BusinessMirror February 14, 2019

DEPT. OF SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY

PHILIPPINE STATISTICS AUTHORITY

2018 BANTOG DATA MEDIA AWARDS CHAMPION

BusinessMirror A broader look at today’s business

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Thursday, February 14, 2019 Vol. 14 No. 127

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@caiordinario

DDRESSING the port congestion being experienced by truckers and manufacturers in the past few months will take time and could dampen the country’s trade performance this year, according to the National Economic and Development Authority (Neda) and economists.

Socioeconomic Planning Secretary Ernesto M. Pernia admitted to the BusinessMirror that the port congestion has played a part in the country’s lackluster trade performance in 2018.

Meat Importers and Traders A ssociation (Mita) President Jesus C. Cham earlier told the

BusinessMirror that the port congestion of the past few months was worse since it started in August 2018.

“Port congestion slows down movement of trade, so it’s partly to blame [for the slowdown in trade],” Pernia recently told the BusinessMirror.

University of Asia and the Pacific (UA&P) economist Victor A. Abola also described to the BusinessMirror that what is being experienced is “severe port congestion.”

Abola said that, because of the effects of port congestion, the Philippines can expect slower export earnings and import bill growth.

LABOREM EXERCENS

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HE International Labor Organization (ILO) is observing its centenary this year. It was established in 1919 as part of a treaty (Treaty of Versailles) formally ending World War I. It was clear to the founders of the ILO that peace cannot be secure if society is roiled by social and labor troubles. The overthrow of the Tsarist regime and the rise of a Bolshevik worker government in Russia two years earlier, in 1917, were clearly etched on the minds of those who formulated the Constitution of the ILO based on tripartite dialogue and consensus-taking among employers, unions and governments. The basic rights of workers, such as freedom to form unions, bargain collectively and enjoy decent conditions of work, have been recognized and strengthened through a system of international conventions that ILO member-states are obliged to ratify and observe (even if they have not completed the ratification of these conventions).

Congestion particularly at the Port of Manila has also been cited

by German firm Hapag-Lloyd as the reason it has “ceased acceptance for all reefer cargo to Manila, for both North and South Harbor.”

The notice also cited “limited trucking capacity” as another reason for the stoppage of reefer imports to Manila. The notice was posted on its web site on January 23 and was said to be effective immediately. “Yes, [there was] See “Port congestion,” A2

Continued on A11

Court names veteran in rehab cases as new receiver for Hanjin

By Henry Empeño

@BNicolasBM

Continued on A2

Rene E. Ofreneo

The estimated losses to the economy due to port congestion in 2014, according to a study by state-owned think tank Philippine Institute of Development Studies (PIDS)

By Bernadette D. Nicolas

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ILO’s dilemma: Framing the Social Contract for the 21st century

₧43.85B

DBM sees new budget by end-Q1 HE country will have a new budget by the end of the first quarter should Congress stay true to its word to submit the P3.757-trillion proposed national budget by March 1, Budget Secretary Benjamin E. Diokno said on Wednesday.

Diokno he doesn’t see another extension for the government to operate on a reenacted budget because of this commitment from Congress.

“We already authorized the agencies to spend up to the first quarter, so I don’t think it will take another extension. We will have a new budget by the end of the first quarter,” he added.

The budget chief said they have yet to see the enrolled copy of the bill but as soon as they receive the bill, they will need about a week to scrutinize the budget line by line.

“When we get it, we’ll need four to seven days. Our people here at DBM [Department of Budget and Management], we will prepare what is called a Statement of Difference.

We will go through the budget

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Neda: Port congestion to dent 2019 trade data

By Cai U. Ordinario

2017 EJAP JOURNALISM AWARDS

O MERALCO linemen inspect meters on Road 10 in Tondo, Manila, in this file photo. On Wednesday, Senate Energy Committee Chairman Sherwin Gatchalian said the bicameral conference committee on the “Murang Kuryente” (cheap electricity) bill is convening soon to fast-track the measure— which seeks to reduce electricity rates by using the government’s share from Malampaya to pay stranded contract costs, among others, of the National Power Corp. and the feed-in-tariff allowance—was approved by the Senate on third and final reading on February 4. NONIE REYES

Bicam on ‘Murang Kuryente’ bill convening soon

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HE Senate and the House of Representatives will convene a bicameral conference committee soon to resolve differences between their respective versions, approved on third and final reading, of the proposed “Murang Kuryente Act.” The measure

PESO EXCHANGE RATES n US 52.1950

is seen to help the public obtain savings in their power bill by tapping the government’s share of Malampaya funds to cover the stranded costs of the National Power Corp.

Sen. Sherwin Gatchalian, who chairs the Senate Economic Affairs

Committee, told the BusinessMirror on Tuesday the bicameral committee will likely convene after one week, when the House contingent is back from a short break.

The two chambers went on break on February 9, and will be on recess Continued on A12

Correspondent

LONGAPO CITY—The regional trial court (RTC) in this city has appointed a new receiver to manage the properties of Hanjin Heavy Industries and Construction-Philippines (HHIC-Phil) while the beleaguered South Korean shipbuilder is undergoing court-supervised corporate rehabilitation.

Judge Richard A. Paradeza of RTC Branch 72 on Monday named lawyer Rosario S. Bernaldo as the new HHIC-Phil receiver in place of Stefani C. Saño, who was first appointed by the court on January 14.

According to Paradeza, the court took into consideration Bernaldo’s work experience and answers during an interview and subsequently determined that she was the most qualified among the nominees.

Among the questions the court asked pertained to how the prospective receiver would deal with debtors, creditors, employees and other stakeholders, as well as how to proceed with the rehabilitation plan.

“In particular, Atty. Bernaldo has vast experience in rehabilitation cases, as shown in her curriculum vitae,” Paradeza noted in his order dated February 11, 2019.

“To the mind of the court, her work experience in rehabilitation cases is vital in this selection,” the judge added.

The court also noted that “none of the nominees was nominated by more than 50 percent of the secured creditors and the general unsecured creditors.”

Bernaldo, who is founder and managing director of the Bernaldo Mirador & Director Law Offices, is also a certified public accountant with significant professional experience in tax and management consulting, corporate and legal services, business and financial management, investment banking, insolvency and receivership, audit, training and research.

Prior to her entry as HHIC-Phil receiver, Bernaldo was directed by the court to take an oath and required to file a P2-million bond that was “conditioned upon the faithful and proper discharge of her powers, duties and responsibilities.”

n JAPAN 0.4725 n UK 67.3159 n HK 6.6504 n CHINA 7.7081 n SINGAPORE 38.4976 n AUSTRALIA 37.0480 n EU 59.1578 n SAUDI ARABIA 13.9187

See “Hanjin,” A2

Source: BSP (13 February 2019 )

News

BusinessMirror

A2 Thursday, February 14, 2019

EODB’s IRR has automatic OK for unacted biz papers B

By Rea Cu

@ReaCuBM

USINESS applications will be deemed automatically approved if the governmetnt agency handling the application fails to assess it within the prescribed period. This will be a key feature in the proposed implementing rules and regulations (IRR) of the ease of doing business (EODB) law, the Anti-Red Tape Authority (Arta) said.

At a public consultation on the IRR of Republic Act (RA) 11032 and the Philippine Business Databank on Wednesday, Arta OIC Director General Ernesto V. Perez said, “A basic feature is the automatic approval of the application or request of it is not acted upon within the required period or if there is no proper extension in which the applicant is duly notified.”

RA 11032 or the Ease of Doing Business and Efficient Government Service Delivery Act, was signed into law by President Duterte in May 2018. Itaims to reduce red tape among government agencies, as well as the processing time for permits, transactions and applications.

The law mandates a processing time for simple permits of within three working days; complex transactions in seven working days; and highly technical applications in 20 working days.

Perez pointed out that under the proposed IRR, highly technical transactions that require clearances from other government agencies that may need more time beyond 20 days will be allowed provided, a multistage system is undertaken.

The multistage system must not “exceed 40 working days. Initially, 20 working days subject to one extension...”

To notify applicants on extensions in the processing of their permits and transactions, the IRR allows government agencies to use electronic mail (e-mail) or SMS apart from writing to the owner or the business.

“The notice, that is required for an agency to notify the applicant in case of extension, must be done in writing [as] the law requires. In the IRR, we propose that this also include e-mail or SMS because it will be quite impossible for the government agency to notify the

Port congestion. . .

Continued from A1

applicant who cannot be located.

So, the burden is upon the agency to ensure that there is proper notification. So a simple text or e-mail...this is an acceptable form of notification,” he said.

Although the proposed IRR already has a number of salient features, it has yet to be signed by the appointed director general for the Arta. The President has yet to appoint the director general.

RA 11032 has yet to take full effect as authorities have yet to issue its IRR. “While we are preparing for the ground work for the IRR, we are waiting for the President’s appointment for the DG [director general] who will approve the draft IRR,” he added.

The law is also expected to reduce the number of signatories needed to obtain permits and licenses, among other government documents.

Trade Secretary Ramon M. Lopez said last month that President Duterte is expected to appoint

‘Vintage’ ports

UNIVERSITY of the Philippines-Los Baños agronomist Teodoro C. Mendoza said that while the Philippines is no stranger to port congestion, the main problem that keeps causing it has never been resolved.

Mendoza said the country’s ports are already “vintage” and boast of “preWorld War II” facilities. This is in contrast to the upgrades that have been made in ports in neighboring countries, such as China.

He said the recent port-congestion issue in 2014 was attributed by the government to the truck ban implemented by the City of Manila. However, this was not the only cause.

“Naging vintage, pre-World War II tayo eh. Hindi nag-modernize, including our airports, etc. Okay, nag-modernize ka ng road mo, pinalawak mo, eh mag-clog doon kasi hindi mo sinama yung ports [Our ports have vintage, pre-World War II facilities. We did not modernize, including our airports. Okay, we modernized our roads, we widened them, but there was clogging because you did not include the ports],” Mendoza said.

In 2014, a study by state-owned think tank Philippine Institute of Development Studies (PIDS) estimated that the economy lost P43.85 billion due to port congestion.

The congestion, the government said, was caused by the seven-month truck ban imposed by the City of Manila in 2014.

The researchers estimated that BOC losses cornered the lion’s share of the amount. The customs agency’s revenue losses reached an estimated P25.55 billion.

This was followed by output losses which reached P18.20 billion and vehicle operating costs, P0.99 billion during the seven-month period.

The truck ban in the City of Manila also caused other problems such as the doubling of shipping costs for 20-footer and/or 40 footer containers.

Prior to the truck ban, the study noted that shipping costs for these types of containers amounted to P18,000, but after the truck ban, the cost reached P36,000.

Exporters’ lament

IN January, exporters asked the government to stop passing laws that it cannot roll out properly, as they lamented again the delayed issuance of the EODB law’s IRR. The Philippines—for the second consecutive year—fell by doubledigit notches in the World Bank’s index on EODB. The 2019 edition put the country at 124th among 190 economies, down 11 places from the 2018 cycle.

Perez pointed out that with the implementation of the EODB law, the ranking of the Philippines in the index is expected to fall within the top 20 level.

“By year 2022, we shall have improved our ranking to the top 20 percent,” he said.

The Arta falls under the Office of the President, which is mandated to oversee compliance by local and national government agencies with the EODB law.

The notice...required for an agency to notify the applicant in case of extension, must be done in writing [as] the law requires. In the IRR, we propose that this include e-mail or SMS because it will be quite impossible for the government agency to notify the applicant who cannot be located.”—Perez

DBM sees new budget by end-Q1 Continued from A1

severe port congestion. Plus street traffic. Container trucks can make [fewer] trips to port and back. Some cargo [are] waiting three weeks in port,” Abola said.

soon the Arta director general.

line by line, the President’s budget and the enrolled copy line by line...and then in every line, if there are amendments then we will make a recommendation to the President,” he said.

While Duterte has 30 days to act on the proposed bill, Diokno is confident that it won’t take that long for the President to approve or do a line-item veto on the budget bill.

Now that Congress has already ratified the budget, Diokno said the “uncertainty is gone” and that they are now “moving forward.”

Despite the delayed budget passage in Congress, he reiterated that its damage to the economy will not be that big, since they already have a “catch-up plan.”

“Right now, I have a scheduled meeting with individual agencies, so we will figure out what’s [their] monthly program for the next 10 months,” he said.

Recognizing a looming election spending ban on public works, which will take effect from March 29 to May 12, Diokno said Public Works Secretary Mark Villar is preparing a list of projects to be exempted from the ban.

“Fortunately, foreign-assisted projects are not covered by the ban,” he said.

Andaya dared: Name official

MEANWHILE, Diokno broke his silence on the new allegation of House Appropriations Committee Chairman and Camarines Sur Rep. Rolando G. An-

PHL. . .

daya Jr. that contractors have already paid “commissions” or “cash advances” for the P75 billion worth of infrastructure projects allegedly inserted

by Diokno in the 2019 budget of the Department of Public Works and Highways.

While Diokno vehemently objected this accusation, he also urged Andaya to name the highranking government official who allegedly had to return his P200-million cash advance in full to a group of Mindanao-based contractors for “fear of his life.”

“It seems Andaya has appointed himself spokesman of these contractors who have already given commissions. Let me remind the congressman that giving commissions is very clearly graft. It is his duty to name the high-profile government official he mentioned who advanced his own funds to a contractor because of expected commissions,” Diokno said.

Refuting Andaya’s allegations, Diokno also said the conduct of early procurement activities, short of an award, is not new and has been allowed since 2009 under the Arroyo administration when, he noted, Andaya was budget secretary.

Nonetheless, Diokno said early procurement should not in any way include or involve any form of advance payments or commissions.

“I do not know what the practice was when Andaya was budget secretary, but under our watch, advance payments of commissions are considered illegal. Such practices are not, and will not, be condoned by the Duterte administration,” he said.

Continued from A12

Further, if the government will cover all employees with social insurance pensions, this will lead to a reduction of 2.3 percentage points in poverty incidence in 2030.

“We assume that, as part of achieving decent work, countries will make efforts to cover with social insurance all those with employee status in the labor market. Most countries with low employee coverage rates will find this challenging, sometimes due to institutional and administrative problems, and so our assumption may lead to overestimating possible coverage and poverty-reduction effects,” the report stated.

The social protection agenda under the SDGs has four dimensions— the provision of cash transfers for income security, health services, education services, and other essential goods and services.

Some of the potential sources of revenue mobilization for these countries, according to the study, include increasing tax efforts, reallocating energy subsidies and reallocating natural resource taxes.

The report suggests that governments, civil society and other development partners immediately start long-term fiscal and financial planning for implementing the social protection agenda. Countries should also create national policy dialogues in designing national social protection systems; conduct budget and revenue reviews; and support capacity building for social protection planning, administration and implementation.

Hanjin. . .

Continued from A1

Saño, a former senior deputy administrator of the Subic Bay Metropolitan Authority, had reportedly resigned as HHIC-Phil receiver due to pressure from one of the creditor banks, which questioned his being nominated by Hanjin.

The former receiver said he resigned, “so the process will be expedited.”

Saño said earlier that claims received by the court from HHIC-Phil creditors and suppliers had so far reached P48 billion. He said it was the job of the receiver to verify the accuracy of these claims.

Hanjin had filed on January 8 a petition for voluntary rehabilitation under Republic Act 10142, otherwise known as “An Act Providing for the Rehabilitation or Liquidation of Financially Distressed Enterprises and Individuals,”after it reportedly suffered insolvency due to a slump in the global shipbuilding industry.

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PHL meat imports up 22.73% in 2018–BAI

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HILIPPINE meat imports in 2018 rose by over a fifth to a record high of nearly 850,000 metric tons (MT) as requirements from processors for raw materials expanded, coupled with a growing demand by Filipinos for protein products.

Bureau of Animal Industry (BAI) data showed that meat imports last year rose by 22.73 percent from last year’s 691,462.564 MT. Meat Importers and Traders Association (Mita) President Jesus C. Cham said the increase in overall imports reflect the demand of Filipinos for cheaper meat alternatives.

“I think the data will show that when local prices are expensive then the producers and consumers look for alternatives,” Cham told the BusinessMirror.

“If you look at the historical data, when local prices are high, the volume of imports is also high,” Cham added.

The increase in imports also indicate the expansion of local restaurants that serve meat products. He noted as examples the popular Baliwag Lechon Manok and Andok’s, as well as the booming business of unlimited samgyupsal, Cham said.

“Beef imports grew because there are now more burger companies locally and more fast-food services are into beef products,” he said.

“Beef used to be only used by beef pares businesses. Now the market has grown and you now have more beef in menu such as sliced beef, sukiyaki and beef cubes,” he added.

The Mita chief also noted the continuous expansion of the loca l meat processors,

the majority of which source their raw materials, such as mechanically deboned meat (MDM), from abroad. This further swelled the record-high imports last year.

Meanwhile, the temporary lifting of the special safeguard duty (SSG) on chicken imports for some time also led to the entry of more poultry meat.

BAI data obtained by the BusinessMirror showed that 46.20 percent or about 392,129.183 MT of the total meat imports last year were pork.

Germany remained the top pork exporter to the Philippines last year as it accounted for 20.64 percent of total imports last year.

The Philippines imported 80,934.378 MT of pork from Germany, which was 4.5 percent over the 77,452.402 MT it purchased from the European nation in 2017.

Chicken meat was the second most bought product by the Philippines abroad.

Total chicken meat imports in 2018 grew by 18.06 percent to 288,202.817 MT, from 244,104.419 MT in 2017, BAI data showed.

BAI data also showed that about two-thirds of the country’s total chicken imports are MDM, one of the primary raw materials used by processors to manufacture hot dogs and chicken nuggets.

C h ic k e n M DM i mp or t s last year grew by 2 percent to 192,94 4.065 MT, f rom 189,027.071 MT in 2017.

The country’s beef imports in 2018 rose by 17.47 percent to 120,901.156 MT from 102,920.016 MT in 2017.

Jasper Emmanuel Y. Arcalas

Comelec may ask Congress for supplemental budget

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HE Commission on Elections (Comelec) said it may request for supplemental budget from Congress as it is still unclear if the agency’s request for additional funds is included in the 2019 General Appropriations Bill.

Comelec Spokesman James B. Jimenez told the B u s i n e s s M i r r o r on Wednesday that the agency is awaiting word from lawmakers if they granted the P1.3 billion proposed by the agency so it could train and compensate volunteers for this year’s elections as mandated

by Republic Act 10756, or the Election Service Reform Act. “We still have no report if they approved the [budget] restoration. So we still haven’t decided [on the supplemental budget proposal],” Jimenez said.

Jimenez issued the statement after the Department of Budget and Management (DBM) announced on Wednesday it expects President Duterte to approve the country’s P3.7-trillion 2019 budget within the first quarter of the year.

The Comelec said it was only allocated

Measles. . .

Continued from A12

Before a vaccine became available in 1963, almost all children in the US had been infected by age 15, and as many as 4 million Americans caught measles annually, leading to as many as 500 deaths, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention in Atlanta.

The disease, known for the rash it produces on patients’ skin, spreads easily because it thrives in the throats of infected people, heightening the chances of airborne contagion.

An estimated 90 percent of those who come into close proximity with an infected person will catch it unless they are vaccinated or have

P1.9 billion for its volunteer training, which is lower than the P3.2 billion it had requested.

Aside from tapping the agency’s savings, Jimenez earlier said the Comelec is considering asking Congress for supplemental budget.

“Congress could do whatever it wants.

If they want to do that. If they want to go in that route, then it is fine with us,” Jimenez said.

He said it would be more preferable for the agency to include the money in its allocation for 2019.

Jimenez also disclosed that the Comelec has yet to receive an official request from the DBM to exempt the administration’s big-ticket projects from the election spending ban, which will take effect next month.

The DBM said it will ask the Comelec to exempt the 75 big-ticket infrastructure projects costing some P500 billion to avoid delays in the government’s “Build, Build, Build” program.

Samuel P. Medenilla

natural immunity, the CDC estimates. The virus can live in the airspace where a person has coughed or sneezed it out for as long as two hours, according to the CDC. With the global vaccination rate for measles stalling for almost a decade at 85 percent—shy of the near 95-percent level needed to keep the disease from spreading at all—the danger of further contagion remains.

“In many countries, not just in the West, parents have lost sight of what it means to have these various types of diseases,” the WHO’s Kretsinger said. “There’s a degree of complacency because these diseases aren’t as visible as they have been in the past. We can’t take our foot off the accelerator at this point.”

Project Manager: Rodel Suarez

BOC 117th Anniversary A BusinessMirror Special Feature

Thursday, February 14, 2019 A3

B.O.C.’s 117TH ANNIVERSARY

“One Mission, One Team, One BOC”

By Leony R. Garcia

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ARKING 117 years of excellence in public service and trade facilitation, the Bureau of Customs (BOC) has reported P48.153 billion collection with a surplus of 2.527, or 5.5-percent increase, above its P45.626-billion goal.

Surpassing its collection target in January, the revenues generated by the BOC were derived mostly from cash collection, which refers to duties, taxes and fees collected from goods that entered through the customs ports nationwide, based on the report of the Bureau of Treasury, The January 2019 collection is up 17.9 percent, or an increase of 7.322 billion, compared from the same period last year, for which the bureau collected 40.830 billion.

Customs commissioner Rey Leonardo B. Guerrero said that far more aggressive reforms will be implemented over the next months. These include automation to improve the bureau’s processes, enhancement of cargo clearance and examination capabilities, and strengthening of institutional and individual capabilities in the area of intelligence and enforcement.

The good news comes on time, as the agency is celebrating its 117th anniversary this year.

The BOC celebrated on February 6, with the theme, “One Mission, One Team, One BOC”, with Finance Undersecretary Antonette Tionko gracing the event. She was welcomed by Guerrero and other BOC officials with arrival honors.

Among the highlights of the celebration is the BOC exhibit, which showcases photographs, as well as replicas of several seizures and apprehensions of drugs and other contrabands highlighting the accomplishments of BOC collection districts and offices.

Also at the celebration, the BOC formally launched the fuel-marking program that will be implemented by the government to curb illicit trade of petroleum products. Tionko, Bureau of Internal Revenue (BIR) commissioner Caesar Dulay and Guerrero spearheaded the launching.

The BOC and the BIR are the primary government agencies tasked to implement the fuel-marking program.

Under the National Internal Rrevenue Code (NIRC), as amended the BOC is mandated to collect excise tax and VAT from all imported oil products, and prevent smuggling and all forms of illegal importation.

The fuel-marking program slated for implementation this year is expected to plug an estimated P27 billion to P44 billion of annual revenue losses.

The fuel-marking program was made mandatory for five years, pursuant to Section 148-A of the NIRC, as amended by Republic Act No. 10963, otherwise known as the Tax Reform for Acceleration and Inclusion law.

Destruction of cigarette-making machines

ALSO part of the activities is the destruction of seven cigarette-making machines in the custody of the BOC to serve as a warning to smugglers and manufacturers of fake cigarettes.

The imported cigarette-making machines without proof of payment of duties and taxes were seized on different occasions last November and December by the elements of the BOC Enforcement and Security Service from various warehouses in Bulacan, Nueva Viscaya and Quezon City.

Pursuant to the provision of Section 224 of the Customs Modernization and Tariff Act (CMTA), the owners of the machines were given 15 days to produce evidence of payment of duties and taxes. However, the owner failed to produce such documents.

Warrants of seizure and detention were issued against the said machines, pursuant to Section 1400 and Section 1113 of the CMTA. The items were declared forfeited in favor of the government after the owners failed to produce the required documents.

BOC collection districts recognized for their performance

SPEAKING before the men and women of the BOC Guerrero recognized the collective efforts of the officials and personnel of the bureau in fulfilling the mandates of the agency.

BOC collection districts were recognized for their consistent performance that contributed to the bureau’s revenue growth in 2018. The ports of Ninoy Aquino International Airport, Clark and Manila International Container Terminal, as well as the Customs Anti-Illegal

Drugs Task Force and the BOC Xray Inspection Project, were commended for their successful antismuggling operations that resulted in the seizure of more than P3 billion worth of illegal drugs in 2018.

Guerrero also introduced his 10-point priority program which will serve as the framework for the action plans of 2019.

“All these we will strive to put into action for the good of the service and the institution.

All these are shaped by a singular vision for reform, a united effort to perform above and beyond expectations and a collective desire to transform into an institution that is modern and credible, and one that the Filipino nation can be proud of,” the BOC chief said.

A4 Thursday, February 14, 2019

BOC 117th Anniversary A BusinessMirror Special Feature

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Message

PRIORITIZING REFORMS AT THE B.O.C.

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UR theme this year underscores the main focus that defines the bureau at this period in our history which is “One Mission, One Team, One BOC.” It reflects the direction that we are taking and the determination that drives us forward.

REY LEONARDO B. GUERRERO

Commissioner, Bureau of Customs

Together as one team, as one service institution, as one Bureau of Customs (BOC) we will stand strong and deliver on our mandate and mission. The momentum for change and new milestones is derived from significant numbers that marked our performance in 2018. Total collections in 2018 reached 592.87 billion pesos, exceeding target by 1.4-percent.

In addition, the 2018 revenue collections marked an all-time high of 29.4-percent increase versus 2017 figures. Still on collections, the highest daily collection was recorded last December 28, with cash collections of 6.012 billion

pesos. These milestones were made possible by strict application of valuation and tariff classifications, heightened vigilance on big-ticket commodities and a policy that drives district collectors to perform better and achieve monthly targets.

The bureau’s operations against smuggling and other customs’ fraud yielded the seizure of more than 3.074 billion pesos worth of illegal drugs and more than 2 billion pesos worth of other items, including luxury vehicles, fake goods and agricultural products. In this connection, 69 criminal cases were filed in 2018 against importers engaged in illegal trade.

(Front row) REY LEONARDO B. GUERRERO Commissioner-BOC, Usec. Antonette C. Tionko Department of Finance and Arnel S.D. Guballa Deputy Commissioner-BIR, (Second Row) Chief of staff and Deputy Commissioner of BOC.

Parallel to the all-out effort to surpass revenue targets, we have prioritized the need for reform and transformation. Aside from enforcing proper actions that would remedy weaknesses and plug loopholes, modernization efforts in operations and systems have been mapped out and are currently being implemented. In recognition of the need to continually develop skills and capacities of our customs personnel, the Customs Training Institute was created in 2018 and has, so far, conducted modules and courses on intelligence and enforcement, assessment and operations, and administration.

In terms of engaging our stakeholders, the BOCCARES program handled a total of 97,974 complaints and queries on matters, such as parcel tracking, basic customs procedures and tax exemption privileges. The challenges of 2018 tested the spirit and the skills of the BOC, without hampering the ability and capability to outdo its performance in 2017. We are taking these lessons and utilizing them to fast-track reforms and initiatives to ensure that our targets in 2019 are met and exceeded once more. We have put our priorities into a 10-point agenda, which shall serve as the framework for the action plans of 2019. These are: n The enhancement of the BOC’s information and technology system. Automation

is key to improving our processes and integrating our systems for more efficient and effective operations. nFilling up of vacant plantilla positions. Capable and committed manpower are essential to fulfilling our mandate and delivering better service. n Provision of incentives for BOC employees. Promotions and rewards are basic to improving morale and motivating people to perform their jobs better. nThe restructuring of the BOC organization. Where necessary, new offices and positions will be created, while redundant or overlapping functions will be merged, all in the interest of streamlining and upgrading the organization. nThe cnhancement of BOC facilities. Providing proper environment and facilities for optimum output will be a continuing concern. nThe enhancement of cargo clearance and examination capabilities. Programs and processes that will strengthen our capabilities in fulfilling our core mandate must be put in place. nThe enhancement of intelligence and enforcement capabilities. Building institutional and individual capabilities in the area of intelligence and enforcement will ensure that we are able to contribute to the border security and economic development.

nThe codification and harmonization of implementing rules and regulations, administrative and memorandum orders. Cleaning up and integrating the many rules and regulations that help execute our mandate will provide clear and accessible guidelines for all concerned. nThe creation of a quality management system and Integrity System. In line with the objective I defined when I assumed office, we will fast-track the creation and institutionalization of systems that uphold quality and integrity. nPursuance the Passage of BOC-related legislative measures. To enable the development of a more dynamic organization, proper legislation is necessarily the foundation for the many innovations that will be implemented. All these we will strive to put into action for the good of the service and institution. All these are shaped by a singular vision for reform, a united effort to perform above and beyond expectations and a collective desire to transform into an institution that is modern and credible, and one that the Filipino nation can be proud of.

We have years of experience to back us up, and a strong, energetic team of dedicated professionals to get the job done. With professionalism, integrity and teamwork, deliver and we will succeed.

To the BOC, let this celebration usher in better days and more milestones for us all.

BusinessMirror Special Feature

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Thursday, February 14, 2019 A5

XLOG: DRIVING DIGITAL

TRANSFORMATION IN LOGISTICS

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HE wave of digital transformation has long reached Philippine shores, stirring companies across industries to ride the tide toward technological advancement and innovation for more agile business models, better products and elevated customer experience.

The logistics industry, however, is still struggling in its digital journey weighed down by traditional infrastructure, operations and management hindering the growth and full potential of the enterprise. While it remains to be a significant contributor to the Philippine economy with an expected USD 12.68B in market growth by 2023, the industry needs to take a different and much more advanced approach.

Eugenio “Jun” Ynion, President of Shiptek Solutions Corp. said that the industry is marked with various logistical inefficiencies brought by prevailing error-prone manual business operations and processes.

Ynion is a prime mover in logistics having been in the industry for 25 years and establishing in 2003 Le Soleil International Logistics, a reputable total logistics solutions provider engaged in shipping local and international export, as well as importing cargo via air and surface routes.

He is now bent on pushing for the digitalization of the logistics

industry though his most recent brainchild - Shiptek Solutions Corporation, a research and development company that created XLOG, an end-to-end digital platform that aims to provide shippers and business owners of SMEs and large corporations with an integrated and complete suite of all the essential logistics tools, paving the way for a seamless supply chain process.

XLOG gives users full management of their transactions, from booking and managing contracts to sourcing out suppliers and delivering of products. It is the first-of-its-kind to consolidate shipping, trucking, brokerage and warehousing services into one cloud-based platform.

Fast and Cost-effective Online Booking:

QUICK Online Booking: XLOG offers shippers to save on time and resources by allowing them to book their logistics requirements online from reputable logistics service providers - from shipping and storage to trucking and customs brokerage.

Transparent Rates and

Online Payments: Through XLOG, users can complete financial transactions with peace of mind.

The platform provides users with a free online e-wallet and allows top-ups and fund withdrawals.

It enables businesses to pay their suppliers online and send money in real-time. Access to invoices and bank transaction reconciliations are also put in place for users’ convenience.

End-to-End Shipment Monitoring:

GPS Monitoring: XLOG also provides full visibility over shipments. Transport containers are attached with GPS devices to ensure security of goods and monitor current location of trucks and drivers.

Milestones Tracker: Importers and exporters can also track shipment milestones through XLOG as all documents will be attached to corresponding milestones for easy reference.

Easy Transaction Management:

SHARED Communication Platform: An in-app messaging facility is in place for secured and encrypted business communications. This enables shippers and logistics suppliers to send private messages and create group chats for seamless team communications. This feature also allows all parties involved in a transaction to efficiently coordinate for greater accountability.

Centralized Document Storage System: All important documents are also stored and shared online for easy reference in the future.

“As a Filipino company, we are committed to driving the country forward by not only creating jobs for our fellow Filipinos, but ensuring that they have access to the logistics solution of the future through XLOG. One of the

highlights of the product is that users are given full transparency with their transactions – from their online financial settlements and communications to the tracking of their shipment via GPS. Hailing from years of experience in the industry, security should always be at the forefront of business-to-business transactions.”remarks Ynion.

How To Get Started

BY creating an account at https:// web.xlog.net/, and following a few simple steps, users can immediately have access to a myriad of services offered by XLOG, catering specifically to their unique business needs and preferences.

“We are driven by our goal of simplifying the complex world of

logistics and we wanted to make the tool as user-friendly and manageable as possible”,” says Nico Gonzales, Chief Marketing Officer of Shiptek Solutions Corp.

XLOG offers free membership to all interested parties. For more information and details on how XLOG innovates the entire supply chain process, visit https://web. xlog.net/.

INNOVATING FOR

EASTERN COM

A BusinessMirr

A6 Thursday, February 14, 2019 | www.businessmirror.com.ph

EASTERN Communications delivers customers with high-tech and high-touch solutions such as managed security services and cloud solutions as well as exclusive perks and privileges through its dedicated sales team.

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By Leony R. Garcia

ROM telephones to the increasingly sophisticated and varied uses of the internet, telecommunications has come a long way from the time it first reached Philippine shores over a century ago in 1878.

For many businesses, the onset of the digital age has meant more and better ways to connect with each; faster and more efficient transactions with their customers and improved ways to manage and secure data. More than ever, telecommunication services have become an important tool for businesses, allowing them to know more, respond faster and communicate better in this now borderless world. Eastern Communications, the pioneering connectivity solutions company providing an extensive portfolio of services that include Internet, Data, Voice, and Managed Services, knows this having been the first communications service provider in the Philippines.

The company, as many may know, was commissioned by the Spanish government to provide the country’s first telegraphic services and since then, has opened up new frontiers in telecommunications that has transformed industries and allowed businesses to flourish.

Over a century later, Eastern Communications has evolved into a full service provider of world-class telecommunications services, as it continues to be the solutions partner of choice for the biggest industry players in the country.

The company takes pride in being the first Philippine telecommunications company to receive the ISO 9001:2015 mark for its business operations, proving its ability to deliver cutting-edge products with service that’s unwavering, unflagging, and undeniably strong.

With its 140-year strong legacy of creating strong connections, Eastern Communications is committed to continued innovation when it comes to delivering products that will answer the needs of modern workplaces while at the same time, giving personalized service that will

help businesses thrive.

“140 years is a milestone for us.

The company has been witness to how communications services have played a crucial role in improving Filipino businesses and changing the lives of the Filipino people throughout history. More importantly, the company is also witness and an active participant to the enduring and constant need of its customers to connect with each other, no matter how many times technology has changed over the decades,” said Catherine Muynila, Marketing Division Head of Eastern Communications.

The Eastern Brand: Our Strong Connection

FOR Eastern Communications, the company’s success and longevity in the industry can be attributed to its belief that telecommunication has always been about creating and maintaining a strong and personal connection. The company has always been committed to bringing its portfolio of dependable and affordable internet, data, and voice products, and relevant businesscentric managed offerings to new horizons while never forgetting the importance of human connections through its unique brand of “high tech and high touch” service.

The company brought this vision to the fore with its rebranding campaign. Called “Our Strong Connection,” the clarion call of the campaign is to “bring back the human connection in the business of communications technology” and a re-commitment of Eastern Communications to their clients to providing them with personalized service and customized solutions to fit a client’s business needs.

From entrepreneurs to established companies, Eastern Communications has promised to become the partner of businesses of all siz-

EASTERN Communications launched its Eastern Link VIP Platinum Club, a client recognition program where members enjoy a variety of perks and privileges.

A special recognition was given to The Manila Hotel as one of the company’s most loyal clients, with a continued partnership of more than 20 years.

es in achieving their goals and their bridge to overcoming obstacles that they encounter along the way.

“This is our two-pronged approach to our new brand – high tech means that we offer products and services that are at par with other telecommunication companies but we are also high touch as we offer personalized customer service to our clients. While we strive to give our customers products and services that are both timely and innovative, we will never lose sight of the people who will actually use the technology,” shared Muynila.

With High Tech, Eastern Communications unveiled its exciting internet portfolio, new products specific to the SME industry and its network modernization program to provide even stronger connections to its current customers in 2018, while for High Touch, customers were delighted as Eastern Communications unveiled its exciting client recognition program.

“What makes Eastern Communications unique is that we are large enough and with our long history, have expertise at par with other large telcos but we are just the right size to deliver on our promise of responsive and personalized customer service. We are business made especially personal,” she stressed.

Our Strong Connection – The Internal Campaign of Eastern Communication’s Re-branding -received an Award of Merit in the Communication Management Division under the Internal Communication Category at the recently concluded 16th Philippine Quill Awards.

With its refreshed brand, Eastern Communications has looked forward to satisfying more businesses and households with new

and innovative product lines and services, inviting them to discover the “strong connection” the company can provide during its 140th anniversary.

P900 M for Network modernization

CONTINUING its vision of providing the Philippine market with innovative services and a faster, more reliable internet connection, Eastern Communications has embarked on a modernization program spending some P900 million for 2018 alone.

The expenditure funded Eastern Communications’ network coverage and capacity expansion, as well as its network resiliency, security, and efficiency programs in Metro Manila, CALABAR, Central Luzon, and Metro-Cebu.

Answering the government’s call to support emerging businesses, which currently constitute about 99.6 percent of the country’s business landscape, Eastern Communications aims to provide enhanced technology that is affordable and accessible to emerging businesses.

They have also upgraded their bandwidth to address the increasing connectivity demands of different industries in the country. For example, the BPO sector, projected to become a $40-billion industry by 2022 based on a 16% annual growth rate, is looking for better bandwidth to enable faster transactions in high volumes, creating a satisfying customer experience while lowering marginal costs.

“Our network modernization program is geared towards the provisioning and migration of Eastern Communications’ Internet and Data Services onto higher capac-

ity, more resilient, better secured, and fiber-based Internet and Data Services Networking solutions. Our vision is to continue on the path of progress and ensure we deliver high tech and high touch service to our customers, especially to emerging businesses,” shared Senior Vice President-Network Services Division Albert L. Tuason.

A key component of the modernization plan is the creation of a network resilient to the cyber threats and security issues that are besetting the Philippine cyberspace. The network security upgrade is the company’s initiative to help improve cybersecurity in the country and ensure the safety of its customers in terms of privacy and network integrity.

Microsoft ranked the Philippines as the 8th most vulnerable country to malware in Asia-Pacific; while the FBI identified he country as the 10th most attacked one in the internet globally.

The P900 million capital expenditure is an addition to the P2 to 3 billion that has already been invested over the past two to three years, Eastern Communications shared.

VIP Link Platinum Club launched

TO reward its long-time partners in this milestone year, Eastern Communications also launched its client recognition and service differentiation program dubbed the Eastern Link VIP Platinum Club, where members get to enjoy a variety of perks and privileges from the company that will further help them build their business.

Platinum members are entitled to a dedicated senior staff that will handle their billing, credit and col-

lection concerns. They will also have direct access to the Service Operations Team with an exclusive email address and hotline for their concerns, manned by experienced and dedicated customer experience agents with an automatic email call back program for faster isolation and resolution of faults.

Regular call outs are included in the program to ensure better customer satisfaction, paired with the annual Service-Level Agreement (SLA) review.

Eastern Communications’ Head of Sales Michael Castaneda said, “This program aims to recognize our platinum members for their continued and unwavering loyalty to our company and our services. We want to provide our platinum members with unparalleled service as we cater to their business requirements and build on our Strong Connection.”

During the event, Atty. Aileen Regio also mentioned that the company‘s customer satisfaction rating continue to increase despite the challenging business environment.

“All the exclusive perks and privileges we presented are just the beginning of our journey to provide customers with high-tech and high-touch solutions such as managed security services and cloud solutions” added Edsel Paglinawan, Head of Product Innovation.

The program highlighted Platinum Members from different industries where each member was acknowledged and given a plaque of appreciation. A special recognition was given to The Manila Hotel for being the company’s most loyal client, with a continued partnership of more than 20 years.

After a toast celebrating the occasion, the Platinum members

R A BETTER TOMORROW

MMUNICATIONS @140

ror Special Feature

www.businessmirror.com.ph | Thursday, February 14, 2019

A7 x

TOP ROW FROM LEFT TO RIGHT Nathan San Diego – Co-Controller, Atty. Jonathan Altubar – Legal and Regulatory Director, Albert Tuason – SVP, Network Services, Rene Castillo – VP, Customer Solutions Delivery, Michael Castañeda – Eastern Communications’ Head of Sales, Edsel Paglinawan - Product and Innovations Head, Bernie Bernardino – Excellence and Customer Focus Head, Omar Latorre – Co-Controller. BOTTOM ROW FROM LEFT TO RIGHT Catherine Muynila – Marketing Head, Ramon Aesquivel - Co-Coordinator, Atty. Aileen Regio – Co-Coordinator, Anilene Cometa - HROD Head.

Michael Castañeda, Eastern Communications’ Head of Sales, speaking during the Exceed Business Expo

TOASTUGAN AT MACTAN. Eastern Communications expands its service in Cebu to offer seamless connectivity solutions to the growing demands of businesses and companies.

were also treated to a performance from the renowned vocal group, The Company, who serenaded them with classic and contemporary tunes, plus tracks from the Broadway hit, the Lion King – which served as a teaser for the giveaway of Lion King Tickets for all the members.

Business Expo

TO support businesses and their growth in its 140th year, Eastern Communications also hosted the Exceed Business Expo, designed to help companies thrive in the digital age.

The Exceed Business Expo held in key cities in Metro Manila over June and July touched on various topics such as digital security preparedness, marketing and branding advice, and even shared IT predictions for various industries that will enable emerging businesses and enterprises gear up for success in the business arena.

The morning session opened with a talk on Cybersecurity from Gen Macalinao of the Department of Information and Communications Technology (DICT), who explained the increasing importance of safeguarding digital channels when doing business in the digital world, given that no industry or institution – whether public or private - is immune to cyber-attacks.

Meanwhile, Bill Velasco, veteran freelance sports analyst and

entrepreneur, talked about how to create strong connections in the digital sphere in an era of accelerated change.

Anchoring his talk on five basic principles, Velasco shared that to stay connected to their customers, companies must first, decide what they stand for, second, to identify weaknesses and turn them into strengths, third, openness to what the world can offer, fourth, to look for connections and relationships even between things that may not seem related, and finally, to be the revolution or the ripple that will bring waves of change.

Break-out sessions were provided in the afternoon with two tracks: High Tech, which focused on integrating technology into business processes, and how it can exponentially upscale your workplace; and the High Touch sessions which included sessions on the importance of PR, tips on digital marketing and how to brand your business for success.

Meanwhile, the evening was dedicated towards providing insights for enterprises, led by Trend Micro Philippines’ Jessica Bernardo who shared the top ten IT predictions for the year.

For 140 years, Eastern Communications has provided for the telecommunication needs of different sector in the country. And as they enter the digital age, the com-

pany is committed towards bringing the competitive advantage and possibilities of digitization to more companies and entrepreneurs.

Products for the modern workplace

AS part of its 140th celebration, Eastern Communications also recently launched new products for the modern workplace: a variety of connectivity products and solutions such as Global Data, DDOS Protection, Microsoft Azure and Office 365 and Managed SD-WAN (Wide Area Network) services.

High Speed Global Data Services

EASTERN Communications has added EIPL (Ethernet International Private Line) and Global MPLS (Multi-Protocol Label Switching) to its data portfolio. Their EIPL and Global MPLS services provide high speed, point-to-point, and point to multipoint service that transmits simultaneous two-way traffic between customer locations in the Philippines and across the world.

These services are well suited for businesses in industries with overseas branches and offices such as banking and finance, manufacturing, transport and distribution, ICT and business process outsourcing companies.

Through partnerships with global carriers, Eastern Commu-

nications is able to provide global business connectivity with reliable and scalable high bandwidth speeds starting at 1Mbps or higher.

They can also commit to industry standard service levels with guaranteed network availability based on service level agreements between Eastern and global carriers.

Managed Software Defined-Wide Area Networks

MANAGED Software Defined-Wide Area Network or Managed SD-WAN enables enterprises to dynamically route traffic across a hybrid WAN. Perfect for companies with multisite and multi-branch businesses, the use of a Hybrid WAN allows for improved routing of bandwidth and the optimization of network transport services. It means more bandwidth availability for business-critical apps for better performance.

This service also delivers other benefits such as improved network visibility and control, security, and better network planning and operations as companies can control the entire network through a single interface and enforce policies with ease based on business requirements.

Managed WiFi Mesh

MANAGED WiFi Mesh allows households or small businesses to have access to strong internet across the entire house or office. Without

the hassle of cabling and setting it up, Eastern Communications’ WiFi Mesh creates a whole new WiFi network, different from your current router’s WiFi that provides rich interconnection beyond concrete walls and multi-stories. Most importantly, there will be zero dead spot as the WiFi Mesh completely covers the customer premise.

Better Cybersecurity through DDoS Protection

DDoS attacks or Distributed Denial of Service attacks are one of the fastest growing threats in the cyberattack landscape. A Denial of Service attack is when a server is deliberately targeted with very large numbers of requests, in order to block or crash the server. DDoS attacks are even more difficult to protect from as it aims to make online services unavailable through overwhelming traffic from multiple sources Eastern Communications offers the solution to this challenge by offering businesses protection that encompasses different DDoS attacks helping to prevent costly downtime for websites and applications. They have partnered with markets leaders in security to offer a comprehensive approach to DDoS mitigation.

Through Eastern Communications’ Anti-DDoS solution, companies can be protected from Volumetric Attacks which uses a massive amount of traffic saturating the bandwidth of the target, Protocol Attacks which consume all the processing capacity of the attacked-target or intermediate critical resources like a firewall causing service disruption, Application Layer Attacks which establish a connection with the target and then exhaust the server resources by monopolizing processes and transactions, and more.

“Eastern is going beyond connectivity. Aside from our Core solu-

tions, customers love Eastern because of the quality of our services.

As such, more and more Managed Services-based products are complementing our Internet, Data, and Voice. We offer end-to-end solutions, from access to the market leaders in cybersecurity to managing your security through unwavering customer support,” Product and Innovation Division Head Edsel Paglinawan explained.

Cloud Services

Cloud adoption continues to rise globally and Eastern Communications is here to help Filipino companies reap the benefits of cloud services as it offers Microsoft Azure Virtual Machines and Office 365.

Microsoft Azure Virtual Machines or VM is a comprehensive set of cloud services that developers and IT professionals use to build, deploy, and manage applications through Microsoft’s global network of datacenters.

Azure offers the ability to instantly provision computing resources on demand. Compared to the task of planning and building an on-site data center, along with the requisite hardware upgrades, maintenance costs, server cooling requirements, electricity costs, and use of floorspace—particularly for offices with associated real estate costs— using Azure can lead to significant savings for a company

Meanwhile Office 365 is a subscription plan that include access to Office applications plus other cloud-based productivity services, making work accessible anywhere at anytime.

With its bandwidth capability, array of services and personalized service, Eastern Communications is inviting more businesses to discover the “strong connection” the company can provide.

For more information, visit www.eastern.com.ph.

A4 Thursday, February 14, 2019 • Editor: Vittorio V. Vitug A8

Economy BusinessMirror

Government urged to seize ‘golden opportunity’ after Hanjin collapse

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By Cai U. Ordinario

@caiordinario

HE national government should seize the “golden opportunity” to take over the shipbuilding facilities of Hanjin Heavy Industries and Construction Co.-Philippines (HHICPhil) Inc. to industrialize the economy.

In a forum on Wednesday, former Dean of the University of the Philippines School of Labor and Industrial Relations (Solair) Rene E. Ofreneo said the government can not pass up this opportunity because the Hanjin problem affects the economy, national defense and even food security.

Anakpawis Rep. Ariel Casilao, for his part, said that industrializing the country can begin with Hanjin because it could jump-start the implementation of the industrialization road map of the government.

“The Hanjin [case] can be a golden opportunity para maging solid ang industrialization base natin. First step magkaroon ka ng genuine takeover.

Hindi ’yung takeover mo temporarily transition pero ’yung two Chinese company naman ay naka-abang na din para mag-invest at doon ibibigay mo.

Of course genuine takeover precisely means [the] government within its resources and agencies should manage.

[The Hanjin debacle can be a golden opportunity and could become a solid base for industrialization. First step is to have a genuine takeover. This takeover should not be temporary or transitionary while the two Chinese companies are waiting in the wings to invest and the government will give it to them. Of course genuine takeover precisely means government within its resources and agencies should manage],” Casilao said.

Ofreneo added that a development framework for the takeover of

Hanjin should be crafted. This will prevent its previous challenges, such as its high debts, to resurface.

Glut in shipbuilding

HE said the debts of Hanjin piled up as a result of the 2008 glut in ship building which led to oversupply of ships with the entry of China.

Despite this problem, the government can capitalize on the country’s geographical position, as well as its 7,100 islands that are always in need of ample supply of various goods and services.

Having a local shipbuilder in the country can help improve transportation and logistics within the Philippines. Agronomist at the University of the Philippines Los Baños Teodoro C. Mendoza said this will benefit the farm sector.

Mendoza said Filipinos do not need to suffer from high prices since field or farm-gate prices are low. The only thing that makes food expensive in the country is the high cost of transportation.

“Very few understand the logistics side of agriculture, and agriculture is not a stand alone industry,” Mendoza said. “We are an archipelagic country, how will you distribute your food?

So you will require a lot of ships. Incidentally, water is efficient because there’s no traffic but we don’t have ships,” he added.

Further, the Department of Labor and Employment Bureau of Labor and Employment Director Domi-

nique Rubia-Tutay said she told Labor Secretary Silvestre H. Bello III that the department should support efforts to takeover Hanjin if only to ensure the plight of the workers.

Rubia-Tutay said moving toward industrialization is the only way to give Hanjin workers decent jobs, as well as transform the “Philippines into a shipbuilding capital.”

“Let’s build our own [ships], be the captain in the industry, including the maritime sector because our maritime sector is a strong one,” Rubia-Tutay said.

She said the problem of Hanjin workers will worsen, especially after this week since the last ship that is currently being constructed at Hanjin in Subic will be completed by the end of the week.

On top of that, there are age concerns for many of the workers.

Rubia-Tutay said while there were many workers that will be hired because of their expertise as welders and fitters, for older welders, they may have to deal with pay cuts.

Rubia-Tutay said in order to qualify as welders, all workers need to undergo a precision test. But many older welders would have a difficult time passing this test especially if they are already in their 40s.

She said workers in Hanjin, especially those that started working there when the shipyard opened, are already in the 30s and 40s. Some of those who will not pass the test will have to settle for less paying jobs such as fitters.

“If you are a 40-year-old person in Hanjin and you will apply as a welder in some other contractors and companies, your chances really decline because employers would say its a high pressurized tool that they use. What happens is that employers have to retool them and transfer them to other jobs in the construction sector. They said the closest would be [to work as] fitters of steel,” Rubia-Tutay said.

“Of course the pay is different

Romblon goes for green power with launch of 3 wind turbines

By Lenie Lectura

@llectura

T

HE Romblon Electric Cooperative Inc. (Romelco) launched last week the 900-kilowatt (kW) wind turbines in Barangays Agnay, Bagacay and Lonos in Romblon to provide the growing power demand of the island province.

The P242-million wind farm project was built in partnership with Japanese manufacturer Komaihaltec Inc. and supported by the Ministry of the Environment of Japan.

National Electrification Administration (NEA) Deputy Administrator for technical services Artis Nikki Tortola said the completion of the wind project proves that electric cooperatives can surpass any challenge.

“For so long a time, we were conditioned to think that private companies can best operate and maintain power plants. However, Romelco defied those perceptions and proof of this are the many generation projects the cooperative has ventured into,” Tortola said.

He noted that a determined nonprofit distribution utility can also fuel tourism and other industries by powering communities without harming the environment.

“Anything is possible and the electric cooperatives, if given the chance, are the most potent arm in the quest of the national government for total electrification all over the

Philippines by providing stable and clean energy at the most reasonable rate compared to the private sector,” Tortola said.

Standing at 42 meters each, the three units of 300-kW wind turbines will have a combined capacity to generate 2,000,100 kilowatt hours of green energy, or equivalent to 25 percent of the total annual energy requirement of the island.

These facilities will be leased to the coop per its agreement with Komaihaltec Inc. Romelco will take full ownership of the facilities after four years of demonstration period, said NEA. In recent years, Romelco had, likewise, established a 30-kW solar diesel hybrid generation system in Cobrador Island, and 1,350kW mini hydro power plant in Cantingas, San Fernando, Sibuyan Island.

Meanwhile, the energy produced by these wind turbines will not only power up households in Romblon, but will also charge batteries for use in electric vehicles that have recently been introduced by Honda Motor Company Ltd. to the province.

In partnership with Romelco, the automobile manufacturer had chosen to pilot its new PCX electric scooters powered by Honda Mobile Power Pack detachable batteries in Romblon. It had released 100 units that have been leased to Romblon residents for P2,000 a month for four years.

but these options will be evaluated by the welder. But if the option is between being unemployed and being employed but having a lower salary, you might grab [the latter] opportunity because this can be temporary given [the] talk about a government takeover,” she added.

Earlier, local economists such as Action for Economic Reforms (AER) Coordinator Filomeno S. Sta. Ana III said the government has no business running a company that can easily be operated by the private sector.

A government takeover, Sta. Ana said, is not the answer, even if there are sectors that say the troubles of Hanjin was also caused by market failures. He stressed that “shipbuilding is not a public good.”

Unionbank expert: White knight best

FURTHER, Unionbank Bank Chief Economist Ruben Asuncion said taking over Hanjin will also lead to lost revenues, especially given the poor track record of the government in taking over firms.

Asuncion said having white knights is the best option for Hanjin right now. The government does not have experience in running a shipbuilding facility and could potentially lead to “regrettable results.”

One such company is Philippine Airlines, which was sequestered by the national government in the 1970s. It was seized by the late dictator Ferdinand E. Marcos from businessman Benigno Toda Jr. The GSIS acquired 92 percent of PAL shares from majority PAL owner Benigno Toda, returning ownership and control back to the government. Capital increased from P25 million to P250 million.

However, in 1999, the Securities and Exchange Commission approved a rehabilitation plan designed to return PAL to financial viability, following a capital infusion of $200 million by Chairman Lucio C. Tan. PAL exited receivership in 2007.

www.businessmirror.com.ph

Slow implementation of Mindanao railway project roils MinDa chief

By Manuel T. Cayon

@awimailbox Mindanao Bureau Chief

D

AVAO CITY—The government’s socioeconomic planning unit for Mindanao has slammed the Department of Transportation’s (DOTr) alleged footdragging in the implementation of the proposed Mindanao railway system, described as a cherished legacy project of President Duterte for Mindanao.

Saying that that the project has remained stagnant with the DOTr with nary a feasibility study in last the two years, Secretary Abul Kayr Alonto, chief of the Mindanao Development Authority (MinDA), said he has asked President Duterte to intervene to finally move the project off the ground.

Alonto added he will also ask the President to give MinDA the authority to implement and manage the project, citing the office’s familiarity with Mindanao and the urgency to complete the project, at least within the term of President Duterte.

“That project is moving very slowly, and almost all things are going wrong with the project, and two Mindanao officials assigned with that project have been removed,” Alonto said.

He lamented that no feasibility studies were ever done for the project during the last two years, “that is why we requested the DOTr to transfer the project to us.”

Alonte said Transportation Secretary Arthur Tugade has told him he was amenable to the suggestion but requested that the transfer should happen after the implementation of the first phase, referring to the 102-kilometer Tagum City, Davao del Norte-Davao City-Digos City, Davao del Sur section of the railway system.

Alonto said there were no more discussions being scheduled with Tugade. “I will just wait for the decision of the President. But I have already informed him.”

The transfer, Alonto said, should happen immediately to ensure that the implementation would really happen. “We are living on borrowed time and the project should be finished as a legacy [to the Palace term] of President Duterte.”

Late last year, the Regional Development Council here expressed concern over the failure of the DOTr to transmit to the Investment Coordinating Council of the National Economic Development Authority Board the change of scope and the updated costing of the project. It said this has also caused the delay.

The original project was a singletrack locomotive railway, which, Alonto said, “we opposed because of it is archaic and may cause pollution.”

By early last year though, the DOTr and Malacañang’s economic managers have repeatedly announced and assured that the railway system has been changed to a double-track electric train system.

However, the most recent posting by the DOTr on its Internet web site still carried the first version of the project.

“The rail line will be built with a single track, with provisions for future tracks and electrification. It will have six five-car passenger trains (diesel multiple units) with three spare cars, four locomotives and 15 freight cars,” the DOTr banner posting said.

It futher stated that the Mindanao Railway Project-Tagum, Davao, Digos (MRP-TDD) segment is the first of the three segments of the project.

The design and construction of the project would begin by third quarter of this year, and it is expected to be completed by the of 2021.

It said MRP-TDD segment would reduce travel time from Tagum City, Davao del Norte, to Digos City, Davao del Sur, from 3.5 hours to 1.3 hours once it starts operating in 2022.

The Davao segment would have eight stations: Tagum; Carmen; Panabo; Mudiang; Davao Terminal; Toril; Sta. Cruz; and Digos. A 10-hectare depot would be built in Tagum.

DAR forms team to ‘streamline’ land-conversion applications

By Jonathan L. Mayuga

T

@jonlmayuga

HE Duterte administration has formed a joint task force to “streamline” the processes that will evaluate and resolve all land-conversion applications filed before the Department of Agrarian Reform (DAR).

At a news conference on Wednesday, DAR officials said there’s “no specific order” coming from President Duterte to approve landuse conversion applications.

DAR Secretary John R. Castriciones clarified that despite his outburst over the slow pace of processing of land-use conversion applications, President Duterte remains committed to distributing land to landless farmers.

The DAR chief added that land-use conversion is the opposite of agrarian reform, even as he admitted that the proposal of his predecessor, former DAR Secretary Rafael Mariano, for a two-year moratorium on land-use conversion “was not extensively discussed.”

Mariano, a former party-list congressman, has submitted to the Palace a draft executive order that will set-aside all land-use conversion cases pending a comprehensive review or audit of all CARPcovered land that escaped land distribution through the conversion.

Mariano’s proposal met strong opposition from President Duterte’s economic team who rejected the idea.

Castriciones, however, maintained that the Duterte administration, with the DAR

under his leadership, is stepping up the distribution of Certificate of Land Ownership Awards and has so far distributed CLOAs, or proof of ownership under the Comprehensive Agrarian Reform Program (CARP) and its amended version, the Comprehensive Agrarian Reform Program—Extension with Reform (CARPer), covering a total of 60,000 hectares.

“This is the highest CLOA distribution ever made by the DAR,” he said.

Undersecretary Luis Meinrado C. Pangulayan, of the Legal Affairs Office, said aside from the creation of the interagency special task force, the Duterte administration has initially agreed to adopt “a whole of government approach” in the processing of applications.

“Let me clarify that President Duterte has no order to convert land,” he said.

“What the President wants is to fast-track the process of rendering a decision on a land-use application,” he said.

According to Pangulayan, there are 73 pending cases of land-use conversion application and there are 46 new applications.

The Inter-Agency Special Task Force on Land Use Conversion has agreed to formulate a joint memorandum circular for submission to the President and the Cabinet.

For purposes of processing application for land-use conversion from agricultural to residential, commercial and industrial uses, the task force will involve the Department of Agrarian Reform (DAR), Department of the

Interior and Local Government, Department of Agriculture, Housing and Land Use Regulatory Board, National Housing Authority, and Housing and Urban Development Coordinating Council. For conversion of agricultural land for purpose of energy production, the interagency task force will include the Department of Energy.

According to Pangulayan, a land-use conversion may be approved or rejected by concerned government agencies, particularly by the DAR, the lead-implementing agency of CARP and CARPer. Pangulayan said that land-use conversion may be allowed if the basic requisites for conversion are satisfied. First, the land has ceased to be economically feasible and sound for agricultural purposes; the locality has become urbanized; the land will have a greater economic value for nonagricultural purposes; and land is neither irrigated nor irrigable.

The authority of DAR to convert agricultural land goes beyond awarded lands or retained areas.

In his presentation, Pangulayan cited Paragraph K, Section 4, of Executive Order 129-A, which confers upon the DAR the authority to “approve or disapprove the conversion, restructuring or readjustment of agricultural lands into nonagricultural uses.”

However, he assured that land use-conversion is anchored on two important aspects as far as the DAR is concerned—the tiller’s right and food security.

Environment dept. allots ₧10 million for local biodiversity-friendly enterprises

T

HE Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) is allocating P10 million to finance biodiversity-friendly social enterprises for coastal communities within Marine Protected Areas (MPAs).

Director Crisanta Marlene Ro-

driguez of the DENR’s Biodiversity Management Bureau said the funding can be accessed by community-based organizations, nongovernment organizations, people’s organizations or cooperatives that are willing to partner with the DENR-BMB in promoting

biodiversity-friendly programs and projects that will help conserve and protect the country’s rich biodiversity.

“For this year, we have allocated only P10 million but the focus is on MPAs because it is under the flagship CMEMP program.” Rodriguez told the

BusinessMirror, referring to the Coastal and Marine Ecosystem Management Program.

For 2019, she added, the DENRBMB had informed DENR regional offices aware of the program and funding availability.

These regional offices, she added, will receive and process applications from interested parties, who may wish to avail themselves of funding support.

The DENR regional offices, Rodriguez said, also conducts the assessment and issues recommendations as to the

amount of financial support a development partner can avail itself of.

The CMEMP was established by virtue of DENR Administrative Order (DAO) 2016-26, to promote Biodiversity-Friendly Social Enterprise Development. Jonathan L. Mayuga

The Nation BusinessMirror

www.businessmirror.com.ph

Military says no letup in rescue ops for captured soldiers and militiamen

A

SOLDIER held as a prisoner of war by New People’s Army (NPA) rebels in Mindanao is asking the military to suspend its operations to facilitate his release and that of his colleagues, but officials have turned down his call.

Army Pfc. Darlino Carino Jr., who was among those taken by rebels when they raided a military outpost in Agusan del Sur in December, called on President Duterte and the military leadership to declare a suspension of offensive operations and pave the way for their release.

“Sir, help us hasten our release.

If it’s possible we were asking for the Somo [suspension of offensive militar y operations],” Carino, who is from Taguig City, called out on his commander through a released video.

“Mr. President Rodrigo Roa Duterte. Sir, what I only wanted is for the hastening of our release.

Please order a stop to the operation.

This is what I am only asking so that I can be with my wife and my child. Our wedding anniversary is very near,” he added.

But Armed Forces Eastern Min-

danao Command Commander Maj. Gen. Felimon Santos turned down the appeal, saying there would be no halt against the rebels in their area of operations.

“The Armed Forces will continue the operation with the purpose of rescuing the kidnap victims. We will not negotiate with the terrorist. The terrorist can release them if they want to without giving any condition,” he said.

At least 50 rebels raided a military patrol base at Tubigon, Sibagat, in Agusan del Sur on December 19, capturing Carino, another soldier and 12 militiamen who are members of a Cafgu Active Auxiliary.

The rebels also seized several highpowered firearms.

The 29-year-old Carino said they were surprised by the rebels during the raid.

He said their captors were treating them well and were eating the same food being eaten by their custodians.

Carino assured his wife, whom he misses, and even his parents that he is okay and safe.

“Mama and papa, don’t worry, I am alive,” he said. Rene Acosta

Editor: Vittorio V. Vitug • Thursday, February 14, 2019 A9

Sinaloa drug ring member gets life for ’15 cocaine bust

A

By Joel R. San Juan

@jrsanjuan1573

SUSPECTED member of the Mexican Sinaloa drug syndicate was sentenced to life imprisonment by the Regional Trial Court in Makati City four years after he was arrested for selling P12 million worth of cocaine.

Aside from the prison term, Judge Selma Palacio Alaras also ordered Horacio Hernandez Herrera to pay a fine of P500,000 to P10 million.

In her ruling, Judge Selma held that Herrera was guilty of violating Republic Act 9165, or the Comprehensive Dangerous Drugs Act of 2002.

Herrera was arrested in Janu-

ary 11, 2015, in a buy bust inside a restaurant along Makati Avenue by agents of the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency and the now-dissolved Philippine National Police-Anti-Illegal Drugs Special Operations Task Force.

The trial court gave weight to the testimony of Intelligence Officer 1

Errold Dayrit and other operatives who conducted the buy-bust operation and arrested Herrera upon the turnover of the marked money, “Dayrit was categorical and consistent that the accused was redhanded selling him cocaine. The court gives full faith and credit to the testimony of IO1 Dayrit and the other operatives who were properly performing their duties absent any proof of improper motive,” the ruling said.

“After due assessment of the facts and evidence adduced, the court is of the considered view that there is basis to support a finding of guilt beyond reasonable doubt against the accused as the circumstances surrounding his arrest are in order,” it added.

Herrera had denied the charges against him, claiming there was no valid arrest and accused the police officers of robbery, kidnapping and extortion.

He claimed that he is in the country to put up an “Air Water” business and a restaurant.

He said he met a certain Sarah Nazareno who introduced him to two Chinese men who asked him to bring “ice.”

In his affidavit, he believed that Nazareno was the one who had set him up.

Herrera said he will appeal the decision as he maintained his innocence.

“This case is very straight forward—there was a buy bust, he was there, he was selling drugs, the police arrested him. It’s that simple. So, there is no other way that the court could have found otherwise. The accused testified, he was his only witness. It’s very obvious that we have very solid evidence against the accused,” said Senior Assistant State Prosecutor Juan Pedro Navera, who handled the case.

Chinese student Police tortured suspect to admit complicity in Jolo bombings, rights group, lawyer say We agree with Atty. Meltoni Sibulan that this may be in ‘taho’ tantrum a masquerade to make the public believe that this [Jolo faces deportation O cathedral twin bombings] is a closed case. [The] torture of proceedings innocent civilians [and] to use [them] as scapegoats reveal

By Rene Acosta

T

HE Bureau of Immigration (BI) announced on Wednesday that it has taken into custody Chinese student Zhang Jiale to face deportation proceedings for throwing a cup of taho, or soybean pudding, at a police officer assigned to provide security at the Metro Rail Transit (MRT) 3 on February 9.

BI Spokesman Dana Krizia Sandoval said Zhang was taken into custody by the agency’s intelligence division by virtue of a mission order signed by BI Commissioner Jaime Morente. “ Z h a ng h a s a l re ady b e e n charged as an undesirable alien for posing as a risk to public interest,” said Sandoval. “The incident showed her disrespect toward persons of authority, which, in turn, shows her disrespect to the country,” Sandoval said.

The BI said Zhang may face deportation and eventual blacklisting following the said incident.

Sandoval said the BI is expected to come up with a decision on Zhang’s case within the next few weeks.

Zhang went viral on social media after throwing a cup of taho to Police Officer 1 William Cristobal after being lawfully prohibited from entering the MRT 3 station in Mandaluyong with the beverage.

The MRT management has been implementing a no-liquid policy inside the station and train premises as part of the security measures against possible terrorist attacks in light of the recent twin bombings at the Jolo cathedral allegedly perpetrated by suicide bombers.

Instead of complying with the measure, Zhang argued with the authorities and when Cristobal approached her to explain the policy she threw her cup of taho at the latter.

The Office of the City Prosecutor of Mandaluyong City has also charged Zhang before a trial court for direct assault to an agent of person in authority but has been released after posting bail.

Sandoval clarified that her court case and her immigration case are two different matters.

“Her court case will run independent from her immigration case. If found deportable, we will wait for the resolution of her court case before implementing the deportation,” the BI spokesman said. Joel R. San Juan

@reneacostaBM

NE of the suspects arrested by the police in connection with the twin bombings in Sulu was allegedly tortured to admit the crime, his lawyer and human-rights group Karapatan claimed on Wednesday.

Lawyer Meltoni Sibuyan and Karapatan claimed that Mukammar Pae, an alleged member of the Abu Sayyaf Group (ASG) under Commander Hatib Hajan Sawadjaan, was tortured and subjected to water boarding just to admit his participation in the bombings. A form of water torture, waterboarding is carried out by pouring amounts of water over a cloth-covered face and breathing

the extent of police brutality, incompetence, and deliberate violation of laws that safeguard against cruel and inhumane treatment.”—Palabay

passages of an immobilized captive, causing the person to experience the sensation of drowning.

Philippine National Police chief Director General Oscar D. Albayalde said that Pae, who was arrested along with three others, aided the

suicide bombers of the Jolo cathedral, which killed 23 people and wounded 95 others on January 27.

Albayalde said that an improvised explosive device and bomb components were also recovered by policemen when they searched

Pae’s house in Sulu.

Sibulan claimed that Pae and his three other companions were tree cutters and lumberyard workers, who wanted to clear their name by turning themselves to the Army’s 35th Infantry Battalion in Sulu, which

turned them over to the police.

“Immediately after, Pae was illegally arrested, tortured and detained. Sibulan added that his client was subjected to waterboarding,” Karapatan through its Secretary-General Cristina Palabay said in a statement.

“We agree with Atty. Meltoni Sibulan that this may be a masquerade to make the public believe that this is a closed case. [The] torture of innocent civilians [and] to use [them] as scapegoats reveal the extent of police brutality, incompetence, and deliberate violation of laws that safeguard against cruel and inhumane treatment,” Palabay said.

Karapatan called for an investigation into the allegations of torture.

Go, Roxas, Revilla, Tolentino top violators on posting illegal campaign materials–report

By Samuel P. Medenilla

P

HEART-SHAPED BALLOONS FOR VALENTINE’S

A husband-and-wife team cashes in on today’s global celebration of Valentine’s Day by selling red-colored and heart-shaped balloons to passersby on Edsa. NONOY LACZA

House bill pushes P500-M electronic upgrade for PHL libraries

A

LAWMAKER is pushing for the passage of measure seeking to hike the budget of the National Library to P500 million to upgrade the country’s public libraries by incorporating the latest electronic technologies in filing and cataloguing reading materials and research resources.

In House Bill (HB) 8087, Camarines Sur Rep. Luis Raymund F. Villafuerte Jr. said his proposal seeks to strengthen the provisions of Republic Act (RA) 7743, which provides for the establishment of provincial, city and municipal libraries and barangay reading centers

throughout the Philippines.

To provide funds for this massive upgrade, Villafuerte said his bill seeks to increase the budget of the National Library to P500 million a year until all cities and municipalities are provided with full electronic library facilities.

“HB 8087’s goal is for all cities and municipalities in the country to have electronically operated library systems in place by 2022,” he said in a news statement issued on Wednesday.

According to the lawmaker, Congress needs to amend RA 7743 to keep local government units and their

respective constituents at pace with rapid changes in today’s digital era and to improve the country’s education system.

The bill, likewise, seeks to improve the current program of establishing public libraries and barangay reading centers by mandating that it be based on the latest computer and electronic library technology.

It also seeks to upgrade reading center facilities with complete standard sets of books, e-books, online research resources and other materials.

Jovee Marie N. Dela Cruz

@sam_medenilla

OLL candidates with existing posted illegal campaign materials by Friday this week could soon face sanctions from the Commission on Elections (Comelec).

The election body will be ending on Thursday the three-day grace period it gave to candidates to remove all oversized and illegally placed campaign materials.

“On Friday, several teams of the Comelec will be documenting materials that are still out or still in place,” Comelec Spokesman James B. Jimenez said.

“And once we complete the documentation and then that is the time we will be taking legal action against those violations,” he added.

Jimenez clarified their crackdown will cover illegally placed campaign materials whether it is posted with or without the permission of a candidate. “If a poster is posted by supporter[s] without the permission of a candidate, the said candidate should still remove the illegal material since it is still benefiting them.

He also noted that even if such materials are “donated” to a candidate, it will still be counted against their existing spending limit and should be included in the Statement of Contribution and Expenditure (SOCE).

“So candidates could still overspend [for their campaign] if they have many of these [donated materials],” Jimenez said.

Based on Comelec regulations, the sizes for posters should not exceed 2 by 3 feet, while for its streamers it should not be more than 3 by 8 feet.

Election materials should also be posted within identified poster areas.

It cannot be posted on trees and plants and private property, without the permission of the owner.

Violation of these conditions will be considered as an election offense, which is punishable by imprisonment, perpetual disqualification from holding public office and being deprived from their right to vote.

The Comelec kicked off its drive to remove illegal election materials on Tuesday with the start of the campaign period for national candidates.

During the campaign period, election prohibited acts for candidates will finally take effect.

Jimenez noted while many illegal posters were voluntarily removed before the start of the campaign period, he noted they still got numerous reports of illegal campaign materials.

The said illegal campaign materials were from former Special Assistant to the President Christopher “Bong” Go, former Metropolitan Manila Development Authority chairman Francis T. Tolentino, former Sens. Ramon “Bong” Revilla Jr., Jose “Jinggoy” Estrada and Manuel “Mar” Roxas II.

A10 Thursday, February 14, 2019 • Editor: Angel R. Calso

Opinion BusinessMirror

www.businessmirror.com.ph

editorial

Who wants to ride on oven-hot trains?

T

HE hot months are fast approaching, which will surely make commuting in Metro Manila more stressful. For millions of commuters in all parts of the metropolis, the traffic gridlock has become a day-to-day ordeal that they must endure.

For about 200,000 people using the Light Rail Transit 2, however, the intensity of the summer heat will bring them hell unless LRT 2 officials will keep their promise to repair their trains’ air-conditioning system before the summer months come.

The LRT 2 is a heavy rail rapid transit system owing to its use of electric multiple units instead of the light rail vehicles used, for example, in Metro Rail Transit 3. Envisioned in the 1970s as part of the Metropolitan Manila Strategic Mass Rail Transit Development Plan, the 11-station, 13.8-kilometer line was the third rapid transit line to be built in Metro Manila when it started operations in 2003.

Serving close to 200,000 passengers daily, the LRT 2 is the least busy among Metro Manila’s three rapid transit lines. But unlike the LRT 1 and MRT 3 whose coaches have well-functioning air-conditioning systems, most LRT 2 coaches are oven-hot. No wonder, for the good part of 2018, LRT 2 passengers have been constantly complaining.

In response, LRT 2 management promised fast action on commuters’ complaints. The headline of a news story the Philippine News Agency published on May 17, 2018, said: “LRT-2 to replace aircon units in 8-12 months.” The news item said the Light Rail Transit Authority (LRTA), which operates LRT 2, “has signed earlier this month a P350-million contract for the replacement of 80 air-conditioning units for 10 running trains with the joint venture of Multi-Scan Corp. and MRail Inc.” The news report added: “It shall take around eight to 12 months to complete because all the parts of the air-conditioners are already obsolete,” LRTA Administrator Reynaldo Berroya said in an interview with reporters on the sidelines of the launch of the LRT 2’s train driving simulator held at its Recto station in Manila. LRTA is looking at installing the replacement parts one train at a time as a stopgap measure to ensure comfortable travel for passengers this summer.”

Almost a year has passed, and the LRTA has yet to deliver on its promise—to ensure comfortable travel for passengers of LRT 2. Here’s a comment on social media by one Rambo Labay: “Walang aircon ang tren ng LRT 2 araw-araw. Diyos ko pong mahabagin. Kailan kaya magkaka-aircon ang LRT 2?” We doubt that LRTA officials know how hot their trains are. Which is why we suggest for senior LRTA officials to at least try riding LRT 2 trains every once in a while, especially during rush hour, to experience what ordinary Filipinos go through every day. Sure, it’s cheaper to commute by train, but when the trains are oven-hot like the coaches of LRT 2, the rigors of commuting every day are magnified. The poor commuters go through so much unnecessary stress.

As long as public transport remains a daily ordeal, like the LRT 2 experience of some 200,000 commuters, some people will find ways to buy their own car or motorcycle, bringing more vehicles to already congested roads. This is not the solution we want. The solution is to reverse the trend in the metropolis toward private vehicle use by making public transport an affordable and convenient option for commuters.

But we can’t encourage more people to ride our trains if they are ovenhot like most LRT 2 coaches.

Since 2005

BusinessMirror A broader look at today’s business

The one number investors need John Mangun

OUTSIDE THE BOX

P

EOPLE spend much time trying to understand and then to predict the future world using data and numbers. I am also a big fan of numbers. For example, when I want to buy a cheap bottle of wine I am always trying to figure out which one gives me the most alcohol content for the price.

Numbers are used to figure out what is supposedly happening in the economy. One of the latest is that job creation in the past two years has been lower than the first two years of previous presidential administrations. Who am I to argue with the numbers? Of course, there is a tendency when the numbers confirm the political bias of the “analyst,” the government numbers are accurate. When the results are different from what is desired, the data has been twisted.

Even using the “two-year” benchmark is using a particular number that may or may not give a biased

Cecilio T. Arillo

DATABASE

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Editor in Chief Associate Editor News Editor Senior Editors

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numbers about “Return on Equity” and “Ebitda Margin.” The head of marketing needs to look at “Sales Growth.” The stock brokerage Research Head is going to want to know how the “Price to Earnings Ratio” compares with other similar companies.

Stock market investors have all these highly paid and often overworked minions running the company. It is easy to quickly tell if the company is successful by looking at earnings, if they are increasing every year. But the one number that investors need to look at is the “Price to Earnings Growth” (PEG) ratio.

A PEG of one means the stock price is going up at the same rate as profits. Higher than one means the stock price is going up faster than earnings. Not necessarily good.

Lower than one means the price is lagging profit. Maybe good. But a PEG of “one’’ over a few years means as profits grow so does the value of the stock. Very good.

E-mail me at mangun@gmail.com. Visit my web site at www.mangunonmarkets.com. Follow me on Twitter @mangunonmarkets. PSE stockmarket information and technical analysis tools provided by the COL Financial Group Inc.

Roots of the country’s economic problems

✝ Ambassador Antonio L. Cabangon Chua Publisher

impression. Since 2000 and after 10 years of the consistent addition of jobs to the economy, suddenly in 2011 there was a big jump. Just as suddenly in early 2013—and right after that two-year benchmark— the number of jobs went down 5.2 percent.

In late 2013, jobs skyrocketed again only to give all the gains back in early 2014. But from 2015 to 2017, the Philippines experienced one of the strongest job increases in the past 40 years. Once again though, the number dropped like a dead bird in early 2017 and then shot up toward the end of the year with the most jobs

in history going into 2018.

Are you as bored reading those numbers as I am writing them? No single or even multiple set of numbers is going to give an accurate picture of “Jobs in the Philippines” or the economy. In fact, there is only one number that matters when it comes to employment data. Do you have one job?

Stock market investors are always looking at numbers, too. I confess, I enjoy looking at a corporate financial statement. All those numbers bouncing around the glossy pages of an annual report are sort of exciting.

Of course I am always looking for the numbers that tell me that the president of the company is exaggerating the corporation’s good fortunes. But that is just me.

Otherwise, it is interesting to see how a company can take an idea for a product or service and make that a money-making reality that does create jobs—unlike government and presidents—and makes people wealthier.

However, sometimes we take number-watching unnecessarily too far.

The corporate chief financial officer must know and study all the

T

ODAY’S headline-grabbing stories on money, inflation, debt, deficit-spending and borrowing, among others, have something to do with economics, a complex science with almost infinite variables affecting people from all walks of life and other organisms, both tangible and intangible, particularly its two important branches: macroeconomics and microeconomics.

In my more than 10 years of teaching postgraduate and undergraduate studies in economics at the International Academy of Management and Economics, I always emphasized the complexity of the subject, requiring an urgent need to understand the discipline with an open mind to shun biases, prejudices, fallacies and avoid the danger of being called a cynic, whom Oscar Wilde, the famous Irish writer-philosopher, described as: “... a man who knows the price of everything and the value of nothing.”

For example, the late American George Stigler, one of the respected neoclassical or classical economists and the 1982 Nobel laureate in economics for his research on deregulation and government control policies, called economics an “imperial science.”

Another economist of the neoclassical variety, Francis Fukuyama,

author of the book Trust, may have offended the sensibility of some pragmatic Americans and Filipinos who do not usually side with any doctrinaire political positions on economic issues.

“We can think,” Fukuyama said, “of neoclassical economics as being, say, 80 percent correct: it has uncovered important truths about the nature of money and markets because its fundamental model of rational, self-interested human behavior is correct about 80 percent of the time.”

“But there is a missing 20 percent of human behavior about which neoclassical economics can give only a poor account,” Fukuyama added, obviously referring to some mercantilists as the missing 20 percent in human behavior.

Fukuyama’s presumption is that believers of Mercantilism (protectionism) like James Fallows,

Chalmers Johnson, Clyde Prestowitz, John Zysman, Karl van Wolfersen, Alice Amsden and Laura Tyson, then President Clinton’s economic adviser, “have strongly argued that the dynamic and fast-growing economies of East Asia have succeeded not by following but by violating the rules of neoclassical economics.”

The implication of his carefully crafted fallacy and prejudice, disguised as an objective analysis of cultural human behavior in economics, is that both the Mercantilists and the Classicists have the same economic rules and that the East Asian economies have become dynamic and fastgrowing because they had violated these rules.

If we also follow Fukuyama’s 80to 20-percent ratio on economic human behavior in money and markets in favor of the Classicists, the fastgrowing Mercantilist countries in East Asia, particularly Japan, South Korea, Taiwan, Hong Kong and Singapore, would have remained today the world’s economic laggards and retardates.

Besides, these Classicists and Mercantilists, although both capitalists, have different set of economic rules, lifestyles, work ethics, business policies and frame of mind, just to cite a few, in the production, distribution and consumption of their limited resources.

Unlike the Classicists, the Mercantilists believed in government intervention on the behavior of money, market, inflation and taxes;

have pursued a manufacturing and export-oriented economy; have put premium on research and technology; have ignored the free-trade economic policies of the IMF-World Bank; and are highly nationalistic.

By calling economics an “imperial science,” Stigler may not have realized that he unnecessarily added another line to the leftist popular slogan “American Imperialism” and thus created his own bias against some of the far-right libertarians.

Stigler should have known better that history is replete with people from both the left and the right who have used pompous slogans to advance their ideological cause. He was a bit luckier though because the Cold War had already ended and many people from the radical left may no longer have any use of his jargon.

Professor Paul A. Samuelson, another brilliant economist and the first American to receive the Nobel Prize in economics in 1970, described economics not an exact science but more of an art.

This writer mentioned him because his creativity and unbiased approach to the teaching of the discipline in his best-selling book Economics, particularly the 15th International Edition with Professor William D. Nordhaus, his coauthor, contrasted Stigler’s and Fukuyama’s line of thinking.

For instance, Samuelson and Nordhaus’s excellent work was probably one of the few economic books that See “Arillo,” A11

Opinion BusinessMirror

www.businessmirror.com.ph

EWC’s LNG Pagbilao project back on track

The way to true happiness Msgr. Sabino A. Vengco Jr.

ALÁLAONG BAGÁ

Val A. Villanueva

BUSINESSWISE

W

ITH the clock ticking fast and before the Shell-operated Malampaya gas field runs out of reserves, the government should act with dispatch to find clean energy sources that could augment the country’s power needs.

The Philippines ought to find posthaste a Malampaya replacement to drive its power plants in Luzon. The Malampaya field is projected to run dry by around 2023 or 2024. The three gas-fueled power plants of Malampaya supply 40-45 percent of the power needs of Luzon with its estimated population of 20 million.

The projected depletion of power, which could pull down economic growth, is alarming. Government records show that the country’s current dependable power reserve is very low—between 5 percent and 10 percent only—when compared with Singapore, which has at least a 50-percent reserve. The Department of Energy (DOE) forecasts a need of roughly 43,765 megawatts of additional power capacity by 2040, up from the existing capacity of 13,877 MW, representing a compound annual growth rate of 6 percent. The Luzon grid, which accounts for 70 percent of the current capacity, is expected to triple from 9,726 MW to 29,852 MW by 2040, a growth rate of 5 percent per annum.

Without new gas resources to compensate for Malampaya’s reserves, the economic outlook is dire. We have to smolder more coal to generate power, a setback from the country’s avowed environmental conservation program.

Just like in past administrations, the Philippines is not casting a critical eye on the expansion of gas-fired power generation, favoring instead “dirty” coal to augment the country’s mounting exigence for cheap power sources.

This is largely due to the government’s lack of comprehension on what liquefied natural gas (LNG) can contribute to the energy synthesis.

But the depleting Malampaya reserve has also paved the way for President Rodrigo Duterte to appease his Chinese patrons by seeking joint gas exploration with China, with whom the Philippines has been at odds due to competing maritime claims in the West Philippine Sea. In a committee hearing on energy that the Senate held on June 18, 2018, the DOE showed that LNG is the most economically inexpensive among renewable energy sources. I’m not sure if Energy Secretary Alfonso Cusi has finally acknowledged the important role that gas has in filling the country’s yawning energy gap, but if last year’s Senate energy committee hearing is an indication, the DOE could have finally recognized that accelerating gas production and distribution is the way to go. Gas, indeed, could easily meet midmerit and peaking power generation, a huge boost to meet the country’s rapidly growing power demand.

Just recently, the DOE approved billionaire-businessman Dennis Uy’s Phoenix Petroleum and China National Offshore Oil Corp. LNG terminal project in Batangas. Uy’s Mislatel has also won the bid to be the country’s third telco provider. Uy is a close associate of President Duterte and one of his major contributors in the last election. Phoenix and CNOOC Gas & Power Group formed a joint venture called Tanglawan Philippines LNG. But the terminal’s size is too minuscule, leaving room for other projects to fill Luzon’s gas requirement. There is roughly 3.2 gigawatts of gas-fired capacity in Batangas City, and the 2.2-metricton-per-annum capacity of the Tanglawan terminal is just not sufficient to meet power-sector demand.

Industry players are at a loss on why the government seems to have forgotten that Energy World Corp.

(EWC), an Australia-based publicly listed company, has an LNG project in Pagbilao, Quezon, that is almost 100-percent complete. The only roadblock for it to swing into high gear is

the refusal of the DOE, the National Grid Corp. of the Philippines (NGCP), the National Transmission Corp., the Grid Management Committee and powerful lobby groups to allow the company to piggyback on the existing transmission grid.

In the same Senate energy committee meeting last year, the DOE, the Energy Regulatory Commission and NGCP were all asked to assist EWC to ensure that its power plant could start operations as soon as possible. The request fell on deaf ears, despite EWC’s full compliance with all government regulations and requirements.

Former Quezon Gov. Eduardo Rodriguez, on whose property the LNG Pagbilao project partly nestles, told BusinessWise that EWC will no longer push for the connection of the project to the existing grid. Instead, the company will pursue building its own.

EWC is now finalizing loan arrangements with various banks to build a 14-kilometer grid. He also said that, while the grid is being constructed, the company would hopefully be able to finish the first LNG Hub Terminal within the year.

EWC is developing the first LNG Hub Terminal with full containment and onshore LNG tanks with pumpable capacity of 130,000 cubic meters of LNG each. The plant also consists of a dedicated jetty and marine infrastructure for the loading and unloading of LNG ships, as well as regasification, control center and workshops, and other ancillary facilities. Adjacent to the Hub Terminal facility, EWC is also constructing the first LNG Fired Combined Cycle Gas Turbine Power Station with a capacity of 650 MW aimed at providing clean electricity, which will be sold through Whole Electricity Spot Market to the Luzon Grid in line with the DOE’s vision for clean energy in the future.

Rodriguez explained that once the LNG-fired power plant and the hub terminal become operational, the produced gas can also be converted from LNG to CNG (compressed natural gas) that can be used by the transport sector.

“Cheaper fuel would mean cheaper costs of basic commodities. Second, the amount of a CNG tank will be 20 percent cheaper than an LPG tank commonly used by households,” said Rodriguez, adding that this domino effect would be favorable to the consuming public.

It will be interesting to see if EWC would be able to fully operate given the short-sighted decision of the DOE to allow only one LNG company to operate in the country. Cusi earlier revealed that, out of 18 groups, his agency had short-listed two other companies aside from the partnership between CNOOC and Phoenix Petroleum: state-owned Philippines National Oil Co., which is seeking a partner for the project; and Tokyo Gas, which is partnering with the Philippines’s First Gen Corp.

While these companies have yet to build a single facility, EWC’s LNG Pagbilao project has been locked and loaded. It has generated a sizeable employment for the townsfolk, and its multiplier effect is not to be scoffed at. The terminals it has built are all there to see, and it would be foolish and irresponsible for the government to change the rules midstream should it deny EWC’s project to fully operate. EWC has already sunk in around $750 million of direct investment it has committed to the Philippines, and has created employment opportunities during the construction period.

It’s Cusi’s call if he’s prepared to face the ire of foreign investors.

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

F

ROM a night of prayer on the mountain, Jesus emerged on the plain into the midst of His followers and crowds of people, to spell out to all with sovereign wisdom what true blessedness consists of and how not to squander it in this life (Luke 6:17, 20-26). The multitudes were seeking Him because of the power coming forth from Him, and His disciples to be fishers of men needed a tutorial on the real score in the sea of humanity.

The way to beatitude THE first part of Jesus’ programmatic “sermon on the plain” speaks of four beatitudes and four woes, addressed to concrete persons in unenviable situations of poverty, hunger, affliction and persecution whom He calls “blessed,” and also to actual people to whom He says “woe” who are rich, satisfied, happy and popular.

How come? We heard Jesus (three Sundays ago) introduce Himself as the one anointed in the Spirit of God and sent to bring the good news to the poor, the prisoners, the blind and the oppressed. Now that gospel is being delivered to them. It is the assurance illustrated by the case of

the beggar Lazarus who was “carried by angels to the bosom of Abraham” (Luke 16:19-31), or by the promise of Jesus to the one crucified with Him: “Today you will be with me in Paradise” (Luke 23:35-43).

The eschatological perspective underlines the paradox of beatitude, the ultimate joy for those now in painful want. God is the basis of happiness.

The believer says, “The Lord is my light and my salvation, whom should I fear?

The Lord is my life’s refuge, of whom should I be afraid?” (Psalm 27:1). The world is there with its inequalities and injustices, the enemies of the faith are constantly ready with their persecutions and vilifications, humans are

Thursday, February 14, 2019 A11

always prone to selfishness and insensibilities. All these, however, are but a brief prelude preparatory for the endless glory awaiting the faithful ones. “I consider the sufferings of this present time are as nothing compared with the glory to be revealed to us.... In all these we conquer overwhelmingly through him who loved us” (Romans 8:18, 37). Trust in God is the basis of true blessedness even in sufferings, because happiness is a favor from God.

Warnings, not maledictions

TOGETHER with the four beatitudes, Luke enumerates four “woes” that are not to be understood as maledictions or curses but as warnings. Jesus does not call as evildoers those who are rich or those who laugh now. He affirms only that their path is risky and can lead to perdition. They have no more consolation to wait for after this life, if their fill is only what this world offers; when these are gone, mourning and misery follow. Woe indeed to those who need nothing else placing their total confidence in perishable goods, and have not stored up “treasure in heaven” by sharing with the poor and being rich in good works (Luke 12:13-40; 16:1-13, 19-34).

The provisional satisfaction in this life by itself can end up in lasting

unhappiness. The myopia later to be regretted is the secularism that says this life in the world is all that matters, the ideology that claims that what the world judges as success or happiness is normative and lasting.

To choose this path is to opt for a counterfeit life in contradiction to God’s vision for human life embodied in the new humanity in Jesus as the Son of Man. As the one anointed to proclaim the word of God, Jesus’ prophetic stand surely can be rejected, as did the people of Nazareth, but woe to those who choose some other foundation for the future.

Alálaong bagá, blessed are those who believe in Jesus Christ crucified and who are glad to be “crucified with Christ” (Galatians 2:19). The way of salvation and happiness for the followers of Jesus is unmistakable. “If anyone wishes to come after me, he must deny himself and take up his cross daily and follow me.

For whoever wishes to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for my sake will save it. What profit is there for one to gain the whole world yet lose or forfeit himself?”

(Luke 9:23-25).

Join me in meditating on the Word of God every

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

ILO’s dilemma: Framing the Social Contract for the 21st century

to the influence of Ronald Reagan and Margaret Thatcher, who preached incessantly on the virtue of privatization and free market. This privatization advocacy was further reinforced by the International Monetary Fund and the World Bank through their market-clearing “structural adjustment programs” such as trade and investment liberalization, privatization and deregulation of various sectors of the economy.

This neoliberal economics began changing the world order when the big corporations from the OECD countries latched on to the free market bandwagon. The multinationals started reorganizing production by initially decomposing work into two: the laborand-low-technology-intensive and the skills-and-capital-intensive parts. The latter was retained in the home countries, while the former was farmed out or subcontracted to developing countries, which welcomed these investments in special economic free-trade zones. The ensuing steep decline of jobs in labor-intensive industries in

the OECD countries such as garments, textiles, footwear, toys and so on, as well as in labor-intensive assembly work such as in electronics and auto parts, provided the European labor scholars the evidence of what they initially dubbed as the “new international division of labor,” or NIDL. Later, with the myriad changes taking place in the global economy brought about by the new technologies and the movement of capital in and out of different economies, the NIDL simply came to be known today as economic globalization.

The problem is that the NIDL or globalization of industrial work, facilitated by neoliberal economics, has steadily subverted the system of labor rights and worker entitlements associated with the ILO and the post-World War II Social Contract in welfare capitalist states. Unionism everywhere is in decline. Funding for social security and welfare benefits is under attack by austerity-minded neoliberal policymakers in America and Europe. A global Race to the Bottom has weakened workers’ movements in both the developed and developing countries.

This is the reason industrial relations gurus such as Robert Reich, former labor secretary of President Bill Clinton, has been lamenting the demise of the old Social Contract and is calling for a new one to “save capitalism.” He is joined by many European trade unionists who are now embracing the concept of “universal basic income” or UBI for all citizens. The idea is that all citizens, with jobs or no jobs, should get a guaranteed decent income because not all workers can be employed at all times given the labordisplacement impact of technologies being churned out under the Fourth Industrial Revolution.

In the meantime, what shall the ILO do? Its old system of tripartite standard setting was designed for an economic order characterized by the expansion of the factory system and the army of unionized blue-collar workers. Today, we have instead fragmentation and

globalization of work and work processes everywhere. Many ILO memberstates such as the Philippines and other Asian countries have uneven and segmented labor market. The overwhelming majority of workers are in the informal economy, and yet they do not have a “voice” in the tripartite industrial relations system. The emerging work force of the 21st century—the online freelancers—are also excluded.

In a new publication, Work for a brighter future (2019), an ILO Commission on the Future of Work call for a reinvigoration of the Social Contract “that gives working people a just share of economic progress, respect for their rights and protection against risk.” The Commission, led by Swedish Prime Minister Stefan Lofven and South Africa President Cyril Ramaphosa, calls for the participation of all workers in a global dialogue on how to manage the changes in the global economy. They call for a new agenda of development dubbed as a “human-centered agenda for the future of work.” They have the usual checklist of doables such as investment in people’s capabilities (e.g., universal access to lifelong learning opportunities), investment in the institutions of work (including “universal labor guarantee” on various workers’ rights such as health and safety, and “adequate living wage”) and investment on better business arrangements that promote decent and sustainable work.

The annual ILO assembly, to be held in June in Geneva, is likely to debate the above recommendations of the Commission. The problem, however, is that the Commission’s report fails to delve deeper enough on two major realities in the world of work: the never-ending Race to the Bottom among capitalists in a liberalized and globalized economic order, and the lack of voice or exclusion of the informals and the new work force of the 21st century in a 20th-century tripartite industrial setting.

Clearly, more debates and studies on what ought to be the Social Contract for the 21st century are needed.

a Frenchman who lived in France between 1694 and the later part of the 17th century. A surgeon by profession, Quesny was the personal doctor of Madame de Pompadour, the famous mistress of King Louis XVI. Adam Smith became acquainted with Quesny and other powerful physiocrats who exerted much influence on his thinking while writing his book Wealth of Nations in France, which he completed and published in England in 1776, coincidentally the year of the American Declaration of Independence.

In fact, two of the commonly

held important teachings of the physiocrats known as laissez faire or natural law and their adherence to economic growth through agriculture underlie Adam Smith’s book and the economic policies of the Philippines. Smith devoted 220 pages, in eight chapters, attacking mercantilism, as having, in particular, evil effects on agriculture.

The physiocrats mounted a strong opposition against mercantilism, which was then rapidly transforming France and other European countries from feudal agrarian states into industrializing countries.

In their relentless campaign, the physiocrats held that the accumulation of wealth through commerce and industry, not agriculture, was contrary to laissez faire, causing confusion and dissatisfaction among the people and should be removed.

Jean Baptiste Colbert, the mercantilist, who served as the King’s minister of finance for 25 years, just ignored the physiocrats and guided France with his policies to become a great power that rivaled England.

Dr. Rene E. Ofreneo

LABOREM EXERCENS Continued from A1

S

OMEHOW, the ILO system of tripartism and standardsetting on labor rights (foremost of which are freedom of association, collective bargaining and redress of grievances) and work conditions (e.g., minimum standards on hours of work, health and safety, and compensation) have contributed immensely to the labor and social stability of ILO member-states for nearly a century. This is especially true for the developed industrialized countries of Western Europe, North America, Japan and AustraliaNew Zealand during the post-World War II decades of the 1940s1960s. In these decades, the ILO labor standards were not only institutionalized but even strengthened by these countries through policies promoting welfare capitalism.

Unionism surged, with some OECD countries reporting unionism rate as high as 80-90 percent of the employed.

Citizens in the most progressive countries were guaranteed universal free health care, education and even housing. Those laid off or out of jobs were placed in the DOLE or given unemployment insurance. The system of worker rights and entitlements became part of what many social and labor commentators call the post-World War II Social Contract.

However, the Social Contract began fraying from the 1980s onward. These are the decades of economic globalization. The then-dominant Keynesian economics and the more advanced social market economy model embraced

by Northern Europe came increasingly under attack from the adherents of neoliberal economics, meaning the followers of Friedrich Hayek who worship on the altar of free trade and who spurn any form of government interventionism in the market. The “new economics” of Hayek gained global ascendancy in the 1980s due partly

Arillo . . .

continued from A10

used the term market without the word free appended to it as an adjective or a qualifier to denote that the “free-market,” “free-enterprise” and “free-trade” economic concepts are indeed those of the dogmatic neoclassicists.

As a backgrounder, classical or neoclassical economist was the forerunner of Physiocrat who originated from the school of physiocracy founded by Francois Quesny,

To reach the writer, e-mail cecilio.arillo@ gmail.com.

2nd Front Page BusinessMirror

A12 Thursday, February 14, 2019

Widening anti-vaccine group paves way for measles return

By Ari Altstedter & Riley Griffin Bloomberg News

A

GROWING band of immunization detractors is driving a surge in measles cases from the Philippines to Washington state that threatens to derail efforts to wipe out the disease.

Worldwide cases of the viral illness increased by about 50 percent to 2.3 million last year, according to data from the World Health Organization (WHO), which included “vaccine hesitancy” in its list of top 10 threats to global health this year. The contagion has cropped up in Israel, Greece, Madagascar, the Ukraine and Venezuela, among others.

While measles’s resurgence can’t be blamed on a single cause, a reluctance by parents to vaccinate their children has emerged as a global driver. Lingering wariness about the side effects of some shots, despite evidence refuting a 1998 claim that linked the measles, mumps and rubella vaccine to autism in children, is frustrating attempts to stop some 1.5 million young children from dying from preventable

diseases each year.

“The anti-vaccination movement has generated a lot of misinformation,” Howard Zucker, New York state’s commissioner of health, said in an interview. “We have a powerful Internet that’s prone to sharing this content. As a health commissioner, pediatrician and a dad, this is heartbreaking.”

Under one of the WHO’s 10-year action plans, measles and rubella are targeted for elimination in five regions by 2020, but progress has lagged milestones.

The recent outbreaks are revealing a vulnerability to measles, which can spread through coughing, sneezing and physical contact, even in countries where it was on the verge of elimination. The number of unprotected people in certain areas

70

The number of people killed in the latest measles outbreak in the Philippines in the first six weeks of the year, according to the Department of Health of the US is now high enough to allow the swift spread of multiple contagious threats, experts said.

“You will then see subsequently other vaccine-preventable diseases manifest,” said Katrina Kretsinger, leader of the WHO’s measles and rubella team in Geneva. “We may see outbreaks of measles, and then you’re likely to see outbreaks of diphtheria.”

Diphtheria, a bacterial disease prevented by a shot that usually combines vaccines for tetanus and whooping cough, is fatal in 5 to 10 percent of cases, according to the WHO.

Spurning vaccines

IN the Philippines, the latest measles outbreak killed 70 people in

the first six weeks of the year, according to the health department.

In New York, more than 200 cases have been confirmed since October, prompting an effort to advocate for vaccination, especially among parents, teachers and rabbis within orthodox Jewish communities, where measles was introduced last year via travelers arriving from Israel, Commissioner Zucker said.

Vaccination defiance has been growing in the US, Australia and Europe, and it’s gaining traction in some middle-income countries.

In the Philippines, suspicion grew after officials blamed children’s deaths on a dengue vaccine administered by the previous government starting in April 2016, without citing any proof.

The perceived risks of vaccination has increasingly been cited as the main reason for vaccine hesitancy in middle-income countries like the Philippines and Brazil, eclipsing previous barriers such as a lack of awareness or religious beliefs, according to a study last year by WHO and United Nations International Children’s Fund researchers.

See “Measles,” A2

‘PHL must spend more for social protection’

By Cai U. Ordinario

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@caiordinario

HE Philippines needs to spend an average of 3.48 to 5.58 percent of its GDP to fill its social protection gaps up to 2030, according to

estimates by the Asian Development Bank (ADB).

In a report, titled “Asia’s Fisca l Cha l lenge: Financing the Social Protection Agenda of the Sustainable Development Goals [SDGs],” the ADB said addressing the fiscal challenges in providing

NORTHEAST MONSOON AFFECTING THE WHOLE COUNTRY as of 4:00 pm - February 13, 2019

social protection is key to achieving Agenda 2030.

“Many countries still face considerable challenges in creating the sustainable financing needed for their social-welfare program, the bedrock for the success of the social protection agenda under the

SDGs,” said Woochong Um, director general of the ADB’s Sustainable Development and Climate Change Department.

T he A DB m ade est i m ates based on low and high assumptions. The low estimate assumes the filling of the protection gaps through a perfectly targeted social assistance scheme.

The high estimate means addressing the gap through universal transfers to children and elderly, as well as an employment guarantee scheme for the population in active age.

Based on the ADB’s low estimates, the fiscal requirements could reach 0.6 percent of GDP by 2020; 5.77 percent of GDP by 2025; and 5.94 percent of GDP by 2030.

As a percentage of government revenues, the government needs to spend as much as 4.32 percent of its budget in 2020; 41.53 percent in 2025; and 42.7 percent in 2030.

For the high estimates, the ADB estimated that the government needs to spend 0.91 percent of GDP by 2020; 9.28 percent by 2025; and 9.59 percent by 2030.

In terms of revenues, the Philippines needs to spend 6.51 percent of total government earnings in 2020; 66.75 percent in 2025; and 69.02 percent in 2030.

“The majority of the countries in the study will have to revamp their policies and open new fiscal space, while some exhibit capability in using existing resources to increase their revenues without dramatically increasing tax rates or introducing new taxes,” said ADB Principal Social Development Specialist Sri Wening Handayani.

Addressing the social protection gaps will bring in significant benefits. The ADB said that, for one, increasing social insurance coverage to 55 percent, from 32 percent in 2015, will lead to significant poverty reduction.

Poverty incidence could be cut by 23 percentage points by 2030 if social insurance will cover all employees with a full range of short-term social insurance benefits by 2030.

See “PHL,” A2

www.businessmirror.com.ph

Comelec social-media policy open to legal challenge–lawyer

COMELEC Spokesman Atty. James Jimenez (right) explains the poll body’s rules on social media, as noted election lawyer George Garcia listens at the Kapihan sa Manila Bay on Wednesday. ROY DOMINGO

By Samuel P. Medenilla

U

@sam_medenilla

NTIL a law on social-media regulation is passed

by Congress, the Commission on Elections (Comelec) policy governing it is vulnerable to legal action, a prominent election lawyer said on Wednesday.

George Garcia was commenting on Comelec Resolution 10488, which aims to limit use of social media by candidates in their election campaign.

The poll body cited Republic Act (RA) 7166, or the Synchronized National and Local Elections, to justify its mandate to regulate election campaign use of mass media, which it said includes social media.

Garcia, however, argued there is still no law explicitly regulating the use of social media for election campaigns.

“The problem, I think, from the point of view of the practitioners [election lawyers] is the issue that could be raised [before the courts] is Comelec is legislating, when it should be executing,” Garcia said at a media forum on Wednesday.

While the Comelec could interpret existing laws, Garcia said the policy it lays down based on its interpretation of R A 7166 may be questioned in court by the affected parties.

“The question is, can the Comelec punish something that the law does not mention?” Garcia

asked aloud.

“As long as the law and the rules are vague, it will favor the candidates,” he added.

Lawsuits welcome–Jimenez

COMELEC Spokesman James B. Jimenez conceded that their new social-media guidelines, which just took effect this month, can be questioned before the Supreme Court.

He, however, noted they actually welcome such development, since the High Court could finally decide if the Comelec has the authority to regulate social media.

The Comelec is now requiring candidates to register their socialmedia accounts so its Education and Information Department could monitor their expenses for their content production and content promotion of online ads.

Jimenez said they have 10 people tasked for the monitoring of the declared social-media accounts.

He said the number of their personnel is enough and that they have reduced the workload by directly going to the source of social-media posts to enforce their regulations.

“It is either you work hard or work smart,” Jimenez said.

The poll official reiterated their regulation for social media is limited to its financial aspect, and not its content.

The expenses of candidates for their social-media use should be reflected in their Statement of Contribution and Expenses, he said.

Bicam on ‘Murang Kuryente’ bill convening soon Continued from A1

until May 19 for the midterm elections. However, Gatchalian said the committees he heads—economic affairs and energy—will resume work shortly, “as we could use the time during the break to thresh out key issues at committee level and conduct hearings” while Congress is in recess.

He said he got word that his counterparts in the House for the bicameral panel on the Murang Kuryente bill will be available “after one week.”

The main difference between the versions approved by the two chambers on third and final reading, before they adjourned on February 9, is mainly the percentage at which Malampaya funds will be used for the purpose of paying for the stranded costs and, thus, shaving off the bills of energy users, Gatchalian noted.

The House version will use half, or about P120 billion, of the Malampaya funds for the Murang

Kuryente bill’s intention; the Senate version, however, proposes to use the entire amount of over P207 billion.

Gatchalian explained they opted for fully applying the funds to the Murang Kuryente’s purpose in order to make power customers “feel the difference” from the savings arising from implementing the law.

In total, he estimates the public will get a total reduction of P1 per kilowatt-hour, which translates to “close to 8 percent of your total bill.” This, he said, is savings that “can truly be felt.”

The bill, which seeks to reduce the electricity rates by allocating the government’s share from the Malampaya natural gas project for the payment of the stranded contract costs and stranded debts, missionary electrification and environmental charges of the National Power Corp. and the feed-in-tariff allowance was approved by the Senate on third and final reading on February 4. Butch Fernandez

Editor: Efleda P. Campos

Companies BusinessMirror

Thursday, February 14, 2019

B1

Sumitomo tapped to build commuter-train segment

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By Lorenz S. Marasigan

@lorenzmarasigan

HE government has tapped Japanese corporation Sumitomo Mitsui to build the northern segment of the North-South Commuter Railway, a P150-billion deal that will connect Tutuban, Manila, to Malolos, Bulacan.

Transportation Secretary Arthur P. Tugade said the official development assistance (ODA)funded project is scheduled for groundbreaking for Friday.

“This is one project that has long been pending. We will put it to life this Friday,” he said.

Envisioned to be a railway facility that will connect Tutuban and

Malolos in roughly 35 minutes, the Philippine National Railways (PNR) North is a 38-kilometer mass transport system that will serve over 300,000 passenger per day.

It is expected to be completed in 2021.

“We have solved the problem with North Rail, who said they will not move forward with their case,” Tugade said, referring to the company that built segments of the botched railway project during the term of former President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo.

The PNR North will be integrated to PNR South, which will be a 72-kilometer mass transportation railway from Manila to Los Baños, Laguna. It will also be extended all

the way to Clark to connect Manila to the Clark International Airport.

In a related development, Tugade said his group will be breaking ground for the Metro Manila Subway System within the month.

“I will be flying to Tokyo to inspect the boring machine on Tuesday, then fly out to Osaka for a highlevel meeting. Once done, I will do that by February 26,” Tugade said.

The subway system involves the construction of 25 kilometers of rail that will connect Quezon City in the northern part of Metro Manila to Parañaque in the southern part. The underground mass transportation system will connect major business districts and government centers.

Power producers expect a ‘more efficient ERC’ A GROUP of power producers expects “a more efficient Energy Regulatory Commission [ERC]” now that the agency has a full set of commissioners.

“Hopefully, we will see a more efficient ERC because it is already a complete body. We welcome them now that they are finally complete after some time,” Philippine Independent Power Producers Association Inc. (Pippa) Managing Director Anne Estorco Macias said.

The agency is composed of one chairman and four commissioners. It was not able to process

various applications since last year because of the suspension and retirement of some commissioners. ERC now aims to finish up to 640 pending applications for power-supply agreements. It will also resolve 200 more applications such as their capital expenditure program, point-to-point transmission lines, among others.

Pippa would also want the ERC to resolve as soon as possible pending matters on ancillary services, the grid code and retail competition, among others. “While the ERC has it own priority list, Pippa is hopeful that pending issues would

be addressed as soon as possible. We have a lot of things pending. I’m sure they have their own triage of what is important because we leave that to them,” Macias said. The group also wants the Department of Energy (DOE) and the ERC to closely work together on some issues in a bid to achieve “a stable and reliable power and for the rules and regulations to be harmonized.”

“We will be discussing and reexamining our policies and regulations that we want to be answered and settled. Now that they are complete, we look forward to the continuing communica-

tions between the ERC and DOE. Hopefully, the concepts, regulations and policies will be consistent and harmonized. We want to at least lessen vagueness in interpretation,” the Pippa official said. Earlier, ERC Chairman Agnes Devanadera said each commissioner has been recently assigned to handle a committee to allow a reduction in the time spent in handling pending cases.

“We strengthened the ad hoc committees.

Whatever they will finish at ad hoc level, they will present to the commission with minimum discussion,” she said. Lenie Lectura

Roxas Holdings loss widens in fiscal Q1

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ISTED sugar firm Roxas Holdings Inc. on Wednesday said its consolidated net loss from continuing operations for its fiscal first quarter ending December widened to P109.08 million, 20 percent higher than last year’s loss of P90.36 million.

Company Chairman Pedro E. Roxas said the loss was due to the cyclical nature of the business, since its first-quarter performance is historically slow as off-season repair and maintenance activities for the alcohol plants and the sugar refinery are done. Only the sugar mill in Negros starts operations in September.

“We expect operations to start picking up in the next two quarters,” Roxas said.

Including its losses from discontinued operations, the company’s loss further deepened to P197.36 million, 79 percent higher than last year’s loss of P110.05 million.

The losses from discontinued operations of P88.28 million represents the results of operations of Central Azucarera Don Pedro Inc., which was classified as held for sale following the group’s decision to sell the subsidiary’s assets to focus on its businesses in Negros, it said.

“We inaugurated in November 2018 the two anaerobic digesters at San Carlos Bioenergy Inc. We anticipate to see the full benefits from these facilities in the succeeding quarters,” Roxas said.

Roxas President and CEO Hubert D. Tu-

CDC reports higher income in 2018

ePLDT pioneers DNSSEC compliance in PHL to provide added security to customers

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LARK FREEPORT—The Clark Development Corp. (CDC) has announced it has posted a higher net income in 2018, surpassing the year-ago level by 31 percent.

In a report submitted by the CDC finance group to CDC President Noel F. Manankil, CDC said it generated a P1.35billion net income for 2018, representing a 31-percent increase from the P1.03 billion posted in 2017.

This is in line with the continuing aim of helping boost local and national economies, the CDC report said.

The report also stated that the net income for 2018 alone was 22 percent of the total net income of the state firm of P6.18 billion from1993 to 2018.

Accordingly, CDC’s gross revenue also surged to P2.46 billion, representing a 22-percent upturn compared to P2.01 billion in 2017. It also remitted a cash dividend of P3.25 billion to the National Treasury from 1993 to 2017.

Meanwhile, this free port’s export value was recorded at $4.7 billion as it also indicated an increase on the number of locators. An additional 89 locators were registered last year, bringing the total of locator-firms to 1,038.

This has also created a growth on the number of jobs at 122,973 for 2018. This indicates an additional 15,973 workers as compared to the 107,000 in 2017.

For the coming years, it is expected that the number of employment will continue to grow with the forthcoming developments at the New Clark City where an estimated 582,000 individuals will belong to its workforce in the long run. The state-owned firm attributed these improvements to the continuous effort and support of its stakeholders in making this freeport an area of development on investment, employment and export. Ashley Manabat

I

NFORMATION and communications technology firm ePLDT was recently recognized as a DNSSEC-compliant provider of domain name system (DNS) security—the first in the country.

Cyber felons continue to grow in number together with their ways on how to compromise DNS servers that could lead to loss of personal information of residential, mobile and corporate users, as well as mission-critical data of companies.

“We at ePLDT are committed to delivering groundbreaking and innovative digital solutions to our customers, while ensuring their security and protection online,” said Nerisse Ramos, SVP and COO of ePLDT Group.

Serving as the phonebook of the Internet, DNS matches the Web addresses users type into browsers with an Internet protocol (IP) address so that they can go to the correct portal.

Such vital function makes DNS susceptible to attacks by online criminals that could cause denial of service and redirecting of users to malicious web sites.

DNSSEC, or DNS Security Extensions, gives added security where the Web browser can check to ensure the DNS detail is right and not modified.

The benefit of this is that the DNS infrastructure itself is no longer prone to com-

bio said the group’s sugar business was also affected by the decline of prices in reaction to the heightened calls of food firms for the government to allow the importation of sugar, and the lower yield primarily due to changing weather conditions.

“We had assumed that the price of raw sugar will hold during the first quarter, considering it was the start of the milling season. However, sugar prices dropped significantly in December in reaction to the increasing clamor of food firms for the government to allow them to import sugar,” Tubio said.

He said the lower yield resulted from significant weather changes, which affected the quality of the crop. VG Cabuag

mon attacks like DNS cache poisoning or denial of service. ePLDT has tied up with Secure64—a leading provider of genuinely secure DNS solutions that are purpose-built to be highly secure, self-protecting and immune to malware—to build trust that protects end-users and subscribers of the PLDT Group, Smart and Sun Cellular.

This partnership prevents the users from accessing malicious web sites and guarantees that access to the enterprise web sites are legal and secure via the use of a DNS Signer.

The latter provides a digital certificate to all enterprise domains that are subscribed and enrolled to ePLDT Secure DNS Infrastructure.

“This newly adopted DNS infrastructure greatly complements our existing cyber-security portfolio and bolsters ePLDT’s Security Operations Center capabilities in monitoring and responding to threat intelligence,” said Angel Redoble, FVP and chief information security officer of ePLDT Group, PLDT Group, and Smart.

She noted that this initiative will enable their PLDT and ePLDT Secure DNS Infrastructure subscribers to “enjoy a more secure Internet experience from end to end.”Roderick L. Abad

‘Common station’ contract awarded to Pinoy group

T

H E D e p a r t m e nt o f Transportation (DOTr) signed on Wednesday a multibillion-peso contract to design and build a portion of the Unified Grand Central Station—otherwise known as the common station—with a Filipino consortium, signaling the start of its fourth-quarter 2020 target for the completion of the facility.

The contract was awarded to BF Corp.-Foresight Development and Surveying Co. Consortium, which will build Area A—the linkage between the Light Rail Transit (LRT) Line 1 and the Metro Rail Transit (MRT) Line 3—through October next year.

Divided into three components, the common station will serve as a connection among four railway lines, namely LRT 1, MRT 3, MRT 7 and the Subway System.

Area A will be funded by the government, while Area B— where the concourse will be built—is funded by Ayala Corp.

Area C, where MRT 7 will be terminating, will be financed

by San Miguel Corp., the concessionaire for the train line.

“With the common station, we will have interoperability, interconnectivity and intermodality,” Transportation Secretary Arthur P. Tugade said.

“It will be fully operational by the fourth quarter of 2020.”

The common station, Transportation Undersecretary Timothy John R. Batan said, will serve 1.2 million passengers per day.

“Once we have maxed out the capacity of the atrium, the parties are obligated to expand it at no cost to the government,” he said. “The concept for this is transfer proximity.

Passengers will have about 35 seconds of walking time between Area A and Area C.” The common station was in limbo for a couple of years after its conception, when the Supreme Court issued a stay order due to a possible breach in the contract.

SM Prime Holdings Inc. sued the previous transport department for changing the location of the common station even with an existing naming rights contract with the government. Former transport officials decided to move the location due to its cost benefits.

Tugade said SM has already “withdrawn its case” and has “allowed” the government to “keep the money to help fund the construction of the common station.”

When built, the common station will provide easy access to SM North and Trinoma and major roads, like Edsa, and will provide a common concourse or atrium to facilitate easy train-line transfer.Lorenz S. Marasigan

B2

Companies BusinessMirror

Thursday, February 14, 2019

PSE STOCK QUOTATIONS

February 13, 2019

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

ASIA UNITED 58.15 59.25 58.15 59 58.15 58.15 19850 1158527.5 BDO UNIBANK 137.5 138 139 139.4 136.4 137.5 2731190 375490817 BANK PH ISLANDS 88.6 88.75 90 90.15 88.5 88.6 1923760 171868253.5 CHINABANK 27.95 28 27.9 28 27.75 27.95 78500 2190280 EAST WEST BANK 12.78 12.8 13 13.08 12.74 12.8 1626200 20925232 METROBANK 81 81.2 82.35 82.45 81 81 2461510 200579967.5 PB BANK 13.82 13.9 14.1 14.42 13.9 13.9 47100 667210 PHIL NATL BANK 48.5 48.85 49.25 49.25 48.1 48.5 598300 29226635 PSBANK 59.1 59.4 59 59.5 59 59.1 1030 60940 PHILTRUST 115 120 122 122 112.1 120 70 8421 RCBC 26 26.1 26.6 26.6 26.1 26.1 204600 5344080 SECURITY BANK 171.5 172 176.4 178.5 169.9 171.5 575560 98708386 UNION BANK 62 62.3 63.55 63.55 62 62 18400 1156015.5 BRIGHT KINDLE 1.43 1.48 1.43 1.49 1.41 1.48 200000 287850 BDO LEASING 2.27 2.3 2.29 2.3 2.27 2.27 716000 1626070 COL FINANCIAL 17.1 17.2 17.18 17.18 16.8 17.1 7140800 121475298 FIRST ABACUS 0.63 0.66 0.66 0.66 0.66 0.66 151000 99660 FERRONOUX HLDG 4.5 4.55 4.6 4.6 4.39 4.55 477000 2155400 IREMIT 1.47 1.5 1.45 1.59 1.39 1.5 239000 348700 MEDCO HLDG 0.49 0.53 0.495 0.57 0.495 0.5 15934000 8437280 MANULIFE 760 800 760 760 750 760 210 158750 NTL REINSURANCE 1.28 1.3 1.32 1.32 1.27 1.3 3250000 4215840 PHIL STOCK EXCH 185 186.8 185 185 185 185 620 114700 VANTAGE 1.15 1.16 1.18 1.18 1.14 1.15 111000 128120

INDUSTRIAL ALSONS CONS 1.56 1.57 1.4 1.59 1.4 1.56 15180000 23189410 ABOITIZ POWER 35.95 36 37 37 36 36 1256300 45547090 BASIC ENERGY 0.246 0.25 0.25 0.255 0.245 0.25 2840000 703260 FIRST GEN 20.8 20.85 21.25 21.4 20.5 20.8 3329800 69334630 FIRST PHIL HLDG 72.85 72.9 73.8 73.8 72.9 72.9 294600 21511061.5 MERALCO 360 361 365.6 366 359.4 360 425320 153336328 MANILA WATER 27.05 27.25 26.95 27.1 26.9 27.1 274300 7421180 PETRON 6.77 6.78 6.8 6.91 6.76 6.78 12130300 82221939 PETROENERGY 3.69 3.72 3.7 3.7 3.7 3.7 182000 673400 PHINMA ENERGY 1.29 1.3 1.3 1.31 1.28 1.29 15394000 19889120 PHX PETROLEUM 11.12 11.3 11.2 11.5 11.1 11.3 1098600 12413948 PILIPINAS SHELL 46.65 46.8 47 47 46.55 46.65 628900 29344290 SPC POWER 6.3 6.35 6.36 6.36 6.28 6.35 52000 328079 VIVANT 16.04 16.98 16.04 16.98 16 16.98 11700 195972 #NAME? 16.56 16.66 16.22 16.72 16.22 16.66 1850700 30732140 BOGO MEDELLIN 92 97 97 97 97 97 160 15520 CNTRL AZUCARERA 16.6 17.26 17.2 18.4 16.52 16.52 70700 1249818 CENTURY FOOD 16 16.14 15.94 16.2 15.92 16 1622400 26088414 DEL MONTE 6.61 6.8 6.72 6.72 6.62 6.62 29500 197682 DNL INDUS 11.6 11.64 11.7 11.7 11.6 11.6 1162700 13,522,320( EMPERADOR 7.62 7.65 7.63 7.72 7.6 7.62 5320300 40488460 SMC FOODANDBEV 91 91.25 92.6 92.6 90.5 91.25 335290 30549614 ALLIANCE SELECT 1.05 1.06 1.08 1.08 1.02 1.05 8439000 8833370 GINEBRA 26.5 26.95 26.5 26.5 26.5 26.5 2000 53000 JOLLIBEE 316 317 314 317 311.2 316 820960 258044220 LIBERTY FLOUR 42.45 - 42.1 42.2 42.05 42.2 900 37915 MACAY HLDG 14 14.2 14.78 15.5 13.5 14.2 208900 2993780 MAXS GROUP 12.7 12.86 12.9 12.9 12.6 12.72 212900 2707454 MG HLDG 0.222 0.224 0.234 0.234 0.221 0.221 6640000 1501720 PEPSI COLA 1.37 1.38 1.43 1.44 1.34 1.38 15147000 20847090 SHAKEYS PIZZA 12.5 12.52 12.7 13 12.5 12.52 66400 837614 ROXAS AND CO 2.15 2.16 2.11 2.21 2.11 2.16 709000 1534270 RFM CORP 4.7 4.84 4.72 4.72 4.7 4.7 500000 2350080 ROXAS HLDG 3.02 3.07 3.05 3.1 3.02 3.02 78000 237700 SWIFT FOODS 0.132 0.139 0.13 0.14 0.13 0.14 1870000 253490 UNIV ROBINA 140.5 142 142 142.3 140.3 140.5 694570 97824220 VITARICH 1.72 1.73 1.76 1.76 1.7 1.72 3956000 6842940 Err:509 63.5 68.8 64 64 63.5 63.5 420 26789 CONCRETE B 71 80 72.5 72.5 71 71 650 46485 CEMEX HLDG 2.45 2.48 2.52 2.55 2.43 2.45 9682000 24076910 DAVINCI CAPITAL 6.11 6.38 6.08 6.38 6.08 6.38 41100 256716 EAGLE CEMENT 15.8 15.94 16 16 15.8 15.96 474900 7503702 EEI CORP 8.26 8.4 8.47 8.47 8.08 8.4 319000 2658092 HOLCIM 9.21 9.26 9.55 9.56 9 9.21 1772400 16580392 MEGAWIDE 18.08 18.1 18.4 18.4 18.06 18.08 4234800 76,607,760( PHINMA 8.93 9.35 9.12 9.35 8.92 9.35 2500 22970 Err:509 1.36 1.38 1.64 1.76 1.28 1.38 52649000 83324170 VULCAN INDL 1.39 1.42 1.4 1.43 1.38 1.4 2777000 3889510 #NAME? 129.9 130 130 130 126.1 129.9 330 42422 CROWN ASIA 1.84 1.88 1.86 1.9 1.79 1.89 1055000 1924400 Err:509 4.34 4.5 4.34 4.34 4.33 4.33 50000 216780 MABUHAY VINYL 3.51 3.69 3.34 3.89 3.34 3.69 355000 1298660 PRYCE CORP 6.02 6.1 6.02 6.1 6 6.1 412800 2477315 #NAME? 41.6 43.95 42 43 41.6 43 700 29520 GREENERGY 3.15 3.16 3.23 3.23 3.15 3.15 6739000 21380450 INTEGRATED MICR 12.5 12.52 12.82 13.14 12.38 12.52 1391200 17696778 IONICS 1.77 1.78 1.75 1.8 1.75 1.78 398000 704260 PANASONIC 5.94 6.17 5.92 5.92 5.92 5.92 2500 14800 SFA SEMICON 1.41 1.43 1.42 1.45 1.42 1.43 310000 447400 CIRTEK HLDG 29.65 29.9 30 30.65 29.5 29.9 286400 8562100

HOLDING & FRIMS Err:509 0.83 0.84 0.81 0.84 0.78 0.83 38575000 31360560 ASIABEST GROUP 24.75 24.9 27 27.45 24.7 24.9 629600 16250205 AYALA CORP 926.5 930 933 934.5 920.5 930 282370 261684970 ABOITIZ EQUITY 62.75 63 63.95 63.95 62.7 63 572790 36060714.5 ALLIANCE GLOBAL 13.66 13.8 14.3 14.3 13.66 13.66 6548900 90833350 ANSCOR 6.51 6.59 6.32 6.59 6.32 6.51 9400 60613 ANGLO PHIL HLDG 0.81 0.84 0.84 0.84 0.84 0.84 322000 270480 ATN HLDG A 1.42 1.43 1.47 1.47 1.41 1.42 6720000 9619510 ATN HLDG B 1.42 1.44 1.47 1.47 1.42 1.44 1822000 2622630 Err:509 7.38 7.4 7.5 7.5 7.38 7.4 273000 2020568 DMCI HLDG 12.12 12.2 12.12 12.22 12.1 12.12 4433400 53762256 FILINVEST DEV 12.52 12.62 12.68 12.8 12.5 12.62 134200 1688966 Err:509 1048 1050 1070 1070 1038 1048 133110 139410380 HOUSE OF INV 6.07 6.14 6.14 6.14 6.07 6.07 13000 79050 JG SUMMIT 63.25 63.4 65.8 66 62.65 63.25 1082090 68597212.5 JOLLIVILLE HLDG 5.51 5.55 5.55 5.55 5.55 5.55 3500 19425 KEPPEL HLDG A 4.51 5.55 5.42 5.43 5.41 5.43 1600 8681 #NAME? 0.6 0.63 0.62 0.63 0.59 0.63 1561000 944370 LOPEZ HLDG 5.26 5.29 5.27 5.3 5.26 5.29 340600 1797733 LT GROUP 15.18 15.2 15.42 15.54 15.16 15.2 1726600 26337388 Err:509 0.58 0.59 0.58 0.59 0.58 0.59 68000 39740 Err:509 4.84 4.85 4.89 4.91 4.84 4.85 18120000 88021760 PACIFICA 0.05 0.051 0.04 0.058 0.04 0.051 2473300000 129343700 PRIME ORION 2.7 2.72 2.82 2.82 2.69 2.72 635000 1730900 PRIME MEDIA 1.25 1.28 1.18 1.36 1.18 1.28 2698000 3464430 Err:509 1.38 1.43 1.39 1.45 1.37 1.44 248000 348340 SYNERGY GRID 450 497.8 489 499 489 499 270 133090 SM INVESTMENTS 980 983 999 999.5 968.5 983 420680 410774415 SAN MIGUEL CORP 161 161.9 162 162.1 160 161.9 291390 46986615 SOC RESOURCES 0.8 0.82 0.9 0.9 0.8 0.8 1457000 1197370 SEAFRONT RES 2.32 2.6 2.79 2.79 2.6 2.6 14000 37590 TOP FRONTIER 274 279 275 280 275 280 330 92198 Err:509 0.27 0.275 0.255 0.285 0.255 0.27 30020000 8157700 ZEUS HLDG 0.335 0.34 0.365 0.365 0.335 0.34 26790000 9153750

PROPERTY Err:509 0.89 0.92 0.91 0.93 0.88 0.92 1287000 1158410 ANCHOR LAND 10.62 11.06 10.7 10.7 10.6 10.64 9800 104172 AYALA LAND 44.35 44.4 44.85 44.9 43.9 44.4 13515400 600147325 ARANETA PROP 1.85 1.88 1.81 1.89 1.81 1.85 147000 269400 BELLE CORP 2.5 2.53 2.55 2.55 2.46 2.53 1709000 4297410 A BROWN 0.79 0.8 0.81 0.81 0.78 0.8 1359000 1074310 CITYLAND DEVT 0.92 0.93 0.94 0.95 0.91 0.93 283000 263660 CROWN EQUITIES 0.25 0.255 0.25 0.255 0.25 0.255 6360000 1610250 CEBU HLDG 6.42 6.48 6.42 6.48 6.42 6.48 60200 389337 CEB LANDMASTERS 4.05 4.14 4.1 4.19 4.03 4.05 1434000 5823490 CENTURY PROP 0.5 0.51 0.51 0.52 0.495 0.51 13594000 6814325 Err:509 0.425 0.43 0.41 0.45 0.405 0.425 13070000 5664200 DOUBLEDRAGON 22.2 22.25 22.1 22.5 21.75 22.2 767800 16931725 DM WENCESLAO 9.96 10.04 10.2 10.2 9.86 9.96 1551900 15444394 EMPIRE EAST 0.51 0.53 0.5 0.53 0.5 0.53 1674000 866510 EVER GOTESCO 0.141 0.147 0.14 0.145 0.133 0.145 910000 125470 FILINVEST LAND 1.53 1.54 1.55 1.56 1.53 1.53 9775000 15026110 GLOBAL ESTATE 1.23 1.24 1.23 1.26 1.23 1.24 1166000 1438800 8990 HLDG 11.02 11.14 11.18 11.24 10.9 11.14 1215000 13431592 PHIL INFRADEV 2.21 2.23 2.22 2.25 2.2 2.21 3377000 7477830 Err:509 0.85 0.87 0.84 0.85 0.84 0.85 267000 226890 MEGAWORLD 5.06 5.08 5.2 5.2 5.06 5.06 10723200 54660227 MRC ALLIED 0.435 0.44 0.425 0.435 0.42 0.435 25190000 10777500 PHIL ESTATES 0.48 0.485 0.455 0.53 0.445 0.485 43490000 21694600 Err:509 2.82 2.85 3.1 3.1 2.81 2.82 6156000 18020040 ROBINSONS LAND 22.4 22.5 22.9 22.9 22.15 22.5 2174400 48991235 PHIL REALTY 0.49 0.495 0.495 0.5 0.485 0.49 970000 474800 ROCKWELL 2.05 2.06 2.11 2.11 2.05 2.06 342000 708940 SHANG PROP 3.13 3.15 3.15 3.15 3.13 3.15 435000 1369860 STA LUCIA LAND 1.34 1.38 1.41 1.41 1.33 1.38 1819000 2436910 SM PRIME HLDG 38.3 38.5 39 39 37.8 38.5 6896800 264710905 STARMALLS 6.56 6.57 6.36 6.75 6.25 6.56 2568600 16744794 SUNTRUST HOME 0.81 0.82 0.7 0.95 0.7 0.81 12456000 10923860 Err:509 6.19 6.2 6.2 6.29 6.19 6.2 6033800 37438255

SERVICES Err:509 22.6 22.65 23.3 23.3 22.5 22.65 202900 4635880 GMA NETWORK 5.78 5.8 5.82 5.82 5.78 5.8 22700 131540 MANILA BULLETIN 0.91 0.93 0.85 1.14 0.82 0.91 198572000 203930070 MLA BRDCASTING 14.24 17.36 17.98 17.98 16.02 16.02 6500 105140 GLOBE TELECOM 1920 1945 1968 1972 1920 1920 41850 81468715 PLDT 1188 1190 1238 1238 1170 1190 150540 179467230 APOLLO GLOBAL 0.042 0.044 0.041 0.052 0.041 0.042 445600000 20858100 DFNN INC 7.23 7.55 7.21 7.55 7.21 7.55 11100 80251 IMPERIAL 2.01 2.1 1.9 2.12 1.89 2.01 167000 336710 ISLAND INFO 0.14 0.143 0.134 0.159 0.134 0.14 133230000 19545580 ISM COMM 6.33 6.34 6.13 6.33 6.03 6.33 6670600 40955902 JACKSTONES 3.17 3.37 3.33 3.46 3.16 3.38 214000 717070 NOW CORP 3.1 3.11 3.16 3.16 3.1 3.1 2121000 6610930 TRANSPACIFIC BR 0.44 0.445 0.45 0.455 0.44 0.445 12370000 5509800 PHILWEB 3.24 3.26 3.47 3.69 3.2 3.24 8039000 27495430 2GO GROUP 13.18 13.2 13.18 13.34 13 13.18 53500 701894 CEBU AIR 86.9 87 87.5 87.9 86.9 87 94100 8191989.5 CHELSEA 6.39 6.4 6.52 6.52 6.39 6.4 2015100 12953287 INTL CONTAINER 114.9 115 116.5 118.3 113.7 115 2615570 301750686 LBC EXPRESS 15.52 15.98 15.7 16.38 15.5 15.52 263900 4090960 LORENZO SHIPPNG 0.91 0.92 0.99 1.01 0.89 0.92 4736000 4505240 MACROASIA 19.18 19.22 19.14 19.36 19.1 19.22 977300 18775564 METROALLIANCE A 2.15 2.19 2.2 2.38 2.1 2.15 1358000 3066960 METROALLIANCE B 2.11 2.2 2.25 2.3 2.11 2.11 69000 153130 PAL HLDG 12.16 12.2 12.72 12.72 12.14 12.2 329500 4085724 HARBOR STAR 2.72 2.74 2.77 2.77 2.69 2.74 2142000 5805580 ACESITE HOTEL 1.32 1.36 1.31 1.38 1.31 1.32 189000 253100 BOULEVARD HLDG 0.066 0.067 0.068 0.068 0.066 0.067 65120000 4325580 DISCOVERY WORLD 2.12 2.31 2.23 2.42 2.23 2.34 123000 279670 WATERFRONT 0.73 0.74 0.75 0.76 0.71 0.74 4326000 3168900 CENTRO ESCOLAR 7.68 8.38 8.39 8.39 8.39 8.39 1400 11746 IPEOPLE 11.16 11.24 11.16 11.28 11.16 11.28 15000 168380 STI HLDG 0.77 0.78 0.78 0.79 0.77 0.77 4364000 3387030 BERJAYA 3.03 3.04 3.1 3.1 3.01 3.04 944000 2872060 BLOOMBERRY 11.68 11.7 11.96 11.96 11.5 11.7 26731200 313590118 PACIFIC ONLINE 9.27 9.51 9.3 9.3 9.3 9.3 5400 50220 LEISURE AND RES 3.33 3.37 3.43 3.45 3.31 3.33 397000 1328530 MANILA JOCKEY 4.74 4.85 4.84 4.84 4.84 4.84 1000 4840 PH RESORTS GRP 6.34 6.44 6.35 6.48 6.34 6.34 119600 766514 PREMIUM LEISURE 0.95 0.96 1.02 1.02 0.95 0.95 31152000 30308360 TRAVELLERS 5.59 5.62 5.68 5.68 5.56 5.6 747700 4181294 METRO RETAIL 2.76 2.8 2.73 2.82 2.73 2.8 1833000 5120470 PUREGOLD 46.7 47 47.7 47.8 46.2 46.7 1561700 73045025 ROBINSONS RTL 85.5 85.55 86 86.15 85 85.5 778880 66547426 PHIL SEVEN CORP 132.9 133 133 133 132.8 132.8 880 116896 SSI GROUP 2.37 2.38 2.34 2.38 2.32 2.37 6730000 15882050 WILCON DEPOT 14.54 14.6 14.92 14.96 14.12 14.6 5025500 73224502 APC GROUP 0.465 0.47 0.475 0.475 0.46 0.47 4820000 2255200 EASYCALL 15.12 15.34 15.12 16 15 15.34 523500 8031060 GOLDEN BRIA 355 359 359 359 355 359 1350 484530 IPM HLDG 7.22 7.23 7.22 7.23 7.2 7.22 6000 43271 PAXYS 3.32 3.44 3.36 3.44 3.36 3.44 2000 6800 PRMIERE HORIZON 1.45 1.46 1.4 1.46 1.33 1.45 52245000 73655440 SBS PHIL CORP 8.63 8.9 8.98 9.02 8.32 8.9 651000 5734062

MINING & OIL ATOK 13.68 13.9 13.92 14.14 13.6 13.96 27600 384786 APEX MINING 1.51 1.52 1.53 1.55 1.5 1.51 4032000 6104950 ABRA MINING 0.0021 0.0023 0.0023 0.0023 0.0022 0.0023 359000000 791900 ATLAS MINING 2.95 2.98 2.95 3.05 2.95 2.96 91000 269700 BENGUET A 1.4 1.45 1.4 1.4 1.4 1.4 1000 1400 COAL ASIA HLDG 0.32 0.325 0.365 0.37 0.32 0.32 11660000 3934350 CENTURY PEAK 2.1 2.14 2.1 2.14 2.1 2.14 178000 379800 DIZON MINES 8 8.14 8.12 8.14 7.93 8.13 4300 34815 FERRONICKEL 1.45 1.47 1.47 1.49 1.45 1.45 2021000 2966150 GEOGRACE 0.3 0.305 0.315 0.32 0.305 0.31 3870000 1186700 LEPANTO A 0.123 0.127 0.128 0.13 0.122 0.127 4590000 572000 LEPANTO B 0.13 0.134 0.134 0.134 0.134 0.134 80000 10720 MANILA MINING A 0.0087 0.0089 0.0084 0.0088 0.0084 0.0088 29000000 252500 MANILA MINING B 0.0084 0.009 0.0086 0.0086 0.0086 0.0086 1000000 8600 MARCVENTURES 1.1 1.11 1.08 1.11 1.06 1.1 574000 624140 NIHAO 1.13 1.14 1.1 1.13 1.08 1.13 274000 304570 NICKEL ASIA 2.65 2.67 2.65 2.7 2.64 2.65 2834000 7592480 OMICO CORP 0.78 0.8 0.82 0.86 0.7 0.78 19666000 15456510 ORNTL PENINSULA 1.01 1.03 1.08 1.12 1 1.03 3393000 3540480 PX MINING 4.08 4.16 4.2 4.25 4.08 4.08 2322000 9565320 SEMIRARA MINING 23.15 23.7 23.3 23.7 23.05 23.7 1137400 26375990 UNITED PARAGON 0.0082 0.0087 0.0086 0.0088 0.0084 0.0086 42000000 359800 ORNTL PETROL A 0.012 0.013 0.012 0.013 0.012 0.013 3200000 38600 ORNTL PETROL B 0.012 0.013 0.013 0.013 0.012 0.012 6000000 74500 PHILODRILL 0.012 0.013 0.012 0.012 0.012 0.012 5400000 64800 PXP ENERGY 14.3 14.32 15 15.5 14.28 14.32 1122200 16435546

PREFFERED HOUSE PREF A AC PREF B1 AC PREF B2 DD PREF SMC FB PREF 2 FGEN PREF G FPH PREF C GTCAP PREF B LR PREF MWIDE PREF PNX PREF 3A PCOR PREF 2A SMC PREF 2B SMC PREF 2C SMC PREF 2D SMC PREF 2E SMC PREF 2F SMC PREF 2G SMC PREF 2H SMC PREF 2I

95.95 460.2 482 97 991 103 430.8 899 0.99 99 102 971.5 75.1 76.3 73.5 72.1 75.3 72.95 72.15 73.4

PHIL. DEPOSITARY RECEIPTS ABS HLDG PDR GMA HLDG PDR

20.75 5.61 1.95

SMALL & MEDIUM ENTERPRISES ITALPINAS 4.69 XURPAS 1.87

118

20910 563670 1209320 -2671216 -38695422 632 1725100 -231411 -17609820 40468 38914530 6140 10213074 -459150 884398 -19118260 12974530 255400 -131969.9999 -93994890 -635260 89100 -16784 70900.0002 2760 49441460 -549480 208347 -823579.9999 -36700 -121500 1272155 7462500 -4888050 189566 -193370 -25500 -6814015 -273550 198750 1185500 9625355 34550 57120 -44146780 -102822 416600 -23257626 -28766790 55552165 -13200 -422790.0001 -564267 -312190 -3700 9930 3824643 -7174078 95667195 5219118 146854 -65480 -19800 2517 -470090 -129300 -110951490 3340 262170 -450964 1673330 -6488375 -46549677 88988 3182190 14174454 -141000 -25936 1939620 -88800 -1502230 -26400 888790 22000 -1368600 -44640 15650 -1332470 -13923560 1269720

96.5 475 498 98.4 994 104 431 900 1 101.3 102 971 75.5 76.4 73.9 72.15 76.8 73.5 74.25 73.5

96.5 475 498 98.4 994 104 431 900 1 101.3 102 971 75.5 76.4 73.9 73 76.8 74 74.25 73.5

95.95 475 498 98.4 993 104 430.8 900 0.99 96.1 102 971 75.1 76.4 73.5 71.5 76.8 73 73 73.4

95.95 475 498 98.4 993 104 430.8 900 0.99 101.3 102 971 75.1 76.4 73.5 73 76.8 73 73 73.4

2860 50 10 500 20 210 100 4050 273000 660 970 20 440 42000 1980 18370 200 57120 400 4280

274604 23750 4980 49200 19870 21840 43090 3645000 272440 65818 98940 19420 33124 3208800 145893.5 1316030 15360 4170600.5 29450 314472

-

21 5.75

21 5.75

21.1 5.75

20.7 5.75

21 5.75

40700 30000

848610 172500

2110 -

1.99

1.94

2

1.92

1.95

173000

334080

-

4.7 1.88

4.6 2

4.69 2.06

4.6 1.85

4.69 1.88

402000 36248000

1874100 69750160

-8651990

EXHANGE TRADE FUNDS FIRST METRO ETF

-448080 -17170630 -35466745 -1530844 -86415120 1144700 1733408 -83180 429620 -12460990 -107896 -151122 24080302 -382896 110544 2,429,734.0003) 309001 -5404190 873660 -43359924 577710 -2240 541340 502622 -75470 -35912853 -248650 -437969.9997 -7277532 106660 5561718 2,880,255.9996) 9350 315480 56600 111230 70140 -54025 2223520 -2362722 -1044080

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WARRANTS LR WARRANT

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Editor: Efleda P. Campos

MRC Allied to build 550-kW solar rooftop M

By Lenie Lectura

Luzon.

@llectura

RC Allied Inc. is pursuing a 550-kilowatt (kW) solar rooftop project in Northern

“MRC will be pursuing the said solar rooftop project through Menlo Renewable Energy Corp. [MREN].

MRC’s wholly owned subsidiary

which is specifically engaged in renewable-energy development,” said MRC in a disclosure on Wednesday.

In November last year, the com-

pany signed a memorandum of agreement for the development of a 550kW solar rooftop project located in Northern Luzon.

A month after, it signed a memorandum of agreement with Edward Marcs Philippines Inc. for the design, supply, delivery, construction, installation, testing and commissioning of the planned 550-kWsolar rooftop project for two rice milling plants in Northern Luzon. Its investment may cost P34 million.

Company President Augusto M.

Cosio Jr. said in December last year that MRC is targeting to add 42 megawatts (MW) from solar-power plants to beef up its 2019 portfolio.

He also mentioned that part of the expansion includes a 12-MW solar plant in Central Luzon. The remaining 30 MW will be from the proposed acquisition of a solar-power plant in Leyte. The capacity expansion is part of the MRC’s plan to add 100 MW in its portfolio in the next two years.

The company is set to invest $1 million per megawatt for this program.

Telemedicine delivery available now in Quezon province

By John Bello Correspondent

L

UCENA CITY—A brand new kind of health service delivery system is now available in Quezon province with the launching of telemedicine system which uses modern method of virtual service of medical professionals to patients in far-flung areas of the province. “ The specialists at Quezon Medical Center have set up a system where medicine it delivered to a patient in any town, hospital or clinic in the province. It is the first of its kind in the country,” Quezon Gov. David Suarez said during the launch and demonstration of the telemedicine system at the Quezon Convention Center here on Monday.

Initially, three telemedicine units—bought from the United States at P1.3 million each—will be installed in Quezon Medical Center here, Bondoc Peninsula District Hospital in Unisan and San Francisco District Hospital in San Francisco.

These medical equipment provides real-time experience and result through chat and video consultation with doctors such as vital signs, blood pressure, ECG, ultrasound and

auscultation, among others.

Grace Santiago, prov incia l health officer II, did the actual demonstration of the modern medical apparatus during the launch attended by Suarez, Vice Governor Samuel Nantes, House Minority Floor Leader and Quezon Third District Rep. Danilo Suarez, provincial legislative board members, provincial government department heads and barangay chairmen from the province’ four districts.

Calabarzon Regional Health Director Eduardo Janairo, guest speaker at the event, supported and recognized the provincial government’s initiative in finding ways of continuously improving and strengthening the health delivery system of the province.

Aside from speedy response for the medical needs of patients, Suarez sees the need for a wider partnership of medical specialists not only in the country but also in other countries through the use of the telemedicine system.

The governor also distributed health coupons to each of the barangay chairman of the province’ fourth district worth P25,000 which entitled the recipients to a range of free medical assistance and medicines.

SEALED AIR EXPANDS FOOD PACKAGING OPERATIONS IN ASIA

S

E A LED A ir Cor p.

(NYSE:SEE) has acquired MGM’s flexible packaging business. MGM is a privately held company headquartered in Manila. The transaction is expected to close in April.

Founded in 1982, MGM specializes in printing and laminating, and provides flexible food packaging materials for consumer packaged goods for markets in Southeast Asia. The company also exports to and supports companies in Australia, Brunei Darussalam and New Zealand. Sealed Air plans to leverage MGM’s expertise to expand its printing and lamination capabilities and better serve customers throughout the Asia Pacific region.

“We are excited to have the talented team at MGM join us and improve our ability to deliver world-class innovations to the region’s rapidly growing food market,” said Karl Deily, SVP, president and chief commercial officer of Sealed Air. “This acquisition enables us to expand our capacity and footprint in Asia

and aligns with our strategy to invest in high-growth geographies and markets.”

Sealed Air has had a presence in the Philippines for more than 20 years and employs more than 2,000 people in Asia. MGM employs 150 people.

Terms of the transaction were not disclosed and are not material to Sealed Air’s financial results.

Sealed Air Corp. is a knowledge-based company focused on packaging solutions that help our customers achieve their sustainability goals in the face of today’s biggest social and environmental challenges. Our portfolio of widely recognized brands, including Cryovac brand food packaging solutions and Bubble Wrap brand cushioning, enable a safer and less wasteful food supply chain and protect valuable goods shipped around the world. Sealed Air generated $4.5 billion in sales in 2017 and has approximately 15,000 employees who serve customers in 122 countries. To learn more, visit sealedair.com.

MUTUAL FUNDS

February 13, 2019

NAV ONE YEAR THREE YEAR FIVE YEAR Y-T-D

PER SHARE RETURN* RETURN STOCK FUNDS ALFM GROWTH FUND, INC. -A 268.09 -6.75% 4.27% 3.57% 6.29% ATRAM ALPHA OPPORTUNITY FUND, INC. -A 1.575 -3.05% 14.3% 4.86% 9.31% ATRAM PHILIPPINE EQUITY OPPORTUNITY FUND, INC. -A 4.1624 -8.44% 6.07% 2.17% 6.65% CLIMBS SHARE CAPITAL EQUITY INVESTMENT FUND CORP. -A 0.9494 -3.81% N.A. N.A. 6.61% FIRST METRO CONSUMER FUND ON MSCI PHILS. IMI, INC. -A 0.8745 N.A. N.A. N.A. 6.56% FIRST METRO SAVE AND LEARN EQUITY FUND,INC. -A 5.5806 -5.31% 4.07% 2.95% 5.87% MBG EQUITY INVESTMENT FUND, INC. -A 121.79 2.97% N.A. N.A. 4.58% ONE WEALTHY NATION FUND, INC. -A 0.8879 -8.44% -3.13% N.A. 6.67% PAMI EQUITY INDEX FUND, INC. -A 52.6167 -5.61% 5.45% N.A. 6.93% PHILAM STRATEGIC GROWTH FUND, INC. -A 548.3 -5.77% 4.05% 2.9% 6.52% PHILEQUITY DIVIDEND YIELD FUND, INC. -A 1.3234 -4.06% 5.54% 6.11% 5.53% PHILEQUITY FUND, INC. -A 38.956 -4.31% 6.54% 5.45% 6.34% PHILEQUITY MSCI PHILIPPINE INDEX FUND, INC. -A,3 1.0453 N.A. N.A. N.A. N.A. PHILEQUITY PSE INDEX FUND INC. -A 5.3148 -5.36% 6.35% 5.47% 7.18% PHILIPPINE STOCK INDEX FUND CORP. -A 887.89 -5.15% 6.19% 5.51% 7.17% SOLDIVO STRATEGIC GROWTH FUND, INC. -A 0.9108 -5.04% 3.67% N.A. 5.76% SUN LIFE PROSPERITY PHILIPPINE EQUITY FUND, INC. -A 4.3231 -4.89% 6.06% 4.09% 6.51% SUN LIFE PROSPERITY PHILIPPINE STOCK INDEX FUND, INC. -A 1.022 -5.51% 6.09% N.A. 7.09% UNITED FUND, INC. -A 3.7149 -2.51% 7.5% 4.74% 6.11% EXCHANGE TRADED FUND FIRST METRO PHIL. EQUITY EXCHANGE TRADED FUND, INC. -A,C,2 118.7351 -4.82% 7.34% 6.62% 7.21% ATRAM ASIAPLUS EQUITY FUND, INC. -B $0.9867 -8.73% 8.41% 1.35% 6.2% SUN LIFE PROSPERITY WORLD VOYAGER FUND, INC. -A $1.2098 -2.73% N.A. N.A. 9.47% BALANCED FUNDS PRIMARILY INVESTED IN PESO SECURITIES ATRAM DYNAMIC ALLOCATION FUND, INC. -A 1.7301 -5.26% 1.01% -0.15% 4.78% ATRAM PHILIPPINE BALANCED FUND, INC. -A 2.3095 -5.01% 3.4% 1.79% 4.54% FIRST METRO SAVE AND LEARN BALANCED FUND INC. -A 2.6608 -3.15% 1.5% -0.31% 4.6% GREPALIFE BALANCED FUND CORPORATION -A 1.3626 -5.71% N.A. N.A. 4.47% NCM MUTUAL FUND OF THE PHILS., INC. -A 1.9154 -2.52% 2.96% 2.63% 3.92% PAMI HORIZON FUND, INC. -A 3.6443 -5.44% 1.35% 1.62% 3.26% PHILAM FUND, INC. -A 16.4906 -4.67% 1.68% 1.66% 3.66% SOLIDARITAS FUND, INC. -A 2.1585 -2.88% 3.24% 3.44% 4.16% SUN LIFE OF CANADA PROSPERITY BALANCED FUND, INC. -A 3.8316 -3.83% 3.02% 2.56% 4.94% SUN LIFE PROSPERITY ACHIEVER FUND 2028, INC. -A,D,4 0.9956 N.A. N.A. N.A. N.A. SUN LIFE PROSPERITY ACHIEVER FUND 2038, INC. -A,D,4 0.9941 N.A. N.A. N.A. N.A. SUN LIFE PROSPERITY ACHIEVER FUND 2048, INC. -A,D,4 0.9936 N.A. N.A. N.A. N.A. SUN LIFE PROSPERITY DYNAMIC FUND, INC. -A 0.9676 -4.27% 2.49% N.A. 4.98% PRIMARILY INVESTED IN FOREIGN CURRENCY SECURITIES COCOLIFE DOLLAR FUND BUILDER, INC. -A $0.03567 1.71% 0.28% 1.82% 1.19% PAMI ASIA BALANCED FUND, INC. -A $0.9723 -6.48% 5.1% -0.04% 3.86% SUN LIFE PROSPERITY DOLLAR ADVANTAGE FUND, INC. -A $3.5359 -1.83% 6.95% 2.06% 6.88% SUN LIFE PROSPERITY DOLLAR WELLSPRING FUND, INC. -A $1.0558 -4.11% N.A. N.A. 4.53% BOND FUNDS PRIMARILY INVESTED IN PESO SECURITIES ALFM PESO BOND FUND, INC. -A 345.26 2.35% 2.1% 2.11% 0.55% ATRAM CORPORATE BOND FUND, INC. -A, 1 1.8604 -0.85% -0.41% -0.33% 0.06% COCOLIFE FIXED INCOME FUND, INC. -A 2.9871 5.35% 5.27% 5.26% 0.55% EKKLESIA MUTUAL FUND INC. -A 2.1452 1.81% 1.35% 1.86% 0.69% FIRST METRO SAVE AND LEARN FIXED INCOME FUND,INC. -A 2.2266 0.61% 0.31% 0.64% 0.78% GREPALIFE FIXED INCOME FUND CORP. -A P 1.596 -1.19% -0.64% 0.42% 2.02% PHILAM BOND FUND, INC. -A 3.9113 -2% -1.04% 0.33% -0.22% PHILEQUITY PESO BOND FUND, INC. -A 3.5818 2.65% 0.84% 1.26% 1.84% SOLDIVO BOND FUND, INC. -A 0.9104 0.21% -0.55% N.A. 1.99% SUN LIFE OF CANADA PROSPERITY BOND FUND, INC. -A 2.8302 1.42% 1.07% 1.56% 2.32% SUN LIFE PROSPERITY GS FUND, INC. -A 1.5726 1.06% 0.62% 1.11% 2.12% PRIMARILY INVESTED IN FOREIGN CURRENCY SECURITIES ALFM DOLLAR BOND FUND, INC. -A $450.72 1.97% 2.11% 3.02% 0.54% ALFM EURO BOND FUND, INC. -A Є214.15 0.62% 1.34% 1.56% 0.71% ATRAM TOTAL RETURN DOLLAR BOND FUND, INC. -B $1.1447 2.31% 1.25% 2.23% 1.68% FIRST METRO SAVE AND LEARN DOLLAR BOND FUND, INC. -A $0.025 1.21% 0.95% N.A. 0.81% GREPALIFE DOLLAR BOND FUND CORP. -A $1.6967 -1.71% -0.97% 1.04% 0.38% MAA PRIVILEGE DOLLAR FIXED INCOME FUND, INC. N.S. N.S. N.S. N.S. N.S. MAA PRIVILEGE EURO FIXED INCOME FUND, INC. ЄN.S. N.S. N.S. N.S. N.S. PAMI GLOBAL BOND FUND, INC -A $1.0476 -0.24% -1.2% -2.33% 0.96% PHILAM DOLLAR BOND FUND, INC. -A $2.2176 2.32% 0.8% 2.95% 2.14% PHILEQUITY DOLLAR INCOME FUND INC. -A $0.0573433 1.02% 0.99% 1.85% 0.64% SUN LIFE PROSPERITY DOLLAR ABUNDANCE FUND, INC. -A $2.9242 -0.61% 0.13% 2.01% 1.81% MONEY MARKET FUNDS PRIMARILY INVESTED IN PESO SECURITIES ALFM MONEY MARKET FUND, INC. -A 121.6 3.27% 2.03% 1.67% 0.63% FIRST METRO SAVE AND LEARN MONEY MARKET FUND, INC. -A,5 1.0015 N.A. N.A. N.A. N.A. PHILAM MANAGED INCOME FUND, INC. -A 1.1859 2.18% 0.84% 0.59% 0.34% SUN LIFE PROSPERITY MONEY MARKET FUND, INC. -A 1.2245 2.84% 2.35% 1.69% 0.45% PRIMARILY INVESTED IN FOREIGN CURRENCY SECURITIES SUN LIFE PROSPERITY DOLLAR STARTER FUND, INC. -A $1.0188 1.92% N.A. N.A. 0.29%

* - NAVPS AS OF THE PREVIOUS BANKING DAY ** - NAVPS AS OF TWO BANKING DAYS AGO *** - LISTED IN THE PSE.

**** - RE-CLASSIFIED INTO A BALANCED FUND STARTING JANUARY 1, 2017 (FORMERLY GREPALIFE BOND FUND CORP.).

***** - LAUNCH DATE IS NOVEMBER 6, 2017 ****** - LAUNCH DATE IS JANUARY 08, 2018 ******** - RENAMING OF THE FUND WAS APPROVED BY THE SEC LAST APRIL 13, 2018. ********* - BECAME A MEMBER SINCE APRIL 20, 2018. ******* - ADJUSTED DUE TO CASH DIVIDEND ISSUANCE LAST JANUARY 29, 2018

Banking&Finance BusinessMirror

www.businessmirror.com.ph

Thursday, February 14, 2019

B3

PLEA loans released to farmers, fishers hit P1.64B

T

By Jasper Emmanuel Y. Arcalas @jearcalas

HE Agricultural Credit Policy Council (ACPC) said it has disbursed P1.64 billion in loans to small-scale farmers from June 2017 to December 2018, as part of government efforts to expand their access to affordable credit.

The ACPC, an attached agency of the Department of Agriculture (DA), said its Production Loan Easy Access (PLEA) program released funds to 159 lending conduits na-

tionwide, serving 33,150 marginal farmers and fishermen (MSFF).

“The PLEA has reached about 10 percent, or 45, of the 455 unbanked municipalities identified

by the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas (BSP),” the agency said in a statement on Wednesday.

“Through the PLEA, farmers and fishers in previously unbanked and unserved areas in CAR [Cordillera Administrative Region], Region 1, Region 4A and 4B, Region 6, Region 7, Region 9, Region 10, Region 12 and Region 13 now have access to affordable loans for their agri-fishery production,” it added.

Unbanked municipalities refer to those with no presence of banks or similar financial institutions, according to the ACPC. However, the ACPC disclosed that the PLEA program’s repayment rate dropped to 91 percent in end December, from 97 percent recorded last September 30.

The agency attributed this to

the adverse impact of typhoons, such as Ompong and Usman, on the production and harvest of farmers and fishermen in the last quarter of 2018.

“Validation results from the field show that more than onehalf, or 54 percent, of PLEA beneficiaries are first-time borrowers to formal credit, and that 73 percent are new borrowers from ACPCaccredited lending conduits,” the ACPC said.

“This shows that through the ACPC’s partnerships with grassroots-based organizations, the PLEA continues to significantly contribute to financial inclusion, as it enables the unserved and underserved MSFF to have easier access to financing,” it added.

The PLEA program seeks to

complement the loan portfolios offered by the Land Bank of the Philippines to MSFF, according to ACPC. The government said it rolled out the program to boost farmers’ productivity.

The ACPC also said Agriculture Secretary Emmanuel F. Piñol ordered the creation of Loan Facilitation Teams (LoFTs) at the regional and provincial level to expand the reach of the agency’s easy-access credit program.

“The LoFTs, composed of representatives from various DAattached agencies and LGUs, will answer queries and provide information on credit policies and programs,” the agency said.

“Further, the LoFTs will also guide MSFF in complying with

loan documentary requirements including the crafting of project proposals, business plans, farm plan and budget,” it added.

T he PLE A prog ram was launched in Surigao del Norte on June 23, 2017. The ACPC said it is a special credit facility credit facility designed to address the financial needs of marginal and small farmers and fishermen for “fast, convenient and affordable credit.”

Non-collateralized loans for agri-fishery production are provided under the PLEA through cooperative banks, cooperatives and nongovernment organizations as credit delivery channels.

The loan is payable from 2 to 10 years with an interest rate of 6 percent per annum.

Tenders for 7-year T-bonds Reforms to cut Q3 inflation to 2%–Diokno in BTr tap facility almost I 5 times oversubscribed

By Bernadette D. Nicolas @BNicolasBM

By Rea Cu

@ReaCuBM

S

TRONG liquidity in the local market was shown during the auction under the tap facility of the Bureau of the Treasury (BTr) on Tuesday, as tenders for the seven-year Treasury bonds (T-bonds) were almost five times oversubscribed.

Based on the auction results under the tap facility, tenders for the government security were almost five times oversubscribed at P94.423 billion, more than the bids received—P66.917 billion—during the primary auction for the seven-year T-bonds earlier in the day.

This prompted the auction committee to fully award its P10-billion offering under the facility at the same coupon rate of 6.250 percent.

During the primary auction of the T-bonds, the BTr was able to award the full P20

billion on offer, as strong liquidity was seen in the market.

National Treasurer Rosalia V. de Leon explained that the demand for the sevenyear debt paper may be attributed to the market’s expectations of inflation reverting downward, as the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas (BSP) earlier said it expects inflation to fall within the band of 2-4 percent this year.

The tap facility is only made available to the Treasury’s 10 market makers, namely, BDO Unibank Inc., Bank of the Philippine Islands, China Banking Corp., Citibank Philippines, Development Bank of the Philippines, First Metro Investment Corp., Land Bank of the Philippines, Metropolitan Bank and Trust Co., Rizal Commercial Banking Corp. and Security Bank Corp.

NFLATION could fall to as low as 2 percent in the third quarter as measures rolled out by the government to boost food supply will further stabilize consumer prices, according to Budget Secretary Benjamin E. Diokno.

Diokno also told reporters in a news briefing on Wednesday that inflation in the second quarter may fall within the 2-4 percent target range of the government. He said, however, that the average rate in the first quarter may breach the target as the Philippines is “coming from high inflation figures.”

Inflation in 2018 averaged 5.2 percent, the highest since 2009 when the rate settled at 4.2 percent.

But the Budget chief said inflation has been tapering off in recent months. Last month the rate eased to 4.4 percent, from 5.1 percent registered in December.

“That’s a significant drop already.

If you look at month-on-month, that’s negative already,” said Diokno, who also chairs the Development Budget Coordination Committee.

Figures from the Philippine Statistics Authority (PSA) showed that while the January inflation rate was slower than the December figure, it is still higher than last year’s 3.4 percent.

Excluding select food and energy

FILE PHOTO

items, core inflation in January was also at 4.4 percent.

In a joint statement, the National Economic and Development Authority, Department of Finance, and Department of Budget and Management said inflation will further ease in the coming months and settle at 3.2 percent and 3 percent in 2019 and 2020, respectively, as projected by the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas.

This, as they continue to push for the full implementation of nonmonetary and administrative

Deutsche Bank seeks to rebuild in M. East after cost cutting

Cid Terosa told the BusinessMirror earlier that the upcoming elections could still trigger an increase in prices, aside from a possible increase in world pump prices and adjustments to fuel excise taxes due to the Tax Reform for Acceleration and Inclusion law.

IBON Foundation Executive Director Jose Enrique A. Africa also echoed Terosa’s concern, saying he also does not believe that inflation will settle within the government’s target of 2 to 4 percent this year.

LandBank regular loans up 33% to P799.2B in ‘18

G

D

EUTSCHE Bank AG aims to rebuild in the Middle East after years of cost cutting and has hired executives to help win debt and advisory deals.

“We have pivoted from a pure costcontrol focus in 2018 to a controlled, disciplined growth phase in 2019,” Jamal Al Kishi, chief executive officer of the Middle East and Africa for the Frankfurt-based lender, said in an interview.

“This year will be a better one in terms of both revenue and profitability, and you’ll see us on large financing deals and, hopefully, some M&A this year.”

Deutsche Bank recently hired Ibrahim Qasim from Doha-based QInvest Llc. as head of structured solutions for the Middle East and North Africa, as well as Khalid Rashid from Standard Chartered Plc. to take charge of capital markets. Last year the bank brought in Asif Karmally to lead the financial solutions group in the United Arab Emirates, Oman and Pakistan.

Deutsche Bank reported a drop in global revenue for the eighth successive quarter earlier this month, led by a slump in its key fixed-income trading business. CEO Christian Sewing said the bank seeks a return to growth, but pledged more cost cuts if revenues disappointed.

Clients have seen lenders “go through

measures to stave off possible supply bottlenecks that have caused prices of key agricultural commodities to surge last year.

The government is also currently looking for ways to improve the farm sector after its output grew by only 0.8 percent last year.

While the hike in consumer prices was slower in January, local economists believe that the country’s inflation woes are still far from over.

University of Asia and the Pacific School of Economics Dean

these cycles before and they want to see a strong European bank that can be a viable alternative to the US,” Al Kishi said.

We would be “looking at re-establishing certain product areas in a very focused way and we will compete against the US firms in a very relevant way.”

Bond deals

DEUTSCHE Bank was ranked 39th among syndicated loan bookrunners in the Middle East and North Africa last year, according to Bloomberg League Tables, a list dominated by foreign lenders.

It was the fifth-biggest arranger of bond sales in the region, ranking behind Citigroup Inc. and JPMorgan Chase & Co., the data show.

The German lender helped manage a $12-billion bond for the Qatar government, the region’s single biggest

sale last year. It also arranged sales for Egypt and Lebanon and was part of a $2-billion loan refinancing for Dubai ports operator DP World Ltd. Economic growth in the six-nation Gulf Cooperation Council is expected to accelerate to 3 percent this year from an estimated 2.4 percent in 2018, according to forecasts by the International Monetary Fund. Governments from Saudi Arabia to the UAE are stepping up investments after a period of low oil prices and budget cuts.

“The malaise that prevailed for the past few years is being replaced with a new normal, and that’s driving real reform in the region,” Al Kishi said. “We’re busy talking to clients in the public and private sectors about significant financing and M&A and corporatefinance deals.” Bloomberg News

OVERNMENT-OWNED Land Bank of the Philippines (LBP) reported record-high growth in its gross loan portfolio, as it capped 2018 with P799.2 billion in gross regular loans. This is higher by 33 percent than the P601.2 billion reported in 2017 and is the highest year-on-year growth since 2009.

This translates to a 29-percent rise in the bank’s gross loan portfolio to P867.3 billion, from P674.4 billion as of end-2017.

LandBank President and CEO Alex V. Buenaventura attributed the significant increase to substantial growth in the bank’s loans to its priority sectors, which reached P734.4 billion as of end-December 2018. This is a 30-percent surge from P564.1 billion in 2017 and makes up 92 percent of the bank’s total loans to all sectors of P798.8 billion.

The bank’s priority sectors comprise of small farmers and fishers (SFFs), a good part of which are agrarian reform beneficiaries; Micro, small and medium enterprises (MSMEs); agri- and aqua-projects including those of local government units (LGUs) and government-owned and -controlled corporations (GOCCs); communications; transportation; housing; education; health care; environment-related projects; tourism; utilities; and, other industries in support of National Government (NG) priority programs. “We have been very aggressive in expanding our support to our priority sectors, especially the farmers, as we strive to make our loan programs more accessible to the sectors we are mandated to serve. We have a long way to go, but this is a commitment we take seriously and shall remain the bank’s priority thrust moving forward,” Buenaventura said.

LandBank’s outstanding loans to small farmers, including agrarian reform beneficiaries and their associations grew by 9 percent to P49.3 billion, from P45.2 billion as of end-2017.

Agri-business loans also registered hefty growth, with 83-percent increase to P151.2 billion, from P82.6 billion.

This brings the bank’s support for agriculture and fisheries up by 25 percent to P172.7 billion, which includes loans for aqua-business and loans for agri-aqua related projects of LGUs and GOCCs. Meanwhile, the bank’s support for NG priority programs jumped 35 percent to P512.4 billion, from P380.7 billion.

These include loans for microenterprises and SMEs, which increased by 51 percent to P135.5 billion; tourism, which is up by a hefty 151 percent to P22.1 billion; communications at P44.7 billion with a 43-percent increase; and health care which rose by 35 percent to P19.2 billion. Other sectors that registered significant growth include education, which grew 33 percent to P8 billion; utilities, which is 27-percent higher at P133.7 billion; transportation at P51.7 billion with 33-percent growth; and housing (socialized, low cost and medium cost) higher by 23 percent at P59 billion.

LandBank remains the biggest credit provider to SFFs and the biggest lender to LGUs and MSMEs among government financial institutions.

B4

TheBroa

Business

Thursday, February 14, 2019

PHL farms to take flight in the future T

By Jasper Emmanuel Y. Arcalas

jearcalas

HE future of farming is in the skies; not in the stars, but in the use of what are known as “drones.”

On a clear day above some farms and fishing sites, farmers and agriculture sector players look up for a glimpse of what lies ahead for the development of the country’s agriculture sector: unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) or drones.

Indeed, the Philippines is not alone at a phase in human history when technology is fast advancing and producing machinery that could change what was once a laborious and tedious farming process to an efficient and automated one.

In fact, the country has seen the entry of farm machinery that has changed various manual operations to automated ones: carabaos into tractors, manual harvesting to combined harvesters. Now, the Department of Agriculture (DA) is evaluating the potential of drones to change how farmers plant seeds, apply fertilizers and pesticides, and even monitoring their crops.

“Drones are the future of agriculture; digitization is the way forward,” Agriculture Secretary Emmanuel F. Piñol told the BusinessMirror.

FAO, DA venture

The DA initially tried using drones in 2015. Nearly four years ago, the DA collaborated with the United Nations’s Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) to use the aerial mapping capacity of drones in predisaster and post-disaster assessments.

The partnership was ideal since the Philippines is visited by at least 20 typhoons annually, leaving the farm sector vulnerable to massive profit losses.

The use of drones has improved the DA’s response time in assessing and validating typhoon damages. The technology has also allowed the DA to assess possible losses prior to the landing of a typhoon.

These activities, according to the DA, empowered the agency to make wiser—and immediate— policy decisions to mitigate the detrimental effects of disasters on farms and craft measures to help farmers cope with such threats.

“Validating-of-damage reports used to be in paper. It was a full paperwork. So, drones helped us validate the veracity of reports so that we could come up with a comprehensive solution,” Christopher Morales, chief of the DA Field Programs Operational Planning Division (FPOPD), told the BusinessMirror.

Today, the DA central office has a twin-engine fixed wing, a single-engine fixed wing and a quadcopter UAV unit. These UAVs have different capacities in assessing areas.

A single-engine fixed wing could cover 200 hectares within 60 minutes, while a twin-engine fixed wing could cover 800 hectares to 1,000 hectares in 90 minutes. A quadcopter could cover 50 hectares in 30 minutes.

Morales said two DA regional offices have a twin-engine fixed wing, while 10 regional offices have single-engine fixed wing. All regional offices of the department have a quadcopter.

Utilize technology

MORALES said the DA is planning to have its own fleet of drones, following Piñol’s directive to fully utilize technology in agricultural production.

“He wants the agency’s rehabilitation efforts and assistance to be [as] quick as possible to help farmers recoup losses in times of disasters,” Morales said.

Part of expanding the DA’s

drone fleet is the construction of a technology center or a hub that would house the agency’s UAVs and other related technologies, he added.

“In a way, it would be like an aerospace hub wherein whenever you need to assess a certain area or region you have a fleet or [several] units [you can] deploy immediately,” Morales further said.

In fact, the DA has proposed to the Department of Budget and Management the allocation of at least P100 million for its procurement of drones for all regions nationwide. However, the proposal was thumbed down, according to Morales.

He added he is also studying the possibility and benefits of manufacturing drones locally, particularly if it would be cheaper in terms of costs.

“The challenge of buying drones from suppliers abroad is the repair [and maintenance],” he said. “If there is a problem, say, in the battery, we still need to go back to the supplier for repair, which is quite expensive.”

Test runs

IN April of 2018, Piñol indicated that the DA will explore the possibilities and opportunities that drone technology could provide to Filipino farmers.

The DA sees drones as a technology that would further mechanize the farm sector and cut farmers’ cost of production, according to Piñol.

Such statements are being validated by various agencies that are now incorporating the use of drones in their research. These agencies include the Philippine Rice Research Institute (PhilRice) and the International Rice Research Institute (IRRI).

As early as 2014, the PhilRice has been undertaking research and experimentations on the use of drones in different rice farming processes.

For its part, Los Baños, Laguna-based IRRI has been at the forefront on the use of drones in rice farming. It started its research on the technology as early as 2012.

Using data

AT present, PhilRice, an attached agency of the DA, has found ways to apply drones in crop management, application farm inputs, seed planting and even in fish feeding. All these are aimed at developing “precision farming” or “precision agriculture” in the country.

Precision agriculture is grounded on the use of historical data and other valuable metrics to make farmers’ crop management efficient and optimized. This type of farming is promoted as a means to adapt to the ill effects of climate change.

For one, drones, through available software, allow farmers to monitor rice farming: its growth rate, nutrient content and pest incidence, according to Roger F. Barroga, head of PhilRice FutureRice Farm program.

“So you can determine now if the plant has the right nutrients, if it has enough fertilizer or its growth is stunted. And this could be done over a wide scale,” Barroga said. “This is not just the farmers’ eye level that is being monitored.

But we are talking about 100 hectares to 200 hectares using drones, which gives farmers a clear extent of their plants status, hence, rapid response to crop management.”

Furthermore, drones could provide farmers with real-time information on their crops’ sta-

DR. Sudhir Yadav, Senior Scientist, IRRI; Jun Correa, Senior Manager, Experiment Station, IRRI; and Arnel Rala, Senior Associate Scientist, IRRI. NONIE REYES

tus, such as height of the plants and the number of tillers, so that they could make immediate necessary adjustments to improve their produce.

“There would be faster decision-making and correction action on the part of farmers,” Barroga said. “If there is a lack in fertilizer then put more; if there is an incidence of pests, you could easily monitor the spread and make the right solution.”

Reducing costs, risks

CROP management is being complemented by PhilRice’s use of drones to apply fertilizers evenly across plants on a farm land, depending on the volume they need, Barroga said.

“The application of fertilizer would be calibrated [relative to] the health of the plants. If it is yellow then it would apply more; if it is green, which means healthy, then it would be less,” he explained.

“This way, application of fertilizer

is more precise and would mean lesser costs, lesser harm to environment and health.”

The PhilRice is currently testing the new drone sprayers available in the market in the application of pesticides or herbicides to farm lands. The tests began in January and are expected to end in March. These tests are being conducted by the government in partnership with Davao-based New Hope Corp. (NHC), the exclusive

distributor in the Philippines of agricultural drones manufactured

by Chinese technology firm SZ DJI Technology Co. Ltd. (DJI).

Initial results from the experiment showed that by using drones, farmers could cut extensively the volume of pesticides they use.

From the usual 160 liters of pesticide per hectare applied by farmers using traditional knapsack, the tests showed that using drones, they would only utilize 16 liters of pesticide, Barroga said. He added that it would only take about 16 minutes to 20 minutes for a pesticide-spraying drone to cover a hectare of land, compared to a daylong manual spraying duration.

Furthermore, Barroga said the force created by drones in spraying from above allows the pesticide to be applied even to the unreachable parts of the plants through manual application. This makes the crops more protected from pests and other diseases.

Equipped with AI

THE drone sprayers are also equipped with artificial intelligence, or AI. If a drone stops midway in its flight path due to emptied payload of pesticide, then it would go back to its pilot for refill, NHC Founder Anthony Tan said.

After refilling, the drone sprayer would go back to the point where it stopped and resume applying pesticide. Hence, it avoids overlapping application of chemicals on

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Editor: Dennis D. Estopace | Thursday, February 14, 2019

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re as government supports drone use farmers, whose lands are adjacent to each other, would avail themselves of drone servicing altogether to maximize time and effort.

“That’s the way to go. They don’t have to be an organized group, they could just be independent small farmers in a huge area that can be serviced by drone,” he added.

Barroga said the cost of tapping a service drone and hiring farm workers to do manual spraying is just the same, but efficiency is “way, way different.”

“The cost of tapping drone service for pesticide spraying is about 850 per hectare while the cost of hiring a laborer would be P350 per person. But you would need at least two or three people to cover a hectare of land; that would be about P1,000,” he said.

IRRI Experiment Station Senior Manager Teodoro Q. Correa Jr. supported Barroga’s proposal and added that renting out a drone among members of a cooperative is the most viable way to maximize the technology’s capacity.

Nonetheless, just like smartphones, the price of drones in the market is expected to become cheaper in the future as market competition gets tighter, Correa said. In contrast, as the equipment becomes more affordable, it gets more advanced in terms of its features and capabilities, he added.

NONIE REYES

Mechanization tack

crops, Tan added.

“This is something humans cannot do. There is a huge reduction in the margin of errors, in the risks of pesticide application,” he told the BusinessMirror. “Farm laborers tend to forget the last spot they sprayed once they run out of chemicals. Plus, they could easily get tired due to climatic conditions in the field.”

The use of agricultural drones could also allow farmers to spray pesticide during midnight or wee hours to prevent the attack of pests that usually appear during these hours, Barroga said.

One of the biggest benefits of drone technology to the farming sector would be the reduction in health and environmental risks of some practices, such as pesticide spraying, Tan said.

“Farming has so much hidden costs,” he added. “The price of human spraying is not just P300 per person but much more than that, and should be even more due to the risks and hazards they face.”

IRRI bought agricultural drones to keep their workers away from health hazards posed by manual spraying and to lessen environmental harm.

Today, their former workers, who used to wear knapsacks to spray pesticide in the field, are now pilots of agricultural drones.

Feeds, fish and seeds

BOTH PhilRice and IRRI said

drones also provide a more even distribution of seeds across farm lands and use way lesser labor time.

Initial studies of PhilRice showed that through manual broadcasting, farmers spend around 2 bags to 3 bags of seeds, which is about 50 to 60 kilograms, Barroga said, noting that a drone uses only one bag of seeds or about 20 kilograms.

“The planting is even; there is no overlapping and the spacing between seeds is ideal,” he said.

“Furthermore, because the seeds are being propelled, the seeds are planted deep enough not to be eaten by birds.”

PhilRice is now also conducting experiments on the use of drones as a fish feeder to solve over-distribution or uneven distribution of food in ponds, Barroga said.

He explained that, at present, fishermen who own a small pond just broadcast their feeds, resulting in the concentration of food in only one grid. He said this leads to competition among fishes in the area to get food, which is unhealthy and could lead to deaths of smaller fish.

The same is also observed in bigger ponds wherein fishermen use boats to traverse and broadcast feeds across the area, Barroga added.

“With the use of drones, the feeds are evenly distributed and, hence, fish would not have to compete to get food,” he said.

Additional procedures

THE current market cost of a drone

is not advisable for individual and independent farmers to purchase on their own, Tan said. At present a UAV costs between P800,000 to P1.2 million each.

Furthermore, purchasing your own drone would also entail training and securing a license from the government to operate one, Barroga explained. These additional procedures might not be viable for majority of the country’s aging farmers, who are averaging 57 years old.

However, Barroga proposes that the ideal purchase and use of drones would be through organized farmers’ groups or cooperatives.

In this way, the cost of purchasing a drone would be shared among farmer-members and the capacity of the technology could be maximized.

“We recommend the use and buy of drones through cooperatives, especially those with areas of about 100 to 200 hectares,” Barroga said. “This is also our recommendation even to non-cooperatives such as local government units.”

At an estimated price of P1.2 million, a cooperative that would purchase a drone could have a return of investment rate of around three years, he added. According to Barroga, farmers could also tap the drone-leasing or servicing market.

Renting out

HE said it would be more efficient if

SUCH was the experience of a farmer in Nueva Ecija.

Barroga said a “tech-savvy” rice farmer named Ver Garcia recently tapped a drone service provider to apply herbicide on a 7-hectare farm, 3.8 hectares of which belongs to him while the remaining area is owned by his relatives.

He added that Garcia paid about P700 per hectare for the use of the drone.

“And that is the first time a farmer was serviced by drone in the country,” he said.

Barroga describes Garcia as a “risk-taker,” being one of the early adopters of the technology.

“They’re quite dazzled by it, like seeing a Ferrari on the field.”

This was how Tan described what he witnessed during the drone servicing of Garcia’s farm in Nueva Ecija.

Tan’s company currently offers servicing works to farmers interested to use or incorporate drones in their farming.

Innovative approach

“THERE is not one innovation that is potentially more formative and impactful than drones whether you are looking at it [from] a mechanization perspective or another.”

So, believes Tan.

Tan, after working for 24 years in Bloomberg selling analytical products, ventured into agriculture when he discovered the farming in his hometown Davao is not yet fully mechanized.

In 2017, he attended a convention in Houston where he first encountered drone technology. It was also the same year he founded NHC and became the distributor of agricultural drones of DJI, which is considered a global market leader in the said technology.

“The gift of newer technology into agriculture is it really gets the next generation. The technology 56 years ago is not effective right now. It is evident as young people are not coming back,” Tan told the BusinessMirror.

Next generation

ASIDE from farmers, drone technology advocates also want the ubiquity of UAV use to attract the younger generation back to agriculture.

In their 5-hectare rice farm dubbed FutureRice in Nueva Ecija, Barroga said a lot of college students—most of them are into information technology and engineering degrees—are taking their

on-the-job trainings.

The FutureRice, established in 2014, seeks to attract people, especially young ones, back to agriculture through sustainable farming using high-end technology, clean, green practical and smart farming practices.

“Technology is the magnet that pulls them back to agriculture,” Barroga said. “Because they discover agriculture is very complex and there are a lot of problems but there are solutions available through information technology.”

IRRI scientists echoed Barroga’s statements and added that opportunities in other industries and fields are more attractive to the youth than those offered by the agriculture sector.

“Nobody would like to have a knapsack on their back and walk in the mud for a day just to spray pesticides. It is really practical for the youth to move away from agriculture and get a white-collar job,” IRRI Senior Scientist Sudhir Yadav told the BusinessMirror. “Mechanization and drones definitely will attract youth in the agriculture.”

Governance woes

THE FAO recommends that governments craft guidelines to improve the adoption of drones in agriculture. The lack of such, the FAO noted, could push away the young generation in going back to farming.

“UAS [unmanned aerial system] for agriculture could be a magnet for educated youth in developing countries to develop service enterprises based or at least operating in rural areas, thus generating jobs opportunities and improving agricultural production and farmers’ returns on investment,” the FAO said in its publication titled “e-Agriculture in Action: Drones in Agriculture” published in 2018.

“As the industry is fast developing in countries where the regulations are enabling, and on hold or winding down where these are too strict, expensive to comply with or disabling, regulators should be fully aware that the impact of their decisions reaches far beyond security and privacy and could determine whether agriculture becomes a data-driven and profitable enterprise or not,” it added.

The FAO noted that some countries have banned the importation and use of drones due to lack of proper study on their benefits and risks. There are also countries that prohibit the use of agricultural drones due to the lack of a regulatory framework.

In the Philippines, there is no clear-cut policy yet on the use of agricultural drones. The only existing policies refer to flight height limitations and some restrictions in flying drones in relation to security, such as prohibition of flight near airports.

“In shaping their governance, there is the need to find a balance between managing the ground and air risks of UAS operations, the need for safety and privacy and the benefits to agriculture and broader natural resource management,” FAO recommended. “Hence it is of paramount importance that CAAs [Civil Aviation Authority] closely interact with stakeholders in the agricultural sector in the process.”

Drone academy

IN fact, IRRI launched a short course on the use of agricultural drones in December 2018 to attract young people and even other stakeholders involved in farming to venture and train people in using the technology.

The short course offerings

by IRRI, which take about 5 days, train people in using drones in two agricultural aspects: crop protection and crop assessment.

The offerings target staff of agricultural institutions, people from the private sector, farm entrepreneurs, researchers and anyone interested in the technology.

Training in agricultural drones is not sanctioned by CAAP nor is it regulated by any governing body or institution, according to Lara. IRRI is the first institution to provide training on agricultural drones in the country.

“We are doing our best to educate our stakeholders on this technology,” Correa said.

“A lot of people outside the Philippines are flying to here to get their trainings as they are getting more interested on drones as it spreads across Asia,” Yadav added.

Most of the participants of IRRI’s first offering on agricultural drone training were people from big agricultural companies who are considering to incorporate the technology in their respective researches.

Prepping up

IRRI has launched a series of training on drones, believing it is important to make stakeholders, particularly farmers, not just aware but well-educated on the capacities and risks of the technology in farming.

This, the IRRI scientists noted, would help spur the adoption of drone technology in the local farms.

“We should not take drones for fun. We [also] do not want to see 1,000 units of drones flying outside. So, it is very, very important that the right agencies test the technology first before it is released to the farmers,” Yadav explained.

“If it’s released prematurely to farmers then there would be more risks than benefits,” he added. “We should make sure—step by step— that we develop the right process before it reaches to the farmers.”

Yadav said respective government agencies must also ensure its staff and workers are knowledgeable on the capacities of agricultural drones so that they transfer the right practice and technology to the farmers who would adopt the use of drones.

“Do not get blind with technology. [A] drone is one thing, but the need for a drone is another thing,” he said. “You need to understand what can be done and pick the appropriate technologies to your needs.”

At present, IRRI has at least two projects with the DA that involves the use of drones. The first one involves pest monitoring and reduction. The second project focuses more on water management in crops. Drones monitor the “swallowbility” of crops to determine necessary adjustments in the plants’ water needs.

Lifting hopes

BARROGA said it is vital that farmers adopt modern technologies, including drones, to mitigate the ill effects of climate change to the agriculture sector.

“This is the future. We have to reduce our carbon footprint. And that could be solved by having a precise application of fertilizer and other farm inputs,” he said.

Tan, on the other hand, believes it would only be a short time before farmers become risk takers and confront the challenges in adopting new technologies such as drones.

“People should realize that unless farming and farmers themselves take an alternate view on what farming should be in the future, kids won’t go back to farming,” he said. “I think we should rearrange the furniture a little bit.

What we are doing right now is unsustainable for people’s health and environment.”

For Piñol, the impact of drones on agriculture would be revolutionary.

“Digitalization, drones, satellite monitoring and GPS-guided precision farming: these are the new words in the agricultural vocabulary,” he said.

Only time will tell if the promise of agricultural drones will hold water—or stay afloat in the skies like most good ideas do.

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Thursday, February 14, 2019

The World BusinessMirror

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

US, China negotiators hold last talks before March 1 deadline W

Trump says he might not raise tariffs on China if talks go well

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EIJING—US and Chinese negotiators meet this week for their final trade talks before President Donald J. Trump decides whether to go ahead with a March 2 tariff hike on $200 billion of imports from China.

Two days of talks starting Thursday are too little time to resolve a tariff war over Beijing’s technology ambitions that threatens to drag on weakening global economic growth, say businesspeople and economists. Instead, they say China’s goal is to show that they are making enough progress to persuade Trump to extend his deadline.

There are few signs of progress on their thorniest issue: Washington’s demand that Beijing scale back plans for government-led creation of global champions in

robotics and other technology.

China’s trading partners say those violate its market-opening obligations and some American officials worry they might erode US industrial leadership.

This week, Beijing wants “to see the threat of additional tariff imposition being removed for as long as possible,” with minimal conditions attached, said Louis Kuijs of Oxford Economics.

Trump’s December agreement to postpone more tariff hikes while the two sides negotiate expires on March 1. The following day, a 10

percent tariff imposed in July on $200 billion of Chinese imports would rise to 25 percent.

Companies on both sides have been battered by Washington’s tariffs and retaliatory duties imposed by Beijing. And the stakes are rising as global economic growth cools.

Trump hiked tariffs on Chinese goods in July over complaints Beijing steals or pressures companies to hand over technology. The dispute spread to include Chinese technology plans, cyber spying and their lopsided trade balance.

Chinese leaders have offered to narrow their multibillion-dollar trade surplus with the United States. But they have resisted making major changes in development plans they see as a path to prosperity and global influence.

“China will continue resisting US demands in certain areas, such as changes to its industrial strategy and the role of the state in its economy,” said Eswar Prasad, a Cornell University economist who was head of the China division at

the International Monetary Fund.

Chinese officials reject complaints that foreign companies are required to hand over technology.

But business groups and foreign governments point to rules they say compel companies to share technology with state-owned local partners or disclose trade secrets.

Chinese officials also are balking at US pressure to accept a mechanism to monitor whether Beijing carries out its promises, said Kuijs.

“They feel that it is humiliating for China if another country does this,” he said.

The US delegation is led by Trade Representative Robert Lighthizer, who has said his priority is Chinese industrial policy, not the trade gap. He is accompanied

by Treasur y Secretar y Steven Mnuchin.

The Chinese side by Vice Premier Liu He, President Xi Jinping’s top economic adviser. It will be his second meeting with Lighthizer following last month’s talks in Washington. AP

US national debt hits another milestone, topping $22 trillion

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A S H I N G T O N —T h e US national debt has passed a new milestone, topping $22 trillion for the first time.

The Treasur y Department’s daily statement showed on Tuesday that total outstanding public debt stands at $22.01 trillion. It stood at $19.95 trillion when President Donald Trump took office on January 20, 2017.

T he debt f ig ure has been accelerating since t he passage of Tr u mp’s $1. 5 t r i l l ion t a x c ut in December 2017 a nd act ion

by Cong ress l ast yea r to increase spend ing on domest ic a nd m i l it a r y prog ra ms.

The national debt is the total of the annual budget deficits. The Congressional Budget Office projects that this year’s deficit will be $897 billion—a 15.1 percent increase over last year’s imbalance of $779 billion. In the coming years, the CBO forecasts that the deficit will keep rising, top $1 trillion annually beginning in 2022 and never drop below $1 trillion through 2029. Much of the increase will come from mounting costs to fund Social Security and Medicare as the vast generation of baby boomers continue to retire.

T he Trump administration contends that its tax cuts will eventually pay for themselves

THIS June 8, 2017, file photo shows the US Treasury Department building in Washington.

The national debt has passed a new milestone, topping $22 trillion for the first time. The Treasury Department’s daily statement shows that total outstanding public debt stands at $22.01 trillion. It stood at $19.95 trillion when President Donald J. Trump took office on January 20, 2017. AP/PABLO MARTINEZ MONSIVAIS

by generating faster economic growth. That projection is disputed by many economists.

Despite the rising levels of federal debt, many economists say they think the risks remain slight and point to current interest rates,

which remain unusually low by historical standards. Still, some budget experts warn that ever-rising federal debt poses substantial risks for the government because it could make it harder to respond to a financial crisis through tax

cuts or spending increases.

Michael Peterson, head of the Peter G. Peterson Foundation, says “our growing national debt matters because it threatens the economic future of ever y American.” AP

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In this January 8, 2019, file photo, Motonari Ohtsuru (left), chief lawyer of the legal team for former Nissan Chairman Carlos Ghosn, other members of the legal team, lawyers Go Kondo, and Masato Oshikubo sit in a courtroom ahead of a court hearing on a case of Ghosn at the Tokyo District Court in Tokyo. Ohtsuru and Oshikubo have handed in resignations, according to his office and a statement submitted to the court. The resignation on Wednesday is the latest twist in the legal battle of Ghosn, who has been detained in Tokyo since his arrest in November.

He has been charged with falsifying financial reports in under-reporting compensation and breach of trust in having Nissan Motor Co. shoulder investment losses and paying a Saudi businessman. KIYOSHI OTA/POOL VIA AP

push to challenge US technological dominance.

“Things are going well with China,” Trump said. “China wants to make a deal very badly. I want it to be a real deal—a real deal with China.”

Trump again said he and Chinese President Xi Jinping would have to meet to work out a final deal. “At some point, I expect to meet with President Xi, who I have a lot of respect for and like a lot, and make the parts of the deal that the group is unable to make,” he said. “That’s the way deals happen.”

The US has slapped tariffs on $250 billion in Chinese imports and has threatened to raise tariffs 80 percent of those on March 2.

China has punched back with tariffs on $110 billion in US products.

The dispute has rattled financial markets and darkened the outlook for the world economy.

But stocks rallied on Tuesday on hopes that the two countries would find a resolution. The Dow Jones industrial average was up more than 384 points, or 1.5 percent, in mid-afternoon trading on Tuesday. AP

Soaring US crude oil output highlights Opec’s quandary

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Chief defense lawyer of Nissan former chairman Ghosn resigns O K YO — M o to n a r i O h t s u r u , t h e law yer heading the defense for Nissan Motor Co.’s former Chairman Carlos Ghosn, has resigned.

Ohtsuru’s office and a statement submitted to the cour t confirmed that Ohtsuru had quit on Wednesday. It was the latest twist in Ghosn’s legal battle after he was arrested in November.

He has been charged with falsifying financial reports by under-reporting his compensation and with breach of trust.

Ghosn has repeatedly said he is innocent.

It was unclear why Ohtsuru was no longer representing Ghosn or if Ghosn had dismissed him. Another attorney chosen to represent the auto industry star executive also resigned as of Wednesday.

Japan’s Kyodo News ser vice said the Tokyo District Cour t, prosecutors and lawyers for Ghosn were due to meet on Thursday to work on preparing for his trial. AP

ASHINGTON—President Donald J. Trump said on Tuesday that he might let a March 2 deadline slide in trade talks with China if the two countries get close to a deal.

The United States is scheduled to raise import taxes on $200 billion worth of Chinese goods on March 2 if the US and China can’t resolve their differences.

Trump said he’s not inclined to extend the deadline, but he might let it “slide for a little while” if talks go well. Earlier, t he W h ite House h ad c a l led March 2 a “ hard deadline.”

US negotiators began mid-level talks with their Chinese counterparts in Beijing on Monday.

US Trade Rep. Robert Lighthizer and Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin are scheduled to step in Thursday for two more days of negotiations.

The world’s two biggest economies are locked in a dispute over US charges that China steals US technology and forces American companies to turn over trade secrets in exchange for access to the Chinese markets. The tactics are alleged to be part of China’s

NITED States crude output is accelerating, highlighting Organization of Petroleum Exporting Countrie’s dilemma as the cartel reins in its own production to revive prices.

Crude supply will average 12.41 million barrels a day this year and 13.2 million in 2020, the US Energy Information Administration said on Tuesday, up more than 300,000 barrels a day from the previous month’s estimates. The latest short-term energy outlook “puts the nation on track to set a new production record for a third consecutive year,” EIA Administrator Linda Capuano said in a statement.

Soaring output is putting the US on course to become a net exporter of crude oil and petroleum products next year. It’s also forcing Opec to scale back estimates of how much crude the group needs to pump this year as the demand outlook softens.

“Every report of any kind for the US is basically adding barrels to the flow,” said Bob Yawger, director of futures at Mizuho Securities USA Inc. in New York. “If you accommodate them by leaving the door open, they’re going to stick a foot in the door and steal your customer.”

O p e c ’s V i e n n a - b a s e d r e s e a r c h department reduced its estimates for the average amount of crude the world requires from the group this year by 240,000 barrels a day to 30.59 million.

Forecasts for non-Opec supply were lifted by an improved outlook for the Gulf of Mexico, while projections for global demand were lowered as a result of weakness in Europe and the Americas.

The EIA reduced its forecasts for both Brent and West Texas Intermediate oil benchmarks by $3 a barrel for 2020. “Despite many uncertainties, EIA believes strong growth in global oil production will put downward pressure on prices,” Capuano said.

Opec’s top official urged countries in the group and its allies to follow through on their pledges to cut oil production and keep global markets balanced.

While the Opec collectively made a strong start last month to a new round of output cuts, much of this was due to extra effort by the biggest member, Saudi Arabia. Several other Opec nations, as well as some partners outside the group like Russia and Kazakhstan, lagged in their delivery.

“Once again the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia continues to exhibit leadership from the front and by example,” SecretaryGeneral Mohammad Barkindo said in a statement. “No party can perform the role of a ‘swing producer,’” he said, urging all countries to achieve their obligations “in full and in timely fashion.”

The 24-nation alliance known as Opec+

that formed two years ago has just started another round of output curbs to prevent a supply glut. While the initial phase of their accord that began in 2017 was a success, ending the worst oil industry downturn in a generation, their latest effort hasn’t yet delivered a full recovery in prices. Crude remains about 28 percent below its October level as a global economic slowdown saps demand while booming shale-oil output pushes US production to new records.

Prices climbed more than 2 percent in London on Tuesday after Opec data showed it made a strong start to the cuts, and Saudi Energy Minister Khalid al-Falih told the Financial Times the kingdom would cut even deeper.

“We have seen the positive response of the market with a rebound in investor confidence and the return of spending necessary to guarantee the security of future supply,” said Barkindo. “We all benefit from a healthy and balanced market, a sustainable market stability, and a platform from which we can make the necessary investments that benefit both us as producers and consumers, too.”

Russian delay

RUSSIA, the biggest non-Opec producer in the alliance, pushed back the schedule for full implementation of its cutback by a month, without giving any explanation.

Full compliance won’t be reached until May, Energy Minister Alexander Novak said on February 4, having previously said this would be achieved within the first quarter.

Kazakhstan, another nation in the coalition, said that it actually increased production in January rather than trying to cut back. The country has shown little regard for its obligations under the pact, having boosted output substantially over the past two years instead of cutting.

Russia has also appeared to waver in its longer-term commitment to the partnership. While representatives of the countries in the pact are due to meet this month to discuss a long term, formal framework for the alliance, Russia has recently downplayed the prospects of such an agreement.

There are “no substantial discussions” of formalizing cooperation between Opec and Russia, Dmitry Peskov, spokesman for President Vladimir Putin, said on Tuesday.

Barkindo expressed confidence that the group will keep working toward its goal.

“Our primary objective is to ensure that the oil market remains in balance throughout 2019 and beyond in order to build on the success of the past couple of years,” he said. “I have no doubt that we will be unwavering in striving to meet this objective.” Bloomberg News

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

The World

South Korean lawmaker won’t apologize for emperor remarks

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HE speaker of South Korea’s parliament said he had no intention to apologize for his comments about Japan’s emperor, suggesting the issue could continue to stoke tensions between the neighbors.

National Assembly Speaker Moon Hee-sang said there was no reason to show contrition for calling on Emperor A kihito to personally apologize to women forced to work in colonial-era Japanese militar y brothels, the Yonhap News Agency reported.

Moon was responding to Japanese P r i me Mi n ister Sh i n zo Abe, who called the comments “extremely inappropr iate” as his government demanded an apolog y and retraction.

“I don’t know why this is becoming such a big issue,” Moon told reporters during a visit to Washington on Tuesday, according to Yonhap. He said he was only seeking an apology for the former sex slaves—euphemistically called “comfort women”— and that he found Abe’s response “incomprehensible.”

“I really cannot understand why they’re doing this,” Moon said, adding that he’s “ been saying the same thing for 10 years.”

Moon’s office couldn’t immediately confirm the remarks when asked for comment.

Moon’s comments about the emperor came during a Bloomberg inter v iew last week, in which he was asked how the two sides could resolve their longr u n n i ng d i sag reement s over Japan’s 1910-1945 occupation of the Korean Peninsula. Moon said an apology from the emperor before his planned abdication in May would be most meaningful, since he was “the son of the main culprit of war crimes.”

The two countries, who are each other’s third-largest trading partners, have been sparring over a host of disagreements stemming from the colonial period. The friction between the two US allies raises new questions about Washington’s efforts to build tighter bonds between its regional partners to counter North Korea and a rising China.

Most South Koreans believe Japan hasn’t sufficiently apologized for its actions during the occupation, while many Japanese argue past statements of regret, which include official apologies to the comfort women, should have been sufficient.

“For the comfort women issue, there is only one issue at hand, which is a heartfelt apology,” Moon said, according to Yonhap. “I don’t know why they’re dragging it out for so long.” Bloomberg News

Trudeau cabinet minister resigns amid controversy

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ORONTO—Canada’sformer justice minister announced on Tuesday that she was quitting Prime Minister Justin Trudeau’s Cabinet—a move that follows allegations Trudeau’s office pressured her to avoid prosecuting a major Canadian engineering firm.

Veterans Affairs Minister Jody Wilson-Raybould released a letter announcing her resignation but gave no reasons. She had been demoted from the post of justice minister last month.

The Globe and Mail newspaper reported last week that Trudeau or his staff pressured her to arrange a deal with Montreal-based SNC-Lavalin that would let it avoid criminal prosecution on allegations of corruption involving government contracts in Libya. Trudeau said he was “puzzled” and “surprised and disappointed” by her decision.

“Allow me to be very clear. Our government did its job properly and according to all the rules,” Trudeau said.

The prime minister said Wilson-R aybou ld never came to him in the fall with concerns the government was not acting properly. “It was her responsibility to come directly to me and highlight that,” he said.

“To be honest, I don’t entirely understand why Jody WilsonRaybould made the decision she did,” he added.

Wilson-Raybould said she has hired a former Supreme Court justice to advise her on what she can say publicly about the matter.

Her resignation is a potential blow to Trudeau as he faces reelection this year. He has denied directing Wilson-Raybould to arrange such a deal.

On Monday Trudeau said he had told Wilson-Raybould previously that any decision on the subject was hers alone. Trudeau also said her continued presence in the Cabinet should speak for itself.

But later Monday night she told him she was quitting the Cabinet.

“Regardless of background, geography, or party affiliation, we must stand together for the values that Canada is built on,”

Wi lson-R aybou ld said in her resignation letter.

The Globe and Mail’s report said Trudeau’s office pressured her to instruct the director of public prosecutions—as allowed by law—to negotiate a remediation agreement with SNC-Lavalin.

The agreement would have allowed the company to pay reparations but avoid a criminal trial on charges of corruption and bribery.

If convicted criminally, the company would be banned from receiving any federal government business for a decade. SNC-Lavalin is a major employer in Quebec with about 3,400 employees in the province, 9,000 employees in Canada and more than 50,000 worldwide.

The company released a public letter to Canadians last October complaining it had not been offered a remediation agreement and noting, “innocent stakeholders continue to bear all the brunt of this uncertainty—including all 52,000 current employees who have no responsibility for any past misconduct.”

The company also said foreign companies with similar issues are able to work freely in Canada and around the world because of such settlement agreements in place in their own countries.

On Monday Canada’s ethics commissioner announced an investigation into the allegation.

Andrew Scheer, leader of the opposition Conservative Party, said Trudeau is trying to hide the truth and the scandal has thrown the government into “chaos.”

“Yesterday he tried to reassure Canadians that nothing unethical took place. In fact, he said that Mrs. Wilson-Raybould’s presence in Cabinet should speak for itself,” Scheer said. “Today her resignation speaks for itself.”

Wilson-Raybould became Canada’s first indigenous justice minister when Trudeau appointed her to the post in 2015.

Robert Bothwell, a professor at the University of Toronto, said her quitting is a blow to Trudeau’s efforts for reconciliation with aboriginals. AP

BusinessMirror

Thursday, February 14, 2019

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Israeli leader hopes summit brings Arab ties out in the open

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ARSAW, Poland—The Mideast conference in Poland starting on Wednesday offers Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu an opportunity to flaunt in public what he has long boasted about happening behind the scenes—his country’s improved relations with some Gulf Arab nations.

Several Gulf dignitaries are expected to attend in a potential show of force against uninvited Iran. But the Palestinians are urging a boycott of the conference, and it remains to be seen whether Arab officials will make any public overtures to Netanyahu without a major concession to the Palestinian cause, which still animates the Arab public.

The United States and Poland are sponsoring the conference in Warsaw, which they say is aimed at promoting peace and security in the region but appears to be mainly focused on isolating Iran.

Iran has denounced the conference, which begins Wednesday, as an American anti-Iran “circus.”

Russia has said it will not attend, and the European Union’s foreign policy chief, Federica Mogherini, is also skipping the event.

For the Trump administration, it is a high-profile occasion to gather all its Middle East allies.

For Poland, it offers a chance to strengthen ties with Washington as it seeks greater protection from Russia.

But the real winner could be Netanyahu, who has repeatedly stated that Israel has clandestinely developed good relations with several Arab states, despite a lack of official ties. Bringing such contacts out into the open would mark a major diplomatic coup, put a seal of approval on his goal of improving Israel’s standing in the world and provide a powerful photo-op for his reelection campaign ahead of the April vote in Israel.

Before departing for Poland on Tuesday, Netanyahu told reporters that the focus of the conference will be Iran, an issue he said “unites Israel, the United States, many countries in the world.” He said

Israel enjoys “very good relations” with every country in the region “except Syria,” where Israel has carried out several air strikes on Iranian targets in recent months.

Danny Danon, Israel ’s UN ambassador, said his pr ivate contacts with Arab officials are far warmer than what is said in public. He predicted that once one Arab country goes public, others will quickly follow.

“As of now, they are already cooperating with us,” he told reporters in Jerusalem recently. “We ask them to recognize us and not to be ashamed for using our technology or our defense systems.”

Israel has signed peace accords with Egypt and Jordan, but other Arab nations have refused to publicly improve relations without significant progress being made toward ending Israel’s half-century occupation of lands sought for a Palestinian state.

But as shared concerns about Iran have overshadowed the Palestinian issue in recent years, ties that have long lingered in the shadows have begun to emerge.

Net a nya hu v isited Oma n in October and met w ith longtime r u ler Su lt a n Qaboos bin Sa id.

Day s l ater, t wo of h i s m i ni sters headed to t he Un ited A rab Em irates for a sec u r it y con fere nce a nd to c he er on a n Israel i delegat ion at a judo tour nament—where the Israel i a nt hem was pl ayed a f ter a n Israel i compet itor won gold.

Saudi Arabia, long rumored to have backdoor ties to Israel, lifted a decades-long ban on the use of its airspace for f lights to Israel last spring, allowing India’s national carrier to cross its skies. The leaders of the small Gu lf nation of Bahrain have

IN this February 21, 2018, file photo, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu speaks during the Conference of Presidents of Major American Jewish Organizations in Jerusalem. A Mideast conference, which begins on Wednesday, February 13, 2019, in Poland offers Netanyahu an opportunity to flaunt in public what he has long boasted about happening behind the scenes—his country’s improved relations with Arab countries. Several Gulf dignitaries are expected to attend in a potential show of force against uninvited Iran. AP/SEBASTIAN SCHEINER

also expressed willingness to normalize relations.

Gulf Arab states have given less voice to their traditional antipathy toward Israel as they have grown increasingly fearful of Iran over its involvement in Syria and other regional conflicts, and its support for various armed groups. Getting closer to Israel also helps them to curry favor in Washington.

But with Arab public opinion still strongly against normalization with Israel, this week’s conference is unlikely to produce warm engagement right away, said Yoel Guzansky, a senior researcher at Israel’s Institute for National Security Studies.

“Covert meetings already exist, and the ‘under-the-table’ relations are the world’s worst-kept secret, so I don’t see what the Arabs would gain from shaking hands,” he said.

“The point is to see everyone in the same room as a united front against Iran. But the Arab street is still nowhere near where the elites are regarding Israel, and too strong an embrace could draw fire.”

T he f o r e i g n m i n i s t e r s o f Saudi Arabia and the UAE are scheduled to attend and meet with US Secretar y of State Mike Pompeo. It is unclear what their level of engagement will be with the Israeli delegation.

Net a ny a hu recent ly v i sited t he Musl im-major it y A f r ic a n n at ion of C h a d t o of f i c i a l l y re s t ore re l at ion s a f t e r 5 0 y e a r s a nd prom i s e d t he re wou ld be more suc h v i sit s a nd a n nou nc e me nt s s o on .

Trump’s senior Mideast adviser, son-in-law Jared Kushner, has been working on an IsraeliPalestinian peace plan for close to two years, but has not yet released details. US officials say Kushner is expected to make some comments about the conflict in Warsaw, but Netanyahu said he doesn’t expect any discussion of the peace plan.

The Palestinians have preemptively rejected the plan, accusing the Trump White House of being unfairly biased toward Israel.

They’ve also asked Arab countries to boycott or downgrade their representation at the conference in Poland.

“We view the Warsaw conference as a plot against the Palestinian cause,” Palestinian Foreign Minister Riad Malki said this week.

President Mahmoud Abbas met with Saudi Arabia’s King Salman on Tuesday, who expressed his “permanent stand” in favor of a Palestinian state with east Jerusalem as its capital, according to the official Saudi news agency.

Further tempering expectations, an Israeli TV channel obtained what it said was a secret Foreign Ministry report concluding it was very unlikely Saudi Arabia would normalize relations with Israel without a major concession to the Palestinians. The report, aired on Israel’s Channel 13 news, quoted a senior official as saying the narrow window for a breakthrough with the Saudis had closed. The Foreign Ministry refused to comment on the report. AP

Pentagon outlines its first artificial intelligence strategy

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HE US military wants to expand its use of artificial intelligence (AI) in warfare, but says it will take care to deploy the technology in accordance with the nation’s values.

The Pentagon outlined its first AI strategy in a report released on Tuesday.

The plan calls for accelerating the use of AI systems throughout the military, from intelligencegathering operations to predicting maintenance problems in planes or ships. It urges the US to advance such technology swiftly before other countries chip away at its technological advantage.

“Other nations, particularly C h i n a a nd Ru ssi a , a re m a ki n g s i g n i f ic a nt i nve s t me nt s in A I for mi l itar y pur poses, including in applications that raise questions regarding international norms and human rights,” the report says.

The report makes little mention of autonomous weapons but cites an existing 2012 military

THIS March 27, 2008, file aerial photo shows the Pentagon in Washington. The US military wants to expand its use of artificial intelligence in warfare, but says it will take care to deploy the technology in accordance with the nation’s values. The Pentagon outlined its first AI strategy on Tuesday, February 12, 2019. AP/CHARLES DHARAPAK

directive that requires humans to be in control.

The US and Russia are among a handful of nations that have blocked efforts at the United Nations for an international ban on “killer robots”—fully autonomous weapons systems that could one day conduct war without human intervention. The US has argued that it’s premature to try to regulate them.

The strategy unveiled by the

Department of Defense this week is focused on more immediate applications, but even some of those have sparked ethical debates.

The Pentagon hit a roadblock in its AI efforts last year after internal protests at Google led the tech company to drop out of Project Maven, which uses algorithms to interpret aerial video images from conflict zones. Other companies have sought to fill the vacuum, and the Pentagon is work-

ing with AI experts from industry and academia to establish ethical guidelines for its AI applications.

“Everything we’ve seen is with a human decision-maker in the loop,” said Todd Probert, a vice president at Raytheon’s intelligence division, which is working with the Pentagon on Maven and other projects. “It’s using technology to help speed up the process but not supplant the command structure that’s in place.” AP

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Pag-IBIG Fund holds 8th mass wedding for more than 1,500 couples

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ODAY, February 14, the Philippine Home Development Mutual Fund (Pag-IBIG Fund holds) its Eighth I Do, I Do! Araw ng Pag-IBIG, a mass wedding for Pag-IBIG member-couples. More than 1,500 couples are expected to participate this year, in 13 venues nationwide.

“This is how we celebrate Araw ng Pag-IBIG on Valentine’s Day. The mass wedding is our way of helping couples formalize their union and reminding them that Pag-IBIG Fund membership comes with benefits that can help in their lives....,” said Eduardo D. del Rosario, who serves as the chairman of both the Housing and Urban Development Coordinating Council and the Pag-IBIG Fund board of trustees.

This year’s I Do. I Do! Araw ng Pag-IBIG will be simultaneously conducted in Pasay City, Mandaue City, Davao City, Ilocos Sur, Cagayan Valley, Tarlac, Bulacan, Palawan, Bicol, Antique, Iligan City, General Santos City and Zamboanga City.

“Since 2012, Pag-IBIG Fund has assisted 20,297 Filipino couples through this activity. The Araw ng Pag-IBIG is a lighthearted way to capitalize on our name, but there is the serious objective of encouraging more Filipinos to enjoy the benefits of being a Pag-IBIG Fund member. It is our vision for every Filipino worker to save with PagIBIG Fund, so they can have access to high-yield savings and affordable home loans,” said Pag-IBIG Fund Chief Executive Officer Acmad Rizaldy P. Moti.

The I Do. I Do! Araw ng Pag-IBIG was awarded with the First Philippine Quill for a government communication program, from the International Association of Business CommunicatorsPhilippines in 2013. It also won Bronze for advocacy communications, under the category of Responsible Parenthood, at the Araw Values Award; and cited by the TV show Philippine Book of Records as having the “most number of couples in a nationwide mass wedding” in 2014.

PSE encourages public to be “Fit to Invest”

VALENTINE IS FOR EVERYONE AT THE SUNSHINE PLACE

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T the Sunshine Place, Valentine is for everyone as it celebrates the love month with art, music and sharing.

The Senior Hub puts some “Heart to Art” with a silent auction of the works of its acrylic painting

PHILIPPINES President of Arts Association and acrylic painting instructor Fidel Sarmiento with his acrylic-on-canvas artwork Dahong Lagas (20"x 30") for HeArt exhibit at the Sunshine Place’s Happy Garden Café.

WORLD-CLASS violinist and Aliw Awards Hall of Fame Awardee MerJohn Lagaya serenaded guests with heartwarming love songs and popular medleys at the Valentine serenade event.

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HE Philippine Stock Exchange Inc. (PSE) held the 14th edition of its annual PSE Bull Run on January 20 at McKinley West, Taguig City.

“Running requires discipline, which is what investors need to be able to save and avoid debt, so they can be fit to invest,” said PSE President and Chief Executive Officer Ramon S. Monzon.

This year’s PSE Bull Run had four running categories, namely, 5K, 10K, 21K and 25K. Rockboy Taylan was first to cross the finish line in the men’s division of the 25K run with a time of 1:55:30. Julius Lipat and Daniel Witschard were second and third placers, respectively. For the women’s division, the 25K run was topped by Maricar Camacho, who clocked in at 1:52:21, with Cindy Lorenzo in second place and Ria Alban in third place. The 25K run was a special run introduced by the PSE in line with its silver anniversary.

“We are grateful to everyone who participated, and to our event partners and sponsors for making the 2019 PSE Bull Run a success,” Monzon added.

The 2019 PSE Bull Run Event Partners are CFA Society Philippines, LBC Express Holdings Inc., Metro Pacific Investments Corp. and San Miguel Corp.

Platinum sponsors of the event are DoubleDragon Properties Corp., Megaworld Corp., PSE Foundation Inc., Sun Life of Canada (Philippines) Inc., and Udenna Corp., while Gold sponsors include AP Securities Inc., AgriNurture Inc., Ayala Corp., BDO Nomura Securities Inc., China Banking Corp., COL Financial Group Inc., Cosco Capital Inc., DM Wenceslao and Associates, Incorporated, First Metro Securities Brokerage Corp., Globe Telecom Inc., Jollibee Foods Corp., Max’s Group Inc., Robinsons Land Corp. and SM Investments Corp.

Media partners of the 2019 PSE Bull Run are ABS-CBN News Channel, Asean Times, BusinessMirror, BusinessWorld, CNN Philippines, Devant TV and Globaltronics Inc. In photo are Monzon and PSE Chief Operating Officer Roel A. Refran at the starting line with the Bull Run mascot “Bullit”.

students currently on exhibit; while their mentor, Art Association of the Philippines President Fidel Sarmiento, has his own He-Art exhibit at the center’s Happy Garden Café.

Proceeds from the auction and exhibit will be for the benefit of the San Lorenzo Ruiz Home for the Elderly, which has been managed by the Little Sisters of the Poor since 2012. The mission of the congregation of French nuns in Manila is to give respect and dignity to the elderly.

The Sunshine Place also treated its members to a Valentine serenade featuring the UP Singing Ambassadors with Dr. Eduardo Manguiat as conductor, and Aliw Awards Hall of Fame Awardee and Asean Symphony Orchestra concert master MerJohn Lagaya. Students from the Little Ballerina School of Dance also performed during the celebration.

The Sunshine Place, a senior recreation center under the Felicidad Tan Sy Foundation, is a venue for adults to live actively, through engaging in recreational classes and age-appropriate physical training programs. It is the venue to be entertained, to socialize and to reflect; a place of happiness and wellness for one’s mind, body and soul.

For more inquiries on paintings, visit the Sunshine Place at 56 Jupiter Street, Bel-Air, Makati City; or e-mail seniorhubjupiter@gmail.com.

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

Sports BusinessMirror

Thursday, February 14, 2019

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NEW FACE OF SKIING B S D The Associated Press

Shiffrin said she has “paid too much attention to all the expectations of other people” in recent years.

“This year, it’s been one of my goals to see that, to hear it, to understand it, and to let it go,” she said.

It’s an approach that was backed by Scandinavian ski greats Kjetil Andre Aamodt and Anja Paerson.

Aamodt, who won Olympic or worlds medals in all five disciplines during his career, called her decision “smart,” while Paerson, who won five medals—including three golds—on home snow at the 2007 worlds in Are, said: “I love that she’s taking her own way.”

The president of US Ski and Snowboard sees no issue with Shiffrin picking and choosing her events, either.

“I think it’s great,” Tiger Shaw told The Associated Press, “that she’s smart enough to say, ‘You know what, I’m going to focus on the ones I want to win. And yes I can go in every event and I could probably win the downhill, too. But I’m going to race the ones I want to race. I’m me and everybody else can think whatever they think.’”

Certainly, Shiffrin has no regrets this week as she goes for her fifth and sixth world titles.

“I’m a little bit fresher going into these races,” she said. “It almost feels like a second start to the world championships.”

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RE, Sweden—During her inexorable rise to someday becoming the most successful Alpine skier in history, Mikaela Shiffrin has been shooting some admiring glances at another young female athlete excelling at her chosen sport.

And she, too, is emerging from the shadow of an all-time great.

“Somebody I’ve been watching lately, and I’m really excited for, is Naomi Osaka,” Shiffrin said on Tuesday. “I think that she at least seems like a really nice, down-to-earth girl, trying to do her job and coming up the ranks in a sport that has Serena Williams, the face of tennis.

“Watching Osaka and seeing how she handles herself competing against one of her biggest idols has been pretty cool for me to see.”

While Osaka, the winner of the last two Grand Slam tennis tournaments and—at only 21—the new No. 1 player in the world, is just starting on the long road to emulating Williams, Shiffrin is already close to eclipsing Lindsey Vonn’s record-breaking exploits.

Fifty-six World Cup victories. Two Olympic gold medals. Four world championship golds, with possibly two more coming in Are, Sweden, this week. Shiffrin is on course to obliterate perhaps every skiing record in the book.

At 23, and with Vonn newly retired, Shiffrin is the face of skiing—whether she likes it or not.

“In my own head, I’m thinking about what I’m going to have for lunch. I’m not thinking, ‘Oh, the face of ski racing,’” she said, laughing.

In Vonn’s farewell news conference after concluding her showstopping career with a bronze in the downhill on Sunday, she included Shiffrin when listing the ski racers she believes need to step up and promote the sport in the coming years.

“It’s not just about success,” Vonn said. “It’s about doing everything you can to promote [skiing]. That’s a part of your job as an athlete.”

Shiffrin is belatedly coming around to that train of thought, even though she says being a poster girl doesn’t come naturally to her.

“I wouldn’t say I’m the most self-confident person out there but I feel comfortable in my own skin and I certainly feel comfortable on my skis,” said the American, who described herself as “naturally a fairly introverted personality.”

“I would like to believe that just being a really kind person and a good athlete and having success is enough to promote the sport, but it’s not really. There needs to be some drama, some excitement, some really big personalities. For me, maybe I’m growing into that.”

This enhanced self-belief perhaps explains why Shiffrin felt emboldened to race only three events at the world championships, despite external pressure to go for gold in every discipline. She has already won the super-G and has strong gold-medal chances in the giant slalom and slalom on Thursday and Saturday, respectively.

Her decision to skip last week’s Alpine combined, in which she would have been the favorite, surprised Vonn and Bode Miller. Indeed, Vonn said she didn’t understand it, saying Shiffrin had “100 percent the capability” of getting a medal in all five disciplines.

Back in Are after spending some days training across the border in Norway, Shiffrin expanded on a long and heartfelt Instagram post she posted in response to Vonn and Miller’s comments.

“I wasn’t disappointed. Actually I was really flattered,” she said.

“I was incredibly honored that two of the greatest athletes in our sport said that they thought I could win in all events.

“The reason I made this post was because they both also said they thought essentially that I was wrong in making my decision and I have reasons that maybe they didn’t consider in making my decision.”

WHILE too onesided to be a rivalry, Tiger Woods and Phil Mickelson have been a powerful one-two punch in golf. AP

WHILE NAOMI OSAKA, THE WINNER OF THE LAST TWO GRAND SLAM TENNIS TOURNAMENTS AND—AT ONLY 21—THE NEW NO. 1 PLAYER IN THE WORLD, IS JUST STARTING ON THE LONG ROAD TO EMULATING SERENA WILLIAMS, MIKAELA SHIFFRIN IS ALREADY CLOSE TO ECLIPSING LINDSEY VONN’S RECORDBREAKING EXPLOITS.

MIKAELA SHRIFFIN says Naomi Osaka “seems like a really nice, down-to-earth girl, trying to do her job and coming up the ranks.”

TIGER, PHIL STILL GOING STRONG L OS ANGELES—The 144-man field at Riviera has 88 players who have combined to win 496 times on the Professional Golfers’ Association (PGA) Tour.

Tiger Woods and Phil Mickelson account for 25 percent of those victories. No one should be surprised.

While too one-sided to be a rivalry, they have been a powerful one-two punch in golf. The same day Woods won his third straight US Amateur right before he turned pro, Mickelson won the World Series of Golf at Firestone. Woods picked up his 80th career victory at the Tour Championship to end last season. Mickelson won his 44th at Pebble Beach on Monday.

If anything raises eyebrows, it’s that Mickelson believes their trophy collection will keep growing.

“I just believe that, even today, if I play my best, if Tiger plays his best, it’s good enough to win on any week,” Mickelson said. “And the challenge is there are so many great young players, and so many great players in the game today, that it takes our best to win. I just think that both myself and Tiger are going to have a really, really good year this year.” Nothing changes the outlook like winning, and Mickelson made it look easy on the weekend at the AT&T Pebble Beach Pro-Am. He recovered from consecutive bogeys along the ocean, when the wind and rain were at their worst, by playing the final 26 holes without a bogey. Mickelson made an 8-foot par putt on the 17th hole on Saturday. Otherwise, his longest putt for par during that stretch was 4 feet.

But it’s harder than it looks.

Mickelson turns 49 this summer, and one of the most underrated qualities has been his health. He revealed in the summer of 2010

that he was dealing with psoriatic arthritis. Otherwise, his injuries have been either minor (left wrist from Oakmont’s rough in 2007) or temporary (broken leg from skiing in 1994).

“The challenge is getting myself to play my best,” Mickelson said.

Woods is 43 with eight surgeries behind him—four on his left knee, four on his lower back.

His comeback last year is why expectations are so high now.

Woods played well in Florida last year, took a dip in the late spring and then kept getting better until winning the Tour Championship the way he won so many other tournaments. He built a lead over 54 holes and played the kind of golf that was tough to beat.

He was at his best that week, and he had to be.

With the meat of the season about to begin, the question is how often they can be at their best against deeper and younger competition. He seems to be doing just fine. Mickelson was poised to win the Desert Classic until he lost on a birdie at the last hole to Adam Long, who was No. 417 in the world ranking. He overcame a three-shot deficit against Paul Casey by closing with a 65 at Pebble Beach. In between was a missed cut at the Phoenix Open, where he changed driver in search of a few extra yards. Mickelson is always chasing distance.

His optimism comes from picking up 6 mph of swing speed for his driver, which he says rarely happens to anybody, let alone someone in his late 40s.

There was no secret involved.

“It’s not really a secret. It was nine months of hard work,” Mickelson said. “And then overnight I was swinging 6 mph fast. It was biometric swing studies, taking weaknesses and making them

strengths. It was time in the gym. It was a whole workout process.

It’s been a lot of work, but days like this make it worthwhile.”

Mickelson last year won the Mexico Championship for his first victory in more than four years, the longest drought of his career.

Even when he wasn’t winning, he was a runner-up at majors three straight years. Woods went five years without winning, but that was different. During a four-year stretch when he had four back surgeries, he played only 19 times on the PGA Tour and registered

only one top-10 finish. To have won last year, to have risen to just outside the top 10 in the world, is cause for optimism.

But it’s not easy.

“I’ve worked to give my body the best chance to do my job, but there are days when I just don’t practice and I don’t train. Those are days I’ve just got to rest,” Woods said at Torrey Pines. “That’s probably been one of the lessons I’ve learned through all of this, is there are days I just have to shut it down.” AP

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Business

Thursday, February 14, 2019

JORDAN: SIX TITLES HARD TO TOPPLE

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HARLOTTE, North Carolina—Michael Jordan says James Harden’s streak of 30 straight 30-point games and Russell Westbrook’s 10 straight tripledoubles are both impressive and tough to accomplish.

But the Charlotte Hornets owner said on Tuesday—flashing a big grin—that there is one accomplishment tougher than both those feats: “Which is harder from the player’s standpoint? Six championships by all means.”

Jordan praised both players for what they’re doing, noting that both streaks are hard to accomplish.

Jordan said the milestones show “the talent that we have within the league.”

“It shows progression in the league,” Jordan said during an interview at his Hornets facility while discussing the upcoming AllStar weekend.

“I am very proud of how both guys have done because they are making a mark for the league and I think it really helps grow the league.”

Harden needed a late-scoring spree on Monday night to extend his streak to 30 games, scoring 11 points in the final 100 seconds as the Rockets defeated the Dallas Mavericks, 120-104. Harden, who is playing with a strained left shoulder, reached the 30-point mark by swishing a 30-foot pullup jumper.

Westbrook finished with 21 points, 14 rebounds and 11 assists to notch his 10th straight triple-double in the Thunder’s 120111 victory over the Portland Trail Blazers, breaking a tie with Wilt Chamberlain for the most consecutive triple-doubles.

Both players will be in Charlotte this weekend for the All-Star game. AP

DAVIS: WE SUCKED! N

EW ORLEANS—Anthony Davis doesn’t want to play for New Orleans anymore. In a blowout loss on Tuesday night, he noticed his teammates may have felt the same way.

“We sucked,” Davis said. “Nobody was interested in playing, is what it looked like.”

Davis scored just three points on 1-of-9 shooting and was thoroughly outplayed by Orlando center Nikola Vucevic as the Magic beat the listless Pelicans, 118-88.

“Obviously I missed a lot of shots, a lot of easy shots—lay-ups and stuff that I normally make— early in the game,” Davis added. “But they came out more desperate. They played like they were playing for something, and they showed it.” Davis played 24 minutes in his third game since his agent told New Orleans the six-time All-Star wanted to be traded to a championship-contending team and won’t sign an extension with the Pelicans.

It was also his third game since returning from an injured left index finger.

In his first game back, he had 32 points in a win over Minnesota, but he has averaged 8.5 points over the two games since.

Davis’s scoring output on Tuesday was the lowest of his career in any game where he played at least 21 minutes.

The reeling Pelicans (25-33), who’ve lost six of seven, sit in 13th place in the West, six games behind Sacramento for that conference’s final playoff spot with 24 games left.

While the Magic (26-32) remain below .500, they’ve won four straight—including three straight on the road by 16 or more—to pull within two games of the Eastern Conference’s final playoff spot as the All-Star break approaches.

Vucevic had 25 points and 17 rebounds, Evan Fournier scored 22 points, and Jonathan Isaac scored a career-high 20 points, including 16 in the first quarter, when Orlando raced to a 39-11 lead.

Aaron Gordon added 20 points for the Magic, who led by as many as 31 points and kept the lead above 20 the rest of the way en route to their fourth straight victory.

“It was an impressive show of games by us, the last three games. We really took care of business and really executed the game plans that the coaches put in,” Vucevic said.

“We talked about the stretch right before the [All-Star] break and how it is an important one, how we can win some games and put us back in a good spot going into the second part of the season. We did that so far.”

The normally up-tempo Pelicans, who came in averaging almost 116 points per game, shot 38.3 percent (36 of 94) en route to their lowest single-game point total this season.

E’Twaun Moore, who has struggled with injuries this season, scored 19 points in his first start since January 22. Jrue Holiday had 16 for the Pelicans, who briefly got as close as 14 in the middle of the second quarter but trailed by 63-46 at the half.

“It’s definitely embarrassing,” Holiday said of the 30-point loss. “You don’t want to do that anywhere, but especially at home.”

Pelicans Coach Alvin Gentry was in no mood, however, to discuss how Davis’s decision appears to have affected the team.

“What we’re trying to do is just move on from it,” Gentry said. “We need to bury it.

“Whatever our new normal is, we want to get back to that and put all the other stuff behind us and just start playing and trying to win basketball games, and trying to compete and try to get our young players better,” Gentry continued.

“That’s all I want to do. That’s it. And I’m not going to talk about it anymore. I’m done talking about it.” AP

BATAAN RISERS ROUT EL TIGRE IN DATU CUP

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ANTHONY DAVIS doesn’t want to play for New Orleans anymore. AP

HE Bataan Risers extended their winning streak to six by dumping Mandaluyong El Tigre, 109-65, to keep the solo lead in the northern division of the Maharlika Pilipinas Basketball League Datu Cup on Tuesday night at the Valenzuela City Astrodome.

The Zetapro-backed Risers improved their win-loss record to 20-2 and gained more cushion against their closest pursuers in the tournament put up by Sen. Manny Pacquiao with Philippine Basketball Association legend and former Most Valuable Player Kenneth Duremdes serving as commissioner.

The 44-point beatdown tied the most lopsided win so far in the MPBL. Gab Dagangon, Richard Escoto, Pamboy Raymundo and Byrin Villarias stepped up big for the Risers.

Dagangon played his second straight productive game and tallied 15 points, the same output churned out by Escoto.

Villarias and Raymundo had 12 points apiece for the Risers, who shot a steady 57 percent (44-of-57) from the field. Bataan also outrebounded its foe, 58-34, and made 60 points in the shade compared to only 38 by their rivals.

Mandaluyong’s loss was its 14th in 22 games and dropped to 11th spot.

Valenzuela moved a notch higher after beating Bulacan, 84-75. The win enabled the Classic to improve their win-loss record to 9-14 for 10th spot.

But their fate is not in their hands as they are hoping that Quezon City, Navotas and Pampanga do not breach the 10-win mark.

Chris de Chavez finished with 17 points while Hans Thiele played his most productive game, contributing 16 points for Valenzuela.

Go for Gold takes on Ateneo five C

IGNAL-ATENEO aims to live up to its hype when the 2019 Philippine Basketball Association D-League opens shop on Thursday against Go for Gold-College of St. Benilde (CSB) at the Ynares Sports Arena in Pasig City.

The Hawkeyes, now carrying the core of University Athletic Association of the Philippines champions Blue Eagles, are the favorites to rule the Aspirants Group.

But Coach Tab Baldwin is not really worried on matching everyone’s expectations.

“This time of the year is for the individual development of our players and we want to focus on how we’re playing as a team. We’re doing that for experience, to get some team activity, but the primary goal is individual development. We’re trying to develop PBA players and Gilas players here,” said Baldwin, a former national team coach.

Thirdy Ravena, Isaac Go and Matt Nieto banner Cignal-Ateneo in the school’s maiden foray in the developmental ranks, with Ivorian big man Ange Kouame backstopping them in the paint.

It won’t be an easy first assignment, though, for the Hawkeyes as standing in their way are the Foundation Cup champion Go for Gold-CSB. Scratchers Coach Charles Tiu acknowledges how difficult his side’s title-retention bid is, especially in this 20-team field.

“It will be a tough climb for us to win the championship again,” he admitted.

However, that underdog mentality is what makes Go for Gold-CSB dangerous. Tiu will lean on the leadership of Justin Gutang and Fil-Am

sniper Roosevelt Adams.

“I know a lot of teams are counting us out and don’t even expect us to be playoff contenders, but we’re going to do our best,” he said.

Game time is at 2 p.m., following the 1 p.m. opening ceremony.

Marinerong Pilipino and Valencia City Bukidnon-San Sebastian College face off at 4 p.m.

THIRDY RAVENA and his Ateneo teammates bring their act to the D-League.

RED CUBS ADVANCE TO N.B.T.C. NATIONAL FINALS

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B R O

ENIED in the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA), the San Beda Red Cubs have a chance to end the season with the biggest title of them all.

San Beda weathered a three-point barrage from the Letran Squires and put on their own display of fireworks in the fourth period to win the Metro Manila Basketball League Division One championship, 87-82.

With the victory, the Red Cubs qualified for the National Basketball Training Center National

High School Championships in March.

The Squires were on fire from downtown for much of the first three quarters and led 63-59, after a John Tabayen triple at the 2:46 mark of the third period.

Red Cubs Penny Estacio and Kai Oliva led a fightback that knotted the count at 63. San Beda forward Josh Lazaro then scored on a putback that gave his teammates a lead they would not surrender. Lazaro added three more points in between a Rhayyan Amsali bucket to give the Red Cubs a 70-65 lead going into the final 10 minutes.

Once in the payoff period, San Beda hit three

huge triples—one each from Estacio, Win Coyoca and Amsali—for an 85-77 advantage with 3:31 remaining.

Letran, scorching hot in the first three quarters from downtown with 11 triples, only hit one the rest of the way—right before the final buzzer with the outcome in San Beda’s favor.

Estacio led San Beda with 19 points, while his backcourt mate Oliva knocked down 15 points.

Rhayyan Amsali finished with 14 and Lazaro added 11. Charles Saure topscored for the game with 24 points for Letran, while Shaun Umali and Neil Guarino each poured in 11 points.

orts

sMirror

Thursday, February 14, 2019

MAGCALAYO PADS LEAD TO 7 SHOTS IN AMATEUR TILT

MIXED MARTIAL ARTS CHAMPIONS EXPRESS DISMAY OVER BULLYING

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OLO MAGCALAYO slowed down with a 71 but still padded his lead to seven, while Sofia Chabon blew a two-shot lead with a wobbly finish to remain tied at the helm with Junia Gabasa halfway through the W Express RVF Cup Amateur Golf Championship at Cangolf’s North course in Laguna on Wednesday.

Imposing with a bogey-free 65 in the first round, Magcalayo sustained his hot run with two birdies at the back where they teed off but stumbled with his first two bogeys on Nos. 1 and 3 before birdying the seventh to save a 37-34 for a 36-hole total of eight-under 136.

That was seven shots ahead of elder brother Jonas, who fell by nine at the turn but struck back with a closing 35 start for a 72 and a 143.

Young Sean Ramos rebounded from a woeful 75 with the day’s best 69 as he seized solo third at 144, eight strokes off Jolo, while Paqo Barro carded a 70 for a 145 and Carl Corpus turned in a 71 for joint fifth at 146 with Elee Bisera, who matched par 72.

Rupert Zaragosa hardly bounced back from a 76 with a 73 for a 149, 13 strokes off the leader heading to the last 36 holes of the event sponsored by the MVP Sports Foundation and held in honor of the late National Golf Association of the Philippines (NGAP) President and golf patron Rod Feliciano.

Tied with Gabasa and Eagle Ace Superal after 18 holes, Chabon broke from a three-way tie with a birdie on the ninth and went two-up with another birdie on No. 16. But the top The Country Club bet bogeyed the last two holes for a 72, enabling the Cebu-based Gabasa, who also matched par, to regain a share of the lead at 147.

Superal slipped to third with a 73 but remained in the thick of things with a 148, while Sofia Legaspi also threatened within three at 150 after firing the lone under par card of 70 in the distaff side of the annual event held as part of the PLDT Group National Amateur Tour and backed Cignal, Metro Pacific and Cangolf. Rafaela Singson and Rianne Malixi remained tied at 151 after identical 75s, while Bernice Olivarez-Ilas also carded a 75 for a 153, six strokes adrift.

Action in the 36-hole Special Division, meanwhile, kicks off on Thursday with Mikhaela Constantino, Sophia Abarcas, Jody Castillo and Precious Zaragosa, and Koreans Jeong Yeah Eu and Kwon Min Seo, clashing for the girls crown, and Joshua de Guzman, Shinichi Suzuki, Dylan Castillo and Zach Villaroman, and Kim Tae Won of South Korea, leading the title chase in the boys’ division of the event serving as part of NGAP’s grassroots programs featuring players from Del Monte and Apo Golf.

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PHILIPPINE Southeast Asian Games Organizing Committee (Phisgoc) Chairman Alan Peter Cayetano shoots a “selfie” with sports officials and Games partners. Among them are Philippine Airlines President and COO Jaime Bautista (second from left), Philippine Sports Commission Chairman William Ramirez (fifth from left), Phisgoc COO Ramon “Tats” Suzara (second from right) and Philippine Olympic Committee Secretary-General Patrick Gregorio (right).

SENATORS SPOIL SEA GAMES FUN? NONIE REYES

By Ramon Rafael Bonilla

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LAN PETER CAYETANO took a swipe at the Senate for slashing a third of the proposed funding for the country’s hosting of the 30th Southeast Asian Games later this year.

From a proposed P7.5-billion budget, the figure went down to P5 billion—a number that Cayetano said puts the Philippine SEA Games Organzing Committee (Phisgoc)—the body he chairs—in a tight bind.

“I’ll be honest with you...if the budget will go to free education, or hospital [that should be built], then it’s more than a privilege for us [Phisgoc] to support it even if it means a lot for us organizers to lose 33 percent,” said Cayetano, a former senator himself who is now running for a congressional seat in Taguig City after his stint as foreign affairs secretary.

“But the problem is that it [slashed budget] will just go to the senators— unspecified projects of the senators,” he stressed after a contract-signing ceremony with partners of the SEA Games hosting at the at the Kalayaan Hall of the SM Aura on Wednesday.

“We kept on asking the PSC [Philippine Sports Commission], POC [Philippine Olympic Committee], the NSAs [national sports associations] on why they are always failing to win medals, but then when it comes to putting the money where your mouth is, the money is always diverted,” he added.

The funding for the SEA Games is part of the P3.7-trillion National Budget for 2019.

Cayetano said the Phisgoc has no option but to raise funds particularly from private sponsors to raise P1 billion more, which he said would put the organization’s head above water.

MARASIGAN BAGS OVERALL CROWN MADIS, BALAOING WIN IN CHARITY CUP

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OHN MARASIGAN shot a 47 to capture the overall gross crown, while Lee In Hee took the overall net title with a 48 in the Chairman’s Charity Cup 2019 at Camp John Hay Golf Club in Baguio City recently.

Chun Sang Woon, an eight-handicapper , scored a net 43 to clinch the Group I diadem in the men’s division with Rey Perez and An Myeong Ki taking the Groups 2 and 3 plums with net 43 and 47 points, respectively, in the annual event hosted by John Hay. Shin Sun Young, a 13-handicapper, fired a net 46 to pocket the ladies Group I crown with Nida Whybrow bagging the Group 2 plum with a net 43.

Sharing center stage were Mars Garcia and Choi Myung Sung, who turned in identical net of 47s to nail the Groups 1 and 2 titles, while Isabelo Africa, an 11 handicapper, shot a net 69 to rule the guest/sponsor division.

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Cayetano, PSC Chairman William Ramirez and POC officials led by Secretary-General Patrick Gregorio proceeded to Malacañang on Wednesday afternoon to for a crucial meeting with Executive Secretary Salvador Medialdea, and budget and public works officials.

The SEA Games are set from November 30 to December 11, and on Wednesday, the Phisgoc has started sealing deals with domestic and foreign partners. The Phisgoc welcomed six partners—games management system provider Atos, official carrier Philippine Airlines, venue overlays service provider GL Events, sports apparel Grand Sports, footwear and sports equipment brand Asics and game ball sponsor Sonak Corp.

In the Phisgoc’s effort to make the Games the most viewed and most memorable, a partnership was also

sealed with Spain-based MediaPro Asia.

Cayetano said sponsorships range from $3 million down to $1 million.

All partners have established expertise in the Asian market, having worked with numerous Asian-level events in the past.

“We win as one,” Cayetano said as he opened the contract-signing ceremony.

“Together, we can make this the most viewed and [best hosted] SEAG.” “More than just investing in this year’s SEA Games, you are investing in our country, our people and the development of our athletes. Not only Filipino athletes but athletes of the Southeast Asian region,” Ramirez told the partners.

Touted as the biggest SEAG in history, the 2019 edition will feature 56 sports and 523 events spread across 39 venues in Subic, Clark, Tagaytay, La Union and Metro Manila.

‘3-PEAT’ CHAMPS A

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ENNIELLE MADIS and Jay Balaoing lived up to their top billing as they nailed two victories each to dominate the Palawan Pawnshop Palawan Express Pera Padala (PPS-PEPP) Sultan Kudarat National age group tennis tournament at the Isulan Capitol Tennis Club recently.

Madis, one of the rising stars from Mlang, Cotabato, dropped just one game in three matches to clinch the girls’ 12-under crown via a 6-1, 6-0 rout of Sanchena Francisco. She duplicated that feat with a 6-0, 6-0 victory over Angel Armanda in the 14-under finals of the Group I tournament presented

by Dunlop and hosted by Gov. Pax Mangudadatu.

Balaoing, from Koronadal, also proved dominant in the boys’ division, beating Jose Balonga Jr., 6-1, 6-1, for the 16-under diadem then whipping Bruce Hurtado, 6-3, 6-1, in the 18-under finals of the event which served as the second of the six-leg Mindanao swing of the PPS-PEPP circuit.

“Madis and Balaoing should serve as inspiration to the other youngsters for their hard work and determination to make it big someday with the PPS providing the venue to hone their talent and skills,” Palawan Pawnshop President and CEO Bobby Castr said.

Sharing the winners’ podium were Kabacan’s Cian Ramirez (10-under unisex), Al Rasheed Lucman (boys’ 12-under) from Malaybalay, Yassan Al Anazi (boys’ 14-under), Kyle Rivera (girls’ 16-U) from Tupi, South Cotabato, and Tennielle’s elder sister Jazzele (girls’ 18-under).

Balaoing and Tennielle, who shared the MVP honors in the tournament sanctioned by the Unified Tennis Philippines made up of PPS-PEPP, Cebuana Lhuillier, Wilson, Toby’s, Dunlop, Slazenger and B-Meg, capped their big week with victories in doubles play. Balaoing and Hurtado edged Steve Aton and Christian Villarin, 8-5, while the Madis siblings routed Trixie Costan and Rivera, 8-0, in the 18-under finals.

OME of the best martial artists in ONE Championship stood together in the continuous campaign against bullying, while prompting budding practitioners to uphold the true values of their respective disciplines.

Bullying has yet again become a hot topic in the Philippines when a viral video on social media, involving a martial-arts practitioner, made the headlines a few months ago.

In the clip, the junior high-school taekwondo athlete was seen humiliating and physically abusing his schoolmate in a lavatory of an established university in the Philippines.

The incident left a sour taste in the populace, with some thinking that martial arts have become a tool for people to exploit others—but it’s a thought that ONE talents wish to take away.

“Bullying is not in the vocabulary of a real martial-arts practitioner.

Martial artists have self-control, discipline, respect and humility. Being abusive is not a martial artist’s attitude,” former ONE flyweight world champion Geje “Gravity” Eustaquio said. “This world needs superheroes, not villains. We are totally against bullying. One wrongful martial artist doesn’t define the whole community of martial arts. That is not the case at all,” Eustaquio added.

Lightweight world titlist Eduard “Landslide” Folayang believes that coaches should instill the core values of the discipline to the aspiring practitioner from the very start.

“First of all, martial artists are supposed to be taught not just how to fight, but values must be instilled.

They must develop character more than the skills and fighting itself. The essence of martial arts must be the first thing that must to be taught,” Folayang stressed. While not everyone will have access to martial-arts training, ONE heavyweight champion Brandon “The Truth” Vera suggests taking a different approach.

Admitting that he was bullied in the past, the beloved FilipinoAmerican superstar came up with a video on social media, prompting bullied kids to speak up, and others to further educate people about the ill effects of bullying.

“I was bullied when I was growing up, even though I was the bigger kid.

Bullying is a very serious problem, both for the bullies and the bullied.

They both need our help,” said Vera in his Instagram account. “Together we can all make a difference.”

TONDO UNSCATHED Tondo Football Club tackles H&J All Stars and goes on to post a 3-1 victory and stay unscathed in seniors action of the Philam Life 7s Football League recently at the McKinley Hill Stadium. Also unbeaten in the same division are Super Eagles, Deportivo Matu, Ghana FC and Delimondo.

RELANNO University foiled University of Perpetual Help System Dalta’s fairy-tale run with a 22-25, 25-15, 25-18, 25-18 victory on Tuesday night to pull off a “three-peat” in the 94th National Collegiate Athletic Association women’s volleyball tournament at the Filoil Flying V Centre in San Juan City.

Regine Anne Arocha fired a match-best 16 points, including five on service aces, to power the Lady Chiefs to victory in the raceto-two championship series that went the full route.

The title was also the fourth for the Lady Chiefs in the last five seasons. Arocha went on to nail her second straight Finals MVP trophy.

Princess Bello scattered 12 hits while power-spiking Nicole Ebuen, the newly crowned season most valuable player, drilled in 11

points, all on kills.

Arellano University displayed championship experience, specifically in Game Two on Friday, when it recovered from a fourth-set meltdown to escape with a thrilling 23-25, 25-9, 25-18, 22-25, 15-12 victory that sent the series to a knockout Game Three.

Perpetual Help, which stole the series opener on February 1, 21-25, 25-17, 25-21, 25-20, gained the headway in the sudden death duel when it took the opening set.

But that was the best the Lady Altas could muster as Arocha and the Lady Chiefs took charge from there. That denied the Las Piñasbased school its first title since also posting a three-peat of its own six years ago.

The loss prevented Perpetual Help from sweeping all three volleyball titles.

Navy-Standard Insurance’s Oranza focuses on UCI races

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AVY-STANDARD Insurance’s Ronald Oranza has given himself two weeks to recover before returning to training in preparation for two International Cycling Union (UCI)-sanctioned races.

“We’ll rest for two weeks, and we’ll be back on the road because we will also be competing in the PruRide and Le Tour de Filipinas,” said the 26-year-old Oranza, who finished second overall to eventual LBC Ronda Pilipinas 2019 winner Francisco Mancebo Perez of Matrix

Powertag Japan.

Oranza, who turned 26 on Tuesday, stressed he learned a lot from this year’s Ronda, which is now sanctioned by the UCI, the cycling’s world governing body.

Oranza said that he will use the experience to his advantage in future races.

“This race taught us that we really have to train harder because the foreign riders are really strong. Training hard isn’t enough, we have to double or triple our efforts for us to have a chance

at beating them,” Oranza said.

Although he failed to defend his title, the pride of Villasis (Pangasinan) is just happy to emerge as the best Filipino rider.

“The competition is really tough, and Mancebo is really strong. So finishing behind him [Mancebo] isn’t that bad, and it still feels like winning a back-to-back in Ronda Pilipinas,” he said.

Navy-Standard Insurance also lost its grip of the team classification title it held in the last

five editions—the team wound up third behind champion Matrix Powertag Japan and 7-Eleven Cliqq-Air21 by Roadbike Philippines.

Navy Coach Rienhard Gorrantes said it’s all part of cycling.

“We’re okay with it, we can’t win all the time,” Gorrantes said. “What is important is that we fought until the end and we gave them a good fight.”

The Navymen are eyeing to do better in the PruRide in May and Le Tour de Filipinas in June.

RONALD ORANZA (left) joins champion Francisco Mancebo Perez (center) and Dominic Perez on the podium.

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Thursday, February 14, 2019

Sports BusinessMirror

www.businessmirror.com.ph

BULLYING IN FOOTBALL IN FRANCE, FOOTBALLERS USE AN ENGLISH WORD TO DESCRIBE SUCH TREATMENT: “LE LOFT.” EVOKING AN IMAGE OF BEING LOCKED IN AN ATTIC, IT REFERS TO THE NO-MAN’S LAND WHERE CLUBS PARK PLAYERS THEY NO LONGER WANT BUT CANNOT GET RID OF IMMEDIATELY OR WHO, FOR ONE REASON OR ANOTHER, HAVE FALLEN OUT OF FAVOR WITH COACHES AND CLUB OFFICIALS.

ANATOLE NGAMUKOL: It’s a punishment.

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B J L The Associated Press

ARIS—As it does with many footballers, the day finally came when Anatole Ngamukol’s club told the attacker it was time for him to move on.

Embarking on a new season in the French league , Reims decided it had no further use for the player who had helped the French side climb out of the second division. He’d turned 30 a few months earlier and hadn’t been scoring many goals. The club in northeastern France’s Champagne region wanted out of the contract.

Ngamukol, however, had other ideas. Without attractive job offers from other teams, with a family to feed and another kid on the way, the player who’d previously plied his trade in Spain and Switzerland decided he would rather stay in Reims to see out the last year of the two-year contract the club had signed with him less than 12 months earlier.

And that, he says, is where things got nasty.

Rather than let him try to play his way back into the side, Ngamukol says Reims packed him off to purgatory, sending him to train with its reserve team, where he was banned from playing any matches and sometimes made to practice alone, running loops around the pitch while coaches worked with his erstwhile teammates, honing their skills and tactics. This cold shoulder was the team’s way, he suspects, of managing him out—applying pressure to get him to quit, thus avoiding honoring a deal that no longer suited the club.

In France, footballers use an English word to describe such treatment: “le loft.” Evoking an image of being locked in an attic, it refers to the no-man’s land where clubs park players they no longer want but cannot get rid of immediately or who, for one reason or another, have fallen out of favor with coaches and club officials. Excluded from the first team, distanced from teammates, players subjected to the most extreme forms of “lofting” have described themselves as being suddenly ostracized, ordered to train with youth teams, the reserves or alone, and subjected to petty humiliations including the loss of access to lockers, parking places, showers and other facilities.

Speaking in an Associated Press interview, Ngamukol says Reims officials told him: “You’ll not get a single minute, no playing time at all, you won’t even be part of the pro team.”

The complete disappearance of the player who had made 29

appearances for Reims the previous season, when the club topped Ligue 2 to win promotion to France’s top flight, didn’t pass unnoticed. His son wanted to know why Daddy was no longer appearing on television.

People stopped him during his grocery shopping in Reims to ask why he wasn’t playing.

“It’s a tough experience, especially knowing that I’d done nothing to merit being demoted to the ‘B’ team,” the 31-year-old says.

“It’s a punishment.”

Often, players suffer their exclusion in silence and quietly agree to leave the club with a payoff, the French players’ union says. It says “lofters” are often fearful that complaining publicly will dissuade other clubs from hiring them.

“Most of all, they’re scared that if they sue their club then all of football will say, ‘We’re not taking this player because he’s not compliant and wants to defend his rights, and he won’t roll over if we have a problem with him.’ They prefer to take more malleable players,” says David Terrier, vice president of the National Union of Professional Footballers.

“So players don’t dare stand up to the clubs, because they are scared that they’ll be imprisoned by the football system and blacklisted,” he says.

Not Ngamukol.

He and another more famous former lofter, ex-Paris SaintGermain star Hatem Ben Arfa, are both turning to French courts for redress. In both cases, their lawyers are arguing that in excluding the players from first-team action, Reims and PSG subjected Ngamukol and Ben Arfa, respectively, to workplace bullying.

Ben Arfa’s suit was filed on February 1 with a Paris labor tribunal.

Considered one of the most talented French players of his generation, Ben Arfa joined PSG, France’s star club, in 2016. But after scoring twice in a French Cup quarterfinal in April 2017, he never played for PSG again to the end of his contract in June 2018, an exile of nearly 70 matches.

Why? Seemingly because the midfielder offended PSG’s president by criticizing him in front of the club’s owner, says Ben Arfa’s lawyer, Jean-Jacques Bertrand. “It was very banal, especially since it was said without malice,” Bertrand said in an AP interview. “Apparently, the president took it very badly.”

Outwardly, Ben Arfa put on a brave face. After the first 12 months without playing, he posted a photo of himself posing with an anniversary cake and the caption: “A year in the cupboard must be celebrated.” But inside, his lawyer says, Ben Arfa was suffering.

“The aim is to make him crack,” Bertrand said. “The club did everything to push him to leave.”

The suit seeks €7 million to €8 million ($8 million to $9.1 million)

from PSG in lost earnings and a symbolic €1 in damages for workplace harassment, he said.

Contacted for comment, PSG said it expects to be vindicated and “regrets” what it called the “stubbornness” of Ben Arfa and his lawyer.

Ngamukol’s suit, backed by the players’ union, was filed Tuesday with a Reims local court. It argues that by parking him in the reserves, the club sought to exert “psychological pressure” to make him agree to an early end to their contract. It accuses both the coach and general manager of Reims of workplace harassment, which is punishable in France by up to two years imprisonment and €30,000 ($34,000) in fines.

The club declined to comment on the case to the AP. The Reims newspaper L’Union quoted the club president, Jean-Pierre Caillot, as saying, “We wanted to free him from his contract so he could continue on his path elsewhere. He didn’t understand that. We don’t harass or discriminate against anyone.”

The club fired Ngamukol in circumstances both sides dispute in October 2018. After three months without a team, he found a new club this January, signing with German third-division side Fortuna Cologne until the end of the season.

The rules that govern French football, signed by the players’ union, the French league and others, allows clubs to temporarily, but not permanently, send first-team players off to train in separate groups, for example if they’re not needed for upcoming matches or are recovering from injury. And coaches, of course, can field, or not field, who they want in first-team matches.

But the players’ union says French clubs are abusing the system and have growing numbers of lofters on their books. By its count, 145 players in Ligue 1 and 2—more than 10 percent of the total player work force in France’s top 40 clubs—have been parked, more or less permanently, on clubs’ sidelines this season.

Some simply aren’t playing well enough to be in their clubs’ first teams, the union says. But there also are others being punished because of contract wrangles or other disputes with their clubs, and young players on their first professional contracts that clubs have parked while waiting to sell them.

The highest-profile player in the doghouse this season is PSG’s Adrien Rabiot. Reportedly because he has refused to sign a new contract, the Paris club hasn’t fielded Rabiot since December, punishing itself as well as him, because the 23-year-old’s skills and presence have been sorely missed in PSG’s vulnerable midfield.

“Unfortunately, a lot of players find themselves in lofts,” Terrier, the union vice president, told the AP. “The impression, once again, is that football is a legal no-man’s land.”

Ngamukol hopes his suit might change that.

“It’s a collective issue. There are many other players going through this and we have to say, ‘Stop!’” he says. “It is not easy but I want my kids to be proud of me and you have to uphold your dignity. When you are trampled on every day, it hurts psychologically.”

THE logo features the silhouetted batter created for the 1969 celebration of the first professional baseball team. AP

MLB RELEASES 150TH ANNIVERSARY LOGO

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EW YORK—Major League Baseball’s (MLB) 150th anniversary logo features the silhouetted batter created for the 1969 celebration of the first professional baseball team.

MLB released the design on Tuesday. Players, managers and coaches will wear a 3 1/2-by-1/2inch patch on their right sleeves of a batter in white prepared to hit a white ball, with a blue background in front of the batter and red behind.

“MLB” appears to the left of the logo and “150” to the right.

The patch is more horizontal than the ones used for the 100th and 125th anniversaries.

The 1969 logo, designed by Jerry Dior of Sandgren & Murtha, had a white border and “100TH ANNIVERSARY” below in red.

The logo became MLB’s official mark as the commissioner’s office took a more prominent role in the American and National Leagues. The logo was put on the backs of caps starting in 1993 and the back of jersey necks in 2000, according to Uni Watch.

The 1994 logo changed the batter and ball to gold, had “125th ANNIVERSARY” below and was surrounded by a gold and black border.

This year’s patch has darker colors to match the American flag: Pantone 193 red and 282 navy.

Last year’s logo was Panatone 199 red and 288 blue.

Teams also wore a logo in 1939 to commemorate the now discredited myth that Abner Doubleday invented baseball in 1839 at Cooperstown, New York.

MLB said the 150th anniversary patch also will be on caps for March 28 openers. AP

NASCAR PUSHES CHIPS ON GAMBLING

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AYTONA BEACH, Florida—Brendan Gaughan is the son of a casino magnate and has long grasped the allure of throwing down a few bucks to wager on a sporting event.

Heck, Gaughan once bet on himself in Las Vegas to win the 2004 Daytona 500.

Gaughan got a stern talking to from Nascar back in the day when gambling was perhaps the most taboo topic in sports. March Madness brackets, Super Bowl prop bets, they all go hand-in-hand with the biggest games as much as the highlights, but wagers on the upstart underdog or 5-1 favorite were saved for Vegas, office pools and the neighborhood bookie operating illegally.

But societal attitudes—and more to the point, laws—toward betting have evolved, leading even sports leagues to loosen their stances as a new world of potential partnerships and revenue streams has opened. Count Nascar as the latest sport racing toward the gambling industry.

“The more people betting and playing fantasy games on your sport, the more people watch,” Gaughan said during Daytona 500 qualifying. “Nascar has always known that. They still know that.”

Gaughan is happy to give Nascar fans and the betting public the

latest inside scoop on the sport. He cohosts both the “Fantasy Racing Preview with Pete Pistone” on SiriusXM and “Gone Racin” on VSiN, a national sports gambling news network.

“When it comes to fantasy sports and betting on Nascar races, there’s nothing wrong with it,” Gaughan said.

Nascar is on board—and on the betting boards of sportsbooks from Nevada and beyond—with legalized betting in 2019.

“I wanted to go all in on gambling last year,” Nascar Executive Steve O’Donnell said.

But Nascar took a step back and scanned the gambling landscape before implementing gambling guidelines in the rule book for this season. Among the new restrictions: drivers and team members are banned from betting on races or disclosing confidential information.

They are allowed to participate in fantasy sports relating to the three national touring series, Cup, Xfinity and Truck, but may not accept prizes with a value of more than $250 in any games. The bans are in line with other major sports.

Nascar partnered with Sportradar Integrity Services to develop a comprehensive gambling policy intended to protect the sport from cheating scandals. AP

MARTIN TRUEX JR. (19), Denny Hamlin (11), Kevin Harvick (4), Austin Dillon (3), Clint Bowyer (14), Erik Jones (20), Chase Elliott (9), Daniel Suarez (41), Ryan Newman (6), Alex Bowman (88) and Aric Almirola (10) are involved in a multicar pileup during the Nascar Clash at Daytona International Speedway over the weekend. AP

D

Loving God

EAR loving God, You hear our supplication, yearnings and attend to our cries. In faith and hope we pray: Incline Your ear to us, oh God. For couples and sweethearts who are struggling to keep their relationship work out. For those who are making life decisions, or discerning a vocation.

For those who are at risk because of wrong plans because they don’t seek guidance from the Holy Spirit. For the dying and those who minister to them. May God be gracious to us, show us compassion and strengthen us to walk in the light of faith, now and always. Amen.

GIVE US THIS DAY, SHARED BY LUISA LACSON, HFL Word&Life Publications • teacherlouie1965@yahoo.com

Editor: Gerard S. Ramos • lifestylebusinessmirror@gmail.com

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THE Ten Commandments Building, Baguio’s newest attraction

Life BusinessMirror

REELING: ‘GREEN BOOK’ IS NOT REALLY FOR THE COLOR-BLIND D4

Thursday, February 14, 2019

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THE wooden cottage charm of Forest House

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THE horse riding haven called Wright Park

AN exterior view of a new building called Switch House which has been added on to the Tate Modern gallery in London. AP

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THE iconic Our Lady of Lourdes Grotto

Glass houses: London’s Tate Modern wins privacy fight ❶

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Baguio beyond the usual T

BY BENJAMIN LAYUG

HE last time I was in Baguio, that northern destination known as the City of Pines, was a little over three years ago and it was nice to again be feeling the cool (12 degree Celsius), crisp Baguio air as my son Jandy and I joined my wife Grace’s E. Ganzon Inc. company outing. As in the past, we all stayed in the company-owned, 137-room Albergo Hotel where we were all welcomed

by General Manager Gerry Beltran. The hotel is just a stone’s throw away from three of Baguio’s usual attractions: the horse riding mecca of Wright Park, the Mansion House (the summer residence of the Philippine president) and Mine’s View Park (just another tourist trap). These we could easily visit in our free time.

The entirety of the next day was reserved for a different kind of city tour, and Jandy and I joined Joel Jimenez, the hotel’s sales and marketing consultant, in his car. The whole morning was spent at the Philippine Military Academy in Fort del Pilar, the country’s version of the US West Point, which was just 5 kilometers from the hotel. Here, we watched cadets (in their gray and white uniforms) drilling; explored the PMA Museum and Korean War Memorial; and saw (and touched) some mean military hardware (tanks, howitzers, etc.) on display at Relics Point.

Our lunch was to be at Forest House, a popular bistro and café, with a wooden cottage feel, tucked into busy Loakan Road. Here, we dined on a delightful

MICECON 2018 A SUCCESS MICE (Meetings,

Incentives, Conventions and Exhibitions/ Events) Conference, the largest gathering of local and international MICE industry experts and practitioners, was successfully mounted in Bacolod in November. Organized by the Tourism Promotions Board (TPB), the marketing arm of the Department of Tourism (DOT), MICECON 2018 featured educational talks from world-class experts. TPB uses MICECON to strengthen the country’s reputation as the preferred MICE destination in Asia. The four-day conference was spearheaded by (center) TPB Chief Operating Officer Marie Venus Tan and Bacolod City Mayor Evelio Leonardia. Others in photo are (from left) Bacolod City Councilor Em Ang, DOT Regional Director Helen Catalbas, Bacolod City Administrator John Orola, DOT Assistant Secretary Robert Alabado III, and DOT Policy Formulation and International Cooperation Division Chief Alex Macatuno.

and tasty fare of Forest House Wine Sauced Chicken, Stuffed Fish Fillet in White Cream Sauce and Pancit Canton complemented by freshly brewed Benguet Arabica coffee.

Our city tour continued with a visit to the iconic Lourdes Grotto, a Catholic shrine and pilgrimage site established by the Spanish Jesuits in 1907 on the hilly western part of the city. Normally, the grotto is accessed by climbing the 252 steps but, to save us time (as well as the effort), Joel drove his car up a winding, narrow, and steep asphalt-paved road, all the way to the top. Here, we had our first panoramic view of the city.

Just a little over a kilometer away, along Dominican Hill Road, is the abandoned Dominican Hill Retreat House (more popularly known as the Diplomat Hotel), a favorite spot for photography, airsoft tournaments, filmmaking, wedding receptions and photography, cosplay photoshoots, and many more. Despite it being in ruins, almost every tourist that goes to the City of Pines now makes it a point to visit this place because it is one of the most panoramic and picturesque spots in the city. However, due to its brutal and grim World War II history, it is considered by paranormal believers to be haunted.

Beside it is the Ten Commandments Building.

The newest tourist attraction in Baguio, it serves as a symbol that drives away evil spirits that may emanate from its haunted neighbor. This A-shaped, 12.19-meter high “prayer building,” with two slanting slabs of stone carved with the imposing 152.90 square meter.

Bible’s Ten Commandments, broke the Guinness World Record as the world’s first and tallest facility that features the Ten Commandments.

Baguio City is the place to buy strawberries as well as fresh vegetables, all of which can be bought in the Public Market. However, nothing beats getting them fresh from the source itself, the nearby town of La Trinidad, and that’s where we proceeded next.

The Trinidad Valley is home, aside from vegetable farms and flower plantations, to strawberry fields that are in full bloom between November and May. Upon arrival at the town, we dropped by the Strawberry Farms. Due to a process of tissue culture pioneered

by Benguet State University, the hardworking Ibaloi farmers here have been able to produce the best, disease-free strawberries in the country.

Upon entering the rows of fields, members of our group started the fun activity of picking the choice strawberries and vegetables to bring home. Though these cost more than those in the public market, they were still cheaper than the ones sold in Manila. We also sampled the strawberry-flavored ice cream and taho, as well as sweet corn, sold by vendors by the entrance. From nearby stalls, you can buy all sorts of souvenirs such as t-shirts, hats, key chains, Baguio brooms and other delicacies like peanut brittle; bottled ube and strawberry jam; native wine, among others.

Back at the hotel, we culminated the day’s activities with a buffet dinner, videoke singing and line dancing at Albergo Hall. ■

LONDON—A British judge ruled on Tuesday that people who live in glass houses shouldn’t throw legal stones, rejecting a claim that a viewing platform at London’s Tate Modern art gallery invaded the privacy of residents in luxury apartments next door.

Owners of four glass-walled apartments in the Neo Bankside complex sought to force the gallery to block off part of a terrace that offers visitors views over London—and into their homes. A lawyer for the homeowners argued the 10th-floor platform, used by up to 1 million gallery visitors a year, constitutes a “relentless” invasion of residents’ privacy.

Their lawyer said gallery visitors subjected the apartments to “intense visual scrutiny,” with some using binoculars and zoom lenses to get a better look.

The gallery’s board said residents could solve the problem by drawing their blinds or putting up curtains.

High Court judge Anthony Mann dismissed the residents’ claim, noting that the claimants had chosen to live in apartments with floor-to-ceiling windows. “These properties are impressive, and no doubt there are great advantages to be enjoyed in such extensive glassed views, but that in effect comes at a price in terms of privacy,” he said.

The judge denied the homeowners permission to appeal, although they can seek to challenge that ruling.

A lawyer for the claimants, Natasha Rees, said they were considering taking the case to the Court of Appeal. Rees said she was “extremely disappointed with today’s result.”

“My clients and their families will have to continue to live with this daily intrusion into their privacy,” she said.

Tate Modern said it was pleased the viewing platform “will remain available to our visitors.”

“We continue to be mindful of the amenity of our neighbors and the role Tate Modern has to play in the local community,” the gallery said.

Tate Modern opened in 2000 in a former power station on the south bank of the River Thames. It has helped transform the surrounding Bankside neighborhood from a riverside backwater into an arts and nightlife hub dotted with luxury apartment towers.

The viewing terrace is part of a pyramid-shaped extension that opened in 2016 at the gallery, which sees more than 5 million visitors a year. Neo Bankside was completed a few years earlier. AP

SAVOR THE LONG WEEKENDS AT SAVOY HOTEL ENJOY chic city staycations throughout the year at Savoy Hotel Manila, Resorts World Manila’s (RWM) newest hotel for savvy travelers. For only P3,500, Savoy lets guests make the most of 2019’s long weekend holidays with an overnight stay in an Essential Room with free buffet breakfast for two and a host of other benefits.

Guests availing of Savoy’s Staycation Weekends promo will get 20-percent discount vouchers to select RWM shows.

Those who book during qualified February dates will also get two free passes to the ICE interactive snow room at Lumina in Newport Mall. All guests also get free access to Savoy’s swimming pool and fitness center.

The 684-room Savoy also features function rooms, three dining outlets and Squares—a common lounge area with spaces for guests to work, relax or mingle. The free Newport City shuttle also gives guests easy access to the many thrills at RWM. Savoy guests coming from the airport or with upcoming flights can also avail themselves of complimentary rides to and from the Ninoy Aquino International Airport Terminals 1, 2 and 3 aboard the RWM 24/7 hourly airport shuttle. Guests going through Naia Terminal 3 will appreciate the Savoy’s proximity to Runway Manila, an air-conditioned elevated pedestrian bridge which directly connects the terminal with Newport City and RWM. The Savoy Hotel Manila Staycation Weekends rate is valid for the entire month of February 23 to March 3, April 5 to 22, August 23 to 31, October 31 to November 10, and December 21 up to New Year’s Day 2020.

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Thursday, February 14, 2019

Entertaining BusinessMirror

www.businessmirror.com.ph

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Today’s Horoscope

By Eugenia Last

CELEBRITIES BORN ON THIS DAY: Drew Bledsoe, 47; Simon Pegg, 49; Meg Tilly, 59; Terry Gross, 68.

Happy Birthday: Build your own opportunities. Pick something you enjoy doing and turn it into a prosperous venture. Clear a space at home to make room to explore the possibilities. Give yourself credit where due, and turn your everyday world into the adventure you want it to be. Change is apparent, so reach out and do your part to make it happen. Your lucky numbers are 7, 18, 22, 25, 32, 40, 48.

a

ARIES (March 21-April 19): Opportunity is within reach, but it’s up to you to take a closer look and to make it happen. Open your eyes, your mind and your heart to what’s available and choose what’s best for you. HHHH

b

TAURUS (April 20-May 20): Put your best foot forward, and you’ll find not only a place you enjoy, but one that offers benefits, as well. Pick and choose instead of waiting for someone to do the honors. Your success depends on taking action.

HHH

For that red-letter day of romance S URE, an electronic card with an enchanting animated GIF of two cuddly bears canoodling amid an explosion of hearts may be the way of romance in this age of e-everything, but only the true romantic knows a lovely dinner will never lose its cachet on Valentine’s Day. Here are some suggestions: RESORTS WORLD MANILA PARIS may be the City of Love, but if a flight to France for dinner seems a bit over-the-top, you can still give your special someone a taste of French fine dining at multiaward winning restaurant Impressions in Resorts World Manila (RWM, www.rwmanila.com).

The Impressions Dine in Love prix fixe menu starts off light and frothy with an amuse bouche of Crab Meat Croquet with avocadoes and cherry syrup.

The appetizer of Candied Walnuts with 62-Degree Egg is served with crispy lardons, mixed greens and mustard dressing, followed by a comforting bowl of Potato and Green Tea Soup with steamed tofu and croutons. For the entrée, you and your date can savor Impressions’ signature Pan-Seared Chilean Sea Bass

and Grilled Scallops served with spinach puree, cauliflower risotto, sea urchin foam, and tomato Tuile.

The light flavors of the entrée are the perfect build-up to the main entrée of Prosciutto-Wrapped Australian Lamb Loin which comes with ravioli of lamb ragout, sautéed asparagus, cherry tomatoes, goat cheese mousse, stuffed zucchini and honey pear jus.

The mignardises course is a trio of bite-sized treats of Red Berries Macaron, Tequila Rose Praline, and Cherry and Vanilla Cream Puff.

The final flourish of this decadent dinner is a Citrus Panna Cotta with Strawberry Puree that delivers an exhilarating burst of tartness that contrasts the silky textures and rich sweetness of the classic dessert. Couples who want the romance of the outdoors can enjoy a starlit poolside dinner at The Terrace at RWM’s Maxims Hotel.

Featuring a gourmet four-course dinner, a sommelier’s selection of wine pairings, a live acoustic band, floral arrangements, and languorous lighting by the poolside, The Terrace has all the elements of an unforgettable date.

A steaming bowl of creamy mushroom soup

warms up your palate, followed by a refreshingly tart Caesar salad. The selection of mains has something to satisfy just about any craving with choices of primecut Angus Rib-Eye Steak drizzled with veal jus and a side of three cheeses baked with seasonal vegetables, Grilled Salmon fillet seasoned with shallots, cauliflower and herbs, or the Airline Chicken—grilled herb chicken breast with freshly mashed potato and seasoned vegetables in red wine sauce.

End the meal with a flourish of textures with the Sweet Companion, an original concoction of Adlai grain crunch with layers of tablea mousse and calamansi puree.

Diners at the Terrace can choose between a table for two by the poolside where the waters reflect the twinkling stars, or the privacy of the cabanas for a truly decadent and romantic evening.

F1 HOTEL MANILA CELEBRATE Valentine’s Day at F1 Hotel Manila (www. f1hotelmanila.com) in Bonifacio Global City, Taguig, with

Continued on D3

Sofitel serves sweet romance this Valentine’s Day

By Pauline Joy M. Gutierrez Valentine’s Day is the Olympics for the food and beverage industry. Every February 14, couples from everywhere flock to candlelit restaurants for some Valentine magic. But this is the Philippines, the fourth most romantic country in the Asia-Pacific, and where food is an integral part of the culture and the community, so who would blame them? Besides, who doesn’t enjoy long romantic walks to the buffet table?

This year, Sofitel Philippine Plaza Manila (www.sofitelmanila.com) curated Make Me Melt, a gastronomic offering for the romance-centered holiday that is available only on February 14.

The celebration begins at Spiral’s

21 dining ateliers, which all feature their sumptuous takes on chocolate-infused dishes. For those hankering for authentic Japanese cuisine, there are Takoyaki Balls, as well as Sushi Avocado Dragon Rolls served with chocolate mayonnaise sauce.

The Dimsum Atelier is cooking up Steamed Chocolate Pig Buns, while a luscious Beef Prime Rib with balsamic chocolate reduction is served at the Churrasco Atelier.

In a delightful fusion of savory and sweet, the Filipino Atelier shares a succulent take on the Filipino favorite with Chicken Adobolate.

An interesting combination of the juicy and tender grilled pork belly is prepared in the Korean Atelier serving Korean Pork Belly

with a chocolate-infused marinade. A hint of spice heats up the Thai Atelier with a Seared Beef Fillet in chocolate chili sauce.

The French Atelier presents a flavorful dish featuring Pumpkin-Filled Chocolate Ravioli with Sage Brown Butter, Pears and Hazelnuts; and a Strawberry, Banana, Chocolate Pizza. A sweet take on the Roti Pratha served with chocolate and cheese is cooked at the North Indian Atelier.

In La Patisserie, there are more chocolate fusion dishes, including the Choco Chili Brownie Tart, Chocolate Pavlova with Strawberry Cream, Bailey’s and Coffee Cheesecake, Raspberry Chocolate Parfait, Cherry Dark Chocolate Cake and Chocolate Peanut Butter Pie with Guava Jelly.

Meanwhile, enjoy a bespoke dining

experience with an exclusive four-course dinner featuring an abundance of grilled specialties served by your very own butler when you avail yourselves of the “Love

by Design” offering, a four-course dinner menu that comes with a bottle of champagne, a bouquet of three roses, and a box of pralines, as well as a live performance by a violinist.

You can also indulge in a sweet and exclusive dining experience featuring Valentine special signature barbecue dishes and an upgraded buffet selection at Sunset Bar, where a live musical entertainment will serenade you. The buffet price is inclusive of unlimited local beer, iced tea, special cocktails and a bottle of the wine of the month.

c

GEMINI (May 21-June 20): Don’t trust anyone who is promising something unrealistic.

Opportunity is within reach, but it has to come through your own efforts, not a fast-cash scheme someone tries to lure you into. HHH

d

CANCER (June 21-July 22): Experience new people, places and pastimes. Attend an event that will offer knowledge and information that will encourage you to branch out and update your qualifications. A partnership looks promising and should be looked at and discussed with interest. HHH

e

LEO (July 23-Aug. 22): Celebrate something special with someone you love, and it will change your life moving forward.

Kindness and consideration, along with charm and a promise that is too hard to resist, will result in new beginnings. A joint venture is favored. HHHH

f

VIRGO (Aug. 23-Sept. 22): Talks will lead to positive change, and actions will lead to reaching your goal. How you react to those you encounter will determine how you change your life moving forward. Take better care of yourself physically and emotionally. HH

g

LIBRA (Sept. 23-Oct. 22): Look for any chance to learn, travel or to spend time with people you find entertaining, interesting and motivating. Stay away from individuals who bring you down or take advantage of you. HHHHH

h

SCORPIO (Oct. 23-Nov. 21): Look into something that interests you. Learning something new will set you on a path that will help you explore your creative attributes and encourage you to try things you never thought possible.

Live life to the fullest. HHH

i

SAGITTARIUS (Nov. 22-Dec. 21): Put more time and effort into physical fitness, activities that make you feel alive and interactions with people who share your zest for life. Emotional matters will crop up if the people you usually associate with no longer share your passions. HHH

j

CAPRICORN (Dec. 22-Jan. 19): Let go of whatever isn’t working for you anymore. If someone makes a change you don’t like, follow the path that you find more comfortable. It’s OK to go your own way or to do your own thing. HHH

k

AQUARIUS (Jan. 20-Feb. 18): Question anything that seems suspicious. Someone will withhold information or play emotional mind games with you if you appear gullible. Don’t overreact, but speak up if you feel you are being treated unfairly. Take charge and do your part. HHHHH

l

PISCES (Feb. 19-March 20): Be careful when dealing with people who tend to be manipulative. Listen carefully, and don’t be afraid to say no to anyone who is asking for too much or trying to tempt you to take part in something that isn’t right. HH Birthday Baby: You are opportunistic, innovative and helpful.

You are friendly and resourceful.

‘l-o-v-e spell’ by debbie ellerin The Universal Crossword/Edited by David Steinberg

ACROSS 1 Skewered Thai dish 6 Yank until 2016 10 “Waterloo” band 14 Patsy profiled in Sweet Dreams 15 Seized car, informally 16 Russia’s ___ Mountains 17 Aluminum giant 18 *Result of oversleeping (read each starred answer as a clue for a single letter!)

20 Dull routine 21 Minor employee 22 Drunk as a skunk 23 2018 World Cup winner 26 Simplifies 28 *Vice president, e.g.

33 Shortage 34 Pony up 35 One waving a baton 38 “My guess is...”

42 NYSE debut 43 “Hey Jude” syllables 45 *Balancing point

2 Oakland’s Oracle ___ 5 53 “Aida” and “Otello” 54 Military raid 57 Stimpy’s pal 59 Name that anagrams to “Ira” 60 *Pen pal’s exhortation 62 Former sporty Ford, briefly 64 On the subject of 65 Shrek, for one 66 Surgeon’s beam 67 Classic clown 68 Ctrl and Alt 69 Belief system DOWN 1 Inhales, with “down” 2 Appeal 3 Ice Breakers alternative 4 “I’ll take that as ___” 5 Nay’s opposite 6 Guthrie of folk 7 Chem lab substance 8 Check a box, say 9 Childish rebuttal 10 “Rain Man” condition

1 Muffin type 1 12 Boxer’s comeback?

13 Cher, voice-wise 19 Rose support 21 Tree on Lebanon’s flag 24 Auction actions 25 Tech review site 27 Feeling sore 29 Like some patches 30 Animated shopkeeper 31 Hanoi’s country, familiarly 32 Add color to 35 ___ drop (stage flourish) 36 Gorilla or gibbon 37 Geological stretch 39 Moses’ brother 40 Crackle companion 41 Rescue 44 Very different (from) 46 Heart on a bicep, say 47 Cleveland’s lake 48 Adidas subsidiary 49 Bluffer’s bold words 50 Paved the way?

1 San ___ (town north of Tijuana) 5 54 Q-tip, e.g.

55 -ish 56 Cracker brand 58 Barely makes (out) 61 Always-increasing number 62 Dr. Mom’s specialty 63 Chocolate purchase Solution to yesterday’s puzzle:

Parentlife BusinessMirror

www.businessmirror.com.ph

Thursday, February 14, 2019

FROM left: These photos best describe our rhythm and our convergence as a couple. I never know how to do a wacky smile and my husband brightens up every photo. He likes sports. I pursue child development. Today, we are able to find common interests like this Tools of Titans book by Tim Ferriss. This book is divided into three parts—Healthy, Wealthy and Wise. The third photo was me practicing my Total Immersion swimming at W Hotel in Taipei last year.

The best Valentine gi�t MOMMY NO LIMITS

MAYE YAO CO SAY

mommynolimits@gmail.com

VALENTINE GIFT THAT LASTS A LIFETIME

IMPERVIOUS, elegant and precious—these exceptional qualities make diamonds one of the most special and memorable gifts one can receive on Valentine’s Day. Whether you are planning on getting engaged, or would want to give your Valentine a gift she will always remember, there is nothing like a diamond.

Diamonds are one of the classic, can’t-go-wrong options when it comes to picking out something special for the love of your life. Also, diamonds are symbols of absolute purity, beauty and rarity—just like how you want your relationship to be.

Celebrate love and mark this special moment in your relationship by surprising her with a stunning 14K White Gold Heart Solitaire Ring with a piece of 0.375 carat diamond from the exquisite jewelry collection of My Diamond (www.mydiamond.com.ph), or an 18K White Gold Eternity Ring with 17 pieces of 3.82 carat diamonds.

Complete her look with the 14K White Gold Multi-Way Earrings with 42 pieces of 0.87 carat diamonds that can be worn as a stud or drop earrings.

What could be a more exquisite way to celebrate this season of love.

M

Y husband and I don’t give each other Valentine’s Day gifts. I always tell this anecdote how my husband’s gift for flowers has gradually diminished through the years from a dozen back in his courtship days, to half a dozen to one and, now, to “none.” I saw flowers on one of my recent birthdays and could not connect immediately that it was from him. And yet, I celebrate every Valentine’s Day with much gratitude.

When I was in school, I remember my definition of love as someone who could make me happy.

True enough, I was lucky to receive grand gestures, attention and gifts from people who care about me.

Later on, my expectation in love grew to someone who would shield me from life’s disappointments.

Consequently, I would also be ready to give up everything to find this perfect match. Whether it was my interests, where I wanted to live, or the craft I wanted to pursue, I was willing to live the life my future husband saw fit. My college and post-college years was a period of repeated wake-up calls on how one-sided this was. I realized that putting the weight on another person to find one’s happiness might be too heavy for any person to carry.

I realized in my early 20s that at some point in my life, I needed that moment of “self-centeredness.” I needed to know the source of my “self-love.” I wanted to discover if it was at all possible to know my core well enough, not to “exchange” it for the pursuit of a relationship’s longevity. Moreover, I wanted to discern the external standards being imposed on me in choosing a lifelong partner.

I believe this journey allowed me to look at my own “collage” of meaningful pursuits. It is like creating a fashion collection. We make a mood board. That board becomes the peg of what fits and what stays out.

I honestly feel the process led me to “peg my luck.”

Hence, I believe that “self-love leads to self-luck.”

My metaphor to this is: If I don’t take the time to “craft” my own lenses, I am pushed to use the point of view of others. I would then live each day in search but not knowing what I was looking for. I might continually demand but not knowing whether whatever it was I was demanding would ever be enough. My hope then was when luck and love finds me, I would actually recognize it.

When I met my husband, I was “in medias res.”

I was halfway in discovering and establishing my “nonnegotiable self.” I was glad our relationship started with pure friendship, no facades and no pressure. I wrote about it in my article, titled “Diary of a Mom With No Limits: My Kismet” last June.

From the onset, he knew how I valued my family and my work. I saw how he loved his roots in Bicol, his passion for sports and his love for his family.

We both knew we wanted to pursue our own fulfillment in our lives.

You might ask me today: Do we have a pictureperfect marriage? Do we argue about petty things?

Do we have disappointments? I guess I can say that

we have an imperfectly perfect marriage. We do have our blissful moments. We do argue. We have off days when we are irritable for unknown reasons. We have dreams that are yet to come true. But I guess the difference is that we never married each other for the future “us.” Our decision to choose each other was not based on external metrics. In the simplest terms, I believe we married each other with the full knowledge and appreciation of who we were as individuals. We saw being together as a new chapter to make new dreams together, while continuing to pursue our own individual fulfillment.

In my bedroom, there is this Chinese scroll about love. The nine Chinese terms below are the author’s interpretation of love. The characters include Compassion, Joy, Peace, Endurance, Grace, Kindness, Fidelity, Warmth and Control. When I received this five years ago, I felt the terms were a bit superfluous. Today, being married for almost 15 years, I realize how each term is a potential gift from a love relationship if both parties are able and willing to give fully to each other.

I believe the best Valentine gift that my husband and I give each other is the gift of loving our “cores.”

We help each other define our individual happiness while finding ways to merge them in our family life.

Vinson tries to read more. I try to get into sports. We share to build. We love ourselves enough to know our core happiness. Because of this, we have more of ourselves to share with each other, our children and the people around us.

The best Valentine gift you can give to your partner is knowing that the “me” you have built coincides with a “you” that lovingly respects, understands and grows.

Happy Valentine’s Day, Vinson! Thank you for giving me the best Valentine gift every year. ■

DIAMOND HOTEL FALL in love all over again at Diamond Hotel Philippines (www.diamondhotel.com). Make every moment special at Corniche. Treat your sweetheart to a grand, romantic gesture with a Valentine buffet they will never forget.

Plus, get a chance to win an overnight stay for two with breakfast buffet for every P5,000 spent. On February 14 and 15, be entertained by a pianist during lunch and a quartet during dinner.

Let your significant other know that they means the world to you with a unique and authentic Japanese-style date. Yurakuen offers a lunch and dinner set menu for couples with a glass of Piper Heidsick. Complementing the dinner is musical entertainment by a duo.

Get to know the person that brings joy to your heart at the Lobby Lounge with a four-course set menu and a glass of Cava, perfect for building a meaningful conversation. Reserve a table for two for this intimate date that comes with a complimentary slice cake. Set the mood as a soothing saxophone plays in the background.

Alternatively, relish al fresco dining by the Poolside under a beautiful night sky. Delight in a fivecourse dinner as you gaze at the stars and reminisce how your love story began. The set menu comes with musical accompaniment by a soulful duo. Cap off the evening with a glass or two of your favorite cocktail drink at Bar 27.

With a spellbinding view of the cityscape at night, a four-course set menu that comes with a glass of red or white wine, plus live band entertainment, Valentine evening brims with possibilities.

THE MANILA HOTEL ON the most romantic night of the year, The Manila Hotel in Manila (manila-hotel.com.ph) has crafted the perfect evening to celebrate love, romance and passion in “A Taste of Love,” an exclusive Valentine dinner punctuated by love songs from romantic balladeer Christian Bautista. The event is slated for Valentine’s Day, February 14, 7 pm, at Fiesta Pavilion.

Executive Chef Walter Konrad demonstrates his considerable skill in creating an exquisite and unique dining experience, through a menu that pays homage to the great romances of history.

Every dish is a story told through ingredients, technique and artistry.

For that red-letter day of romance CONTINUED FROM D3 Love at First Bite, an all-in-one Valentines buffet concert. The first set will run from 6 to 8 pm, while the second will be from 8:30 to 10 pm.

Enjoy a night full of delicacies that would satisfy your appetite and make your heart aflutter as Jet Barrun serenades you and your significant other on this night of passion. What could be better than feeding each other with delicious morsels of scrumminess, with some of the most romantic songs every composed as your aural backdrop.

EASTWOOD RICHMONDE HOTEL EASTWOOD Richmonde Hotel’s Eastwood Café+Bar (www.facebook.com/EastwoodRichmondeHotel) celebrates that most compelling force known as love with “L’amour,” a Valentine’s Day dinner feast filled with delectable dishes that are as rich and exquisite as love, and as passionate and dreamy as a French romance.

Happening from 6 pm to 9 pm, this special Valentine’s dinner buffet features a lavish spread of mouthwatering international fare highlighted by favorite carvings as the entrées—US Rib Eye, Australian leg of lamb, US turkey and Chilean salmon, complemented by the paella Valenciana and paella nergra, plus various sidings. The antipasti station is chockfull of cold cuts, cheese, chorizo, olives, grapes, artichoke, and munchies like walnuts, almonds, dried apricots, crackers and bread sticks. Completing the pre-entrée items are the salad bar and soup station.

The feast’s pièce de résistance can be found at the dessert counter where an assortment of chocolate confectioneries is showcased, from candies to cakes

and pastries. A pianist provides the diners with live musical entertainment.

Eastwood Café+Bar’s L’amour dinner buffet comes with bottomless flavored mimosa.

RICHMONDE HOTEL ILOILO THE Granary of Richmonde Hotel Iloilo (www. richmondehoteliloilo.com.ph) presents a Valentine’s Day Dinner Buffet you can indulge in with the people dearest to you. With bottomless lemonade, the delightful feast consists of an assortment of appetizers, a charcuterie station, entrées, carvings of lechon roll and braised beef chuck roll, and sweet desserts. The open kitchen also features a la minute cooking of tempura, grilled meats, laksa, tom yum, and pasta, prepared just the way you like them.

For the single and brokenhearted, BizBar is throwing an anti-Valentine’s Day party. Dubbed “No to VD,” the event will be devoid of mushy romance but filled with fun and freebies for the fabulously unattached. Enjoy complimentary Zabana Anti-Love Potion cocktail, free cheese platter for every bottle order of house or premium wine, buy-one-get-one on San Mig Light Beer; and 1-4-3 on Heineken draft beer and Zabana cocktails (one glass free four every three glasses ordered). Dance heartaches away to the retro mixes of DJ Enzo of Fatboidjs and win a hotel gift certificate if you’re chosen as Star Dancer of the Night.

Another hotel gift certificate will be up for grabs for the Valentine “hater” with the best Instagram party post and caption with #BizBarNOtoVD. The Love is Love Valentine’s Dinner Buffet is from 6 to 10 pm. The No to VD Anti-Valentine’s Day Party starts at 8 pm.

MARCO POLO ORTIGAS MANILA FALL in love to your heart’s content with a tempting love-themed spread at Cucina of Marco Polo Ortigas Manila (www.marcopolohotels.com) on February 14 and 15. A special a la carte menu will also be available during dinner including sumptuous Chicken Piccata on Tomato and Olive Ragout with Tagliatelle in Basil Pesto and Grilled Australian Lamb.

Relive the season of love with authentic Cantonese cuisine at Lung Hin. An intimate dining experience awaits with dishes that are crafted to perfection, with an ambience of love in the air through special set menus that can be enjoyed on February 14 and 15.

Celebrate a truly red-letter day with the best view in the metro at Vu’s Sky Bar and Lounge. Dine on February 14 and toast with a welcome drink of Prosecco upon arrival.

Featured performance for the night by Silk Band begins at 9 pm. ■

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Thursday, February 14, 2019

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SM CINEMA’S REEL-TO-REAL CAMPAIGN CONTINUES WINNING STREAK AT 54TH ANVIL AWARDS FOLLOWING their international wins from the Marketing Events Awards in Singapore and the MarCom awards in the United States, SM Cinema (www.smcinema.com) garnered prestigious awards yet again for its Reel-to-Real campaign, this time in the local scene, from the 54th Anvil Awards, dubbed as the Oscars of Public Relations (PR).

Organized by the Public Relations Society of the Philippines (PRSP), the Anvil Awards recognizes the best of the country’s public relations programs and tools. The Reel-to-Real campaign took home the Gold Anvil for PR Tools: Exhibit and Special Event—Fan or Consumer Experience; and the Silver Anvil for PR Program Directed at Specific Stakeholders— Consumers.

The Reel-to-Real campaign is a comprehensive and integrated public relations program by SM Cinema that makes movies come alive, going beyond the big screen. Throughout the year, SM Cinema would hold events and activations for their moviegoers to kick off and cap off their cinematic experience.

The first of this was witnessed in SM Cinema’s “The Greatest Showman Sing-Along,” wherein they released an exclusive sing-along version of the film in select SM Cinema branches, allowing the audience to be part of the performances.

In line with Marvel’s three biggest 2018 releases, SM Cinema put up The Secrets of Wakanda Exhibit for Black Panther, The Ant-Man and the Wasp Not the Actual Size Exhibit for Ant-Man and the Wasp, and The Avengers Hall for Avengers: In�inity War. Meanwhile, the Fan Event for Avengers: In�inity War turned into the biggest surprise when a live video conference with Avengers: In�inity War actors Benedict Cumberbatch, Karen Gillan and director Joe Russo was shown on screen, allowing fans to interact with their idols.

SM Cinema also treated fans of Jurassic World, Superman, and Star Wars with unique and immersive fan experiences.

Last, SM Cinema gathered Deadpool cosplayers for a fan event when Deadpool 2 was released, with men in costumes even going around SM Aura to interact with mallgoers. True to his character, Deadpool was seen taking selfies with fans, hanging out at the Han Solo photo wall, serving popcorn in Snack Time and even joining in one of the screenings of his film.

‘Green Book’ is not really for the color-blind REELING

TITO GENOVA VALIENTE

titovaliente@yahoo.com

I

T must have been one hell of a time to be colored and a tourist in the US of A even in the 1960s. Two men discover this truth: one a pianist of utmost refinement to the point of delicacy; the other rough and a physical survivor of the rougher world.

It is 1962. The world is changing. Tony Vallelonga has just lost his job as a bouncer in a nightclub undergoing renovation. He is given a reference to work as a driver to a pianist, Don Shirley. The artist is one of those rare breeds of classical pianist crossing over to jazz, when crossing over was not yet in fashion. Shirley is also black, and gay. Think of that in a world of segregation, when White America has not yet come to terms with the weakness of racism and still in denial about its bigotry rooted in its colonial past. It is a strange colonial experience because the colonizers came—the White—and stayed on.

In this Trump era, Green Book is just the right potion for a land that is being poisoned once more by the notion that the skin of one’s person is destiny.

But we are going ahead with our politics.

The film Green Book is indeed about racism and bigotry but the filmmakers refuse to bring on the slogans and stay there. The film moves us because it begins with two men, of great characters. They are not heroes but they are not villains either.

Vallelonga is an American of Italian descent.

Right after he has lost his job, Vallelonga wakes up to see his home filled with his Italian kin. They are there because, as his father puts it, they are guarding Tony’s wife (and home) because she has sought the help of two black men. The two repairmen inside the home of non-White men (which include at this point Italian) are a threat. The

wife of Tony, it seems and for reason that may have nothing to do with race relations, does not mind having “colored men” around her. But Tony is different. Seeing the two glasses used by the two black workers, he throws them into the trash bin The wife discovers this and puts back the two utensils on the cupboard.

But there is a new job and the man looking for a driver insists on meeting up with Tony. The driver-applicant does not know he will be working with a black man. If racism or bigotry is placed on a continuum, Tony could be down there on the point of the lesser-than-hardcore. But he is still not comfortable working with Don Shirley. The musician, too, is not exactly the personality one warms to easily. He enters the living room surprising Tony not only with the color of his skin but also his African clothing. Then there are the manners—effete and ritualistic. Then there is the ceremony—Shirley sits not on the chair opposite Tony but saunters onto a throne!

The job application is taking place in the throne room, Tony must be thinking. The driver raises his asking price. The musician refuses. Later, the musicians relents and gives in to the wage scale specified by Tony.

And the two drive on, first to the Midwest and then to the Deep South: Driving Miss Daisy without the lambent charm and poignancy of that film with Jessica Tandy and Morgan Freeman. Where the Alfred Uhry film has the scent of magnolias intact all throughout the story of a rich Jewish woman who grows old and comes to term with the presence of a black man through the years, Green Book allows all kinds of scents and stink.

There is the White population gaining ground and life at the expense of the Blacks pushed to the margin.

There is art that loses its hatred of black during performances. There are the music lovers who become color-blind when the music is to their liking. Then there is the audience who unsheathe their bias once the concert is over.

And here is the source of my discomfort: There is Don Shirley, the black pianist who would perform and just perform even when he knows that out there discrimination goes on.

What is clear though in their road show is the fact

that racism and bigotry are alive, stupendously alive in many parts of the United States of America.

The title Green Book refers to the “Negro Motorist Green-Book,” a sort of guide for African-American travelers. The book allows the tourist or traveler to be led to hotels or inns that allow only “coloreds.” The “Lonely Planet” might as well be the other name for the Green-Book as it pictures to us generations and eras when there were places that refused to accept blacks. In most occasions, the inns meant for the African-American are decrepit and old.

Woe to those who refuse to follow the paths lighted by Green-Book. Nat Cole, one of the greatest balladeers, is an example. Bessie Smith, the Empress of the Blues, is another. Think of those white men and women—the white fans and musicians—who all worshipped at the foot of Smith and the immortal blues that colored with splendor the great American songbooks.

It is perhaps the signs of the times that a film like this is making a killing in the box office. It is, I believe, the greater irony that where the White Man discriminated Black men and women, he also develops the talent to be more discriminating about music.

In Guess Who is Coming to Dinner, Sidney Poitier, the black man marrying into an upper-class white American family, has to be a doctor. Poitier, again, has to be a charismatic teacher to be admired in To Sir, With Love. In Green Book, Don Shirley has to be himself—a snob and sometimes arrogant artist— in order to tell the tales of racism in today’s political climate.

Green Book is directed by Peter John Farrelly (There’s Something About Mary) and written by Nick Vallelonga, Brian Hayes Currie and Peter Farrelly. Nick is the son of Tony Vallelonga who is played here by Viggo Mortensen. Don Shirley is played by Mahershala Ali who won the Oscar’s Best Supporting Actor in “Moonlight.” Viggo Mortensen and Mahershala Ali are nominated in the Oscars for Best Actor and Best Supporting Actor, respectively. The film is nominated in the 91st Oscars for Best Original Screenplay and Best Picture. It already won in the Golden Globe. Green Book has been listed as one of the Top 10 Films by the American Film Institute. It is distributed by the Universal Pictures. ■

‘The View’ host Joy Behar under fire for use of blackface POPULAR rock band Bamboo

‘THAT’S AMORE!’

IT’S all about amore at the Shangri-La Plaza with musical performances that set the mood for mall guests as they shop, dine and enjoy this Valentine week.

This Valentine’s Day at 7 pm, and then again on February 15 at the same time, the Manila Philharmonic Orchestra Chamber Ensemble transforms the Grand Atrium into a live concert hall for everyone sharing the wonderful day with loved ones.

Then wrap up the week with popular rock band Bamboo as the group serenades mall guests on February 17 at 7 pm at the Grand Atrium, Level 2, with beloved hits like “Masaya,” “Much Has Been Said” and “Hallelujah.”

More information is available at www.facebook.com/ shangrilaplazaofficialfanpage.

NEW YORK—Joy Behar and ABC were silent on Thursday after an old photo resurfaced of The View cohost using makeup to darken her skin for a Halloween costume, the latest flashpoint in a series of blackface scandals making national headlines.

The 76-year-old didn’t mention the clip on Thursday’s show, one day after an editor for the entertainment web site The Wrap tweeted the three-year-old segment of Behar discussing a resurgence of curly hair.

During the 2016 segment, Behar displayed a 1970s-era photo of herself at a Halloween party when she was 29.

She says that the hair was her own and that she had dressed as a “beautiful African woman.”

Cohost Raven-Symone asked whether she had on tanning lotion. Behar, an outspoken liberal, said she wore makeup “that was a little bit darker than my skin.”

Messages seeking comment were not returned from Behar’s agent and the ABC program.

Critics were quick to point out that NBC cut ties with host Megyn Kelly last year after she created a furor by suggesting that it was OK for white people to wear blackface on Halloween.

This week, Virginia’s governor and attorney general are being criticized for their use of blackface. Florida Secretary of State Michael Ertel resigned last month after a photo surfaced showing him wearing blackface and dressing as a “Hurricane Katrina victim.”

Other white celebrities who have been called out for using blackface include Julianne Hough, who in 2012 dressed as characters from Netflix’s Orange Is the New Black, and Real Housewives of New York star LuAnn De Lesseps, who dressed as Diana Ross for Halloween in 2017. AP

JOY BEHAR

Envoys&Expats BusinessMirror

www.businessmirror.com.ph | Thursday, February 14, 2019 E1

Love, in the time of cyber security

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By Rei Salud | Contributor

NE would imagine that, for most Filipinos, the idea of cyber security still remains relatively a thing of the future. Or, an esoteric concept only the tech-savvy could wrap his or her mind around.

In discussing computers or technology, the average “Juan” would most likely gripe about the generally dismal Internet speed, than become concerned about whether an individual’s private information online is properly protected. After all, as long as there is an antivirus or a firewall installed in one’s computer, the chances of getting hacked or acquiring a virus isn’t very likely—or so many believe.

The majority of the general population also still go about their everyday lives doing things manually, unplugged from the digital sphere.

Being online typically translates to being on social media, checking e-mails, and maybe doing a bit of “cyber shopping.” Nothing really too serious, too complicated, or too important that one should become worried about data privacy.

That being said, Filipinos would perhaps think it baffling that a foreign cyber-security company would choose to set-up shop here. The initial reaction would often be one of curiosity, citing other Southeast Asian nations as more beneficial areas for such an enterprise. But for Bluedog Security Monitoring CEO

Paul Lomax, setting up shop in the Philippines made perfect sense.

“I [was able to work] with some Filipinos in Saudi Arabia in the early 1990s. Frankly, I was really amazed by their work ethic—they could think for themselves, you know. So, when I was looking to go offshore with the programming and the customer service, my first thought was [that of] the Philippines.”

Spreading awareness

BACK in 2007, Paul first ventured into the Philippines with an extension of another business he ran as a CEO, which is Freeparking Domain Registrars Inc., one of the first fully automated domain-name registrars in the United Kingdom since 1998.

It could be easily assumed that he established the office in a key city. He actually opened shop in the heart of Nasugbu in Batangas.

Quite the unlikely place, the Englishman said that setting up their office in the municipality happened through the help of a friend—another British national involved in information technology (IT) —who

was a resident. There, they rented two small shops and turned them into a working space with a simple setup. Eventually, they expanded in Makati City, mainly to hire for the skillsets their business needed.

Before long, Paul saw his customers’ needs shift toward cyber security. This prompted him to create “Bluedog” by pulling a joint venture with a contact in Europe, who happens to be a well-known cyber-security expert. But instead of focusing on larger companies, Bluedog’s services are mainly meant for small to medium firms, many of which not only lack the necessary online protection, but also are typically unaware of the huge amount of data that is at risk.

Private data, the CEO explained, is usually the main target of the security attacks that his company has encountered. “A lot of small to medium businesses either don’t know about it, or are not taking it seriously enough,” he said.

Other than customer data, it is also employee data that is endangered. “If somebody gets hold of an

employee data file, [the said person now has] social security numbers, dates of birth and bank account numbers…somebody could completely steal your identity from [a very simple piece of information].”

One doesn’t even need to do anything complicated to put his or her data at risk: As simple as writing passwords on notepads and saving them on the computer—by itself, an innocent act—can result in something as grave as having one’s identity stolen.

As new private-data policies and attitudes toward technology constantly change, Lomax believes that there is a need for education and awareness when it comes to cyber security. In endeavoring to reach as many people as he could, he is currently working closely with several organizations, like the Call Center Association of the Philippines, as many of them are involved in handling sensitive bits of information.

“It’s really been [there] wherever we can; where there’s pocket small- to medium-enterprisetype events. We to try and get the

word out that way.”

Going the distance

BUT it isn’t all work for Paul and his wife Deborah, who are in the country not only for business, but also to spend time in the country as tourists.

They don’t live here on a permanent basis, but only stay around for six weeks, then another in Spain, near Malaga.

Shuttling in-between the Philippines and in the European country isn’t much different, they said, as both nations share quite a few similarities with the way businesses are run, as well as the attitude of the people.

They said that what enamored them about the Philippines—aside from the warm weather—was the people’s very friendly disposition in whatever place or island destination they head on to.

Deborah declared: “Everywhere we’ve been, to any island, the people are just lovely. In fact, we tell everybody in England that you have to go to the Philippines.”

Continued on E2

Envoys& BusinessMirror

E2 Thursday, February 14, 2019

RISING TECHNOLOGIES

PHL mission to UN leverages on fintech, financial inclusion

Google, UN-Escap host Asia-Pacific AI for Social Good Summit

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EW YORK—As Vice President of the United Nations-Economic and Security Council (UN-Ecosoc), the Philippines led the discussions on “Fintech and Financial Inclusion” during a working lunch with the executive directors and senior staff of the World Bank Group (WBG) in Washington, D.C. In her opening statement, Charge d’Affaires a.i. and Deputy Permanent Representative to the UN Kira Danganan-Azucena underlined that at the UN, “more space should, and can still be given, to discuss the new technologies and their impacts on our daily lives.”

Danganan-Azucena stated that financial inclusion remains a priority for Ecosoc and the UN since it is an important enabler of development progress and a means of realizing the Sustainable Development Goals. She cited of the Task Force on Digital Financing launched by UN SecretaryGeneral António Guterres to leverage on the potential of innovative technologies for financial inclusion.

Noting the experience of the Philippines, the charge d’affaires shared that the country has made financial inclusion a priority through its National Strategy for Financial Inclusion. Said strategy is based on four pillars: (1) policy regulation and supervision, (2) financial education and consumer protection, (3) advocacy, as well as

(4) data and measurement.

‘Complicated financial system’

THE working lunch was part of the UN Ecosoc Bureau’s visit to the WBG in preparation for the 2019 Ecosoc Forum on Financing for Development follow-up in April 2019; in particular, the special high-level meeting of the council with the Bretton Woods institutions, the World Trade Organization, and the UN Conference on Trade and Development.

The UN delegation, led by Ecosoc President Inga Rhonda King, included representatives from the UN Ecosoc Bureau, namely the Philippines, Norway, Belarus, Morocco and the UN Secretariat.

To contextualize the current challenge, Danganan-Azucena quoted author and historian Yuval Noah Harari: “The democratic system is unequipped to deal with the next shocks, such as the rise of [artificial intelligence (AI)] and the blockchain revolution. Already today, computers have made the financial system so complicated that few humans can

GOOGLE Global Affairs Senior Vice President Kent Walker with United Nations UndersecretaryGeneral and Escap Executive Secretary Armida Alisjahbana

CHARGE d’Affaires a.i. and Deputy Permanent Representative to the United Nations Kira Danganan-Azucena speaks before UN, World Bank and International Monetary Fund officials

understand it.”

She continued, “As AI improves, we might soon reach a point when no human can make sense of finance anymore. What will that do to the political process? Can you imagine a government that waits humbly for an algorithm to approve its budget or its new tax reform? Meanwhile, peer-to-peer blockchain networks about cryptocurrencies…might completely revamp the monetary system, making radical tax reforms inevitable.”

Areas of collaboration

THE ambassador also underlined the importance of exploring areas of collaboration between member-countries and the international financial institutions, such as the WBG and the International Monetary Fund (IMF) on fintech innovations and financial inclusion.

She recalled that the WBG and the IMF launched the “Bali Fintech Agenda” on October 11, 2018, in Nusa Dua Bali, Indonesia, during

the 2018 IMF-WBG Annual Meetings. It comprised a set of 12 policy elements aimed at assisting membercountries to achieve the benefits and opportunities of advances in financial technology.

She inquired on the World Bank’s vision for the Bali Fintech Agenda, and the manner it supports the efforts toward the achievement of the 2030 Agenda.

The UN Ecosoc Bureau also met with the executive directors and IMF senior staff, where the latter presented its update on the Global Economic Outlook.

The meetings with the WBG and the IMF also discussed thematic topics on public debt, vulnerability and the SDGs, as well as the topic: “The future of work and job creation.”

The bureau’s visit to Washington, D.C., also provided an opportunity to engage the Bretton Woods Institutions in the preparation of the “High-Level Dialogue on Financing for Development,” which will be held in September 2019 at the UN headquarters in New York.

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OOGLE and the United Nations (UN) Economic and Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific (Escap), in collaboration with the National Science, Technology and Innovation (STI) Policy Office of Thailand, hosted the Asia-Pacific AI (artificial intelligence) for Social Good Summit in Bangkok.

The summit brought together researchers, policy-makers, nongovernment organizations and the private sector from across the AsiaPacific region to discuss the use of AI for social good.

Guest speakers included UN Undersecretary-General and Escap Executive Secretary Armida Alisjahbana, Google Global Affairs Senior Vice President Kent Walker, Google AI Vice President Jay Yagnik and Australia Digital Economy Shadow Minister Ed Husic, along with other leaders in AI from around the AsiaPacific region and beyond.

Google and Escap initiated a partnership to share best practices and identify solutions for promoting the use of AI for social good in Asia-Pacific. As part of the partnership, the former will be providing a grant to the Association of Pacific Rim Universities to create an Asia-Pacific AI

for Social Good Research Network.

“This network will bring together leading academics from around the region to produce research on [the promotion of] the use AI for social good and how best to manage risks and concerns. It will also be a forum for these academics to discuss their research with government, civil society and the private sector,” explained Walker.

The partnership builds on Escap’s ARTNET on STI Policy Network, a regional research and training network supporting policy research to leverage science, technology and innovation as powerful engines for sustainable development in Asia-Pacific.

“The partnership will focus on developing cutting-edge research and policy advice on AI for sustainable development,” said Alisjahbana. “Escap has a mandate to strengthen the regional technology and innovation agenda through our role as a think tank, policy adviser and convener.”

She concluded: “We hope that multi-stakeholder partnerships, such as the ones we are launching here today, will support memberstates in their efforts to harness technology and innovation in pursuit of the Sustainable Development Goals.”

Love, in the time of cyber security Continued from E1

Aside, of course, from Batangas, they have been to Coron and El Nido, Puerto Galera, Siquijor, Sagada, Banaue and Vigan.

They still feel though that they’ve got a long way to go in exploring the whole archipelago.

One of their most enjoyable experiences was joining the Tao Philippines sailing expeditions, where they went on a deserted island in Palawan, “away from Wi-Fi, away from technology.”

There, she said, they experienced what it’s like to live for a few days, “sleeping on little huts by the beach and setting fire to a sock inserted in a bottle of Tanduay,” which basically served as their lighting.

Of the Tao Philippines trip, which they’ve already experienced thrice, Deborah described that there were 10 to 16 people on one boat. They met at 8 o’clock on a Sunday morning, then proceeded to the deserted islands. “When we left the boat, everybody just became friends for life.”

“One of the boats they used is a replica of a paraw [a double-outrigger sail boat native to the Visayas region of the Philippines—Wikipedia]. It was awesome,” exclaimed Paul.

On the issue of safety, Bluedog’s CEO said that they feel perfectly in good hands in the Philippines, contrary to what other foreigners might feel about coming over here. A lot of the Lomaxes’ friends have expressed concerns over their stay, but the couple actually encourages them to visit and come see the country for themselves.

“It gets bad press, unfortunately; [but] we feel perfectly safe,” Paul assured.

As for their favorite food, husband and wife have developed a liking for local seafood and adobo, though admittedly they have yet to try balut.

Apart from traveling, the Bluedog bigwig is into car racing in the Batangas and Clark City circuits. He used to race in the Vios

DEBORAH and Paul Lomax reward a scholar with a laptop to help in her studies, in fulfillment of the goals of their foundation.

Cup, and is competing in mini championships this year.

Fostering education

APART from managing their business, the couple is also active in running The Lomax Foundation, which provides underprivileged teens excelling in IT the opportunity to obtain a university degree.

With each candidate carefully chosen, the institution shoulders the students’ school expenses.

The main thrust for the foundation is to help and give the deserving teens the opportunity to study and further hone their skills. Paul and Deborah hope to employ the future graduates in their company, though they insist the students are not obligated to

work for them after obtaining their degrees.

“It makes a big change for a family,” Deborah noted, as she recalled how a mother of one of their graduates was able to adopt a neighbor’s baby as they had more financial leeway—thanks primarily to the help the foundation extended to their child.

“They just thanked us for that. And I’m like saying, ‘You made it happen.’ [But the beneficiaries replied]: ‘It’s because you gave us the opportunity.’”

In all, Paul and Deborah Lomax have safeguarded their places not only in the realm of cyberspace security, but also in the hearts of the Filipinos whose lives they have touched.

That’s a secure spot no hacker could compromise.

&Expats

envoys.expats.bm@gmail.com | Thursday, February 14, 2019 E3

EMBASSIES, EVENTS, ETC.

COURTESY CALL President Duterte took his time to appreciate the token presented by the Ambassador of Israel to the Philippines Rafael Harpaz, who paid a courtesy call on the Chief Executive at the Malacañang Palace on January 31. ALBERT ALCAIN/PRESIDENTIAL PHOTO

NEW AMBASSADORS Senate President Vicente C. Sotto III (center) poses with the five new ambassadors confirmed by the Commission on Appointments (CA). They are (from left) Ramon Sevilla Bagatsing Jr., ambassador extraordinary and plenipotentiary to the Republic of India, with concurrent jurisdiction over Nepal; Noe Albano Wong, ambassador to Korea; Noel Eugene Eusebio Mejica Servigon, ambassador and permanent representative to the Asean in Jakarta; Ma. Teresita Cruz Daza, ambassador to Chile, with concurrent jurisdiction over Ecuador and Peru; and Christopher Baltazar Montero, ambassador to Brunei Darussalam. Also in photo is Senate Majority Floor Leader Juan Miguel F. Zubiri (right). The CA committee on foreign affairs chaired by Sen. Panfilo M. Lacson Sr. approved their appointments in a hearing held at the Plenary Hall of the Senate in Pasay City on February 6. PNA PHOTO BY AVITO C. DALAN

FOREIGN MINISTER VISIT Foreign Affairs Secretary Teodoro L. Locsin (left) and Japanese Foreign Minister Taro Kono exchange handshakes before their bilateral meeting in Davao, where they discussed areas of mutual interests, including political, economic and people-to-people engagement. The two officials also touched on Japan’s support for infrastructure development and for Mindanao, in the wake of the ratification of the Bangsamoro Organic Law. DFA PHOTO BY MARK SANTOS

Sri Lanka, IRRI ink 5-year work plan to boost rice production

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OS BAŇOS, Laguna—Officials of the International Rice Research Institute (IRRI) and the government of Sri Lanka recently inked a comprehensive work plan to advance the said country’s rice self-sufficiency goals through joint research for development projects in the Philippines in the next five years.

IRRI’s Deputy Director General for Research Jacqueline Hughes and Sri Lanka Ministry of Foreign Affairs Additional Secretary for Bilateral Affairs Sumith Nakandala were the signatories.

The signing, which was held at the IRRI Los Baños, Laguna, headquarters, was witnessed by Sri Lankan President Maithripala Sirisena and IRRI Director General Matthew Morell, during the former’s visit to the premier rice research institution as part of his state visit to the

Philippines.

The Sri Lanka-International Rice Research Institute’s five-year work plan will complement and help implement the new Sri Lanka National Plan for the Rice Sector.

The plan is guided by 10 priority themes serving as the framework of the joint collaborative research for development pipeline projects aimed to enhance the resilience and viability of Sri Lanka’s national rice sector.

“Improving the resilience and

Pakistan seeks support for Jammu-Kashmir

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N observance of Kashmir Solidarity Day, the embassy of the Islamic Republic of Pakistan organized a seminar on February 6 attended by publishers, editors, columnists, anchors and representatives of the Philippines’s mainstream media, as well as a foundation and members of academe.

Ambassador Dr. Aman Rashid read out solidarity messages of Pakistani President Dr. Arif Alvi and Prime Minister Imran Khan to the people of Indian-occupied territories Jammu and Kashmir.

The text of the Kashmir Solidarity Resolution passed during the International Conference on Jammu and Kashmir in the British Parliament held on February 4 was also shared with the participants. An 18-minute coverage of the conference was also played, which contained excerpts of the keynote speech of Foreign Minister Shah Mahmood Qureshi.

In his remarks, Rashid paid tribute to the resolve of Kashmiri people and stated that their sacrifices and struggle for freedom will not go to waste. He highlighted the increasing support of the international community to the Kashmir cause and underscored the salient points of recent reports of the United Nations high commissioner for Human Rights, the officer in charge of the Independent Permanent Human Rights Commission and the United Kingdom parliament’s All-Parties Parliamentary Kashmir Group.

The envoy stated that “international conscience had awakened in testimony of Pakistan’s legitimate stance on the Kashmir dispute, which

AMBASSADOR of Pakistan to the Philippines Dr. Aman Rashid

was an unfinished agenda of the Indian subcontinent’s partition in 1947, and the UN resolutions on this issue of giving Kashmiri people the right to decide their fate in a UN-supervised plebiscite could no longer be ignored.”

He shared with the audience that Indian leaders and governments had given commitment to the Kashmiri people and the world at-large of holding the plebiscite that will allow them to exercise their inalienable right to self-determination.

While reaffirming Pakistan’s continued moral, political and diplomatic support to the legitimate cause of the Kashmiri people, the ambassador appealed to the gathering for raising voice against “brutalities of Indian security forces against innocent Kashmiris in the [territories], and demanded immediate, [corrective] action by the international community.”

Full details of the international conference have also been shared with the Foreign Ministry of the Philippines.

SRI LANKA Ministry of Foreign Affairs Additional Secretary for Bilateral Affairs Sumith Nakandala (Ieft) and International Rice Research Institute (IRRI) Deputy Director General for Research Jacqueline Hughes sign the comprehensive work plan to advance Sri Lanka’s rice self-sufficiency goals through joint research for development projects in the next five years. Witnessing the occasion are Sri Lanka President Maithripala Sirisena and IRRI’s Director General Matthew Morell during the head of state’s visit to the premier rice research institution’s headquarters in Los Baños, Laguna, on January 18. IRRI

sustainability of Sri Lanka’s national rice economy through environmentally sustainable approaches is of utmost importance to address the complex challenges of population

growth, agricultural production and climate change in Sri Lanka.

We are honored to have Sri Lanka’s continued trust, and we remain committed to support their efforts

to restore rice self-sufficiency and attain food security,” Morell said.

In 2009 around 95 percent of Sri Lanka’s rice land had been planted with improved rice varieties.

Filipino author’s works cited in UK’s children’s book awards

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ONDON—Two books by award-winning Filipino author Candy Gourlay have been nominated for the United Kingdom’s 2019 CILIP Carnegie and Kate Greenaway Medals, which was revealed on the award-giving body’s web sites.

Gourlay’s Bone Talk and Is it a Mermaid? were nominated in two categories in the UK’s oldest children’s book awards, which recognizes outstanding writing and illustration in books for children and young people.

Bone Talk joins a list of 137 books nominated for the CILIP Carnegie Medal, which recognizes outstanding books written in English for children and young adults, while Is it a Mermaid?, illustrated by Francesca Chessa, is one of 117 books nominated for the Kate Greenaway Medal for “distinguished illustration.”

“The nomination of Gourlay’s books in one of the UK’s most prestigious awards for children’s and young adults’ books is another moment of pride for all Filipinos,” Lagdameo said. “[She] has done an excellent job in using her literary magic to share Philippine values and culture to young people in the UK.” Winners of the medals will be announced on June 17 after a rigid judging and selection process conducted

AUTHOR Candy Gourlay and Ambassador Antonio M. Lagdameo proudly hold copies of the books nominated for the 2019 CILIP Carnegie and Kate Greenaway Medals. STACY GARCIA

by a panel of 14 children’s and youth librarians. The judges represent all regions of CILIP’s Youth Libraries Group.

Since her novel Tall Story debuted in 2010, Gourlay has reaped several awards in recognition of her engaging writing style. In 2012 the tome won the National Children’s Book Award of the Philippines and the Crystal Kite Award for Europe in 2011. It was also shortlisted for 13 prizes such as the Waterstones

Children’s Book Prize, the Branford Boase Award, the Blue Peter Book Award and the UKLA Children’s Book Prize.

Her second novel Shine was longlisted for the Guardian Children’s Fiction Prize and won the Crystal Kit Award for the British Isles in 2014.

Prior to moving to the UK, Gourlay worked as a journalist in the Philippines, particularly for the weekly tabloid Mr. & Ms. Special Edition. She hails from Davao City.

Spain offers funding for PHL infra, tourism projects

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INANCE Secretary Carlos G. Dominguez III has welcomed Spain’s offer of a financing facility of up to €300 million to support government projects in the areas of infrastructure, agriculture, food and tourism.

Spanish Ambassador-Designate Jorge Moragas informed Dominguez during their recent meeting about the proposed memorandum of understanding (MOU) on the mechanisms involving the funding facility, as well as another agreement on economic and financial cooperation between Manila and Madrid.

Moragas also expressed Spain’s interest to invest in President Duterte’s centerpiece “Build, Build, Build” program, especially in railway projects.

Dominguez said Spain and its companies are most welcome to take part in the 75 flagship projects under the massive infrastructure undertaking, particularly in providing rolling stock and other equipment for the rail projects in Metro Manila and Luzon.

During the meeting, Dominguez also took the opportunity to thank Spain for pledging in November 2018 an additional $50 million (P2.619 billion) for the reconstruction and rehabilitation of the war-torn city of Marawi in Mindanao.

Spain’s pledge is on top of the technical assistance it had provided to government agencies in preparation for the implementation of projects under the Bangon Marawi Comprehensive Rehabilitation and Recovery Program.

The proposed MOU on economic and financial cooperation between the Republic of the Philippines and the Kingdom of Spain aims to further enhance the bilateral relations between the two countries, through the creation of a Joint Intergovernmental Committee that will identify opportunities for cooperation in such fields as agriculture, transportation, basic infrastructure, disaster-risk finance, energy and environmental economics.

This joint panel will be composed of delegates from both countries, to be cochaired by an undersecretary of the National Economic and Development Authority and the Secretary of State of Trade of the Ministry of Economy, Industry and Competitiveness of Spain, as well as a representative from the Department of Finance (DOF) as member.

Meanwhile, the proposed MOU on the mechanisms for the €300-million funding covers possible projects in infrastructure, energy and renewable energy, telecommunications, water treatment, solid-waste treatment, agro-food industry and tourism.

The Spanish Embassy and the DOF’s International Finance Group are currently finalizing the MOU. The Philippines’s total bilateral trade with Spain reached $652.32 million, or P33.99 billion, as of 2017.

Exports to Spain in 2017 amounted to $212.2 million (P11.05 billion), which is 16.2 percent higher than that in 2016. The European nation ranked 26th among the markets for Philippine products as of 2017.

The country’s total imports from the Iberian country in 2017 amounted to $440 million (P22.930 billion). Department of Finance/PNA

Envoys&Expats BusinessMirror

E4 Thursday, February 14, 2019

www.businessmirror.com.ph

Savoring the sights, sounds and tastes (as well as Pinoy romance) in Saga

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By Recto L. Mercene

@rectomercene

AST week Ambassador Koji Haneda hosted guests, friends and members of the media to the former’s residence to introduce Saga, a prefecture in Japan whose beauty and charm is a must-visit for any traveler.

FILIPINO film stars Xian Lim (second from left) and Louise de los Reyes (second from right) promote their film, which was shot in Saga.

Gov. Yoshinori Yamaguchi flew in with a shipment of Saga beef and Saga rice wine for the guests to partake of these particular offerings of his hometown, and they did not disappoint.

As he educated some of the attendees who were uninitiated about the differences among Japan’s premium beef, Haneda explained that the meat is sourced from a kind of cattle called Wagyu, loosely translated as “Japanese cattle.” (Kobe beef is comprised of a highly prized strain of Wagyu, which are raised to strict standards in the prefecture of Hyogo. It’s capital city is Kobe; hence, the name.)

“The beef are produced in different provinces, or prefectures [Japan is divided into 47], and all [kinds of] beef have different tastes.

But they’re all good and tender, such as those produced in Matzusaka, Kagoshima, Kobe, or Saga,” the envoy explained.

He said each prefecture has a slight difference from others, thus, providing the variance in tastes among the cattle, such as the grass they feed on, as well as the environment and the way the cattle are cared for.

Although Kobe beef is more familiar to many Filipinos, Haneda pointed out that Saga beef is just as famous and expensive.

“In Japan, beef is classified according to quality. Kobe and Saga are ‘A5’—the highest rank in our country.”

The good ambassador would not commit to tell us how expensive Saga beef is, but a prudent search on the Internet revealed that in Japan, Kobe beef sells at more than $300 per pound (or P15,000 per half kilogram).

A $30-per-pound Wagyu is starting to be available in grocery stores and casual-dining restaurants. However, this mass-marketed variety will have a marbling score at the low end of the 12-point scale.

Tourism and film

ANYWAY, the reception aimed to promote Saga’s tourism and their beef products, which turned out to be popular among the Japanese.

The prefecture is in the northwest of Kyushu Island, and is in the southwestern part of the country.

Apart from its best-tasting beef, it is also known as Japan’s largest producer of dried seaweed.

Japan’s top envoy also invited the lead characters of the movie Hanggang Kailan (Until When), led by Xian Lim and Louise de los Reyes. They filmed a great deal in the popular sites of Saga.

Before their roles as star-crossed lovers totally go their separate ways, their characters take a four-day/three-night vacation in the prefecture, amid its picturesque landscapes.

Haneda said it is the job of a diplomat to promote his country, which was one of the aims of the movie. He said “half a million Filipinos visited Japan last year, which expanded six times in the last six years.

We’d like to welcome more.”

The diplomat said our neighbor up north is a popular Filipino destination, “because we have everything. I know Hong Kong is also very popular, but Japan has so many places to be visited. We have four seasons. Snow in winter, and lavender in summer—aside, of course, from [our famous cuisine]. I can guarantee, you will enjoy [your visit].”

He added that Japan had just eased the visa requirements for Filipinos. “It has been relaxed; now, we’re giving you 10 years, which started last August. We’d like to welcome more.”

Saga Prefecture is one hour away from the Fukuoka airport, which has a direct link to Manila. Legacy carrier Philippine Airlines and Cebu Pacific have daily flight schedules there.

Goodwill ambassadors

HANEDA and Yamaguchi also welcomed Finance Secretary Carlos G. Dominguez III at the reception, and guests from the Philippine film and broadcasting industries, as well as travel and food companies.

Yamaguchi appointed Dominguez and his spouse Cynthia, who visited Saga last fall, as Saga Prefecture Japan International Goodwill ambassadors.

The Japanese government officials also expect that the film commission industry in Saga will progress and will further promote the human exchanges between the Philippines and the prefecture.