allocated P556.5 million for 103 clusters under its swine repopulation program and another P171 million for its sentinelling program, especially for backyard hog raisers. “[The] DA RFO 2 will also continue the sentineling program as the agency aggressively pushes the clustering as part of Integrated National Swine Production Initiatives for Recovery and Expansion,” he said. Narciso disclosed that the DARFO 2 had a recent virtual business meeting with Thailand-based Charoen Pokphand Foods for the supply of 1,600 ASF-free piglets for the region’s repopulation efforts. The DA has partnered with the private sector for the construction of a state-of-the-art sow breeder nucleus farm that will help accelerate the country’s pig repopulation efforts. Agriculture Secretary William D. Dar led the groundbreaking of a 5,000-sow level breeder nucleus farm of JG Agroventures Inc. and Pig Improvement Company (PIC) in Barangay Sta. Rita, Quezon, Nueva Ecija. (Related story: https://businessmirror.com.ph/2022/02/07/ da-local-agro-firms-want-to-accelerate-pig-repopulation/) Jasper Emmanuel Y. Arcalas

Soaring edible oil prices deal blow to India’s inflation fight T HE soaring cost of vegetable oils is an ever-growing threat to India’s efforts to bring inflation under control. Prices of palm oil, the most-consumed edible oil in the world, have jumped 15 percent this year to a record, while rival soybean oil has gained 12 percent, contributing to a surge in global food inflation to near all-time highs. The rally is putting a strain on India, the top buyer of palm, soybean and sunflower oils. Consumer food prices rose in December at the fastest pace in six months, squeezing household budgets and increasing pressure on Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s government which already provides food aid to 800 million people, or two-thirds of the population. The central government has taken steps to cool prices, including reduc-

ing import duties on palm, soybean oil and sunflower oil, and limiting inventories to prevent hoarding. Success has been muted because India’s moves stoked expectations of higher purchases, which further boosted international prices. India has limited options in the near term. Any further reduction in import duties won’t ease prices, said veteran trader Dorab Mistry, a director at Godrej International Ltd. The immediate solution is to import refined palm oil and sell through its public distribution system (PDS) at below market value, he said. Under the PDS, the government allocates mainly wheat and rice to the states for distribution. State governments “are free to add any item they deem fit from their budgets” to their PDS program, a spokesman for the food ministry said in response to

questions from Bloomberg News. A rise in global rates caused domestic edible oils to surge last year, but the federal government managed to bring down prices through several measures, including duty rationalization, he said. India is working on medium- to long-term plans to cut its dependence on imported edible oils, he added. Longer-term options for the government include building up reserves, boosting domestic production and allowing commercial cultivation of genetically modified (GMO) oilseed crops, according to traders and analysts.

State reserves

INDIA should build an edible oil reserve to insulate from any price spikes, said Gnanasekar Thiagarajan, head of trading and hedging

strategies at Kaleesuwari Intercontinental. This will allow the government to release supply in times of shortage, to soften prices and to curb speculation trading and hoarding. This would be similar to what China does with its massive stockpiles of crude oil, strategic metals and farm goods, according to Thiagarajan. Beijing doesn’t publicly publish information about the volumes it holds in its state reserves, but may release commodities in emergencies. India’s food stockpile is focused on grains like wheat and rice, which the country produces in abundance. It hasn’t been able to replicate that with edible oils as India relies on imports for 60% of its needs.

Boost production

INDIA is trying to boost domestic production to overcome its depen-

dence on imports. The government launched a $1.5 billion initiative called the National Mission on Edible Oils-Oil Palm last year to improve self-sufficiency. India aims to more than double crude palm oil output to 2.8 million tons by 2029-30 from an estimated 1.12 million tons in 2025-26, according to the Economic Survey prepared by the finance ministry. More land should also be diverted to grow soybeans, sunflower and rapeseed crops, said B.V. Mehta, executive director of the Solvent Extractors’ Association of India. The government will need to spend 50 billion rupees ($668 million) a year to boost oilseed output, he said. For this to happen, farmers will need to shift away from growing wheat and rice, where they’re guaranteed a minimum price for their

crops, the industry group said. It has pushed for a higher support price for oilseeds so that more farmers can be drawn toward oilseed cultivation. The land under winter crops has climbed to a record this year due to more sowing of oilseeds, the food ministry’s spokesman said. The oilseed crop area was estimated at about 10.3 million hectares (25.5 million acres) as of February 4, 23 percent higher from a year earlier, according to the farm ministry data. Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman said in her recent budget speech that the government is working on a plan to boost oilseed production. The spokesman for the food ministry said various ministries and departments are involved in ensuring food security and crop diversification. Bloomberg News

A12 Thursday, February 10, 2022 • Editor: Angel R. Calso

Opinion BusinessMirror

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editorial

Cross-border paperless trade to spur recovery

he Covid-19 pandemic has brought into the limelight digital solutions to business challenges created by mobility restrictions. Paperless trade across borders became an effective way to mitigate disruptions, enabling commerce to continue while limiting physical contact. Cross-border paperless trade has great potential to enhance competitiveness, as it addresses new challenges associated with the rise of the digital economy. The Framework Agreement on Facilitation of Cross-border Paperless Trade in Asia and the Pacific is the first multilateral agreement on cross-border paperless trade under the framework of the United Nations. It seeks to accelerate the implementation of digital trade facilitation measures in the region. Designed as an inclusive instrument accessible to countries at all levels of development to strengthen their capacity to engage in cross-border paperless trade, the treaty was adopted by the UN Economic and Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific (ESCAP) in May 2016. More than 25 countries worked together to develop the treaty, which is now open for accession to all 53 ESCAP members. Armenia and Cambodia signed it in 2017, Azerbaijan acceded in March 2018, the Philippines ratified it in December 2019, the Islamic Republic of Iran did the same in May 2020, Bangladesh acceded in October 2020, and China ratified the Agreement in November 2020. This inclusive and enabling treaty, which came into effect on February 20, 2021, will continue to enhance trade connectivity in the Asia-Pacific region as countries move to recover from the ravages of the pandemic. The Agreement covers the following: National trade facilitation policy framework and domestic legal environment; cross-border paperless trade facilitation and the development of a single window system; cross-border mutual recognition of electronic trade data and documents; international standards for electronic trade data and documents exchange; capacity building, pilot projects and exchange of experience. A recent report by the United Nations ESCAP said that East and Southeast Asia are leading the world in cross-border paperless trade, a move that has reduced time and costs for movement of goods in the region. The report, dubbed Digital and Sustainable Trade Facilitation: Global Report 2021, said the regions mentioned performed better in cross-border electronic exchange of trade-related documents, such as exchange of certificate of origin and sanitary and phytosanitary certifications (Read, “East, SE Asia lead paperless trade–UN report,” in the BusinessMirror, February 7, 2022). “This is due to the continued efforts to develop the Asean Single Window (ASW), which enables the cross-border electronic exchange of Customs declarations, certificates of origin and SPS certificates,” the report said. ASW is a regional initiative that seeks to expedite clearance and promote further economic integration among Asean members. There has been progress made in crafting laws and regulations for cross-border paperless trade, the report said, but the level of implementation remains “very low” for some regions. It noted that over 70 percent of the countries surveyed have taken steps to establish legal and regulatory frameworks for electronic transactions. Unfortunately, only 30 percent have “fully” put them in place. The UN agency urged countries to ramp up efforts for cross-border paperless trade given the potential benefits due to digitalization of trade procedures, amounting to $600 billion in the Asia-Pacific alone. “It is in the interest of all countries to work together and develop the regulatory framework and technical protocols needed for the seamless exchange of trade-related data and documents in electronic form along the international supply chain,” the report said, adding that paperless trade systems have aided the movement of goods across borders in the past two years as the pandemic restricted mobility. In addition, the pandemic has also accelerated the regional integration and use of Single Window initiatives in some regions to allow seamless trade flows. The UN is encouraging all ESCAP member-states to join the treaty as soon as possible. There is no deadline for acceding to the treaty, but doing so early on will ensure a seat at the table when the Parties formally discuss the implementation of priorities. The benefits of cross-border paperless trade multiply with the number of countries involved. So, the more countries on board, the larger the development gains for all. ESCAP said: “It is time to accelerate the bilateral and sub-regional paperless trade initiatives that have emerged across the Asia-Pacific region to build truly seamless and resilient supply chains as we recover together in the post-Covid era.”

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Vote for this candidate John Mangun

OUTSIDE THE BOX

he three broad issues for this election season are, in alphabetical order, corruption, economy, and foreign policy. All the rest are either side issues (Covid) or motherhood statements including “National Unity.” The idea that the pandemic must be fought with by building new government hospitals is fine. However, the country has needed more hospitals since forever. Further, the “friction” costs of any government project, particularly through waste and incompetence, cannot be avoided. The private sector is great at building hospitals because it is a business that always sees an increasing customer base and good profitability. What government should do is strengthen PhilHealth through additional funding and paying the hospital bills on time. But that does not make as emotional campaign slogan as “I will build more hospitals for you.” “National Unity” is a variation on the “Motherhood” statements.

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individual. He said this last week: “I’ve been doing this 30 years and I’ve never seen markets like this. This is a molecule crisis. We’re out of everything, I don’t care if it’s oil, gas, coal, copper, aluminum, you name it we’re out of it.” The broad DJ Commodity Index traded at 450 in 2015 versus 1,040 today. The DJ Commodity Industrial Metals traded at 87 in 2015 versus 197 today. The “soft” index of agriculture products has doubled since mid-2019. All the “job creation” and financial support for business that is supposedly coming will require more than good intentions. Whomever you are going to vote for will of course be the best choice as president. But I offer this small advice. Let’s try to find someone with these qualifications: Bachelor of Arts degree in economics, Master’s degree in economics, a PhD in economics, Chair of a university Economics Department, and with government experience the Department of Trade and Industry. It worked well the last time there was a global financial crisis. E-mail me at mangun@gmail.com. Follow me on Twitter @mangunonmarkets. PSE stock-market information and technical analysis provided by AAA Southeast Equities Inc.

Social media and bar exam disqualification

✝ Ambassador Antonio L. Cabangon Chua Publisher

It has always been popular in Latin American countries and in Africa, especially after the military takes over. “Unity” became fashionable in the West a few years ago and maybe is reaching a peak now as people riot in the streets over the Covid lockdowns. You can’t criticize a campaign for calling for Unity. But the reality is, “unity” has always meant agreeing with the powers that be whether religious leaders or the board of a homeowner’s association. Of course, governments want “unity” especially of thought. Corruption is definitely the “Big C” of campaign issues. And, of course, government/private sector collusion and corruption is part of why friction costs of government spending are so high. Bribes and payoffs to govern-

ment are to facilitate the awarding of contracts and over-priced/substandard deliveries. The most corrupt government entity is the US Congress. But no longer are bribes made in cash in plastic bags except for the stupid. Now it is a small card with a “hot tip” stock. Realistically, the only way to stop corruption of government spending is to stop government spending. Leading by example will not work. While a bad example, even Jesus of Nazareth had to put up with a Judas. The global economy is set for a big shakeup before the Philippine election. Inflation is rampant and Philippine numbers have been massaged to a new benchmark year. Our inflation is lower than most. But elsewhere, for a good example as any, Thailand’s consumer inflation (3.23 percent) is at a nine-year high. The scary part is that Thailand’s Producer Price Index, predicting future prices, is at 8.7 percent. This is much more than Covid and oil prices. This is about a massive global shortage of raw materials that does not impact the Philippines as much because we are not a big manufacturer and goods producer. But we do depend on other countries. Jeff Currie is an economist/Global Head of Commodities Research at Goldman Sachs and one serious

ccessing social media during lunch break of the bar exams inside the premises became disastrous to some examinees as they were disqualified for violating the Honor Code.

Aspiring lawyers are required to sign the Honor Code as part of the application process for the 20202021 bar exam. Under the Honor Code, the examinee acknowledges that the lawyer’s oath shall be applicable to him from the time he applies to become a lawyer. The examinee declares that he has not done and will not do any act that can be construed as cheating or dishonesty by the bar chairman or by the Supreme Court. The examinee also commits not to aid or tolerate anyone who attempts or commits any form of cheating or dishonesty before, during, and after the bar examinations. He commits to report and stand as witness to any act of dishonesty regarding the examinations. Failure on his part to comply with

these commitments may constitute grounds for his permanent disqualification for this and any future bar examinations. Supreme Court Associate Justice and Bar Chairman Marvic Leonen said that accessing social media during lunch break of the bar exams inside the premises is a violation of the honor code analogous to cheating. Also included in disqualified examinees are those who entered testing centers without disclosing that they had tested positive for Covid-19 and those who smuggled mobile phones inside examination rooms. “For now, reflect on what you have done, but know that you can still change your narrative. You will not end up as an examinee that lost your honor forever in your despera-

tion to pass an exam. Learn from your mistake, and earn your honor back,” Leonen said. The Supreme Court does not tolerate cheating in any form as shown in the case of 1974 bar hopeful Pedro Amparo (GR 000 July 18, 1975) who was guilty of bringing notes into the examination room and attempted to cheat. Amparo, in the course of the examination in Criminal Law, had possession of the piece of paper containing notes on the durations of penalties. The Court ruled that he knowingly violated Section 10, Rule 138 of the Rules of Court, which pertinently provides that “Persons taking the examination shall not bring papers, books or notes into the examination rooms.” Amparo’s defense is that the paper had been in his pocket a long time before the bar exam; that he had not changed his pants for three weeks; that when the first bell rang for the examination in Criminal Law, he was required to put “all his things” out of the room; that he forgot about the paper inside his pocket; that when he took out his handkerchief to wipe his sweat, the paper fell on the floor. He further argued that the notes had no “material use” to him in the sense that they bore no reference to

any question asked in the examination in Criminal Law. The Court ruled that he committed an overt act indicative of an attempt to cheat by reading the notes. The court also considered the other details: his refusal to surrender the paper containing the notes when first demanded; his eventual surrender of it only after he was informed that he would be reported; and the facts that the notes pertained to Criminal Law and the examination then in Criminal Law. This year’s bar is dubbed the “best bar ever” because it is so far the largest in history with 11,790 registered examinees for the combined 2020 and 2021 batches. These examinees have also been reviewing longer than any other bar examinees in the past, the examination having been postponed several times due to the pandemic. The Supreme Court implemented many changes. Unlike in the previous bar exams where good and legible handwriting is a big factor in passing, it is no longer dependent on penmanship since it was done digitally. The exams were not spread out in four consecutive Sundays in a month but in two days while the venues are scattered at 31 local testing sites See “Gorecho” A13

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Provincial bus operators’ bottom line sinks in the red

RCEP deferment: An opportunity to re-think trade policy Dr. Rene E. Ofreneo

LABOREM EXERCENS

Val A. Villanueva

Businesswise

rovincial bus operators are up in arms against Department of Transportation (DOTr) Secretary Arturo Tugade for his intransigence in enforcing the provincial bus ban along Edsa, despite their repeated pleas. The Nagkakaisang Samahan ng Nangangasiwa ng Panlalawigang Bus Sa Pilipinas Inc.—an organization composed of legitimate provincial bus companies—now claims the routes that were previously allotted to them have been taken over by “colorum” vehicles transporting passengers to and from Luzon. These illegal or unfranchised conveyances, according to NSNPBSPI President Atty. Vincent Rondaris, are “mostly private vans and cars… now plying the routes assigned to legitimate provincial buses in the northern and central parts of Luzon, adversely affecting the financial viability of legitimate provincial buses.” He adds that these ‘’colorum vehicles do not follow loading capacity, charge unconscionable fares, and are not complying with minimum health standards.” Provincial bus operators started feeling the pinch in 2019 when the Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board (LTFRB) issued Memorandum Circular 2019031, which calls for the establishment of three government-built integrated terminals (ITX) to serve as the terminals of provincial buses in lieu of their own. In conjunction with the move, the Metro Manila Development Authority (MMDA) issued its own regulation (No. 19-002) where privately owned terminals were forcibly shut down. Buses were then mandated to use the government’s integrated terminals. Northbound provincial buses were directed to board and offload passengers at the Sta. Rosa Integrated Terminal (SRIT) in Laguna and at the Parañaque Integrated Terminal Exchange in Parañaque City. Buses coming from the north, on the other hand, were ordered to use the North Luzon Exchange Terminal (NLET) in Bocaue, Bulacan. Tugade said then that the move was necessary to unclog traffic along Edsa, a 28.8-kilometer road that could ideally be traversed in less than 30 minutes. He reasoned that these bus terminals were one of the biggest causes of heavy traffic on that limited-access circumferential highway that the public had derided before the pandemic as “the country’s largest parking lot.” Bus companies railed against what they termed as “anti-business government policies.” It’s bad enough that the millions of pesos bus companies had spent in constructing their terminals have gone to waste because of the pandemic, which strictly limited inter-area travel. NSNPBSPI further decries that these government policies and the pandemic are pushing their members to the brink of financial collapse. In 2019, the organization sued both the MMDA and LTFRB in the Quezon City Regional Trial Court, and won. Presiding Judge Caridad M. Walse-Lutero issued the writ of preliminary injunction against the LTFRB Memorandum Circulars 2019-031 and MMDA Regulation 19-002. The relief brought about by the court victory was short-lived, however. The pandemic has given the government reason to implement their briefly stalled plan. Now, it was the turn of the Inter-Agency Task Force for the Management of Emerging Infectious Diseases (IATF)—which has broader powers to implement rules and regulations to contain the spread of Covid-19—to squeeze the noose on bus companies, hemorrhaging their bottom line. On February 26, 2021, the IATF

issued Resolution 101, which further restricted the movements of provincial buses. The bus companies felt the economic pain from the full force of the law under the public health emergency act. According to the bus operators, Tugade ordered the arrest of bus drivers and personnel found to be violating the IATF resolution. The IATF has effectively thrown the Quezon City Regional Trial Court’s injunction against MMDA and LTFRB under the bus. Bus firms claim that because LTFRB and LTO do not acknowledge the court decision, law enforcers have been unduly arresting bus firms plying the provincial routes, deepening their financial losses. Because of such inflexible conditions, only 10 percent of provincial bus fleets could operate. Provincial bus firms wail that, while they have state franchises, pay their registration and business permits, and operate above board, the government turns a blind eye to the unfranchised vehicles—which do not pay the government any taxes—now plying Edsa and causing similar pre-pandemic traffic snarls. According to the bus companies, mediation has been attempted between the government and the bus companies. What the LTFRB and LTO have proposed as a middle ground, much to the consternation of bus operators, was for the latter to sign a “memorandum of undertaking” to be allowed to operate and ply the provincial routes. But there’s a caveat: The undertaking is a “special permit” that contains a provision for bus firms to declare exemption from the protection the court injunction has given them. In other words, the government wants the bus operators to “reject” the injunction they had won in 2019. My Palace sources told me that what the IATF has proposed is the reopening of the bus routes. Those in attendance during the recent weekly meeting—Tourism Secretary Berna Romulo-Puyat, Health Secretary Francisco Duque, IATF Spokesman Karlo Norgrales, and Labor Secretary Sivestre Bello— were all in favor. Only Tugade and Interior and Local Government Secretary Eduardo Año were opposed to it, with both officials pitching for all bus companies from the north to have a permanent endpoint in Bocaue. Unperturbed, provincial bus companies have recently pleaded in a letter “that the routes [should] begin and end at our existing terminals within Manila instead of the Sta. Rosa [Laguna province] terminal in the south and Bocaue [Bulacan province] terminal in the north.” NSNPBPI Executive Director Alejandro Yague Jr. said that the two terminals give “tremendous inconvenience” to provincial passengers “because of multiple transfers to city buses or vans and difficulty of moving cargoes. The direct trips will have shorter travel time with the least cost and will ensure the sustainability of public service.” When asked for his reaction, Tugade in a recent media interview merely replied, “I am looking into it.” To date, more than 95 percent of provincial buses have been gathering dust and cobwebs in their respective garages, throwing bus companies in a financial pit and leaving thousands of bus company workers unemployed or without a steady income. For comments and suggestions, e-mail me at mvala.v@gmail.com

Thursday, February 10, 2022 A13

he Senate bowed to the wishes of over 100 peasant organizations and 200 mayors of municipalities engaged in organic farm production. The senators deferred to May the chamber’s decision on whether to ratify or not the Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership (RCEP). This deferment is a historic pause for the nation. It should not be wasted. It should provide the Senate and Malacañang an opportunity to re-think the country’s trade policy. Trade policy is an instrument used by countries around the world to strengthen their domestic capacities. Look how the European Union, an ardent proponent of global agricultural trade liberalization, keeps maintaining its Common Agricultural Policy, a program that provides expensive support price to EU farmers regardless if these farmers are over-producing milk and butter. Look how the United States similarly maintains an expensive subsidy program for American farmers (through its Farm Bill program that is renewed every five years) while pushing for members of the World Trade Organization (WTO) to open up their agricultural markets. Look how India’s Narendra Modi swallowed his pride by repealing last year the grain procurement laws (similar to the Philippine rice tariffication law of 2019) that his free-trade technocrats railroaded in 2020 amid the pandemic. And yet, in the Philippines, trade policy has been reduced to a simple question of opening up the domestic market in the naïve belief by the economic technocrats that trade liberalization per se will lead to greater competition, more investments, economic efficiency, higher productivity and jobs and prosperity for all. As we all know, the authors of such onesided trade liberalization cannot offer proof that their policy is working.

The only proof that they can offer are textbook computations of expected economic gains from trade liberalization using CGE economic modeling exercises. And when the concrete market outcomes from such exercises deviate from their modeling forecasts, these free-trade neoliberalizers shift to simplistic sloganeering, e.g., “we cannot afford to be left behind” or “foreign investors will skip us.” Look how they have failed to explain why the neo-liberal forecasts made during the 1994 Senate debate on WTO membership ratification did not materialize: 500,000 new jobs and P60 billion GVA in agriculture every year. Que lastima! The point is that the primary purpose of trade policy should be to preserve, enhance and sustain jobs, businesses and farms at home. This means we should not accept or promote trade policies and negotiations that tend to weaken existing industry and agriculture and the jobs in these sectors. This does not mean maintaining a universal type of protectionism. Rather, it means working for an orderly adjustment and reasonable transition program for any affected sector should there be a liberalization process. This means we should not lower our tariffs or open up a sector ahead of other countries. Our tariff reduction or liberalization program should be in accordance with our requirements to survive, grow and prosper. The problem in the proposed Philippine participation in RCEP, an agreement that requires the whole-

sale opening up of the industrial and agricultural markets based on zerofor-zero tariff arrangement, is that there is very little trade-development strategizing and planning being done by the government. For example, the Department of Agriculture has agricultural attaches posted in China, Asean, Europe and the United States. And yet, in a recent DA meeting on international trade, none of these attaches even discussed RCEP and its implications on Filipino producers and consumers. The attache assigned in China is also not able to monitor and report on the smuggling of Chinese agricultural and fishery products being dumped in the Philippines. Apparently, the overall orientation of Filipino agricultural attaches is reduced to one simple task: look for potential markets for Philippine produce and help facilitate their entry into these markets such as the observance of phyto-sanitary standards or availment of certain preferential tariffs offered by some developed countries. These attaches hardly discuss the problem of agricultural trade deficits. More importantly, they do not discuss how the small farmers and fisherfolks can be involved in this business called global trade and how such trade can affect them at the farm level. As it is, the attaches are naturally attached to those directly involved in the global trading business. These include the big exporters/shippers, agribusiness companies, corporate plantations, corporate agricultural integrators and the large importers/ retailers. Making reports on how small farmers and small fisherfolks can be affected by RCEP and global trade is obviously not part of the TOR of agricultural attaches. One wonders what is the TOR for the commercial attaches under the supervision of the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI). This brings us back to the urgent need for an honest-to-goodness review and overhaul of the country’s trade policy regime. The Senate and Malacañang should involve all the stakeholders, the small farmers

and producers in particular, in such a review process. There should be a multi-stakeholder review and dialogue, which can tackle the following: 1. Review and reversal of trade policies eroding and subverting the industrial and agricultural base of the country. 2. Identification of unfair and predatory practices such as dumping and smuggling being committed by trade partners. 3. Institutionalization of corrective remedies against unfair trade practices. 4. Full disclosure of Philippine trade commitments under the WTO and the proposed RCEP. 5. Identification of winners and losers under the various trade agreements. 6. Programs for the transformation of potential trade losers into survivors and winners. 7. Development of a holistic trade-production development program based on the needs of Philippine industry and agriculture. As to RCEP, the following “questions” or “tests” should be raised by the Senate before making its ratification decision: n Will RCEP participation lead to more jobs, businesses and incomes, or will the reverse happen? n Are the RCEP trade clauses consistent with the country’s capacity to grow? n Will the Philippines be able to survive the trade juggernaut posed by China and bigger RCEP economies? n Is RCEP not a threat to the country’s food security? These are just a few questions that the Senate needs to answer. It will be best if the Senate shall undertake more dialogues with the peasant organizations and pro-organic farming mayors first before making their final decision on RCEP ratification. Agricultural trade policy should be farmer-centered. Dr. Rene E. Ofreneo is a Professor Emeritus of the University of the Philippines. For comments, please write to reneofreneo@ gmail.com.

Covid-19 protests threaten border trade between Canada, US By Rob Gillies & Tracey Lindeman The Associated Press

TTAWA, Ontario—Canadian lawmakers expressed increasing worry Tuesday about the economic effects of disruptive demonstrations after the busiest border crossing between the US and Canada became partially blocked by truckers protesting vaccine mandates and other Covid-19 restrictions. The blockade at the Ambassador Bridge between Detroit and Windsor, Ontario, prevented traffic from entering Canada while some USbound traffic was still moving, Public Safety Minister Marco Mendicino said, calling the bridge “one of the most important border crossings in the world.” It carries 25 percent of all trade between Canada and the United States. Canadian Transport Minister Omar Alghabra said such blockades will have serious implications on the economy and supply chains. “I’ve already heard from automakers and food grocers. This is really a serious cause for concern,” he said in Ottawa, the capital. Added Mendicino: “Most Canadians understand there is a difference between being tired and fatigued with the pandemic and crossing into some other universe.” Speaking in an emergency debate late Monday in Parliament, Prime Minister Justin Trudeau said the

Gorecho . . .

continued from A12

nationwide instead of one venue, UST being the recent. The bar coverage was likewise reduced to four subjects—Laws per-

protesters are “trying to blockade our economy, our democracy.” Auto parts and other goods were still flowing across the border Tuesday evening, despite the bridge delays. But trucks had to travel almost 70 miles north to the Blue Water Bridge connecting Sarnia, Ontario, to Port Huron, Michigan. Authorities at that bridge reported a nearly three-hour delay for trucks to cross. In total, the trip will take more than five hours longer than normal. Flavio Volpe, president of the Canadian Auto Parts Manufacturers Association, said the protesters have no right to park vehicles in the middle of roads. He questioned how many of the protesters were truckers because trucker associations and large logistics companies have disavowed the blockades. “It is really a collection of kind of anti-government provocateurs,” he said. The protests also threaten supplies of fresh produce, livestock and other food, Volpe said. Even a five-hour delay can cause production disruptions because factories are running so lean on part supplies with an already fragile supply chain, said Jeff Schuster, president of the LMC Automotive consulting firm in Troy, Michigan. “Everything is so ‘just-in-time’ these days,” he said. “We’re still dealing with parts shortages in general

and supply chain issues. This is just another wrench in the industry that we’re dealing with right now.” Protesters also closed another important US-Canada border crossing in Coutts, Alberta. The daily demonstrations staged by the so-called Freedom Truck Convoy are centered in Ottawa, where demonstrators have used hundreds of parked trucks to paralyze parts of the capital for more than 10 days. Protesters have said they will not leave until all vaccine mandates and Covid-19 restrictions are lifted. Protest organizers have been calling for weeks for the removal of Trudeau’s government, although most of the restrictive measures were put in place by provincial governments. On Tuesday, the organizers withdrew an unlawful demand that the nation’s governor general, the representative of Britain’s Queen Elizabeth II as head of state, force federal and provincial governments to lift all Covid-19 restrictions, including vaccine mandates. They now say they support Canada’s constitution and the democratic process. François Laporte, the president of Teamsters Canada, which represents over 55,000 drivers, including 15,000 long-haul truckers, said the protests do not represent the industry in which 90 percent of drivers are vaccinated. The Freedom Convoy “and the despicable display of hate led by

the political Right and shamefully encouraged by elected conservative politicians does not reflect the values of Teamsters Canada, nor the vast majority of our members,” Laporte said in a statement. Canada’s largest trucking company is virtually untouched by the vaccine mandate for truckers crossing the US-Canada border, said Alain Bédard, chairman and CEO of TFI International Inc. “Vaccination at TFI is not an issue at all,” he said. The company’s few unvaccinated drivers are kept in Canada. The protests have also infuriated people who live around downtown Ottawa, including neighborhoods near Parliament Hill, the seat of the federal government. Dave Weatherall, a federal civil servant, lives near the truckers’ prime staging area in a city-owned parking lot outside of the downtown core. “They’re using the lot to terrorize people,” he said. “It’s the first time since having kids that I’ve seriously wondered about the world we brought them into. I always figured they could handle most things the world will throw at them, but this feels different,” he added. Ottawa’s city manager said all tow-truck companies on contract with the city have refused to haul away the big rigs. Gillies reported from

taining to the State and Its relationship with its Citizens (formerly Political Law, Labor Law, and Taxation Law); Criminal Law; Law pertaining to Private Personal and Commercial Relations (formerly Civil Law and Commercial law); and Procedure and Professional Ethics (formerly Reme-

dial Law, Legal Ethics and Practical Exercises). It is expected that the batch 2020-2021 bar exam results will be released earlier than previous exams as examiners can check the answers much quicker due to the digitization. The normal releasing

of results is usually 5-6 months after the exams.

Toronto. Associated Press Writer Tom Krisher in Detroit also contributed to this report.

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.

A14 Thursday, February 10, 2022

HOTELS LOSING QUARANTINE GUESTS ASK FOR ‘LIFELINE’

By Ma. Stella F. Arnaldo @akosistellaBM Special to the BusinessMirror

EMBERS of the Philippine Hotel Owners A ssociation (PHOA) are requesting government for a stimulus program to stem their losses from the removal of quarantine guests. Guests panelists at Wednesday’s Kapihan sa Manila Bay generally welcomed the reopening of the country to international tourism. But PHOA Executive Director Benito C. Bengzon Jr. said, “What we would like is some kind of financial assistance coming from the government to help tide us over in the next six to 12 months.” He explained, “Many of our hotels are recording single-digit occupancy [because] many of them have been banking on quarantine guests for their revenue stream. So this has been [halted] almost completely and has therefore affected the revenue stream. Moving forward, as we open borders to international traffic, it is important to provide a lifeline to the hotels which have been suffering.” He noted an average 200-room hotel will need some “P5 million and up [every month] to keep it going. We want to keep our hotels operating. We want to maintain our employees. We don’t want to let them go because we realize that when hotels close, it will be even more difficult to restart.” PHOA has over 300 members nationwide, with 89 in Metro Manila operating as quarantine hotels. Government has allowed the entry of vaccinated foreign tourists from visa-free countries starting February 10, without having to quarantine in hotels. They are also exempt from the 5,000-arrivals quota at the Manila airport. (See, “Vaxxed tourists exempt from Naia arrivals cap,” in the BusinessMirror,February7,2022.)

Applications for hotel conversion

TOURISM Secretary Bernadette Romulo Puyat, who was also a guest, countered, however, “As of today, quarantine hotels still have an occupancy of 67 percent. These are the on-signers and off-signers, these are OFWs (overseas Filipino workers), when they go abroad, they

have to quarantine.” It also includes “a few who are unvaxxed—10 percent of the OFWs are still unvaxxed so they need to quarantine. They still have long-staying guests and corporate accounts.” She added, 76 hotels in Metro Manila have already applied to shift from being quarantine facilities to regular hotels. “A lot of them want to go back to normal but it will take time. It won’t mean the foreign tourists will come in droves immediately. It depends on the tourists’ leaves or their kids’ school vacation, and what markets they are coming from. What is important is we are open.” Of the applicants, she said 14 hotels have been approved for conversion to regular hotels. Among these are: Ramada Hotel, Microtel by Wyndham-Acropolis, Azumi Boutique Hotel, Joy Nostalg, Seda Residences-Makati, Nuwa at the City of Dreams. The approved 14 hotels have a total of 1,326 rooms, according to the Department of Tourism (DOT). Guidelines for the applications in shift in hotel purpose were issued by the DOT on January 31, 2022 under Administrative Order No. 2022-001.

By Samuel P. Medenilla

@sam_medenilla

HE Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE) is now willing to lift the deployment restriction for the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia (KSA) if its government could settle at least 50 percent of the total financial claims of over 11,000 displaced overseas Filipino workers (OFW). Labor and Employment Secretary Silvestre H. Bello III disclosed he made the offer to the Saudi

Arabia’s Ambassador to the Philippines Hisham Sultan Al Zafir Al Qahtani during their meeting

earlier this week. At a virtual press briefing on Wednesday, Bello recalled, “I told him, ‘your excellency, even if you only settle for the moment 50 percent of the claims of our OFWs, I will have all the reason to lift the suspension.’” He said the pronouncement was well received by the Saudi official, who promised to relay it to his superior. Bello said the claims of the displaced OFWs stand at around P5.1 billion. D OL E s u s p e n d e d t h e d e ploy ment of OFWs for Saudi construction and mega recruitment companies amid the pending settlement of the claims of 11,000 OFWs from Saudi construction firms. It spent P3 billion to bring home

the OFWs in 2016 after Saudi authorities committed to help in the payment of the claims. “They promised they would help in the satisfaction of the claims of our overseas workers five years ago, but so far nothing has happened,” Bello said. He noted some of the displaced OFWs have already died, while others are still regularly asking him for updates on the status of the payment of their claims. The labor official said he plans to meet again with Saudi officials in the coming weeks to finally settle the matter. “I am expecting any time right now the invitation from their Ministry of Labor. Once it arrives, I will fly again to the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia,” Bello said.

New products, same destinations

FOR his part, Tourism Congress of the Philippines president Jose C. Clemente III said, of the tourist destinations in the country, foreign visitors were mostly inquiring about Boracay, Palawan, Cebu, and Bohol. “We’ve also been receiving inquiries for new products and new ideas that they can use for their programs; these are mostly from long-haul markets like Europe. They’re looking for more tactile activities, more interactive, more in-depth kinds of activities. Many of them are still looking for beach stays.” Walid Wafik, vice president of the SM Hotels and Convention Corp. said their properties will maintain their rates as they focus on domestic leisure guests and bookings for MICE (meetings, incentives, conventions, exhibitions). “We won’t take advantage of the situation (i.e., reopening). We have accepted the losses and we have dealt with it to the best we can…. Last thing we want is to increase prices for that.”

BBM leads at 56.8% in latest RMN poll

ARTIDO Federal ng Pilipinas (PFP) standard-bearer Ferdinand ‘Bongbong’ Marcos Jr. continued to dominate pre-election surveys, with his camp reporting he posted a 56.8-percent voters’ preference and even amplified his lead in the latest Radio Mindanao Network and Asia Pacific Consortium of Researchers and Educators (RMN-APCORE) survey. His rating is 1.8 percent better than his 55 percent last November 2021. RMN-APCORE survey results show Leni Robredo at far second with her 17.1 percent. From 13 percent in the last survey, Manila Mayor Isko Moreno Domagoso’s rating dropped to 11.5 percent, while Sen. Manny Pacquiao gained a bit from 4 percent to 4.4 percent. Sen. Panfilo Lacson remained at fifth place with his 3 percent, while Ernesto Abella, Leody De Guzman, Norberto Gonzales, and Antonio Parlade remained at bottom, getting less than 1 percent each. RMN-APCORE’s survey was conducted from January 26 to January 30 with 2,400 respondents aged 18 years old and above. The survey has a +/-2 margin of error.

PHL to KSA: We’ll lift ban if you pay 50% of OFW claims

Lucky with Sara

MARCOS Jr. said earlier he considers himself lucky because Mayor Inday Sara Duterte has agreed to be his running mate. Marcos likewise noted that what fully cemented their partnership was that he and Inday Sara share the same vision on what is best for the country and the people. “I’m the luckiest presidential candidate, I think, because I was joined as my vice president by Mayor Sara Duterte—the most competent, the best, and most of all, with conviction in her dreams and aspirations for the Filipino nation,” Marcos said at the UniTeam proclamation rally in Bulacan. Marcos also said they are both optimistic that the Philippines will overcome all the challenges it is currently facing, especially when all Filipinos unite and work as one. He highlighted the need for the president and the vice president to be fully complementing and working with each other to secure the full support of the people. Marcos pointed out that the UniTeam represents the collective desire of the people to really unite for the betterment of everyone and the country.

HIDILYN HONORED The Benildean community honored its Business Management student, Hidilyn Diaz, the first Filipino Olympic Gold Medalist at the 2020 Summer Olympics, as she visited her alma mater for a special tribute to receive The Benilde Medallion. Above, Diaz gets her DLS-College of Saint Benilde medallion from Br. Edmundo Fernandez, FSC, President De La Salle-College of Saint Benilde. Joining her was coach Julius Naranjo and coach Stephen Fernandez, director of the Center for Sports Development (not in photo) BERNARD TESTA

‘Safeguards in place vs abuse in new PSA’ By Jovee Marie N. dela Cruz @joveemarie

HE head of the House Committee on Economic Affairs on Wednesday assured the public that safeguards are well in place under the proposed New Public Service Act (PSA), dispelling fears that the expected influx of foreign investors could lead to abuse and exploitation. AAMBIS-OWA Party-list Rep. and House Committee on Economic Affairs chairperson Rep. Sharon Garin, in a news statement, said the New Public Service Act is a key measure that will aid the country’s economic recovery and will not be a threat to patrimony. The proposal is now awaiting President Rodrigo Duterte’s signature following ratification of the bicameral conference report on the disagreeing provisions of House Bill No. 78 and Senate Bill No. 2094 which seeks to amend the 85-year-old Commonwealth Act No. 146, otherwise known as the Public Service Law.

“We only want foreign investments to supplement Filipino capital. We need the help so that we can build big industries, big businesses so we can improve the basic services for the Filipinos,” said Garin, who serves as the main sponsor of the bill in the Lower House. In the ratified bicameral conference report, the following services have been classified as public utility, subject to the 40 percent foreign ownership cap under the Constitution: a) distribution of electricity; b) transmission of electricity; c) petroleum and petroleum products pipeline transmission systems; d) water pipeline distribution systems and waste-water pipeline systems, including sewerage pipeline systems; e) seaports; and public utility vehicles. Garin said any industry not included in the list will remain as public services and will be liberalized, allowing foreigners to own up to 100 percent thereof. The move is expected to attract foreign investment in these sectors, and benefit the public with increased competi-

tion and cheaper prices. Telecommunications, airports, railways, expressways, tollways, and shipping were among the industries excluded from the definition of “public utility” in the ratified amendments. She said the new PSA would primarily rationalize the foreign equity restrictions by clearly defining the term “public utilities” and critical infrastructure but taking the utmost consideration the protection of national security. “It is during these difficult times where most of the businesses have closed, not much of the economic activities were allowed, more jobs are losing resulting to an inevitable increase of inflation rates and continuous decline of Philippine gross domestic product (GDP), that our country needed all the assistance from our allied countries to invest for our economy to heal, arise and recover from devastating effects of Covid-19 pandemic,” Garin said. Garin said that the House of Representatives exerted all efforts to build a “resilient economy” through

long-term economic and industry reforms. “As legislators, it is our role to create a productive business environment for investors that, in return, is expected to translate to more employment opportunities for Filipinos. We need new capital, ideas, and technology as we tread the road toward economic resiliency,” Garin said. Earlier, Assistant Minority Leader and Gabriela Partylist Rep. Arlene Brosas objected to the ratification of the bicameral report on the PSA amendments, saying the “piecemeal Charter change measure will enable the foreign takeover of key economic sectors such as telecommunications and transport.” “Ironically, this discreet Chacha (Charter change) disguised as PSA amendments was ratified exactly 35 years since the 1987 Constitution was ratified. The intent to uphold national patrimony, as stated in Article XII of the Charter is subverted by a mere definition of public utility,” said Brosas.

Companies

Editor: Jennifer A. Ng

Thursday, February 10, 2022

Globe to upgrade network via ₧89-B capex program

By Lorenz S. Marasigan

@lorenzmarasigan

lobe Telecom Inc. has set an P89-billion capital expenditures (capex) program for 2022, a little lower than its actual capex spend in 2021.

The amount–just 4 percent lower than the P92.8-billion capex spend in 2021, an all time high for Globe– will be used to build more cell sites, upgrade existing ones, deploy 4G and 5G radios, and add more fiber lines across the country, according to a Globe disclosure on Wednesday. Last year, Globe aggressively expanded its fixed line and wireless networks, building 1,407 new cell

sites, upgraded over 22,300 mobile sites, installed more than 2,000 5G radios, and installed 1.4 million fiber-to-the-home lines. Aside from announcing its capital outlays program for 2022, Globe also reported that it netted P23.7 billion in profits last year, a 27-percent increase from P18.6 billion the year prior, thanks to the upside impact of the Corporate Recovery and Tax

Incentives for Enterprises Act as well as the gain from the P4.3 billion deemed sale of investment in subsidiary Mynt. Its core net income stood at P21.2 billion, which is 9-percent higher than the year prior, fueled by the 4-percent increase in net income to P151.5 billion, but this was partially offset by the effects of Typhoon Odette to its total operating expenses of P76.6 billion. “Globe showed admirable resilience in 2021 despite the pandemic and the devastation of Typhoon Odette in the country. We have emerged to be an outstanding digital services enabler by rapidly adapting

our strategies to address both the challenges and the opportunities created by the global health crisis and natural disasters,” Globe President Ernest L. Cu said. “As a result, our financial performance remained stable and posted healthy growth, enabling us to reinvest back into our network as customer data demands grow larger each year.” Cu also painted a rosy outlook for Globe this year. “We are optimistic that our strategy to focus on innovation to serve our customers better and to address their needs and concerns through various digital platforms, backed by our strong network, will solidify our leading position in the market. Rest assured that we will continue to revamp and upscale our services in order to secure the future of a digitally-transformed Philippines.”

Pryce net income hits ₧1.819B By Lenie Lectura @llectura

ublicly-listed Pryce Corp. reported a net income of P1.819 billion last year, up by 12.11 percent from the previous year’s P1.623 billion, on the back of higher revenues. Consolidated revenues stood at P15.372 billion, 31.24 percent higher than the previous year’s P11.713 billion, due to the robust sales of its liquefied petroleum gas (LPG).

LPG sales volume, it reported, rose by 11.86 percent to 271,242 metric tons (MT), from the previous year’s 242,474 MT. The average contract price was higher in 2021 by 58 percent at $635.08/MT. The company’s LPG business segment contributed P14.248 billion or 92.69 percent of consolidated revenues, while industrial the gas products segment pitched in P874.039 million. Sales from real estate and pharmaceuticals businesses accounted for the balance of P250

million. Operating expenses rose by 38.92 percent to P1.803 billion, from P1.298 billion in 2020, mainly on account of continuous expansions in its PRYCEGAS home delivery fleet and its LPG infrastructure consisting of import marine terminals, refilling plants, and sales centers. The company completed last December a new import marine terminal in Lugait, Misamis Oriental. It has a storage capacity of 4,000 MT, the biggest in Mindanao. Pryce Corp. is expected to com-

plete another marine terminal by the end of this year in Lila, Bohol. By then, Pryce Corp. would have a total of 10 import marine terminals, bringing its overall storage capacity of all marine terminals to 38,840 MT. Last year, the company built three refilling plants and 178 new sales centers. “A deeper penetration of the LPG retail market is expected from such expansions, and, correspondingly, more sales revenues in the next two to three years.”

Aboitiz unit Kurly seeks $1B in Korea IPO, sources say completes roadworks K for MNPI

boitiz Construction Inc. said on Wednesday it has completed the site development works for Magspeak Nature Park Inc.’s (MNPI) eco-tourism site in Balamban Cebu. Alex Garciano, the VP for construction operations of Aboitiz Construction, said the project covers the 630-meter road pavements, concreting sidewalks, curbs, gutters and improving the drainage system. It also includes the preparation of parking areas, trail paths, and benching of sloping areas to protect people from the soil erosion hazard. “This site development project is a significant milestone to us as we strengthen our capabilities in infrastructure. Our commitment to contributing to the economic growth has been seen through our involvement in the preparation works for a tourist attraction area that will be established soon,” Garciano said. MNPI is partially-owned by Cebu Landmasters Inc., a property developer in Visayas and Mindanao key areas, specializing in residential, commercial, and mixed-use developments. Aboitiz Construction is the construction arm of the Aboitiz Group of Companies. It is a privately-held company, with a 45-year track record in value construction and engineering that advances businesses and communities. Lorenz S. Marasigan

urly Corp., the maker of a Korean mobile app for delivering fresh groceries created by a former Goldman Sachs Group Inc. banker, is seeking to raise about $1 billion in its initial public offering (IPO), people familiar with the matter said. The Seoul-based company behind the Market Kurly app could be valued at about $4 billion to $6 billion in a listing, the people said, asking not to be identified as the information is private. Kurly aims to submit an application for preliminary approval to the Korea Exchange as soon as the first quarter, and could start trading on the Kospi this year, one of the people said. Kurly has attracted a total of nearly 1 trillion won ($834 million) in private fundraising ahead of its IPO, one of the people said. Its backers include Millennium Management, Sequoia Capital China and Hillhouse Capital, according to a statement in July. The startup is spending aggressively on hiring data scientists and engineers to analyze consumer and inventory data, one of the people said. A quarter of its 800 employees are engineers, including 40 data scientists, the person said. Deliberations are ongoing and details such as size and valuation could change, the people said. A representative for Kurly declined to comment. South Korea’s IPO market saw 19.7 trillion won raised in 2021, according to the Financial Supervisory Service. It was the strongest year for debuts in the country in at least a decade, data compiled by Bloomberg show, amid a global surge in listings. The world’s largest IPO in the year to date took place in Seoul, when LG Energy Solution, a lithium-ion battery maker for electric vehicles,

The Market Kurly application. Bloomberg photo

raised $10.8 billion on the Kospi last month. Founded in 2015 by Sophie Kim, who previously worked at Goldman and Bain Capital, Market Kurly lets shoppers order fresh vegetables, eggs and other perishable foods via its app. The company promises delivery before 7 a.m. for orders made before 11 p.m. “Kurly has a clear strategy on premium fresh foods and wants to enter the non-food market,” said Yu JungHyun, analyst at Daishin Securities in Seoul. Its rival in fresh food delivery, SoftBank Group Corp.-backed Coupang Inc., is taking a different approach. “Kurly is increasing sales and prices at the same time, while Coupang is more focused on increasing the quantities only.” The company’s listing plans come after global investors sold

technology stocks in anticipation of rising rates and fears of increasing attention from regulators, with Coupang slumping 40 percent since its IPO in March 2021. In November, a top regulatory body in South Korea expressed concerns over the alleged “abuse of market dominance” of online retailers in the country. Kurly is not like other startups seeking IPOs that have little meaningful business, said An Hyungjin, chief executive officer at Billionfold Asset Management, a Seoul-based hedge fund. While investors were taken aback at the $4 billion market value of K-pop agency Hybe Co. when it debuted in 2020, An said, it has reached close to $9 billion today. “Kurly can be like that if it keeps showing strong growth,” An said. Bloomberg News

‘SM Markets helps legacy brands grow’

Contributed photo

By VG Cabuag

M Markets, which operates the grocery chain of the Sy family, said it has helped revive legacy brands, such as DECS, which sells dimsums. DECS has launched their frozen products and ready-to-eat product months before the pandemic hit the Philippines in 2020, making it easier for the company to make its transition and keep up with the disturbance caused by Covid-19. The company said its efforts to bring their products to the freezers of SM grocery chains played to their advantage as frozen dimsum eventually overtook the sales of DECS’ ready-to-eat offerings. Their innovation tapped new segments of the market their ready-to-eat selections did not reach and their sales grew by 88 percent in 2021. “And with continuous support and guidance from SM Markets, DECS’ bestselling frozen dimsums are being sold in 84 locations nationwide,” the company said. Justine Kayne Chua, president of Decs Dimsum Dynasty Inc., said SM has helped improve the company’s sales, product and operations. “By selling in SM Markets, we are able to learn from their business, adopt their best practices like using the stores’ POS [point of sale] which saves us a lot of effort in collecting payments, and allowed us to scale and reach more customers. Not to mention the strategic location of each store that caters to our target market.” Diao Eng Chay is one of the first to sell traditional Chinese delicacies in the Philippines, with their

first store opening in Binondo, Manila in the early 1930s. That store still serves hundreds of Filipino and Chinese customers in Chinatown with their signature dimsum until today. In 1990, the third-generation owners sought to bring their heritage recipes to more customers by branching out and starting a new company called DECS. The new brand thrived by serving dimsum to Filipino and Filipino-Chinese customers through a handful of pop-up stores across malls in Metro Manila. In 2014, Chua, the great grandson of Diao Eng Chay, was working with SM Retail’s mini-mart chain Alfamart as a merchandising manager, where he had the opportunity to work with SM Markets Vice Chairman Herbert Sy for about a year. Sy urged him to revive DECS and modernize the legacy brand for it to keep up with the times and expand beyond Greenhills. Chua then took over the family business and started revamping and expanding the business on a much larger scale. I n November 2015, DECS opened their first stall in SM Supermarket Makati. Its new look breathed new life to its already popu l a r na me. A f ter severa l months, the restaurant expanded to other SM Supermarket branches as well as in Savemore and SM Hypermarket. Since partnering w ith SM, DECS dimsum sales tripled. Chua said its sales exceed its targets by about 30 percent. SM Markets is the umbrella brand for SM Supermarket, SM Hypermarket and Savemore.

NGCP aid to victims of ‘Odette’ hits ₧275M

he National Grid Corporation of the Philippines (NGCP) on Wednesday reported that it has extended P275 million worth of assistance to Typhoon Odette-affected communities. The grid operator said that after the onslaught of Typhoon Odette in December 2021, it immediately rolled out its relief efforts for severely affected communities. It donated relief packs, hot meals, sacks of rice, bottles of water, shirts, blankets, as well as roofing materials to local government units in Visayas and Mindanao for distribution to affected families. The NGCP said it has restored all 69kV transmission lines affected by the typhoon after completing the Ubay-Trinidad-Carmen

69kV line serving the franchise areas of BOHECO I and BOHECO II. Aside from the Ubay-TrinidadCarmen 69kV line, NGCP also restored the Cebu-Colon 138kV Line 2 and Colon-Calongcalong 138kV Line 1. At the height of restoration activities, the company deployed more than 1,000 personnel composed of linemen, engineers, and other support personnel to simultaneously expedite the restoration of transmission services in all affected areas. NGCP is a Filipino-led, privately owned company in charge of operating, maintaining, and developing the country’s power grid, led by majority shareholders and Vice Chairman of the Board Henry Sy, Jr. and Co-Vice Chairman Robert Coyiuto Jr. Lenie Lectura

Companies BusinessMirror

Thursday, February 10, 2022

Century Pacific forays into mass housing development

By VG Cabuag

@villygc

he Po family has forayed into mass housing development through Pacific Homes Development Corp. (PHDC) to help reduce the country’s housing backlog. PHDC’s first project is in Magalang, Pampanga and will be called Hamana Homes. It started selling units over the weekend after securing its license to sell. “The release of our permits to build as well as sell will allow us to fast-track key developments in the project,” Pacifica Homes President Teodoro Alexander T. Po said. Po said building activities for housing units at Hamana Homes are now set for full-blast construction. Its amenities, which include a clubhouse, swimming pool, linear parks and basketball court will soon follow. As of end-January, the construction of the slope protection and perimeter wall and the landfill compaction in the model unit area are underway for completion. “It is truly value for money be-

cause our project taps sustainable building design and construction techniques, yet is priced within reach,” Po said. Each unit costs between P2.06 million to P3.9 million for the single-detached house. He said the project is the company’s answer to the Philippine housing backlog, which is expected to hit 6.8 million units this year, according to data from the Congressional Policy and Budget Research Department. The company will have another project in Central Luzon and then Visayas and Mindanao, including one in General Santos City. “PHDC’s very first project here in Pampanga will not only help lessen the gap due to the huge housing backlog, but it would for sure set the bar in the affordable but superior value housing

From the Facebook page of Hamana Homes

segment,” Felix V. Brazil Jr., OIC Director of the Department of Human Settlements and Urban Development Region 3. Brazil said it is high-time that superior housing products and quality shelters inspired by sustainability

are served affordably to customers. Pacifica Homes is a whollyowned subsidiary of Century Pacific Group Inc., the holding firm of the Po family. The Po family also owns high-end property developer Arthaland Corp.

mutual funds

February 9, 2022

NAV

One Year Three Year Five Year

per share Return*

Y-T-D Return

Stock Funds ALFM Growth Fund, Inc. -a

236.96

6.18%

-4.33%

-1.22%

ATRAM Alpha Opportunity Fund, Inc. -a

1.5893

21.02%

0.16%

2.57%

-4.5%

6.28%

-8.03%

-4.07%

1.08%

Climbs Share Capital Equity Investment Fund Corp. -a 0.7639 -1.99%

-7.39% n.a.

0.98%

First Metro Consumer Fund on MSCI Phils. IMI, Inc. -a 0.7528

5.6%

-5.34% n.a.

-2.35%

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

8.7%

-2.25%

0.52%

1.68%

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

0.7954

9.89%

-3.97%

-2.87%

MBG Equity Investment Fund, Inc. -a

-5.31%

-8.92% n.a.

-1.28%

ATRAM Philippine Equity Opportunity Fund, Inc. -a 3.2727

5.2698 93.22

1.66%

PAMI Equity Index Fund, Inc. -a

48.8505

6.15%

-2.81%

0.37%

1.5%

Philam Strategic Growth Fund, Inc. -a

508.93

5.97%

-2.75%

-0.18%

1.65%

Philequity Dividend Yield Fund, Inc. -a

1.4019

21.22%

1.53%

2.87%

3.36%

Philequity Fund, Inc. -a

37.2216

8.63%

-1.86%

1.37%

1.71%

Philequity MSCI Philippine Index Fund, Inc. -a

0.9612

7.06%

-3.09% n.a.

Philequity PSE Index Fund Inc. -a

5.0373

6.99%

-2.14%

Philippine Stock Index Fund Corp. -a

841.59

6.84%

Soldivo Strategic Growth Fund, Inc. -a

0.7594

7.24% 7.14%

Sun Life Prosperity Philippine Equity Fund, Inc. -a 3.8161

2.1%

1.03%

1.54%

-2.14%

1.01%

1.58%

-6.19%

-2.21%

0.9%

-4.37%

-0.53%

1.08%

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

0.9588

6.37%

-2.47%

0.77%

United Fund, Inc. -a

5.88%

-2.58%

1.26%

0.98%

3.4709

1.54%

1.51%

Primarily invested in Peso securities (units) Philequity Alpha One Fund, Inc. -a

1.1911

Philippine Stock Index Fund Corp. -a

10.87% n.a. n.a.

2.44%

1032.68 n.a. n.a. n.a. n.a.

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

113.285

7.15%

-1.92%

1.5%

1.62%

Primarily invested in foreign currency securities (shares) ATRAM AsiaPlus Equity Fund, Inc. -b

$1.1079

-16.48%

3.45%

4.36%

-1.65%

Sun Life Prosperity World Voyager Fund, Inc. -a $1.7324

-1.5%

12.37%

10.14%

-6.17%

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

1.6865

1.58%

-1.06%

-0.4%

-0.33%

ATRAM Philippine Balanced Fund, Inc. -a

2.3084

2.03%

-0.23%

0.24%

1.18%

4.97%

0.45%

1.68%

1.16%

First Metro Save and Learn Balanced Fund Inc. -a 2.7223

First Metro Save and Learn F.O.C.C.U.S. Dynamic Fund, Inc. -a 0.2126

8.64% n.a. n.a.

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

1.86%

2.13%

2.0336

3.76%

PAMI Horizon Fund, Inc. -a

3.7988

1.3%

1.19%

0.98%

0.9%

Philam Fund, Inc. -a

17.0037

1.36%

0.79%

0.92%

0.94%

Solidaritas Fund, Inc. -a

2.1422

3.21%

-0.46%

0.8%

0.98%

Sun Life of Canada Prosperity Balanced Fund, Inc. -a 3.6677 3.55%

-1.65%

0.25%

0.56%

Sun Life Prosperity Dynamic Fund, Inc. -a

-0.29%

0.82%

1.41%

0.9677

9.6%

1.72%

0.84%

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

0.9889

-2.22%

-0.57% n.a.

Sun Life Prosperity Achiever Fund 2038, Inc. -a

0.9555

2.18%

-1.63% n.a.

-0.09% 1.16%

Sun Life Prosperity Achiever Fund 2048, Inc. -a

0.9453

2.95%

-1.97% n.a.

1.22%

Primarily invested in foreign currency securities (shares) Cocolife Dollar Fund Builder, Inc. -a PAMI Asia Balanced Fund, Inc. -b

$0.03648

-5.96%

0.75%

0.63%

-3.85%

$1.0604

-12.97%

2.86%

2.97%

-0.63%

Sun Life Prosperity Dollar Advantage Fund, Inc. -a $4.5726 -2.31%

8.72%

7.39%

-4.78%

Sun Life Prosperity Dollar Wellspring Fund, Inc. -a,2 $1.154 -3.71%

4.22%

3.56%

-3.72%

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

374.77

0.83%

2.78%

2.52%

0.13%

ATRAM Corporate Bond Fund, Inc. -a

1.8872

-0.9%

0.28%

0.08%

0.13%

Cocolife Fixed Income Fund, Inc. -a

3.2489

0.94%

2.84%

3.81%

0.15%

Ekklesia Mutual Fund Inc. -a

2.2496

-2.07%

1.58%

1.34%

-0.08%

First Metro Save and Learn Fixed Income Fund,Inc. -a 2.4267 -0.94% Philam Bond Fund, Inc. -a

2.86%

1.84%

0.03%

4.3915

-5.31%

3.82%

1.38%

-0.09%

Philam Managed Income Fund, Inc. -a

1.3222

-0.08%

3.71%

2.87%

0.24%

Philequity Peso Bond Fund, Inc. -a

3.9844

-0.02%

3.61%

2.7%

0.47%

1.028

-1.05%

4.11%

1.93%

-0.02%

-0.5%

4.03%

3.08%

0.05%

-1.08%

3.17%

2.42%

0.01%

Soldivo Bond Fund, Inc. -a

Sun Life of Canada Prosperity Bond Fund, Inc. -a 3.189 Sun Life Prosperity GS Fund, Inc. -a

1.7307

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

$487.97

0.65%

2.69%

2.34%

ALFM Euro Bond Fund, Inc. -a

Є218.7

-0.34%

0.71%

0.92%

-0.33% -0.6%

ATRAM Total Return Dollar Bond Fund, Inc. -b $1.1686

-7.89%

0.72%

1.09%

-2.93%

First Metro Save and Learn Dollar Bond Fund, Inc. -a $0.0255 -3.04%

0.66%

0.48%

-1.92%

PAMI Global Bond Fund, Inc -b

-2.03%

-1.51%

-3.81% -3.84%

$0.9838

-9.78%

$2.4096

-4.65%

2.84%

1.85%

$0.0618541

-1.07%

2.58%

1.77%

-0.7%

Sun Life Prosperity Dollar Abundance Fund, Inc. -a $3.0358 -5.21%

1.33%

0.63%

-5.02%

Philam Dollar Bond Fund, Inc. -a Philequity Dollar Income Fund Inc. -a

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

131.35

1.03%

2.62%

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

1.0591

0.95%

Sun Life Prosperity Peso Starter Fund, Inc. -a,1 1.3178

1.49%

2.49%

2.54%

0.12%

1.9% n.a. 2.52%

0.13%

0.17%

Primarily invested in foreign currency securities (shares) Sun Life Prosperity Dollar Starter Fund, Inc. -a $1.0612

0.71%

1.38% n.a.

0.06%

Feeder Funds Primarily invested in Peso securities (units) ALFM Global Multi-Asset Income Fund Inc. -a

46.7875 n.a. n.a. n.a. n.a.

Sun Life Prosperity World Equity Index Feeder Fund, Inc. -a

1.344

14.6% n.a. n.a.

-2.81%

Primarily invested in foreign currency securities (units) ALFM Global Multi-Asset Income Fund Inc. -a

$0.9406

-4.99% n.a. n.a.

-3.03%

a - NAVPS as of the previous banking day. b - NAVPS as of two banking days ago. c - Listed in the PSE. d - in Net Asset Value per Unit (NAVPU). 1 - Renaming was approved by the SEC last July 8, 2021 (formerly, Sun Life Prosperity Money Market Fund, Inc.). 2 - Adjusted due to stock dividend issuance last November 25, 2021.

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

www.businessmirror.com.ph

PSE STOCK QUOTATIONS

February 9, 2022

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 PHIL NATL BANK PSBANK PHILTRUST RCBC SECURITY BANK UNION BANK BRIGHT KINDLE COL FINANCIAL IREMIT PHIL STOCK EXCH SUN LIFE

211,480 596,082,480 560,926,000 1,877,980 3,917,757 256,176,875.50 881,349 3,595,745 13,554 1,030 1,762,280 125,068,702 10,619,293 1,930 249,120 12,640 31,600 1,390,550

-4,410 65,842,203 82,463,750 -602,946 -43,010,943 -349,290 -17,092,178 -116,445 -173,800 828,950

INDUSTRIAL AC ENERGY 9.14 9.15 9.28 9.3 9.15 9.15 15,636,100 143,648,328 1.01 1.03 1.04 1.04 1.01 1.03 17,000 17,360 ALSONS CONS 36.1 36.15 36.25 36.8 36 36.1 2,157,400 78,416,495 ABOITIZ POWER 0.54 0.55 0.53 0.55 0.53 0.55 5,851,000 3,156,830 BASIC ENERGY 27.3 27.45 27.6 27.7 27.15 27.45 529,400 14,477,650 FIRST GEN 70.9 71 70.65 71 70.25 70.9 15,550 1,099,953.50 FIRST PHIL HLDG 3.94 5 5 5 5 5 1,600 8,000 JOLLIVILLE HLDG MERALCO 358.8 359 350 360.4 350 359 253,040 90,599,728 MANILA WATER 23.95 24 24.75 24.75 23.85 24 2,689,800 64,620,280 PETRON 3.49 3.5 3.39 3.58 3.39 3.49 8,239,000 28,896,780 PETROENERGY 4.22 4.27 4.15 4.22 4.15 4.21 32,000 134,550 10.46 10.7 10.44 10.7 10.44 10.7 15,200 160,896 PHX PETROLEUM 12.68 12.7 12.68 12.74 12.62 12.68 935,500 11,850,212 SYNERGY GRID 19.92 19.94 20 20 19.7 19.92 98,900 1,970,596 PILIPINAS SHELL 14.76 14.8 14.8 14.8 14.72 14.8 52,200 771,458 SPC POWER 2.08 2.09 2.16 2.17 2.05 2.09 192,440,000 403,849,750 SOLAR PH 4.79 4.84 4.83 4.94 4.8 4.84 387,000 1,869,230 AGRINURTURE 2.82 2.88 2.85 2.88 2.85 2.88 107,000 306,240 AXELUM 24.95 25.1 25.45 25.5 24.8 24.95 2,345,000 58,641,265 CENTURY FOOD 15.14 15.28 15.1 15.3 15 15.14 35,600 538,066 DEL MONTE DNL INDUS 8.38 8.4 8.38 8.58 8.38 8.4 1,212,100 10,273,564 EMPERADOR 23.25 23.4 23.2 24.1 22.9 23.25 5,898,600 137,560,135 SMC FOODANDBEV 68.45 69 70.2 70.2 68.3 69 270,020 18,578,583.50 FIGARO COFFEE 0.87 0.88 0.9 0.91 0.87 0.88 51,478,000 45,472,380 ALLIANCE SELECT 0.59 0.62 0.59 0.62 0.59 0.61 34,000 20,610 FRUITAS HLDG 1.23 1.25 1.24 1.28 1.23 1.23 29,894,000 37,360,440 113.5 114 114 114 112.7 114 60,630 6,899,135 GINEBRA 240.2 241.6 241 241.6 239 241.6 569,570 137,044,158 JOLLIBEE 1.43 1.44 1.42 1.44 1.4 1.44 3,583,000 5,104,260 KEEPERS HLDG 26.25 27.95 26.25 26.25 26.25 26.25 500 13,125 LIBERTY FLOUR 5.71 6.48 6.48 6.48 6.48 6.48 10,200 66,096 MACAY HLDG 6.78 6.8 6.62 6.8 6.53 6.78 56,400 376,302 MAXS GROUP 0.138 0.142 0.137 0.142 0.135 0.138 1,180,000 159,950 MG HLDG MONDE NISSIN 16.24 16.26 15.8 16.46 15.78 16.26 31,753,600 511,244,818 SHAKEYS PIZZA 8.96 8.98 9 9 8.96 8.98 26,000 233,358 ROXAS AND CO 0.66 0.68 0.67 0.69 0.66 0.66 958,000 645,050 RFM CORP 4.46 4.59 4.45 4.45 4.45 4.45 1,000 4,450 0.103 0.104 0.103 0.103 0.103 0.103 1,020,000 105,060 SWIFT FOODS 126 126.8 126 126.9 125.9 126 1,740,440 219,984,530 UNIV ROBINA 0.66 0.67 0.66 0.67 0.66 0.66 365,000 241,860 VITARICH 2.4 2.5 2.49 2.5 2.45 2.5 11,000 27,200 VICTORIAS 46.15 48.9 48 48 48 48 4,300 206,400 CONCRETE A 1.07 1.08 1.08 1.08 1.06 1.08 663,000 711,610 CEMEX HLDG 14 14.06 14.06 14.42 14.06 14.06 5,700 80,894 EAGLE CEMENT 6.24 6.29 6.3 6.33 6.24 6.25 634,600 3,983,024 EEI CORP HOLCIM 5.81 5.84 5.86 5.89 5.81 5.84 159,900 935,533 MEGAWIDE 5.35 5.37 5.05 5.35 5.05 5.35 6,001,000 31,289,230 PHINMA 20.85 21 20.7 20.95 20.7 20.95 23,900 499,925 0.77 0.79 0.79 0.79 0.79 0.79 6,000 4,740 TKC METALS 0.85 0.86 0.85 0.85 0.83 0.85 513,000 434,340 VULCAN INDL 1.7 1.71 1.72 1.72 1.7 1.7 66,000 112,400 CROWN ASIA EUROMED 1.37 1.45 1.37 1.37 1.37 1.37 3,000 4,110 4.21 4.3 4.3 4.3 4.3 4.3 2,000 8,600 MABUHAY VINYL 6 6.04 6.05 6.05 5.9 6 40,200 241,430 PRYCE CORP 20.6 21.85 20.55 21.9 20.55 21.85 2,000 43,345 CONCEPCION 1.82 1.84 1.89 1.89 1.79 1.84 6,801,000 12,489,400 GREENERGY 10 10.02 10.24 10.26 10 10.02 576,700 5,792,264 INTEGRATED MICR 5.97 6.09 6.07 6.1 6.07 6.09 40,900 249,055 PANASONIC SFA SEMICON 1.07 1.1 1.11 1.11 1.11 1.11 1,000 1,110 4.05 4.07 3.95 4.08 3.9 4.07 2,647,000 10,585,490 CIRTEK HLDG

-25,041,896 -3,030 9,827,070 -3,637,990 32,882.50 42,354,684 -26,242,765 808,930 -7,112 40,120 2,952 -4,503,010 -1,642,160 -14,400 24,618,750 -4,183,026 54,218,925 -10,342,453 -207,280 -12,200 -30,800 412,022 -14,362,736 832,040 -3,390 93,480 111,212,508 -109,539 -151,800 -46,879,371 -124,990 -3,533,344 -2,915 8,264,120 -1,700 -4,110 -6,165 -3,713,710 25,050 -99,500

HOLDING & FRIMS

ABACORE CAPITAL ASIABEST GROUP AYALA CORP ABOITIZ EQUITY ALLIANCE GLOBAL ANSCOR ANGLO PHIL HLDG ATN HLDG A ATN HLDG B COSCO CAPITAL DMCI HLDG FILINVEST DEV GT CAPITAL HOUSE OF INV JG SUMMIT LODESTAR LT GROUP METRO PAC INV PACIFICA HLDG PRIME MEDIA SOLID GROUP SM INVESTMENTS SAN MIGUEL CORP TOP FRONTIER WELLEX INDUS ZEUS HLDG

44.15 138 101.1 26.2 9.57 59.65 8.63 20.9 56.4 103 20.9 117.5 105.8 1.9 3.95 0.78 209 2,810

0.9 5.25 888 60.45 13.02 8.15 0.9 0.77 0.76 5.1 8.5 7.15 593 3.79 59.05 0.6 9.77 3.8 2.79 1.1 1.06 962.5 109 121 0.265 0.171

44.5 138.6 101.2 26.25 9.6 59.7 9.3 21 57.7 110 21 118 106 1.92 3.99 0.83 215 2,840

0.92 5.6 890 60.8 13.16 8.25 0.91 0.78 0.77 5.2 8.58 7.36 593.5 3.8 60 0.62 9.9 3.83 2.99 1.12 1.07 975 110.5 124 0.285 0.174

45 136.4 101.8 26.15 9.53 59.85 9.06 21 57.7 103 21.05 118.5 110 1.93 3.94 0.79 210 2,808

0.9 5.2 880 60.8 13 8.25 0.89 0.79 0.77 5.1 8.44 7.3 589 3.75 59.9 0.6 10.02 3.84 2.99 1.13 1.1 976 110.3 122 0.245 0.171

45 140.4 101.8 26.2 9.65 61 9.3 21 57.7 103 21.05 118.6 110 1.93 3.99 0.79 215 2,810

0.93 5.2 904 61.8 13.16 8.25 0.9 0.79 0.8 5.2 8.64 7.3 600.5 3.8 60.7 0.63 10.06 3.88 2.99 1.13 1.1 985 111 124 0.285 0.171

43.95 136.4 100.2 26.1 9.51 59.6 9.06 20.85 56.3 103 20.9 117 105 1.93 3.94 0.79 210 2,808

0.88 5.2 879.5 60.45 12.84 8.2 0.89 0.75 0.75 5.1 8.44 7.15 588.5 3.7 59.05 0.6 9.77 3.8 2.99 1.12 1.05 962.5 109 121 0.245 0.171

44.1 138 101.1 26.2 9.6 59.7 9.3 20.9 56.3 103 20.9 118 106 1.93 3.99 0.79 215 2,810

0.92 5.2 890 60.45 13.16 8.2 0.9 0.77 0.77 5.1 8.58 7.15 593.5 3.8 59.05 0.6 9.77 3.8 2.99 1.12 1.06 962.5 109 121 0.285 0.171

4,800 4,272,180 5,548,200 71,800 409,500 4,285,690 96,800 171,600 240 10 83,900 1,059,950 99,790 1,000 63,000 16,000 150 495

14,755,000 6,800 357,470 558,980 3,358,300 9,300 142,000 10,066,000 1,566,000 883,500 8,375,800 105,000 340,610 76,000 575,090 413,000 4,134,300 36,947,000 1,000 36,000 1,152,000 249,620 91,000 620 1,600,000 160,000

13,327,550 35,360 319,586,195 33,976,894.50 43,630,918 76,560 126,510 7,736,170 1,191,800 4,509,931 71,735,103 765,750 203,475,100 287,170 34,110,133.50 247,980 40,981,289 141,183,880 2,990 40,420 1,219,350 243,533,800 10,015,799 75,460 429,000 27,360

PROPERTY ARTHALAND CORP 0.61 0.62 0.6 0.6 0.6 0.6 488,000 292,800 37.7 37.85 37 37.85 36.8 37.85 16,209,200 608,546,500 AYALA LAND 5.36 5.37 5.4 5.4 5.27 5.36 3,601,500 19,149,868 AYALA LAND LOG 0.96 0.99 0.96 0.98 0.96 0.98 286,000 274,980 ARANETA PROP 50.9 50.95 50 51.2 50 50.9 149,200 7,586,581.50 AREIT RT 0.8 0.81 0.75 0.8 0.74 0.8 1,068,000 836,550 A BROWN 0.72 0.73 0.73 0.73 0.73 0.73 193,000 140,890 CITYLAND DEVT CROWN EQUITIES 0.099 0.101 0.101 0.102 0.095 0.101 7,720,000 764,170 CEB LANDMASTERS 2.95 2.96 2.95 2.99 2.94 2.96 739,000 2,193,560 CENTURY PROP 0.42 0.425 0.425 0.425 0.42 0.42 140,000 58,900 DOUBLEDRAGON 9.97 9.98 9.29 9.97 9.29 9.97 3,632,100 35,647,612 DDMP RT 1.8 1.81 1.8 1.81 1.79 1.8 4,903,000 8,831,150 DM WENCESLAO 6.8 6.85 6.85 6.85 6.85 6.85 513,000 3,514,050 0.25 0.255 0.25 0.26 0.25 0.255 610,000 155,550 EMPIRE EAST 0.315 0.32 0.325 0.325 0.315 0.32 10,280,000 3,251,400 EVER GOTESCO 7.5 7.55 7.59 7.59 7.5 7.5 4,657,700 35,113,219 FILINVEST RT 1.09 1.1 1.11 1.11 1.09 1.1 13,138,000 14,465,290 FILINVEST LAND 0.96 0.97 0.97 0.97 0.97 0.97 452,000 438,440 GLOBAL ESTATE 12.72 12.82 12.7 12.9 12.7 12.82 209,200 2,676,588 8990 HLDG 565 570 507 570 495 570 53,920 27,981,785 GOLDEN MV PHIL INFRADEV 1.05 1.06 1.07 1.08 1.04 1.05 409,000 432,910 CITY AND LAND 0.83 0.84 0.84 0.86 0.84 0.84 410,000 347,350 MEGAWORLD 3.29 3.3 3.23 3.31 3.23 3.3 30,368,000 99,588,200 MRC ALLIED 0.275 0.28 0.28 0.28 0.27 0.275 6,940,000 1,929,550 MREIT RT 20.25 20.3 20.5 20.8 20.25 20.3 2,623,600 53,671,160 OMICO CORP 0.355 0.365 0.36 0.36 0.36 0.36 40,000 14,400 0.47 0.475 0.47 0.475 0.47 0.475 810,000 383,000 PHIL ESTATES 2.21 2.26 2.22 2.26 2.21 2.26 1,558,000 3,470,310 PRIMEX CORP 8.09 8.1 8.4 8.4 8.1 8.1 7,170,100 58,743,781 RL COMM RT 18.84 19 19.02 19.18 18.84 19 2,425,000 46,106,062 ROBINSONS LAND 0.194 0.198 0.196 0.198 0.19 0.198 930,000 181,220 PHIL REALTY 2.6 2.61 2.6 2.61 2.6 2.61 243,000 631,820 SHANG PROP 2.74 2.89 2.9 2.9 2.9 2.9 5,000 14,500 STA LUCIA LAND SM PRIME HLDG 36.2 36.25 35.6 36.55 35.6 36.25 6,385,500 231,671,170 SOC RESOURCES 0.62 0.64 0.65 0.65 0.62 0.62 84,000 53,090 3.68 3.69 3.69 3.72 3.69 3.69 83,000 306,760 VISTAMALLS 1.08 1.1 1.08 1.11 1.08 1.11 2,000 2,190 SUNTRUST HOME 3.42 3.44 3.49 3.49 3.42 3.44 2,913,000 10,004,670 VISTA LAND SERVICES ABS CBN 13.7 13.78 13.7 13.92 13.7 13.7 349,600 4,812,650 14.88 14.98 15.06 15.1 14.84 14.98 1,226,000 18,367,930 GMA NETWORK 0.41 0.42 0.42 0.42 0.42 0.42 30,000 12,600 MANILA BULLETIN 9.03 10 9.03 9.03 9.03 9.03 100 903 MLA BRDCASTING 3,032 3,070 3,080 3,132 3,032 3,032 86,175 264,338,930 GLOBE TELECOM 1,895 1,934 1,882 1,934 1,882 1,934 142,840 273,607,145 PLDT 0.067 0.068 0.065 0.068 0.065 0.067 130,600,000 8,731,080 APOLLO GLOBAL CONVERGE 28.95 29 28.95 29.6 28.9 29 9,691,900 282,469,865 DFNN INC 2.31 2.39 2.34 2.44 2.34 2.39 165,000 395,110 6.19 6.2 5.83 6.2 5.83 6.2 25,048,100 152,176,343 DITO CME HLDG IMPERIAL 1.4 1.48 1.4 1.4 1.4 1.4 5,000 7,000 1.6 1.68 1.65 1.65 1.65 1.65 1,000 1,650 JACKSTONES 1.38 1.39 1.4 1.42 1.39 1.39 1,196,000 1,673,530 NOW CORP 0.41 0.415 0.41 0.42 0.405 0.41 6,290,000 2,560,850 TRANSPACIFIC BR 7.4 7.48 7.55 7.55 7.48 7.48 13,500 101,524 2GO GROUP 13.5 13.8 13.6 13.8 13.5 13.8 3,900 53,170 ASIAN TERMINALS 1.59 1.6 1.58 1.6 1.57 1.59 329,000 520,700 CHELSEA 44.3 44.7 45.7 45.7 44.3 44.3 884,800 39,690,305 CEBU AIR 220.4 221 217.2 224 217.2 221 2,081,480 460,041,490 INTL CONTAINER 22.05 22.2 22.2 22.2 22.05 22.05 2,400 52,995 LBC EXPRESS MACROASIA 5.9 5.91 6 6 5.8 5.91 1,155,900 6,831,840 METROALLIANCE A 1.03 1.07 1.04 1.07 1.02 1.07 195,000 199,670 1.45 1.6 1.59 1.61 1.5 1.5 151,000 232,770 ACESITE HOTEL 1.73 1.79 1.71 1.71 1.71 1.71 16,000 27,360 DISCOVERY WORLD 15.2 15.3 15.5 15.5 14 15.3 6,300 96,270 GRAND PLAZA 0.47 0.495 0.47 0.49 0.47 0.49 240,000 116,200 WATERFRONT 6.82 7 6.83 6.83 6.82 6.82 53,000 361,802 IPEOPLE 0.34 0.345 0.345 0.345 0.345 0.345 50,000 17,250 STI HLDG 1.34 1.35 1.37 1.37 1.35 1.35 362,000 491,060 BELLE CORP 6.12 6.13 6.12 6.28 6.12 6.12 5,538,200 34,027,495 BLOOMBERRY 1.77 1.84 1.77 1.77 1.76 1.76 37,000 65,270 PACIFIC ONLINE 1.54 1.6 1.61 1.61 1.54 1.6 98,000 151,660 LEISURE AND RES 1.13 1.18 1.12 1.12 1.11 1.11 14,000 15,620 MJC INVESTMENTS PH RESORTS GRP 0.75 0.76 0.76 0.77 0.75 0.76 1,078,000 819,030 PREMIUM LEISURE 0.45 0.455 0.46 0.465 0.45 0.455 6,650,000 3,034,450 PHIL RACING 5.31 5.5 5.5 5.5 5.5 5.5 5,200 28,600 PHILWEB 1.93 1.97 1.96 1.98 1.96 1.98 75,000 147,370 0.57 0.58 0.58 0.58 0.57 0.57 16,195,000 9,292,740 ALLDAY BERJAYA 5.63 5.7 5.63 5.63 5.63 5.63 29,100 163,833 8.56 8.6 8.77 8.8 8.6 8.6 439,700 3,787,029 ALLHOME 1.4 1.41 1.41 1.41 1.4 1.41 218,000 306,150 METRO RETAIL 36.75 36.8 36.6 37.3 36.6 36.8 831,300 30,725,815 PUREGOLD 56.7 56.8 56.75 58 56.55 56.7 492,120 28,104,870 ROBINSONS RTL 85.05 86 88.95 89 85 88 6,240 552,230.50 PHIL SEVEN CORP 1.14 1.16 1.16 1.17 1.13 1.14 786,000 901,890 SSI GROUP WILCON DEPOT 27.05 27.3 27.5 27.85 27.05 27.05 2,485,500 67,770,135 APC GROUP 0.24 0.241 0.243 0.243 0.241 0.241 460,000 111,020 EASYCALL 4 4.47 4 4 4 4 3,000 12,000 6.7 7 6.8 7 6.7 7 2,500 17,050 IPM HLDG 1.08 1.09 1.08 1.1 1.07 1.09 943,000 1,019,130 MEDILINES PAXYS 1.89 1.9 1.99 1.99 1.89 1.89 12,000 23,290 PRMIERE HORIZON 0.58 0.59 0.54 0.59 0.54 0.58 21,853,000 12,455,360 4.25 4.3 4.1 4.25 4.1 4.25 102,000 431,210 SBS PHIL CORP MINING & OIL ATOK 5.63 6.03 5.98 6 5.94 6 183,700 1,100,765 1.69 1.7 1.65 1.69 1.65 1.69 3,605,000 6,025,480 APEX MINING 6.11 6.22 6.2 6.24 6 6.11 437,500 2,666,722 ATLAS MINING 5.12 5.33 5.2 5.2 5.2 5.2 14,600 75,920 BENGUET A 4.8 4.92 4.8 4.8 4.8 4.8 1,000 4,800 BENGUET B 0.265 0.27 0.26 0.28 0.26 0.28 100,000 27,000 COAL ASIA HLDG CENTURY PEAK 2.7 2.77 2.7 2.77 2.7 2.77 11,000 30,400 DIZON MINES 5.05 5.29 5.02 5.4 5.02 5.33 17,100 85,943 FERRONICKEL 2.44 2.45 2.43 2.49 2.38 2.45 5,780,000 14,084,710 GEOGRACE 0.196 0.208 0.208 0.22 0.208 0.208 1,300,000 272,830 0.14 0.142 0.142 0.142 0.141 0.141 1,910,000 269,450 LEPANTO A 0.14 0.141 0.14 0.14 0.14 0.14 760,000 106,400 LEPANTO B 0.0096 0.0098 0.0095 0.0098 0.0095 0.0098 6,000,000 58,100 MANILA MINING A 0.0097 0.0099 0.0098 0.0098 0.0098 0.0098 1,000,000 9,800 MANILA MINING B 1.41 1.42 1.43 1.47 1.37 1.42 3,158,000 4,428,970 MARCVENTURES 6.33 6.41 6.3 6.49 6.29 6.33 17,143,200 109,751,824 NICKEL ASIA 0.82 0.83 0.81 0.84 0.81 0.84 79,000 64,050 ORNTL PENINSULA 5.37 5.38 5.44 5.45 5.36 5.38 879,900 4,733,445 PX MINING 26.05 26.2 26 26.4 25.85 26.2 1,665,200 43,516,600 SEMIRARA MINING ACE ENEXOR 34.4 34.6 34 35.2 33.3 34.6 378,600 13,122,465 ORNTL PETROL A 0.012 0.013 0.012 0.013 0.012 0.013 39,700,000 487,100 0.0091 0.0093 0.0092 0.0092 0.0092 0.0092 18,000,000 165,600 PHILODRILL 5.8 5.82 5.81 5.84 5.7 5.8 467,200 2,683,378 PXP ENERGY PREFFERED HOUSE PREF B 99.3 99.5 99.5 99.5 99.5 99.5 700 69,650 101.1 101.3 101 101 101 101 9,300 939,300 HOUSE PREF A 505 520 520 520 503 503 1,980 999,220 AC PREF B1 512 524 512.5 512.5 512 512 200 102,435 ALCO PREF D 513 520 513 513 513 513 200 102,600 AC PREF B2R 105 106 105 105.9 105 105 5,000 527,250 BRN PREF A 45.05 45.5 45.15 45.5 45.05 45.5 42,000 1,898,135 CEB PREF CPG PREF A 102 103 102 103 102 103 90,200 9,200,600 100.3 100.7 100.7 100.7 100.2 100.7 4,580 460,008 DD PREF 107 110 110 110 110 110 1,000 110,000 EEI PREF B 103 105 105.2 105.2 103 103 1,080 111,416 FGEN PREF G 999 1,010 999 1,000 999 999 1,200 1,199,290 GTCAP PREF A 1,015 1,043 1,043 1,043 1,043 1,043 10 10,430 GTCAP PREF B 1,000 1,010 1,010 1,010 1,010 1,010 20 20,200 JFC PREF A 1,006 1,010 1,010 1,010 1,010 1,010 220 222,200 JFC PREF B 95.05 100 100 100 100 100 80 8,000 MWIDE PREF 2A 100 102.3 102.4 102.4 102.4 102.4 80 8,192 MWIDE PREF 2B 100 100.4 100.5 100.5 100 100.4 2,130 213,060 MWIDE PREF 4 102.1 103.1 102.5 103.1 102.5 103.1 30 3,087 PNX PREF 3B 997 999 999 999 999 999 4,900 4,895,100 PNX PREF 4 PCOR PREF 3A 1,046 1,069 1,069 1,069 1,069 1,069 10 10,690 1,082 1,098 1,099 1,099 1,098 1,098 300 329,655 PCOR PREF 3B 78.8 79.3 79.4 79.5 79.3 79.3 7,680 609,730 SMC PREF 2F 75.8 76.5 75.8 75.8 75.8 75.8 3,400 257,720 SMC PREF 2H 77.4 79.3 79.3 79.3 79.3 79.3 40,000 3,172,000 SMC PREF 2I 76.45 77 76.45 77 76.45 77 11,410 877,794.50 SMC PREF 2J 76 76.9 76.25 76.9 76 76 5,310 406,795 SMC PREF 2K 51 52 51 51 51 51 200 10,200 TECH PREF B2C 53.5 53.8 53.65 53.8 53.5 53.5 5,500 295,259.50 TECH PREF B2D PHIL. DEPOSITARY RECEIPTS ABS HLDG PDR 12.58 12.94 12.8 12.96 12.8 12.9 74,000 953,840 14.24 14.38 14.06 14.4 14.06 14.24 88,400 1,260,890 GMA HLDG PDR WARRANTS TECH WARRANT 0.96 0.98 0.95 0.98 0.92 0.96 1,088,000 1,043,580

-9,650 43,289,085 -10,173,858 7,904,862 102,560 -1,288,639 -7,938,354 28,602,260 3,364,149.50 -8,113,170 -105,473,820 10,500 -10,817,540 163,912 12,100 8,400 168,501,465 608,594 2,415,013.50 -7,600 -2,970 -47,250 -4,200 140,143.00 57,620 10,000 2,453,144 3,439,050 320,326 8,490 10,200 -1,324,500 -28,000 -10,723,475 14,695,357 -30,022,554 9,500 6,015,255 1,021,740 -39,211,620 109,260,150 -2,690 37,897,160 -9,017,140 -113,540 789,750 -2,244 -22,120 13,744,615 77,836,584 -39,690 115,718 3,450.00 -75,290 -4,161,138 -15,200 -2,572,550 -11,000 124,450.00 1,919,675 1,284,050 7,307,959.50 96,489.50 -174,820 -20,749,965 12,150 20,710 -1,990 -70,020.00 33,050 436,231 27,700 -8,534 -751,620 66,470 -21,941,994 -496,667 3,097,840 -800,885 965,964

SMALL & MEDIUM ENTERPRISES

ALTUS PROP HAUS TALK ITALPINAS KEPWEALTH MERRYMART XURPAS

17.9 1.21 1.06 2.79 2.13 0.425

18.12 1.22 1.07 2.89 2.14 0.43

EXHANGE TRADE FUNDS

FIRST METRO ETF

113.9

114

18.68 1.22 1.04 2.78 2.13 0.42

18.68 1.25 1.07 2.79 2.19 0.43

17.82 1.2 1.04 2.78 2.13 0.42

17.9 1.22 1.06 2.79 2.14 0.43

10,000 5,461,000 761,000 3,000 4,816,000 980,000

180,546 6,685,390 802,740 8,360 10,390,110 417,300

267,195 406,035 -5,100 378,598 19,200 -5,400 -5,250 589,430 -

113.5 114.4 113.5 114 15,690 1,787,833 46,710

www.businessmirror.com.ph

Banking&Finance BusinessMirror

EXCLUSIVE

Cyberscammers turning romance to profit–firm By Rizal Raoul S. Reyes @brownindio

OVE hurts the pocket when people fall victim to cybercriminals specializing in love scams, according to network security provider Kaspersky Lab ZAO. Kaspersky noted “romance scams” are on the rise since 2020 when the pandemic first hit the world. With limited physical movements caused by the Covid-19 pandemic, people utilized social media platforms to connect. Kaspersky’s own research revealed that more than half (53 percent) of social media users during local and national lockdowns around the world have used social networks more than ever before. The same research also revealed 18 percent of the 1,007 adults surveyed to represent Southeast Asia (SEA) use social media mainly to find romance and the majority (76 percent) confirm that social media has provided them a vital connection during the global health emergency. Although social media and the internet provided the link to people, Kasperksy reported that law enforcement agencies of Singapore and Malaysia in 2021 tracked down a group specializing in romance scams. The syndicate, according to Singaporean and Malaysian authorities, was allegedly behind at least eight scams in both countries, including the case of a 41-year-old Singaporean woman who ended up losing a total of $28,000. Another Kaspersky research— “Mapping a Secure Path for the Future of Digital Payments in APAC”— revealed that almost one in two (45 percent) in Southeast Asia lost money

because of online love scams. Kaspersky said the majority of the incidents here only cost less than $100 (22 percent). However, it is worth noting that the victim’s age and the possible cost of a romance scam seem to be overlapping. With losses amounting to less than $100, the two oldest generations—the “Baby Boomers” and the “Silent Generation”—logged the highest percentage, both at 33 percent. The most senior age group, on the other hand, lost the most with nearly two in five of them admitting to losing $5,000 to $10,000 from love scams online. Lastly, a small portion (8 percent) belonging to the “Gen Z” said cybercriminals have incurred more than $10,000 from romance-related threats. “When we were younger, we tend to be more curious and a bit more reckless. When we become older, we have a lot of time in our hands and, usually, retirement funds in our bank accounts,” Chris Connell, Managing Director for Asia Pacific at Kaspersky, told the BusinessMirror. “Cybercriminals know these realities as well as our human tendencies to be lonely and crave for a company when forced to be alone inside our houses.” Connell added that the cases they’ve seen lately “should serve as a reminder for us to keep our minds ‘on’ even as we listen to our hearts.” “Because nothing is more painful than having a fake lover and an empty wallet, we urge everyone from all ages to remain vigilant and be better in discerning the authenticity of the relationships we are building online and offline,” Connell said.

Security Bank donates ’21 Christmas gift fund

beneficiary schools receive GI sheets donated by the Security Bank through its corporate social responsibility arm. CREDIT: Security Bank Corp.

ECURITY Bank Corp. (SBC) announced it has donated its 2021 holiday fund allocation to support disaster relief and home rebuilding efforts in the aftermath of Typhoon Odette. The bank said it partnered with non-government organization (NGO) International Care Ministries (ICM) to rebuild homes for families in Bohol. Further, the lender said its corporate social responsibility (CSR) arm Security Bank Foundation Inc. (SBFI) is working with the Department of Education to rebuild classrooms in various municipalities across Visayas and Mindanao. Apart from partnering with NGOs, the bank said its Kabankalan branch in Negros Occidental also donated a portion of the their calamity fund financed by its employees will be utilized to provide financial assistance for employees of the Negros Occidental Electric Cooperative (Noceco) who were heavily affected by Typhoon Odette. “It’s important for us to contribute and uplift the communities where we operate. We have partnered with relevant organizations to drive our mission of enriching lives, empowering businesses, and building communities,” Security Bank President and CEO Sanjiv Vohra was quoted in the statement as saying. “We’re humbled to be able to assist our communities recover and rise up from the challenges they experience.” Further, in support of its edu-

cation-related initiatives, the SBC said it donated 1,400 GI sheets to rehabilitate 15 classrooms located in Western Visayas and Palawan. This will replace damaged roofs that were affected by recent typhoons. Apart from classroom repairs, the bank also donated mobile learning kits to 59 beneficiary schools in partnership with the Knowledge Channel Foundation and SBFI, and Makeroscopes to select schools in Bataan. “In 2020, the Foundation partnered with the Knowledge Channel and the Ateneo de Manila University to produce videos through the program, called ‘Ready, Set, Read!,’ which aims to address the identified weakness of Filipino students in reading based on recent international assessments,” SBFI Trustee and Corporate Secretary Melissa Aquino said. “However, access to the videos was limited due to internet connectivity issues. The portable media libraries hope to answer that problem as students or their parents can now copy educational resources offline and enjoy interactive learning at home.” Makeroscopes are single-lens keychain microscopes that are attached to a mobile phone’s front camera giving students the ability to experience using microscopes at home. The mobile learning kits, called “Gift of Knowledge” are pre-loaded with 1,500 educational videos that allow students and teachers to have access to critical learning resources for continued education.

Editor: Dennis D. Estopace • Thursday, February 10, 2022

DOF eyes credit rating system for LGUs issuing ‘green’ bonds

By Bernadette D. Nicolas

@BNicolasBM

HE Department of Finance is looking into establishing a credit rating system for local government units (LGUs) to issue their own green bonds and raise funds to finance their own projects, according to a DOF executive.

Finance Assistant Secretary and Spokesman Paola A. Alvarez said on Wednesday this forms part of the DOF’s efforts to help make the local governments more sustainable in preparation for the full devolution of certain functions of the national government to LGUs no later than 2024 as government implements the Mandanas ruling starting this year. “We are looking into, for example, like a credit rating system for local governments so that moving forward they can float their own green bonds and sustainability bonds and fund their own projects,” Alvarez said during an online forum on green financing. The devolution of certain functions of the national government to LGUs was done to mitigate the fiscal impact of the Supreme Court’s Mandanas ruling. The ruling expanded the basis

for the computation of Internal Revenue Allotment (IRA). These would include collections not only of the Bureau of Internal Revenue but also the customs duties collected by the Bureau of Customs, a part of taxes collected in Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao, taxes from the exploitation of national wealth, excise tax on tobacco products and other taxes provided in the National Internal Revenue Code and franchise taxes. Apart from establishing a credit system for LGUs, Alvarez said the government also wants to work “hand in hand with the private sector,” which they see would have a greater role in the issuance of green bonds as the country aims to reduce its greenhouse gas emissions. The Philippines has committed to a projected greenhouse gas emissions and avoidance of 75 percent

from 2020 to 2030 for the sectors of agriculture, wastes, industry, transport, and energy, as its National Determined Contribution (NDC) to the Paris Agreement. In terms of investments, Alvarez said they are also looking into how they can use the economic liberalization bills as leverage to mobilize foreign direct investments towards green and sustainable projects. She added they are also working towards harmonizing policies for climate change and disaster risk mitigation and stressed the need for the government to allocate budget to mitigate disaster risk exposure like having different types of insurance. Diane Maharjan of the Agriculture, Natural Resources and Environment Staff of the National Economic Development Authority (Neda), also pointed out in the same forum the lack of investors supplying green products and resources in the market. “For instance, there is a lack of charging stations for solar-powered vehicles that limits mobility as well as there is still a huge cost of setting up water recycling units that convert our dirty water or rainwater into acceptable form for drinking,” Neda Assistant Director Maharjan said. “Indeed the government’s role in creating right policies and regulations in greening our financial system is critical but we also need to work fast and orient both our public and private capital towards these

more sustainable investments so that we can ensure that our projects our environmentally and socially sound,” she added. Meanwhile, Asian Development Bank Principal Financial Sector Specialist Arup Kumar Chatterjee also said in the same forum that they are working with the Philippine government to assess the funding needs for a blue bond to develop a sustainable fisheries value chain. “We are working with the Philippine government to develop a blue bond. Feasibility studies are underway,” Chatterjee said. To promote a conducive environment for green finance markets, Chatterjee also emphasized the need for targeted policy support for low carbon and green bond issuance through providing incentives like reducing the transaction costs. “Green bonds definitely are an effective instrument to achieve the sustainable development goals,” he further said. Moreover, Chatterjee also said the local green bond issuance must be aligned with the national climate and infrastructure targets, which can contribute to the country’s sustainable development agenda as well as for the issuer of green bonds to adhere to international best practices. “If we have these elements in place, there will be an enabling environment to look at opportunities with the just transition offers,” he added.

PHL to get ₧100M in ODA to fund scholarship in Japan

House OKs bill granting CAAP fiscal incentives

By Cai U. Ordinario

@caiordinario

HE Philippines has received a grant of over P100 million from the Japanese government to sponsor the education of Filipino students in the best universities in Japan. The Japan International Cooperation Agency (Jica) and the National Economic and Development Authority (Neda) signed a 329-million yen grant—equivalent to P164.5 million—to further the development of human resources in the Philippines. The grant will finance the Project for Human Resources Development Scholarship (JDS) which is part of the Government of Japan’s Official Development Assistance (ODA) to the Philippines to help develop young leaders in government and boost efforts in socioeconomic development. “The JDS is symbolic of the trusted partnership between Jica and the Philippines particularly in developing human resources who will eventually become leaders in policy and governance in Philippines,” JICA Philippines Chief Representative Eigo Azukizawa said. Jica noted Neda’s recent report on the human capital index of the Philippines in 2020 at 0.52. According to the Neda, the pandemic underscored the need to enrich human capital and help more Filipinos realize their full potential, especially those who aspire to become

leaders in development. “JDS scholars learn from Japan’s best universities and institutions and eventually become ambassadors of goodwill between our nations,” Azukizawa added. “With Covid-19 imposing challenges in human capital development, the JDS is an opportunity for both our countries to build on our partnership and collectively develop a talent pool of future leaders who can contribute to inclusive growth and development.” Since its inception in 2002, the program has sent 399 Filipinos to leading Japanese universities such as University of Tokyo, International University of Japan, Hokkaido University, Hiroshima University and Hitotsubashi University, to name a few. Filipino JDS scholars later served as key-decision makers in their respective government agencies such as the Department of Interior and Local Government, Development Bank of the Philippines and the Neda, among others. As the executing agency of Japanese ODA, the Jica handles technical cooperation, ODA loans and investment and grant aid, as well as cooperation volunteers and disaster relief programs. It is considered the world’s largest bilateral aid agency with its scale of operations amounting to about $16.69 billion for JFY 2020 and a worldwide network of almost a hundred overseas offices including the Philippines.

SSS asks members, pensioners to get protected vs Covid-19

HE Social Security System (SSS) reminds its members and pensioners to abide by the enhanced workplace safety systems following the nationwide surge of Covid-19 cases. In a statement, SSS President and CEO Aurora C. Ignacio stated that despite the pandemic, members still continue to visit SSS offices to file and follow up on their claims. “Our desire is to continuously provide the benefits and services for our members. However, in order to do so, we must observe basic health precautionary measures as mandated by the government to ensure the safety of both members and SSS employees,” Ignacio said. In this line, SSS enjoins it stakeholders to

get protected from Covid-19 by adopting these following steps: n Get vaccinated, n Wear masks in public, especially in closed, crowded areas n Practice social distancing, n Frequently washing hands, n Limiting travel, n Avoid crowded areas, n Transacting online, n Isolate if with Covid-like symptoms, and n Monitor daily health status. Further, SSS enjoins its members, pensioners, employers, and the general public to continue using its online services when transacting with its offices and branches for faster, simpler, more efficient and more convenient ways to avoid face-to-face interaction.

By Jovee Marie N. dela Cruz

@joveemarie

ESPITE some objection by the Department of Finance, the fiscal provisions of the bill strengthening the country’s civil aviation sector have been approved by the House Committee on Ways and Means. According to House Transportation Committee Chair Edgar Mary S. Sarmiento, the House Committee on Ways and Means Committee chaired by Albay Rep. Joey Salceda has approved the fiscal provisions of House Bill 8700 specifically the exemption of the Civil Aviation Authority of the Philippines (CAAP) from the Dividend Law within five years upon enactment. Under the Dividend Law, government-owned and controlled corporations are required to declare dividends that are remitted to the national treasury. The CAAP is a GOCC created through Republic Act (RA) 94971. It has jurisdiction over the restructuring of the civil aviation system as well as the promotion, development and regulation of the country’s technical, operational, safety and aviation security functions. In a statement, Sarmiento said his House Bill (HB) 8700 is seeking to give CAAP fiscal autonomy and exempt the agency from the Salary Standardization Law to stop the migration of Filipino pilots and flight crews. It also seeks to extend the term of the CAAP Director-General to insulate the position from partisan politics. Sarmiento said the CAAP is an independent regulatory body with quasi-judicial and quasi-legislative powers tasked to provide safe and efficient air transport and regulatory services in the country and should be therefore allowed some leeway in fiscal management. “[The] CAAP should have the capability to respond to global changes and challenges,” Sarmiento said. However, Finance Lyonel T. Tanganco said the DOF doesn’t share the lawmaker’s view and disfavors the exemption of CAAP from the provisions of RA 7656 as provided by HB 8700. “CAAP’s financial position shows that it can pay the dividends due without affecting its viability,” Tanganco, DOF division chief, said during a virtual hearing held by the Ways and Means panel. But Sarmiento said the CAAP needs to improve its financial position to protect the country’s civil aviation assets and discourage workers from working for other countries that pay higher wages. He emphasized that that is the intent of the exemption. The lawmaker believes that sharing dividends to the national treasury limits CAAP’s ability to respond to financial challenges amid the pandemic. “The negative impact of the Covid-19 pandemic on the financial viability of the aviation sector is staggering,” Sarmiento said. “We need a highly-competent CAAP to assist the industry to recover.” The lawmaker said various business groups have been pushing for the immediate passage of HB 8700 to provide CAAP sufficient power to improve the country’s aviation sector and upgrade its status among international bodies monitoring and accrediting aviation quality.

Envoys&Expats BusinessMirror

Thursday, February 10, 2022

www.businessmirror.com.ph

PHL ambassador, consuls general in China welcome Pinoy Olympian, alpine skier to Beijing

EIJING—Top officials from the Philippines’s consulate general in the Chinese capital warmly welcomed the arrival of the Philippines’s lone athlete competing in the 2022 Winter Olympic Games.

Ambassador Jose Santiago L. Sta. Romana greeted Asa Miller in a special video conference on February 1, with Jim Apelar (president of the Philippine Ski and Snowboard Federation Inc.), as well as ministers and consuls general Dinno Oblena (Beijing), Raly Tejada (Hong Kong Special Administrative Region), Marshall Louis Alferez (Guangzhou), Josel Ignacio (Shanghai), Flerida Ann Camille Mayo (Chongqing), Porfirio Mayo Jr. (Macau Spe-

cial Administrative Region) and Maria Antonina Mendoza-Oblena (Xiamen). The Philippine ambassador extended a warm reception to Miller and other members of Team Philippines who arrived in Beijing, including Deputy Speaker Abraham Tolentino (president of the Philippine Olympic Committee) and Bones Floro (chef de mission of the Philippine Delegation). Miller shared his experiences

while settling in the Olympic Village in Yanqing, his first-hand impressions from training on Beijing’s slopes, and the overall preparations for the whole sporting event. The Filipino athlete will be competing at the men’s giant slalom runs on February 13 and the men’s slalom runs on February 16. He was also the Philippine flag bearer during the opening rites on February 4. Sta. Romana and the Philippine consuls general each expressed their well wishes to Miller. They assured him of their full support, as well as that of the Filipino community in China. Everyone at the consulate believes that Miller’s achievement of qualifying for the Olympics is in itself a source of pride and inspiration for the whole Filipino nation, as they looked forward to watching him compete in the coming days. (The Olympic Games will be

AMBASSADOR Sta. Romana (left photo, right) and Olympian Asa Miller (right photo) DFA

primarily broadcast by CCTV-5 in China and Cignal TV in the Philippines. Tentative details of Miller’s competition events are as follows:

White House names next US envoy to PHL

HE White House announced on February 4 its selection of career diplomat MaryKay Loss Carlson as the next American ambassador to the Philippines. The post has been vacant for more than a year since Sung Y. Kim ended his four-year tour of duty in Manila in October 2020, while Heather Variava is chargé d’affaires ad interim (CDA a.i.) at the US Embassy in Manila since

MARYKAY LOSS CARLSON CONTRIBUTED PHOTO/PNA

September 2021. She succeeded John Law. Carlson currently serves as deputy chief of mission at the US Embassy in Buenos Aires, Argentina. Previously she worked in the same capacity in New Delhi, India for three years and as CDA a.i. for 10 months, then as principal deputy executive secretary of the Secretary of State in Washington, D.C. She was a foreign service offi-

cer since 1985 after earning her Spanish and International Studies degrees from Rhodes College in Memphis, Tennessee, and Master of Arts in International Relations from Georgetown University in Washington, D.C. Carlson also served in diplomatic missions in China, Ukraine, Hong Kong, Mozambique, Kenya, and the Dominican Republic. Joyce Ann L. Rocamora/PNA

ECCP executive cites reforms for prioritization by next admin

OLICY reforms of the next administration should focus on curbing corruption and human-capital development, an executive of the European Chamber of Commerce of the Philippines (ECCP) said. The chamber’s president Lars Wittig said a transparent government that upholds public trust is important in attracting investors. In a briefing, he shared that “Denmark has the least corruption in the world, and I’ve seen first-hand how it benefits business. Because when there is a very high trust level and transparency, that really makes business very adaptable and very willing to make investments.” Wittig explained the Philippines will attract more investors if its government increases its

PHL maintains 7th-most promising country ranking for Japanese enterprises

OKYO—The Philippines has maintained its Top 7 rank in terms of being a promising prospect for business operations among Japanese companies in 2021 over the midterm, or in the next three years, according to a survey conducted by the Japan Bank for International Cooperation (JBIC). Based on the survey, and as relayed by the Embassy of Japan in Manila, the investors chose the Philippines as “base of export to Japan,” and received the most votes on “good performance of sales in the [Asean].” Aside from the former, the Top 10 countries for midterm prospects in the JBIC Survey for 2021 were China, India, Vietnam, Thailand, United States, Indonesia, Malaysia, Mexico, and Myanmar. In terms of major industries for overseas business in the midterm, the Philippines was placed at Top 7 for electrical equipment and electronics, as well as Top 8 for both automobiles and general machinery. The country has been Top 7 overall since 2019.

ECCP President Lars Wittig PNA

spending on human-capital development by allocating a higher budget for education and nutrition: “We are spending less money

of our GDP [gross domestic product] on education.” The ECCP executive said the country’s spending on education

based on the percentage of the economy is relatively low compared to other developing countries. “And finally, nutrition. Very basic, but [it is one of the biggest hurdles in this country to ensure higher likelihood of a productive life from…50 to 65 years],” he added. Wittig said the next administration should strive for inclusive growth and address poverty to enable Filipinos to afford better nutrition: “It’s the ability to pay money for the right food—not just food, for your children and yourself.” He also supports new reforms that will improve the country’s agriculture, as a large population of the poor is working in this sector. Kris Krismundo/PNA

on February 13: men’s giant slalom runs 1 and 2 at 10:15 a.m. and 1:45 p.m., respectively; and on February 16: men’s slalom runs 1 and 2 at the

same time slots, respectively. Updated details may be found on the Olympics’ official web site: https:// bit.ly/3gka2K1.)

Israel minister, PHL envoy to promote two-way tourism

SRAEL Tourism Minister Yoel Razvozov held a meeting with Ambassador Macairog S. Alberto in the Ministry of Tourism (MOT) in Jerusalem, where the two officials discussed the great potential of both the Philippines and the Holy Land to welcome tourists from each country to the other. Razvozov and Alberto also talked about matters regarding direct flights and how they will be gamechangers in boosting two-way tourism for both countries. They conversed about the memorandum of understanding on tourism with regard to Filipino workers for the tourism industry, as it is already in the final stages. “It was a pleasure meeting [Ambassador Macairog. I raised the importance of launching direct flights and mutual recognition of vaccination certificates for outgoing] travelers,” said Razvozov. Also present in the meeting were Hassan Madah (MOT director for Americas and Asia), Nira Fisher (MOT director of International Relations), Yulia RachinskySpivakov (of Israel’s Ministry of

AMBASSADOR Alberto (left) with Minister Razvozov EMBASSY OF ISRAEL

Foreign Affairs’ Economic AffairsAsia, the Pacific and Euro-Asia), Judy B. Razon (Embassy of the Philippines in Israel’s third secretary and vice consul), as well as Erich George F. Oquendo (protocol officer and attaché.) A record-breaking number of 34,000 Filipinos visited Israel in 2019, according to data from the MOT. On the other hand, 22,851 Israelis visited the Philippines, based on Department of Tourism statistics. The Holy Land reopened its borders to vaccinated and some recovered foreign tourists on January 9, as Filipino passport holders can enjoy visa-free entry for up to 90 days.

Canada sends face masks to DOH

Kashmir Solidarity Day: Another year passes with gross human-rights violations in IIOJK By Saadia Awan

Second Secretary, Embassy of Pakistan

E observe Kashmir Solidarity Day on February 5 to pay tribute and solemn oath to our Kashmiri brethren in the Indian Illegally Occupied Jammu and Kashmir (IIOJK) in their quest to attain rights of freedom and self-determination from Indian forces. To date India has resorted to the worst state terrorism, and continues its illegal hold on Jammu and Kashmir. Indian troops and police personnel enjoy unbridled powers under draconian laws and have committed war crimes with impunity in the occupied territory to suppress the Kashmiris’ just struggle for securing their inalienable right to self-determination. Indian forces have martyred 95,925 innocent Kashmiris, including 7,215 in custody, since January 1989 until December 10, 2021. It said the killings rendered 22,939 women widowed and

AWAN 107,855 children orphaned. Troops molested or disgraced 11,246 women, as well as damaged 110,445 houses and other structures. Indian atrocities in IIOJK had witnessed an alarming upsurge on August 5, 2019, when an illegal, unilateral and in an unconstitutional move aimed at altering the internationally recognized disputed status of IIOJK and changing the demographic structure of the occupied territory. This demographic apartheid in IIOJK by Indian Occupation Forces

is further violation of international law, wherein the Kashmiris’ majority is being turned into a minority in their own land. The measure is a constant reminder to the world community of India’s stateterrorism being perpetrated every day against innocent Kashmiri men, women and children. On February 5 every year Pakistan again calls upon the international community to hold India accountable for all the crimes it has perpetuated against humanity. India must rescind its unilateral and illegal actions and stop implementing the “Hindutva” agenda in IIOJK that is detrimental to peace and security in the region. The key to durable peace in South Asia is the resolution of the Jammu and Kashmir dispute in accordance with relevant United Nations Security Council Resolutions, and the wishes of the Kashmiri people. The world must ensure the Kashmiris get their long-due inherent right of self-determination and right of freedom.

AMBASSADOR MacArthur (second from right) hands over the first tranche of the face mask donation to Health Department officials EMBASSY OF CANADA

ART of its commitment to support the Philippines’s efforts to protect health-care workers and first responders as they deliver publichealth services to the most vulnerable in the midst of the pandemic, the government of Canada recently sent 837,000 nonmedical respirator face masks to the Department of Health (DOH). “Canada is collaborating closely with the government of the Philippines and regional partners in the fight against Covid-19,” Ambassador Peter MacArthur said, as he formally turned over the donation’s first tranche, which consisted of 422,000 face masks, to DOH officials in Manila. “Our collaboration includes close engagement with the [Asean and its member-states] to support a coordinated and multilateral effort aimed at limiting and ending the pandemic,” MacArthur added. The masks, valued at CAD$3.41 million (approximately P136 million),

were provided through a collaboration among the government of Canada, the Asean secretariat and Asean memberstates, which aims to mitigate biological threats, including those resulting from the pandemic. Since 2013 the partnership has been working on strengthening biological security, biological safety and diseasesurveillance capabilities in the region. “Building on this long-standing partnership, Canada has provided additional aid to Asean partners to combat the… pandemic. This includes…9.5 million units of personal protective equipment with non-medical masks to the Asean Secretariat and seven member states, including the 837,000 [pieces] for the Philippines,” MacArthur explained. In September 2020 the North American country also turned over 120,000 N95 masks to the DOH as part of its bilateral assistance pledged to the Philippines.

Parentlife BusinessMirror

www.businessmirror.com.ph

5 tips to help preschoolers with special needs during the pandemic

Editor: Gerard S. Ramos

• Thursday, February 10, 2022

The love pets bring

By Michele L. Stites University of Maryland, Baltimore County FOUR months in reading. Five months in math. That’s how far children are behind where they should be for their grade level, according to a 2021 report that says the Covid-19 pandemic—and the transition to virtual learning—are to blame. For young children in particular, parents report that opportunities for both academic and social emotional growth were lacking during the pandemic. But what is the effect of the pandemic on young children with disabilities, many of whom did not receive their federally mandated special education services as many schools shifted online? As researchers who specialize in issues of education for young children with disabilities, we found that parents of such children are worried about the impact of virtual learning because of the lack of special education services, their own child’s inability to participate in virtual instruction, and the lack of opportunities for social emotional growth and development. While we know that parents are very busy, based on our research, here are five things parents and caregivers of young children with disabilities can do to help bridge the gap caused by the pandemic and distance learning. n COMMUNICATE FREQUENTLY WITH YOUR CHILD’S THERAPISTS AND EDUCATORS. In the years before Covid-19, it was common for teachers and therapists—such as speech pathologists, occupational therapists and the like—to initiate communication with families. But as the pandemic persists, educators face overwhelming staff shortages, constant Covid-19 outbreaks and children who have not been in traditional school settings for months on end in some cases. Since school faculty and staff are overwhelmed, parents may need to take the lead when it comes to communication. E-mailing teachers and therapists about your child’s progress is a good place to start. Meetings can be set up from there if needed. n CREATE OPPORTUNITIES TO SOCIALIZE WITH OTHER CHILDREN. Parents and psychologists have reported that missing out on opportunities for socialization is one of the biggest side effects of the pandemic. Consider reaching out to parents of your child’s classmates to set up small social gatherings where children can practice ageappropriate socialization skills, such as sharing and taking turns. Being Covid-19 responsible is important, so be sure to follow safety guidelines. You can also work with different advocacy groups to see what types of programs are available in your area. n WORK ON GOALS IN THE CHILD’S INDIVIDUALIZED EDUCATION PROGRAM. A child’s individualized education program (IEP) should outline the child’s strengths and weaknesses. The IEP should also include goals to support learning in all areas, such as language skills, social skills and the like. Asking teachers and therapists about how those goals are being addressed at school can give parents ideas about how to naturally incorporate them into a child’s daily routine. For example, if a child is working on counting items one at a time, parents can count oranges at the grocery store or Goldfish crackers on a lunch plate. n TAKE A PLAY-BASED APPROACH TO LEARNING. Embedding learning into play allows parents to teach their child without the formality—and, let’s face it, dullness—of tools like flashcards and worksheets. Reading and asking questions, playing games like Go Fish where children can identify colors and numbers, spraying a small amount of shaving cream on a flat surface and writing letters in it, and even counting snowballs can be used as learning opportunities. n ENGAGE CHILDREN IN CONVERSATION. Providing young children opportunities to hear and practice language is critical for their learning. Taking time to talk with a young child is particularly important when the child has a disability. It is also important to give the child the needed time to answer questions. Parents can demonstrate responses for the child to repeat as necessary. Incorporating some of these ideas into a daily routine can go a long way in bridging the gaps left in the wake of Covid-19 and virtual learning.

THE CONVERSATION

HEN I was six, I remember our pet dog, Lassie, had gotten out of his cage and chased me around in circles at our garage for quite a bit of time. Since then, I had been afraid of dogs. When Marcus was around seven, he really wanted a pet dog. My daughter also chimed in. They promised my husband and me that they would share responsibilities in bathing, feeding and taking some future dog for his daily walks. So, in 2016, my husband brought home Brad, a black Labrador. Aside from seeing my kids trying to do their part in taking care of Brad, I particularly found it touching when Meagan would sit down for hours with him by the lanai to comfort him. When he was a baby, he could not sleep without Meagan so she would be there with him until he fell asleep. Two years later when he got bitten by another dog and had a major wound, Meagan dressed his wound and stayed with him as well. Brad always stayed outside the house. But during this pandemic, Meagan and Marcus promised to read 15 and 5 books, respectively, so that we would allow Brad to be let in the house. I caved despite my fear and, of course, with my dog-loving sister Joan’s prodding as well. I experienced firsthand the benefits pets bring to kids and the whole family, and highly encourage other parents to consider taking care of a pet when they feel their kids are ready. Petmd.com recommends the age of six as ideal for when parents can assign pet chores to their children. Below are other interesting benefits of pets for child and family development from The American Academy of Child & Adolescent Psychiatry and www.kumon.co.uk. n According to the American Academy of Child & Adolescent Psychiatry, children raised with pets reveal many benefits. Developing positive feelings about pets can contribute to a child’s self-esteem and self-confidence. Positive relationships with pets can aid in the development of trust in relationships with others. A good relationship with a pet can also help in developing non-verbal communication, compassion and empathy. n Pets can be safe recipients of secrets and private thoughts—children often talk to their pets, like they do to their stuffed animals. n Pets provide a connection to nature and can teach respect for other living things. n According to www.kumon.co.uk, research shows

that reading to a loyal and nonjudgmental companion, such as a dog or cat, can encourage reluctant readers to read aloud, which will in turn boost their selfconfidence. n A household pet can also foster a child’s sense of responsibility, as their parent explains the necessary processes of keeping their pet happy and healthy. As a child matures, they can then take on more of the daily responsibilities, boosting their sense of independence. n Pets can provide invaluable lessons about life, including reproduction, birth, illnesses and death. This can help to prepare children for future bereavement. n www.kumon.co.uk shared that pets also provide a fantastic subject for research and learning. Parents can encourage their child to research their favorite pets at the library or during a supervised Internet search. Taking children along to vet appointments or the pet shop to buy food and supplies will support their cognitive development as their passion for learning flourishes. n It is good to note that a child’s physical development can benefit greatly from taking pets for walks in the fresh air. Even their fine-motor skills can be utilized when grooming and preparing food for a beloved animal. During this pandemic, according to www.insider.

KEE Wah Bakery, known as one of Hong Kong’s finest Chinese bakeries, sells premium and top-quality pastries to enjoy during the New Year or any time of the year.

CLOCKWISE: Brad, the dog we adopted, at six months; Meagan walking him at the mall when he was a year old; Brad now with Meagan in their favorite spot by the lanai; Marcus with our newest adopted dog, Jorge; my sister Joan with Hershey; and Marcus relaxing with the dogs after basketball practice.

SHANGHAI Saloon offers Yam Cha and High Tea Afternoons.

Fortune feasts THE restaurants and Chinese bakeries located in The Podium (www.thepodium.com.ph) have created wellcurated fortune feasts for family and friends for the whole month of February. Experience modern Chinese dining inspired by cosmopolitan Shanghai at Shanghai Saloon at the ground level. Aside from its mouthwatering Chinese cuisines, families can also enjoy Yam Cha and High Tea Afternoons. Known as one of Hong Kong’s finest Chinese bakeries, Kee Wah Bakery has delightful premium and top-quality pastries and delicacies including cookies, shortcakes, rolls, and biscuits to enjoy during the New Year or any time of the year. Indulge in Paradise Dynasty’s exclusive Chinese Lunar Year lunch and dinner menu specials including their signature eight-flavored xiao long bao, poached

com, pets have helped many people deal with the stress or isolation. Studies show that spending time with pets can trigger an increased level of oxytocin, which is responsible for the feeling of closeness and increased bonding with your pet. It can also increase one’s overall mood. Mid last year, my sister Joan brought her three dogs to stay with Brad and us: Hershey, their alpha dog, who was rescued by my sister from a building site; Tricia, her mischievous but loving Beagle; and Hermione, another rescue who was a traumatized dog who hid for almost a year and never barked out of fear when my sister adopted her. It was a riot and still sometimes is, and I would not trade witnessing my kids hug and love them as part of our family for anything. Just last weekend, we welcomed our newest adopted stray dog from my husband’s farm, Jorge (pronounced “Horhay”). This Valentine’s Day, aside from saying thank you to our loved ones, let’s not forget to also give our biggest hug to our lovable pets who give us their unconditional love and support especially in the hardest of times like this pandemic. Letting a pet into our children’s and family’s life truly brings far more blessings than one can ever imagine. Happy Valentine’s Day to all...pets included. n

beef, and steamed glutinous rice stuffed with red dates. Families can also enjoy a hot pot meal cooked however way they want it at Healthy Shabu Shabu Prime and get 10-percent off from the total bill with the use of their privilege card. There are also unlimited dumplings and family sets from authentic Chinese restaurant Feast Bay Tian Li; as well as family-feast sets of dumplings, buns, noodles, fried rice and more from Taiwanese restaurant Shi Lin, which are good for four to six persons. The Podium makes personal shopping easy with The Podium Concierge. It offers assistance to customers such as mall inquiries, personal shopping, and al fresco table reservations. To those who want to enjoy a feast at the comfort of their own home, enjoy free delivery for a minimum spend of P5,000.

FEAST Bay Tian Li offers unlimited dumplings and family sets.

B6 Thursday, February 10, 2022

British Chamber pleased with the advancement of bills amending the 1936 Public Service Act

‘Hospital on Wheels’ makes quality healthcare accessible to Filipinos

UE to the rise of the new Omicron variant and an influx of COVID-19 cases in the country, Filipinos are once again confined to their homes, either due to implementations by their local government units, or selfimposing these measures just to keep safe. This means that certain medical tests and procedures have gone back to being remotely accessed. Fortunately, Cardinal Santos Medical Center (CSMC) is prepared for such a situation. Continuing with their quality and patient-centered services, the institution expanded its mobile clinic program with their latest healthcare innovation, Hospital on Wheels.

Taking its cue from its predecessor, the Cardinal on Wheels, the Hospital on Wheels is a larger, 32-foot, tenwheeler mobile clinic, and is fully equipped to accommodate a variety of hospital services like laboratory tests such as Urinalysis, Fecalysis, and Complete Blood Count among others, and is capable of specialized tests like ECG, Ultrasound, and 2D-Echo. Finally, CSMC’s top medical professionals and staff can also conduct consultations. While the initial program was developed out of CSMC’s desire to meet the medical needs of the community and reach as many patients who need medical care, the Hospital on Wheels

takes it one step further by bringing it to corporate partners, small to medium enterprises, private villages and condominiums. Such an effort was acknowledged and even praised by Metropolitan Manila Development Authority (MMDA) Chairman Atty. Benjamin "Benhur" Abalos Jr., emphasizing during the launch last December how the program benefits the community and helps the government in curbing the pandemic’s effects. For more information, call 09285543217 or 8724-4115. Like and follow CSMC at www.facebook.com/ CardinalSantos.

Flexibility and innovation keep Torre Lorenzo property turnovers on track place,” shares Casares-Ko. The TLDC management team is composed of seasoned industry veterans Emmanuel Rapadas, Chief Finance Officer; Lalaine Liamzon Regino, Chief Strategy Officer; and Ricardo Jacinto, Executive Committee Consultant.

Adapting and innovating

ON TRACK TO COMPLETION, TLDC HELD A TOPPING OFF CEREMONY FOR TORRE LORENZO LOYOLA. In photo are (L-R) Ar. Leo Pariñas, LPPA Managing Partner; Emmanuel Rapadas, TLDC Chief Finance Officer; Lalaine Liamzon Regino, TLDC Chief Strategy Officer; Tomas Lorenzo, TLDC Chief Executive Officer; Cathy Casares-Ko, TLDC Chief Operations Officer; and Ricardo Jacinto, TLDC Executive Committee Consultant.

YNAMIC real estate developer Torre Lorenzo Development Corporation (TLDC) confirmed recently that scheduled property turnovers remain on track despite limitations encountered across the real estate industry brought about by the pandemic. TLDC turned over its premium residences 3Torre Lorenzo on P. Ocampo Street (formerly Vito Cruz) corner Taft Avenue in Manila and Torre Lorenzo Malate (TLM) on Malvar Street in Malate, Manila in December 2021. Work continues in several TLDC real estate developments in Metro Manila and in key economic centers across the country. The 35-storey premium residential development Torre Lorenzo Loyola in Katipunan, Quezon City was topped off and is on track to completion and turnover in 2023. TLDC also launched a second residential tower at Tierra Lorenzo Lipa in Batangas, the city’s first urban lifestyle center and mixed-use development. Continuous development is likewise ongoing for 5-star accommodations and amenities at Dusit Thani Lubi Plantation Resort in the Davao Gulf. Says TLDC Chief Operations Officer

Cathy Casares-Ko: “The pandemic gave us an opportunity to pivot to what works for our stakeholders. We have implemented agile and flexible work arrangements as we balanced the safety of our employees and the need to prepare for resumption of full operations. What was critical, after ensuring the health and safety of our teams, was that construction continued on schedule at our project sites while adhering to strict health protocols and government ordinances.” Cathy Casares-Ko is the most recent addition to the forward-thinking TLDC leadership team led by CEO Tomas Lorenzo. As Chief Operations Officer, she ensured that the TLDC organization is equipped to quickly respond to changes in the very volatile environment. “Even prior to the pandemic, TLDC has embedded initiatives in its operations and residential plans that anticipate new ways of living and working, such as advanced safety and security features in our buildings, spacious and well-thought of amenities, and provision for highspeed internet. When the pandemic hit, we strengthened and accelerated these innovations that are already in

UNDERSTANDING early that quarantineimposed restrictions would hamper mobility and face-to-face initiatives, TLDC shifted to online channels for queries and requests, launched virtual tours, and intensified digital selling training across the TLDC team. A critical innovation was the creation of 1Point – a one-stop shop for clients for customer service and collection, documentation, and turnover of units. For clients, 1Point is their single point of contact for all post-purchase needs making their interaction with TLDC more efficient and convenient. For prospective buyers, TLDC launched the Lease to Own program which offered more flexible pathways to property ownership where potential buyers could move into an available unit while paying towards ownership of that unit. The Lease to Own program was piloted in Tierra Lorenzo Lipa in Batangas and Torre Sur in Las Piñas. Armed with an optimistic outlook, TLDC is designing its future projects to adapt to the changing needs of its clients in a “new normal” environment. This includes space provisions for deliveries and service providers, intensified safety protocols for social distancing and minimal contact, and open-air amenities for relaxation and leisure. Says the COO, “As TLDC grows, stakeholders, investors, and employees grow with us. Our investors grow with us because we don’t just give them fair deals, but more than what they expect when they invest in our properties. Our economy grows as we continue to invest in key emerging cities outside Metro Manila that have the potential to become new business hubs in the years to come.” For more information on TLDC’s developments, visit www.torrelorenzo.com

HE British Chamber of Commerce Philippines is pleased with the recent advancement of the pending bill amending the 1936 Public Service Act (PSA). The game-changer law as described by many, will complete the urgent bills certified by President Duterte in a bid to attract foreign investments crucial to the country’s post-pandemic recovery. Country’s economic managers have also expressed strong support for the swift passage of the newly amended Retail Trade Liberalization Act and Foreign Investment Act which were transmitted to Malacanang last month. As the Philippines significantly advances liberalizing its economy, the British Chamber is at the forefront of advocating for the aforementioned economic measures to be amended. Chris Nelson, BCCP Executive Director and Trustee previously said interests from UK companies remain high considering the country’s vibrant and talented workforce, however, the investment environment particularly in selected local sectors remains to be restrictive for foreign investments. With the government's notable efforts

prioritizing economic reforms, this will improve the Philippines’ global ranking in doing business and competitiveness. The Chamber is confident that the entry of foreign direct investments will further increase and the impacts of these measures will be significantly beneficial to Filipinos. With the promising impacts of these reforms, such as the potential of generating mass employment opportunities, technology transfer and greater competition in the market, the Philippines has now a more attractive and competitive investment landscape. The efforts for liberalizing the economy will be crucial when the Philippines ratify its membership to Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership (RCEP).

CSC chief bows out, leaves legacy of ‘malasakit’

FORMER CSC Chairperson Alicia dela Rosa-Bala

LICIA dela Rosa-Bala ends her fixed term as head of the Civil Service Commission, the central human resource (HR) agency of the Philippine government, on 2 February 2022. Chairperson Bala was appointed by former President Benigno C. Aquino on 9 October 2015. She brought her expertise and years of experience in social work to the CSC to introduce policies and programs that empower and uplift civil servants and promote social change and development, bringing “malasakit” to public sector HR management. Under her helm, the CSC promulgated guidelines to institutionalize occupational safety and health and mental health programs in the public sector. It also issued rules on mandatory random drug testing among civil servants in support of the government’s antidrug campaign. She also led the Commission in releasing implementing rules and regulations for the grant of 105-day expanded maternity leave to female workers (in partnership with the Department of Labor and Employment), as well as the 60-day adoption leave for qualified adoptive parents. In the last two years, the CSC issued interim guidelines to promote civil servants’ welfare and ensure continued public services amid the global COVID-19 pandemic. These policies offered agencies the option to adopt alternative work arrangements, and civil servants to avail themselves of excused absence with pay for not being able to report

for work due to quarantine, isolation, and/ or treatment, adverse events following immunization, and community quarantine restrictions, among others. The CSC issued two landmark civil service policies in 2017, the Rules on Administrative Cases in the Civil Service (RACCS) and the Omnibus Rules on Appointments and Other Human Resource Actions in the Civil Service (ORAOHRA). Both issuances lay down the rules for discharging the Commission’s basic mandates—the RACCS, for the disposition of administrative disciplinary and nondisciplinary cases, and the ORAOHRA, for enforcing the merit system in the civil service through rules on appointments and other HR actions. The CSC has been accredited by the Investors in People (IiP), an international organization which assesses organizations for people management practices, achieving the Silver Level under a more rigorous Generation 6 standard. It ranked 6th out of 530 IiP organizations globally in the size range of 250-4999 employees, and first among public sector organizations. It was also named Finalist in the Excellence in Social Responsibility Category in the IiP Awards. The Commission’s entry was shortlisted among 300 entries received from across 20 countries, all of which were recognized in an awards ceremony held in June 2016 in London. It was also during her term that the first ASEAN Document on Civil Service Matters was signed by the Heads of States of the ten (10) ASEAN Member States, the “ASEAN Declaration on the Role of the Civil Service as a Catalyst for Achieving the ASEAN Community Vision 2025”. Prior to her appointment to the CSC, she served in the Department of Social Welfare and Development for 39 years, specifically as Undersecretary from 2005 to 2015; and as Deputy Secretary-General for the ASEAN Socio-Cultural Community based in Jakarta, Indonesia from 8 September 2012 to 7 September 2015.

Alibaba Cloud, FinTech Alliance PH launch Industry Sandbox Program to promote inclusive digital finance

LIBABA Cloud, the digital technology and intelligence backbone of Alibaba Group, together with the Philippines’ FinTech Alliance.ph, the premier trade association digital players in the country’s digital finance sector, today announced the launch of the Fintech Industry Sandbox Program, a new initiative designed to increase local financial institutions’ access to inclusive digital finance. The first-of-its-kind program, in support of the Philippines’ massive digitalization initiatives of the country’s regulators: the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) and the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas (BSP), enables local businesses in the finance sector to explore the use of advanced cloud computing products and FinTech services from Alibaba Cloud in a risk-free testing environment. Under the program each eligible Philippine business will receive up to USD10,000 in cloud coupons, which can be used to adopt Alibaba Cloud’s proven solutions, as well as access to complementary cloud training, technical and industry expertise and regulatory compliance guidance. “We created this program with Alibaba Cloud to support emerging digital technologies,

which help address current challenges in the financial industry. With more financial companies joining this program, we are glad to see the acceleration of access to inclusive digital finance in the country,” said Lito Villanueva, Founding Chairman of the FinTech Alliance. ph and Chief Innovation and Inclusion Officer and Executive Vice President of RCBC(Rizal Commercial Banking Corporation). Beginning this month, the program will be accepting applications from BSP-supervised financial institutions, who are registered with the SEC and meet eligibility criteria. Interested organizations can send their applications to fintechallianceph@alibaba-inc.com. For example, Alibaba Cloud provides a mix of FinTech solutions to GCash, a leading mobile wallet enterprise, to handle large volumes of digital transactions with minimal interruption and high-cost efficiency. The company also works with UBX, the FinTech venture studio and fund spinoff of UnionBank of the Philippines, to provide eKYC (Electronic Know-Your-Customer) solutions. These products are designed to help local financial institutions boost their efficiency and security through digitalizing the identity verification process.

Editor: Anne Ruth Dela Cruz

Health&Fitness BusinessMirror

Govt ready to deal with natural disasters during a pandemic By Rory Visco

Contributor

s Filipinos started to feel the Christmas spirit last year, the Omicron variant of Covid-19 hit with a bang. Not only that, 2021’s strongest typhoon named Odette, with winds of at least 250 km, crossed the Philippines with much viciousness reminiscent of Typhoon Yolanda in 2013. The Omicron surge and Odette was a double whammy, with the former infecting many more Filipinos, while the typhoon forced people whose homes were wrecked by the typhoon to live in evacuation centers. As of January 23, 2022, over 150,000 people remain in those centers, increasing the fear of virus transmission. The country is used to dealing with typhoons, but with a virus outbreak happening at the same time, the question in the vernacular is “paano na?”

‘A disaster is a disaster is a disaster’ The country continues to battle with the lingering effects of the pandemic to ultimately stop it under the framework of “PDITR+V,” which is Prevent-Detect-IsolateTreat-Reintegrate plus Vaccinate, according to Dr. Abdullah Dumama, Jr., Undersecretary, Field Implementation and Coordination Team (Visayas and Mindanao) of the Department of Health (DOH) during the 86th episode of the TV UP webinar series “Stop Covid

Deaths” with the title “Covid-19 Na, May Bagyo Pa! Paano Na?” The webinar series is organized by the University of the Philippines in partnership with UP Manila NIH National Telehealth Center and in cooperation with UP Philippine General Hospital. Despite the challenges brought about by the pandemic and the government’s limited resources, it managed to cope and survive with its “whole-of-nation” and “whole - of -soc iet y” approac h. The implementation of minimum public health standards and aggressive vaccination, where 127 million doses have been administered (about 59 million fully vaccinated indiv iduals) as of January 31, 2022, remain to be the government’s most potent weapon against the SARS-CoV-2 virus that causes the Covid-19 disease. He said that responding to a disaster during pre-Covid times was already difficult, with almost all lifeline needs damaged like water, sanitation, electricity, food, shelter, sanitation, communica-

tion, including infrastructure like roads and bridges. “Being a countr y prone to earthquakes, typhoons and volcanic eruptions, we must prepare to prevent these catastrophic situations and worse, having a disaster within a disaster, which happened with Typhoon Odette while we are in the middle of a pandemic,” he said.

Command, Communication, Control Command, Communication, and Control need to be established immediately, Dr. Dumama said, in order to manage and mitigate the effects of the event. The DOH was quick to respond with the reactivation of the DOH Central Office Health Emergency Management Operations Center and its regional counterparts. “In close coordination with local government units [LGUs], we managed to move resources using available government assets and secure its availability in affected areas,” he said. Dr. Dumama said that the DOH deployed its “Quad Cluster Teams” like water, sanitation and hygiene, mental health and psychosocial support services, nutrition, and medical services were sent in batches. “With the current situation, the DOH responded calculatedly under the premise of preventing the spread of Covid-19. The DOH responded to the best of its ability to assist affected communities, despite health-care workers also affected.” Other infection control measures were done despite the demands of emergency health response for the protection of both emergency responders and the

communities, like a negative Covid-19 test result, regular monitoring for influenza-like symptoms and immediately secured following existing guidelines of the IATF and local government units, triaging, plus dedicated isolation facilities, and completion of isolation as prescribed after showing positive results. As in the case of Siargao Island, which was the hardest-hit area of Odette, the DOH, Dr. Dumama said, tried hard to minimize interruption in the vaccine ramp up in the area despite the challenges of unstable or no electricity, which is badly needed to keep the vaccines safely stored. Emergency generator sets were sent to the area as a temporary solution to the power issue. “It is imperative to have a system that directs all traffic and avoids confusion in an overly stressful and chaos-filled environment.” He said they are also pushing for the implementation of precautionary measures to the revised Health Response Plan, the creation of an operational guideline on responding to disasters during this time of a pandemic. These may include the Quad Cluster approach and PDITR+V, a National Patient Navigation and Referral System, Dedicated Covid-19 resources, minimum of 10 days of Health Emergency Response deployment, even the deployment of “cadres” based on local needs. “The pandemic should not be a hindrance to respond to calls for help of disaster victims. There must be awareness about impending dangers in order to avoid the spread of infection through prompt and effective preparation,” Dr. Dumama concluded.

Muntinlupa vaccinates pediatrics, to open more vax sites By Roderick L. Abad

Contributor

OINING the national implementation of Covid-19 vaccination for children aged five to 11 years old, the local government unit (LGU) of Muntinlupa has opened two party-themed inoculation sites for the pilot rollout and eyes to open more locations in the coming days. Mayor Jaime Fresnedi and other local officials led the ceremonial launching of the vaccination of kids at Laguerta Health Center in Brgy. Tunasan last February 7. Another preliminary location is at the Ospital ng Muntinlupa. To m a k e b ot h s ite s c h i ld -

f r iend ly, the youngsters were greeted with party decorations, mascots, and received candy packs and other souvenir items. Muntinlupa City Health Office (CHO) acting chief Dr. Juancho Bunyi said that the initiative aims to provide a relaxing environment and lessen the stress of kids during the vaccination. The city, according to him, seeks to expand the vaccination of children in the existing local major sites after the two-week pilot implementation. CHO targets to inoculate 150 children from five to 11 years of age daily. Based on data from the Department of Health, the target population for the age group in

Muntinlupa is 68,198. As of February 5, there are 10,755 registered kids aged five to 11 in the city’s Covid-19 vaccination program database. Of the total, 1,162 are from the pediatric A3 group, or those with comorbidities, and 9,593 are from the rest of the pediatric population. Last December 23, the Philippine Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has approved the Emergency Use Authorization or EUA for Pfizer-BioNTech ’s Covid-19 vaccine for the age group. Children from five to 11 years of age will receive a 10 microgram/ dose concentrate of jab of such brand and the second dose will be given three weeks after the first

dose to complete the vaccination course. Fresnedi urged all parents in the city to register their kids in the Muntinlupa Covid-19 Vaccination Program and assured them that the vaccines approved by the FDA are safe and effective. Online pre-registration can be done through www.vaccine. m u n t i n lu p a c i t y. g o v. p h /m u n c o vac. The public may choose the category “Pediatric A3 [five to 11 yrs. old]” for those with co-morbidities and category “Pediatric/ Rest of the Pediatric Population [five to 11 yrs. old]” for well-child population or those without comorbidities.

Capitol Medical Center reminds Pinoys to get their heart checked

ebruary is heart month, the month when you and your significant other celebrate your love for each other on Valentine’s Day. The second month of the year also happens to be Philippine Heart Month by virtue of Proclamation 1096 signed on January 9, 1973 which seeks to promote awareness of heart disease as a serious and growing health concern among Filipinos. Even if the country is in the midst of the Covid-19 pandemic, data from the Philippine Statistics Authority indicate that coronary heart disease is the top leading cause of death among Filipinos from January to September 2021. Deaths due to coronary heart diseases also increased by 18. 7 percent compared to figures during the same period the previous year. Dur ing these cha l leng ing

times, it is important that you eat healthy, get regular exercise, get enough sleep and not to stress yourself too much. This will help maintain your heart health and your blood pressure. With so much uncertainty these days, there are times that you start to get a little anxious, you start to lose interest in exercising and you start feeling a thumping on your chest. Do not take these symptoms lightly and make arrangements to consult with your cardiologist immediately. The cardiologists at Capitol Medical Center are prepared to give you the right care, right at the hospital. All you have to do is to book your appointment for a face-to-face consultation with your doctor. The hospital has put in place very strict health safety protocols to ensure that patients are protected against the Covid-19 virus.

Procedures

Should you require any diagnostic procedures, CMC ’s NonInvasive Cardiovascular Laboratory offers high quality, painless diagnostic procedures that help identify heart issues or diseases in an inpatient or outpatient basis. These tests require no needles, dyes, or X-rays and come with no risks or side effects. The Laboratory team includes certified cardiovascular technologists, peripheral vascular ultrasound technologists, electrocardiography technicians and board certified adult and pediatric cardiologists. The Non-Invasive Cardiovascular Laboratory is staffed 24 hours a day for emergency care. The advanced diagnostic equipment enables the team to assist physicians, cardiologists and other specialists in obtaining high quality test results. For invasive diagnostic and

t herapeut ic procedu res, t hese can be done at the Cardiac Catheterization Laboratory or Cath Lab. Here, a specialized group of invasive/interventional cardiologists, radiologists, neurologists, cardiovascular surgeons and anesthesiologists come together to conduct procedures on the heart and t he sur round ing vascu lar systems. Capitol a lso has a T horacic And Cardiovascular Unit which is complemented by the Cath Lab and supplemented by four cardiac recovery/intensive care units, all of which are enhanced by stateof-the-art cardiac monitors. CMC truly provides patients with the “Right Care. Right Here.” For more information about Capitol Medical Center’s cardiology services, visit www.capitolmedical.com.ph or CMC’s FB page facebook.com/capitolmedical.

Thursday, February 10, 2022 B7

DOH, partner tackle socio-emotional needs through Sesame Workshop

hile focus on physical health is essential du r i ng t he ongoi ng Covid-19 pandemic, it is equally important to pay attention to the social and emotional needs, especially of children who are experiencing extreme changes in their formative years. As kids these days are limited to virtual interactions with their peers and teachers, parents and household members play a critical role in helping them navigate social changes and process newfound feelings of distress at home. However, not all families may have the knowledge or access to resources that appropriately tackle such issues. Thus, to help address these emerging social and emotional needs in Filipino households, health-care company Viatris, in partnership with the Department of Health (DOH), have made educational parenting videos from Sesame Workshop available online through the DOH official Facebook page (www.facebook.com/OfficialDOHGov) as well as the Healthy Pilipinas campaign page (www.facebook.com/DOHHealthyPilipinas). These resources are also shared by DOH in their Twitter page @DOHgovph and Viber community DOH Philippines. “Children may begin to show signs of increasing anxiety and frustration as they cope with the enduring mandate to stay at home or indoors,” says Dr. Beverly Lorraine C. Ho, director of the DOH Health Promotion Bureau. “But with parents also busy at home and experiencing stress themselves, it is only important that we provide them with targeted learning materials that allow them to freely and properly discuss such subjects.”

Health-care company

Viatris Inc. is a new kind of health-care company, empowering people worldwide to live healthier at every stage of life. It provides access to medicines, advances sustainable operations, develops innovative solutions and leverages the company’s collective expertise to connect more people to more products and services through their one-of-a-kind Global Health-

care Gateway. Formed in November 2020, Viatris brings together scientific, manufacturing and distribution expertise with proven regulatory, medical and commercial capabilities to deliver high-quality medicines to patients in more than 165 countries and territories. With generous support from Viatris, Sesame Workshop first launched this suite of educational materials to guide parents on how to help their children deal with various changes during the pandemic. It includes videos, starring popular Sesame Street characters, dealing with topics such as how to manage feelings of stress and fear, creating positive strategies for caregiving and activities at home, and finding ways to celebrate and keep in touch with the external world while being physically apart.

Expertly designed materials

The materials are expertly designed to be relevant and meaningful for multi-cultural audiences, befitting parents and children all around the world. Aside from the cartoon videos, the suite also includes notes, articles, printable activity materials and guide questions that viewers can use to reflect on before, during and after an episode. “The efforts that we have made with Sesame Workshop as well as the partnership we have nurtured with the DOH are all part of our mission at Viatris to empower people worldwide to live healthier at every stage of life,” says Viatris Country Manager Ester Tacanay. “With so many Filipino families and children affected by the pandemic physically and mentally, we hope that these resources can create meaningful and positive impact, especially towards their social and emotional well-being.” All the materials are available for free through the SSIC web site (https://sesamestreetincommunities.org/) and since its launch, have reached families in more than 90 countries and in 40 languages, including the United States, India, South Africa, Latin America, Europe, Australia and now in the Philippines.

Manila HealthTek wins another award

he cou nt r y ’s f i rst a nd only biotech company in diagnostics, Manila HealthTek Inc. (MTek) added another feather to its cap. It recently won its second Gawad Dagisik (Dakilang Ambag sa Imbensyon at Siyensiyang Pangkalusugan) award for its “Alay Sa bayan: The Story of Manila HealthTek Inc.’s Biotek-M Trio Kit.” Gawad Dagisik is an award given by the Technology Application and Promotion Institute of the Department of Science and Technology (DOST-TAPI) to health-related technology and innovation which poses huge potential for successful commercialization. MTek founder and CEO Dr. Raul V. Destura describes the award as “another step forward in furthering the country’s capability in healthrelated molecular diagnostic and biotechnology products and services.” Biotek-MTM Leptospira, Salmonella, and Schistosoma LAMP Detections Kits diagnose infections among patients presenting with an acute febrile illness. MTek ’s first Gawad Dagisik award was for Biotek-M Dengue Aqua Kit during the 1st DOST-TAPI Awards in 2019. A commercial prototype of the Biotek-M Trio Kit is currently being developed by MTek. Handson training of registered medical technologists and science research specialists on DNA processing and utilization of the Biotek-MTM Kits are also being conducted. The participating hospitals and laboratories are Mariano Marcos

Memorial Hospital and Medical Center, University of Eastern Philippines, Northern Samar Provincial Hospital, Schistosomiasis Research and Training Center, and Philippine General Hospital. These laboratories will perform the post-marketing evaluation and product validation of the BiotekMTM LAMP detection kits. Loop-mediated isothermal amplification (LAMP) assay is a simple, rapid, specific, and low-cost nucleic acid amplification method that utilizes 4-6 primers reacting in a single temperature, resulting in high amplification efficiency. The assay used for Biotek-MTM Trio uses a fluorophore in one of its primers and a complementary quencher, employing a different method of results visualization such that there is no need to open the PCR tube after the reaction. This is to lessen the risk of contamination due to opentube, end-point analysis. Results of the assay could be obtained in an hour through visual detection using a LED transilluminator. MTek is a private research and development company with a robust diagnostic technology pipeline. With support coming from the Philippines’ Department of Science and Technology (DOST), the company is equipped with state-ofthe-art manufacturing tools and is approved by the Food and Drug Administration to manufacture molecular diagnostic tools in the Philippines. The awarding was during DOSTTAPI’s Gawad Parangal 2021 held at the Blue Leaf Events Place in Taguig City last December 20,2021.

Sports

Fil-Am Padilla, Asian players making case in US hoops

BusinessMirror

AVIDSON, North Carolina— Davidson junior forward Hyunjung Lee grew up in South Korea watching the Korean Basketball League. It wasn’t until he turned 15 that Lee had his first opportunity to watch Stephen Curry, Klay Thompson and the then-world champion Golden State Warriors on TV for the first time when his perspective changed on how the game of basketball is played at the next level. “When I saw that I was like, ‘wow, this is just a totally different game,’” said the 6-foot-7 Lee, who is averaging a 15.5 points and 6.3 rebounds for Davidson College. “After that I was like, ‘I want to play in the NBA [National Basketball Association].’” Lee is among the Asian players who are excelling at the NCAA level and have a realistic shot to play professional basketball in the United States. Kayla Padilla is lighting up the scoreboard on the women’s side. The 5-9 Penn sophomore leads the Ivy League in scoring at 19.7 points per game, shooting 37 percent from 3-point range. The list of Asian players getting it done in the NCAA also includes UCLA’s Johnny Juzang (Vietnamese) and Natalie Chou (Chinese). It’s another sign of the game’s impact around the globe, but players face big odds to overcome—only 0.4 percent of NBA players and 1.4 percent of the WNBA players in 2021 were players of Asian descent, according to reports compiled by The Institute for Diversity and Ethics in Sports. Like Lee, Padilla is beginning to garner attention at Penn and is hoping to inspire other Asians to play basketball. She has time to work on her game and better improve her prospects of making the WNBA with two more full years of eligibility remaining. The guard who grew up Torrance, California, was the Ivy League Rookie of the Year in 2019-20. (She didn’t play last year because all Ivy League sports were canceled due to the pandemic.) “If I had a chance to be one of the first Asian-Americans and the first Filipino to play in the WNBA, that is something I definitely wouldn’t turn down if the opportunity came about,” Padilla said. Filipino Chanelle Molina had signed a contract last year with the WNBA’s Indiana Fever, but was waived in training camp and hasn’t played in a game. While the WNBA remains a goal, Padilla is preparing herself for life beyond basketball in case things don’t work out. AP

ASA MILLER POLISHES SKIS ON ICE RIVER

| Thursday, February 10, 2022 mirror_sports@yahoo.com.ph Editor: Jun Lomibao

WHAT WENT AWRY?

MIKAELA SHRIFFIN—down on the ground, shaking her head, resting it on her arms atop her bent knees—this will be the lasting image on Wednesday in the Beijing Winter Olympics. AP

EIJING—The first question posed to Mikaela Shiffrin as she met with reporters after her second consecutive quick exit from an Alpine skiing race at the Beijing Games was short, simple and to the point: What happened? The complicated, thought-out, talked-out answers that followed entailed little analysis of her actual performance on skis—which lasted all of five seconds before things went awry in Wednesday’s first run of the two-leg slalom, about half as long as the American stayed on course in Monday’s first run of the two-leg giant slalom—and, in the end, boiled down to this: Shiffrin herself was not exactly sure what brought her to this point or where she goes from here. “I’ve never been in this position before,” the two-time Olympic gold medalist said, tears dampening her cheeks, “and I don’t know how to handle it.” What Shiffrin was certain of: “It feels like a really big letdown.” The 26-year-old from Colorado, who won the slalom at the 2014 Sochi Games and the giant slalom at the 2018 Pyeongchang Games, was the seventh racer out of the starting hut Wednesday on a course set by her coach, Mike Day. She began losing her

KAYLA PADILLA is lighting up the scoreboard in the women’s side.

balance and teetering out of control just four seconds and four gates in, swerving too far as she veered to her right. The neon yellow handle of her right ski pole scraped along the snow as she ended up way wide of the fifth gate. Shiffrin went over to the side of the course, clicked out of her skis and plopped herself down on the ground, shaking her head, then resting it on her arms atop her bent knees. That will be the lasting image of this day—back in the US, NBC’s coverage lingered on that shot of Shiffrin, drawing anger on social media from some viewers—and, perhaps, of these Olympics for someone who arrived in China as one of the biggest stars of any Winter Games sport. “GS and slalom, those were my biggest focuses,” she said. “So it really feels like a lot of work for nothing.” Other racers said the top was not particularly slippery or difficult. Indeed, Katharina Liensberger of Austria—the reigning slalom world champion and seventh behind leader Lena Duerr of Germany after Wednesday’s first run—called it “a really easy course.”

In the closest she came to offering an explanation for what went awry, Shiffrin said she might have been trying to attack too much. “I was pushing,” she said, “and maybe it was past my limit.” Shiffrin arrived with plans to enter all five individual races at the Yanqing Alpine Skiing Center, and another gold would make her only the second woman to win at least one from Alpine at three Olympics in a row. So far, though, Shiffrin is 0 for 2. It is not stunning that she hasn’t won a medal, let alone a gold this week.

As Shiffrin so often reminds everyone, anything can happen on any given day. What is truly surprising is that she has been so off her game, so immediately, in each of her two trips along the course known as the Ice River. “It’s really sad. It’s never fun to go out,” said Swedish skier Anna Swenn Larsson, 11th in the first run. “I know the feeling.” Shiffrin’s next opportunity to compete could come Friday in the super-G, although she made it sound as if she might consider skipping that one, saying: “It would be a pleasure to ski. But I also have some teammates who are really fast, and we have the athletes who can fill the spaces. So if I’m going to ski out on the fifth gate, like, what’s the point?” She never has competed in a super-G at an Olympics but did win it at the 2019 world championships. What also is noteworthy about all of this is that Shiffrin is known for being so consistently sound on the slopes, like a metronome that never misses a beat. She might be slower than other athletes on a given day, sure—no one is perfect—but what she so rarely does is flub a maneuver in such a manner as to not even make it all the way down the hill. The “Did Not Finish” on Monday was her first in a giant slalom since January 23, 2018. AP

Mexican Donovan Carrillo: A rare Games success story

EIJING—They said he should play soccer. They said figure skating was for girls. They said winter sports made no sense in temperate Guadalajara. But none of those naysayers deterred Mexican figure skater Donovan Carrillo, the rare Latin American athlete at the Winter Games, who has now become an even more rare Beijing Olympics success story—however relative— from that part of the globe. Carrillo had a career-best performance in the marquee sport of the Winter Games on Tuesday at Capital Indoor Stadium, featuring a well-executed quad toe loop and difficult triple axel. That allows him to

Changing fortunes DON’T look now. But things are not really what they seem. In the blink of an eye, fortunes change. Expectations are blasted. And the results can be staggering. Take note of the Malditas’ extraordinary feat of being the first Filipino football team to ever book a ticket to the World Cup. The euphoria of that win in late January by the Women’s National Football Team over Chinese-Taipei in India was out of

advance to the longer free skate competition on Thursday—a first for Mexico, which hadn’t had an Olympic skater in three decades. It instantly made Carrillo the most successful Mexican figure skater in history. “For me to have the opportunity to be one of the few Latin American athletes here at the Olympics, it’s really something that motivates me to do my best and to inspire more kids in Latin America and in my country to try to practice winter sports,” Carrillo said. “I used to talk this dream with people. They were always laughing or telling me that it was impossible for a Mexican to qualify.” In Beijing, Carrillo is one of 33 athletes from nine Latin teams: Argentina, Bolivia, Brazil, Chile, Colombia, Ecuador, Mexico, Peru and Puerto Rico. There’s another 10 athletes from four other Caribbean teams, including Virgin Islands,

this world. It was a historic, heroic moment that felt a bit like that Hidilyn Diaz Tokyo lift that won us gold. But less than a week later, we were on the downside of the roller coaster path. We let out a collective groan as our girls bowed to their more technical, more defense-efficient South Korean opponents. Thus they failed to qualify for the Women’s Asian Cup Finals. Because the SoKor girls were just too stingy and didn’t allow the Filipinas to score a goal. But let’s accentuate the positive. This is still the farthest any Filipino football team has ever gone in the history of the sport. Fortunes change, true. But for a reason. Now the focus will be on learning from mistakes, filling in the holes and adjusting the defense to give them a fighting chance against the world’s best. The word is that these girls haven’t even played their best game yet. So they’re out to pull surprises come November. Coach Alen Stajcic can still work more magic on this team as the wheel of fortune turns again. It’s still a long way to the Fiba Basketball World Cup in August 2023. But the Asian qualifiers that will take teams there begin in just two weeks. Group A games, hosted by the Philippines, will take place at the Araneta Coliseum starting February 24.

Haiti, Jamaica and Trinidad and Tobago. None have ever medaled at the Winter Games. Brazil—typically a Summer Games powerhouse—claims the most athletes but the 10 Winter competitors in Beijing are a

fraction of their 302 that competed in the Tokyo Games last year. Among the four athletes on the Mexico team, Carrillo is the only one who stayed in Mexico to nurture his talents, which he insists on doing. Two others have Mexican heritage but train in the US and Canada, while a third— Sarah Schleper—joined the Mexico team after marrying a Mexican and retiring from the US ski team. AP

DONOVAN CARILLO’S stronger-thanexpected figure skating short program is steeped in national pride. AP

Gilas will play New Zealand, India and South Korea in the group. But the sands have shifted here as well, as we know. Once a steady ship moving forward, with bolts tightening, sprucing up and adding a few pieces here and there just the major concerns, now the Gilas Pilipinas roster is like the changing liquid shapes inside a lava lamp. Nothing is definite. The resignation of head coach and concurrent program director Tab Baldwin from the team was the major shocker. Add an exclamation point to that, followed by a question mark. Chot Reyes has gallantly accepted the mantle once more. But how can you prepare for an important series of battles with the little time left? Chot went to work immediately, identifying key players he would want on his team—La Salle’s Justine Baltazar and UP’s Karl Tamayo, specifically. But both have opted to play for their respective schools for a long-awaited University Athletic Association of the Philippines (UAAP) campaign this March. So will Chot rely on his TNT players? The Samahang Basketbol ng Pilipinas (SBP) is now plotting its next moves as Coach Chot tries to concoct a masterpiece under time pressure. He’s got to believe in magic as well.

By Josef Ramos

ANQING, China—Asa Miller vies in the men’s giant slalom of alpine skiing at the Beijing 2022 Winter Olympics in four days bringing with him modest improvements since his Games debut in Pyeongchang 2018. He’s humble with his goal, knowing pretty well that the field of 150 athletes that will line up at the start ramp beginning at 10 a.m. on Sunday at the National Alpine Skiing Centre are far more experienced that him. “I don’t think I’m in contention to win gold, but I’m certainly in a position to improve my performance,” said Miller, the only Filipino competing in these Games and one of only a handful from Southeast Asia. “But I want to be better, improve on my previous performance and give a proud representation of the Philippines,” said the 21-year-old who, since donning the country’s colors when he was 16, is fully backed by the Philippine Sports Commission headed by Chairman William Ramirez and the Philippine Olympic Committee led by Rep. Abraham “Bambol” Tolentino. Miller’s No. 70 in the Olympic ranking that was based from his finish in Pyeongchang where he competed as a 17-year-old high schooler. Anything can happen in the giant slalom where speed is as essential as skills in navigating the Ice River—the giant slalom course on the slope of Xiaohaituo Mountain. The Ice River can be so ferocious that it doesn’t play favorites. Twotime gold medalist Mikaela Shiffrin of the US exited quickly for the second time on Wednesday to see her Olympic gold medal dream crashing down the mountain. It took only five seconds for things to go awry on Wednesday in her first run of the two-leg slalom, about half as long as the American stayed on course in Monday’s first run of the two-leg giant slalom. “I’ve never been in this position before,” she told reporters, tears dampening her cheeks, “and I don’t know how to handle it.” “It feels like a really big letdown,” said the 26-year-old from Colorado, who won the slalom in 2014 in Sochi and the giant slalom in Pyeongchang. Ben Nanasca was 42nd in giant slalom in the 1972 Sapporo Games and his finish stands as the best finish by a Filipino in the Games so far. Nanasca and Juan Cipriano were the first Filipinos and from Southeast Asia and a tropical country to compete in the Winter Olympics. In the giant slalom field this weekend are two dreaded Swiss— two-time world junior champion Marco Odermatt and two-time Olympic bronze medalist and world junior champion Loic Meillard. Miller’s 53-year-old dad Kelly, however, told his son to ski his “very best and never say never” in trying to surpass the challenges. “It’s a big challenge for sure, I mean you never say never,” Kelly Miller said. “We really need to train hard this week and ski the best he has ever had in his entire life probably.” “But in Pyeongchang, there’s someone who won the Super G,” the elder Miller said. “She never really won before but I don’t want to put pressure on him [Asa].” Kelly Miller was referring to Ester Ledecka of Czech Republic who surprised everyone in the 2018 Olympics when she won the Super-G gold.

Over at the National Basketball Association, the Brooklyn Nets were No.1 in the East once upon this season. The Boston Celtics were floundering, slowly sinking. Brooklyn started out as a favorite to win it all at the start of the season. Many doubted whether Boston would even make it to the playoffs this year, at the rate they were losing and collapsing in the end games, even against acknowledged “weaker” teams. Trade Tatum, trade Smart and Brown. These were demanded by impatient fans. But slowly fortunes changed. A cocktail of anti-vax sentiments, a couple of crucial injuries here and there and swirling trade rumors about key personnel affected Brooklyn’s fortunes sourly. The Celtics on the other end took in all the talk, kept their noses to the grindstone, finally kicked their Covid woes and worked, worked, worked. Now they lead the league in defensive rating, net rating, scoring margin, scoring defense, opponent field goal percentage and opponent assists. They have also overtaken the Nets in the standings. Coach Ime Udoka, much maligned for Boston’s early woes, can now live a little. His guys have totally bought into his defensive system. How fortunes change.