BusinessMirror February 25, 2022 by BusinessMirror

Supply chain woes need more than just RCEP

HE largest trade agreement in the world, the Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership (RCEP), may be crucial in fostering regional cooperation, but stronger collaboration is needed given the other concer ns—supply chain clogs and inf lation—that countries face in the region. This is according to Asian Development Bank (ADB) Economic Research and Regional Cooperation Department (ERCD) Principle Economist Jong Woo Kang and Senior Economics Officer Mara Tayag in a recent Asian Development Blog. “Supply chain bottlenecks and growing global inf lationary pressures call for closer collaboration

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among the region’s economies for cross-border movement of goods, services, and people,” Kang and Tayag said. “W hile the Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership is a crucial milestone in leveling up the region’s concerted efforts for freer trade and investment f lows, stronger cooperation and collaboration are also needed in disaster preparedness and response, climate change mitigation and adaptation, labor mobility and facilitation of travel and tourism, among others,” they added. Greater cooperation and collaboration can lead to sustained e conom ic re co ve r y a f t e r C o v i d -19, p a r t i c u l a r l y t h rou g h information sharing and other

health control measures, the two authors said. Sp e c i f ic a l ly, t he s e i nc lude cross-border travel requirements and vaccinated travel lanes which can prevent “ f lare-ups” that derail recovery. “ The region’s social and economic prospects will be significantly affected by how well it t ra n sl ates ongoi ng pa ndem ic challenges into opportunities to forge closer economic relations and cooperation,” they said. Based on data shared by Kang and Tayag, intraregional trade share increased 58.5 percent in 2020 from 57.5 percent in 2019. This marked the highest level of intraregional trade in 30 years. This growth, the economists

said, was driven by deepening regional value chains and has been undeterred by the pandemic. The People’s Republic of China has also played a key role as the region’s major trading partner. South A sia’s share of trade within the region grew to 40.5 percent in 2020 from 38.9 percent in 2019. East Asian economies’ trade within Asia and the Pacific also strengthened, to 56.8 percent from 55.7 percent. Intraregional trade for the Pacific and Oceania region increased to 72.6 percent from 72 percent. Central Asia’s intraregional trade share expanded to 36.8 percent from 36 percent, and Southeast Asia’s rose to 69 percent from 68.5 percent. Cai U. Ordinario

BusinessMirror Abroader broaderlook lookat attoday’s today’sbusiness business A broader look at today’s business A

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BSP chief allays fears over war in Ukraine

By Cai U. Ordinario @caiordinario & Bernadette D. Nicolas @BNicolasBM

OCAL economists are urging the President’s economic team to consider the suspension of taxes on oil and wheat imports to cushion the impact of hostilities in Eastern Europe on consumers.

By Bianca Cuaresma

‘DIGITAL DIASPORA’

Also on Thursday, the Cabinet-level Development Budget Coordination Committee (DBCC) said the government stands ready to provide a total of P3 billion in fuel subsidies and discounts to cushion the impact of rising oil prices on the transport sector, farmers and fisherfolk. (See related story on page A16, “Special session pushed for oil-tax measures, DBCC says relief ready.”) The Philippines imposes excise taxes on fuel imports under the Tax Reform for Acceleration and Inclusion (TRAIN) Act of 2017. In 2020, tax rates for petroleum products ranged from P3 to P10 per liter. While tariffs for milling wheat imports are at zero, these products are slapped with a 12-percent value added tax (VAT) on the subsequent flour sales, payable at the time the wheat is imported. Feed-wheat imports are subject to a 7-percent Most Favored Nation (MFN) duty and are not subject to VAT while wheat flour imports are levied a 7-percent MFN tariff. “If the price spike is temporary, policy makers can sit tight and grind it out until prices fall. If the price spike is sustained then the government, as a temporary measure, may want to consider lowering taxes on oil products,” former Tariff CommisByManuel Manuel Cayon sioner George Manzano By told BusinessMirror. T.T.Cayon “To partially dampen the price spikes, the government can study if temporarily suspending tariffs on wheat imports is feasible given the fiscal situation. Bakeries and the confectionery industry will be hit as their raw material cost will escalate,” he also said.

ANGKO Sentral ng Pilipinas (BSP) Governor Benjamin Diokno tried to allay fears in the market about the effect of the escalating tensions between Russia and Ukraine. In a press briefing, the BSP governor said the situation in the areas of concern is still very fluid and would warrant further monitoring before fully knowing the extent of its effect on the local economy. “We cannot devise a forecast at this point, based on the changes in the oil prices now. That is very fluid. So it is not wise for us to speculate on that at this time,” Diokno said. Earl ier, severa l economists have f lagged the potential effect of the unrest on the country, parDOCTORS from the Bureau of Quarantine verify health documents from arriving passengers at Naia Terminal 1. Travelers from select countries may now present their respective national Covid-19 ticularly on inflation and the peso. vaccination certificates to prove their immunization status in the Philippines as per the national pandemic interagency task force. NONIE REYES “I know that many people are getting nervous because of the Russia-Ukraine incident, and of course the rising oil prices but these are fluid situations,” the governor said. For the oil prices, the governor said a “sustained increase” over By Lenie Lectura b/d Russian crude oil exoil from Russia which indiited impact on actual sup$95 per barrel could be enough to @llectura port, 58 percent is exported rectly exposed our finished ply disruption as a result of make a significant change in their to Europe and the rest or product import.” sanctions on Russia or acforecasts. HE Department of 42 percent to the Asia-PaChina gets around 15 tual conflict with Ukraine. In separate responses to the Energy (DOE) said cific region, said DOE-Oil percent (1.55 million b/d) BusinessMirror, ING Bank econThursday that the Industry Management Buof its total crude imports Beyond Russia factor omist Nicholas Mapa, Unionbank showsofofproducts, products, withhosts hostsand and consumers become morediscerndiscernPhilippines does not directly become reau more Director Rino Abad. from Russia. How e v er , A b a d s a i d shows consumers economist Carlo with Asuncion and guests providing more details and ingand andconnected, connected, weare areseeing seeing import crude oil from Rus“However, we impor t South Korea sources 6 other movements in the guests providing more details and ing we Rizal Commercial Banking Corpogiving testimonies, Zalora said. incredible innovations happening giving testimonies, Zalora said. incredible innovations happening sia and Ukraine, but local f inished products f rom percent (300,000 b/d) of world oil market point to ration (RCBC) economist Michael would alsohelp help oil brands intheretail retailsector sector thatSouth completely ItItwould also inthat completely pump prices could in beinthe affectChina, Korea and total crude imports from a continuing increase in Ricafort earlier said brands prices novate on flexible sales promoreimagine theJapan,” shopping experinovate on flexible sales promoshopping ed by the ongoingreimagine conflict the he experisaid, noting Russia; and Japan, 2 perlocal pump prices. will start to escalate, which, in tions,such suchaffect giving discounts, ence,”Gunjan GunjanSoni, Soni,chief chiefexecutive executive tions, asasgiving discounts, ence,” between the two countries. that these “countries are cent (100,000 b/d). turn, could the peso’s value and offering easier and attracofficer of the Zalora Group, told an and offering easier and attracofficer of the Zalora Group, told an Out of the total 5 million the ones importing crude Abad said there is limSee “DOE,” A2 against the dollar. tivepayment paymentoptions optionssuch suchasasthe the onlinepresentation presentationofofits itsTrender Trender tive online buy-now-pay-later (BNPL) opReport2021. 2021. buy-now-pay-later (BNPL) opReport See “BSP,” A2 tion,which, which,ititsaid, said,emerged emergedasas Shedescribed describedthe the“shoppers “shoppersofof tion, She themost mostpopular popularoption optionamong among tomorrow”asas“digital “digitaland anddiverse diverse the tomorrow” Asian shoppers. across Southeast Asia.” Asian shoppers. across Southeast Asia.” n japan 0.4460 n UK 69.4517 n HK 6.5691 n CHINA 8.1199 n singapore 38.0829 n australia 37.0843 n EU 58.0029 n SAUDI arabia 13.6661 Source: BSP (February 24, 2022) Indonesia, for for example, example, “It’s a a digital digital diaspora,” diaspora,” she she InIn Indonesia, “It’s Google saw saw a a “10x “10x increase increase inin said,citing citingGoogle Googletrend trendmonitormonitorGoogle said, searchesfor fore-wallet e-walletservices servicesand and ingthat thatshows shows40 40million millionnew newInInsearches ing 15xrise riseininBNPL BNPLservices servicesininthe the ternetusers userscame cameonline onlineinin2021, 2021, 15x ternet lastfive fiveyears. years.Other Otherappealing appealing “bringingthe theinternet internetpenetration penetration last “bringing payment options options like like monthly monthly SoutheastAsia Asiatoto75 75percent.” percent.” payment ininSoutheast installments,toto00percent percentinterinter“Infact, fact,eight eightout outofof10 10InterInterinstallments, “In estfees feeson oncredit creditcards, cards,provide provide netusers usersininthe theregion regionare aredigidigiest net access toto quality quality products products and and talconsumers. consumers.Recognizing Recognizingthis this talsavviness savvinessand andtaste tastefor forluxury luxury Internetand andelectronic electroniccommunicommuniaccess tal tal Internet serviceswhile whilealso alsoimproving improvingfi-fishiftininadoption, adoption,brands brandsquickly quickly andsustainability. sustainability. cationgadgets gadgetsbybytheir theirside. side.Google Google services and shift cation nancialinclusion. inclusion. expandedtheir theironline onlinepresence presencetoto “Thereport reportisispositioned positionedasasa a trendshows showsMalaysian Malaysianshoppers shoppers nancial “The expanded trend Zalora,for forinstance, instance,offers offers21 21 reachthese thesenew newdigital digitalconsumconsumreferencepoint pointthat thathelps helpsZalora’s Zalora’s spendclose closetoto99hours hoursonline onlineon on Zalora, reference reach spend paymentmethods methodsacross acrossthe therereers,and andZalora Zalorareported reporteda a19-per19-per900brand brandpartners partnersnavigate navigatethe the average,“and “andare arethe themost mostlikely likelytoto payment 900 ers, average, gion, including including cash-on-delivery cash-on-delivery centincrease increaseininnew newbrands brandsthat that region’sdiversity diversityand andevolving evolvingrerevalue-driven.” gion, region’s cent bebevalue-driven.” andBNPL BNPLoptions optionsacross acrossthe themarmarjoinedthe theplatform platforminin2021,” 2021,”she she taillandscape,” landscape,”Zalora’s Zalora’sCEO CEOGunGunSingaporean shoppers shoppers are are and tail joined Singaporean kets.ItItlaunched launchedits itsfirst firstco-brandco-brandadded. janSoni Sonisaid. said. mostlikely likelytotoinvest investininluxury luxurypurpurkets. jan added. most creditcard cardininpartnership partnershipwith with Withmore moreSoutheast SoutheastAsians Asians Aside from from digital digital partners partners chases, with with Google Google search search data data ededcredit Aside With chases, RCBCand andMastercard Mastercardininthe thePhilPhilbrowsingnow nowand andgetting gettingthemthemlike Google, Google, Mastercard, Mastercard, H&M, H&M, showinga a21-percent 21-percentyear-on-year year-on-year RCBC like browsing showing ippines,the thefirst-ever first-everfashion fashionand and selves more more online, online, the the average average Lush,Paula’s Paula’sChoice, Choice,HABIB, HABIB,AtAtincreaseininSingaporeans’ Singaporeans’searches searches ippines, Lush, selves increase BANG OLAND | DREAMSTIME.COM BANG OLAND | DREAMSTIME.COM

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D.O.E. EXPLAINS HOW UKRAINE WAR COULD HURT PHL Onlineshopping shoppingplatform platformnotes notesbehavioral behavioralshift shift Online amongconsumers, consumers,brand brandmakers makersamid amidCovid Covid among

@BcuaresmaBM

News

BusinessMirror

A2 Friday, February 25, 2022

DOE... Continued from A1

Outside of the Russian conf lict, Abad said there is already an ongoing OPEC+ daily shortage of production of around 1 million b/d which OPEC+ refuses to supplement, despite pressure from US, Japan, China, India, and IEA member countries. A l so, s p e c u l at ion s of high pr ices a re sw irl ing a r isi ng f rom t he u ncer ta int y of sa nct ions, not necessarily on oil supply, but indirectly on Russia’s monetar y ability to continue accessing the global financial system. Such will ultimately affect the ex-

BSP... Continued from A1

“On top of the likely impact on overall sentiment, the escalating tensions on the Russia Ukraine border will likely ratchet up pressure on Philippine inflation,” Mapa said. “A protracted period of elevated energy prices will definitely filter through to higher

port-import negotiations with Russia. “In view of the above, the sentiment of the market knowing there is insufficient daily production and the supplement is already coming from the existing stored inventory and the ongoing uncertainty of the effect of Russia conf lict, the price is already experiencing premiums,” he said. Last week reports from Bloomberg and CNBC pointed to a projected uptick in Brent crude price from $90 to $120 in the coming days. “If this projected increase actually happens then its impact will be to increase our domestic pump price,” Abad said. P u mp pr ices h ave i ncreased for the past eight consecutive weeks.

imported energy inf lation with the double whammy of fomenting PHP depreciation pressure as firms need more dollars to cover pricier oil,” he added. In their last monetar y policy meeting, the BSP forecasted inflation to average 3.7 percent this year, from the 3.4 percent expectation in their previous monetary board meeting. While higher, it is still within the 2 to 4 percent target range of the government this year.

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Comelec to get property owners’ written consent in poster drive

By Samuel P. Medenilla @sam_medenilla

ERSONNEL from the Commission on Elections will soon be required to get a written consent from concerned owners before they could enter private properties for their crackdown on illegal printed campaign materials. In a press conference on Thursday, Comelec spokesperson James Jimenez said they are now drafting the guidelines, which will include the said provision.

Experts... Continued from A1

In a statement released on Thursday, the DBCC said benchmark Dubai crude oil price for this year is projected to average USD 83.3 per barrel, citing the latest assessment of the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas as of February 17 this year.

“One of the biggest features of the planned IRR (implementing rules and regulations) is that we will be requiring our

However, it said this is expected to decelerate to $79.0 by the end of this year based on the latest oil futures. For the first time since 2014, global benchmark Brent crude oil on Thursday topped $100 per barrel after Russia attacked Ukraine, based on international reports. Meanwhile, Dubai crude is around $91 per barrel, as of press time. T he BusinessMir ror on Tuesday first reported that oilimporting countries like the Philippines could see a spike in local pump prices and various commodities in light of the situation in Eastern Europe. (Story here: https://businessmirror. c o m .p h / 2 0 2 2 /0 2 / 2 2 /wa r f ueled-oil-pr ice-inf lationimpact-eyed/)

Supply shock

Tariff commission chief Manzano said Brent crude oil prices breaching $100 per barrel would lead to a supply shock in the oil market. The end of the oil price rally would largely depend on the resolution of the hostilities. He said the Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries (Opec), which includes Saudi Arabia, could also help ease the impact of high oil prices if they decide to increase oil production. But only the resolution of the crisis in Europe would keep prices spikes at bay. Given this, there is little that net-oil importers like the Philippines can do to stem the increase in oil prices. It can, however, help cushion the impact by temporarily lowering tariffs and, for the long-term, promote technologies that rely less on oil as fuel. “It is important to determine whether the spike will be sustained or not. If the UkraineRu ssi a con f l ic t i s resolved quickly this would be reflected in a lowering of oil prices. If, on the other hand, the conflict is prolonged, then there will be continuous high prices,” Manzano said. Ateneo de Manila University John Gokongwei School of Management Dean Luis F. Dumlao said, meanwhile, that adjusting excise taxes can be done by the economic team as this is part of the provisions of the Train Law. Under the Train Law, the government can suspend excise taxes “if the three month average exceeds $80 per barrel. There are also provisions to subsidize transport groups,” Dumlao pointed out. BPI Chief Economist Emilio S. Neri Jr. agreed and said these measures, however, will lead to foregone revenues which will make the goal of fiscal consoli-

field officials to get a recent consent before they enter into pr ivate proper t y,” Jimenez said. Jimenez stressed that even without the new IRR, it is already part of their policy to verbally ask for permission from owners before entering their property. However, he said they opted to add the new regulation after they drew flak in social media after their Comelec personnel removed illegally posted and oversized election campaign m ater i a l s i n some pr iv ate properties. Questions on the legality of such operations were raised by

some election lawyers, including election lawyer Romulo B. Macalintal, who urged Comelec to post pone remov ing campaign materials in private properties. Comelec Commissioner Rey E. Bulay was surprised by the widespread protests over their operations, which he said the poll body has been doing for over two decades. The written consent requirement, Jimenez said, will hopefully address these concerns. “If the property owner refuses to give consent, then a case is possible. In the meantime the poster stays,” Jimenez said.

dation even more challenging. “No free lunch as always.”

expensive food items. “At best, government can give targeted food subsidies to the poor, but like it or not, non-poor consumers would have to bear the brunt of this supply side cost-push inflation,” Habito said. Ateneo Eagle Watch Senior Fellow Leonardo A. Lanzona Jr. agreed and told BusinessMirror that, given the extent of the impact of the hostilities in Eastern Europe, the government must extend cash transfers to households as they will also suffer the brunt of the increase in fuel and food prices. “The short-term response is to offer cash transfers to poor households. But we need to plan in the long term especially because this situation might extend indefinitely. A comprehensive plan of securing food and other necessities will be needed,” Lanzona said. Unionbank Chief Economist Ruben Carlo O. Asuncion thinks that whatever the response of the government, these have to be well-thought of and precise. In fact, since the tensions in Eastern Europe have been brewing for some time, the government should already have thought through scenarios in an escalation of conflict. Asuncion only hoped that affected producers are ready to implement their “responses to prevent any production disruptions and/or any event that may ail the regular production times.” He said the “prices of these products are, of course, vulnerable to what is happening in Ukraine. (I) hope producers will adjust to prevent potential hike in goods’ prices.” On Thursday, the Associated Press reported that Russian troops launched their anticipated attack on Ukraine as President Vladimir Putin cast aside international condemnation and sanctions, and warned other countries that any attempt to interfere would lead to “consequences you have never seen.” Big explosions were heard before dawn in Kyiv, Kharkiv and Odesa as world leaders decried the start of an invasion that could cause massive casualties and topple Ukraine’s democratically elected government. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy declared martial law, saying Russia has targeted Ukraine’s military infrastructure. He urged Ukrainians to stay home and not to panic. President Joe Biden pledged new sanctions to punish Russia for the aggression that the international community had expected for weeks but could not prevent through diplomacy.

Wheat

Dumlao said the increase in wheat prices would be significant. He estimated that wheat and bread has a 2.5-percent weight in the Consumer Price Index (CPI). Should this increase by 50 percent, inflation could increase by as much as 1.25 percentage point. T he Phi lippine Statistics Aut hor it y (PSA) told BusinessMirror that, based on the 2018-based CPI, bread has a 1.8-percent weight in the national CPI. Flour wheat has a weight of 0.06 percent in the nationwide CPI. In Manzano’s view, the situation in Ukraine is crucial because the European country is the Philippines's third most important source of wheat imports as of 2020. It accounted for 9.1 percent of total imports of wheat/meslin. Russia is the largest exporter of wheat/meslin. He also noted that the Philippines does not produce wheat and the current crisis will be an “import sourcing challenge” for the country and by other countries, leading to a spike in prices. Ukraine is considered the fifth largest exporter of wheat/meslin in the world as of 2020. “Because wheat production is agro-based, and one cannot simply ramp up acreage and production, there could be spike in demand as importers of wheat try to secure or outbid each other just to secure their supplies,” Manzano explained. Nonetheless, Manzano and Philippine Institute for Development Studies (PIDS) Senior Research Fellow Roehlano Briones remained confident the Philippines can still source wheat from other importers globally. The United States remains a major source of wheat for the Philippines. Ateneo Center for Research and Development (ACERD) Associate Director Ser Percival K. Peña-Reyes said the country may still be able to source wheat from immediate neighbors to augment supply issues.

Subsidies, long-term

The current situation that the Philippines finds itself in would require the government to again dip into its shallow pockets to provide subsidies for those directly affected by high oil prices, notably the public transportation sector. Former Socioeconomic Planning Secretary Cielito F. Habito said the higher costs, particularly that of oil, will swell prices of farm products using fertilizers. This means, he said, more

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Editor: Vittorio V. Vitug • Friday, February 25, 2022 A3

Palace orders repatriation of Filipinos from Ukraine

By Malou Talosig-Bartolome @maloutalosig & Samuel P. Medenilla @sam_medenilla

ILIPINO workers in the Ukrainian capital of Kyiv heard explosions in what they feared as the start of the Russian invasion into Ukraine. This developed as Malacañang on Thursday announced the repatriation efforts of Filipinos from Ukraine. In a brief statement, Acting Presidential Spokesman Karlo B. Nograles said President Duterte is focused on ensuring the safety of Filipinos in Ukraine. “The Philippine government, through the Department of Foreign Affairs [DFA], is now conducting repatriation efforts of Filipinos living in Ukraine,” Nograles said. Shirley Santosildes, a schoolteacher in Kyiv, was busy packing her bag when the BusinessMirror reached her via WhatsApp. “We are evacuat-

ing now,” she said. “We already told the [Philippine] Embassy,” she added, referring to the Embassy officials based in Warsaw, Poland and the honorary consulate general in Kyiv whom she has been coordinating in the past few weeks. Santosildes is also one of the leaders who coordinate with the Filipino community in Ukraine, which according to the latest count of the Department of Foreign Affairs is now 180 only compared to an earlier estimate of 380. Most of the overseas Filipino workers (OFWs) in Ukraine are based on Kyiv, and many are working as domestic helpers.

The contingency plan is for the Filipinos to gather at identified areas in Kyiv where a van will take them to Lviv, another city west in Ukraine, near the Poland border. The Philippine Embassy in Warsaw has set up a temporary consular base in Lviv initially with a consul and an assistance to nationals (ATN) officer. From Lviv, they are expected to travel to Poland by land, barring any hitches. DFA Undersecretary for Migrant Workers Affairs Sarah Arriola said there are four Filipinos who were scheduled to leave Kyiv on Thursday, aside from the six other Filipinos who arrived over the weekend via Istanbul. “For now, we urge our kababayans in Ukraine not to panic but exercise caution and mind their movement, to keep their vigilance, and to maintain communication with the Philippine Embassy Team in Lviv or the Consulate General in Kyiv should they need any assistance,” Arriola said in a briefing with reporters as she reiterated that

the plane ticket to the Philippines would be given for free from the DFA’s ATN fund. During the past two weeks, Embassy officials have repeatedly appealed to OFWs in Ukraine to go home because the threat of invasion is becoming imminent. They said they could not guarantee that the Embassy could immediately attend to their request for immediate evacuation if the war has already erupted. Santosildes earlier said they are aware of the risks in staying to Kyiv, but saw no need to immediately evacuate, hoping that the war would not push through. “It’s never really too late. Our kababayans have their reasons why they want to stay. The DFA is ready to assist anyone who wants repatriation whatever the circumstances on the ground is. We will always be the last to go. We will never leave anyone behind,” Arriola assured. Aside from the Philippine Embassy in Warsaw, the diplomatic posts in Moscow, Budapest and the rest of

Sokor group installs 1st school peace monument in PHL By Manuel T. Cayon @awimailbox Mindanao Bureau Chief

PHOTO shows the first peace monument erected by the South Korea-based Heavenly Culture, World Peace, Restoration of Light in a public high school campus in Siniloan, Laguna. CONTRIBUTED PHOTO

Dr. Cecilia Castillo, principal of SINHS, said, “As the teachers, principals, and staff, we must serve as the role model in promoting justice and love, educating our students to be kind-hearted, caring, responsible, and peace-loving citizens of the nation and the world.” Dr. Ronald L. Adamat, commissioner of the Commission on Higher Education (CHED), who attended the unveiling, said he would establish peace monuments in all the 25 state universities under his jurisdiction, and added that he would persuade the CHED to do the same in all 112

status universities and colleges in the pursuit of peace. The HWPL said it held peace education training for 11 schools in Siniloan on February 22 and 23 as part of the partnership signed between HWPL and DepEd Laguna–Siniloan District. By April, it would start the full implementation of peace education in the next academic year. It said HWPL Peace Education consists of 12 lessons “that aim to train the educators and students with the value of peace by raising awareness of the importance of fostering

a culture of peace.” Since 2016, more than 200 educational institutions in 34 countries have been designated as HWPL Peace Academies, and Ministries of Education from nine countries have signed agreements for the implementation of peace education, it said. HWPL peace initiatives in the Philippines started with the signing of the agreement with local leaders in Mindanao on January 24, 2014. The agreement was initiated by HWPL Chairman Lee Man-hee, a Korean war veteran, to overcome the 50 years of conflict in the region.

The United States, France and other countries condemned the Russian attack on Ukraine.

Call for prayers

THE Archdiocese of Manila urged the faithful to pray for the safety of the people in Ukraine amid the conflict. “May the Lord guide and protect them against the war. May the Blessed Mother keep them safe under the mantle of her protection, Amen,” the Archdiocese of Manila said in a post in its Facebook page. For his part, Bayombong Bishop Jose Elmer I. Mangalinao urged the faithful to pray for the end of the attacks in Ukraine. “With this alarming development in the country let us heed the invitation of Pope Francis to make March 2, 2022, Ash Wednesday, a day of intense fasting and prayer for peace,” Mangalinao said. “Let us also ask the intercession of our Mother Mary, the Queen of Peace, to preserve our world from the madness of violence and war,” he added.

BBM ready but ‘unsure’ in joining Comelec debate, spokesman says

AVAO CITY—A South Koreabased peace group erected its peaceembleminaLagunapublic high school, the first to be installed in a school in the Philippines after its first peace monuments were erected in 2016 in the provinces of Maguindanao and Sultan Kudarat in Mindanao. The first school peace monument was unveiled in Siniloan Integrated National High School (SINHS) in Siniloan, Laguna on February 21. This peace monument was initiated by the Heavenly Culture, World Peace, Restoration of Light (HWPL) of South Korea, and the construction of the peace emblem inside the school was part of a partnership agreement with the group and the Laguna office of the Department of Education to impart the culture of peace in the lectures. The unveiling ceremony was attended by the municipal vice mayor, the provincial education director of Siniloan, and the President of Laguna State Polytechnic University, HWPL said in a news statement. “The Peace Monument serves as a landmark of peace in the school grounds being the highlight among their amenities, in support of the annual HWPL Peace Day celebration held last January 24,” it added. Representatives from HWPL and DepEd Laguna–Siniloan District signed a memorandum of understanding for peace education. John Rommel Garces, chief manager of HWPL Philippines, said establishing the peace monument in the school grounds of SINHS would serve as reminder to students and teachers “that they will be taking the role of peace messengers of this country.”

Europe are also on alert to extend assistance to Filipinos from Ukraine. On standby Labor Secretary Silvestre H. Bello III said they will be extending aid to DFA to bring home the affected OFWs. “We in DOLE are ready to extend assistance to DFA in case they will implement forced or compulsory repatriation,” Bello told the BusinessMirror in a phone interview. As of press time on Thursday afternoon, he said DFA has yet to hoist an Alert Level 4 in Ukraine, which will trigger mandatory repatriation. Citing information from their labor attaché in Germany, Bello said they are also closely monitoring the status of seven OFWs in Rostov, Russia near the Ukraine border, who may be affected by recent conflict between the two countries. “They are awaiting the decision of their employers on whether or not to relocate,” Bello said. Last Thursday, Russian President Vladimir Putin ordered the invasion of Ukraine to protect separatist leaders in eastern Ukraine.

RESIDENTI AL candidate Ferdinand “Bongbong” R. Marcos Jr. is ready to join the presidential debate being organized by the Commission on Elections (Comelec) next month, although he is “unsure” if he will be able to attend the event. Marcos’ Chief of Staff and spokesperson Victor “Vic” Rodriguez issued the statement after the poll body announced last Thursday that all of the 10 presidential candidates have confirmed they will be attending the debate. “Partido Federal ng Pilipinas standard-bearer Ferdinand ‘Bongbong’ Marcos Jr. has not yet confirmed his participation in the Comelec-sponsored debate, which was scheduled from 7 p.m. to 9:30 p.m. on March 19, 2022,” Rodriguez said in a brief statement. “His participation in the said event, which will be held at the Philippine Arena in Bocaue, Bulacan will only be confirmed if his hectic campaign schedules permit,” he added.

Readiness

PRIOR to the said pronouncement, Comelec spokesperson James Jimenez already announced that Marcos would be participating in their debate. “The debates are definitely on. The date that we’re looking at for the first presidential debate is on March 19, which is a Saturday. And thus far, we have commitments from all campaigns that their candidates will be joining us,” Jimenez told reporters in an ambush interview. In his Twitter account, the poll official even posted a copy of the letter from Marcos’ National Campaign Manager Benjamin C. Abalos

Jr., which said the former senator “expressed readiness” to join the debate. “If more confirmation is needed, the Comelec awaits the same with bated breath. Nevertheless, preparations for the #PiliPinas Debates2022 push through,” Jimenez said. Rodriguez, however, clarified that such readiness is not tantamount to a commitment of attendance to the debate. To note, Marcos was unable to join in the presidential debates organized by GMA News, and the Kapisanan ng mga Brodkaster ng Pilipinas (KBP), but he was able to attend a similar event organized by Sonshine Media Network International (SMNI).

Debate format

JIMENEZ said the format of the debate would have a single moderator, who will be asking questions to each of the participants. He noted each of the presidential candidates would only be given the “general topics” which will be tackled in the debate, but not the specific questions. “One other particularly worthy rule is that we will not allow candidates to bring anything on stage. We will provide them with a pad and a pen on the podium, but they will not be able to bring notes to the debate,” Jimenez said. He said the presidential debate will be held on March 19, 2022 and to be followed by the vice presidential debate on March 20, 2022. The poll official said all of the nine vice presidential candidates, except Buhay Party-list Rep. Jose “Lito” L. Atienza Jr., who will be undergoing surgery, confirmed their attendance in the event. Samuel P. Medenilla

Japan biz chamber donates ₧570,400 to PRC for ‘Odette’ relief, recovery efforts By Claudeth Mocon-Ciriaco @claudethmc3

HE Japan Chamber of Commerce and Industry of the Philippines Inc. (JCCIPI) donated a total of P570,400 to the Philippine Red Cross (PRC) to support the latter’s relief and recovery efforts to Typhoon Odette victims. A turnover ceremony was held at the PRC National Headquarters and was attended by PRC Chairman and CEO Sen. Richard J. Gordon, Mitsubishi Corp. Manila Branch President Mr. Keiichi Matsunaga, Cavite Export Zone Investors Association Mr. Nobuo Fujii, and JCCIPI Secretary General Mr.

Tomohiro Koseki. “I would like to thank JCCIPI for this generous donation in helping the Filipinos affected by Supertyphoon Odette. Thank you also for choosing the Philippine Red Cross as your partner of choice and becoming the bridge to alleviate the suffering and uplift the dignity of the affected families. Rest assured that this donation will go a long way towards their recovery and will help those people get back on their feet,” Gordon said. Two months after Typhoon Odette wreaked havoc in the Visayas and Mindanao region, PRC continues to assist affected families in need of direct

help through continuous water distribution, supply of hot meals and food and non-food items, plus undertaking shelter rebuilding. JCCIPI is a network of comprehensive local economic organizations made up of the representatives of some 1.25 million member businesses nationwide, embracing everything from large and medium-sized corporations down to small firms and sole proprietors. JCCIPI’s goal is to encourage the full flowering of individual inspiration by helping member companies, their employees, and their respective communities ceaselessly foster bold innovations, making the most of their unique qualities.

OFFICIALS of the Japan Chamber of Commerce and Industry of the Philippines Inc. turn over a facsimile copy of a check to the Philippine Red Cross for the latter’s relief and recovery efforts to typhoon “Odette” victims. CONTRIBUTED PHOTO

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Food chamber supports govt’s sugar import plan By Jasper Emmanuel Y. Arcalas @jearcalas

HE Philippine Chamber of Food Ma nu fac t u rers Inc.

(PCFMI) said it supports the government’s 200,00 metric ton (MT) refined sugar importation, saying “some” of its membercompanies may run out of re-

fined sugar supply “as early as March.” In a news statement, the group said it “fully supports” Sugar Regulatory Administration’s (SR A) Sugar Order (SO) 3 that authorized the importation of 200,000 MT of refined sugar for industrial users and bottlers. Under SO 3, half of the total import volume would be standard grade refined sugar, while the remaining 100,000 MT shall be bottlers’ grade refined sugar. Only industrial users could import refined sugar under the approved importation program. “Due to the current local shortage of refined sugar that conforms with the quality requirements of food manufacturers, particularly premium and bottler’s grade refined sugar, we join the SRA in its assessment that there is an urgent need for such importation,” the

PCMFI said in a news statement issued on Thursday. “Some Food Chamber members report that their current stocks of refined sugar will be exhausted as early as March,” PCFMI added. PCFMI is composed of leading food and beverage producers with 107 member-companies engaged in the local manufacturing and distribution of essential commodities such as milk, coffee, bakery products and noodles. Some of the group’s members are Coca-Cola Far East Ltd., Del Monte Philippines Inc., Gardenia Bakeries Philippines Inc., Goldilocks Bakeshop Inc., Golden Arches Development Corp., Jollibee Foods Corp., Kopiko Philippines Corp., Mondelez Philippines Inc., and Nestle Philippines Inc. The PCFMI pointed out that only four sugar refineries out of

the seven nationwide are able to supply refined sugar to major food manufacturers. The PCFMI disclosed that their refined sugar suppliers have informed them of lower stocks due to the impact of Typhoon Odette (international code name Rai) last December. “These suppliers have informed our members that the destruction to crops caused by Typhoon Odette last December damaged refineries and refined stocks, thus affecting local sugar supply. Also, affected refineries ceased production for a month until power was restored,” it said. “Moreover, the lack of available containers and the congestion at the ports of Bacolod and Manila have further aggravated the sugar supply situation,” it added. The group said retail sugar prices in domestic markets have “risen dramatically” due to in-

creased local demand. Citing SRA data, the average price of refined sugar in the first week of February is already at P3,321.5 per 50-kilogram bag, which was 25 percent higher than the P2,664.5 per 50-kilogram bag recorded price in the same period of last year, PCFMI said. In contrast, PCFMI pointed out that the global price for refined sugar now is just P1,650 per 50-kilogram bag. “The inability to import refined sugar that meets the quality standards of food manufacturers poses a threat to food security in the country, specifically the continued supply of essential food commodities,” it said. “Existing sugar stocks for food manufacturing are dwindling, and therefore importation under the circumstances is necessary,” it added.

DOLE reminds employers of pay rules for Feb. 25 holiday

NLY employees who will report for work during the commemoration of the Edsa People Power Revolution anniversary on Friday will get additional pay, according to the Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE). In its Labor Advisory No. 3, Series of 2022, Labor Secretary Silvestre H. Bello III said “a no work, no pay” scheme will be in effect during the special non-working holiday unless a favorable company policy, practice, or collective bargaining agreement guarantees them salaries even on such events. Workers, who will spend the special

holiday on duty, will be given an additional 30 percent of their basic wage on the first eight hours of work. If they work overtime, they will be entitled to another 30 percent of their hourly rate on the said day. They will receive an additional 50 percent of their basic wage on the first eight hours of work if the special holiday coincides with their rest day. President Duterte declared February 25, 2022 as a special non-working holiday for the commemoration of the 36th anniversary of Edsa through Presidential Proclamation No. 123, which was issued last year. Samuel P. Medenilla

DAR, Cebu provincial govt tie up aims to bolster food production By Jonathan L. Mayuga @jonlmayuga

HE Department of Agrarian Reform (DAR) and the Provincial Government of Cebu are holding talks to boost the province’s program to ramp up food production and attain food sufficiency. DAR Secretary Bernie F. Cruz met with Cebu Governor Gwendolyn Garcia at the Provincial Capitol to discuss Enhanced Countryside Development (ECD) for Cebu, the fourth most populated province in the Philippines with a total of 3,325,385 population based on a 2020 census. This is a follow-through of an agreement forged between DAR and Cebu in December 2021 to provide support to the agrarian reform beneficiaries (ARBs) such as financial assistance, access to agricultural technology, capacity building training, market linkages, and infrastructure facilities. Garcia believes that food sufficiency requires viable financing support as well as

the involvement and cooperation of farmers in the food production activities. “Because of this we would distribute certificates of commitment to our ARBs on March 30 so that they would benefit from the assistance we would provide,” the governor said in a news statement. Garcia said the ECD program would have a great impact on the productivity of the lands awarded by DAR to the farmers. For his part, Cruz said that the DAR’s would identify the ARBs that would initially receive the support from the program. “We have about 31,590 ARBs in this province and we will select who are qualified and deserving farmers to receive the assistance,” he said. A total of 35,544 hectares of land are occupied by ARBs in the province and the ECD program’s success in boosting the province’s food production is tantamount to the farmers’ improvement in their economic lives. The ARBs in Cebu are organized into approximately 107 agrarian reform beneficiaries’ organizations.

Coco levy fund inter-agency panel holds first meeting for the year By Bernadette D. Nicolas @BNicolasBM

HE inter-agency committee tasked to oversee the use and management of the multibillion-peso coco levy fund for the benefit of the country’s coconut farmers discussed how to efficiently and swiftly accomplish its objective. Chaired by Finance Secretary Carlos G. Dominguez III, the Trust Fund Management Committee (TFMC) convened its first meeting for the year on February 7 focused on pending issues on the government and disputed shares in the United Coconut Planters Life Assurance Corp. (Cocolife) and the status of the reconveyance of the shares to the government. The inter-agency TFMC was created under the law to oversee and set the investment strategy of the Coconut Farmers and Industry Trust Fund (CFITF). On top of this, the Presidential Commission on Good Government reported to the TFMC its responses to various queries

from coconut farmers’ groups on the coco levy fund. Serving as the TFMC Secretariat, the Bureau of the Treasury (BTr) also reported the income performance of the CFITF as well the committee’s planned 2022 disbursement and asset allocation, as well as its accomplishment report for 2021, which was submitted to the Office of the President and the Congressional Oversight Committee on Agriculture and Fisheries Modernization (COCAFAM). The PCGG reported last year that total coco-levy cash assets as of end-2020 amounted to P113.88 billion, of which P76.4 billion is in cash. The amount shall be transferred to the CFITF in tranches in over five years. In the same meeting, the TFMC also approved the 2022 budget of the BTr in order to fulfill its functions as the committee’s secretariat. This is subject to the evaluation of the pay rates of its personnel services component by the Department of Budget and Management.

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NCIPR seizes P24.9B worth of counterfeit goods in 2021 By Tyrone Jasper C. Piad @TyronePiad

HE National Committee on Intellectual Property Rights (NCIPR) seized P24.9 billion worth of counterfeit goods from its inspection and raid operations last year. Intellectual Property Office of the Philippines (IPOPHL) Director General Rowel Barba said in a virtual event on Thursday that the record-high confiscation of illicit items exceeded the P23.6-billion record in 2018. The 2021 figure is also more than double the P9.8 billion in 2020. Last year, NCIPR secured 324 search warrants, more than the 109 in 2020. “We attribute our record seizure to increased efforts and better strategy of our NCIPR members. We will continue to intensify our enforcement efforts, from our borders to our online markets,” Barba said. IPOPHL leads the 13-member NCIPR. IPOPHL Deputy Director General Teodoro Pascua said that bulk of the confiscated items were cigarettes and medicines; others include bags, shoes and apparel. According to Japan Tobacco International, the number of illicit cigarettes entering the country rose to 6.8 percent in the first quarter of last year from the same period in 2020. In an earlier interview with the BusinessMirror, IPOPHL said that “counterfeit

cigarettes are cheaper and with many having less income today—and based as well on our preliminary seizures data—there is cause for concern for more fake cigarette trade in a pandemic.” “We also strategized on directing our efforts to the ‘bigger fish’ by targeting large warehouses and logistics centers in various cities which proved to be hot spots for counterfeit goods,” Barba said. He said that they are also working with the local government units in institutionalizing an Anti-Counterfeiting and Anti-Piracy Policy. Doing so, he explained, can “ensure the strict implementation of the IP Code and foster a culture of fair business practices and respect for IP rights at the local level.” Last year, the agency’s IP Rights Enforcement Office (IEO) also registered a record-high of 152 counterfeiting and piracy complaints. Of this figure, counterfeit goods comprised 76 percent while the remaining were pirated content. “This surpasses the previous record of 121 complaints and reports received in 2020 when we saw a boom in e-commerce amid the pandemic. This record complaints and reports could signify increased awareness of our IEO as an effective channel for reporting and filing complaints on IP violations,” Barba said.

BARMM adds two more historical, tourism sites By Manuel T. Cayon

@awimailbox Mindanao Bureau Chief

AVAO CITY—The tomb of a Sulu sultan and a cave in Cotabato City were to be added to the historical preservation in the Bangsamoro region to preserve their significance for people their time and to add to ecotourism values for the region. Bangsamoro legislators filed on Thursday Bill Nos. 173 and 174, declaring the tomb of Sultan Sharieful Hashim in Indanan, Sulu, and the Kutawato Cave in Cotabato City, respectively, as historical heritage sites and ecotourism destinations. In the proposed measures, the Ministry of Trade, Industry, and Tourism (MTIT) and the Bangsamoro Commission for the Preservation of Cultural Heritage (BCPCH) would spearhead the conservation of the two historical sites. These agencies shall prepare a historical heritage site conservation, development, and promotion plan as well as an ecotourism plan that includes the rehabilitation, construction, installation, beautification, and maintenance of the facilities and structure. Member of the Parliament Don Mustapha Loong, principal author of the proposed measures, said that Bangsamoro Transition Authority Bill No. 173 “will enhance

and promote Tausug culture and will contribute to the prestige of Sulu as the cradle of Bangsamoro government.” Sultan Hashim founded the Sultanate of Sulu, introduced Islamic political institutions, and made Islam the state religion. “It is only befitting that we take steps to promote his invaluable contribution to our political consciousness and aspiration by preserving, conserving, and developing his tomb to serve as a constant reminder of our origin and illustrious past,” he added. Parliament Bill No. 174, according to MP Loong, “is among our small steps to preserve our history, culture, and heritage.” In the explanatory note of the bill, Kutawato Cave became the refuge of the Moros to avoid forcible conversion to Christianity during the Spanish regime. “It behooves on us that we take steps to protect and preserve this monument as a source of our pride and part of our history of struggle,” he said. The Bangsamoro Information Office said that Section 24 of Article 9 of the Bangsamoro Organic Law mandates the Bangsamoro Government to preserve the history, culture, arts, traditions, and rich cultural heritage of the Bangsamoro people and their Sultanates non-Moro indigenous peoples of the region.

Emerging markets could benefit from green investments–Diokno

ANGKO Sentral ng Pilipinas (BSP) governor Benjamin Diokno said emerging markets like the Philippines could stand to benefit from green investments, especially in its growth momentum from the pandemic disruptions, if countries adopt a sustainable path to recovery. Citing data from the World Bank’s International Finance Corporation, Diokno said that investments in the Philippines and in three other big emerging markets—China, Indonesia, and Vietnam—may reach $5.1 trillion if these economies adopt a post-pandemic green recovery approach. This approach includes investing in energy efficiency, green infrastructure, supporting environment-related research and development, and incentives for lowcarbon vehicles. “For its part, the BSP has incorporated sustainability principles in its portfolio management as part of its sustainable central banking strategy. The BSP invested $550 million in the Green Bond Fund managed by the Bank for International Settlements (BIS) and

plans to invest in the BIS Asian Green Bond Fund in 2022. The governor also encouragesd banks and other supervised financial institutions to offer sustainable financial instruments that may support the postpandemic recovery of the agriculture and the micro, small, and medium-sized enterprise (MSME) sectors. “Since the Philippines is vulnerable to typhoons and climate-related risks due to its geographical location, green recovery is the ideal approach to strike a balance between implementing economic strategies and building climate and disaster resilience,” Diokno said. “The BSP remains committed to fostering the country’s sustainability efforts to ensure a more stable, resilient, and inclusive Philippine financial system,” he added. In mid-2021, the BSP also said it wants to include sustainable financing— or extending so-called “green loans” to corporations—as part of the proposed revisions to the mandated lending to the agriculture sector. Bianca Cuaresma

IP infringing web sites

MEANWHILE, Barba called for the passage of the proposed Internet Transaction Act (ITA) to combat the proliferation of web sites involved in piracy. This, as the surge in online transactions following the mobility restrictions in pandemic has resulted in more cases of piracy. Barba expressed hopes that the legislators will touch on the proposed ITA when sessions resume as this covers the matter

at hand as well. The ITA or “An Act Providing Protection to Consumers and Merchants Engaged in Internet Transactions, Creating for the Purpose the Electronic Commerce Bureau, and Appropriating Funds Therefor” seeks to boost the e-commerce segment by “building mutual trust between online sellers and consumers.” The bill also aims to ensure fair e-commerce business practices among digital play-

ers, protection of data privacy rights and product safety. For their part, Barba said that IPOPHL will implement this year a rolling siteblocking regime to make IP infringing sites inaccessible. “We have been working hard for this, exactly why we have been recognized by the Motion Picture Association of the US as a Government Leader for Site Blocking in Asia Pacific,” he said.

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10 Pinoy HSWs in Hong Kong evicted from employers’ homes due to Covid By Malou Talosig-Bartolome @maloutalosig

T least 10 Filipino household service workers (HSW) in Hong Kong were evicted from their employers’ homes when they were found to have been afflicted with Covid-19 during the fifth wave of the pandemic in the Chinese territory last week. These 10 HSWs are the worst case among 77 overseas Filipino workers (OFW) who were tested positive for the virus and practically stayed in the streets since the surge of cases began in Hong Kong. “Noon una tatlo, lima. Ngayon po, mga 10 ang na-monitor naming employer na nagbalak at nagpababa ng kanilang mga empleyado,” Philippine Consul General Raly Tejada confirmed during a news briefing on Thursday. Among those 10 employers, five have expressed regret and said they are

willing to bring their domestic helpers back to their tenement flats. “Some of them were taken by surprise and were fearful of the virus. They were probably regretful and napakiusapan na natin ang they are willing to take back ’yung mga empleyado nila,” he said. But there are those remaining “three to five employers” who still refused to accept their domestic helpers even if they are no longer sick. “Sa amin pong pagtingin, ito ay mali, dahil ayon sa Employment Ordinance ng Hong Kong, ito po ay isang illegal na dismissal na maituturing,” Tejada said, stressing that sickness should not be a ground for dismissal. A penalty as much as HK$100,000 (around P658,000) may be charged against employers who illegally dismissed their domestic helpers. They can also be barred from employing Filipino domestics in the future. “Ang mga kababayan natin na pinababa ng kanilang mga employers

ay binigyan na natin ng karampatang lunas, food and medical attention, at nadala na rin sa mga isolation centers,” Tejada said. Meantime, the Consulate’s immediate concern is to ensure that these illegally dismissed domestic helpers to “recuperate first.” Only after they have already recuperated can the Philippine Overseas Labor Office ask them about the circumstances of their termination. “After that, we will file charges if we need to do so,” he added. Tejada said the 67 other Covid-19stricken Filipinos requested consular assistance for them to be admitted to isolation rooms. There were those whose contracts have expired and already on their way to the airport when they tested positive of Covid-19. There are also domestic helpers who were evicted by fellow Filipinos in their dormitories, again out of fear that they will be infected, too.

“The severity and magnitude of the fifth wave took everyone by surprise and affected not just Filipinos, but the Hong Kong residents,” Tejada explained. “Imagine from zero case to 6,000 cases. And Hong Kong’s population is less than the population in Metro Manila. So hospitals were full to the brim with patients waiting and lining up outside, out in the cold. Now, it’s completely a different story. The seemingly panic mode that has gripped the HK system last week has since subsided.” The Consulate, together with their partner NGO and the Hong Kong government, was able to account for all of them and bring them to an isolation facility. “The Labor Department here in Hong Kong has assured that foreign domestic helpers which comprise the bulk of our population here in Hong Kong will receive medical attention and isolation as required,” Tejada said.

IATF finalizes metrics on alert level adjustments By Samuel P. Medenilla @sam_medenilla

MID calls further deescalate the Covid-19 alert level (AL) in Metro Manila and other parts of the country, the Inter-Agency Task Force for the Management of Emerging Infectious Disease (IATF) has finalized the criteria for placing an area under AL 1. Acting Presidential Spokesman Karlo B. Nograles said the IATF is putting the finishing touches on the metrics during its meeting on Thursday through its Resolution No. 146-D (s.2021).

New metrics

UNDER the issuance, provinces, highly urbanized cities and independent component cities could only be placed

under AL 1 if it has low to minimal risk case classification as well as a total bed utilization rate of less than 50 percent. The area must have 70 percent of its target population (denominator is 80 percent of its total population) fully vaccinated against Covid-19. Likewise, 80 percent of its Priority Group A2 (Senior Citizens) target population (denominator is 85 percent of A2 population) must have already completed their Covid-19 inoculation. Likewise, Nograles said the IATF also revised its Alert Level Matrix for the cutoffs for the average daily attack rate (ADAR) to be less than 6 for Low Risk; 6 to 18 for Moderate Risk; and more than eighteen 18 for High Risk. �� “These revised metrics shall be applied in determining the alert level classification of provinces, highly urbanized cities and independent

component cities beginning March 1, 2022,” Nograles said in a news statement issued on Thursday. The IATF came out with the revised criteria for AL 1 areas after the Metro Manila Council appealed for the lowering of AL in the National Capital Region (NCR) from 2 to 1 starting next month to allow more businesses to reopen, expand their operations and generate more jobs.

Health standards

HEALTH Secretary Francisco T. Duque III, for his part, stressed the minimum health standards such as wearing of facemask, use of disinfectants as well as vaccination efforts will still continue even in Alert Level 1—the lowest alert level in terms of public health risk posed by the virus. He also noted that the Safety Seal

for business establishments would still not be made mandatory in areas under AL 1. The Safety Seal certification is issued by the Department of Trade and Industry, Department of Labor and Employment, Department of Tourism and other concerned government offices to ensure that an establishment is compliant to anti-Covid measures. “The Safety Seal will be institutionalized at the local government units by being included for license renewal application. But it will not be a requirement,” Duque said in a televised interview on Thursday. The health chief said the government considered placing areas under AL 1 since they already observed high public compliance to minimum health standards and vaccination rate in many parts of the country.

PHL logs 1,745 addl virus cases, 2,045 recoveries

HE Department of Health on Thursday recorded 1,745 new cases of coronavirus disease 2019 (Covid-19) and 2,045 more recoveries. The figures pushed the nation’s overall tally of confirmed infections to 3,657,342 and recovered cases to 3,546,098. The latest Covid-19 bulletin indicated 55,079 active cases. Out of the active cases, 49,927 are mild, 2,788 are moderate, 637 are asymptomatic, 1,428 are severe, and 299 are critical. “Of the 1,745 reported cases today,

1,250 (72 percent) occurred within the recent 14 days—February 11 to 24, 2022,” the DOH reported. The regions with the most cases in the recent two weeks were the National Capital Region (NCR) with 235 or 19 percent, Calabarzon with 153 or 12 percent, and Central Visayas with 133 or 11 percent. The death toll has reached 56,165 with 188 new deaths, representing 1.54 percent of overall cases. “Of the 188 deaths, 94 occurred in February 2022 (50 percent), 36 in January 2022 (19 percent), 2 in

December 2021 (1 percent), 1 in November 2021 (1 percent), 6 in October 2021 (3 percent), 44 in September 2021 (23 percent), 4 in August 2021 (2 percent), and 1 in June 2021 (1 percent) due to the late encoding of death information to COVIDKaya,” the DOH said. COVIDKaya is a digital application used by healthcare workers to collect and share data about Covid-19 cases. According to the February 22 data, about 6.3 percent of 28,246 who were tested turned out positive for coronavirus.

“About 112 duplicates were removed from the total case count as 104 of these are recoveries,” DOH said. Meanwhile, 126 cases previously tagged as recoveries were reclassified as deaths after validation. All laboratories were operational on February 22 but three were not able to submit their data to the Covid-19 Document Repository System. The DOH said the two laboratories contributed, on average, 0.6 percent of samples tested, and 0.1 percent among positive individuals based on data in the past 14 days. PNA

Specl session pushed for oil-tax measures, DBCC says relief ready continued from a16 Last week, Finance Secretary Carlos G. Dominguez III said the government’s economic team is “concerned but ready” for the impact of the rising global oil prices. Dominguez is confident the government will still be hitting its 2 to 4 percent inflation target this year even if oil price reaches $95 per barrel based on their estimates.

Special session

DEFENSOR, meanwhile, said he supports the proposal of 1-Pac-

man Party-list Rep. Mikee Romero and Bayan Muna Party-list Rep. Carlos Zarate of holding a special session. “I support the proposal of my colleagues. We have to act fast to provide relief to our people in the wake of soaring gas prices, which have now increased by more than P20 per liter due to the Covid-19 pandemic and the heightening tensions between Russia and Ukraine and its western allies,” he said. Defensor argued that the Con-

gress must not wait for “street protests and threats of crippling transport and labor strikes” before the legislative branch acts on increasing prices of fuel products, especially amid the rising tensions between Russia and Ukraine. “We don’t have control over the worsening situation in RussiaUkraine, but we certainly have control over the taxes we have imposed on our people,” he said. “If fighting erupts, that will surely send the price of crude oil in the world

market and fuel prices skyrocketing,” he added. “What do we do if the price of oil hits $120-$130 per barrel and domestic fuel prices breach P100 per liter?” he said. “President Duterte may be waiting for what our leaders in Congress have to say on the proposed special session to reduce oil taxes and fuel prices. After all, it was the legislature that imposed and even increased these levies,” he added. Bernadette D. Nicolas, Jasper Emmanuel Y. Arcalas

BBM vows help for backyard farmers One of the solutions he sees is to have a uniform farm gate price in every town or city. All local government units and barangay officials must be mobilized to have the right

watchdog in the implementation of the farm gate price. “Talagang mayroong iilang biyahero (trader) ang nagsasamantala sa farm gate price na kung kailan season ng anihan ay doon naman sila

magtataas ng presyo. Kaya ang dapat na maging bantay dito ay ang ating LGUs at mga barangay officials,” he added. In addition, he said, there should be regular consultations and

continued from a16

seminars with all backyard raisers to hear their other grievances and obtain up-to-date information on how to properly care for and reproduce the livestock products they will sell.

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Russia attacks Ukraine; Putin warns US, Nato By Vladimir Isachenkov, Dasha Litvinova, Yuras Karmanau & Jim Heintz

The Associated Press

OSCOW—Russian troops launched a wide-ranging attack on Ukraine on Thursday, as President Vladimir Putin cast aside international condemnation and sanctions and warned other countries that any attempt to interfere would lead to “consequences you have never seen.” Big explosions were heard before dawn in Kyiv, Kharkiv and Odesa as world leaders decried the start of an invasion that could cause massive casualties, topple Ukraine’s democratically elected government and threaten the post-Cold War balance on the continent. Ukrainians started fleeing some cities, and the Russian militar y claimed to have incapacitated all of Ukraine’s air defenses and air bases within hours. President Volodymyr Zelenskyy declared martial law, saying Russia has targeted Ukraine’s military infrastructure. Ukrainians who had long braced for the prospect of an assault, while never knowing precisely when it would come, were urged to stay home and not to panic even as the country’s border guard agency reported an artillery barrage by Russian troops from neighboring Belarus. President Joe Biden pledged new sanctions to punish Russia for the aggression that the international community had expected for weeks but could not prevent through diplomacy. Putin justified it all in a televised address, asserting that the attack was needed to protect civilians in eastern Ukraine—a false claim the US had predicted he would make as a pretext for an invasion. He accused the US and its allies of ignoring Russia’s demands to prevent Ukraine from joining Nato and for security guarantees. He also claimed that Russia does not intend to occupy Ukraine but will move to “demilitarize” it and bring those who committed crimes to justice. Biden in a written statement condemned the “unprovoked and unjustified attack,” and he promised that the US and its allies would “hold Russia accountable.” The president said he planned to speak to Americans on Thursday after a meeting of the Group of Seven leaders. More sanctions against Russia were expected to be announced Thursday. Ukraine’s Foreign Minister Dmytro Kuleba described the assault as a “full-scale invasion” and said Ukraine will “defend itself and will win. The world can and must stop Putin. The time to act is now.” In the capital, Kyiv Mayor Vitaly Klitschko advised residents to stay home unless they are involved in criti-

cal work and urged them to prepare gobags with necessities and documents if they need to evacuate. An Associated Press photographer in Mariupol reported hearing explosions and seeing dozens of people with suitcases heading for their cars to leave the city. “We are facing a war and horror. What could be worse?” 64-year-old Liudmila Gireyeva said in Kyiv. She planned to head to the western city of Lviv and then to try to move to Poland to join her daughter. Putin “will be damned by history, and Ukrainians are damning him.” The Russian claims about knocking out Ukrainian air defenses and Ukrainian claims to have shot down several Russian aircraft could not immediately be verified. The Ukrainian air defense system and air force date back to the Soviet era and are dwarfed by Russia’s massive air power and its inventory of precision weapons. The Russian Defense Ministry said it was not targeting cities, but using precision weapons and claimed that “there is no threat to civilian population.” Anton Gerashchenko, an adviser to Ukraine’s interior minister, said on Facebook that the Russian military had launched missile strikes on Ukrainian military command facilities, air bases and military depots in Kyiv, Kharkiv and Dnipro. After the initial explosions in Kyiv, people could be heard shouting in the streets. Then a sense of normality returned, with cars circulating and people walking in the streets as a predawn commute appeared to start in relative calm. The consequences of the conflict and resulting sanctions on Russia could reverberate throughout the world, upending geopolitical dynamics in Europe as well as affecting energy supplies in Europe and jolting global financial markets. Asian stock markets plunged and oil prices surged as the attack began. Earlier, Wall Street’s benchmark S&P 500 index fell 1.8 percent to an eightmonth low after the Kremlin said rebels in eastern Ukraine asked for military assistance. Anticipating international condemnation and countermeasures, Putin issued a stark warning to other countries not to meddle, saying,

Russian armored vehicles are loaded onto railway platforms at a railway station in region not far from Russia-Ukraine border, in the Rostov-on-Don region, Russia on February 23. US President Joe Biden announced the US was ordering heavy financial sanctions against Russia, declaring that Moscow had flagrantly violated international law in what he called the “beginning of a Russian invasion of Ukraine.” AP Photo “whoever tries to impede us, let alone create threats for our country and its people, must know that the Russian response will be immediate and lead to the consequences you have never seen in history.” Putin urged Ukrainian servicemen to “immediately put down arms and go home.” In a stark reminder of Russia’s nuclear power, Putin warned that “no one should have any doubts that a direct attack on our country will lead to the destruction and horrible consequences for any potential aggressor.” He emphasized that Russia is “one of the most potent nuclear powers and also has a certain edge in a range of state-of-the-art weapons.” Though the US on Tuesday announced the repositioning of forces around the Baltics, Biden has said he will not send in troops to fight Russia. Putin announced the military operation after the Kremlin said rebels in eastern Ukraine asked Russia for military assistance to help fend off Ukrainian “aggression,” an announcement that the White House said was a “false flag” operation by Moscow to offer up a pretext for an invasion. Putin’s announcement came just hours after the Ukrainian president rejected Moscow’s claims that his country poses a threat to Russia and made a passionate, last-minute plea for peace. “The people of Ukraine and the government of Ukraine want peace,” Zelenskyy said in an emotional overnight address, speaking in Russian in a direct appeal to Russian citizens. “But if we come under attack, if we face an attempt to take away our country, our freedom, our lives and lives of our children, we will defend ourselves. When you attack us, you will see our faces, not our backs.” Zelenskyy said he asked to arrange a call with Putin late Wednesday, but the Kremlin did not respond. In an apparent reference to Putin’s move to authorize the deployment of the Russian military to “maintain peace” in eastern Ukraine, Zelensky warned that “this step could mark the start of a big war on the European continent.” “Any provocation, any spark could trigger a blaze that will destroy everything,” he said.

He challenged the Russian propaganda claims, saying that “you are told that this blaze will bring freedom to the people of Ukraine, but the Ukrainian people are free.” At an emergency meeting of the UN Security Council called by Ukraine because of the imminent threat of a Russian invasion, members still unaware of Putin’s announcement appealed to him to stop an attack. UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres opened the meeting, just before the announcement, telling Putin: “Stop your troops from attacking Ukraine. Give peace a chance. Too many people have already died.” Nato Secretary-General Jen Stoltenberg issued a statement condemning “Russia’s reckless and unprovoked attack on Ukraine, which puts at risk countless civilian lives. Once again, despite our repeated warnings and tireless efforts to engage in diplomacy, Russia has chosen the path of aggression against a sovereign and independent country.” Eu ro p e a n C ou nc i l P re s id e nt Charles Michel and European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen promised to hold the Kremlin accountable. “In these dark hours, our thoughts are with Ukraine and the innocent women, men and children as they face this unprovoked attack and fear for their lives,” they said on Twitter. Even before Putin’s announcement, dozens of nations imposed sanctions on Russia, further squeezing Russian oligarchs and banks out of international markets. The Russian Foreign Ministry has shrugged off the sanctions, saying that “Russia has proven that, with all the costs of the sanctions, it is able to minimize the damage.” The threat of war has already shredded Ukraine’s economy and raised the specter of massive casualties, energy shortages across Europe and global economic chaos. Karmanau and Heintz reported from Kyiv. Angela Charlton in Paris; Frank Jordans in Berlin; Lorne Cook in Brussels, Frank Bajak in Boston, Robert Burns, Matthew Lee, Aamer Madhani, Eric Tucker, Ellen Knickmeyer, Zeke Miller, Chris Megerian and Darlene Superville in Washington contributed.

Ukraine parliament, bank web sites hit by cyber attacks, destructive malware

OSTON—Ukraine’s parliament and other government and banking web sites were hit with another punishing wave of distributed-denial-of-service attacks Wednesday, and cybersecurity researchers said unidentified attackers had also infected hundreds of computers with destructive malware. Some of the infected computers were in neighboring Latvia and Lithuania, the researchers said. Early Thursday local time in Ukraine, as fears of a Russian invasion heightened, the foreign ministry and council of ministers were unreachable and other sites were slow to load, suggesting the DDoS attacks were continuing, though there was no official confirmation.

Officials have long expected cyber attacks to precede and accompany any Russian military incursion, and analysts said the activity hewed to Russia’s playbook of wedding cyber operations with real-world aggression. ESET Research Labs said it detected a previously unseen piece of data-wiping malware Wednesday on “hundreds of machines in the country.” It was not clear how many networks were affected. “With regards whether the malware was successful in its wiping capability, we assume that this indeed was the case and affected machines were wiped,” said ESET research chief Jean-Ian Boutin. He would not name the targets but said they were “large organizations.” ESET

was unable to say who was responsible. Symantec Threat Intelligence detected three organizations hit by the wiper malware—Ukrainian government contractors in Latvia and Lithuania and a financial institution in Ukraine, said Vikram Thakur, its technical director. Both countries are Nato members. “The attackers have gone after these targets without much caring for where they may be physically located,” he said. All three targets had “close affiliation with the government o f U k r a i n e , ” s a i d T h a k u r, s a y i n g Symantec believed the attacks were “highly targeted.” He said roughly 50 computers at the financial outfit were impacted, some with data wiped.

Asked about the wiper attack, senior Ukrainian cyber defense official Victor Zhora had no comment. Boutin said the malware’s timestamp indicated it was created in late December. “Russia likely has been planning this for months, so it is hard to say how many organizations or agencies have been backdoored in preparation for these attacks,” said Chester Wisniewski, principal research scientist at the cybersecurity firm Sophos. He guessed the Kremlin intended with the malware to “send the message that they have compromised a significant amount of Ukrainian infrastructure and these are just little morsels to show how ubiquitous their penetration is.” AP

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Biden says US will impose ‘severe sanctions’ on Russia

resident Joe Biden announced he would impose “severe sanctions” on Russia after Vladimir Putin ordered a military assault on Ukraine, which Biden condemned as an “unprovoked and unjustified attack.” “President Putin has chosen a premeditated war that will bring a catastrophic loss of life and human suffering,” the American president said in a statement late Wednesday. “The United States and its allies and partners will respond in a united and decisive way.” Russian forces attacked targets across Ukraine after Putin ordered the operation. Ukraine’s foreign minister described it as a “full-scale invasion” beyond areas held by pro-Russian separatists. Biden said he would outline the punishments in an address to the American people on Thursday, after discussing the unfolding crisis with other Group of Seven leaders in the morning. Administration officials on Wednesday night were still deciding what the next round of penalties would look like, according to a White House official. In another statement released by the White House early Thursday, he vowed that the US and its allies would “be imposing severe sanctions on Russia.” Biden said in that statement he had spoken with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy by telephone and “he asked me to call on the leaders of the world to speak out clearly against President Putin’s flagrant aggression, and to stand with the people of Ukraine.” Biden also said that he had briefed the Ukrainian leader “on the steps we are taking to rally international condemnation.” Zelenskyy said in a speech to his nation on Thursday morning that, “the US has started to prepare international support.” He imposed martial law across the country, as his government warned

Russian forces were attacking cities and urged citizens to hide in shelters to avoid missile attacks on Kyiv. Earlier Wednesday, the White House sanctioned the builder of the Nord Stream 2 gas pipeline and its corporate leadership. That came on top of a sanctions package announced Tuesday following Putin’s recognition of breakaway territories in the Donbas region of eastern Ukraine as independent states. White House Press Secretary Jen Psaki earlier Wednesday did not rule out sanctions on Putin himself or a broader set of Russian oligarchs or financial institutions. Putin announced in a televised speech early Thursday that he had decided to order a “special military operation” to “protect” Donbas, saying the US had crossed the Kremlin’s “red line” by expanding Nato in Eastern Europe. In the speech, Putin said Russia didn’t plan to occupy Ukraine but accused the US of refusing to negotiate on Russia’s security demands. Zelenskyy said “Russia attacked our military infrastructure and our border guarders” and urged people to stay calm and stay at home if possible. “We are working. The army is working.” Biden said he would coordinate with Nato allies “to ensure a strong, united response that deters any aggression against the alliance.” The US earlier this month sent 3,000 troops to central Europe but the White House has said it has no intention to deploy them in Ukraine. News of Putin’s move came as the UN Security Council was meeting in emergency session on the crisis. Ambassador Linda Thomas-Greenfield said the council would vote on a resolution condemning Moscow’s actions on Thursday. As a permanent member of the Security Council, Russia can veto that resolution. Bloomberg News

‘It’s too late’: Russian move roils UN meeting on Ukraine

NITED NATIONS—The emergency UN Security Council meeting was meant as an eleventh hour effort to dissuade Russia from sending troops into Ukraine. But the message became moot even as it was being delivered. While diplomats at UN headquarters were making pleas for Russia to back off—“Give peace a chance,” Secretary-General Antonio Guterres implored—Russian President Vladimir Putin went on television in his homeland to announce a military operation that he said was intended to protect civilians in Ukraine. Putin warned other countries that any effort to interfere with the Russian operation would lead to “consequences they have never seen.” The council, where Russia holds the rotating presidency this month, gathered Wednesday night hours after Russia said rebels in eastern Ukraine had asked Moscow for military assistance. Fears that Russia was laying the groundwork for war bore out about a half hour later. “It’s too late, my dear colleagues, to speak about de-escalation,” Ukrainian Ambassador Sergiy Kyslytsya told the council. “I call on every one of you to do everything possible to stop the war.” In a spontaneous exchange not often seen in the council chamber, Kyslytsya challenged his Russian counterpart to say that his country wasn’t at that very moment bombing and shelling Ukraine or moving troops into it. “You have a smartphone. You can call” officials in Moscow, Kyslytsya said. “I have already said all I know at this point,” Russian Ambassador Vassily Nebenzia responded. He added that he didn’t plan to wake up Russia’s foreign minister— and said that what was happening was not a war but a “special military operation.” Kyslytsya dismissed that description outside the meeting as “lunatic semantics.” At the council’s second emergency meeting this week on Ukraine, members found themselves delivering prepared speeches that were instantly outdated. Some ultimately reacted in a second round of hastily added

remarks. “At the exact time as we are gathered in the council seeking peace, Putin delivered a message of war, in total disdain for the responsibility of this council,” US Ambassador Linda Thomas-Greenfield said. She added that a draft resolution would be put circulated to the council Thursday. The resolution would declare that Russia is violating the UN Charter, international law and a 2015 council resolution on Ukraine, a European diplomat said, speaking on condition of anonymity because the discussions were private. The resolution would urge Russia to come back into compliance immediately, the diplomat said. Earlier Wednesday, diplomats from dozens of countries took the floor at the UN General Assembly to deplore Russia’s actions toward Ukraine and plead for dialogue, while Russia and ally Syria defended Moscow’s moves. Echoing a narrative being broadcast to Russians at home, Nebenzia portrayed his country as responding to the plight of beleaguered people in the breakaway areas. Russia claims Ukraine is engaging in violence and oppression, which Ukraine denies. “The root of today’s crisis around Ukraine is the actions of Ukraine itself,” he told the council Wednesday. Ukrainian Foreign Minister Dmytro Kuleba implored countries to use tough economic sanctions, strong messages and “active diplomacy” to get Russia to back off. A lackluster response would jeopardize not only Ukraine but also the concept of international law and global security, he warned. Meeting a day after Western powers and some other countries imposed new sanctions on Russia, the 193-member General Assembly didn’t take any collective action. But the comments from nearly 70 nations, with more scheduled for Monday, represented the broadest forum of global sentiment since the crisis dramatically escalated this week. Russia seized Ukraine’s Crimea Peninsula in 2014, and pro-Russia rebels have since been fighting Ukrainian forces in the eastern areas of Donetsk and Luhansk. More than 14,000 people have been killed in the conflict. AP

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World economy inflation shock set to worsen from oil at $100

il’s surge to $100 a barrel for the first time since 2014 represents a double-blow to the world economy by further denting growth prospects and driving up inflation. That’s a worrying combination for the US Federal Reserve and fellow central banks as they seek to contain the strongest price pressures in decades without derailing recoveries from the pandemic. Futures in London jumped as much as 3.3 percent as Russia’s dramatic escalation of the Ukraine crisis sparked fears of a disruption to the region’s critical energy exports. While energy exporters stand to benefit from the boom and oil’s influence on economies isn’t what it once was, much of the world will take a hit as companies and consumers find their bills rising and spending power squeezed by costlier food, transportation and heating. In an analysis of the winners and losers from oil’s surge, Bloomberg Economics estimates Saudi Arabia can look forward to a windfall, Russia gains, while smaller oil exporters like the United Arab Emirates fare better too. The biggest losers would be energy importers such as Korea, India and Japan. “The oil price run-up will intensify the pressure on central banks worldwide to bring forward their tightening cycle and hike rates more aggressively to contain inflation risks,” said Chua Hak Bin, senior economist at Maybank in Singapore. More broadly, JPMorgan Chase & Co. warns a run-up to $150 a barrel would almost stall the global expansion and send inflation spiraling to over 7 percent, more than three times the rate targeted by most monetary policy makers. Oil has surged along with a broader rally in commodity prices that’s also swept up natural gas. Among the drivers: A post-lockdown resurgence in worldwide demand coupled with the geopolitical tensions and strained supply chains. Prospects for a renewed Iranian nuclear deal have at times cooled the market. Still, the rise has been piercing. Just two years ago, oil futures prices plunged briefly below zero. Fossil fuels—oil, as well as coal and natural gas—provide more than 80 percent of the global economy’s energy. And the cost of a typical basket of them is now up more than 50 percent from a year ago, according to Gavekal Research Ltd., a consultancy. The energy crunch also compounds the ongoing squeeze in global supply chains, which drove up costs and delayed deliveries of raw materials and finished goods. The International Monetary Fund recently raised its forecast for global

consumer prices to an average 3.9 percent in advanced economies this year, up from 2.3 percent, and 5.9 percent in emerging and developing nations. China, the world’s biggest oil importer and goods exporter, has so far enjoyed benign inflation. But its economy remains vulnerable as producers are already juggling high input costs and concerns over energy shortages. With price pressures proving more tenacious than earlier expected, central bankers are now prioritizing inflation-fighting over demand support. US consumer prices surprising to a four-decade high sent shocks through the system, increasing bets that at one point had suggested the Fed will raise rates as many as seven times this year, a faster pace than earlier expected. Bank of England Governor Andrew Bailey has partly justified the decision to raise UK interest rates by pointing to a “squeeze from energy prices.” European Central Bank President Christine Lagarde said recently that officials will “carefully examine” how energy prices will impact the economy as they signal a shift toward tightening. The Reserve Bank of India has also flagged oil prices as a risk. Speaking to reporters Thursday after the Bank of Korea’s policy meeting, Governor Lee Ju-yeol flagged the risk of the Ukraine crisis impacting global commodities markets and fueling inflation. To be sure, the world economy is no longer the oil guzzler it was during previous decades, especially the 1970s, and alternative energy offers some buffer. Other pandemic-era insulators include swelling household savings and higher wages amid a tight labor market. In the US, the emergence of the shale oil industry means its economy is less vulnerable to fuel shocks: While consumers are paying more for gasoline, domestic producers are earning more. Paul Donovan, UBS Group AG chief economist at global wealth management, said it’s important to consider how oil-producing economies spend their extra revenue, which could ultimately help global growth. “Nowadays, oil sellers are very inclined to spend the revenues they get when prices go up,” Donovan said in a video presentation to clients. For most consumers, and central bankers, much rides on how fast and how far energy goes, particularly if economies lose momentum globally. A big enough oil shock could derail the normalization plans of many central banks, according to JPMorgan economists “although the high inflation backdrop and concerns about anchored inflation expectations means policy would still be tighter than if inf lation were currently running low.” Bloomberg News

EU prepares ‘strongest, harshest’ sanctions package against Russia

RUSSELS—The European Union is planning the “strongest, the harshest package” of sanctions it has ever considered at an emergency summit Thursday, as the Russian military attacked Ukraine.

European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen said that “the target is the stability in Europe and the whole of the international peace order, and we will hold President [Vladimir] Putin accountable for that.” “We will present a package of massive and targeted sanctions to European leaders for approval,” she said. EU foreign policy chief Josep Borrell called it the “strongest, the harshest package” ever considered. “A major nuclear power has attacked a neighbor country and is threatening reprisals of any other states that may come to the rescue,” Borrell said. “This is not only the greatest violation of international law, it’s a violation of the basic principles of human co-existence. It’s costing many lives with unknown consequences ahead of us. The European Union will respond in the strongest possible terms.” Von der Leyen said the “massive and targeted sanctions” she will put to EU leaders “will target strategic sectors of the Russian economy by blocking the access to technologies and markets that are key for Russia.” She said the sanctions, if approved, “will weaken Russia’s economic base and its capacity to modernize. And in addition, we will freeze Russian assets in the European Union and stop the access of Russian banks to European financial markets.” Like the first package of sanctions that were imposed when Russia recognized the two breakaway eastern Ukrainian republics, von der Leyen said all Western powers were walking in lockstep. “We are closely aligned with our partners and allies the United States, the United Kingdom, Canada, but also, for example, Japan and Australia,” she said. British Prime Minister Boris Johnson said Western allies won’t stand by as Russia attacks Ukraine. In an early morning call, Johnson told Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy that he was appalled by events in Ukraine, according to a statement released by the prime minister’s office. “The Prime Minister said the West would not stand by as President Putin waged his campaign against the Ukrainian people,” Johnson’s office said in the statement.

Johnson added that Ukraine was in the thoughts of everyone in the UK “during this dark time.” The turmoil from the beginning of a long-feared act of aggression rippled from Europe to Asia. Stock markets plunged, oil prices surged, and European aviation officials warned of a high risk to civilian aircraft over Ukraine, reminding air operators that “this is now an active conflict zone.” In New York, the UN Security Council held an extraordinary emergency meeting meant to dissuade Russia from sending troops into Ukraine. Secretary-General Antonio Guterres’ plea to “give peace a chance” came just as Russian President Vladimir Putin appeared on Russian TV to announce a military operation that he maintained was to protect civilians in Ukraine. Putin, who said that rebels in eastern Ukraine had asked Moscow for military assistance, warned other countries that any effort to interfere with the Russian operation would lead to “consequences they have never seen.” As leaders across Asia and Europe scrambled to condemn the attack, explosions were heard in Kyiv and other cities in Ukraine. Nations around the world this week have also imposed a raft of new sanctions on Russia. Moscow had massed more than 150,000 troops on Ukraine’s borders. On Monday, Putin recognized the independence of two separatist regions in eastern Ukraine and ordered Russian forces there for what he called “peacekeeping.” Guterres at the UN disputed that, saying the troops were entering another country without its consent. German Chancellor Olaf Scholz called Russia’s attack “a terrible day for Ukraine and a dark day for Europe” and “a blatant violation of international law. It cannot be justified by anything.” In a bulletin Thursday, the European Union Aviation Safety Agency said “there is a risk of both intentional targeting and misidentification of civil aircraft” and that “the presence and possible use of a wide range of ground and airborne warfare systems poses a HIGH risk for civil flights operating at all altitudes and flight levels.” Asian stock markets were in turmoil. Market benchmarks in Tokyo and

Ukraine attack leaves Baltic nations wondering: Are we the next target?

ILNIUS, Lithuania—Viewed f rom Pa r i s , L o nd o n a nd Washington, the events unfolding in Ukraine may seem like a new Cold War taking shape in Europe. From the Baltic countries, it looks much worse. To Estonians, Latvians and Lithuanians—particularly those old enough to have lived under Soviet control— Russia’s belligerence toward Ukraine has some worried that they could be the next targets. The tensions have brought back memories of mass deportations and oppression. “ My g r a ndpa re nt s were se nt away to Siber ia. My fat her was persecuted by the KGB. Now I live in a free democratic countr y, but it seems that nothing can be taken for granted,” said Jaunius K azlauskas, a 50 -year-old teacher in Vilnius, Lithuania’s capital. All three Baltic countries were seized and annexed by Stalin during World War II before gaining independence again with the breakup of the Soviet Union in 1991. They joined Nato in 2004, putting themselves under the military protection of the

US and its Western allies. Ukraine is not part of Nato. The Baltic countries and Poland, a lso a Nato member, have been among the loudest advocates for powerful sanctions against Moscow and Nato reinforcements on the alliance’s eastern f lank. Baltic government leaders in recent weeks have shuttled to European capitals, warning that the West must make Russian President Vladimir Putin pay for attacking Ukraine, or else his tanks will keep rolling toward other parts of the former Soviet empire. “The battle for Ukraine is a battle for Europe. If Putin is not stopped there, he will go further,” Lithuanian Foreign Minister Gabrielius Landsbergis warned last week in a joint news conference with US Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin. Two days before Russia launched its anticipated attack on Ukraine, President Joe Biden a nnou nced that some American forces deployed in Europe, including 800 infantry soldiers, F-35 fighters and Apache helicopters, would be moved to the three Baltic states, describing the step as purely defensive.

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The news was met with enthusiasm in the Baltic capitals. While the Nato treaty commits all allies to defend any member that comes under attack, the Baltic countries say it is imperative that Nato shows resolve not just in words but also with boots on the ground. “Russia always measures the military might but also the will of countries to fight,” said Janis Garisons, state secretary at Latvia’s Defense Ministry. “Once they see a weakness, they will exploit that weakness.” While Putin hasn’t publicly expressed any ambition to reassert Russian control over the Baltic countries, many Estonians, Latvians and Lithuanians worry he wants to regain influence across all former republics of the Soviet Union, the collapse of which he once described as a tragedy for the Russian people. In his speech earlier this week setting the stage for Russia’s military intervention, Putin said Ukraine is “not just a neighboring country for us. It is an inalienable part of our own history, culture and spiritual space.” The Baltic countries, culturally and linguistically different, don’t have the

same connection to Russian history and identity. However, they were ruled by Moscow for most of the past 200 years, first by the Russian Empire, then for the half-century following World War II by the Soviet Union. All three countries have ethnic Russian minorities; in Latvia and Estonia, they make up about one-quarter of the population. Though many of them are well integrated, tensions flared in 2007 when hundreds of ethnic Russians rioted against government plans to relocate a Soviet war memorial in Tallinn, Estonia’s capital. Estonia suspected Russia of stoking the unrest and orchestrating cyberattacks that paralyzed government computer networks. “When we hear Putin humiliating Ukraine, calling it an artificial state with no history, it reminds us of the same things that they have been repeating about all former Soviet republics for many years,” said Nerijus Maliukevicius, a political analyst at Vilnius University. The Russian “state propaganda machine is now working on unprecedented levels of intensity, and the message is not just about Ukraine,” he added. AP

European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen speaks during a press statement on Ukraine at EU headquarters in Brussels on February 24. Russian troops launched a wideranging attack on Ukraine on Thursday, as President Vladimir Putin cast aside international condemnation and sanctions and warned other countries that any attempt to interfere would lead to “consequences you have never seen.” Kenzo Tribouillard, Pool Photo via AP Seoul fell 2 percent and Hong Kong and Sydney lost more than 3 percent Thursday. Oil prices jumped nearly $3 per barrel on unease about possible disruption of Russian supplies. Earlier, Wall Street’s benchmark S&P 500 index fell 1.8 percent to an eight-month low. Russia seized Ukraine’s Crimea Peninsula in 2014, and pro-Russia rebels have since been fighting Ukrainian forces in the eastern areas of Donetsk and Luhansk. More than 14,000 people have been killed in the conflict. Czech Prime Minister Petr Fiala condemned the Russian attack as “absolutely unjustified act of aggression against a sovereign state.” Slovakia Prime Minister Eduard Heger called it “an unjustified barbarian act.” Many world capitals were trying to determine just what was happening in the tense and fast-changing early moments of a chaotic and violent event. “We are putting all our effort into collecting the information and comprehending the situation,” Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida said shortly after Putin’s announcement. “It’s important and challenging to secure the safety of Japanese people [in Ukraine]. After fully comprehending the situation, we will handle the case properly.” Asked whether Taiwan would cooperate with the US and like-minded countries to put export controls on semi-conductors and technolog y products that the self-ruled island is known for, Foreign Ministry spokesperson Joanne Ou said “they were in close coordination” and would take the “appropriate actions in response to help Ukraine and uphold the area’s peace and stability.” C h i n a, wh ic h h a s denou nced

sanctions against Russia, advised its citizens in Ukraine to stay home and place a Chinese f lag in or on their vehicles if they need to travel long distances. “Social order is chaotic and out of control, especially in the cities where at times of serious unrest, walking on the streets could make one a target of attack, traffic could be stopped at any time and venturing out creates the possibility of running into uncontrollable risks,” the notice said. China has increasingly aligned its foreign policy with Russia to challenge the West, and has blamed the United States and its allies for provoking Moscow. Australian Prime Minister Scott Morrison said sanctions against Russia would become law Friday but would not take effect until the end of March. He said the time was needed to give “opportunities for businesses that have had very legitimate operations and business interests in Russia and in the affected territories of Ukraine to be able to make changes to their arrangements.” Morrison said that financial sanctions and travel bans that target eight members of the Russian Security Council will be a first batch of measures in response to Russian aggression toward Ukraine. Australia will also align with the US and Britain by targeting two Russian banks. “The reason we’re doing this is there must be a price for the unprovoked, unlawful, unwarranted, unjustified attacks and threats and intimidation that has been imposed by Russia on Ukraine. This cannot be a consequence-free action by Vladimir Putin and the Russian regime,” Morrison said. AP

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The sound of silence in Southeast Asia

ussian President Vladimir Putin recognized the independence of separatist-held regions in eastern Ukraine on Monday after the pro-Russian leaders of Ukraine’s “people’s republics” were shown on TV pleading with him to acknowledge them as independent states. Putin’s recognition of the separatist regions came amid Western fears of Russian invasion in Ukraine. More than 150,000 Russian troops have surrounded Ukraine from three sides in what the US and its allies saw as a sign of an imminent invasion. From the Associated Press: “Responding swiftly to Russian President Vladimir Putin’s order sending troops to separatist regions of Ukraine, world leaders hit back with non-military actions Tuesday in hopes of averting a full-blown war in Europe. Germany made the first big move, taking steps to halt certification of the Nord Stream 2 gas pipeline from Russia—a massive, lucrative project long sought by Moscow but criticized by the US for increasing Europe’s reliance on Russian energy supplies. In Washington, US President Joe Biden announced financial sanctions on banks and Russian officials close to Putin and their sons as punishment for what he called “the beginning of a Russian invasion of Ukraine.” He said the US would impose “full blocking” on two large Russian financial institutions and “comprehensive sanctions” on Russian debt. The European Union also announced sanctions taking aim at the 351 Duma legislators who voted in favor of recognizing separatist regions in Ukraine, as well as 27 other Russian officials and institutions from the defense and banking world. They also sought to limit Moscow’s access to EU capital and financial markets. The sanctions did not deter Putin who announced a military operation in Ukraine on Thursday and warned other countries that any attempt to interfere with the Russian action would lead to “consequences you have never seen.” He said the attack was needed to protect civilians in eastern Ukraine. In response, Biden announced the US would impose “severe sanctions” on Russia as he condemned Russia’s military assault on Ukraine as an unprovoked and unjustified attack. “President Putin has chosen a premeditated war that will bring a catastrophic loss of life and human suffering,” Biden said in a statement. “The United States and its allies and partners will respond in a united and decisive way.” In an article published by BenarNews—What Russian Aggression in Ukraine Means for Southeast Asia—author Zachary Abuza said: “Russia is attacking Ukraine, an act of aggression that could upend the global order. This is a clear violation of the sovereignty of a state, a central principle of international law. Yet the response from across the capitals of Southeast Asia has been muted, despite the extremely dangerous precedent that it sets. Where’s the concern in Southeast Asia? This is not some remote conflict that has little bearing on Southeast Asian security. Attempts to upend the world order cut to the core of Southeast Asian security and prosperity. It is not a European security problem or part of Washington’s Great Power Competition. On the contrary, this is something that creates a very dangerous legal precedent, especially for an assertive country like China that has repeatedly pushed for its own interpretations of international law, most clearly in the South China Sea.” Abuza added: “China could easily apply the logic that Putin used to annul Ukrainian sovereignty to make sweeping claims to swaths of Southeast Asia; northern Vietnam was a Chinese province for 1,000 years, and parts of Myanmar, such as the Kokang region, are dominated by ethnic Chinese—just two examples. We have already seen China publicly warn Southeast Asian states that “there are big states and there are small states,” as they threatened at a 2010 Asean meeting in Hanoi. Sadly, most Southeast Asian states are likely to not take sides, avoiding another conflict that they fear could cause them marginal economic harm.” The Non-Aligned Movement is a forum of 120 developing world states that are not formally aligned with or against any major power bloc. All Asean members are also NAM members. The principle of non-interference is the core foundation upon which regional relations between Asean member-states are based. They have adhered to this policy of avoiding external interference to ensure domestic and regional stability. They will not take sides in the Ukraine war.

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Providing dignity in aging Sonny M. Angara

Better Days

ecognizing the impact and contributions of our senior citizens to the overall growth of the country, my father—former Senate President Edgardo Angara—authored Republic Act 7432 or the Senior Citizens Act of 1992, which provided benefits and privileges to our elderly. This, later on, became part of my father’s legacy and is now remembered by many as the “Angara Law.”

Almost two decades later, we built on this landmark legislation by expanding the benefits and privileges of the original law through Republic Act No. 9994 or the Expanded Senior Citizens Act of 2010. Among the features of this law is the provision of a social pension of P500 per month to indigent senior citizens to help improve their living conditions. We introduced this recognizing the reality that many of our elderly still need the assistance particularly with their medical and daily expenses. Since RA 9994’s enactment, the beneficiaries of the social pension have increased exponentially. According to a Philippine Institute for Development Studies (PIDS) evaluation, from only 140,576 actual beneficiaries back in 2011, the Department of Social Welfare and

Development (DSWD) has provided social pension to over 3.6 million senior citizens by 2020. Proportionally, the amount disbursed by the government has also increased from a mere P843.5 million back in 2011 to P21.3 billion in 2020. The program has, in fact, become the second largest pension program next to the 4Ps in terms of budgetary allocation and target beneficiaries. But while the program has been growing year-on-year, the amount has been found to be insufficient to actually support the needs of our seniors. According to the findings by PIDS, many of our senior citizens have been clamoring for an increase in the said pension especially since the amount is not given monthly but rather on a semestral basis. PIDS also noted that the current P500 per month translates to only 7.5 percent

The break between output and jobs

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of the average expenditures on food and health of the bottom half of per capita income distribution. In addition, the Coalition of Services of the Elderly Inc., one of the biggest advocates for senior citizen welfare, stated that the current amount has fully eroded due to inflation. Admittedly, P500 a month is just too small to provide our elderly with any meaningful support especially when this amount was set more than a decade ago. Another issue cited was the coverage of the program. According to the PIDS, the program has an “undercoverage” rate of 66.1 percent among the bottom 50 percent of per capita expenditure distribution since 3.56 million of seniors who do not have pensions from either GSIS or SSS are also not covered by the social pension program. Hence, close to 4 million Filipinos who deserve the much-needed assistance from the government are unfortunately left out. Congress has heeded the call for a more adequate social pension program that reflects the realities faced by our senior citizens on a daily basis. Several measures have been filed by this representation as well as other senators in order to increase the amount and widen the coverage. For instance, we filed Senate Bill 133—which is one of the first measures we filed this 18th Congress—aiming to increase the social pension from P500 to P1,000 a month.

he unemployment rate recorded in December 2021 showed a slight increase to 6.6 percent from 6.5 percent in November. This comes after substantial fluctuations in the unemployment rate, which began at 8.7 percent in January 2021. These figures are rather disappointing because gross domestic product had increased at a relatively stable rate since the start of 2021— ending at 7.7 percent in Q4-2021, from a negative growth of 3.9 percent in Q1-2021. Hence, for the whole year, gross domestic prodduct (GDP) grew by 11.6 percentage points, but unemployment declined by only 2.1 percentage points. This trend indicates a disconnect between GDP growth and employment. Theoretically, Okun’s law states that for every 2 percent increase in output, employment increases by 1 percent. Evidently, the Philippine experience violates this rule. The government tried to explain

the slow decline in unemployment. First, the negative effect of the virus continues to limit the ability of firms to set up their establishments properly, thereby causing delays in their ability to hire workers. This argument points out the presumably substantial work of the government within the boundaries set by the pandemic. Nevertheless, even if there are lingering effects of the virus, output should not have increased substantially. Jobs are presumably derived from output, so the slow decline in unemployment should have meant lower economic growth. The issue is not about how the pandemic affected jobs but how many jobs were restored by the observed output increase as

the country transitions to the postpandemic era. Second, the government points to the increase in labor force participation rate as a factor affecting unemployment. The logic is that since the increase in LFPR is greater than the unemployment rate, more jobs are being created. The unemployment problem only occurred since it took time for companies to process the applications of new labor entrants. So, the observed unemployment is only frictional. A crucial assumption in this argument is the positive relationship between LFPR and GDP. Given the general improvement in the economy as Covid restrictions are being relaxed, the LFPR has presumably risen. Under this argument, unemployment is, in fact, a good sign, considering that the increase in LFPR is an indication of improved economic activity. Nevertheless, the truth is that the LFPR has already reached 65 percent in March and May 2021. The rate was already 63.3 percent in September 2021 and moved to 65.1 percent in December 2021. Hence, during the period when Covid cases were declining, the movement in LFPR was not significant. If the number of unemployed people had remained the same, the

Senator Joel Villanueva also recently presided over the Senate Committee on Social Justice, Welfare and Rural Development hearing on the several measures increasing the social pension for our senior citizens and we look forward to the sponsorship, deliberation, and immediate passage of the said measure. With numerous senators filing for bills of similar intent, we expect that this effort would receive the overwhelming support of Congress. While P1,000 is still a humble amount, it can definitely go a long way to help prevent a lolo or lola from going hungry, or from letting an entire month pass without them taking life-saving medication. And with the onset of the pandemic, any additional monetary assistance would make a big difference. The fiscal impact of the measure is expected to be considerable, but it would be money well spent. After all, it has been the goal of this administration to make sure that no Filipino is left behind. In addition, the enactment of this measure would symbolize the country’s continued recognition of the contributions and sacrifices made by older generations, and its ongoing efforts to uphold their dignity. Sen. Sonny Angara has been in public service for 17 years. He has authored and sponsored more than 200 laws. He is currently serving his second term in the Senate. E-mail: sensonnyangara@yahoo.com| Facebook, Twitter & Instagram: @sonnyangara

increase in the LFPR could have lowered the unemployment rate. To do this, though, the number of jobs created should, at least, match the number of people entering the labor force. Obviously, the government failed to meet this challenge despite the GDP increase in Q42021. In March 2021, the unemployment rate was already down to 7.1 percent, which was not significantly different from the December figure. That the unemployment rate and the LFPR have remained constant since March contradicts the claim that the economy is on the right track for recovery. The problem is that, given its huge resources, the government has chosen infrastructure as the route for recovery. This is evident in the 37.4 percent growth in public construction, as the government went all out with the Build, Build, Build program. Thus, the break between output and jobs can be attributed to the poor design of these infrastructure programs that have not resulted in greater utilization of local resources, especially labor. While infrastructure is a conceptually valid mechanism for economic recovery, the program appears to have limited See “Eagle Watch,” A15

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Jose Wright Diokno: A paladin of justice

Friday, February 25, 2022 A15

Edsa: Only memories Tito Genova Valiente

annotations

Manny F. Dooc

TELLTALES

omorrow, February 26, is the centennial birth anniversary of Jose W. Diokno, a foremost nationalist, statesman and a lawyer nonpareil. His peers and legions of admirers fondly called him Ka Pepe. He is the only Filipino who topped both the Bar and the CPA examinations. Ka Pepe tied with another brilliant Filipino, Jovito Salonga, for first place in the Philippine Bar Examination of 1944 with a rating of 95.3 percent, the highest rating obtained at that time. And Ka Pepe did it without completing his law degree. He was given a special dispensation by the Supreme Court to take the bar examination after he demonstrated his preparedness to take the lawyers’ examination. His father, Ramon Diokno, was a former Justice of the Supreme Court and also served as a senator. He finished his high school studies in De La Salle as the class valedictorian and earned his business degree major in accounting as summa cum laude at a tender age of 18. He was also given special permission to take the CPA board examination since he was barely 18 years of age. When he passed the board, he was not granted a license to practice as a CPA until he reached the age of 21. He was the acknowledged intellectual leader of outstanding Filipinos, which included Lorenzo Tañada, Ninoy Aquino, Gerry Roxas and others who opposed the Marcos dictatorship. When Ka Pepe died, President Cory Aquino said it all when she declared: “Pepe braved the Marcos dictatorship with a dignified and eloquent courage our country will long remember.” Our martyr, Ninoy Aquino, exalted Ka Pepe’s stature when he said that Ka Pepe was “the one man he would unquestionably follow to the ends of the earth.” That’s how Ka Pepe was regarded even by great Filipinos who were in awe of his prodigious intellect and unsurpassed love for the country. After passing the bar, Ka Pepe engaged in extensive law practice by joining his father’s law office. He took over the cases being handled by his ailing father and won most of them. His legal services were sought by famous and powerful men in business and politics. In no time at all, he became a legal luminary respected by both the bench and the bar. One of the celebrated cases he handled was his successful defense of then Manila Mayor Arsenio H. Lacson who was accused of libel. He became a close friend and legal adviser of Lacson who was then bruited as the leading presidential contender in the 1965 presidential election. Ka Pepe’s expertise in legal and financial matters was utilized by both Presidents Ramon F. Magsaysay and Carlos P. Garcia to help investigate anomalies in the government. He was known for his probity and integrity and was trusted by every president. Finally, President Diosdado P. Macapagal appointed him as the Secretary of Justice. As justice secretary, Ka Pepe was uncompromising in prosecuting corrupt businessmen and shenanigans in the government. Barely three months into office, he raided the company owned by a powerful American businessman named Harry Stonehill who was accused of bribery and tax evasion. The DOJ under Ka Pepe was ready to throw the books at Stonehill when President Macapagal intervened by negotiating a deal with the crooked businessman. Stonehill was virtually absolved but he was deported. Ka Pepe was removed from office and President Macapagal’s image as an incorruptible politician was seriously tarnished. Some even believed that it was one of the causes for Macapagal’s defeat at the hands of Ferdinand Marcos in the following election. Incidentally, Marcos was also implicated in the Stonehill scandal. Ka Pepe was elected senator in 1963 and 1969 and chosen as a most outstanding solon year after year for authoring landmark legislation. Ka Pepe is regarded as the “Father of Human Rights Advocacy” in the Philippines. It’s an honor well deserved by a man who had spent most of his life protecting the in-

violable rights of his fellow human beings during the darkest hours in our history. When the writ of habeas corpus was suspended after the bombing of Plaza Miranda in 1971, Ka Pepe registered his strong protest by resigning from the Nacionalista Party, which supported him in all his political campaigns. He organized the Movement of Concerned Citizens for Civil Liberties, together with other militant political leaders, when he sensed that the government was headed to despotism. He led rallies against the Marcos rule, the largest of which was held in Plaza Miranda on the eve of the promulgation of Martial Law on September 21, 1972. Ka Pepe was undeterred in his fight against the dictatorial regime reigning in our land. He rallied the students and labor to oppose the authoritarian rule. When the media was gagged and the freedom of the press was suppressed, human rights and government abuses became the centerpiece of his public speeches and denunciations. Hours before the declaration of Martial Law on September 23, 1972, Ka Pepe was arrested, together with Senator Ninoy Aquino. The two were the most dreaded enemies of the state. They were placed in solitary confinement in Fort Magsaysay in Laur, Nueva Ecija. Ka Pepe spent close to two years in prison without being charged of any crime. He was not intimidated by the oppressive power of the Martial Law. He founded the Free Legal Assistance Group (FLAG) after his release to help the victims of martial law. He organized Kaakbay, another militant organization, and headed the Civil Liberties Union. He also led coalitions of opposition forces after Ninoy Aquino was assassinated. When President Cory was installed as president after the People Power, Ka Pepe was appointed as the founding chairman of the Presidential Committee on Human Rights, now known as the Commission on Human Rights. In 1984, Ka Pepe was diagnosed with terminal lung cancer. He never recovered but he continued his work and actively campaigned for the removal of the US bases in our country as the Chairman and Secretary General of the Anti-Bases Coalition. He was also a leading member of the commission that wrote our 1987 Constitution where he drafted Article XIII thereof, which defines social justice and human rights. He died one day after his 65th birthday on February 27, 1987. To honor this great Filipino, President Gloria M. Arroyo posthumously awarded him the Order of Lakandula with the rank of Supremo, the highest decoration our nation can give. She also proclaimed February 27 each year as “Jose W. Diokno Day.” Furthermore, the street next to the current site of the Philippine Senate where Ka Pepe served with great distinction was appropriately named “Jose W. Diokno Boulevard.” Ka Pepe never lost hope in his country. While grieving our lost freedom during the Martial Law regime, he solemnly exclaimed: “And so law in the land died. I grieve for it but I do not despair over it. I know with a certainty no argument can turn, no wind can shake, that from its dust will rise a new and better law; more just, more human, and more humane. When that will happen, I know not. That it will happen, I know.”

dsa began for me on the evening of the 22nd of February 1986. There were no words of revolution but there was a growing unease and tedium among the population. Cory Aquino, with the crowd she drew during meetings, and with the fact that she was not perceived as a politician, excited many people, the youth included. But the Comelec earlier, on February 15, declared Marcos the winner of the snap election.

I was on a break from my post as a researcher in the Philippine Refugee Processing Center in Morong, Rizal, where the talk was about civil disobedience. It was the first collective response against the injustice committed against those of us who felt betrayed by the very same institution we thought would protect our right of suffrage. We planned to boycott products from companies owned by Marcos cronies. However, this would prove difficult because the country was practically owned by people close to, or those sucking up to Marcos. Everyone was practically a crony. The night before leaving for Manila, I was with friends and we were contemplating over what we thought were our last bottles of beer. How long could we boycott San Miguel Beer? What would be our options? I left Morong on the afternoon of the 21st of February 1986. I woke up to a quiet Saturday. It was in the afternoon of that day when the rumor began to circulate about a call for people to gather at Edsa. On those days, it was difficult to believe in rumors. The Marcos government had declared rumor-mongering a crime. I stepped out of the apartment where I lived and saw people milling around a sari-sari store, listening to a radio. The voice of Cardinal Sin was speaking calmly: Go to Edsa. Cardinal Sin began as an anomalous figure under the Marcos admin-

istration. Often, we would see him consorting with the Marcoses. But after the assassination of Aquino, he clearly—to me, at least—changed his perspectives about the Marcoses. I saw him as brave and, given the duress of the period, confrontational with the dictators who by this time had become atrociously powerful and callous. I believed the Cardinal’s words. I went back home and, without telling anyone except my friend, got ready to leave for Edsa. At that precise moment I was to step out, Marcos was on TV warning people not to go to Edsa. The dictator, for the first time, looked puny and helpless on television. Out on the street, the vehicles seemed to be all rushing. I was then at the corner of Roosevelt and Quezon Avenue, right next to what was the Pantranco terminal bound for the north, where the present Fisher Mall now stands. Instead of waiting for a taxi, I took the jeepney and ended somewhere along Aurora near the corner of Edsa. The driver would not go on because all points at Edsa were already blocked by buses. The buses were blocking all intersections and they reached up to the corner of Kamuning and Kamias. At Cubao, a horde of people walked with a black cloth. They tied the long cloth to a pole. They had firewood with them. A kettle with water waiting to boil was soon placed above the makeshift stove. This was going to be a long vigil.

Through telephones earlier, I called up some other friends to meet at Edsa. No one knew what would happen. We walked around, and soon found a place where we could sit. Imagine Edsa with no cars. Imagine it just with people. We did not stay overnight that first day. We saw individuals with substantial food to give to other people. We planned to bring our own supply that we could share with the crowd when we returned on February 23. The next day we were ready for the long haul. The third day was a tensed, emotional day. We spent the night of the 23rd and woke up early the next morning to helicopters flying above us. There were talks that they would be shooting people below. To counter the fear, it was suggested that we stood up and pray. Instantly, people extended their hands to hold other people’s hands and we began praying. Are we going to die here? I did not even ask that question. Nothing happened. A news filtered in that those choppers were “friendly forces,” that some soldiers had defected to the side of the Aquino government. But then came the news about tanks being readied to drive away people from the high-

way or from any other places where gatherings could be seen. Soon after this, we did hear rumbling sounds. Looking at the photos later, the vehicles we encountered at the corner of Santolan and Edsa were personnel carrier trucks, which were as toughlooking as tanks. We would see the tanks the next day and they were at the Ortigas area where you currently have the Robinson’s Galleria. It was on the evening of the second day when Marian images began to be brought to Edsa. The Lady of Fatima was there, and so was the image of the Immaculate Conception. Even huge La Naval de Manila made her appearance. Their presence made that event a battle of symbols. If the sacred images stood for those fighting for democracy, what symbols then represented the dictatorship? On the 25th of February, 1986, newspaper extras were being sold at Edsa. One said it simply: MARCOS FLEES. The four days celebrated people not as possessing power but as Power by themselves. People Power was born. The world paid tribute to the Filipinos. The euphoria, sadly, would not last. E-mail: titovaliente@yahoo.com

Rights advocates urge jet fuel sanctions against Myanmar By Elaine Kurtenbach AP Business Writer

ANGKOK—Some human rights advocates are urging governments to impose sanctions against supplying aviation fuel to Myanmar as its security forces carry out air strikes against opponents of the army-led administration. Calls to cut off jet fuel supplies gained attention after several major oil and gas companies, including Total and Chevron, said they would withdraw from ventures in the country, potentially reducing flows of hard currency to the military. While Myanmar still produces oil and gas in partnerships with Thai, Japanese, Chinese and South Korean companies, it has no largescale modern refineries and imports all its aviation fuel for both civilian and military use. Widespread nonviolent protests followed a Feb. 1, 2021, military takeover that ousted the elected government of Aung San Suu Kyi. An armed resistance has grown after peaceful protests were put down with lethal force. The country now faces an insurgency that some experts characterize as a civil war. More than 1,560 civilians have been killed by the security forces, including some in air strikes, accord-

Eagle Watch. . . continued from A14

community engagement and offers limited opportunities with local stakeholders. Many of these projects are, in fact, dependent on loans, making the growth strategy difficult to sustain. As Winston Churchill once said, a

ing to monitoring groups. So far, no governments have banned or otherwise sanctioned supplying aviation fuel to Myanmar, although the British government recently urged companies to avoid providing products that might be used in such attacks. “The Myanmar military regularly uses air strikes against civilian targets,” it said in a statement. “If dealing with any entity linked to Myanmar’s aviation sector, businesses should conduct thorough supply chain diligence to ensure that commodities such as jet fuel do not reach the military.” In the past, the US has barred provision of aviation fuel to Russian forces in Syria. This week, the European Union imposed sanctions against stateowned Myanma Oil and Gas Enterprise, a joint venture partner in all the country’s offshore gas projects. That includes the Yadana gas field, which Total Energies and Chevron recently said they would quit. Air travel with and inside Myanmar has dropped sharply due to the political violence and the pandemic, but imports of aviation fuel continue. Critics of the Myanmar military want those stopped to prevent security forces from carrying out air attacks in areas where dissidents have sought

refuge, some of which are controlled by ethnic armed groups. Those opposed to targeting aviation fuel say it would hinder commercial aviation and efforts to provide aid to tens of thousands of people displaced by civil strife after last year’s military takeover. Burma Campaign UK said it is calling for sanctions on Myanmar companies involved in supplying jet fuel to the military and on foreign companies to prevent their involvement in “any aspect” of supplying aviation fuel to the country, including insurance and other support services. Justice for Myanmar, a human right alliance, said it is still researching aviation fuel supply chains, but that the air attacks should stop. “We urge governments to impose targeted sanctions on aviation fuel, as a viable way to disrupt the Myanmar air force’s ability to carry out indiscriminate air strikes,” said Yadanar Maung, a spokesperson for the group. “The junta’s air strikes are killing civilians, destroying property, displacing whole communities and severely worsening the humanitarian crisis caused by the Myanmar military’s illegal coup,” Yadanar Maung said. National Energy Puma Aviation Services Co Ltd. (NEPAS), a joint ven-

ture between Singapore-based Puma Energy Co. and state-owned Myanmar Petrochemical Enterprise, was Myanmar’s main supplier of aviation fuel before the military takeover. Puma Energy suspended its business there days later, leaving operations to its local partner. Most aviation fuel for Myanmar is supplied either from Singapore or Malaysia. Marinetraffic.com and other ship tracking sources show a steady stream of oil products shipments moving between Singapore and Malaysian ports to Yangon and nearby Thilawa port. The Panamanian-flagged chemical and oil products tanker Super Hero was moored Thursday near the terminal for Puma Energy at Thilawa after having left Singapore Refining Co. a few days earlier, ship tracking sites showed. Myanmar port information obtained by rights advocates indicated it was a load of Jet A1 aviation fuel, however it was unclear whose product was in the shipment. Singapore Refining Co. is a 50-50 joint venture between Chevron and Singapore Petroleum Co., which is a wholly owned subsidiary of PetroChina, one of China’s big stateowned energy giants. Previous reports have documented shipments of aviation fuel from PetroChina by tanker from Singapore.

good crisis should never go to waste. The pandemic has exposed the structural weaknesses of the economy, since small- and medium-scale firms are the ones mostly destroyed, leaving larger firms unaffected. Because of this duality, the lockdowns have benefitted the employees of larger firms with more job support and other health benefits, while the other workers have relied on transfers,

which are merely a fraction of their foregone income. During this period, the government could have resolved this dysfunction effectively. This could have meant worker-specific subsidies and other job-related structural programs that consider simultaneously labor and product reforms. Robust labor and output markets are necessary to accelerate the estimated GDP

growth to its pre-pandemic levels. Emphasizing output growth while ignoring the unemployment issue can only reinforce the dysfunction within the labor market, deepening the scarring caused by the pandemic and making the purported recovery unviable. Dr. Leonardo A. Lanzona, Jr. is Professor of Economics at the Ateneo de Manila University.

A16 Friday, February 25, 2022

Senate probers of e-sabong to Pagcor: Suspend licenses

By Butch Fernandez

@butchfBM

N a motion of Senate President Vicente Sotto III, senators probing the mysterious disappearance of 31 “sabungeros” (cockfight workers and bettors) on Thursday decided to craft a Senate resolution urging the Philippine Amusement and Gaming Corporation (Pagcor) to suspend licenses of all seven E-Sabong outfits until a “satisfactory” conclusion to the apparent abductions is reached. At the hearing called by the Senate Committee on Public Order and Dangerous Drugs presided by Sen. Ronald “Bato” de la Rosa, senators took turns grilling resource persons from the Philippine National Police (PNP) and Pagcor as parents of the missing men and one woman pleaded for the return of their loved ones, who were seized in several incidents since early January. De la Rosa, a former PNP chief before his election to the Senate, said police probers are likely looking at a syndicated case, saying it is “impossible that 31 are missing and only one did it.” He and Sen. Panfilo Lacson, himself a former PNP chief, questioned at length current PNP head Gen. Dionardo Carlos, who led investigators from the Criminal Investigation and Detection Group (CIDG) in updating senators on what

has happened to the multi-province probe, one of the biggest the police has done in years. The abductions were reported in Manila, Bulacan, Pampanga, Batangas and Laguna. Senate President Sotto III moved for the investigating committee to issue a Resolution asking the state gaming agency to suspend all seven E-sabong licenses issued by Pagcor “until we find a satisfactory solution to this case.” In turn, De la Rosa also moved for the “suspension of e-sabong “until the case is cleared,” noting that Pagcor has “no objection to suspend” as proposed by the lawmakers. Lacson asked De la Rosa if the suspension of the E-sabong operations of the seven Pagcor-licensed outfits will not open an opportunity for so-called “colorum” operators to continue to ply their trade. De la Rosa

affirmed Lacson’s presumption that, in the absence of the licensed operators, the “colorum” entities will not be able to carry out their nefarious activities because they will not have anything to hack. At the same time, Sen. Francis Tolentino said they will also ask popular payments platform G-cash to remove e-sabong from transactions allowed on its platform. Acknowledging the senators’ efforts, parents vowed to cooperate with probers looking into the case. This, after providing senators tearful recollections of their last contact with their relatives and their desperate efforts to find them. For her part, Sen. Senator Pia Cayetano credited De la Rosa for taking time to call the hearing, recalling that Sen. Joel Villanueva had mentioned that “we already know that so many problems are associated with e-sabong and gambling. And online gambling makes it even easier. So he mentioned broken families, affected families, suicides, we all know that. I don’t even have to repeat it.” Moreover, she cited a recent news report that “even some cops are robbing gas stations to either pay their gambling debts or to gamble more. So it’s really terrible and it is very clear that this is a social illness. So we have options.” In his opening remarks at the start of the hearing, Senator Villanueva observed it was not the first time, citing the abduction of at least

29 [since adjusted to 31] people, “hailing from Manila, Laguna, and even my home province of Bulacan because of their involvement in gambling activities.” Villanueva recalled seeing grim CCTV footage showing how a resident of San Pablo, Laguna was arrested by men posing as NBI agents.”The victim was reported to be a master agent of online sabong and was accused of game fixing,” the senator said. Villanueva, who is against gambling, said the vice is in contradiction with “Filipino values. How can we teach our youth to be industrious and to take their study seriously if gambling is rampant or by giving them the false hopes that the “game of chance” can actually improve lives?” he asked. He rec a l led t h at recent ly, a 19-year-old student in Davao de Oro was arrested by the police after failing to pay more than P500,000 in bet money for online sabong. “Other students,” he noted, “have resorted to stealing from their parents to play,” while a Quezon City police officer robbed an LBC branch in San Miguel, Bulacan. He noted an article by Susan Ople of the Blas F. Ople Policy Center and Training Institute, citing the circumstances of several of our OFWs who placed bets online with payments done electronically. She stated that Labor Attaché Resty dela Fuente flagged online gambling as an emerging concern among OFWs.

SPECL SESSION PUSHED FOR OIL-TAX MEASURES, DBCC SAYS RELIEF READY

CONOMIC managers said on Thursday they are closely tracking factors impacting oil prices in the country, amid fears that the Russia-Ukraine conflict could further drive these up. A lawmaker also urged Congress leaders to recommend to President Duterte the calling of a special session to approve bills that would suspend excise taxes on oil products. In a statement, Anakalusugan Party-list Rep. Mike Defensor said House Speaker Lord Allan Velasco and Senate President Vicente Sotto III must make the endorsement to Duterte of holding a special legislative session to mitigate the impact of rising global prices to the public. “The Development Budget Coordination Committee is closely monitoring the factors affecting the oil prices in the country. Given recent developments, the government remains ready to provide targeted relief assistance and support to address the impact of the oil price hike for affected sectors, especially Public Utility Vehicle (PUV) drivers, farmers, and fisherfolk,” the DBCC said. To assist the transport sector, the DBCC said government is already preparing to release P2.5 billion for the fuel subsidy program of the Department of Transportation. Under the program, fuel vouchers will be provided to over 377,000 qualified

Manila-Dubai air row quietly settled with visa-free visits By Ma. Stella F. Arnaldo

@akosistellaBM Special to the BusinessMirror

HE rift between Dubai and the Philippines over the arrivals quota at the Manila airport has been settled with the latter’s decision to reopen its borders to visafree countries. This was confirmed by a high-ranking government official who declined to be identified as he had no authority to speak on the matter. “I think the issue is essentially solved already because vaccinated Filipinos and foreigners coming in from the UAE are exempted from the quota,” said the source. On February 10, the Philippines reopened to leisure travelers from 157 visa-free countries, which includes the United Arab Emirates and several Middle Eastern nations that had earlier raised opposition to the arrivals quota implemented at the Ninoy Aquino International Airport (Naia). The arrivals quota at present is 5,000 per day. (See, “Vaxxed tourists exempt from Naia arrivals cap,” February 7, 2022.) Representatives of flag carriers Philippine Airlines (PAL) and Cebu Pacific told the BusinessMirror they were now flying the Dubai-Manila route as normally as before, with no restrictions from Dubai authorities how many passengers they could carry on their planes. Both carriers use the Airbus A330 for these flights, which can seat over 300 passengers. PAL spokesperson Cielo Villaluna said, “Flights from Dubai [have been] landing in Manila starting February 23, in line with easing of restrictions. The Manila-Dubai-Manila service operates daily.” She added, “All our flights originating from the Middle East, including Riyadh, Dammam, and Doha, are also all arriving in Manila. This means we are reverting to the previous setup.”

No more rerouting

SHE explained, “Majority of our passengers (average of 93 percent per flight) who are slated to fly to Manila are fully-vaccinated and thus, do not need to go through hotel/facility

quarantine. Only the unvaxxed or partially-vaxxed, who make up an average of 7 percent per flight, will go through this type of quarantine procedure.” As such, only the 7 percent unvaccinated passengers will be counted in the arrivals quota, which are split among all commercial carriers arriving from abroad. The PAL flights and their frequencies are: Manila-Dubai-Manila (daily 7x a week); Manila-Doha-Manila (daily, 7x a week); Manila-RiyadhManila (2x weekly), and ManilaDammam-Manila (2x weekly). For her part, CEB’s Director for Corporate Communications Carmina Romero said, “The daily DubaiManila flights will start on March 1. For now, we have the following flights from Dubai to Manila, every Monday, Wednesday, Friday until February 28.” Quoting their latest advisory dated February 18, 2022, she added, “UAE regulations have recently lifted restrictions on the number of passengers on the Dubai-Manila route. As such, Cebu Pacific flights from Dubai to Cebu will be rerouted to Manila this month.” Passengers booked on the carrier’s Dubai-Cebu flights transiting through Manila will be provided with free flights to Cebu. Asked if the carrier would no longer reroute their flights from Dubai starting March, Romero asserted, “It should be.” At the start of the Covid-19 pandemic, Manila put a cap of 2,000 arrivals per day at the Naia, which irked Saudi Arabia and Dubai whose carriers fly commercial routes to Manila. Despite Manila increasing the daily arrivals quota to 4,000 last November, Dubai authorities continue to put obstacles, allowing only 70 passengers per flight to Manila. This forced PAL and CEB to reroute their Dubai-Manila flights via Subic, Clark, Cebu, or Davao to allow them to board more than 70 passengers per flight. The regional hubs function as layovers from which the passengers are then flown to Manila, which is counted as a domestic flight. (See, “CAB keeps mum on PHL, Dubai row on arrivals cap,” in the BusinessMirror, December 17, 2021.)

PUV drivers who are operating jeepneys, UV express, taxis, tricycles, and other full-time ridehailing and delivery services nationwide. It said the Department of Agriculture has a P500-million budget to provide assistance through fuel discounts to farmers and fisherfolk who either individually own and operate agricultural and fishery machinery or operate through a farmers organization or cooperative. “This will help mitigate the impact of elevated fuel prices on production and transport costs of farm and fishery products,” the DBCC said. Aside from fuel subsidies and discounts, the DBCC is working on ensuring an adequate and affordable food supply amid rising oil prices through pursuing a holistic value chain approach. To help ease possible domestic supply constraints and prevent second-round effects on prices, it noted the Department of Agriculture backs Senate Bill 139 or the Philippine Livestock Development Industry Act and Senate Bill 2176 or the Affordable Pork Act. “The DBCC remains committed to taking decisive action to ensure the unhampered supply of goods and services despite the rising oil prices amid the pandemic. These will support our full recovery and sustained growth in 2022 and beyond,” it said. Continued on A11

BBM vows help for backyard farmers

T is time to focus on the welfare of all backyard raisers in the country, according to presidential aspirant Ferdinand ‘Bongbong’ Marcos Jr., who pledged full support for them if he wins in the May elections. One strategy he will focus on is how to give backyard farmers a discount on buying commercial feeds. While organic farming is supported, Marcos said he is aware that it is inevitable that rural people will consume commercialized pork, chicken and fish. He said one reason backyard raisers are losing and are discouraged from pursuing their livelihood is the “high prices of commercial feeds.” “The risk from raising hogs or chicken are bad enough; and then they must reckon with high prices of feeds. Often, what should have been their earnings go to buying these feeds,” added Marcos. If the price of feeds is properly discounted, it will surely reduce the expenses of the animal raisers, he said. Meanwhile, to prevent companies making commercial feeds from going bankrupt, Marcos wants to ensure that all the raw materials they use to make the prices of feeds will go down. “Maayos na pag-uusap at maayos na sistema. Kailangan natin ang mga namumuhunan na katulad ng mga gumagawa ng commercial feeds pero kailangan din nating tulungan ang mga kababayan natin sa kanayunan. Sa palagay ko naman ay mapag-uusapan nang maayos iyan para maging patas at sapat ang presyo ng mga commercial feeds,” added Marcos. [Proper negotiations and a proper system. We need investors like those making commercial feeds, but we also need to help those in rural areas. I suppose we can have proper deliberations so the prices of commercial feeds are fair to everyone]. Continued on A11

BusinessMirror

www.businessmirror.com.ph

ESTABLISHMENT / ADDRESS No.

NAME OF FOREIGN NATIONAL , POSITION AND BRIEF DESCRIPTION

ESTABLISHMENT / ADDRESS QUALIFICATION AND SALARY RANGE

No.

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

TRUONG THI MINH NGUYET Customer Service Representative Mandarin Speaking 1.

Brief Job Description: Build sustainable relationship of trust through open and interactive communication in Mandarin Speaking.

LA THI TUYEN Mandarin Customer Service Representative 2.

Brief Job Description: Interact with customer to provide information, support and problem resolution to inquiries and order status NGUYEN THI HONG NGOC Mandarin Customer Service Representative

Brief Job Description: Interact with customer to provide information, support and problem resolution to inquiries and order status NGUYEN THI THU Y Mandarin Customer Service Representative

Brief Job Description: Interact with customer to provide information, support and problem resolution to inquiries and order status VY THI QUYNH Mandarin Customer Service Representative

Brief Job Description: Interact with customer to provide information, support and problem resolution to inquiries and order status

Basic Qualification: Knows how to recommend potential products or services to management by collecting custome information and analyzing customer needs. Salary Range: Php 30,000 - Php 59,999

KHAN, ZAFFAR AHMED Senior Director For Business Excellence And Process Transformation 12.

13.

Brief Job Description: Provides executive and administrative support

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

14.

Basic Qualification: Fluent in Mandarin both oral and written Salary Range: Php 30,000 - Php 59,999

Basic Qualification: With proven management and operational skills

Brief Job Description: Attends to customers’ inquiries and complaints regarding healthcare products via phone calls and emails.

FRINALDY GALA PADAUNAN Bahasa Indonesia Speaking Associate 8.

Brief Job Description: Attends to customers’ inquiries and complaints regarding healthcare products via phone calls and emails.

SHELLA FAYE Bahasa Indonesia Speaking Associate 9.

Brief Job Description: Attends to customers’ inquiries and complaints regarding healthcare products via phone calls and emails.

OGAWA, SEIJI Japanese Speaking Associate 10.

Brief Job Description: Attends to customers’ inquiries and complaints regarding healthcare products via phone calls and emails.

Basic Qualification: At least high school graduate. Strictly follow procedures and requirements outlined in addressing customer issues/request.

Brief Job Description: Customer Service Representative

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

Basic Qualification: At least high school graduate. Strictly follow procedures and requirements outlined in addressing customer issues/request.

15.

Brief Job Description: Customer Service Representative

Brief Job Description: mainly responsible for telemarketing efforts to liaise with guests request and assist with casino operations function

KONG YOKE SIM Agent, Casino Services 16.

Brief Job Description: mainly responsible for telemarketing efforts to liaise with guests request and assist with casino operations function GOH YIK MUN Sales Manager, Player Development

17.

Brief Job Description: Responsible for increasing company revenue growth through lead generation, educating prospects, products and gaming experience and delivering excellent service

ROYGAEW, ROYGAEW Customer Service Associate 18.

Brief Job Description: Provides assistance to customers during emergency calls and information services

SATO, YOSHIKAZU Japanese Speaking Associate 11.

Brief Job Description: Attends to customers’ inquiries and complaints regarding healthcare products via phone calls and emails.

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

NAME OF FOREIGN NATIONAL , POSITION AND BRIEF DESCRIPTION

ZHOU, JIANHONG Mandarin Administration Manager 22.

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

Basic Qualification: High School Graduate in Chinese, Can Speak and Write Fluent Chinese Mandarin Can Operate Mandarin Characters

Brief Job Description: The mandarin administration manager will be a strategist and a leader able to steer the company to the most profitable direction while also implementing its vision, mission and long-term goals.

WANG, QI Mandarin Business Development Officer 23.

WONG, JORDI SERGIO Planning And Cost Analyst 19.

Brief Job Description: Review documents, identifying any shortage of information and making summaries. Independently process requests with minimal supervision.

VAN VLIET, RICK Process Manager 20.

Brief Job Description: Has full responsibility for the implementation of processes of management in the project

PEETERS, PETER ALBERT Senior Technician 21.

Brief Job Description: Responsible for soil sampling activities and analyses, both internally and with selected official external laboratories

Brief Job Description: the mandarin business development officer will be a strategist and a leader able to steer the company to the most profitable direction while also implementing its vision, mission and longterm goals.

ZHANG, JIAN Mandarin Business Development Officer

Salary Range: Php 30,000 - Php 59,999 24.

Brief Job Description: The mandarin business development officer will be a strategist and a leader able to steer the company to the most profitable direction while also implementing its vision, mission and longterm goals.

OUYANG, DINGYI Mandarin General Manager

Salary Range: Php 30,000 - Php 59,999 25.

Brief Job Description: The mandarin general manager will be strategist and a leader able to steer the company to the most profitable while also implementing its vision , mission and long term goals

Basic Qualification: 1-year customer service associate experience, basic to advance MS application skills

ZHANG, FENGYUAN Mandarin Structural Maintenance Analyst 26.

Brief Job Description: The mandarin structural maintenance analyst will be a strategist and a leader able to steer the company to the most profitable direction while also implementing its vision, mission and longterm goals.

MEDINA LORENZANA, OSCAR People Vice President 27.

Brief Job Description: The People Vice President is a key member of the country’s Senior Leadership Team and provides overall HR leadership to the Organization and define the HR Strategy of the Market

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

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

Basic Qualification: Successful working experience in HR and has a minimum 20 years working experience in Senior HR leadership role. Salary Range: Php 500,000 and above

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

GOEL, MANVI Software Test Engineer 28.

Brief Job Description: In charge on test execution, hands on validation and certification of the software readiness.

Basic Qualification: Must be fluent in English and can speak Indian Language; Must have at least College degree or above and have at least 2 years of experience in the same field as Software Test Engineer in a staffing industry with Indian clients Salary Range: Php 30,000 - Php 59,999

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

Basic Qualification: Extensive experience as project technician / process operator of at least 21 years in successful completion of large complex international dredging and land reclamation projects

Basic Qualification: Proven experience as mandarin structural maintenance analyst, familiarity, knowledge and awareness on machinery and heavy equipment use by company. Demonstrable experience in developing strategic business plan.

COCA-COLA BEVERAGES PHILIPPINES, INC. 28th/f Six/neo Bldg., 5th Ave. Cor. 26th St., Bonifacio Global City, Fort Bonifacio, City Of Taguig

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

Basic Qualification: Advanced knowledge of sheq policies, management systems, legislation and industry standards

Basic Qualification: Proven experience as mandarin general manager, Familiarity knowledge and awareness on machinery and heavy equipment use by company, demonstrate experience in developing strategic business plan

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

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

Basic Qualification: Higher or Professional Education, (Bachelor or Master) in a technical discipline, preferably civil, dredging or maritime engineering.

Basic Qualification: Proven experience as mandarin business development officer, familiarity, knowledge and awareness on machinery and heavy equipment use by company. Demonstrable experience in developing strategic business plan.

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

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

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

Basic Qualification: ability to effectively communicate in English and mandarin in both written and oral forms

Basic Qualification: At least 3 to 5 years sales experience id required and with proven track record

Basic Qualification: Proven experience as mandarin administration manager, familiarity, knowledge and awareness on machinery and heavy equipment use by company. Demonstrable experience in developing strategic business plan.

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

Basic Qualification: High School Graduate in Chinese, Can Speak and Write Fluent Chinese Mandarin Can Operate Mandarin Characters

Basic Qualification: ability to effectively communicate in English and mandarin in both written and oral forms

QUALIFICATION AND SALARY RANGE

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

BOSKALIS PHILIPPINES INC. Unit 3701, 3801 The Orient Square, F. Ortigas Jr. Road, Ortigas Center, San Antonio, City Of Pasig

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

Basic Qualification: Vocational diploma/ short course certificate, bachelor’s/college degree. Strictly follow procedures and requirements outlined in addressing customer issues/request.

Basic Qualification: Candidate must possess at least a bachelor’s/ college degree, any field. Computer skills: MS excel, MS word, Microsoft access, MS PowerPoint, Minitab.

No.

BOSCH SERVICE SOLUTIONS, INC. 23rd Floor, W Fifth Avenue Building, 32nd Street Corner, 5th Avenue Bonifacio Global City, City Of Taguig

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

Basic Qualification: Vocational diploma/ short course certificate, bachelor’s/college degree. Strictly follow procedures and requirements outlined in addressing customer issues/request.

LIU, JIAHUI Customer Service Representative

BEH XIN WEI Agent, Casino Services

Salary Range: Php 30,000 - Php 59,999 Basic Qualification: At least high school graduate. Strictly follow procedures and requirements outlined in addressing customer issues/request.

QUALIFICATION AND SALARY RANGE

BLOOMBERRY RESORTS AND HOTELS INC. Solaire Resort And Casino, 1 Asean Avenue, Entertainment City, Tambo, City Of Parañaque

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

BETAINE (PH) B.V - PHILIPPINE BRANCH 11th-21st Flr., Zeta Tower Bridgetowne Ext. E Rodriguez Jr. Ave. Ortigas, 3, Ugong Norte, Quezon City

CARLY RICKY MARADONA RUNTUWENE Bahasa Indonesia Speaking Associate

LIN, CHAO Customer Service Representative

Basic Qualification: Fluent in Mandarin both oral and written

ATLAS FERTILIZER CORPORATION 7/f Syciplaw Center, 105 Paseo De Roxas, San Lorenzo, City Of Makati YOSHIKAWA, TAKESHI Vice President - Executive Office For The President

Brief Job Description: Deliver quantifiable, actionable insight to clients using texts, speech and data analytics. Perform analytical activities to enhance customer experience, improve net promoter score, and drive operational efficiencies.

A17

ESTABLISHMENT / ADDRESS

BILLION DRAGON OUTSOURCE PHILS., INC. 3/f, Ayala Mall Southpark, Alabang, City Of Muntinlupa

Basic Qualification: Fluent in Mandarin both oral and written Salary Range: Php 30,000 - Php 59,999

NAME OF FOREIGN NATIONAL , POSITION AND BRIEF DESCRIPTION

Friday, February 25, 2022

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

WADHWA, MRINAL Sr. Director, Operations

29.

Brief Job Description: The Sr Director, Operations directs multiple accounts in operations/service delivery. The Sr Director, Operations drives consistent implementation of processes to deliver upon strategic vision for clients/verticals and will typically have a team of Directors, Associate Directors and support staff.\

Basic Qualification: University Degree in related field and 10+ years of experience (with at least 5+ years of progressive management experience) relevant experience preferred. Salary Range: Php 150,000 - Php 499,999

BusinessMirror

A18 Friday, February 25, 2022

ESTABLISHMENT / ADDRESS No.

NAME OF FOREIGN NATIONAL , POSITION AND BRIEF DESCRIPTION

NAUTIYAL, AMIT Associate Director 30.

Brief Job Description: Value stream mapping and Scope assessment to identify the opportunity of technology infusion. Engaged as a reviewer of all projects managed by Transformation Team. Identify process change requirement with the dynamic nature of business

ESTABLISHMENT / ADDRESS QUALIFICATION AND SALARY RANGE Basic Qualification: Minimum 5-8 years Contact Center experience in Staff management experience, process improvement, automation and / or consulting

No.

YAN, GE Mandarin Digital Marketing Officer 42.

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

31.

Brief Job Description: Responsible for leading the entire business and development of the company’s operation

Basic Qualification: Graduate of a degree in management and minimum of 2 years management experience Salary Range: Php 500,000 and above

EXCELLENT PRODUCTS INTERNATIONAL CORP. 11 D, Industry St., Potrero, City Of Malabon LU, BINGYAN Marketing Assistant 32.

Brief Job Description: Monitoring of marketing agents, transaction and entertain Chinese clients

Basic Qualification: 5 yrs experience in the same field and bachelor’s degree

33.

FONG, KAM FUNG Export Account Executive (Chinese Mandarin Speaking) Brief Job Description: Responsible for China and Hongkong clients

43.

XIAO, GUOPING Mandarin Cost Control Supervisor 44.

34.

Brief Job Description: Recommends potential products or services to management by collecting customer information and analyzing customer needs

Basic Qualification: Proficient in Chinese Mandarin oral and written Salary Range: Php 30,000 - Php 59,999

35.

Brief Job Description: Responsible for researching and identifying new business opportunities

45.

Basic Qualification: Proven working experience in digital marketing particularly within the industry and good communication skills

36.

Brief Job Description: Build sustainable relationship of trust through open and interactive communication in Mandarin speaking

WANG, LIN Customer Service Representative Mandarin Speaking 37.

Brief Job Description: Build sustainable relationship of trust through open and interactive communication in Mandarin speaking

WU, JIANGMIN Customer Service Representative Mandarin Speaking 38.

Brief Job Description: Build sustainable relationship of trust through open and interactive communication in Mandarin speaking

39.

Brief Job Description: Supporting the marketing manager/executive with project organization

IP, TING CHUN Digital Marketing Executive (Chinese Speaking) 40.

Brief Job Description: Prepare online promotional emails and organize the distribution through various channels

46.

Basic Qualification: Knows how to recommend potential products or services to management by collecting customer information and analyzing customer needs

41.

Brief Job Description: Oversee all aspects of projects, set deadlines, assign responsibilities, and monitor and summarize progress of project.

Basic Qualification: Proven experience as MANDARIN OPERATING SYSTEM SUPERVISOR, excellent communication, interpersonal and presentation skills. Salary Range: Php 30,000 - Php 59,999

Basic Qualification: Proven experience as mandarin cost control supervisor, excellent communication, interpersonal and presentation skills.

Brief Job Description: Participate actively in carrier negotiation in line with the company’s policy. Maintain and build strong relationships with the company’s carriers.

51.

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

Basic Qualification: Knowledge to liaise with customers directly as required. Know how to manage customer complaints in a manner that provides explanations and puts customer at ease. Salary Range: Php 150,000 - Php 499,999

Brief Job Description: Execute campaigns and promotion, collect preliminary data and result in order to gain new market penetration, maintain market share and assist in campaign effectiveness analysis. Project management onsite changes, improvements and new features on the platform for marketing strategies. Works with marketing team to identify a target market, create a brand image and create and maintain a marketing campaign for the internet and for digital technologies both Chinese and Vietnamese client and the company. Responsible developing strategy in online, utilizing such techniques in the field of social media, web analytics, e-mail marketing and search engine optimization

Basic Qualification: Preferably 6 months -1year as Visa Consultant; Fluent in Mandarin or Vietnam and English Language Salary Range: Php 30,000 - Php 59,999

47.

Salary Range: Php 30,000 - Php 59,999 Basic Qualification: Knows how to recommend potential products or services to management by collecting customer information and analyzing customer needs

CHEN, QING Chinese Customer Service 52.

48. Basic Qualification: Can speak Indonesian language with two (2) years relevant experience Salary Range: Php 30,000 - Php 59,999

53.

Basic Qualification: Bachelor’s degree with at least 3-5 years of working experience in the related field; fluent in mandarin/ basic English Salary Range: Php 30,000 - Php 59,999

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

49.

Brief Job Description: Managing incoming calls and customer service inquiries NGUYEN DINH TIEN NAM Chinese Customer Service

55.

Brief Job Description: Managing incoming calls and customer service inquiries NGUYEN MINH TRANG Chinese Customer Service

56.

Brief Job Description: Managing incoming calls and customer service inquiries

58.

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

59.

Brief Job Description: Managing incoming calls and customer service inquiries NYEIN NYEIN EI Chinese Customer Service Brief Job Description: Managing incoming calls and customer service inquiries PHAM VIET HUNG Chinese Customer Service

61. Basic Qualification: Preferably 6 months -1year as Visa Consultant; Fluent in Mandarin or Vietnam and English Language Salary Range: Php 30,000 - Php 59,999

Brief Job Description: Managing incoming calls and customer service inquiries PHUNG THI THUY Chinese Customer Service

62.

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

63.

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

PENG, YINGYING Digital Marketing Specialist Brief Job Description: Execute campaigns and promotion, collect preliminary data and result in order to gain new market penetration, maintain market share and assist in campaign effectiveness analysis. Project management onsite changes, improvements and new features on the platform for marketing strategies. Works with marketing team to identify a target market, create a brand image and create and maintain a marketing campaign for the internet and for digital technologies both Chinese and Vietnamese client and the company. Responsible developing strategy in online, utilizing such techniques in the field of social media, web analytics, e-mail marketing and search engine optimization

Brief Job Description: Managing incoming calls and customer service inquiries GUO, SHIJI Chinese Customer Service

Basic Qualification: Can speak Chinese language with two (2) years relevant experience Salary Range: Php 30,000 - Php 59,999

Brief Job Description: Managing incoming calls and customer service inquiries FU, SIHUI Chinese Customer Service

JIANG, DAOXIN Digital Marketing Specialist Brief Job Description: Execute campaigns and promotion, collect preliminary data and result in order to gain new market penetration, maintain market share and assist in campaign effectiveness analysis. Project management onsite changes, improvements and new features on the platform for marketing strategies. Works with marketing team to identify a target market, create a brand image and create and maintain a marketing campaign for the internet and for digital technologies both Chinese and Vietnamese client and the company. Responsible developing strategy in online, utilizing such techniques in the field of social media, web analytics, e-mail marketing and search engine optimization

NICHOLAS LEVINSON Chinese Customer Service

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

64.

Basic Qualification: Preferably 6 months -1year as Visa Consultant; Fluent in Mandarin or Vietnam and English Language

Basic Qualification: Preferably 6 months -1year as Visa Consultant; Fluent in Mandarin or Vietnam and English Language Salary Range: Php 30,000 - Php 59,999

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

60.

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

NGUYEN VAN TUY Chinese Customer Service

Basic Qualification: Preferably 6 months -1year as Visa Consultant; Fluent in Mandarin or Vietnam and English Language

QUALIFICATION AND SALARY RANGE

ZHONG, YU Digital Marketing Specialist

HUANG, CHUNHAI Digital Marketing Specialist

Salary Range: Php 30,000 - Php 59,999 Basic Qualification: Knows how to recommend potential products or services to management by collecting customer information and analyzing customer needs

50.

57.

HAMMERTIME CONSTRUCTION INC. Unit 203-s3 2nd Flr., Fbr Arcade Bldg., Loyola Heights, Quezon City

LI, SHUQING Chinese Project Manager

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

NAME OF FOREIGN NATIONAL , POSITION AND BRIEF DESCRIPTION TJAI ERIC CHARISTY Digital Marketing Specialist

DUAN, GUANG Digital Marketing Specialist

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

GOLDRIDGE WEB DESIGN STUDIO, OPC Unit 2b 2/f 816, Arnaiz Bldg., San Lorenzo, City Of Makati CHERENCIA GENEVIEN Digital Marketing Assistant (Indonesian Speaking)

Basic Qualification: Proven experience as MANDARIN DIGITAL MARKETING OFFICER, excellent communication, interpersonal and presentation skills.

54.

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

Basic Qualification: N/A

No.

LUCKY BINTANG CONSULTANCY INC. Unit G-02 Makati Executive Tower 2, 7652 Dela Rosa St. Cor. P. Medina St., Pio Del Pilar, City Of Makati

GLOBALLGA BUSINESS PROCESS OUTSOURCING Ground Level, Level 2-5 Floor, Silver City 4, Ortigas East, Ugong, City Of Pasig

FANG, LIANG Customer Service Representative Mandarin Speaking

Brief Job Description: The mandarin cost control supervisor will be a strategist and a leader able to steer the company to the most profitable direction while also implementing its vision, mission and long-term goals.

PATHAK, SANJEEV National Operational Care Manager Sea Logistics

GLOBAL MOBILITY SERVICE PHILIPPINES, INC. 2/f Salcedo Bldg., 223 Salcedo Cor. Gamboa & Adelantado Sts., San Lorenzo, City Of Makati OTSUJI, KENTARO Business Development Specialist

QUALIFICATION AND SALARY RANGE

KUEHNE + NAGEL, INC. 5/f 501h-507-508h, Five E-com Harbor Drive, Barangay 76, Pasay City

GENX SPORTS & MEDIA PRODUCTION CORP. 11/f Aseana I Bldg., Bradco Ave. Aseana City, Tambo, City Of Parañaque

CAO, HUAPING Customer Service Representative - Chinese Speaking

Brief Job Description: The MANDARIN OPERATING SYSTEM SUPERVISOR will be a strategist and a leader able to steer the company to the most profitable direction while also implementing its vision, mission and long term goals.

ESTABLISHMENT / ADDRESS

HUBEI SHUIZONG WATER RESOURCES AND HYDROPOWER CONSTRUCTION CO. LTD. PHILIPPINES BRANCH OFFICE Unit A & B, 20/f Rufino Pacific Tower, 6784 Ayala Ave. Cor. V.a. Rufino St., San Lorenzo, City Of Makati

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

FONG BROS. INT’L. CORPORATION 9474 Alejandro St., Airport Village, Vitalez, City Of Parañaque

Brief Job Description: The MANDARIN DIGITAL MARKETING OFFICER will be a strategist and a leader able to steer the company to the most profitable direction while also implementing its vision, mission and long term goals.

GUO, HAO Mandarin Operating System Supervisor

DEVERE PHILIPPINES LIMITED INC. U6 21/f Zuellig Bldg. Makati Ave. Cor., Paseo De Roxas, Urdaneta, City Of Makati

MARSHALL, NICHOLAS STEWART President/area Manager

NAME OF FOREIGN NATIONAL , POSITION AND BRIEF DESCRIPTION

www.businessmirror.com.ph

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

65.

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

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

66.

Brief Job Description: Managing incoming calls and customer service inquiries

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

BusinessMirror

www.businessmirror.com.ph

ESTABLISHMENT / ADDRESS No.

NAME OF FOREIGN NATIONAL , POSITION AND BRIEF DESCRIPTION THAN TUN OO Chinese Customer Service

67.

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

68.

Brief Job Description: Managing incoming calls and customer service inquiries TIAN, DEQIONG Chinese Customer Service

69.

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

70.

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

71.

Brief Job Description: Managing incoming calls and customer service inquiries VO THANH LAM Chinese Customer Service

72.

Brief Job Description: Managing incoming calls and customer service inquiries WANG, DEBANG Chinese Customer Service

73.

Brief Job Description: Managing incoming calls and customer service inquiries WONG QIAN WANG Chinese Customer Service

74.

Brief Job Description: Managing incoming calls and customer service inquiries XIA, TAO Chinese Customer Service

75.

Brief Job Description: Managing Incoming calls and Customer Service Inquiries

ESTABLISHMENT / ADDRESS QUALIFICATION AND SALARY RANGE

No.

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

WANG, SHAOYING Chef Assistant

85.

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

LIU, LEI Chinese Customer Service 86.

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

87.

Basic Qualification: Able to speak, read, and write Chinese language 88.

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

89.

90.

76.

Brief Job Description: Managing Incoming calls and Customer Service Inquiries

77.

Brief Job Description: Managing Incoming calls and Customer Service Inquiries

Basic Qualification: Able to Speak, Read and Write Chinese Language

78.

Brief Job Description: Managing Incoming calls and Customer Service Inquiries ZEFRI Chinese Customer Service

79.

Brief Job Description: Managing Incoming calls and Customer Service Inquiries ZHAO, FEI Chinese Customer Service

80.

Brief Job Description: Managing Incoming calls and Customer Service Inquiries ZHAO, HONGLEI Chinese Customer Service

81.

Brief Job Description: Managing Incoming calls and Customer Service Inquiries ZHONG, YIN Chinese Customer Service

82.

Brief Job Description: Managing incoming calls and customer service inquiries ZHOU, ZIHAO Chinese Customer Service

83.

84.

Brief Job Description: Managing Incoming calls and Customer Service Inquiries

XIAO, TENG Customer Service Representative Brief Job Description: Customer service

Brief Job Description: Knowledgeable in computer application with good oral and written communication skills

LIEW CHUN LIONG Malaysian Customer Service Brief Job Description: Customer support and data base services

Brief Job Description: Manage incoming calls and inquiries handling complaints provide solutions process customer account and file documents YAU CHUN HAO Malaysian Customer Service

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

Brief Job Description: Manage incoming calls and inquiries handling complaints provide solutions process customer account and file documents SHONE KYIN WAI Myanmari Customer Service

Basic Qualification: Able to Speak, Read and Write Chinese Language

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

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

HUYNH VAN TAN Vietnamese Customer Service

93. YEONG WEI HONG Chinese Customer Service

Brief Job Description: Customer support and data base services

TIONG LINGLING Malaysian Customer Service

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

92. YEAP KOK WAI Chinese Customer Service

ENI Indonesian Customer Service

Basic Qualification: Able to Speak, Read and Write Chinese Language

91. YE, ZHAOGUANG Chinese Customer Service

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

MEGAWATI Indonesian Customer Service

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

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

WANG, WEI Chinese Customer Service

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

Brief Job Description: Ensuring that food served are excellent quality and authentic taste are consistently achieved, modifying menus or create new ones that meet quality standards, estimating food requirements and food/labor costs, supervise kitchen staff’s activities, performing other duties assigned by the company.

Basic Qualification: Able to Speak, Read and Write Chinese Language

94.

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

TRINH XUAN DO Vietnamese Customer Service 95.

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

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

LEI, RUIXIN Mandarin Customer Service Representative 96.

Brief Job Description: Identify and asses customer needs to achieve satisfaction

97.

LU QUOC DAT Vietnamese Speaking Customer Service Representative Brief Job Description: Deal with all customers queries / complaints, should be fluent in Vietnamese & English speaking

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

Basic Qualification: College graduate/level and fluent in Mandarin / basic English

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

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

No.

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

99.

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

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

100.

101.

Basic Qualification: College graduate

102.

103.

Brief Job Description: Handle customer complaint in a satisfactory manner

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

Basic Qualification: Strong understanding of social media platforms, content moderation and or digital content management work streams.

Brief Job Description: Backend content editing or content moderation process for social media.

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

Basic Qualification: Fluent in Chinese and English language

Brief Job Description: Check original texts or confer with authors to ensure that translations retain the content, meaning, and feeling of the original material.

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

TELUS INTERNATIONAL PHILIPPINES, INC. Units 23/f, 31st/f - 37th/f Discovery Centre, Adb Avenue, Ortigas Center, San Antonio, City Of Pasig PARK, SUN MIN Korean Operations CSR II 104.

Brief Job Description: Provides expedient and accurate customer service to Korean speaking clients and customer

Basic Qualification: Skilled in Korean Language Salary Range: Php 60,000 - Php 89,999

VA TECH WABAG (PHILIPPINES) INC. 7/f Peninsula Court Bldg., 8735 Paseo De Roxas, Bel-air, City Of Makati

105.

106.

107.

Basic Qualification: Bachelor Degree in Chemistry

THAYUMANAVAN, CHANDRASEKAR Commissioning Manager Brief Job Description: Execution & Supervision of Commissioning

Salary Range: Php 90,000 - Php 149,999 Basic Qualification: Bachelor Degree in Electr. & Instrumentation

SHABJAN, ABDULLA KHAN Electrical & Instrumentation Manager Brief Job Description: Water & Waste Water Treatment Technology

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

CHOKKANADHAPURAM GOPALAKRISHNAN, ANANTHA PADMANABAN Junior Project Assistant

Basic Qualification: Bachelor ‘s Degree in Mechanical Engineering

Brief Job Description: Preparing, Scheduling, Coordinating & Monitoring

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

VPC CORPORATE SOLUTIONS INCORPORATED 11/f 100 West, Sen Gil Puyat Ave. Cor., Washington St., Pio Del Pilar, City Of Makati Basic Qualification: Excellent in writing, reading and speaking in Vietnamese

VU HUY HIEN Vietnam-speaking Customer Service Officer Brief Job Description: Responsible to resolve queries of the Malaycustomers through email and chats

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

WHOLESOME CONSULTING SERVICES CORP. Unit Ug-02, Ug/f Cityland 10 Tower 2, 154 H.v. Dela Costa Cor. Valero Sts., Bel-air, City Of Makati

SONG, ZHUO Mandarin Customer Service Representative 109.

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

Basic Qualification: with high Chinese Speaking Skills

CUI, JIAOJIAO Translator

Basic Qualification: College graduate

Basic Qualification: Preferably with 6 mos - 1 year experience, with customer service experience

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

T.G.K. TRADE CORP. 3/f Salcedo One Center, 170 Salcedo St., San Lorenzo, City Of Makati

108.

Basic Qualification: Excellent in chinese language

Brief Job Description: Handle customer complaint in a satisfactory manner

KIM, KYUNG MIN Associate - Cs Internet

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

Basic Qualification: with high Chinese Speaking Skills

SUTHERLAND GLOBAL SERVICES PHILIPPINES, INC. 12th Floor Philplans Corporate Center, Kalayaan Avenue & Triangle Drive, Fort Bonifacio, City Of Taguig

Basic Qualification: College graduate Salary Range: Php 30,000 - Php 59,999

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

LIN, YU-QI Taiwan Customer Service

Basic Qualification: College graduate Salary Range: Php 30,000 - Php 59,999

Brief Job Description: Lead in the design and implementation of a curriculum, which inspires and engages all students

HUANG, YUHANG Taiwan Customer Service

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

Basic Qualification: College graduate

Basic Qualification: Proficient in reading, writing and speaking in both English and Japanese

SHIBUYA SOLUTIONS INC. Unit 903-c Vicente Madrigal Bldg., 6793 Ayala Ave., Bel-air, City Of Makati

Salary Range: Php 30,000 - Php 59,999 Basic Qualification: Customer support and data base services

QUALIFICATION AND SALARY RANGE

HASHIMOTO, KENICHI Japanese Language Teacher

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

NAME OF FOREIGN NATIONAL , POSITION AND BRIEF DESCRIPTION

Brief Job Description: Provides customer service support to the organization by obtaining, analyzing and verifying the accuracy of order information in a timely manner.

Basic Qualification: College Graduate. Computer Proficiency. Fluent in Mandarin, Cantonese, and Taiwanese Language. Excellent Interpersonal and communication skills. At least 1 year experience in Customer Service. Salary Range: Php 30,000 - Php 59,999

WIKITECH SERVICES INC. Unit 25d 2/f Zeta Ii Bldg., 191 Salcedo St., San Lorenzo, City Of Makati ZHAO, XUE Mandarin Operations Specialist 110.

Brief Job Description: Monitoring and maintaining computer systems and networks

Basic Qualification: Proficient language skills and skills match to job Salary Range: Php 30,000 - Php 59,999

*Date Generated: Feb 24, 2022 PASSENGER URBAN AND RAPID ELECTRIC VEHICLE SOLUTIONS (P.U.R.E.V.S.), INC. 3/f Dusit Thani Manila, Ayala Center, San Lorenzo, City Of Makati

JOHNSTON, PAUL GERARD Chief Executive Officer

Salary Range: Php 30,000 - Php 59,999 98.

NATURAL9 CORPORATION Unit 8c-1, 8 Rockwell Building, Hidalgo Drive, Rockwell Center, Poblacion, City Of Makati

Basic Qualification: Able to assist the Head Chef in developing high quality authentic Chinese cuisine. Take over the kitchen team in the absence of the Head Chef; With experience at high-end Chinese Cuisine

NOVATECH (PASAY) LIMITED, INC. 4th Flr. W Mall Bldg., Diosdado Macapagal Ave. St., Zone 10, Barangay 76, Pasay City

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

QUALIFICATION AND SALARY RANGE

NOONA BUSINESS CONSULTING SERVICES INC. 10th & 31st Floor Ore Central Tower, 9th Ave. Cor. 31st St., Bgc, Fort Bonifacio, City Of Taguig

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

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

Brief Job Description: Build, own and operate intelligent charging infrastructure

PLASTONE LANGUAGE SCHOOL INC. 331, Villareal St., Barangay 59, Pasay City

A19

ESTABLISHMENT / ADDRESS

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

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

NAME OF FOREIGN NATIONAL , POSITION AND BRIEF DESCRIPTION

Friday, February 25, 2022

Basic Qualification: Market expertise, industry knowledge Salary Range: Php 150,000 - Php 499,999

In the ad material of Notice of Filing of Application for Alien Employment Permits published on February 19, 2022, the position of KHAING HSU THWE, MYINT KO, PHYU PHYU, and THU ZAR TINT under NEW ORIENTAL CLUB88 CORPORATION, should have been read as MYANMAR CUSTOMER SERVICE and not as published. Any person in the Philippines who is competent, able and willing to perform the services for which the foreign national is desired may file an objection at DOLE National Capital Region located at DOLE-NCR Building, 967 Maligaya St., Malate Manila, within 30 days after this publication. Please inform DOLE National Capital Region if you have any information on criminal offense committed by the foreign nationals.

ATTY. SARAH BUENA S. MIRASOL REGIONAL DIRECTOR

BusinessMirror

A20 Friday, February 25, 2022

www.businessmirror.com.ph

Republic of the Philippines

DEPARTMENT OF LABOR AND EMPLOYMENT Regional Office No. IV-A 4th Flr. Andenson Bldg. II, Brgy. Parian, Calamba City Telefax No.: (049) 545-7362

13.

TOGZHAN TURGUNBAYEVA Kazakhstan

February 25, 2022

CHINESE CUSTOMER SERVICE REPRESENTATIVE File incoming help request from end user from the People’s Republic of China via both telephone and work orders in a courteous manner consistent with Chinese standards.

Php30,000.00 – Php59,999.00

NOTICE OF FILING OF APPLICATION FOR ALIEN EMPLOYMENT PERMIT (AEP)

Notice is hereby given that the following employers have filed with this Regional Office application/s for Alien Employment Permit/s.

Name and Address of Employer: CSCO (PHILS) CONSTRUCTION AND DEVELOPMENT CORP. Tabon I, Kawit, Cavite

Name and Address of Employer: VEER-O-METALS (PHILIPPINES) INC. B1, C1, C2 & C3 Units Grepac 4 Bldg., Blk. 25, Phase IV Expansion, CEZ, Rosario, Cavite Name and Citizenship of Foreign Position and Job Description National 1.

GIRISHA ANANDA Indian

ASSISTANT MANAGER ADMINISTRATION & ACCOUNTS Handle matters in administration & accounts and finance day-to-day activities.

Name and Citizenship of Foreign National

SHINTARO OSAWA Japanese

Position and Job Description

QUANTITY SURVEYOR Involve in production, editing and management of company marketing schemes and plans

Php30,000.00 – Php59,999.00

15.

LI MA Chinese

DESIGNER MANAGER Gather project information and prepare project strategy

Php30,000.00 – Php59,999.00

16.

LUYU WANG Chinese

ADMIN MANAGER Translate letter, work plans tender and any other written documents from english to chinese

Php30,000.00 – Php59,999.00

17.

MAO YE Chinese

SAFETY MANAGER Ensure the safety and welfare of the employees in coordination with the admin

Php30,000.00 – Php59,999.00

14. Php30,000.00 – Php59,999.00

GENERAL MANAGER Oversee business operations and provide strategic plans

Monthly Salary Range

Php150,000.00 – Php499,999.00

Name and Address of Employer: BRICKHARTZ TECHNOLOGY INC. Lot 4044, Molino Blvd., Niog III, Bacoor, Cavite Name and Citizenship of Foreign Position and Job Description National 3.

CHEN ZHANG Chinese

MANDARIN CUSTOMER SERVICE Offer full range of customer service to employer and clients.

Monthly Salary Range

Name and Address of Employer: CEBU YMTECHNOLOGY INC. CEZ, Rosario, Cavite Name and Citizenship of Foreign Position and Job Description National

Php30,000.00 – Php59,999.00 18.

MANDARIN CUSTOMER SERVICE Offer full range of customer service to employer and clients.

Php30,000.00 – Php59,999.00

NGUYEN THI KIM NGUYEN Vietnamese

VIETNAMESE CUSTOMER SERVICE Offer full range of customer service to employer and clients.

Php30,000.00 – Php59,999.00

SIHUI WU Chinese

MANDARIN CUSTOMER SERVICE Offer full range of customer service to employer and clients.

MENGRU WANG Chinese

HIROTO YANO Japanese

Position and Job Description

GROUP HEAD ASSEMBLY AND NEW DEVELOPMENT Oversee the operational activities of assembly line and new model development group to achieve the established production plan based on the company’s quality standard

Php30,000.00 – Php59,999.00

HUGH CURTIS MATHIS JR. American

CHIEF OPERATING OFFICER Provide leadership, tactical direction and general management.

10.

11.

12.

Position and Job Description

TAN YIP LEONG Malaysian

MANDARIN CUSTOMER SERVICE REPRESENTATIVE File incoming help request from end user from the People’s Republic of China via both telephone and work orders in a courteous manner consistent with Chinese standards.

CHONG HAI FOONG Malaysian

NG HIANG ENG Malaysian

SHAOHUA CHEN Chinese

Name and Citizenship of Foreign National

19.

CHUKWUNONSO ALOYSIUS AMADI Nigerian

Position and Job Description DIRECTOR-PRODUCT SUPPLY CHAIN LAUNCH LEADER Lead initiatives and project delivery for complex projects for the site

Name and Citizenship of Foreign Position and Job Description National

Monthly Salary Range

Php60,000.00 – Php89,999.00

Monthly Salary Range

Php150,000.00 – Php499,999.00

Monthly Salary Range

GEN FUKUI Japanese

PURCHASING PRODUCTION CONTROL MANAGER Promote localization of supplier and low-cost procurement and sustainability to production needs and provides skill development plan.

Php150,000.00 – Php499,999.00

21.

YUKIO SHIOHARA Japanese

PARTS QUALITY CONTROL DEPUTY GENERAL MANAGER Promote and control department KPI and SDG. Control and improve the supplier quality management

Php150,000.00 – Php499,999.00

22.

TSUBASA OGATA Japanese

PRODUCTION MANAGER Manage and control production line operation and its manpower.

Php150,000.00 – Php499,999.00

20. Php150,000.00 – Php499,999.00

Monthly Salary Range

Php500,000.00 above

Name and Address of Employer: MTEC WATER TREATMENT TECHNOLOGIES INC. LISP1 Brgy. Diezmo, Cabuyao, Laguna

Name and Address of Employer: SMART WIN TECHNOLOGY, INC. 4-12F Southwoods Mall, Tower 2, Biñan, Laguna Name and Citizenship of Foreign National

MOLD TECHNICAL MANAGER Direct and coordinate the activities of team member engaged in the mold production

Name and Address of Employer: BROTHER INDUSTRIES (PHILIPPINES), INC. L1B2, Ph 1B, FPIP, Brgy. Ulango, Tanauan City, Batangas

Name and Address of Employer: ATLANTIC GULF & PACIFIC COMPANY OF MANILA, INC. AG&P SEZ, Bauan, Batangas Name and Citizenship of Foreign Position and Job Description National

YOSHIHITO MATSUBARA Japanese

Monthly Salary Range

Name and Address of Employer: PROCTER & GAMBLE PHILIPPINES INC. LISP 1 Brgy., Diezmo, Cabuyao, Laguna

Name and Address of Employer: SUZUKI PHILIPPINES INCORPORATED CIP 1, Carmeltown, Canlubang, Calamba, Laguna Name and Citizenship of Foreign National

Monthly Salary Range

LI JI Chinese

Monthly Salary Range

Name and Address of Employer: AIR WATER PHILIPPINES, INC. Unit B, Winsouth One, No 140 East Main Avenue Loop, Phase 6, LTI, Binan, Laguna Name and Citizenship of Foreign National

Position and Job Description

Name and Citizenship of Foreign National

Monthly Salary Range

Php30,000.00 – Php59,999.00

23.

KAZUO MORIYA Japanese

Position and Job Description

SALES AND PURCHASING MANAGER Monitor operation and negotiation

Monthly Salary Range

Php30,000.00 – Php59,999.00

Name and Address of Employer: AMERICAN POWER CONVERSION CORPORATION (A.P.C) B.V 2nd St., CEZ, Rosario, Cavite Php30,000.00 – Php59,999.00

Name and Citizenship of Foreign National

24.

Php30,000.00 – Php59,999.00

SATYA PRAKASH VEYYAKULA Indian

Position and Job Description

CUSTOMER SATISFACTION & QUALITY MANAGER Coordinate with the quality assurance (QA) team in the formulation and implementation of quarterly goals

Monthly Salary Range

Php150,000.00 – Php499,999.00

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 the DOLE Regional Office within 30 days from the date of publication. Please inform the DOLE Regional Office if you have an information of any criminal offense committed by the foreign nationals.

To avail of free job referral, placement, and employment guidance services, visit the nearest Public Employment Service Offices (PESO) or log on at http://www.philjobnet.gov.ph

Companies BusinessMirror

Editor: Jennifer A. Ng

Friday, February 25, 2022

Wilcon Depot 2021 income surges as sales accelerate

By VG Cabuag

@villygc

ilcon Depot Inc., an operator of big box retail hardware stores, said its net income last year rose 77 percent to P2.56 billion from last year’s P1.44 billion on higher sales. Net sales reached P27.51 billion for the year, up 21 percent from the previous year’s P23 billion driven by the improved sales performance of stores in Luzon which remained operational despite the prolonged surge of Covid-19 cases. At the outset of the pandemic in March 2020, Luzon—where 76 percent of Wilcon’s branches were located then—was placed under lock-

down, requiring all branches in the region to be closed for two months. Last year, the company was able to open 10 new stores, consisting of nine depots and one smaller format, Home Essentials. “We delivered stronger quarteron-quarter performance for the fourth quarter, which raised our net income for the year higher than initially expected,” Lorraine Belo-

Cincochan, the company’s Wilcon’s President and CEO, said. “We are planning to add a minimum of eight stores in 2022 in line with our target to have 100 branches by the end of 2025. Should the Covid-19 situation continue to improve during the year, we are expecting private construction to normalize and our annual sales growth to stabilize and return to the pre-pandemic trend.” The company’s board also declared a dividend of P0.21 per share, comprising of a regular dividend of P0.15 per share and a special dividend of P0.06. This represents a 75 percent increase over last year’s dividends of P0.12 per share. For the fourth quarter of 2021, Wilcon posted a net income of P692 million, up 23 percent from the previous year’s P563 million, but sales remained flat, due mainly to the base effect and mobility restrictions ex-

tending up to mid-October. Cincochan said the company has completely deployed its initial public offering (IPO) funds in the first quarter of 2021. Capital expenditures for the year amounted to P2.16 billion, spent mostly on the construction of new branches and warehouses, majority of which were financed by internally generated funds. For 2021, the depot format stores accounted for 97 percent of total net sales amounting to P26.79 billion, some 2 percent came from its smaller format stores at P530 million, while the rest came from project sales. There was a one-off rent waiver granted by lessors in 2020 following the temporary closure of stores in Luzon, which was recognized under other income. Interest income also declined to P29 million as the IPO funds were completely deployed in the first quarter of 2021, the company said.

PERC to expand energy portfolio By Lenie Lectura

etroEnergy Resources Corp. (PERC) is adding as much as 500 megawatts (MW) in its portfolio in the next few years while it prepares to embark on offshore wind projects in the future. During an online forum on sustainable energy hosted by Yuchengco-led RCBC, PERC Vice President Francisco Delfin said the power firm intends to expand its capacity by 100MW more from the current 138MW in two years, and by as much as 400MW more in four years. “Right now, because everybody is just coming out of the pandemic, we are tampering the expansion target near term within one or two years of adding 100 MW of new solar projects then about 300 to 400 MW in the next 3 to 4 years,” said Delfin. PERC, a member of the Yuchengco Group of Companies (YGC), is engaged in petroleum exploration and production in Gabon, West Africa and renewable energy (RE) development in the Philippines. PERC’s RE holding unit, PetroGreen Energy Corp. (PGEC), operates five power stations in the country through three operating companies – the 32MW Maibarara geothermal project by Maibarara Geothermal Inc., the 70MW Tarlac solar project by PetroSolar Corp., and the 36 MW Nabas-1 wind project by PetroWind Energy Inc. For long-term projects,

PERC is betting on offshore wind “because of the advantages that offshore wind brings to scaling up renewable energy generation,” said Delfin. This is because offshore wind power projects don’t have limitations on size and accessibility compared to large-scale solar power. Also, there are more areas available for development of offshore wind unlike for geothermal projects. “So, we believe as and we support the DOE’s [Department of Energy] action to promote large-scale offshore wind development. And that is where we are bet our long-term expansion,” he said. PERC has recently sought the green light of the DOE to proceed with the conduct of a system impact study for its planned offshore wind power projects. Based on its filing, PEGC is planning to establish the following: 2,000MW in Ilocos Norte, 1,000MW in Occidental Mindoro and Batangas, and 500-1000MW in Iloilo and Guimaras. Delfin said PERC will scout for partners to implement these capitalintensive power projects, which are currently priced at about $3 to $4 million per MW. “These are large scale, very expensive project. Not only that, you need partners who have the corporate experience and the technical knowhow to contribute to this enterprise. Right now, no capital cost yet since no one is doing it yet. Bloomberg Finance predicts that (cost) will

‘ICTSI Subic part of MSC Seahorse service’

Aboitiz solar plant to rise in Pangasinan

@llectura

nternational Container Terminal Services Inc. (ICTSI) said on Thursday its Subic port has been added to the Mediterranean Shipping Company’s (MSC) expanded Seahorse Service, linking Northern and Central Luzon to global markets. The Razon-led company said Subic Bay International Terminals now provides the region “a reliable link to global markets especially Europe and the United States” through the inclusion of the port to the rotation of the Seahorse Service. “Industries including agriculture, automotive, electronics, construction and garments can take advantage of the service’s connection to major transshipment hubs like Singapore, Vung Tau and Tanjung Pelepas, as well as the seamless connectivity to MSC’s global ocean liner network, to ship their products worldwide,” ICTSI’s statement read. Lorenz S. Marasigan

be reduced over the next five to ten years. We await these technological improvements to lower the cost as they are relevant to the Philippine setting,” said Delfin. The pre-feasibility stage for offshore wind power projects could take five years. This is when the technical and commercial studies are undertaken before embarking on a decision on whether to go full-scale construction and development. “This is a long-term process. You have that five-year window in which you do your project. Secondly, it’s also necessary to wait for advances in technology on offshore wind that will make the capital cost of offshore wind much more competitive in the Philippines. Certainly offshore wind is competitive now in Europe, in the US and parts of Asia but they are not yet competitive at this point in the Philippines,” said Delfin.

Rules for wind projects

PERC is one of the members of the steering committee that will craft rules to address challenges in the development of offshore wind projects. One concern raised by Delfin is that the rules have yet to be put in place. “We are a member and DOE Undersecretary Fuentebella actually sits as the chair of the steering committee for fashioning the rules for this emerging industry,” he said. “Now, are we worried betting big while the rules are still in place?

boi t i z Power Cor p. (AboitizPower) on Thursday broke ground for its 94-megawatt (MW) peak solar power project in Pangasinan. This will be the second solar power project of Aboitiz Renewables Inc. (ARI) after its 59-MW peak solar plant in San Carlos City, Negros Occidental. The project will soon rise on a 196-hectare site in Barangay Cayanga, about 13 kilometers southwest of the province’s capital. The power firm awarded to JGC Philippines Inc. the P4.5-billion engineering, procurement, and constr uction (EPC) contract. Construction is set to begin immediately and is targeted to be operational by the fourth quarter of 2022. Once completed, the power

Contributed photo

plant is ex pected to produce about 147 million kWh of clean energy annually or equivalent to the yearly power consumption of 60,000 average Filipino homes. “Cayanga Solar is a very signifi-

Well, of course, that’s it’s always a risk, but both the private sector and the government, through the DOE, are working with the World Bank and other international donors to capture or rather to fashion rules to govern this emerging market. It’s very important to get the institutions right to make sure that private investments will be attracted.” While the rules have yet to be crafted, Delfin considers this as a window of opportunity because PERC would have the time to undertake the pre-feasibility stage, as well as the time for technology improvement to make the capital cost wind turbines, among others, much more competitive in the Philippines. More importantly, he said PERC is “uniquely positioned” for future offshore wind industry because of its involvement in a similar project overseas. It can also rely on the expertise of YGC members. “The entire YGC Group is, in fact, well suited for this opportunity. We have EEI who is fairly well known for large-scale construction and, when you do offshore wind, you need technical skills and manpower, so we have Mapua University as part of our team. You need of course to mitigate the risk, we have Malayan Insurance to cover that We think we have the resources and the opportunities not just within Petro Energy, but within the wider YGC Group to profit from these longterm investments,” said Delfin.

cant project for us at ARI. This marks the beginning of our exciting journey ahead—growing our renewable energy portfolio over the next 10 years to accelerate the Philippine energy transition to more environmentally sustainable sources,” ARI Executive Director David J. Smith said. AboitizPower is also looking to develop other renewable energy projects in the region, particularly wind and solar, with tendering on the 167-megawatt peak Laoag solar project in Aguilar, Pangasinan ongoing. With a projected investment of around P190 billion, the company is looking to grow its Cleanergy capacity to 4,600 MW, which will make up 50 percent of its total generation portfolio of 9,200 MW by 2030. Lenie Lectura

SEC halts NWorld’s investment scheme

he Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) has ordered Alphanet World Corp., which has been doing business under the name NWorld, to stop soliciting investments from the public as it does not have the necessary license. The SEC issued a cease and desist order after finding that Alphanet World has been selling investment packages priced from P4,750 to P19,000 in exchange for NWorld products and a guaranteed monthly return of up to P127,000. Business transactions are supposedly made through the company’s official webpage. Alphanet World President Juluis Allan C. Nolasco and its directors, stockholders, officers, representatives, salesmen, solicitors, agents, uplines, enablers and influencers were also ordered to cease their internet presence in connection with their investment scheme. The company promises its socalled member-investors to earn discounts of up to 30 percent for every purchase of NWorld products, referral bonuses and an additional

P25,000 when they meet the 25 pairs of recruits. The scheme involves the sale and offer of securities to the public in the form of investment contracts, whereby a person invests his money in a common enterprise and is led to expect profits primarily from the efforts of others, according to the SEC. “NWorld is unlawfully engaged in the sale and/or offer of unregistered securities in the form of investment contract, because it has no license to carry out the same,” the SEC said in its en banc decision. Alphanet World is a registered corporation but the SEC said it has never secured a secondary license as an issuer of securities or broker dealer nor registered any securities for public offering pursuant to the Securities Regulation Code. “[T]he Commission holds that the act of NWorld in selling/offering unregistered securities operates as a fraud to the public which, if unrestrained, will likely cause grave or irreparable injury or prejudice to the investing public,” the order said. VG Cabuag

Cebu Pacific announces exemptions to bag policy

ebu Pacific (CEB) has reminded its passengers to bring only one carry-on bag during their travels to ensure a smooth and convenient flight experience. The airline said the carry-on bag must not exceed 7 kilograms in weight and its size must fit in the overhead bin or under the aircraft seat. As the airline continues to listen to its customers’ concerns, CEB adds to the list of exempted items allowed to be carried on top of their single hand-carry bag effective March 1. Only one exemption will be accepted per passenger. Items allowed on top of the one piece of carry-on baggage: n Extra bag for parents/guardians if travelling with children; n Medical-related needs of passengers such as but not limited to walking sticks, crutches, prosthetic devices, personal wheelchair; n Items purchased inside the airport – proof of receipt is required to be presented to the counter agent/ gate boarding agent; n Gadget or food item that cannot be accepted for check-in; and

n Small bag that can fit under the seat. “We continuously monitor customer feedback and we are happy to provide these additional exemptions. We also request for everyJuan’s cooperation as we do our best to avoid any unnecessary flight delays as much as possible,” said Candice Iyog, Vice President for Marketing and Customer Experience at Cebu Pacific. The airline said its strict implementation of the hand-carry baggage policy is in line with its goal to improve processes for a more efficient and seamless customer experience. “Guests who do not comply with the policy will be charged with a gate baggage fee of P1,000 per person for domestic flights. In the coming months, the airline will also begin charging for its international flights—P 1,500 for short haul and P3,000 for long haul.” CEB also reminded passengers to properly pack their bags and avail of prepaid baggage allowance to avoid any other additional fees at the airport. More information on this may be viewed on www.cebupacificair.com.

Companies BusinessMirror

Friday, February 25, 2022

Raslag allots ₧3.6B for solar power projects in Pampanga

By Lenie Lectura

@llectura

epomuceno-led Raslag Corp. is spending P3.6 billion to finance two more solar power projects that would enhance its business and maximize the potential for clean energy in the country. Raslag has commenced work for the development of the 35.2 megawatt peak (MWp) RASLAG-4 solar plant and has acquired the site for the 60 MWp RASLAG-5 solar plant, both in Pampanga. RASLAG IV will cost P1.5 billion while the project cost for RASLAG V is estimated at P2.1 billion. The company previously announced that commercial operation of the 18.011-megawatt peak (MWp) RASLAG-3 in Mabalacat and Maga lang, Pampanga, is scheduled in May this year. These solar power plants are strategically located to harness the potential of Central Luzon for large, utility-scale solar projects. It said that this region is an ideal site for solar energy devel-

opment considering its vast and flat terrains, stable transmission backbone, economic growth, and high demand for energy. “With the boom of RE [renewable energy] demand in the country, Raslag is aiming to be a leader in solar energy development with a project pipeline that will boost its generation capacity nearly sixfold within five year and more than 10 times within 10 years. In the long run, the company aims to put up multiple RE projects in various locations and deploy energy technologies that will enhance its business and maximize the potential for clean energy in the country,” it said. Raslag is led by Engr. Peter Nepomuceno, the patriarch of the

Nepomuceno Group of Companies of Angeles City, who built Angeles Electric Corporation into one of the largest power distributors in Luzon. Nepomuceno and his team are now working on transforming RASLAG into a leading player in the RE industry by providing reliable yet cost-effective renewable energy to its customers through high quality solar power projects. RE sources have contributed a 21.2-percent share in the country’s total power generation in 2020, the Department of Energy (DOE) said. To maximize the potential and advantages of RE, the government is targeting to increase its share in the Philippine energy mix to 35 percent by 2030 and 50 percent by 2040 through its updated National Renewable Energy Program (NREP). This is aligned with the Clean Energy Scenario of the DOE’s latest Philippine Energy Plan latest where the government intends to expand solar generation capacity by an additional 18,639 MW

in 2021-2030 and by 12,923 MW more in 2031-2040 to work towards achieving the aspirational target of 32,590 MW of solar by the end of 2040. To accelerate the development of RE projects in the Philippines, the DOE offers long-term purchase agreements to RE producers through the Feed-in-Tariff (FIT) System. This energy supply policy places a fixed tariff to be paid for electricity produced from each type of RE source over a fixed period not less than 12 years. Raslag’s first two projects in Mexico, Pampanga achieved the most coveted solar FIT rates in 2015 and 2016. The 10.046 MWp R ASLAG-1 was the second solar plant to be granted the first round solar FIT rate (FIT-1) of P9.68/kW h, while the 13.141 MWp R ASLAG-2 was the first solar plant to be awarded the second round solar FIT rate (FIT-2) of P8.69/kWh. These incentives from the government provide Raslag with secure and steady cash flows for the next 15 years.

mutual funds

February 24, 2022

NAV

One Year Three Year Five Year

per share Return*

Y-T-D Return

Stock Funds ALFM Growth Fund, Inc. -a

237.44

9.61%

-3.68%

-1.35%

1.87%

ATRAM Alpha Opportunity Fund, Inc. -a

1.5802

19.31%

-0.22%

2.4%

-5.05%

10.39%

-7.2%

-4.06%

1.73%

ATRAM Philippine Equity Opportunity Fund, Inc. -a 3.2939

Climbs Share Capital Equity Investment Fund Corp. -a 0.7632 -0.2%

-7.04% n.a.

0.89%

First Metro Consumer Fund on MSCI Phils. IMI, Inc. -a 0.7493 7.46%

-4.49% n.a.

-2.8%

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

12.51%

-1.39%

0.48%

2.2%

0.7955

13.87%

-3.26%

-2.9%

-9.58% n.a.

-2.94%

5.2966

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

91.65

-9.3%

PAMI Equity Index Fund, Inc. -a

48.7129

9.2%

-2.23%

0.21%

1.22%

Philam Strategic Growth Fund, Inc. -a

509.82

9.38%

-2.21%

-0.22%

1.82%

Philequity Dividend Yield Fund, Inc. -a

1.4018

24.34%

2.22%

2.66%

3.35%

Philequity Fund, Inc. -a

37.2859

11.94%

-1.22%

1.2%

1.89% 3.44%

Philequity MSCI Philippine Index Fund, Inc. -a

0.9738

12.59%

-1.94% n.a.

Philequity PSE Index Fund Inc. -a

5.0388

10.38%

-1.48%

0.85%

1.57%

Philippine Stock Index Fund Corp. - a

839.16

9.88%

-1.55%

0.77%

1.29%

Soldivo Strategic Growth Fund, Inc. -a

0.7639

10.66%

-5.45%

-2.16%

1.5%

Sun Life Prosperity Philippine Equity Fund, Inc. -a 3.842

11.31%

-3.75%

-0.5%

1.76%

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

0.9559

9.38%

-1.87%

0.53%

United Fund, Inc. -a

9.81%

-1.71%

1.4%

1.81%

3.4995

Philequity Alpha One Fund, Inc. -a

1.2087

14.56% n.a. n.a.

1.56%

1.21%

3.96%

1029.53 n.a. n.a. n.a. n.a.

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

113.0643

10.32%

-1.29%

1.27%

1.42%

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

$1.1065

Sun Life Prosperity World Voyager Fund, Inc. -a $1.6866

-18.42%

3.34%

3.93%

-1.78%

-5.69%

10.77%

9.1%

-8.65%

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

1.6831

1.61%

-0.75%

-0.45%

-0.53%

ATRAM Philippine Balanced Fund, Inc. -a

2.3104

4.34%

0.2%

0.25%

1.27%

7.37%

1.12%

1.68%

1.41%

First Metro Save and Learn Balanced Fund Inc. -a 2.7289

First Metro Save and Learn F.O.C.C.U.S. Dynamic Fund, Inc. -a 0.2126 NCM Mutual Fund of the Phils., Inc. -a

10.79% n.a. n.a.

2.0281

4.98%

2.05%

2.04%

0.57% 0.58%

PAMI Horizon Fund, Inc. -a

3.7871

3.29%

1.36%

0.88%

Philam Fund, Inc. -a

16.9692

3.37%

1.03%

0.88%

0.73%

Solidaritas Fund, Inc. -a

2.1422

5.15%

-0.05%

0.76%

0.98%

6.02%

-1.3%

0.34%

0.87%

12.93%

0.14%

0.96%

2.06%

Sun Life of Canada Prosperity Balanced Fund, Inc. -a 3.679 Sun Life Prosperity Dynamic Fund, Inc. -a

0.9739

1.72%

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

0.9788

-0.77%

-0.39% n.a.

Sun Life Prosperity Achiever Fund 2038, Inc. -a

0.9454

-1.42% n.a.

0.1%

Sun Life Prosperity Achiever Fund 2048, Inc. -a

0.9365

4.99%

-1.71% n.a.

0.28%

-1.11%

Primarily invested in foreign currency securities (shares) Cocolife Dollar Fund Builder, Inc. -a $0.036

-6.44%

0.27%

0.42%

-5.11%

PAMI Asia Balanced Fund, Inc. -b

-11.5%

2.75%

2.89%

-0.15%

Sun Life Prosperity Dollar Advantage Fund, Inc. -a $4.4863 -5.39%

7.62%

6.67%

-6.58%

Sun Life Prosperity Dollar Wellspring Fund, Inc. -a,2 $1.1394 -5.37%

3.56%

3.11%

-4.94%

$1.0655

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

373.94

0.66%

2.66%

2.46%

-0.1%

ATRAM Corporate Bond Fund, Inc. -a

1.8859

-0.97%

0.42%

0.04%

0.06%

Cocolife Fixed Income Fund, Inc. -a

3.2451

0.85%

2.74%

3.75%

0.03%

Ekklesia Mutual Fund Inc. -a

2.2295

-2.4%

1.26%

1.25%

-0.98%

First Metro Save and Learn Fixed Income Fund,Inc. -a 2.4185 -0.66%

2.78%

1.78%

-0.31%

Philam Bond Fund, Inc. -a

4.343

-5.47%

3.46%

1.25%

-1.2%

Philam Managed Income Fund, Inc. -a

1.3193

0.03%

3.6%

2.82%

0.02%

Philequity Peso Bond Fund, Inc. -a

3.9507

-0.36%

3.37%

2.58%

-0.38%

Soldivo Bond Fund, Inc. -a

1.0219

-0.68%

3.96%

1.87%

-0.61%

Sun Life of Canada Prosperity Bond Fund, Inc. -a 3.1797

-0.33%

3.94%

3.18%

-0.24%

Sun Life Prosperity GS Fund, Inc. -a

-0.94%

3.12%

2.49%

-0.36%

1.7243 $487.37

0.77%

2.6%

2.29%

ALFM Euro Bond Fund, Inc. -a

Є217.81

-0.74%

0.49%

0.76%

-1%

ATRAM Total Return Dollar Bond Fund, Inc. -b $1.1439

-7.78%

-0.19%

0.62%

-4.98%

-0.45%

First Metro Save and Learn Dollar Bond Fund, Inc. -a $0.0254 -2.68%

0.53%

0.4%

-2.31%

PAMI Global Bond Fund, Inc -b

-2.55%

-1.76%

-4.88%

Philam Dollar Bond Fund, Inc. -a

$0.9729

-9.94%

$2.3851

-4.7%

2.39%

1.68%

-4.81%

$0.0615088

-1.67%

2.28%

1.62%

-1.26%

Sun Life Prosperity Dollar Abundance Fund, Inc. -a $2.9991 -4.96%

0.75%

0.45%

-6.17%

Philequity Dollar Income Fund Inc. -a

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

131.39

1.02%

2.57%

2.54%

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

1.0594

0.99%

1.86% n.a.

Sun Life Prosperity Peso Starter Fund, Inc. -a,1 1.3185

1.49%

2.46%

2.52%

0.15% 0.16%

0.22%

Primarily invested in foreign currency securities (shares) Sun Life Prosperity Dollar Starter Fund, Inc. -a $1.0615

0.7%

1.35% n.a.

0.08%

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

45.9854 n.a. n.a. n.a. n.a.

Sun Life Prosperity World Equity Index Feeder Fund, Inc. -a 1.3004

7.6% n.a. n.a.

-5.97%

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

$0.9249

-6.58% n.a. n.a.

February 24, 2022

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

ASIA UNITED BDO UNIBANK BANK PH ISLANDS CHINABANK EAST WEST BANK METROBANK PBCOM PHIL NATL BANK PSBANK RCBC SECURITY BANK UNION BANK BRIGHT KINDLE COL FINANCIAL NTL REINSURANCE PHIL STOCK EXCH SUN LIFE

110,165 638,636,152 143,384,735 4,469,585 5,002,256 683,123,852.50 5,484 8,788,420 172,901.50 2,738,190 61,185,512 4,018,442 848,340 145,180 37,520 865,656 49,000

-141,151,886 15,439,444.50 67,686 209,131,421.50 -1,578,111 171,205 -20,205,500 626,131 -192,090.00 83,600 -

INDUSTRIAL AC ENERGY 8.21 8.22 8.65 8.71 8.2 8.21 25,429,800 212,793,981 0.99 1.05 1.03 1.05 1 1 502,000 505,880 ALSONS CONS 34.3 34.4 36 36 34.05 34.4 4,190,300 145,872,930 ABOITIZ POWER 0.5 0.51 0.54 0.57 0.5 0.51 61,145,000 32,989,850 BASIC ENERGY FIRST GEN 27 27.15 26.65 27.35 26.55 27.15 419,800 11,383,935 FIRST PHIL HLDG 70.65 70.7 70.85 70.95 70.65 70.65 49,420 3,496,595.50 MERALCO 362 363 364.8 367 361 363 355,570 129,276,882 20.6 20.85 21.45 21.85 20.1 20.85 1,627,800 34,072,465 MANILA WATER 3.38 3.39 3.37 3.41 3.32 3.38 1,627,000 5,470,710 PETRON 4.21 4.28 4.3 4.3 4.3 4.3 50,000 215,000 PETROENERGY 10.38 10.74 10.32 10.74 10.32 10.74 5,300 55,956 PHX PETROLEUM SYNERGY GRID 12.44 12.5 12.6 12.6 12.4 12.5 3,495,200 43,677,642 PILIPINAS SHELL 18.64 18.66 19 19.16 18.5 18.64 485,400 9,086,562 SPC POWER 14.5 14.68 14.94 14.94 14.5 14.5 173,100 2,557,188 1.84 1.85 1.92 1.95 1.81 1.84 99,545,000 184,994,660 SOLAR PH 4.95 4.96 5.3 5.4 4.96 4.96 2,634,800 13,751,493 AGRINURTURE 2.61 2.76 2.76 2.77 2.61 2.61 739,000 1,985,990 AXELUM 13 13.38 13.02 13.1 13 13 1,700 22,172 CNTRL AZUCARERA CENTURY FOOD 25 25.1 25.3 25.45 24.5 25 1,067,700 26,789,060 DEL MONTE 15.32 15.44 15.76 15.88 15.32 15.44 101,200 1,573,762 DNL INDUS 7.93 7.95 8.19 8.28 7.92 7.93 1,304,100 10,450,873 19.5 19.9 20.05 20.25 19.32 19.9 4,465,100 88,952,781 EMPERADOR 66.5 67 68 68.1 66.5 67 274,300 18,399,136 SMC FOODANDBEV 0.66 0.67 0.72 0.73 0.66 0.66 58,607,000 40,498,090 FIGARO COFFEE 0.58 0.63 0.63 0.63 0.63 0.63 31,000 19,530 ALLIANCE SELECT FRUITAS HLDG 1.18 1.2 1.2 1.25 1.18 1.2 12,755,000 15,490,340 GINEBRA 106.2 106.9 111.9 112 106.2 106.9 57,390 6,247,325 JOLLIBEE 236 236.2 246.2 246.8 234 236 989,690 237,084,402 1.21 1.24 1.38 1.38 1.19 1.21 27,208,000 34,343,850 KEEPERS HLDG 5.71 6.47 5.72 5.72 5.7 5.7 11,600 66,164 MACAY HLDG 6.2 6.34 6.5 6.59 6.2 6.2 559,600 3,573,084 MAXS GROUP 0.15 0.159 0.146 0.159 0.146 0.15 520,000 77,630 MG HLDG MONDE NISSIN 14.8 14.84 15.8 15.84 14.8 14.8 19,719,800 298,034,812 SHAKEYS PIZZA 8.1 8.26 8.55 8.6 8.1 8.1 513,100 4,255,075 ROXAS AND CO 0.64 0.67 0.67 0.67 0.64 0.64 25,000 16,330 4.43 4.6 4.65 4.65 4.65 4.65 1,000 4,650 RFM CORP 1.04 1.08 1.04 1.04 1.04 1.04 4,000 4,160 ROXAS HLDG 0.104 0.107 0.104 0.108 0.104 0.104 4,200,000 442,870 SWIFT FOODS 121.2 121.3 121.7 122 121.2 121.3 1,411,060 171,486,174 UNIV ROBINA VITARICH 0.65 0.66 0.67 0.67 0.65 0.65 1,535,000 1,012,140 CONCRETE A 44.6 47.95 44.65 44.65 44.65 44.65 200 8,930 0.97 0.98 1 1.01 0.97 0.97 2,827,000 2,777,700 CEMEX HLDG 13.72 14.14 13.78 13.78 13.7 13.72 78,000 1,071,284 EAGLE CEMENT 6.08 6.09 6.24 6.24 6.08 6.08 31,400 191,622 EEI CORP 6.02 6.19 6.25 6.28 6.03 6.19 627,200 3,889,854 HOLCIM 5.1 5.15 5.27 5.35 5.05 5.1 468,500 2,440,332 MEGAWIDE PHINMA 20.85 20.9 20.8 20.9 20.6 20.9 30,400 633,135 0.78 0.8 0.8 0.82 0.77 0.8 1,009,000 788,570 TKC METALS 0.98 0.99 1.05 1.09 0.98 0.99 10,375,000 10,696,460 VULCAN INDL 1.71 1.78 1.76 1.83 1.71 1.71 321,000 567,070 CROWN ASIA 1.26 1.38 1.27 1.27 1.27 1.27 7,000 8,890 EUROMED 4.22 4.43 4.3 4.43 4.1 4.43 20,000 85,400 MABUHAY VINYL 5.75 5.76 5.83 5.84 5.75 5.78 146,300 847,100 PRYCE CORP CONCEPCION 22 22.5 22.55 22.6 22 22 5,400 120,795 1.81 1.82 1.95 1.96 1.82 1.82 12,911,000 24,450,020 GREENERGY INTEGRATED MICR 8.18 8.24 8.64 8.64 8.15 8.18 1,379,700 11,485,845 5.88 6.1 6.09 6.09 5.87 5.87 9,000 54,081 PANASONIC 1.16 1.19 1.2 1.21 1.15 1.19 771,000 916,870 SFA SEMICON 3.48 3.5 3.72 3.75 3.48 3.48 6,989,000 25,142,140 CIRTEK HLDG

66,286,604 2,000 -4,134,545 322,320 6,252,045 319,862.50 53,739,516 993,340 -152,120 3,283,880 -1,238,984 7,310 1,773,440 -3,297,961 -54,340 16,248,975 3,144 1,843,937 -13,565,014 -3,208,361.50 -50,390 -1,260 -38,460 1,048,809 -27,651,750 872,630 -40,741 -88,870,994 -1,609,835 1,060 -41,076,622 -10,400 -1,340 67,530 -180,806.00 11,670 1,740 -8,771,430 -800,445 600,000 774,490

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

-504,700 -21,252 15,824,275 -3,737,156 256,918 46,695 9,400 553,701 2,439,657 -6,635,185 11,202,675.50 -3,020 13,709,381 -51,690,490 66,706,810 330,379 -

HOLDING & FRIMS

44 130 97.45 25.8 9.2 59.35 17.82 19.96 56.5 20.3 112.6 97.5 1.98 4.03 0.67 220 2,452

0.86 5.01 848.5 59.8 12.4 8.4 0.94 0.64 0.64 5.1 8.23 7.13 0.25 570 3.65 61.3 0.57 2.96 9.24 3.78 2.77 1.19 1 871 107.6 119.1 0.285 0.169

44.95 130.1 98 26 9.23 59.5 18.28 19.98 57 20.5 112.9 98 2 4.04 0.7 224 2,600

0.87 5.4 849 59.95 12.42 8.48 0.96 0.65 0.69 5.16 8.25 7.3 0.27 571 3.84 62.45 0.59 3.02 9.25 3.8 2.98 1.23 1.01 872 108.6 123 0.3 0.18

44.5 134.5 98.05 26.15 9.35 60.5 18.28 19.98 56.55 20.8 117.2 103.6 2.04 4.03 0.67 220 2,300

0.92 5.05 860 61.8 13.1 8.55 0.96 0.7 0.71 5.2 8.4 7.29 0.25 590 3.65 63 0.6 3.02 9.14 3.82 2.77 1.23 1 880 108.3 123.2 0.3 0.173

44.5 134.8 98.35 26.5 9.49 60.85 18.28 20.05 56.55 21.3 117.2 103.6 2.04 4.04 0.67 224.6 2,600

0.92 5.06 860 62.7 13.2 8.64 1 0.74 0.77 5.2 8.6 7.29 0.25 590 3.65 63.75 0.6 3.02 9.45 3.86 2.99 1.23 1 905 108.9 123.2 0.3 0.173

44 129.1 97.45 25.8 9.2 58.7 18.28 19.8 56.5 20.5 112 97 1.96 4.03 0.67 220 2,300

0.86 5.05 848 59.95 12.4 8.45 0.93 0.61 0.64 5.1 8.15 7.28 0.25 562 3.65 61.3 0.57 3.02 9.14 3.75 2.75 1.19 1 865 107.2 123.2 0.285 0.169

44 130.1 98 25.8 9.2 59.5 18.28 19.96 56.5 20.5 112.6 97.5 2 4.04 0.67 220 2,600

0.86 5.06 849 59.95 12.4 8.45 0.94 0.64 0.69 5.1 8.25 7.29 0.25 570 3.65 62.45 0.59 3.02 9.24 3.8 2.99 1.19 1 871 108.6 123.2 0.285 0.169

2,500 4,849,480 1,462,430 172,000 540,100 11,343,510 300 440,900 3,060 133,300 538,210 40,470 421,000 36,000 56,000 3,920 20

13,307,000 6,500 187,100 514,700 4,136,700 257,800 411,000 26,055,000 797,000 499,600 14,523,100 103,200 50,000 103,890 5,000 840,300 818,000 4,000 4,101,500 29,734,000 18,000 204,000 39,000 480,190 55,660 20 1,210,000 510,000

11,760,110 32,867 159,266,765 31,212,702.50 52,243,526 2,212,788 390,400 17,980,260 570,020 2,575,387 120,661,018 752,316 12,500 59,312,475 18,250 52,402,773 473,730 12,080 38,023,924 112,974,360 49,900 247,850 39,000 422,899,580 6,020,664 2,464 361,700 87,690

ARTHALAND CORP 0.6 0.61 0.61 0.61 0.61 0.61 343,000 209,230 5.71 6.18 5.71 5.71 5.71 5.71 400 2,284 ANCHOR LAND 37.2 37.25 38.25 38.7 37.15 37.2 8,293,800 313,847,970 AYALA LAND 4.63 4.8 4.84 4.89 4.4 4.8 10,884,000 50,709,560 AYALA LAND LOG AREIT RT 49 49.9 52.3 52.3 49 49 1,389,350 70,644,529 A BROWN 0.89 0.9 0.88 0.94 0.87 0.9 2,267,000 2,034,030 0.71 0.73 0.71 0.71 0.71 0.71 70,000 49,700 CITYLAND DEVT 0.098 0.099 0.099 0.099 0.099 0.099 160,000 15,840 CROWN EQUITIES 2.91 2.92 2.94 2.96 2.91 2.91 1,144,000 3,349,840 CEB LANDMASTERS 0.41 0.415 0.415 0.425 0.41 0.41 56,260,000 23,628,400 CENTURY PROP 2.7 2.71 2.84 2.88 2.65 2.7 113,911,000 312,327,830 CITICORE RT DOUBLEDRAGON 9.98 10.1 10.3 10.32 9.92 10.1 1,387,000 14,003,838 DDMP RT 1.77 1.79 1.8 1.8 1.77 1.77 11,733,000 20,884,850 DM WENCESLAO 6.87 6.96 6.82 6.99 6.82 6.9 63,000 434,535 0.246 0.25 0.25 0.25 0.25 0.25 160,000 40,000 EMPIRE EAST 0.295 0.3 0.31 0.315 0.295 0.295 17,980,000 5,379,000 EVER GOTESCO 7.39 7.4 7.48 7.49 7.18 7.39 1,851,200 13,676,001 FILINVEST RT 1.09 1.1 1.09 1.11 1.09 1.1 2,737,000 3,000,870 FILINVEST LAND GLOBAL ESTATE 0.92 0.95 0.92 0.95 0.92 0.95 9,000 8,310 8990 HLDG 13.32 13.5 13.56 13.8 13.04 13.5 353,200 4,768,886 GOLDEN MV 615 645 635 645 615.5 645 1,570 994,865 1.01 1.02 1.03 1.05 1.02 1.02 562,000 574,570 PHIL INFRADEV 0.83 0.85 0.84 0.86 0.83 0.83 159,000 132,900 CITY AND LAND 3.21 3.24 3.31 3.34 3.1 3.24 67,379,000 216,762,360 MEGAWORLD 0.27 0.275 0.3 0.315 0.27 0.27 63,190,000 18,579,250 MRC ALLIED MREIT RT 19.7 19.78 19.98 20 19.48 19.78 4,908,500 97,308,712 PHIL ESTATES 0.46 0.465 0.47 0.485 0.465 0.465 5,540,000 2,610,300 PRIMEX CORP 2.01 2.08 2.09 2.09 2.01 2.08 2,225,000 4,603,930 7.6 7.8 8.13 8.13 7.58 7.6 7,189,500 56,826,026 RL COMM RT 18.98 19 19.08 19.2 18.3 19 2,232,300 41,908,578 ROBINSONS LAND 0.25 0.27 0.248 0.28 0.248 0.27 12,000,000 3,175,880 PHIL REALTY 1.43 1.48 1.45 1.45 1.45 1.45 85,000 123,250 ROCKWELL SHANG PROP 2.58 2.6 2.62 2.62 2.62 2.62 134,000 351,080 STA LUCIA LAND 2.76 2.9 2.93 2.93 2.88 2.9 10,000 29,090 37.35 38 39 39.4 37 38 11,416,500 436,028,645 SM PRIME HLDG 3.44 3.5 3.56 3.58 3.44 3.5 289,000 1,014,820 VISTAMALLS 1.06 1.09 1.05 1.11 1.05 1.06 373,000 403,570 SUNTRUST HOME 3.1 3.11 3.21 3.28 3.06 3.1 3,376,000 10,686,180 VISTA LAND SERVICES ABS CBN 12.52 12.98 13.2 13.2 12.52 12.98 91,500 1,161,446 14.22 14.28 14.64 14.88 14.22 14.22 1,390,200 20,191,506 GMA NETWORK 9.37 9.97 9.37 9.37 9.37 9.37 400 3,748 MLA BRDCASTING 2,640 2,698 2,702 2,724 2,610 2,698 90,070 240,831,820 GLOBE TELECOM PLDT 1,790 1,800 1,800 1,815 1,785 1,800 100,365 180,538,010 APOLLO GLOBAL 0.067 0.068 0.065 0.073 0.064 0.068 905,290,000 62,456,940 CONVERGE 26.9 26.95 28.3 28.3 26.55 26.95 6,996,100 190,950,260 2.27 2.28 2.29 2.32 2.27 2.27 93,000 211,840 DFNN INC 6.13 6.14 6.6 6.85 5.96 6.14 46,378,900 296,996,621 DITO CME HLDG 1.6 1.64 1.62 1.64 1.62 1.64 3,000 4,900 JACKSTONES 1.23 1.24 1.27 1.28 1.24 1.24 1,378,000 1,736,650 NOW CORP TRANSPACIFIC BR 0.335 0.34 0.375 0.38 0.335 0.335 17,260,000 6,051,650 2GO GROUP 7.34 7.5 7.33 7.5 7.33 7.5 20,700 152,128 CHELSEA 1.73 1.79 1.8 1.87 1.69 1.73 1,257,000 2,257,760 47 47.1 49.2 49.2 46.55 47 955,900 45,274,700 CEBU AIR 210 211 215.2 218 210 210 3,165,180 678,434,146 INTL CONTAINER 0.86 0.92 0.92 0.92 0.92 0.92 6,000 5,520 LORENZO SHIPPNG 5.6 5.68 6.17 6.25 5.5 5.6 8,038,200 47,000,623 MACROASIA METROALLIANCE A 1 1.02 1 1.03 1 1 113,000 113,840 1.01 1.08 1.01 1.01 1.01 1.01 20,000 20,200 METROALLIANCE B 0.82 0.84 0.84 0.85 0.82 0.82 44,000 36,440 HARBOR STAR 1.46 1.59 1.5 1.5 1.5 1.5 12,000 18,000 ACESITE HOTEL 1.69 1.75 1.75 1.75 1.69 1.69 62,000 105,560 DISCOVERY WORLD 0.465 0.48 0.465 0.48 0.465 0.465 1,030,000 479,700 WATERFRONT 6.85 6.89 6.85 6.85 6.85 6.85 8,200 56,170 CENTRO ESCOLAR FAR EASTERN U 532 591.5 532 532 532 532 20 10,640 6.68 7.28 6.89 7.28 6.81 7.28 23,400 161,008 IPEOPLE 0.355 0.36 0.35 0.375 0.35 0.355 18,190,000 6,567,850 STI HLDG 1.32 1.33 1.32 1.36 1.32 1.33 367,000 488,260 BELLE CORP 7.1 7.17 7.37 7.66 6.82 7.17 27,220,000 197,528,682 BLOOMBERRY 1.75 1.82 1.82 1.82 1.82 1.82 1,000 1,820 PACIFIC ONLINE 1.27 1.35 1.35 1.35 1.27 1.35 2,641,000 3,455,980 LEISURE AND RES PH RESORTS GRP 1.14 1.16 1.16 1.34 1.06 1.14 28,940,000 34,944,630 PREMIUM LEISURE 0.425 0.43 0.45 0.46 0.42 0.425 52,980,000 23,278,600 PHIL RACING 5.1 5.37 5.4 5.4 5.1 5.1 22,200 113,300 2.22 2.25 2.35 2.35 2.22 2.22 1,280,000 2,944,700 PHILWEB 0.5 0.51 0.53 0.53 0.495 0.5 80,325,000 40,817,355 ALLDAY 5.65 5.86 5.66 5.66 5.65 5.65 24,900 140,747 BERJAYA 8.4 8.42 8.48 8.79 8.4 8.4 1,401,000 12,039,469 ALLHOME METRO RETAIL 1.42 1.43 1.42 1.43 1.36 1.42 1,806,000 2,553,010 35.4 35.5 35.3 36.2 34.75 35.5 2,624,000 92,873,880 PUREGOLD ROBINSONS RTL 58.6 59.7 58.9 59.9 56.5 58.6 1,297,780 76,050,989.50 79 80 80 80.1 79 79 3,390 270,613 PHIL SEVEN CORP 1.08 1.09 1.13 1.13 1.08 1.08 2,589,000 2,822,810 SSI GROUP 27.9 28 28.3 28.75 27.7 27.9 2,189,300 61,559,420 WILCON DEPOT 0.25 0.265 0.265 0.265 0.25 0.25 2,540,000 639,300 APC GROUP MEDILINES 1.03 1.04 1.13 1.16 1.02 1.04 6,366,000 6,912,610 PRMIERE HORIZON 0.75 0.76 0.84 0.91 0.75 0.75 118,093,000 98,216,520 SBS PHIL CORP 3.76 3.79 3.92 3.92 3.79 3.79 66,000 252,470

MINING & OIL

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

PSE STOCK QUOTATIONS

PROPERTY

Primarily invested in Peso securities (units) Philippine Stock Index Fund Corp. - a

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-4.65%

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

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

ATOK 6.15 6.2 5.99 6.15 5.96 6.15 284,700 1,725,557 1.72 1.74 1.73 1.79 1.67 1.74 12,979,000 22,723,860 APEX MINING 6.5 6.55 6.76 6.76 6.5 6.55 1,425,800 9,496,320 ATLAS MINING BENGUET A 5.2 5.3 5.2 5.2 5.2 5.2 53,000 275,600 5.3 5.1 5.1 5.1 5.1 9,800 49,980 BENGUET B COAL ASIA HLDG 0.255 0.27 0.265 0.27 0.255 0.255 120,000 30,850 2.7 2.72 2.72 2.72 2.72 2.72 10,000 27,200 CENTURY PEAK 4.87 5.29 4.87 4.87 4.87 4.87 10,000 48,700 DIZON MINES 2.51 2.52 2.54 2.63 2.45 2.51 16,418,000 41,702,610 FERRONICKEL 0.2 0.205 0.198 0.198 0.198 0.198 70,000 13,860 GEOGRACE LEPANTO A 0.17 0.172 0.168 0.174 0.162 0.172 116,690,000 19,914,770 0.17 0.171 0.169 0.173 0.168 0.17 5,280,000 896,630 LEPANTO B MANILA MINING A 0.01 0.011 0.011 0.011 0.01 0.01 29,200,000 297,400 0.01 0.011 0.01 0.011 0.01 0.01 12,800,000 131,500 MANILA MINING B 1.68 1.69 1.74 1.82 1.65 1.68 15,585,000 27,029,790 MARCVENTURES 1.03 1.05 1.05 1.1 1.03 1.03 628,000 668,850 NIHAO 7.7 7.75 7.53 7.85 7.3 7.75 31,249,000 237,536,799 NICKEL ASIA ORNTL PENINSULA 0.9 0.91 0.95 0.96 0.91 0.91 2,259,000 2,099,050 6.06 6.08 5.63 6.06 5.63 6.06 9,937,300 58,996,349 PX MINING SEMIRARA MINING 25 25.1 26.3 26.85 24.25 25 4,658,500 117,572,700 0.0076 0.008 0.0077 0.0082 0.0076 0.0076 187,000,000 1,483,600 UNITED PARAGON 25 25.4 26.25 27 24.8 25.4 727,700 18,481,410 ACE ENEXOR 0.012 0.013 0.012 0.013 0.012 0.013 44,600,000 536,600 ORNTL PETROL A 0.012 0.013 0.012 0.012 0.012 0.012 7,800,000 93,600 ORNTL PETROL B PHILODRILL 0.0093 0.0094 0.0095 0.0095 0.0094 0.0094 24,000,000 225,800 6.55 6.57 5.85 6.55 5.77 6.55 3,199,100 20,499,322 PXP ENERGY PREFFERED HOUSE PREF B 99.55 101.9 101 101 101 101 500 50,500 98.1 101 101 101 101 101 500 50,500 HOUSE PREF A 506 514.5 505 505 505 505 280 141,400 AC PREF B1 512.5 522 522 524 522 524 380 198,380 ALCO PREF D CEB PREF 46.5 47 47.6 48.1 46.5 46.5 83,400 3,925,125 101.6 102 102 102 102 102 870 88,740 CPG PREF A 100.5 101 100.7 101.1 100.7 101.1 35,100 3,538,314 DD PREF 110 110.2 110 110 110 110 2,600 286,000 EEI PREF B 102.5 104 104 104 104 104 100 10,400 FGEN PREF G 990 1,000 990 990 990 990 15 14,850 JFC PREF A 101.5 103.1 103.1 103.1 101 103.1 2,330 239,215 PNX PREF 3B PNX PREF 4 982 990 990 990 980 990 1,170 1,154,540 1,051 1,070 1,050 1,051 1,050 1,051 20,250 21,262,750 PCOR PREF 3A 1,080 1,120 1,130 1,130 1,130 1,130 5 5,650 PCOR PREF 3B 75.8 76 76 76 76 76 870 66,120 SMC PREF 2H 77.5 78.95 79 79 78.95 78.95 13,770 1,087,641.50 SMC PREF 2I 76.4 77.2 76.8 76.8 76.8 76.8 4,600 353,280 SMC PREF 2J 76 76.05 76 76.05 76 76 1,931,610 146,802,365.50 SMC PREF 2K PHIL. DEPOSITARY RECEIPTS ABS HLDG PDR 12 12.48 12 12 12 12 100 1,200 13.7 14.3 14.2 14.3 13.7 13.7 140,200 1,967,860 GMA HLDG PDR WARRANTS TECH WARRANT 0.75 0.78 0.82 0.84 0.75 0.78 2,612,000 2,043,320

-76,250 62,013,285 690,340 5,396,691.50 120,030 -226,100 3,672,740 -2,980,042 572,310 32,950 2,985,921 1,448,100 -7,360 588,054 -38,435,960 -1,096,700 46,341,192 411,200 -2,893,100 1,416,499 456,934.00 351,080 43,183,210 79,490 -1,651,620 -198,010 96,438,310 660,930 -43,719,590 18,083,563 6,560 -30,400 -38,116 17,000 6,408,985 348,074,992 1,204,561 4,650 18,500 23,470,779 -2,054,590 -8,995,550 509.9999 1,443,400 2,438,322.00 -5,601,925 -1,138,828 -168,803 123,560 35,303,610 870,440.00 -167,790 94,668 6,320,840 2,359,869 44,370.00 27,200 2,403,340 18,700 9,202,000 103,857,626 3,739,395 6,643,680 250,800 420,475 1,317,858.00 -141,400 -28,280 -

SMALL & MEDIUM ENTERPRISES

ALTUS PROP HAUS TALK ITALPINAS KEPWEALTH MAKATI FINANCE MERRYMART XURPAS

16.4 0.96 1.04 2.76 2.15 2.1 0.41

16.5 0.97 1.07 2.94 2.69 2.12 0.415

EXHANGE TRADE FUNDS

FIRST METRO ETF

109.6

111

16.84 1.02 1.08 2.76 2.35 0.42

16.9 1.03 1.08 2.76 2.36 0.44

16.5 0.96 1.04 2.76 2.1 0.41

16.5 0.97 1.07 2.76 2.1 0.41

257,900 3,237,000 631,000 51,000 8,869,000 3,080,000

4,297,276 3,197,450 666,570 140,760 19,601,510 1,316,150

2,620 132,800 27,650 309,140 -

112.2 112.4 109.6 109.6 35,420 3,921,633 796,884

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BSP keeps bank-relief measures for 2022 By Bianca Cuaresma @BcuaresmaBM

HE Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas (BSP) announced on Wednesday that it has extended relief measures as slow economic recovery continues to affect banking operations in the country. In a news briefing, BSP governor Benjamin E. Diokno said the BSP is extending its relief measures until end-2022 to sustain the momentum of bank lending as well as minimize any long-term economic scarring due to the pandemic. Diokno said the sudden rise in Covid-19 cases in the country in early January prompted the BSP to adopt a more cautious stance by keeping the relief measures in place. “This will ensure that BSFIs [BSPSupervised Financial Institutions] continue to be well-positioned to meet the financing requirements of households and businesses amid the pandemic,” Diokno said. The extended prudential relief measures include the temporary increase in the “single borrower’s limit,” or SBL and the separate SBL for project finance exposures to 30 percent from 25 percent; non-imposition of sanctions for breach in SBL by covered foreign bank branches, subject to conditions; and a reduction in both the credit risk weights of current loans to micro-scale, small-scale and medium-scale enterprises (MSMEs) to 50 percent as well as the minimum liquidity ratio of stand-alone thrift banks, rural banks and cooperative banks to 16 percent. “These are reinforced by relief measures which encourage lending, grant of financial relief to creditworthy borrowers and use of MSME loans as alternative compliance with BSP reserve requirements,” the BSP said. Diokno also said the central bank has extended operational relief measures until end-2022 to provide BSFIs with the flexibility to focus their limited resources on the delivery of core financial services to the public. These include the relaxation of the customer identification requirements and notification requirements for changes in banking days and hours and temporary closure of head offices, bank branches and branch-lite units. The relaxed rules, especially on customer identification, are expected to facilitate the opening of deposit accounts and support the speedy disbursement of social amelioration funds to intended beneficiaries and electronic financial transactions. In addition, the BSP deferred the submission of selected prudential reports that fall due in January to March 2022 by one quarter and lengthened the period of compliance with BSP supervisory and notification requirements until 30 June 2022. “The extension of prudential and operational relief measures is aligned with the BSP’s commitment to provide an enabling regulatory environment that will assist BSFIs navigate the health crisis and ensure the safe and efficient delivery of financial services,” Diokno said.

Banking&Finance BusinessMirror

Pag-IBIG posts record-high income

By Bernadette D. Nicolas

@BNicolasBM

TATE-run Home Development Mutual Fund (Pag-IBIG) booked a new record-high net income in 2021 despite economic headwinds as government wrestled with public health and economic problems. Pag-IBIG Fund Board of Trustees Chairman and Housing Secretary Eduardo D. del Rosario reported

Thursday that the agency achieved its highest-ever net income of P34.73 billion last year, marking the fifth

consecutive year that the agency netted an income of over P30 billion. Last year’s net income was higher by 9.5 percent than P31.71 billion in 2020 and also topped pag-IBIG’s previous record of P34.37 billion in 2019. “Our members will directly benefit because we shall again go beyond what is required of us by declaring over 86 percent of our net income as dividends for their savings,” Del Rosario said. Under the Pag-IBIG Fund Charter, the agency is required to declare at least 70 percent of its annual net income as dividends, which shall be credited proportionately to its members’ savings. However, Del Rosario said the

Non-interest income buoys BDO Unibank’s bottomline to ₧42.8B

DO Unibank Inc. recorded a 51 percent increase in its net income in 2021, a development that the bank sees as an indicator that banking is normalizing back to prepandemic levels. The bank reported on Wednesday that its net income in 2021 hit P42.8 billion against P28.2 billion in 2020. BDO said its-full year profits were buoyed by an 11-percent increase in non-interest income and normalized provisions. “This reflects the bank’s operational resiliency notwithstanding Covid-related headwinds depressing

loan activity for much of 2021,” the company said in a disclosure to the stock exchange. BDO shares fell P4.70, or 3.5 percent, to close at P130.10 per share in Thursday’s trading. It opened high at P134.50 apiece but succumbed to profit taking and went as low as P129.10 per share. The lender said its loan growth accelerated to 6 percent, which the Sy family-led bank attributed to the government’s easing of quarantine protocols and mobility restrictions. For the full year, total deposits rose 8 percent year-on-year (YoY), driven by the 13 percent YoY expansion in Cur-

Creating a value proposition to attract members

HEN talking about relevance in the context of associations, two things come to mind: purpose and value proposition. The value proposition of an association consists of the core benefits it provides. These guide the association on how it should communicate value to existing and prospective members. The Philippine Council of Associations and Association Executives (Pcaae) recently had a webinar that featured Amy Hager, co-founder of US-based Association Rockstars, to expound on the topic of “Creating a Value Proposition for your Association to Attract Members.” Here are my takeaways from Amy’s presentation: 1. Take into account the qualities of a good value proposition. Three key factors should be considered here: focusing on the end result; delivering clear messaging; and, remembering that the value proposition statement is more than a catchy slogan. In focusing on clear benefits and outcomes, an association needs to relate with and to provide solutions to the current pain points of the industry or profession where the members belong. It also means lining up tangible benefits that members will receive upon recruitment and engagement. To have clear messaging, an association should avoid vague and meaningless words or jargon like “legislative affairs” or mottos like “helping to build a better world.” It helps that

Association World Octavio Peralta an association use the language that members understand. While your value proposition statement could be catchy and prominent, an association should remember that it’s more than just a catchphrase; it’s why your members choose you and decided to belong. 2. Define or redefine your value proposition. The right questions to ask here are: what does your association do really well and what is the end result you wish to achieve for your members? Who is/are your ideal audience(s)? What problems are you solving for your ideal audience? 3. Create a two-way conversation with members. Equally important for an association is to set up a continuing conversation with members through, among others, having an online member community and an online survey tool, as well as organizing virtual town hall-style meetings and focus groups. 4. Test your value proposition. There are two ways to do this: (a) A/B testing and (b) post poll in online community. As the name implies, two versions (A

HE Philippine business of Malaysia’s CIMB Group announced it has recently released another credit offering, “which continues to make formal credit more accessible to Filipinos.” In a statement last February 22, CIMB Bank Philippines Inc. revealed it is now offering a credit and “buy now pay later,” or BNPL, product it calls “REVI Credit.” According to the lender, the product “offers a promising alternative to informal lending sources and even traditional formal credit products.” “It comes with a multitude of features that address a lot of the pain points borrowers normally face when borrowing from the usual sources,” the bank’s statement read. “One of the biggest barriers to formal credit is the application itself. Banks would usually ask for a lot of income and supporting documents, which Filipinos working in the informal sectors may not necessarily have. Not to men-

tion, the evaluation process usually takes time, even weeks, which is not ideal if you need the money to spend now,” CIMB Bank Philippines CEO Vijay Manoharan was quoted in the statement as saying. Based on a survey that the lender conducted in December 2021, almost 3 in 4, or 74 percent, of its personal loan customers are first-time bank loan customers. “With ‘REVI Credit,’ the application process is entirely digital and takes less than 5 minutes. The process is even easier for preselected users, who will not be required to submit income documents, thanks to CIMB Bank’s alternative credit scoring process,” Manoharan added. The commercial bank further said that “REVI Credit” offers higher credit limits of up to P250,000 and interest rates as low as 1 percent. Customers also do not need to pay any annual fees to maintain their credit line. They will only pay when they use product.

Pag-IBIG Fund management is recommending to set aside dividends worth P29.86 billion, equivalent to 86.56 percent of its net income, as they wanted to give the utmost benefit to their members in the second year of the pandemic. This is now up for approval of the Pag-IBIG Board, he added. Meanwhile, the official also said they have also recommended to the agency’s Board of Trustees that the dividend rates for the “Pag-IBIG Regular Savings” and the “Modified Pag-IBIG 2 (MP2) Savings” to be at 5.16 percent per annum and 5.66 per annum, respectively. “We’re proud to report that the 2021 dividend rates of our savings

rent Account/Savings Account (CASA) deposits. Total capital base increased to P424.5 billion while the Capital Adequacy Ratio (CAR) was at 14.6 percent, above the regulatory minimum. The bank also reported that approximately 99 percent of its employees are fully vaccinated, with an additional 47 percent receiving booster shots in the last two months. The bank also reported that it continues to invest in its digital infrastructure, in an effort to make banking services more accessible and easier to use amid the pandemic. Bianca Cuaresma

and B) are compared. Both are identical, except for one variation that might affect the member’s behavior. Version A might be the currently used version (control) while version B is modified in some respect (treatment). The test determines a winner between the two competing messages or design concepts. By dividing an audience into segments and testing two different messages, an association will be able to see which communication received the most clicks, opens, likes or shares. 5. Share your value proposition. There are five ways to get your value proposition message out: via your website, though email, a Board and Membership Committee and through social media. Knowing, positioning and communicating well your association’s value proposition provides you with more opportunities to increase membership growth and engagement. Specifically, you can: discover ways to get more new members to experience the benefits soon upon joining; learn if there are more ways to improve the value proposition to provide even more value; and, use the value proposition as a gateway to introducing new members to other benefits of their membership. Octavio Peralta is currently the executive director of the Global Compact Network Philippines and founder and volunteer CEO of the Philippine Council of Associations and Association Executives, the “association of associations.” E-mail: bobby@pcaae.org.

Lender sees BNPL product boosting credit access in PHL

Editor: Dennis D. Estopace • Friday, February 25, 2022

program remain higher than what most financial instruments in the market offer,” Del Rosario said. In the same event, Del Rosario also reported that Pag-IBIG Fund’s active membership as of end-2021 rose to 13.69 million, up by 7.2 percent from 12.77 million in 2020. “This number reflects the continuing recovery of our economy with more of our Filipino workers gaining employment over a span of one year,” he said. In terms of performing loans ratio, Del Rosario said it rose to 88.3 percent in 2021 from 87.17 percent a year ago but this is still lower than 91.03 percent in 2019.

Insurer trains teachers for financial education

Vallente, Pru Life UK senior vice president and chief legal and government relations officer

HE Philippine business of Pru Life Insurance Corp. of UK announced it has certified over 2,400 teachers to teach financial education under a “‘ChaChing’ Curriculum Financial Accreditation,” or CCFA, program for the school year 2021-2022. “Our goal is to reach even more Filipino students and teachers in this continuing commitment for financial education and inclusion,” Pru Life UK Senior Vice President and Chief Legal and Government Relations Officer Ma. Emeren V. Vallente was quoted in the statement as saying. In a statement last February 22, Pru Life UK explained that “Cha-Ching” was introduced in 2011 as an online, interactive platform to promote and teach children about the four money-smart concepts: earn, save, spend and donate. In 2016 the Cha-Ching curriculum was integrated in the “Edukasyon sa Pagpapakatao” (values Formation) subject of Grade 4 students, in coordination with the Department of Education, according to the insurer. “The objective is to provide an

organized approach and structured lesson plans for teachers to ensure good learning outcomes for the students,” the firm said. “It is also meant to adopt timely and proactive measures to intensify the integration of financial literacy in the K to 12 basic education system curriculum in the country.” The firm said it created the CCFA program “to supplement the financial education curriculum implementation.” This tool is to accredit and recognize the hardworking teachers for their mastery in teaching the moneysmart lessons of the Cha-Ching curriculum, the firm said. “The idea of earning money, having to save, having to have a budget, having expenses, and understanding what are expenses versus savings - these are issues that affect all of us. By the age of seven, basic concepts related to financial behavior will have already been formulated or developed,” said Marc Fancy, executive director of Prudence Foundation, the insurer’s partner organization for the CCFA.

Relationships

Friday, February 25, 2022 • Editor: Gerard S. Ramos

BusinessMirror

Still wary of leaving your home? Read on

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Today’s Horoscope By Eugenia Last

CELEBRITIES BORN ON THIS DAY: Rashida Jones, 46; Chelsea Handler, 47; Sean Astin, 51; Tea Leoni, 56. HAPPY BIRTHDAY: Get your facts straight. Don’t act on assumptions. Be realistic about what’s possible. Be specific, and have your plans mapped out according to your skills, time and desire. Success comes from doing what’s best for you. Less time spent worrying about what others think or do and more time designated to your needs will encourage success and happiness. Your numbers are 6, 13, 23, 29, 34, 38, 40.

PHOTO BY GABRIELLA CLARE MARINO ON UNSPLASH

ARIES (March 21-April 19): Misinformation is apparent when trying to sort through documents and online sites and talking to experts and authority figures. Leave nothing to chance; when in doubt, ask questions, get written documentation and follow through on any discrepancies you encounter. HHHHH

TAURUS (April 20-May 20): Don’t let confusion regarding financial, legal or medical issues go unsolved. Address a concern wholeheartedly, and gather pertinent facts. Knowledge is power when faced with controversy or opposition. Don’t make unnecessary changes or lateral moves. Make every step you take count. HHH

O I finally met up with the old gang last week for a joint birthday celebration of those among us who were born in January and February. We hadn’t seen each other face to face as a group in two years since the pandemic began, but kept in touch largely via Viber or the occasional Zoom cocktails/chismisan sessions. We also follow each other on social media so we’re constantly updated about important events in each other’s lives, or our thoughts on important issues of the day (okay, mostly our rants, hahaha), as well as our latest food discoveries or vacations taken. Mostly there are reposts of photos of our last gatherings together, trips abroad, as well as constant reminders of Covid-19 protocols, scientific news, and daily case counts. The dinner was held not without trepidation, to be honest. We had to make sure everyone was fully vaccinated and/or boostered, because except for two, we were never really in each other’s bubbles. However, we were mostly working from home, so I thought we had less chances to be carriers of the dreaded Covid-19 virus. There was no need to take such antigen tests before attending the dinner, considering our living/ working histories. While we would have preferred to dine al fresco, this was just not possible at the restaurant we were going to. But we made sure we had a private dining room, and since we were only to be 10 guests at the most anyway, we could still practice social distancing. Entering the private room, there were rounds of hellos and greetings, but unlike the past—meaning, prior to the pandemic—there were no bussing each other’s cheeks, nor hugs. Before the parade of the delicious dinner fare prepared at China Blue by Jeremy Leung arrived, we continued to wear our masks while exchanging stories. Most of us removed masks as we started eating, while our favorite couple

GEMINI (May 21-June 20): Work alone and ignore drama. Size up situations, and walk away if anything appears faulty or far-fetched. Do your due diligence and ferret out the truth. Refuse to let anyone railroad you into something using emotional manipulation, temptation or lies. HHH

took their masks off with every spoonful, then put them back on as they chewed. We were seated about a meter or 1.5 meters apart from each other while we dined, but when the time came for taking our group photos, there was some uncertainty how we would go about it. Finally, we positioned ourselves in such a way where we thought we were still safely distanced from each other. And since we were going to be without our masks, I just joked that everyone hold off taking a breath while the phone camera just kept clicking away. (I must say, this was quite a challenge. Sooner or later, your face will turn blue as your lungs struggle to take in the air through your mouth that is trying to project those warm, fuzzy feelings of friendship.) Dinner went by rather quickly. Call time was at 6 pm and we ended at 9 pm. We didn’t tarry any longer... we had enough baon of kwento and exchanges that would probably last us until we gather for our next meal together. But I suppose at the back of our minds, being out of our homes yet in an enclosed space for a meal, no matter that we were all fully vaccinated (including the restaurant staff), still posed an amount

of danger to our health. Covid-19 has forced us to re-learn certain behaviors (for example, washing our hands with soap and water constantly), or familiarize ourselves with new ones like wearing a mask anywhere we go, being wary of who we should be with (like, close family or friends), and what places to go to—if possible, only open-air spaces. My goal for this dinner was to reconnect with friends of old, because seeing or talking to each other via social media isn’t really enough to make impactful connections. One tends to miss the certain way a friend laughs at a joke made, or how another stresses her words to make a point in her argument, or the unmistakable inflections in the other’s voice that tell me something is at the back of her mind, which she cannot verbalize out loud. It was a calculated risk, of course, and fortunately there has been no downside to this gathering. We went home with our bellies filled with delectable dishes (the Peking duck alone satisfied our long-

Continued on B5

SHANGRI-LA Plaza has gifts that make couples fall head over heels all over again

styles from Polo Ralph Lauren and Marks & Spencer, and high quality denim staples from Calvin Klein Jeans. French label agnès b., known for its chic and relaxed contemporary urban fashion pieces, offers hard-wearing leather wallets and multipurpose shopping bags to keep handy for quick purchases during a layover or while sightseeing. Patton Studio has some practical, simple, conscious, and purposeful essentials like sports bodysuits and athleisure wear. n ACTIVE LIFESTYLE GEAR FOR THE GREAT OUTDOORS. Planning to spend more time outdoors together like hiking, camping, running, or simply cycling around the city? Get the proper activewear and gear at Shang. Chris Sports offers cycling paraphernalia, camping materials, and a wide range of equipment needed to try outdoor sports. Or let them explore the city in a fresh new way with low maintenance Mi Electric Scooters from Cutting Edge to dash from one place to the next with ease. More information can be found at www.facebook.com/ shangrilaplazaofficial.

are available at Rustan’s Department Store. n STYLISH ADDITIONS TO THE WARDROBE. Add to a special someone’s stylish wardrobe by shopping for classic

LEO (July 23-Aug. 22): Put everything you’ve got into working ahead. Don’t let someone who holds you back rather than pushes you forward have a say. Take responsibility for your actions and accomplishments. Don’t wait for opportunities to come to you; manifest them. HHH

VIRGO (Aug. 23-Sept. 22): Formulate your next move. Make your home functional. Concentrate on what brings you joy and satisfies your soul. Explore how to use your skills, attributes and experience more effectively. Join forces with someone who brings out the best in you. HHHHH

LIBRA (Sept. 23-Oct. 22): Assess, review and make any necessary alterations. Use experience, resources and intelligence to figure out what works best for you and will help you maintain a healthy financial position. Keep your life simple and functional, and focus on what’s important to you. HH

SCORPIO (Oct. 23-Nov. 21): You know the drill, so why hesitate? Plunge into what interests you, and embrace new possibilities. Consider new ways to repurpose old ideas and put your tools to work for you. HHHH

Express love any day of the year FEBRUARY may be best known as the month of love, when lovers hunt for the best gifts to make their beloved beam and blush. But expressing love shouldn’t be confined to a single date. Any day of the month—or the year—is always the best time to declare one’s love, as long as it’s from the heart. Leisure destination Shangri-La Plaza lists down some gift ideas that can make a lover fall head over heels all over again. n PEARLS, TIMEPIECES, AND FRAGRANCES FOR KEEPS. They say no two pearls are alike. Express a love that’s unlike any other by going all out and gifting a beloved some South Sea pearls like a pair of Les Classiques studs or L’Équilibre earrings, a Bollicine pendant or ring, or the Mon Secret bracelets from Jewelmer. Or give a beloved the gift of time—timepieces, that is. At Tokyo Store offers a curated selection of elegant and functional Japanese watches like the sporty Prospex and the dressy Presage lines from Seiko. Scents can make memories linger, reminisce the early days of courtship or make new unforgettable ones this year with eau de parfum from Hermès, Dolce & Gabbana, Jo Malone, and Issey Miyake that

CANCER (June 21-July 22): Proceed with your plans. Explore your options, and develop ideas that are unique and excite you. Gather information, check out the competition and network with those who show interest in what you are doing. Embrace the unusual, and consider partnerships that offer benefits. HHHH

SAGITTARIUS (Nov. 22-Dec. 21): Rethink your connection to someone who tends to get you in trouble or leans on you too much. Put temptation on the back burner, and don’t forget regrets. Use your smarts to recognize when someone is taking advantage of you. HHH

CAPRICORN (Dec. 22-Jan. 19): Someone will complicate matters if you are gullible or too accommodating. Look out for your best interests and make beneficial changes. Home improvements will add to your comfort and ease stress. HHH

AQUARIUS (Jan. 20-Feb. 18): Reconnect with people who put a smile on your face. A good laugh will do you a world of good and help you get over any regrets or disappointments you harbor. Put your heart into something you enjoy doing. HHHH

PISCES (Feb. 19-March 20): Incomplete information that can set you off emotionally is likely. When in doubt, take the time to research. Go directly to the source and ask pertinent questions to ensure you make the right decision. Stay calm and look over all options. HH BIRTHDAY BABY: You are creative, emotional and complex. You are changeable and kind.

‘ripple effect’ BY DAVID BLOOM The Universal Crossword/Edited by David Steinberg

ACROSS 1 He has the weight of the world on his shoulders 6 Recurring theme 11 Naughty 14 Babbling waterway 15 Savory taste 16 A two may beat it 17 Appliance for a stylist 19 Fuming feeling 20 Date 21 Can’t help but 22 In pursuit of 24 ___ Castellaneta, voice of Homer Simpson 25 Caesar wrap 27 Go for broke 32 Cozy spot 36 Norwegian name whose last letter is often “f” 37 Gentle winds at the beach 39 Clog bottoms 41 Physician’s org. 42 Michael’s surname on The Office 43 Eagles enthusiasts, e.g. 46 Pay for a poker hand

47 48 50 52

Nosy people Many grandparents Seeing things? Like Sen. Sanders, for most of his career 53 Eagles and falcons 56 Relative of a stadium 59 End of USC’s URL 62 Edson Arantes do Nascimento, ___ Pele 63 Causing trouble, or emulating 17-, 37- and 43-Across? 66 Hawaiian souvenir 67 Change, as a law 68 Like Simone Biles 69 Word before “joke” or “bod” 70 Pucks’ shapes 71 Speaks angrily DOWN 1 Basics 2 Word before “blue” or “colors” 3 Tales of old 4 “You’ve got mail” co. 5 Cap worn with a heavy jacket 6 Faces, in slang 7 Neglect to include

8 9 10 11 12 13 18 23 24 26 27 28 29 30 31 33 34 35 38 40 44 45 49 51 53 54

Fortune-telling deck Texter’s “Personally...” Deviously obtains Switch’s partner Part of a plot Animal that may be XING Grannies Queen or jack Changed the course of Rower’s need Like a controlling older brother Have a Vegas wedding, say Avian claw Maple ___ (Canadian symbol) 2019 NFL MVP Jackson Its chemical formula is O3 Mustang alternative, informally ___ Park, Colorado Thorn in your side Holds a grudge U-turn from NNW Jellyfish defense Kinda sorta Sushi bar beverages Like some eagles Place to buy a FNISS or a plate of

meatballs 55 Insecticide brand 57 Where to watch the Ducks play the Blues 58 Finishes 59 Malicious 60 Farmer’s place, in song 61 Takes advantage of 64 French friend 65 Datum for a bouncer Solution to today’s puzzle:

Show BusinessMirror

www.businessmirror.com.ph

Editor: Gerard S. Ramos

• Friday, February 25, 2022

Faking it: ‘Inventing Anna’

BRITAIN’S Kate, Duchess of Cambridge, visits the Lego Foundation PlayLab on Campus Carlsberg in Copenhagen on February 22. AP

Kate meets Danish queen, plays with kids on Copenhagen trip COPENHAGEN, Denmark—The Duchess of Cambridge met Wednesday with Denmark’s popular monarch, Queen Margrethe, and her daughter-in-law, Crown Princess Mary, in Copenhagen as part of a two-day visit to learn more about how Denmark has led efforts in early childhood development. Kate slid down a slide at the Lego Foundation PlayLab and hung out with young children in the woods at a forest kindergarten as part of the trip with her Royal Foundation Centre for Early Childhood, the first time she has taken the work of her institution to the international stage. Before her solo trip to Denmark, the duchess revealed she spent a recent school vacation playing with Danish-made Lego bricks with her three children—Prince George, Princess Charlotte and Prince Louis—who were jealous she got to visit the Lego Foundation. “My children are very jealous they weren’t coming to see the Lego Foundation. They were like, ‘Hang on, there’s Lego and we’re not coming?’” said Kate, who arrived in the Danish capital on Tuesday and visited the Infant Mental Health Program at the University of Copenhagen. On Twitter, the royal said that Tuesday “was all about understanding the very earliest stages of a child’s development here in Denmark.” She said that on Wednesday the focus was on children’s mental health and well-being. The Duchess of Cambridge took a woodland walk with children and had a go at chopping a log while visiting a forest kindergarten in suburban Copenhagen on Wednesday. She also visited the downtown Copenhagen Danner Crisis Center, a shelter that helps women exposed to domestic violence. In 2011, Kate visited the Unicef Supply Division Center in Copenhagen with her husband, Prince William, and the heir to the Danish throne, Crown Prince Frederik and his Australian-born wife Mary. AP

Still wary of leaving your home? Read on Continued from B4 pandemic cravings), exchanged an invaluable amount of information (okay, mostly gossip), and, best of all, no one got ill. I’m sure many others face this struggle in deciding whether to go to the mall, dine with family or friends, or go on vacations—just trying to get back to living as normally as before. I’m no doctor so I can’t tell you if you are in danger of getting sick by leaving your homes. My only advice is to mask up especially when indoors. (I actually still don a face shield when I suspect the location I am headed to may be crowded, like the supermarket.) If you must have a meal with others, choose an al fresco dining space. And, lastly, gather only with fully-vaccinated people with similar histories (such as those who are equally choosy when they go out or who they are with). Ultimately, no one can make the decision for you except yourself. And if you still don’t feel comfortable about leaving your home for social gatherings just yet, don’t beat yourself up about it. It will take time, but it will come when you’re good and ready. n

LEGANTLY and insanely Rashomonesque is this Netflix series, titled Inventing Anna. Or, maybe I should say, a twisted, multi-headed narrative never had it this stylish before this story about a young German girl who penetrated the elite New York society and—give and take the jail time—ran away with it. The reality about Anna Delvey, who is really Anna Sorokin (or are we really certain about this name?), turns into hyper-reality because as we contend with this series, there is online an active stream of data and news about the true (is this even the right term?) Anna. Who is Anna Delvey? If the series is to be believed, it is the story of a young woman who oh so badly want to belong, not to a community of people but to the rarefied circle of uber-rich people. First, she introduces herself as an heiress to a German wealth, adding to the details a family that is all business and not love. If that is not enough, then there is a domineering father who controls the multimillion trust fund (is it in dollars or in euro?) The New York upper crust does not buy into her poseur quickly; she goes through the process, which is nothing but the old strategy of socialclimbing. Gifted with a look that is first timid and then elegant, the kind that can easily be linked to old money, Anna funnels gradually an arrogance and forthrightness that are traits received as not only quirky but original. She is brimming with ideas: she wants to build a club that is so exclusive, only the really rich can afford and be allowed into it: an art foundation and club house that will be a gallery, with three different restaurants and hotel rooms perfectly curated for individuals with discerning taste. But, you might ask, how did this young woman con the sophisticated and powerful men and women of New York art scene and financial institutions? Well, she did it by spending on expensive things, even travelling to even more expensive destinations. But when the time for paying comes, her credit card is either not read by the machine or she turns hysterical because some people can just be basic. In which case, she turns to the friend she has invited to be with her to pay first as she will remit the payment to the friend immediately. In which cases, she never pays these friends or altogether disappears. In some situations, as in the case of an elderly woman who “adopts” Anna as a protégé, the former is just too embarrassed to be revealed as having been fooled by another person, who turns out to be not who what she says she is. In what could have been a coup for Anna, she tries to wrangle a deal to secure ownership of one of the most prized real estates in New York. She approaches a financing firm managed by a respectable finance adviser who brings her into contact with banks and investment houses. Earlier, she approached gallery owners, architects, and real estate developers but they would not even listen to her. She steps back, ingratiates herself with another entrepreneur, the same woman who would keep Anna under her wings, and is re-introduced to people who matter. By the time she arranges a party with her finance man, all those persons in the know about clubs, galleries and development are ready to say that

they know Anna. There is no need for a working credit card to impress the world one is rich so long as one has connections. In a dizzying sequence of securing a loan that would support her Anna Delvey Foundation, Anna gets into the list of prospective clients and business institutions. She is so good in this that she is able to convince a bank official to open for her a substantial deposit she could withdraw anytime. Up to this point, everyone believes Anna has the money and it is just a technical problem of the resources being in another place. In the end, Anna Delvey, the German heiress and entrepreneur, is indicted as Anna Sorokin, Russianborn, non-heiress and we are not even sure about this, are we? What is real is that Anna Sorokin is found guilty on most of the charges of grand larceny, attempted grand larceny and theft of services, all these connected to instances of wire fraud, fraudulent loan applications and failure to pay bills. In 2019, she is handed a sentence of four to 12 years. Anna Sorokin is released in 2021. However, she is jailed again shortly after this by the US Immigration and Customs Enforcement. She remains locked down in jail. The cast, all mainstays of Shondaland—a reference to Shonda Rhimes, who is credited for creating this series—is a veritable gallery of wonderful character

New season of GMA promo begins TOP media company GMA Network opens 2022 with the launch of the third season of Kapuso Bigay Premyo Panalo. The first to be launched this early in the year, the promo offers a fresh new vibe in its danceable music video featuring representatives from member schools of National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA). Starting February 26, GMA’s 10-week raffle promo will continue to extend help and give hope to Filipinos as it gives away over P8 million worth of prizes. Over 2,000 winners stand to win any of the daily cash prizes, weekly cash packages, and a brand-new house and lot from Camella in the grand draw. The participating brands in the

NCAA representatives for GMA’s Kapuso Bigay Premyo Panalo.

campaign are Aji-Ginisa Flavor Seasoning Mix, Nescafé Original, Bear Brand Fortified Powdered Milk Drink, and Lady’s Choice. The detailed mechanics, other promo details, plus the list of

winners, can be found at www. gmanetwork.com/GMAPromos. Entries can be sent from February 26 to May 6. The announcement of grand winners will be on May 28.

actors. The wealthy Nora is played by Kate Burton, the daughter of the Richard Burton and Sybil Christopher. When she speaks, she reeks of education and sophistication. Jessica Pressler, whose New York Magazine article is the basis of Inventing Anna, is portrayed by Anna Chlumsky, who becomes Vivian onscreen. People remember Chlumsky as the effervescent girl in the sweet-tragic My Girl. The actress in this series has a whole repertory of odd grimaces but when she quiets down, she draws us into this question: How did this Anna defraud these savvy entrepreneurs and moneyed men and women? Julia Garner, who has two Primetime Emmy Awards, is Anna Sorokin. With thin lips that curve downward as if she is always on the verge of weeping, an expression that can also pass of as an eternal smirk, Garner’s con artist is so credible that you loath her immediately, whether she is dressed impeccably or in prison uniform. And yet if the object of despise is to be debated on, the wealthy and the financially influential win hands down. Wealth, after all, can be greatly about greed than respectability. And we the poor delight in the fall from grace of the grossly affluent—the main reason for the delight in the series to go on and on and watch the powerful make fools of themselves. Inventing Anna streams in the Philippine via Netflix. n

NETFLIX HOSTS FIRST-EVER K-STAR FAN EVENT SPOTLIGHTING SONG KANG

ON March 4, 8 pm KST, hosted by Netflix, Song Kang—featured in many Netflix series, such as Love Alarm, Sweet Home, Nevertheless, Forecasting Love and Weather—will greet fans worldwide through a virtual live fan meeting. The popular streaming service will air the event through the Korean content YouTube Channel The SWoon, packed with Q&A, Quiz and many more engaging sessions. This one-hour virtual fan meeting will be streamed in English, providing an exceptional fan experience to interact with their beloved K-star. The event will be available in traditional Chinese, Indonesian, Japanese, Thai, Portuguese (Brazil), Spanish (Latin America), and Vietnamese after the live event. All fans who love Netflix and Song Kang can enjoy this live event. No additional tickets needed for entry.

B6 Friday, February 25, 2022

Converge launches a digital one-stop shop: The GoFiber website and app

O better serve customers and create a whole new level of convenience, the country’s fastest growing fiber broadband company Converge ICT Solutions is launching the all-new GoFiber. ph web portal and the new GoFiber app, for a full-feature, one-stop shop experience, from application to payment and other customer services. “In line with our mission to delight our customers, we are streamlining our digital channels in order to provide our customers with a seamless experience, across all touch points. With the new Converge GoFiber web portal and app, convenience is really at their fingertips,” said Jesus C. Romero, Chief Operations Officer of Converge. The revamped GoFiber.ph website features a cleaner, more intuitive design that allows new and existing customers to easily navigate and find the information they need. The landing page allows potential customers to check if their area is already serviceable and apply for a line. They are also able to view and compare broadband plans, which is key in getting the right solution for their needs and budget. Users may avail of the upgraded Converge broadband plans - Plan 1500 for up to 50 Mbps (with an exclusive add-on of 10Mbps for only P99), Plan 2500 for up to 300 Mbps, and Plan 3500 for up to 800 Mbps via mobile or desktop. “Converge has always pushed the envelope in coming up with innovative plans that fit the needs and budget of our customers. With our intuitive new website, we can help them decide by gauging the best plan based on their actual online behavior and recommending it for them.” Mr. Romero added. Meanwhile, current subscribers

will be able to enjoy easier account management, express payment portal and hassle-free support center. The new GoFiber web portal and app also offers a more customized experience for customers. Upon logging in their accounts, they will be able to view their dashboard that features their account details and easy payment portal. In addition, they are able to view the status of their modems in terms of number of devices connected, the temperature, and signal strength. Along with the all-new GoFiber. ph website, Converge is also launching the new GoFiber app providing a symmetric experience to users and subscribers, whether they are on their desktop or mobile. The added features on the GoFiber app include the area serviceability check and inquiry portal for all types of customer concerns. “This 2022, we’re strengthening our digital channels, especially for application and customer care, given that we are still observing minimal contact protocols. With the GoFiber app and the website now having the same functions, Filipinos can now apply, check area serviceability, and file inquiries with whatever device they're using. We’re creating a new level of convenience for

Filipinos,” said Mr. Romero. The GoFiber app, available for both Android and iOS. Download the app for iOS at cnvrge.co/GoFiberIOS and Google Play Store cnvrge.co/GoFiberAndroid

Exciting Prizes and Incentives

As an added incentive for new users of the GoFiber web portal and app, Converge is launching the “Pay and Win” and “Apply and Win” promos. Subscribers who pay for their monthly fee on-time or in advance via GoFiber.ph web portal or the app, will receive a raffle entry for a chance to win a Huawei Matebook 14s Laptop. Each successful payment of the full monthly subscription fee will be given one (1) raffle. The promo runs from February 10 to March 10, 2022. New subscribers who apply for a Converge residential plan through the new web portal or app will receive one (1) monthly subscription for FREE and a raffle entry for a chance to win a Huawei Matebook 14s Laptop. Each successful applicant from February 10 to March 10 will receive one (1) raffle entry. Terms and conditions apply for both promos. For more information, go to gofiber.ph.

POSING WITH THE TOUCH THE SKY PORTRAIT ARE FROM LEFT: Gina Lopez's brother, Ernie Lopez, ABS-CBN executive, Linggit Tan, Gina's sister and the new ABS-CBN Foundation managing director, Roberta Lopez-Feliciano, Dyan Castillejo, Jonathan Manalo and artist Kristine Lim.

O celebrate the 25th anniversary of Bantay Bata 163, a portrait of Ms. Gina Lopez was unveiled at the Gina Lopez Building at the ABS-CBN compound. Present during the commemorative event were Gina's relatives Ernie Lopez and Roberta Lopez Feliciano, Jonathan Manalo, and ‘Artist on a Mission’, Kristine Lim who was the one who created the said portrait. The portrait entitled, “Touch The Sky”, was donated by ABS-CBN Fellowship members, with the cooperation of Art Lounge Manila, to ABS-CBN Foundation and to Bantay Bata 163. The fellowship members present during the event were Linggit Tan Marasigan, Lita Teodosio, and Dyan Castillejo - Garcia who served as the host during the anniversary celebration. Lim said that this was the first time that she made a portrait and not using the name of the person as the title. She felt that it was not fitting for someone like Ms. Gina Lopez.

This is for the reason that she believed her legacy lies not in her name, or the foundations that she started, or the company that she is connected with, or the family that she's part of. Lim further explained, “I believe that the legacy of Ms. Gina Lopez lies in the lives of the people whom she was able to touch. Through her, a lot was able to feel that they can “Touch The Sky”. She was the kind of woman who was able to bring heaven on earth. She‘s not just the kind of woman who did things in a good way. She did them in a godly way. Because of that, she was able to move and transform lives; and those lives are her true legacy.” During the event, Manalo, the Creative Director of ABS-CBN Music, shared a collaboration project with Kristine Lim. The details and the official announcement of the project will happen soon. Manalo and Lim will be donating part of the proceeds gathered from this event to ABSCBN Foundation, Bantay Bata 163.

Pokémon releases new video commercial ‘It’z Time to Battle’

Two Filipino kids make it in the Top 10 young storytellers by the 2021 SAYSA

WO Filipino kids were among the 10 children across Asia who were awarded the 2021 Scholastic Asia Young Storytellers Award (SAYSA). The virtual awarding ceremony was held on the 22nd of January, 2022.

Cassandra Ysabel Ignacio and Phoebe Niguidula both from St. Scholastica's Academy of Marikina were among the 10 who best delighted the SAYSA judges who chose from the 70 finalists shortlisted from more than 1,700 participants. Scholastic Asia received read aloud entries from China, Hong Kong, Indonesia, Japan, Korea, Malaysia, Philippines, Singapore, Taiwan, Thailand, and Vietnam. The SAYSA judges were Ms. Selina Lee, Vice President of Scholastic Asia, Ms. Christabel Pinto, Senior Director, Global

Bantay Bata 163‘s 25th year commemorated with the unveiling of ‘Touch The Sky’

Literacy Program of Room to Read, Ms. Catherine Wu, Scholastic Asia’s Reading Ambassador, and Mr. Peter H. Reynolds, Award-winning Author and Illustrator. Among the 70 SAYSA finalists were 14 Filipino kids, selected through public voting and judging by Scholastic Asia. Scholastic launched SAYSA in October 2021 leveraging the use of the digital space to provide a platform for children to showcase their many talents. SAYSA invited readers aged 4 to 10 years to express their creativity through storytelling.

Scholastic wants to encourage children in Asia to be confident as they narrate and read from their favorite Scholastic storybook while instilling a competitive spirit and a sense of camaraderie among peers. Moreover, Scholastic wants children to be able to share with other kids their love for books and reading. With this successful inauguration, Scholastic Asia has announced that SAYSA 2022 will be held in October. Scholastic Philippines is also sponsoring the Scholastic Voice of the Youth Awards – interschool contests amplifying the voice of the Filipino youth through reading, writing, and speaking. The contests are open to Scholastic’s partners in PR1ME English. For more information, visit scholasticph.com. For over 100 years now, Scholastic has been championing a love for reading and learning all over the world. In the Philippines, Scholastic is partners with over 250 schools in its Reading and Math Programs – PR1ME English and PR1ME Mathematics. In PR1ME English, reading aloud to students by their teachers, parents, and peers is integral in nurturing students’ comprehension and critical thinking skills, and instilling in them a love for reading. The 14 SAYSA read aloud videos from the Philippines may be viewed on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/ UCmqSE vE hhWS82yS0s3y1W9A/ videos.

OKÉMON Co., Ltd. (Minato-ku, Tokyo) President Tsunekazu Ishihara recently released a new video commercial of the Pokémon Trading Card Game featuring ITZY on February 17, as the second tie-up project with the 5-member girl group under JYP Entertainment. Available in 15 and 30 seconds, “It’z Time to Battle” video depicts ITZY members playing the “Pokémon Trading Card Game” divided into the Yeji Lia team and the Yuna Chaeryeong team. The “Pokémon Trading Card Game” is a competitive trading card game based on the “Pokémon” series played against an opponent. The “Pokémon Trading Card Game” has been manufactured in total of more than 34.1 billion pieces worldwide and sold in 76 areas. You can enjoy strategic play and collection of a wide variety of cards as you play against each other in 60 “deck” built by selecting cards. ITZY is a 5-member girl group belonging to JYP Entertainment that debuted on February 12, 2019. In all six title songs from the debut song “DALLA DALLA” to the latest song “LOCO”, the number of times the music video

YEJI Lia and Yuna Chaeryeong play the Pokémon Trading Card Game. has been played has exceeded 100 million times, and it has been positioned as a “K-Pop 4th generation representative girl group”. The first regular album “Crazy in Love” released on September 24, 2021 ranked 11th on the US Billboard main chart “Billboard 200” and charted for two consecutive weeks. It also climbed to 12th place on another main chart, “Artist 100,” proving its global popularity.

Realty Realities at TNC goes on season 3

N the past 25 Episodes, Seasons 1 and 2 of Realty Realities, the program unraveled the bright prospects of the real estate industry in the country despite the pandemic. This Season 3, Realty Realities will go back to basics and engage more buyers and sellers by teaching the proper property selling process; explaining the expenses in selling and purchasing property; and understanding the difference between net selling and gross selling.

Expect more developers to talk to us about their beautiful projects and continue to learn from successful real estate professionals and experts. We will also have a more improved multi-listing service (MLS) every month — by getting the provincial real estate boards to feature their respective areas’ Best Buys! Learn and earn, and avoid the burn through #RealtyRealitiesOnTNC. The show streams live every Saturdays, 4:00 PM PHT premiering Season 3 on 26 February 2022.

Sports BusinessMirror

mirror_sports@yahoo.com.ph

PSA HONORS TOLENTINO

PHL, China laud skier Miller’s Beijing Games participation

HE man at the helm of the country’s Olympic movement will be recognized for the huge role he played in bringing together the most successful campaign the Philippines ever had in the Olympics. Philippine Olympic Committee (POC) president Rep. Abraham “Bambol” Tolentino will be recognized with the Executive of the Year Award during the San Miguel Corp.-Philippine Sportswriters Association (SMC-PSA) Annual Awards Night for guiding the country in finally bagging its first ever Olympic gold medal. Tolentino is one of 33 personalities to be feted in the March 14 gala night at the Diamond Hotel presented by the Philippine Sports Commission, POC, and Cignal TV.

By Malou Talosig-Bartolome

HILIPPINE and Chinese officials have lauded Alpine skier Asa Miller’s participation in the Beijing 2022 Winter Olympics. Miller is the only athlete who carried the Philippine flag in Beijing where he competed in the men’s slalom and giant slalom. The Filipino-American Olympian’s performance was a disappointment after he incurred a DNF (did not finish) records for both events. Miller crashed out 20 seconds into the first run of the giant slalom due to heavy snowfall, while he only skied for 36 seconds in his failed first run in the slalom event. “I am particularly proud of Alpine skier, Mr. Asa Miller, who represented the Republic of the Philippines. We have no snow and no winter but we were at the Beijing Olympics,” Foreign Affairs Secretary Teodoro Locsin Jr. said. “For top athletes, it is the pinnacle of their careers for there is nothing like representing your country, competing with the best of the rest of the world and not all that important but still, seeing your flag raised because you’ve brought it even more honor than being an Olympian, you won in the games,” Locsin added. Chinese Ambassador to Manila Huang Xilian also cited Miller’s “spectacular presence” in the Winter Olympics. “His love and unremitting efforts for ice and snow sports and his impressive accomplishment as the sole representative of the Philippines in the 2022 Beijing Olympics and being part of the small number of athletes representing tropical countries and the Asean Region on the Winter Games stage is something to be truly proud of,” Huang said. Despite the frustrating run, Miller’s participation created a more lasting influence to the Filipino young athletes. “Miller’s Olympic journey not only connects the friendship between China and the Philippines at the Winter Olympics but will also kindle more Filipino youngsters’ enthusiasm for ice and snow sports and inspire more Filipino athletes to stand on the stage of future Winter Olympics,” Huang said. Philippine Ambassador to Beijing Jose Sta. Romana said Miller has already accomplished so much as an athlete, having qualified at two consecutive Winter Olympics at age of 21—first in the Pyeongchang, South Korea, in 2018. He is the first alpine skier to represent the Philippines in two Winter Olympics. “I’m sure there are a lot of bigger and exciting things are in store for this young, dedicated athlete of ours, and we will keep on rooting for him,” Sta. Romana said. This early, Miller is setting his sights at the 2023 International Ski Federation Alpine World Ski Championships and the Winter Olympics in Milan and Cortina d’Ampezzo in Italy in 2026. Locsin, meanwhile, thanked China for mounting the Winter Olympics despite the challenge of the Covid-19 pandemic. “In this third year of the pandemic, it is a symbol of hope and the harbinger of the future where we can all gather and compete but to everyone’s gain and no one’s loss, because just daring to compete to the best is victory in a fashion. For this we thank China for hosting the Olympics. For daring to do so in the season of the pandemic full throttle,” he added.

The POC chief is in good company as previous recipients of the award handed out by the country’s oldest media organization included Ramon S. Ang, Manuel V. Pangilinan, William “Butch” Ramirez, Wilfred Uytengsu, Ricky Vargas, Judes Echauz, Philip Ella Juico and Willie Marcial. The event, also backed by the Philippine Basketball Association, Milo, 1Pacman, Rain or Shine, ICTSI, Chooks To Go, Smart, Philippine Racing Commission and the MVP Sports Foundation, will be staged live but at 50 percent capacity of the ballroom. The SMC-PSA Awards Night was held virtually last year. Tolentino, a congressman from the Eighth District of Cavite, kept an eagle eye on the country’s preparations for the Tokyo Olympics for almost two years after the Summer Games was initially postponed at the height of the global pandemic in 2020. It turned out that the yearlong wait was worth it as the country finally bagged its first ever Olympic gold after almost a century behind

Editor: Jun Lomibao | Friday, February 25, 2021 B7

the record-breaking feat of Filipina weightlifter Hidilyn Diaz. The boxing trio of Nesthy Petecio, Carlo Paalam and Eumir Marcial sweetened the pot by winning two silver and bronze medals to cap the Philippines’s most productive campaign in its entire Olympic participation. The stint also saw the country parading potential medal winners in other fronts such as gymnast Carlos Yulo, golfers Yuka Saso and Bianca Pagdanganan, pole vaulter EJ Obiena and skateboarder Margielyn Didal. Tolentino also serves as president of the Integrated Cycling Federation of the Philippines or PhilCycling.

PHILIPPINE Olympic Committee president Rep. Abraham ‘Bambol’ Tolentino is named Executive of the Year.

COACH CHOT WARY OF INDIA

DON’T STALK, DON’T LOSE TEMPER

Amrit Magar, a 35-year-old former delivery driver from London found guilty of stalking US Open tennis champion Emma Raducanu is given a five-year restraining order on Wednesday while Germany’s Alexander Zverev is thrown out of the Mexican Open for violently smashing his racket on the umpire’s chair moments after losing a doubles match. Magar is also sentenced to an 18-month community service order that includes 200 hours of unpaid work. He will be under curfew for eight weeks and monitored by an electronic tag. AP

Pedrosa sweeps way to semifinals

ATIONAL team stalwart Ros Pedrosa took down upstart Jewel Angelo Albo in three sets, 10-21, 21-18, 21-12, to sweep Group B for a place in the men’s singles semifinals of the MVP Second Badminton Cup on Thursday at the Olympic Badminton Center in Pasig City. Rallying from a dismal opening set, Pedrosa, a product of National University dominated the decider to take the top seed in the five-man Group B over erstwhile co-leader Albo. Pedrosa emphasized the importance of finally having this tournament just a few months away from the 31st Southeast Asian Games. “This actual tournament is very important, this is the only way that we can assess our strengths and weaknesses,” Pedrosa said. RJ Oba-ob topped Group A after beating Mark Anthony Velasco also in three sets, 21-8, 17-21, 21-17. In women’s singles, University Athletic Association of the Philippines Season 82 Rookie of the Year Mikaela De Guzman paced the round-

NATIONAL team mainstay Ros Pedrosa is living up to his billing.

robin phase with a 5-0 won-lost record after wins over Jaja Andres and Sarah Barredo. The Ateneo junior swept Andres, 21-18, 21-11, and handed the win as Barredo retired in the third set after a 19-21, 21-13 battle in the first two games. Barredo, who cramped up against De Guzman, finished as the second seed after the round-robin with a win over Andres, 21-13, 16-21, 21-10. Anthea Gonzalez completed the semifinals cast after Angel Valle, 22-20, 21-7, and Cristel Fuentespina, 21-12, 21-13. In the men’s singles semifinals, Pedrosa will take on Velasco while Oba-ob will face Albo. On the other hand, De Guzman and Barredo will battle Fuentespina and Andres, respectively, for a chance to play for the women’s singles title. In men’s doubles, National University standouts July Villabrille and Solomon Padiz Jr. completed a 4-0 sweep of the round-robin, closing it out with a 21-16 14-21, 21-14 decision over fellow Bulldogs Alvin Morada and James Villarante. Long-time national team mainstay Paul Pantig and new partner Christian Bernardo took the second spot in the eliminations as they ended their day with a win over Joshua Morada and Jason Vanzuela, 21-16, 16-21, 21-14. In the distaff’s side, Thea Pomar and Nicole Albo emerged as their respective group winners as they completed a sweep of the round-robin matches to arrange their subsequent team-up heading into the semifinals. Pomar earlier paired up with Susmita Ramos in the 21-10, 21-10 win over Jocelle Alvarez and Althea Fuentespina, and then took down Ramos-Alvarez, 21-14, 23-21. Albo, on her part, won with Aubrey Masongsong over Lea Inlayo and Andrea Hernandez, 24-22, 21-23, 21-15, and then with Hernandez against InlayoMasongsong, 23-21, 21-15.

NDIA is ranked at No. 80 in the world—43 rungs below the Philippines—but Gilas Pilipinas head coach Chot Reyes’s not lowering Gilas Pilipinas’s guards. Not even India’s humiliating 46-101 loss to No. 27 New Zealand on Thursday at the start of the second window of the International Basketball Federation (Fiba) World Cup qualifiers on Friday could convince Reyes that their game on Friday at the Araneta Coliseum would be a walk in the park. India, Reyes stressed, has the height and size and has progressed significantly in basketball. “Their [India] size is No. 1. We’ve seen them over the years develop and grow into a legitimate basketball competitor,” Reyes said. “Their skills have tremendously improved, too.” India’s players average height is 6-foot-6 topped by 7-foot-2 former National Basketball Association (NBA) G League Ignite team Princepal Singh. Gilas’s average height is 6-foot-5 making the Filipinos slight underdogs in that department when they clash at 6 p.m. in the India, too, took Serbian Veselin Matic as head coach. Matic worked with multiple NBA players and did the rounds as coach in Eastern Europe and the Middle East.

“We’re very certain that they are going to be well coached and well prepared by [coach] Matic,” Reyes said. “That’s the thing I told our team, we have to completely be ready for a very tough team against India.” The Philippines is 18-4 won-lost to India but licked an 83-91 wound inflicted by the South Asian country the last time both met at the 2016 Fiba Asia Challenge in Tehran. Reyes has a 15-man pool composed of Dwight Ramos, naturalized big man Ange Kouame, Thirdy Ravena, Juan Gomez de Liaño, Jaydee Tungcab, Tzaddy Rangel, Will Navarro, Lebron Lopez, Robert Bolick, Kelly Williams, JP Erram, Troy Rosario, Roger Pogoy, Kib Montalbo and Gab Banal. Chemistry is one advantage India has over Gilas, according to Reyes. “They’ve been together for a long time. A couple of guys there we’ve seen for the last 10 years or so,” Reyes said. “You can imagine the kind of chemistry and familiarity they’ve built with each other. That alone is a reason for us to make sure that we’ll do our best to be able to compete against them.” After India, the Philippines will face No. 27 New Zealand on Sunday at 7 p.m. South Korea skipped the tournament after two of its players tested positive for Covid-19. Josef Ramos

POC hits Patafa for excluding EJ from natl pool

By Josef Ramos

AGAYTAY City—Philippine Olympic Committee (POC) President Rep. Abraham “Bambol” Tolentino praised Ernest John “EJ” Obiena for winning a second men’s pole vault gold medal in Poland, but expressed the opposite on the athletics association’s exclusion of the Asian record holder from its national pool. “How many more gold medals should EJ win for him to be reinstated in the national pool?” Tolentino said on Thursday. “The people just can’t wait long enough for a national athletic treasure to be ignored.” Philippine Athletics Track and Field Association (Patafa) President Philip Ella Juico told Tuesday’s Philippine Sportswriters Association Forum that the Tokyo Olympian Obiena isn’t in their national pool. “EJ Obiena is not on the national training pool list. We have to discuss that among ourselves in the Patafa board but he’s not in the list right now,” Juico told the forum. “We have to look at his case if he wants to participate [in Hanoi]. He has said he will ask for help from others. Let’s see what works.” Tolentino said that the Vietnamese organizers of the 31st Southeast Asian Games set a March 12 deadline for the submission of entries by names. An internal instruction to 29 national sports associations to submit their entries last February 18 wasn’t heeded by the Patafa. Tolentino said that if the Patafa won’t endorse Obiena, the POC will as a national Olympic committee. “We will endorse EJ [Obiena] as an NOC. The question is will EJ be endorsed by his NSA? So if they don’t endorse EJ, are they going to deprive the country?” Tolentino asked. “We’re going to support EJ and we’ll find ways [to endorse him],” he added. Obiena picked up two gold medals in a 10-day span—the first at the Orlen Cup (Lodz) and the second only on Wednesday at the Orlen Copernicus Cup (Torun Arena) both in Poland. He won both with similar leaps of 5.81 meters. “If the SEA Games and even the Asian Games are held tomorrow, EJ will easily sweep the gold medals in both competitions,” Tolentino said. Obiena owns the Asian record in men’s pole vault of 5.93 meters he set last September in Innsbruck, Austria—numbers that easily surpassed the Asian Games record of 5.70m Japan’s Seito Yamamoto set in Jakarta 2018. Obiena set the record of 5.45 meters at the New Clark City in December 2019. “Looking at EJ’s 5.45 meters in winning gold in the 2019 SEA Games and his present numbers, it’s definitely a big leap for him,” Tolentino said.

Tanduay City View Lounge opens at Wolves’ Target Center

S part of its partnership with the National Basketball Association’s (NBA) team Minnesota Timberwolves, Tanduay was granted the right to open a bar at the Target Center in Minneapolis. Called the Tanduay City View Lounge, it is the first bar by a Filipino rum brand in the arena. “Timberwolves fans are very excited about the addition of the Tanduay bar. The space gives fans on the 200th level the opportunity to enjoy their favorite Tanduay cocktail while they are watching a game,” said David Manley, Partnership Activation Manager of the Minnesota Timberwolves and Lynx. He added that Timberwolves fans are loving the Tanduay-inspired cocktails with their tropical flavors, including the Tanduay New Fashion (Tanduay Gold Rum with cherry and bitters) and Tanduay Tropic Tease (Tanduay Silver Rum with a splash of pineapple and cranberry juice) “Tanduay’s Silver and Gold rum products are welcome additions at Timberwolves games. Fans are eager to try them,” Manley said. The Tanduay City View Lounge is

available to fans as soon as the gates open until the end of the third quarter. Earlier, Tanduay and the Timberwolves released Tanduay rum bottles with branded packaging in Minnesota. The iconic Philippine rum brand also have TV-visible courtside rotation LED and basket pad LED signages, pole pads and arena signages at Target Center. Tanduay’s partnership with the Timberwolves and other NBA teams is part of its international expansion plan, making the brand more visible

to the millions of viewers of the NBA games. It is currently in partnership with five of the league’s teams. The rum brand has entered several US states, including Arizona, California, Florida, Hawaii, Illinois, Michigan, Minnesota, Nevada, New Jersey, New York, Tennessee and Wisconsin, and the territory of Guam. Tanduay products are also sold in China, Singapore, the United Arab Emirates, Belgium, the Netherlands, Luxembourg and Germany.

THE Tanduay City View Lounge is the first bar by a Filipino rum brand in the Timberwolves’ arena.

Motoring

B8 Friday, February 25, 2022

BusinessMirror

Editor: Tet Andolong

GAC Motor unveils the all-new GS4

The all-new GS4 1.5L 270T GB in Lightning Blue shade.

GAC Motors Philippines

Story by Randy S. Peregrino

AC Motor Philippines recently unveiled the latest generation of its multi-awarded compact SUV, the GS4.

The all-new model boasts a more sporty and sleeker look with technologically advanced features. Redesigned all over, this second-generation model is more expansive, taller, and has a lower ground clearance than its predecessor.

New look

Dimension-wise, the all-new GS4 has grown to 4,545mm in length, 1,856mm in width, 1668mm in height, and has a wheelbase of 2,680mm. When it comes to the new

design language, it features a more muscular guise coming from its bolder front grille and sharper edges to highlight the silver finish and emblem further. There are sleek LED headlights with LED daytime running lights to complement the modern look. The rear end, meantime, has new dynamic LED taillights, a metal chrome tailgate garnish, and slimmer turn signal lights. As for the wheels, it rolls on 17-inch alloy wheels. Inside, the dashboard draws inspiration from a light prism dual-star design to make

it more appealing to the younger generation of customers. The dashboard showcases a 3.5-inch instrument panel display and an eight-inch LCD infotainment with Bluetooth and Apple Carplay connectivity functions running on a six-speaker audio setup. It also has a multi-functional steering wheel with embedded switches, including the cruise control function. Unlike its predecessor, the all-new GS4 comes with optional two-tone (black and caramel brown) or black leatherette seats. The sporty and leatherette-wrapped front seats have manual adjustments for six-way (driver) and four-way (passenger). Those also have lumbar support for a more comfortable driving experience. As for the rear seats, there is a central armrest with cupholders and three independent adjustable headrests. Attracting more natural light is the panoramic sunroof with jam protection. Material-wise, the interior is made up of high-quality and eco-friendly raw trims. These are low-odor water-based PVC leather and low-odor polypropylene plastics. It aids in eliminating the sources of unpleasant odor. Also standard is a high-performance

air-conditioning filter with PM1-level filtration. It keeps clean and refreshing air in the cabin by filtering over 99.7 percent of smaller dust particles, everyday dust, and pollen.

Boosted powerplant

Motivation comes from a company that developed a third-generation Euro 5-compliant 1.5-liter turbocharged engine. The motor can produce 166 hp at 5,000 rpm and 270 N-m of maximum torque between 1,700 to 4,000 rpm. Transferring power to wheels is an Aisin-made six-speed automatic transmission. It enables the vehicle to produce smooth power output, better fuel economy, and lesser carbon emissions to the environment. There are also three driving modes: eco, manual, and sport. Indeed, the GS4 has substantial power output and fuel efficiency thanks to Bosch’s 2nd-generation high-pressure system; a single-cycle triple injection technology that ensures high combustion efficiency; and a low-inertia turbocharger that gives a faster response and earlier peak torque.

Safety Features

The all-new GS4 is safe with dual and side

RSA opens P14-B road wonder

AMON S. Ang, fondly called RSA and dubbed the “King of Skyway” by Clark Development chair Ed Pamintuan, has done it again. The president and chief executive officer of San Miguel Corporation has just inaugurated another of his state-of-the-art road networks with the opening of the South Luzon Expressway (SLEX) on February 15. With no less than President Duterte gracing the occasion, the new P14-billion road wonder is a 19-kilometer SLEX extension magnificently completed in just two years that was built mainly to ease travel for the south-bound. But there’s more. RSA’s newest babe will provide a seamless connectivity to San Miguel’s Skyway system and the North Luzon Expressway (NLEX), a long, much-desired scheme for the continuous connection of the country’s two most iconic expressways. “From now on, our thousands of motorists who go home every day to Muntinlupa, Las Piñas, Cavite, Laguna and Batangas, will have easier access through the new toll road provided by the new Skyway,” said RSA, also saying that the SLEX extension can accommodate 200,000 vehicles daily.

Previous to this, RSA opened a four-km, two-lane southbound access on December 10, connecting it to the Skyway system in Sucat-SLEX at Susana Heights, Muntinlupa, to improve passage to Alabang’s hub south of Metro Manila. Also recently opened to the public was the Alabang-Zapote Road Skyway ramp to complete the route rotations in the area. “With all these road infrastructure schemes, we can now look forward to a faster, more efficient travel, transport of goods, and improved trade in our southern cities and provinces going towards Bicol,” said RSA. “We thank President Duterte and his ‘Build, Build, Build’ team, especially Public Works and Highways Secretary Mark Villar, who was with us from the start, as well as Transportation Secretary Art Tugade. They both recognized the importance of this project and gave us all the suport we needed,” he said. San Miguel’s other ongoing massive growth-laden projects include the P670billion airport in Bulacan, the Ninoy Aquino International Airport Expressway, the expanded TPLEX extending to Laoag City, and the Southern Tagalog Arterial Road Tollway going all the way to Lucena—and possibly to Bicol.

airbags, an anti-lock braking system (ABS), electronic brakeforce distribution (EBD), traction control system (TCS), rear parking camera, parking sensors, and electronic parking brake. Further, there are threepoint seatbelts with alarm, ISOFIX child seat anchors, brake hold assists, engine immobilizer with anti-theft alarm, window jam protection, and even a tire pressure monitoring system. The vehicle is built on a high-strength steel-safe chassis. What is does great is eliminating any vehicle vibration and protecting the occupants from an intense collision impact. For better stability at high speeds, the GS4 is equipped with Bosch’s latest ESP 9.3 that corrects oversteering at sudden cornering and sudden lane change. It also has a 14-in-1 active safety system that provides uphill and downhill assistance. The all-new GS4 1.5L 270T GB retails at P1.098 million. The colors available are Lightning Blue, Rosefinch Red, Benite Gray, Ivory White, and Elegant Black. The vehicle also comes with a fiveyear or 150,000kms warranty, whichever comes first. As always, with RSA at the helm, there’s no stopping when it comes to growth-oriented portfolios.

TMP’s 50 PTVs

IN another commendable move, Toyota Motor Philippines (TMP) recently released 50 of 300 ordered Hiace Patient Transport Vehicles (PTVs) to the Philippine Charity Sweepstakes Office (PCSO). Present during the turnover ceremony at the Toyota Otis dealership were the officers and representatives from the 50 municipalities and cities, PCSO Vice Chairperson and General Manager Ms. Royina Marzan Garma, PCSO Charity Assistance Manager Atty. Marissa O. Medrano, PCSO Assistant General Manager Ms. Julieta F. Aseo, and PCSO Special Projects Division Chief Ms. Muriel G. Pajarillo. In her speech, Garma expressed her appreciation to TMP “as the PTVs will immensely address the medical transportation requirements of Local Government Units [LGUs].” Said TMP’s JM Oleo: “The PTVs are designed and built to navigate even to far-flung areas, ensuring top quality performance on safety, reliability and comfort to patients needing mobility assistance, and health workers while they save lives on-the-go. “For more information on the Hiace Commuter Deluxe models, visit https://toyota.com. ph/commuter-deluxe, or https://toyota.com.ph/ showroom.”

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