BusinessMirror February 13, 2023

By Samuel P. Medenilla @sam_medenilla

JAPANESE firm Mitsui & Co. will be investing at least US$600 million in the country for infrastructure development.

I n a press statement on Sunday, the Presidential Communications Office (PCO) disclosed that Mitsui will partner with Filipino tycoon Manny V. Pangilinan for the infrastructure project.

THERE AND BACK AGAIN?

Pangilinan announced during the just-concluded five-day official visit of President Ferdinand

R. Marcos, Jr. to Japan that he has signed an agreement with Mitsui for a project.

A side from infrastructure, Mitsui is considering additional investments in other sectors.   Mitsui & Co., meanwhile, also eyes investments in priority sectors of the administration of President Marcos, particularly in agriculture, infrastructure and renewable energy,” the PCO said.

M arcos lauded Mitsui for being among the Japanese firms, who announced their timely decision to invest in the country to help in the

government’s ongoing pandemic recovery initiatives.   “ It is a particularly auspicious time that we come again now simply because we have to now restart our own economies, we have to transform our economies, and again the partnerships, I think, that we have developed with our friends here in Japan, with Mitsui in particular… we will have to revitalize them as they have been dormant, to a degree, during the lockdowns of the pandemic,” Marcos said.

I n Japan, Marcos witnessed the

signing of 35 letters of intent (LOI)/ agreements by Japanese firms with government and members of the private sector.

T he deals cover a wide range of sectors including manufacturing, infrastructure development, energy, transportation, healthcare, renewable energy, and business expansion.

T his was on top of the seven agreements signed by the Philippine and Japanese governments on humanitarian assistance, disaster relief, infrastructure, agriculture, and digital cooperation.

‘STICKY’ INFLATION SEEN TO DRAG DOWN GROWTH

By Cai U. Ordinario @caiordinario

THE performance of the Philippine economy will be below its historical average this year and next year, as GDP growth will not even reach 5 percent in 2023 and 2024, according to a UK-based think tank.

I n its latest forecast, Oxford Economics said the country’s economic growth will only reach 4.1 percent this year and 4.5 percent in 2024 on the back of sticky inflation which is expected to dampen demand.

T he think tank is also concerned that the forecast of other institutions such as the International Monetary Fund (IMF) for the Philippines and other emerging markets, may be too optimistic.

“Although the downturn looks likely to be mild, the subsequent recovery may underwhelm. Demand will be challenged by potentially sticky inflation, overtightening in core central banks, and scarring to potential GDP,” Oxford Economics said.

I MF expects the country’s GDP growth to average 5 percent this year and 6 percent next year. Oxford Economics said this is 0.9 percentage points more than its forecast for 2023 and 1.5 percentage points more than its 2024 outlook.

I f this happens, this would be the lowest growth the Philippines will register since 2020, the first pandemic year, when the economy contracted 9.5 percent. It may be noted that full-year GDP growth, excluding 2020, has consistently been growing faster than 5.5 percent since 2012.

Emerging markets

TAKEN together, emerging markets are expected to post an average growth of 3.2 percent in 2023 and 4.2 percent in 2024.

Japan financial firm ‘keen’ on MIF investment–Speaker

By Jovee Marie N. dela Cruz @joveemarie

ARANKING official of one of Japan’s leading financial institutions has expressed strong interest in the proposed Maharlika Investment Fund and its potential to help the Philippine power sector, according to Speaker Ferdinand Martin G. Romualdez.

T he House leader said he met the Japanese senior official during the dinner held for President Ferdinand R. Marcos, Jr. and the Philippine delegation, hosted by Mitsui and Metro Pacific Investments Corporation.

“ It was during our conversation that he expressed strong interest (in the Maharlika Investment Fund) and in the possibility of in -

vestment in the proposed sovereign wealth fund, particularly for the power sector,” Romualdez said.

A mong others, the MIF is intended to help achieve the “Agenda for Prosperity” and the objectives of sustainable and inclusive growth and attract additional investments for big-ticket infrastructure projects and other development programs of the government.

A ccording to Romualdez, the interest in the proposed Maharlika Investment Fund shown by the Japanese senior financial official, whom he did not identify, is significant because he played a key role in setting up Indonesia’s own sovereign wealth fund known as INA (Indonesia Investment Authority).

See “Japan,” A2

NESPRESSO MACHINES, PODS ENJOY ROBUST SALES, THANKS TO PINOYS’ COFFEE HABIT

By Ma. Stella F. Arnaldo @akosistellaBM

Special to the BusinessMirror

FILIPINOS are one of the largest per-capita consumers of coffee in the world, which makes the country ideal for selling Nespresso machines.

In an interview with the BusinessMirror at the launch of the Vertuo line of machines and coffee capsules, Patrick Pesengco, Managing Director of Novateur Coffee Concepts Inc. said, “We have 41,000-plus very active Nespresso club members in the Philippines, between the people who buy the machines and cap -

sules. But definitely there are thousands [of units] that we’ve been selling. So it’s been growing, especially during the pandemic, because people want to have good coffee at home. So we’ve been growing double digits.”

N espresso is a company founded by the Nestle Group of Switzerland in 1986, selling the world’s first portioned coffee system.

W hile most of their sales were boosted via e-commerce during the pandemic, he noted that as alert levels dropped, “when people started going out, our store sales went up,” while online sales have slowed.

See “Nespresso machines,” A2

NATURE’S FRIENDS Susan Santos de Cardenas, vice chairman of the Asian Ecotourism Network and president of the Society of Sustainable Tourism; Masaru Takuyama, president of the Asean Tourism Network; and Dr. Mina T. Gabor, chairman and president of the Silang, Cavite-based International School of Sustainable Tourism, hold hands around a century-old Peruvian Parasol tree during an ocular visit of the place. With an eye to pushing intitiatives in favor of nature, participants from a total of 22 countries are converging from March 29 to April 2, 2023, in Silang, Cavite, for the first International Ecotourism Travel Mart, the world's first green travel mart. NONIE REYES

US forces returning to Philippines to counter China threats

PBBM flies home from Japan, touts $13-B economic bonanza

By Samuel P. Medenilla @sam_medenilla & Andrea E. San Juan

“ If I am not mistaken, our tracking of the investment pledges is— my tracking,  personally, will be about $10 million. So, that would be translated, that would be about P500 billion or P550 billion,” BOI Managing Head Ceferino S. Rodolfo said at a news forum on Saturday.

C iting Trade Secretary Alfredo

Filipino workers’ good profile boosted Japan investment drive–PBBM

This, he said, puts the Philippines in a “very strategic” place. Moreover, Rodolfo said such geographic advantage is coupled with “a real independent foreign policy” that is being promoted by the President.

I n his arrival speech last Sunday at the Villamor Airbase in Pasay City, Marcos said the commitments are expected to generate an approximate 24,000 jobs.

T he deals were a result of the meeting of Marcos and the Philippine delegates with Japanese companies.  “ In our round table meetings, I briefed them on the new and better business climate and investment environment in the Philippines,” Marcos said.

Key private sector representatives were with me and engaged with Japanese industry giants to seize the economic opportunities now present in the Philippines,” he added.

A total of 35 letters of intent (LOI)/ agreements were forged between Philippine and Japanese representatives during the said discussions covering manufacturing, infrastructure development, energy, transportation, healthcare, renewable energy, and business expansion.

He said another highlight of his

visit was the government’s signing of seven bilateral agreements with its Japanese counterpart covering humanitarian assistance, disaster relief, infrastructure, agriculture, and digital cooperation.

A mong those signed were about 377 billion Japanese yen or the equivalent of about US$3 billion loans for the North-South Commuter Railway for Malolos to Tutuban and the North-South Commuter Railway Project extension.

T he President also noted he was also able to “cement” the country’s defense and security relations with Japan.

He concluded his trip will help “strengthen the strategic partnership between Philippines and Japan.”

BOI’s tracker: $10M in pledges

MEANWHILE, per estimates of a top official of the Board of Investments (BOI), $10 million in investment pledges were secured from President Marcos Jr.’s state visit to Japan.

E. Pascual’s interview in Tokyo, Japan, backed by a survey by Japan Bank for International Cooperation, Rodolfo said one of the primary areas of attraction of Japanese companies to the Philippines is “because they would like us to be their export manufacturing hub.”

Rodolfo also noted that the Japanese, along with South Korean and Taiwanese investors, are expanding outside of big economies such as the United States and a neighboring country of the Philippines which the BOI official did not name.

But because of that, companies are expanding beyond that big country. Many of those expanding outside of that big country would be the Japanese, the South Koreans and the Taiwanese – the ones in East Asia,” Rodolfo said, partly in Filipino.

R eferring to  “southbound policy,” the BOI official said once these countries go south, the first country that they will “hit” is the Philippines. In addition, he said, from the Pacific side, the Philippines will be the first country to be hit by the United States.

R odolfo noted it is evident in the countries that the President has visited that Marcos is not selective with the countries he’s opting to visit as these countries include even those involved in conflicts.

You can see that he visited even those countries with current conflicts—to really show them the Philippines means serious business—we want to talk to all of you—and it’s generating results,” the BOI managing head, speaking partly in Filipino.

S ince assuming the presidency on June 30, 2022, Marcos has gone on eight official foreign trips. He has traveled to Indonesia, Singapore, Cambodia, Thailand, United States, China, Belgium and Switzerland, to attend the 2023 World Economic Forum (WEF). He recently traveled to Japan to establish partnerships and attract investments.

A side from the geographic advantage and the “independent” foreign policy of the Philippines, Rodolfo cited the Philippines’s demographics among the country’s advantages in attracting foreign investments.

The second reason why we are attracting foreign investments really, particularly Japanese, is our demographics. The median age of Filipinos is about 26 years old,” Rodolfo said, adding that in contrast, “In Japan, I think, is already 48 years old.”

Meanwhile, aside from the export manufacturing hub, Rodolfo said the Japanese investors are looking at the cold chain logistics in the Philippines.  “ Besides the export manufacturing hub, Usec. Sam Ampatuan mentioned earlier that logistics, particularly cold chain, is very important for our Agricultural sector. Because even if you are able to produce, even if you become productive at the farm level, the challenge really is bringing our farm produce to the market, particularly with our archipelagic setup,” Rodolfo said, partly in Filipino.

H e said, without naming the companies, thaht “there are Japanese companies interested to go into cold chain logistics in the Philippines.”

Japan...

Continued from A1

Reports said that since its launch in February 2021 with initial funding of $5 billion from the Indonesian government, INA had raised more than $20 billion of co-investments from other foreign parties by the end of 2022.

T he Speaker said that according to the Japanese official, the growth prospect of the proposed Maharlika Investment Fund is “potentially higher” compared to INA.

I n December last year, the House approved the bill creating the Maharlika Investment Fund, with around 90 percent of the chamber’s members supporting the passage of the measure. Romualdez is the principal author of the measure.

T he Senate is currently deliberating on its own version of the Maharlika Investment Fund bill.

R omualdez projected that the MIF could be approved “maybe after Easter.”

A lthough there are still questions on the proposed measure raised by some senators, Romualdez said this could help the Senate further finetune the bill approved by the House.

He stressed that once enacted into law, the Maharlika Investment Fund will be a magnet for foreign investments into the country.

PRESIDENT Ferdinand R. Marcos, Jr. said the exemplary performance of overseas Filipino workers (OFW) in Japan helped draw more Japanese investments in the country.

Our job [to secure new investments] became easier because of the good reputation of Filipinos in Japan . .  All of the [firms] which we talked to said they don’t need convincing on how reliable Filipinos are,” Marcos said during his meeting with the Filipino community in Tokyo, Japan last Sunday.

He noted Filipinos are admired in Japan for their kindness, hard work, honesty, and proficiency in the English language.

“ That is why our talks [with Japanese firms] focused on details of our partnerships,” Marcos said.

M arcos said the additional investments from Japan and other countries, which he visited since assuming the presidency last year, will generate more jobs in the country.

A t least 35 investment deals were signed by the Philippines delegate with their Japanese counter -

parts during the official visit of the President in Japan from Feb. 8 to 12, 2023.

T he new investments will be crucial so the government could provide new quality employment opportunities to those who were permanently displaced since the onset of the pandemic, according to Marcos.   “

We are gradually seeing how we are transforming the economy and giving more opportunities to our citizens to work,” Marcos said.

T he President assured the Filipino community in Japan they will continue to get government support through the Philippine embassy in Japan and the newly created Department of Migrant Workers (DMW).  L ast week, DMW announced that more than 80 Japanese employers have expressed their interest in hiring more Filipino skilled workers.

T he Japanese Shipowners’ Association (JSA) also committed to continue recruiting Filipino seafarers for its ships. Samuel P.

Medenilla

Sticky inflation...

W hile the outlook of Oxford Economics for these economies in 2024 is the same as the IMF forecast, the 2023 expectation is 0.8 percentage point less than IMF’s 4 percent projection.

“ Stable or declining commodity prices, easing supply bottlenecks and weaker demand should produce a strong disinflationary dynamic. But our economists see significant risks coming from core inflation stickiness and forex volatility,” Oxford Economics said.

Core inflation, which excludes certain highly volatile food and non-food items, posted a 7.4-percent growth in January 2023. The Philippine Statistics Authority said this was the highest since April 1999 when core inflation reached

Continued from A1

7.6 percent.

T he increase in rent and food items such as onions caused headline inflation to surge to 8.7 percent in January. This was the highest since November 2008 when inflation clocked in at 9.1 percent. I f inflation persists and is followed by high wage increases, local economists expect this to lead to job losses. High inflation could translate to higher production losses incurred by firms nationwide and prompt businesses to lay off workers.

L ocal economists earlier expressed fear that job losses would be possible if businesses/industries would require more funds to pay for higher prices/inflation on inputs, investments, and other spending.

Nespresso machines...

Novateur, a wholly-owned subsidiary of the Philippine Vending Corp., is the exclusive distributor of Nespresso in the Philippines.

The Vertuo uses Nespresso’s patented “centrifusion” technology, which infuses water into the coffee grounds in each spinning capsule at the touch of a button, extracting a more flavorful cup of coffee.

The reopening of restaurants after the pandemic, along with the hotel and resort sector, have also boosted the sales of Nespresso units and capsules in the country. “When the market opened up, there was an increase in sales to restaurants and hotels,” said Pesengco, citing the Peninsula Manila, Shangri-La group, Radisson Blu, Marco Polo, and Amanpulo among the company’s clients. “For them, Nespresso is synonymous with good coffee, which  a hotel guest can dispense consistently.”

W hile he declined to reveal their sales and revenue targets for 2023, Pesengco said,  overall, “we’re targeting 1.5 million to 1.8 million households in the Philippines. So, it’s still a long way to go,” using the 41,000 active club members as a comparison.

H e noted, “Filipinos are one of the biggest per capita coffee consumers in the world, it just happens majority [drink] instant coffee for now.” In Asia, the Philippines is second to Japan as the largest coffee con -

Continued from A1

sumers in the region.

D ata compiled by Coffee Affection suggest that 90 percent of Philippine households have coffee in their cupboards, with 80 percent of Filipino adults drinking an average of 2.5 cups per day, preferring a 3-in-1 mix combining coffee, creamer, and sugar. Statista also reported that Filipinos spent an average of $44 per person on instant coffee in 2022.

D espite the growing number of coffee farms in the last few years, most of the locally-consumed coffee is still imported, reaching some 38,000 metric tons in 2021, as per the Philippine Statistics Authority.

C urrently, there are five Nespresso boutiques in the country, four of which are in Metro Manila, and one in Cebu. There are also six pop-up stores around Metro Manila. But more physical stores are coming soon, Pesengco stressed:

“There is definitely a clamor for more brick-and-mortar stores, especially since buying behaviors are triggered by product experience. Having a physical store allows for that experience, which helps our customers decide which Nespresso machine would work best for them. We definitely have plans to further expand in the next few years, especially outside Metro Manila.

Meanwhile, we deliver nationwide for orders via our web site (www.nespresso.ph).”

PRESIDENT Ferdinand R. Marcos, Jr. was able to secure over US$13 billion worth of contribution and investment pledges following his fiveday official visit in Japan.

The Nation

More help offered to Zambales payao fishers

By Henry Empeño Correspondent

BOTOLAN, Zambales—More

help is on the way for fishermen from Masinloc, Zambales, who lost their livelihood after a Hong Kong-based cargo ship plowed over their fish aggregating device (known locally as payao) in open sea last month.

On Sunday, Congresswoman Doris “Nanay Bing” E. Maniquiz of the Second District of Zambales pledged a soft loan to members of the New Masinloc Fishermen’s Association (NMFA) in the amount of P150,000, the cost of their destroyed payao, to help them start anew.

“Once I read in the papers about your sad plight, how you lost your source of income as well as food for your families, my heart went out to all of you, so I asked my staff to reach out and contact you,” Maniquiz told the fishermen. “I hope that with this seed money, you can start all over again and be more productive for yourselves and our community.”

Maniquiz gave the assurance in a meeting with NMFA Vice Chairman Rodencio Edora, the group’s secretary Honorio Mandario Jr. and a dozen members of the organization who visited the legislator last Sunday.

Edora and the other members

hearts,” Edora replied.

Early last week, the fishermen also received help from Governor Hermogenes E. Ebdane Jr., who announced legal assistance for the Masinloc fishers in their quest to seek damages from the management of HC Glory, the vessel that destroyed the fishermen’s payao some 16 kilometers offshore.

Ebdane said a government legal team will represent the fishermen and that the case has been referred to the agriculture and legal committees of the provincial board for further action.

“We will definitely back up our people in their quest for justice,” Ebdane also assured the fishers.

NMFA officers said the bulk carrier HC Glory was about to deliver coal to the Masinloc Coal-Fired Thermal Plant when it ran over their payao on January 17.

profusely thanked Maniquiz for the assistance and promised that given the loan, they will immediately work on another payao project.

“This will go a long way for our association members, as well as the other non-member fishermen from Masinloc who also fish at our payao. We thank you from our

Development agency sought for Lake Lanao management

By Manuel T. Cayon @awimailbox Mindanao Bureau Chief

DAVAO CITY—An agency responsible for the development and preservation of Lake Lanao will be established once the Bangsamoro Parliament approves BTA Bill 111, a group of Bangsamoro lawmakers said.

The NMFA is seeking a total of P900,000 in damages: P150,000 for the destroyed payao; P360,000 in unrealized income from the scheduled payao harvest; and, P390,000 for income from hook-and-line fishing by 36 NMFA members that was lost when their payao was destroyed.

Maniquiz, meanwhile, advised the fishermen to pursue their legal action against HC Glory even when they get the soft loan to build a new payao.

Authors and sponsors said their bill to establish the Ranaw Development Authority (RDA) would be the primary government agency “that is responsible for coordination, planning, management and implementation of development programs and resource utilization of inland waters covered by the Ranao region.”

The RDA would be a quasi-judicial regulatory body “that will oversee the use, exploration, development, protection, restoration and maintenance of Lake Lanao and the area’s natural resources.”

It would be attached to the Ministry of Environment, Natural Resources and Energy (Menre).

The Ranaw Region, as defined in the bill, includes all inland waters

identified as Ranaw and all other lakes within Lanao del Sur, as well as all towns and municipalities.

The Ranaw Development Authority would be composed of a board of directors led by Lanao del Sur’s Menre provincial director.

The agency would craft a comprehensive master plan in coordination with the local government units around the lake.

Former Member of the Parliament Atty. Maisara Dandamun-Latiph filed the bill in the first Parliament during the 2019 to 2022 transition of the Bangsamoro Transition Authority. It was reintroduced in the second parliament by MPs Diamila Ramos, Lanang Ali Jr., Ali Solaiman, Marjanie Macasalong, Abdullah Macapaar, Basit Abbas, Said Shiek, Ali Montaha Babao, Khalid Hadji Abdullah, Abdulazis Amenodin, Nabila Margarita Pangandaman, Amroussi Macatanong, Eddie Alih, Amilbahar Mawallil and Rasol Mitmug Jr.

Largest lake

THE Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) said Lake Lanao is the largest lake in Min-

danao and the second largest in the Philippines. It is also considered one of the 15 ancient lakes in the world.

T he lake has five watersheds with rivers and major tributaries totaling 431 kilometers. The waters from these rivers and tributaries drain into the lake and goes out through only one outlet, the Agus River in Lanao del Norte that flows southwest into Iligan Bay via two channels, the Maria Cristina Falls, the largest waterfall in the country and Linamon Falls.

The total area of its inland water is 336 hectares, with a surface area of about 36,300 hectares. It was proclaimed a watershed reserve under Proclamation 871 issued on February 26, 1992. It was also included in the initial components of the National Protected Areas System (NIPAS).

The DENR said there are several issues and concerns in this river basin. Some of these are related to changes in climatological conditions. There’s also land degradation attributed to slope and terrain of watershed and the dislocation of timberlands in flatlands. Of course, there is also deforestation.

THIS February 12, 2023, photo shows Congresswoman Doris “Nanay Bing” E. Maniquiz (Zambales, Second District) assuring officers and members of the New Masinloc Fishermen’s Association (not in photo) of financial assistance for their lost payao. HENRY EMPEÑO

PHL Information Economy revving up, PSA data bares

By Cai U. Ordinario @caiordinario

“A distinctive characteristic of the IE is the intensive use by businesses of ICT for the collection, storage, processing and transmission of information. The use of ICT is supported by supply of ICT products from an ICT-producing sector and through trade,” it added.

PSA said IE industries engaged in ICT service industries posted the highest number of 1,437 establishments using cellular mobile phone/smartphone in their business transactions.

Indo-Pacific Economic Framework gets kudos

By Andrea San Juan

those engaged in ICT manufacturing industries with 67 establishments.

The PSA estimates that there was a total of 5,542 establishments under the IE in 2019. Of these establishments, 5,533 establishments owned and used computers and communication equipment in their business operations.

This was 52.2-percent higher than the number of establishments with ownership and usage of computers and communication equipment in 2017 at 3,635 establishments.

THE Semiconductor and Electronics Industries in the Philippines Foundation Inc. (SEIPI) cited the benefits of the Indo-Pacific Economic Framework (IPEF) to member-countries of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (Asean).

During a forum on “Strengthening Supply Chain Resilience” last Thursday, Seipi President Danilo C. Lachica said one of these benefits is having “extended technical assistance from member countries with advanced digital ecosystems to expand beyond digital inclusions.”

US can help bring the Philippines to the higher value of the supply chain “because under the supply chain pillar of IPEF, there are provisions for training, technical cooperation and capacity-building that could be arranged by our partners.”

Based on the final results of the 2019 Survey on Information and Communication Technology (SICT) for the Information Economy (IE), establishments that had business transactions via mobile phones increased 133.1 percent to 2,280 firms in 2019 from 978 in 2017.

T he SICT data also showed that firms with social media accounts in-

creased 94.9 percent to 2,839 firms in 2019 from 1,457 in 2017. The IE is a term used to describe the economic and social value created through the ability to rapidly exchange information at any time, anywhere to anyone,” the PSA said citing data from the United Nations Conference on Trade and Development (Unctad).

The data also showed that IE industries engaged in ICT manufacturing industries had the least with only 55 establishments.

Among the IE industries with social media accounts, the data showed, ICT service industries had the highest number of 1,745 establishments with social media accounts.

The PSA said firms that had the least social media accounts were

There are two sectors under IE, namely, “ICT” sector and “Content and Media” sector. All establishments under the “Content and Media” sector owned and used computers and communication equipment in 2019.

For the ICT sector, only those engaged in ICT manufacturing industries had a 100-percent ownership and usage of computers and communication equipment.

Davao del Norte mayor seeks reprimand of DPWH engineer

By Manuel T. Cayon @awimailbox Mindanao Bureau Chief

DAVAO CITY—An irate mayor of Panabo City of Davao del Norte has castigated an engineer of the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) for alleged neglect in a government road project that was said abandoned by its contractor.

P anabo City Mayor Jose E.

Relampagos said he disliked the statement of the DPWH project engineer that he would only “assess what happened to the project and to

determine what else could be done,” a statement from the city information office read.

Relampagos was quoted in the statement as saying he did not like the statement of the project engineer when the DPWH team went to Panabo City at the invitation of the mayor.

“What needs to be done is to remove and replace the pavement because of the poor cement mixture and poor road works that has led to all these cracks in the road,” he said.

“You wasted public funds because of your neglect and you failed to check

on the contractor,” Relampagos reportedly told the DPWH crew.

The project engineer has asked the mayor to give him six months to allow the contractor to “repair, remove and replace” what they have paved.

Relampagos has asked the DPWH project engineer to provide him and the City Engineering Office (CEO) copies of the program of works, the name of the contractor and other documents related to the project, as he warned him that the city would file a case against them if the DPWH and the contractor

would fail again to comply with their commitment.

Relampagos said he has written a letter asking Senator Aquilino Martin dL. Pimentel III “to discipline” the DPWH officials in the region regarding the Tagum-Panabo Circumferential Road for failure of the latter to properly implement the project.

“Actually, we would be happy with the projects, However, with this poor implementation, people’s money are being wasted. When you give projects, do it properly and well,” he was quoted in the statement as saying.

L achica said that Asean membercountries can gain from the expansion and diversification of US foreign direct investments (FDIs) in the region, “especially on semiconductors and electronics.”

T he businessman added that Asean member-countries could also have improved labor standards by monitoring and reporting labor issues.

Meanwhile, under the clean economy pillar of the US-led economic framework, Lachica, also senior vice president of First Philippine Holdings Corp., said Asean members can engage in environmental cooperation to promote climate resiliency and usage of green/renewable energy sources and technologies.

Moreover, Asean countries can also ensure “resilient” supply chains through the establishment of an intergovernmental crisis response mechanism, the Seipi chief said.

Higher value

LAST month, Trade Secretary Alfredo E. Pascual underscored the importance of the IPEF in moving the Philippines up the supply chain. Pascual said during a forum in January that the IPEF will be an important platform for the US, noting that the

T he 14 countries participating in the US-led economic framework are the United States, Japan, Australia, New Zealand, the Republic of Korea, India, Fiji and seven Asean countries (Brunei, Indonesia, Malaysia, Philippines, Singapore, Thailand and Vietnam). The IPEF has the following pillars: trade; supply chains; clean energy, decarbonization and infrastructure; and, tax and anti-corruption.

Effectiveness of Create

HOWEVER, to be able to realize the benefits of IPEF, Lachica said the tasks of Seipi should be done in cooperation with the government, industry and the private sector.

One of these, the Seipi chief noted, is to implement reforms that “complement” the sustainability framework of the IPEF.

Lachica also stressed the importance of improving the ease of doing business, reducing operating costs, and reviewing the “effectiveness” of the incentives rationalization under the Corporate Recovery and Tax Incentives for Enterprises Act for the Philippines to be the “preferred” investment destination of IPEF members.

Moreover, the Seipi chief said there is also a need to implement “full digitization” of the Bureau of Customs, the Bureau of Internal Revenue and other government agencies to enhance the country’s supply chain and take advantage of the technical assistance extended by other IPEFmember countries.

L achica also underscored the importance of consulting with the private sector and stakeholders on commercial and economic issues.

By Jovee Marie N. Dela Cruz @joveemarie

THE chairman of the House Committee on Labor and Employment expressed confidence last Sunday that Filipino workers can soon enjoy a better working environment with the approval of several bills promoting their welfare.

R izal Rep. Juan Fidel Felipe F. Nograles, the panel chairman, said the bills providing better environment for workers are now pending in the Senate following their recent passage on third and final reading at the House of Representatives.

“I am confident that the Senate will pass their counterpart measures soon for immediate transmittal to the Palace for [the] President’s signature and implementation,” Nograles said.

House Bill (HB) 1270 (Eddie Garcia Act), provides better protection for workers of the movie

THE Quezon City Government will jumpstart this month the country’s first “Market OneStop-Shop,” or “Moss,” system at Murphy Market, a statement from the local government read.

T he Moss, a project of the Market Development and Administration Department (MDAD), will initially cover the digital and simplified process of market registration and permit application for QCitizen market owners, vendors and stall owners in its eight city-owned public markets, the city government said.

“Aspiring stall holders and existing market vendors can easily view what market stalls are still available, the documentary requirements needed and thereafter

and television industry by requiring employers to provide workers or contractors a copy of a contract that explicitly states the number of work hours, job position and description, period of employment, details of compensation and other conditions that will affect the person’s work.

The bill also states that the employer would be required to adhere to all laws related to occupational safety and health standards and provide all workers with governmentmandated benefits.

The measure provides that workers are entitled to overtime pay if they render their services beyond eight hours, with a maximum extension of only up to 12 hours. Workers are also prohibited from rendering more than 60 hours a week. Their travel time to-and-from work is also considered as part of working hours.

Freelancing, productivity

MEANWHILE, HB 6718 (Freelance

Workers Protection Act) is seen to benefit the country’s at least 1.5 million freelance workers. HB 6718 defines a freelance worker as any natural person or entity composed of no more than one natural person, whether incorporated under the Securities and Exchange Commission, registered as a sole proprietorship under the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) or registered as self-employed with the Bureau of Internal Revenue (BIR).

The measure requires the hiring party and freelance workers to enter into a written contract that clearly specifies the workers’ task, period of completion, compensation, and schedule of payment. It prohibits any deviations or modifications of the terms in the contract, such as reduction in the fees or an expanded scope of work, unless agreed upon and signed in a revised contract by both parties.

new system for vendors at Murphy Market

Solon banks on bills seeking workers' welfare QC to

pay the corresponding fees, thus avoiding the long lines and inconvenient paperwork required in the old manual process.”

According to MDAD Officer-inCharge Maria Margarita T. Santos, the city aims to register a total of 12,000 stall holders within the 8 city-owned public markets, 32 private markets, 124 approved temporary vending sites for hawkers and 46 talipapas.

“Data gathered through ‘Moss’ is very vital for the city because this will be used as the basis for the establishment of additional public markets and vending sites if needed. MDAD is already looking for possible locations that can be utilized as vending sites,” Santos was quoted in the statement as saying.

Mayor Maria Josefina Tanya

“Joy” G. Belmonte led the recent launching ceremony of the project, which was witnessed by QC market association presidents and various vendor groups.

“Inconvenience and inefficiency caused by the traditional manual market management system affects the productivity of market vendors. Thus, the city has initiated Moss which digitalizes all these processes, shortens waiting time and eliminates the hassle of going physically to City Hall,” Belmonte was quoted in the statement as saying.

Moss, which is part of the city’s good governance and ease of doing business initiatives, will also be integrated with the city’s Business One-Stop Shop (Boss) to stream -

line the overall business permit process.

“In addition to efficiency and convenience, the new system addresses corruption and the ‘palakasan’ system. Sa pamamagitan ng ‘Moss,’ para ka lang nag-rereserve ng ticket sa sinehan kung gusto mong magkapwesto sa palengke o temporary vending site,” the mayor added.

The system, which can soon be accessed through the QC E-Services portal, is created for aspiring and current market owners, vendors and hawkers in Quezon City. They can easily view at real-time all available stalls in public and private markets, talipapas and even temporary vending sites for hawkers. IDs will also be issued to registered market vendors and hawkers.

BUSINESSES doing transactions over mobile phones more than doubled while those with social media accounts nearly doubled in 2019, according to the Philippine Statistics Authority (PSA).

shows officials from the Bureau of Internal Revenue RDO 21B-South Pampanga led by District Officer Arnel R. Cosinas (right) along with other officials from the Local Government Unit inspecting a quarrying site in Bacolor, Pampanga. Sand quarrying in the said province has provided a remarkable increase in terms of tax contribution to the coffers of the local government, according to Cosinas. NONOY LACZA

Agriculture/Commodities

Sebastian tasked to boost PHL rice production

By Jasper Emmanuel Y. Arcalas @jearcalas

REINSTATED Agriculture Undersecretary Leocadio S. Sebastian will lead the national government’s programs for the rice sector, with the aim of improving the country’s self-sufficiency level.

A fter dismissing the charges against Sebastian in relation to the sugar import fiasco last year, Malacañang has appointed him as Agriculture Undersecretary for Rice Industry Development.

Sebastian shall oversee all rice industry-related programs of the Department of Agriculture (DA) and represent President Marcos Jr. in all government agencies and programs concerning rice matters, according to a memorandum from Executive Secretary Lucas P. Bersamin. Marcos will continue to serve as the concurrent agriculture chief of the country.

Sebastian is now the sixth undersecretary of the agriculture department under the leadership of Marcos, according to the agency’s web site.

Our main challenge is how to make our rice farming profitable while aiming for higher rice sufficiency level. For this I have proposed some strategies,” Sebastian, who

By Butch Fernandez @butchfBM

SEN. Chiz Escudero, vowing to expedite the provision of much needed help to the agricultural sector, affirmed his commitment to “make it truly resilient and competitive internationally,” with or without the Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership (RCEP).

T he senator said he has long been appealing to provide the resources needed by the agriculture sector.

“Matagal ko nang panawagan sana bigyan ng tunay na prioridad ang sektor ng agrikultura. With or without the RCEP in mind, we should make sure that our agricultural sector is resilient to any internal and external shocks. After all, we are an agricultural country,” said Escudero.

He noted that as the Senate continues to conduct hearings on the RCEP treaty for ratification, “the trade deal

IT’S deep into winter on the northern fringe of the Quebec maple groves that feed Alan Bryson’s syrup-making operation and it’s so warm that tree sap has already started flowing.

“ We’re seeing the maples trying to run in January when they’re really not supposed to,” the 47-year-old said from a wood shack in Notre-Damede-la-Merci in a wilderness expanse that’s a 90-minute drive north of Montreal. Unlike with his southernmost United States counterparts, such mild trends could really boost his maple syrup output. “These extreme conditions have created the worst for us and the best for us.”

Warming winters are set to create regional winners and losers in the $1.5-billion industry, with US farmers at greatest risk. Bryson’s yields have more than doubled in the past decade, partly due to something the Canadian can’t control— weather. A longer spell of freezing and thawing in 2022 led to his best year ever, as his six-man crew boiled sap gathered from 40,000 taps a record 32 times. The climate shift that favored Bryson’s harvest is set to bring more volatile weather, making production on both sides of the border more challenging.

T he world’s maple syrup production is concentrated in Canada and the northern US, where sugar maples grow. Some southern states, such as Virginia and Kentucky, also make syrup. The North American industry has existed since the late 1700s after Indigenous peoples showed

is Career Executive Service Officer

Rank I, told the BusinessMirror Sebastian said he has yet to talk with Marcos, who departed for Japan for a state visit last February 8. Under the Bersamin’s memorandum dated February 8, part of Sebastian’s duties and functions is “overseeing the implementation of government plans, policies, programs, and projects addressing rice industry development.”

In doing so, Sebastian must ensure the implementation of the country’s rice industry roadmap while leading the formulation of plans and programs for the development of the rice industry.

He will also provide guidance to and supervision to all agriculture department staff, whose duties and functions are related to the development of the rice industry.

He will also have the power to approve any recruitment and deployment of the necessary staff complement, which shall be charged against the rice budget of the DA.

Sebastian will serve as the alter ego of Marcos to various agencies and programs such as the Rice Competitiveness Enhancement FundProgram Steering Committee, Philippine Rice Research Institute Board,

needs careful review to ensure that stakeholders in the country’s agricultural sector, especially farmers and fisherfolks, are protected.”

Escudero asserted: “Mas lalo na kung tayo ay sasali sa RCEP kailangan nating siguraduhin na hindi madedehado ang ating industriya ng agrikultura, lalung-lalo na ang ating mga magsasaka at mangingisda.”

T he senator said that the country should “urgently address the weakness in the agricultural sector primarily caused by the meager investment that the government has given to it.”

At the same time, Escudero reaffirmed his plea for the Marcos government to channel financing to the beleaguered farm sector with the same energy that it is pressing Congress to expedite the passage of the bill creating the Maharlika Investment Fund (MIF).

T he Bicolano senator said the Ex-

National Food Authority Council, National Irrigation Administration Board and International Rice Research Institute Board.

Furthermore, Sebastian was instructed by Malacañang to report

ecutive and the Legislative should work hand in hand to end the government’s “ADD—agriculture deficit disorder” as reflected in the flat farm sector growth which he attributed to the Covid-19 pandemic.

He recalled that “in 2022 ang value of crop, livestock, poultry, fisheries production na P1.756 trillion, computed in 2018 constant prices, ay mas mababa pa sa P1.086 trillion production noong 2018,” noting that “Kaya naman tumaas ng 28 percent ang presyo ng gulay, 25 percent ang presyo ng isda, 30 percent ang sa karne sa loob ng apat na taon.”

Kung mas mahal pa ang isang kilo ng sibuyas kesa sa isang araw na minimum wage, anong pruweba pa ang kailangan ipakita na meron tayong food crisis?” Escudero asked.

L ast Monday, Senate President Juan Miguel Zubiri told a media briefing that the Senate expects to

directly to Marcos through the Executive Secretary regarding all matters concerning the development of the local rice industry. All agencies, offices, divisions, services, and bureaus, including

government-owned or -controlled corporations, attached to the DA, are hereby directed to provide the necessary support and assistance to the Undersecretary for Rice Industry Development for the effective imple-

mentation of programs, projects and activities relative to the promotion and development of the rice industry,” Bersamin said in the memorandum.

T he country’s rice self-sufficiency level in 2021 declined to 81.5 percent from 85 percent in 2020, based on Philippine Statistics Authority (PSA) data. The country’s palay production last year declined slightly to 19.756 million metric tons (MMT) from the record high output of 19.96 million metric tons in 2021.

L ast month, Malacañang dismissed the charges against Sebastian and other former agriculture officials involved in the infamous Sugar Order (SO) 4 importation program.

In a 10-page resolution, the Office of the President absolved the four former government officials of any liability regarding issuance of SO 4 that authorized the importation of 300,000 metric tons of sugar.

From the totality of the evidence, the Office finds that the issuance of SO No.4 was done in good faith absent any showing that the respondents were aware of their lack of authority,” Bersamin said in his resolution. (Related story: https://businessmirror.com.ph/2023/01/06/ palace-clears-ex-da-and-sraexecs-in-sugar-import-mess/)

ratify the trade agreement within the first quarter of 2023.

It will be recalled that the ratification of the RCEP agreement was stalled in the previous Congress because of opposition from groups within the agricultural sector. At present, there are some 100 groups from various sectors that are against the ratification of the international agreement.

T he RCEP, signed by the Philippines in November 2020 and ratified by then President Rodrigo Duterte in September 2021, entered into force for other signatory countries on January 1, 2022. But because it has yet to be ratified by the Philippine Senate, the RCEP remains unimplementable in the country.

T he RCEP is a free trade agreement among the Asia-Pacific nations of Australia, Brunei, Cambodia, China, Indonesia, Japan, South Ko -

rea, Laos, Malaysia, Myanmar, New Zealand, the Philippines, Singapore, Thailand, and Vietnam.

I n June 2020, the Philippine Statistics Authority released its 2018 study showing that poverty incidence was highest among farmers (31.6 percent), fisherfolk (26.2 percent) and individuals living in rural areas (24.5 percent). In 2015, the same sectors were also the poorest, with poverty incidences at 40.8 percent among farmers, 36.9 percent among fisherfolk, and 34 percent among rural-based individuals.

“As I have been saying, nobody wants to be left behind in a global economy, but we must also be certain that in entering into more trade deals, we do not leave behind the most vulnerable sectors of our local economy. Growth must always be inclusive, or it will only perpetuate the cycle of poverty,” he added.

put in Quebec’s most northern site will nearly double.

Such challenges loom as consumers demand more syrup. The Quebec Maple Syrup Producers, the agency charged with setting prices and output in the world’s top-producing region, had a record bounty last year and expects to sell 179.2 million pounds in its current marketing year.

Meanwhile, US production rose 35 percent in 2022, with the earliest sap flow reported on New Year’s Day in Vermont and New York, according the US Department of Agriculture.

P roducers are already adjusting operations to adapt to earlier harvests and less predictable weather. Many are focusing more on the health of maples and using specialized vacuum pumps to pull more sap from trees.

European settlers how to turn sap into the sticky sweet treat that has become the popular pancake topper.

Milder winters threaten to upend the delicate balance needed to make the breakfast staple. Sap used to produce syrup is only triggered when daytime temperatures flip between freezing and thawing during a narrow window of time in late winter.

“ When I was little, my dad would say, ‘don’t tap until March 15’,” said Helen Thomas, who with her two sisters operates the sixth-generation Maxon Estate Farms near Buffalo, New York. “If we waited until March 15 now we’d miss half the season.” Temperature swings have become

much more extreme and winters are getting shorter, Thomas, 70, said. She has seen years when March gets too warm too fast, hurting production at the family-run farm that dates to the early 1800s.

“ We get many more days where it’s warm in the middle of February and the middle of March,” she said.

“I don’t remember those as a kid.”

M ilder temperatures also make tree sap less sweet, which means it takes more to make syrup. Weather extremes can also cut output and cause calamities such as drought and pests that shrink the amount of sap a tree yields. Farmers in Canada and the US increasingly

worry about how climate change could hinder operations.

The southern limits of sugar maple are getting hit the hardest already,” said Joshua Rapp, a conservation scientist at Mass Audubon in Massachusetts, noting there have been years when producers in parts of the US were barely able to collect enough sap. “There’s some indications where there’s not enough of those sweet spots to produce syrup.”

H is projections suggest sap collection will be negligible in Virginia and Indiana by the end of the century, while Massachusetts and New Hampshire sites will produce only half their historical average. Out -

Canada’s northerly expanse offers a competitive advantage in weathering the future. The potential to draw more sap from Canadian maples is probably tenfold what is currently tapped, said Tim Rademacher, a researcher at Quebec’s Center ACER, which specializes in the industry. Production could rise in parts of northern Quebec, the Maritimes and Ontario, he said.

Most Quebec production is south of the St. Lawrence River, but climate shifts and the lure of cheaper land are drawing more people further north.

Rademacher said a handful of families in the Lac Saint-Jean area north of Quebec City have started planting maple trees on traditionally boreal forest land. Bloomberg News

THE Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) recently launched a new Framework for Environmental and Social Management (FESM) to ensure that both people and the environment are protected from any potential impacts of FAO programs and projects.

This Framework ensures that our projects do both ‘no harm’ and support the transformation to more efficient, more inclusive, more resilient and more sustainable agrifood systems by upholding the highest international standards for risk management,” FAO Director-General Qu Dongyu said during a virtual event.

T he framework, which includes key elements of a people-centered approach and establishes environmental and social performance requirements for FAO programming, is also intended to ensure that all stakeholders, including local and indigenous communities, have ample opportunities to actively participate in projects’ activities and to voice their concerns about them.

T he FESM introduces an innovative process of climate change and disaster risk screening to identify potential risks, mitigation and resilience measures.

It also includes new and updated requirements to conserve and restore renewable natural resources and biodiversity; protect animal welfare; foster resilient livelihoods; manage waste and non-pesticide hazardous materials; promote resource efficiency; protect community health and promote decent jobs; strengthen requirements for dealing with genderbased violence including the prevention of sexual exploitation and abuse; respect indigenous peoples living in voluntary isolation; and enhance accountability, conflict resolution and grievance mechanisms.

T he FAO director-general highlighted that the new framework proactively promotes “doing good.”

“ It is a powerful tool for mainstreaming sustainability and resilience across FAO by bringing together people-centred approaches with the core UN principle of leaving no one behind in a single, operational framework,” Qu said.

It is also a mechanism to improve the efficiency of FAO operations on the ground by setting out clear guidelines and standards for all projects, and it enhances the efficient response to FAO Members’ priorities and needs, he added.

Escudero vows to focus on efforts to build a ‘resilient’ farm sector

FAO unveils new framework that aims to ensure projects ‘do no harm’

Bureau of Customs

BUREAU OF CUSTOMS CELEBRATES ITS

THE Bureau of Customs (BOC) capped its 121st Founding Anniversary on Tuesday February 7 by showcasing its Customs Operations Center (COC) and recognizing the services of its collection districts and offices.

President Ferdinand Marcos Jr., the Guest of Honor and Speaker, was represented by Finance Secretary Benjamin Diokno. Also present were Albay Rep. Joey S. Sarte Salceda, chair of the House of Representatives Committee on Ways and Means.

The President lauded the accomplishments of the BOC and commended its officials and employees during the 121st Founding Anniversary Celebration.

Speaking through Diokno during the event, the President said BOC’s more than P862 billion revenue collection which is 34 percent higher than the P643 billion collected in 2021, was commendable

“In fact, I note that all your

collection districts have surpassed their individual revenue targets in 2022, which enabled the Bureau to exceed your annual target for the year," he said.

Highest revenue collection

LAST year, the BOC posted its highest revenue collection in history, enabling local governments to generate more employment opportunities, build more infrastructure, and provide better welfare support for the people.

A side from the improved collection performance, the President highlighted the Bureau's gains in protecting the country's borders.

"In 2022, the Bureau of Customs' Anti-Smuggling Campaign

has recorded 729 apprehensions with a total estimated value of more than P24 billion, which I hope you will further sustain and toughen in the years ahead," he said.

I am thus very pleased as we recognize these and all the other achievements of the Bureau of Customs," he added.

Expedite BOC digitalization program

ALIGNED with the President's socioeconomic agenda, Customs Commissioner Yogi Filemon Ruiz continues to expedite the BOC digitalization program to provide transparent and efficient services while curbing corruption and increasing lawful revenue collection.

Ruiz has also enforced reforms to sustain the positive performance of the Bureau, as manifested by surpassing the collection target for January 2023, and to enhance its operational processes. He said that working at the BOC was a noble mission.

The President vowed to continue his unwavering support for the BOC and the reforms being undertaken by its leadership.

Rest assured that this administration will give you its unreserved support for the realization of your vision to achieve a modernized and credible Customs administration through enhanced

trade facilitation, strengthened border controls, and improved collection of lawful revenues," the President said.

Technological capabilities

THE BOC showed the technological capabilities of its Customs Operations Center (COC), the commend-

and-control hub of the intelligence and enforcement operations of the BOC’s 17 Collection Districts.

In his message, Customs Commissioner Yogi Filemon Ruiz stressed the BOC’s accomplishments for 2022, highlighting the record-breaking revenue collection, enhanced and intensified anti-

smuggling campaign and the modernization efforts aligned with the Philippine Development Plan for 2023 to 2028. We are confident that with the leadership of our President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. and the guidance of our Finance Secretary Benjamin E. Diokno, we

BOC Intensified Anti-Smuggling

THE Intelligence Group and Enforcement Group of the Bureau of Customs reported 709 seizures of smuggled goods with an estimated value of P24.28 billion in 2022. The seized items included illegal drugs amounting to P11.95 billion; counterfeit goods, P7.69 billion; and agricultural products, P1.87 billion.

I n keeping with the Bureau’s strengthened efforts against the illicit trade of agricultural products, all importations of agricultural commodities,

except those selected under the Super Green Lane (SGL) Facility, are identified as high-risk commodities.

Th is resulted in 137 seizures of various agricultural products with a total estimated value of P1.87 billion.

I n addition, 200 Letters of Authority (LOA) were implemented for the same period, 109 of which yielded positive results.

Meanwhile, 193 alert orders were issued, 120 of which were positive for violating pertinent customs laws, rules, and regulations.

O n other high-risk shipments that resulted in the issuance of Warrant and Seizure and Detention (WSD), 88.8 percent are targeted shipments of the Risk Management Office (RMO) for non-intrusive and physical inspection. This is a result of the improved Risk Management System (RMS) which the BOC has advanced to intensify its intelligence and enforcement capabilities. Under the RMS, the Offense Management System was implemented to enhance the BOC’s risk assessment

BOC continues to implement trade

THE Bureau of Customs (BOC) continues to digitalize customs processes and operations to enhance its trade facilitation mandate.

S even digitalization projects were implemented in 2022, namely Liquidation and Billing System (LBS), Electronic Customs Baggage and Currencies Declaration (iDeclare) System, Raw Materials Liquidation System, National Customs Intelligence System (NCIS), E2M-ETRACC Integration, Payment Application Secure 6 (PAS6), and ASEAN Customs Declaration Document (ACDD) System.

T he LBS is a platform the Bureau’s Liquidation and Billing

Division uses to send notices and demand letters as needed.

T he iDeclare allows passengers and crew members to submit their baggage and currency declaration forms before arrival and departure.

T he Raw Materials

Liquidation System determines the volume and value of the raw materials exported and subject to liquidation, including the duties and taxes due on the allowable residues/wastages/ by-products and other portions of the imported article/s entered through warehousing but no longer usable for the manufacture of the articles for export.

T he National Customs Intelligence System (NCIS) stores data from all the

Intelligence sources via web forms and excel format.

T he Electronic-2-Mobile (E2M) – Electronic Tracking of Containerized Cargo (ETRACC) System integration allows E2M to exchange data with the ETRACC to provide and capture the actual arrival time of containers at the destination.

T he Payment Application Secure 6 (PAS6) is an upgraded version of the Payment Application Secure 5 (PAS5) system for more efficient payment facilitation. The added feature ensures an accurate and immediate exchange of transaction information on the assessment details of payable duties and taxes.

L astly, the ASEAN Customs Declaration Document (ACDD)

Customs Commissioner Yogi Filemon Ruiz greets Finance Secretary Benjamin Diokno upon his arrival at the anniversary celebrations.

Anniversary

ITS 121ST FOUNDING ANNIVERSARY

Professional Pride in Customs.”

Exemplary performance

OFFICERS of the Revenue Collection Monitoring Group, Ninoy Aquino International Airport (NAIA), and Interim Internal Quality Management System Office auditors were also recognized for their exemplary performance in the delivery of their duties and functions.

Ports of Davao, Dadiangas, Zamboanga, Cagayan De Oro, and Dumaguete were awarded their respective International Organization for Standardization Certifications. The Collection Districts nationwide participated in the BOC Painting Competition where NAIA won the first place, Subic 2nd place, and Internal Adminis -

Aquino International Airport, Batangas, Legazpi, Iloilo, Cebu, Tacloban, Surigao, Cagayan De Oro, Zamboanga, Davao, Subic, Clark, Aparri, and Limay for their contribution to the achievement of the 2022 collection target and for their commitment to fulfill the agency’s core mandates.

will be able to achieve our goals again this year and for the years to come,” Ruiz said.

Diokno, with Customs Commissioner Ruiz and Deputy Commissioner Donato San Juan, presented the awards to the Ports of San Fernando, Manila, Manila International Container Port, Ninoy

The Enforcement and Security Service, Environmental Protection and Compliance Division, Customs Intelligence, Investigation Service, and the Customs Anti-Illegal Drugs Task Force of BOC were also awarded for strategic execution of borderprotection-related operations.

T he BOC anniversary adopted the World Customs Organization (WCO) theme for the year 2023 -“Nurturing the Next Generation by Promoting a Culture of Knowledge-sharing and

Anti-Smuggling Efforts in 2022

and profiling to support risk management.

I n addition, a Compliance Track Record is being maintained as a feedback mechanism which aids trade facilitation by prioritizing the targeting of high-risk importers while facilitating low-risk shipments.

The BOC also implemented the automated listing linked from the Client Profile Registration System, which allows the automatic storing of applications of importers and customs brokers upon the approval of the Account

Management Office (AMO). This automation eliminates the traditional manual uploading of company profiles in the RMS.

L astly, the BOC launched the National Customs Intelligence System (NCIS). This web portal acts as a secure data warehouse of intelligence information from the intelligence and enforcement offices of the agency. The system enables the generation of reports from these offices for a seamless, transparent, and comprehensive decision-making analysis resulting to a more responsive border control policy.

trade facilitation programs

a digital tool that exchange customs declaration documents with ASEAN states expected to improve bureaucratic efficiency and reduce barriers to entry.

I n connection with the digitalization program of the BOC, the Bureau continued to facilitate the onboarding of Trade Regulatory Government Agencies (TRGA) into the National Single Window (NSW).

I n 2022, 22 TRGAs were already onboarded into the NSW platform. Four TRGAs used the live environment, while 18 TRGAs were onboarded in the staging environment.

C ustoms Commissioner

Yogi Filemon Ruiz also ordered all ports to expedite the disposition of all forfeited and abandoned goods to prevent

high yard utilization. A s a result, the BOC disposed 1,325 overstaying containers, 443 containers loaded with rice and galvanized steel and other item were auctioned off, 841 containers were condemned, and 41 containers were donated to various government agencies.

T he BOC also inaugurated the Authorized Economic (AEO) Office last December 19 to institutionalize AEO Philippines.

T he AEO is a critical component of the World Customs Organization’s SAFE Framework of Standards to promote the seamless movement of goods through secure international trade supply chains.

tration Group in the 3rd place.

BOC started the year on a high noted as the government agency posted P70.327 billion in revenue collection for January, up by 11.79 percent or P7.415 billion from its P62.911 billion target based on a preliminary report.

W ith a revenue of P58.346 billion posted in January 2022, the Bureau increased its collection by 20.53 percent or P11.98 billion this year.

In January alone, the BOC conducted 36 apprehensions and seized approximately P908.137 million worth of various commodities in violation of the Republic Act No. 10863 or the Customs Modernization and Tariff Act (CMTA).

Smuggled agriculture products

AMONG the seized goods were

P794.463 million worth of smuggled agricultural products and P104.833 million worth of illegal drugs.

A ligned with the priority programs of the Customs Commissioner, the BOC sustains its positive performance by heightening border protection measures and strengthening the BOC Anti-smuggling Program to ensure optimal lawful revenue collection.

Ruiz also continues to modernize and initiate policy reforms to combat Customs fraud and corruption while ensuring efficient trade facilitation in the country in line with the President’s Eight-point Socioeconomic Agenda.

Under Ruiz’s leadership, the BOC remains committed to fulfilling its mandates as it welcomes another year in its history.

The Bureau of Customs showcased their Customs Operations Center during the anniversary celebration.

The World

Trudeau: US fighter shot down object over northern Canada

By Jim Morris The Associated Press

North American Aerospace Defense Command, the combined USCanada organization that provides shared defense of airspace over the two nations, detected the object flying at a high altitude Friday evening over Alaska, US officials said. It crossed into Canadian airspace on Saturday.

Trudeau spoke with President Joe Biden, who also ordered the object to be shot down. Canadian and US jets operating as part of NORAD were scrambled and it was a US jet that shot down the object.

Canadian Defense Minister

Anita Anand told a news conference in Ottawa that the object, flying at around 40,000 feet, had been shot down at 3:41 p.m. EST, approximately 100 miles from the Canada-US border in the central Yukon. A recovery operation was underway involving the Canadian Armed Forces and the RCMP.

Hours later, in the US, the Federal Aviation Administration said Saturday night it had closed some airspace in Montana to support Defense Department activities. NORAD later said the closure, which lasted a little more than an hour, came after it had detected “a radar anomaly” and sent fighter aircraft to investigate. The aircraft did not identify any object to correlate to the radar hits, NORAD said.

F-22 fighter jets have now taken out three objects in the airspace above the US and Canada over seven days, a stunning development that is raising questions on just what, ex-

actly, is hovering overhead and who has sent them.

At least one of the objects downed was believed to be a spy balloon from China, but the other two had not yet been publicly identified.

While Trudeau described the object Saturday as “unidentified,” Anand said it appeared to be “a small cylindrical object, smaller than the one that was downed off the coast of North Carolina.” A NORAD spokesman, Maj. Olivier Gallant, said the military had determined what it was but would not reveal details.

Anand refused to speculate whether the object shot down over Canada came from China.

“We are continuing to do the analysis on the object and we will make sure that analysis is thorough,” she said. “It would not be prudent for me to speculate on the origins of the object at this time.”

Anand said to her knowledge this was the first time NORAD had downed an object in Canadian airspace.

“The importance of this moment should not be underestimated,” she said. “We detected this object together and we defeated this object together.”

She was asked why a US jet, and not a Canadian plane, shot the object down.

“As opposed to separating it out by country, I think what the important point is, these were NORAD capabilities, this was a NORAD mission and this was NORAD doing what it is supposed to do,” she said.

Anand didn’t use the word “balloon” to describe the object. But later, Gen. Wayne Eyre, chief of the defense staff, said the instruction given to the planes was “who ever had the first, best shot to take out the balloon had the go-ahead.”

Trudeau said Canadian forces would recover the wreckage for study.

The Yukon is westernmost Canadian territory and among the least populated part of Canada.

After the airspace closure over Montana, multiple members of Congress, including Montana Sens. Steve Daines and Jon Tester, said they were in touch with defense officials. Daines tweeted that he would “continue to demand answers on these invasions of US airspace.”

Just about a day earlier, White House National Security Council spokesman John Kirby said an object roughly the size of a small car was shot out of the skies above remote Alaska. Officials couldn’t say if it contained any surveillance equipment, where it came from or what purpose it had.

Kirby said it was shot down because it was flying at about 40,000 feet (13,000 meters) and posed a “reasonable threat” to the safety of civilian flights, not because of any knowledge that it was engaged in surveillance.

According to US Northern Command, recovery operations continued Saturday on sea ice near Deadhorse, Alaska.

In a statement, the Northern Command said there were no new details on what the object was. It said the Alaska Command and the Alaska National Guard, along with the FBI and local law enforcement, were conducting search and recovery.

“Arctic weather conditions, including wind chill, snow, and limited daylight, are a factor in this operation, and personnel will adjust recovery operations to maintain safety,” the statement said.

On February3 4, US officials shot down a large white balloon off the coast of South Carolina.

The balloon was part of a large surveillance program that China has been conducting for “several years,” the Pentagon has said. The US has said Chinese balloons have flown over dozens of countries across five continents in recent years, and it learned more about the balloon program after closely monitoring the one shot down near South Carolina.

China responded that it reserved the right to “take further actions” and criticized the US for “an obvious overreaction and a serious violation of international practice.”

The Navy continued survey and recovery activities on the ocean floor off South Carolina, and the Coast Guard was providing security. Additional debris was pulled out Friday, and additional operations will continue as weather permits, Northern Command said.

Nearly 1 million French march in 4th day of pension protests

By Thomas Adamson & Jade Le Deley

The Associated Press

PARIS—Police were out in force across France on Saturday as protesters held a sometimes restive fourth round of nationwide demonstrations against President Emmanuel Macron’s plans to reform the country’s pension system.

Over 960,000 people marched in Paris, Nice, Marseille, Toulouse, Nantes and other cities, according to the Interior Ministry. Protesters hoped to keep up the pressure on the government to back down, and further action is planned for Feb. 16.

In the French capital, authorities counted some 93,000 participants, the most to demonstrate in Paris against the pension changes since the protests started last month.

The weekend demonstrations drew young people and others opposed to the pension proposals that weren’t able to attend the previous three days of action, all held on weekdays.

This time, though, rail worker strikes did not accompany the demonstrations, allowing trains and the Paris Metro to run Saturday. However, an unexpected strike by air traf-

fic controllers meant that up to half of flights to and from Paris’ second largest airport, Orly, were canceled Saturday afternoon.

In Paris, some workers and students who wanted to voice opposition attended the protests for the first time, owing to heavy weekday workloads. “We often hear that we should be too young to care, but with rising inflation, soaring electricity prices, this reform will impact our families,” Elisa Haddad, 18, said. “It is my first demonstration. It is important that the voice of (France’s) parents and students is heard.”

French lawmakers began a rowdy debate earlier this week on the pension bill to raise the minimum retirement age for a full state pension from 62 to 64. It’s the flagship legislation of Macron’s second term. Saturday’s protests featured flashes of unrest. One car and several trash bins were set on fire on a central Parisian boulevard as police charged the crowd and dispersed protesters with tear gas. Paris police officers said they arrested eight people for infractions ranging from possession of a firearm to vandalism.

Some demonstrators walked as families through the French capital’s

By Justin Spike, Abdelrahman Shaheen & Zeynep Bilginsoy The Associated Press

LATAKIA, Syria—Ibrahim Zakaria lost track of time drifting into and out of consciousness while trapped for nearly five days in the rubble of his home following the massive earthquake that struck Turkey and Syria this week.

The 23-year-old cellphone shop worker from the Syrian town of Jableh survived on dirty drips of water, and eventually lost hope that he’d be saved.

“I said I am dead and it will be impossible for me to live again,” Zakaria, who was rescued Friday night, told The Associated Press on Saturday from his bed at a hospital in the coastal city of Latakia where his 60-year-old mother, Duha Nurallah, was also recovering.

Five days after two powerful earthquakes hours apart caused thousands of buildings to collapse, killing more than 28,000 people and leaving millions homeless, rescuers were still pulling unlikely survivors from the ruins—one of them just 7 months old.

Although each rescue elicited hugs and shouts of “Allahu akbar!”—“God is great!”—from the weary men and women working tirelessly in the freezing temperatures to save lives, they were the exception in a region blanketed by grief, desperation and mounting frustration.

More than a dozen survivors were rescued Saturday, including a family in Kahramanmaras, the Turkish city closest to the epicenter of Monday’s quake. Crews there helped 12-yearold Nehir Naz Narli to safety before going back for her parents.

In Gaziantep province, which borders Syria, a family of five was rescued from a demolished building in the city of Nurdagi, and a man and his 3-year-old daughter were pulled from debris in the town of Islahiye, television network HaberTurk reported. A 7-year-old girl was also rescued in Hatay province.

In Elbistan, a district in Kahramanmaras province, 20-year-old Melisa Ulku and another person were saved from the rubble 132 hours after the quake struck. Before she was brought to safety, police asked onlookers not to cheer or clap so as not to interfere with nearby rescue efforts.

13.5 million people in Turkey. That has meant rescue crews have had to pick and choose how and where to help.

During a tour of quake-damaged cities Saturday, Erdogan said a disaster of this scope was rare and again referred to it as the “disaster of the century.” But the challenges facing aid efforts were of little comfort to those waiting for help.

In Antakya, the capital of Hatay province, scattered rescue crews were still hard at work but many residents had left by Saturday. Among those who stayed were people with family still buried. Many of them had been camping in the streets for days and sleeping in cars.

Acting on a tip, a rescue team from Hong Kong found three survivors under a building near the city’s center on Saturday, said Gallant Wong, the group’s spokesperson. But Bulent Cifcifli, a local man, said he has been waiting for days for crews to pull his mother’s body from her collapsed home. He said rescuers were working to retrieve her body at one point, but they were called to another location because they suspected there were survivors.

“Six days later, we don’t know how many are still under the rubble, and how many are dead or alive,” Cifcifli said, blaming a lack of heavy equipment.

Yazi al-Ali, a Syrian refugee who came to Antakya from Reyhanli, has been living in a tent as she waits for crews to find her mother, two sisters, including one who was pregnant, and their families. At one point, she stood over the rubble of the home in Antakya’s old city center where she believes her pregnant sister was buried and, in a cracking voice, shouted her sister’s name, “Rajha!”

“No one is answering to us, and no one comes to look,” she said. “They have stopped us from looking ourselves. I don’t know why.”

Even though experts say trapped people can live for a week or more, the odds of finding additional survivors are quickly waning. Rescuers were shifting to thermal cameras to help identify life amid the rubble, a sign that any remaining survivors could be too weak to call for help.

Place de la Republique and carried emotional banners. “I don’t want my parents to die at work,” read one, held by a teenage boy.

The protests are a crucial test both for Macron and his opponents. The government has insisted it’s determined to push through Macron’s election pledge to reform France’s generous pension system. Of the 38 member nations of Organization for Economic Co-operation and Development, France is among countries that spend the most years in retirement.

The president has called the reforms “indispensable” for ensuring the long-term survival of the country’s pension system and noted that workers in neighboring countries retire years later.

Despite opinion polls consistently showing growing opposition to the reform and his own popularity shrinking, Macron insisted that he’s living up to a key campaign pledge he made when he swept to power in 2017 and before his April 2022 reelection.

His government is now facing a harsh political battle in parliament that could span weeks or months.

Strong popular resentment will strengthen efforts by labor unions and left-wing legislators to try to block the bill.

Turkish TV station NTV reported that a 44-year-old man in Iskenderun, in Hatay province, was rescued 138 hours into his ordeal. Crying rescuers called it a miracle, with one saying they weren’t expecting to find anyone alive but as they were digging, they saw his eyes and he said his name. In the same province, NTV also reported that a baby boy named Hamza was found alive in Antakya 140 hours after the quake. Some details of his rescue, including how he survived so long, weren’t immediately clear.

Not every attempt ended happily. Zeynep Kahraman, who was brought out of the rubble after a spectacular rescue that took 50 hours, died at a hospital overnight. The ISAR German team who rescued her were shocked and saddened.

“It is important that the family could say goodbye, that they could see each other one more time, that they could hug each other again,” a member of the rescue team told German TV news channel n-tv.

The rescues came amid growing frustration over the Turkish government’s response to the earthquake, which has killed 24,617 people and injured at least 80,000 people in Turkey alone.

Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan acknowledged earlier in the week that the initial response was hampered by the extensive damage to roads and other infrastructure that made it difficult to reach some points. He also said the worst affected area was 500 kilometers (310 miles) in diameter and was home to

As aid continued to arrive Saturday, a 99-member group from the Indian Army’s medical assistance team began treating the injured in a temporary field hospital in the southern city of Iskenderun, where a main hospital was demolished.

One man, Sukru Canbulat, was wheeled into the hospital, his left leg badly injured with deep bruising, contusions and lacerations. Wincing in pain, he said he was rescued from his collapsed apartment building in nearby Antakya within hours of the quake. But after receiving basic first aid, he was released without getting proper treatment.

“I buried (everyone that I lost), then I came here,” Canbulat said, counting his dead relatives. “My daughter is dead, my sibling died, my aunt and her daughter died, and the wife of her son” who was 8½ months pregnant.

A large makeshift graveyard was under construction in Antakya’s outskirts on Saturday. Backhoes and bulldozers dug pits in the field as trucks and ambulances loaded with black body bags arrived continuously. Soldiers directing traffic on the busy adjacent road warned motorists not to take photos.

The hundreds of graves, spaced no more than 3 feet (a meter) apart, were marked with simple wooden planks set vertically in the ground.

A worker with Turkey’s Ministry of Religious Affairs who didn’t wish to be identified because of orders not to share information with the media said that around 800 bodies were brought to the cemetery Friday, its first day of operation. By midday Saturday, he said, as many as 2,000 had been buried.

Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau speaks in Vancouver, British Columbia on Jan. 22, 2023. On Saturday, Feb. 11, 2023, Trudeau said that on his order a US warplane shot down an unidentified object that was flying high over northern Canada, acting a day after US planes took similar action over alaska. Darryl Dyck/The

Earthquake survivors still being found as death toll tops 28,000

EBr ahiM ZakEriya, left, and his mother d uha nasrallah, wounded survivors of a devastating earthquake, receive treatment at a hospital in the coastal city of Latakia, Syria on Saturday, Feb. 11, 2023. Syrian state TV said Bashar a ssad and his wife a sma visited nasrallah and her son Zakeriya who were pulled out alive the night before from under the rubble of a building in the nearby coastal town of Jableh. aP PhoTo omar sanaD ki

VANCOUVER, British Columbia—Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau said Saturday that on his order a US fighter jet shot down an “unidentified object” that was flying high over the Yukon, acting a day after the US took similar action over Alaska.

Wagner owner says Ukraine war could drag on for years

By Susie Blann | The Associated Press

Yevgeny Prigozhin said in a video interview released late Friday that it could take 18 months to two years for Russia to fully secure control of Ukraine’s eastern industrial heart-

land of Donbas. He added that the war could go on for three years if Moscow decides to capture broader territories east of the Dnieper River.

The statement from Prigozhin,

a millionaire who has close links to Russian President Vladimir Putin and was dubbed “Putin’s chef” for his lucrative Kremlin catering contracts, marked a recognition of the difficulties that the Kremlin has faced in the campaign, which it initially expected to wrap up within weeks when Russian troops invaded Ukraine on Feb. 24.

Russia suffered a series of humiliating setbacks in the fall when the Ukrainian military launched successful counteroffensives to reclaim broad swaths of territory in the east and the south. The Kremlin has avoided making forecasts on how long the fighting could continue, saying that what it called the “special

military operation” will continue until its goals are fulfilled.

The Russian forces have focused on Ukraine’s Luhansk and Donetsk provinces that make up the Donbas region where Moscow-backed separatists have been fighting Ukrainian forces since 2014.

Ukrainian and Western officials have warned that Russia could launch a new broad offensive to try to turn the tide of the conflict as the war approaches the one-year mark. But Ukraine’s military intelligence spokesman, Andriy Chernyak, told Kyiv Post that “Russian command does not have enough resources for largescale offensive actions.”

“The main goal of Russian troops remains to achieve at least some tactical success in eastern Ukraine,” he said.

Prigozhin said that the Wagner Group mercenaries were continuing fierce battles for control of the Ukrainian stronghold of Bakhmut in the Donetsk region. He acknowledged that the Ukrainian troops were mounting fierce resistance.

As Russian troops have pushed their attacks in the Donbas, Moscow has also sought to demoralize Ukrainians by leaving them without heat and water in the bitter winter.

On Friday, Russia launched the 14th round of massive strikes on

Ukrainian energy facilities and other vital infrastructure. High-voltage infrastructure facilities were hit in the eastern, western and southern regions, resulting in power outages in some areas.

Ukraine’s energy company, Ukrenergo, said Saturday that the situation was “difficult but controllable,” adding that involved backups to keep up power supplies but noting that power rationing will continue in some areas. Head of Ukraine’s state nuclear operator Energoatom Petro Kotin said Saturday that more power will come into the country’s energy system after two nuclear reactors have been repaired.

KYIV, Ukraine—The owner of the Russian Wagner Group private military contractor actively involved in the fighting in Ukraine has predicted that the war could drag on for years.

Editor: Angel R. Calso

Earthquake! editorial ‘A

N earthquake achieves what the law promises but does not in practice maintain—the equality of all men,” says Italian novelist Ignazio Silone.

The National Earthquake Information Center is now able to locate about 20,000 earthquakes around the globe each year, or approximately 55 per day. On average, though, Magnitude 2 and smaller earthquakes occur several hundred times a day worldwide. Major earthquakes, greater than magnitude 7, happen more than once per month. “Great earthquakes”, magnitude 8 and higher, occur about once a year.

On February 6, a series of violent earthquakes struck southern and central Türkiye and northern and western Syria. It is being called the “Kahramanmaras earthquake” for the Turkish province and city of the same name.

The first temblor struck at 04:17 a.m. and measured a massive 7.8 magnitude on the Richter scale, with the second one coming 11 minutes later at a magnitude of 6.7 Richter. At least 650 aftershocks were recorded in the region, unusually powerful at 7.5 magnitude nine hours after the main quake. More than 20,000 are estimated to have died, a figure expected to rise significantly over the days to come. Türkiye’s President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan said his country is facing “the strongest disaster in a century.”

The location of the earthquake is within the vicinity of a triple junction between the Anatolian, Arabian, and African plates, where these tectonic plates moved against each other. The Double Earthquake that hit was extraordinary. However, this region is prone to major double earthquakes.

The AD 17 Lydia earthquake caused the destruction of at least 12 cities in the region of Lydia in the Roman province of Asia, which is now part of Turkey. The earthquake was recorded by Roman and Greek historians. Pliny the Elder called it “the greatest earthquake in human memory.”

Earthquakes and volcanic eruptions have probably done the most damage through history. Tsunamis can be devastating beyond imagination as we found out in 2004. But these are limited to seacoasts and are very rare. Earthquakes in Europe are mentioned as early as 580 B.C. The eruption of Mount Vesuvius in 79 AD that wiped out the city of Pompeii is considered the first volcanic eruption to be described in detail.

Nothing though equals an earthquake if not in damage and loss of human lives but also the fear that it brings. You can prepare for a fire, which can be as sudden as an earthquake, by having fire suppression equipment available such as an extinguisher or sprinkler system. People all over the world protect their homes from typhoons and storms. The “preparations” are made to protect you from harm and your property from damage.

Even if you cannot anticipate a calamity like a fire or predict the severity of a storm, you can do something to substantially mitigate the hazardous effects.

“The key to effective disaster prevention is planning,” said Phivolcs. It suggested to “strap or bolt heavy furniture or cabinets to walls. Check the stability of hanging objects like ceiling fans. Stay away from glass windows, shelves, cabinets, and other heavy objects. Beware of falling objects.”

The Philippines, on the ‘Ring of Fire’, has had more than its share of major earthquakes. If you were in any of these, with all respect to Phivolcs, being hit by a falling ceiling fan was the last of your concerns.

Preparations for an earthquake are more to survive after the earthquake. Phivolcs recommends having an easily accessible “Go bag” with critical medicines, a flashlight and power bank, some clothes, IDs, and perhaps most importantly, some cash.

We cannot predict it or stop it, and there are only a few things we can do to survive it. But the threat of an earthquake is always with us and psychologically we must be prepared. Go hug your loved ones, often.

“It takes an earthquake to remind us that we walk on the crust of an unfinished planet.”

Baby steps

RISING SUN

JuST last week, the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) ordered the cancellation of the quarrying permits (MPSAs or mineral production sharing agreements) of three companies operating in the upper Marikina River Basin Protected Landscape (uMRBPL) and Masungi Geopark Project. This came after a three-year campaign by members of the upper Marikina Watershed Coalition (uMWC), which is composed of Kalikasan-People’s Network for the Environment, Alyansa Tigil Mina, Non-Timber Forest Products – Exchange Program, Youth Advocates for Climate Action-Philippines, Youth Strike for Climate Philippines, World Economic Forum Global Shapers Manila Hub, and Masungi Georeserve Foundation.

The cancelled permits covered about 1,343 hectares of the Masungi protected area. The UMRBPL itself has a total land area of about 26,126 hectares. This covers parts of Antipolo City, Baras, Rodriguez,

San Mateo, and Tanay, Rizal. It is crucial to protect the UMRBPL as it is instrumental in “regulating the flow of water” toward Metro Manila. It is also home to a diverse population of flora and fauna.

Aside from that, the area is the ancestral land of the indigenous Dumagat-Remontado indigenous cultural community. According to the UMWC, the cancellation of the permits will help to ensure the safety of the aforementioned community and preserve their cultural heritage and their sacred mountain for years to come.

Waste management is another aspect of environmental protection. The DENR, through its Environmental Management Bureau (EMB), spearheaded the celebration of National Zero Waste Month last January to urge the public to take responsibility for their waste, disposing of every item properly in accordance with the zero waste guidelines: reuse, reduce, recycle. Let us not forget that RA 9003 (the Ecological Solid Waste Management Act of 2000) has been in effect for 22 years now so there is really no excuse why anyone’s household or community should have no zero waste strategies in place. Some of the basic steps include: composting organic waste, using reusable

Addressing the ‘silent’ pandemic

Sonny M. Angara

BetteR DAyS

IN January this year, the Senate Committee on Basic Education chaired by Senator Sherwin Gatchalian conducted a hearing to tackle Senate Bill 379, which aims to strengthen the promotion and delivery of mental health services in basic education schools through the institutionalization of the Mental Health and Well-Being Program.

During the hearing, the Committee was apprised by the Department of Education (DepEd) of the horrifying situation in our country’s schools where 404 learners’ deaths were attributed to suicide during the Academic Year 2021-2022 and that in the same period, some 2,147 learners have attempted to commit the same. According to DepEd Assistant Secretary Dexter Galban, “This is an alarming rate that continues to go up given that the transition from online to face-to-face classes can also put a strain on our learners, in the same light that the transition from face-to-face to online provided a strain.”

Figures from the department showed that at least 775,962 learners sought guidance counseling from guidance counselors. However, DepEd lamented that there is a serious lack of guidance counselors in schools with only 2,093 to cover around 28 million learners in public

schools—far from the recommended ratio in the Philippines of 1 counselor for 500 learners and farther from the 2005 American School Counselor Association (ASCA) recommendation of 1 is to 250.

A huge factor in the lack of qualified personnel, according to DepEd, is the high degree requirement that “is not commensurate” to what the country is paying them. To be hired by DepEd to work in a public school, a guidance counselor must have a master’s degree but the average monthly pay offered ranges from P25,000 to P28,000 only.

While the department has a Mental Health Program, which involves campaigns and psychosocial support services in addition to cocurricular and extracurricular activities focused on mental health and the prevention of bullying and self-harm, there is an obvious need for the whole-of-government to ramp up its strategies in address-

containers and bags, segregating waste, and recycling.

Even enterprises and manufacturing companies are now subject to the newly enacted Extended Producers Responsibility (EPR) Act of 2022 or RA 11898, which became law on July 30, 2022. This mandates enterprises “to establish EPR programs that focus on waste reduction, recovery, and recycling of plastic packaging; it also promotes the development of environmentfriendly products that advocate sustainable consumption and production, circular economy, and full responsibility throughout the life cycle of the products”.

Every time we buy mindfully, refuse single-use plastics, recycle or upcycle, we are saving our planet. Many of us are taking it even further by composting our organic waste, building rain basins, joining environmental groups, volunteering our time and resources on behalf of earth-friendly causes, and so on. Carry on; it is everyone’s responsibility to protect our only home.

What is happening in our public schools is but a small snippet of the bigger picture of mental health in the Philippines. In fact, in 2020, the Philippine World Health Organization Special Initiative for Mental Health identified at least 3.6 million Filipinos suffering from mental, neurological, and substance use disorder. Furthermore, based on the results of a 2021 University of the Philippines Population Institute survey, close to 1 in 5 Filipino youth aged 15 to 24 considered committing suicide.

ing what many are calling “a silent pandemic”, especially since mental health problems stem from factors within and outside the school’s boundaries. In fact, during the same hearing, the Philippine Guidance and Counseling Association Inc. shared that family issues and the individual’s environment, which includes what the association are calling “sadfishing” and “oversharing in social media” are significant triggers. What is happening in our public schools is but a small snippet of the bigger picture of mental health in the Philippines. In fact, in 2020, the Philippine World Health Organization Special Initiative for Mental Health identified at least

3.6 million Filipinos suffering from mental, neurological, and substance use disorder. Furthermore, based on

the results of a 2021 University of the Philippines Population Institute survey, close to 1 in 5 Filipino youth aged 15 to 24 considered committing suicide. The same study found that 7.5 percent or around 1.5 million Filipino youth tried to end their lives in 2021, which is significantly higher than the 3 percent or 574,000 registered in 2013.

This is why we are elated by the recent announcement of PhilHealth that the corporation is intending to roll out an outpatient benefit package for mental health this year, which has been our appeal for many years now. In fact, we filed Senate Bill 920 seeking to amend Republic Act 11036 or the Mental Health Act to mandate our national health insurance to include therapy sessions in the coverage of its mental and behavioral benefit package. Under the same measure, the Health Technology Assessment Council created under RA 11223 or the Universal Health Care Act shall review the existing case rate packages of PhilHealth for mental health with the end in view of recommending an appropriate increase in the benefit package from the current measly amount of P7,800.

In the 2023 national budget, Congress has also worked to allot P4.029 billion for mental health services. Obviously, more can be done in terms of eliminating the stigma of mental health and empowering more Filipinos to seek professional help especially since a 2020 study entitled

Atty. Jose Ferdinand M. Rojas II

Magistrates: Quo vadis? Investigative tax journalism

Joel L. Tan-Torres

DEBIT CREDIT

IN the past weeks, I have written two articles in this column on the recent tax crime of the sale of fake receipts discovered by the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) and the Bureau of Internal Revenue (BIR). On January 2 and 16, 2023, I wrote the article entitled “Receipts for sale” and “To catch a (tax) thief,” respectively. My third article on this subject is turning out to be a continuation of my series of write-ups resulting from my investigative tax journalism (a sexy term for this work), or at the very least a research undertaking to support the dissertation paper that I am preparing for my Doctoral Program in Public Administration that I am now completing at the University of the Philippines National College of Public Administration and Governance.

To recall, last December 2022, NBI and BIR agents raided an Eastwood City condominium, an establishment possessing printed documents, including official receipts, invoices, and other business documents and computer files containing information on these nefarious transactions. Apparently, these printed fake documents were being sold to business enterprises attempting to evade the payment of taxes and customs duties by padding their deductible expenses for income tax purposes and value-added tax credits.

BIR officials estimate that the losses arising from these activities amount to billions of pesos of foregone tax collections.

My “investigative journalism” work disclosed that the perpetrator of this particular tax crime is allegedly the corporation owned by a prominent businessman engaged in several businesses, including manufacturing, esports, and many other dealings. This businessman also was accused of being involved in a drug smuggling case, which, I understand, is still pending in the courts.

For the sale of fake receipts, based on the NBI’s investigation, the company charges about one percent of the face value of the fabricated document purchased by its clients. This company apparently has been operating for over 15 years. This indicates that this tax scam has been in existence for several decades already, with several more syndicates involved. In fact, in 2011, the BIR filed a tax evasion case against Gammon Metal Products, Inc. for claiming fictitious deductions in its income tax return for 2007 and 2008. These deductions pertained to purchases from suppliers, which were non-existent and thus, sham companies. You can just imagine the large amount of taxes that the BIR was unable to collect over the years because of these irregularities.

I came to know that the present modus operandi has become more refined. Instead of using sham com-

panies as suppliers in the fake receipts, the suspected company under investigation by the NBI and BIR uses the names of suppliers that are listed among the list of taxpayers that cannot be located (CBL). Pursuant to Revenue Memorandum Circular 98-2010, the BIR publishes in major newspapers and on its website the names of taxpayers that had previously registered with the BIR but are not anymore operating and filing its tax returns. With this information, apparently, the masterminds of these tax scams have incorporated a semblance of the legitimacy of the existence of the suppliers that they reflect in the fake receipts since these suppliers had previous tax records of registration with the BIR. I am not surprised if these tax scammers have gone to the extent of filing income tax and VAT returns (with minimal or no tax payments) under the name of these CBL suppliers to make it appear that these taxpayers are regular in their operations and compliance with tax rules. Very clever for these scheming tax criminals. Perhaps the BIR would consider stopping the posting of these CBLs to prevent this ruse.

What are these tax criminals doing to continue to perpetuate their crimes?

What should the authorities, such as the NBI, BIR, and other enforcement units, be doing to counter these onslaughts that result in billions of tax losses? Can these crimes be eradicated, or will these continue to drain the coffers of government?

I guess my investigative journalism work does not end here.

Joel L. Tan-Torres was the former Dean of the University of the Philippines Virata School of Business. Previously, he was the Commissioner of the Bureau of Internal Revenue, the chairman of the Professional Regulatory Board of Accountancy, and partner of Reyes Tacandong & Co. and the SyCip Gorres and Velayo & Co. He is a Certified Public Accountant who garnered No. 1 in the CPA Board Examination of May 1979. He is now back to his tax practice with his firm JL2T Consulting. He can be contacted at joeltantorress@yahoo.com

Siegfred Bueno Mison, Esq.

THE PATRIOT

Part two

IN most if not all states in the US, notaries need not be lawyers but are required or expected to have a deep sense of probity in the community. Once when I had a Deed notarized in California, I was surprised that the notary did not have a dedicated office. He simply looked at the persons who appeared as signatories, inspected the deed, asked a few questions, and then stamped the document with dispatch—all in about five minutes.

I n France, aside from authenticating the deed and registering the same with the pertinent public authorities, a Notaire (Notary) has an obligation to collect and remit all taxes to the relevant authorities. He is the “neutral” person entrusted by both parties to pay the necessary fees, either to the other party or to a government agency. A Frenchman once told me that Notaires in France are very much respected owing to their integrity and unblemished reputation. Whether a notary public is found in the Philippines, France, United States, or anywhere else, such officer of the law should be cautious not to commit any fraudulent act, as they are seen as extensions of the judiciary and are considered by the public as people with integrity.

In the business world, most corporations set up an Ethics Committee or some Whistleblower policy to evaluate anomalies and conduct that may have violated company values and compliance rules. In the armed services, there is the Office of Ethical Standards and Public Accountability (OESPA) whose members are known to be reputable members of the AFP.

Currently led by General Art Cordura, who I used to work with when I was with the Multi-Sectoral Governance Council (MSGC) of the Air Force, OESPA is tasked to promote anticorruption measures and programs within the military establishment. As the saying goes, “practice what you preach,” members of any Ethics Committee should have a deep grasp of what is good and what is right to be able to promote ethical conduct. Similar to notaries public, “ethics”

continued from A10

“Filipino Help-Seeking for Mental Health Problems and Associated Barriers and Facilitators: A Systematic

Peace will remain elusive in Ukraine

magistrates are reputed to be persons of honor and integrity.

Unfortunately, I have witnessed some committee decisions that are far from being ethical. For instance, an employee (“Pablo,” not his real name) was caught using company resources for unofficial work, such as a company-owned car for a family vacation, or the utilities of a company staff house. When superiors discovered such irregularity, they failed to report it, claiming that there were no specific company rules that prohibit the use of company resources for personal use. Applying the Latin maxim, nulum crimen, nulla poena sine lege (there is no crime when there is no law punishing the same), the superiors who failed to report such unauthorized use may arguably sound right. Yet, applying the Latin maxim, actus non tacit reum, nisi mens sit rea (the act cannot be criminal where the mind is not criminal), Pablo should still be made to explain, at the very least, since company resources were used if not abused for personal gain. After all, Pablo had no intention to reimburse the company until his acts were investigated and found to be irregular by someone else outside his own department.

When the matter was finally elevated to the Ethics Committee, it ruled that no unethical conduct was committed since Pablo, supposedly a critical member of a particular department, undertook to reimburse whatever expenses (by way of installment though) which the company paid for such personal use of company resources—gasoline, electricity, etc. Such a decision is like

Review” by Martinez, et. al. revealed that the rate of formal help-seeking behaviors of Filipinos for mental health problems only ranged from 2.2 percent to 17.5 percent. Without proper strategies to empower those struggling with mental health prob-

LITO GAGNI

THe Ukraine crisis is expected to drag on and with it again bring an economic turmoil hitherto unseen unless the proxy war that the West is foisting against Russia is discontinued. For a proxy war is under way, what with the supply of arms to Ukraine continuing even with the peace overtures that have been sounded off from the Russian Federation.

Russia’s Permanent Representative to the United Nations, Vasily Nebenzya, sought to convene a UN Security Council meeting on the topic of Western arms supplies to Kiev and prospects for a peace settlement.

Unfortunately, delegations from the European Union did not attend that UN Security Council meeting that would have revolved on the subject of peace.

“For some reason, the EU countries, which usually do not miss an opportunity to appear on TV, were not asked to attend this meeting,” the Russian representative was quoted as saying about the non-appearance of the delegation in a meeting where

Russia presented facts and evidence of what the uncontrolled pumping of Western weapons into the Kyiv regime is leading to.

According to Nebenzya, Nato led by the United States has already handed Kiev an arsenal worth more than the annual defense budget of many members of the alliance. And yet some of the weapons that the West supplies to Ukraine more and more often end up in the hands of terrorists and criminal gangs that may pose security problems for the world.

And now comes the delivery of 31 Abrams tanks that President Biden approved and right after that Germany’s delivery of 14 of its own Leopard

2 A6 tanks. It is worth mentioning that Germany predicated the delivery of tanks to Ukraine on the supply of Abrams tank by the US where discussion on the issue in Congress had been marred by opposition to what it entailed.

In fact, a tweet from Rep. Dan Bishop underscores crucial flip-flops that show why peace will remain elusive in Ukraine. Rep. Bishop said: “Biden last year. ‘The idea that we’re going to send in...planes and tanks and trains going in with American pilots and American crews—just understand, don’t kid yourself, no matter what y’all say, that’s called World War III.’”

The flip-flops and the rhetoric ratcheted against Russia and its leader Vladimir Putin demonstrate that the West’s proxy war against Russia will continue to make peace elusive in Ukraine. The US president had promised to support Ukraine “as long as it takes,” adding: “We have united Nato and created a global coalition. We stood up to Putin’s aggression,” in his address to the nation. Yet long time ago, Putin had sought to be with Nato. But he was not allowed.

Russia’s problem is that the proxy war has also entered mainstream media with big news organizations failing to report on key events that

condoning the person who decided to return the cookie only after his “hand was caught inside the cookie jar.” Returning the proceeds of the offense does not absolve the offender from any liability since the offense has been in fact committed. Traces of this Pablo situation can be somehow seen in Republic Act 10368, more known as the Martial Law Reparations Act which was passed in 2013 “to recognize the heroism and sacrifices of all Filipinos who were victims of summary execution, torture, enforced or involuntary disappearance and other gross human rights violations committed during the regime of former President Ferdinand E. Marcos covering the period from September 21, 1972 to February 25, 1986.” The law does not erase the offense committed against Martial Law victims; in fact, the law recognizes it and allows for retribution. Acknowledging the sufferings and damages inflicted upon “persons whose properties or businesses were forcibly taken over, sequestered or used,” the law authorized the transfer of P10 billion, the supposed proceeds of the crime as contained “in the December 10, 1997 Order of the Swiss Federal Supreme Court, adjudged by the Supreme Court of the Philippines as final and executory in Republic v. Sandiganbayan on July 15, 2003 (GR 152154) as Marcos ill-gotten wealth and forfeited in favor of the Republic of the Philippines” as principal source of funds to implement the law. I suppose the Supreme Court magistrates back then had a Quo Vadis moment that made them decide that indeed there were undoubtedly offenses committed during Martial Law— clearly in contrary to what historical revisionists are now proclaiming. As to where these hired bloggers disguised as historians are going, only time will tell.

All believers will encounter Quo Vadis events, where they will choose between going their own way or following Jesus to lead them. I know I did when faced with an ethical dilemma in my past corporate experiences and in my academic career. My decisions back then, the harder right in my eyes and in the eyes of many, affected my job security both in the public and private sector. Similarly, the Ethics Committee acting as magistrates who buried the sins of Pablo faced a dilemma as well, but chose the

lems to not only avail themselves of affordable and accessible services but also admit that they need help, the country would not be able to curb this “silent pandemic.”

Senator Sonny Angara has been in public ser-

would have brought out the other side of the issue. For instance, Pink Floyd band founder Roger Waters spoke at the Security Council meeting and said that Russia’s armed action in Ukraine was provoked and that Western countries’ assessments of it were biased.

On February 4, British musician Roger Waters gave an interview to the newspaper Berliner Zeitung, in which he gave a different view of the events in Ukraine from that of politicians. He said that in 2004 Russian President Vladimir Putin extended his hand to the West in an attempt to build an architecture of peace in Europe. It’s all there on the record, he said.

He explained that Western plans to invite the post Maidan coup Ukraine into Nato posed a completely unacceptable existential threat to the Russian Federation and would cross a final red line that could end in war. He also noted that “the most important reason for supplying arms to Ukraine is surely profit for the arms industry.” In an interview with the Berliner Zeitung, there’s this exchange that shows where Mr. Waters is coming from:

Mr. Waters, you speak of the voice of reason, of the deep connection of

path of convenience instead of the harder right. Authors of recent court decisions seemingly obliterating the sins of the past due to technicality, if not condoning the offenders who stole funds from government coffers with impunity, commonly referred to as the pork barrel scam, must have chosen their path as presented in their Quo Vadis moment. When faced with ethical choices, my pastor’s general guideline question was to ask ourselves—What would Jesus do?

In the Bible, Joshua 24:15 says, “But if serving the Lord seems undesirable to you, then choose for yourselves this day whom you will serve, whether the gods your ancestors served beyond the Euphrates, or the gods of the Amorites, in whose land you are living. But as for me and my household, we will serve the LORD.”

Again, when confronted with a Quo Vadis moment, whom shall we serve? The world endemic with our temporal desires, or Jesus who is our righteousness? The definitive factor lies in whether our Heavenly Father will be glorified in what we do, and this can only be possible if we follow Jesus’ example. Be it as a Notary, or a member of an Ethics Committee, a Justice of the Supreme Court, an employee, a freelance worker, or a businessman, even a student—in all instances where the road leads to two or more directions, or one which presents a dubious course, the lighting bulb dynamic ought to rest is what Jesus would do in the same circumstance. As one pastorcolumnist puts it, Man today is basically searching for three things: Some direction (the way), something that is real (the truth), and something that will last forever (life). Jesus summed it up in one verse, John 14:6— I am the way, the truth and the life. No one comes to the father except through me.” Fortunately, all of man’s quo vadis moments are answered in this verse.

A former infantry and intelligence officer in the Army, Siegfred Mison showcased his servant leadership philosophy in organizations such as the Integrated Bar of the Philippines, Malcolm Law Offices, Infogix Inc., University of the East, Bureau of Immigration, and Philippine Airlines. He is a graduate of West Point in New York, Ateneo Law School, and University of Southern California. A corporate lawyer by profession, he is an inspirational teacher and a Spirit-filled writer with a mission. For questions and comments, please e-mail me at sbmison@gmail.com.

vice for 18 years—9 years as Representative of the Lone District of Aurora, and 9 as Senator. He has authored, co-authored, and sponsored more than 330 laws.  He is currently serving his second term in the Senate.   E-mail: sensonnyangara@yahoo.com| Facebook, Twitter & Instagram: @sonnyangara

all people. But when it comes to the war in Ukraine, you talk a lot about the mistakes of the US and the West, not about Russia’s war and the Russian aggression. Why don’t you protest against the acts committed by Russia? I know that you supported Pussy Riot and other human rights organizations in Russia. Why don’t you attack Putin?

First of all, if you read my letter to Putin and my writings around the start of the war in February…

…You called him a “gangster”…

…Exactly, I did. But I may have changed my mind a little bit in the last year. There is a podcast from Cyprus called “The Duran”. The hosts speak Russian and can read Putin’s speeches in the original. Their comments on it make sense to me. The most important reason for supplying arms to Ukraine is surely profit for the arms industry. And I wonder: is Putin a bigger gangster than Joe Biden and all those in charge of American politics since World War II? I am not so sure. Putin didn’t invade Vietnam or Iraq? Did he?

The most important reason for arms deliveries is the following: It is to support Ukraine, to win the war and to stop Russia’s aggression. You seem to see it differently.

Yes. Maybe I shouldn’t be, but

I am now more open to listen to what Putin actually says. According to independent voices I listen to, he governs carefully, making decisions on the grounds of a consensus in the Russian Federation government. There are also critical intellectuals in Russia, who have been arguing against American imperialism since the 1950s. And a central phrase has always been: Ukraine is a red line. It must remain a neutral buffer state. If it doesn’t remain so, we don’t know where it will lead. We still don’t know, but it could end in a Third World War.

In February last year, it was Putin who decided to attack.

He launched what he still calls a “special military operation.” He launched it on the basis of reasons that if I have understood them well are: 1. We want to stop the potential genocide of the Russian-speaking population of the Donbas. 2. We want to fight Nazism in Ukraine. There is a teenage Ukrainian girl, Alina, with whom I exchanged long letters: “I hear you. I understand your pain.” She answered me, thanked me, but stressed, I’m sure you’re wrong about one thing though, “I am 200% certain there are no Nazis in Ukraine.” I replied again, “I’m sorry Alina, but you are wrong about that. How can you live in Ukraine and not know?”

PHL RESCUE UNIT HELPS TRAIN VOLUNTEERS IN TURKEY QUAKE

By Rene Acosta @reneacostaBM

THE Philippine team sent to Turkey is not only helping in the ongoing search and rescue operations for earthquake victims and survivors, but also giving Turkish disaster workers a crash course in quake-borne operations, the Office of Civil Defense (OCD) said on Sunday.

T he delegation known as Philippine Inter-Agency Humanitarian Contingent (PIAHC), composed mostly of soldiers, has been working alongside Turkish volunteers, and is on its third day sifting through the rubble in the city of Adiyaman in southeastern Turkey.

A diyaman was the mission area for the PIAHC, which was sent on Wednesday to help in the ongoing search and rescue efforts following the powerful temblor that hit the country on February 6. Turkish officials claimed the latest death toll has already breached 28,000.

A video provided by the OCD showed members of the Philippine team on Saturday giving Turkish volunteers —who have no training in search and rescue operations— a quick course on internationallyaccepted principles of search and rescue as the local volunteers have been using backhoes.

O n Sunday, OCD Assistant Secretary and spokesman Raffy

Registered BOI investments in Jan 40% of full-year target

By Andrea E. San Juan

adding that such interest already translates to “registered” investments and not those who expressed intent to invest through a letter of intent (LOI).

M eanwhile, Rodolfo also expressed confidence that the BOI is up for the challenge should Trade Secretary Alfredo E. Pascual, who also chairs BOI, decide to increase the P1-trillion investments target for 2023.

the presidency in July 2022, Marcos had traveled to Indonesia, Singapore, Cambodia, Thailand, United States, Belgium, China, and Switzerland, to attend the 2023 World Economic Forum (WEF).

Alejandro said the contingent has already checked nine collapsed buildings and found possible survivors. It has also provided assistance to other survivors.

O ne of the buildings that was checked was the Adiyaman Police Directorate Building.

I n a radio interview, Alejandro said members of the contingent were in high spirits as they carried out their tasks.

T he Philippine Embassy in Turkey said two Filipinos have been killed from the quake and this was confirmed by Weng Timoteo, vice president of the Filipino community in the country. Two are dead and another one is in the hospital right now,” Timoteo said.

“ These are the ones that registered with our Board of Investments for the first month of this year, actually first one month and nine days, because the last meeting of BOI’s Board of Governors was last February 9—we have already reached P414 billion,” BOI Managing Head Ceferino S. Rodolfo declared, partly in Filipino, at a news forum at the weekend.  “ So this means, [of] our P1trillion target, we have already hit more than 40 percent of that.

And if you compare our registered investment project total with last year, we have already reached close to 60 percent,” the BOI managing head added.

R odolfo attributed a “big part” of the BOI’s investment figures for January to the “strong efforts of the President to promote the Philippines.”

He also noted that President Ferdinand “Bongbong” R. Marcos, Jr.’s state visits “really created a pipeline of strong interest from investors,”

“ That is good news for everyone. But we will not stop there. My only worry now is Sec. Fred might raise the target. And we are very much willing because we can see that the pipeline which the President generated is only the tip of the iceberg from the second half of last year— those who have invested and those who have registered with the BOI,” Rodolfo said.

I n 2022, the BOI recorded P729 billion of investment approvals, an increase of 11 percent compared to the P655 billion recorded in 2021.

W hile the BOI managing head did not elaborate on the source of investments and the breakdown of sectors for the P414-billion investments generated in January 2023, it is worth noting that since assuming

L ast year, the BOI said growth drivers of investments were Renewable Energy, with 56-percent share in the total investments recorded. This was followed by Information and Communication, particularly in data centers and telecommunications towers, with 28 percent.

A ccording to the attached agency of the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI), other sectors that contributed to the investment approvals last year were the IT and Business Process Management (IT-BPM), manufacturing, mass housing, and transportation sectors which includes storage including logistics and cold chain facilities.

A s to the source of investments in 2022, BOI said 57 percent came from Singapore, 22 percent from Japan, 7 percent from the United Kingdom, 3 percent from the United States, 2 percent from Virgin Islands, and 2 percent from South Korea.

PHL

to account for half of SEA’s ’23 total rice imports–USDA data

By Jasper Emmanuel Y. Arcalas @jearcalas

THE Philippines, the world’s second largest rice importer, may account for half of the total rice imports in Southeast Asia this year as the country turns to imported stocks to keep retail prices stable.

United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) data analyzed by the BusinessMirror showed that the Philippines would lead Southeast Asia in terms of imports, accounting for 50.13 percent or 3.6 million metric tons (MMT) of the projected 7.182 MMT total imports of the region this year.

S outheast Asia’s total rice imports this year, however, is anticipated to fall by 410,000 MT from last year’s 7.592 MMT, according to the USDA.

H istorical USDA data showed this would be the first time in four years that the Philippines’s share in total rice imports by Southeast

Asia would be at least half.

T he last time that the Philippines accounted for at least 50 percent of the rice purchased by Southeast Asia was in 2019, when Manila decided to deregulate its domestic rice industry. The Philippines cornered 55.26 percent of Southeast Asia’s rice imports in 2019.

T his year, the Philippines will be followed by Malaysia and Vietnam in terms of rice imports at 1.2 MMT and 1 MMT, respectively, USDA data showed.

USDA emphasized that rice imports in the Asian region are rising, particularly in countries like the Philippines and Bangladesh, as a result of sustained wheat prices in the global market.

“ Sustained high wheat prices are reversing trends of greater consumption of wheat for some countries in Asia and resulting in a shift back towards rice,” it said.

“ The Philippines and Bangladesh exemplify this trend, with both governments spurring rice

imports with reduced tariff levels,” it added.

T he Philippines has lowered and kept its most favored nation (MFN) tariff on rice to 35 percent since mid-2021 as a measure to augment local supply and avert spikes in retail prices amid various global economic challenges.

T he country’s projected rice imports this year of 3.6 MMT is 100,000 MT lower than the recordhigh 3.7 MMT it imported last year, according to the USDA.

Nonetheless, USDA explained that the Philippines’s rice imports would remain elevated to offset the “modest” decline in its local production.

T he USDA projected that rice output by the country this year would be at 12.411 MMT, 129,000 MT lower than last year’s 12.54 MMT.

F urthermore, the USDA estimated that the Philippines’s total rice consumption would rise to record-high 15.75 MMT this year from last year’s 15.4 MMT.

THEBoard of Investments (BOI) said it had generated P414 billion worth of investments in January, or more than 40 percent of its P1-trillion investments target for 2023.

HEART IN THE AIR Mall goers take time to view and take photographs amid Valentine’s heart décor on display at SM Manila, ahead of Valentine’s Day celebration on Tuesday, February 14. ROY DOMINGO

ALEJANDRO

Editor: Jennifer A. Ng

Companies

Monday, February 13, 2023

TNVS will help hasten GMM economic recovery–Grab

By Lorenz S. Marasigan @lorenzmarasigan

even at 65,000 available cars in GMM, the fulfillment rate — the percentage of bookings that are fulfilled — never breached 85 percent pre-pandemic, meaning that there was still passenger demand to be fulfilled by the driver-partners,” Roda said. “An oversupply is highly unlikely.”

During a press briefing over the weekend, Grab Philippines Senior Director for Operations Ronald Roda said there is a dearth in supply for GrabCar services in the country, noting that only 20,000 units are actively plying the roads of Greater Metro Manila (GMM).

Aside from the cities within the metropolis, GMM includes the provinces of Rizal, Bulacan, Laguna, and Cavite.

Roda said Grab estimates that the number of slots required for catering to demand in 2023 for new and existing cities is close to 100,000

TNVS licenses.

“For Greater Metro Manila, this simply brings us back to the 65,000 supply cap levels pre-pandemic. Our aspiration is to get GMM supply back to early 2020 supply levels. For the provinces, an estimate of 35,000

TNVS licenses takes into consideration forecasts based on population size that can be converted into the Total Addressable Market, as well as the activity levels of the current driver pool in December 2022,” he said.

Before the pandemic, the TNVS supply in GMM was at 65,000 driver-partners.

Recently, the Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board (LTFRB) approved the increase in supply of TNVS to 100,000 units to support the growing demand for mobility.

Roda noted that outside GMM, the demand for GrabCar has not yet returned to pre-pandemic levels, but has shown monthly double-digit growth.

Grab is expanding its services to other cities — specifically in Mindanao, investing in other provinces to support the digital transformation goals of their local government units.

“The fresh allocation of TNVS supply is truly a welcome development. Grab has initiated discussions with the local governments of Davao, Cagayan de Oro, and Iligan

PBBM appoints new employer rep in TESDA

EMPLOy eR S Confederation of the Philippines ( e COP) Governor and educator Dr. Vivien

Co-Say was recently appointed by President Ferdinand R. Marcos, Jr. as Board Member representing employer/Industry Organizations in the Technical education and Skills Development Authority (T eSDA). She will serve the agency for a term of three years and replaces Dr. Ma. Paloma B. Papa, former Governor of Soroptimist International of the Americas Philippines Region (A Foundation), Inc. Co-Say is an educator, businesswoman and a fierce advocate of affordable quality education for everyone. She has extensive experience both in education and in business. She is current president of the ICCT Colleges Foundation, Inc., treasurer of VC Securities Corporation and an active member in various business and sociocivic groups, including the Philippine Chamber of Commerce &

Last week

Share prices fell last week, with the main index closing at 6,800-point level, on higher-than-expected inflation data for January, which surprised many, including the central bank.

The benchmark Philippine Stock exchange index dropped 150.59 points to close at 6,876.79 points.

The main index already lost big at the start of the week, falling by 2 percent over two days as inflation for January rose to 8.7 percent, which could dampen optimism for the economy this year.

average daily trading reached P5.53 billion, while foreign investors, who cornered 42 percent of the trades, were net sellers at P1.8 billion.

all other sub-indices fell with the exception of the Mining and Oil index that rose 389.07 points to close at 11,418.11 points. The broader all Shares index fell 52.29 to 3,653.17, the Financials index declined 19.29 to 1,831.11, the Industrial index shed 160.48 to 9,851.45, the holding Firms index retreated 129.55 to 6,644.65, the Property index was down 58.20 to 2,999.27 and the Services index plunged 47.35 to 1,723.74.

For the week, gainers managed to edge losers 125 to 107 and 18 shares were unchanged.

Top gainers for the week were Megawide Construction Corp., Ferronoux holdings Inc., Dizon Copper-Silver Mines Inc.,

Industry (PCCI), the Philippine Red Cross, the Philippine Association of Colleges & Universities (PACU), and the Philippine Colleges and Universities China Studies Association (PCUCSA), among others.

Co-Say is also actively involved in eCOP’s very own Occupational Safety and health Academy (OSh A) as its chairperson, and in the National economic and Development Authority (NeDA) as Region 4A Private Sector

Balai ni Fruitas Inc., house of Investments Inc., PTFC redevelopment Corp., Cirtek holdings Philippines Corp. and Figaro Coffee Group Inc.

Top losers, meanwhile, were Oriental Petroleum and Minerals Corp. a LMG Corp., acesite (Phils.) hotel Corp., Medco holdings Inc., Oriental Petroleum and Minerals Corp. B, Union Bank of the Philippines, Wellex Industries Inc. and Monde Nissin Corp.

this week

INveSTOrS are expected to remain cautious this week as they await the result of the policy meeting of the Monetary Board of the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas on Thursday.

“The possibility of a 50 basis point rate hike is expected to be priced in, following the Philippines’ strong January inflation data. This in turn could weigh on the local bourse. aside from this, investors may also look towards our upcoming OFW remittances data for clues on the local economy,” Japhet Louis O. Tantiangco, senior research analyst at Philstocks Financials Inc., said.

Broker 2Tradeasia said markets are looking to find direction from earnings reports for the fourth quarter of 2022.

“Participants should brace for further volatility in the coming weeks as the broader market catches up to what is likely to be tempered outlook for 2023,

to hopefully launch Grab’s super app services in their cities to enable their constituents to enjoy digital services. hi storically, Grab noted strong contributions to the local economies of the cities where it operates, as it creates a domino effect on growth — from driver-partners, merchant-partners and down to the consumers,” Roda said.

In view of the increase in supply, Grab will be doubling down on its initiatives to help onboard driverpartners and assist them in securing their franchises from the Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board (LTFRB).

“We fully support the LTFRB in its decision to strengthen the local ridehailing sector with the opening of the 100,000 TNVS licenses across the country as it ladders up to our joint commitment with the Philippine government in providing 500,000 Filipinos with meaningful income opportunities. We are committed to not only generate new livelihood for our partners but to also help the local economy recover from the pandemic and grow further,” Roda said.

B1

PSE to hold 3-day investment expo

By VG Cabuag @villygc

The Philippine Stock e x-

c hange Inc. (PSe) said it will hold an Investment e x po 2023, a three-day online conference aimed to educate retail investors and the general public on stock investing and legitimate financial instruments.

PSe said the expo is scheduled from March 9 to 11.

“The success of the maiden Investment ex po last year is proof that financial literacy discussions are very much needed at this time. We beefed up the lineup of activities for this year’s ex po to make learning and understanding investing concepts even more engaging,” PSe President and CeO Ramon S. Monzon said.

Registration to the event is free of charge. Interested participants may log in to https://pseinvestmentexpo2023.vfairs.com/ to sign up.

Prizes await 30 of the first 3,000 registered participants.

The Investment e x po will feature panel discussions on the 2023 economic and market outlook and developing a healthy relationship

with money. There will also be webinars on stock market basics, technical analysis, and building a stock portfolio. Practical application of investing know-how and strategy will be tested through a personal finance game.

Meantime, the top three teams from the Campus e x po 2022 Stock Research Competition will once again put their research skills to the test in a portfolio competition while graduates of PSe s Certified Securities Specialist Course will battle it out in an online stock market quiz bee. PSe is set to give away loads of prizes to event participants. The five most active ex po attendees in the leaderboard and the three most liked pictures in the photo booth will win gadgets. The top placer for the said contests will win an iPhone 14 and a Samsung Galaxy Tab A8 LT e respectively.

Representative in the Sectoral Committee on Infrastructure and Development, Sectoral Committee on Social Development and Social Protection, Sectoral Committee on Academe-Industry Linkages, Regional Committee on Quality education for All, and Sub-Committee on Regional Information & Communications Technology Committee.

Continued on B2

at least on the dividend and capex side. The real challenge is in the search of alpha plays that will outperform their sector peers, but they are not non-existent, and may be spotted by cashflow metrics as liquidity remains in high demand.”

Support for the main index is seen at 6,700 points and resistance at 7,000 points.

stock picks

MayBaNk Securities said it prefers domestic consumption proxy, SM Investments Corp., which dominates retail and mall operations and banking segments stand to benefit most from any macroeconomic-driven uplift.

“We reiterate our preference for undervalued essentials- and mobility- driven conglomerates, which have strong economic moats,” it said. “We recommend a rotation to the parent firms, which offer higher returns on current valuations.”

Maybank also picked Toyota franchisee, GT Capital holdings Inc., which has market leadership and proven pricing power in the domestic auto industry and foothold in the infrastructure sector, via Metro Pacific Investments Corp. The stock, it said, offer a strong play on the country’s improving mobility theme.

Shares of SMIC closed Friday at P900 apiece, GT Capital at P530 and MPIC at P4.22. VG Cabuag

STOCK-MARKET OUTLOOK

IncreasIng the supply of transport network vehicle services (TnVs) in Metro Manila and other areas will help drive economic recovery and growth, according to an official of grab Philippines.

Perspectives

The future of HR

HUMAN resources (HR) is in a state of flux. Global volatility and uncertainty have driven a focus on how to steer through the next few years and increase the business value from HR. It is a journey from flux to flow.

The labor market is experiencing acute shortages of key skills, as employees go through the ‘Great Reconsideration.’ Meanwhile, boards want more from HR. They’re demanding a connected, digitallyenabled and analytics-led function that can support the business’s wider aims.

KPMG in the Philippines Chairman and CEO and Head of People, Performance and Culture Sharon G. Dayoan shares: “This so-called ‘Great Reconsideration’ means HR functions need to remain one step ahead to attract, retain and provide their people with compelling reasons to commit to their organization.”

Work is more dynamic than ever and this means that the workforce’s structure, skills, organization and size of today are not the workforce of tomorrow.

“Employees now have wider societal, economic and environmental considerations that they demand from their employers. Thus, it is essential for employers and leaders to show their concern by listening to their people and responding proactively to such challenges,” Dayoan added. Organizations then must transform to respond and cater to these changes and challenges.

KPMG surveyed 300 HR leaders and interviewed 12 organizations leading their peers in the future of HR. We discovered that, while each HR function needs to find its way, there are common themes in addressing the challenges faced by the function today.

Our latest research found Pathfinders―those HR functions forging a path through this changing landscape―are less concerned with what others do and say about people management.

Instead, they’re building the capabilities needed for their marketplace and to deliver their firm’s strategy. They’re providing people insights to enable decision-making. And they’re embedding themselves into other business functions and the C-Suite, to allow the value of HR to benefit the whole company. As they do so, the HR Pathfinders have identified, and are focusing on, six critical priorities for the next three years.

Flow. HR Pathfinders enable the strategic value they generate to flow throughout the organization, by integrating closely with the wider business and the C-suite. Digital. Legacy solutions and processes won’t cut it in a competitive labor market. That’s why Pathfinders have moved beyond technology implementation. They’re integrating digital to make workflow effective and offer a seamless employee experience.

Analytics. Leading HR organizations aren’t content-tracking KPIs on dashboards. They answer the questions the business is asking, using data from outside the function and relational analytics techniques. As a result, they produce insights that benefit strategy, engagement, retention and development.

Talent. The use of Talent marketplaces to match skills to tasks is at an early stage, even in the most innovative HR functions. But the

foundational importance of managing and developing skills in the enterprise is critical for Pathfinders and will bring a competitive advantage for them.

Purpose. HR Pathfinders are taking the lead on organizational purpose—by defining it and making it real for their people. They’re embracing ESG and ensuring that net zero flows through every part of the organization. Wellbeing. Leading HR functions put employee well-being center stage. They view it holistically and bring innovative approaches to help people perform at their best.

Where next?

WITH inspiration from the activities of our Pathfinders, there are plenty of ways to consider how their approaches could be adapted to the unique setup of your function Deliver on strategy. Focus on aligning HR operations and processes in a way that can help support and drive the overarching organizational strategy. Bringing together key HR capabilities such as organizational design; workforce analytics and planning; culture change; and agile delivery, under one roof, can help to drive this seamlessly. Integrate digital operations. Move from focusing on technology to facilitate basic needs and instead look at how it can enhance HR effectiveness and the employee experience. One holistic way to do this is to support the use of the right technology as a base for a “digital headquarters,” making the organization accessible to everyone and connectivity and communication seamless. Another way is to use apps to make engagement with employees two-way so that they have easy access to HR and you are involved in a continual feedback loop that can feed decision-making. Amid these efforts, consider how technology is impacting the lives of your people and implement aligned support such as ‘Hybrid Personas’ for remote work.

Advance your analytics. Push beyond using ‘rear view mirror’ analytics for traditional HR needs such as retention, attrition and engagement. Instead, work with more comprehensive data sets and relational analytics capabilities to answer the big questions leaders have about people in the business. Creating a hypothesis, correlating quantitative and qualitative insights, then finding unique answers can make a big impact on decision-making and actions. It is also possible to treat your employees as the ‘customer’ of relational analytics and use what the findings tell you about their needs to create products and services that enhance their experience.

The excerpt was taken from the KPMG Thought Leadership publication: https://home. kpmg/xx/en/home/insights/2022/11/the-futureof-hr-from-flux-to-flow.html.

© 2023 R.G. Manabat & Co., a Philippine partnership and a member firm of the KPMG global organization of independent member firms affiliated with KPMG International Limited, a private English company limited by guarantee. All rights reserved.

For more information, you may reach ph-kpmgmla@kpmg.com, social media, or visit www. home.kpmg/ph.

This article is for general information purposes only and should not be considered professional advice to a specific issue or entity. The views and opinions expressed herein are those of the author and do not necessarily represent the BusinessMirror, KPMG International or KPMG in the Philippines.

Solon warns vs accumulated debt via late credit card fees

By Jovee Marie N. dela Cruz @joveemarie

Salceda issued the statement over the weekend as higher interest rate caps on credit cards are set to take effect this month.

In his letter to BSP Governor Felipe M. Medalla last February 11, Salceda requested “the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas (BSP) [to] consider imposing a cap on late credit card fees—especially accumulated late fees—to a certain fraction of total credit card debt.”

“I believe that such action will

improve consumer outcomes without adversely affecting monetary policy,” Salceda said.

The lawmaker added that banks will probably keep earning more from fees despite such a cap. Salceda noted that bank earnings last year from fees and commissions went up by an annual 13.6 percent to P121.851 billion, outpacing earnings growth from actual interest income (12.8 percent).

“This suggests that, increasingly, banks are profiting from activities

such as fee-charging that do not directly increase credit availability in the market,” Salceda said. “Late credit card fees do not create additional consumer welfare, and merely increase non-productive debt.”

He noted that as the BSP has approved Resolution 55, which adjusts the cap on credit card interest rates back to 3 percent, and Circular 1165 to implement the resolution, “the compounding effect of interest rate adjustments on late fees and other ‘junk’ fees are bound to likewise increase.”

Late credit card fees can reach as high as 7 percent of the unpaid minimum balance, according to the lawmaker.

“Additionally, the late fees are added to the finance charge computation. Higher interest rates will thus significantly increase the impact of late fees on consumer debt,” Salceda said.

The lawmaker also warned that the accumulation of “unproductive debt such as interest on accumu-

lated late fees is dangerous for the economy and for consumers.”

“The more you allow banks to earn from such debts, instead of incentivizing them to create actually productive loan products, the less productive your credit will be. That’s terrible for the economy,” Salceda said. “And I am seeing signs of bank behavior pointing to that, including the increasing share of bank income from such fees.”

He also warned that consumers will be hurt unless authorities address the risks he cited early on.

“When all that debt accumulates, you will see banks sell these unproductive debts to debt collectors or other institutions—and some of them could have predatory practices in loan collection. That’s like feeding bank consumers to the lions,” he added.

“The rise in interest rates will increase accumulated unproductive debt. So, I hope the BSP takes action in nipping the problem in the bud,” he said.

More Davao City public markets use PalengQR

By Manuel T. Cayon @awimailbox Mindanao Bureau Chief

DAVAO CITY—The City Economic Enterprises Office (CEEO) expanded the digital payment platform PalengQR to the Toril Public Market west of downtown and a major drop-off market point of agricultural products as the pilot activities in the oldest and biggest public market produced favorable feedbacks from even the small venders.

The city government announced it would also roll out the digitized payment platform to the Agdao Public Market this month, City Economic Enterprises Officer-in-Charge Maximo P. Macalipes Jr. said.

Macalipes said the onboarding activities of the digitized financial platforms at the Bankerohan Public Market last November were immediately adapted by department store, fruit and vegetable venders.

To get the venders on board means the registration of merchants and

stakeholders to eligible banks and electronic money issuers.

Macalipes said the program is anchored on the national government’s goal of making digitized financial platforms for micro-entrepreneurs ubiquitous across the country.

Financial service providers and electronic money issuers put up booths and accommodated merchants who are yet to open bank accounts in each recruitment activity.

This onboarding program is being done in partnership with the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas and the Department of the Interior and Local Government, according to Macalipes.

The City Economic Enterprises Office has already generated an income of P177.7 million last year, increasing by 26.5 percent from the P140.4 million that the office collected in 2021.

Macalipes said, however, that last year’s collection only hit 88.18 percent of the CEEO’s collection target of P201.525 million.

“We were just short of P6.6 million

to be at par with the 2019 income collection. Thus, we are bouncing back to pre-pandemic conditions,” he said, adding that they will continue to aim to hit the 2022 collection target.

Macalipes said market operations remained the highest-grossing operations cluster accounting for 67.38 percent of the overall income. The eight public markets generated a total income of nearly P120 million.

Bankerohan Public Market was the top income grosser, collecting nearly P51 million, exceeding its P40 million target.

The Calinan Public Market, Mintal (Tugbok) Public Market and the Agdao Public Market smashed their respective collection targets.

Failure to meet target

THE Calinan Public Market collected nearly P11 million as against its target of P9.7 million. Mintal recorded nearly P6 million, 106.97-percent more than its P5.5-million target. Agdao had an income of about P29.52 million or 105.42 percent of its P28

million target.

Public markets that failed to reach their collection goals were: Toril (P21.8 million versus P27.3 million target); Tibungco (P343,815 versus P925,000 target); Bunawan (P316,972 versus P1-million target); and, Lasang (P20,609 versus P200,000 target).

The city’s 11 public cemeteries managed by the CEEO collected nearly P22 million from a target of P33.6 million.

The 2022 collections were from the following public cemeteries: Bunawan, P849,803.85; Calinan, P719,007.81; Lubogan (Toril), P4,156,935.40; Maa, P1,206,441.40; Mintal, P1,774,289.55; Panacan, P385,168.78; Tagakpan, P61,859,54; Tibungco, P3,015,077.87; Tugbok, P810,084.09; and, Wireless, P8,645,516.74.

The slaughterhouse operations in Calinan, Maa, Malagos and Toril also contributed to CEEO’s income with a collection of nearly P24 million from a target of P45.1 million.

Govt tests digital payment of crop insurance claims

By Jasper Emmanuel Y. Arcalas @jearcalas

THE national government has started pilot testing the disbursement of crop insurance claims through prepaid cards as part of its digitalization efforts in the agriculture sector.

The Land Bank of the Philippines (Landbank) and the Philippine Crop Insurance Corp. (PCIC), entities owned and run by the government, rolled-out the initial batch prepaid cards in Region 1 for claiming indemnification.

In a statement, the Landbank said a total of seven farmer-beneficiaries from the region received a total indemnity of P46,400 recently.

“Through our partnership with PCIC, we aim to enhance the delivery of insurance claims and make our banking services more accessible

to farmers,” Landbank President and CEO Cecilia C. Borromeo was quoted in the statement the lender issued last Sunday, more than two weeks after the prepaid cards were distributed last January 27.

“This forms part of Landbank’s digital thrust of promoting financial inclusion to make banking more convenient for every Filipino,” Borromeo added.

The distribution of the pilot prepaid cards at the Landbank Pangasinan Corporate Center was led by Landbank Senior Vice President Ma. Belma T. Turla and CPCI Acting Senior Vice President Segundo H. Guerrero Jr.

As of January 27, Landbank said the PCIC has requested the bank to produce a total of 52,236 prepaid cards for its farmer-beneficiaries. To date, Landbank said it has already released 34,847 prepaid cards to PCIC,

This sunday, January 29, 2023, photo shows a woman interacting with a Landbank automated teller machine. The state-run lender announced the pilot-testing of disbursement of crop insurance claims through prepaid cards last January 27 in Pangasinan. Photo courtesy oF Land Bank oF the PhiLiPPines

which shall facilitate the distribution to its farmer-beneficiaries.

“The farmer-recipients will be

able to conveniently receive their indemnity claims in succeeding disbursements schedules,” the bank’s statement read.

The statement added that the lender is also “ramping-up” the production of cards for 17,389 farmerbeneficiaries nationwide.

Under a memorandum of agreement, Landbank is tasked to produce prepaid cards for 1.8 million farmerbeneficiaries of PCIC. The prepaid cards allow farmers to withdraw cash from nearly 3,000 Landbank ATMs nationwide as well as from 2,323 ATMs at selected convenience stores.

According to the Landbank, the prepaid cards can also be used to make cashless purchases via pointof-sale terminals in participating stores, such as drugstores and groceries, as well as transact with the lender’s 1,056 agent banking partners nationwide.

Global credit markets now poised for gut check after 10-percent rally for 3 mos.

AFTER rallying for the past three months, the mood is starting to shift in global credit markets. Despite a selloff during the past week, a Bloomberg index tracking investment-grade corporate debt is still up 10 percent since the market bottom in October. And the premiums on new bond offerings in the US

to Europe have largely vanished in the past few weeks. But now money managers and strategists are calling for a gut check.

“The low hanging fruit has been collected,” Maria Staeheli, a senior portfolio manager at Fisch Asset Management in Zurich, told Bloomberg’s Tasos Vossos in an interview this past week. “It has been evident for the past

couple of weeks” that opportunities in new issues in particular “are getting very close to fair value.” One concern lately is whether debt investors are paying too little attention to the risk that policy makers fail to tame inflation and are forced to boost interest rates more than expected.

Hawkish comments from Federal Reserve officials and a surprise jump

in US used-car prices fueled those worries this past week, sparking a 1.25 percent loss in Treasuries, the worst in three months. Adding to the warning signs, Treasury yield curves became even more inverted, and Bloomberg Economics models are showing a high risk of a recession in the US. Yet corporate bond spreads over government debt widened just

two basis points.

“While it is difficult to identify a specific catalyst that will drive material near-term widening, we think that the risk-reward for credit has worsened following the recent rally,” Barclays strategists led by Brad Rogoff wrote in a note Friday.

JPMorgan Chase & Co. strategists in London warned earlier that strong

gains in Europe’s credit market may ultimately trigger a move by central bankers to reign in liquidity.

“After four months of calling for tighter spreads, we are starting to feel a bit nervous,” strategists led by Matthew Bailey wrote.

Amid that tension, companies have been rushing to borrow while they can. Bloomberg News

THE accumulation of debt from unbridled late credit card charges is “dangerous” for the economy and for consumers, House Committee on Ways and Means Chairman Joey Sarte Salceda said.

THERE AND BACK AGAIN? US forces returning to Philippines to counter China threats

By Jim Gomez The Associated Press

But that may change in the near future.

The US has been taking steps to rebuild its military might in the Philippines more than 30 years after the closure of its large bases in the country and reinforcing an arc of military alliances in Asia in a starkly different post-Cold War era when the perceived new regional threat is an increasingly belligerent China.

On February 2, the longtime allies announced that rotating batches of American forces would be granted access to four more Philippine military camps aside from five other local bases, where US-funded constructions have picked up pace to build barracks, warehouses and other buildings to accommodate a yet-unspecified but expectedly considerable number of visiting troops under a 2014 defense pact.

Manila-based political scientist Andrea Chloe Wong said the location of the Philippine camps would give the US military the presence it would need to be a “strong deterrent against Chinese aggression” in the South China Sea, where China, the Philippines and four other governments have had increasingly tense territorial rifts—as well as a potential Chinese invasion of Taiwan, which Beijing views as its own territory to be brought under Chinese control, by force if necessary.

Around the former US Navy base in Subic, now a bustling commercial freeport and tourism destination northwest of Manila, news of the Philippine government’s decision to allow an expanded American military presence rekindled memories of an era when thousands of US sailors pumped money, life and hope into the neighboring city of Olongapo.

“Olongapo was like Las Vegas then,” Filipino businessman AJ Saliba told The Associated Press in an interview in his foreign currency exchange and music shop along what used to be Olongapo’s garish redlight strip.

“Noisy as early as noon with neon lights turned on and the Americans roaming around. Women were everywhere. Jeepney drivers, tricycles, restaurants, bars, hotels—everybody was making money—so if they will return, my God, you know, that’ll be the best news,” he said.

US Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin said during his visit in Manila last week that Washington was not trying to reestablish permanent bases, but that the agreement to broaden its military presence under the Enhanced Defense Cooperation Agreement was “a big deal.”

Visiting American military personnel could engage the Philippine military in larger joint combatreadiness trainings, provide help in responding rapidly to disasters and press efforts to help modernize Manila’s armed forces, Austin and his Philippine counterpart Carlito Galvez Jr. said.

“This is part of our effort to modernize our alliance, and these efforts are especially important as the People’s Republic of China continues to advance its illegitimate claims in the West Philippine Sea,” Austin said at a news conference in Manila.

Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Mao Ning said the US military’s strengthening in the region was escalating tensions and risking peace and stability.

“Regional countries need to remain vigilant and avoid being coerced or used by the US,” Mao told reporters February 2 at a briefing in Beijing.

Austin and Galvez did not reveal the four new locations where the Americans would be granted access and allowed to preposition weapons and other equipment. The Philippine defense chief said local officials, where the Americans would stay, had to be consulted.

In November, then-Armed Forces of the Philippines Chief of Staff Lt. Gen. Bartolome Bacarro disclosed that the sites included the strategic Subic Bay, where the Navy base was

once a boon to the local economy.

But two senior Philippine officials told the AP that Subic, where a Philippine navy camp is located, was not among the current list of sites where Washington has sought access for its forces, although they suggested that could change as talks were continuing.

The two officials spoke on condition of anonymity because they were not authorized to discuss the issue publicly.

Subic freeport administrator Rolen Paulino said he has not been notified by the government that the former American naval base has been designated as a potential site for visiting US forces.

A renewed US military presence at Subic, however, would generate more jobs and raise additional freeport revenues at a crucial time when many Filipinos and businesses are still struggling to recover from two years of Covid-19 lockdowns and an economic recession wrought by coronavirus outbreaks, Paulino said.

“I see them as tourists,” he said of the US forces whose presence could boost economic recovery.

About the size of Singapore, the former American Navy base at Subic with its deep harbors, a ship repair

yard and huge warehouses had been used to support the US war effort in Vietnam in the 1960s and ’70s. It was shut down and transformed into a commercial freeport and recreational complex in 1992 after the Philippine Senate rejected an extension of US lease.

A year earlier, the US Air Force withdrew from Clark Air Base near Subic after nearby Mount Pinatubo roared back to life in the secondlargest volcanic eruption of the 20th century and belched ash on the air base and outlying regions.

The American flag was lowered for the final time and the last batch of American sailors left Subic in November 1992, ending nearly a century of American military presence in the Philippines that began in 1898 when the US seized the archipelago in a new colonial era after Spain held the Southeast Asian nation as a colony for more than three centuries. Washington granted independence on July 4, 1946, but maintained military bases and facilities, including Subic.

China’s seizure in the mid-1990s of Mischief Reef, a coral outcrop within the exclusive economic zone of the Philippines that extends into

the South China Sea, “provided the first hint that the allies may have been too quick to downgrade their relationship,” said Greg Poling, director of the Asia Maritime Transparency Initiative at the Washington, D.C.-based Center for Strategic and International Studies.

The Philippine Constitution prohibits permanent basing of foreign troops in the country and their involvement in local combat but allows temporary visits by foreign troops under security pacts such as the 2014 Enhanced Defense Cooperation Agreement and a 1998 Visiting Forces Agreement.

The 1998 agreement allowed a large number of American forces to be deployed in the southern Philippines to help provide combat training and intelligence to Filipino forces battling the then-al Qaida-linked Abu Sayyaf group, which was blamed for deadly bombings and mass kidnappings for ransom, including three Americans— one of whom was beheaded and another shot and killed in a Philippine army rescue. The third survived.

There is still, however, domestic opposition to a US presence in the Philippines, which left-wing groups

have criticized as neo-colonialism, reinforced by the 2014 killing of a Filipina transgender woman by a US Marine, Wong said.

Governor Manuel Mamba of northern Cagayan province, where Bacarro said the US has reportedly sought access for its forces in two local military encampments, vowed to oppose such an American military presence. Cagayan, located on the northern tip of the main Luzon island, lies across a narrow sea border from Taiwan, the Taiwan Strait and southern China.

“It’ll be very dangerous for us. If they stay here, whoever is their enemy will become our enemy,” Mamba told the AP by telephone, adding the Philippines could be targeted by nuclear weapons if the conflict over Taiwan boils over.

“You cannot really remove any presumption by anyone that the Philippines has a nuclear capability through the Americans, who will be here,” Mamba said.

Once-secret ammunition

bunkers and barracks lay abandoned, empty and overrun by weeds—vestiges of American firepower in what used to be the United states’ largest overseas naval base at subic Bay in the northern Philippines.

Associated Press journalists Joeal Calupitan and Aaron Favila in Manila, Philippines, and David Rising in Bangkok contributed.

A m An on a jetski passes by the USnS Big Horn American supply ship docked near a shipyard in what used to be America’s largest overseas naval base at the Subic Bay Freeport Zone, Zambales. AP /A A r on FAv il A

Tree S and wild vines grow beside abandoned concrete structures called “Quonset huts” formerly used as barracks for US marines in what used to be America's largest overseas naval base at the Subic Bay Freeport Zone, Zambales province. AP/A A ron FAv il A

A Si gn stands on a quiet day in what used to be America’s largest overseas naval base at the Subic Bay Freeport Zone in Zambales. AP/A A ron FAv il A

SUB i c Bay metropolitan Authority chairman and Administrator rolen c Paulino gestures beside a Philippine and US flag inside his office in what used to be America's largest overseas naval base at Olongapo city, Zambales province, northwest of manila, on monday February 6, 2023. AP/A A ron FAv il A

PeO Ple pass by the cannon of Japanese cargo ship Oryoku maru in honor of US soldiers who died during its sinking, at the American legion Post 4 just outside what used to be America's largest overseas naval base at Olongapo city, Zambales province. AP/A A ron FAv il A

Cry of ‘Balintawak’

Fragrances that won’t break the budget

USING perfumes goes back to ancient times. The earliest recorded perfume discovery came from thousands of years ago by early Egyptians (3000 BC to 1000 BC) where they used scents or oil-based perfumes in their celebrations, rituals, prayer and as a symbol of nobility, as well as for hygiene and cleanliness.

Today, perfumes are considered as a popular and powerful fashion accessory. Wearing several layers of scent not only gives confidence but it’s also a fun way to express your personal tastes and style. They also make great Valentine’s Day gift for men and women.

For your Valentine, give the scent of love with Miniso’s Fascinating Sakura Lady Perfume. The fragrance glows with a warm, tangy, floral scent with a touch of woody qualities of green leaves, tuberose and sandalwood. Feel the romance and love with its Romantic Pink Sakura Lady Perfume. The scent smells like a stroll in a floral garden with sweet and bubbly hints of fruity fragrances perfect for creating Valentine’s Day memories. For your date night, try the Magnificent Life Eau de Parfum for Women. This features a dynamic balance of fragrance with refreshing fruity notes of bergamot, pear, rose, patchouli, vanilla and musk.

For men, there are Miniso’s Ice-Cool Vigor Eau De Parfum featuring a refreshing and woodsy aroma of bergamot, lavender, pineapple and green leaves with a hint of geranium, cedarwood, coconut, dry ambers, and moss of tree. Savor the smell of Black Romance Eau de Parfum with a cool, pungent and earthy scent with notes of pepper, rose, patchouli, musk and ambrox. Or for your romantic weekend getaway, Miniso’s Weekend Perfume highlight a spring-like weekend with scents of Lily of the Valley, linen, pear, rose, iris, patchouli, and white musk perfect for your road trip, retreat, and romantic weekend vacation. For other Miniso fragrance and scent options, visit shop.minisoph.com.

THE future of the Filipiniana is female. This was reinforced when the top four prizes were won by young women at the finals of TernoCon 3, the terno-making competition and mentoring convention. The high-fashion affair was held on January 28 at the Cultural Center of the Philippines’ Black Box Theater, or the Tanghalang Ignacio Gimenez.

It was six years ago when CCP and Bench launched TernoCon, with the mission to preserve and promote the Philippine dress. Since then, we have made breakthroughs,” said CCP President Margarita MoranFloirendo in her opening remarks. “We see an increase in the awareness, appreciation and use of our terno especially among the young generation. This is what TernoCon aims to sustain and support.”

THE FOCUS

THE focus of TernoCon 3 is the balintawak, which has been otherwise neglected or ignored in mainstream society because of its peasant associations. But along with providing a stage, platform and opportunity for emerging designers especially from the regions to be seen by the entire Philippines and the world, TernoCon 3 is revitalizing the balintawak, from its rural origins to a modern resplendence. When we think of the terno, we always imagine a very formal attire. Whereas the balintawak, which is still a terno, it’s the country version so it’s less formal. It kind of straddles morning and afternoon affairs,” Gino Gonzales, the TernoCon artistic director, explained in CCN Philippines. “So it’s a slightly different language. It still has the butterfly sleeves, which the terno has, but the balintawak essentially has the alampay—soft kerchief—and a tapis—a strip of cloth which is wrapped around the waist for functional reasons.”

Another focus is for the terno to be an everyday wear. “That’s the dream. That’s the purpose of TernoCon, to bring the terno to everyday consciousness of the Filipino. We are hoping to normalize it the way the kimono is normalized in Japan,” added Gonzales.

THE MENTORS

ESTABLISHED designers of varying sensibilities, headed by Inno Sotto, served as mentors to the fledgling designers. Joey Samson mentored Bon Hansen Reyes (Cardona, Rizal), Karl Mark Nadales (Iloilo), Gabbie Sarenas (Taytay, Rizal) and Marc Carcillar (Iloilo). Dennis Lustico mentored Amor Albano (Ilocos), Cheetah Rivera (Quezon City), Al Rey Rosano (Negros Oriental) and Yssa Inumerable (Parañaque City).

Design duo Chito Vijandre and Ricky Toledo mentored Glady Rose Pantua (Zamboanga), Bree Esplanada (Cebu), Glyn Alley (Mindoro) and Dee Javier (Manila). The mentors, along with TernoCon 2 grand winner Hannah Adrias, presented their own blockbuster creations.

But perhaps the proudest mentor is Shanon Pamaong, the designer who founded the Fashion Institute of the Philippines, which counts Inumerable, Pantua, Reyes and Esplanada among its accomplished alumni.

THE WINNERS AS Moran-Floirendo declared, the top awards for TernoCon 3 are officially named after some of the most influential designers that have shaped the terno: The bronze medal will now be known as the Ramon Valera Award, after our esteemed National Artist. The silver medal is named after Pura Escurdia, who was at the forefront of creating ternos in the 1930s. The gold medal is named after Pacita Longos, the most significant 1920s designer credited for conceiving the current shape of the terno sleeve. The Chief Mentor’s Medal is named after Joe Salazar, who was the terno’s main proponent in the late 20th century. Here are the grand winners’ thoughts on their winning creations, as gleaned from their videos: n Pacita Longos Awardee (Gold)—Yssa Inumerable: “The main idea was inspired from an illustration of a Gibson Girl from Charles Gibson. All of our fabrics were sourced locally. We used inabel weave from Ilocos Sur and burdang Taal from our ancestral home of Taal, Batangas. I have an affinity for draping and tailoring so we merged masculine and feminine silhouettes with East and West traditions. This competition really educated me in the history of the Philippine dress and

it’s really important to look into our past in order to move forward into our future.”

n Pura Escurdia Awardee (Silver)—Gabbie Sarenas: “I started with a lot of research first of what makes a balintawak. Even if it’s anchored toward tradition, there’s still a contemporary feel that you can use it in several ways. Multipurpose has always been a part of my DNA as a designer. This collection is a love letter to the Philippines. I’ve always been on that path—always that love for my country.”

n Ramon Valera Awardee (Bronze)—Glady Rose Pantua: “Pag naiisip natin ang balintawak, ang unang nasa isip natin ang kolonyal ng Manila sa Luzon at sa Visayas lang po, hindi sa syudad namin sa Mindanao. Gusto kong maipakita ’yung sariling local weave namin—yakan— na pwede syang gawing balintawak. Since bata pa ako, nagustuhan ko ’yung mga gawa ng lola ko, s’ya mismo nagbuburda ng mga damit n’ya. Na-inspire talaga ako dun Proud na proud talaga ako as a Zamboangeña—yung culture at kung ano meron kami.”

n Joe Salazar Award (Chief Mentor’s Medal) by Inno Sotto “for being open, innovative and willing to change designs...to come up with two modern and contemporary balintawaks”—Amor Albano: “Ang main idea is maipakita ko na magaan lang ’yung damit at ’di kailangan mamahalin ang tela para ma-achieve natin ang look na ’yan. Inspired s’ya sa pastillas wrapper. Gusto ko kasi makita na may ease ’yung damit, sobrang gaan, flowy. Ginawa ko ’tong collection na ito because I am proud to be a Filipino.”

Valentine’s Day gifts you can give instead of flowers and chocolates

NOT every woman wants to get chocolates and/or flowers on Valentine’s Day. Some are practical and hope to receive gifts they can use. Flowers will wilt and chocolates will be eaten but useful gifts can last for a long time. Also, please don’t give animals like puppies and kittens as gifts, particularly if these have been purchased from pet stores. Adopt from shelters instead.

So here is a list of Valentine’s Day gifts we think the women in your life will appreciate. Disclaimer: This is not a round-up of press releases but products we love and use:

Levi’s 501 jeans

I REMEMBER the pride and joy I felt when I finally purchased my own pair of the iconic Levi’s 501 jeans. Before this, I would wait for my dad to wear out his pairs so I could swipe them. The first few pairs I bought in the 1990s are still in my closet even if they no longer fit. So, yes, these jeans would be much appreciated by someone who likes a classic fit as she/ they can wear the 501s with a T-shirt for a quick trip to the mall or a crisp white shirt for dinner with friends.

The fit of the Levi’s 501 is considered the gold standard in jeans. The silhouette is also timeless (unlike “jeggings” and wide leg pants) and it looks good on any body type. It’s also a piece of clothing that’s appropriate for any age.

I will always remember what Paul Dillinger, Levi’s head of Global Product Innovation, said when I interviewed him in 2021: “It’s important that the fit (of the 501) is absolutely consistent wherever it’s sold.”

The 501 Original is celebrating its 150th anniversary this year and to commemorate the

countless stories of fans in their 501 jeans, Levi’s is launching “The Greatest Story Ever Worn” campaign, a year-long celebration. As part of the launch of the campaign, Levi’s is releasing three short films, directed by Martin de Thurah and Melina Matsoukas, collectively titled “The Greatest Story Ever Worn”, that explore original stories from around the world celebrating 150 years of 501 jeans. Watch the shorts “Precious Cargo” (tinyurl.com/ LevisPreciousCargo) and “Legends Never Die” (tinyurl. com/LevisLegendsNeverDie).

Levi’s is also re-releasing its classic 1954 501 fit for men and 1981 501 for women, as well as a whole new range of finishes for both the 501 Original and the 501 ’93. Fragrance PERFUME is always a welcome gift and if you’re ever on fragrance TikTok, you’ll realize that there are so many lovely and expertly-created scents out there. A new favorite is the Prada Paradoxe, which is described as “multidimensional with a white floral bouquet.”

The perfume, which is housed in a triangular bottle inspired by Prada’s iconic logo, features notes of neroli and jasmine, along with an amber note called Ambrofix (typically used in more masculine scents) and Serenolide,” a new and revolutionary musk molecule” that dries down to “a second-skin experience.”

I love how classy Prada Paradoxe smells and how long-lasting it is. I also appreciate that it is refillable.

Other fragrances that I am pretty sure any woman will love to get as gifts are Maison Margiela Replica

Coffee Break (notes of coffee with lavender), Olympéa by Paco Rabanne (an amber floral that I always get

TERNOCON 3 (clockwise) Gawad Pacita Longos (Gold)— Yssa Inumerable of Parañaque City with CCP president Margarita Moran Floirendo and Ben Chan.

PHOTOGRAPHED BY JEREMIAH VILLARDO/ MINT PRODUCTION

GAWAD Pura Escurdia (Silver)—Gabbie Sarenas of Taytay, Rizal; Gawad Ramon Valera (Bronze)—Glady Rose Pantua of Zamboanga City; and Gawad Joe Salazar (Chief Mentor’s Medal)—Amor Albano of Ilocos Norte PHOTOGRAPHED BY AYA DIONISIO

compliments on, sometimes hours after I have applied it), and Chamo from Tamburins (this is a cream fragrance that has a sweet chamomile base with contrasting hits of clary sage and woody notes).

By the way, I have been asked a few times about Tamburins fragrances and I love the notes of the perfume balms that I have and the hand gels. I have noticed that they aren’t quite as long lasting but they really smell good and the aesthetics—from the packaging to the advertising materials—are exquisite, plus their brand ambassador is Blackpink’s Jennie and I would buy anything she endorses.

Skincare I HAVE always said that MAC Cosmetics’ skincare products are underrated. I have been a fan of the Strobe Cream for over 10 years and I’ve gone through several tubes of it. The brand recently launched its Hyper Real High-Performance Skincare consisting of three products—a cleansing oil, a moisturizing cream, and a serum plus a brush—all designed to help you create the perfect canvas. The entire line is skincare that works with makeup. I have been using the Hyper Real Serumizer for a few weeks now. Initially, it was just as a base for makeup but eventually I began using it as a night time serum as well.

The Serumizer is a gel-like hybrid treatment meant to benefit skin with or without makeup: It has hyaluronic acid, niacinamide, ceramides, and Japanese peony extract. It smells like caramel to me and I love it. Under makeup, it performs well and keeps the skin dewy hours after application.

ICE-COOL Vigor Eau de Parfum

FASCINATING Sakura Lady Perfume

Monday, February 13, 2023 B6

Beyond personal relationships

IT is Valentine’s Day tomorrow, so let us indulge in some relationship talk. Oh, but this has nothing to do with romance at all, as I do not claim to be an expert there. Let us talk about relationships with our various stakeholders—something we in public relations should be well versed on.

PR Matters

By Abigail L. Ho-Torres

Creating and maintaining relationships with our various stakeholders makes up almost the entire world of a PR practitioner. Whether with internal or external stakeholders, we should always be on top of our game. Like in any successful relationship, a lot of effort needs to be exerted. We cannot just rely on love, or, in our case, goodwill.

And unlike a romantic relationship or a friendship, where both sides are expected to exert their share of effort to keep the boat afloat, PR people’s relationships with their stakeholders are largely one-sided. We are usually the ones who need something from our audiences, so most of the effort comes from us as well.

These relationships can evolve over time though, with some ending up symbiotic or even friendly or familial in nature. Most stay transactional through and through—and that is okay, too.

kyc : k now your customer

WHEN starting a relationship, it is important for us to get to know our target stakeholders. Who they are on surface-level: demographic information like age, gender, socioeconomic status, and educational attainment are good information to have at the beginning. These types of information can usually be gleaned through desk research, using a host of available information sources. Other information sources include research aggregators and database providers. You may also run your own market research study.

Prominent people or government officials should have their basic bios on their own web sites or their agencies’ web sites. There’s a media database service provider for information on journalists. Industry associations may have data for the segments they are serving. For mass audiences, you can do a profiling and segmentation study through a market research agency, or do a demographic analysis based on existing statistical data, from the Philippine Statistics Authority, for example.

Dig a little deeper and move into the psychographic space:

Philippines delivered these to the Philippine FoodBank Foundation.

their likes or dislikes, their needs and wants, their aspirations, their political opinions, their values, their lifestyle. While difficult to identify and obtain, these types of information are valuable, as these can help you create relationshipbuilding programs and tactics to

rope your stakeholders in and keep them on your side.

Psychographic information can come from audience analytic tools and social media, as well as surveys, in-depth interviews, and focus group discussions. There are service providers that can combine

furthered.

social listening with deep audience analytics to provide you even audience behaviors.

Knowing audience behavior is an integral part of the market segmentation process for marketing professionals. Segmentation can be done based on spending habits, purchasing habits, and brand loyalty, for example. For PR practitioners, this kind of segmentation can also be done, but based more on your stakeholders’ behavior toward you. For instance, you may group your stakeholders into three: allies, neutrals, and rejectors. You may also classify them based on their level of influence or power and their level of interest in your organization, your project, or your cause. These can help you make better decisions in terms of budget to allot, time to spend, and amount of effort to exert on specific individuals or stakeholder groups.

b eyond talkies and gifties

SO now that you know your stakeholders better, you are ready to start a relationship—assuming that your stakeholders actually want one with you. Let’s assume that you have gotten your foot in the door and can now proceed with your communication and engagement action items. You do a courtesy visit to a newly elected local government official. You exchange numbers with them. You come bearing gifts on their birthdays and every other occasion on the calendar (do be careful with the kind of gifts you give to public officials—you don’t want to place both you and them in a tight spot). So you’re besties now.

Now what?

For some types of relationships, tactical approaches are enough for relationship-building. For media relations, for example: engagement is largely tactical in nature. For mass audiences, strategic campaigns are best. For government and community relations, the approach should go beyond being a glorified liaison officer and should be more programmatic. Relationships, after all, are hard to pass on or turn over to another person. What if you resign or retire? Or the elected official is no longer in power?

An institutional approach needs to work hand in hand with personal relationships so that the effects can be transferable and sustainable. It’s not enough to just be on friendly terms with your stakeholders in government or in the community. Have programs in place—programs that help uplift the lives of community members, that live up to your organization’s good governance commitments, that promote social good. We should learn to go beyond the superficial with our relationships with our stakeholders. As PR practitioners, we can do better and be better by aligning our relationship objectives with larger goals. c o mmuni ta lks 2022

IPRA Philippines will be staging its first CommuniTalks event this year titled “Sonic branding: the power of sound in communication” on February 22. It will feature Mike Constantino, Founder and CEO of sonic branding and audio marketing agency Homonym. He will talk about the power of music and sound in building a brand, communicating an advocacy, and eliciting emotions to drive PR and marketing strategies. Watch out for more details on this space.

PR Matters is a roundtable column by members of the local chapter of the United Kingdom-based International Public Relations Association (Ipra), the world’s premier organization for PR professionals around the world. Abigail L. Ho-Torres is AVP and Head of Customer Experience of Maynilad Water Services Inc. She spent more than a decade as a business journalist before making the leap to the corporate world.

We are devoting a special column each month to answer our readers’ questions about public relations. Please send your questions or comments to askipraphil@gmail.com.

n Starbuck S P hili PP in e S g ive S back to communitie S wit h the v e nti va n, encourage S c u S to mer S to ‘Fill it Forward’ TAGUIG, PHILIPPINES—Starbucks Philippines recently hosted its first Venti Van stop in the streets of Bonifacio Global City and invited its customers to participate in a Starbucks FoodShare drive. Starbucks FoodShare is a food donation program conducted in partnership with the Philippine FoodBank Foundation.

During the whole day event at 5th Avenue last weekend, customers purchased either a brownie or cookie for P50, and Starbucks

Customers were encouraged to personalize their donations by writing their own heartfelt notes on the packaging, bringing positive messages to the beneficiaries. Through this initiative, customers were able to join Starbucks in giving back to the community by sharing delicious treats with their own message to people in need.

Through the Starbucks FoodShare food donation program piloted in Metro Manila last year, Starbucks Philippines and the Philippine FoodBank Foundation have donated over 300,000 food items from 236 stores in Metro Manila to communities in need since its launch in March 2022. This is also made possible by the coffee brand’s strategic partnership with Grab, which enables participating Starbucks stores to connect with Grab drivers to pick up and deliver food donations to the foundation.

On Saturday, January 28, Starbucks Philippines provided customers an opportunity to participate in this initiative from 10:00 am—7:00 pm. By the end of the day, around 500 brownies and cookies were purchased and delivered to the Philippine FoodBank Foundation which were then shared with beneficiaries.

“At Starbucks, Filling it Forward means extending beyond the holidays and starting the year right by giving back to our community. We’re happy that our customers have expressed so much love and support for this initiative, and we are very grateful for the opportunity to drive meaningful change for local communities,” said Char Vilchez, Manager for Marketing & Global Responsibility.

“This 2023, we plan to expand FoodShare to more places and have more people involved from different areas as we continue to help fight hunger in the Philippines,” Char

This is just one of the many ways that Starbucks Philippines is giving back to communities, in line with the company’s people positive goal to uplift one billion people globally by 2030.

n b umble reveal S t hat more and more Fili P in o women are jum P i ng on the ‘con S c iou S ly S ingle’ movement MANILA, PHILIPPINES—The season of love is here and the societal pressure for romance has doubled.

Although Valentine’s Day is believed to be the most romantic day for lovestruck couples, it can just as easily be a time of stress and anxiety for many single Filipinos who are still reeling from the multitudes of questions about their relationship status, specifically their “singlehood.”

Unpartnered women still deal with single-shaming usually reinforced with unwanted questions and

unsolicited comments, like “why are you still single?,” “is no one courting you right now?” or “you can’t be happy alone!” Bumble, the women-first dating app, revealed in their survey on “Traveling and Holi-Dating” that the reason why 25 percent of Filipino women would want to bring a date to family gatherings is because of family pressure, while 26 percent of men feel the same. With Valentine’s Day being amplified by romantic stunts, it’s a lot more difficult for women who have been targets of single-shaming to understand that singlehood is not something to be ashamed of.

However, despite societal and familial expectations of getting “cuffed” this season, Bumble shared that they are seeing a positive trend in the Philippines as Filipinos, especially women, are now choosing to be “Consciously Single.” The majority (77 percent) of the Bumble Philippines users surveyed in 2021 have realized that it is okay to be

alone for a while, especially during the pandemic. Additionally, more than half (54 percent) have made the conscious decision to remain single, claiming there is no pressure to commit to a relationship because they have standards and careful intentions. In fact, in a new survey by the brand, three in 10 Filipinos are very likely to consider dating out of their set standards, whereas six in 10 would entertain the thought of it. Filipino women are less likely to consider dating out of their set standards as compared to the overall respondents surveyed.

“This Valentine’s Day, it’s time to stop shaming women who choose to be in their own company, because being single is not something to be embarrassed by. This ‘cuffing season’ should not make you feel that your value is defined by your relationship status or a romantic partner, instead, take this great time to embrace yourself,” shared Bumble APAC Communications Director Lucille McCart.

mirror_sports@yahoo.com.ph | Editor: Jun

Salvador, Nakajima lead PGT Q-School field at

Splendido

AMIX of aces, including a returning former Order of Merit (OOM) champion and former leg winners, makes up one of the strongest casts ever to vie in the Philippine Golf Tour (PGT) Qualifying School which begins Tuesday at Splendido Taal Golf Club in Tagaytay City.

Mu lti-titled Elmer Salvador, back in the hunt after a long absence on the tour where he reigned as OOM champion in its inaugural staging in 2009, heads the 86 other bidders chasing the 35 slots to this year’s Pilipinas Golf Tournaments Inc.-organized circuit, which kicks off its busy season in Bacolod City next month.

Th is marks the return of the PGT Q-School after it was suspended over growing concerns related to Covid-19 outbreak in 2020. The PGT held two tournaments at Riviera under the bubble setup late in the year and staged one in 2021 before holding a seven-leg circuit last year.

W ith everything else back in normal, the country’s premier tour put up by International Container Terminal Services Inc. (ICTSI) is all set for another banner season with the Negros Occidental Classic set from March 15 to 18 to be followed by the Iloilo Golf Challenge on March 22-25 and the second ICTSI Caliraya Springs Championship on April 18 to 21 in Cavinti, Laguna.

The 2023 PGT season actually kicked off last week with its flagship championship, the Don Pocholo Razon Memorial Cup, with Dutch Guido van der Valk keeping the crown via a five-shot victory over Asian Tour-bound Lloyd Go.

Milliam beats Madis in Cañiza Open final

ALEXA MILLIAM used her grit and smarts to outduel Tenielle Madis, 6-3, 6-3, and crown herself the first Rina Cañiza Women’s Tennis Open champion at the Philippine Columbian Association (PCA) outdoor courts in Paco, Manila, over the weekend.

Bracing for a tough challenge against an unranked rival who barreled her way to the final with a couple of big wins in the lower half of the 64-player draw, the top seeded Milliam pulled through in a breakbreak game in the opening set by holding serve thrice then survived a back-and-forth battle of breaks in the next to clinch the victory.

The La Carlota ace, who trounced Shaira Rivera, 6-1, 6-2, in the semfinalis, broke back in the seventh game to seize a 4-3 lead, held serve in the next before holding the 15-year-old rising star from Mlang, Cotabato to just one point in the ninth game for the decisive break and the victory worth P50,000.

ALEXA MILLIAM (fourth from left) poses with Shaira Rivera and Allyssa Bornia (second and third from left) after ruling the singles and doubles plays, respectively, in the first Rina Cañiza Women’s Tennis Open. With them are (from left) Dunlop and Slazenger Marketing manager Sarah Banquiles, former national player Rina Caniza, singles runner-up Tenielle Madis and doubles second placers Hanna Divinagracia and Joana Tan.

Lomibao

EJ GOES 6-0 ON PODIUM; EUMIR NOW 4-0 AS PRO

Obiena withstands back spasm, jumps to silver medal in Berlin

spasms that have been bothering him lately—he didn’t have his physiotherapist with him in Berlin.

I took three jumps and then I tried 5.91-m but my back just felt spasm so I stopped,” Obiena told BusinessMirror via voice message.

“I still ended up with a silver. That last two attempts were [expletive] and I couldn’t even run any-

more.”

Australia’s Kurtis Marschall also cleared 5.82 meters but was shoved to the bronze medal after the countback in the event that lured eight athletes.

Obiena’s personal adviser Jim Lafferty told BusinessMirror on Sunday that Obiena’s condition “is day-to-day and there’s no plan yet on his next tournament.”

ERNEST JOHN “EJ” OBIENA

added a new address where he could be reached: the podium as he competes around Europe with his pole vault during the indoor season.

Obiena made it appear that way with his silver medal finish at the ISTAF Berlin staged over the weekend at the Mercedes-Benz Arena in Berlin, Germany.

Th at was the 27-year-old Obiena’s sixth podium finish in all six tournaments he has competed in since late January, thus making it look like he has three homes now—Tondo in Manila, Formia in Italy and the podium in any country in Europe.

Obiena cleared 5.82 meters to finish behind world No. 1 Armand Duplantis, who looked unbeatable with his 6.06-meter jump.

But Obiena could have perhaps leapt higher if not for minor back

DIMITY-LEE DUKE provides the early drawing power to Ironman’s (IM) much-awaited return to Davao next month with the multi-titled Australian all geared up for another crack at IM 70.3 pro glory at the posh Azuela Cove.

Duke, who dominated the country’s top 5150 races before the pandemic, placed third when the premier city in the south first hosted the highly popular endurance race in 2018, which Czech Radka Kahlefeldt ruled via an 11-minute romp over Naomi Washizu of Japan.

Pursuit of immortality

LEBRON JAMES’S breaking of Kareem Abdul-Jabbar’s alltime National Basketball Association (NBA) scoring record is simply an amazing feat. A feat that keeps him within striking distance–in my opinion—as the Greatest of All Time (GOAT).

Th at title is perhaps what he desires and will cherish the most. Just to put this on the table… I have been a fan of James

Marcial TKOs veteran opponent, goes 4-0 in professional career

By Josef Ramos

EUMIR FELIX MARCIAL

impressed—with emphasis—on Sunday via a second-round technical knockout victory over veteran Ricardo Ruben Villalba of Argentina to go unbeaten in four professional fights.

M arcial, 27, first knockdown Villalba with solid body blows just 28 seconds before the first-round bell sounded.

A nd displaying skills and ring savvy that showed he was ready and prepared for the 33-year-old Argentinian who packed a 28-fight pro career, Marcial unleashed solid jabs that set up a lethal right hook that sent Villalba wobbling and prompted American referee Mark Calo-oy to end the fight with 48 seconds remaining in the second round.

We needed to improve on my jabs and my timing to be perfect for the past five months of full-condition and professional training,” the Tokyo Olympics bronze medalist Marcial told BusinessMirror via internet call.

“ He is having some back spasms and his physio isn’t with him due to the financial reasons,” Lafferty said. “So now we see the result of the financial issues. We are day to day now.”

Obiena has yet to receive his financial assistance from the Philippine Sports Commission—a predicament he aired in his Facebook post last week.

Obiena started the indoor season with a silver medal at the Internationales Springer-Meeting in Cottbus, Germany, last January 26, followed by a gold medal at the Perche En Or in Roubaix, France, three days later.

He got a bronze medal at the Mondo Classic in Uppsala, Sweden, last February 3 went on to a two gold medal spree at the Orlen Cup last February 5 and Copernicus Cup last February 9 both in Poland.

He’s now 3-2-1 gold-silver-bronze so far in his indoor campaign. Josef Ramos

Aussie ace banners IM 70.3 Davao

K ahlefeldt also topped the 2019 IM 70.3 Davao edition with Duke settling for fourth.

But the 39-year-old seasoned campaigner, who trains and hones in Phuket, Thailand, is eager and ready to go for the jugular in the March 26 event, the only 1.9-km swim/90km/bike-21-km run distance pro race offered in this year’s series of triathlon races under The Ironman

Group/Sunrise Events Inc. banner.

R egistration is ongoing. For details, log on to ironman.com/ im703-davao-philippines-athletes.

Spicing up the IM 70.3 Davao is the Girls’ Run on March 24 and the IronKids on March 25.

A lso in the early women’s pro roster are compatriot Sarah Crowley and Lottie Lucas of United Arab Emirates. Crowley, who turned 40 last February 4, topped the ITU Long Distance Triathlon World Championships and finished third in the Ironman World Championship, both in 2017.

She matched her third-place effort in the world tilt in 2019.

Lucas, meanwhile, packs a lot of promise after the 30-year-old Dubai-based runner marked her first pro race with a third-place finish in Ironman Dubai in March last year.

since he hit the NBA in 2003. And just to be very clear, I am a fan of Michael Jordan’s as well. And I remain in my belief that Jordan is the GOAT.

But … here we go.

I a m wondering…at the time that Bill Russell was leading the Boston Celtics to 11 NBA titles, he was up against Wilt Chamberlain.

C hamberlain was Jordan and James rolled into one— prodigious scoring and stats as well as larger-than-life feats.

Since I wasn’t around during that time…was Chamberlain that era’s James and Russell that era’s Jordan?

Was Wilt ever proclaimed as the GOAT even during that era?

Russell is definitely feted as the ultimate winner. After all, he has more championship rings than fingers.

I h ave always thought that Bill Russell (and there is this awesome documentary on him right now on Netflix) should be on the Mount Rushmore of NBA basketball. To argue the merits and demerits of his being GOAT is altogether another long piece. My column today is wondering and comparing those days when Russ and Wilt went at each other. And today—MJ and the King—on the debate board.

A nd it is a never-ending debate.

If The Last Dance was a message—no, a strong reminder— to millennials and Gen Z about the force of nature that Jordan

M arcial’s fourth pro fight was scheduled for eight rounds.

V illalba fell to a 20-8-1 win-lossdraw record.

Marcial strained his left elbow three weeks before the fight and was compelled by his Mexican trainer Jorge Capetillo to sharpen his jabs to ease that part of his body of further stress. “ I had to  focus on my jabs because I had a hard time stretching my left arm,” Marcial said. “I’m really thankful to my team for taking care of me and everything is okay now with my elbow.”

The Marcial-Villabla fight was an undercard to the ‘O Shaquie Foster-Rey Vargas main event for the vacant World Boxing Council super featherweight belt at the Alamodome in San Antonio, Texas.

M arcial won his first professional four-rounder against Andrew Whitfield in 2020, survived three knockdowns in beating another American, Isiah Hart, in April 2022 and Steve Pichardo via unanimous in October last year. He stayed in the US after the Pichardo fight and continuously trained under Capetillo.

M arcial is expected to return home to Manila anytime soon for a two-week break to attend to some business before returning to the United States for a fifth fight in the second quarter of the year.

‘DIAY’ IN PSA HALL OF FAME

THE colorful life of legendary sprint queen Lydia De Vega will be celebrated during the San Miguel Corp.-Philippine Sportswriters Association (SMC-PSA)

Annual Awards Night at the grand ballroom of the Diamond Hotel.

The late track superstar will be enshrined in the PSA Hall of Fame in recognition of her astounding achievements in Philippine track and field history.

The special honor and tribute to one of the greatest Filipino athletes ever will be bestowed by the country’s oldest media organization during its March 6 gala night presented by the Philippine Sports Commission and Cignal TV and with able support from the Philippine Olympic Committee, Tagaytay City Mayor Abraham “Bambol” Tolentino, Milo, Smart, MVP Sports Foundation, Rain or Shine, 1Pacman Rep. Mikee Romero, Philippine Basketball Association, OKBet and the International Container Terminal Services Inc.

De Vega, who twice reigned as Asia’s sprint queen, passed away last August following her long battle with cancer.

D uring her prime though, Diay, as she was fondly called, was almost unbeatable.

The charming runner from Meycauayan, Bulacan, was acknowledged as “Asia’s Fastest Woman” in the 1980s following her golden run in the women’s 100 meters at the 1982 and 1986 Asian Games in New Delhi and Seoul.

was, I can image that in a decade, a documentary about LeBron James will intensify that debate.

I ’ll say this though, LeBron James is playing at such a high level given his age. I think he can go for another year or two. I see no decline. He is such a freak; even more than Giannis Antetokounmpo.

So do all these stats and records qualify James?

W hat makes Tom Brady the National Football League’s GO AT? It’s not just his stats, but his SEVEN Super Bowl rings.

So if Brady has seven rings, why isn’t Russell the GOAT?

B ecause he played in an era when there were far less games and rounds especially in the postseason? When his Boston Celtics were stacked and loaded right to the 12th man? And other teams weren’t?

R obert Horry has seven rings, but no one will suggest he is the greatest.

It is a combination of lots of rings, how he won them, and stats.

I do agree with the assertion that James won his titles by looking to play with All-Stars who were at the top of their games.

Everyone says Jordan played with four Hall-of-Famers in Scottie Pippen, Dennis Rodman and Toni Kukoc.

P ippen was at that time acknowledged as one of the world’s best. He was on the Dream Team after all. When

Long legged and sporting her signature pony-tailed long black hair, De Vega blasted her way to the finish line ahead of India’s PT Usha in both Asian Games in a dominant performance that capped their storied rivalry.

A mong the prominent discoveries of the Palarong Pambansa, De Vega was a proud product of Project: Gintong Alay who shot to prominence as a 17-year-old lass who bagged backto-back gold medals in the 200-meter and 400-meter at the Manila 1981 Southeast Asian Games.

Her legend grew from there as the Far Eastern University alumna stamped her class in the SEA Games, Asian Athletics Championships and the Asian Games.

I n all, De Vega won nine SEA Games gold medals, including her memorable run before a jampacked, wildly-cheering crowd at the Rizal Memorial Track and Field Stadium in the 1991 Manila edition of the biennial meet.

She also owned four golds in the Asian championships besides the two golds she won in the Asian Games. De Vega was also a two-time Olympian—1984 Los Angeles and 1988 Seoul.

She entered public service after hanging her running shoes in 1994, winning as councilor in her province of Bulacan.

Until her death, De Vega was based in Singapore for more than a decade where she taught athletics and physical education in a private school.

Rodman joined the Chicago Bulls, no one knew what Rodman would show up—one who helped Detroit to two NBA titles? Or the one who torpedoed the San Antonio Spurs of David Robinson? It is in the aftermath that Rodman was only considered as an all-time great.

It is the same for Toni Kukoc. While I am a Kukoc fan, I think he got into the Basketball Hall of Fame for his work in Europe with his contributions to the Chicago Bulls secondary.

D wyane Wade, Chris Bosh, Kyrie Irving, Kevin Love and Anthony Davis were all certainly on top of their games when they were teammates with James. All-Stars and Olympians and you kinda knew these guys are upper tier players who will end up in the Naismith Museum.

I f LeBron had as many as six NBA titles, I would—and this coming from a massive Chicago Bulls and Michael Jordan fan—give him that mantle of GOAT. Even if he has all these losses in the finals.

I w ill not count out LeBron winning another title. He could. Maybe not this year. But he could.

Even after taking the scoring record from Abdul-Jabbar, this debate will not end. Not even after James calls it quits. I think, a decade from now, people will look at James in a different light.

Now, whether he seizes that GOAT title from Jordan, is another thing.

EUMIR FELIX MARCIAL gets a victory lift from his Mexican trainer Jorge Capetillo. COURTESY JHAY OH OTAMIAS

ERNEST JOHN “EJ” OBIENA clinches another silver medal despite competing through back spasms and without his physiotherapist to take care of him in Berlin.

DE VEGA

By Anne Ruth Dela Cruz

SHE graduated with a hotel and restaurant management degree from the Polytechnic University of the Philippines during what she called the non-digital age in 2001. To look for a job, Gel Gomez, Hotel101 General Manager, had to browse through the classified ads of a newspaper. She knew back then that she wanted to be in the hotel and tourism industry and there was one advertisement that caught her eye. “There was an opening for a sales executive position at Grand Regal Hotel Davao but the office was in Quiapo. Since it was the non-digital age, I thought no one would take this job,” Gomez related. did a little research via Yahoo at that time and I learned that it was the first deluxe hotel in Davao. At that time was already advanced in terms of researching so I knew that it would be a good job and that it would be mine,” she added.

Wet market of Quiapo

TRUE enough, the sales office of Grand Regal Hotel Davao was located beside the Quiapo Bridge in what Gomez described as the “wet area.” She later learned that the Grand Regal Hotel Davao was owned by the Gaisanos, the owner of the Gaisano Malls. was accepted together with two others to run the Manila Sales Team. Another challenge that I had to overcome was the hotel was in Davao and I had to undergo training there. It was the height of the Abu Sayaff at that time and my Mom did not want me to go there. She called the hotel and told them that I was no longer pursuing the job,” Gomez said.

Eventually, Gomez made the trip to Davao for her immersion and training. While there, she had the opportunity to learn from the hotel owners and general manager. The experience, Gomez said, was fulfilling and she stayed there for two years.

After her stint at Grand Regal, Gomez was supposed to transfer to a luxury hotel in Singapore. She had already made the trip to Singapore but the job did not push through. When she returned to Manila, Gomez joined the sales team of Orchid Garden Suites, a boutique hotel in Malate area.

Three properties

AFTER Orchid, Gomez joined the Manila Sales Office of Waterfront Hotel in Cebu where she handled three properties. In October 2005, she joined Sofitel where she worked for 10 years. enjoyed working in Sofitel, which boasted magnificent sunset views. The challenge then was how can you ask people from Makati Business District to go there? Why would they travel to the Bay Area, when there were Shangri-la Makati, Peninsula and Hotel Intercontinental? But my mentor never accepted location as a lost business reason,” she said.

Gomez trained under Rose Libongco, Sunshine Robles and the late Christine Ibaretta, all pillars in the hotel industry. was so blessed to be under these three ladies. I am honored to have trained under these industry pillars and I learned to be a winner at Sofitel during my 10-year stint,” Gomez noted.

After 10 years in Sofitel, the GM then of Hotel101 Group asked Gomez if she would consider joining a new hotel that was still under construction. When she made her way to Sofitel every day, she would pass by the construction site of the future Hotel101. As is her wont, Gomez did her own research about the company before making her decision.

Who wouldn’t want to be part of DoubleDragon? To work with Injap Sia, the self-made entrepreneur and visionary founder of Mang Inasal. I have learned about the merger of Jollibee and Mang Inasal, and the successful IPO of DoubleDragon at that time so I was easily convinced to join. That is a local brand and I want to be part of a homegrown brand,” she said Someone who delivered

AT that time Gomez was already the Assistant Director for Sales at Sofitel. She was consistently the number one salesperson at Sofitel and because of this, she became known as being someone who delivered, no matter the quota that was given to her.

Gomez joined Hotel101 in 2015 as Head for Group Sales and Marketing. At that time, the only hotel that was operational was Injap Tower Hotel in Iloilo City. Hotel101 - Manila came about in 2016.

“We developed the Hotel101 brand as local homegrown brand. Jinjiang Inn, on the other hand, is the franchised brand from China so we also had to build the brand here in the Philippines. One of the challenges that we had to deal with early on was how to introduce and differentiate these brands to the Filipino market,” she said.

On the second month of acquiring the Jinjiang Inn franchise, Gomez and her team went to China for an immersion training. It was during their trip to China that they experienced Jin Jiang Hotels as one of the largest hotel chains in China. They immersed themselves with the different hotel categories of the Jin Jiang brand – Jinjiang Hotel, Peace Hotel, Park Hotel, and Metropole Hotel, among others.

Basic needs met

FOR the Jinjiang Inn brand, the challenge was to inform the public that Jinjiang Inn in the Philippines “is two notches higher than an inn that offers the business traveler’s basic needs like

wifi, breakfast, clean rooms and a very good location.”

Currently, Gomez is in charge of running five hotels –Hotel101-Manila (518 rooms), Injap Tower Hotel in Iloilo (194 rooms), Jinjiang Inn in Ortigas (95 rooms), Jinjiang Inn in Makati (59 rooms) and Jinjiang Inn-Boracay Station 1 (10 rooms).

Some time in 2019, the Hotel101 - Manila Hotel Manager resigned and Gomez offered to lead the hotel operations, concurrently as Head of Sales and Marketing. It was the peak of the hotel industry at that time and the hoteliers looked for new opportunities with so much openings in the market, including other key hotel managers.

“I had to step up and handle both Operations and Sales and Marketing for the group. My focus at that time was Covid because we were one of the hotels which did not close even for one day because we had more than 100 long-staying guests apart from the other guests we had at that time,” Gomez recalled.

So when Luzon was placed under Enhanced Community Quarantine on March 17, 2020, Gomez was coordinating with the Department of Tourism to inform them that they could not cease operations because of their guests. The first memo was issued and it stated that all long staying guests who arrived at the hotel prior to 12:01, March 17, 2020 can stay at the hotel.

Challenges faced

It was at the height of Covid that Gomez was named General Manager or GM of the Hotel101 Group. Her appointment came as a surprise to some but she was able to overcome the challenges brought about by Covid with flying colors.

“Since it was Covid and coming from sales and marketing, you always know how to target things. Our revenues were very good during the pandemic because we got government accounts. You have to shift, you cannot have the same client and we had the government clients with us for two years,” she related.

She added that while the other companies were retrenching during the pandemic, Hotel101 even created a new department – the Customer Service Department. She hired displaced people from several five-star hotels to help her handle the guests.

“The people we got are very good at customer service. It is really different so I really wanted it to be embedded in each and every employee. They also helped handle the traumatic guests and made their quarantine experience a little lighter,” Gomez said, adding that if there were any changes in the government policies at that time were blamed on the front desk.

While the hotels were busy adhering to health and safety protocols of the government, she also made it a point to check on her employees because they all had to stay at the hotel to reduce the chances of spreading the virus. “I would cook adobo for them and spend my free time with them to make sure that they were okay and that they were managing themselves while being away from their families,” Gomez said.

Management style

WHEN asked about her management style, Gomez described it as being transformational. “Leadership involves a combination of competence, character and purpose,” she said.

She is also a strong believer of strength based leadership, “maximizing the potential of each of our employees. I have my weaknesses so my direct reports should complement my skills and each other. It is like a puzzle, we should have people with a combination of competencies,” Gomez explained.

Gomez starts the work week with a meeting with department heads for all hotels, the operations and sales and marketing team at 9 am. After that, she checks all documents submitted by the five properties. Tuesdays is scheduled for the meeting with the owners where Gomez updates them on the projects and plans.

“I have to make sure that I visit all properties at least twice a month but for our flagship Hotel101-Manila, I have to visit every day to check on the operations. As it is our largest hotel, I give more attention to the needs of our team there,” Gomez said, adding that she also makes time to have lunch and dinner with clients and suppliers.

Future plans

WHEN asked what time she ends her day, Gomez said it really depends because she is also taking up her MBA at the AteneoRegis. Gomez makes sure, though, that she gets eight hours of sleep so that she will be fresh and ready for another day at work.

As for her future plans, Gomez said she still sees her herself working for Hotel101. That’s because of the many projects that are in the pipeline, including the opening of Hotel101-Niseko in Japan.

We aim to be the first global Filipino chain of hotels. We have already shifted from Hotel101 Group to Hotel101 Global, with our new vision to be one of the top ten largest hotel brands in the world. We are targeting 200,000+ room keys in our portfolio by 2035,” she said.

Hotel101 Group will also be soon launching their Hotel101 Global App, designed to efficiently work in multiple countries, for guests to tap on the growing accommodations of Hotel101.

Who wouldn’t want to be part of these exciting plans?

So think for the next five or maybe 10 years I will still be with DoubleDragon, as I am sure it will always be an exciting day every day,” Gomez concluded.