BusinessMirror January 06, 2022 by BusinessMirror

Demand for OFWs high amid Omicron–POEA By Samuel P. Medenilla

there were countries that implemented additional restrictions for incoming travelers like requiring them to be fully vaccinated against Covid-19. He noted some traditional destination countries for OFWs even decided to temporarily close their borders. “The surge in Covid-19 cases due to the Omicron [cases] has created a lot of repercussions in our deployment,” Olalia said. Fortunately, he said, some countries like Israel and the United Kingdom continue to hire OFWs, particularly Filipino

sam_medenilla

ESPITE tougher protocols imposed by some countries for migrant workers due to the surge in worldwide cases of the Omicron variant of Covid-19, demand for overseas Filipino workers (OFW) abroad continue to recover this year, according to the Philippine Overseas Employment Administration (POEA). In a virtual press briefing on Wednesday, POEA Administrator Bernard P. Olalia disclosed

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health care workers (HCW) even with the surge of the Covidcausing Omicron variant. “Our health care workers are continually being accepted by foreign employers during the time of pandemic,” Olalia said. Due to the high demand for HCWs abroad, POEA opted to maintain its 7,000 deployment cap for the sector this year to make sure the country will have a sufficient workforce in its health care facilities for its Covid-19 response. The high demand for Filipino HCWs as well as seafarers

contributed to the growth in the country’s deployment figure last year, which reached 675,500 as of November 2021. This was slightly higher compared to the 560,000 in 2020 during the onset of the Covid-19 pandemic. “We hope this 2022, two years after the pandemic occurred, there will be recovery in our deployment levels,” Olalia said. To note, prior to the pandemic, POEA usually deployed an average of 2 million OFWs per year.

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Thursday, January 6, 2022 Vol. 17 No. 90

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PHL Covid log nearly doubles to 10K cases

By Bianca Cuaresma @BcuaresmaBM

HE Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas (BSP) welcomed inflation’s deceleration back to below 4 percent in December, but warned of a potential “temporary” uptick due to the recent typhoon that ravaged the Visayas.

By Claudeth Mocon-Ciriaco

A TAXI driver who has just dropped off a patient at the Manila Covid Facility in Manila is disinfected and advised to go home by health workers. The government has called for the nationwide implementation of the prohibition on unvaccinated people from going to public places amid the rising Covid-19 cases and the emergence of the Omicron variant. NONIE REYES

“The BSP will incorporate the typhoon’s impact into its projections once firm estimates become available.” – BSP Gov. Benjamin Diokno

In a statement on Wednesday, BSP Governor Benjamin Diokno said with the 3.6 percent print in December, inflation is on its way to ease close to the midpoint of the target range in 2022 and 2023. This is in contrast to the 2021 situation, where inflation averaged at 4.5 percent for the year, breaching the 2 to 4 percent target range of the government. The 2 to 4 percent target range is maintained up until 2024. Although widely expected by the market, the BSP is still mandated by law to write an open letter to the President explaining the breach in target. In his statement on Wednesday, Diokno also warned that the supply disruptions and agricultural damage from typhoon Odette will likely result in a “temporary uptick in the prices of

‘HIGHER-THAN-TARGET 2021 INFLATION EXPECTED’ By Tyrone Jasper C. Piad @Tyronepiad

HE Philippines missing its full-year inflation target was not surprising because of higher pork prices, continued supply chain constraints and fourth-quarter spending surge, according to economists. Average consumer prices for 2021 settled at 4.5 percent, the Philippine Statistics Authority (PSA) reported on Wednesday, which is above the 2-4 percent government target. This is also higher compared to 2.6 percent in 2020. The major commodity groups that saw higher annual average inflation rates last year are food and non-alcoholic beverages, 5.2 percent; housing, water, electricity, gas, and other fuels, 2.6 percent; health, 3 percent; transport, 9.7 percent; and restaurant and miscellaneous goods and services, 3.6 percent.

In the National Capital Region (NCR), full-year inflation increased to 3.5 percent from 2.2 percent year-on-year. Meanwhile, areas outside NCR (AONCR) saw inflation climbing to 4.7 percent from 2.7 percent in the same period. “Considering other economies even outside Southeast Asia, price levels were expected to rise more than what was expected. Locally, we had the ‘pork situation’ that contributed much of the uptick in 2021 inflation and supply has been a major challenge,” Unionbank Chief Economist Ruben Carlo Asuncion told the BusinessMirror, citing the concerns with the African Swine Fever that greatly impacted affected pork supply. National Statistician Claire Dennis S. Mapa, in a press briefing, also stressed that pork prices have exacerbated the meat inflation. He said the average monthly

retail price of pork per kilogram (kg) in NCR rose to P348 in December from P332 the previous month. It is also much higher compared to the December 2020 price of P305 per kg. For AONCR, the average monthly retail price of pork was at P296 per kg last month, higher than P291 in November and P246 in December 2020.

Supply, prices watched

“WITH the NCR and the neighboring provinces of Cavite, Rizal, and Bulacan now under Alert Level 3, it is important to ensure affordable food prices and the continued delivery of goods and services. To temper inflation in meat, especially pork, the government is working to increase local supply and ensure regular unloading of stocks from cold storages,” Socioeconomic Planning Secretary Karl Kendrick T. Chua said in a statement on Wednesday.

Chua said that pork imports through increased utilization of the pork minimum access volume (MAV) plus under lowered tariffs under Executive Order (EO) 133 and 134 can boost the local supply, noting that only around 46 percent or 60,000 MT out of 130,000 MT of the MAV plus with import certificates was utilized as of Dec. 27, 2021. The National Economic and Development Authority, as such, stressed its proposal to extend EO 133's validity until December this year to stabilize the supply and arrest the price hikes. Chua also raised the need to distribute more imported pork in AONCR given that meat is among the inflation drivers in most regions.

Supply chain

MEANWHILE, Asuncion cited See “Inflation,” A2

See “BSP,” A2

PESO EXCHANGE RATES n US 51.2460

HE number of fresh Covid-19 infections in the Philippines nearly doubled on Wednesday to 10,775, bringing the total number of infections to 2,871,745, the Department of Health (DOH) reported. This prompted the DOH and the World Health Organization (WHO) to enjoin devotees of the Black Nazarene to safely observe the Traslacion and its related activities by attending virtual events at home instead of going to unsafe gatherings as Covid-19 cases rose rapidly. The DOH noted that Covid-19 cases have been increasing in the last 10 days, from 97 cases last December 26 to 5,434 cases on January 4, 2022. The spike resulted from the increase in movement and social mixing over the holiday period. The DOH also earlier attributed the increase to the possibility of the local spread of the Omicron variant. Along with Wednesday’s new case log that breached 10,000, there were also 605 recoveries and 58 deaths. This year’s Traslacion—the procession which draws more than a million devotees to Quiapo Church and surrounding areas in Manila—has been suspended due to the pandemic. See related story on the Traslacion on A3. The National Task Force on Covid-19 also issued a resolution for Quiapo Church to be closed from 7 to 9 January 2022, and for holy masses by the church to instead be aired online. Virtual versions of the usual activities during the Feast of the Black Nazarene—vigil, “pahalik” and procession—have also been organized. Law enforcers are also expected to limit foot traffic around the Quiapo area during the celebration. See “PHL,” A2

JAPAN 0.4412

UK 69.3666

HK 6.5756

CHINA 8.0424

SINGAPORE 37.8032

AUSTRALIA 37.0919

EU 57.8516

SAUDI ARABIA 13.6481

Source: BSP (January 5, 2022)

News BusinessMirror

A2 Thursday, January 6, 2022

www.businessmirror.com.ph

With rising Covid threat, street kids’ helpline eyed by Uniteam

ONCERNED about the dangers posed to homeless street children by the sudden resurgence of Covid-19 cases in the country, the BBM-Sara UniTeam is calling for the immediate establishment of a “text helpline” to rescue and keep them off the streets.

The street children must be rescued immediately because they are more susceptible to the disease, especially since it is feared that the

new variant, Omicron which could infect and spread faster than other variants is now in the country, Partido Federal ng Pilipinas (PFP)

presidential aspirant Ferdinand ‘Bongbong’ Marcos, Jr. explained. “This past Christmas, the increased presence of beggars on the streets was more noticeable. It is truly concerning because of the fast rise in Covid cases. I am more concerned by the fact that our young people roaming the streets are more vulnerable, so it’s important to rescue them right away,” said Marcos, speaking partly in Fililpino. Health experts say that young children could be more susceptible to contracting the infection from the new variant although it is believed that it is not as virulent as the Delta strain. Marcos and his running-

BSP…

food supply must be sustained in order to mitigate potential supplyside pressures on inflation,” the governor said. “The BSP will incorporate the typhoon’s impact into its projections once firm estimates become available. At the same time, the implementation of reconstruction efforts and rehabilitation programs in areas damaged by the storm will be essential to support economic recovery and prevent job losses,” he added.

Looking ahead, the governor expressed readiness to maintain the accommodative monetary policy stance to support the economy’s recovery while also guarding against any emerging risks to its price and financial stability objectives. ING Bank economist Nicholas Mapa, in his assessment of the inflation numbers, said inflation is likely to be “more subdued” in 2022.

Continued from A1

food items and other necessities over the near term.” “As with previous episodes of natural disasters, the effective implementation of non-monetary government intervention measures to ensure adequate domestic

mate Inday Sara Duterte said one solution they see to keep children off the streets is to install a ‘Text Helpline’ exclusively dedicated to rescuing them. The project is designed to encourage concerned citizens to inform appropriate authorities on the presence of children that need rescuing in their respective communities. The tandem said that close coordination and cooperation among relevant agencies such as the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD), Department of Information and Communications Technology (DICT), Philippine National Police (PNP) , LGUs and barangays will be

needed to ensure the success of the program. A former senator, Marcos coauthored Republic Act 10821, or the Children’s Emergency Relief and Protection Act, which provides protection for children affected by calamities and man-made disasters. According to him, if the national government, local government units (LGUs) and barangay officials will work together, it will be easier to rescue the homeless children. Duterte-Carpio, meanwhile, proposed a long-term plan on how to take care, protect and give appropriate guidance to rescued street children.

“Despite the breach last year, several factors point to inflation staying more subdued in 2022. First of all, the PSA shift to 2018 as base year for CPI inflation calculations will likely translate to a one-off favorable base effect for lower price gains this year. 2018 was the year where inflation last breached the target, with BSP allowing inflation to surge to 6.7 percent,” Mapa said. “Secondly, developments re-

lated to the global oil market also point to a moderation in crude oil prices as OPEC opted to increase production to help alleviate a tight market. Third, despite strong gains in terms of GDP growth, demand dynamics suggest that the Philippine economy continues to operate below potential with the output gap yet to be closed. We expect inflation to settle within target for the most part of the year,” he added.

Inflation… Continued from A1

the disruption in supply chains that caused a spike in prices. The logistical constraints due to shortage in shipping containers have resulted in higher freight fees for at least in the past year. “We are still in a pandemic and a lot of supply chains have been turned upside down due to Covid-19,” he said. Last month, Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas (BSP) said that continued supply chain disruptions could pose an upside risk to inflation in 2022. “External price shocks which may emanate from shortages and persistent supply chain disruptions pose upside risks to the inflation outlook as manufacturers and retailers could pass on the higher costs of imported production inputs,” BSP Governor Benjamin Diokno said. United Nations Conference on Trade and Development, in a November 2021 report, said that the shipping bottleneck may drive up global inflation this year with the prompted freight rate hikes. It expects consumer price levels to rise by 1.5 percent between 2020 and 2023.

Christmas spending

THE higher demand during the last quarter also contributed to the overall inf lation uptick for the year, De La Salle University economist Maria Ella Oplas told the BusinessMirror. “I am not surprised that we missed the target. With the relatively opened economy, there is no stopping people from buying and selling,” she explained. The demand-driven inf lation, she said, was supported by the Christmas spending, coupled with more establishments allowed to reopen and increased mobility for the public. “There is no stopping Filipinos from celebrating Christmas and new year. That is innate to us, Filipinos,” she said. There is “demand to spend for the holiday season, demand to spend for reaching our satiation point of being in the bubble for the longest time,” she added. Meanwhile, RCBC Chief Economist Michael Ricafort said

that the higher-than-expected inflation was primarily because of lower base effects for 2021, which reflected the “brunt of the hard lockdowns in the earlier part of 2020, quantitatively resulting in higher year-on-year inflation for the following year, 2021.” “There could still be some lagged effects by the Typhoon Odette storm damage that could have led to some temporary increase in prices/inflation in hard hit areas especially in January 2022 or even shortly thereafter, but could fizzle out once food supply conditions, electricity service, water supply, and other utilities/services start to normalize,” he added.

For December

IN December, inflation eased to 3.6 percent—the lowest for 2021—from 4.2 percent in November and 3.5 percent in the same month last year due to cheaper food and transport costs. The Development Budget Coordination Committee (DBCC) had, in December 2021, adjusted its inflation assumption to 4.3-4.5 percent. But the BSP target range stays at 2-4 percent till 2024. PSA said that inflation for food and non-alcoholic beverages slowed down to 3.1 percent in December from 3.9 percent the previous month on the back of lower prices for vegetables, fish and rice. Meanwhile, meat saw an increase in price in the last month. Inflation for transport slid to 6.1 percent from 8.8 percent in the same period with petroleum and fuels, jeepney fare and tricycle fare registering lower price hikes as well. In NCR, inflation dipped to 2.8 percent in December from 2.9 percent in November and 3.2 percent in the same month last year. Commodity prices for AONCR, meanwhile, slowed down to 3.9 percent last month from 4.5 percent in November 2020. The December inflation, however, is higher compared to 3.7 percent year-on-year.

PHL…

Continued from A1

However, smaller events in other churches and communities pose the risk of increased spread of Covid-19 and its variants. “We have witnessed this past holiday season how fast, how rapid the rise has been of Covid-19 because of social gatherings. We would like to remind everyone to be vigilant and continue practicing the necessary health protocols amid the impending threat of the Omicron variant and the continued rise in cases these past days. In light of these, we are calling for a suspension of all mass gatherings,” said Secretary of Health Francisco T. Duque III.

Appeal of WHO

DR. Rabindra Abeyasinghe, WHO Representative to the Philippines, said the “alarming” situation calls for safer ways to celebrate traditions. “We appeal to devotees— please stay at home to help limit the spread of Covid-19 and its variants. Doing so is an act of kindness. We need to protect each other, especially our elderly and those with underlying medical conditions. They can most easily catch the virus and possibly suffer its worst consequences—severe disease, hospitalization and even death,” said Abeyasinghe. The WHO official also strongly urged barangay leaders to consistently implement the measures to prevent unsafe gatherings in the community. Both DOH and WHO noted that the new Omicron variant has been detected in over 110 countries, including the Philippines. Growing evidence shows that it spreads much faster than other variants such as Delta. DOH and WHO also urged people, vaccinated or not, to consistently observe protective health measures such as physical distancing, mask-wearing, hand washing, covering coughs and sneezes, and limiting visits to close spaces, crowded spaces, and close-contact settings. These measures, they said, continue to be the most effective ways to protect oneself and others from Covid-19. “We call upon all eligible individuals especially our senior citizens, those with comorbidities, and children to get vaccinated and boosted immediately, these are safe, effective, and free. Let’s come together in doing our part in preventing the spread of the virus as more transmission means more mutations, let’s not be agents of transmission. Remember to do the right test at the right time and isolate proactively at the earliest signs of symptoms. Finally, let us maximize our telemedicine services and keep our hospitals from filling-up. We have been through these situations before and no challenge, not even Omicron is insurmountable, when we work together to make things work,” Duque said. Of the total number of infections, 1.4 percent (39,974) are active, 96.8 percent (2,780,109) recovered, and 1.80 percent (51,662) have died. All laboratories were operational on January 3, 2022 but 9 laboratories were not able to submit their data to the Covid-19 Document Repository System. Based on data in the last 14 days, the 9 laboratories contribute, on average, 2.2 percent of samples tested and 5.3 percent of positive individuals.

The Nation BusinessMirror

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Hotel staff, not cops, can enforce quarantine rules, DOJ chief says By Ma. Stella F. Arnaldo @akosistellaBM Special to the BusinessMirror

HERE is no need for cops to be assigned at quarantine hotels to ensure guests are following mandatory quarantine procedures upon their arrival from abroad. In a delayed telecast of President Duterte’s Talk to the People on January 4, Justice Secretary Menardo I. Guevarra said hotels are required under Republic Act (RA) 11332, the law on Mandatory Reporting of Notifiable Diseases, to cooperate in implementing the quarantine. “So these entities, Mr. President, may include establishments, which are charged with a duty, for example, as a quarantine hotel, to ensure that people who are quarantined within the establishment should not be able to jump the quarantine regulations.” He added, “The hotel management can devise ways of preventing without appropriate [cause], perhaps by demanding certain proof of the need [for the quarantined guest] to go out, like for emergency reasons to see a doctor or something like that. “But otherwise, if they will be leaving the premises of the hotel without any justifiable reason or not for any emergency reason, then I believe, Mr. President, that they should not be allowed to exit the hotel, and hotel personnel may be able to do that also, in my opinion,” asserted Guevarra. “Supposedly there are personnel in the hotel who man the entrance and the exit of the hotels,” he pointed out. The matter was discussed on air following reports of returning Filipinos skipping their mandatory quarantine. The Department of Tourism (DOT) on Tuesday fined Berjaya Makati Hotel P13,200 and ordered the suspension of its accreditation and certification as a multi-use hotel for three months. It has 15 days to appeal the order. (See, “Berjaya Hotel gets slap on the first for letting ‘Poblacion Girl’ skip quarantine,” in the BusinessMirror, January 5, 2022.) In his Talk to the People, Duterte had asked Interior Secretary Eduardo M. Año if it was possible to assign two cops to man each quarantine hotel in Metro Manila. Año said he had already spoken with Gen. Dionardo Bernardo Carlos�� , chief of the Philippine National Police, about it. There are 455 DOT-accredited quarantine hotels in Metro Manila, as per the Bureau of Quarantine (BOQ). Earlier, Tourism Secretary Bernadette Romulo Puyat said she had asked Año and the BOQ to conduct surprise inspections at quarantine hotels to ensure guests were indeed in their rooms. The DOT recently uncovered cases of returning Filipinos skipping their mandatory quarantine and hotels selling “absentee-quarantine” packages. In one case, Gwyneth Anne Chua aka “Poblacion Girl,” was even fetched by her father from the quarantine hotel, Berjaya Hotel, shortly after arriving from the US. The next day, she was seen partying at a bar in Makati. In another case, a woman who also arrived from the US, failed to show up at the quarantine hotel, Seda Residences Makati, and went home to her condo. (See, “Returning Pinoy skips quarantine, gets massage at her home instead,” in the BusinessMirror, January 3, 2022.)

Editor: Vittorio V. Vitug • Thursday, January 6, 2022 A3

TF approves suspension of Black Nazarene procession in Manila By Samuel P. Medenilla @sam_medenilla

HE rising number of Covid-19 cases in Metro Manila has prompted the government to suspend the celebration of “Traslacion,” or the annual procession of the iconic image of the Black Nazarene in Quiapo Church. The National Task Force Against Covid-19 (NTF) on Tuesday approved a resolution postponing the event on Sunday and other related mass gathering activities related to it.

“The Minor Basilica of the Black Nazarene of Quiapo Church will be closed on 7 to 9 January 2022. No Holy Mass shall be physically conducted on these dates,” the NTF said in its two-page Resolution No. 1, 2022. “All Holy Masses will be aired online nationwide,” it added. The Department of Health (DOH) said the measure aims to slowdown the spread of Covid-19 infections in the National Capital Region (NCR), which have been rising at an alarming rate since last week. It noted that of the 5,434 new in-

fections registered nationwide last Tuesday, 3,849 came from NCR. Health Secretary Francisco T. Duque III attributed the surge of Covid-19 cases to the increased social gathering and social mobility during the Christmas holidays last month. “We are now calling for the suspension of all mass gatherings, including the upcoming Traslacion. Let us participate in this event in our homes to avoid infections,” Duque said during the public address of President Duterte last Tuesday. For his part, Duterte sought for

the understanding of the Church and the devotees of the Black Nazarene for the deferment of the Traslacion, which he said might become a “superspreader” event for Covid-19 since it draws millions of devotees. “This procession is a very important event for the Roman Catholic Church. Now I have to appeal to them for their... to really look at it in the broader context of our liability,” Duterte said. “So I apologize in advance and I beg for your understanding of what we have discussed.... Our job is really to come out with critical decisions

to protect public health and public safety,” Duterte added. In a brief statement, the management of Quiapo Church said it would abide by the government decision on the matter. The Department of Health and the World Health Organization, meanwhile, appealed to all devotees of the Black Nazarene to safely observe the “Traslacion” and its related activities by attending virtual events at home instead of going to unsafe gatherings as Covid-19 cases rise rapidly. With Claudeth Mocon-Ciriaco

Duterte admin urged to aim for zero Covid goal amid surge By Butch Fernandez

@butchfBM

DRUG QUEUE

Customers queue outside a Mercury Drug Store branch along Estrella street in Makati City to buy medicines and other medical needs amid a reported supply shortage of paracetamol and other medicines for treatment of flu symptoms, as Covid cases rise in the National Capital Region and nearby provinces. (Related story on page A4). ROY DOMINGO

BBM-Sara UniTeam resumes Covid aid ops; volunteers to distribute medicines, face mask to NCR hospitals

ITH Metro Manila once again placed under Alert Level 3 amid the continued threat of the Omicron Covid-19 variant, the BBM-Sara UniTeam was quick to resume Covid assistance operations, directing their volunteers to distribute medicines and face masks to hospitals in the metropolis. Presidential aspirant and former Senator Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr. and his running mate Davao Mayor Sara Duterte on Tuesday ordered an inventory and repacking of their supplies in their national headquarters for immediate distribution. “Napaghandaan na natin ang ganitong sitwasyon o ang posibleng pagtaas

muli ng kaso sa Covid-19, kaya may imbak pa rin tayo ng mga face mask at mga gamot galing sa ating mga taga-suporta,” a statement from the UniTeam read. The tandem wants to prioritize the protection of frontliners since they are key to ensuring the health of the public. The UniTeam said they are just resuming their Covid-19 operations, which they have already started doing, albeit separately, even before the pandemic affected the country in 2020. There are available supplies and their volunteers already know what to do in the face of the renewed threat of a new variant. The National Capital Region

(NCR) and its neighboring provinces have been placed under the stricter Alert Level 3 from January 3 to January 15 due to the pronounced increase in cases and the three confirmed local cases of the Omicron variant. In line with this, the UniTeam reminded the public to strictly comply with health protocols and continue to guard against the coronavirus. The tandem also called for a strengthened national vaccination program since vaccines are still the best defense against the virus. “Bakuna pa rin ang pinakamabisang sandata, kaya tayo ay nananawagan na magpabakuna na ang lahat ng mga hindi pa nababakunahan,” they appealed.

Comelec told: Review reso on SGA voters in BARMM

AVAO CITY—Bangsamoro regional government officials are appealing to the Commission on Elections (Comelec) to reconsider its recent resolution that barred voters from newly included areas to vote for local candidates. The Bangsamoro Autonomous Reg ion in Muslim Mindanao (BARMM) officials filed their ap-

peal a day after the Comelec released its Minute Resolution Number 21-0953 on January 3 “barring registered voters from 63 Special Geographic Areas [SGA] to exercise their rights to vote in the upcoming 2022 local elections.” The resolution allowed constituents of SGA to vote for the national positions “pending the determina-

tion of the constituent’s local government units until the holding of the 2022 elections,” BARMM said. Minister Atty. Naguib G. Sinarimbo of the Ministry of the Interior and Local Government (MILG) said the resolution “deprives over 200,000 SGA constituents of their right of suffrage and of equal protection of the law.” Manuel T. Cayon

EN. Panfilo Lacson reminded Duterte administration health officials that “zero Covid cases is the goal” as the lawmaker pressed for more aggressive measures to effectively contain the deadly Covid contagion. The senator said he is pushing for an aggressive mass testing, mass contact tracing and mass booster shots, vaccination of minors aged 5 to 11 and a tougher stance against violators. In a news statement issued on Wednesday, Lacson said “These are among the steps the government and the public should take in dealing with the Covid menace—including the latest surge of infections.” The senator himself imposed voluntary isolation by opting to stay at his home quarantine after being exposed to his son who tested positive, reminding “no one should be complacent until there are zero cases recorded.” Lacson added: “We can claim victory only when there are zero cases. As the latest surge of infections has shown, we cannot become complacent even when the number of cases goes down.” The Partido Reporma standardbearer in the upcoming presidential election recalled that apart from “the gentle reminder to his Twitter friends and followers—Mask, Iwas, Hugas”—more aggressive measures are needed to match the aggressive spread of Covid. On top of that, the lawmaker stressed national and local governments “must embark on an aggressive mass testing, mass contact tracing, and mass booster shots.” The process to vaccinate 5 to 11-year-olds must be accelerated, he noted, recalling that “after two years experience under the pandemic, our authorities should know what to do by now: ensure the efficient rollout of vaccine and booster shots, and the proper distribution of ayuda to families affected by this continuing threat to our health and economy.” At the same time, Lacson cited the Department of Tourism’s suspension and fining of a Makati hotel for its failure to stop returning Filipino Gwyneth Anne Chua from breaking quarantine rules to party—as well as the filing of charges against her and others involved in the incident—are “a good start.” Moreover, the lawmaker added he also “welcomed as well” the move of other camps to pause their

political gatherings and public activities amid rising Covid infections in the country. L ac son, l i ke w i se, a ssu red he supports halting ground activities like motorcades by the campaign teams of those running in the May 9 elections. “Wala pa ang Omicron sa Pilipinas, may disiplina na kami ni Senate President Tito Sotto sa mga hybrid online dialogues namin sa iba’t ibang lugar ng bansa [even before Omicron, Senate President Tito Sotto and I have put a premium on discipline in our hybrid online dialogues in various parts of the country],” he added. The senator also assured that Partido Reporma has always prioritized public safety in its recent “Online Kumustahan” events and other indoor and outdoor mass gatherings, noting that “Reporma has maintained a strict implementation of social distancing protocols, mask wearing, self-sanitation and frequent rapid antigen-testing. This developed as Health Secretary Francisco Duque III reported Tuesday night that Metro Manila is “now at critical risk” for Covid-19 transmission, based on virus case trends. “It bears repeating that we cannot afford to let the pandemic continue devastating not just our health but also our economy,” Lacson said, stressing that “now more than ever the government and the public need to work together to beat this Covid-19 menace. A proactive leadership with a data-driven approach, plus cooperation from the public, is the key,” he added.

‘Get some rest’

PARTYpresidentandDavaodelNorte Rep. Pantaleon “Bebot” Alvarez advised Lacson to get some rest and recover from sore throat and other symptoms that might manifest after getting himself exposed to Covid-19. “…I [have] already texted Senator Ping because we have a scheduled activity here in the province on January 10. But it would be very risky [for him to travel] because he was exposed to a Covid-positive [patient], so I told him to recover and just rest for the meantime. Lacson held a meeting with ranking officials from his political party and other members of his campaign team at their headquarters in Greenhills, San Juan last Monday before experiencing some symptoms associated with the coronavirus by Tuesday morning.

Passport applicants at malls in NCR, Rizal, Cavite, Bulacan should be vaxxed–DFA By Malou Talosig-Bartolome

ASSPORT applicants who have booked their slots at the malls in Alert Level 3 areas should be fully vaccinated against Covid-19, the Department of For-

eign Affairs (DFA) said. The DFA said malls hosting DFA Consular Offices and Temporary Off-Site Passport Services have advised them that they will not allow the entry of passport applicants who are unvaccinated,

including minors. “DFA Consular Offices are unable to override the host malls’ security and health protocols,” the DFA said in a news statement. Recently, the Inter-Agency Task Force Against Emerging and Infec-

tious Diseases (IATF) has placed Metro Manila, Rizal, Cavite and Bulacan under Alert Level 3 due to the increasing number of Covid-19 cases. Health Secretary Francisco Duque said there is also a recommendation to include Laguna under

Alert Level 3. The DFA Consular Affairs said unvaccinated passpor t applicants, including minors, should first check the regulations of the malls where they made their online booking before proceeding to

their appointments. Applicants can opt to re-schedule their slots after their full vaccination against Covid-19 or just wait for the lifting of the entry restriction on unvaccinated persons by either malls or local government units.

A4 Thursday, January 6, 2022 • Editor: Vittorio V. Vitug

Economy BusinessMirror

www.businessmirror.com.ph

Drugstores refill shelves with fresh paracetamol supply–DTI By Tyrone Jasper C. Piad

@TyronePiad

IG pharmacy chain operators have ramped up the replenishment of medicines amid the heightened demand for paracetamol, the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) said. Trade Secretary Ramon M. Lopez told reporters on Wednesday they have asked the

drugstores to “fast track their replenishment” in three days to a week to address the worries of the consumers with the perceived shortage of the over-the-counter medicines. In response, he said Watsons started distributing inventories on Wednesday. Mercury Drug, meanwhile, began its delivery on Thursday, which is earlier than scheduled. “Unilab said they are expediting this

week,” Lopez added. On Tuesday, the pharmaceutical firm reported the lack of supplies of paracetamol and analgesic brands in some drugstores due to “extraordinary demand.” Pharmaceutical and Healthcare Association of the Philippines (PHAP) Vice President Jannette Jakosalem, in a TV interview on Wednesday, said pharmaceutical firms, particularly Zuellig Pharma

and Metro Drug, are doing rounds as well among drugstores to check inventory items that need replenishment. She also assured that there is an “adequate supply” of medicines in their warehouse. The problem is the distribution as some items were reportedly out-of-stock in the drugstores, Jakosalem said, adding they are already processing orders to replenish inventories. The PHAP official, meanwhile, appealed to consumers to avoid hoarding medicines and to buy what is only needed. On Tuesday, Lopez clarified that the perceived shortage of the medicines was only due to the timing of deliveries and not because of shortage of paracetamol and analgesics. Manufacturers had a delivery cutoff last December but deliveries have already resumed this week. The DTI official even said they might ask drugstores to limit each customer’s pur-

chase of paracetamol to avoid panic buying. But the manufacturers suggested, “There is no need to put a cap because they can supply,” Lopez said on Wednesday. “And the drugstores would be able to put their quantity limits when they detect unnecessary bulk purchases,” he added. Apart from popular brands Biogesic and Decolgen, Lopez earlier reminded the public there are other brands and generics available for the public to purchase. He also asked the consumers to only buy medicines from reputable drugstores to “ensure fair price according to suggested retail prices.” In a recent news statement, the Department of Health also assured there is no shortage of paracetamol and other drugs used in treating flu-like symptoms, noting they have many generic alternatives available for purchase.

Ex-PGMA: Policies in place to protect Pinoys vs impact of global warming By Jonathan L. Mayuga

@jonlmayuga

ORMER President and House Speaker Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo is pushing for the implementation of sustainable forest and watershed management policies that were put in place during her Palace term to protect the Filipinos from the impact of global warming. In a news statement, Arroyo who seeks to return to Congress, noted that policies issued during her term in Malacañang aimed to promote watershed-based integrated ecosystem management approach. In June 2004, Arroyo signed Executive Order 318 to promote sustainable forest management in the Philippines, while in November 2005, the Department of Environment and Natural Resources issued Administrative Order 2005-23 for the adoption and implementation of collaborative approach to watershed management. “This is to protect the Filipino people from disasters like floods or landslides and from threats to environmental and economic security like wood and water shortage, biodiversity loss, air pollution and drought,” she said. Sustainable forest management is provided in the global plan of implementation of the World Summit on Sustainable Development adopted in Johannesburg as an international strategy for developing and managing forests, the one-time former House Speaker added. Under EO 318, logging or any commercial exploitation of forestry resources in old growth forests, proclaimed watersheds and other areas covered by the National Integrated Protected Areas System is prohibited to ensure the perpetual existence of all native plants and animals. A watershed-based integrated ecosys-

tems management approach is deemed appropriate for sustainable forest management because of the interrelationships and interactions among the various ecosystems of a watershed such as the upland and coastal areas. The EO also considers watersheds as ecosystem management units managed in a holistic, scientific, rights-based, technology-based and community-based manner and observing the principles of multiple-use, decentralization and devolution and active participation of local government units. It is also the policy of the government to promote sound, effective and efficient, globally competitive and equitable forestry practices in both public and private domains. The EO led to the establishment of tree parks, re-greening and roadside planting of forest species in open and appropriate spaces to mitigate worsening urban air quality and global warming. Meanwhile, AO 2005-23 aimed to ensure the sustainable use of watershed resources, encourage meaningful and active participation of stakeholders within the watershed and ultimately establish a sustainable and multi-sectoral institution capable of addressing natural resources issues in the watershed. Arroyo said promoting and enforcing these policies would help the Philippines mitigate the impact of global warming and protect the population from natural risks such as drought and water shortage, flooding and landslide as well as biodiversity loss and pollution. “It is and should always be the policy of the government to pursue the sustainable management of forests and forestlands in watersheds,” she said.

DPWH constructs ‘mega modular’ facility for Covid patients at NCMH By Lorenz S. Marasigan @lorenzmarasigan

HE Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) has constructed a “mega modular” hospital facility for infectious diseases within the National Center for Mental Health (NCMH) compound in Mandaluyong City. According to Public Works Undersecretary Emil K. Sadain, the facility was constructed to “augment health facilities to deal with the present health challenges,” citing the recent spike in cases of Covid-19 infection. The project has a total capacity of 130 beds—110 beds in 22 rooms and another 20 beds in an intensive care unit facility. Each air-conditioned hospital room has comfortable bed, table, chair and comfort room that will function as quarantine/ treatment facility for those afflicted by the Covid-19 virus. The ICU facility is equipped with oxygen, suction, and vacuum systems; infusion pump and cardiac monitoring; mechanical ventilator; and x-ray and hemodialysis machine dedicated for patients requiring high levels of medical care and complex treatment. “The completed mega hospital facility would augment the need for hospital beds of Covid-infected patients in the National Capital Region and neighboring provinces

from Calabarzon and Central Luzon as hospital admissions rose anew,” Sadain said. Currently, the Philippines is said to be “high risk” for Covid-19, as the number of infections surged over the holiday season and the emergence of the Omicron variant. Aside from the hospital facility, the DPWH has completed two cluster units of off-site dormitories for medical frontline workers each with 24 fully air-conditioned rooms and double decker beds with toilet and bath to accommodate 96 NCMH health workers. “To date, no less than 820 health-care facilities with a total bed capacity of 30,234 were completed that augment health service nationwide. Facilities completed consists of 736 units of quarantine/isolation facilities with 28,195 beds; 29 modular hospitals with 595 beds; and 55 off-site dormitories with 1,444 beds for medical personnel and other frontliners,” Sadain said. Among the modular hospital facilities that werecompletedareatQuezonInstitute-Philippine Tuberculosis Society Inc., Lung Center of the Philippines, Dr. Jose N. Rodriquez Memorial Hospital, National Kidney and Transplant Institute, V. Luna Medical Center, Pasig City General Hospital, Las Piñas General Hospital and Satellite Trauma Center, Ospital ng Maynila, Valenzuela City Emergency Hospital, Batangas Medical Center, and Southern Philippines Medical Center in Davao City.

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SBMA serves ultimatum to illegal Subic settlers By Henry Empeño Correspondent

UBIC BAY FREEPORT—The Subic Bay Metropolitan Authority (SBMA) on Tuesday sent an ultimatum to the farmers group Filipino Farmers Center Internazionale (FFCI), whose members have illegally occupied governmentowned land along the northeast periphery of the Subic Bay free port. In a January 3 notice sent separately to the FFCI and 11 of its members, the SBMA said it will give the illegal settlers five days upon receipt of the letter to vacate lots at the Tipo area of the free port before it formally takes over the illegallyoccupied premises. “Despite repeated advice for you to vacate the same, it is apparent that you continue to refuse to vacate and illegally occupy and built structures over the subject area,” the SBMA notice said. “Please consider this as our final demand for you to vacate the subject premises. Otherwise, the agency will be constrained to resort to legal remedies, including the filing of criminal and civil cases against you, if neces-

AN SBMA Ecology Center team, backed by law enforcement personnel, proceeds to an area occupied by illegal settlers at Subic’s Tipo area to serve a final demand to vacate.

sary,” it added. The final notice signed by Atty. Teophanie Christy S. Reutotar, manager of the SBMA Legal Department,

was served on Tuesday by personnel from the SBMA Ecology Center and the SBMA Law Enforcement Department.

Lex Byron Magrata of the Ecology Center’s Social Development Division, who led the SBMA team, said the notice was received by Joel

DAR brings hope to ‘Odette’ victims in Negros Oriental

EVASTATED by Typhoon “Odette” (international code name Rai), communities in remote areas in Negros Oriental struggle to survive amid the losses they incurred in the wake of the typhoon. The Department of Agrarian Reform (DAR) gave some of these farmers hope of recovery. Aside from providing relief goods to agrarian reform beneficiaries (ARBs) in Negros Oriental, the DAR also vowed to fast track the distribution of package of support services in the province. DAR Secretary Bernie F. Cruz, who led the distribution of relief goods that included rice and canned goods in the towns of Mabinay and Bais City, said they visited the place not only to provide the immediate needs of the farmers at the moment, but also to see the actual situation of the farmers and listen to their concerns and needs on how they can best

recover their devastated livelihood. “President Rodrigo Duterte asked me to look after the ARB’s welfare and pool the agency’s resources to help the farmers affected by the typhoon,” Cruz said. The DAR chief revealed that the department would immediately provide the ARBs with various farm machinery, farm inputs, credit assistance and training to ensure that livelihood opportunities in the communities would be available. Prior to this, Cruz directed all DAR field officials to prioritize and fast track the acquisition and distribution of unused government-owned lands (GOLs) and private agricultural lands, which should be accomplished and distributed within the first three months of 2022. Before 2021 ended, the DAR chief required all regional directors

Dabawenyos waive Christmas package for storm survivors

By Manuel T. Cayon

@awimailbox Mindanao Bureau Chief

AVAO CITY—As many as 80,434 Davao City residents waived their Christmas package from the city government to donate these instead to survivors of Typhoon Odette. This number was the first batch of residents who opted not to claim their “Pahalipay sa Pasko,” a food package for the holidays, said Mayor Sara Duterte-Carpio in a regular Monday radio program over the city government-operated Davao City Disaster Radio. The donatedgrocerypackscombinedwith the private sector donations already reached the Odette-affected areas in Talisay, LapuLapu, Danao in Cebu; San Fransisco, Cabadbaran-Agusan in Surigao del Sur; Siargao, Dinagat Islands and Negros Occidental.

The city government posted photographs in its official Facebook page of the delivery of the donations. She said another batch of grocery pack donations was scheduled for transport to Surigao del Norte, Kalayaan group of Islands-Palawan, Kabankalan-Negros Occidental, Bais, Negros Oriental, Barangay Bangkal, Lapu-Lapu City, Barangay Mactan, Lapu-Lapu City, Maasin City, Leyte, and Soccoro Island, Surigao del Norte. Duterte-Carpio announced in early December that all holders of the Safe Davao QR (DQR) would be given grocery packs as Christmas giveaways to the estimated 1.8 million residents here. Residents would only have to log in to their QR code to be directed where to claim the packs. Several shopping malls and big department stores that sponsored the grocery packs were the designated distribution centers to avoid crowding.

Supreme Court extends work suspension until January 8 By Joel R. San Juan

@jrsanjuan1573

HE Supreme Court (SC) announced on Wednesday it would be extending its work suspension until Saturday, January 8, due to “high positivity rate” of its personnel tested for Covid-19 infections. I n a Me mor a ndu m O rd e r No. 3-2022, Chief Justice Alexander Gesmundo said the extension was necessary to give way for massive antigen testing and contact tracing on other employees who were in close physical contact with those infected. The SC-Office of the Court Administrator (OCA) also announced a two-day suspension of work from January 6, Thursday, to January 7, Friday, in all the first and

second level courts in the National Capital Region due to increasing number of judges and court personnel testing positive for infections in almost all the court stations in Metro Manila. In OCA Circular 01-2022, Deputy Court Administrator and OCA-Officer-in-Charge Raul Bautista Villanueva said the two-day work suspension was necessary for the conduct of disinfection of court premises, a comprehensive contact tracing and an exhaustive antigen and/or RT-PCR testing of the judges and court personnel. “The Executive Judges are hereby directed to coordinate with the local government units in their respective jurisdiction on the above needed disinfection, contact tracing and testing,” the circular read.

Donato, an FFCI marshal assigned at the FFCI office in the illegallyoccupied area. He added that said Donato acknowledged knowing the recipients of the notice, but said that they lived somewhere else and only visited the area from time to time. The recipients included Gabriel, who is a resident of Barangay Tipo, Hermosa, Bataan; Ding Nabalo of Barangay New Cabalan, Olongapo City; Erwin Basi of Old Cabalan, Olongapo; Liza Cunanan of Barangay Bangal, Dinalupihan, Bataan; Gina Pamayan, Ginalyn Nemenzo, Elvira Rosal, Ojing Medina, Edwin Buenaventura, and Peregrino Rosal of Barangay Roosevelt, Dinalupihan, Bataan; and Emily Ando of Tarlac City. Magrata said Donato received the notices on behalf of the recipients and promised to hand them over to the persons concerned within the week. SBMA Chairman Wilma T. Eisma said on Wednesday that the

to submit on or before January 10, 2022, a consolidated list of all unused GOLs inventory and private agricultural lands for distribution in the first quarter of 2022. “We will comply with the President’s instructions, we will expedite the distribution of agricultural lands and prioritize the victims of the recent typhoon,” he added. The regions, which were hardest hit by Typhoon Odette, include Caraga, Western Visayas, Central Visayas, Eastern Visayas and Mimaropa. Jonathan L. Mayuga

SBMA decided to send the FFCI and its members an ultimatum after verifying the continued illegal occupation by the group since April last year of the free port area identified as Lot 2. “We have given them a notice to vacate in April 2021 after they started a settlement at Lot 2, but they have ignored the warning, apparently,” Eisma said. She added that last year the SBMA had already filed court cases against 30 families affiliated with FFCI for illegally occupying Lot 12, an area at the boundary of the Subic Bay Freeport and the Roosevelt National Park in Dinalupihan. “We have to protect government rights and interests over these areas, as provided for under RA 7227, which created the Subic Bay Freeport Zone, and as further defined under Proclamation No. 532, which delineated the metes and bounds of the Subic Special Economic and Freeport Zone,” Eisma also said.

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France sees record 271,000 Covid-19 cases in single day

ARIS—France reported a record-smashing 271,686 daily virus cases on Tuesday as Omicron infections race across the country, burdening hospital staff and threatening to disrupt transport, schools and other services. T he French gover nment is straining to avoid a new economically damaging lockdown, and is instead trying to rush a vaccine pass bill through parliament in hopes that it is enough to protect hospitals. But with Europe’s highest number of confirmed daily virus cases, after weeks of record-breaking figures, France is in an increasingly challenging position. France’s average daily case load has more than doubled in a week, with an overall current infection rate of more than 1,671 people out of 100,000 over the past week. Britain, which is also seeing

a big surge, reported a record 218,274 daily cases Tuesday. Germany reported 30,561 cases Tuesday. More than 20,000 people are hospitalized with the virus in France, a number that has been rising steadily for weeks but not as sharply as the infection rates. Covid-19 patients fill more t h a n 72 percent of Fra nce’s ICU beds, and a once-renowned health care system is again showing signs of strain. Most virus patients in ICUs are not vaccinated, though 77 percent of the population has had at least two doses. More than 123,000 people with

French Health Minister Olivier Veran speaks during a session of questions to the Government at the French National Assembly in Paris, France on January 4, 2022. France’s lower house of parliament is voting on a government plan to require full vaccination to enter restaurants, tourist sites, sports facilities and other venues. AP/Francois Mori

the virus have died in France, among the world’s higher death tolls. A growing number of people in France can’t work because they are sick or are close contact cases, which is disrupting some hospitals and forced some reg iona l t ra in ca ncel l at ions, among other ser vices.

The French government has imposed some restrictions on crowds and re-imposed mask requirements outdoors in some places, in addition to indoor mask requirements. The surge is also forcing candidates for April presidential election to scale back campaign events. AP

N. Korea fires suspected ballistic missile into sea

EOUL, South Korea—North Korea fired a suspected ballistic missile into the sea on Wednesday, the South Korean and Japanese militaries said, the first such launch in about two months and a signal that Pyongyang isn’t interested in rejoining denuclearization talks anytime soon and would rather focus on boosting its weapons arsenal. The latest launch came after North Korean leader Kim Jong Un vowed to further bolster his military capability—without disclosing any new policies toward the United States or South Korea— at a high-profile ruling party conference last week. South Korea’s Joint Chiefs of Staff said in a statement that North Korea fired a suspected ballistic missile toward its eastern waters on Wednesday morning. It said South Korean and US intelligence authorities were trying to analyze more information about the launch. In an emergency video conference, members of South Korea’s presidential national security team expressed concerns about the launch and said resuming talks with North Korea is important to resolve tensions, according to the presidential Blue House. The Japanese Defense Ministry also detected the North Korean launch, saying the country likely fired a missile. “We find it truly regrettable

that North Korea has continued to fire missiles from last year,” Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida told reporters. Kishida said other details about the North Korean launch weren’t immediately available, including where the suspected missile landed and whether there had been any damage. He said he ordered officials to confirm the safety of ships and planes in the area where the suspected missile likely flew and fell. Between September and November, North Korea performed a spate of weapons tests in what experts called an attempt to apply more pressure on its rivals to accept it as a nuclear power state in the hopes of winning relief from economic sanctions. The weapons tested included a submarinelaunched ballistic missile and a developmental hypersonic missile. Since its artillery firing drills in early November, North Korea had halted testing activities until Wednesday’s launch. The Biden administration has repeatedly said it is open to resuming nuclear diplomacy with North Korea “anywhere and at any time” without preconditions. The North has so far rebuffed such overtures, saying US hostility remains unchanged. Outgoing South Korean President Moon Jae-in said in his New Year’s address Tuesday that he would continue to seek ways to

restore ties with North Korea and promote peace on the Korean Peninsula until his single five-year term ends in May. He has recently pushed for a political, symbolic declaration to end the 1950-1953 Korean War as a way to reduce animosities. US-led diplomacy aimed at convincing North Korea to abandon its nuclear program collapsed in 2019 due to wrangling over how much sanctions relief should be given to the North in return for dismantling its main nuclear complex, a limited denuclearization step. Kim has since threatened to enlarge his nuclear arsenal, though his country’s economy has suffered major setbacks due to the Covid-19 pandemic, persistent US-led sanctions and his own mismanagement. “Rather than expressing willing ness for denuc lear i zat ion talks or interest in an end-ofwar declaration, North Korea is signaling that neither the omicron variant nor domestic food shortages will stop its aggressive missile development,” said LeifEric Easley, a professor at Ewha University in Seoul. Kim Dong-yub, a professor at the University of North Korean Studies in Seoul, said that North Korea might have tested the hypersonic missile or a nuclearcapable KN-23 missile with a highly maneuverable and lowertrajectory flight. He said North

Korea would likely move forward with its military build-up plans. During last week ’s plenar y meeting of the Central Committee of the ruling Workers’ Party, Kim repeated his vows to boost his country’s military capacity and ordered the production of more powerful, sophisticated weapons systems. State media reports on the meeting said North Korea set forth “tactical directions” for North Korea’s external relations including with South Korea, but didn’t elaborate. The reports made no mention of the United States. Last month, Kim marked 10 years in power. Since assuming control after his father and longtime ruler Kim Jong Il’s death in December 2011, Kim Jong Un has established absolute power at home and staged an unusually large number of weapons tests as part of efforts to build nucleartipped missiles capable of reaching the American mainland. During K im’s 10 -year rule, North Korea has performed 62 rounds of ballistic missile tests, compared with nine rounds during his grandfather and state founder Kim Il Sung’s 46-year rule, and 22 rounds during Kim Jong Il’s 17-year rule, according to South Korean and US figures. Four of the North’s six nuclear tests and its three intercontinental ballistic missile launches all occurred under Kim Jong Un’s rule. AP

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US CDC cautions against travel to Singapore in ‘bizarre’ move

he US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention on Tuesday urged Americans to avoid traveling to Singapore entirely, reclassifying its Covid-19 advisory for the city-state and saying the situation there is now “unknown.” The change stems from a lack of testing data that the CDC used to get from data aggregator Our World in Data. That information hasn’t been updated since November 8, the CDC said in an e-mail to Bloomberg. The designation came as a surprise in Singapore, which maintains far stricter testing and social distancing measures than in the US, and where the city-state’s Ministry of Health posts detailed virus statistics, in English, on its website every day. “I do think it’s bizarre,” said Ooi Eng Eong, a professor of emerging infectious diseases at Duke-NUS Medical School, adding that Singapore tests so much that “we know more than what most people look for.” “Clearly some are more comprehensive than others, and I would think that Singapore is among those that are extremely comprehensive in our surveillance,” said Ooi. Singapore, which was previously classified under the CDC’s highest Covid-19 risk level, has seen local cases fall from more than 4,000 a day in late October to less then 400 a day now. The city-state has resisted closing its borders again amid a surge of imported Omicron cases that have arrived from the US and Europe, where the variant is widespread. Singapore’s hospitalizations remain low, with more intensive care unit beds available than in use. The country is also bolstered

by one of the highest vaccination rates in the world—87 percent of the total population are fully inoculated and more than 40 percent have gotten their booster shots. Yet for the CDC, Singapore is now placed in the same classification category as Afghanistan, North Korea and Syria, as well as microstates in the Pacific that don’t have the infrastructure for complex data reporting. CDC said in a statement to Bloomberg that it evaluates primary criteria including cumulative new case counts and case trajectory information provided directly by health ministries to the World Health Organization. Secondary criteria data, such as tests conducted per capita and test-to-case ratio, are obtained from places like Our World in Data and ministry of health websites. It’s measured over a 28-day period and reviewed daily. In a statement on its website, CDC said that “if a destination does not provide data, their THN level is designated as ‘unknown’ and travelers are advised to follow THN Level 4 recommendations,” which is to avoid travel there entirely. “Because the current situation in Singapore is unknown, even fully vaccinated travelers may be at risk for getting and spreading Covid-19 variants,” the CDC said. The US agency has reversed errant designations before. In September, the CDC mistakenly flagged Hong Kong as a growing risk for Covid, despite minimal cases there at the time. It later revised the designation down to its lowest risk level. Singapore reported a total of 842 new Covid-19 cases as of noon on January 4. Of those, 334 were in the community, six were in foreign worker dormitories, and 502 were imported. Bloomberg News

Australia PM meets with National Cabinet amid surge in infections

Y D N E Y— A u s t r a l i a o n Wednesday saw rising Covid-19 case numbers and hospitalizations and long queues at testing centers as it continued to battle the rapid spread of the virus in most states. The country recorded more t h a n 6 4,0 0 0 c a ses, up f rom 47,000 a day earlier, and Prime Minister Scott Morrison met virtually with the National Cabinet—the leaders of Australia’s states and territories—to discuss how to respond to almost daily records in new cases and rising pressure on hospitals. Mor r ison faces inc rea sing calls to make rapid antigen tests available free in some cases to relieve pressure on PCR testing centers, many of which have been forced to close after reaching capacity. People who have been tested often face long waits for results from overburdened laboratories. New South Wales, the country’s most populous state, saw a record 35,054 new cases on Wednesday as it awaits the arrival of 50 million rapid antigen tests ordered by the state government. State Premier Dominic Perrottet urged residents not to seek

PCR tests unless necessary, adding that the arrival of the rapid testing kits expected next week would “significantly assist.” Victor ia state repor ted 17,636 cases, a state record, and Queensland saw 6,871 cases. The case numbers do not necessarily reflect the true spread of the virus as they only count the number of recorded cases. Hospitalizations nationwide stood at 2,990 on Wednesday, with 196 patients in intensive care. Both numbers were higher than the previous day, when 2,684 hospitalizations were recorded, with 183 people in intensive care. Morrison reiterated his position Wednesday that the federal gover nment wou ld not ma ke rapid antigen tests avai lable free, despite increasing pressure to do so. “What we’re focused on is ensuring that the tests are there for those who need them for health reasons,” Morrison told reporters. Mor r i son sa id rapid test ing kits face supply problems and that the federal and state governments had been trying since August to obtain tests in large numbers and had acquired around 160 million of them. AP

Australia and Japan to sign ‘historic’ defense, security pact

Y DNEY—Australia and Japan will sign a treaty on Thursday to increase defense and security cooperation in a move that has been hailed as “historic” but which might anger China. Prime ministers Scott Morrison of Australia and Fumio Kishida of Japan will meet in a virtual summit to sign the

agreement, which Morrison said “will underpin greater and more complex practical engagement between the Australian Defense Force and the Japanese Self-Defense Forces.” “Australia and Japan are the closest of friends,” Morrison added. “Our special strategic partnership is stronger than it has ever been, reflecting our

shared values, our commitment to democracy and human rights and our common interests in a free, open and resilient IndoPacific region.” I n S e pte mb e r, Au st r a l i a sig ned the so-ca l led Au kus trilateral security pact with the United States and Britain under which those two countries pledged to help Australia

acquire nuclear-powered submarines. The deal upset China, which sa id t h at Au k u s “ser iou sly under mined reg iona l peace and stability, intensified the arms race and undermined international non-proliferation efforts.” In a statement on Wednesday, Morrison described the lat-

est treaty with Japan as historic and said “it will, for the first time, provide a clear framework for enhanced interoperability and cooperation between our two forces.” “ This treaty will be a statement of our two nations’ commitment to work together in meeting the shared strategic secur it y challenges we face

a nd to cont r ibute to a se cure and stable Indo-Pacific,” Mor r ison sa id. The US and Australia, along with India and Japan, are also members of a strategic dialogue known as “the Quad,” and Morrison said Wednesday that Australia would contribute “an expanding agenda” for that as well. AP

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ESTABLISHMENT / ADDRESS No.

NAME OF FOREIGN NATIONAL , POSITION AND BRIEF DESCRIPTION

ESTABLISHMENT / ADDRESS QUALIFICATION AND SALARY RANGE

COMSCENTRE PHILS. INC. 6th Floor Multinational Bancorporation Centre,, 6805 Ayala Ave., San Lorenzo, City Of Makati

BOE, PATRICK SHAN Country Manager And Treasurer

Brief Job Description: To manage and oversee the whole local Philippine operations, which includes support services, recruitment, budgets, planning, logistics and all other. He ensures a cost effective operation and high output. Lead and manage the Support services operations, ensuring that customers receive a high level of customer service within service level agreements.

Basic Qualification: This job demands a broad range of organizational and business skills, including excellent networking skills, able to deliver the highest standards of customer service, excellent interpersonal skills at all levels, people management, and leadership skills. He might also require specialized skill sets and IT industry-related product knowledge, technical and nontechnical support operations.

No.

NAME OF FOREIGN NATIONAL , POSITION AND BRIEF DESCRIPTION

Brief Job Description: Proactively ensure, client satisfaction through regular conference calls and periodic clients visits

ANKIT MARWAH Vice President - Operations And Shared Services 9.

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

Brief Job Description: Develop and enhances strategic business in IGT Philippines partnerships by fully engaging and building trust with our clients and key decision makers to drive client growth and retention; Exhibit knowledge of the target market segment and industry.

QUALIFICATION AND SALARY RANGE

Basic Qualification: oversee, develops and lead strategic business engagements across all IGT Philippines.

No.

NAME OF FOREIGN NATIONAL , POSITION AND BRIEF DESCRIPTION

Brief Job Description: Drive Sales presenting Hybrid QA capabilities and operational improvements to global clients (Existing and New leads);

Basic Qualification: Minimum 7-8 years’ experience on IA/SA both on technical and implementation front

15.

UTKIN, MAKSIM C.O.O - Chief Operating Officer Brief Job Description: In-charge for the operations of the company

NIMPRAMUK, AOMRUTHAI Assistant Project Supervisor

10.

CRONYX INC. No. 4th-10th Flr. Yinhope Bldg., Dela Rama Cor. Zoili Hilario St., Seascape Village, Ccp Complex Subd. Zone 10, Barangay 076, District 1, Pasay City

CHEN, XIANGLONG Chinese Speaking Admin Associate 3.

Brief Job Description: Assist/Help Customers, Give Customers Information about Product and Services

Basic Qualification: With Atleast 6 Months Customer Service Experience/Good in Oral Communication and Written

Brief Job Description: Accomplishes construction human resource objectives by selecting, orienting, training, assigning, scheduling, coaching, counseling, and disciplining employees; communicating job expectations; planning, monitoring, appraising job contributions; recommending compensation actions; adhering to policies and procedures.

LI, LIJUAN Mandarin Purchasing Coordinator 11.

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

Brief Job Description: Inspecting stocks and reporting any faulting items or inconsistencies immediately. Updating and maintaining records of all orders, payments and received stocks

ZHANG, CHUNSHENG Chinese Speaking Admin Associate 4.

Brief Job Description: Assist/Help Customers, Give Customers Information about Product and Services

WANG, YUN-JU Chinese Speaking Program Designer 5.

Brief Job Description: Assist/Help Customers, Give Customers Information about Product and Services

ZHANG, LI Site Supervisor 12.

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

Basic Qualification: With Atleast 6 Months Customer Service Experience/Good in Oral Communication and Written

Brief Job Description: Supervise and evaluate staff, complete employee reviews; keep accurate records of employee attendance and timesheets provide position direction to motivate quality performance; discipline personnel when necessary and appropriate

Basic Qualification: Should have worked in mid-sized BPO organizations and have experience in managing multiple teams executing complex back office processing functions; six sigma black-belt and COPC certified.

GENG, YUPENG Chinese Speaking Admin Associate 16.

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

Brief Job Description: Assist / Help customers, give customers information about product and services

WANG, JIN Chinese Speaking Admin Associate 17.

Basic Qualification: With good oral and communication skills in english and mandarin language familiar in the field of construction works Salary Range: Php 30,000 - Php 59,999

Basic Qualification: Fluent in Mandarin and English language both in written and verbal. Must familiar in expert planning and administrative writing and reporting skills.

HUANG, QIYONG Chinese Speaking Brand Marketing Specialist DYNAMIC STUDIO TECHNOLOGY INC. 5th To 10th/f Platinum Tower Building, Aseana Ave. Cor. Fuentes Street, Baclaran, City Of Parañaque

XU, YAXIONG Chinese Speaking Admin Associate 6.

Brief Job Description: Assist/help customers, give customers information about product and services

Basic Qualification: With at least 6 months customer service experience/good in oral communication and written

13.

NOVOTNY, JAKUB Head Of Funds, Philippines

14.

Brief Job Description: Responsible in answering customer questions about product and services of the company

Brief Job Description: Assist/help customers, give customers information about product and services

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

Basic Qualification: Proficiency in English, Mandarin and other multi-lingual language Salary Range: Php 30,000 - Php 59,999

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

Basic Qualification: With atleast 6 months customer service experience/good in oral communication and written Salary Range: Php 30,000 - Php 59,999

KMC MAG SOLUTIONS, INC. 20/f, Picadilly Star Building, 4th Avenue Corner 27th Street, Fort Bonifacio, City Of Taguig

FRONTIER POINT MANAGEMENT SOLUTIONS INC. 29/f Techzone Bldg., Sen. Gil Puyat Ave., San Antonio, City Of Makati

LU, MU-PING Mandarin Technical Support

Basic Qualification: With good oral and communication skills in English and mandarin language familiar in the field of construction works

Brief Job Description: The position HEAD OF FUNDS, PHILIPPINES is a client relationship manager and main contact person, the role is responsible for reviewing all clients and funds calculations of the accounts, managing a group of staff people, responsible for training and development of staff. Acting as main contact for banks, brokers, and external auditors.

Basic Qualification: Graduate of General Management or any related course, With At least 5 years experience in Fund Accounting and Account Management, Advanced user of the following software: Microsoft Office, M-Fact (fund accounting software, Mantra HWM (transfer agency software) PFS Paxus (fund accounting software) Salary Range: Php 150,000 - Php 499,999

Brief Job Description: Assist / Help customers, give customers information about product and services

ZHANG, HUIZHI Chinese Speaking Admin Associate 18.

Brief Job Description: Assist / Help customers, give customers information about product and services

Basic Qualification: With at least 6 months customer service experience/ Good in oral communication and written Salary Range: Php 30,000 - Php 59,999

SUPER CUT MING JIANG SALON INC. Unit 209-210 Monarch Parksuites Condo., Bradco Ave., Tambo, City Of Parañaque

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

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

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

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

NEO INCORPORATED North Tower Centrum Bldg., Aseana Avenue, Entertainment City, Baclaran, City Of Parañaque

19. Basic Qualification: With Atleast 6 Months Customer Service Experience/Good in Oral Communication and Written

Basic Qualification: University graduate

Salary Range: Php 500,000 and above

JIANGSU DIBANG CONSTRUCTION PHILIPPINES CORPORATION Unit 2106-a West Tower, Psec Exchange Road, Ortigas Center, San Antonio, City Of Pasig

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

QUALIFICATION AND SALARY RANGE

MONEYCAT FINANCING INC. Unit 1701 Tycoon Centre Bldg., Pearl Drive,ortigas Center, San Antonio, City Of Pasig

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

CHAUDHARY, RISHI Global Hybrid Quality (speech Analytics) Director

A13

ESTABLISHMENT / ADDRESS

IGT TECHNOLOGIES PHILIPPINES INC. 6th Floor, 18/20 Upper Mckinley Road, Mckinley Hill Cyberpark, Fort Bonifacio, City Of Taguig

KUMMARAGUNTLA, PARTHA SARATHI Sr. Vice President And Country Head, Philippines

Thursday, January 6, 2022

Basic Qualification: Fluent in Mandarin, both oral and written, expert in hairstyling

XIONG, LEI Chinese Beauty Consultant Brief Job Description: Beauty parlor activities

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

TOTAL CREST BUSINESS SUPPORT, INC. 26/f & 27/f Alphaland Corporate Tower, Ayala Ave. Extn. Cor. Malugay St., Bel-air, City Of Makati

HONG HUYNH PHUONG THAO Mandarin Field Marketing Officer 20.

Brief Job Description: Define a region-specific marketing plan that supports the regional sales strategy

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

*Date Generated: Jan 5, 2022 In the ad material of Notice of Filing of Application for Alien Employment Permits published on December 04, 2021, the position of YU, KEFAN under EMERALD WIRELESS TECH INC., should have been read as CHINESE MARKETING DIRECTOR and not as published. In the ad material of Notice of Filing of Application for Alien Employment Permits published on December 10, 2021, the name of LIANG, XIAOMEI under FLYING DRAGON NETWORK PHILIPPINES INC., should have been read as LIANG, XIAOWEI and not as published. In the ad material of Notice of Filing of Application for Alien Employment Permits published on December 21, 2021, the position of SANTAVEESUK, PRAKAYDAO under ZONAC AND SHIBATA SERVICES INC., should have been read as THAI FINANCE MANAGER and not as published. In the ad material of Notice of Filing of Application for Alien Employment Permits published on December 24, 2021, the name of ZHICHAO, WANG under ITECHNO SPECIALIST INC., should have been read as WANG, ZHICHAO 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

A14 Thursday, January 6, 2022 • Editor: Angel R. Calso

Opinion BusinessMirror

www.businessmirror.com.ph

editorial

This is scary

he Omicron variant has “extraordinary spreading capabilities,” the top US infectious diseases expert said in December, and promises to bring a bleak winter as it continues “raging through the world.” Dr. Anthony Fauci’s warning came ahead of the busy holiday travel period, which he said would elevate the risk of infection even in vaccinated people. He was right on point: US infections set a new daily record. From the Associated Press: “More than 1 million people in the US were diagnosed with Covid-19 on Monday as a tsunami of Omicron swamps every aspect of daily American life. The highly mutated variant drove US cases to a record, the most—by a large margin—that any country has ever reported. Monday’s number is almost double the previous record of about 590,000 set just four days ago in the US, which itself was a doubling from the prior week.” Early findings suggest that Omicron might be less severe than the Delta variant, but more data is needed and World Health Organization warns that it should not be dismissed as “mild.” A new study said Covid-19 infection can trigger an immune response that lasts well beyond the initial infection and recovery—even among people who had mild symptoms or no symptoms at all, according to Cedars-Sinai investigators. The virus leaves antibodies that may attack healthy tissues. The findings are published in the Journal of Translational Medicine. From sciencedaily.com: “The Cedars-Sinai investigators found that people with prior infection with SARS-CoV-2, the virus that causes Covid-19, have a wide variety of autoantibodies up to six months after they have fully recovered. Prior to this study, researchers knew that severe cases of Covid-19 can stress the immune system so much that autoantibodies are produced. This study is the first to report not only the presence of elevated autoantibodies after mild or asymptomatic infection, but also their persistence over time.” To conduct their study, the Cedars-Sinai research team recruited 177 people with confirmed evidence of a previous Covid infection. They compared blood samples from these individuals with samples taken from healthy people prior to the pandemic. All those with confirmed Covid infection had elevated levels of autoantibodies. Some of the autoantibodies also have been found in people with diseases in which the immune system attacks its own healthy cells, such as lupus and rheumatoid arthritis. “We found signals of autoantibody activity that are usually linked to chronic inflammation and injury involving specific organ systems and tissues such as the joints, skin and nervous system,” said Susan Cheng, director of the Institute for Research on Healthy Aging in the Department of Cardiology at the Smidt Heart Institute and cosenior author of the study. “If we can better understand these autoantibody responses, and how it is that Covid infection triggers and drives these variable responses, then we can get one step closer to identifying ways to treat and even prevent these effects from developing in people at risk,” Cheng said. The study’s findings are alarming. The research, however, warrants further study to corroborate the findings and needs to be certified by peer review. If Covid leaves antibodies that may attack healthy tissues among survivors, the best thing we can do is to avoid infection at all costs. Since 2005

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Dalio and Roubini John Mangun

OUTSIDE THE BOX

y grandmother was seven years old when New York City had a population of 100,000 horses producing around 2.5 million pounds (1.1 million kilograms) of manure each day. She lived to see the first man walk on the moon and the original Macintosh all-in-one personal computer. In my lifetime, televisions went from the RCA CT-100 color TV set, which used 36 vacuum tubes with a 12-inch screen to a solid-state 75inch Sony that live streams off the Internet. When someone denigrates the “Boomer” generation, I know that I am dealing with an ignorant person who has no historical perspective. Ok, that is not entirely true. They know that their Smartphone is an “Apple iPhone 13,” not “XIII,” Roman numerals being far too advanced. The recent generations call them “gadgets;” my generation calls them “Technological miracles.” A “gadget” is the creative brilliance of combining a toothpick and a nail-cutter on the same “Swiss Army knife.” Except in 1851, chapter 107 of MobyDick, Herman Melville mentions the “Sheffield contrivances, of a common pocket knife; but contain-

ing, not only blades of various sizes, but also screw-drivers, cork-screws, tweezers, and nail-filers.” The American comic strip (which “Boomers” grew up with) featuring Dick Tracy debuted the two-Way Wrist Radio in 1946. Martin Cooper, now 93 years old, invented the first handheld cellular mobile phone (distinct from the car phone) in 1973. In 2015, Cooper himself said that his actual inspiration was Dick Tracy’s wrist radio. In truth, no generation is any “smarter” than another. In the words of Isaac Newton, “If I have seen further it is by standing on the shoulders of Giants.” Who is smarter; Elon Musk or Hero of Alexandria who invented the steam engine? Except, Roman engineer Vitruvius described the steam engine 100 years before Hero.

What I see shifting in the past 30 years is a decline of intellectual curiosity. Are we losing the desire to learn more and to experiment more outside of our comfort zone? The difference between an “expert” and a genuine expert is that the expert is always challenging and questioning prevailing thought and even his/her own ideas. Two experts whose names you need to know and works you need to read are American investor Ray Dalio and Iranian-American economist Nouriel Roubini. Dalio sees one critical way how the world order is changing. Dalio: “Right now, there are vastly more financial assets [stocks, debt, even cryptos] than there are real assets [buildings, factories, commodities, and other ‘hard’ usable assets].” So, what would happen if there was a move to convert the financial assets into hard assets? “Central banks would certainly respond by printing a lot of money to allow people to get the money.” “Throughout history, a crisis eventually occurred when many holders of these financial assets went to sell them and discovered that there were far too many of them.” Roubini the Economist is concerned about the political shifts that will affect economies. “The Sino-American cold war is getting colder. China increasing its military pressure on Taiwan and in the South China Sea and the broader decou-

pling between the Chinese and US economies, is accelerating.” Also, “Political dysfunction is increasing in both advanced economies and emerging markets. The US is experiencing near-unprecedented levels of partisan polarization, gridlock, and radicalization, all of which poses a serious systemic risk.” Both share concerns about “wealth disparity” and not the “Eat the Rich” nonsense unless of course you are also talking about nations north and south, east and west, and debtors and creditors. Remember the conversations about “global vaccine inequality”? Mainstream media NBC News headlined “Covid Omicron variant linked to vaccine inequality, experts say. Global vaccine inequality is “worse than ever”—and accusations that rich countries have been hoarding shots for themselves.” Now that the US just topped one million new cases in a single day and “South Africa Reports Omicron Peak Has Passed,” “vaccine inequality” is no longer a hot topic. The reality though is that one person’s debts are another person’s assets, and many nations like the Philippines has stayed out of this fool’s debt game. E-mail me at mangun@gmail.com. Follow me on Twitter @mangunonmarkets. PSE stock-market information and technical analysis provided by AAA Southeast Equities Inc.

The UK is being consumed by Brexit more than Covid

By Flavia Krause-Jackson | Bloomberg

hen Brexit and the coronavirus blurred into a political fog engulfing the UK last year, at the center of it inevitably stood the leader who has been defined by both.

Prime Minister Boris Johnson stuck to the line that his country was at a turning point, on the cusp of a return to greatness after leaving the European Union. A shortage of critical workers, supply chain disruption and a rollercoaster resurgence of virus infections were bumps in the road on the journey to his much-vaunted “Global Britain.” As the world confronts the latest incarnation of Covid-19, the UK has record infections and taken another hit to the economy. But for Johnson, Brexit and the pandemic are morphing into a political demon that now risks slipping out of his control after the more radical elements of his party gained the upper hand. One year into “going it alone,” British civil servants have been told to avoid the word Brexit. Johnson, the champion of the UK’s new freedoms, often looks like a moderate next to some of his more libertarian, free-market colleagues. Many proBrexit members of Parliament from his governing Conservative Party are now often the ones questioning his

virus restrictions, undermining his majority in the House of Commons. The nation, meanwhile, is having a pang of buyer’s remorse. A survey by Deltapoll published this week found that 10% of Brexit voters think it’s been a success, albeit with 67% of that “leave” cohort reckoning it will eventually come good. The company questioned 1,567 adults on December 23 to 30. Globally, the disconnection between how the UK sees itself—exceptional, front and center stage— versus the diminished power in the eyes of the outside world is jarring. By the time Brexit finally happened on January 1 last year, many outsiders were baffled by the choice, but relieved not to have to hear about it again. The UK, though, won’t let go. Foreign Secretary Liz Truss said in a speech in London on December 8 that “Britain is the greatest country on earth” and that “it’s time to be proud of who we are and what we stand for.” Popular among rank and file Conservatives and seen as a potential rival to Johnson, Truss

has taken over tetchy post-Brexit talks with the EU and advocates for a Singapore-style economy of low taxes and light regulations. A week later, the UK’s trade minister, Penny Mordaunt, lectured an audience at the Carter Institute in Atlanta, Georgia, about Brexit. Leaving the EU “is not an event to be mourned by the international community or an act of self-harm or one that requires us to be punished,” she said. “America has a choice to make. How will you respond?” The trouble is that President Joe Biden already gave Johnson an answer in September. He explicitly told the prime minister that a USUK trade deal, the one promised as the ultimate Brexit prize, was on the back burner. Erik Fossing Nielsen, who served as chief economist at Unicredit and Goldman Sachs, called Mordaunt’s speech “bonkers” and “a display of complete ignorance and a fair amount of arrogance.” “Brexit is a self-reinforcing process,” said Helene von Bismarck, a historian focused on Britain’s relationship with Europe. “First it was about leaving the EU, but it was always about so much more because people projected whatever they wanted onto it.” Brexit Britain still has some punch. Johnson, who almost died of Covid-19 in 2020, faces an awkward inquiry into how the country ended

up with one of the world’s highest death tolls. Yet its stellar vaccine rollout has won plaudits globally and a higher proportion of people have had their booster shots than in any large economy in Europe, a critical tool in fighting omicron. The UK has also shown it can still have an impact on the global stage, even if its allies on the continent look across the Channel with increasing indifference. (New German Chancellor Olaf Scholz has visited Paris and Brussels. He’s yet to come to London.) When a new nuclear-powered submarine deal between the US, UK and Australia was suddenly announced in September, Johnson presented it as evidence of that growing clout. France, which was incensed to be cut out of the military alliance, saw it as betraying the extent to which the UK was willing to become a vassal state of the US. French diplomats also see Johnson as too ready to find scapegoats for everything that has gone wrong after Brexit, while also pushing his relentlessly positive message. That’s very much a tactic of the UK leader, said Von Bismarck. The aim is to find “bogeymen inside and outside the country to put blame on,” she said, “keeping everyone entertained, furious and anxious and nervous so as to keep people distracted from his deficiencies.”

Opinion BusinessMirror

www.businessmirror.com.ph

No way, Cusi

he petition of the PDP-Laban faction led by Secretary Alfonso Cusi to reopen the period of filing certificates of candidacy (COCs) and postpone the printing of the official ballots for the May 2022 elections is indeed unprecedented. Like a vagrant, it has no visible means of legal or factual support and should immediately be dismissed by the Commission on Elections (Comelec).

Awful, woeful tales of ‘Typhoid Mary’, ‘Población Girl’ and ‘Lady Massage’ Val A. Villanueva

The period to file COC was set by the Comelec from October 1 to 8, 2021 pursuant to its power “to set the deadline of filing COCs” under Section 15 of Republic Act 9369. This was implemented by the Comelec under Resolution 10717, which was promulgated on August 8, 2021. Said resolution could only be reversed by the Supreme Court if Cusi could prove that the Comelec committed grave abuse of discretion in providing for the said period of filing COCs. Cusi cannot just claim that the period set by the Comelec was “unreasonable, unnecessary and legally impossible.” But said resolution could only be assailed before the Supreme Court within a period of 30 days upon its promulgation. Since it was promulgated on August 8, 2021, the deadline to appeal to the Supreme Court was September 8, 2021. Clearly, it is too late in the day for Cusi to question the said Comelec resolution. Likewise, the pendency of disqualification cases of some candidates and resolution of other issues involving party-lists is not a valid reason to postpone the printing of

ballots as it would greatly affect the timetable of the Comelec in preparing for the May 2022 elections. Anyway, the said disqualification cases are well-taken cared of by Section 6 of RA 6646, which provides for the procedures to be followed “if for any reason a candidate is not declared by final judgment before an election to be disqualified and he is voted for and receives the winning number of votes in such election.” Lastly, it is so surprising to note that a political party like PDP-Laban that claims to be the “ruling party” could not even come up with its own presidential and vice presidential bets at this stage of the May 2022 elections. And Cusi’s claim that its party “did not have time to remedy the political vacuum created by Sen. Ronald Dela Rosa’s withdrawal of his candidacy for president” might affect its accreditation as the dominant majority party in the said election. Atty. Romulo B. Macalintal Election lawyer Las Piñas City

US pushes unity on Ukraine ahead of key Russia meetings By Matthew Lee & Frank Jordans

Associated Press

ASHINGTON—In a display of unity, the Biden administration and its European allies are beginning a series of meetings aimed at showing Russia that an invasion of Ukraine would be met with a forceful response. Using virtually identical language, the US and its European allies have several times in the past month issued joint and individual messages advising Russian President Vladimir Putin that his country will face “massive consequences” and “severe costs” if he goes ahead with further military intervention in Ukraine. Yet the severity of the response hinges largely on Germany, Europe’s biggest economy and a diplomatic heavyweight within the 27-nation European Union. Potential actions— be they economic, diplomatic or political—will top the agenda in talks in Washington on Wednesday between Secretary of State Antony Blinken and new German Foreign Minister Annalena Baerbock. The Blinken-Baerbock meeting will follow a telephone call last week between President Joe Biden and Putin, a conversation Sunday between Biden and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, and a group discussion Tuesday among Biden’s national security adviser Jake Sullivan and his counterparts from the five Nordic nations. It will precede a flurry of meetings involving Nato foreign ministers, senior US and Russian officials, the Nato-Russia Council and the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe set for next week. Baerbock, the top diplomat in the first German government in 16 years not headed by Angela Merkel, has struck a tougher tone on Russia than her predecessor. She has warned that Moscow will pay a “high political and economic price” if it makes any militaristic moves against Ukraine. Ahead of her trip to Washington, Baerbock underlined the importance of the trans-Atlantic alliance and its basis in common values and respecting international law. She said Germany is “determined to act together to defend the peaceful order in Europe,” with particular attention to Russia. “With regard to Russia, the common message of the European and American governments is clear. Russian actions come with a clear price tag [and] the only way out of the

crisis is through dialogue,” she said. “We have made this very clear time and again to the Russian government in recent days and weeks,” she said. “We’re now going into a decisive phase, in which there will be important talks at various levels. And even though the formats of the talks vary, our message as trans-Atlantic partners to the government in Moscow is always the same.” Western officials have hinted at any number of economically crippling sanctions that could be imposed should Russia act. Those include near total cutoff from the international financial system and steps toward greater Nato integration with non-allied European nations. As the Biden administration moves to build international consensus around a set of possible punitive measures, Germany is clearly the linchpin. Securing its support will be key to both messaging and implementation of whatever is decided. Germany’s business ties with Russia could provide leverage, but they could also prove a hindrance for forging a united front toward Moscow. Despite strong criticism from the US, the center-left government of new Chancellor Olaf Scholz hasn’t shown itself willing to block the start of natural gas deliveries through a newly built pipeline linking Russia and Germany—a move that would hurt both countries. Germany has adopted a less confrontational stance toward Russia compared with many other European nations. Under Merkel, it persuaded the Biden administration last year not to impose sanctions on the company building the Nord Stream 2 pipeline that many believe will leave Europe beholden to Russia for energy and Ukraine more vulnerable. Nord Stream 2 is a topic of major concern in Washington and Congress is expected to take up two bills related to it and other Russia sanctions next week, just as the meetings in Europe are happening. A GOP bill would automatically impose Nord Stream sanctions, while a Democratic version would impose a wider range of penalties on Russia should it invade Ukraine. Both Democratic and Republican lawmakers in Washington have blamed Nord Stream 2 for increasing Russia’s leverage over Germany and limiting what Berlin would be willing to do in response to a new invasion. Germany, like much of the European Union, is heavily reliant on Russian natural gas.

Thursday, January 6, 2022 A15

Businesswise

Y now, everybody knows—unless you live under a social media-fortified rock—the tale of “Población Girl” and “Lady Massage.” The two are Filipina vacationers who returned to the country separately on December 22 from the US. Gwyneth Ann Chua breached quarantine in Berjaya Makati Hotel the night after she arrived to party with her friends in Kampai, a bar in Barangay Población, Makati. On December 27, according to reports, she tested positive for the Omicron variant of the coronavirus. What’s worse, she infected around 15 people, including some of those who attended the merrymaking, and employees and other customers of the bar. Chua, who has been tagged by netizens since December 30 as ‘Poblacion Girl,’ has been moved to a different hotel for further isolation with increased security. Department of Tourism (DOT) Secretary Bernadette Romulo-Puyat in newspaper interviews said that Chua had boasted about paying the facility to avoid isolation: “The person did not undergo quarantine at all... There’s a modus that they’ll just pay and will only show up on the 5th day for swabbing.” Berjaya Hotel at first denied the report and even vouched that Chua was in isolation the whole time. But after the DOT presented evidence from those who attended the party, the girl admitted that she had jumped quarantine. Berjaya has since then apologized, even as authorities are building up a case to be filed against the hotel and the girl. ‘Lady Massage’ is the other quarantine violator. From the airport, she went home directly to her BGC condo aboard her waiting car, instead of going to her designated quarantine facility in Makati. As Interior Secretary Eduardo Año disclosed on Tuesday, the woman was found out only because she brazenly posted online a photo of her having a massage, later falsely claiming exemption from isolation protocol. Philippine National Police (PNP) chief Gen. Dionardo Bernardo Car-

los has already mobilized appropriate police units to investigate both cases: “Based on the instructions of Secretary Año and Cabinet Secretary Karlo Nograles, I have instructed on December 30, 2021, the DIDM [Directorate for Investigation and Detective Management], CIDG [Criminal Investigation and Detection Group], NCRPO [National Capital Region Police Office] and HS [Health Service] to investigate the case and file appropriate criminal charges against anyone who will be found violating [the protocols]. Also, the PNP mandated to ensure public safety will do the rounds, inspections and accounting of persons under quarantine in designated hotels-quarantine facilities [QFs].” Netizens are all riled up about both quarantine violators, vociferously denouncing them for their irresponsible actions, which they believe, contributed to the alert level status of Metro Manila being raised anew from Level 2 to Level 3 from January 3 to 15. I am reminded of the story of Mary Mallon, an Irish immigrant to the US who worked in a variety of domestic positions for wealthy families prior to settling into her career as a cook. She was employed in 1906 by Charles Henry Warren, a rich New York banker in Oyster Bay, Long Island. Between August 27 and September 3 of that year, six of the 11 people who lived in Warren’s house suffered from typhoid fever. Typhoid fever—a life-threatening illness caused by the Salmonella Typhi bacteria—at that time was still fatal in 10 percent of cases and mainly affected deprived people from large cities. Mary had no clue that she was a healthy carrier of the bacteria, and it took the sleuthing skills of George Sober to finally nail her as the spreader. In 1907, Sober who

Experts have since put forward that vaccines and the continued observance of strict safety protocols are our only way out of this pandemic. The reason coronavirus thrives is its ability to mutate in unvaccinated people. Getting vaccinated is the best way to keep yourself, your family, and your community safe. Let’s all get the “jab” done. was hired by Warren to find out the origin of the disease, later discovered that Mary had been in the service of eight different households, with seven members declared typhoid cases with around 22 people presented signs of the infection. That year, about 3,000 New Yorkers had been infected by typhoid with Mary as the main outbreak source. Unfortunately, immunization against the bacteria was not developed until 1911, and antibiotic treatment was made available only in 1948. Stigmatized as “Typhoid Mary,” she was believed to have infected hundreds of people, many of whom died. Because Mary persisted in working as a cook, and exposing others to the disease, she was twice forcibly quarantined by authorities, and died alone in 1938 at the age of 69, after a total of 26 years in isolation. The phrase ‘Typhoid Mary’ now refers to someone who transmits undesirable opinions, sentiments, or attitudes; a carrier or spreader of misfortune. Typhoid Mary, Población Girl, and Lady Massage reflect the difficult task of convincing infection carriers to prevent themselves from infecting others. It also expounds on how one infected individual may exponentially cause disease outbreaks and spark national debate about prioritizing personal rights over public health, or pitting individual autonomy against the state’s responsibility during a public health crisis. France, for instance, has been under fire from its crackdown on unvaccinated people with the far left up in arms against the move. In Europe and in the US, anti-mask and anti-vaccination groups often violently skirmish with those who do not share their beliefs. The reckless actions taken by these two Filipinas reek of entitlement and mirror the convoluted and

immature thought process of some people who grew up with social media. Out of self-indulgence, they are nonchalant about the risk of infecting their families and friends. Such mindless attitude, faulty thinking, and boorish behavior will no doubt further strain the country’s already battered health-care system, just when the ultra-contagious Omicron variant is shoving Covid cases to unprecedented global highs. Experts say that we’re now experiencing the “highest-ever surge in the world,” with some countries scrambling to set up makeshift hospitals to handle Covid cases. “Omicron is truly everywhere,” Dr. Megan Ranney, a professor of emergency medicine at Brown University’s School of Public Health, told CNN on Friday night. “What I am so worried about over the next month or so is that [the US] economy is going to shut down, not because of policies from the federal government or from the state governments, but rather because so many of us are ill.” This jibes with Dr. Willie Ong’s prediction in his YouTube vlog that it’s only a matter of time before everyone gets infected. Dr. Guido David, a fellow at independent monitoring group OCTA Research, said in a Twitter post on Saturday that Metro Manila is now at high risk for Covid-19 transmission as its positivity rate has further increased to 28.03 percent. The seven-day average positivity rate in Metro Manila increased from 1.15 percent recorded in the previous week to 12.94 percent, David explained. As of January 2, the Philippines registered 5,434 new cases or 26.5 percent of 25,704 people tested. There must be some sensible parameters on how we as a nation can deal with the pandemic, which has upended the lives of millions of people around the world. I personally endorse mandated vaccination and booster jabs. Experts have since put forward that vaccines and the continued observance of strict safety protocols are our only way out of this pandemic. The reason coronavirus thrives is its ability to mutate in unvaccinated people. Getting vaccinated is the best way to keep yourself, your family, and your community safe. Let’s all get the “jab” done. For comments and suggestions, e-mail me at mvala.v@gmail.com

Covid case counts may be losing importance amid Omicron By Carla K. Johnson | AP Medical Writer

he explosive increase in US coronavirus case counts is raising alarm, but some experts believe the focus should instead be on Covid-19 hospital admissions. And those aren’t climbing as fast.

Dr. Anthony Fauci, for one, said Sunday on ABC that with many infections causing few or no symptoms, “it is much more relevant to focus on the hospitalizations as opposed to the total number of cases.” Other experts argue that case counts still have value. As the super-contagious Omicron variant rages across the US, new Covid-19 cases per day have more than tripled over the past two weeks, reaching a record-shattering average of 480,000. Schools, hospitals and airlines are struggling as infected workers go into isolation. Meanwhile, hospital admissions averaged 14,800 per day last week, up 63 percent from the week before, but still short of the peak of 16,500 per day a year ago, when the vast majority of the US was unvaccinated. Deaths have been stable over the past two weeks at an average of about 1,200 per day, well below the all-time high of 3,400 last January. Public health experts suspect that those numbers, taken together, reflect the vaccine’s continued effectiveness at preventing serious illness, even against Omicron, as well as the possibility that the variant does not

make most people as sick as earlier versions. Omicron accounted for 95 percent of new coronavirus infections in the US last week, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention reported Tuesday, in another indication of how astonishingly fast the variant has spread since it was first detected in South Africa in late November. Dr. Wafaa El-Sadr, director of ICAP, a global health center at Columbia University, said the case count does not appear to be the most important number now. Instead, she said, the US at this stage of the pandemic should be “shifting our focus, especially in an era of vaccination, to really focus on preventing illness, disability and death, and therefore counting those.” Daily case counts and their ups and downs have been one of the most closely watched barometers during the outbreak and have been a reliable early warning sign of severe disease and death in previous coronavirus waves. But they have long been considered an imperfect measure, in part because they consist primarily of laboratory-confirmed cases of Covid-19, not the actual number of infections

out there, which is almost certainly many times higher. The daily case counts are also subject to wild swings. The number of new cases recorded on Monday topped an unprecedented 1 million, a figure that may reflect cases that had been held up by reporting delays over the holiday weekend. The seven-day rolling average is considered more reliable. Now, the value of the daily case count is being called into question as never before. For one thing, the skyrocketing increase reflects, at least in part, an Omicron-induced stampede among many Americans to get tested before holiday gatherings, and new testing requirements at workplaces and at restaurants, theaters and other sites. Also, the true number of infections is probably much higher than the case count because the results of the at-home tests that Americans are rushing to use are not added to the official tally, and because long waits have discouraged some people from lining up to get swabbed. But also, case numbers seem to yield a less useful picture of the pandemic amid the spread of Omicron, which is causing lots of infections but so far does not appear to be as severe in its effects. Case counts have lost relevance, said Andrew Noymer, a public health professor at the University of California, Irvine. “Hospitalizations are where the

rubber meets the road,” Noymer said. “It’s a more objective measure.” He added: “If I had to choose one metric, I would choose the hospitalization data.” Even hospital numbers aren’t a perfect reflection of disease severity because they include patients admitted for other health problems who happen to test positive for the coronavirus. Keeping track of Covid-19 admissions can tell doctors something about the seriousness of the virus and also the capacity of hospitals to deal with the crisis. That, in turn, can help health leaders determine where to shift equipment and other resources. Still, health experts are not prepared to do away with case counts. “We should not abandon looking at case numbers,” said Dr. Eric Topol, head of the Scripps Research Translational Institute, “but it is important to acknowledge we’re seeing only a portion of the actual number of cases.” Ali Mokdad, a professor of health metrics sciences at the University of Washington in Seattle, said that for each new infection detected, the US is missing two cases. But he said tracking the number of positive test results is still important as Omicron makes its way across the land. Case numbers can point to future hot spots and indicate whether a wave of infection has peaked, Mokdad said.

A16 Thursday, January 6, 2022

DIOKNO NAMED WORLD’S BEST CENTRAL BANKER

ANGKO Sentral ng Pilipinas (BSP) Governor Benjamin Diokno was recently named Global Central Banker of the Year 2022 by an international magazine. The Banker, an international monthly banking, finance, and business magazine owned by the Financial Times, recognized Diokno as the best central banker in the world in recognition of his efforts to help stimulate economic recovery and growth for the Philippines amid the unprecedented Covid-19 crisis. The magazine’s Central Banker of the Year awards celebrate officials who have best managed to stimulate growth and stabilize their economies. Diokno’s recognition as the best central banker in the world by The Banker is the first for the Philippines. The following are the regional central bankers of the year 2022, according to The Banker: Central Reserve Bank of Peru Chairman Julio Velarde for the Americas, Banque de France Governor Francois Villeroy de Galhau for Europe, Central Bank of Bahrain Governor Rasheed M Al-Maraj for the Middle East, and Bank of Tanzania Governor Florens Luoga for Africa. In a statement following the announcement, the Bankers Association of the Philippines (BAP) congratulated Diokno for a “well-deserved” recognition. “Governor Diokno’s steadfast leadership motivated the

@akosistellaBM Special to the BusinessMirror

FFECTIVE January 9, 2022, tourists are required to submit a negative RT-PCR test result prior to visiting Boracay Island. The return of the requirement was contained in Executive Order No. 001-2022 signed by Aklan Governor Florencio T. Miraflores. While it did not contain the reason for the return of the Covid-19 test requirement, Malay Sangguniang Bayan councilor Nenette Aguirre-Graf told the BusinessMirror in Filipino, “Many tourists arrived who were suspected to be positive [for Covid] because of the symptoms they exhibited. Even locals caught the virus because of their partying. So now they are isolated.” This was confirmed by Christine Mansinares, Region 6 Director of the Department of Tourism, in a Viber message: “There are tourists who developed symptoms [in Boracay]. Contact tracing is now ongoing.” No data on the number of Covid-affected tourists or locals were made available. Graf said, “Most of them just stayed at home and self-isolated. Stocks of paracetamol and Bioflu were wiped out on the island. Even I had to donate my spare Bactidol [an oral antiseptic] to my daughter’s friend, who had exhibited symptoms.” It was just a few weeks ago that Boracay business owners and residents had rejoiced over the growing number of tourists on the island, a result of the lifting of the RT-PCR test requirement. A total of 67,343 visited Boracay in November 2021, and reached 113,596 in December. Total arrivals from January to De-

By Samuel P. Medenilla

@sam_medenilla

MID the alarming surge in Covid-19 cases nationwide, the government is now eyeing to make movement restrictions for unvaccinated individuals nationwide.

DIOKNO

banking industry to revolutionize its services, systems and operations to better serve t he ba n k ing publ ic in t he midst of the global pandemic. Through his thoughtful foresight, the banking sector was able to successfully navigate and surpass the adverse impact of the crisis, allowing the country to achieve positive growth in 2021 despite the continuing threat of the Covid-19 health crisis,” the BAP said. “The BAP is strongly encouraged by the BSP Governor’s openness and guidance as the industry jointly pursues various initiatives that promote inclusive and sustainable development. We are confident that the Bangko Sentral will continue to develop policies that will lead to a stronger and long-term economic recovery for the Philippines,” it added. Bianca Cuaresma

Negative RT-PCR test results for tourists on Boracay reinstated By Ma. Stella F. Arnaldo

Mobility limits on unvaccinated may extend beyond Metro Mla Acting presidential spokesman Karlo B. Nograles said the InterAgency Task Force for the Management of Emerging Infectious Diseases (IATF) will discuss on Thursday the proposal of Presidential Adviser for Covid-19 Response Sec. Vivencio “Vince” B. Dizon for the nationwide implementation of the policy laid down in a resolution by the Metro Manila Council (MMC). Based on the said policy, MMC members will each come out with an ordinance, which will prohibit unvaccinated individuals from leaving their homes while the National Capital Region is under Alert Level 3. The Metro Manila Development Authority (MMDA) earlier said the policy is meant to encourage people to get inoculated. “The IATF will have a meeting tomorrow, and that’s one of the possible topics that we will be discussing,” Nograles said in a virtual press briefing last Wednesday. He noted that local government units (LGU) in Calabarzon are considering replicating the initiative of the MMC. Nograles noted that once the concerned LGUs come out with the necessary ordinance, authorities can legally prevent unvaccinated people from leaving their homes. As of January 4, 2021, the gov-

ernment was only able to fully vaccinate 50.62 million of the country’s over 100 million population. Nograles said they want more people to be inoculated to minimize their risk of hospitalization from Covid-related symptoms. “Eighty-five percent of Covid-19 patients in our ICUs or intensive care units are unvaccinated. So vaccines are a big help to protect from Covid-19 and its variants,” Nograles said.

Double case log

AS of Wednesday, the Department of Health (DOH) was able to register 10,775 new Covid-19 cases. This was almost double the 5,434 new cases the day before. With the current trend, OCTA Research Group member Guido David said they expect daily new Covid-19 cases to reach the 20,000 mark next week. DOH attributed the rise in Covid-19 cases to the increased social gathering and mobility during the Christmas celebration last month.

QC ordinance

MEANWHILE, the Quezon City Council was the first Metro Manila MGU to pass an ordinance regulating the mobility of unvaccinated individuals. The City Ordinance, which was approved on third and final read-

ing, was introduced by Councilors Eric Medina, Franz Pumaren, Donny Matias, and Jun Ferrer, Jr. It was proposed after the Metro Manila Council issued Resolution No.22-01, series of 2022, urging local government units to enact ordinances for enhanced restrictions on unvaccinated individuals. Following the resolution, the Ordinance states that non-fully vaccinated workers shall be required to undergo a Reverse Transcription Polymerase Chain Reaction (RT-PCR) test every two weeks at their personal expense and present a Covid-19 negative result prior to being admitted for work on site. If the RT-PCR test or result is not immediately available, a Rapid Antigen Test may be utilized. However, the QC Council also added a provision giving employers the option to provide a non-fully vaccinated employee or worker a grace period of one month to obtain his/her first Covid-19 vaccination shot. As long as the employee obtains the first shot within the grace period, and subsequently obtains any required second shot as prescribed for the concerned vaccine, the employee shall not be required to take the bi-weekly test. “This amendment to the resolution was added by the City Council in recognition of the prohibitive expense involved in obtaining an RT-PCR test and given the demographic profile of most unvaccinated persons in our City, which are those coming from our depressed communities,” Vice Mayor Gian Sotto said. The City Council also added as an amendment that a person with a medical condition, which prevents

full Covid-19 vaccination, may be exempted provided that his or her employer should submit a medical certification from a physician. The certification should include the contact number of the physician for verification purposes. Violators of the Ordinance shall be charged with the following penalties; P500, P1,000 and P3,000, for the first, second, and third offense respectively. An establishment found to be in violation, (including but not limited to allowing non-fully vaccinated persons to enter the establishment for non-essential reasons) faces these penalties: P3,000 for the first offense; P5,000, and suspension of business permit and temporary closure order for a second offense; and P5,000 and cancellation of business permit and closure order for the third offense. Any individual or establishment that falsifies the Covid-19 vaccine card shall be prosecuted under Ordinance SP 3032-2021, also known as “Ordinance Prohibiting Covid-19 Vaccine Fraud,” without prejudice to prosecution under other applicable laws. “We have to implement necessary measures to prevent the further spread of Covid-19 in our city, especially given that cases are rising, and with the presence of different variants in the country. We also appeal to those who are not yet vaccinated to get their shots as soon as they can because these vaccines are safe and they can protect you from getting critically ill from Covid-19. Those who have not yet received their booster shots are encouraged to do the same,” Mayor Joy Belmonte said.

cember 2021 was 330,622, just 1.15 percent shy of the 334,455 in 2020.

Curfew reinstated

AS per the new Aklan EO, all tourists and travelers entering the province are required to secure a QR code for contact-tracing purposes. Tourists are required to fill up the online health declaration card (OHDC) registration at touristboracay.com and submit the negative result of their Covid test “with date of extraction within 72 hours to date of travel.” They are also required to provide proof of their Philippine residency, a copy of their confirmed hotel booking from a Department of Tourism-accredited accommodation establishment, and round-trip flight details. Tourists who have been residing within Aklan, however, only need to submit their vaccination certification from the Department of Health, or locally issued vaccination card, in lieu of an RT-PCR test. Miraflores likewise reinstated the curfew in Boracay, allowing businesses to operate “from 5 o’clock in the morning until 9 o’clock in the evening.” Also, he required “all business establishments” on Boracay to scan tourists’ QR codes or copy of their OHDC, before their services are availed. Miraflores as well “enjoined” accommodation establishments on the island “to assist their clientele in applying for the OHDC QR Code.” The situation on Boracay resembled that of Metro Manila, which is now under Alert Level 3 after an explosion of Covid cases was recorded, apparently due to the social gatherings over the holiday season.

MARIKINA City Mayor Marcy Teodoro speaks before Marikina citizens after they receive their vaccine or booster shots against Covid-19 at the observation area stationed at the Marikina Sports Center on January 4, 2022. NONOY LACZA

BIR shuts down POGO licensee, service provider in Makati

HE Bureau of Internal Revenue (BIR) has shut down a Philippine Offshore Gaming Operations (POGO) licensee named Imperial Choice Limited (Imperial) and its accredited service provider Aplus Accel, Inc. (Aplus), for failure of the former to register with the tax agency as required under Section 236 of the Tax Code and the newly enacted POGO Law (RA 11590), as implemented by Revenue Regulations (RR) 20-2021. Shuttered on Wednesday were the

Imperial’s office at the 9/F Burgundy Corporate Tower, 252 Sen. Gil Puyat Avenue, Makati City, and Aplus’s office at the 9th, 16th, and 17th floors of Burgundy Corporate Tower, 252 Sen. Gil Puyat Avenue, Makati City. Both firms are under the jurisdiction of Revenue District Office (RDO) 49North Makati. “Their business operations will remain suspended and business establishments temporarily closed until the Bureau’s registration requirements and other pertinent tax

regulations are complied with and the corresponding deficiency taxes and penalties are paid. We urge POGOs and all other taxpayers to please comply with their obligations. We will continue to strictly enforce the tax laws and raise the muchneeded revenues for the government especially during this pandemic,” BIR Deputy Commissioner for Operations Group Arnel SD. Guballa said. The said closure/tax enforcement operations were conducted by BIR Taskforce POGO as part of the

Bureau’s efforts to make sure that POGOs and their respective service providers are duly registered and paying the correct amount of taxes to the government. A POGO licensee is a firm that operates the online games of chance or sporting events via the Internet using a network and software or program, and taps service providers to provide technical services, such as live-streaming of games for offshore customers/players who are non-Filipinos.

Companies

Editor: Jennifer A. Ng

Thursday, January 6, 2022

‘Shift to higher diesel blend could be done in phases’ By Lenie Lectura

@llectura

he Philippine Biodiesel Association (TPBA) has proposed a phased implementation of the increase in coco-biodiesel blend or coco methyl ester (CME) in local diesel. The blending of one percent (B1) coco-biodiesel or CME in local diesel started when Republic Act 9367 or the “Biofuels Act of 2006” was enacted. It was increased to 2 percent (B2) in 2007. “TPBA also has proposed to government regulators a phased, yearly upshift starting with B3, then eventually leading to B5 to cushion sudden adverse market reaction,” the group said in a statement. With the country’s annual consumption of diesel fuel at nearly 14 billion liters per year, the group said B2 has already reduced CO2 emissions (CO2E) by 756 million kilos CO2E. By raising the coco-biodiesel mandate to 5 percent (B5), CO2 emissions could be further reduced by another 2.5 times, to 1,892 million kilos CO2E, added TPBA.

Should the long-delayed cocobiodiesel upshift to B5 happen, TPBA said there is more than enough to meet the expected surge in demand. TPBA explains that their combined capacity of 877 million liters is more than sufficient to serve the projected B5 volume total of 650 million liters per year. House Committee on Energy Chairman Juan Miguel Arroyo has expressed support for the upshift in the mandated use of coco-biodiesel, provided “coconut farmers should directly benefit in the planned shift from B2 to B5 fuel blend.” Arroyo also said “raising the blend to B5 to mitigate GHG [greenhouse gas] emissions and do our share in curbing global warming is both a responsibility and a patriotic duty, since this will benefit the economy,

the farmers and our country,” adding that “the upshift is long overdue.” For its part, the Department of Energy (DOE) said on Wednesday that the phased implementation will proceed with the shift to B3. “We see no delay. A meeting with the National Biofuels Board will be set soon to talk about the shift to B3 for now,” said DOE Undersecretary Felix Wiliam Fuentebella during a press briefing. A landmark study by the University of the Philippines revealed the immense carbon footprint and GHG reduction potential of coco-biodiesel. The College of Engineering and AgroIndustrial Technology in University of the Philippines Los Baños (UPLB) concluded in its final report that the GHG reduction potential of coco biodiesel sampled from Chemrez Technologies, registered a substantial 78 percent lower carbon dioxide footprint over its lifecycle versus that of diesel fuel. GHG cause climate change by trapping heat in the atmosphere. It triggers current problems such as extreme weather impact, disruption of food supply, raging wildfires, and respiratory diseases from smog and pollution. The Philippines is a signatory to the Paris Agreement, an inter-

national treaty that aims to limit global warming to less than 2°C to avoid total irreversible climate change impact. It committed to reduce GHG emissions by 75 percent until 2030. Biodiesel is a renewable fuel to replace petroleum diesel, and the study found it to be a “dramatic means” by which to reduce carbon dioxide emission over its lifecycle. The UPLB carbon footprint and GHG reduction potential study was done with coco biodiesel from Chemrez Techonologies Inc., which runs the country’s first continuous coco biodiesel plant, as well as the leading manufacturer of sustainable integrated coco oleo chemical-based specialty ingredients, powder coatings, and resins. The study analyzed the carbon footprint of both pure petrodiesel vs. pure coco biodiesel (B100) over the following life cycle stages: production at source, international and domestic transportation and refining in-country, up to local transportation to a gas station in Quezon City. The reduction in CO2 emissions calculated earlier for B2 and B5 are based on the replacement of 2 percent and 5 percent of pure petrodiesel with pure CME, respectively, on the annual consumption of biodiesel in the whole country.

Greenergy to list more shares By VG Cabuag @villygc

reenergy Holdings Inc., a company led by businessman Antonio Tiu, will list an additional P752.53 million worth of the company’s common shares, which was part of a series of private placement transactions that were done since its board approval in 2019. The company said it will list some 544.76 million common shares on the Philippine Stock Exchange on Friday. These shares include 207.76 million common shares from ThomasLloyd Cleantech Infrastructure, 30 million from Prestejenchrisdan (PSJCD) Inc.; 52 million from Jerry G. Yu; 36 million from Paul Vincent Lee; 12.5 million from BG

Newlink eyes IPO in HK

ewlink Group, a Chinese energy startup that provides digital solutions to gas and electric-vehicle charging stations, is considering an initial public offering in Hong Kong that could raise $300 million to $400 million, people with knowledge of the matter said. The company is working with Morgan Stanley and China International Capital Corp. on a potential first-time share sale this year, the people said, asking not to be identified as the information is private. Deliberations are ongoing and details such as timing and fundraising size could change, the people said. Representatives for Morgan Stanley and CICC declined to comment, while Newlink Group didn’t immediately respond to an email for comment. The listing plan by the company, which counts Bain Capital and Joy Capital among its backers, follows a couple of financing rounds last year, including one in March that raised $200 million. Bloomberg News reported at the time that Newlink Group was valued at more than $1 billion. Bloomberg News

Zenith Inc.; 20 million from Cai, Jian-Cheng; 75 million from Marc Kenrich Duca; 21.5 million from Ann Loraine Buencamino; 30 million from Southern Field Ltd.; and 60 million from Three Star Capital Limited (BVI). The subscription price was pegged at P1 per share, with the exception of the Cleantech shares, which were sold at P2 apiece. Cleantech is the foreign investor behind Greenergy’s 20 megawatt San Carlos biopower plant in Negros 2012. It divested in 2014. “Please note that the 207.76 million shares subscribed by ThomasLloyd Cleantech Infrastructure have subsequently been transferred to Antonio L. Tiu. The corresponding taxes have been duly paid and the transfer has been duly recorded in

the books of the company,” Greenergy said. “As of date hereof, the company has complied with all the applicable requirements for the listing of the private placement shares. The number of GREEN’s listed common shares will be accordingly adjusted on listing date,” it said. Tiu is consolidating its ownership in Greenergy as part of the company’s expansion plans to create a bigger conglomerate aimed at addressing the Filipinos’ need for agricultural products, financial technology or fintech, clean energy, sustainable real estate and bio technology, the company said. He said he plans to convert Greenergy into a holding firm that will own AgriNurture, his agro-commercial business, and fintech, green infra-

structure, biotech, and renewable energy projects. As part of the company’s plan, Tiu will consolidate AgriNurture shares to Greenergy as part of the company’s conversion into a bigger holding firm and infuse the fintech assets, such as digital bank and the agri-token ecosystem. Greenergy currently owns 100 percent of Winsun Green Ventures, 62.3 percent of Sunchamp Real Estate Development Corp., 51 percent of the Yakuru Group and now almost 20 percent of AgriNurture. Winsun is a developer of green energy projects and distributor of solar panels while Sunchamp is a real estate developer focused on developing self-sustaining agri-tourism projects. It currently has rights over approximately 145 hectares of land in Rosario, Batangas.

China’s tech selloff deepens C hina’s tech stocks fell once again on Wednesday as firms backed by Tencent Holdings Ltd. came under pressure after it pared investment in the cohort for a second time in two weeks. The Hang Seng Tech Index fell 4.6 percent— the most since July— in a third straight day of declines, with overnight weakness in United States peers also weighing. The gauge closed at the lowest since its inception in mid-2020 with Tencent-backed companies Bilibili Inc., Meituan and JD.com Inc. among the biggest losers. The Chinese tech giant cut its stake in Singapore’s Sea Ltd. on Tuesday—selling $3 billion of shares—sparking concerns of similar actions at other firms amid Beijing’s regulatory crackdown. US tech shares also fell overnight as traders trimmed bets on stocks with extended valuations amid a rise in Treasury yields. Tencent’s move is aiding expectations that the firm and its rivals may pare holdings as Beijing pun-

Pedestrians walk past a screen displaying the SSE Composite Index in Shanghai, China, on February 18, 2021. Photographer: Qilai Shen/Bloomberg

ishes the country’s tech giants for anti-competitive behavior, including maintaining closed ecosystems that favor certain firms at the expense of others. Last month the company said it plans to distribute more than $16 billion of JD.com’s shares as a one-time dividend. “China’s anti-monopoly rules and regulators’ concerns about

data privacy as well as web security may lead to more divestment in the country’s internet space in the coming months,” Bloomberg Intelligence analyst Cecilia Chan wrote in a note. Tencent controlled a portfolio of investments worth $185 billion at the end of September, Bloomberg Intelligence estimates. Bloomberg News

Haus Talk to focus on building homes H aus Talk Inc., a residential real estate developer owned by the Madlambayan family, said it will still focus on building affordable house-and-lot properties even after its initial public offering (IPO). Terence Madlambayan, the company’s chairman and vice president for business development said the company also plans to open commercial spaces that are attached to their residential developments, which would further diversify their portfolio. These commercial spaces would be targeted for services that would benefit their communities, such as laundry, convenience stores and water refilling stations. “With our IPO, we plan on continuing this on a much larger scale to help more families achieve their dream of having their own home and, hopefully, motivate more small and medium enterprises in the Philippines to aim for their own IPO, too,” Madlambayan said. Haus Talk will offer to the public up to 500 million common shares at P1.50 per share. Its shares will be listed and traded on the small, medium and emerging board of the PSE. The company expects to net up to P723.69 million in proceeds, which will be used for land acquisition, project development and general corporate purposes. The offer period started on Monday and will run until Friday. Established and fully managed by the Madlambayan family, the company’s developments cater to the mid to low-income families who wish to live in affordable gated communities. Its existing properties include Eastview Homes 1 and 2 in Antipolo; Southview Homes 1

and 2, and South Hills in Laguna; and Eastview Homes Marikina, Tradition Square Maceda, Eastview Town Homes Marikina, Tradition Square and Winn Residences in Metro Manila. “When we started [the company] in 2004, there were only a handful of developers for the socialized and mid-market segment,” Ma. Rachel Madlambayan, the company’s director and president, said. “We came in knowing that we would be able to provide something extra. We studied our market and we looked at the factors that affect their decision-making, their ‘sweet spot’ when choosing a home or community.” Madlambayan said the company manages every aspect of building a home, from procurement, construction to financing. This enables them to control costs and optimize the profitability of all their ventures. “The IPO will allow us to expand our coverage and establish our brand in areas where the opportunities in the mid-market segment lie,” Madlambayan said. In the works are more horizontal developments in Antipolo such as that in Brgy. San Roque for their Eastview Homes 3 and Eastview Residences Premiere developments and Brgy Baguyo for the Celestis 1 and 2 project; and Sta. Rosa, Laguna for the Southview Homes and San Pedro, Laguna for the Southview Homes Calendola project. This year, the company is set to launch Eastview Condominiums in Antipolo, as well as its high-end development in Quezon City, 50 Jocson residences. Also in the pipeline are developments in Mariveles, Bataan and Calasiao, Pangasinan. VG Cabuag

CEB: Reschedule local flights via flexible booking options

BusinessMirror file photo

ebu Pacific (CEB) said it has flexible booking options for passengers traveling domestically from January 5 to 31 who wish to postpone their flight due to the rise in Covid-19 cases. The airline said it is aware of growing concerns from its passengers with the spike in Covid cases and with the decision of the Philippines’ Inter-Agency Task Force for the Management of Emerging Infectious Diseases to raise Metro Manila to Alert Level 3 Status until January 15. “As such, CEB is informing its passengers that they have more flexible options for their peace of mind and convenience,” the airline said in a statement. The airline said CEB guests may choose either of these options up to two hours before their scheduled time of departure through its Manage Booking portal:

n Rebook Rebook for travel within 60 days at no additional cost, following CEB’s permanent removal of change fees. Fare difference waived. n Travel Fund Store the amount of your booking in a virtual CEB wallet valid for two years. Use this to either book a new flight or pay for add-ons (e.g. baggage allowance, seat selection, etc.). For the passengers’ safety and to continuously drive Contactless Flights, the CEB Terminal 3 Ticket Office will be closed until further notice, according to the airline. CEB operates with 100 percent fully vaccinated active flying crew. Its pilots and cabin crew undergo regular antigen testing (Test Before Duty) before they are assigned to operate flights. The airline has also started its booster program to ensure the continued safety of its employees and passengers.

Companies BusinessMirror

Thursday, January 6, 2022

PSE STOCK QUOTATIONS

January 5, 2022

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

ASIA UNITED BDO UNIBANK BANK PH ISLANDS CHINABANK EAST WEST BANK METROBANK PB BANK PHIL NATL BANK PSBANK RCBC SECURITY BANK UNION BANK COL FINANCIAL IREMIT MANULIFE PHIL STOCK EXCH SUN LIFE VANTAGE

579,200 202,232,147 123,089,023 2,921,765 3,025,130 340,212,157.50 242,835 3,905,180 45,818.50 1,514,382 136,661,643 36,799,858.50 1,203,350 239,590 93,960 12,900 40,470 471,500

516,340 41,492,203 45,973,056 42,100 20,790 53,214,286.50 -74,605 -55,914 12,377,626 -4,770,850 205,000.00 8,000 -471,500

INDUSTRIAL AC ENERGY 10.1 10.12 10.52 10.7 9.93 10.1 44,151,100 448,210,749 1.14 1.15 1.18 1.2 1.14 1.15 254,000 297,600 ALSONS CONS ABOITIZ POWER 30.3 30.5 30.5 30.9 29.75 30.5 1,192,000 36,250,260 BASIC ENERGY 0.58 0.59 0.62 0.62 0.57 0.59 25,861,000 15,253,830 27.6 27.7 28 28.5 27.6 27.6 724,800 20,091,080 FIRST GEN FIRST PHIL HLDG 70 70.5 70 70.5 69.95 70 53,280 3,730,127.50 MERALCO 301 303 299.6 303 298.6 303 117,640 35,437,606 24 24.15 24.5 24.5 23.95 24.15 916,200 22,024,885 MANILA WATER PETRON 3.2 3.22 3.16 3.24 3.16 3.22 1,610,000 5,160,500 PETROENERGY 3.93 4 4.05 4.05 4 4 4,000 16,050 10.58 10.86 10.52 10.86 10.52 10.86 17,800 190,500 PHX PETROLEUM SYNERGY GRID 12.96 12.98 12.86 13 12.86 12.96 2,264,400 29,242,792 PILIPINAS SHELL 19.18 19.4 19.6 19.62 19.04 19.18 274,300 5,360,062 13.88 13.9 13.96 13.96 13.8 13.9 374,100 5,183,146 SPC POWER 1.21 1.22 1.31 1.35 1.2 1.21 258,984,000 326,394,880 SOLAR PH AGRINURTURE 4.6 4.83 4.8 4.94 4.03 4.83 496,000 2,320,790 2.87 2.9 2.88 2.92 2.86 2.87 309,000 887,410 AXELUM 13 13.7 13.1 13.7 13.1 13.7 1,100 14,998 CNTRL AZUCARERA CENTURY FOOD 28.15 28.5 28.5 29 28.1 28.5 1,830,200 52,708,455 14.8 14.96 15.18 15.22 14.72 14.98 145,300 2,171,924 DEL MONTE 8.95 8.99 8.97 9 8.8 8.99 933,100 8,347,258 DNL INDUS EMPERADOR 19.92 20 20.4 20.45 19.94 20 3,042,400 60,901,180 69.75 70 70 70.55 69.75 70 70,020 4,901,475 SMC FOODANDBEV 0.6 0.63 0.62 0.62 0.62 0.62 133,000 82,460 ALLIANCE SELECT FRUITAS HLDG 1.21 1.24 1.21 1.24 1.21 1.24 5,159,000 6,337,150 110.1 110.4 113 113 110 110.3 44,890 4,964,942 GINEBRA 214.4 218.4 215 219.8 212.8 218.4 474,900 102,600,724 JOLLIBEE KEEPERS HLDG 1.24 1.25 1.3 1.3 1.24 1.24 16,320,000 20,696,260 LIBERTY FLOUR 20.6 28.7 28.85 28.85 28.85 28.85 100 2,885 5.53 6.66 6.66 6.66 6.66 6.66 100 666 MACAY HLDG MAXS GROUP 6.4 6.44 6.46 6.46 6.36 6.4 66,800 427,574 0.15 0.157 0.148 0.158 0.148 0.158 780,000 116,530 MG HLDG 15.96 16 15.98 16 15.76 16 13,240,300 210,613,260 MONDE NISSIN SHAKEYS PIZZA 10 10.18 10 10.2 9.9 10.18 107,800 1,078,909 ROXAS AND CO 0.66 0.67 0.65 0.68 0.65 0.67 943,000 622,960 4.6 4.65 4.6 4.67 4.6 4.65 10,901,000 50,690,640 RFM CORP SWIFT FOODS 0.102 0.104 0.101 0.102 0.101 0.102 960,000 97,030 128.8 128.9 129 130 127.6 128.9 478,510 61,582,674 UNIV ROBINA 0.71 0.72 0.71 0.73 0.71 0.72 824,000 600,620 VITARICH CONCRETE A 42.85 48 47.8 48 47.8 48 300 14,360 46.05 57.7 57.9 57.9 57.9 57.9 110 6,369 CONCRETE B 1.04 1.05 1.04 1.05 1.04 1.05 722,000 752,590 CEMEX HLDG 14.78 14.86 14.76 14.94 14.76 14.86 77,000 1,142,568 EAGLE CEMENT EEI CORP 6.38 6.49 6.39 6.5 6.38 6.38 45,800 292,821 5.4 5.45 5.33 5.59 5.3 5.45 80,400 437,309 HOLCIM 5.05 5.1 5.06 5.15 5.01 5.1 177,800 898,373 MEGAWIDE PHINMA 20 20.3 20 20.25 20 20 47,700 958,370 0.76 0.78 0.76 0.77 0.76 0.76 91,000 69,310 TKC METALS 0.91 0.93 0.95 0.95 0.91 0.92 934,000 861,590 VULCAN INDL CROWN ASIA 1.7 1.72 1.68 1.68 1.68 1.68 12,000 20,160 1.48 1.55 1.45 1.51 1.45 1.48 130,000 191,280 EUROMED 5.61 5.74 5.61 5.74 5.5 5.74 118,200 661,458 PRYCE CORP CONCEPCION 20.05 20.95 20.5 20.5 20.05 20.05 3,100 62,640 2.24 2.27 2.27 2.3 2.23 2.27 6,003,000 13,621,700 GREENERGY 8.47 8.5 8.55 8.58 8.45 8.47 636,100 5,404,752 INTEGRATED MICR IONICS 0.68 0.71 0.71 0.71 0.68 0.71 576,000 392,880 PANASONIC 5.73 5.98 6 6 5.99 5.99 6,000 35,945 1.08 1.1 1.11 1.11 1.08 1.1 145,000 157,050 SFA SEMICON CIRTEK HLDG 3.57 3.58 3.6 3.65 3.56 3.57 408,000 1,466,370

-113,394,669 -5,825,365 -379,460 10,925,015 -2,851,878 20,740,096 -4,065,205 -595,080 12,000 3,496,786 326,834 26,048 2,425,740 381,900 -23,585,785 2,426,280 12,237,704.00 -3,832,708.50 38,720 -83,813 48,691,228 385,730 76,274,556 -449,374 405,060 102,040 3,954,436 375,150 -39,022 -92,220 -258,950 -14,900 -80,020 2,636,052 8,160 35,910

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

4,432,380 67,382,035 25,824,985.50 862,866.00 400 3,331,228 -11,066,349 10,270 19,345,980 49,545,881.50 2,953,227 5,841,920 -38,254,560 -436,638 -

HOLDING & FRIMS

44.4 121.7 91.4 24.85 9.41 54 9 20.2 55.85 19.98 112.9 93.1 4.13 0.83 930 214 2,512 0.82

0.87 840 54.5 11.58 0.87 0.4 0.41 5.2 7.99 7.7 0.265 540 3.5 55.25 6.12 0.63 2.97 9.76 3.81 2.86 1.22 2.9 1.08 929.5 111.6 123.1 0.23

44.9 123.5 92.9 24.9 9.45 54.05 9.29 20.25 57.45 20 113 95 4.14 0.91 946.5 215 2,698 0.89

0.92 843.5 55.4 11.6 0.92 0.425 0.49 5.21 8 7.79 0.285 548 3.76 56.5 6.4 0.67 3.02 9.79 3.84 3.09 1.29 3.01 1.09 936.5 112.9 127.7 0.249

44.9 120.5 91 24.9 9.46 53.5 8.73 20.3 55.8 20 114.9 98.1 4.14 0.93 946.5 215 2,698 0.82

0.92 844 55.75 11.6 0.87 0.425 0.405 5.18 7.94 7.9 0.29 531 3.5 54.35 6.4 0.63 3.01 9.82 3.87 3 1.35 3 1.06 948 112.9 123 0.24

44.9 123.5 92.9 25.1 9.5 54.5 9 20.3 57.45 20 114.9 98.1 4.15 0.93 946.5 215 2,698 0.82

0.93 854 56.25 11.78 0.92 0.425 0.405 5.21 8.14 7.9 0.29 548 3.5 56.5 6.6 0.67 3.02 9.9 3.89 3.1 1.4 3 1.09 957 113.1 127.7 0.24

44.85 120 91 24.75 9.38 52.7 8.72 20 55.8 19.96 112 93.1 4.1 0.8 935 215 2,698 0.82

0.85 837 53 11.4 0.87 0.425 0.4 5.13 7.91 7.7 0.29 528 3.42 54.35 6.12 0.63 3.01 9.65 3.78 3 1.2 3 1.06 923 111.5 123 0.23

44.9 123.5 92.9 24.9 9.41 54 9 20.25 55.85 19.98 113 93.1 4.13 0.8 935 215 2,698 0.82

0.92 843.5 55.4 11.58 0.92 0.425 0.4 5.2 7.99 7.9 0.29 548 3.42 56.5 6.12 0.67 3.02 9.76 3.84 3.1 1.29 3 1.09 929.5 112.9 127.7 0.23

12,900 1,665,680 1,338,830 117,200 320,600 6,326,950 27,100 192,900 820 75,800 1,209,050 389,550 291,000 294,000 100 60 15 575,000

17,294,000 384,510 1,208,040 2,787,600 5,000 80,000 3,000 910,900 10,483,900 6,300 100,000 162,000 8,000 3,548,400 40,000 51,000 110,000 2,302,000 22,133,000 3,000 169,000 1,000 17,000 215,800 75,170 1,510 140,000

15,442,040 324,325,015 66,458,171 32,191,856 4,400 34,000 1,210 4,726,628 84,084,214 48,770 29,000 86,792,590 27,440 198,401,367 252,020 32,170 331,700 22,506,320 84,731,550 9,100 216,850 3,000 18,270 201,725,900 8,460,621 190,166 33,200

PROPERTY

ARTHALAND CORP 0.62 0.63 0.61 0.62 0.6 0.62 302,000 182,120 5.65 6.42 6.49 6.49 6.39 6.42 3,900 25,078 ANCHOR LAND AYALA LAND 33.75 34 34.7 35 33.55 33.75 19,416,400 659,340,135 AYALA LAND LOG 6.48 6.49 6.63 6.68 6.4 6.49 3,668,200 24,033,233 0.97 1.02 0.97 1.02 0.97 1.02 4,000 4,030 ARANETA PROP AREIT RT 49.9 50 49.1 50 48.85 50 1,209,700 59,802,585 A BROWN 0.77 0.78 0.78 0.79 0.77 0.78 326,000 252,290 0.73 0.74 0.74 0.74 0.73 0.73 235,000 173,420 CITYLAND DEVT CEB LANDMASTERS 2.85 2.86 2.87 2.9 2.84 2.86 1,236,000 3,544,720 CENTURY PROP 0.395 0.4 0.4 0.405 0.395 0.4 14,540,000 5,818,500 7.04 7.05 7.03 7.13 7.03 7.05 218,000 1,537,133 DOUBLEDRAGON DDMP RT 1.79 1.8 1.78 1.8 1.78 1.8 5,218,000 9,330,080 DM WENCESLAO 6.66 6.7 6.74 6.75 6.68 6.68 102,300 685,580 0.315 0.325 0.32 0.33 0.315 0.325 11,850,000 3,837,450 EVER GOTESCO 7.39 7.4 7.4 7.4 7.38 7.4 3,199,200 23,668,071 FILINVEST RT FILINVEST LAND 1.09 1.1 1.1 1.1 1.09 1.1 1,895,000 2,078,880 0.95 0.96 0.94 0.96 0.94 0.95 1,082,000 1,035,570 GLOBAL ESTATE 11.24 11.68 11.3 11.74 11.16 11.68 647,300 7,321,608 8990 HLDG GOLDEN MV 525 540 530 540 530 540 600 321,500 1.19 1.2 1.17 1.25 1.11 1.2 4,244,000 5,120,810 PHIL INFRADEV 0.87 0.9 0.86 0.88 0.86 0.87 109,000 94,910 CITY AND LAND MEGAWORLD 3.08 3.1 3.13 3.18 3.08 3.09 18,703,000 58,295,370 0.245 0.246 0.25 0.25 0.245 0.246 7,710,000 1,902,780 MRC ALLIED 19.48 19.5 19.34 19.5 19.34 19.48 1,845,900 35,976,386 MREIT RT PHIL ESTATES 0.5 0.51 0.51 0.54 0.495 0.5 6,734,000 3,524,140 2.17 2.19 2.07 2.18 2.05 2.18 2,498,000 5,369,640 PRIMEX CORP 7.79 7.8 7.75 7.84 7.7 7.8 1,889,900 14,738,867 RL COMM RT ROBINSONS LAND 17.9 18 18.3 18.5 17.66 18 3,753,400 67,478,344 ROCKWELL 1.5 1.51 1.5 1.5 1.5 1.5 135,000 202,500 2.58 2.61 2.6 2.61 2.57 2.61 56,000 145,400 SHANG PROP SM PRIME HLDG 33.6 34.35 33.55 34.35 33.35 34.35 7,134,300 242,425,855 SOC RESOURCES 0.61 0.65 0.62 0.62 0.62 0.62 11,000 6,820 1.09 1.1 1.08 1.1 1.08 1.1 281,000 303,710 SUNTRUST HOME PTFC REDEV CORP 44 70.5 47 47 47 47 100 4,700 VISTA LAND 3.43 3.49 3.4 3.53 3.4 3.49 552,000 1,919,730 SERVICES ABS CBN 12.52 12.58 12.5 12.6 12.4 12.58 215,000 2,694,224 13.76 13.78 13.8 13.8 13.74 13.76 416,900 5,740,344 GMA NETWORK MANILA BULLETIN 0.42 0.445 0.44 0.45 0.415 0.415 60,000 26,450 3,250 3,310 3,328 3,348 3,220 3,310 78,130 254,888,400 GLOBE TELECOM 1,858 1,885 1,820 1,885 1,820 1,885 179,035 331,648,255 PLDT APOLLO GLOBAL 0.076 0.077 0.076 0.078 0.076 0.076 53,850,000 4,114,770 CONVERGE 31.15 31.4 31.55 31.65 30.95 31.4 6,229,400 194,997,455 2.34 2.35 2.36 2.48 2.35 2.35 135,000 317,690 DFNN INC DITO CME HLDG 5.05 5.06 5.04 5.06 5 5.06 16,184,100 81,739,753 JACKSTONES 1.65 1.74 1.74 1.74 1.74 1.74 2,000 3,480 1.21 1.23 1.24 1.24 1.21 1.21 859,000 1,050,490 NOW CORP TRANSPACIFIC BR 0.3 0.305 0.295 0.305 0.295 0.3 2,180,000 652,150 2GO GROUP 7.45 7.86 7.96 7.96 7.4 7.86 5,100 40,312 13.96 14 14 14 14 14 2,200 30,800 ASIAN TERMINALS 1.63 1.64 1.62 1.67 1.62 1.65 165,000 274,770 CHELSEA CEBU AIR 40.75 40.95 41.45 41.85 40.75 40.75 581,400 23,956,765 193.6 198 195 198 192.5 198 1,443,690 281,251,532 INTL CONTAINER 24 24.8 24.95 24.95 24.3 24.8 11,500 285,185 LBC EXPRESS LORENZO SHIPPNG 0.9 0.91 0.91 0.91 0.91 0.91 100,000 91,000 5.3 5.31 5.26 5.32 5.18 5.3 2,020,300 10,665,774 MACROASIA 1.1 1.2 1.09 1.15 1.08 1.15 49,000 55,660 METROALLIANCE A HARBOR STAR 0.87 0.89 0.91 0.91 0.84 0.89 21,000 18,620 1.6 1.66 1.66 1.67 1.66 1.66 28,000 46,610 ACESITE HOTEL 1.71 1.75 1.73 1.75 1.7 1.71 154,000 264,730 DISCOVERY WORLD WATERFRONT 0.47 0.475 0.46 0.47 0.46 0.47 1,960,000 921,100 535 550 550 550 550 550 50 27,500 FAR EASTERN U 6.99 7.54 6.99 6.99 6.99 6.99 2,100 14,679 IPEOPLE STI HLDG 0.34 0.35 0.345 0.35 0.34 0.35 1,390,000 483,600 BELLE CORP 1.33 1.34 1.36 1.37 1.33 1.33 20,000 26,710 6 6.01 6.24 6.37 5.96 6 15,715,300 95,610,351 BLOOMBERRY PACIFIC ONLINE 1.75 1.82 1.76 1.76 1.74 1.75 48,000 84,170 1.46 1.49 1.4 1.5 1.4 1.5 1,026,000 1,512,940 LEISURE AND RES 0.75 0.76 0.78 0.78 0.75 0.75 433,000 327,770 PH RESORTS GRP PREMIUM LEISURE 0.425 0.43 0.425 0.43 0.425 0.43 710,000 303,950 PHILWEB 1.88 1.9 1.9 1.94 1.88 1.9 216,000 409,820 0.57 0.58 0.6 0.61 0.57 0.58 37,976,000 22,343,980 ALLDAY BERJAYA 5.8 6 6 6.08 6 6 8,100 49,088 8.67 8.69 8.42 8.67 8.4 8.67 353,900 3,037,480 ALLHOME 1.42 1.43 1.42 1.45 1.42 1.42 222,000 315,750 METRO RETAIL PUREGOLD 38.5 38.75 39.3 39.3 38 38.75 1,514,600 58,828,855 ROBINSONS RTL 59.75 59.8 62 62 59.6 59.8 972,550 58,453,459 86.1 91.5 88 92 86 92 5,240 460,090 PHIL SEVEN CORP 1.07 1.08 1.11 1.11 1.03 1.07 3,404,000 3,618,770 SSI GROUP WILCON DEPOT 30.25 30.3 30.2 31 30.2 30.25 2,323,200 70,473,605 0.226 0.238 0.235 0.238 0.235 0.238 100,000 23,670 APC GROUP 6.8 7 7 7 7 7 1,400 9,800 IPM HLDG MEDILINES 1.15 1.16 1.24 1.26 1.16 1.16 16,634,000 19,991,430 1.71 2.24 1.63 1.63 1.63 1.63 1,000 1,630 PAXYS 0.52 0.54 0.53 0.55 0.53 0.53 5,072,000 2,719,550 PRMIERE HORIZON SBS PHIL CORP 3.96 4 3.95 3.95 3.95 3.95 2,000 7,900 MINING & OIL ATOK 5.85 6 6 6.1 6 6 45,300 272,365 APEX MINING 1.6 1.61 1.64 1.67 1.6 1.6 7,673,000 12,504,510 ATLAS MINING 6.02 6.03 6.12 6.14 6.02 6.03 1,023,500 6,195,907 5.05 5.34 5.05 5.06 5.05 5.05 108,200 546,429 BENGUET A CENTURY PEAK 2.75 2.79 2.95 2.95 2.61 2.75 10,828,000 28,462,470 DIZON MINES 4.9 5.46 5 5.45 5 5.45 200 1,045 2.06 2.08 2.15 2.15 2 2.06 10,289,000 21,203,690 FERRONICKEL LEPANTO A 0.136 0.138 0.144 0.144 0.138 0.138 6,580,000 921,100 0.135 0.141 0.143 0.143 0.134 0.141 520,000 74,250 LEPANTO B 0.0094 0.0095 0.0099 0.0099 0.0092 0.0095 74,000,000 703,070 MANILA MINING A MANILA MINING B 0.01 0.011 0.01 0.01 0.01 0.01 1,100,000 11,000 1.33 1.34 1.21 1.39 1.21 1.33 6,317,000 8,282,950 MARCVENTURES 1 1.02 1.01 1.02 1.01 1.02 2,000 2,030 NIHAO 5.29 5.32 5.29 5.41 5.2 5.32 6,297,700 33,571,992 NICKEL ASIA ORNTL PENINSULA 0.78 0.8 0.75 0.79 0.74 0.78 1,283,000 992,730 5.21 5.27 5.24 5.38 5.2 5.21 606,800 3,194,505 PX MINING 23.85 23.9 23.3 24.1 23.05 23.9 4,460,800 105,582,910 SEMIRARA MINING UNITED PARAGON 0.0068 0.0071 0.0068 0.0068 0.0068 0.0068 7,000,000 47,600 0.01 0.011 0.01 0.011 0.01 0.011 23,900,000 242,000 ORNTL PETROL A 0.01 0.011 0.011 0.011 0.011 0.011 900,000 9,900 ORNTL PETROL B PHILODRILL 0.0099 0.01 0.0099 0.01 0.0099 0.01 15,200,000 150,650 5.76 5.95 6 6.1 5.8 5.95 488,400 2,871,440 PXP ENERGY PREFFERED HOUSE PREF B 99.6 100.9 100.9 100.9 99.6 99.6 1,010 101,896 510 520 511 511 501.5 501.5 2,050 1,046,970 AC PREF B1 ALCO PREF C 102.4 109.9 104 104 102 102 2,500 255,110 102.2 104 104 104 104 104 5,000 520,000 BRN PREF A 41.2 41.8 42.25 42.25 41.15 41.15 17,200 719,850 CEB PREF CPG PREF A 102 102.9 102 102 102 102 20 2,040 100.8 102 100.7 100.8 100.6 100.8 61,150 6,163,854 DD PREF 104 104.9 103.5 104.9 103.5 104 4,400 458,950 EEI PREF A EEI PREF B 106.5 107 106.5 107 106.5 107 11,570 1,235,490 103 105.5 105.5 105.5 105.5 105.5 10,000 1,055,000 FGEN PREF G 1,001 1,047 1,047 1,047 1,040 1,047 550 575,780 GTCAP PREF B JFC PREF A 1,000 1,010 1,000 1,000 1,000 1,000 45 45,000 1,004 1,024 1,003 1,004 1,003 1,004 520 522,060 JFC PREF B 100.6 101 100.9 101 100.9 101 6,340 640,196 MWIDE PREF 2B 100 100.5 100 100.5 100 100.5 550 55,025 MWIDE PREF 4 PNX PREF 3B 100.8 101 102.4 102.4 101 101 13,660 1,382,323 997 998 998 998 998 998 180 179,640 PNX PREF 4 1,050 1,060 1,050 1,060 1,050 1,060 1,050 1,112,400 PCOR PREF 3A PCOR PREF 3B 1,100 1,115 1,100 1,100 1,100 1,100 45 49,500 79 79.45 79 79.25 79 79 47,940 3,794,585 SMC PREF 2F 76 76.5 76.5 76.5 76 76 1,600 121,900 SMC PREF 2H SMC PREF 2I 78 78.5 77.25 78 77.1 78 80,400 6,247,750 76.45 76.9 76.45 76.45 76.45 76.45 1,300 99,385 SMC PREF 2J 53.35 53.5 53.5 53.5 53.4 53.5 119,540 6,394,930 TECH PREF B2D PHIL. DEPOSITARY RECEIPTS ABS HLDG PDR 12 13.26 13.3 13.3 12.2 12.2 1,200 15,748 13.1 13.4 13.1 13.1 13.1 13.1 833,000 10,912,300 GMA HLDG PDR WARRANTS TECH WARRANT 0.82 0.83 0.83 0.86 0.82 0.83 6,937,000 5,825,910

9,000 -230,977,615 -587,753 25,862,610 92,500 1,659,010 -79,300 330,617 5,851,910 2,851,500 1,097,039 1,134,320 -158,258 -106,000 -1,510,250.00 5,278,030 -584,400 -1,763,600 5,152,930 -28,497,166 90,870 73,654,530.00 -4,700 1,502,810 -72,734,000 57,079,180 -88,550 42,922,860 -2,360 16,569,389 -63,240 -32,450 2,677,255 50,812,393 8,731,034 18,800 -3,450 4,100 -2,923,374 255,880 3,800 4,300 96,900 152,820 1,651,030 2,050,880.00 3,238,089 -368,090 -246,200 31,352,950 32,040 189,230 -47,230.00 139,013 -25,355,000 2,317,240 -89,650 6,773,680 232,500 -226,120 -9,247,750 - -54,430 -16,880 - -2,652 () 1,670

SMALL & MEDIUM ENTERPRISES ALTUS PROP ITALPINAS KEPWEALTH MERRYMART

19.4 1.16 2.8 2.37

19.96 1.19 2.92 2.38

EXHANGE TRADE FUNDS FIRST METRO ETF

107.6

108.2

18.9 1.2 2.83 2.4

20.1 1.2 2.9 2.5

18.9 1.15 2.8 2.38

20 1.2 2.8 2.38

52,100 460,000 38,000 3,244,000

1,002,230 544,610 106,700 7,825,620

-20,790 -130,520

115 115 107.4 107.6 60,130 6,749,946 4,261,577

www.businessmirror.com.ph

Cavite poultry raiser to get fiscal incentives from govt

By Tyrone Jasper C. Piad

@TyronePiad

he Board of Investment (BoI) has granted incentives to a P195.5-million broiler chicken facility in Cavite under the new tax reform package. The attached agency of the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) reported that it has approved the application for registration of Agro Azienda Inc. The project is listed under the “Agriculture, Fishery and Forestry” of the Corporate Recovery and Tax

Incentives for Enterprises’ investment plan. The broiler producer is set to begin commercial operations in May. The firm expects to employ 10 direct workers and 109 indirect employees, the BOI said in a statement. The facility has a capacity of

2.31 million birds per year. It has acquired brand new equipment and built a fly management control system, including tunnel vent building design, dry manure, and insecticide fly trap. The project can supply 3,696 metric tons (MT) of chicken, which is 0.19 percent of the 2017-2022 Philippine Development Plan (PDP) target. Under the PDP, the government aims to produce 1.95 million MT (MMT) of chicken by 2022. The project is a commercial production of broiler chicken via a contract- growing scheme with a big local company, the BoI noted. Broiler farming refers to rearing broiler chickens and preparing them for meat processing.

BoI noted that poultry meat is deemed one of the basic commodities of Filipinos, adding that demand for chicken meat has seen substantial increase in the past decade. Citing government data, the DTI agency said chicken production in 2020 reached 1.8 MMT. This is expected to grow to 1.882 MMT this year. Calabarzon, the region where the facility is located, contributes the bulk of the chicken production at 35 percent. On Monday, BoI reported that it greenlighted the P9-million crabmeat cannery project by Carthage Crab Meat Processing in Bacolod City, Negros Occidental. It is anticipated to contribute P110.7 million in income.

Turkish Airlines offers flights to Cebu By Lorenz S. Marasigan @lorenzmarasigan

urkish Airlines has started operating its thrice weekly reciprocal flights from Istanbul to Cebu, providing the province with more connections to Europe, a ranking Cebu airport official said. GMR-Megawide Cebu Airport Corp. (GMCAC) President Louie B. Ferrer said the new Istanbul-ManilaCebu flights of Turkish Airlines allow the province to “accelerate” its recovery plans from both Covid-19 and Typhoon Odette. “It has been a long time since we welcomed a new long haul flight to Cebu because of the pandemic, and now we are starting the year with Turkish Airlines, which is MCIA’s [Mactan-Cebu International Airport] first direct connection to Europe and strengthens our Middle Eastern connection even more,” Ferrer said in a statement. “With this flight, we can help

open more opportunities for the region, and enable it to accelerate recovery plans from Typhoon Odette and Covid-19.” With the new service, Cebu is now connected to more than 320 destinations in over 120 countries around the world via Turkish Airlines. “This has been long in the making and we wish to extend our thanks to Turkish Airlines for believing in the Cebu connection, MCIAA, and our Commercial team at the airport for making this happen,” Ferrer said. Turkish Airlines utilizes an Airbus A350-900 for the thrice weekly service. “Despite the recent turn of events in Cebu, the launch of Turkish Airlines brings us hope as we look forward to the future and fast track our recovery efforts. We know that the addition of the Istanbul route will open opportunities not just for Cebu, but for the entire country as well,” MCIA Authority General Manager and CEO Julius G. Neri Jr. said.

mutual funds

January 5, 2022

NAV

One Year Three Year Five Year

per share Return*

Y-T-D Return

Stock Funds ALFM Growth Fund, Inc. -a

N.S.

ATRAM Alpha Opportunity Fund, Inc. -a

N.S.

ATRAM Philippine Equity Opportunity Fund, Inc. -a N.S.

N.S.

Climbs Share Capital Equity Investment Fund Corp. -a N.S.

N.S.

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

N.S.

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

N.S.

N.S. N.S. N.S.

N.S.

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

N.S.

MBG Equity Investment Fund, Inc. -a

N.S.

PAMI Equity Index Fund, Inc. -a

N.S.

Philam Strategic Growth Fund, Inc. -a

N.S.

Philequity Alpha One Fund, Inc. -a,d

N.S.

Philequity Dividend Yield Fund, Inc. -a

N.S.

Philequity Fund, Inc. -a

N.S.

Philequity MSCI Philippine Index Fund, Inc. -a

N.S.

Philequity PSE Index Fund Inc. -a

N.S.

Philippine Stock Index Fund Corp. -a

N.S.

Soldivo Strategic Growth Fund, Inc. -a

N.S.

Sun Life Prosperity Philippine Equity Fund, Inc. -a N.S.

N.S.

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

N.S.

United Fund, Inc. -a

N.S.

N.S. N.S.

N.S.

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

N.S.

Primarily invested in foreign currency securities N.S.

N.S.

Sun Life Prosperity World Voyager Fund, Inc. -a $1.8413

ATRAM AsiaPlus Equity Fund, Inc. -b

9.52%

18.15%

12.16%

-0.28%

Balanced Funds Primarily invested in Peso securities

Garuda’s creditors vie for cash in debt revamp

reditors of PT Garuda Indonesia looking to recoup money in the airline’s $9.8-billion debt restructuring must submit their bids on Wednesday. The deadline of 5 p.m. Jakarta time (10 a.m. in London) for filing claims will be the first in a series of milestones and months of wrangling that could stretch into September. The airline is seeking to cut liabilities to $3.7 billion and renegotiate leasing terms or return planes to aircraft lessors with the smallest penalties possible. “The government is committed to treat all creditors, foreign and domestic, fairly with the ultimate goal of saving Garuda,” Kartika Wirjoatmodjo, a deputy minister at Indonesia’s State-Owned Enterprises Ministry told Bloomberg News this week. Already struggling to stay profitable even before the pandemic brought travel to a standstill, Indonesia’s flag carrier wants investors to take a haircut of 81 cents on the dollar for their debt. That’s a lower recovery rate than what some regional peers offered, according to Shukor Yusof, founder of aviation consulting firm Endau Analytics. The indicated price of Garuda’s global sukuk recently fell to record lows under 23 cents on the dollar, according to prices compiled by Bloomberg. But there’s more at stake than financial returns. The 71-year-old airline is a major

employer and a vital mode of transport for the country made up of 17,000 islands over an area spanning the distance from New York to London. Indonesia’s government is a majority shareholder, so parliament needs to approve big corporate changes. The airline’s fate has already stirred up heated debate in the legislature. The impact of corruption in the procurement of aircraft and engines, aggressive fleet expansion and high costs have contributed to annual net losses since 2017. Once creditors’ bids are submitted, the focus shifts to Jan. 19, when a court-appointed auditor will issue a verdict on whether the claims can go ahead. Indonesian law provides for a 270-day limit on the restructuring process, meaning that date could well get postponed. Indonesia’s flag carrier is one of many to take a beating due to the pandemic and seek legal relief. Philippine Airlines Inc. will be able to tap $150 million in additional financing and cut debt by $2 billion after having won Unites States court approval for its reorganization. For Garuda, the legal process is key because negotiating individually with a large number of mostly overseas creditors and lessors would take too long. It faces the risk of losing business should global airline traffic recover unless it can reach an agreement with lessors, from which it secures the majority of its fleet. Bloomberg News

ATRAM Dynamic Allocation Fund, Inc. -a

N.S.

ATRAM Philippine Balanced Fund, Inc. -a

N.S.

First Metro Save and Learn Balanced Fund Inc. -a N.S.

N.S.

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

N.S.

N.S. N.S.

-1.97%

0.08%

1.95%

1.87%

PAMI Horizon Fund, Inc. -a

NCM Mutual Fund of the Phils., Inc. -a 1.977

N.S.

Philam Fund, Inc. -a

N.S.

Solidaritas Fund, Inc. -a

N.S.

Sun Life of Canada Prosperity Balanced Fund, Inc. -a N.S.

N.S.

Sun Life Prosperity Achiever Fund 2028, Inc. -a,d

N.S.

Sun Life Prosperity Achiever Fund 2038, Inc. -a,d

N.S.

Sun Life Prosperity Achiever Fund 2048, Inc. -a,d

N.S.

Sun Life Prosperity Dynamic Fund, Inc. -a

N.S.

Primarily invested in foreign currency securities Cocolife Dollar Fund Builder, Inc. -a $0.03782

-3.35%

2.31%

1.59%

-0.32%

PAMI Asia Balanced Fund, Inc. -b

-7.25%

4.85%

3.86%

-0.03%

Sun Life Prosperity Dollar Advantage Fund, Inc. -a $4.7884 5.73%

12.84%

8.95%

-0.29%

Sun Life Prosperity Dollar Wellspring Fund, Inc. -a,2 $1.1957 0.7%

7.03%

4.64%

-0.24%

$1.0668

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

374.3

0.84%

2.9%

2.57%

ATRAM Corporate Bond Fund, Inc. -a

1.8843

-0.87%

0.44%

0.05%

-0.02%

Cocolife Fixed Income Fund, Inc. -a

3.2445

0.92%

2.94%

3.91%

0.02%

Ekklesia Mutual Fund Inc. -a

2.2509

-2%

1.83%

1.56%

-0.03% -0.06%

First Metro Save and Learn Fixed Income Fund,Inc. -a 2.4245 -1.17%

3.12%

1.93%

Philam Bond Fund, Inc. -a

4.3884

-5.3%

5.17%

1.61%

-0.16%

Philam Managed Income Fund, Inc. -a

1.3185

-0.23%

3.87%

2.82%

-0.05%

Philequity Peso Bond Fund, Inc. -a

3.9657

-0.91%

4.04%

2.71%

Soldivo Bond Fund, Inc. -a

1.0283

-1.33%

4.79%

2.12%

0.01%

Sun Life of Canada Prosperity Bond Fund, Inc. -a 3.1822

-0.76%

4.74%

3.41%

-0.16%

Sun Life Prosperity GS Fund, Inc. -a

-1.52%

3.87%

2.71%

-0.13%

1.7284

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

$489.5

1.08%

2.95%

2.51%

-0.01%

ALFM Euro Bond Fund, Inc. -a

Є219.94

0.31%

1.1%

0.99%

-0.03%

N.S.

First Metro Save and Learn Dollar Bond Fund, Inc. -a $0.026 -2.26%

ATRAM Total Return Dollar Bond Fund, Inc. -b

1.45%

0.95%

PAMI Global Bond Fund, Inc -b

$1.0238

-6.31%

-0.5%

-0.51%

0.1%

Philam Dollar Bond Fund, Inc. -a

$2.4934

-1.8%

4.57%

2.78%

-0.49%

Philequity Dollar Income Fund Inc. -a $0.062281 -0.19%

-0.02%

Sun Life Prosperity Dollar Abundance Fund, Inc. -a $3.1742 -1.97%

3.37%

1.69%

-0.69%

2.56%

0.02%

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

131.21

1.06%

2.76%

First Metro Save and Learn Money Market Fund, Inc. -a 1.058 0.93% n.a. n.a.

0.03%

Sun Life Prosperity Peso Starter Fund, Inc. -a,1 1.3159

0.02%

1.47%

2.57%

2.53%

Primarily invested in foreign currency securities Sun Life Prosperity Dollar Starter Fund, Inc. -a $1.0607

0.77%

1.44% n.a.

0.01%

Feeder Funds Primarily invested in Peso securities Sun Life Prosperity World Equity Index Feeder Fund, Inc. -a,d 1.4006

23.89% n.a. n.a. 1.28%

Primarily invested in foreign currency securities ALFM Global Multi-Asset Income Fund Inc. -a,d

$0.98

-1.01% n.a. n.a.

1.03%

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

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

Agriculture/Commodities BusinessMirror

www.businessmirror.com.ph

Editor: Jennifer A. Ng • Thursday, January 6, 2022 B3

‘Investing in agri key to notching trade gains’ By Jovee Marie N. Dela Cruz @joveemarie

HILE the Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership (RCEP) agreement would “create benefits for key industrial sectors,” a leader of the House of Representatives asked the government to protect local farmers from the “downsides” of global trade through more market access and investments in agriculture. House Committee on Ways and Means Chairman Joey Sarte Salceda on Wednesday said the agricultural sector still needs infusions of domestic and public investment to compete with the world. “I’m a fan of global trade. Just ask the many hundreds of thousands of Filipino seafarers who have found em-

ployment in carrying trade in goods. Or the many workers in export-oriented enterprises. Trade also appears to have a positive link with tourism, which remains a key Philippine industry despite the pandemic. So, I don’t deny the benefits that RCEP could provide,” Salceda said. RCEP was signed in November 2020 by the Philippines along with the other members of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations—Brunei, Cambodia, Indonesia, Laos, Malaysia, Myanmar, Singapore, Thailand and Vietnam—and Asean trade partners Australia, China, Japan, South Korea and New Zealand. The trade deal is expected to simplify customs and trade procedures among member-countries and help facilitate trade and economic exchange.

The RCEP agreement came into force last January 1 for six Asean member-states and the five Asean trading partners.

Market access

HOWEVER, Salceda cautioned that the DTI has to have a plan for market access to Philippine goods, especially agricultural goods, if Filipino farmers are to compete with the world. “I have always insisted on the role of the DTI as market facilitator for Philippine agriculture,” he said. “We also have to invest in crops where we possess some comparative advantages. Some provinces can compete in rice and corn, but we should also invest in our traditional crop exports of coconut, bananas, pineapples, and abaca, to ensure that we can expand markets for these

products. We should protect them from diseases, since these crops tend to be more sensitive to pests.” Meanwhile, Salceda said he will push for a review of the Agricultural Competitiveness Enhancement Fund (ACEF) to see whether current programs have led to higher yields or cheaper production costs, which he said “was the whole point of the program.” “The ACEF was established by RA [Republic Act] 8178 when we moved all agricultural products, except rice, away from the quantitative restriction or QR regime. We extended its implementation with RA 10848, and a periodic review is probably due, and is also mandated by law. I would like to see the impact of ACEF on crop competitiveness while we discuss ratifying RCEP,” he said.

“Protecting agriculture while opening other sectors is not new. Even European countries in the supposedly free trade zone of the European Union impose heavy protections on agriculture. It’s also a labor issue, because we have more farmers as a share of the labor force, than agriculture contributes as a share of the economy.” The Land Bank of the Philippines’ direct lending under the ACEF Lending Program has been made available to eligible borrowers at 2-percent interest rate per annum. Under the ACEF program, individual farmers and fishers may use the loan for the purchase of farm inputs and equipment or for farm improvement. For micro and small enterprises and cooperatives and associations, the loan may be used

for the acquisition of machineries, equipment and facilities for agribased production and post-production, as well as processing. “Historically, free trade displaces farm labor. The industrial revolution was expedited by the corn laws, which reduced tariffs on wheat in England and which thus resulted in farm work displacement, making more free hands available for industrial work,” said Salceda. “So, ultimately, the two concerns that we have to discuss as we ratify RCEP are: do we have the necessary mitigating measures to protect farmers from the downsides of global trade, and are our industries prepared to take in displaced farm work? If the answer to both is yes, then RCEP is an excellent opportunity that we should not miss.”

Manila slaps temporary import ban on Canadian beef Moratorium on lab fees for AI By Jasper Emmanuel Y. Arcalas

arrivals of cattle meat and meat byproducts including live animals and bovine processed animal proteins at ports of entry. Latest government data showed that Canada is the country’s seventhlargest source of beef products. The country’s beef imports from Canada in January to November 2021 reached 5,585.223 metric tons. Last year, the Philippines also temporarily banned the importation of cattle and beef products from Germany, Brazil and the United Kingdom due to mad cow disease outbreaks.

@jearcalas

HE Philippines has slapped a temporary import ban on beef and cattle-related products from Canada after Ottawa confirmed a classical mad cow disease outbreak in Alberta. Agriculture Secretary William D. Dar recently issued Memorandum Order (MO) 79 which formalized the temporary ban on the importation of live cattle, meat and meat products and bovine processed animal proteins derived from Canadian cattle. Dar said it is the government’s “utmost objective” to protect the country’s borders and territories from the “entry, establishment and spread of animal diseases that may be introduced by the importation” of contaminated or adulterated meat and meat products. He added that it is the responsibility of the government to protect both human and animal health from the risks caused by animal diseases as well as prevent possible “serious” economic consequences. “The recent cases of atypical bovine spongiform encephalopathy [BSE] or mad cow disease in Canada as reported to the World Organisation for Animal Health [OIE] may pose a risk to consumers due to BSE’s assumed link with the variant Creutzfeldt-Jakob disease [vCJD] in

Ban on Irish poultry

PHOTO from WWW.GOV.MB.CA

humans,” Dar said in MO 79, which was made public recently. Canada confirmed an outbreak of the atypical BSE in the Ponoka Country in Alberta to the OIE last December 17. With the temporary import ban, the government has suspended the processing, evaluation of the application and issuance of sanitary and phytosanitary import clearance (SPS-IC) for Canadian meat and meat products derived from cattle, including live cattle imports. “All shipments in transit/loaded/

accepted unto port before the official communication of this order to the Canadian authorities shall be allowed provided the products were slaughtered/produced before November 30, 2021,” Dar said. “All previously approved SPS import clearances which were not yet in transit/loaded/accepted unto port after the official communication of this order to the Canadian authorities are hereby revoked,” he added. The DA has also ordered a “more rigorous and tight inspection” on all

IN a separate MO, Dar also ordered a ban on the importation of domestic and wild birds, including their products such as poultry meat, day-old chicks, eggs and semen from Ireland. Dar noted that Ireland confirmed to the OIE an outbreak of H5N1 highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI) in Butler’s Bridge, Cavan affecting domestic birds. “There is a need to prevent the entry of HPAI virus to protect the health of the local poultry population,” he said. Government data showed that the country did not import Irish poultry products last year. Given the temporary import ban, the government suspended the processing, evaluation and issuance of SPS-IC for Irish poultry products.

tests extended until June 30

HE Department of Agriculture (DA) has extended its moratorium on laboratory fees for avian influenza (AI) tests until June 30 to encourage local poultry producers to secure farm certification. Agriculture Secretary William D. Dar issued Administrative Order (AO) 34 authorizing the extension of the moratorium on the laboratory fees for AI tests required for local transport and farm certification. The moratorium covers AI tests conducted by the Animal Disease Diagnosis Reference Laboratory of the Bureau of Animal Industry (BAI) and regional animal disease diagnostic laboratories. Dar said the extension seeks to encourage local poultry producers to subject their poultry facilities to farm certification. The previous moratorium stipulated by DA AO 31, Series of 2020 expired last December 31. “The previous moratorium was issued to support and give ample time to all clients to register their poultry facilities and other poultry related facilities while strengthening AI surveillance and reporting,” he said. “The DA continually supports and encourages our local poultry industry stakeholders to subject their poultry facilities to farm certification as

required for transport purposes, in compliance to the Republic Act [RA] 8485 as amended by RA 10631 and DA AO No. 5, Series of 2019.” The BAI told the BusinessMirror that the moratorium is also a way of helping poultry producers reduce their production costs. In an AO it released in 2020, Dar said “there is a need to maintain and improve the Al reporting system of the country by ensuring that laboratory tests are conducted to confirm field reports or suspect cases.” Dar also said that laboratory services and fees become burdensome to most clients who would have to seek multiple tests. “In some instances, multiple tests need to be conducted to attain conclusive results that are not affordable for most clients,” he said in AO 31. “There is a need to harmonize the laboratory services and fees under the DA in order to have a uniform implementation of the AI Prevention and Control program.” The DA noted that AI “continues to be a threat to the poultry industry” of the country. In 2020, the Philippines confirmed AI outbreaks in three different areas: Jaen, Rizal; San Luis, Pampanga; and Taytay, Rizal. All three bird flu outbreaks were immediately resolved by the government. Jasper Emmanuel Y. Arcalas

Researchers see a new path China’s new registration requirements for imported food take effect to curbing methane in rice

CUP of tea in 2006 changed genetic engineering forever. Jill Banfield, a University of California at Berkeley ecosystem scientist and 1999 MacArthur Foundation fellow, had become curious in 2006 about mysterious repeating DNA sequences that were common in microbes that live in some of the planet’s most extreme environments, such as deep-sea heat vents, acid mines and geysers. She just needed a biochemist to help explain what the sequences known as Crispr/Cas9 were, and ideally somebody local. The best scientist-location tool available to the highly decorated PhD researcher—a web search— recommended a Berkeley RNA specialist named Jennifer Doudna. The two met for tea at a campus lunch spot. Doudna hadn’t heard of Crispr, a kind of microbial immune system, and was intrigued. So much so that over the next few years she would go on to solve the sequence’s structure, which turned out to be something of a miraculous cut-and-paste tool for DNA. The discovery heralded a new era of genomics that is revolutionizing science and multiple industries and earned Doudna half the 2020 Nobel Prize in chemistry.

Now, 15 years after their initial meeting, Banfield, Doudna and a large team of co-authors have published a paper that takes a major step toward solving the thorny problem of how to study and alter genomes of microbes living in complicated real-world environments, such as the gut microbiome or soil. The complexity of microbial communities has been a major obstacle to discovering technologies that can prevent diseases and improve agriculture. It’s a critical step toward curbing methane, a harmful greenhouse gas that is emitted during rice production. The work is a part of the Innovative Genomics Institute, a consortium Doudna founded to develop uses for Crispr and other genetic engineering techniques to solve problems in health, food production and elsewhere. The IGI in July received a $3-million gift from an anonymous donor to pursue climate work, and Banfield’s research on microbial ecosystems is fundamental to that push. Soil is “the most difficult ecosystem on the planet to study,” Banfield said. “It’s the most complex. It really was the Holy Grail to be able to get any insights into soil microbial communities.” Bloomberg News

ILIPINO food exporters are advised to comply with China’s new registration requirements which took effect on January 1 to continue to trade smoothly with the huge market. Ana GM Abejuela, agriculture counsellor of the Embassy of the Philippines in Beijing, said the General Administration of Customs of China (GACC) issued last April 12, 2021 Decree 248 stipulating the regulations on the registration and administration of overseas producers of imported food. Abejuela said such a decree expands the scope of registration to include all food manufacturers, processors, and storage facilities; while product scope includes all food products except food additives as well as food-related products. She said registration is through the exporting country competent authority and self-registration. “What would be the implication if we cannot comply with the requirements of [Decree] 248? I think it’s simple: no registration, then no trade, that is why, this is very, very important [to comply],” she added in a webinar. Abejuela said product categories to be registered through the competent authority include meat and meat products, casings, aquatic products, dairy products, bird nest and bird nest products, bee products, egg and egg products, edible oils and

fats, stuffed pastry products, edible grains, milled grain industry products and malt, fresh and dehydrated vegetables and dried beans, condiments, nuts and seeds, dried fruits, unroasted coffee and cacao beans, foods for special dairy purposes, and food supplements. She said manufacturers, processors, and storage facilities of foods other than these product groups are required to register directly with GACC, either on their own behalf or through a private agent at https://cifer.single.window.cn. Abejuela said the new regulation modifies and expands the conditions and procedures for registration as stated in Chapter II of the regulation. This includes the additional requirement that the food safety management system of the exporting country has passed GACC’s equivalence assessment or review. Under the new regulation, she said registered overseas facilities are required to include the Chinese registration number or the registration number approved by the exporting country competent authority on both the inner and outer packaging of food products exported to China. “The registration of overseas facilities completed before the implementation of Decree 248 will remain valid. After the expiration of the validity period of these registrations, the relevant manufacturers/facili-

ties shall be managed in accordance with the new regulations,” she added. Abejuela said products with existing signed protocols/agreements are not covered by Decree 248. Decree 249, the administrative measures on import and export food safety, focuses more on ensuring safety of food imported into China, she said. It covers an extensive range of requirements including evaluation and review of foreign food safety systems; overseas facilities registration; record filing by importers and exporters, and commercial agents; quarantine and inspection; product labeling; and food safety risk alerts, Abejuela said. “The decree stresses that producers and operators are accountable for the safety of the food products they produce and handle,” she said, adding it requires food importers to establish a system for review of their suppliers, overseas exporters, and production facilities. Abejuela said Decree 249 introduces the concept of a conformity assessment covering the evaluation of foreign food safety management systems, the registration of overseas food export facilities, and required record filing by importers and exporters. Tanya Kristine Martirez, fooddrug regulation officer II of the Food and Drug Administration Center for Food Regulation and Research, said exporters or companies who do not

comply with Decrees 248 and 249 will not have a GACC registration. “If you do not have GACC registration, you will not be able to export your food products to China,” she said. Martirez said companies must ensure compliance with China’s food safety regulation. She cited the country’s Republic Act (RA) 10611, otherwise known as the “Food Safety Act of 2013,” wherein the companies should be responsible for the quality of their products and their goods must comply with the prescribed standards. Martirez said additional policy such as Administrative Order 2014-0029 wherein for products intended for exports, the requirements of the country of destination shall be followed. “Thus, it is the exporters’ responsibility to know and comply with the requirements of their export market. There are many regulations that are not required in the Philippines but are required abroad, that is why it is important for the exporters to know what the standards are or what are required of them by the export destination,” she added. Department of Trade and Industry-Trade Promotions Group Undersecretary Abdulgani Macatoman underscored the importance of Philippine compliance with these GACC decrees and capacitating exporters to comply with these regulations. PHILEXPORT News and Features

Envoys&Expats BusinessMirror

Thursday, January 6, 2022

Israel-based Pinoys now fully vaccinated–envoy

ILIPINOS living in the State of Israel have all been fully vaccinated against the coronavirus, and have free access to booster shots. In a Laging Handa briefing, Ambassador Ilan Fluss mentioned that boosters remain “freely available” to Philippine nationals in the Holy Land, and noted its importance— especially to the elderly. “All Filipinos: caregivers, diplomats, and other Filipinos in Israel, have been fully vaccinated, and there is no obstacle in receiving their [jabs],” Fluss revealed. To date the envoy shared that about 6.5 million out of Israel’s total 9.3 million population have received initial vaccination, with 6 million already inoculated the second time, and 4.2 million now with a booster shot. “The younger generation is not rushing to get vaccinated, especially not for the booster, so we have less than 50 percent who got the booster until now,” he said. The diplomat disclosed that the Israeli government is currently considering the possibility of offering a “fourth dose” of the vaccine to its population. “The fourth…is really being seri-

ously considered; but as I said, there’s not enough medical evidence on what will happen if we give [it],” Fluss furthered. “So, it is still being analyzed, but it seems to me that this might be the direction.” He shared that his country has about 1,118 cases confirmed as Omicron variant infection, 723 of which came from abroad. “We have another 861 suspicious cases where we believe it might be [Omicron in origin, but we’re still doing the sequencing to identify if it is really the variant],” the envoy illustrated. “And for that reason, we [also have] the protocols in Israel being a little bit more strict.” This, he said, is a reason Israel remains closed to visitors, and has imposed stricter rules barring the travel of its people to about 70 countries in its “red” list.

Bike grants

MEANWHILE, Mashav—Israel’s Agency for international development cooperation and the Embassy of Israel in the Philippines—cospon-

AMBASSADOR Ilan Fluss MANUEL T. CAYON

sored the “Hospital-in-Bike” project of the Makati Medical (MakatiMed) Center Foundation Inc. It aims to save lives or prevent further injuries by giving urgent medical attention and intervention to remote areas across the country. The P500,000 grant will be allocated for a basic trauma kit that will include medical supplies and equipment such as nasal-tracheostomy tube, surgical tools and portable oxygen—including specialized communications equipment. “Pa r t of t he emba ssy a nd Mashav’s vision is to share with the Philippines the know-how technologies which provided the basis for Israel’s own rapid development,” Fluss remarked. “[We give importance to reaching out to remote communities and sup-

porting them with innovative but simple approaches in dealing] with their needs, such as responding to medical emergencies.” A total of 100 cycle responders will be beneficiaries: 25 “Tausug Heroes” based in Sulu, as well as 25 cycle responders each in Luzon, the Visayas, and Mindanao. Fluss hopes more communities will benefit from the project in the future, especially in far-flung areas. He and Deputy Chief of Mission Nir Balzam personally turned over the grant to MakatiMed Foundation President and Mashav alumnus Dr. Victor Gisbert, as well as Executive Director Mary Margaret M. Barro. The foundation’s board of trustees chaired by Manuel V. Pangilinan joined the program online. With a report from Raymond Carl dela Cruz/PNA

US deploys robust assistance to Odette’s hardest hit areas By Heather Variava

Charge d’Affaires a.i. United States Embassy in the Philippines

(Remarks at the joint press briefing with Secretary of Foreign Affairs Teodoro L. Locsin Jr.)

HANK you, Secretary Locsin. Greetings, Assistant Secretary [for the] Office of American Affairs Jose Victor ChanGonzaga and Assistant Secretary [for the] Office of Public and Cultural Diplomacy Eduardo Meñez, and thank you for joining us today. Greetings to other colleagues and members of the press. And thank you, Secretary Locsin, for hosting this joint press event, and for your expression of appreciation. I commend the response efforts of the Philippine government to help individuals, families and communities recover and rebuild their lives following Supertyphoon Odette. As the United States Charge d’Affaires, I would like to share additional details about the steps taken by the US government to support the Philippines’s relief efforts for [affected] communities. First and foremost, on behalf of the American people, I extend our heartfelt [sympathies] to the millions of Filipinos affected by Typhoon Odette, especially to those who lost loved ones in this terrible storm. Given the level of destruction and displacement across a large geographic area and multiple provinces as a result, hundreds of thousands are in need of immediate assistance.

LOCSIN and Variava TWITTER: @USAmbPH

I am honored to share that the US has announced an additional P950 million in humanitarian assistance to help meet the immediate needs of Filipinos affected by Typhoon Odette. This brings the total USgovernment assistance for this typhoon response to more than P1 billion. With this new assistance, [my country]—through the US Agency for International Development, or USAID, will provide food, water, sanitation, and shelter assistance to help keep people healthy, and to protect the most vulnerable. I am very pleased to be here today with Secretary Locsin and others to announce this robust assistance from the American people to support the immediate needs of individuals and families in the areas hardest hit by Typhoon Odette. This will help ensure that food and other life-saving supplies reach those most in need. Last week the US government, through USAID, provided an initial P10 million in immediate assistance

to support communities devastated by Typhoon Odette. To assist the Philippine government’s relief efforts, USAID partner Action Against Hunger is providing food, water, hygiene supplies and other relief items to people affected by the typhoon in Surigao del Norte and Dinagat Islands. This initial USAID assistance is also helping to restore water-supply services and sanitation facilities, as well as promote hygiene practices to keep people safe and healthy. I also announced an additional P50 million in funding from the US government through USAID to partner with the United Nations World Food Programme, or WFP. The assistance will provide logistics support to deploy humanitarian workers and transport relief supplies to communities devastated by the typhoon. Through our partnership with WFP, the US will also provide logistics and emergency telecommunications support to assist the Philippine government’s response in areas devastated

by “Odette.” We are also providing support, through an existing USAID program, to the International Organization for Migration, to help manage evacuation shelters and provide relief supplies. This includes heavy-duty plastic sheeting to meet the urgent shelter needs of 4,800 families in Southern Leyte, Dinagat, Surigao del Norte, and other typhoon-affected regions. We will continue to partner with the Philippines to strengthen natural-disaster response and support Filipinos in their recovery efforts. Since 2010 the US, through USAID, has sent more than P17 billion in disaster-relief and recovery aid, [as well as] boosted the disaster-risk reduction capacity of more than 100 municipalities and cities. We are also pleased to note the contributions made by US companies to communities affected by “Odette.” To date McDonald’s has provided 20,000 meals, Coca-Cola has provided more than 26,000 liters of water, and Procter & Gamble has provided P800,000 of hygiene products via the Philippine Coast Guard. During this year, the 75th anniversary of diplomatic ties between our two countries, the US remains committed to working alongside our friends, partners, and allies in the Philippines to respond to the devastating impact of “Odette,” [while bringing] much needed relief and aid to Filipinos whose lives have been upended. We look forward to our continued partnership. Thank you very much.

France grants €2-million worth of emergency aid

OLLOWING the damage caused by Typhoon Odette (international name Rai) that has claimed nearly 400 lives and displaced tens of thousands of people in the Philippines, France is standing alongside the Filipino people, according to a statement from the deputy spokesperson of the

French Ministry for Europe and Foreign Affairs on December 30, 2021. Responding to the most urgent needs of the population while reinforcing the efforts of Philippine authorities, the ministry’s Crisis and Support Center is sending €1 million worth of emergency assistance to support the

actions of the French nongovernment organization ACTED and the French Red Cross, with the Philippine Red Cross as its partner. The aid includes the distribution of several thousand family and hygiene kits, as well as material for the emergency rehabilitation of de-

stroyed or damaged houses in the provinces of Surigao Del Norte, Palawan and Bohol. In addition and in response to the United Nations’ appeal, the ministry has decided to allocate another €1 million to the World Food Programme and to the UN Children’s Fund, or Unicef.

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EU, WHO send medical-grade oxygen for Covid-19 therapy

EPRESENTATIVES from the European Union (EU) and the World Health Organization (WHO) recently handed over 200 oxygen concentrators and relevant consumables to the Health Department. The donation, valued at more than P7 million, will support local pandemic preparedness and capacity of health facilities amid the surge of new coronavirus disease 2019 (Covid-19) variants, according to the EU Delegation in the Philippines. With the EU, WHO Philippines had also distributed 250 pre-filled oxygen cylinders, valued at P2.6 million, to 11 health sites in seven regions in the country. “A few battles [had] been won already, but the fight is still on! With our EU member-states, we have provided over 35 million Covid-19 vaccine doses to the Philippines through the COVAX facility, and more doses have been exported from the [bloc to this country],” said EU Ambassador Luc Véron. “[We] are pleased that, through our financial assistance, the WHO has swiftly managed to provide oxygen therapy for Covid-19 patients. This will benefit some of the most vulnerable persons in need of therapy—including elderly persons affected by other respiratory diseases, pregnant women and newborns, especially in the most remote areas of the country,” added Véron. “This will lead to saving more lives, and an overall strengthening of the health system.” The oxygen cylinders were distributed to 11 health facilities, as far as Batanes General Hospital in the north and Zamboanga City Medical Center in the south. These commodities proved most beneficial to hospitals that had reported shortages of medical-grade oxygen due to logistical or production issues. With this support, those with Covid-19 infections can have urgent life-saving care, according to the delegation. “About 20 percent of Covid-19 patients will require oxygen ther-

AMBASSADOR Luc Véron (from left), Dr. Rabindra Abeyasinghe and Secretary Francisco T. Duque III TWITTER: @EUAMBPH

apy to prevent respiratory failure. Early and ready access to medical oxygen can make all the difference to patients developing severe… and with severe Covid-19,” shared Dr. Rabindra Abeyasinghe, WHO representative to the Philippines. “WHO remains committed to supporting the Department of Health [DOH in reducing the loss of lives through supporting expansion of access and availability of medical oxygen, as the country deals] with emerging variants of the virus such as Omicron.” At present the Philippines has several limitations and challenges in oxygen production and supply, the delegation said. The country only has five major medical-grade oxygen cryogenic plants, which are private companies in Luzon. About half of the DOH-operated hospitals across the country—or 34 out of 66—have their own oxygen-generating plant, while other health facilities rely on private distributors of medical oxygen supplies, which may have limited production capacities. Also, supplies like oxygen tanks, cylinders, and concentrators have to be imported, since the country does not have any local manufacturer of such supplies.

Consulate general in Barcelona tracks Rizal’s footsteps in Spain

N commemoration of the 125th anniversary of the martyrdom of Dr. Jose Rizal on December 30, 2021, Consul General Maria Theresa S.M. Lazaro led commemorative activities that reflected on the life of the Philippine hero. The program commenced at the consulate with a message by Consul General Lazaro pondering on the life of Rizal and its importance in Philippine history. This was followed by a reading of the El Amor Patrio—an essay written by Rizal in Barcelona first published by the Diariong Tagalog in August 1882, and later reprinted by La Solidaridad in October 1890. The consulate general’s personnel then ventured into the La Raval district and retraced the footsteps of Rizal in Barcelona. Plaza Catalunya was the first leg of the historical tour, where the hero was welcomed by fellow Filipinos, some of whom were former classmates from Ateneo. They met in a coffee shop in the plaza in what will be the beginning of his numerous fellowships with Filipino liberals in Spain. The second building which is of notable significance to Rizal is the Plaça de Bonsuccés. This is where La Solidaridad held office, and in the neighborhood where most members of the Filipino community reside. It was the site of many historic meetings where the triumvirate of the Propaganda movement composed of Rizal, Marcelo H. del Pilar, Graciano Lopez-Jaena and other members of the publication brainstormed to advance a peaceful political revolutionary movement against Spain.

CONSUL General Maria Theresa S.M. Lazaro led the wreath-laying ceremony in front of the Rizal Marker at the Hotel España BARCELONA PCG

The last leg and highlight of the commemoration tour ended with a wreath-laying ceremony at the Rizal marker at Hotel España. The establishment, which was then a boarding house, was where Rizal stayed when he arrived in Barcelona on June 16, 1882. A tour of the hotel, which showed areas where the hero spent his time inside, was also conducted by Cultural Officer Bernardo Bagalay. An NHCP documentary, Jose Rizal: Landas ng Paglaya, was screened in the consular section area, much to the appreciation of the general public.

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• Thursday, January 6, 2022

More mommy thoughts on ‘SEL’: Part II PHOTO BY AUSTIN PACHECO ON UNSPLASH

ONTINUING from our post over the holiday season, let me further share “SEL” (Socio-Emotional Learning) tips and tools from Valerie Cheng, a children’s book author. What are their “simplifying parenting” tips on managing stress and anxiety? From Cheng: “As a mom, I try to teach my kids simple tools like breathing, mindfulness, acceptance and letting go, meditation and affirmations to help them manage stress and anxiety and find their peace. It’s okay to have big feelings like stress and anxiety—everyone experiences it, you are not alone. Stress and anxiety is like a huge wave or storm, and we need to practice breathing and meditation, so that when the wave or storm comes we would know how to deal with it. We have also tried a Family Trust Circle—it’s a good exercise where we talk as a family, we say what we appreciate about each other, what we are grateful for, then we discuss our goals, and where we need help and support.” From her husband Jeff: “It’s important to take care of my own mental health before I can be effective with my children. I try to create a space where I can be quiet and alone with my thoughts. Often this is when I go on long walks in the park or connect with nature as this gives me peace.... Even just silently walking and observing the world helps release their active bodies to ensure there is space in their minds for calm. I find feeding fishes in the ponds in our condo also very relaxing.” For their kids, they teach them to do “mindful breathing, meditation and affirmations. [Our son] is usually asleep after meditating for 10-15 minutes. When he is stressed, he usually needs a big hug, and some quiet time to do his breathing. As a family, we have built two little free libraries, one for Children’s Cancer Foundation, and one for Children’s Aid Society. We have also started a Kindness Rocks Project here in our condo. We paint rocks with positive messages and leave them near the function room for people to get and to share with others. We also bring the kids to Willing Hearts, it’s a soup kitchen [in Singapore] serving people in need. We as parents also try to show an example by volunteering at the Ahuva Good Shepherd and the Singapore Cancer Society. We believe helping others by sharing your blessings, talents and skills

helps you to appreciate what you have, learn gratitude and it changes your perspective on life.” The next interesting person is Amabel Japitana, who co-founded Kind Little Humans with Emily Bautista. Amabel has a Masters Degree in Education in Early Childhood and Childhood Education from Bank Street College, New York, who has over past 12 years been working in early childhood education in New York City, Manila and Nepal. Emily Bautista is an early childhood educator currently teaching in Boston, Massachusetts. She graduated with a degree in Child Development and Education at UA&P and later on pursued her Masters in Literacy and General Childhood Education also at Bank Street College in New York. She’s been in the field for over a decade and have taught multiple age-groups in different capacities. “Kind Little Humans came about as a response to the challenges of families and educators during the height of the pandemic. The Philippines was in ECQ

and everyone was quarantined at home. Young children had to stay home, while schools shifted to online learning. During this time, we were working with and talking to families and educators who were facing many challenges navigating our new normal. We decided to create an online space that could offer some support and community for those raising and working with young children during this difficult time. “In this space, we share positive and useful information, tips and points for reflection on early childhood development and raising children. We particularly choose to focus on what research and experience have been telling us for a long time about the early years: that relationships, emotional well-being and play are crucial, and matter much more than early academics. In line with this, we have also begun developing tools for social and emotional learning. We have just created our Kind Little Humans Feelings Cards, which help nurture children’s emotional intelligence, and will be

releasing more learning tools next year. “Our overall hope is to honor little humans on their journey of growth, and the big humans who are learning and growing alongside them. We want to empower children by empowering grown-ups in their roles as carers of young children.” I also loved their tips on SEL by age group: “Socio-emotional learning is extremely important. Many grown-ups tend to focus on children’s academic learning and treat socio-emotional learning as something secondary. Socio-emotional learning involves learning to manage emotions, feeling and showing empathy for others, establishing relationships, setting positive goals and making responsible decisions. These skills are, in fact, crucial for children to thrive, do well academically and become successful adults.” Next week, let me continue this discussion and introduce you to this kind and entrepreneurial girl named, Lia Cua.

How changing parental beliefs can build stronger vocabulary and math skills for young children By Julie Pernaudet University of Chicago

THE key to improving young children’s vocabulary and math skills may lie in changing their parents’ beliefs. We describe these findings in an article published in October 2021 in the peer-reviewed scientific journal Nature Communications. When we measured parental beliefs about child development among 479 parents of newborns living in the Chicago area, a striking pattern emerged: Better educated parents were significantly more likely than parents with lower levels of education to believe that activities such as telling stories to their children, playing with them and spending time having conversations with them affect child development. We call such activities “parental investments”. To understand how socioeconomic differences in these beliefs may drive inequality in children’s skills, we designed two interventions among lowincome families in the Chicago area. Both interven-

tion programs promote language-rich interactions between caregivers and children. Our first intervention consisted of a series of short educational videos that provided tips and information about babies’ capabilities. Parents watched the videos when they visited their pediatrician for their child’s immunizations in the first six months after birth. The second intervention was more intensive. Families with a child 24 to 30 months old received home visits by specifically trained members of our research team every other week for six months. During the 12 visits, the home visitors showed an educational video to the parents and then did an activity that demonstrated how to put the concepts covered in the video into practice. These demonstrations included, for example, how to use descriptive language with their child or incorporate math into everyday routines. Finally, the home visitors gave feedback and set goals for the next visit. At the end of both experiments, parents were more likely to believe that parental investments af-

v u Retired Chef De Cuisine Chef Godofredo “Freddie” Aranda’s

granddaughters persuaded him to launch Sazanami as a homebased online business during lockdown last year. Sazanami now offers delectable Fusion Sushi Rolls and Japanese rice bowls like Tendon & Katsudon.

v K-gogi’s Unlimited Pork and Chicken with side dishes

fect child development than parents that did not get the interventions. But we also found that parents in the more intensive program had significantly more interactions with their children than parents that did not get the intervention. The less intensive program had a similar but smaller effect on parentchild interactions. Importantly, our results also indicate that the children whose parents received the home visits developed higher vocabulary and math skills—as well as improved socio-emotional health—immediately after the intervention and six months later, compared to those that did not get the interventions. As these are indicators of school readiness, it means that kids who got the treatment were better prepared for school. The first intervention, on the other hand, did not improve children’s vocabulary, which was the main outcome of interest for that program. Research shows that socioeconomic inequalities in child development begin well before school starts.

Investing in the early years of a child’s development can improve a variety of outcomes later in life, such as employment, earnings and physical health. During the first years of life, parental investments are critical for the healthy development of children. Yet socioeconomic differences in parental investments, which have been consistently observed over time and across countries, exacerbate the educational and income inequalities that are often seen in modern economies. The fact that only our more intensive intervention succeeded in making kids better prepared for school suggests that simply providing families with more information on child development and parenting is insufficient. Our future work will address how to personalize support for families. We are developing a computeradaptive version of the survey we used to elicit parental beliefs. This will tailor to each parent’s specific knowledge and needs and help us identify the most appropriate programs for each family. THE CONVERSATION

Communal dining the safe way SAZANAMI Sushi’s delectable Fusion Sushi Rolls and Japanese rice bowls like Tendon & Katsudon, from retired Chef De Cuisine Godofredo “Freddie” Aranda, who opened a home-based online business during last year’s lockdown... Tomas Bistro’s mouth-watering Flatbread Pizzas and Specialty Pastas from Chef James Besalo, who relocated to the Philippines from Bermuda... Chikks Party Chicken’s deliciously flavored chicken wings and poppers which Phoebe de Yor and friends concocted in their search of the perfect party food. These are some of the heartwarming stories behind the great food at Eatogether Food Hall at SM Megamall which has become a favorite family destination. Eatogether Food Hall was previously an incubator for Vikings’ new brands, but with the pandemic, the food hall opened its doors to accommodate displaced chefs and home-based food entrepreneurs to pursue their passion for food and business. And today, the food hall welcomes diners to a whole new food hall dining experience. Japanese food lovers will be delighted with Daburu Ramen’s authentic Daburu House Special Ramen, Kuro Ramen and Melting Gyoza. Its first store located at the Eatogether Food Hall offers two ramen bowls at the price of one,

making most value in every bowl. Likewise, K-gogi’s bibimbap and unlimited grill sets are popular to satisfy one’s Korean food cravings. Hola! Paella, on the other hand, offers authentic Spanish food including Seafood Paella and Paella de la Casa without intimidating the price-conscious. In addition to the food start-ups, the food hall houses mainstream names introducing new brands. Tong Yang Shabu-Shabu Express is the ala carte restaurant version of the Tong Yang Plus Buffet brands. It offers Shabu-Shabu, and allows customers to Create Your Own Shabu-Shabu with fresh hotpot ingredients to choose from for as low as 1 peso per gram. The Vikings Food Group’s Nord’s Bread Hub is a food hall favorite. Nord’s Bread Hub is an urban style bakery and café that offers a variety of Asian and Western healthy concept meals, breads, coffee, and desserts such as Pedro Gelato’s freshly made gelato. The Eatogether Food Hall is a perfect place for families, friends, and even coworkers to come together and celebrate over food and drinks. Safety protocols including temperature check, availability of alcohol dispensers, and accessibility of contact tracing QR code are all in place. Also, the food hall has a cashless system for safer and more convenient transactions.

B6 Thursday, January 6, 2022

Dr. Jose Rizal‘s martyrdom commemorated with unveiling of new Luneta and Rizal Park Library logos

Let Sun Life Grepa care for you during life’s critical moments

O help Filipinos manage vulnerable health situations, Sun Life Grepa Financial, Inc. (Sun Life Grepa), a major life insurance company in the country, has launched Sun Grepa ICU Protect, a health insurance plan that ensures your financial health is

well-taken care of during life’s critical moments. It provides significant benefits for life-threatening conditions requiring intensive care and life support. It includes benefits for daily and even longterm intensive care unit confinement and coverage for specific major critical

illness conditions such as stroke, heart attack, cancer, or major surgery for coronary artery bypass graft. “Even with excellent health insurance, just one severe illness can be a tremendous financial burden for you and your family,” said Sun Life Grepa President Richard S. Lim. “With Sun Grepa ICU Protect, clients can have peace of mind knowing they are prepared for any health emergencies and the future of their loved ones are financially secure beyond a lifetime.” Sun Grepa ICU Protect also offers preventive care benefits such as a choice of either a medical exam, vaccination, or COVID-19 screening test, to help clients proactively maintain their good health and lower their risk of acquiring life-threatening diseases. Clients will be given access as a Gold member to Go Well community so they can enjoy special privileges to various wellness programs and activities. For more information, visit any Sun Life Grepa branch or email wecare@sunlifegrepa.com.

Advocacy Queen 2022 sees beauty in helping others

INETTE L. Mendoza from Quezon City was named Mrs. Model Mom Asia Pacific Advocacy Queen 2022 in simple coronation rites held at the Apat Dapat head office at Paniqui, Tarlac recently. The beauty pageant included formal and casual wear challenges where Minette wore a Rollie Graza creation. The worldwide search for married women and mother also focus on intellect and her personal credence for a cause and how she supports it -- an advocacy focused on “beauty in helping others”. “To help someone means making it easier for him to fix something by sharing your own efforts, services and resources to be able to solve somebody else’s problem. I believe real beauty, especially, in a woman, is mirrored not just on her face but in her humanness, selflessness and concern for the well-being of others. To be of service

to others, particularly to those who do not have the capability to return the favor is such a wondrous act in realizing a person's own potentials and competence,” Minette said for the win. The Queen Mom is scheduled to do various charity events in the next 12 months of her reign. "Helping others isn’t only doing good to them but to your own self as well because it will make you feel like a better person. The impending purpose of our life will be genuinely fulfilled if we selflessly bring about help to others. The beauty in helping others is found in easing someone’s burden that will bring a smile to his face,” she said. The annual search is a collaboration between Apat Dapat partylist and Best Magazine to give recognition to beautiful mommies who have extended their motherly callings to the needy.

SOMERSET bedroom

imbued with the celebratory welcomehome feels, characteristic of most Filipino homecomings. And who wouldn’t want to come home to that, no matter how brief or extended the stay may be? Think infusion of patterns and textures with clean lines and a warm yet vibrant colour palette. All these added to the modernity distinctly expressed in the materials used, resulting in the bespoke residential feel. Behind this sensory mix is the HBA Manila Design Office, a name associated with impressive, inspiring, and memorable design spaces in Metro Manila. As with all their projects, the team merged characteristics of the locality and culture into the design narrative. HBA Partner and HBA Manila Design Office Principal Norman Agleron says that the design was inspired by fireworks

important elements make up the logo: the lunette- the crescent shaped defense structure used in fortifying the outer walls of Intramuros; the Rizal Monument, whose shape has become one of the most recognizable structures in the park, and which is often used to symbolize Manila or the Philippines; and three stars which, like those in the Philippine Flag, signifying the island groups of Luzon, Visayas and Mindanao. The colors of the logo, meanwhile, represent the ideals espoused by Dr. Jose Rizal: blue, the colors of sky and sea- for honor and patriotism; red, the color of red earth- for courage and love of country; and golden light- the rays from the sun and the stars- that represent education and the light it brings. It is NPDC’s aim that through this new logo, Rizal Park, Luneta will be able to create a new sense of identity for our nation’s premiere national park, and to be able to foster a community around it. To cap off the Rizal Month celebrations, NPDC also launched the Rizal Park Guide App, made possible in partnership with Orange and Crane Innovations, Inc. This app provides park goers with an interactive experience around Rizal Park, Luneta with QR codes providing historical information about all the park’s landmarks and attractions. The app also provides regular updates on upcoming events and announcements. Those who are not able to visit the park may also watch the virtual tours and videos provided in the app. The Rizal Park Guide App is free to download on the Apple Store and Google Play Store.

Nestlé Philippines and its employees mount product and fund drive for Typhoon Odette relief in Vis-Min

HBA Manila infuses celebratory welcome-home feels

F there’s one stark revelation this global pandemic has confirmed, it is that serviced residences have become the obvious alternative for not just the initiallyintended traveling business set, but for anyone needing extended leisure stays away from home. Whatever pre-2020 notion one might have had of these home-away-from-home venues were, the new Somerset Central Salcedo Makati is a redefined version for the market of today’s remote workforce and business owners, who are either eagerly breaking out of the imposed lockdown for a short and safe R&R, or returning from being stranded abroad (read: on quarantine), or just seeking a new WFH hybrid environment. Located in the midst of Makati CBD, Somerset Central Salcedo is equipped for the current work and lifestyle shift yet

HE National Parks Development Committee (NPDC), an attached agency of the Department of Tourism, recently launched a new logo for Rizal Park, Luneta, as well as the Rizal Park Free Library and the Rizal Park Guide App to commemorate the 125th anniversary of the martyrdom of Dr. Jose Rizal for Rizal Month while holding a special flag ceremony attended by President Rodrigo Duterte on December 30, 2021. The reveal of the new Rizal Park, Luneta logo was held during the “Stop and Salute Flag Ceremony” in partnership with the Salute to a Clean Flag Movement (STACF) and the National Historical Commission of the Philippines, held at the site of the Rizal Monument and Independence Flagpole last December 27 at the Rizal Park, Luneta. Soldiers of the Armed Forces of the Philippines raised the Philippine flag with Soprano Bernadette Mamauag singing the National Anthem as it was being translated by Filipino Sign Language interpreter Ms. Christine Faye Garica. This was followed by a powerful rendition of the led the “Panunumpa ng Katapatan sa Watawat” delivered by Award-winning actor John Arcilla. National Parks Development Committee’s Executive Director Ms. Cecille Lorenzana Romero officially welcomed the distinguished guests and awardees, commending them for being true Filipino nationalists, and encouraging them to continue spreading the spirit of Philippine patriotism through their craft. STACF Founder and President Ms. Monique Pronove, acknowledged the recent achievements of honorees Mr. John Arcilla (Coppi Volpi for Best Actor, 78th Venice Film Festival) and Mr. Michael Villagante (Lorenzo il Magnifico Award, Florence Biennale Art Fair). The honorees were awarded Philippine flags in a woven case designed by Ms. Zarah Juan. The new Rizal Park logo was unveiled by Mr. Jezreel Gaius A. Apelar, Deputy Executive Director of the NPDC. The new logo was carefully designed with the able guidance of members of the scholarly community such as Dr. Ambeth Ocampo and Dr. Xiao Chua, and other custodians of Philippine culture. Three

infused with the Filipino’s sense of celebration and creativity—a captivated wonder that provides a business hotel experience for the guests, articulating a sense of celebration and wonder to its visitors. He adds, “The anticipation of the unexpected, the sparkling lights and the grandeur of the display are what lures people to the fireworks. Added to that are the indigenous textiles applied to the interior architecture and items designed by Filipino designers giving this establishment a warmer touch of distinctive beauty. These elements are articulated throughout the design of the interior, landscaping and the artworks.” Agleron explains how just the unique and welcoming arrival experience alone will provide the suitable transition from the city street scene outside to the lobby’s homey interiors. “The introduction of curved forms creates a fluid somewhat organic feel as the guests walk through the lobby spaces to the ethereal lifts that will take them to the contemporarydesigned residential units.” Global trend in the hospitality industry, which had evolved along with today’s practical travelers and seasoned imaginative remote movers of the corporate field, have also helped set up how today’s serviced residences are designed. Aligned with the global directions of their principal, international design leader HBA, the HBA Manila design office continues to redefine hospitality design and luxury interiors with the market and world that continue to evolve.

N solidarity with residents in the Visayas and Mindanao who have been hit hard by Typhoon Odette, Nestlé Philippines is mounting a drive to distribute P22-M worth of its food and beverage products in affected areas. At the same time, under Nestlé Cares, an employee volunteering program which helps serve the needs of communities, Nestlé PH employees have raised relief funds internally out of their own pockets. With the company matching employees’ contributions peso for peso, the amount totals over P2-M, to be turned over to the Philippine Red Cross for recovery and rehabilitation efforts. Nestlé PH has identified specific locations in Eastern and Western Visayas as well as Mindanao for which aid will be

provided, as well as local government units to partner with for the prompt distribution of various Milo, Bear Brand and Nescafé products. For their part, Nestlé distributors and logistics partners are actively and fully committed to participating in the initiative. They are shouldering the logistics of transferring the goods to their destinations. “As the Kasambuhay ng Pamilyang Pilipino, we seek to reach out to those who have been severely impacted by Typhoon Odette, those who have lost loved ones, whose homes have been destroyed, and who are suffering from scarcity of food, water and other basic necessities and services, and damaged infrastructure,” said Nestlé Philippines Chairman and CEO Kais Marzouki.

Be self-confident and stylish this 2022 with Swag

O be able to dress up well in this newly-opened milieu, Swag will certainly usher you to where you are going. Remember, it is important for it to look like you really care about your appearance. Try to dress well. You need good quality stuff. Everyone has his or her own style of dressing, but you should make sure that the clothes you wear are popular to some degree. Canary Enterprises, one of the leading manufacturers of clothing apparel has introduced SWAG in the market to cater to the clothing needs of both kids and teens. T-shirts, tanks, hoodies, sweat shirts, leather jackets, and jerseys. These are among the different fashion items to be identified as a swagger thaat are definitely included in the Swag collection, style of dressing that provides a long-lasting attention. Swag is an expression of attitude and confidence. A self-confident and stylish

person is said to have a swag. This clothing brand brought to the Philippine market from Japan is now available in all SM branches nationwide.

Editor: Anne Ruth Dela Cruz

Health&Fitness BusinessMirror

Teachers to be tapped in fight against antimicrobial resistance

By Claudeth Mocon-Ciriaco

he World Health Organization (WHO) said that Antimicrobial Resistance (AMR) occurs when bacteria, viruses, fungi and parasites change over time and no longer respond to medicines, making infections harder to treat and increasing the risk of disease spread, severe illness and death. As a result of drug resistance, antibiotics and other antimicrobial medicines become ineffective and infections become increasingly difficult or impossible to treat. In celebration of the World Antimicrobial Awareness Week in December 2021, the Department of Education (DepEd) expressed support in championing antimicrobial stewardship, especially as the world deals with the evolving threat of Covid-19. Antimicrobial stewardship is defined as a coherent set of actions that promote the responsible use of antimicrobials, applied at the individual, national, and global levels, according to the WHO.

Strengthen campaign

Carrying the theme “Kaalaman

ay Dagdagan, AMR sa Gitna ng Covid-19,” the goal of the weeklong local event was to strengthen the antimicrobial resistance (AMR) campaign and advocate urgent action by leaders across various sectors to combat the accelerating crisis of AMR. “Let us always follow the r ight dosage, select ion, a nd the number of antimicrobials as prescribed by educated experts to advance stewardship on antimicrobials,” Education Secretary Leonor Magtolis Briones said. Bureau of Learning Delivery (BLD) Director Leila Areola highlighted that AMR has a direct impact on learners as they are more susceptible to infections caused by different strains of bacteria due to their age. “We’ve been identifying en-

try points in the [school] curricula for possible integration in classroom discussion and activities, eventually in reaching our teaching and learning resources and materials. We’re putting premium to this action because the proper education of our youth will certainly provide significant impact in solving this concern,” Dir. Areola added. Health Secretary Francisco Duque III, meanwhile, encouraged everyone to stay true to their commitment to the responsible use of antimicrobials, become stewards of the future united to preserve antimicrobials, and be prepared even beyond the Covid-19 pandemic. Nat ion a l A nt i m ic robi a l St e w a rd s h ip St e e r i n g C om mittee Chair Dr. Regina Berba emphasized that the education sector is the greatest force in fostering increased awareness and behavioral change in the overall combat scheme against AMR through awareness campaigns, school education, and continuing education. DOH Program Manager to Combat A ntimicrobial Resist a nce Joh a n n a Ma l l a r i sa id teachers play an important role in strategizing effectively to help students in shaping their ideas and developing attitudes towards the prudent use of antibiotics. “There is a need for urgent action and that includes educat-

ing our public and private care professionals on the proper or correct use of antibiotics to secure long-term availability of antibiotic treatments,” Ms. Mallari stressed.

Coordinated action

AMR is a complex problem that requires a united multisectoral approach. A MR requires the “One Health ” Approach in which human and animal health, and agriculture and food production sectors work together to contain its spread. T he One Hea lth approach brings together multiple sectors and stakeholders engaged in human, terrestrial and aquatic animal and plant health, food and feed production and the environment to communicate and work together in the design a nd i mplement at ion of pro grams, policies, legislation and research to attain better public health outcomes. The WHO said that for common bacterial infections, inc lud i ng u r i n a r y t rac t i nfections, sepsis, sexually transmitted infections, and some forms of diarrhea, high rates of resistance against antibiotics frequently used to treat these infections have been observed world-wide, indicating that “we are running out of effective antibiotics.”

The Medical City introduces a one-stop care destination for brain health

he Medical City (TMC) Ortigas Institute of the Neurological Sciences (INS) recently launched a specialized facility which houses the outpatient centers of the three departments namely—Neurology, Neurosurgery, and Psychiatry—with the goal of providing patients with complete and coordinated care. By consolidating services under these departments on one floor, the 6th floor of the Nursing Tower, TMC-INS allows collaboration and provides an easy transition between various levels of care. The facility is a one-stop destination for easy access to diagnosis, treatment, therapies, and rehabilitative services. Services and programs for patients seeking neurologic and psychiatric care are available in one easy-to-access location for the patient’s convenience. Aside from the Neurology, Neurosurgery, and Psychiatry clinics, the EMG or Electromyography rooms, EEG or Electroencephalography room, and the High Dependency (Transition Care) Unit can also be found in the INS floor. The unit is a step down as well as an Anticipatory area for neurologic patients who have been stabilized and discharged from the Critical Care Unit but still needing close monitoring. Stroke patients who may have mild deficits but have high potentials to deteriorate because of the location of brain in-

Present during the launch of the The Medical City Ortigas’ Institute of the Neurological Sciences (INS) new facility are (from left to right): TMC Ortigas’ Chairman Department of Neurosurgery Dr. Almario G. Jabson, Director for INS Dr. Louie C. Racelis, Chief Medical Officer Dr. Rafael S. Claudio, Chief Operating Officer Atty. Martin P. Samson, Section Head of the Child and Adolescent Psychiatry Training Program Dr. Cornelio G. Banaag Jr., and Chairman of the Department of Neurology Dr. John Jerusalem A. Tiongson.

volvement and/or unstable comorbidities, and patients to be transitioned from the Intensive Care Unit (ICU) to standard care areas. This step-down facility is under the Stroke/Neuro-critical Care Unit of the INS and staffed by nurses trained for stroke and neuro-critical care. Patients may be admitted directly from the Emergency Department, ICU, or regular care areas. There is also a spacious area for Neurorehabilitation in collaboration with the hospital’s Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation De-

partment. The complex also includes the Movement Center and Memory, Language and Thinking Center (MeLT). The Movement Center accommodates patients with movement disorders such as Parkinson’s disease and Dystonia. Launched in 2016, this center also offers movement disorders consult and profiling, Basic Memory Screening and Botulinum toxin chemodenervation therapy. T he Center for Behav iora l Health (CBH), which was originally located on the Ground Floor of the

Pinoys had a safer, healthier New Year celebration—DOH

here were lower fireworksrelated injuries during the 2022 New Year’s eve celebration compared to the same time 2021, based on reports received by the Department of Health (DOH). “Filipinos enjoyed a safer and healthier New Year celebration for 2022 with 85 cases of injuries related to fireworks compared to 96 reported cases during the 2021 New Year celebration, which is percent lower,” said Health Secretary Francisco T. Duque III during the press conference held at East Avenue Medical Center also attended by the Philippine National Police and the Bureau of Fire Protection. According to the Firework-Related Injuries Surveillance Report from December 21, 2021 to Janu-

ary 1, 2022, most of the cases were reported from National Capital Region (36 percent), followed by Region 6 (15 percent), and Region 1 (13 percent). Minors and young adults between 11 to 30 years old were injured the most. Prohibited firecrackers, including Boga, 5-Star, and Piccolo, still caused a significant number of cases. While more than half of the cases (61 percent) were blast/burn injuries not requiring amputation, about 12 percent still required amputation.

More bystanders injured

About 58 percent of the cases were passive spectators or bystanders. More than half of the cases (58 percent) occurred at home and 45 percent happened in the streets. There

was no reported case of fireworks ingestion and no reported case of stray bullet injury. However, the Department informs the public that these numbers may change in the coming days due to late reporting and consultations. “ The continuous decline in fireworks-related injuries since 2016 is a testament of the impact of a people-centered, participatory and collaborative whole-of-nation, whole-of-government, and wholeof-society approach in preventing debilitating fireworks injuries. The DOH will continue strengthening our efforts, including pushing for stronger policies similar to Executive Order No. 28 series of 2017 Providing for the Regulation and Control of the Use of Firecrackers

Podium Building of TMC Ortigas, has also moved to the INS Floor. Launched in 2018, the CBH is the first in the country to offer services that cover the entire continuum of mental health care–from wellness to illness, from assessment to early recognition, to therapeutic intervention to home care. “It’s only fitting that we are here together because there is no way for the Institute to be united than to physically share a common space where exchanging and sharing of ideas [happen],” said Dr. Rafael S. Claudio, TMC Chief Medical Officer, during the inauguration of the INS Floor at the 6th Floor of the Nursing Tower (TMC Ortigas). “The patients that we serve, those needing diagnostic procedures, psychiatric consultation services, and assistance in accessing the services that they need now have a place to go to,” said Mercedes Leido, INS Operations Manager. Leido also shared that in terms of patient care, the proximity among INS outpatient services will enable faster and easier patient workflow, while spacious consultation and procedure rooms will give patients more comfort and provide them with a safer environment. For inquiries or to schedule an appointment, please e-mail the Department of Neurology at neurology@themedicalcity.com or call tel. nos. 8988-1000 / 8988-7000 ext. 6270.

and Other Pyrotechnic Devices to realize our goal— for Filipinos to be healthier and safer from fireworks-related injuries,” added the Health Secretary. The DOH urges all Filipinos to never waiver in observing the minimum public health standards amidst the growing cases of Covid-19 from increased mobility during the holidays and the looming threat of the Omicron variant. We need to remember to get vaccinated and boosted, ensure good air ventilation, wear face masks, maintain physical distancing, and practice hand hygiene at all times. “We welcome 2022 with renewed optimism for a Healthier Pilipinas—one that is made possible by sustained commitment and concerted action of families and communities, the public and the private sector,” the Health Secretary said.

Thursday, January 6, 2022 B7

Survey says investing in health now a priority

here was a time when investment referred to stocks, real estate, market funds and business. While these are still important in growing one’s wealth, health has now risen as one of the most critical investments one must consider. A survey done by Sun Life Grepa Financial, Inc. (Sun Life Grepa), a joint venture between the Yuchengco Group of Companies and Sun Life Philippines, indicated that health insurance rose from fourth to second top priority in financial protection among the general public. The respondents of the survey, done in the third quarter of 2021, revealed that while they are concerned about having a stable source of income to help in emergency situations, they are also highly concerned for the health and well-being of their loved ones and themselves. According to Richard S. Lim, president of Sun Life Grepa, the pandemic has raised the awareness of people on the importance of health plans. Plans that offer hospitalization and other benefits for dreaded disease treatment or Covid-related confinements are highly sought after at this time, together with life insurance products. With this growing interest in mind, here are a few more factors to consider when choosing a health insurance policy. Health Insurance that provides options for a wide range of treatment benefits. While different people have different protection needs, it is very useful to have health insurance plans that provide coverage options for life-threatening conditions such as critical illnesses. Upon diagnosis of a critical illness, are some benefits paid out to provide the insured person sufficient funds for incurred medical expenses? In certain instances, these conditions may require additional tests and even initial confinements and procedures before the actual course of treatment is finalized. During the treatment process itself, it may be useful to check if the plan has options available to cover surgical-related costs should the treatment program require such intervention. An additional consideration would be hospital confinement-related benefits. This could range from regular room confinement to the more

complex Intensive Care Unit (ICU) confinement options. Another useful aspect to consider would be a health plan’s post-recovery benefit options related to post-confinement treatment such as follow-up consultations and even rehabilitation. Group coverage for MSMEs (micro, small and medium enterprises). MSMEs realize now, more than ever, the importance of securing their employees’ health to keep their business/es going. There is a right health insurance plan for the varying needs of such enterprises. Employers just need to thoroughly review plans best suited for them. There are various group hospitalization plans available in the market to choose from. It would be helpful to select one that includes surgical benefit options and possibly to pay for hospital expenses in case an employee needs to be confined. You could also look for an insurance plan that likewise covers the employee’s immediate family members. After all, employees caring for sick family members will likely be distracted and less productive at work if their loved ones’ needs are not looked after. Reliable, extensive access to medical partners. It helps to check on the insurance company’s access to medical providers. This access would ideally include: hospitals, clinics and health care centers that are of good reputation, experts in their respective fields and with a history of trustworthiness. The more medical partners in more locations the better. A life insurance company with wide provider access can truly help in ensuring flexibility in service options like reimbursement, and also proves the organization’s stability, competitiveness, and responsiveness to needs. Financial advisors that speak your language. All financial advisors are trained, so it is important to try talking to various advisors before deciding on one that connects with you the most. It would be ideal to consider not just an advisor’s years of expertise and track record but also his ability to listen, understand your needs, and provide you with relevant financial protection coverage options that will best address your specific requirements. From sharing protection options to providing assistance in processing claims, an advisor’s clarity in explaining products and steps to take is highly beneficial.

PHAPCares partners with Cebu Pacific, PMA for ‘Odette’ response

he PHAPCares Foundation, the corporate social responsibility (CSR) arm of the Pharmaceutical and Healthcare Association of the Philippines (PHAP), has partnered with Cebu Pacific and the Philippine Medical Association (PMA) for the conduct of joint relief operations in areas devastated by Odette (international name: Rai). As part of its Quick Disaster Response initiative, the PHAPCares Foundation will augment the medicine supply of local government units in affected areas, and provide relief items such as food packs, water, and hygiene kits to displaced individuals. “We are focusing on the health of our countrymen affected by the typhoon. Apart from the common health risks associated with disasters, families and individuals also need to be protected from COVID-19 infections. PHAPCares is collaborating with our partners so that we may mitigate the health impact of ‘Odette’ on the people,” said PHAPCares Foundation executive director Dr. Rosarita Siasoco. Consistent with its corporate social responsibility mandate, Cebu Pacific airlifted the donated relief items from PHAPCares free of charge to typhoonhit provinces. Early this week, Cebu Pacific transported the humanitarian cargo bound for the SAC Diocese of Tagbilaran as part of joint efforts to aid the people affected by Odette. At the helm of these typhoon-related CSR activities are Cebu Pacific’s Ivan Henry Gaw, Customer Care Manager; Roxanne Gochuico, CSR Specialist; Michael Ivan Shau, Chief Corporate Affairs Officer; and Cynara Patricia Tuason, Cargo Customer Service – Manila. The PMA, under the leadership of its president Dr. Benito Atienza, also mobilized its vast network of physicians to provide access to healthcare for individuals in the Visayas and Mindanao. The Pasay-Paranaque Medical Society through its officers headed by its past president Dr. Rosario Go, will

also be supporting the medical and relief efforts. PH A PCares is also monitor ing health concerns that usually follow natural calamities like typhoons. These are skin infections, gastrointestinal illnesses, respiratory diseases, tetanus, leptospirosis and injuries. “We are thankful our partners at the PMA, Cebu Pacific and the PasayParanaque Medical Society for prioritizing the health of the people during disasters. We are combining our expertise to support the Government and the people in the Visayas and Mindanao whose health may continue to be at risk at this time,” Dr. Siasoco said. Established in 2003, the PHAPCares Foundation is dedicated to promoting public health and welfare in the country, particularly among underprivileged and marginalized Filipinos, as well as those impacted by natural and manmade calamities and conflicts. Through the Foundation’s Operation Quick Response (Emergency and Disaster Response), PHAP member companies donate essential and life-saving medicines for the benefit of victims of natural calamities and for communities displaced by armed conflicts. The PHAPCares Foundation also provides medicines to help avert or manage epidemics and other healthrelated consequences of disasters. Since its founding, the Foundation has donated about P1 billion in medicine and financial assistance to Filipinos disadvantaged by sickness, poverty, conflicts, and disasters. Super Typhoon Odette (international name Rai), the strongest typhoon to hit the country in 2021, affected an estimated 16 million people across the six worst-hit regions in Visayas and Mindanao. The typhoon displaced 631,000 individuals across 10 regions and left about 2.4 million people in dire need of assistance, according to the United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA).

Sports BusinessMirror

| Thursday, January 6, 2022 mirror_sports@yahoo.com.ph Editor: Jun Lomibao KIRAM

RAMIREZ

HE Philippine Sports Commission (PSC) on Wednesday wielded a long whip as the Ernest John “EJ” Obiena tale turned from ugly to horrible and urged all protagonists in the controversy to resolve the crisis as sportsmen. “This is a simple case of liquidation,” PSC Chairman William “Butch” Ramirez said in a statement that represented the five-member PSC Board’s collegial stand on the issue that saw the

JAMES, LAKERS WIN LeBron James scores 14 of his 31 points in the fourth quarter, Malik Monk

adds 11 of his 24 in the final seven minutes and the Los Angeles Lakers hold off the Sacramento Kings, 122114, on Tuesday night for their fourth win in five games in Los Angeles. AP

Malacañang, solons rally behind Obiena action against Obiena should be overruled because this is a violation of the 1987 Constitution. PBA Party-list Rep. Jericho Nograles, in a statement, said the Patafa should be rescinded by the Philippine Sports Commission (PSC). Nograles, who is the vice chairman of the House Committee on Youth and Sports Development, also called on the PSC to come in and support Obiena “otherwise, the Republic will be robbed of possible gold medals from the Asian Championships in Kazakhstan, Southeast Asian Games in Vietnam, Asian Games in China and World Championships in Oregon.” “The PSC should exercise its mandate as provided under the law and protected by the Constitution,” Nograles said. Under Section 19, Article XIV of the Philippine Constitution, Nograles said it was clearly provided that the State shall encourage sports competitions which prompted the enactment of Republic Act 6847 that created the PSC “as a single, unified and integrated

national sports policy-making body.” In the same law, the Patafa as a national sports association is subject to supervisory and visitorial powers of the Commission, Nograles noted. Moreover, Nograles said that the brouhaha brought about by the actions of Patafa President Phillip Ella Juico against Obiena is a “big disgrace for the Republic, especially the sporting community, and has imperiled the country’s gold campaign in various international athletic competitions.” “I don’t understand why Juico had to do this kind of action whereas he could have just admitted he was wrong, apologized, and moved on,” Nograles said. “It is without a doubt that he wrongly accused Obiena of financial indiscretion. He should have been a sportsman enough to accept his mistake. Juico is the face of everything that is wrong about Philippine sports.”

Obiena: I want to stay healthy, train, compete

MBATTLED Olympic pole vaulter Ernest John “EJ” Obiena has three priorities in mind as he crawls through a nonathletic controversy—stay healthy, train and compete. But with the Philippine Athletics Track and Field Association (Patafa) expulsion from the national pool staring him down, No. 3 in his targets looked like the bar raised up high.

“It’s the indoor season now, but I still don’t know if I can play because of what happened,” Obiena told BusinessMirrror through an Internet call from his base at the world pole vault center in Formia, Italy, on Wednesday. “Staying healthy to train and compete—that’s my priority,” said the 26-year-old Asian record holder who, on Tuesday, was expelled

Omicron Games+

HAPPY New Year! That greeting holds despite the fact that Covid-19 continues to create Halloween-like scenarios all across the sports world, and across the entire globe, for that matter. The disturbing, galloping spread of the Omicron variant has made us soft-pedal and retreat into caves anew, just when we were beginning to flex our long dormant muscles and angling to enjoy a fresh restart of more sports activities. Now, the Philippine Basketball Association (PBA) has

FERNANDEZ

MAXEY

PSC WIELDS LONG WHIP ON EJ ISSUE By Josef Ramos

ALACAÑANG on Wednesday said it will continue to support Ernest John “EJ” Obiena despite the decision of the Philippine Athletic and Track and Field Association (Patafa) to drop him from the national team. In a virtual press briefing, Acting Presidential Spokesman Karlo Nograles said they will continue to back Obiena as one of the country’s top athletes. Obiena was ranked No. 3 on the World Athletics’ top performers in 2021. He holds the Asian men’s pole vault record. Nograles noted they hope that the disagreements between Obiena and Patafa particularly on fund use will eventually be threshed out. He said concerned government agencies are currently conducting its own probe on the said issue. “Documents, we have been told, have already been sent to the Philippine Sports Commission and the Commission on Audit, so let us await further development in that regard or if they will issue a statement on that matter,” Nograles said. At the House of Representatives, the Puwersa ng Bayaning Atleta (PBA) party-list on Wednesday said Patafa’s

AGUSTIN

by the Patafa from its national pool alongside charges of estafa and misappropriation of funds bordering on his legendary coach Vitaly Petrov’s salaries. Obiena, gold medalist at the 2019 Southeast Asian Games, thanked the Philippine Olympic Committee (POC) for standing by the welfare of Filipino athletes. “That’s what’s right for the

prudently decided to postpone all its games due to the Covid surge, just after it got an OK to admit a 50 percent capacity crowd inside the Smart Araneta Coliseum. The National Basketball Association (NBA) has had eleven game postponements already. And nothing is clear when things will normalize because new athletes just keep getting added to the Covid Safety Protocols list. Maverick Kristaps Porzingis is the latest addition to that list, even as New York Knick Julius Randle and Celtic Jayson Tatum have been given the go signal to return. No team has been spared from the list which includes, among others, Nugget Jeff Green, Pistons Isaiah Stewart and Cory Joseph, LA Clipper Brandon Boston, Jr., Miami Heat Duncan Robinson, Buck Thanasis Antetokounmpo, Markelle Fultz and Robin Lopez of the Magic, Landry Shamet, JaVale McGee Deandre Ayton and Jae Crowder of the Suns, Blazer Larry Nance, Jr., Jazz Joe Ingles and the Wizards’ Tremont Waters, Brad Wanamaker and Spencer Dinwiddie. Even NBA coaches like Chauncey Billups (Portland), Rick Carlisle (Indiana), Alvin Gentry (Sacramento), Frank Vogel (Los Angeles), Billy Donovan (Chicago) and Monty Williams (Phoenix) have been removed from the game. But wait. A new research from Denmark undertaken by its State Serum Institute offers a bit of brightness. According to Denmark’s chief epidemiologist, Tyra Grove

Sen. Pia Cayetano, meanwhile, said on Tuesday night that she’s “beyond disgusted with the latest actions and statements of Patafa’s Philip Juico who is single-handedly killing the spirit of Filipino athletes.” “What should have been a feel good movie with EJ ending the year as the top Asian pole vaulter and ranked No. 6 in the world, has turned into a horror movie where a vindictive Juico is attacking and attacking EJ,” Cayetano said. “I expect the PSC [Philippine Sports Commission to step up and put an end to all this now.” Samuel Medenilla, Jovee Marie dela Cruz and Butch Fernandez

fire of this mad issue to stop.

Philippine Athletics Track and Field Association [Patafa] dropping the worldclass Olympic pole vaulter Obiena from its national pool.” The PSC Board, Ramirez said, met on Wednesday morning, the day after the Patafa dropped a bombshell on Obiena and his Ukrainian coach Vitaly Petrov, American benefactor James Michael Lafferty and mom, Jeanette Obiena—all revolving around funds particularly on the legendary pole vault coach’s salaries. “Patafa’s dropping of EJ from the athletics national team without any chance given for the athlete to appeal was a sad development,” Ramirez said. “Due process requires proper disposition of issues and cases whether in government or private venues, including in administrative proceedings.” The PSC, in the same statement, also reminded the Philippine Olympic Committee (POC) of its primary role as a funding agency—the government’s arm to give “logistical support to the national team in the realm of elite sports.” “EJ has given his partial liquidation report and the documents are now being examined and verified,” Ramirez said. “This is a good step—do not allow anyone to use [those] against you by getting it done. Finalize your liquidation and then you can focus on the other concerns.” The PSC Board’s collegial statement, according to Ramirez, stressed on the following demands: 1. For Obiena to immediately finish his liquidation of accounts so that the PSC can continue to support him, 2. For the Patafa to reconsider its declaration of dropping Obiena from its roll, provide him an appeal mechanism and not to execute its decision immediately, 3. For the POC to bridge the two parties as the mother organization of both and reconsider its decision of declaring Patafa President Philip Ella Juico persona non-grata on the premise of promoting peace in elite sports, and 4. For the Patafa, Obiena, the POC and all parties who wish to stoke the

“We are here, we have offered our neutral table to seek a peaceful resolution to this from the very beginning,” the PSC said. “It is one thing to declare your stand publicly and one thing to follow it through with action. If we really all desire to see this to resolution, please listen to us.” Ramirez said that under the situation, the PSC would now take a second look to craft policies on the requests of national sports associations (NSAs) to fund and “support someone into becoming an elite athlete at the international level.” “This issue has once again highlighted how NSAs do not give due consideration on the investment of the government and the people,” Ramirez said. “We will implement stricter guidelines on granting of financial assistances to NSAs and will require their submission of a disciplinary code or protocol in case anything like this happens in their sport.” Ramirez said the issue has dragged on and have “pulled the nation’s name to the mire of negativity in the international sports scene.” “We all pledge our love for country, we trust that you will heed our call immediately, for love of flag,” he said. “We remain committed to the Filipino athlete.”

nation…I will still carry the Philippine flag as I represent the country,” he said. “I am so thankful to them [POC]. I hope it pushes through and actually works.” POC President Rep. Abraham “Bambol” Tolentino said the sports body would see to it that Obiena would see action in the Hanoi SEA Games in May and the Hangzhou Asian Games in September despite the Patafa sanction. “I am saddened by the decision of the Patafa committee and its recommendations, but I’m not

really surprised,” Obiena said. “I am relieved that I now finally know what I am being charged with. From the very start, the Patafa proceeding[s] had the look and feel of a witch hunt.” “My legal team can now go about the business of clearing my name and my family’s name. Righteousness always wins in the end,” he said. “I do not jump for Mr. Philip Ella Juico or the Patafa, I jump for my beloved nation. My every jump is my defiance to everything that is wrong in the sport.” Josef Ramos

Krause, Omicron is really not all that bad. For one, the risk of being hospitalized with Omicron is half that of the Delta variant. There are fears that Omicron would prolong the reign of the pandemic because of the runaway level of infection, but Ms. Krause says Omicron could actually spell the end of the pandemic. “We’ll have our normal lives back in two months,” she said boldly on Danish TV 2. The much more transmissible Omicron variant will “in effect wipe out all the other mutations of the virus,” she explained. “It will bring about the end of the pandemic. Omicron will continue to rise and spread, “then [have a] sharp drop,” she continued. She cited real-world studies in South Africa that showed the sharp rise in cases, followed by a rapid decrease. “I think we will have that in the next two months, and then I hope the infection will start to subside and we get our normal lives back. Omicron will peak at the end of January, and in February we will see declining infection pressure and a decreasing pressure on the health-care system,” she said. But also cautions, “We have to make an effort in January, because it will be hard to get through.” In net, the authors of the study cited by Krause say: “Omicron is here to stay, and it will provide some massive spread of infection in the coming month[s]. When it’s over,

“You have all publicly recognized the PSC and asked us to help resolve the issue, please listen to us on this simple request,” the PSC Board said in the statement.” Stop issuing public statements and come to the table with us to discuss this matter.” With Ramirez on the PSC Board are Commissioners Celia Kiram, Arnold Agustin, Ramon Fernanzed and Charles Raymond Maxey. The PSC Board said: “We are sportsmen, proudly calling the Philippines our motherland. Instead of throwing accusations against each other, can we not talk as sportsmen trained and exposed to the core values of Olympism—excellence, friendship and respect.”

we’re in a better place than we were before.” People will get infected, yes, but they will also experience less serious symptoms. Then they become immune. That is how the world may finally achieve the herd immunity that we’ve all been hoping for and that will let us resume or restart our lives again. But wait again. Fresh out of the net is this news about a new variant—B.1.640.2—which has been detected in France from a returnee from Cameroon. It’s so new, it doesn’t even have a name yet. (Could it be the Pi variant?) This one is said to have 46 mutations (to Omicron’s 37) making it more resistant to vaccines, though nothing is known yet if it is more contagious and more dangerous. Well, the common knowledge is that low vaccination rates favor the emergence of new mutations. Africa (where Cameroon is and where Omicron was first detected) is only 7 percent vaccinated and only one in four health workers have been fully vaccinated. Vaccines though started arriving there last December. So what do we do now? Let’s avoid crowds, close contact, practice discipline, wear face masks, wash hands often, eat well, sleep well and stay in our caves for the meantime. We can’t have the face to face games that we want just yet. But we can stay behaved, pray for one another’s safety and dream of herd immunity.