BusinessMirror February 23, 2021 by BusinessMirror

S&P: ‘Long road to recovery’ for PHL banks By Bianca Cuaresma @BcuaresmaBM

HE local banking system’s financial performance is not expected to “return back to normal”in the next two years, as bad loans are expected to start rising in the first quarter of 2021, an international credit watcher said. In a recent assessment on the Philippine banking sector, S&P Global Ratings said they expect non-performing loans to “jump” in the first three months of this year as loan moratoriums and fiscal support are phased out. In particular, S&P forecasts NPLs to hit 6 percent of the local banking system’s total loan portfolio in 2021, almost double the 3.6-percent NPL ratio seen at the end of 2020. NPL are also known as soured loans as these are credits that remain unpaid

90 days after their due date while NPL coverage ratio is the amount of provisions banks set aside to cover for unpaid loans so their balance sheets and operations won’t be gravely affected by the consumers’ inability to pay. “Philippine banks are on a long road to recovery. Asset quality will deteriorate further in the coming quarters as banks recognize the full brunt of Covid-19 on borrowers,” S&P Global Ratings credit analyst Nikita Anand said. Meanwhile, S&P said credit cost, a measure of provisioning for bad loans, is likely to stay elevated at 1.5 percent to 1.8 percent in 2021. On a positive note, Anand said they expect sector-wide profits to improve slightly in 2021, with return on assets increasing to 1 percent on the back of relatively better growth and lower credit costs in 2021.

High provisioning in 2020 and capital buffers is also expected to help banks maintain credit standing, Anand said, as they repair financial metrics, assuming the economic revival stays on track. According to S&P assessment, Philippine banks are likely to benefit from reviving economic activity and progress in vaccination rollouts. “Relaxation of restrictions in Manila will support stronger activity in the second half,” S&P said.

Strong downside risks

Amid early signs of revival, S&P said vaccination will be key for a sustaining trend. “S&P Global Ratings does not expect the country’s banks to reach pre-pandemic financial performance until 2023. Our negative outlook on rated banks reflects our view that financial buffers could not absorb the rapid deteriora-

tion in asset quality likely to ensue if the recovery is derailed,” Anand said. “The emergence of yet more contagious Covid-19 variants with the potential to evade vaccine-derived immunity presents a major risk to normalization,” the credit analyst said. In a recent survey conducted by the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas (BSP), however, local banks said they believe they are well-equipped to handle the economic fallout of movement and operational restrictions due to the pandemic, as they continue to have adequate loan loss provisions, capital and liquidity. About 44.3 percent of banks in the country said they project their NPL coverage ratio of between 51 and 100 percent while 48.9 percent said their NPL coverage ratio will likely be less than or equal to 25 to 50 percent of total NPLs.

BOC PUT ON ALERT FOR PORK IMPORTS FRAUD w

Tuesday, February 23, 2021 Vol. 16 No. 135

P25.00 nationwide | 2 sections 18 pages |

RECONCILE DATA ON PORK IMPORTS, ASF DAMAGE, D.A. TOLD By Butch Fernandez

Clouds loom over the Pililla wind farm, one of the famous tourist attractions in Rizal, but which has been closed to the public since the Covid-19 lockdowns. A survey unveiled by tourism officials showed inconvenience and budget constraints, both tied with health protocols like testing and paper requirements, were the key factors behind the reluctance of Filipino travelers to make long-distance trips despite a push back to normal. Story at bottom of page. BERNARD TESTA By Bernadette D. Nicolas @BNicolasBM & Manuel T. Cayon @awimailbox

Mindanao Bureau Chief

HE Department of Finance (DOF) has ordered Bureau of Customs (BOC) to tighten its watch on pork importers trying to misdeclare or misclassify shipments to avoid correct payment of tariffs as the country reels from a pork supply shortfall that resulted in the spike in pork prices.

Finance Secretary Carlos G. Dominguez III issued the order after President Duterte approved in principle during the February 3 Cabinet meeting the Department of Agriculture’s recommendation to expand the minimum access volume (MAV) allocation for pork imports. “Please take a close look at the potential smuggling of pork,” Dominguez told Customs Commissioner Rey Leonardo Guerrero during a recent DOF Executive Com-

mittee (Execom) meeting. “Some pork importers may resort to technical smuggling,” Dominguez added. Misdeclaration refers to a fa l se, u nt r ut hf u l, er roneou s or inaccurate declaration as to quantity, quality, description, weight, or measurement of goods resulting in deficiency between the duty and tax that should have been paid and the duty and tax actually paid. See “BOC,” A2

Convenience, costs stymie long-route travels By Ma. Stella F. Arnaldo

@akosistellaBM Special to the BusinessMirror

ILIPINOS are sticking closer to home, when traveling, out of convenience and cost considerations. Undersecretary Benito C. Beng-

zon Jr., spokesman for the Department of Tourism (DOT), citing a recent travel survey said, Filipinos are doing so, “first, because of cost considerations. You have lower costs if you just ride a car, your family is with you, you’ll drive two hours/three hours from Metro Manila.” He was speaking at a re-

PESO exchange rates n US 48.4400

cent virtual presser on “Recharge Philippines” with the Task Group on Economic Recovery, hosted by Malacañang’s communications group. Another reason is, “depending on the destination, maybe these don’t have RT-PCR test requirements, unlike the other destina-

tions that have reopened, there are such requirements. So basically it’s out of convenience, and cost considerations. Once their confidence returns, and we’re seeing it now in many of our destinations, they will travel farther and farther,” he said in Filipino.

@butchfBM

ENATORS on Monday resolved to ask the Department of Agriculture (DA) and the Bureau of Customs (BOC) to sit down and discuss their respective data on the costs of imported meat. The senators questioned the basis of a pending recommendation to cut tariffs and increase the minimum access volume (MAV) for pork. Currently, the MAV for pork is pegged at 54,210 metric tons (MT). The MAV Advisory Council has proposed to raise this to 400,000 MT under the MAV Plus scheme to plug the supply gap. Pork imported within MAV and outside of MAV is slapped a tariff of 30 percent and 40 percent, respectively. The DA wants to lower the tariff for pork within MAV to 5 percent for the first six months and then raise it to 10 percent for six months. For outMAV pork, the DA recommended to cut the tariff to 15 percent for the first 6 months then increase it to 20 percent thereafter. At the same time, senators resolved to get a report reconciling data on the actual damage due to African swine fever (ASF) and measures that are being taken to mitigate the problem in 2021. See related story on page A5, “DA chief bares P740-million swine ‘repopulation’ program.” Warning that reducing tariff could unduly favor importers and hasten the collapse of the local hog industry, the Senate Committee on Agriculture approved a motion by Sen. Imee Marcos “to require that DA and BOC make a data analysis of the true cost of imported meat,” with the assumption that there is “no increase in MAV” and “no increase in tariffs.” Committee Chairman Sen. Cynthia Villar said the two agencies should go back to the Senate and explain the troubling variances in the data they

have, after Sen. Francis Pangilinan stressed the need for a “separate discussion between DA and BOC on price variances.” Pangilinan demanded to know why Customs data of the cost of imported pork, as submitted to Villar’s committee, was $1.65 a kilo, but the DA projected a cost of $3 when it endorsed the increase in importations in a bid to stabilize local prices, which surged from a combination of the onslaught of ASF and the series of storms in the last quarter of 2020. A testy exchange ensued between Pangilinan and Agriculture Secretary William D. Dar when the DA chief explained that the data attributed to DA were the result of simulations, even as Pangilinan insisted that when the government quotes its buying price at a high of $3, it “sends signals to the market” which in turn will jack up its prices. The senator had previously recalled the lesson from past years, when successive Philippine moves to import rice jacked up the global prices to historic highs. Dar told Pangilinan, “I don’t understand your logic,” and insisted theywerenotsignalingthemarket. Pangilinan said he simply wanted an explanation of why DA projected the prices of imports at $3 when “$1.65 was declared [by importers] to BOC.” Told by an assistant secretary that the $1.65 was the actual cost declared to BOC in January 2020 and prices have since risen to a high of $2.65, Pangilinan then demandedtoknow,“thenwhydidyouquote $3 instead of $2.65? Why are you increasingthevalueofimports”and asserted that this was tantamount to “favoring importers.” DA’s head of the Policy Research Service Noel Padre explained to the Senate panel that “we had a range” of values in the simulation, inputting both the actual 2020 values and the new rates. “We included the BOC data,” and their range came up to between $218 and $298. Continued on A5

Continued on A2

n japan 0.4596 n UK 67.9226 n HK 6.2476 n CHINA 7.4987 n singapore 36.6027 n australia 36.1223 n EU 58.7093 n SAUDI arabia 12.9170

Source: BSP (February 22, 2021)

News

BusinessMirror

A2 Tuesday, February 23, 2021

Palace: Face-to-face classes must wait till vaccine drive begins

ACE-TO-FACE classes for students in basic education will remain deferred until the government is able to start its vaccination drive, according to Malacañang. President Duterte made the decision amid the recommendation of the National Economic and Development Authority (Neda) to resume face-to-face classes by next month. The proposal was backed by the Department of Education (DepEd), which warned of the possible negative impact of the suspension of face-to-face classes on the learning of students. “The President called me last night [February 21], and said he does not want to put at risk the lives of students and teachers, while the government vaccination has yet to start,” Presidential spokesman Harry Roque said in a virtual briefing on Monday.

He said Duterte may consider allowing the resumption of faceto-face classes by August. By that time, the Palace official said, the government my have already vaccinated the bulk of its target 70 million people this year after the expected start of its inoculation drive this month. Roque noted the government may consider allowing face-to-face classes at an earlier date for basic education depending on the recommendation of DepEd; and for higher education, on the proposal of the Commission on Higher Education (CHED). Currently, Duterte only allows face-to-face classes for medical courses and other allied courses as recommended by the Inter-Agency Task Force for the Management of Infectious Diseases (IATF).

According to Garbin, observers have pointed out that the Constitution’s restrictive economic provisions “have proven to be a bane, rather than a boon for the country, for they have restricted or discouraged the flow of foreign direct investments.” “While these provisions may be very well-meaning and appear to favor the interests of Filipinos, over the long haul, the country and the common good of all Filipinos suffer,” added Garbin. These experts, he said, “believe in the need to amend the Constitution to eliminate these overly protective provisions to attract more foreign investments and to adopt policies to enable the country to compete more effectively in the global economy.” The legislator was referring to provisions of the Constitution that limit foreign ownership in business enterprises operating in the country, including public utilities. While Salceda reminded the chamber that all Filipinos are dutybound to respect and obey the Constitution, “the obligation to respect, obey and to dutifully protect does not equate to permanence.” Garbin had earlier revealed that the House plans to approve the resolution on third and final reading before Congress goes on recess on March 27.

Urgent

For her part, Quimbo said the need for foreign direct investments became even more urgent as a result of the pandemic. “As cases began to climb, we imposed restrictions through varying degrees of community quarantine; businesses closed, employees were retrenched; one year later, on January 28, the PSA announced that our economy contracted by 9.5 percent, the steepest economic downturn in

BOC…

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On the other hand, misclassification means the use of insufficient or wrong description of goods or the

Duterte rejects quarantine easing for NCR, others By Samuel P. Medenilla

@sam_medenilla

RESIDENT Duterte rejected a proposal by economic managers to lower the community quarantine classification in Metro Manila and other areas under general community quarantine (GCQ) until the government starts its novel coronavirus disease (Covid-19) vaccination drive.

Duterte made the decision during his Cabinet meeting on Monday amid the reported increase in infections in the National

Capital Region and other parts of the country. “The Chief Executive recognizes the importance of re-opening the

economy and its impact on people’s livelihoods. However, the President gives higher premium to public health and safety,” Presidential spokesman Harry Roque said in a statement. Last week, the National Economic and Development Authority (Neda) proposed to place the entire country under modified GCQ (MGCQ) by March to address the growing hunger rate, poverty and income loss arising from the pandemic. The encompassing MGCQ declaration, Neda said, would allow more businesses to resume their operations. Duterte said he first wants the government to start deploying Covid-19 vaccines before he considers

the proposal of Neda. The inoculation drive is expected to start this month once the donated 600,000 doses of Covid-19 vaccine of Chinese pharmaceutical firm Sinovac arrives in the country. As of this month, areas which remain under GCQ include the NCR and Davao City. Ot her a reas pl aced under GCQ until the end of February were Batangas and Cordillera Administrative Region (CAR), which includes Abra, Apayao, Benguet, Baguio City, Ifugao, Kalinga, and Mountain Province for Luzon; Tacloban City for the Visayas; Davao del Norte, Lanao del Sur and Iligan City for Mindanao. The rest of the country is already under MGCQ.

Samuel P. Medenilla

House plenary starts taking up economic Charter change Continued from A10

www.businessmirror.com.ph

our postwar history, and the worst performance in the Asean thus far,” she said. “Having sustained such severe losses, we can’t afford to lose any more time. We must realize that in order to return to our prior trajectory of growth, we need to put ourselves in a better position to compete for foreign investments, which we are already losing to our neighbors. If we don’t address this, many more Filipinos will have to leave their families and look for jobs abroad,” she added. Quimbo said this economic Chacha is one necessary step toward the creation of a fairer and more dynamic business environment, one geared towards maximizing benefits for the Filipino people. “There is no sufficient reason for why the Philippine Constitution must be decidedly against the liberalization of our economy, especially at times when protectionist policies are antithetical to our economic interests,” the lawmaker said. “Based on my own review of existing literature, 122 out of 167 journal articles provide evidence to support that a more liberal policy can increase our capital, firm productivity, government revenues, GDP growth, and employment. All these are important pathways to reducing income inequality and poverty,” Quimbo said. Quimbo said the purpose of this move is not to simply open the flood gates and allow foreign companies to crowd out the local businesses. “It is not a free pass. By including the phrase ‘unless otherwise provided by law,’ the measure provides flexibility to these economic provisions, but still allows the legislature to address the fear of some of our countrymen that we will be inundated with foreign businesses, to the detriment of local industry,” she added. use of erroneous tariff heading and sub-heading resulting in deficiency in duty and taxes that should have been paid versus the amount that was actually paid. Dominguez, who served as agriculture secretary during the former

Convenience, costs stymie long-route travels Continued from A1

In that survey recently presented by the DOT, Asian Institute of Management, and Guide to the Philippines, only 809 or 11 percent of the 7,234 survey respondents had traveled. (See, “Pinoys continue to shun leisure travel,” in the BusinessMirror, February 18, 2020.)

More applying for subsidized tests

The high cost of RT-PCR tests to determine if a person has Covid-19 has been cited by tourism stakeholders as behind the slow growth in domestic tourism in the country. So the DOT, and its marketing arm, the Tourism Promotions Board, started offering subsidized tests at the Philippine General Hospital in Manila and Philippine Children’s Medical Center in Quezon City.

With the subsidized tests, tourists need only pay P900 at PGH, or P750 at the PCMC—just 50 percent of the actual cost of said tests. As of February 17, Bengzon said, 8,883 domestic travelers have been approved for subsidized tests at PGH, and 10,395 at the PCMC. The DOT has pinned its hopes on domestic travelers to push the tourism sector’s recovery. In 2019, 110 million domestic tourists contributed P3.1 trillion to the economy, higher than the 8 billion foreign tourists, who contributed P482 billion. “As you can see, domestic tourism has been able to generate six times more in terms of revenue,” said Bengzon. “That’s why it’s important for all of us to help out and patronize these tourism establishments in the destinations that are opening, or those places be-

On the issue of fake Covid test results, Bengzon said, “We’re tightening our coordination with local government units, all the critical touch points from riding the airplane, arriving at the destination, checking-in the hotels—we’re looking at ensuring all comply with the health and safety requirements, including this negative test result…. Again, the successful restart of tourism will really depend on everyone’s cooperation. So we appeal to all to stop faking test results.”

The bulk of the fake test results have been found on tourists going to Boracay, while two were recently arrested in El Nido for tampering the dates on their test results. Bengzon added the DOT is also supporting the proposed vaccine passport, “but the success of the program will depend on the number of things,” such as the extent of the vaccination program, “and the willingness of the host destination to recognize such vaccine passport.” Denmark recently announced it would roll out a digital passport showing the holder has been vaccinated against Covid-19, while Middle Eastern carriers said they are adopting the digital travel pass developed by the International Air Transport Association that will provide airlines documents that a passenger has been Covid-vaccinated.

get hearing by the POEA said the number of deployed in 2020 was 1.4 million, which is considerably lower compared to the 2 million for the entire 2019. Of the OFWs deployed this year, 1.1 million were land-based and 293,748 were sea-based.

One of the most severely affected sectors were household service workers (HSW), which make up 60 percent of the country’s yearly deployment figures. Unless the Middle East countries recover from the pandemic and current low crude oil prices remain, many of the these nations are seen to stay closed due to the high rate of Covid cases and poor economic recoveries. The cruise ships industry meanwhile,

sent back 120,000 seafarers and many of them are still waiting for the United States’ major cruise lines to start operating by the second quarter of 2021. In Europe very few cruise operators have resumed business with less than 20,000 Filipino mariners recalled late last year. Cruise operators blamed the limited number of passenger bookings, coupled with very strict health and safety protocols, for the downturn in cruise travel.

The BusinessMirror tried to reach Avisado for comment but he did not yet respond, as of press time. The GPPB has also sought to clarify from the Inter-Agency Task Force on Emerging Infectious Diseases (IATF-EID) and the Covid-19 Vaccine Cluster on the intended role of PS-DBM in the implementation of the National Vaccination Plan, as this may determine whether the vaccines should be included in the list of CSE following DOH’s request. Common-Use Supplies refers to those supplies, materials, and equipment included in the price list of the PS which are necessary

in the transaction of the official business of the procuring entity and consumed in its day-to-day operations. To recall, PS-DBM expressed reservations on DOH’s request to include the vaccines in the list of CSEs to be procured by PS-DBM, considering the nature and definition of CSE items, as well as its lack of appropriate expertise in the handling, storage, delivery and distribution of vaccines. In particular, it also noted existing restrictions on the Emergency Use Authorization issued by the Food and Drug Administration

where pharmaceutical companies are allowed to sell Covid-19 vaccines only to DOH. GPPB-TSO Executive Director V Rowena Candice Ruiz earlier told the BusinessMirror they have yet to get a response from IATF-EID and the Covid-19 Vaccine Cluster as of last Friday. Ruiz has also expressed concern that declaring Covid-19 vaccines as CSE may hinder LGU procurement as this may entail a “longer process,” in contrast to the tripartite agreement where LGUs directly purchase vaccine from the pharmaceutical company.

tion on increasing the MAV to the President, according to the DA. Aimed at boosting pork imports, the DA said the expansion of the MAV will help offset soaring pork prices amid the outbreak of the African swine fever (ASF) in the country, which has significantly reduced the pork output of local producers and jacked up market prices. The current tariff on pork within the MAV is at 30 percent, while offquota imports are taxed a higher 40 percent. The Tariff Commission has recommended a lower tariff rate on pork imports within the MAV, which should come from ASF-free countries. Edible offal (entrails) of bovine

animals, such as swine, sheep and goats are taxed much lower, which some importers may declare as prime pork shipments to avoid paying higher import duties. For his part, Guerrero assured Dominguez that the BOC has been closely monitoring the imports of meat products, including pork and chicken. The BOC is a member of the new economic intelligence task group that President Duterte created recently to go after smugglers, profiteers and hoarders of agricultural products. Co-chaired by the DA and the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI), this group is also composed of the Philippine Competition Com-

mission (PCC), Departments of Justice (DOJ) and of the Interior and Local Government (DILG), Philippine National Police (PNP), National Security Council (NSC) and the National Intelligence Coordinating Agency (NICA). The President also issued Executive Order (EO) No. 124 imposing a temporary 60-day price ceiling on pork and chicken products in the National Capital Region (NCR) to help reverse soaring meat prices in the market. Under EO 124, a price ceiling of P270 per kilogram (kg) for kasim/pigue, P300/kg for liempo, and P160/kg for dressed chicken was implemented starting this month in Metro Manila.

Remittances…

Geslani attributed the grim outlook on deployment to travel restrictions imposed by several countries in the Middle East, where the Philippines sends 70 percent of workers deployed yearly. Initial data presented at a Senate bud-

DOH…

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The DOF earlier said the remaining P70 billion will be sourced from loans provided by multilateral lenders, the Philippines’s bilateral partners and/or the domestic market. Dominguez has also said that around P62.5 billion of this amount has already been “lined up.” For its part, GPPB has already recommended that DOH’s request on the reallocation of savings be endorsed to DBM. Corazon Aquino administration, warned that traders may misclassify pork imports once the new MAV allocations and tariff rates are approved by the President. The Tariff Commission has already submitted its recommenda-

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ing visited by [Tourism] Secretary [Bernadette Romulo] Puyat.” Among the destinations now open for leisure travel are Boracay, Bohol, El Nido, Coron, Siargao, Ilocos Norte and Ilocos Sur.

Tighter controls to prevent fake test results

The Nation BusinessMirror

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SC defers ATA arguments, cancels en banc session due to Covid precautions By Joel R. San Juan @jrsanjuan1573

HE Supreme Court has canceled the fourth day of the oral argument on the petitions seeking to declare as unconstitutional the implementation of Republic Act 11479 or the Anti-Terrorism Act (ATA) of 2020 after some magistrates have opted to go on self-quarantine. In an advisory released by the Office of the Clerk of Court, the SC announced that the oral arguments would proceed on March 2, 2021 at 2:30 p.m. The 4th day of the oral argument was supposed to be conducted today (Tuesday, February 23, 2021) after the Court’s regular en banc session. “Considering that some of the justices are on self-quarantine as a health precaution against Covid-19, you are hereby informed, per instruction of the Honorable Supreme Court, of the suspension of the oral arguments scheduled on February 23, 2021,” the advisory stated. The advisory was signed by Clerk of Court Edgar Aricheta. The magistrates are expected to

continue to grill the petitioners on their arguments against the provisions of the ATA of 2020 when the oral arguments resume next month. The Court will be then expected to hear expert opinions of amici curiae (friends of the court) retired Chief Justice Reynato Puno and retired Associate Justice Francis Jardeleza. The Court earlier directed the parties in the case to refrain from discussing the merits of the case in public so as not to affect the outcome of the petitions. Meanwhile, the SC has yet to respond to queries on what prompted some of the justices to go on selfquarantine but sources said one of the justices had reportedly positive for the Covid-19 virus. Subsequent tests on the said justice last week already yielded negative results. His colleagues, nevertheless, decided to go on self-quarantine after learning that their colleague contracted the virus. The SC also announced that the magistrates have also cancelled their regular en banc session scheduled every Tuesday.

Davao counterinsurgency ‘experiment’ continues with P1.58-billion BDP fund By Jovee Marie N. Dela Cruz @joveemarie

HE National Security Council (NSC) has justified that barangays in Davao City and the rest of Davao region are in need of socioeconomic development after being under the influence and threat of New People’s Army (NPA) for decades. Responding to accusation of lawmakers from the Makabayan bloc, National Security Adviser Hermogenes Esperon, in a news statement, said Davao City and the rest of Davao region “are qualified” to be given allocations under the Barangay Development Program (BDP). Earlier, members of the Makabayan bloc questioned the reported P1.58-billion counterinsurgency funds under the proposed 2021 budget of the National Task Force to End Local Communist Armed Conflict (NTF-ELCAC) to several barangays in Davao City. Esperon said the NTF-EL CAC has carefully verified that said

areas are vulnerable to the threat of communist groups. According to Esperon, vice chairman of the NTF-ELCAC, the presence of NPA rebels has long been a factor that has hindered the development of Mindanao, the Davao region and of Davao City. Records showed that of the five Communist Party of the Philippines-New People’s Army Regional Party Committee in Mindanao, four are in Eastern Mindanao, namely, Northeast Mindanao Regional Committee (NEMRC); the North Central Mindanao Regional Committee (NCMRC); South Mindanao Regional Committee (SMRC); and the Far South Mindanao Regional Committee (FSMRCC). “The fact remains that there are numerous isolated and remote barangays within Davao City. Hence, with the large land are of Davao City, there still a need for development and infrastructure for the growth of the city,” Esperon said. Also, contrary to the claim of Makabayan bloc that there are

Initial infra damage

THE Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) reported on Monday the closure of two national road sections in Region 13, as tropical storm Auring damaged a bridge slope protection and caused a road slip. Public Works Secretary Mark A. Villar said the two affected roads are sections of the Surigao-Davao Coastal Road, which had a scoured slope protection, and the Dinagat-Loreto Road, which was closed due to road slip. The Surigao-Davao Coastal Road “will remain impassable until the water level in the area has subsided. In the meantime, the DPWH maintenance crew in the area have installed road safety devices to warn motorists/pedestrians,” a statement from the DPWH read. Rene Acosta and Lorenz S. Marasigan

no armed conflicts in Davao City, Esperon said within the city is an existing armed guerilla unit called Pulang Bagani Command and that the SMRC comprises five sub-units threatening the largest city in the country. From 2016 to the present, Esperon said security forces were able to dismantle four guerilla fronts in Davao City; two in Davao de Oro; three in Davao del Norte; two in Davao Occidental; two in Davao Oriental; and one in Davao del Sur. Over the years, Esperon further said, these guerilla fronts controlling access to barangays prevent developmental projects from entering their strongholds and therefore leading to a cycle of poverty; isolation; hunger; and lack of educational and livelihood opportunities. A total of 215 barangays in Davao region were cleared of NPA influence and are now ripe for developmental projects through the BDP. “For progress to begin, communities must be first freed from the threat and influence of the NPA.

The dismantling of guerilla fronts necessitates a comprehensive process of improving coordination between security operations and developmental intervention projects,” Esperon said. As a flagship project of the government, the BDP offers to every barangay a package of socio-development programs such as P12 million farm-to-market roads; P3 million school buildings; P2 million water and sanitation system; P1.5 million health sanitation and P1.5 million livelihood and other projects. For Davao City, Esperon pointed out that the city is in need of school buildings to replace the Salugpungan schools, which were operated as NPA training centers. There are 55 Salugpungan schools in the entire Davao region. Currently, the administration has identified at least 822 barangays cleared of NPA threats, to be included in the BDP to be carried by the NTF-ELCAC. The BDP will provide each barangay a P20-million socioeconomic development package.

PIDS study suggests improvement in DOH’s deployment program

First storm of the year affects 50K in Mindanao, infra damage in regions HE government has dispatched rescue and relief operations in villages in Mindanao that remains flooded due to incessant rains induced by tropical storm Auring, which has so far displaced more than 50,000 people, the National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council (NDRRMC) has reported. Auring, the first storm to hit the country this year, made a landfall in Batag Island, Laoang, Northern Samar at around 9 a.m. on Monday and moved toward to the direction of Bicol region after drenching parts of Mindanao for two days, triggering massive flooding in Surigao del Sur. While no report of casualty has so far been received by the NDRRMC, the storm, which has already dissipated into a tropical depression, has affected a total of 13,816 families, or 53, 236 individuals in 216 barangays in Regions 10, 11 and Caraga. The NDRRMC said another 16,059 families were also preemptively evacuated in Regions 7 and 8. Coast Guard personnel, policemen and soldiers, along with other responders are attending to the needs of the affected residents while spearheading the rescue operations. The NDRRMC said that at least 179 houses were destroyed or damaged in Surigao del Sur and Surigao del Norte alone. The Philippine Airlines also canceled 40 flights to the affected regions, while sea travels were also halted, stranding more than 4,000 passengers not only in ports in Mindanao and Visayas, but even in Bicol and Southern Tagalog regions. The NDRRMC said flooding also closed at least five roads and a bridge to land travel in Mindanao.

Editor: Vittorio V. Vitug • Tuesday, February 23, 2021 A3

By Cai U. Ordinario @caiordinario

STILL A WORK IN PROGRESS

The construction of the Metro Railway Transit 7 connecting SM North Edsa to San Jose del Monte along Commonwealth Avenue continues over the weekend with project’s 54-percent completion rate. PNA/JOEY O. RAZON

FDA grants EUA to Sinovac, vax delivery expected in three days By Rene Acosta @reneacostaBM

& Claudeth Mocon-Ciriaco Correspondent

HE Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has granted an emergency use authorization (EUA) for the Sinovac Covid-19 vaccine from China but due to its low efficacy rate of only 50.4 percent, the agency withheld the recommendation to use the jab for health-care workers (HCWs). However, FDA Director General Eric Domingo said that Sinovac can be used among clinically healthy individuals aged 18 to 59 years. “The interim data from the ongoing Phase 3 [clinical] trials showed that when the vaccine is used on clinically healthy members of the community aged 18 to 59 it has an efficacy rate of 65.3 percent to 91.2 percent,” Domingo said during the Laging Handa news briefing. The 65.3 percent was based on a clinical trial in Indonesia, while the 91.2 percent efficacy was the result of the trial in Turkey. “However, it has a lower efficacy rate of 50.4 percent for

health-care workers exposed to Covid-19. Therefore, it is not recommended for use in this group,” Domingo stressed. China’s Sinovac has applied for EUA for its Covid-19 vaccine on January 13, 2021. Other that were granted with EUA are Pfizer-BioNTech and AstraZeneca Pharmaceuticals vaccines. Domingo reiterated that the granting of the EUA is not a marketing authorization or a Certificate of Product Registration, “therefore it cannot be sold to market commercially.” Domingo assured that FDA is committed to continue its job to ensure that Filipinos can have access to vaccines that hold greater benefits and outweighs the risk and possible adverse effects during this time of pandemic.

For DND officials, families

A PART of China’s donation Covid-19 vaccines will be used to inoculate officials and staff of the Department of National Defense and its bureaus, Defense Secretary Delfin Lorenzana said on Monday. Lorenzana’s statement followed the FDA’s granting of Chinese product Sinovac an EUA for

the government’s Covid vaccination program. The grant of the EUA was followed later by a statement from Malacanang that the 600, 000 doses of vaccines that were donated by the Chinese government will be arriving in three days. A c c o rd i n g t o L o re n z a n a , 100,000 of the donated doses will go to the defense department which will be used to inoculate its officials and personnel, including those from its bureaus. The military, through its spokesman Major Gen. Edgard Arevalo, said a bigger portion of the 100,000 doses will be used to inoculate soldiers and members of the Armed Forces of the Philippines. “The 100,000 vaccines will be for the DND [Department of National Defense] and its bureaus. It will be administered by the Veterans Medical Center and V Luna Medical Center,” he said. The defense secretary said the military is not included yet in the inoculation. “Not yet. It is in two doses that is why the 100,000 can only cover for 50,000. It’s only enough for DND personnel and their families,” Lorenzana said.

HE program of the Department of Health (DOH) to deploy workers in underserved areas needs to be strengthened to ensure that remote places get access to health services, according to a study released by the Philippine Institute for Development Studies (PIDS). In a paper, titled “Process Evaluation of the Department of Health Human Resources for Health Deployment Program,” PIDS Research Fellow Michael R.M. Abrigo, Consultant Gina A. Opiniano, and Research Analyst Zhandra C. Tam said while aspects of the program are “laudable,” there’s still “room for improvement.” This includes providing meals and transportation allowances for community visits and increasing incentives for health workers to encourage them to be deployed in these areas. They also said the program should have greater focus on areas that are underserved. “The DOH-HRH [DOH-Health Resources for Health] deployment program has been deploying even in areas with high income, with high HRH-to-population ratio, and with relatively low poverty incidence,” the authors said. “While this may be beneficial to receiving local governments and may promote political support to expand the national HRH deployment program, this nonetheless may be fiscally and operationally suboptimal,” they added. The researchers found that among all respondents, 7.7 percent cited that they receive their monthly compensation less frequently than once a month. Around 11.4 percent of nurses reported having higher prevalence of delayed receipts of monthly compensation compared to physicians at 6.1 percent. Further, among nurses, only 5.7 percent of them received monthly compensation for meals; 8.6 percent for transportation; 2.9 percent for communication; and 2.9 percent for board and lodging. Meanwhile, the researchers found that medical workers would be open to be deployed in remote areas with at least 100 percent to

150 percent of premium wages. Data showed that doctors are more likely to accept deployment with at least 150 percent premium in wages, as well as some control over their places of assignment. For nurses, they would be willing to accept deployment with at least 100 percent premium on wages, housing and travel allowance, control over their place of assignment, and training aligned with their continuing professional development (CPD). For midwives, the researchers found that they are more likely to respond to provision of CPDrelated training. This despite the majority or 81.7 percent of deployed medical personnel expressed satisfaction with the monthly compensation they received. However, the data showed satisfaction is much lower for other program benefits such as learning and development opportunities at 54.8 percent; monthly allowance/honorarium, 52.9 percent; funds, logistics and materials for programs/projects, 43.3 percent; board and lodging allowance, 36.5 percent; transportation allowance, 29.8 percent; meal allowance, 20.2 percent; and communication allowance, 20.2 percent. “Program benefits that are necessary to provide health-care services, such as meals and transportation allowance during community visits, need to be provided, otherwise this negatively impacts the experience of deployed health-care workers, which reflect negatively on the program. In addition, delays in providing these benefits need to be resolved,” the researchers said. The DOH has been helping augment the supply of health-care workers in underserved areas. This continued despite the devolution of health services under the Local Government Code in 1991. In the past 10 years, the DOHHRH deployment program has expanded to a massive program of about P10 billion that deployed almost 30,000 health-care workers in 2020. Initially, the project only had a budgetary support of less than P200 million that deployed less than 500 health professionals in 2010.

Economy BusinessMirror

Tuesday, February 23, 2021

Editor: Vittorio V. Vitug • www.businessmirror.com.ph

PCC warns MSME pandemic ‘attrition’ may lead to anti-competitive outcome By Elijah Felice E. Rosales

@alyasjah

he Philippine Competition Commission (PCC) on Monday warned the shutdown of micro, small and medium enterprises (MSMEs) may diminish the number of players in the market and leave consumers with lesser choices in sourcing their essentials.

PCC Chair man A rsenio M. Balisacan expects an increase in mergers and acquisitions this year, as small firms tr y to survive the health crisis by selling their assets to corporations. He said his agency is monitoring this situation that may shrink the number of players in specific industries to the detriment of consumers. “We are closely monitoring the market to make sure we understand what’s happening in there,” Balisacan said in a news briefing. “In the past experiences of crises, especially of economic crises, many firms—small and medium enterprises—are finding it difficult to survive and would have no options but to sell their assets or firms. We would likely see this

kind of thing happening during this crisis,” he added. For Balisacan, the government is taking the right direction in its move to beef up fiscal resources to assist MSMEs make it through the Covid-19 pandemic. He wa r ned t he dem ise of MSMEs will allow selected players to enlarge their market share and operate with less competition or without at all. Balisacan explained a situation wherein markets are concentrated to a few firms would pose problems to consumers in the future. Last year the PCC received 26 filings for mergers and acquisitions, amounting to a total of P909 billion, of which 20 notifications were approved, one was recalled, two were returned and three are

Group bares goal to reduce count of ‘hungry’ Pinoys by 1M in 2022 By Jasper Emmanuel Y. Arcalas

@jearcalas

ulti-sectoral movement Pilipinas Kontra Gutom (PKG) is eyeing to reduce the number of hungry Filipinos by 1 million next year in line with the country’s commitment to achieve zero hunger by 2030 under the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). On top of this, PKG, which comprises government agencies, nongovernment organizations, academe and private sector, said it plans to raise farmers’ income this year by as much as 20 percent. PKG noted that there are 4 million hungry Filipinos today made worse by the consequences of the Covid-19 pandemic. PKG, a nationwide multi-sectoral anti-hunger movement, was formally launched on Monday by the government, led by Cabinet

Secretary Karlo Nograles, who chairs the Task Force on Zero Hunger and the private sector. “PKG is adopting a wholeof-nation approach to achieve its immediate and long-ter m goals of addressing involuntary hunger and malnutrition in the Philippines—an urgent concern given the millions of families that grapple with hunger in the country,” the group said in a news statement. The PKG’s initial projects will “focus on key result areas of concern in order to organize sustainable initiatives for targeted beneficiaries that will address challenges with regard to food availabilit y and accessibilit y, adequate nutrition, and crises assistance.” The movement’s projects include farmer assistance, sustainable nutrition programs, disaster response, and food banking.

Under farmer assistance, the PKG said they plan to expand value chain projects and logistics improvements. The PKG said they plan to double farmers income and productivity by 2025. PKG said they will roll out projects that will “achieve zero undernourished Filipino children across all households by 2030.” These projects include promotion of proper breastfeeding, to address malnutrition, and rolling out of nutritious meals for Filipino households. As for disaster response, the PKG said: “Private sector companies will work to revolutionize their disaster response in close partnership and coordination with the attached national agencies and local government units in order to streamline the private sector’s efforts to facilitate a prepared, synchronized, and targeted action flow for food

security when crises strike.” PKG said an effort to create a food bank will start with the “initiation of food surplus assessments among food manufacturers, restaurants, supermarkets, and public markets in Metro Manila, with the food surplus from donors eventually allocated for distribution to those in need.” PKG said it has about 70 partners from private companies, nonprofit groups and various organizations today, which include Jollibee Foods Corp., Nestlé Philippines, Universal Robina Corp., Unilab, McDonald’s Philippines, among others. The PKG said they also have par tner found ations such as A BS- CBN Lingkod K apamilya Foundation, Aboitiz Foundation, Ayala Foundation, Caritas, Gawad K alinga, GM A K apuso Fou nd at ion , Jol l i b e e G rou p Foundation and more.

under review. Based on the PCC’s annual report, most of the transactions submitted last year came from the industries of electricity and gas, and transportation and storage. Likewise, the PCC received at least three mergers in the manufacturing sector, as well as in finance and insurance and in real estate. The PCC observed an increase in merger activities at the height of the pandemic, as firms try to consolidate their assets to survive the financial losses. Against the agency’s recommendation, legislators included in the second Bayanihan to Recover as One Act a provision that exempts mergers and acquisitions valued below P50 billion from the mandatory review of the PCC for

at least two years. The law also suspended the PCC’s power to conduct motu proprio reviews on such transactions for one year. The competition body, for its part, has called on merging parties to submit to its review to avoid any complications once the PCC regains its authority to scrutinize transactions when the second Bayanihan law expires. In Januar y the PCC raised the fines by 10 percent to be i mposed on v iol ators of t he competition law. With the adjustment, the maximum penalty for cartels, abuses of dominance and prohibited mergers was increased to P110 million, from P100 million, while for belated merger not if icat ion, to P2.2 million, from P2 million.

PRI opens online learning platform for rail operators, service providers

he Philippine Railways Institute (PRI) has introduced an online learning platform to educate railway operators and maintenance providers even with the limitations brought about by the Covid-19 pandemic. Transportation Undersecretary Anneli Lontoc explained the Learning Management System (LMS) is an online, self-paced learning platform conducted through the Web Refresher Training (WRT) Course. In a nutshell, the LMS allows the PRI to administer, deliver, track, and automate its training courses in just one platform. “I am delighted that, in keeping with the times, the PRI is now able to provide remote learning sustainably during, and even beyond, this pandemic. PRI is now part of a growing number of institutes and organizations that have adopted this kind of learning platform,” Lontoc said. So far, 30 railway personnel and 15 graduating students participated in the first

LMS-delivered training course. Before the pandemic, the railway institute conducts its training courses on an in person basis. Lontoc said that the pandemic has forced the PRI to innovate in order to adapt to the limitations set to prevent the spread of Covid-19. “This is again a great next step in PRI’s learning strategy that will have a positive impact on learning across the railways sector,” Lontoc said. PRI allows graduating college students with railways-relevant background, returning overseas Filipino workers with railway experience, and existing railway workers to enroll. Created through a P308.54-million grant from the Japan International Cooperation Agency (Jica), the PRI serves as the planning, implementing, regulating, and administrative entity for the development of human resources in the railway sector. Lorenz S. Marasigan

Are there business opportunities in vaccinating people?

By Henry J. Schumacher

he pandemic which hit us in 2020 has caused a lot of suffering but, surprisingly, also created plenty business opportunities, especially in e-commerce. New entrepreneurs, investigating the new behavior of consumers, developed business ideas, and many succeeded and are still actively involved. The question comes up whether the vaccination of millions of people will create business ideas also. Some “hunters” have become visible already, from trying to get access to the vaccines, to become agents for the new vaccine inventions, to developing supply-chains for vaccines, etc. Other hunters may be looking at focused

promotions for vaccinated people differently. For instance, concert organizers, cinemas, and restaurant operators could give preferential treatment to those who have been vaccinated, as safe bets, good for the economy, and incentivizing vaccination. That would require to provide vaccinated people with a “health pass,” synonymous with the “travel pass” International Air Transport Association airlines are preparing now, which will give vaccinated people access to air travel. This pass to be issued to persons who have survived Covid-19 and those vaccinated after a certain delay period still to be defined by the World Health Organization (WHO). Several countries are now working on these passes and seek recognition and acceptance reciprocity among themselves. Such access will kick-start the economy. However, it has to be assumed that the authorities for now will reject particularly rapid easing by the private sector only for vaccinated people until the WHO advocates doing that and gives its approval.

Surely, some hunters in the Philippines will copy a business idea from the US. Dating apps offer a snapshot about a person’s life: a surprising health issue has emerged as a dealmaker or heartbreaker: have you had the coronavirus vaccine? Other hunters may encourage customers to get vaccination appointments faster with money. There is a vast business with private vaccinations in emerging countries. In Brazil, India, or Thailand, private companies want to buy corona vaccines. Governments have nothing against the privileged being vaccinated earlier this way. Whether cosmetic surgery or laser eye surgery, Thailand’s noble private hospitals are considered one of the first contact points for inexpensive, highquality treatments. In the coronavirus crisis, the clinics are smelling a new business model: those who bring enough money should buy one of the front seats in the vaccination line. The listed Bangkok health provider Vibhavadi made its customers an exclusive offer

at the end of December: Up to 1000 people should be able to reserve the earliest possible vaccination against the coronavirus for the equivalent of around 110 euros. The company said that an additional 170 euros would then be due for the US manufacturer Moderna’s vaccine. The total cost is roughly equivalent to the monthly wage of a local factory worker. Vibhavadi has yet to await approval of the vaccine. However, Thailand’s authorities have no objection to preferential treatment for wealthy patients—the country is used to two-tier medicine between the sparsely equipped state hospitals and modern private clinics. Thailand is not an isolated case. Governments in Brazil and Mexico, Colombia and Guatemala, Malaysia, Indonesia, and Pakistan have also allowed the private sector to buy vaccines. The countries have significant differences in income, the governments are limited in their ability to make sufficient vaccines available—and corruption is often part of everyday life. The danger threatens

that privileged people jostle in the vaccination queue. The timing of the vaccination becomes a question of social power. Can those who bring enough money buy one of the front seats in the Philippines’s vaccination line also? I wouldn’t be surprised… Look at the size of the potential “business”: In the Philippines, a two-dose Moderna treatment can already be ordered through a local foundation, backed by a business organization, for $70 + $2 (at cost) fee for customs clearance and delivery. At 20 million doses, that means a $40-million fee for such services—of course, at cost so that no taxes will apply. (??) Government just warned the public of other hunters like sellers of locally manufactured fake vaccines and operators of “bogus” clinics… Any other hunter ideas? I am sure you are not going to share that with me. But let’s be aware that this business will be developed, hopefully with integrity and ethics in mind. Comments are welcome; contact me at hjschumacher59@gmail.com.

www.businessmirror.com.ph

News BusinessMirror

Tuesday, February 23, 2021 A5

DA chief bares ₧740-million swine ‘repopulation’ program Additionally, tonight we will propose to the Cabinet that the government will shoulder the hog insurance for 5 million hogs to be repopulated. That is about P740 million.

Agriculture Secretary William D. Dar

By Jasper Emmanuel Y. Arcalas

@jearcalas

HE Department of Agriculture (DA) is seeking the Cabinet’s approval for its P740-million proposal to subsidize half of the insurance premium of commercial hog raisers to encourage them to partake in the government’s pig repopulation tack.

Agriculture Secretary William D. Dar disclosed in a Senate Committee on Agriculture, Food and Agrarian Reform meeting that he will present this proposal during a Cabinet meeting on Monday evening. “Additionally, tonight we will propose to the Cabinet that the government will shoulder the hog insurance for 5 million hogs to be repopulated. That is about P740 million,” Dar said during the hearing on February 22, 2021. “This will now be the indemnification for the backyard and commercial raisers. We will only subsidize the commercial raisers, while backyard raisers do not have to pay a premium as long as they are registered in the RSBSA [Registry System for Basic Sectors in Agriculture]. This will encourage commercial hog raisers to repopulate,” Dar added. Based on Dar’s presentation, it would cost a total of P1.48 billion to insure 5 million pigs, comprising 1 million breeders and 4 million pigs.

Dar said the government will shoulder half of the total cost while the remainder would be paid by the commercial raiser. Insurance coverage for a fattener is up to P10,000 with a 2.25 percent, while breeders are insured for P14,500 at a 4 percent premium payment, according to Dar’s presentation. On top of this, Dar said they have proposed refinements on livestock insurance to include pigs that would be killed by African swine fever (ASF) and those that are culled upon orders of the government. Dar proposed that the terms for livestock insurance include a “waiver provision disallowing indemnity payment if hogs are culled or killed as ordered by the government, either by an administrative order or just a slaughter order.” Dar added that they also proposed to increase the indemnification to 100 percent from the current 60 percent if the pigs are affected by the ASF pandemic. Agriculture Undersecretary William Medrano presented to senators the DA’s pig re-

population program which would cost about P28.1 billion, bulk of which or about P27.5 billion is in the form of loans from stateowned financial institutions. Medrano’s presentation showed that only P600 million worth of interventions are in the form of grants to the hog raisers. Medrano said the DA’s programs include a calibrated repopulation that targets to benefit 8,000 hog raisers with 40,000 breeders of hogs distributed and the establishment of breeder multiplier farms that seek to produce 1,110 breeders. The DA plans to construct 1 nucleus breeder farm, 15 multiplier farms and acquire 15 more breeder farms. Medrano added they plan to construct 145 facilities that would produce 87,000 breeders and 54 1,000-sow level farms that would produce 21,600 grand parent stock and 272,160 parent stock breeders, which would result in the production of 5.2 million finishers or pigs. Medrano pointed out that the target production is sufficient to replenish the number of sows and pigs lost nationwide due to ASF and ASF-related actions. Based on the timeline presented by Medrano, the Calibrated Repopulation program would begin this year with the marketing of produced hogs happening in the second semester. As for the Swine Breeder Multiplier Farms and the intensification and modernization of production facilities in the ASF-free zones, they would run for three years until 2023, based on Medrano’s presentation. The DA’s proposed interventions did not sit well with some senators as they pointed out that the bulk of the programs are funded by loans, which they noted is burdensome to hog raisers amid the risks caused by ASF and the Covid-19 pandemic. “Those are all loans. Who will loan the P27.5 billion?Doyouthinkifyougivethatmuchloans, our farmers will recover? Only P600 million is aid. That is not realistic,” Sen. Cynthia A. Villar, who chairs the Senate Committee on Agriculture, Food and Agrarian Reform, said. “You just made it beautiful, saying it is P28 billion, when in fact the bulk is loan. It’s just good to the ears but in reality is nothing. The projects are only P500 million worth,” Villar added.

DENR’s Task Force POGI bags UNEP environmental awards By Jonathan L. Mayuga

@jonlmayuga

HE Department of Environment and Natural Resources-led Philippine Operations Group on Ivory and Illegal Wildlife Trade, or Task Force POGI, has been adjudged as a winner in the Asia Environmental Enforcement Awards given by the United Nations Environmental Program (UNEP) recently. Chaired by Undersecretary Atty. Ernesto D. Adobo. Jr., the interagency Task Force POGI is a composite team of wildlife enforcers from various agencies, including DENR-Biodiversity Management Bureau, National Bureau of Investigation, Philippine National Police, National Intelligence Coordinating Agency, Bureau of Customs, and DENR-National Capital Region. The DENR-led task force won in the 5th Asia Environmental Enforcement Awards under Impact Category on February 17, 2021. The award is given to individuals and/ or government organizations or teams that demonstrate excellence and outstanding leadership in enforcement of national laws to combat transboundary environmental crime.

This year, UNEP gave awards to groups or organizations who have demonstrated excellence and leadership in one or more of the following categories: collaboration; impact; innovation; integrity; and gender leadership. Task Force POGI was one of the eight winners mainly for its excellent collaboration and coordination framework among different enforcement agencies, thus enhancing the impact of operations against illegal trade in wildlife. In a news statement, DENR Secretary Roy A. Cimatu cited the Task Force for bagging the prestigious award as “a testimony of the continuing commitment of the Department of Environment and Natural Resources [DENR] on upholding its mandate of protecting, conserving, and managing the environment and natural resources for the present and future generations.” “This serves as another feather on the cap of the agency on environmental law enforcement,” the DENR chief said. During the nomination period from June 2019 to May 2020, the task force has successfully apprehended high profile traffickers and confiscated illegally

trafficked goods. The key highlight was in August 2019 when the task force arrested Sharon Jonjon Lim, a notorious online wildlife trader who had eluded authorities for about five years, and recovered from him 13 rare animals worth around $5,000, or around P250,000. Adobo, who is also the DENR Undersecretary for Legal, Administration, Human Resources and Legislative Affairs, received the award in a virtual ceremony. “We are humbled and deeply grateful that our collective efforts and initiatives in combating environmental crimes, particularly crimes against wildlife, are recognized by no less than international experts from the United Nations and its partner agencies,” Adobo said in his acceptance message. This year’s Asia Environmental Enforcement Awards, with the theme “Fighting transboundary environmental crime,” was also in partnership with the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime, Secretariat of the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora, International Criminal Police Organization, and World Customs Organization.

Reconcile data on pork imports, ASF damage, DA told continued from a1

Pangilinan, meanwhile, wondered aloud if the values declared by importers to BOC were understated to pay lower taxes. This, Villar said, underscores the need for the DA and BOC to sit down and reconcile their data. She suggested that DA ask the Philippine Institute for Development Studies (PIDS) to help analyze the data to understand the variances and accordingly make the correct policy moves.

Aid, not tariff cuts

ALSO at the joint Senate hearing, businessman and consumer advocate Ernesto

Ordoñez pressed policymakers to withdraw the recommendation to slash tariffs on imported meat, and to instead use the funds representing foregone revenue to substantial assistance for local hog raisers devastated by ASF. Ordoñez cited estimates showing that, assuming tariff cuts, the government would give up P11.5 billion. Local producers are asking for assistance amounting to P8 billion, which is much smaller than the revenue loss from tariffs. The former Department of Trade and Industry undersecretary wondered aloud

why government would prioritize favoring importers with tariff cuts, over the local producers. “You don’t have to give it (tariff reduction); please look at the data again,” Ordonez asked policy makers, adding that in his engagements with importer groups, he knew that importers enjoy “a 10-percent ROI per month” even without tariff reductions, and wondered aloud, “you wanna give these people extra money?” Ordoñez added: “you want them to import? They’ll import; no need for you to reduce tariffs.”

BusinessMirror

Tuesday, February 23, 2021

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8 STONE BUSINESS OUTSOURCING OPC 5-10/f Tower 1 Pitx Kennedy Road Tambo Parañaque City 1.

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XU, BINBIN Chinese

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SAI, BEN Chinese

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XUAN, CHAO Chinese

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EMBASSY OF THE STATE OF QATAR No. 32 Mckinely Road North Forbes Park Makati City

40.

ZHAO, YUXUAN Chinese

MANDARIN LANGUAGE SPECIALIST

71.

41.

ZHENG, JINLI Chinese

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42.

ZHOU, BING Chinese

MANDARIN LANGUAGE SPECIALIST

43.

ZHU, JUNFENG Chinese

MANDARIN LANGUAGE SPECIALIST

BIGDOLPHIN SERVICES INC. Ug-8, Ug-9 & Ug-11 Cityland 10 Tower 2 154 H.v. Dela Costa St. Belair Makati City 44.

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MANDARIN CUSTOMER SERVICE REPRESENTATIVE

BILLION DRAGON OUTSOURCE PHILS., INC. One Townsquare Place Bpo Bldg. Alabang Zapote Rd. Almanza Uno Las Piñas City

FOREIGN NATIONAL / NATIONALITY

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RANA MOHAMED ALI AHMED Sudanese

POSITION

ADMINISTRATIVE AFFAIRS OFFICER

FAIR GROUND INC. 3rd Flr #50 2nd Ave. Smrec Industrial Subd. Bagumbayan Taguig City 72.

SUNG, SINJAE South Korean

FAREAST OUTSOURCE PROCESSING INC. 7th, 8th, 9th Flr. Nu Tower Moa Coral Way Brgy. 076 Pasay City 73.

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74.

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CUSTOMER SERVICE REPRESENTATIVE (CSR)

75.

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CUSTOMER SERVICE REPRESENTATIVE (CSR)

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CUSTOMER SERVICE REPRESENTATIVE (CSR)

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78.

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TECH WRITING & TRANSLATION PROJECT EMPLOYEE

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82.

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

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XIE, DEQIANG Chinese

CHINESE - FIELD SALES CONSULTANT

CAPSLOCK INC. 7th & 8th Flr. Y Tower Bldg. Coral Way Drive Cor. Macapagal Brgy. 076 Pasay City 49.

CAO, YANG Chinese

CHINESE IT SUPPORT SPECIALIST

50.

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CHINESE IT SUPPORT SPECIALIST

51.

HUANG, FEI Chinese

CHINESE IT SUPPORT SPECIALIST

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YU, YANG Chinese

IT TECHNICAL MANDARIN

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101.

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CHINESE SPEAKING CUSTOMER SERVICE REPRESENTATIVE

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CHINESE SPEAKING CUSTOMER SERVICE REPRESENTATIVE

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CHINESE SPEAKING CUSTOMER SERVICE REPRESENTATIVE

108.

ZENG, NANJING Chinese

CHINESE SPEAKING CUSTOMER SERVICE REPRESENTATIVE

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76.

NO.

ITECHNO SPECIALIST INC. 9/f 100 West Building Sen. Gil Puyat Ave. Pio Del Pilar Makati City 109.

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CHINESE IT SUPPORT SPECIALIST

110.

DONG, XIAO Chinese

CHINESE IT SUPPORT SPECIALIST

111.

FU, YEGE Chinese

CHINESE IT SUPPORT SPECIALIST

112.

GAO, GUANJUN Chinese

CHINESE IT SUPPORT SPECIALIST

113.

GE, YUNPENG Chinese

CHINESE IT SUPPORT SPECIALIST

114.

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CHINESE IT SUPPORT SPECIALIST

115.

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CHINESE IT SUPPORT SPECIALIST

116.

LIU, FANG Chinese

CHINESE IT SUPPORT SPECIALIST

117.

MA, XIAOLI Chinese

CHINESE IT SUPPORT SPECIALIST

12.

GAO, FUTAO Chinese

CHINESE CUSTOMER SERVICE

52.

LI, LIPING Chinese

CHINESE IT SUPPORT SPECIALIST

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

13.

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CHINESE CUSTOMER SERVICE

53.

LIU, HONGLIANG Chinese

CHINESE IT SUPPORT SPECIALIST

84.

54.

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CHINESE IT SUPPORT SPECIALIST

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55.

YANG, DONG Chinese

CHINESE IT SUPPORT SPECIALIST

85.

DU, HUI Chinese

CUSTOMER SERVICE REPRESENTATIVE

118.

SHENG, HONGRUI Chinese

CHINESE IT SUPPORT SPECIALIST

56.

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CHINESE IT SUPPORT SPECIALIST

86.

LEE, HANA South Korean

CUSTOMER SERVICE REPRESENTATIVE

119.

WANG, PEIYANG Chinese

CHINESE IT SUPPORT SPECIALIST

57.

ZHOU, DAMENG Chinese

CHINESE IT SUPPORT SPECIALIST

120.

WANG, QUANLI Chinese

CHINESE IT SUPPORT SPECIALIST

58.

VO DUY THIEN Vietnamese

IT SUPPORT SPECIALIST

121.

XIE, KUNHONG Chinese

CHINESE IT SUPPORT SPECIALIST

122.

YANG, NANA Chinese

CHINESE IT SUPPORT SPECIALIST

123.

YOU, YONG Chinese

CHINESE IT SUPPORT SPECIALIST

124.

YU, QIN Chinese

CHINESE IT SUPPORT SPECIALIST

125.

ZHAO, HE Chinese

CHINESE IT SUPPORT SPECIALIST

ARLA FOODS CORPORATION 24/f Citibank Center Bldg. 8741 Paseo De Roxas Bel-air Makati City 14.

HANSEN, ALLAN Danish

GENERAL MANAGER

BIG EMPEROR TECHNOLOGY CORP. 5f-13f, Jiaxing Tower Building Aseana Avenue, Aseana Business Park Tambo Parañaque City 15.

LOW CHIEN SOON Malaysian

COMPUTER TECHNICAL SUPPORT SPECIALIST

KUANG, MENGZHI Chinese

MANDARIN CUSTOMER SERVICE

LIN, WENCHUAN Chinese

MANDARIN CUSTOMER SERVICE

18.

XIANYU, ZHUOCHENG Chinese

MANDARIN CUSTOMER SERVICE

19.

YANG, SIHUA Chinese

MANDARIN CUSTOMER SERVICE

20.

ZHANG, ZHE Chinese

MANDARIN CUSTOMER SERVICE

CHEN, YAXIN Chinese

MANDARIN LANGUAGE SPECIALIST

CUI, XINGTAO Chinese

MANDARIN LANGUAGE SPECIALIST

16. 17.

21. 22.

COLLABERA TECHNOLOGIES PRIVATE LIMITED, INC. U-40 A-d 40/f Rufino Pacific Tower, 6784 Ayala Ave. San Lorenzo Makati City 59.

SETHI, SAMSON R Indian

60.

DABKOWSKI, NICHOLAS WITOLD British

SENIOR PROJECT MANAGER

DA PROSPERITAS HOLDING INC. 16/f Tower 6789 6789 Ayala Ave. Bel-air Makati City 61.

JIANG, YUANQUAN Chinese

CHINESE SPEAKING ADMIN ASSOCIATE

DONG, BO Chinese

MANDARIN LANGUAGE SPECIALIST

24.

GUO, YUTING Chinese

MANDARIN LANGUAGE SPECIALIST

25.

HAN, MAOQIANG Chinese

MANDARIN LANGUAGE SPECIALIST

62.

26.

HU, JINPENG Chinese

MANDARIN LANGUAGE SPECIALIST

DEXIN INTERNATIONAL IMPORT AND EXPORT CORP. 534 Tomas Mapua St. 029 Bgy. 298 Santa Cruz Manila

27.

HUANG, QIUXIANG Chinese

MANDARIN LANGUAGE SPECIALIST

28.

JIANG, XIANGLONG Chinese

29.

23.

DA SUCCESS BUSINESS TRADING INCORPORATED 2503 The Finance Centre 26th Street Corner 9th Avenue Fort Bonifacio Taguig City GUO, YIMIN Chinese

MANDARIN SPEAKING MARKETING SPECIALIST

63.

HUANG, ZELING Chinese

MARKETING SPECIALIST (CHINESE SPEAKING)

MANDARIN LANGUAGE SPECIALIST

64.

LI, MINGDONG Chinese

MARKETING SPECIALIST (CHINESE SPEAKING)

LIAO, DONG Chinese

MANDARIN LANGUAGE SPECIALIST

65.

ZHANG, YIYONG Chinese

MARKETING SPECIALIST (CHINESE SPEAKING)

30.

LIN, PENGCHENG Chinese

MANDARIN LANGUAGE SPECIALIST

31.

NIE, MENGFAN Chinese

MANDARIN LANGUAGE SPECIALIST

32.

PENG, LIANGBIAO Chinese

MANDARIN LANGUAGE SPECIALIST

33.

QIN, HUAN Chinese

MANDARIN LANGUAGE SPECIALIST

34.

TAO, DAMEI Chinese

MANDARIN LANGUAGE SPECIALIST

35.

TIAN, HONGWEI Chinese

MANDARIN LANGUAGE SPECIALIST

36.

WAN, XUANYOU Chinese

MANDARIN LANGUAGE SPECIALIST

37.

YANG, QUANPING Chinese

MANDARIN LANGUAGE SPECIALIST

38.

ZHANG, ZHEN Chinese

MANDARIN LANGUAGE SPECIALIST

DIGISPARK TECH CORP. Unit 1618 High Street, South Corporate Plaza, Tower 2 26th St. Corner 9th Ave. Bgc Fort Bonifacio Taguig City 66.

CHA, JIAGUI Chinese

MARKETING EXECUTIVE

EASTERN GOLD CORPORATION 503 Nueva St Binondo Manila

CHINESE CUSTOMER SERVICE REPRESENTATIVE

GENX SPORTS & MEDIA PRODUCTION CORP. 26th And 27th Flr. Eastwood Cyber One Bldg. Eastwood City Cyberpark No. 188 E. Rodriguez Jr. Ave. Bagumbayan 3 Quezon City 87.

SU, YIHONG Chinese

CUSTOMER SERVICE REPRESENTATIVE MANDARIN SPEAKING

88.

YANG, YU Chinese

CUSTOMER SERVICE REPRESENTATIVE MANDARIN SPEAKING

89.

YANG, XIAOTONG Chinese

CUSTOMER SERVICE REPRESENTATIVE MANDARIN SPEAKING

90.

CHEN, YUAN Taiwanese

CUSTOMER SERVICE REPRESENTATIVE TAIWANESE SPEAKING

91.

LAI, CHAO-WEI Taiwanese

CUSTOMER SERVICE REPRESENTATIVE TAIWANESE SPEAKING

SERVICE DESK ENGINEER

COMMTECH (ASIA - PHILIPPINES) BRANCH, INC. 8/f Sunlife Center 5th Ave. Cor. Rizal Drive Bgc Fort Bonifacio Taguig City

ZOU, SHUANG Chinese

GOODWORK SOLUTIONS, INC. Unit A51 5/f Zeta Ii Bldg. 191 Salcedo St. San Lorenzo Makati City 92.

KOGER, ANDREW JACOB American

CEO/PRESIDENT

GRANDTECH SUPPORT SERVICES INC. 4/f U-2c One E-com Ctr. Bldg. Ocean Drive Brgy. 076 Pasay City 93.

LAN, ZIYE Chinese

SITE CUSTOMER SERVICE REPRESENTATIVE MANDARIN

HUAWEI TECHNOLOGIES PHILS. INC. U-5302, 53/f Pbcom Tower 6795 Ayala Ave., Cor., V.a. Rufino St. Bel-air Makati City 94.

CHEN, YONGJIE Chinese

FINANCE MANAGER FOR HUAWEI INTEGRATED FINANCE COMPLIANCE PROJECT

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

JDB MANAGEMENT AND CONSULTANCY CORP. 107 T & D House Magallanes St. 069, Bgy. 655 Intramuros Manila 126.

LIU, JINJIA Chinese

STRATEGIC AND FACILITATION OFFICER

127.

ZHANG, XINLE Chinese

STRATEGIC AND FACILITATION OFFICER

KP JOEUN CONSULTANCY INC Unit 7 Goldland Millenia Tower Escriva Drive Ortigas Center San Antonio Pasig City 128.

LEE, TAEHO South Korean

CONSULTANT

KRIS FINSOFTWARE, INC. 18/f Philamlife Tower 8767 Paseo De Roxas Bel-air Makati City 129.

AHMARINEJAD, ELNAZ Iranian

ACCOUNT MANAGER

LUFTHANSA SERVICES PHILIPPINES, INC. 8th Floor Aeon Center Northgate Cyberzone Alabang Muntinlupa City 130.

KWON, YOONKYUNG South Korean

FINANCE LANGUAGE SPECIALIST

131.

PATHUMDECHA, MONPICHA Thai

OPERATION MANAGER

95.

GUO, HONGHUA Chinese

CHINESE SPEAKING CUSTOMER SERVICE REPRESENTATIVE

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

96.

LI, JINJING Chinese

CHINESE SPEAKING CUSTOMER SERVICE REPRESENTATIVE

132.

BIAN, WENYANG Chinese

MANDARIN SPEAKING CUSTOMER RELATIONS SERVICE PROVIDER

97.

MENG, FANWEI Chinese

CHINESE SPEAKING CUSTOMER SERVICE REPRESENTATIVE

133.

CHIU, LI-YAN Taiwanese

MANDARIN SPEAKING CUSTOMER RELATIONS SERVICE PROVIDER

67.

HUANG, YING - JYE Taiwanese

MARKETING AND SALES AGENT

68.

YE, TIANHUI Chinese

MARKETING AND SALES AGENT

69.

ZHANG, HONGCHENG Chinese

MARKETING AND SALES AGENT

98.

PHI THI DUNG Vietnamese

CHINESE SPEAKING CUSTOMER SERVICE REPRESENTATIVE

134.

LIAO, JIANMING Chinese

MANDARIN SPEAKING CUSTOMER RELATIONS SERVICE PROVIDER

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

99.

QIU, WENLONG Chinese

CHINESE SPEAKING CUSTOMER SERVICE REPRESENTATIVE

135.

LIU, CHUNYU Chinese

MANDARIN SPEAKING CUSTOMER RELATIONS SERVICE PROVIDER

100.

SUN, ZEQUAN Chinese

CHINESE SPEAKING CUSTOMER SERVICE REPRESENTATIVE

136.

LIU, NING Chinese

MANDARIN SPEAKING CUSTOMER RELATIONS SERVICE PROVIDER

70.

ZHANG, YE Chinese

CUSTOMER SERVICE REPRESENTATIVE (MANDARIN SPEAKING)

BusinessMirror

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

FOREIGN NATIONAL / NATIONALITY

ESTABLISHMENT / ADDRESS POSITION

137.

LIU, KAI Chinese

MANDARIN SPEAKING CUSTOMER RELATIONS SERVICE PROVIDER

138.

TANG, HUAJING Chinese

MANDARIN SPEAKING CUSTOMER RELATIONS SERVICE PROVIDER

WANG, YU-HSUAN Taiwanese

MANDARIN SPEAKING CUSTOMER RELATIONS SERVICE PROVIDER

140.

WANG, YANAN Chinese

MANDARIN SPEAKING CUSTOMER RELATIONS SERVICE PROVIDER

141.

ZENG, LU Chinese

MANDARIN SPEAKING CUSTOMER RELATIONS SERVICE PROVIDER

139.

142.

143.

144.

145.

146.

ZENG, ZHENG Chinese

MANDARIN SPEAKING CUSTOMER RELATIONS SERVICE PROVIDER

ZHANG, ZHIHAO Chinese

MANDARIN SPEAKING CUSTOMER RELATIONS SERVICE PROVIDER

ZHOU, SHIMING Chinese

MANDARIN SPEAKING CUSTOMER RELATIONS SERVICE PROVIDER

ZOU, CHANGHAO Chinese

MANDARIN SPEAKING CUSTOMER RELATIONS SERVICE PROVIDER

ZHAN, KE Chinese

MANDARIN SPEAKING CUSTOMER SERVICE PROVIDER

MINDSCAPE CREATIVES INC. Unit 19-o, Burgundy Corporate Tower 252 Sen. Gil Puyat Ave. Pio Del Pilar Makati City 147. 148. 149.

CHEN, JUNJIE Chinese ZHAO, YUTAO Chinese CAO, SHUSHENG Chinese

MANDARIN CUSTOMER SERVICE MANDARIN MARKETING SPECIALIST MANDARIN TECHNICAL SUPPORT

MOA CLOUDZONE CORP. 4th-11th Flr. Nexgen Tower C4 Rd. Edsa Ext. Brgy. 076 Pasay City 150. 151. 152. 153. 154. 155. 156. 157. 158. 159.

BAI, PAN Chinese BAN, YONGLE Chinese BAO, ZHIFU Chinese BUDIYANTO Indonesian CAI, MINGSHENG Chinese CAO, HUBO Chinese

CHINESE CUSTOMER SERVICE CHINESE CUSTOMER SERVICE CHINESE CUSTOMER SERVICE CHINESE CUSTOMER SERVICE CHINESE CUSTOMER SERVICE CHINESE CUSTOMER SERVICE

CHAN KIN YIN Malaysian

CHINESE CUSTOMER SERVICE

CHEN, JIALONG Chinese

CHINESE CUSTOMER SERVICE

CHEN, YUJIAN Chinese

CHINESE CUSTOMER SERVICE

CHENG, CHUNYANG Chinese

CHINESE CUSTOMER SERVICE

160.

FAN, LIMING Chinese

CHINESE CUSTOMER SERVICE

161.

FAN, XIAOLONG Chinese

CHINESE CUSTOMER SERVICE

162.

FAN, HU Chinese

CHINESE CUSTOMER SERVICE

163.

FU, XIAOBO Chinese

CHINESE CUSTOMER SERVICE

164.

HE, LEI Chinese

CHINESE CUSTOMER SERVICE

165.

HUANG, PENGCHENG Chinese

CHINESE CUSTOMER SERVICE

166.

HUANGFU, YAOKAI Chinese

CHINESE CUSTOMER SERVICE

167.

JIANG, HAIYANG Chinese

CHINESE CUSTOMER SERVICE

168.

JIANG, YI Chinese

CHINESE CUSTOMER SERVICE

169.

JIE, YONG Chinese

170.

JIN, LULU Chinese

171.

LAN, JIAJIA Chinese

CHINESE CUSTOMER SERVICE

172.

LI, CHUNYANG Chinese

CHINESE CUSTOMER SERVICE

173.

LI, YULIN Chinese

CHINESE CUSTOMER SERVICE

174.

LI, LINLONG Chinese

CHINESE CUSTOMER SERVICE

175.

LI, YUN Chinese

CHINESE CUSTOMER SERVICE

176.

LI, KANGDA Chinese

CHINESE CUSTOMER SERVICE

CHINESE CUSTOMER SERVICE CHINESE CUSTOMER SERVICE

177.

LI, HAIJUN Chinese

CHINESE CUSTOMER SERVICE

178.

LU, WENQIAN Chinese

CHINESE CUSTOMER SERVICE

179.

LUO, SHANGFEN Chinese

CHINESE CUSTOMER SERVICE

180.

LUO, LEI Chinese

CHINESE CUSTOMER SERVICE

181.

LUO, YONGLIANG Chinese

CHINESE CUSTOMER SERVICE

182.

MA, CHAO Chinese

CHINESE CUSTOMER SERVICE

183.

MAI, DI Chinese

CHINESE CUSTOMER SERVICE

184.

MENG, LIJIE Chinese

CHINESE CUSTOMER SERVICE

185.

NGUYEN VAN QUYEN Vietnamese

CHINESE CUSTOMER SERVICE

186.

NIM PHON TAN Vietnamese

CHINESE CUSTOMER SERVICE

NO.

FOREIGN NATIONAL / NATIONALITY

Tuesday, February 23, 2021 A7

ESTABLISHMENT / ADDRESS POSITION

NO.

ESTABLISHMENT / ADDRESS

FOREIGN NATIONAL / NATIONALITY

POSITION

NO.

FOREIGN NATIONAL / NATIONALITY

POSITION

187.

OU, CHENGHUA Chinese

CHINESE CUSTOMER SERVICE

243.

MA, WENTAN Chinese

CHINESE CUSTOMER SPECIALIST

286.

MU, HAIHANG Chinese

CHINESE CUSTOMER SERVICE REPRESENTATIVE

188.

PYAE PYAE HLAING Myanmari

CHINESE CUSTOMER SERVICE

244.

WANG, ZHICHAO Chinese

CHINESE CUSTOMER SPECIALIST

287.

PAN, LIMING Chinese

CHINESE CUSTOMER SERVICE REPRESENTATIVE

189.

SHAN CHAWE Myanmari

CHINESE CUSTOMER SERVICE

288.

QIAN, SHAOHONG Chinese

CHINESE CUSTOMER SERVICE REPRESENTATIVE

190.

SHENG, XIAODONG Chinese

CHINESE CUSTOMER SERVICE

289.

SHI, XINGAN Chinese

CHINESE CUSTOMER SERVICE REPRESENTATIVE

191.

SHI, ZESHUO Chinese

CHINESE CUSTOMER SERVICE

290.

TIAN, QINGQING Chinese

CHINESE CUSTOMER SERVICE REPRESENTATIVE

192.

TAN, MENGYAO Chinese

CHINESE CUSTOMER SERVICE

291.

WANG, RONGTAO Chinese

CHINESE CUSTOMER SERVICE REPRESENTATIVE

193.

TRAN THI THUY TRANG Vietnamese

CHINESE CUSTOMER SERVICE

292.

WANG, TIANYU Chinese

CHINESE CUSTOMER SERVICE REPRESENTATIVE

194.

WANG, KAIBIN Chinese

CHINESE CUSTOMER SERVICE

293.

ZHU, LI Chinese

CHINESE CUSTOMER SERVICE REPRESENTATIVE

195.

WANG, WEILONG Chinese

CHINESE CUSTOMER SERVICE

294.

TSAI, HO-TAI Taiwanese

CUSTOMER SERVICE REPRESENTATIVE

196.

WANG, JIALONG Chinese

CHINESE CUSTOMER SERVICE

197.

WANG, ZHEN Chinese

CHINESE CUSTOMER SERVICE

198.

WANG, SIQI Chinese

CHINESE CUSTOMER SERVICE

199.

WANG, ZEJIE Chinese

CHINESE CUSTOMER SERVICE

200.

WANG, XIAOYI Chinese

CHINESE CUSTOMER SERVICE

201.

WEE LIH FANG Malaysian

CHINESE CUSTOMER SERVICE

202.

WEI, XITAO Chinese

CHINESE CUSTOMER SERVICE

203.

WEI, ZHENFANG Chinese

CHINESE CUSTOMER SERVICE

204.

WIN THIDAR AUNG Myanmari

CHINESE CUSTOMER SERVICE

205.

WONG ZU QUAN Malaysian

CHINESE CUSTOMER SERVICE

206.

WU, BING Chinese

CHINESE CUSTOMER SERVICE

207.

WU, GUIXIA Chinese

CHINESE CUSTOMER SERVICE

208.

WU, QIJUN Chinese

CHINESE CUSTOMER SERVICE

209.

XI, YEBAO Chinese

CHINESE CUSTOMER SERVICE

210.

XIE, DONGLEI Chinese

CHINESE CUSTOMER SERVICE

211.

XIE, CHAOCHANG Chinese

CHINESE CUSTOMER SERVICE

212.

XIONG, WEI Chinese

CHINESE CUSTOMER SERVICE

213.

XU, JIAN Chinese

CHINESE CUSTOMER SERVICE

214.

YANG, BAOJIN Chinese

CHINESE CUSTOMER SERVICE

215.

YANG, SHUMING Chinese

CHINESE CUSTOMER SERVICE

216.

YANG, XIAOFENG Chinese

CHINESE CUSTOMER SERVICE

217.

YANG, JIADONG Chinese

CHINESE CUSTOMER SERVICE

NEW ORIENTAL CLUB88 CORPORATION 3rd, 5th, 6th, 7th, 8th, 9th & 10th/f Pearl Marina Building Pacific Drive Don Galo Parañaque City 245.

CUI, LONGKAI Chinese

CHINESE CUSTOMER SERVICE

246.

FANG, JI Chinese

CHINESE CUSTOMER SERVICE

247.

GAO, YANG Chinese

CHINESE CUSTOMER SERVICE

248.

GUO, XIAOFENG Chinese

CHINESE CUSTOMER SERVICE

249.

GUO, QIUPING Chinese

CHINESE CUSTOMER SERVICE

250.

HAN, XU Chinese

CHINESE CUSTOMER SERVICE

251.

HU, YIFAN Chinese

CHINESE CUSTOMER SERVICE

252.

HU, YIMING Chinese

CHINESE CUSTOMER SERVICE

253.

HUANG, BAILIN Chinese

CHINESE CUSTOMER SERVICE

254.

HUANG, WEI Chinese

CHINESE CUSTOMER SERVICE

255.

LI, YIN Chinese

CHINESE CUSTOMER SERVICE

256.

LI, MIN Chinese

CHINESE CUSTOMER SERVICE

257.

LI, YANG Chinese

CHINESE CUSTOMER SERVICE

258.

LOU, YIMIN Chinese

CHINESE CUSTOMER SERVICE

259.

LU, QINGHENG Chinese

CHINESE CUSTOMER SERVICE

260.

MA, TING Chinese

CHINESE CUSTOMER SERVICE

261.

QIN, HUI Chinese

CHINESE CUSTOMER SERVICE

262.

SHAO, YUMING Chinese

CHINESE CUSTOMER SERVICE

263.

SHI, JIANGWEI Chinese

CHINESE CUSTOMER SERVICE

264.

WEI, XIAN Chinese

CHINESE CUSTOMER SERVICE

265.

ZENG, JIANGANG Chinese

CHINESE CUSTOMER SERVICE

266.

HUANG, YITING Singaporean

SINGAPOREAN CUSTOMER SERVICE

OPTIMORE INC. Unit 3-c 3/f Lpl Tower 112 Legaspi St. San Lorenzo Makati City 267.

ASPEN, NIKITA Norwegian

MULTILINGUAL CUSTOMER SERVICE SPECIALIST

RED DOT MARKETING AND BRANDING INC. Unit 1514 Burgundy Transpacific Place Taft Ave. 079, Bgy. 727 Malate Manila 268.

KHEMAKANOK, PIYADA Thai

FOREIGN LANGUAGE CUSTOMER SERVICE

269.

CHANG, YU-KAI Taiwanese

MANDARIN TEAM LEADER

270.

LUO, WEIHUA Chinese

MANDARIN TECHNICAL SUPPORT

YIN, LIAN Chinese

CHINESE CUSTOMER SERVICE

219.

YING, ZONGCHAO Chinese

CHINESE CUSTOMER SERVICE

REDSHIELD SERVICES INC. Rm. 127 12/f Times Plaza Bldg. Un. Cor . Taft Ave. 072, Bgy. 666 Ermita Manila

220.

YU, YANMEI Chinese

CHINESE CUSTOMER SERVICE

271.

221.

ZENG, RONGFA Chinese

CHINESE CUSTOMER SERVICE

222.

ZHANG, YUXIN Chinese

RIGHT CHOICE FINANCE CORP. 5e-1 Electra House Bldg. 115-117 Esteban Street San Lorenzo Makati City

CHINESE CUSTOMER SERVICE

223.

ZHANG, JIABIAO Chinese

CHINESE CUSTOMER SERVICE

224.

ZHANG, YINGTIAN Chinese

CHINESE CUSTOMER SERVICE

225.

ZHANG, XIAOBO Chinese

CHINESE CUSTOMER SERVICE

ZHANG, FUWU Chinese

CHINESE CUSTOMER SERVICE

227.

ZHANG, XUEYUE Chinese

CHINESE CUSTOMER SERVICE

228.

ZHAO, ZHIYONG Chinese

CHINESE CUSTOMER SERVICE

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

229.

ZHI, HAITAO Chinese

CHINESE CUSTOMER SERVICE

276.

230.

ZHONG, RUILIAN Chinese

CHINESE CUSTOMER SERVICE

277.

231.

ZHOU, XIANGDONG Chinese

CHINESE CUSTOMER SERVICE

232.

ZHOU, ZHICHENG Chinese

TOTOP MARINE SERVICES INC. Unit No. 301 Flr. No. 3/f Diplomat Condominium Bldg. Roxas Blvd. Cor. Russel St. Zone 10 Barangay 076, District 1 Pasay City

CHINESE CUSTOMER SERVICE

233.

ZHU, ZHENXIANG Chinese

CHINESE CUSTOMER SERVICE

ZHUANG, QINGBO Chinese

CHINESE CUSTOMER SERVICE

235.

CHENG, FEIYANG Chinese

CHINESE CUSTOMER SERVICE REPRESENTATIVE

236.

DAI, CHAOWEI Chinese

CHINESE CUSTOMER SERVICE REPRESENTATIVE

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

237.

LI, HAOJIE Chinese

CHINESE CUSTOMER SERVICE REPRESENTATIVE

280.

GAO, QIANGDA Chinese

CHINESE CUSTOMER SERVICE REPRESENTATIVE

238.

SONG, YANG Chinese

CHINESE CUSTOMER SERVICE REPRESENTATIVE

281.

HOU, ZUJING Chinese

CHINESE CUSTOMER SERVICE REPRESENTATIVE

239.

WANG, XIN Chinese

CHINESE CUSTOMER SERVICE REPRESENTATIVE

282.

JIANG, SONGYI Chinese

CHINESE CUSTOMER SERVICE REPRESENTATIVE

240.

YE, AN Chinese

CHINESE CUSTOMER SERVICE REPRESENTATIVE

283.

LI, LELE Chinese

CHINESE CUSTOMER SERVICE REPRESENTATIVE

241.

YU, TIANTIAN Chinese

CHINESE CUSTOMER SERVICE REPRESENTATIVE

284.

LI, YONG Chinese

CHINESE CUSTOMER SERVICE REPRESENTATIVE

242.

LI, YANG Chinese

CHINESE CUSTOMER SPECIALIST

285.

LI, CHUNBO Chinese

CHINESE CUSTOMER SERVICE REPRESENTATIVE

218.

226.

234.

KAO, HSIU-PING Taiwanese

HR OFFICER - MANDARIN

UNITOP GENERAL MERCHANDISE INC. 12th Floor, Ri Rance Bldg. Aseana City Tambo Parañaque City 295.

HUA, XIAOSONG Chinese

MARKETING MANAGER

VAN GOGH BUSINESS PROCESS OUTSOURCING INC. 2/f The Pearl Manila Hotel Gen Luna St., 073 Bgy 676 Ermita Manila 296.

BAI, HAOHUN Chinese

INFORMATION SECURITY ANALYST

297.

CHEN, YOUYI Chinese

INFORMATION SECURITY ANALYST

298.

CHEN, YANJING Chinese

INFORMATION SECURITY ANALYST

299.

HE, JING Chinese

INFORMATION SECURITY ANALYST

300.

LI, XINYING Chinese

INFORMATION SECURITY ANALYST

301.

SHU, QIN Chinese

INFORMATION SECURITY ANALYST

302.

XU, NAIJIE Chinese

INFORMATION SECURITY ANALYST

303.

LIU, ZHIPAN Chinese

IT TECHNICAL MANDARIN

304.

LIU, JINLONG Chinese

IT TECHNICAL MANDARIN

305.

ZHANG, JINDI Chinese

IT TECHNICAL MANDARIN

VERTEX DIGITAL ENTERTAINMENT TECHNOLOGIES, INC. 1439 Adriatico Cor. Sta. Monica St. 072 Bgy. 669 Ermita Manila 306.

TIAN, HAIYAN Chinese

CHINESE IT SPECIALIST

307.

YANG, XIULIU Chinese

CHINESE IT SPECIALIST

308.

YU, YAYAO Chinese

CHINESE IT SPECIALIST

309.

ZHAN, LIYUN Chinese

CHINESE IT SPECIALIST

310.

JERRICO LEONARDO Indonesian

IT SPECIALIST

311.

SUHARYATI Indonesian

IT SPECIALIST

VPC CORPORATE SOLUTIONS INCORPORATED 11/f 100 West, Sen Gil Puyat Ave. Cor. Washington St. Pio Del Pilar Makati City 312.

CUI, ZHILONG Chinese

BILINGUAL MARKETING SPECIALIST

313.

LI, QIUYUN Chinese

BILINGUAL MARKETING SPECIALIST

314.

LYU, QIUPING Chinese

BILINGUAL MARKETING SPECIALIST

315.

LYU, JINZHEN Chinese

BILINGUAL MARKETING SPECIALIST

316.

QIAO, GANG Chinese

BILINGUAL MARKETING SPECIALIST

272.

LI, YINAN Chinese

MANDARIN BUSINESS DEVELOPMENT OFFICER

317.

WANG, LEXIANG Chinese

BILINGUAL MARKETING SPECIALIST

273.

TIAN, YANLI Chinese

MANDARIN BUSINESS DEVELOPMENT OFFICER

318.

YONG LAI KEI Malaysian

MALAY-SPEAKING CUSTOMER SERVICE OFFICER

274.

WANG, WEIQIANG Chinese

MANDARIN BUSINESS DEVELOPMENT OFFICER

319.

NGUYEN VIET CUONG Vietnamese

VIETNAM-SPEAKING CUSTOMER SERVICE OFFICER

320.

PHAM THANH DIEU LINH Vietnamese

VIETNAM-SPEAKING CUSTOMER SERVICE OFFICER

SOMI UNLIMITED SOLUTIONS, INC. 6/f Filinvest Cyberzone Bldg. Cbp1 Bay City Brgy. 076 Pasay City 275.

278.

HOANG KHANH GIA PHUOC Vietnamese

VIETNAMESE CUSTOMER SERVICE REPRESENTATIVE

HAN, LU Chinese

MANDARIN CUSTOMER SERVICE SPECIALIST

NGUYEN THI HOA Vietnamese

MANDARIN CUSTOMER SERVICE SPECIALIST

PARK, JA SUNG South Korean

VICE PRESIDENT

TRI-PHIL INTERNATIONAL, INC. Rmt Industrial Complex Tunasan Muntinlupa City 279.

KATAYAMA, KEIJI Japanese

VICE PRESIDENT FOR SALES, RESEARCH & DEVELOPMENT, AND QUALITY ASSURANCE

W.E.W RESOURCE MANAGEMENT, INC. 50/f Pbcom Tower 6795 Ayala Ave. Cor. V.a. Rufino St. Bel-air Makati City 321.

LAU CUN PHUNG Vietnamese

MANDARIN SPEAKING CUSTOMER SERVICE REPRESENTATIVE

322.

LUU NHUC SANG Vietnamese

MANDARIN SPEAKING CUSTOMER SERVICE REPRESENTATIVE

323.

NGUYEN DANG KIM KHUE Vietnamese

MANDARIN SPEAKING CUSTOMER SERVICE REPRESENTATIVE

324.

NGUYEN TRUNG KHANH HA Vietnamese

MANDARIN SPEAKING CUSTOMER SERVICE REPRESENTATIVE

325.

PHAM TRAN TON PHUONG Vietnamese

MANDARIN SPEAKING CUSTOMER SERVICE REPRESENTATIVE

326.

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MANDARIN SPEAKING CUSTOMER SERVICE REPRESENTATIVE *Date Generated: Feb 22, 2021

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

ATTY. SARAH BUENA S. MIRASOL REGIONAL DIRECTOR

A8 Tuesday, February 23, 2021 • Editor: Angel R. Calso

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editorial

Pandemic highlights need for public parks

he city of Manila has been receiving some positive press recently with its green initiatives, the latest of which is the inauguration of a one-hectare public park, called the Hidden Garden.

The park is located at the heart of Lawton. A report from ANC says: “You can see the park from the Metropolitan Theater, the City Hall, or the Post Office, and adjacent to the Liwasang Bonifacio. It’s about 10-15 minutes walk from Binondo. The spot, which is now the city’s newest attraction, used to be a dumping ground of old vehicles and had served as home to street dwellers for many years.” Manila Mayor Isko Moreno said the inauguration of the Hidden Garden is in line with his administration’s policy to open more green spaces in the nation’s capital. Indeed, city hall workers have been busy rehabilitating and expanding parks, even putting plants and other greens under the LRT route along Taft Avenue and other areas. The Hidden Garden is only one of many open-air green spaces around Manila, which include the Manila Baywalk, Luneta or Rizal Park, Arroceros Forest Park, Mehan Garden, The Kartilya ng Katipunan Park beside the Manila City Hall and the Paco Park. The Covid-19 pandemic has certainly highlighted the need for parks and open spaces, as health and safety protocols require people to avoid crowded and enclosed places. Parks, gardens and recreational spaces are essential infrastructure in our cities, but more so nowadays. Instead of more high-rise condominiums and buildings, concrete flyovers, and squatter colonies in what used to be open spaces, we need greener infrastructure—little oases in our cities that can cool hot and tired pedestrians and commuters and serve as safe havens from this confining Covid pandemic. The few remaining public parks and open spaces must be funded and kept well. City governments should increase access to parks. They shouldn’t allow stores and other commercial structures to be built inside them. That’s not what parks are for. LGUs can also convert vacant or underused land into pocket parks and green spaces that can help communities maintain physical and mental health. They can also widen sidewalks and bike lanes and close certain streets to vehicles to make them exclusive to pedestrians. According to scientific estimates, Metro Manila has about 13 percent green cover left. It is one of the lowest ranked cities in the Asian Green City Index, a measurement of the environmental performance of 22 urban cities across the region by the Economic Intelligence Unit. Data from the Department of Environment and Natural Resources showed that only 12,152.79 hectares out of Metro Manila’s total land area of 55,922.22 hectares, or only 21 percent, were allotted to green spaces. In an ABS-CBN report last December, Dr. Benjamin Co, an infectious diseases expert, urged local government units to consider reopening parks, as children are still not allowed in malls. Co said even with safety measures against Covid, there is no guarantee that going to malls is safe for those allowed since they are enclosed areas and “it is very difficult to keep physical distancing in an enclosed area.” He instead recommended going to parks where the public, especially the children, could enjoy the open space, which reduces the chances of contracting the virus. With the further easing of quarantine measures, Metro Manila residents should be allowed to enjoy public parks and open spaces as long as they follow health and safety protocols. Investing in green infrastructure and ecological projects like parks, gardens, waterfronts, riverwalks, baywalks, plazas and other recreational open spaces in our cities is essential not only to the country’s climate resilience but also our recovery from the pandemic. We can turn the Covid crisis into an opportunity to reshape Metro Manila and other urban centers into the green havens they once were.

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Shift to MGCQ Manny B. Villar

THE Entrepreneur

lacing the entire nation under the least restrictive quarantine level should not be a cause for concern. The looser restrictions aim to encourage more people to go out and participate in increased economic activities. The laxer conditions do not, in any way, call for a lowering of one’s guard or the abandonment of health protocols to stop the spread of Covid-19.

I am in total agreement with the recommendations of the National Economic and Development Authority to President Duterte to put the whole Philippines under modified general community quarantine (MGCQ) starting March 1 to speed up the opening of the economy. It is the right time to further reopen the economy. The Philippines has one of the longest and strictest Covid-19 lockdowns in the world. The rigid restrictions have led to a 9.5-percent contraction in the economy, the steepest in Asia. I am confident that we can control the virus spread and open the economy at the same time. The Neda specifically favors re-

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laxing the age restrictions on people allowed to go out of their homes, expansion of public transportation operations from 50 percent to 75 percent and allowing more provincial buses to operate, and the conduct of pilot face-to-face classes in areas with established low coronavirus infection risk. It also recommended expanding the age groups allowed to leave their homes, from the current 15 to 65 to 5 to 70. Many of our lawmakers generally agree with the recommendations. I am glad that some of our senators are now more open to the idea of less rigid quarantine restrictions in order to give the economy a break. They believe in the merits of Neda’s rec-

his year has already been marked by two significant financial events: the GameStop (GME) and Bitcoin price explosions. There was no justification for either market price increasing the way they did. GME did not go higher on either corporate fundamentals or stock price technicals. Bitcoin is still not money. But neither of those factors matter even a little. Let’s get a couple of things straight. The GME deal was not in any way unusual. The Reddit group had been around for years. A situation was found that created a profit opportunity only if enough of the group’s minions moved in the same direction. The only reasons it was front page news was that the hedge funds were caught on the wrong side of the trade and it was facilitated by Satan’s Ultimate Tool—Social Media. By comparison, we can have a stock market group or two on Philippine Facebook “pimping” a stock as the next super-duper backdoor listing or with the technology to extract gold from seawater. The principle is the same. Tesla is not a car company. The

company should be called “ElonMusk Inc.” If Musk gets run over by one of his own self-driving cars, no one will buy the stock. It currently has a $6.1 billion retained earnings deficit. The company has and will continue to borrow $2 billion for its “Giga Shanghai” factory. But Tesla bought $1.5 billion of Bitcoin and within minutes of that being announced, the price was up 20 percent. Tesla was just rated the worst—33 out of 33—automobile brands in the world in the J. D. Power 2020 Initial Quality Study. No one cares. And suddenly major banks and global financial institutions—the ones that get bailed out by taxpayer money every decade or so—is buying Bitcoin. Governments are Satan’s

ommendations as long as the regular health protocols, such as wearing of masks and social distancing, are strictly observed. Nine Metro Manila mayors, meanwhile, voted last week in favor of putting the National Capital Region under a modified general community quarantine in March, against the eight who wanted to retain the stricter GCQ. The shift in the thinking of Metro Manila mayors is significant. Our local executives in the capital region are becoming more sensitive to the plight of their constituents, who are either aching to go back to work or to find one if they have lost their previous jobs. Navotas Mayor Toby Tiangco has assured the vote on the shift to MGCQ is the official position of the Metro Manila Council that will be submitted to the Inter-Agency Task Force for the Management of Emerging Infectious Diseases (IATF). The shift to MGCQ, however, does not mean the Philippines is close to defeating Covid-19. We are still far from achieving victory until the vaccines arrive and the country establishes herd immunity. For one, the World Health Organization is still cautious on its assessment of the Philippines. An overall easing of quarantine restrictions, according to the health body, might result in an

The Dow Jones is up 63 percent since the pandemic low—hitting an all-time high. The Japanese stock market is back above 30,000 for the first time since 1990. Total global stock market capitalization has reached a new historical high of $90 trillion. “We don’t care about a stinking pandemic!” Policy-makers are unwilling to allow negative nominal asset price returns. ultimate financial tools. However, GME and Bitcoin give us critical information about the future if you are willing to listen and are not caught up in the feeding frenzy. GME is supposed to tell us—according to the experts—that the stock market is a rigged game, needs massive reform and regulation and “blah blah blah.” Bitcoin is supposed to tell us—according to the experts —that government-issued fiat money is dead, the future is electronic digital money, and “blah blah blah.” I added the “blah blah blah” so anyone can add more reasons like “It’s all part of a Putin/Illuminati/Communist conspiracy plan.” The reality is that these two situations are the tips of the “hyperinflation” and “hyper-speculation” icebergs.

upsurge in cases amid the delay in the vaccination rollout and the presence of new Covid variants. WHO still recognizes the high level of transmission in the Philippines, which is being complicated by new virus strains. It still favors some restrictions. But WHO country representative Rabindra Abeyasinghe says it does not mean “we cannot loosen up key areas so the economy will benefit, but that has to be done in a very targeted manner.” Metro Manila mayors, thus, should be proactive in reopening the economy. They have a key role in reviving our economy. They can implement localized lockdowns at the barangay level in case of a virus spike to curb the infection spread. Isolated lockdowns have proven more effective in the past than general area confinement. Metro Manila mayors will be the catalyst in the reopening of the economy. They can balance economic reopening with health safeguards. The national government has taken the lead in controlling the pandemic and it is up to local government executives to preserve the early gains we achieved in curbing the spread of the disease. For comments, e-mail mbv.secretariat@gmail. com or visit www.mannyvillar.com.ph.

The global inflation rate for 2020 is estimated at 3.18 percent and in the US at 0.62 percent. That is not too bad unless you remember that it does not include food and energy. The UN Food and Agriculture Organization World Food Price Index was up 19.1 percent in 2020. Brent Crude Oil price is up 205 percent since May 2020. Eric Peters, CIO of One River Asset Management, said: “A healthy market has those who can see both sides of the trade, and they may differ in how they weigh the risks, but they acknowledge they exist.” But why would anyone worry about stock market risk? The Dow Jones is up 63 percent since the pandemic low—hitting an all-time high. The Japanese stock market is back above 30,000 for the first time since 1990. Total global stock market capitalization has reached a new historical high of $90 trillion. “We don’t care about a stinking pandemic!” Policy-makers are unwilling to allow negative nominal asset price returns. So sit back and enjoy the ride for now. You will even have opportunities to make a lot of money...until you won’t. E-mail me at mangun@gmail.com. Follow me on Twitter @mangunonmarkets. PSE stock-market information and technical analysis provided by AAA Southeast Equities Inc.

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The ‘new normal’ isn’t new–We’re just late to the party Lyca Balita

Onwards

e’re all tired of the pandemic, but on behalf of the Zoom students, this needs to be said. I was born in the Philippines in the late 1990s — that strange gap between the Millennials and the Gen Z. That meant growing up on pogs, tumbang preso, and the sweet nectar of santan flowers; but also Friendster, minesweeper, and that offline pinball game on Windows computers. Then we grew up and practically raised the online giants of today—Facebook, Twitter, and YouTube (although credit for Tiktok is concededly with the Gen Z), and the rest is history. Basically, we have tradition and technology all figured out, having lived in the gaps. Then the pandemic arrived in the Philippines in early 2020. I leave it to the Doctors of Education and the researchers to determine which generation thrived during the sudden online shift in education. But having taught university students and currently studying in grad school in this pandemic, I can attest that one thing is certain: It was not an easy shift for both educators and students. It should’ve been easy, this sudden shift, considering that the Internet has been around for over a decade. But why is everyone still struggling? It’s simple: Not all 19th to 20th century principles work for 21st century students learning in the classrooms of the future. Yet we insist on it, then struggle and wonder why it’s so difficult. Traditional principles have withstood the test of time for a reason — they work. But there’s a reason that not all traditions (for instance, Sanduguan, riding kalesas, or regularly wearing a baro’t saya) last forever— some of them just don’t work anymore. The same goes for education, and that’s okay. It doesn’t mean that the old practices are bad; it just means that they don’t work anymore, although they did in the past. According to Anne Dealy of the Geneva Historical Society, among the 19th century systems that remain unchanged today are memorization and recitation of definitions and math problems. Is this still effective today in online education, where students can easily have the definition or formula opened on their screens while reciting—fooling both themselves and their professors in the process? Are fill-in-the-blanks modules still effective when Google is right there and not impossible to access despite whatever anti-cheating software is in place? Perhaps application-type assessments would be more effective. Provide all the definitions, formulas, or facts, then test the students’ application and critical thinking. After all, the point of education is to educate, not to grade. Perhaps the assessment need not be too left-brained in the first place. Not everyone is a left-brainer anyway. My History professor once asked us to write a song for class, and to this day I can still enumerate the African Trading Civilizations by heart. This kind of task is easily doable in an online class setting, and inarguably a lot more entertaining than an assessment requiring a mere objective

enumeration of civilizations. Content-wise, when was the last time you used the quadratic formula outside of class? Compare this with the last time you created something on either your phone or laptop, whether it be a collage, blog, digital illustration, a spreadsheet, or the like. Imagine if the curriculum included coding, digital art, game design, or even a class as simple as understanding Microsoft Excel. These would have taught problem solving and analysis just the same, but it would have equipped the student with real life skills at the same time. This is not to say that algebra and similar subjects should be scrapped, but perhaps there are subjects that can be electives for those who wish to pursue a certain path, while there are untaught lessons that we ought to teach our students for this 21st century world. Take it a step further. Use available online games if you can. You would be shocked at how fast a fiveyear-old can learn to count and to understand how the world works because of Minecraft, a game familiar to most young people today. Should we insist on sports for Physical Education classes in an online environment? My younger sister has table tennis as her subject, and, well, you could only imagine how her classes go. As an alternative, perhaps the curriculum could focus instead on teaching meal plans, the science of sleep, and realistic home workouts that the students could bring with them after they graduate. These are just a few of the changes we can make to bring our educational system to the present, a world which isn’t as new as we like to think. The shift toward online education does not have to be difficult and mentalhealth-deteriorating. The Internet is not a new invention, and online video calls did not arrive with the pandemic. They have been here for years. With the wisdom of traditional teachers and the technology of the future, the potential of education has never been this infinite. We just need to ask and genuinely listen to the 21st century students, and provide creative tools and empathetic support to our educators who remain among the unsung heroes today. This “new normal” in education has been waiting for years to be maximized. For feedback, send an e-mail to lyca.balita@ gmail.com

Tuesday, February 23, 2021 A9

Will Bicol produce the next president in 2022? Manny F. Dooc

TELLTALES

‘L

et’s put the rancor behind us... Let’s unify; let us focus on the work in front of us…” That’s how Vice President Leni Robredo welcomed the unanimous decision of the Presidential Electoral Tribunal (PET) dismissing former Sen. Bongbong Marcos’ election protest lodged against her. We trust that this will now put the issue to rest and allow the Vice President to concentrate on her job as the duly elected VP of our country. Her victory has virtually made Robredo the undisputed leader of the opposition and a viable alternative to the ruling administration. Since the Commonwealth Government in 1935, there have been 14 persons who have served as Vice Presidents of the Philippines. They were: Sergio Osmeña Sr., Elpidio Quirino, Fernando Lopez (under Quirino and Ferdinand Marcos), Carlos P. Garcia, Diosdado P. Macapagal, Emmanuel Pelaez, Salvador H. Laurel, Joseph Estrada, Gloria M. Arroyo, Teofisto Guingona, Noli de Castro, Jejomar C. Binay and Leni Robredo. Four Vice Presidents, to wit: Osmeña, Quirino, Garcia and Arroyo succeeded their Presidents who either died or considered resigned from office. However, Quirino, Garcia and Arroyo were elected into the office of the Presidency after completing the unfinished term of their immediate predecessors. Osmeña, Laurel and Binay ran for President but they were repudiated at the polls. Our presidents hailed from different parts of the Philippines. The most prolific region is Central Luzon, which has produced six presidents —Ramon Magsaysay of Zambales, the father-and-daughter

presidents, Diosdado and Gloria, the mother-and-son presidents, Cory and PNoy and Fidel Ramos. Visayas has contributed Osmeña, Manuel A. Roxas and Garcia. Two presidents hailed from Ilocos, namely: Quirino and Marcos. Southern Tagalog and NCR have given us one each: Manuel L. Quezon who originally hailed from Tayabas (now Quezon) and Erap Estrada from NCR. I excluded Jose P. Laurel from Batangas who served as the President of the Japanese Puppet Government. President Duterte is a proud son of Mindanao and definitely he will not be the first and the last Mindanawon President of our country. One region that has not produced a president is Bicol. It comprises six provinces—Camarines Sur (the largest), Albay, Camarines Norte, Sorsogon, Masbate and Catanduanes. It is the fourth largest ethnolinguistic group in our country. Based on the 2019 elections data, Bicolandia has a total voting population of 3.6 million voters, or 5.9 percent of the total voters of the Philippines. It’s the 6th largest region in

The FIST Act Atty. Rodel C. Unciano

Tax Law for Business

nother piece of legislation crafted in response to the adverse effects of the Covid-19 pandemic is Republic Act (RA) 11523 otherwise known as the Financial Institutions Strategic Transfer (FIST) Act, recently signed by President Duterte into law. This law is set to strengthen the country’s financial sector by addressing the sector’s non-performing asset problems, improve the liquidity of the financial system, and help in the rehabilitation of distressed businesses, among others. Under the law, a corporation, which shall be known as Financial Institutions Strategic Transfer Corp., may be created for the purpose of investing in or acquiring the nonperforming assets (NPAs) of financial institutions (FIs). A FISTC must be a stock corporation that may be organized under the provisions of RA 11232, or the Revised Corporation Code of the Philippines. A FISTC shall have a minimum authorized capital stock of P500,000,000, a minimum subscribedcapitalstockofP125,000,000, and a minimum paid-up capital of P31,250,000. If the FISTC acquires land, at least 60 percent of its outstanding capital stock shall be owned by Philippine nationals. It shall not be allowed to be incorporated as one person corporation.

A FISTC shall have the power to invest in or acquire NPAs of FIs. It may rent, lease, hire, subject to security interest, mortgage, transfer, sell, exchange, usufruct, secure, securitize, collect rents and profits, and other similar acts concerning its NPAs acquired from FIs. It may spend funds to renovate, improve, complete, or alter its NPAs acquired from an FI. It may likewise enter into dation in payment arrangements, foreclose or enter into other forms of debt settlement involving nonperforming loans (NPLs). A FIST has likewise the power to engage third parties to manage, operate, collect, and dispose of NPAs acquired from an FI. To encourage the organization of FISTC, the transfer of NPAs from the FI to an FISTC, or from FISTC to a

the Philippines in terms of voting population. Only Calabarzon, NCR, Central Luzon, Central Visayas and Western Visayas have a bigger number of voters. It’s larger than Ilocos, Eastern Visayas, Davao and the rest. Admittedly, the regional base of the candidate is not determinant of election results. Calabarzon and NCR, the first and second largest regions in terms of number of voters have only produced one President each. The Ilocos Region, with its muchvaunted “solid north” has produced three presidents—Quirino, Marcos and Ramos, if we stretch it to Pangasinan. Bicol with a capable candidate can take control of Malacañang. The last presidential contender from the region was the late Senator Raul Roco. He had the intellect, stature and integrity but he was too independent and uncompromising to gain popular support. Moreover, he was already seriously ill on his second attempt for the presidency and this was known to the public during the campaign. In the past, there were other prominent Bicolano politicians who had played prominent roles in national politics like Tecla San Andres-Ziga and her son, Victor, Francisco Tatad, Edmundo Cea, Emilio Espinosa, Eddie Ilarde and Joker Arroyo, all former senators of our Republic. However, none of them had become a presidential timber. The other current crop of Bicolano leaders with national followings like Lilia de Lima, Francis Escudero, Antonio Trillanes and Gregorio Honasan still lack the stature to launch a serious bid. In the 2016 presidential derby, Bicol delivered 889,441 votes to Roxas, edging Duterte who only received 347,729 votes. It’s the biggest lead posted by Roxas over Duterte outside of the former’s home region of

Western Visayas and Negros Island. Robredo won 63.88 percent of the votes cast in Bicol when she ran for VP in 2016. She led overwhelmingly in all provinces of Bicol except in Sorsogon, the home province of Francis Escudero. Two other VP contenders also hailed from Bicol, Gregorio Honasan and Antonio Trillanes, which further trimmed Robredo’s winning margin. All four Bicolano VP candidates are of national renown and favorite natives of Bicol with die-hard followers among the Bicolanos. Robredo should consolidate the Bicol votes to give her a solid boost if ever she decides to seek the presidency in 2022. Another factor in Robredo’s favor is her gender. Female voters outnumber males by close to 2 million. The drive for gender equality has made women power a formidable force in every election. While the US is still scrambling to elect its first female president, our young country has already elected two since 1986. The Bicolano cuisine is noted for using siling labuyo and coconut milk, which are common ingredients in their recipes. They venerate the Our Lady of Peñafrancia, the Patroness of Bicol. Bicolanos are religious people. When they join the grand fluvial procession on the feast day of the Virgin in Naga River this year, Bicolanos should make extra prayers for the Virgin to anoint their favorite daughter, Robredo, and bless her presidential quest. The people of the place are known for being gutsy or “uragon.” Bicolanos should prove their mettle and install Robredo as the next tenant in Malacañang come 2022. Robredo has been called derogatory names by the President and her critics. But to her adulating fellow Bicolanos, they will love to call her “The next President of the Philippines.” Viva La Virgen!

To encourage the organization of FISTC, the transfer of NPAs from the FI to an FISTC, or from FISTC to a third party or dation in payment by the borrower or by a third party in favor of an FI or in favor of FISTC shall be exempt from documentary stamp tax, value-added tax or gross receipts tax. Capital gains tax or creditable withholding income taxes on transfer of lands /or other assets shall not be imposed.

from tax on net interest income, documentary stamp tax and mortgage registration fees on new loans in excess of existing loans extended to borrowers with NPLs which have been acquired by the FISTC. In case of capital infusion by the FISTC to the borrower with NPLs, the FISTC shall also be exempt from documentary stamp tax. These exemptions shall apply for a period of not more than five years from the date of acquisition of NPLs by the FISTC. Any loss that is incurred by an FI as a result of the transfer of an NPA within the two-year period from the effectivity of the FIST law shall be treated as ordinary loss. The loss incurred may be carried over for a period of five consecutive taxable years immediately following the year of such loss. The enactment of FIST into law will certainly help banks and other financial institutions maintain good financial health which is vital for a sound financial sector of any country.

third party or dation in payment by the borrower or by a third party in favor of an FI or in favor of FISTC shall be exempt from documentary stamp tax, value-added tax or gross receipts tax. Capital gains tax or creditable withholding income taxes on transfer of lands /or other assets shall not be imposed. The tax exemptions though shall only be for a limited period. Tax exemptions on sales or transfers of NPAs from the FIs to FIST shall be for a period of not more than two years from the effectivity of the FIST Act. On the other hand, tax exemptions on transfers from FISTC to a third party of NPAs acquired by the FISTC shall be for a period of not more than five years from the date of acquisition by the FISTC. To further encourage the infusion of capital and financial assistance by the FISTC, the FISTC shall be exempt

Texas deep freeze delivers Macquarie $210 million windfall By Nabila Ahmed Bloomberg Opinion

he Texas deep freeze that upended the US energy market has delivered Macquarie Group Ltd. a windfall of as much as A$270 million ($210 million) amid wild gyrations in gas and electricity prices. The Sydney-based investment bank on Monday raised its profit

forecast, citing increased demand for its gas and power supply services in the US. Macquarie is the second-biggest physical gas supplier in the US behind BP Plc, and typically moves gas between different parts of the country based on last-minute customer needs. Last week the bank profited as its major clients—including energy companies—sought to buy and move

higher-than-expected volumes of gas and electricity to their customers amid the crisis in Texas, according to a person with knowledge of the matter. The price of physical gas, which is normally less than $3 per million British thermal units, skyrocketed to as much as $1,250 in some locations last week. As the cold blast froze oil and gas wells, sent electricity prices to record highs and caused blackouts for 5 mil-

lion homes and businesses, more of Macquarie’s customers ordered gas for Texas that had to be shipped from other parts of the country, the person said. Macquarie’s commodities business is unusual among banks in the US, where counterparts such as Goldman Sachs Group Inc. and Morgan Stanley have had to curb commodities trading activities to satisfy regulators. But Macquarie,

which expanded its commodities operations by purchasing Cargill Inc.’s power and gas trading business in the US in 2017, doesn’t trade commodities with its own balance sheet, the person said. In its profit upgrade, Macquarie said the “extreme winter weather conditions in North America have significantly increased short-term client demand for Macquarie’s capabilities in maintaining critical physi-

The author is a partner of Du-Baladad and Associates Law Offices (BDB Law), a member-firm of WTS Global. The article is for general information only and is not intended, nor should be construed as a substitute for tax, legal or financial advice on any specific matter. Applicability of this article to any actual or particular tax or legal issue should be supported therefore by a professional study or advice. If you have any comments or questions concerning the article, you may e-mail the author at rodel.unciano@ bdblaw.com.ph or call 8403-2001 local 140.

cal supply across the commodity complex and particularly in relation to gas and power.” After two weeks ago saying earnings in the year ending March 31 will be “slightly” down on last year’s result, Macquarie on Monday forecast profit would now be up 5 percent to 10 percent. That implies net income of about A$2.87 billion ($2.3 billion) to A$3 billion, compared to A$2.73 billion a year earlier.

A10 Tuesday, February 23, 2021

D.O.H. SAVINGS HELD BY DBM NOW IN ‘BILLIONS’ By Bernadette D. Nicolas @BNicolasBM

HE Department of Health’s (DOH) “savings” lodged with Procurement Service of the Department of Budget and Management (PS-DBM) is already in “billions.” Budget Undersecretary Lloyd Christopher A. Lao, who heads PS-DBM, disclosed this to BusinessMirror after Health Secretary Francisco Duque confirmed on Monday that they are targeting to use their savings to purchase an additional 50,000 doses of Sinovac on top of the 600,000 doses donated by China. The Government Procurement Policy Board (GPPB) disclosed in its recently released Resolution No. 02-2021 that DOH wrote a letter to DBM Secretary and GPPB chairman Wendel Avisado on January 25 requesting the inclusion of Covid-19 vaccines in the list of Common-Use Supplies and Equipment (CSE) and to authorize the Procurement Service (PS-DBM) to utilize actual and potential savings from the procurement of personal protective equipment (PPE) for the procurement of vaccines. The GPPB resolution was signed by Avisado and Budget Undersecretary Laura B. Pascua, as well as by several other representatives from different departments. Sought how much exactly is DOH’s savings with PS-DBM, Lao said he cannot give yet a specific figure but added they are doing the “accounting already for possible use of money for other purposes by DOH.” “We are continually procuring for DOH with respect to the test kits RT-PCR, PPEs. It’s hard to give a figure, because it’s a running

[number], but the savings are big because prices are falling now, for example, of surgical masks; prices of PPEs are declining too, because quarantines have eased and there are more suppliers so our savings have grown,” Lao explained in a phone interview, speaking partly in Filipino. It is also not yet clear how much of its total savings in the PS-DBM will the DOH be tapping for the vaccine purchase. DOH’s request to tap its unused funds for vaccine purchase came despite the assurance from the government, including the Department of Finance (DOF) that the country has sufficient funds for the procurement of vaccines. Asked why the DOH needs to tap these savings lodged with PSDBM for vaccine procurement despite the government’s earlier assurances on sufficiency of funds, Lao said: “We are trying to use as many sources of fund. The more sources of fund, the more we can procure so it should not be limited [so that] the more options we have, the better.” Responding to the same question, DOF Undersecretary Mark Joven, who heads the department’s International Finance Group, said in a message to BusinessMirror: “I think it is the DOH’s prerogative.” Of the P82.5-billion budget required to provide vaccines for majority of the population, the amount of P2.5 billion forms part of the budget of the DOH under the 2021 General Appropriations Act (GAA), while P10 billion will come from the funds allocated for the Covid-19 vaccination program under Republic Act (RA) No. 11494 or the Bayanihan To Recover As One Act (Bayanihan 2).

House plenary starts taking up economic Charter change

By Jovee Marie N. dela Cruz

@joveemarie

ITING its “constituent powers,” the House of Representatives on Monday kicked off plenary deliberations on proposals to amend the restrictive economic provisions of the Constitution. In sponsoring the Resolution of Both Houses Number 2 (RBH 2), Committee on Constitutional Amendments Chairman Alfredo Garbin Jr., House Committee on Ways and Means Chairman Joey Sarte Salceda and Marikina Rep. Stella Luz Quimbo cited the urgency to amend the 1987 Constitution to attract foreign direct investments, which badly needed to rebuild Philippine economy shattered by the Covid-19 pandemic. “With your indulgence, allow me to share estimates from the Department of Finance, which shows that by 2030, if we achieve FDI levels similar to even the most conservative case, namely that of Myanmar, our GDP performance will be

7.9 percentage points higher than where it would be if we make no changes to the investment regime,” he said. “Investments would be a staggering 10.3 percentage points better than baseline by 2030. Real wages would improve by 5 percentage points more during the same period,” he added. Salceda said his estimates show that the country stands to gain a total of 6.6 million jobs, if Congress immediately follows RBH 2 with the right enabling laws. Citing the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development or OECD, Salceda said foreign ownership restrictions in the law represent the number one barrier

to foreign investment. Salceda said as Vietnam loosened its FDI restriction, it overtook the Philippines in FDI inflow. “Vietnam used to have tighter FDI restrictions, owing to its wartorn past and its previous conflict with Western capitalist counrties. While the Philippines restricted with the 1087 Constitution, Vietnam was undergoing economic transformation with the ‘DoiMoi’ reforms,” he said. “During a critical period before the 1997 Asian Financial Crisis, our economy remained closed while our neighbors began opening up. In fact, we remain among the most restrictive economy in the world to FDIs. We are the most restrictive economy in our own region,” he added. Salceda said the Philippines has locked itself out of significant foreign investments and the jobs they create. “We have spend hundreds of billions of pesos in foregone revenue for tax incentives, when we have not tried a simpler, cheaper solution: opening industries in need of capital to foreign investment through legislative action. Instead of sending our labor force abroad, let us attract foreign investment and create

the jobs here in the Philippines,” Salceda added. “I am under no illusion that RBH 2 is a magic wand for all of our problems. But it is a necessary beginning. The overwhelming evidence is that we made a mistake to hardcode our fears and paranoia into our Constitution. While we remained stubborn, our neighbors began to leapfrog us,” he said. Moreover, Garbin said amending the Charter is important in order to give government the freedom to adopt measures that will pave the way for economic development. “It is wise for Congress to amend the Constitution by adding the phrase ‘unless otherwise provided by law’ in order to give the government enough flexibility to consider different circumstances prevailing at different stages our road to economic development before formulating policies that should be time bound,” he said. Garbin emphasized that economic conditions “are never static, so must the fundamental law be freed from the constraint of rigidity. While it is reduced to writing, it should not be devoid of the element of f lexibility.” Continued on A2

See “DOH,” A2

Remittances not seen to regain high levels on poor deployment By Recto Mercene

@rectomercene

NLESS Overseas Filipino Workers (OFW) deployment rebounds, remittances are not expected to recover for the next two years, or until 2022. This is the prediction of the recruitment sector, which projects growth of no more than 2 percent in OFW remittances for the year 2021-2022 Recruitment consultant Manny Geslani said deployment of OFWs will remain flat for the coming two years and is not expected to reach the 2018 level of 2 million workers. Geslani’s forecast differs from the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas (BSP), which predicts a 4-percent rise this year in OFW remittances due to expected higher deployment. The pandemic has pushed many labor markets to close their borders like Saudi Arabia, Kuwait, Bahrain, and Oman, where majority of OFWs were deployed in 2018-2019. “More than 400,000 domestic workers were sent to the Middle East, representing 70 percent of new hires in both years,” Geslani said. In 2020 the Philippine Overseas Employment Administration (POEA) deployed only 1.4 million workers, majority of whom were rehires. These are limited to new hires and seafarers on crew changes. BSP Governor Benjamin Diokno said personal remittances slipped by 0.8 percent, while cash remittances coursed through banks also contracted by 0.8 percent last year. This was way lower than the

revised projection of a 2-percent contraction for 2020, but still ended 19 consecutive years of growth. The deployment of OFWs is not expected to recover within the next two years as the entire world grapples with the Covid-19 pandemic. For one, several economies in the Middle East and Europe are not optimistic the previous levels of their economic wealth will return anytime soon. In Saudi Arabia—the country’s largest labor market for the past two decades—the economic downturn started with the plunge of crude oil prices to below 50 dollars per barrel, and the entry of Covid-19 exacerbated the slowdown in economic activity. This has resulted in the repatriation of more than 300,000 Filipinos back to the country. In 2020, half a million OFWs were displaced from work with close to 380,000 repatriated to the country and another 100,000 more expected to arrive in 2021, Geslani said. “ T he remaining 80,000 to 100,000 out-of-work OFWs have decided to remain in their jobs sites buoyed by unemployment insurance which expects to last a few more months of 2021.” Few countries and territories are open to OFWs like Hong Kong, Taiwan, Japan, Great Britain and Germany. These countries still need health-care workers while new the borders of destinations like Poland, Czechoslovakia and Serbia remain closed on fears of the new variants of Covid-19 spreading to many countries in Europe and the USA. See “Remittances,” A2

Health workers in Las Piñas City prepare for their duty on Monday. Reports said that three out of four Filipino nurses are willing to be vaccinated against Covid-19. According to the one-week survey by the Filipino Nurses United, 494 out of 646 nurse respondents or at least 76.5 percent indicated an intention to be vaccinated. NONIE REYES

LGUs told to heighten surveillance for Covid By Claudeth Mocon-Ciriaco

Correspondent

S the country may shift to a more relaxed quarantine status on March 1, Health Secretary Francisco T. Duque III urged the local government units (LGUs) to be on alert and boost further their surveilance capacity to prevent further spikes in cases, especially in the National Capital Region (NCR). Duque also expressed confidence that the LGUs are ready for the implementation of modified general community quarantine (MGCQ) following their one-year experience in battling Covid-19. Asked during the Laging Handa press briefing for the reason behind the uptick in cases especially in NCR, Duque blamed the non-compliance with minimum public health standards like wearing of face mask, face shield, physical distancing and frequent hand washing.

UK variant

Duque however, said that they have yet to determine if the increase in cases is due to the B1.1.7 variant or the UK variant. “We still don’t have enough data to prove that it is because of the UK variant...we need to wait for two weeks and look into the data,” Duque said. He said the matter is already being looked into by the University of the Philippines-Philippine Genome Center (UP-PGC), UP-National Institutes of Health (NIH), and Research Institute for Tropical Medicine. However, according to OCTA Research team, the huge contributor to this reported increase was Pasay City, where a 203-percent spike in infections in the last three days was noted. OCTA said that from the 28-daily average recorded from February 11 to 17, the city recorded an aver-

age of 86 cases daily from February 18 to 20. While the National Capital Region (NCR) has negative growth rate, eight cities have been showing increase in cases: Valenzuela, Pasay, Malabon, Pasig, Makati, Navotas, Las Piñas, Manila. Still the health-care utility rate remains in “safe zone.”

Localized lockdown

Duque also urged the LGUs to immediately implement a localized lockdown if there is a high number of cases reported in “barangays, sitios, streets, or compound.” “It is no longer good to implement a nationwide lockdown,” Duque said. Over the weekend, the Pasay City government placed restrictions on 33 barangays and one business establishment for 14 days due to the spike in Covid cases. According to City Administrator Atty. Dennis Acorda, Mayor Emi

Calixto-Rubiano wants barangays with 3 or more cases locked down to contain the virus. Acorda said the Philippine National Police and Barangay Officials will be augmented by members of the City Environment and Natural Resources Office, the Tricycle-Pedicab Franchising and Regulatory Office, and the Traffic and Parking Management Office to enforce IATF protocols. They will be deputized to issue citations to violators of health and safety rules. The Business Permits and Licensing Office (BPLO) inspection teams will also check on establishments’ compliance with IATF protocols. Public markets will also be deputized to inspect stalls and enforce health protocols. “Let’s strictly follow the E.M.I habit [Ensure to wash your hands, Mask is a must. Implement physical distancing],” Acorda said.

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Companies BusinessMirror

Tuesday, February 23, 2021

Dito hurdles NTC technical Robbie Antonio resigns from audit of committed service

By Lorenz S. Marasigan

@lorenzmarasigan

ito Telecommunity Corp. has passed the technical audit of its network, the National Telecommunications Commission (NTC) said on Monday, citing the results of the audit conducted by RG Manabat & Co. The regulatory body said the audit firm found Dito has reached its initial coverage commitment of 37.03 percent of the population, after delivering a coverage rate of 37.48 percent. This means that Dito’s network covers a total of 8,860 barangays or about 37 million Filipinos. Likewise, Dito, according to the

audit firm, recorded minimum average broadband speeds of 85.9 Mbps for 4G and 507.5 Mbps for 5G. Those that are near the base stations had faster speeds of 102.4 Mbps for 4G and 769.1 Mbps for 5G. Subscribers that are far from the base stations registered minimum average speeds of 64.4 Mbps for 4G

and 316.5 Mbps for 5G. Dito committed to provide a minimum average board band speed of 27 Mbps for its first year of operations. RG Manabat & Co. determined the coverage rate by simulation using a propagation model software, while it used stratified sampling for the speed testing. “It should be noted that there are still no subscribers in the network at this time. Dito is scheduled to launch commercially [in] March 2021. Dito’s entry in the market is a welcome development in the telco industry. A healthier competition within the industry fulfills President Duterte’s promise to the Filipino people of better telco service thru cheaper prices and improved Internet speed,” the NTC said. When sought for comment, a Dito representative said the company will

make a statement on Tuesday. The month-long technical audit was a requirement it agreed to when it won the third telco license in 2018. Dito is investing P150 billion for its foray into the telecommunications industry. The amount is being used to build telco infrastructure, of which 1,900 towers have already been constructed, 12,000 kilometers of cable laid, and 1,500 base stations deployed. This year, Dito has programmed over P50 billion in capital expenditures to further expand its network and meet the commitments it made during the bidding for the third telco license. The Dennis A. Uy-led company has committed to spend P257 billion in capital outlays within the first five years of its operations to deliver an average speed of 55 Mbps to 84 percent of the country’s population.

SEC wins case against lending firm By VG Cabuag @villygc

he Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) has secured its fifth legal victory against illegal lending firms after a Pasay court convicted the incorporators and directors of Naurasidhu55 Lending and Trading Corp. for submitting falsified documents for its registration. In a decision dated February 8, the Pasay City Regional Trial Court Branch 111 found Danica E. Gerero, Imelda C. Singh, Diven E. Gerero, Jasvir Singh and Jaswant Singh guilty for violation of the Lending Company Regulation Act (LCRA) of 2007. The court sentenced each of the respondents, who formed as incorporators and directors, to pay a fine of P10,000. The SEC filed the criminal com-

Ieti completes first shareable tower in PHL

soc edotco Towers Inc. (Ieti) has completed its first build-to-suite tower in Cavite, a project it undertook for Globe Telecom Inc., but is open for other telco entities to rent. In a statement Ieti Country Managing Director Willam Walters said the tower in Silang, Cavite is equipped with capacities to accommodate and serve other mobile operators. “The readiness of this first of many common towers denotes our unwavering commitment in advancing connectivity for the nation through the shared infrastructure model. With our regional experience, industry best practices and capabilities in deploying built-to-suit and next-generation connectivity solutions, we are thrilled to officially mark a new era of reliable and affordable connectivity in the Philippines,” he said. Globe CFO Rizza Maniego-Eala noted that the completion of the first-ever build-to-suit site in Cavite will lead to more projects in the coming months as demand for connectivity and wider coverage continues. “These builds not only complement the existing network expansion programs of the company but also give some flexibility for us to maximize their potentials in a totally different way,” she said. Walters noted that the company is now working on its other builds to provide telcos with infrastructure that could help expand and extend their reach and improve the quality of their services. “With a total of five towers completed, we are confident we will be able to meet the remaining towers in the pipeline as committed in our commercial agreement with Globe,” Walters said. Alan B. Fernandez, who heads the business development department of Ieti, earlier said Globe and Ieti entered into a contract for the construction of “a little over 100 towers for Southern Luzon.” Lorenz S. Marasigan

plaint against the respondents upon finding irregularities in their application for the registration of Naurasidhu55 as a stock corporation. Naurasidhu55 submitted a Certificate of Bank Deposit in the amount of P1 million, that it claimed was issued by BDO-Two Shopping Center Branch in Pasay City, to comply with the minimum paid-up capital prescribed by the LCRA. Upon verifying with the bank, however, the SEC found that no such certificate was issued to Naurasidhu55 and no account existed under the name Imelda Singh and number stated in the certificate. The LCRA penalizes with a fine ranging from P10,000 to P50,000 or imprisonment of not less than 6 months but not more than 10 years or both, any officer, employee or agent of a lending company who shall knowingly and willingly make any

statement in any application, report, or document required under the law, which statement is false or misleading with respect to any material fact. “We remain steadfast in our crackdown on illegal, predatory and abusive lending practices, in line with our commitment to providing Filipinos secure and effective access to credit,” SEC chairman Emilio B. Aquino said. Jasvir Singh, Imelda Singh and Gerero admitted to signing documents pertinent to the registration of Naurasidhu55 with the SEC. However, they supposedly had no knowledge about the falsified document because a certain Gurpreet Singh actually processed the application. Yet, the court held that “[b]y submitting their Articles of Incorporation with the required documents to the SEC, they evidently attest, under oath, they have the required minimum paid-up capital of One

Million pesos.” “Well-settled is the presumption that a person, before signing a deed or instrument and before acknowledging it before a notary public, have read, understood, and fully knew the contents thereof,” it added. The conviction of the incorporators and directors of Naurasidhu55 represents the fifth conviction the SEC has won since in 2017. The agency targeted illegal lenders, including those engaged in “5-6” schemes and other usurious practices. In the 5 cases decided so far, the trial courts found 47 individuals, 22 of whom are foreigners, guilty beyond reasonable doubt of violating the LCRA. The SEC, through the Corporate Governance and Finance Department (CGFD), has revoked the primary registration of a total of 2,081 lending companies to date for noncompliance with the LCRA.

AirAsia: Vaccination progress sparks optimism By Recto L. Mercene @rectomercene

irAsia on Monday said it welcomes the news of the rollout of Covid-19 vaccines across Malaysia this week, saying it is a “first key indicator” of a global travel reboot in the near future. AirAsia noted that its key international markets are also progressing well with the vaccination program including Indonesia, Singapore, China and Australia. Other regional countries, such as Thailand and the Philippines, are scheduled to begin their vaccination program by the first quarter of this year. AirAsia Group CEO Tony Fernandes said: “After a year of uncertainty, it’s great to see that this extremely challenging chapter is finally coming to a close.” “AirAsia has spent the travel downtime period to put in place rigorous digital initiatives and innovative technologies that would make air travel even safer and more seamless post-Covid-19. Better testing, leisure travel bubbles, anti veil medicines and importantly, digital health passports providing a single tool for health records across Asean and beyond, are also coming soon, to support the global travel recovery.” Fernandes expressed confidence that AirAsia will recover faster than many due to its low-cost model, position in the market and the fasttracking of its digital transformation to become Asia’s leading travel and lifestyle super app, which has helped

Photo from www.airasia.com

to mitigate adverse effects from the pandemic. “We have been through our fair share of crises in the past including starting out just after 9/11, SARS bird flu epidemics, tsunamis and earthquakes to name a few, but Covid-19 has by far, posed the most challenging situation we have ever experienced.” “Never before has there been such a restricted global travel environment. After a year of strict cost containment including exiting Japan and reducing our stake in India, finally there is light at the end of this very long tunnel.” Fernandes also said he remains optimistic that the airline will achieve its fundraising target of RM2.5 billion. The first tranche of the private placement of up to 20 percent of the total issued shares of AirAsia Group Berhad’s was completed last week, with 11.07 percent placed out, raising a total of RM250 million. “We are working towards obtaining approval for the loan under the Danajamin PRIHATIN Guarantee

Scheme within the next month. Concurrently, we have positive ongoing discussions for other fundraising support measures in many of our key markets such as Thailand, Indonesia and the Philippines which we will announce in due course.” “Through all of this, I am honored to have led our incredibly resilient Allstars through what has been the most difficult of times and now I’m so excited to lead them through the recovery as we reinvent ourselves as the travel, tech and lifestyle super app of choice for Asia. We can look forward to a gradual recovery in 2021 in all of our key markets and potentially a full recovery within the next two years.” AirAsia said it has used the downtime in flying in 2020 to fast-track its digital transformation to become more than just an airline. It introduced new products that provide new revenue streams including the airasia super app, logistics, e-commerce, fintech, as well as new procedures and innovations such as biometric facial recognition to make flying more hygienic and contactless.

board of CPG J

ose Roberto R. Antonio, son of former US Ambassador Jose E.B. Antonio, has resigned as company director and member of the board of the family’s listed real estate developer Century Properties Group (CPG) Inc. Antonio’s privately-owned Revolution Precrafted Philippines faced a number of issues including the complaint of contractors and suppliers about “unmet contracts.” The CPG’s board accepted the resignation of Antonio as its comanaging director and member of the board that takes effect immediately. In his letter to the board sent last week, Antonio said his departure from CPG will allow him to focus on resolving the issues in his privately-owned company—Revolution Precrafted Philippines, its subsidiaries and allied businesses. “I know I am making the correct decision to step down from my position in CPG as I will leave it under the very capable leadership of the board and the professional expertise of its senior management team. This will also allow me to focus on addressing the pressing issues in Revolution and its allied businesses,” he said. Antonio said Revolution Precrafted and its allied companies Resurgent, Renegade for branding concepts and Radiant for beauty products continue to comply with

its agreements. “The company is ready to settle legitimate obligations which have fallen due and has no intention to renege on these legitimate contractual claims,” it said. Last week, the National Bureau of Investigation said it is investigating Antonio for complaints that it has allegedly duping several businessmen of P150 million through questionable deals in Revolution Precrafted. The contractors and suppliers filed the complaint with the NBI alleging they would win contracts in Revolution Precrafted, which claims to make luxury houses using prefabricated materials, if they pay 10 percent of the contract’s value. Antonio is blaming the pandemic for the default, though his woes may have started even before the outbreak of Covid-19. His lawyers, meanwhile, has warned the public on making statements against Antonio. “On this note, we caution people and individuals from making any malicious and false statements against Robbie Antonio and his companies. We hope that we be allowed to fix the current situation without threats or intimidation, or else the company will likewise be forced to institute legal charges, both criminal and civil,” his lawyers said. VG Cabuag

56th ANVIL: PRSP recognizes winners in PR tools, programs

he 56th ANVIL Awards, hosted by the Public Relations Society of the Philippines, recognized the most outstanding public relations (PR) tools and programs in the country in virtual ceremony held last February 19. “The crucial role of public relations was reinforced during this health crisis. PR during crises connects communities. The PRSP, through its ANVIL Awards, recognized purpose-driven and impactful initiatives that promote corporate integrity and the social good across platforms,” said Ma. Luisa Sebastian, 56th ANVIL Chairperson. ANVILs received a total of 534 entries but only 142 won. Two levels of judging were done. The first level of judging was done by 65 PR and communication professionals. Five judges were assigned to evaluate each entry. Entries which scored 85 to 90 received Silver ANVILS while those that scored 91 to 100 bagged Gold ANVILS. The Gold ANVILS that scored 94 to 100 were endorsed to the second level of judging with a distinct Panel of Jurors composed of 11 representatives including selected past presidents of PRSP, academe, media, civil society and international organizations. Former Supreme Court Senior Associate Chief Justice Antonio Carpio, Jr. acted as the Chairperson of the Panel of Jurors. Given t he t i mes, d i st i nc t categories for Covid-related PR programs and tools, digital pr programs, digital PR tools, crisis or issues management for government were introduced. For the first time in ANVIL history, rubrics were used in judging nominations. The five-point rubrics defined specific levels of achievement and helped ensure an objective evaluation of entries.

A total of 86 PR programs and 36 PR tools won Silver ANVILS while 12 PR programs and four PR tools bagged Gold ANVILS. The Grand ANVIL for the top public relations program was “The NESCAFE Plan: Transforming farmers into agripreneurs to create a sustainable and progressive coffee industry in the Philippines” by Nestle Philippines. The program provided farmers with technical assistance and training on best farming practices and entrepreneurship to distribute superior planting materials and offer a ready market for their coffee crop over several years of program implementation. The Platinum ANVIL for the best public relations tool was “PLDT-Smart #CyberSmart Caravans: Promoting Cyber Security and Safety among Teachers and Students” for improving awareness, understanding, and behaviors on data privacy and security, online child safety and protection, and combatting fake news.” Based on the tally of the total number of gold and silver trophies, PLDT-Smart was hailed as Company of the Year with 31 points while PAGEONE Group won the Agency of the Year with 28 points. “Entries this year showed how PR and communication successfully addressed challenging issues during the pandemic with professional skills, creativity and resourcefulness. We congratulate all the winners. They serve as role models in our industry,” said PRSP President Norman Agatep.

Companies BusinessMirror

Tuesday, February 23, 2021

BOI approves fiscal perks for EV batteries producer

By Elijah Felice E. Rosales

@alyasjah

manufacturer of fast chargers and retrofit kits has secured fiscal incentives from the Board of Investments (BOI) for its commitment to produce batteries for electric vehicles (EV). The BOI on Monday announced the entry of CHRG Electric Vehicle Technologies Inc. as a new producer of EV fast chargers and retrofit kits. The firm has invested a total of P3.9 million to put up a manufacturing facility at the University of the Philippines (UP) in Quezon City, as part of the business incubator headed by the Department of Science and Technology (DOST). The project was awarded by the BOI a nonpioneer status under the Investments Priorities Plan (IPP) that now includes innovation drivers, such as the commercialization of

new products and services, as a business area that can avail of incentives. With its nonpioneer status, CHRG is granted up to 4 years of income tax holiday. Its project in UP also obtains duty exemption on imported capital equipment, spare parts and accessories, as well as exemption from wharfage dues, tax break on breeding stocks and genetic materials, tax credits on imported raw materials, among others. In exchange, CHRG has committed to transfer its production to either Bulacan or Rizal once its operations gain traction to provide jobs in

CIAC rolls out control tower, airfield lighting projects

Members of the Special Bids and Awards Committee of the Clark International Airport Corp. headed by CIAC Vice President Irish Calaguas (4th from left) announce the winning bidders for the construction of the country’s airport control tower and the upgrading of the airfield's ground lighting system at the emerging Clark airport complex after the tender process from July to December 2020. Contributed Photo

lark Freeport—The construction of the airport control tower and the upgrading of the airfield’s ground lighting system at the emerging Clark airport complex have finally started, an executive of the government-run Clark International Airport Corp. (CIAC) announced on Tuesday. CIAC President Aaron Aquino said the air control tower project and the upgrading of the airfield ground lighting system are expected to improve Clark’s air traffic control system as the new passenger terminal building of the Clark International Airport is expected to be fully operational within the year. Both projects commenced last month following a tender process from July to December last year. “The airfield tower and lighting projects are in conformity with the Master Plan of the Clark airport and are expected to be completed by December 2021,” Aquino added. The new air control tower project, worth P290,360,830.70, was awarded to MSV Construction, while the

winning bidder for the lighting system to cost P491,888,888.77, was Evercon Builders and Equipment Corp. “The airport control tower will be 18-storeys high or about 54 meters, the tallest in the country, much higher than the existing one built by the Americans at this former Clark air force base,” Aquino said. The control tower at MactanCebu International Airport is at 30 meters high while the tower at the Ninoy Aquino International Airport is measured at about 40 meters. The projects are 2 major components of CIAC’s airport infrastructure expansion program whose funding was approved via the General Appropriations Act of 2020 under the account of the Bases Conversion and Development Authority, the CIAC’s parent company. While the Clark airport is operated and maintained by a private company called LIPAD Corp., CIAC has refocused its operations to further develop the 2,367-hectare Clark Civil Aviation Complex to become a globally-competitive services and logistics hub.

the countryside. The UP, as the owner of Charging in a Minute technology, has authorized CHRG to make such units. On the other hand, CHRG is working with the government to get its EV fast chargers and retrofit kits the necessary licenses to infiltrate the commercial market.The firm has declared a capacity to manufacture up to 12 units of fast chargers and 236 retrofit kits every year, a volume that can contribute to the BOI’s move to enhance the infrastructure for EV adoption in the Philippines. The BOI expects EVs to play a role in changing the transportation landscape of the future, but it understands the country is lagging behind in terms of developing support infrastructure, such as charging stations. CHRG, for its part, has deployed two EV fast chargers in Alabang to test the commercial viability of the unit. Trade Undersecretary and BOI Managing Head Ceferino S. Rodolfo said his agency’s approval of the CHRG project in UP improves the partnership between the BOI and the DOST in coming up with a log of

mutual funds

homegrown innovations that can be introduced in the market. Similarly, he argued new technologies are needed by the economy now in its rebound from the declines it endured from the Covid-19 lockdowns. In the long term, he said projects such as that of CHRG paves the way for buyers to transition to electric vehicles, from fossil fueled cars, and for the Philippines to become a manufacturing powerhouse for EV parts. According to Swedish consultancy EV-volumes.com, EV sales worldwide last year jumped more than 43 percent to 3.24 million units, from 2.26 million units in 2019, to defy all odds in a period when nearly every industry suffered a decline. Sales of battery EVs and plug in hybrid EVs in Europe reached 1.4 million units to double from the 2019 total of some 589,000 units, as automakers in the region introduced new models and governments dangled incentives to entice buyers to shift. The Elon Musk-owned Tesla Inc. was the leading brand last year with a delivery of nearly 500,000 units.

February 22, 2021

NAV One Year Three Year Five Year Y-T-D per share Return* Return Stock Funds ALFM Growth Fund, Inc. -a 220.17 -8.34% -9.01% -1.72% -3.1% ATRAM Alpha Opportunity Fund, Inc. -a 1.3329 6.97% -6.17% 4.02% 1.52% ATRAM Philippine Equity Opportunity Fund, Inc. -a 3.0373 -9.47% -12.97% -3.28% -3.05% Climbs Share Capital Equity Investment Fund Corp. -a 0.7755 -6.76% -7.95% n.a. -3.53% First Metro Consumer Fund on MSCI Phils. IMI, Inc. -a 0.7015 -13.19% n.a. n.a. -5.41% First Metro Save and Learn Equity Fund,Inc. -a 4.7773 -5.71% -7.03% -0.9% -3.32% First Metro Save and Learn Philippine Index Fund, Inc. -a,4 0.711 -11.8% -10.18% -6.15% -6.42% MBG Equity Investment Fund, Inc. -a 101.05 5.17% -5.14% n.a. -0.87% PAMI Equity Index Fund, Inc. -a 45.3702 -6.51% -7.12% -0.14% -3.15% Philam Strategic Growth Fund, Inc. -a 473.67 -6.57% -7.04% -0.82% -3.13% Philequity Alpha One Fund, Inc. -a,d ,5 1.0593 7.04% n.a. n.a. -3.46% Philequity Dividend Yield Fund, Inc. -a 1.1401 -6.95% -6.55% -0.08% -2.41% Philequity Fund, Inc. -a 33.804 -6.13% -6.42% 0.64% -2.78% Philequity MSCI Philippine Index Fund, Inc. -a 0.8799 -9.38% n.a. n.a. -3.63% Philequity PSE Index Fund Inc. -a 4.6425 -6.15% -6.63% 0.63% -3.1% Philippine Stock Index Fund Corp. - a 776.75 -5.95% -6.51% 0.55% -3.11% Soldivo Strategic Growth Fund, Inc. -a 0.7021 -9.94% -10.19% -3.28% -2.34% Sun Life Prosperity Philippine Equity Fund, Inc. -a 3.508 -11.15% -8.68% -1.06% -3.2% Sun Life Prosperity Philippine Stock Index Fund, Inc. -a 0.8887 -6.25% -6.81% 0.39% -3.16% United Fund, Inc. -a 3.232 -7.29% -5.76% 1.33% -2.62% Exchange Traded Fund First Metro Phil. Equity Exchange Traded Fund, Inc. -a,c 104.2497 -5.95% -6.3% 1.28% -3.07% Primarily invested in foreign currency securities ATRAM AsiaPlus Equity Fund, Inc. -b $1.3474 32.97% 6.23% 11.45% 12.01% Sun Life Prosperity World Voyager Fund, Inc. -a $1.7899 24.33% 11.4% n.a. 7% Balanced Funds Primarily invested in Peso securities ATRAM Dynamic Allocation Fund, Inc. -a 1.6611 8.38% -3.38% -0.34% -0.45% ATRAM Philippine Balanced Fund, Inc. -a 2.2358 6.69% -3% 1.07% -2.17% First Metro Save and Learn Balanced Fund Inc. -a 2.5636 0.1% -2.54% 0.04% -2.41% First Metro Save and Learn F.O.C.C.U.S. Dynamic Fund, Inc. -a,1 0.1936 -11.11% n.a. n.a. -2.52% NCM Mutual Fund of the Phils., Inc. -a 1.9466 0.82% -0.64% 1.89% -0.89% PAMI Horizon Fund, Inc. -a 3.7025 0.16% -1.65% 1.02% -2.26% Philam Fund, Inc. -a 16.5821 0.32% -1.69% 0.97% -2.09% Solidaritas Fund, Inc. -a 2.0573 -0.94% -2.85% 0.78% -1.76% Sun Life of Canada Prosperity Balanced Fund, Inc. -a 3.5071 -5.72% -4.45% -0.17% -1.85% Sun Life Prosperity Achiever Fund 2028, Inc. -a,d 0.9968 0.77% n.a. n.a. -2.52% Sun Life Prosperity Achiever Fund 2038, Inc. -a,d 0.9214 -3.71% n.a. n.a. -2.93% Sun Life Prosperity Achiever Fund 2048, Inc. -a,d 0.9052 -4.84% n.a. n.a. -2.99% Sun Life Prosperity Dynamic Fund, Inc. -a 0.8718 -6.19% -5.05% -0.81% -1.79% Primarily invested in foreign currency securities Cocolife Dollar Fund Builder, Inc. -a $0.03852 -1.21% 3.15% 1.7% -1.53% PAMI Asia Balanced Fund, Inc. -b $1.2016 16.12% 3.97% 7.3% 4.47% Sun Life Prosperity Dollar Advantage Fund, Inc. -a $4.7408 17.24% 8.53% 9.99% 5.05% Sun Life Prosperity Dollar Wellspring Fund, Inc. -a,3 $1.2227 7.89% 4.49% n.a. 1.71% Bond Funds Primarily invested in Peso securities ALFM Peso Bond Fund, Inc. -a 371.5 3.44% 3.27% 2.73% 0.12% ATRAM Corporate Bond Fund, Inc. -a 1.9044 -0.23% 0.56% 0.24% 0.22% Cocolife Fixed Income Fund, Inc. -a 3.2183 2.55% 4.29% 4.65% 0.11% Ekklesia Mutual Fund Inc. -a 2.2851 2.03% 2.77% 2.26% -0.47% First Metro Save and Learn Fixed Income Fund,Inc. -a 2.4358 2.94% 3.27% 1.97% -0.71% Philam Bond Fund, Inc. -a 4.6 4.64% 4.94% 2.77% -0.75% Philam Managed Income Fund, Inc. -a,6 1.3196 4.91% 4.37% 2.67% -0.12% Philequity Peso Bond Fund, Inc. -a 3.9655 4.66% 4.33% 2.84% -0.89% Soldivo Bond Fund, Inc. -a 1.0307 5.96% 4.18% 2.18% -1.08% Sun Life of Canada Prosperity Bond Fund, Inc. -a 3.1942 3.27% 4.64% 3.34% -0.37% Sun Life Prosperity GS Fund, Inc. -a 1.7424 2.37% 3.9% 2.74% -0.72% Primarily invested in foreign currency securities ALFM Dollar Bond Fund, Inc. -a $484.27 2.65% 3.07% 2.71% 0.08% ALFM Euro Bond Fund, Inc. -a Є219.49 -0.76% 1.06% 1.28% 0.14% ATRAM Total Return Dollar Bond Fund, Inc. -b $1.2448 2.32% 3.63% 2.47% -2.78% First Metro Save and Learn Dollar Bond Fund, Inc. -a $0.0262 0.77% 1.98% 1.43% -1.5% PAMI Global Bond Fund, Inc -b $1.082 -2.41% 1.12% -0.04% -0.98% Philam Dollar Bond Fund, Inc. -a $2.5153 2.2% 4.9% 3% -0.8% Philequity Dollar Income Fund Inc. -a $0.0625758 2.87% 3.29% 2.33% 0.41% Sun Life Prosperity Dollar Abundance Fund, Inc. -a $3.1791 -2.49% 2.58% 1.69% -1.38% Money Market Funds Primarily invested in Peso securities ALFM Money Market Fund, Inc. -a 130.06 2.86% 3.34% 2.6% 0.19% First Metro Save and Learn Money Market Fund, Inc. -a 1.049 1.7% n.a. n.a. 0.09% Sun Life Prosperity Money Market Fund, Inc. -a 1.299 2.28% 2.93% 2.6% 0.19% Primarily invested in foreign currency securities Sun Life Prosperity Dollar Starter Fund, Inc. -a $1.054 1.36% 1.78% n.a. 0.15% Feeder Funds Primarily invested in Peso securities Sun Life Prosperity World Equity Index Feeder Fund, Inc. -a,d,7 1.1919 n.a. n.a. n.a. 5.52% Primarily invested in foreign currency securities ALFM Global Multi-Asset Income Fund Inc. -b,d,2 $0.99 -1% n.a. n.a. 1.02% a - NAVPS as of the previous banking day. b - NAVPS as of two banking days ago. c - Listed in the PSE. d - in Net Asset Value per Unit (NAVPU). 1 - Launch date is September 28, 2019. 2 - Launch date is November 15, 2019. 3 - Adjusted due to stock dividend issuance last October 9, 2019. 4 - Renaming was approved by the SEC last October 12, 2018 (formerly, One Wealthy Nation Fund, Inc.). 5 - Launch date is December 09, 2019. 6 - Re-classified into a Bond Fund starting February 21, 2020 (Formerly a Money Market Fund). 7 - Launch date is July 6, 2020. "While we endeavor to keep the information accurate, the Philippine Investment Funds Association (PIFA) and its members make no warranties as to the correctness of the newspaper’s publication and assume no liability or responsibility for any error or omissions. You may visit http://www. pifa.com.ph to see the latest NAVPS/NAVPU."

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PSE STOCK QUOTATIONS

February 22, 2021

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

BDO UNIBANK BANK PH ISLANDS CHINABANK EAST WEST BANK METROBANK PB BANK PHIL NATL BANK PSBANK RCBC SECURITY BANK UNION BANK BRIGHT KINDLE COL FINANCIAL FIRST ABACUS FERRONOUX HLDG IREMIT MEDCO HLDG NTL REINSURANCE PHIL STOCK EXCH SUN LIFE

106 84.75 23.85 10.16 50.85 10.82 25.85 54.6 17.16 128 73.1 1.31 3.97 0.58 3.51 1.47 0.43 0.75 148.4 2,200

106.7 85.5 23.9 10.18 51 10.9 25.9 55 17.28 129 73.95 1.32 3.98 0.6 3.6 1.49 0.45 0.79 148.5 2,224

107 85.9 24 10.3 50.3 10.9 26.25 54.35 17.34 129.1 74 1.14 3.99 0.6 3.5 1.53 0.45 0.82 149 2,190

107.7 85.9 24.1 10.3 51.85 10.9 26.45 54.6 17.34 129.1 74.25 1.36 4 0.6 3.61 1.53 0.45 0.82 149 2,240

106 84.7 23.85 10.14 50.3 10.9 25.75 54.05 17.3 127.2 73 1.14 3.95 0.6 3.5 1.47 0.425 0.75 148.5 2,190

106 85.5 23.9 10.16 50.85 10.9 25.85 54.6 17.3 129 74 1.31 3.98 0.6 3.6 1.49 0.45 0.75 148.5 2,240

2,899,040 1,319,800 344,900 319,100 4,384,450 8,600 933,500 6,400 122,800 320,430 59,760 20,543,000 68,000 5,000 53,000 435,000 690,000 85,000 1,420 530

308,424,433 112,576,386 8,255,810 3,245,896 223,975,613.50 93,740 24,362,715 348,034.50 2,125,356 41,222,020 4,409,271.50 25,096,750 269,880 3,000 188,210 644,960 299,100 66,070 210,985 1,166,000

-120,245,719 9,371,212.50 390,450 -706,952 -121,692,760 -10,207,765 -979,932 -25,919,668 2,572,468.00 -38,400 -32,000 -17,200 29,702 1,143,800

INDUSTRIAL AC ENERGY 7.61 7.62 7.84 7.84 7.6 7.61 43,344,500 333,872,521 ALSONS CONS 1.34 1.36 1.37 1.37 1.32 1.34 1,277,000 1,716,610 ABOITIZ POWER 25.15 25.2 25.75 25.75 25.2 25.2 2,269,300 57,534,330 1.21 1.22 1.28 1.32 1.21 1.21 235,005,000 295,175,390 BASIC ENERGY 29.95 30 30.05 30.25 29.9 29.95 2,416,200 72,548,690 FIRST GEN 74.85 74.9 75 75 74.5 74.9 35,000 2,617,571.50 FIRST PHIL HLDG MERALCO 285 285.2 283 288 283 285 349,450 99,603,402 PETRON 3.62 3.64 3.66 3.66 3.61 3.62 1,238,000 4,481,860 PETROENERGY 3.85 3.97 3.87 3.87 3.81 3.85 74,000 286,060 12.32 12.5 12.58 12.58 12.3 12.5 273,000 3,418,092 PHX PETROLEUM 22.1 22.2 21.9 22.25 21.75 22.2 342,200 7,520,320 PILIPINAS SHELL SPC POWER 10.2 10.22 10.22 10.22 10.18 10.22 33,100 337,828 AGRINURTURE 7.1 7.19 7.18 7.2 6.99 7.19 1,157,800 8,225,336 AXELUM 3.35 3.44 3.43 3.44 3.33 3.44 1,015,000 3,446,030 13.88 14 14.02 14.02 14.02 14.02 200 2,804 CNTRL AZUCARERA CENTURY FOOD 17.8 17.88 17.8 17.88 17.66 17.8 422,100 7,517,344 8.54 8.6 8.9 8.9 8.6 8.6 582,300 5,023,265 DEL MONTE DNL INDUS 7.34 7.35 7.25 7.35 7.23 7.35 717,700 5,251,647 EMPERADOR 9.95 10.06 10.1 10.1 9.95 10.06 170,400 1,709,147 67.6 67.8 68 68 67.4 67.8 45,710 3,100,839.50 SMC FOODANDBEV 0.67 0.68 0.63 0.73 0.63 0.68 26,009,000 17,509,090 ALLIANCE SELECT 1.49 1.5 1.52 1.52 1.49 1.5 11,497,000 17,292,420 FRUITAS HLDG GINEBRA 52.5 53.35 52 54 52 52.5 81,350 4,345,433.50 JOLLIBEE 178.9 179 180 180.2 179 179 445,450 80,027,888 LIBERTY FLOUR 35.5 36 35.35 36.45 35.1 36.4 2,600 92,315 7.6 8.09 7.41 8.09 7.41 8.09 1,100 8,219 MACAY HLDG MAXS GROUP 6.59 6.61 6.75 6.75 6.6 6.61 257,400 1,707,930 0.41 0.415 0.4 0.445 0.39 0.41 94,130,000 39,963,350 MG HLDG SHAKEYS PIZZA 7.43 7.49 7.55 7.55 7.46 7.49 113,100 847,653 ROXAS AND CO 1.13 1.14 1.14 1.15 1.13 1.13 1,767,000 2,002,780 4.6 4.7 4.62 4.63 4.62 4.63 5,000 23,110 RFM CORP 1.69 1.7 1.75 1.75 1.69 1.69 37,000 63,350 ROXAS HLDG 0.144 0.146 0.144 0.152 0.142 0.146 36,000,000 5,276,480 SWIFT FOODS UNIV ROBINA 132.8 132.9 136.2 138.3 132.9 132.9 1,418,080 190,010,164 VITARICH 0.9 0.91 0.92 0.92 0.9 0.91 2,955,000 2,678,920 CONCRETE A 53 53.35 53 53.35 53 53.35 240 12,800.50 55.2 59.85 55.2 55.2 55.2 55.2 140 7,728 CONCRETE B CEMEX HLDG 1.38 1.39 1.41 1.42 1.38 1.39 5,436,000 7,593,790 EAGLE CEMENT 12.98 13.46 13.32 13.58 12.98 13.46 1,500,300 19,604,116 EEI CORP 8.6 8.65 8.54 8.6 8.45 8.6 354,600 3,018,627 HOLCIM 6.4 6.41 6.4 6.45 6.35 6.41 436,800 2,790,833 7.35 7.41 7.54 7.54 7.35 7.35 1,424,000 10,558,380 MEGAWIDE 10.86 10.88 10.88 10.9 10.84 10.86 47,000 510,800 PHINMA 1.51 1.52 1.4 1.55 1.4 1.51 2,435,000 3,639,940 TKC METALS VULCAN INDL 3.19 3.2 3.1 3.37 2.89 3.2 77,206,000 242,545,180 CROWN ASIA 2.12 2.13 2.18 2.18 2.1 2.12 1,505,000 3,197,420 2.23 2.25 2.21 2.26 2.21 2.25 65,000 145,240 EUROMED LMG CORP 4.78 4.99 4.99 4.99 4.99 4.99 1,000 4,990 PRYCE CORP 5.4 5.45 5.4 5.45 5.39 5.4 95,900 517,885 CONCEPCION 20.2 20.45 20.65 21 20.45 20.45 147,400 3,032,815 GREENERGY 4.25 4.26 4.19 4.33 4.05 4.26 25,299,000 106,298,070 INTEGRATED MICR 13.8 13.84 14.6 14.78 13.8 13.8 2,546,600 35,890,236 1.29 1.3 1.29 1.34 1.28 1.3 837,000 1,087,510 IONICS 5.67 6 5.66 5.69 5.66 5.66 5,200 29,532 PANASONIC SFA SEMICON 1.54 1.55 1.61 1.61 1.52 1.54 4,646,000 7,209,170 CIRTEK HLDG 6.7 6.71 6.85 6.85 6.7 6.7 3,460,500 23,356,775

-70,789,829 -16,097,745 -511,230 49,982,990 -1,862,608.50 -47,512,574 -686,940 899,044 2,278,850.00 20,440 -539,457 1,021,630 1,548,590 432,800 2,369,351 -134,276 -564,871 -13,588,360 1,121,950 2,900,980 -19,833,893 -47,985 -1,431,100 125,282 70,690.00 18,480 -32,300 -27,940 -56,565,734 13,650 281,970 -11,418,770 586,586.00 -1,861 -550,570 -162,900 15,100 -13,160,890 5,400 -1,064,220 6,798,810.00 -1,612,802 -24,700 776,700 -606,885

HOLDING & FRIMS ABACORE CAPITAL 1.2 1.21 1.26 1.28 1.2 1.2 202,584,000 245,403,260 ASIABEST GROUP 7.91 8.05 7.9 8.07 7.9 7.91 11,700 92,471 AYALA CORP 760 764 784 784 760 760 436,740 335,764,400 43.05 43.45 43.5 43.5 42.55 43.05 457,600 19,733,885 ABOITIZ EQUITY 10.28 10.4 10.38 10.4 10.2 10.4 1,152,300 11,914,334 ALLIANCE GLOBAL 3.11 3.12 3.11 3.11 3.08 3.11 876,000 2,717,100 AYALA LAND LOG ANSCOR 7.33 7.39 7.41 7.42 7.38 7.39 36,100 266,664 ANGLO PHIL HLDG 0.86 0.87 0.91 0.93 0.86 0.86 19,706,000 17,528,260 ATN HLDG A 0.89 0.9 0.91 0.91 0.88 0.89 6,644,000 5,936,630 0.89 0.92 0.92 0.92 0.89 0.89 83,000 74,560 ATN HLDG B 5.36 5.38 5.34 5.46 5.26 5.38 2,425,800 13,078,925 COSCO CAPITAL DMCI HLDG 5.25 5.27 5.3 5.3 5.22 5.27 3,119,100 16,418,518 FILINVEST DEV 9 9.14 9 9.14 8.96 9.14 37,600 340,566 FORUM PACIFIC 0.24 0.248 0.248 0.248 0.248 0.248 60,000 14,880 557 558 570 570 554 557 102,870 57,418,335 GT CAPITAL 3.62 3.63 3.75 3.75 3.62 3.62 173,000 629,500 HOUSE OF INV 63.1 63.4 64 65.15 63.1 63.1 1,486,140 94,557,273.50 JG SUMMIT LODESTAR 1.66 1.67 1.65 1.7 1.59 1.67 18,241,000 30,112,880 LOPEZ HLDG 3.75 3.78 3.77 3.8 3.75 3.76 68,000 255,400 14 14.18 14 14.3 14 14 598,400 8,442,928 LT GROUP 0.54 0.56 0.58 0.58 0.54 0.56 3,582,000 1,997,470 MABUHAY HLDG 1.97 2.18 2.22 2.25 1.9 2.18 64,000 138,610 MJC INVESTMENTS METRO PAC INV 4.15 4.16 4.16 4.19 4.14 4.15 12,549,000 52,141,000 PACIFICA HLDG 5.1 5.23 5.03 5.24 5.03 5.07 179,800 927,106 PRIME MEDIA 2.12 2.13 2.09 2.12 1.85 2.12 11,305,000 22,617,900 3.77 3.78 3.3 4.1 3.3 3.77 1,666,000 6,211,090 REPUBLIC GLASS 1.28 1.29 1.26 1.3 1.23 1.29 53,000 67,190 SOLID GROUP SYNERGY GRID 313 334 313 313 313 313 2,000 626,000 SM INVESTMENTS 1,034 1,046 1,060 1,065 1,031 1,034 322,215 334,355,100 SAN MIGUEL CORP 125.9 126.2 126.1 126.4 125 126.2 102,410 12,847,145 0.82 0.83 0.81 0.85 0.79 0.83 589,000 483,350 SOC RESOURCES SEAFRONT RES 2.3 2.65 2.65 2.65 2.65 2.65 15,000 39,750 TOP FRONTIER 135.8 142 141.6 142 141 142 352,080 49,854,986 WELLEX INDUS 0.236 0.25 0.233 0.25 0.233 0.25 170,000 40,800 ZEUS HLDG 0.255 0.26 0.242 0.265 0.238 0.255 5,620,000 1,424,510

-10,814,840 -36,340 -187,878,420 -7,867,350 343,698 564,390 -10,360 -2,720 -38,700 -6,756,834 -341,472 264,948 -14,098,115 -145,100 -51,369,314.50 -62,530 -30,050 -1,869,940 45,360 -4,440 -31,499,970 -9,360 -2,060,770 69,060 -104,202,480 -1,554,839 -87,930 -

PROPERTY ARTHALAND CORP 0.66 0.67 0.68 0.68 0.66 0.66 746,000 498,200 ANCHOR LAND 7.92 8.34 7.78 7.9 7.78 7.9 200 1,568 AYALA LAND 38.35 38.55 38.95 39.2 38.35 38.35 5,893,700 227,374,220 1.32 1.36 1.36 1.42 1.36 1.36 126,000 171,480 ARANETA PROP 34.5 34.7 34.5 34.9 34.5 34.7 230,200 7,974,055 AREIT RT 1.67 1.68 1.65 1.68 1.62 1.68 96,000 159,100 BELLE CORP A BROWN 0.93 0.94 0.93 0.94 0.9 0.94 5,092,000 4,667,440 CITYLAND DEVT 0.77 0.79 0.77 0.77 0.77 0.77 60,000 46,200 CROWN EQUITIES 0.15 0.151 0.152 0.152 0.149 0.151 1,210,000 182,260 5.52 5.8 5.35 5.8 5.35 5.52 11,100 61,490 CEBU HLDG 5.26 5.28 5.39 5.39 5.2 5.26 582,400 3,088,568 CEB LANDMASTERS CENTURY PROP 0.4 0.405 0.41 0.41 0.4 0.405 30,650,000 12,404,150 CYBER BAY 0.345 0.365 0.36 0.37 0.35 0.365 2,600,000 938,950 DOUBLEDRAGON 15.14 15.2 15.4 15.44 15.04 15.2 1,676,800 25,601,140 6.71 6.8 6.71 6.86 6.71 6.71 62,000 416,731 DM WENCESLAO EMPIRE EAST 0.3 0.31 0.3 0.315 0.3 0.31 2,330,000 715,250 0.09 0.093 0.09 0.093 0.09 0.093 30,000 2,730 EVER GOTESCO FILINVEST LAND 1.15 1.16 1.15 1.17 1.15 1.15 11,293,000 13,032,720 GLOBAL ESTATE 0.9 0.91 0.9 0.9 0.9 0.9 275,000 247,500 7.7 7.8 7.8 7.8 7.68 7.7 34,000 261,975 8990 HLDG PHIL INFRADEV 1.55 1.56 1.49 1.55 1.47 1.55 3,268,000 4,934,810 3 3.01 3.01 3.01 3.01 3.01 14,000 42,140 KEPPEL PROP CITY AND LAND 0.72 0.74 0.72 0.74 0.72 0.74 65,000 46,820 MEGAWORLD 3.79 3.82 3.89 3.89 3.79 3.79 24,082,000 91,836,710 MRC ALLIED 0.55 0.56 0.55 0.57 0.53 0.56 125,123,000 69,244,100 0.43 0.46 0.435 0.435 0.43 0.43 250,000 108,550 PHIL ESTATES PRIMEX CORP 1.52 1.53 1.48 1.53 1.48 1.53 1,721,000 2,603,080 19.06 19.12 19.24 19.38 19.06 19.06 1,259,000 24,128,594 ROBINSONS LAND PHIL REALTY 0.3 0.305 0.295 0.305 0.29 0.305 310,000 92,200 ROCKWELL 1.48 1.52 1.48 1.52 1.45 1.48 1,233,000 1,853,170 2.64 2.76 2.62 2.76 2.62 2.76 2,875,000 7,851,300 SHANG PROP STA LUCIA LAND 2.14 2.2 2.17 2.21 2.11 2.2 717,000 1,552,600 SM PRIME HLDG 35.7 35.75 35.8 36.25 35.75 35.75 5,444,200 195,351,850 VISTAMALLS 3.95 4.02 3.98 3.98 3.95 3.98 122,000 483,860 SUNTRUST HOME 1.79 1.8 1.83 1.84 1.75 1.8 6,236,000 11,228,720 PTFC REDEV CORP 40.05 47.8 37.25 37.25 37.25 37.25 900 33,525 4.2 4.23 4.29 4.29 4.19 4.23 873,000 3,685,690 VISTA LAND

74,540 -77,388,235 -122,400 -4,789,840 -34,860 851,960 26,180 -580 65,106 81,100 -32,850 570,118 -40,300 -2,146,100 1,009,210 -46,080 -62,943,490 679,270 910,360 -15,037,050.00 27,450 -680,460 -78,872,185.00 -3,600 377,100

SERVICES ABS CBN 12.28 12.3 12.28 12.3 12.24 12.28 72,200 886,134 GMA NETWORK 7.26 7.27 7.19 7.32 7.15 7.27 1,358,900 9,838,072 MANILA BULLETIN 0.475 0.5 0.5 0.5 0.48 0.48 920,000 453,450 2,036 2,048 2,048 2,050 2,034 2,036 23,825 48,602,080 GLOBE TELECOM 1,305 1,325 1,345 1,349 1,305 1,305 212,715 280,840,515 PLDT 0.27 0.275 0.28 0.285 0.27 0.27 733,480,000 201,065,700 APOLLO GLOBAL CONVERGE 17.88 18 18.26 18.28 17.8 18 13,555,300 244,973,274 DFNN INC 4.99 5 5.11 5.28 4.5 5 4,640,500 22,872,398 DITO CME HLDG 18.12 18.14 17.82 18.38 17.8 18.12 32,172,400 582,905,686 1.86 1.89 1.89 1.89 1.86 1.86 18,000 33,550 IMPERIAL ISLAND INFO 0.182 0.183 0.176 0.184 0.171 0.182 13,540,000 2,415,340 JACKSTONES 2.05 2.09 2.16 2.18 2.03 2.1 198,000 412,740 NOW CORP 3.07 3.08 3.13 3.14 3.05 3.08 5,346,000 16,465,330 TRANSPACIFIC BR 0.5 0.51 0.53 0.53 0.5 0.51 54,045,000 27,630,210 2.58 2.63 2.57 2.66 2.57 2.58 546,000 1,412,700 PHILWEB 8.55 8.6 8.7 8.8 8.5 8.55 30,500 263,908 2GO GROUP 4.32 4.33 4.38 4.4 4.3 4.32 1,034,000 4,495,320 CHELSEA CEBU AIR 47.2 47.3 46.8 47.9 46 47.3 944,630 44,616,715 INTL CONTAINER 118.5 119.8 120 122 118 118.5 1,597,550 190,298,474 16.06 16.58 16.6 16.6 16.06 16.06 1,400 23,132 LBC EXPRESS 0.97 1.03 0.97 1.03 0.97 1.03 39,000 38,490 LORENZO SHIPPNG MACROASIA 5.77 5.78 5.61 5.81 5.6 5.77 2,247,700 12,869,725 METROALLIANCE A 2.83 2.9 3.03 3.03 2.8 2.9 2,975,000 8,535,750 METROALLIANCE B 2.9 3.3 2.52 3 2.52 2.89 5,000 14,100 PAL HLDG 6.3 6.35 6.3 6.4 6.29 6.35 23,600 149,150 1.37 1.38 1.38 1.39 1.36 1.38 831,000 1,137,190 HARBOR STAR 1.45 1.48 1.47 1.48 1.47 1.48 57,000 84,320 ACESITE HOTEL DISCOVERY WORLD 4.89 4.9 4.65 5.17 4.65 4.9 3,205,000 15,937,930 WATERFRONT 0.56 0.58 0.56 0.6 0.56 0.56 37,669,000 21,681,780 CENTRO ESCOLAR 7 9.7 7 7.04 6.99 7.04 9,200 64,459 0.4 0.405 0.4 0.41 0.4 0.4 2,240,000 903,750 STI HLDG 4.34 4.49 4.41 4.5 4.31 4.34 557,000 2,409,140 BERJAYA BLOOMBERRY 7.68 7.75 7.55 7.75 7.5 7.75 855,000 6,562,863 PACIFIC ONLINE 2.06 2.12 2.15 2.15 2.05 2.05 43,000 90,550 LEISURE AND RES 1.75 1.77 1.73 1.78 1.73 1.77 168,000 294,750 MANILA JOCKEY 2.11 2.12 2.16 2.16 2.12 2.12 230,000 489,540 2.62 2.63 2.61 2.65 2.56 2.63 4,333,000 11,245,300 PH RESORTS GRP 0.485 0.49 0.495 0.495 0.485 0.485 9,260,000 4,529,550 PREMIUM LEISURE ALLHOME 8.07 8.2 8.1 8.3 8.1 8.2 691,400 5,642,922 METRO RETAIL 1.41 1.42 1.43 1.43 1.41 1.42 1,104,000 1,564,500 PUREGOLD 36.8 37.1 37.8 38 36.8 36.8 1,511,600 56,119,150 55.9 56 57.5 57.9 55.45 55.9 1,671,100 93,884,934 ROBINSONS RTL 103.7 104 103.7 104 103.7 104 15,400 1,601,315 PHIL SEVEN CORP 1.34 1.35 1.39 1.41 1.34 1.35 8,643,000 11,839,500 SSI GROUP WILCON DEPOT 17.98 18 18 18 17.9 18 910,200 16,371,072 APC GROUP 0.43 0.445 0.435 0.45 0.43 0.43 1,840,000 807,150 7 7.11 6.91 7.11 6.9 7 26,300 181,776 EASYCALL 5.05 5.15 5.05 5.05 5.05 5.05 1,900 9,595 IPM HLDG PRMIERE HORIZON 3.16 3.17 3.01 3.17 2.98 3.16 238,112,000 731,410,240 SBS PHIL CORP 4.51 4.54 4.55 4.55 4.52 4.52 21,000 94,950

-1,823,810 -149,605,725 145,250 19,846,760 -1,539,879 -41,123,072 -401,000 -1,933,570 -481,220 28,580 -3,795.00 -427,090 4,466,331 -67,930,066 -18,260 335,919 -31,520 -495,060 -233,820 -293,050 1,313,272 -2,524,800 231,550 -3,978,816.00 -14,200 -33,867,620 -7,994,821 -47,690 -1,114,330 11,139,536 691 4,960,070 -

MINING & OIL

ATOK 7.68 7.74 7.81 7.99 7.55 7.68 1,427,900 10,874,899 125,564 APEX MINING 1.64 1.65 1.57 1.65 1.56 1.65 5,334,000 8,588,870 59,640 0.0039 0.004 0.0043 0.0043 0.0039 0.004 12,505,000,000 50,727,200 884,400 ABRA MINING 6.87 6.88 6.45 6.91 6.45 6.87 1,749,100 11,906,394 402,461 ATLAS MINING 2.88 2.93 3.06 3.06 2.8 2.93 147,000 426,830 BENGUET A BENGUET B 2.83 2.99 2.83 2.89 2.79 2.88 131,000 371,050 COAL ASIA HLDG 0.36 0.365 0.355 0.365 0.345 0.36 2,000,000 713,350 -7,300 CENTURY PEAK 2.81 2.82 2.81 2.81 2.78 2.81 100,000 279,200 14,050 12.38 12.58 12 12.88 11.96 12.46 421,000 5,236,398 DIZON MINES FERRONICKEL 3.15 3.16 3.04 3.19 3.04 3.15 41,971,000 131,794,450 35,101,570 GEOGRACE 0.53 0.54 0.53 0.55 0.51 0.53 8,833,000 4,677,840 62,400 LEPANTO A 0.162 0.163 0.162 0.163 0.158 0.162 28,180,000 4,526,990 LEPANTO B 0.16 0.161 0.158 0.16 0.156 0.16 3,690,000 587,130 -215,580 0.01 0.011 0.011 0.011 0.01 0.011 56,600,000 584,200 MANILA MINING A MANILA MINING B 0.01 0.011 0.01 0.011 0.01 0.01 25,500,000 255,600 -86,000 1.79 1.8 1.78 1.82 1.74 1.8 4,418,000 7,940,020 1,493,190 MARCVENTURES NIHAO 2.87 2.92 2.94 2.98 2.81 2.93 316,000 913,500 NICKEL ASIA 6.32 6.33 5.96 6.41 5.96 6.32 38,406,500 240,477,507 47,991,798 0.53 0.54 0.49 0.54 0.485 0.53 6,020,000 3,121,400 -127,500 OMICO CORP 1.19 1.2 1.16 1.23 1.14 1.19 9,149,000 10,860,270 46,800 ORNTL PENINSULA 5.11 5.12 4.86 5.16 4.86 5.12 3,799,000 19,057,320 -93,560 PX MINING SEMIRARA MINING 12.6 12.62 12.68 12.7 12.5 12.62 2,244,800 28,276,602 -4,305,340 UNITED PARAGON 0.01 0.011 0.0096 0.011 0.0084 0.011 635,000,000 6,120,400 -27,000 ACE ENEXOR 20 20.25 20.9 20.9 20 20 237,400 4,787,975 320,680 0.012 0.013 0.013 0.014 0.012 0.012 246,000,000 3,196,700 ORNTL PETROL A ORNTL PETROL B 0.013 0.014 0.014 0.014 0.013 0.013 42,500,000 571,300 4,000 0.013 0.014 0.014 0.015 0.013 0.014 349,600,000 4,894,200 8,400 PHILODRILL PXP ENERGY 9.36 9.44 9.62 9.62 9.36 9.36 901,600 8,555,227 520,840.00 PREFFERED HOUSE PREF B 100 101 101 101 100 100 350 35,100 HOUSE PREF A 100.5 101.5 101 101 101 101 70,120 7,082,120 ALCO PREF C 108 110 110 110 110 110 20,180 2,219,800 512 526 512 512 512 512 400 204,800 -51,200 AC PREF B2R 101.5 102.1 102 102.1 102 102.1 1,150 117,405 DD PREF FGEN PREF G 106.3 110.1 106.1 106.3 106.1 106.3 510 54,211 GLO PREF P 504 510 504 504 504 504 100 50,400 MWIDE PREF 100.1 100.3 100.8 100.8 100.3 100.3 18,300 1,836,255 MWIDE PREF 2B 101 101.2 101 101.3 101 101.3 1,810 183,020 102.5 105 104 105 103.5 105 1,900 197,175 PNX PREF 3B PNX PREF 4 1,000 1,005 1,000 1,005 1,000 1,000 855 855,100 PCOR PREF 2B 1,012 1,040 1,014 1,048 1,012 1,048 315 319,740 PCOR PREF 3A 1,100 1,150 1,100 1,100 1,098 1,100 2,500 2,749,000 1,991,000 PCOR PREF 3B 1,111 1,140 1,134 1,140 1,134 1,140 1,015 1,152,090 79 79.5 79 80 79 79.5 6,740 533,137 -70,755 SMC PREF 2C 75.8 76.9 75.8 76.9 75.8 76.9 210 16,028 SMC PREF 2G SMC PREF 2H 77 78.95 78.95 78.95 78.95 78.95 375,000 29,606,250 SMC PREF 2I 77.35 78.5 77.15 78.5 77.15 78.5 603,020 47,333,020 SMC PREF 2J 76.55 77 76.5 77 76.5 77 510 39,265 76.5 76.85 76.5 76.75 76.3 76.75 6,960 533,666.50 SMC PREF 2K PHIL. DEPOSITARY RECEIPTS ABS HLDG PDR 11.6 12.08 12.1 12.1 12.08 12.08 200 2,418 GMA HLDG PDR 6.95 6.96 6.85 6.96 6.85 6.96 375,600 2,605,330 -374,470 WARRANTS LR WARRANT 0.86 0.87 0.86 0.88 0.86 0.86 88,000 76,010 - SMALL & MEDIUM ENTERPRISES ALTUS PROP 20.05 20.35 21 21 19.8 20.35 121,100 2,451,945 2,065 ITALPINAS 3.01 3.02 3.05 3.07 3.01 3.01 1,642,000 4,958,880 12,050 KEPWEALTH 6.01 6.1 5.9 6.1 5.9 6.01 29,400 176,707 2.66 2.67 2.65 2.66 2.63 2.66 30,000 79,290 MAKATI FINANCE MERRYMART 6.93 6.94 7.05 7.05 6.9 6.93 19,968,600 139,312,174 -551,971 EXHANGE TRADE FUNDS FIRST METRO ETF 103.1 104.2 104.1 104.2 103.1 103.1 39,730 4,121,783 120,275

www.businessmirror.com.ph

Banking&Finance BusinessMirror

BTr keeps size of ₧20-B T-bill offer; rates jump By Bernadette D. Nicolas @BNicolasBM

HE Bureau of the Treasury (BTr) fully awarded P20 billion in Treasury Bills (T-bills) on Monday as rates rose, tracking the movement of US government securities. National Treasurer Rosalia V. De Leon attributed the rise in the rates due to “correction as US (United States) treasuries moved up [on] bright prospects for [the] Biden stimulus.” US President Joe Biden is pushing for the passage of a $1.9-trillion stimulus package to cushion the economic impact of Washington’s response to a pandemic. But unlike previous auctions, the issuance was not upsized and rates across the board ended up higher. Nonetheless, the auction was still oversubscribed by more than twice the P20-billion offer as it attracted total bids of P50 billion albeit lower compared to previous T-bills auctions since the start of the year. Sought whether its ongoing 3-year Retail Treasury Bond (RTB) offering is siphoning off some liquidity in the market, De Leon explained that the RTB is a “different segment of curve.” The National Treasurer said she sees that some investors are holding back and have taken a wait-and-see position. De Leon mused investors may park their cash in the Term Deposity Facility of the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas “in the meantime.” However, she said they opened the tap facility for an additional P5billion offering for 364-day T-bills. The average rate for the 91-day T-bills on Monday rose by 3 basis points to 0.875 percent from previous auction’s 0.845 percent. Total tenders for the security reached

P12.6 billion, more than double the P5-billion offer. Meanwhile, the 182-day T-bills capped at an average rate of 1.067 percent, inching up by 2.1 basis points from 1.046 percent previously. Total bids for the tenor amounted to P13.13 billion, more than twice the P5-billion offer. As for the 364-day T-bills, the average rate surged to 1.527 percent, up by 11.1 basis points from 1.416 percent in the last auction. The tenor got P24.3 billion in total tenders, equivalent to more than twice the P10-billion offer. For this month, the Treasury programmed to borrow P140 billion from the local debt market, the same amount it planned to raise in January. It is also currently offering 3-year RTBs with a coupon rate set at 2.375 percent, lower by 200 basis points from 4.375 percent coupon rate of the previous 3-year RTBs the government sold in February last year. Generally considered low-risk investment instruments, RTBs allow investors to earn a fixed interest based on prevailing market rates that are paid quarterly during the term of the bond. During the rate-setting auction for the government’s 25th RTB offering, the government raised an initial P221.218 billion. Proceeds from the issuance of RTBs are expected to boost the government’s funds for its Covid-19 response and recovery efforts. In addition to the new RTBs, the BTr is also allowing holders of previously issued bonds to exchange and reinvest their bond holdings for the RTB-25. The offer period is set to end on March 4, with settlement scheduled on March 9.

₧357B revenue loss from fuel smuggling ‘unconscionable’ By Jovee Marie N. dela Cruz

@joveemarie

ITH more than a quarter of a trillion pesos lost due to oil smuggling, the chairman of the House Committee on Ways and Means on Monday called for the creation of a task force against the illicit trade in fuel while the Lower Chamber mulls over policy reforms to close loopholes on laws against smugglers.

During a briefing by the Bureau of Internal Revenue and the Bureau of Customs (BOC), Albay Rep. Joey Salceda revealed government lost P357 billion due to fuel smuggling for nearly two decades beginning 2010. According to Salceda, fuel smuggling is easiest in freeport zones where fuel marking is only conducted at the gates and not upon entry at the freeport and where enforcement is less strict as freeports are outside customs territory. “We have to do better with enforcement. The working class has no choice but to pay taxes. But the rich receive both legal and illegal tax privileges,” Salceda, chairman of the tax panel, said adding the taxes lost to fuel smuggling alone “is unconscionable.”

“That’s half of everything LGUs [local government units] receive from the national government every year, and four years’ worth of 4Ps [Pantawid Pamilyang Pilipino program],” Salceda said. “Help me fight smuggling. Take care of the enforcement and I’ll take care of the policy. Let’s work together.” The lawmaker also cited customs bonded warehouses (CBWs) as a potential source of smuggling. CBWs are storage facilities where imported goods can be stored on deferred duties payment. Citing data from the United Nations Conference on Trade and Development, Salceda said the value of potentially smuggled fuel from 2010 to 2017 was increasing. He noted the fuel marking program

PNB increases ownership in JV with Japanese firm By Tyrone Jasper C. Piad @Tyronepiad

HE Philippine National Bank (PNB) is infusing additional capital of up to over half a billion pesos in its joint venture with Japanese leasing and finance firm IBJ Leasing Co. (IBJL) to increase its shareholdings. The Tan-led bank said in a disclosure on Monday that its board of directors approved and confirmed the additional investment of up to P515 million in PNB-Mizuho Leasing and Finance Corp.; IBJL is under the Mizuho Financial Group. The transaction, which is subject to regulatory approval, will boost the ownership of PNB in the joint venture from 75 percent to 83.5 percent.

Shares in PNB skidded 1.52 percent, or 40 centavos, to close at P25.85 each amid the 1.68-percent dip for the benchmark index on Monday. The joint venture of PNB and IBJL, which was originally named as Japan-PNB Leasing and Finance Corp., began operating February 1998. It is offering products and services in financial leases, operating leases, loans and receivablesdiscounting facilities. In 2015, the Securities and Exchange Commission greenlighted the change of name to PNB-IBJL Leasing and Finance Corp. This, after the Japanese leasing company increased its stake in the partnership from 10 percent to 25 percent at the time. The joint venture was renamed to its current corporate name in

April last year. This additional stake acquisition is among the recent moves of PNB regarding its shareholdings in subsidiaries. In September last year, the Tanled bank announced it was selling some of its prime real estate properties in exchange for P46.68-billion worth of additional ownership in PNB Holdings Corp. The bank would be subscribing to 466.77 million shares of the holding company for P100 apiece. The transaction is set to bring the bank’s ownership to 99.46 percent in PNB Holdings. The Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas gave the go-signal for its additional purchase of outstanding shares in PNB Holdings last month. Meanwhile, the PNB reported in December last year that it was

selling its shareholdings, along with PNB Holdings’, in PNB General Insurers Co. Inc. (PNBGen) to Allied Bankers Insurance Corp. for P1.52 billion. The Insurance Commission approved the transaction in the same month. PNB saw its last year’s ninemonth profits drop by around 39 percent to P3.87 billion from P6.34 billion in 2019 for the same period because of higher provisioning for potential credit losses. The bank has set aside loan loss reserves of P9 billion in the first nine months of 2020, which is six times more than it booked year-on-year. Its capital adequacy ratio and common equity tier 1 stood at 16.40 percent and 15.67 percent, respectively, as of end-September 2020.

HSBC’s top executives ff’g money prepare Asia moves

SBC Holdings Plc is considering the return of some global leaders to the bank’s original hometown, reinforcing Asia’s role as its center of gravity. A cadre of senior executives is set to relocate in coming months to Hong Kong from HSBC’s Canary Wharf headquarters, say people familiar with the plans, as Europe’s biggest bank pares its global ambitions. Chief Executive Officer Noel Quinn will begin marketing what’s known internally as the “pivot to Asia” on Tuesday when he announces 2020 earnings. Moving the trio—Nuno Matos, chief executive of wealth and personal banking; Greg Guyett, co-head of global banking and markets, and Barry O’Byrne, chief executive of global commercial banking—would mean businesses responsible in 2019 for 95 percent of net revenue will be run out of Hong Kong.

‘Urgent’ action

THE coming reset comes just 12 months after an overhaul that called for cutting 35,000 jobs,

about 15 percent of the total, over three years. But Chairman Mark Tucker told the Asian Financial Forum conference in January that the pandemic has upended those plans. “Economic realities mean that what we were planning to do in February we need to be even more urgent in doing,” Tucker said. HSBC will probably report pretax adjusted profits fell to $11.7 billion in 2020, close to half of 2019, largely driven by soaring bad debt charges amid the pandemic, according to the average of 19 forecasts on the bank’s website. Its shares, which tumbled last year, have gained about 11 percent so far in 2021, though they have lagged behind rivals such as JPMorgan Chase & Co. and Banco Santander SA. “The potential at HSBC is from simplification, de-duplication, and increased digitization,” said Edward Firth, a banking analyst at Keefe, Bruyette & Woods. “That, to me, is the opportunity, rather more than any ‘pivot’ to Asia or some other such strategic reset.”

Tuesday, February 23, 2021 B3

Wealth management

COST-cutting aside, Quinn told top managers at an internal presentation this month that investment will focus on Asia, as well as the UK and the Middle East. Seeking avenues for growth, Quinn said the bank wants to become a “market leader” in wealth management. It’s now a relative minnow in the business compared to some of its international peers. While HSBC’s private bank manages less than $400 billion of client assets, UBS Group AG, the world’s largest wealth manager, looks after customer funds totaling about $2.6 trillion. Tucker told the Asia conference that there were “real opportunities to grow our wealth business and expand across South Asia.” Tucker said China’s Greater Bay Area, the economic hub of more than 70 million people encompassing Hong Kong and several other southern cities, provides “substantial opportunities.” The focus on Asia involves more than economics. China’s crackdown on Hong Kong has increasingly forced HSBC to ac-

cept criticism in the US and UK as a cost of doing business. Quinn was summoned to testify to British lawmakers this month over the lender’s decision to close the accounts of an exiled Hong Kong democracy activist. Founded in 1865 as the Hongkong and Shanghai Banking Corp., HSBC moved its base to London in 1993 after buying Midland Bank in the run-up to the colony’s 1997 return to China. Since then, its board has considered—and rejected—shifting its headquarters back, most recently in 2016.

The rest

FOR operations beyond Asia, the UK and the Middle East, the future looks cloudy at best. HSBC is expected to announce a withdrawal from consumer banking in the US when it unveils the earnings, the Financial Times reported, citing unidentified people. The bank has already slashed its branch network and cut its New York-based investment bank, in particular its equities business. Bloomberg News

under Republic Act 10963 helped lower the probable-value lost to smuggling in 2018. While smuggling has since been on a slow decline, Salceda said the foregone revenues are increasing as RA 10963 (the Tax Reform for Acceleration and Inclusion, or Train, law) also imposed new excise taxes on fuel. “While fuel marking has helped lower smuggling, the bleeding on the revenue side is still growing because we raised taxes on fuel products in 2018,” Salceda said. “If you [can’t] capture the ecozone and the customs officers in the CBWs in ecozones, you can practically do whatever you wish with smuggled fuel. That’s trouble. And if our refiners die and we continue to insist on directly imported finished fuel, this problem will also continue to grow,” the lawmaker added. With this, Salceda tasked the BOC and the Department of Finance (DOF) to form a task force against fuel smuggling, colloquially known as ‘paihi.’ “If you want to know why some gasoline stations can offer prices P10 lower than the competition, look no further than fuel smuggling. It’s real and it happens just under our noses. The opportunity to catch smuggling is everywhere from the port to the gasoline station; so we can if we try,” Salceda said. “I am urging this task force to be created [to] undertake programs and audits that will catch

fuel smuggling,” he added. “Expand the fuel marking program; help us with new policy proposals to close loopholes on fuel smuggling. If necessary, we are willing to expand the budget for surveillance and investigation.” The lawmaker said a potential policy fix is to prohibit the use of freeports’ privileges given to importers that do not supply to ecozone locators. “If you’re not supplying to an ecozone locator, why should you be exempt from fuel marking? Why should you even be in a freeport, unless you want to skirt certain regulations?” Salceda asked. Meanwhile, in a presentation to the committee, Commissioner Rey Leonardo B. Guerrero reported that the BOC seized P10.6 billion smuggled goods, including P1.8 billion illegal drugs, due to the agency’s “intensified” anti-smuggling operations in 2020. These smuggled goods also include the following: cigarettes and/or tobacco products; agricultural products; general merchandise; vehicles accessories; counterfeit goods; used clothing; steel products; electronics; firearms; alcoholic beverages; medical supplies; jewelry; food; chemicals; wildlife and natural resources; and, currency. Guerrero, a retired Army general, told lawmakers he would continue and strengthen the BOC’s priority programs against smuggling this year.

Money lessons from Kobe Bryant

streams of income. HE year 2020 goes While he earned down in history a lot from his salas the year when ary as a basketball many unfortunate events Genesis Kelly S. Lontoc player, he entered happened. On January 26, into endorsement 2020, the legendary baspersonal finance deals with prestiketball player Kobe Bryant gious brands like perished in a helicopter Nike, Coca-Cola, McDonald’s, Mercedescrash in the US. His popularity tranBenz and Hublot. He did not stop with scended beyond the basketball court. endorsements. He invested in various He was truly a global icon. Kobe won an businesses like BodyArmor, Art of Sport Olympic gold medal and won five NBA and HouseCanary. He also published championships. With his athletic sucbooks and his animated short film, “Dear cess came financial success. It is thereBasketball,” even won him an Academy fore interesting to see how a superstar Award. His diversified income streams like Kobe managed his finances and see made income sustainable. what is key views on money were. In terms of business, Kobe had interKobe Bryant played for only one NBA esting pieces of advice. He advised that team, the Los Angeles Lakers, for 20 one should only invest in businesses years. He put in the work and did evone understands. It may be catastrophic erything to further develop his basketto be engaged in a business where unball skills. Long hours of practice were familiarity of the operations and the a staple throughout his playing career. landscape are evident. He advised that The first lesson is that money is an outone should be patient in business. In a come of effort. At the start of his career, way, being in business requires commithe earned $3.5 million annually; but ment and resilience. He also advised that during his retirement, Forbes estimates one should invest with the right people. that Kobe earned around $680 million. Having a strong culture with people who This level of income places Kobe as one are competent and ethical strengthen a of the highest-paid athletes and profesbusiness. sionals in history. Kobe was quoted as saying that Kobe was quoted as saying that “our “purely giving material things to your mantra is value growth because to grow, siblings and friends may appear to be you have to constantly learn, you have to the right decision; but the day will come constantly move, you have to constantly when you realize that, as much as you improve.” For Kobe, it wasn’t just about believed you were doing the right thing, the quantity of hours but also about the you were actually holding them back.” quality of hours one puts in. Being better Essentially, more than giving, Kobe over time in one’s chosen profession is recommended “the need to figure out a the key to having a successful career. A way to invest in the future of your famnice question to ask therefore is “What is ily and friends.” This lesson is basically next?” We have to aspire to achieve the recommending that teaching loved ones best versions of ourselves. Competence how to fish is a lot better than just givultimately brings in compensation. ing them the fish. Kobe was quoted as saying that he Kobe Bryant had massive wealth but understood “the importance of buildwhat is more impressive is how he was ing value and being smart with your able to manage his wealth properly. He finances.” With his athletic success, it remains to be a hero to many. His legacy was clear to Kobe that financial success on and off the court particularly with rewas imperative. Kobe knew that there spect to finances is enduring. The money were well-paid athletes who eventually lessons from Kobe hopefully inspire all became broke. While he was still reapof us to manage money better. ing success as a basketball player, Kobe planned for his retirement and planned for a better future for his family. In spite Gemmy Lontoc is a registered financial planner of all the distractions that come with of the RFP Philippines. To learn more about personal fame and fortune, Kobe continued to financial planning, attend the 87th RFP program this trek the right path. January 2021. To inquire, e-mail info@rfp.ph or text Kobe believed in having multiple <name><e-mail> <RFP> at 0917-6248110.

Art

BusinessMirror

Tuesday, February 23, 2021 • Editor: Gerard S. Ramos

www.businessmirror.com.ph

Today’s Horoscope

❷

❶ Pamangkin

(Kanika), Isko Andrade, 2020, oil on canvas, 40”x30”

By Eugenia Last

❷

Ate (Franchel), Isko Andrade, 2020, oil on canvas, 48”x72”

CELEBRITIES BORN ON THIS DAY: Dakota Fanning, 27; Aziz Ansari, 38; Kristin Davis, 56. Happy Birthday: Learn something new, and take an interest in reconnecting with people or pastimes you miss. Push uncertainty into the background; concentrate on what excites you most. Change begins with you, so stop taking a pass and make a point to try something new. Your numbers are 7, 15, 21, 26, 38, 41, 47.

ARIES (March 21-April 19): Sink your teeth into what you can accomplish. Productivity will help ward off disagreements and make an impression on someone who counts. Refuse to give in to pressure or get involved in someone’s success instead of your own. HH

❶

Isko Andrade weaves family ties in ‘Pamilya’

HE streams of crumples and wrinkles in which shadows flow, the palpable texture of worn-out cloth, the faded characters, the vibrant memories. What stands out from Isko Andrade’s latest exhibition is not just the artist’s hyperrealist skills in depicting clothes using oil on canvas, but also his ability to dress the subjects with the intimacy of his personal memories. Pamilya serves as the title as well as the inspiration for the second solo of the young artist from Bulacan. Presented by Ysobel Art Gallery, the exhibition

opened yesterday and runs until March 10 at Yuchengco Museum in Makati City. “Isko Andrade’s second solo show has been more than a year in the making,” says Ysobel Art Gallery owner Patrice Tiongco. “A collaborative journey between the gallery and the artist, it showcases Andrade’s strength not just in hyperrealist techniques, but in creating cohesive, powerful and empathetic narratives. Most personal to him, each exhibition piece is a tribute of love to his family.” The exhibition celebrates the special women in the artist’s life. After being abandoned by his father, Andrade basked in the light his mother and two sisters have shone in their home. He often wonders why women, particularly single mothers, are not held in as high regard as men in terms of being head of the family. Thus, Pamilya aims to correct that injustice by recognizing his heroines. The show features garments that represent Andrade’s female family members. There’s the gathered dress of his mother, the office attire of his older sister, the school uniform of his younger sister, and the Sunday’s best of his nieces.

In Pamangkin (Kanika), Andrade captures the tenderness and innocence of a child—his sister’s— by portraying a baby’s onesie in great hyperrealist depiction. The same goes for most of the other pieces, including the flowing hangered duster dresses of his mother in Nanay (Ethel). “Over the years, we witnessed [Andrade’s] personal and artistic growth, and saw his sense of hard work, dedication and commitment to his craft,” said Tiongco. “When we finally finalized the concept of the show more than a year ago, we knew that his second solo exhibition, particularly the depth of story behind it, needs to be presented to a wide variety of audience.” Tiongco added: “The walls of the Yuchengco Museum are perfect blank pages for his visual narratives, with a space that can beautifully reverberate his personal stories.” As for Ysobel Art Gallery’s upcoming exhibitions, Tiongco said that plans are still being finalized. In the pipeline is another exhibition at Yuchengo Museum: a Sid Natividad solo in May. Meanwhile, lined up next month is a group exhibition to celebrate Ysobel Art Gallery’s 10th anniversary. n

BPI celebrates National Arts Month with special treat for cardholders Art Verité Gallery, one of Manila’s leading art galleries today, is one of this year’s exhibitors. Specializing in Philippine and Southeast Asian contemporary and modern art, Art Verité actively promotes both its core established artists and promising new local and international talents. The gallery is featuring seasoned artist Alee Garibay and new artist Jason Delgado. Both artists were chosen for their originality, creativity, skills, and wit in the visual narrative. BPI Credit Card clients can avail of exclusive offers for their Art in the Park purchases. Cardholders who are registered to the bank’s Your Wish is Our Command promo will qualify for a P100 electronic gift certificate for every minimum single-receipt straight purchase of P3,000. BPI Credit Cardholders can also enjoy lighter terms on purchases worth P20,000 or more by converting straight payments into a three-month installment plan at zero-percent interest. More information is available at 889-10055 until March 15. Art in the Park benefits the Museum Foundation of the Philippines in support of their projects and programs for the National Museum of the Philippines and its network.

THE Bank of the Philippine Islands (BPI) is partnering with Art in the Park, the country’s most popular and affordable art fair. Art in the Park is celebrating 15 years of championing Philippine artistry with eight days of a virtual open house, featuring 60 exhibitors and over 6,000 artworks by hundreds of established and emerging Filipino artists. The annual treasure hunt is exhibiting the artworks on an online platform (www.artinthepark.ph) until February 28, to allow art aficionados to access the artwork while properly observing health and safety protocols as Manila remains under general community quarantine. “While there are changes with the way art exhibits are held these days, we still want our clients to get the best experience with this virtual art fair from the comfort of their homes. It’s about letting them reconnect with culture even as this pandemic has cut us off from the world and public spaces. Our clients can also enjoy special offers to make their Art in the Park purchases more feasible and flexible,” said Jenny Lacerna, BPI head of Unsecured Lending and Cards-Product and Sales Group.

TAURUS (April 20-May 20): A unique take on an old idea will excite you. Live within your means, and when doubt sets in, know enough to step back and rethink your next move. Change is only useful if it is beneficial. Focus on using your skills efficiently. HHHH

GEMINI (May 21-June 20): You’ll have to stay ahead of the competition. Gather information, verify facts and use your intelligence and charm to keep the peace and bring about positive change. HHH

CANCER (June 21-July 22): If you are resourceful, original and insightful, an acknowledgment will follow. Look for workable partnerships and moneymaking opportunities. Invest time and money in your interests and pursuits. Don’t get angry with the messenger; go directly to the source of your concern. HHH

LEO (July 23-Aug. 22): Cross every “T” and dot every “I” to avoid criticism. Someone will be waiting and watching for any mistake you make. Share little with people who are unpredictable and protect your reputation, meaningful relationships and your professional position. HHH

VIRGO (Aug. 23-Sept. 22): A power play will pay off. Have everything in place, and be ready to roll. Look for the signs, and let your intuition lead the way. Don’t share information with a peer who may not be trustworthy. HHHH

LIBRA (Sept. 23-Oct. 22): You’ll encounter turmoil at home or work if you let your emotions interfere with your responsibilities. Get your work out of the way and move on to more pleasurable tasks. HH

SCORPIO (Oct. 23-Nov. 21): Spend more time at home, learn something that brings you joy or make a lifestyle change that encourages better health. Walk away from bad habits, influences and extreme situations. New beginnings will be energizing. HHHHH

SAGITTARIUS (Nov. 22-Dec. 21): Keep an open mind, but don’t believe everything you hear. Someone will take advantage of you if you let down your guard. Discipline will pay off when it comes to working and how you handle your cash. Moderation is encouraged. HHH

CAPRICORN (Dec. 22-Jan. 19): Direct your attention to what’s happening in your domestic life, with your family and in a meaningful relationship. Putting the zest back into your life and doing your best to adapt to inevitable changes will be your ticket to success. HHH

AQUARIUS (Jan. 20-Feb. 18): Think twice before you take a risk. Live within your means; protect against illness, injury or relationships with extravagant individuals. Concentrate on personal improvement, gathering information and finding peace of mind. HHH

PISCES (Feb. 19-March 20): Make the first move. Pick up the phone, send an e-mail or set up a reunion with someone you miss. Quality of life depends on the decisions you make. Consider what makes you happy and content, then head in that direction. HHHHH Birthday Baby: You are insightful, creative and sensitive. You are friendly and generous.

‘fill in the blanks’ by howard barkin The Universal Crossword/Edited by David Steinberg

ACROSS 1 Off in the distance 5 Scary giant 9 Hangs in there 14 Big name in pineapple 15 Swamp menace, informally 16 Greek leader? 17 19 Gymnastics gold medalist Kerri 20 Baron’s title 21 It may mean “Pet me!” 23 Opera princess who loves Radames 24 Payment promises 26 Rhinoceros part 28 Daisylike flowers 31 Slightly cracked 33 Spy org. that split up in 1991 36 39 “___ it snappy!” 40 Stretch of history 41 Sci-fi princess who loves Han 42 47 CIA’s predecessor 48 Grape or tomato holder 49 Floppy-eared hound

0 Last word of a prayer 5 52 Donate 53 Drink at a sushi bar 55 “Catch ya later,” in London 58 Children hunt for them annually 61 Double checkers? 63 Commonly misused adverb, or how to read the clues to 17-, 36- and 42-Across 66 Like the best-case scenario 67 Swear to 68 Minute ___ (juice brand) 69 Like the screws in eyeglasses 70 Achy 71 Pros at saving lives DOWN 1 The second word of this clue, e.g.: Abbr. 2 Fair’s opposite 3 Additionally 4 Pet that may be “golden” 5 Condition with rituals, briefly 6 International bakers’ units 7 Flower on a float 8 Automatic response to a call?

9 ___ Vegas Aces 10 Wedding site 11 Parts of a fire safety system 12 Ungraceful landing sound 13 Multiseason show’s storyline, perhaps 18 Love to pieces 22 Alphabetically first of the five W’s 25 Seabees’ org. 27 “...man ___ mouse?” 28 Have the intention of 29 Iranian leaders, once 30 Protests during the national anthem 31 Button on an electronic contract 32 Rock icon Jett 34 Tour leader 35 Monster 37 Marine bird 38 Its final score may be 20-21 43 The night before 44 “You ___ lyin’!” 45 ___-Wan Kenobi 46 Seesaw on a decision 51 Will & Grace Emmy winner Mullally 52 Swamp menace, informally

53 Comedy sketch 54 Political assistant 56 “Sad to say...” 57 Pioneering DVR 59 Glitzy rock style 60 Cut, as a well-taped box 62 Crafty 64 Lamb’s mother 65 Three-ft. measures Solution to Friday’s puzzle:

Show BusinessMirror

www.businessmirror.com.ph

Editor: Gerard S. Ramos

• Tuesday, February 23, 2021

As ‘Kimye’ become Kim and Kanye, will it stay peaceful?

LOS ANGELES—Initial signs suggest a smooth and amicable split between Kim Kardashian West and Kanye West. As “Kimye” becomes just Kim and Kanye with Kardashian filing for divorce Friday in Los Angeles Superior Court, they do so with a prenuptial agreement in place, independent fortunes and a desire to share time with their four young children. The presence of the prenup means the couple likely kept much of their property—hers earned through reality TV and channeling her celebrity into several lucrative business ventures, his earned through music and fashion—separate during their 6 1/2 years of marriage. “Where rich, productive people are getting married, the prenup will usually say that ‘My income stays mine and your income stays yours,’” said attorney Daniel Jaffe, a major player in Southern California’s celebrity divorces for decades. “So if, in fact, that’s the case, there won’t be any major property issues.” For the four children ranging in age from 7-year-old North to 21-month-old Psalm, Kardashian seeks joint custody in her divorce documents. That doesn’t necessarily mean equal time or decision-making for the nearly 16 years until all the kids are adults. “There’s a lot of wiggle room in the space between joint custody,” divorce attorney Reid Aronson said. “I know that I have cases where they say it’s joint custody, but that’s really just because the party that doesn’t really have custody doesn’t want to feel like they’re being excluded.” But Jaffe says in the vast majority of cases, at least legally, “each party is involved in making major decisions involving kids’ education, kids’ travel, kids’ religious upbringing.” Neither Jaffe nor Aronson is involved in this divorce. It will take at least six months by law for the couple to be declared divorced, but is likely to take longer to finalize given the finances and properties involved, even with an amicable split and a prenup. Custody of minor children is never final. It’s always changeable by the court, and the details are often worked out in separate legal processes long after the couple is declared divorced. Despite the signs of peace, divorces often turn sour as they progress. “I hear an amicable divorce when these things start all the time, and it just seems that for some reason something happens and it blows up,” Jaffe said. “The amicability has just been shattered by somebody doing something normally stupid and/or their lawyers doing something totally stupid, which turns an amicable divorce into a crazy divorce.” Any sign of strife will be seized on by a media hungry for details in what was among the most followed unions of the 21st century, and the couple will have to fight to keep the split from playing out publicly, as much of the final year of their marriage did. Judges usually agree to keep details of finances and children’s lives sealed from public scrutiny. And high-profile couples, including Brad Pitt and Angelina Jolie, have increasingly paid for private judges, keeping unpleasant details from becoming public. Kardashian’s lawyer Laura Wasser, the most sought-after attorney for divorcing celebrities with a constant stream of A-list clients, has used private judges often. Yet strategic leaks can happen any time a client or their lawyer wants them, as has happened in the Pitt-Jolie divorce, which also got off to an amicable start but has dragged on with custody and child-support disputes. Such leaks are a key way for divorces to be derailed. “I would advise my clients to stay away from trying the case in the press, because that’s where it really gets complicated, because if somebody says something that they don’t like, then the other person has to get back and respond,” Jaffe said. “So instead of doing this between lawyers or in a courtroom, what we have is on Page Six where all the litigation is going to occur. And that’s not helpful to amicably resolve these cases.” ap

Clockwise: Gloria Romero, Alyx Arumpac, Toff de Venecia, Rafael Manuel, Jun Juban and Isabel Sandoval

Recognition, FDCP style

IVE events may have been put to a halt for almost a year now, but the Film Development Council of the Philippines (FDCP) continues its annual tradition of recognizing those whose works and artistry have brought honor to the country from different awardsgiving organizations overseas. On its fifth year, the FDCP is making do with what it can and the resources that it has to make sure the Film Ambassadors Night (FAN) live steam event scheduled on February 28 on FDCPchannel.ph will be a memorable event. FDCP Chairman Liza Diño said it will be a most fitting finale activity for the National Arts Months, with all the recipients and honorees already informed about the details and procedures that have to be followed for this special event.

From the list we got, there are certainly the more deserving ones like filmmaker Rafael Manuel who bagged the Berlinale Silver Bear Jury Prize for Short Films for his outstanding work in Filipiñana at the 70th Berlin International Film Festival in Germany. There’s also the Kim Tai Sik’s movie Sunshine Family that won the Best Drama Film at the Korea UHD Drama Awards. The movie, a collaboration between Spring Films Manila and Korea’s Film Line Productions, featured local actors Nonie and Shamaine Buencamino in lead roles. We are also happy that Isabel Sandoval’s Lingua Franca is also recognized for winning top awards for the film and lead actress in festivals in the US, Israel, Ukraine, France and Russia. Our US-based friend Jhett Tolentino is a coproducer for this film that continues to make a big splash in festivals internationally. Sandoval wrote, directed, produced and acted in Lingua Franca, which was shot in New York in only half a month. In 2019, she made cinema history as the first-ever trans woman of color to direct and star in a competition film at the Venice International Film Festival. The film is now streaming on Netflix. We are also elated that Alyx Arumpac’s celebrated documentary feature Aswang, produced by another friend Armi Rae Cacanindin, will be up there among the honorees, having won 8 awards in 2020 in Korea, Greece, Indonesia, Canada and the Netherlands. Other artists to be honored in the acting category

are Elijah Canlas (Kalel, 15), who won in Rome; Louise Abuel (Edward), who won in Bangladesh; and Cristine Reyes (Untrue), who bagged the best actress plum in Portugal. Also to be honored are movers and shakers of Philippine cinema like Pangasinan Congressman Toff de Venecia and Nick Lizaso, who incidentally holds two important posts: chairman of the National Commission for Culture and the Arts (NCCA) and president of the Cultural Center of the Philippines. Golden veteran Gloria Romero and cinematographer Romy Vitug are also slated to receive special awards. A most celebrated cinematographer, Vitug will turn 84 after hurdling a medical scare last year. With Romero still queenly at 87, her fans are hoping to catch a glimpse of the actress during the event. Diño said it will be a privilege for her to hand the award to Romero herself. Lope (Jun) Juban of Philippine Film Studios will be honored for his contributions in the audiovisual industry, while Teddy Co, a staunch supporter of regional films, and also a much respected curator and archivist, will also receive a special award. Diño and her team at the FDCP continue to go that extra mile not only in bringing Philippine cinema to the world, but also in ensuring that those who make up the industry get the recognition, help, assistance, appreciation and support they all need, especially during times when they need it most. n

Pauline Mendoza stars in new afternoon drama; GMA News TV rebranded Debuting February 22 is GMA’s new afternoon series Babawiin Ko ang Lahat, which tells the tale of Iris, a young woman whose perfect life is upended by the ghosts of the past in the form of her father’s first family. After proving her acting chops in the top-rated prime-time series Kambal, Karibal in 2017, Pauline takes things up a notch as she stars in her first-ever leading role in the drama. She expresses her gratitude to GMA for entrusting her the role of Iris: “Hindi naman mawawala ’yung pressure at kaba lalo na that this is my first time na mabigyan ng ganitong opportunity ng GMA.” Also in the drama are Carmina Villarroel, Tanya Garcia-Lapid, Neil Ryan Sese, Kristoffer Martin, Dave Bornea, Liezel Lopez and John Estrada. The cast includes Therese Malvar, Tanya Gomez, Gio Alvarez, Manolo Pedrosa, with the special participation of Jett Pangan, Jenine Desiderio and Charee Pineda. Born in comfort, Iris (Pauline) was raised like a princess by her parents Victor (John) and Christine (Tanya) who would do anything and everything to protect her, including from their own past. When Victor’s old flame Dulce (Carmina), together with her two children Joel (Kristoffer) and Trina (Liezel), comes barging into their lives unannounced and begins to take everything away that Iris holds dear to her heart—the young man she is interested in, the wealth that is rightfully hers, and the father she loves—she soon realizes that she must shed her innocence and learn how to fight against her own half-blood relations to regain the most important thing in her life: her family. Created by the GMA Entertainment Group headed by SVP for Entertainment Group Lilybeth G. Rasonable, the drama is directed by Jules Katanyag. Viewers abroad can also watch the series via GMA’s

flagship international channel, GMA Pinoy TV. More information is available at www.gmapinoytv.com. Meanwhile, the network has rebranded its second free-to-air channel GMA News TV to GTV, giving it a fresh new look for “the news you trust and new shows to love.” GTV stays true to the network’s commitment to “Serbisyong Totoo” with a full roster of credible news programs from the award-winning teams of GMA News, GMA Regional TV, and DZBB. Viewers can still catch the live telecast of Super Radyo DZBB’s hottest reports and commentaries on Dobol B TV, as well as Connie Sison and Raffy Tima’s midday newscast Balitanghali. GTV likewise simulcasts the network’s flagship news program 24 Oras, anchored by Mel Tiangco, Mike Enriquez,and

Vicky Morales. Meanwhile, the channel’s prime-time newscast State of the Nation (SONA), bannered by Atom Araullo and Maki Pulido, provides depth and context to the headlines. Local news reports continue to be accessible to more viewers via the GMA Regional TV Strip and GMA Regional TV Weekend News, which feature the network’s award-winning local news programs across the country. Alongside its newscasts, GTV offers fresh programming options for both the young and young-at-heart. This was kick-started by the highrating prime-time series The Lost Recipe headlined by Mikee Quintos and Kelvin Miranda. Adding magic

to everyone’s Saturday viewing habit is My Fantastic Pag-ibig, a collection of rom-com tales set in present times but infused with fantasy elements, showcasing today’s most promising young love teams. The all-original comedy game show Game of the Gens, hosted by Sef Cadayona and Andre Paras, fuses singing, dancing and playing games among competitors from different generations. New GMA resident chef JR Royol gives a peek into the fascinating process of food preparation in the weekly cooking show Farm to Table. Upcoming GTV offerings include the charming story of Heartful Café, starring Julie Anne San Jose alongside David Licauco; the much-awaited on-screen tandem of real-life couple Gabbi Garcia and Khalil Ramos in the romance-mystery mini-series Love You Stranger; and FLEX, which will be bannered by Mavy Legaspi, Lexi Gonzales, Joaquin Domagoso and Althea Ablan. On GTV’s “Happy Hour” strip, Vicky Morales spreads positivity in news magazine show Good News while multi-awarded documentarist Kara David takes viewers on an gastronomical adventure in Pinas Sarap. Helping viewers manage their finances better in the new normal is Susan Enriquez in Pera Paraan. More travel adventures in the new normal also await viewers in the award-winning Biyahe ni Drew hosted by Drew Arellano. Moreover, sports fans are in for a treat with the upcoming NCAA seasons. With GMA News TV currently holding the second spot as the most watched channel after GMA, GTV is slated to complement main channel GMA’s strong nationwide reach. GTV is available via freeto-air, cable, satellite, and on GMA Affordabox and GMA Now as well as other digital receivers, plus the network’s international channels GMA Pinoy TV, GMA Life TV, and GMA News TV International.

During the recent press conference announcing the rebranded GTV: (from left, first row) Atty. Annette Gozon-Valdes, GMA Films president and programming consultant to the GMA chairman and CEO; Nessa Valdellon, first VP for Public Affairs; (second row) Oliver Amoroso, first VP and head of Regional TV and Synergy; and Gigi Santiago-Lara, senior AVP for Alternative Productions.

B6 Tuesday, February 23, 2021

Tagaytay’s newest hotel earns good reviews for its pleasant amenities and “wow” elements

SM turns over edifice of hope for BNHS learners and teachers

NEWLY turned over two-story, four-classroom SM school building at Banisil National High School in General Santos City

MID the challenges brought about by the COVID-19 pandemic, SM Foundation (SMFI) remains a catalyst for change in the education sector as it turns over its 103rd SM school building to Banisil National High School (BNHS) on February 19 in General Santos City. Through the support from SM Prime Holdings, Inc. (SM Prime), this effort was made possible to better equip the teachers and students of BNHS with quality academic facilities once the conduct of face-to-face classes are permitted. In 2012, the BNHS received its first SM school building - but being the only secondary school in Barangay Tambler, BNHS recorded a significant increase in their enrollment per year. With this challenge, the SM Foundation decided to provide another edifice of hope for the sub-urban Muslim community, addressing the growing needs of BNHS learners and teachers. Consistent with the disaster resilient design of an SM school building, the newly constructed two-story, fourclassroom school building has 200

SGV & Co, through SM Foundation, donated laptops to BNHS teachers.

armchairs with specially made chairs for left-handed students, four sets of teacher’s table/chair, 16 wall fans, eight concave panoramic whiteboards, four wall clocks, and four washrooms with flush toilets and washbasins. A new-personswith disability (PWD) ramp leading to a spacious PWD washroom complete with handrails, flush toilet, washbasin and a concrete tiled bench have been added for the comfort of PWDs. The SMFI also installed a 10-faucet handwashing facility, with a 500-liter water tank, to promote proper hygiene. Moreover, a dedicated green space (with concrete tables and benches) for learners were also provided to promote environmental consciousness. The SM School building also has a dedicated room for each of the following: a clinic cum isolation room, a book corner, and a guidance room. In addition to the facility, SGV & Co., through SM Foundation, donated 10 laptops for the teachers of BNHS which they can use in holding their virtual classes. At this time of pandemic, these digital tools are important to ensure the delivery of quality education.

BNHS principal Shiela Balbon expressed her sincerest gratitude to SM, “Our salute to our longtime partner, SM Foundation and SM Prime, for being so generous and proactive in providing us with school buildings that are conducive to learning. We are so grateful for your extended support to our school amidst the pandemic.” Meanwhile, SM Foundation School Building Program head Juris Soliman reaffirmed the organization’s commitment in bringing social good projects, especially in terms of education, to SM’s host communities, “Just like all of us, SM recently braved the obstacles of six strong typhoons, Taal Volcano eruption and the most turbulent, the COVID-19 pandemic. Despite of these hardships, we will continue to bring our school building program to our host communities.” SM Foundation, through its School Building Program, is an active partner of DepEd’s Adopt-a-School program whichaims to promote quality public education by building classrooms nationwide. To date, it has turned over more than 100 school buildings to grassroots communities nationwide.

TikTok launches Family Safety Toolkit to help promote a safe and positive online community

HEN Hotel Casiana opened in time for the holiday season, a lot of people were not aware what to expect, but after two months, Hotel Casiana is fast becoming the preferred location for weekenders and staycationers. “We were overwhelmed with the positive reviews that the hotel generated,” said Nilda D. Serrano, Operations Manager. “We strive each day to perform at the best we can and to deliver outstanding hospitality to our guests. That includes also observing strict health protocols for the safety of guests and our staff.” With positive word-of-mouth, rooms at Hotel Casiana are snapped up at a very fast rate, with people encouraged to try out the rooms since these are offered at a special 50 percent off promo. During weekends, the hotel is fully booked, with returning guests coming back for more. Guests also rave about the rooms as all rooms in Hotel Casiana come with a balcony, which is not the case in other hotels in Tagaytay. All rooms and common areas come with a fresh air vent to ensure proper air circulation. This feature was appreciated by guests who want to stay in a hotel that is observing health and safety protocols. “We fully guarantee that we are among the safest hotels in Tagaytay. We are not only observing health protocols imposed by the IATF and the DOT… we also go the extra mile by ensuring that all our spaces are

sanitized, that our team is in full PPE when cleaning rooms, and that we even have a big commercial-type air purifier in all the rooms,” she added. For entertainment, guests commended Hotel Casiana for having in its rooms a 50inch Android television with cable channel and where you can turn on your Netflix account or indulge in YouTube videos. A smart toilet is also available in selected rooms for guests’ convenience. For leisure, guests raved about the heated pool, which is very “useful” especially during the cold season in Tagaytay. Of course, what made Hotel Casiana more memorable for guests is the hospitality and warm service of the hotel staff, from the moment the guests arrive until they check out. Guests appreciate the attentiveness of the staff and their swiftness to respond to requests. In fact, the staff also arranges surprise birthday treats for guests. Soon, business and leisure will be seamless in Hotel Casiana. There will be a fullservice restaurant for business, heated pool for cold days, in-room spa for weekends, and a pleasant café for mornings. The hotel is located along the Tagaytay– Nasugbu main highway, near the Mahogany Market and Taal Lake. For inquiries, call 09165016060 (Globe), 0968-4121333 (Smart), and 046-4237473, or email: reservations@ hotelcasiana.com. Visit the official Facebook page: Hotel Casiana.

PhilHealth seals partnership with AMLC

THE pact was signed by PhilHealth President and CEO Atty. Dante A. Gierran (2nd from left) and AMLC Executive Director Atty. Mel Georgie B. Racela in a simple ceremony held in Pasig City. Also in photo are PhilHealth Acting Executive Vice President and Chief Operating Officer Nerissa R. Santiago and AMLC Deputy Director Atty. Alvin L. Bermido.

HE Philippine Health Insurance Corporation (PhilHealth) and the AntiMoney Laundering Council (AMLC) have recently formalized a joint undertaking to “promote and encourage cooperation and coordination to effectively prevent, control, detect, investigate and prosecute unlawful and money laundering activities as well as terrorism financing.” The partnership also “endeavors to cooperate in the areas of information exchange in accordance with the Data Privacy Act of 2012,

and capacity building measures to enhance the capability of both parties in addressing money laundering, terrorism financing and unlawful activities in the country.” The said agreement will help the state health insurer to obtain needed “financial information in relation to any violation of laws that the PhilHealth is tasked to implement which would give rise to the commission of any unlawful activity under Section 3(i) of the Anti- Money Laundering Act of 2001, as amended, and money laundering activities.

FDCP to honor performers, movies, and special awardees at the 5th Film Ambassadors’ Night

IKTOK continues its efforts to promote a safe and positive environment online, this time through a new Family Safety Toolkit developed in partnership with the DQ Institute, a leader in digital education, culture and innovation. The Toolkit incorporates the DQ Framework, which is the world's first global standard related to digital literacy, skills, and readiness. “The DQ Institute is excited to work with TikTok, one of the top platforms influencing young minds today, in supporting families across the Southeast Asian region. According to the 2020 Child Online Safety Index, 64 percent of Southeast Asian youth have experienced at least one cyber-risk, such as cyberbullying, tech addition, and risky content and contact. With the COVID-19 pandemic sending more teens online, this number has increased - demanding online safety to be more critical than ever before. This is why the TikTok Family Safety toolkit is especially important. It empowers

parents with simple and practical digital parenting tips to support their teens’ digital life, and empowers teens to constantly check and improve their digital citizenship skills in navigating TikTok - and all other apps - safely and responsibly,” Dr. Yuhyun Park, Founder, DQ Institute, said. Within the Toolkit, parents will find a list of digital parenting tips that they can refer to when setting guidelines for their teens's safe and responsible use of TikTok and other apps. It also offers a simple and practical guide for how to use TikTok's Family Safety Tools in order to put these digital parenting tips into practice. "Online safety is definitely top priority for TikTok, we want all our users to have a safe and positive experience on the platform. We understand the importance of family in the Philippines, and are grateful for the opportunity to be rolling out this initiative to help Filipino families become better digital citizens," said Kristoffer Rada, TikTok Head for Public Policy.

The Family Safety Toolkit was launched as part of TikTok's Safer Internet Day celebration together with Junior Achievement (JA) Philippines, TikTok's local distribution partner. “Here in the Philippines, like much of the rest of the world, the internet has become a borderless space to learn, communicate and earn a living. JA Philippines' goal is to adhere to the whole child education approach, ensuring that they are mentally healthy and safe. We are happy to partner with TikTok through the Tiktok Family Safety Toolkit. Participating in this education program aligns with our mission to whole child education philosophy, not only bringing relevant skills that they need in the 21st century but ensuring they are secure netizens of the world," said Krishna Alejandrino, JA Philippines Executive Director. You may access the Family Safety Toolkit through TikTok's Safety Center. Download TikTok on your iOS and Android devices to start using the app today.

HE Film Development Council of the Philippines (FDCP) has named the 60 honorees and special awardees for this year’s 5th Film Ambassadors’ Night (FAN) as well as the performers for the online event that will take place on February 28. FAN is an annual event launched by the FDCP in 2017 that recognizes Filipino filmmakers, actors, and films of various formats that gained recognitions from established international film festivals and award-giving bodies in the past year. "Philippine Cinema continues to

thrive amid the pandemic because Filipino filmmakers and artists did not allow the global health crisis to derail them from sharing our stories to the world. Through the Film Ambassadors’ Night, we celebrate their efforts and laud their achievements,” said FDCP Chairperson and CEO Liza Diño. In support of the National Arts Month, the 5th edition of FAN will be streamed for free exclusively on FDCP Channel. To sign up, just visit: https://fdcpchannel.ph For complete list of honorees and special awardees, visit https://bit.ly/3psFsQy

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

The World

Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine stops Covid spread, Israeli study says

he Pfizer Inc. and BioNTech SE Covid-19 vaccine appeared to stop the vast majority of recipients in Israel becoming infected, providing the first real-world indication that the immunization will curb transmission of the coronavirus. The vaccine, which is being rolled out in a national immunization program that began December 20, was 89.4 percent effective at preventing laboratoryconfirmed infections, according to a copy of a draft publication that was posted on Twitter and confirmed by a person familiar with the work. The companies worked with Israel’s Health Ministry on the preliminary observational analysis, which wasn’t peer-reviewed. Some scientists disputed its accuracy. The results, also reported in Der Spiegel, are the latest in a series of positive data to emerge out of Israel, which has given more Covid vaccines per capita than anywhere else in the world. Almost half of the population has had at least one dose of vaccine. Separately, Israeli authorities on Saturday said the Pfizer-BioNTech shot was 99 percent effective at preventing deaths from the virus. If confirmed, the early results on lab-tested infections are encouraging because they indicate the vaccine may also prevent a s y mptom at ic c a r r iers f rom spreading the virus that causes Covid-19. That’s not been clear because the clinical trials that tested the safety and efficacy of vaccines focused on the ability to stop symptomatic infections.

Herd immunity

“These are the data we need to see to estimate the potential for achieving herd immunity with vaccines,” said Raina MacIntyre, professor of biosecurity at the University of New South Wales in Sydney, in an e-mail on Monday. “However, we do need to be able to see the data published in a peerreviewed journal and to be able to scrutinize the data in detail.” Pfizer and BioNTech said they are working on a real-world analysis of data from Israel, which will be shared as soon as it’s complete. Spokespeople declined to comment on unpublished data. The study wasn’t designed to accurately measure a reduction in transmission of SARS-CoV-2 because it used national testing data without accounting for differences in testing rates between vaccinated and unvaccinated people,

said Zoe McLaren, an associate professor in the school of public policy at the University of Maryland Baltimore County. “The main result overstates the reduction in transmission from the Pfizer vaccine,” McLaren said in an e-mail. The study compares the number of reported cases between those who had been fully vaccinated and those who hadn’t been vaccinated, but vaccinated people are less likely to get tested so the data will undercount cases, especially asymptomatic cases, in this group, she said.

‘Need more evidence’

“That means that the true reduction in transmission is lower than the estimate of 89.4 percent,” McLaren said. “How much lower? We need more evidence to know for sure. But I expect that, once we account for the bias, we’ll still find that this vaccine does reduce transmission. And that would be very good news.” About 80 percent of SARSCoV-2 cases in Israel during the time period of the study, from January 17 to February 6, were caused by the more transmissible strain first identified in the UK Israel’s vaccination drive began just before the so-called B.1.1.7 variant emerged, fueling infections and leading to a third lockdown on January 8. Through February 6, about 27 percent of people aged 15 and older in Israel were fully vaccinated, with the Pfizer-BioNTech shot the only vaccine available in the country at the time. People were considered fully vaccinated and included in the analysis if the data collected were more than seven days after they received their second dose. Based on SARS-CoV-2’s infectiousness, a vaccine that is 89 percent effective at preventing infection is likely to be effective at eliminating Covid-19 in a population in which high vaccination coverage is achieved, said Helen Petousis-Harris, a vaccinologist at the University of Auckland. Elimination of Covid-19 will depend on potential “reservoirs” of SARS-CoV-2 in animals, genetic changes in the virus that might enable it to escape vaccine-induced immunity, and the ability to stop transmission across the world, said Petousis-Harris, who is coleader of the Global Vaccine Data Network, a multinational group that collaborates on vaccine safety studies. Bloomberg News

China urges US to remove trade restrictions, cease interference

EIJING—Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi called on the US on Monday to lift restrictions on trade and people-to-people contacts while ceasing what Beijing considers unwarranted interference in the areas of Taiwan, Hong Kong, Xinjiang and Tibet. Wang’s comments at a Foreign Ministry forum on US-China relations come as Beijing is pressing the administration of President Joe Biden to drop many of the confrontational measures adopted by his predecessor Donald Trump. Among those are pressures over trade and technology grievances that prompted Trump to hike tariffs on Chinese imports in 2017 and impose bans or other restrictions on Chinese tech companies and academic exchanges. Trump also upgraded military and diplomatic ties with Taiwan, the self-governing island democracy claimed by China as its own territory, while sanctioning Chinese officials blamed for abuses against Muslim minorities in Xinjiang and a crackdown on freedoms in Hong Kong. “We know that the new US administration is reviewing and assessing its foreign policy we hope that the US policy makers will keep pace with the times, see clearly the trend of the world, abandon biases, give up unwarranted suspicions and move to bring the China policy back to reason to ensure a healthy steady development of China-US relations,” Wang told diplomats, scholars and journalists at the Lanting Forum. While Biden has pledged reengagement and a more civil tone in US diplomacy, it’s unclear whether he will make any fundamental changes in Washington’s policies toward Beijing. China faces more opposition than ever in Washington due to its trade record, territorial disputes

with neighbors, and accusations of technology theft and spying. Taiwan enjoys strong bipartisan support, as do criticisms of China’s human rights record, especially on Hong Kong, Xinjiang and Tibet. Wang said China had “no intention to challenge or replace the United States” and was ready to peacefully coexist and seek common development. Wang urged the US to “stop smearing” the reputation of China’s ruling Communist Party and to “stop conniving at or even supporting the erroneous words and actions of separatist forces for Taiwan independence and stop undermining China’s sovereignty and security on internal affairs concerning Hong Kong, Xinjiang and Tibet.” Wang said the US should reactivate all levels of dialogue which he said the US had effectively halted under the Trump administration, and boost cooperation on major bilateral and international issues. The Covid-19 pandemic, climate change and the global economic recovery are the three biggest issues on which the sides can cooperate, he said. On trade, Wang said China would defend the rights of US companies while hoping the US would “adjust its policies as soon as possible, among others, remove unreasonable tariffs on Chinese goods, lift its unilateral sanctions on Chinese companies and research and educational institutes and abandon irrational suppression of China’s technological progress.” The US should also lift restrictions on media, educational and people-to-people exchanges to reverse sharp declines in numbers of Chinese studying in the US and visits by Chinese for tourism or business, Wang said. “I hope that the two sides will work together to steer the giant ship of China-US relations back to the course of sound development toward a bright future with boundless prospects,” Wang said. AP

BusinessMirror

Tuesday, February 23, 2021

US coronavirus death toll nears 500,000 milestone

he US stood on Sunday at the brink of a once-unthinkable tally: 500,000 people lost to the coronavirus.

A year into the pandemic, the running total of lives lost was about 498,000—roughly the population of Kansas City, Missouri, and just shy of the size of Atlanta. The figure compiled by Johns Hopkins University surpasses the number of people who died in 2019 of chronic lower respiratory diseases, stroke, Alzheimer’s, flu and pneumonia combined. “It’s nothing like we have ever been through in the last 102 years, since the 1918 inf luenza pandemic,” the nation’s top infectious disease expert, Dr. Anthony Fauci, said on CNN’s “State of the Union.” The US virus death toll reached 400,000 on January 19 in the waning hours in office for President Donald Trump, whose handling of the crisis was judged by public health experts to be a singular failure. The first known deaths from the virus in the US happened in early February 2020, both of them in Santa Clara County, California. It took four months to reach the first 100,000 dead. The toll hit 200,000 deaths in September

and 300,000 in December. Then it took just over a month to go from 300,000 to 400,000 and about two months to climb from 400,000 to the brink of 500,000. Joyce Willis of Las Vegas is among the countless Americans who lost family members during the pandemic. Her husband, Anthony Willis, died December 28, followed by her mother-in-law in early January. There were anxious calls from the ICU when her husband was hospitalized. She was unable to see him before he died because she, too, had the virus and could not visit. “They are gone. Your loved one is gone, but you are still alive,” Willis said. “It’s like you still have to get up every morning. You have to take care of your kids and make a living. There is no way around it. You just have to move on.” Then came a nightmare scenario of caring for her father-in-law while dealing with grief, arranging funerals, paying bills, helping her children navigate online school and figuring out how to go back to

In this January 21, file photo, Dr. Anthony Fauci, director of the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, speaks with reporters at the White House, in Washington. Fauci won a $1 million award from the Israeli Dan David Foundation for “courageously defending science” during the coronavirus pandemic. On February 15, the foundation named Fauci, President Joe Biden’s chief medical advisor, as the winner of one of three prizes, saying he had earned it over a lifetime of leadership on HIV research and AIDS relief, as well as his advocacy for the vaccines against Covid-19. AP/Alex Brandon

work as an occupational therapist. Her father-in-law, a Vietnam vet, also contracted the virus. He also suffered from respiratory issues and died on Feb. 8. The family isn’t sure if Covid-19 contributed to his death. “Some days I feel OK and other days I feel like I’m strong and I can do this,” she said. “And then other days it just hits me. My whole world is turned upside-down.” The global death toll was approaching 2.5 million, according to Johns Hopkins. While the count is based on

figures supplied by government agencies around the world, the real death toll is believed to be significantly higher, in part because of inadequate testing and cases inaccurately attributed to other causes early on. Despite efforts to administer coronavirus vaccines, a widely cited model by the University of Washington projects the US death toll will surpass 589,000 by June 1. “People will be talking about this decades and decades and decades from now,” Fauci said on NBC’s “Meet The Press.” AP

Protests swell after Myanmar junta raises specter of force

ANGON, Myanmar—Protesters gathered in Myanmar’s biggest city on Monday despite the ruling junta’s thinly veiled threat to use lethal force if people answered a call for a general strike opposing the military takeover three weeks ago. Despite roadblocks around the US Embassy in Yangon, more than a thousand protesters gathered there, while 20 military trucks with riot police had arrived nearby. The crowds were gathering after supporters of the Civil Disobedience Movement, a loosely organized group leading the resistance, called for people to unite on Monday’s date for a “Spring Revolution.” The junta warned against the general strike in a public announcement carried last Sunday on state television broadcaster MRTV. “It is found that the protesters have raised their incitement towards riot and anarchy mob on the day of 22 February. Protesters are now inciting the people, especially emotional teenagers and youths, to a confrontation path where they will suffer the loss of life,” the onscreen text said in English, replicating the spoken announcement in Burmese. The junta’s statement also blamed criminals for past protest violence, with the result that “the security force members had to fire back.” Three protesters have been shot dead so far. Th e p ro te s t m ove m e nt h a s e m b ra ce d nonviolence and only occasionally gotten into shoving matches with police and thrown bottles

Anti-coup protesters gather under an elevated roadway just outside the Hledan Centre in Yangon, Myanmar on February 22. A call for a Monday general strike by demonstrators in Myanmar protesting the military’s seizure of power has been met by the ruling junta with a thinly veiled threat to use lethal force, raising the possibility of major clashes. AP photo at them when provoked. In Yangon, trucks cruised the streets Sunday night blaring warnings against attending gatherings of five or more people. A ban on such gatherings was issued shortly after the coup but not widely enforced as cities saw large daily demonstrations. The authorities overnight also tried to block off key streets with barriers including tractortrailers with flattened tires, but they were swept aside by protesters.

The ominous signs of potential conflict drew attention outside Myanmar, with the US reiterating that it stood with the people of Myanmar. Secretary of State Antony Blinken said on Twitter the US would take firm action “against those who perpetrate violence against the people of Burma as they demand the restoration of their democratically elected government.” “We call on the military to stop violence, release all those unjustly detained, cease attacks on journalists and activists, and respect the will of

the people,” spokesman Ned Price said on Twitter. Earlier Sunday, crowds in Myanmar’s capital attended a funeral for the young woman who was the first person confirmed to have been killed in the protests, while demonstrators also mourned two other protesters who were shot dead on Saturday. Demonstrators turned out in force in Mandalay, the country’s second-biggest city, where security forces shot dead two people on Saturday near a dockyard where the authorities had been trying to force workers to load a boat. The workers, like railway workers and truckers and many civil servants, have joined the civil disobedience campaign. The junta prevented Parliament from convening February 1, claiming the elections last November, won by Aung San Suu Kyi’s party in a landslide, were tainted by fraud. The election commission that affirmed the victory has since been replaced by the junta, which says a new election will be held in a year’s time. The coup was a major setback to Myanmar’s transition to democracy after 50 years of army rule that began with a 1962 coup. Suu Kyi came to power after her party won a 2015 election, but the generals retained substantial power under a military-drafted constitution. Under the junta, 640 people have been arrested, charged or sentenced, with 593, including Suu Kyi and President Win Myint, still in detention, according to the independent Assistance Association for Political Prisoners. AP

Libyan interior minister survives ambush by gunmen on motorcade

AIRO—The interior minister of Libya’s UNbacked government survived an ambush by gunmen on his motorcade on Sunday, a brazen attack highlighting the towering challenges that remain for the newly appointed government that is trying to unite the country before elections late this year. Armed men opened fire at Fathi Bashagha’s motorcade on a highway in Tripoli, wounding at least one of his guards, said Amin al-Hashmi, a spokesman for the Tripoli-based Health Ministry. He said the minister survived the attack and his guards chased the assailants, killing one and detaining two others. The Interior Ministry said in a statement that Bashagha was returning to his residence in the

Janzour neighborhood when armed men in an armored vehicle opened fire on his convoy. The statement called the attack an “attempted assassination” of the minister. Earlier Sunday, Bashagha met with Mustafa Sanalla, head of Libya’s National Oil Corporation to discuss the security of oil facilities and how to strengthen the corporation’s independence to “ensure a fair distribution of wealth among all Libyans.” He posted a photo for both of them on his Twitter account, calling their meeting “fruitful.” Th e U S A m b a s s a d o r i n L i b y a R i c h a rd Norland also condemned the attack and called for an investigation to hold those responsible accountable. “Minister Bashaga’s focus on ending the

influence of rogue militias has our full support,” Norland said. The UN special envoy to Libya Jan Kubis also urged a “full, rapid, and transparent investigation” into the incident, saying it had aimed at “derailing the political process and other efforts in support of Libya and its people.” He said the attack has also showed “how important it is to keep all the arms only in the hands of the legitimate authorities.” Oil-rich Libya was plunged into chaos after a 2011 NATO-backed uprising toppled and killed longtime dictator Moammar Gadhafi. The country has been divided between two governments, one in the east and another in the west, each backed by a vast array of militias as well as foreign powers.

Earlier this month, an UN-picked body comprised of Libyans from both sides appointed an interim government—a three-member Presidential Council and a prime minister—to lead the country through elections, scheduled for December 24. The newly appointed government, which has yet to resume its powers, called for judicial authorities to reveal the circumstances of the incident and bring those responsible before justice. Bashagha was a contender for the post of prime minister, in the end Abdul Hamid Mohammed Dbeibah was chosen to lead the transitional Cabinet. The forum also picked Mohammad Younes Menfi, a Libyan diplomat from the country’s east, to lead the Presidential Council. AP

Sports

Men, ladies golf tour opens new season at Eagle Ridge

BusinessMirror

| Tuesday, February 23, 2021 mirror_sports@yahoo.com.ph Editor: Jun Lomibao

NOVAK SETS MAJOR GOAL I

T didn’t take long for Novak Djokovic to make his intentions clear: All that matters to him from here on out is catching Roger Federer and Rafael Nadal in the Grand Slam standings. Forget about winning other, run-of-the-mill tournaments or playing enough to retain the No. 1 ranking. There is one, primary goal for the 33-yearold from Serbia. He wants to keep adding to his 18 major championships—he reached that number with No. 9 at the Australian Open on Sunday—until he no longer trails Federer and Nadal, who share the men’s record of 20.

“They’ve made history already. They made a tremendous mark in our sport,” Djokovic said. “Whether I think about winning more Slams and breaking records? Of course, I do. And most of my attention and my energy from this day forward, until I retire from tennis, is going to be directed [at] majors, trying to win more major trophies.” Which is perfectly fine. There is no need for pretense. And there is absolutely

Echauz talks cycling

no requirement that he show up to compete more often than he really wants or in places other than where he really wants. If all that matters to Djokovic from a tennis standpoint is accumulating Slams, and playing less frequently will also protect his body—he had surgery on his right elbow three years ago; his 2021 Australian Open nearly was derailed by what he said was a torn abdominal muscle— that is his prerogative. It isn’t much different from what Federer himself or 23-time major champion Serena Williams, for that matter, have done for years. “I think 99.9 percent of players—kids that get a racket in their hands—start dreaming about what they want to achieve. It’s a Grand Slam, winning a major,” Djokovic explained after his commanding performance in a 7-5, 6-2, 6-2 victory over Daniil Medvedev in the final at

PORTSMAN and Standard Insurance Group Chairman Ernesto “Judes” Echauz makes a rare appearance in the online session of the Philippine Sportswriters Association (PSA) Forum on Tuesday. Echauz will talk about duathlon and cycling road events in the 31st Southeast Asian Games in Vietnam where the Philippine Navy-Standard Insurance Philippines have entries. He will also provide updates on sailing, being the president of the Philippine Sailing Association. Presented by San Miguel Corp., Go For Gold, Milo, Amelie Hotel Manila, Braska Restaurant, and the Philippine Amusement and Gaming Corp., the weekly session starts at 10 a.m. The forum has Upstream Media as official webcast partner and powered by Smart. The Forum is livestreamed via the PSA Facebook page fb.com/ PhilippineSportswritersAssociation and also shared by Radyo Pilipinas 2 Facebook page.

NOVAK Djokovic wins his 18th Grand Slam title at the Australian Open. AP

Melbourne Park. “I mean, I don’t feel like I’m old or tired or anything like that,” he said. “But I know that biologically and realistically, things are different than they were 10 years ago for me.” Connected to that: His latest triumph at the Australian Open came with the additional bonus of assuring a stay atop the ATP rankings until at least March 8. That is when he will reach 311 weeks at No. 1 for his career, one more than Federer’s total, another aim Djokovic made clear mattered to him. “When you are going for No. 1 rankings, you kind of have to be playing the entire season, and you have to be playing well; you have to play all the tournaments. My goals will adapt and will shift a little bit, which means that I will have to adjust, also, my calendar,” Djokovic said. “Not have to, but I will have an opportunity to do that, which, as a father and a husband, I’m really looking forward to.” One part of the calculus is that no one knows, of course, whether Federer, who hasn’t played in more than a year after two knee operations and turns 40 in August, or Nadal, 34, will win more majors—or how many more. It bears repeating that until Federer, Nadal and Djokovic came along, no man had won more than Pete Sampras’ 14 Grand Slam titles. Here we are, less than 20 years after Sampras retired, and he’s been surpassed by a trio of men, and by a lot of majors. AP

TEAM PHL GOES BOLD IN 2022 ASIAN GAMES T

By Josef Ramos

HE Philippines goes out a bold and daring team in the Hangzhou 2022 Asian Games by fielding athletes in 46 of the 61 sports calendared in the September 10 to 25 competitions in China. Philippine Olympic Committee (POC) President Abraham “Bambol” Tolentino said the POC submitted the list to the Hangzhou Asian Games Organizing Committee last Friday, saying the team will be out to surpass its performance four years ago in Jakarta, Indonesia. “We submitted our list last Friday—the deadline—and we based our list on our effort to surpass our last achievement of four gold medals—in Jakarta—because we improved a lot in the SEA Games,” said Tolentino, who appointed Dr. Jose Raul Canlas of surfing

Princess Superal and the rest of the girls on the tour will be back in action.

IDING on the crest of its successful re-start in a pandemic-hit year, the Pilipinas Golf Tournaments Inc. penciled a two-stage tournament for the Philippine Golf Tour (PGT) and the Ladies PGT next month to usher its 2021 season with accent still on the safety and health of the players and all the personnel involved. The Eagle Ridge Golf and Country Club in Gen. Trias, Cavite, the country’s largest golfing facility with four championship courses, will host the International Container Terminal Services Inc. (ICTSI) Eagle Ridge Challenge) from March 9 to 12 and the ICTSI Eagle Ridge Championship from March 23-26 at the Aoki and Norman layouts, respectively, both being spruced up to championship condition for a true test of golf. Like in its first two-tournament bubble marking the resumption of both tours at Riviera’s Couples and Langer courses late last year, strict health protocols will be imposed for as chef de mission to Hangzhou. Filipino athletes will be competing in aquatics, archery, athletics, baseball, softball, men’s basketball, men’s 3x3 basketball, boxing, canoe-kayak and cycling MTB and BMX. Also on Team Philippines’ list are dancesports’s breaking, men’s dragon boat, equestrian, fencing, men’s football, golf, artistic and rhythmic gymnastics, judo, jiujitsu, kurash, karate, bridge, chess, esports, xiangqi, modern pentathlon, skateboarding, rowing and men’s rugby. Completing the list are sailing, sepaktakraw, shooting, sports climbing, squash, taekwondo, tennis, triathlon, men’s and women’s volleyball, men’s and women’s beach volleyball, weightlifting, wrestling and wushu. Tolentino, also the PhilCycling president, said it is high time for Filipino athletes to perform better in the Asian Games after the country’s two-time domination of the Southeast Asian Games. Canlas said ground work for the preparation and participation in the Asian Games alteady started in earnest last week. “We started working on the Asian Games

Saludar sets sight on 2nd world title

EWLY crowned World Boxing Association (WBA) minimumweight world champion Vic “The Vicious” Saludar is now setting his sight on the winner between International Boxing Federation (IBF) minimumweight champion Pedro Taduran and challenger Rene Cuarto next week. Saludar, 30, made it to the elite list of Filipino world champions last Saturday in Biñan, Laguna, after booking a controversial split decision victory over Robert Paradero—115-113, 116-112 and 110-118 scores by judges Mohammad Aquil Tamano, Danrex Tapdasan and Alfie Tocosol. “It will be a great fight between Pedro Taduran and Rene Cuarto because they are preparing very well. I would like to meet the winner someday through a unification bout if there’s an opportunity depending on the decision of my promoter too,” Saludar (21-4 win-loss record with 11 knockouts) told BusinessMirror on Sunday. The Taduran-Cuarto all-Filipino world title showdown is set on Saturday at the

SALUDAR

Superliga to make historic return

he Philippine Superliga (PSL) is set to make a historic return when it rolls out the 2021 Gatorade-Beach Volleyball Challenge Cup starting this Friday at the sand courts of the Subic Bay Metropolitan Authority (SBMA). Eight teams, including guest team Kennedy Solar Energy-PetroGazz, would see action in this first volleyball tournament that would be held during the pandemic. Kennedy Solar Energy-PetroGazz parades the tandem of Ariane Luna Alarcon and Christina Canares while Sta. Lucia emerges as the team to beat with veterans Bang Pineda

and Jonah Sabete and DM Demontano and Jackie Estoquia. F2 Logistics is also coming in strong with Jenny Mar Senares and Kyla Angela Gallego while Chery Tiggo will don the colors of United Auctioneers, Inc. with Ella Viray and Theresa Ramas as entries. Rounding up the field in the tournament sponsored by Cherrylume, Ube Express and Subic bay Peninsular Hotel with Cocolife, UCPB Gen, Data Project and Genius Sports as technical partners are Alexa Polidario and Erjan Magdato of Abanse Negrense 1, Jennifer Cosas and Gelimae Villanueva of Abanse

the duration of the twin events with the men and women of the tour eager and ready to slug it out coming off a three-month break. “As much as we wanted to provide opportunities for our pros, we have to ensure that it will be safe and responsible to resume our tour,” said Colo Ventosa, general manager of the organizing PGTI. The Games and Amusements Board (GAB) endorsed the staging of more pro tournaments right after the first Riviera tournament last November, citing the PGTI’s strict compliance with the Department of Health-Philippine Sports Commission-GAB Joint Administrative Order with regard to the government’s health and safety guidelines. But the PGTI and the sponsoring ICTSI had wanted that all safety measures are in place before resuming the circuit with the pros hopeful to get back into the full swing of things by the second or third quarter of the year with the availability of the Covid-19 vaccine. The guidelines were sent to all the players a couple of days back, outlining and detailing the various procedures to be implemented during the upcoming twotournament run, including the mandatory RT-PCR saliva testing. Registration is ongoing with the PGTI expecting around 85 players in men’s and ladies sides to participate. Deadline for listup is on March 2 at 5 p.m. The PGTI has again tapped the Bayleaf Hotel in Cavite as its official hotel although players are allowed to use personal cars but strictly to the hotel only. Shuttle buses will be provided to and from hotel to the golf course. Face masks and face shields must also be worn inside the bus. Although romps marked the Riviera bubble—with Tony Lascuña running away with a four-shot victory over Ira Alido and Rupert Zaragosa in the ICTSI Riviera Invitational at Couples and Alido scoring a breakthrough with a nine-stroke triumph over three rivals, a spirited chase is expected in both Eagle Ridge events. Same with the Ladies PGT with Princess Superal and Pauline del Rosario, who split the Riviera titles in tight fashion, bracing for another faceoff with an eye on the likes of Chihiro Ikeda, Daniella Uy, Cyna Rodriguez and Abby Arevalo, among others. TOLENTINO

because next year is an election year, so it’s transition year for the PSC [Philippine Sports Commission],” said Canlas. “I’m coordinating with [PSC] Chairman William Ramirez on how we are going to go about the budget right now.” The Philippines won four gold medals in the Jakarta 2018 Asian Games— Hidilyn Diaz (weightlifting), Margielyn Didal (skateboarding), Yuka Saso (golf, women’s individual) and Saso, Bianca Pagdanganan and Lois Kaye Go (golf, women’s team). The country also bagged two silver medals—Rogen Ladon (boxing) and Kiyomi Watanabe (judo) and 15 bronze medals—four in pencak silat, three in taekwondo, two each in boxing and wushu and one each in cycling, jiu-jitsu, karate and golf. Bula Gym in General Santos City. It will be aired live on social media. “I think Taduran has the edge in that fight, but Cuarto is also a good fighter,” added Saludar, who also hopes to regain his first world title—the World Boxing Organization (WBO) minimumweight belt he relinquished to Wilfredo Mendez of Puerto Rico via unanimous decision last August 24, 2019, in San Juan, Puerto Rico. “I am willing to face anyone, the WBO belt is still with Mendez. Hopefully, I can have my rematch but it depends on my promoter,” he said. Saludar, a resident of Cagayan de Oro City, joined current world champions IBF super flyweight titleholder Jerwin Ancajas, WBO bantamweight champion Johnriel Casimero and Taduran as the country’s present world boxing champions. The two-time world champion Saludar banked $5,000 (P242,450.00) from the fight organized by Gabriel “Bebot” Elorde Jr. Paradero, 24, expressed disappointment on the decisions of the judges but promised to come back stronger. He suffered his first defeat in 19 pro fights with 12 knockout wins. Josef Ramos Negrense 2, and Jonah San Pedro and Javen Sabas of Toby’s Sports. PSL chairman Philip Ella Juico thanked the support of the teams as well as the Inter-Agency Task Force for the Management of Emerging Infectious Diseases for giving the tournament a go signal. “We want to thank the teams, especially our guest team PetroGazz, for helping us restart our beach volleyball tournament using a bubble setup,” said Juico, a former chairman of the Philippine Sports Commission and president of the Philippine Athletics Track and Field Association. “We also want to thank the IATF Region 3 and the SBMA for supporting us and making sure that our delegates, especially the athletes, will be safe from contracting coronavirus disease,” he added.