BusinessMirror January 18, 2023

PBBM pitches AsPac neutrality, strong economy

By Samuel P. Medenilla @sam_medenilla

PRESIDENT Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. pushed for the “neutrality” of the Asia-Pacific region in the ongoing intense geopolitical rivalry of international superpowers to normalize global trade.

During the welcome lunch hosted by the Philippine Economic Development Cabinet cluster in Davos, Switzerland,

on Monday, Marcos said countries in the region should not be forced into a Cold War mentality, where they must pick a side among the opposing factions.

“The future of Asia-Pacific for example cannot be determined by any one but the countries of the Asia-Pacific and that removes us immediately from that idea that you must choose,” Marcos said.

The President made the statement amid the ongoing rivalry between the United States and

China, as well as western countries and Russia over its attacks in Ukraine.

“I think we are determined as a group in ASEAN [Association of Southeast Asian Nation] and in the Indo-Pacific, those around the Indo-Pacific, despite all of this conflict, we are determined to stay away from that,” Marcos said.

Globalization SUCH independence and the introduction of new technology, he said,

will pave the way for the resumption of globalization.

He noted that the Covid-19 pandemic as well as the UkraineRussia conflict have disrupted international supply chains, leading to many countries moving toward “nationalism, closing borders, and protectionism.”

This is about change, he said, as countries, including the Philippines, put in place policies and legislation

Upbeat on ’22, wary of ’23 risks

By Cai U. Ordinario @caiordinario

THE Singapore-based ASEAN+3 Macroeconomic Research Office (AMRO) has raised its growth forecast for the Philippines’s GDP growth on account of its betterthan-expected performance in 2022, but high inflation and other risks could undermine its growth next year.

In a briefing on Tuesday, AMRO said based on its Quarterly Update of the ASEAN+3 Regional Economic Outlook (AREO), the Philippines is now expected to post a growth of 7.3 percent in 2022, higher than the October 2022 forecast of 6.9 percent.

However, headwinds expected for 2023 have prompted AMRO to slighly downgrade its GDP forecast for the country to 6.2 percent from the initial estimate of 6.3 percent.

“This is still a very strong growth rate...The only [concern is that] inflation is relatively high. But that’s because, unlike some of the countries, the Philippines doesn’t have any price subsidies to contain inflation. So there’s a straight path through from commodity prices, high food prices, [and] inflation.”-AMRO CHIEF ECONOMIST, HOE EE KHOR

Despite global slowdown, PHL seen to perform well

THE Philippines is expected to become one of the top economic performers in the Asia-Pacific region despite the projected slowdown in global economy this year, according to the Department of Finance (DOF).

At the luncheon hosted for President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. and Philippine chief executive officers (CEOs) in Davos, Switzerland, on Monday, Finance Secretary Benjamin E. Diokno disclosed they project the country’s economy to still grow by 6.5 percent this year

thanks to promising economic indicators.

“And that’s still one of the highest if not the highest growth projection in the Asia-Pacific Region,” Diokno said.

Among the factors which will make the country “resilient” from external headwinds are its “bustling manufacturing sector” as shown by the Volume Production Index (VoPI) last November, he said.

See “DOF,” A2

THE bill allowing long weekends to boost tourism and domestic consumption warrants careful study, according to the National Economic and Development Authority (Neda).

In a televised briefing, Neda Undersecretary Rosemarie G. Edillon said having longer weekends may also have a negative impact on businesses in terms of cost.

Edillon said the impact of the economy must first be net positive, otherwise the bill would not boost economic growth. She said

this is the reason for the need to study the proposal.

“[We have to] make sure that it doesn’t add to the cost of doing business because we know that such holidays entail costs in terms of extra pay,” Edillon said. “We at Neda will do the analysis once the bill gets to us for comment.”

Nonetheless, Edillon recognized that allowing long weekends could help boost domestic tourism and promote work-life balance. But, she added, this has to be checked against the See “Holiday,” A2

FERDINAND MARCOS JR., President of the Philippines, attends a session at the World Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland, Tuesday, January 17, 2023. The annual meeting of the World Economic Forum is taking place in Davos from January 16 until January 20, 2023. AP/MARKUS SCHREIBER

All rice farmers should get ₧5K aid amid crisis–FFF

THE Federation of Free Farmers (FFF) has called for the distribution of P5,000 cash aid to all rice farmers in the country, regardless of landholding, to help the industry cope with persisting production challenges.

FFF Chairman Leonardo Q. Montemayor said the Department of Agriculture (DA) should apply its rice financial assistance to all rice farmers regardless of their landholdings.

Montemayor argued that all rice farmers were affected by the drop in prices and spike in the costs of production inputs.

“Everyone was hurt with the entry of imported rice—not only those tilling 2 hectares or less. For the sake of equity, all those affected by the importation should benefit from the P5,000 income transfer,” Montemayor said in a virtual briefing organized by food security advocacy group Tugon Kabuhayan

recently.

“If your farm size is more than 2 hectares, then you will be affected more by the drop in prices and expensive inputs because you have a larger harvest,” he added.

Under Republic Act 11589 or  the Cash Assistance for Filipino Farmers Act, rice farmers tilling 2 hectares and below shall receive P5,000, to be sourced from the annual rice tariff collections in excess of P10 billion.

The Bureau of Customs (BOC) earlier revealed that the total rice tariff collections last year reached P22 billion, with P12 billion to be given to rice farmers as cash assistance.

In the same briefing, Tugon Kabuhayan said it will support the government in its efforts to curb agricultural smuggling in the country.

For one, the group called for the institutionalization of the in -

ago. That simply is not going to happen,” Marcos said.

spectorate and enforcement group in the DA.

“The problem now is that the group that goes after smuggling is ad hoc, without personnel. We support the institutionalization of Assistant Secretary James Layug’s inspectorate and enforcement group in the DA,” the group said.

Montemayor, a former agriculture chief, emphasized that agricultural smuggling threatens Filipino consumers since they can cause the incursion of animal and plant diseases in the country.

“Aside from the impact on the revenue and production of local farmers and fisherfolk, human health and plant and animal safety are also affected by illegal imports. Ano ang dala nilang sakit? The [African swine fever] and cocolisap are most likely from smuggled goods,” Montemayor said.

Jasper Emmanuel Y. Arcalas

AMRO. . .

here: https://businessmirror.com. ph/2023/01/13/bsp-cut-in-rrr-before-end-june-very-likely/)

allowing their economies to adjust to such disruptions.

“It is now conceptually impossible to even think that we could have a non-global economy, that we will return to what we were 200 years ago, a hundred years

To ensure the country will resist future economic shocks, he said he will prioritize boosting the domestic economy.

“We have to strengthen our own local economy to be able to withstand shocks such as the pandemic, such as Ukraine in the future and there is an element,

there is a tendency of protectionism in that because we take care first of our own businesses, we take care first of our own industries, we take care first of our own economy,” Marcos said.

Marcos is currently in the Switzerland to attend the 2023 World Economic Forum (WEF) to promote the country as an investment destination.

“This is still a very strong growth rate,” AMRO Chief Economist, Hoe Ee Khor said in a briefing. “The only [concern is that] inflation is relatively high. But that’s because, unlike some of the countries, the Philippines doesn’t have any price subsidies to contain inflation. So there’s a straight path through from commodity prices, high food prices, [and] inflation.”

Based on the report, AMRO raised its inflation expectation for the Philippines in 2022 and 2023. For 2022, AMRO expects inflation to average 5.8 percent, higher than the initial 5.1 percent estimate.

For 2023, AMRO projects that the country’s inflation will average 4.3 percent. This is also higher than the 4 percent estimated by the institution in October 2022.

Nonetheless, Khor said the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas (BSP) has been proactive in its efforts to fight inflation. He noted that this was the right thing to do.

The BSP has been raising interest rates in step with the US Federal Reserve since last year and there are plans to cut the reserve requirement ratio (RRR).

BSP Governor Felipe M. Medalla earlier said the “likelihood” of the RRR cut happening before the end of June is “quite high.” (full story

“Our recommendation has been that once the economy is recovering very strongly, momentum and growth is entrenched, then the central bank should focus on inflation and that is what it’s doing,” Khor said.

Forecast for region

ON Tuesday, AMRO revised downwards its short-term growth forecast for the ASEAN+3 region. Deteriorating global economic conditions are weighing on the region’s outlook, but China’s reopening last December should provide some counterbalance.

In its January Update, AMRO estimates ASEAN+3 growth for 2022 to come in at 3.3 percent— down from the 3.7 percent growth forecast in October.

This is due mainly to continuing weakness in Plus-3 economies, especially China, where growth has turned out to be much weaker. Growth in the ASEAN region, buoyed by strong domestic demand, is revised upwards to 5.6 percent.

This year, growth in the ASEAN+3 region is projected to strengthen to 4.3 percent, as China’s economy is expected to rebound strongly, reflecting the removal of containment measures and reopening of its economy.

Inflation is anticipated to come down to 4.5 percent in 2023 from the projected 6.3 percent spike last year.

The weakening global environment has taken the wind out of the sails of the region’s external trade momentum. The drag on economic activity from aggressive monetary policy tightening in the United States and euro area will be felt more fully this year, translating to softer export orders for the ASEAN+3.

However, the ongoing resumption of tourism—especially with the return of Chinese tourists— will provide a much-needed boost to growth.

“With recession risks still haunting the United States and Europe, China’s economic reopening cannot come at a better time for the region,” Khor said. “China’s stronger economy will provide support for regional activity while the border reopening will boost intra regional tourism.”

Inflation is moderating across ASEAN+3, tempered by sustained policy tightening by central banks and easing global supply chain bottlenecks. Oil prices have reverted to almost pre-pandemic levels reflecting weaker global demand.

Prices of key agricultural commodities—although remaining relatively high due to the prolonged war in Ukraine—have fallen from their peaks in 2022.

additional costs that businesses may incur.

“We will estimate what will be the net benefit of this to society, taking into consideration, the additional cost to producer but at the same time an increase in consumption. If it’s possible to end up with a net positive, we will study that,” Edillon said, partly in Filipino.

On Tuesday, Senator Raffy Tulfo filed Senate Bill (SB) No. 1651 amending Republic Act (RA) No. 9492 which permits certain holidays to be observed on a Monday.

Under SB No. 1651, if the holiday falls on a Saturday or Sunday, it will be observed the following Monday.

Tulfo proposed that the President issue a proclamation on the first Monday of December on the specific dates that shall be declared as a non-working day for the following year.

“Holidays are integral in order to honor and commemorate special events or traditions with cultural or religious significance. The Philippines celebrates 18 national holidays annually, four of which are considered ‘special non-working holidays.’ These aforementioned days may at times fall on a weekend making them feel less celebratory for individuals.

“Additionally, the increase in the number of long weekends can help reduce stress, prevent burnout, and promote work-life balance for both employees and students by allowing them to decompress and spend time with their family and friends,” the bill’s explanatory note read.

Holiday Economics was passed into law during the term of former President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo under Republic Act 9492, which moved regular and special holidays to the nearest Monday to boost domestic tourism.

However, the term of the late President Benigno Aquino III saw the end of the Arroyo administration’s practice of moving holidays to the nearest Monday with the release of Proclamation 84. Cai U. Ordinario

In that period, the VoPI increased by 5.9 percent from just 5.3 percent in October.

Diokno said the low unemployment rate, which slowed down to 4.3 percent, was also a good sign that the economy is performing well.

Both factors, together with the “resilient banking system,” Build, Better, More infrastructure agenda, and publicprivate partnerships will ensure the country hits its economic growth target this year, according to Diokno.

Diokno said Marcos’s ongoing participation at the 2023 World Economic Forum will also help in the country’s “economic transformation.”

Philippine delegates

ASIDE from Diokno, Marcos is accompanied by House Speaker Ferdinand Martin Romualdez, former President and current Deputy Speaker Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo, Sen. Mark Villar, Rep. Ferdinand Marcos III, Rep. Yedda Marie Romualdez, Trade Secretary Alfredo Pascual, Socioeconomic Planning Secretary Arsenio Balisacan, Special Assistant to the President Antonio Lagdameo Jr. and Transportation Secretary Jaime Bautista.

Also part of the Philippine delegates at the WEF are some of the country’s top business tycoons: Sabin Aboitiz of Aboitiz; Kevin Andrew Tan of Alliance Global; Jaime Zobel de Ayala of Ayala Group; Lance Gokongwei of JG Summit Holdings; Ramon Ang of San Miguel Corp.; Teresita Sy-Coson of SM Investments; and Enrique Razon of the International Container Terminals Services Inc.

Aboitiz, also the lead convener of the Private Sector Advisory Council (PSAC), said their inclusion in the Philippine delegates at the WEF provided them the opportunity to enter into partnerships with firms from other countries.

“You know the amount of money we need is quite a large sum for the country to build the infrastructure projects that we want—the roads, the ports, the airports—so we are going to need a lot of funds to come to us,” Aboitiz said in a recorded interview posted by Radio Television Malacañang (RTVM) in its Facebook page.

“So we are going to need a lot of the funds and expertise from countries around the world, and also for us in the private sector we can partner with the best of the world,” he added. Samuel P. Medenilla

The Nation

BusinessMirror

By Joel R. San Juan @jrsanjuan1573

THE Department of Justice (DOJ) is pushing for the grant of executive clemency for over 1,000 qualified inmates in various prison facilities under the Bureau of Corrections (BuCor).

DOJ spokesman Jose Dominic Clavano said the justice department has recently asked the Office of the Executive Secretary (OES) to hasten the approval of the clemency that already has the support of President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr.

C lavano said the number includes the more than 300 names of inmates it submitted to Malacañang for clemency in September 2022.

“ We made a follow-up with Executive Secretary Lucas Bersamin and we told him about our desire for the immediate release of the executive clemency that we recommended since September,” Clavano said.

Justice Secretary Jesus Crispin Remulla earlier said he would work for the immediate release of inmates qualified for parole or clemency as part of the government’s measures to decongest the country’s prison facilities, particularly the New Bilibid Prisons (NBP) in Muntinlupa City.

T he NBP, the country’s main penitentiary, has a total inmate population of 29,204 as of October 2022, though it had an intended capacity of only 6,345 when it was constructed in 1940.

O ther prison facilities under the BuCor’s control include the Davao Prison and Penal Farm, Iwahig Prison and Penal Farm in Palawan, San Ramon Prison and Penal Farm in Zamboanga, Sablayan Prison and Penal Farm in Occidental Mindoro, Leyte Regional Prison and the Correctional Institute for Women in Mandaluyong City, which are all experiencing similar congestion problems.

Remulla has committed to releasing up to 5,000 elderly and sick inmates and those who completed their

maximum sentence by June 2023.

Army orders probe into reported suicide of female junior officer at Fort Bonifacio DOJ presses

BuCor Officer-in-Charge Gregorio Catapang earlier said they are mulling over the possibility of asking the President to extend executive clemency to inmates 70 years old and above to help decongest the country’s prison facilities.

Meanwhile, Clavano said 500 more inmates who were qualified to be released would regain likely their freedom on January 23.

It would be the largest batch to be released since the DOJ and BuCor started the monthly release of qualified inmates.

T he DOJ and BuCor had already released almost 4,000 inmates under the Marcos administration.

In a related development, Remulla told reporters on Monday that the construction of the Supermax prison facility in Sablayan, Occidental Mindoro, which will house prisoners convicted of heinous crimes is likely to start this year.

T he DOJ chief made the pronouncement after Catapang made a preliminary presentation of Supermax’s design on Monday.

T he Supermax facility could accommodate around 2,500 inmates and would cost around P6 billion, according to Remulla.

“ We call it Supermax prison, Supermax for those convicted of heinous crimes,” Remulla said.

A sked when the construction would start, Remulla said they are still finalizing the design of the facility.

“It will happen in due time, hopefully this year,” he said.

Remulla earlier said they are planning to transfer inmates currently detained at the NBP’s maximumsecurity compound to Sablayan, the medium security prison to Tanay, Rizal, and the minimum-security prison to Fort Magsaysay in Palayan City, Nueva Ecija.

He also said regional prisons would be built in the next three or four years to do away with the current mega-prison system by 2028.

By Rene Acosta @reneacostaBM

THE Philippine Army has ordered a thorough investigation into the alleged suicide inside Fort Bonifacio of an Army junior officer who graduated from the Philippine Military Academy last year.

Second Lieutenant Stephanie R. Rebellon was found lying down in

the comfort room of her quarters with a gunshot wound in the head at around 11 a.m. on Sunday, according to a statement issued by the office of Army spokesperson Col. Xerxes Trinidad on Tuesday.

R ebellon, a graduate of the Philippine Military Academy “Bagsik Diwa” Class of 2022, was rushed to the Army General Hospital in Fort Bonifacio, but was declared dead upon her arrival

by an attending physician.

Trinidad said the 25-year-old female officer was assigned at the headquarters of the Civil-Military Operation Regiment (CMOR) at Fort Bonifacio, and was undergoing orientation for her future role in CMOR’s Civil and Public Affairs Center.

A rmy Commanding General Lt. Gen. Romeo Brawner Jr. has ordered a thorough and impartial internal investigation into the incident.

“CMOR was directed to look into all possible angles of the incident as it conducts a thorough and impartial probe,” Trinidad said.

B rawner also assured the Army’s close coordination and cooperation with the Philippine National Police in its investigation into the case.

Trinidad said the Army deeply condoles with the family and loved ones of the late junior officer.

Senators await DepEd’s Basic Education Report set for release end of this month

By Butch Fernandez @butchfBM

SENATORS await what they expect to be “an honest-to-goodness” assessment, including concrete steps forward, to effectively address a lingering crisis hounding the education sector.

Sen. Sherwin Gatchalian, chairman of the Senate Committee on Basic Education, signaled that the senators are also keen to know an honest to goodness assessment needed considering the challenges besetting the education sector, many of which were “exacerbated by the Covid-19 pandemic and prolonged lack of faceto-face classes.”

T he DepEd, however, is scheduled to present the Basic Education Report (BER) 2023 on January 30, which is expected to give senators “an overview on the state of basic education in the country.”

D epEd officials signaled they would also present updates on the on-going review of the K to 12 program curriculum.

At the same time, Gatchalian cited

the role of the Second Congressional Commission on Education (EDCOM II) in tackling the country’s education crisis and proposing needed reforms.

T he EDCOM II, where Gatchalian serves as co-chairperson, was mandated to review the education sector’s performance and recommend reforms to boost Filipinos’ competitiveness. The commission is set to start its national assessment this month.

“Upang matugunan natin ang krisis sa sektor ng edukasyon, kailangang kilalanin natin kung gaano kabigat

ang mga hamong ating kinakaharap. Patuloy din nating isusulong ang mga kinakailangang reporma upang maiangat ang kalidad ng edukasyon sa bansa at matugunan ang pinsalang dulot ng pandemya,” the senator stressed.

Gatchalian recalled that before the Covid-19 pandemic struck, international large-scale assessments have been showing that Filipino learners are struggling to master basic competencies.

In the 2018 Programme for International Student Assessment (PISA), the Philippines ranked last out of 79

countries when it comes to Reading. The Philippines also ranked second to the last when it comes to Mathematics and Science.

R esults of the PISA further showed that only one out of five learners aged 15 who took the exam reached the minimum proficiency level in each subject.

He, however, noted that the World Bank’s simulation analysis of learning losses estimates that learning adjusted years of schooling (LAYS) will decrease from 7.5 years to around six years.

By Lorenz S. Marasigan @lorenzmarasigan

THE Department of Information and Communications Technology (DICT) is exploring areas of digital cooperation with Singapore, particularly in e-governance and cybersecurity, a government official said.

DICT Undersecretary for Public Affairs and Foreign Relations Anna Mae Y. Lamentillo said she met with Singapore Ambassador to the Philippines Gerard Ho Wei Hong to “discuss further the areas of cooperation in relation to the memorandum of agreement [MOU] on digital cooperation, a first between the Philippines and Singapore.”

“We discussed with Ambassador

Ho how we can implement this MOU and which areas we should focus on. Singapore has so much experience in the area of e-governance and cybersecurity and they can share with us their best practices on these areas,” she said.

She noted that the MOU with Singapore includes digital cooperation on digital connectivity, particularly in interoperable systems and frameworks that enable electronic documentation; cybersecurity, such as organizing training courses and technical programs through the Asean-Singapore Cybersecurity Centre of Excellence (ASCCE) to develop and enhance skills related to cybersecurity; and digital government/e-governance, such as in the areas of digital government strategy, digital government ser -

vices, and digital identity.

T he memorandum also covers exchange of knowledge, technical expertise and best practices on measures relating to scam calls and scam short message services; on personal data protection; and in emerging technologies such as artificial intelligence, 5G, cloud computing, Internet of Things, big data, analytics and robotics; among others.

T here will also be cooperation and exchange of knowledge to boost the digital innovation ecosystem, including connecting business owners with potential solution providers; exploring cooperation on digital capability and capacity building programs; and exchange of knowledge and best practices on digital infrastructure, Lamentillo added.

SENATE Majority Leader Joel Villanueva is pushing for a bill, which seeks to provide scholarships to aspiring lawyers.

Senate Bill No. 1639 proposes to amend Republic Act No. 7662, or the “Legal Education Reform Act of 1993,” by including provisions for the establishment of a “Legal Scholarship and Return Service Program [LSRS].”

“ There is definitely a need for more public defenders in the country as we only have 2,500 Public Attorneys Office [PAO] lawyers and each lawyer handles 5,300 cases per year,” the Majority Leader said during his acceptance speech at the awarding of his Doctor of Laws degree, Honoris Causa at the

Bulacan State University last January 12.

A s of 2016, the lawyer to population ratio in the Philippines is higher at 1 lawyer serving 2,500 Filipinos compared to other jurisdictions like the United States of America with 1 lawyer serving 248 residents, Italy with 1 lawyer serving 260 residents and Germany with 1 lawyer serving 560 residents.

Villanueva said that the program will be similar to the Doktor Para sa Bayan Act established under Republic Act No. 11509, which he principally authored and sponsored last Congress.

We took inspiration in crafting this measure from our Doktor para sa Bayan

Act, which provides scholarships to deserving students in state universities and colleges and partner private higher education institutions,” he added.

Under the proposed measure, the LSRS will include the following:

a. Free Tuition and other school fees

b. Allowance for prescribed books c. Clothing or uniform allowance   d . Allowance for dormitory or boarding house accommodation

e. Transportation allowance

f. Bar review fees, including Bar examination application fees; g. Annual medical insurance; and h . Other education-related miscellaneous subsistence or living allowances.

Editor: Vittorio V. Vitug

Senate bill grants scholarships to aspiring lawyers amid shortage of public defenders

• Editor: Vittorio V. Vitug

BusinessMirror

Pascual highlights PHL’s ‘improved business climate’ in Davos meeting

By Andrea E. San Juan

TRADE Secretary Alfredo E. Pascual said he pitched the country’s “improved business climate” to several business executives of companies, such as Coursera and Chevron, during the World Economic Forum (WEF), which, he said, was fueled by the recent economic reforms that facilitate ease of doing business.

We have met with several business executives and presented our country as an ideal investment destination in Asia. Similarly, we shared with them our improved business climate, which was fueled by the recent economic policy reforms that facilitate ease of doing business,” Pascual said.

T he trade chief added that the Philippines sees the WEF as an opportunity to gather more foreign direct investments that will comple-

ment the country’s economic recovery initiatives.

I n a news statement issued on Tuesday, the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) said Pascual held a series of bilateral meetings on Monday with senior executives of companies with business interests in the Philippines, such as Coursera, Chevron, Astranis, and She Loves Tech.

Pascual also met with WEF’s Executive Committee member and Head of International Trade and Investment to discuss potential partnerships with the Philippines, the DTI statement reported.

T he companies mentioned are in areas of education, energy, internet connectivity and start-ups or entrepreneurs.

C oursera is a US-based global online learning platform that offers online courses and degrees from “world-class” universities

and companies. Chevron Corporation is an American multinational energy corporation. Meanwhile, Astranis is also a US-based internet connectivity firm and She Loves Tech is an international non-profit organization, which is committed to “closing the funding gap for women-led and women impact entrepreneurs.”

Meanwhile, DTI also reported that Pascual, along with the country’s economic managers, would be joining the CEO Dialogue on the Philippines with President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. as keynote speaker.

“ The Dialogue will highlight the administration’s initiatives on energy, food security, and digitalization to add resilience and growth momentum to the country’s economy through public-private collaboration,” DTI said in the same statement.

Further, the trade department noted that the Pascual would be

speaking as a contributor in a number of WEF sessions, including MSME Going Global, Next Generation Industrial Strategies and a trade and investment leadership lunch.

Pascual will also be representing the Philippines in several ministerial-level meetings of the World Trade Organization (WTO) on E-Commerce, Investment Facilitation for Development, and Climate Change as the WTO gears up for its Ministerial Conference in February 2024.

A ccording to a news wire report published on Monday, more than 600 CEOs will flock to Davos, Switzerland to attend the WEF, while 51 heads of state will be present, including the Philippines.

On top of these, the report noted, 56 finance ministers, 19 central bank governors, 30 trade ministers, and 35 foreign ministers will be present at the economic forum.

SRA chief may recommend to PBBM ‘disposal’ of smuggled refined sugar to Kadiwa outlets

By Jasper Emmanuel Y. Arcalas @jearcalas

SUGAR Regulatory Administration (SRA) head David Alba on Tuesday said he would recommend to President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. to allow the sale of 4 million kilograms of seized refined sugar at Kadiwa stores.

A lba was referring to the 80,000 50-kilogram bags of smuggled sugar intercepted by the Bureau of Customs (BOC) at the Batangas port last week.

T he shipment, ferried by MV Sunward from Thailand, had an estimated value of P261 million or

about P65 per kilogram.

A lba said he would make a representation to Marcos, who is concurrently the agriculture secretary and chair of the SRA board, to have the seized sugar sold through Kadiwa so that the public “can enjoy refined sugar at a lower cost.”

T he SRA administrator also thanked the BOC enforcement unit and its commissioner Yogi Filemon Ruiz for their “vigilance that led to the seizure of the smuggled sugar.”

A lba warned traders who are reportedly in cahoots with smugglers that “the full force of the law” will go after them.

L ast week, the BOC announced the vessel containing the illegal sugar shipments arrived in the country’s “contiguous zone without a Notice of Arrival as prescribed by existing customs laws, rules, and regulations.”

T he shipments did not also have the necessary import permit from the SRA.

BOC-Port of Batangas District Collector Ma. Rhea M. Gregorio issued a Warrant of Seizure and Detention in violation of Section 117 and Section 1113 (k), (f), and (l) of the CMTA in relation to the Department of Agriculture-Sugar Regulatory Administration and Bureau of

Plant Industry rules and regulations and RA 10845, also known as the Anti-Agricultural Smuggling Act of 2016 and Food Safety Act of 2013, according to BOC.

“ The Port has remained on guard pursuant to the directive of President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. and [Customs Commissioner] Yogi Filemon Ruiz to curb agricultural smuggling,” it said.

Under the existing rules and regulations between the BOC and SRA, all smuggled sugar is within the jurisdiction of the SRA. No smuggled sugar can be released to the market without prior clearance and food safety testing by the SRA.

www.businessmirror.com.ph

MICECON ’23 seen lifting Davao’s tourism industry

By Ma. Stella F. Arnaldo @akosistellaBM Special to the BusinessMirror

THE Tourism Promotions Board (TPB) is optimistic it will be able to attract 500 in-person delegates to this year’s Philippine MICE Conference (MICECON), thereby raise the profile of a tourism destination in the south.

In a news statement, the TPB, the marketing arm of the Department of Tourism (DOT), said MICECON will be held from March 1 to 3 at the SMX Convention Center in Davao City. MICECON is the largest gathering of Meetings, Incentive Travel, Conventions, and Exhibitions (MICE) professionals in the country, offering them opportunities for networking with both international and local MICE experts.

“ We strongly believe and claim that Davao’s hosting of the MICECON will provide a tremendous boost to the city’s tourism industry and a huge step towards its own vision of making Davao a preferred MICE destination, not only in the Philippines, but in Asia,” said TPB Chief Operating Officer Maria Margarita Montemayor Nograles, who also hails from the city.

That is why we are very excited to make this happen with the ardent support of the City Government of Davao, under Mayor Sebastian Duterte, who recognizes the massive role that MICE tourism could play not only for Davao as the host city, but it will also contribute a direct positive impact to our country ’ s economic returns,” she added. This will be the first in-person MICECON since the pandemic, according to TPB’s department manager for MICE Arnold T. Gonzales.

D avao City actually won the bid to host MICECON 2020, but didn’t push through because of the pandemic. Instead, an online MICECON was hosted by TPB in October that year, which attracted

1,331 virtual delegates.

SMXCC Davao, the premier MICE venue in the city, reported hosting a total of 1,700 medium- to largescale events from 2013 to 2019, or an average of 300 events per year, pre-pandemic.

T he Philippines aims to be a leading destination for MICE events in the Asia-Pacific region by 2030.

T he local government of Davao City and TPB signed a memorandum of agreement in late December for the city’s hosting of this year’s MICECON. Vice Mayor Jay Melchor B. Quitain Jr. then expressed the city’s appreciation for being selected to host the event. “MICE events are a great help to the tourism industry here in Davao, that is why it is an always a pleasure and honor for us to host MICECON. We believe that MICECON will help revitalize the Davao’s tourism sector and open more doors for business that will boost the whole region’s economic growth,” he said.

Data from the DOT showed tourist arrivals in the Davao region reached some 5.22 million in 2019, but plunged to 1.39 million a year later as government imposed both domestic and international travel restrictions due to the Covid pandemic. Present during the MOA signing were Nograles, Quitain Jr. on be- Quitain Jr. on behalf of Mayor Sebastian Z. Duterte, MICECON 2023 Davao Organizing Co-Chair Kennedy V. Kapulong, and TPB’s Gonzales, who is also the Conference Convenor of Philippine MICECON.

T he DOT is currently finalizing a strategic action plan to reach the targets drawn up under its MICE Roadmap 2030, among which is to be able to generate P25 billion in revenue from the sector by that year. (See, “PHL aims to earn P25B from MICE hostings,” in the BusinessMirror , December 27, 2022.)

Interested delegates to the MICECON 2023 may register through https:// www.micecon.ph/preregistration/

DENR leads multi-stakeholder dialogue to finalize list of GEF-8 proposed projects

By Jonathan L. Mayuga @jonlmayuga

THE Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) and the Global Environmental Facility (GEF) will hold a multi-stakeholder dialogue on January 18 and 19 in Taguig City to come up with the final list of proposed projects under GEF-8.

Dubbed GEF National Multi-Stakeholder Dialogue, the two-day event will gather around 200 representatives from the national government agencies, local government units, civil society organizations, the private sector, GEF Secretariat and implementing agencies to come up with a refined National Portfolio Formulation Document (NPFD) consisting of the final list of proposed proj-

ects for the Philippines.

In the Philippines, the proposed projects for GEF-8 are divided based on five different focal areas, namely, Biodiversity, Climate Change, Land Degradation, Chemical Waste and International Waters.

T he DENR hopes to address identified gaps such as lack of policy coherence and integration between effective climate change

adaptation and biodiversity actions, weak science-policy linkage and data generation in the environment and natural resource management, limited knowledge development and management and inadequate innovative financing mechanism to support sustainable resource management.

In implementing the projects, the DENR hopes to advance the country’s efforts to address environmental issues by tackling the drivers of ecological degradation and strengthening the country’s commitments to multilateral environmental agreements and contributing to global environmental benefits, supporting integrated approaches and ensuring that programs are inclusive and prioritizes the most vulnerable.

T he projects are being eyed to help realign private sector capital to achieve wider scale and impact, empower local communities to harness their contri-

butions, strengthen their capacities, protect their livelihoods, uplift their socioeconomic conditions and enhance resilience.

DENR Secretary Maria Antonia YuloLoyzaga and GEF CEO Carlos Manuel Rodriguez will deliver the welcome and keynote messages, respectively during the kickoff ceremony on Wednesday, January 18.

T his will be followed by the opening of an exhibit showcasing the various projects and accomplishments of the DENR-GEF partnership in the same venue.

T he dialogue will also pave the way for discussions on National Priorities and Strategies and GEF 8 Strategic Positioning and Programming Directions.

DENR Undersecretary Analiza Rebuelta-Teh, GEF-Philippine Operational Focal Point, will be sharing the climate lens and the geospatial approach to portfolio programming and discuss the way forward to conclude the event.

TO improve their skills in formulating workable and effective plans in developing farm communities, Municipal Agrarian Reform Officers (MAROs), Development Facilitators (DFs), and other implementers of the Department of Agrarian Reform (DAR) in the Mimaropa region recently completed a four-day training on agrarian reform community (ARC) organizing and development (ARCOD).

T he training is designed to raise the skills of implementers not only in community organizing but also in enterprise development and management, DAR Mimaropa Regional Director Marvin Bernal said in a news release.

“ This training is essential for MAROs and DFs in executing entrepreneurial activities in agrarian reform communities in Mindoro, Marinduque, Romblon, and Palawan,” Bernal said.

T he activity is in line with the directive of DAR Secretary Conrado Estrella III to improve and uplift the lives of farmers by training them to become farmer-entrepreneurs, said Bernal.

During the training, participants were provided skills on modern approaches and ways to develop ARCs, prepare their development plan, and formulate a one-year plan for 2023.

T he participants completed four modules: Enhancing Personal Effectiveness, Internalizing Community Development Perspective, Acquiring ARC Development Skills and Formulating the Learning Action Plan.

T hey also committed themselves to improving the quality of lives of agrarian reform beneficiaries (ARBs) to become active participants in the government’s development efforts.

Jonathan L. Mayuga

ILO high-level mission visit seen to help hasten crafting of pro-worker legislation

By Jovee Marie N. Dela Cruz  @joveemarie

THE chairman of the House Committee on Labor and Employment on Tuesday said the upcoming International Labour Organization (ILO)-High Level Tripartite Mission to the Philippines this month would help legislators craft laws that would benefit workers, including the protection of their right to organize and access to decent work and wages.

R izal Fourth District Rep. Fidel Nograles on Tuesday said the ILO Tripartite Mission to the Philippines would be held from January 24 to 27.

“We are optimistic that the ILO High Level Tripartite Mission on January 24 to 27 would greatly aid us in coming up with legislation that would strengthen the rights of union and labor groups,” Nograles said.

We look forward to the visit of the ILO and we will help them in any way we can during their visit. The government is very much open to address the concerns of labor groups and of course, we want to empower them and their members as part of our obligation under the ILO Convention No. 87,” he added.

T he Philippines ratified ILO Convention No. 87, or the Freedom of Association and Protection of the Right to Organize Convention, in December 1953.

I n doing so, the government voluntarily committed to respecting and protecting the freedom of workers to form associations and to organize themselves.

N ograles said once the Philippine government receives the result of the Mission, the House Committee on Labor would mobilize to craft legislation that would

help strengthen union rights.

We recognize the fundamental rights of trade union leaders and members and we want to work handin-hand with them to help improve working conditions of those in the labor sector,” the lawmaker said.

T he ILO Committee on the Application of Standards had previously called on the Philippine government to accept the mission during the 108th Session of the International Labor Conference in June 2019 after noting “with concern the numerous allegations of murders of trade unionists and anti-union violence as well as the allegation regarding the lack of investigation in relation to these allegations.”

T he ILO Committee of Experts on the Application of Conventions and Recommendations, meanwhile, urged the Philippine government to investigate and punish those behind the attacks on unionists in its latest annual report released in February last year, citing cases presented by the International Trade Union Confederation on the alleged extrajudicial killing of 10 trade unionists; at least 17 cases of arrest and detention after a police dispersal, and raids on unionists’ homes and offices from November 2020 to March 2021.

It also urged the Philippine government to investigate 17 cases of alleged “red-tagging” and harassment, including against leaders of the Alliance of Concerned Teachers, Kilusang Mayo Uno, Philippine National Police Non-Uniformed Personnel Association Inc. and other workers’ organizations and 12 cases of forced disaffiliation campaigns and seminars, including for public school teachers, beverage workers, and palm oil plantation workers.

Senate panel reviews law on AFP amid ‘unrest’

A s long as we abide by the parameters of Article 16, Section 5 of the Constitution, we are in good hands,” Tolentino said. “I support this initiative as long as it will be for the good of the Armed Forces of the Philippines and our country at large,” he added.

M eanwhile, newly-appointed Defense Secretary Carlito Galvez Jr. attended the public hearing on bills seeking to amend RA 11709, which prescribes a fixed three-year term for senior military officers.

Galvez said the proposed amendments would address the gaps and “unintended consequences” of the law’s implementation.

As the newly-appointed Defense Chief, it is my duty to constructively look out for our troops’ welfare, and one of them is to ensure a level-playing field where cadet advancement is being taken care of, wherein continuity, stability, meritocracy, inclusiveness and sense of kindness will be the highest form of governance,” Galvez assured.

At the same time, Galvez underscored the need to amend RA 11709

continued from a14

in order to address the uneasiness and demotivation within the ranks of the AFP, which some quarters see as resulting from the implementation of the law.

F or his part, Sen. Christopher Lawrence “Bong” Go assured he supports the proposals to amend RA 11709 and setting up the PAFA.

Go reminded everyone that the AFP is the life blood of the country’s defense and security and, therefore, should be given legislative and moral support at all times.

“ We must strive to keep up with the potentials and commendations from our military and uniformed personnel to revisit policies that will remain responsive to the needs of the military,” Go said.

T he senator earlier filed a bill seeking to provide free legal assistance to AFP and PNP officers because they are the frontliners against criminals, particularly against drug syndicates and terrorists.

For his part, Sen. Ronald “Bato” Dela Rosa also affirmed support for  the DND position to amend RA 11709. Butch Fernandez

SEA food delivery platforms, including PHL market, notes ‘modest’ 5% GMV rise in ‘22

By Andrea San Juan

FOOD delivery platform gross merchandise value (GMV) in Southeast Asia (SEA) grew at a “modest” 5 percent year-on-year (YOY), reaching $16.3 billion in 2022, mainly driven by relatively smaller markets of Malaysia, Philippines and Vietnam, according to a report by Momentum Works.

“Malaysia, the Philippines and Vietnam, three smaller markets, have recorded significant growth, as players, including Grab and ShopeeFood, expanded penetration,” the report stated.

T he report revealed that of the $16.3 billion GMV across SEA, the Philippines recorded $2.4 billion GMV, with 60 percent coming from Grabfood and 40 percent from Foodpanda. Meanwhile, Malaysia recorded $2.2 billion and Vietnam $1.1 billion GMV.

A ccording to the Singaporebased venture outfit, with mounting pressure to reach profitability, existing and new food delivery players have continued to cut back on their

food subsidies and compete based on service quality.

As of end 2022, Grab is estimated to account for 54 percent or $8.8 billion of the region’s food delivery GMV, a 16 percent increase from the year before. Foodpanda is estimated to contribute 19 percent or $3.1 billion of the region’s GMV, a 9 percent decline from 2021.Gojek and Shopee are estimated to maintain their food delivery GMV at 2021 levels at $2 billion and $0.9 billion respectively,” the statement of Momentum Works on Tuesday read.

Jianggan Li, Chief Executive Officer and Founder of Momentum Works, said the “competitive landscape became a lot more muted” in

2022 compared to 2021.

“New entrants such as Shopee and AirAsia have gone back to focus on their core sectors, while incumbent players adopt a much more conservative expansion strategy. With profitable growth being the biggest focus now, food delivery players are experimenting with a variety of strategies to improve delivery margins and strengthen consumer loyalty via advertising, subscription programmes, and more. We believe profitability is attainable with volume, density and operational efficiency,” Li said.

Meanwhile, the report of Momentum Works revealed the movement of consumers, merchants and riders as business transitioned from the Covid-19 pandemic, wherein dinein areas were blocked and collection tables were set up for easy pick-up of delivery orders to the post-Covid era wherein crowds are returning to food establishments and merchants offer special menu for delivery.

For consumers, the report noted that consumers now have both online and offline food options to choose from and returning to office means a shift in lunch demand patterns. As for the merchants, the report said they “re-strategize” to cater to resumption of offline/ dine-in traffic; many franchises/ chains resume store opening and even expansion; and establishments differentiate offerings and promo -

tions to dine-in, food delivery and other consumers.

For the part of riders, the report stated that with the exception of Singapore, reopening has “no visible impact on rider supply.”

W ith the said transition, the report also revealed that pure online models are giving way to “online-offline integration,” which it said extends to groceries and cloud kitchens.

According to the report, another trend observed was food delivery players made moves to consolidate “fragmented” food and beverage digitalization. It noted that more players entered into strategic partnerships or acquisitions with pointof-sales and restaurant management solutions providers in 2022.

T hese said moves, the report noted, are “expected to strengthen merchant retention and enable players to provide more and better differentiated services to merchants by harnessing online and offline sales data.”

Meanwhile, for revenue expansion, the report stated that food delivery players have began building advertising products to “lock in” more merchant investments. In fact, it said many are experimenting with subscription programs as a tool to improve consumer retention and encourage “larger basket size” orders.

Super King Air flight with Sen. Go on board aborts take off at Naia

By Nonie Reyes

SEN. Christopher Lawrence “Bong” Go has been reported to be one of the seven passenger of a Super King Air 350, with registry number RP-C 6198 bound for Catarman, Samar, that skidded off the runway while about to take off at the Ninoy Aquino International Airport Tuesday morning.

Nobody was hurt after incident at domestic runway 13/31 and no flight disruption was recorded, even as Naia Airport Ground Operations and Safety Division personnel were ordered to clear the area of any debris. The crippled aircraft was towed back to the hangar.

A ccording to the Media Affairs Division of the Manila International Airport Authority (MIAA), no other flights were affected as airport operations resumed after clearing operations.

Sen. Bong Go shared his experience with the Senate media, narrating they had to abort the flight after the plane encountered mechanical issues in one of its engines.

“My team and I were supposed to be on our way to distribute assistance to our fellow Filipinos affected by heavy rains and floods in Mapanas, Catarman and Lavezares, all in Northern Samar. I was also scheduled to inspect the Super Health Center and a newly constructed covered court in Lavezares, as well as the renovated public market in Catarman,” Go said.

“ Despite best efforts to secure alternative flights, with much regret, we cannot push through with

‘Filipinos need own arms manufacturing technology’–Zubiri

You see what happened during the Marawi Siege in 2017, when Filipino soldiers had a hard time fighting the insurgents due to lack of ammunition,” he said. “We were ordering ammunition abroad from other countries instead of getting it from our local manufacturers.”

“ It’s 100 percent diplomacy, but back it up with 100 percent defensive capabilities.”

He also thinks the government should support ARMSCOR Global Defense for proving itself as one of the premium firearms and ammunition makers in the world throughout the years, by not just relying on the Philippine market.

If they just only relied on the Philippine market, I think ARMSCOR [would have] already closed by now, but they relied on their international

market. So why don’t we support them locally, let’s give them a fair chance in bidding,” Zubiri said.

“ They do not want to be embarrassed, so I believe Filipinos will do their best to have an effective and best product.”

Zubiri will be the main guest of ARMSCOR Global Defense—one of the guns and ammunition exhibitors—on the opening day of the 2023 Shot Show Exhibit on Tuesday at the Venetian Hotel.

my personal visit. The safety of everyone on board is also paramount. However, we made sure that the scheduled activities, particularly the distribution of much-needed assistance to the affected families, be conducted without delay. My staff

had been on the ground in Northern Samar for several days already, assisting local authorities address the needs of the victims,” the senator added.

Salamat sa Diyos na ligtas naman kami at walang gaanong aberya

ang idinulot sa ating paliparan sa nangyari. I commend the MIAA personnel for the swift recovery action to minimize adverse impact on other flight operations and the plane crew for ensuring our safety,” Go said.

Music peace festival to mark Bangsamoro foundation day

DAVAO CITY—Peace groups would mark the Bangsamoro Foundation Day with a music festival that will be highlighted by a call to halt the raging war in Ukraine.

T he South Korean peace group, Heavenly Culture, World Peace, Restoration of Light (HWPL), said the We Are One Music Peace Festival would be held at the Cotabato State University (CSU) Gymnasium on January 26.

T he event organizer, Kutawato Greenland Initiatives (KGI), expect

an attendance of 1,000 students, faculty members, government officials, religious leaders and peace advocates from civil society organizations to attend.

T he music peace festival that carries the theme Peace is Here would like “to unify the voices of the youth and citizens in Mindanao to call for the cessation of wars around the world such as the one in Ukraine that has raised concerns over the security and economy of many countries, including the Philippines,” the HWPL

said in a news release.

T he HWPL is one of the partners of KGI in holding the music festival, along with International Women’s Peace Group (IWPG), International Peace Youth Group (IPYG), Volunteer Individuals for Peace (VIP), the Bangsamoro government, Cotabato City government and the SPIN Media PH.

Guest performers include Suklay Diva and Asia’s Vocal Supreme Katrina Velarde, and The Queen of Moro Songs Samraida. Manuel T. Cayon

PHOTO shows the crippled Super King Air 350 airplane with seven passengers that skidded off the runway at the Ninoy Aquino International Airport (Naia) on Tuesday morning on take off due to a mechanical issue. Sen. Christopher Lawrence “Bong” Go is one of the passengers of the aircraft.

PHOTO COURTESY OF NAIA MEDIA AFFAIRS DIVISION

9.

HU, CHANGJUN Technical Consultant

Brief Job Description: Train new workers in performing equipment inspection and preventive maintenance

CHINA HARBOUR ENGINEERING COMPANY

Basic Qualification: Knowledge on English, Mandarin Fukien or Other Chinese Language

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

5/f Unit 2ecbo05005, Tower B, Two E-com Center, Bayshore Ave. St., Moa Complex, Barangay 76, Pasay City

DAI, XIANRONG Mandarin Construction Management Specialist

18.

LI, XIAOXIAN Mandarin Operational Manager

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

Basic Qualification: Proven experience as mandarin operational manager, familiarity, knowledge and awareness on machinery and heavy equipment use by company.

Demonstrable experience in developing strategic business plan.

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

10.

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

LIANG, JINLIAN Mandarin Construction Management Specialist

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

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

11.

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

LIAO, WEIYONG Mandarin Field Service Coordinator

19.

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

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

12.

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

Basic Qualification: Proven experience as mandarin field service coordinator e6, familiarity, knowledge and awareness on machinery and heavy equipment use by company. Demonstrable experience in developing strategic business plan.

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

20.

CHEN, YONGZHANG Mandarin Project Supervisor

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

SUN, JIACHEN Mandarin Site Translator

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

Basic Qualification: Proven experience as mandarin project supervisor, familiarity, knowledge and awareness on machinery and heavy equipment use by company.

Demonstrable experience in developing strategic business plan.

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

Basic Qualification: Proven experience as mandarin site translator, familiarity, knowledge and awareness on machinery and heavy equipment use

Binondo, City Of Manila

13.

FU, ZHONGCHEN Mandarin Finance Manager

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

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

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

14.

FU, HAICHENG Mandarin Site Officer

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

ZHANG, RUIHUAN Mandarin Site Officer

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

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

15.

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

LIANG, CHAYUN Mandarin Structural Maintenance Analyst

Brief Job Description:

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

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

16.

The mandarin structural maintenance analyst will be a

43.

LUO, WEN Sales Consultant

Brief Job Description: To guide clients through all procedures required and responsible for furnishing clients with relevant information

Basic Qualification: Bachelor’s Degree in Business Management, Excellent Communication skill verbal or written Salary Range: Php 30,000 - Php 59,999

Basic Qualification: Bachelor’s Degree in Business Management, Excellent Communication skill verbal or written

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

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

AU THI THUY HANG Customer Service Representative

Range: Php 30,000 - Php 59,999

Basic

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

Basic Qualification: College graduate/ level, preferably

44.

45.

Brief Job Description: Supports customers by providing helpful information, answering questions, and responding to complaints

BUI BAO LONG Customer Service Representative

Brief Job Description: Supports customers by providing helpful information, answering questions, and responding to complaints

Basic Qualification: College graduate/ level, preferably with customer service or sales experience, fluent in Mandarin and basic English

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

Basic Qualification: College Graduate/ Level, preferably with Customer Service or Sales experience, fluent in Mandarin and Basic English

58.

Brief Job Description:

by providing helpful information, answering questions, and responding to complaints

NGUYEN THI THANH HAO Customer Service Representative

Brief Job Description: Supports customers by providing helpful information, answering questions, and responding to complaints

Basic

Basic

Basic Qualification: College graduate/ level, preferably with customer service or sales experience, fluent in Mandarin and basic English

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

Basic Qualification: College Graduate/ Level, preferably with Customer Service or Sales experience, fluent in Mandarin and Basic English

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

Basic

Salary Range: Php 30,000 - Php 59,999 46.

Basic

59.

NGUYEN THUY TRUC LINH Customer Service Representative

Brief Job Description: Supports customers by providing helpful information, answering questions, and responding to complaints

60.

NGUYEN VAN CHUONG Customer Service Representative

Brief Job Description: Supports customers by providing helpful information, answering questions, and responding to complaints

Basic Qualification: College Graduate/ Level, preferably with Customer Service or Sales experience, fluent in Mandarin and Basic English

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

Basic Qualification: College graduate/ level, preferably with customer service or sales experience, fluent in Mandarin and basic English

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

Basic

30,000 - Php 59,999

Basic

Basic

83.

Basic

Basic Qualification: Customer support and data base services Salary Range: Php 30,000 - Php 59,999 85.

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

PACIFIC

Basic

Basic Qualification: Knowledgeable in computer application with good oral and written communication skills

30,000

Basic

59,999

Basic Qualification: Has knowledge in computer applications.

30,000

Basic

Basic

Basic

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

59,999

Basic Qualification:

VOON MIAW LIAN Chinese Speaking Program Designer

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 91.

Salary Range: Php 30,000 - Php 59,999 92.

Brief Job Description: Assist/help

China’s population shrinks for first time since 1960s

CHINA’S population started shrinking in 2022 for the first time in six decades, a milestone for the world’s second-largest economy, which is facing an increasingly serious demographic crisis.

China had 1.41 billion people at the end of last year, 850,000 fewer than the end of 2021, according to data released by the National Statistics Bureau on Tuesday. That marks the first drop since 1961, the final year of the Great Famine under former leader Mao Zedong.

S ome 9.56 million babies were born in 2022, down from 10.62 million a year earlier, the lowest level s ince at least 1950, despite efforts by the government to encourage families to have more children.

A total of 10.41 million people died,

a slight increase from around 10 million recorded in recent years. China suffered a surge in Covid-related deaths starting last month after abruptly dropping its zero-tolerance approach to the v irus in early December. More Covidrelated deaths will likely come this year as fatalities usually lag infections by weeks and infections are still spreading across the country. That outbreak could further push up the number of deaths this year.

The decline in newborns was the main cause of the population contraction, according to Kang Yi, head of the N ational Statistics Bureau.

“That’s mainly a result of drop in people’s willingness to have babies, the delay in marriage and pregnancy,

as well as a fall in number of women of child-bearing age,” Kang told reporters after a press briefing Tuesday.

K ang said the drop—while the beginning of a new trend—was “not something to be over-concerned about.” The supply of the country’s labor force is still greater than the demand, he added.

“The population will likely trend down from here in coming years,” said Zhang Zhiwei, president and chief economist at Pinpoint Asset Management Ltd. “This is very important, with implications for potential g rowth and domestic demand.”

The population drop-off came much faster than previously expected, and could act as a brake on eco -

nomic growth by slowing demand for g oods such as new houses. Due to the decline, the Chinese economy may struggle to overtake the US in size and the nation could lose its status as the world’s most populous country to India this year.

As recently as 2019, the United Nations was forecasting that China’s population would peak in 2031 and then decline, but last year the UN had revised that estimate to see a peak at the start of 2022. The labor force is already shrinking, long-term demand for houses will fall likely further, and the government may also struggle to pay for its underfunded national pension system.

T he country is following in the foot -

steps of other nations in East Asia such a s Japan or South Korea, which have seen their birth rates plummet and populations age and start to shrink as they’ve become wealthier and developed.

C hina’s birth rate, or the number of newborns per 1,000 people, declined to 6.77 last year, the lowest level since at least 1978.

The data released by the National Statistics Bureau show 62 percent of the population were of working-age, which China defines as people aged 16 to 59, down from around 70 percent a decade ago, highlighting the challenges the country faces as its population ages. With assistance from Yujing Liu, Philip Glamann and James Mayger/Bloomberg.

World

US-China trade on course to break records, defying talk of decoupling

By Daniel Flatley

TRADE between the US and China is on track to break records, a signal of resilient links between the world’s top economies

US government data through November suggest that imports and exports in 2022 will add up to an all-time high, or at least come very close, when the final report comes out Feb. 7. Beijing just published its own full-year figures that show record trade of around $760 billion.

There are some caveats. Trade slowed toward the end of the year, as US import demand cooled and China struggled to manage its Covid restrictions. And the trade data isn’t adjusted for inflation, which means higher dollar figures may not translate to more goods shipped.

Still, they’re striking numbers in an era when tough-on-China is the closest thing there is to bipartisan consensus in Washington. They illustrate how deeply entwined the two economies remain—even as the US aims to hold back China’s advance and Beijing seeks to counter Washington’s global influence.

There have been positive signs recently, including the first faceto-face meeting in November between presidents Joe Biden and Xi Jinping, and plans for more high-level connections, including a visit to China this year by Secretary of State Antony Blinken. But it’s unlikely the two will easily resolve their differences, including Beijing’s stance on Taiwan

and the South China Sea, as well as Washington’s aggressive drive to restrict Beijing’s access to key semiconductor technology.

‘What companies want’ CAN we have this tech war and still have a very robust trading relationship in everything else? My instinct is ‘Yes,’” said David Dollar, senior fellow in foreign policy at the Brookings Institution. “It’s based on economic efficiency, it’s what companies want, it enables them to deliver goods and services to consumers.”

The kind of “draconian decoupling” that some in Washington are advocating would have “a big negative effect on US living standards,” he said. “I just don’t think US policy is going to go down that road, whatever the rhetoric.”

A similar calculus likely applies in China too, where export-led economic growth still holds the key to rising living standards and stability.

That’s why so much trade has survived the tariffs imposed under President Donald Trump, and their continuation during the Biden administration, which has introduced a raft of its own measures aimed at slowing China’s ability to develop advanced semiconductors.

Congress also passed legislation to target what lawmakers say are Chinese human rights abuses, and

to bolster US chip manufacturing.

‘Existential threat’

“ THIS is a battle for technology supremacy,” said Mike Burns, a partner at Murray Hill Group, a private-equity and venture-capital firm that focuses on semiconductors. It doesn’t necessarily entail a wider trade rift, he said, because the two countries have different goals—tech leadership for the US, tech autonomy for China—and they’re not mutually exclusive.

But there is a risk that they end up on collision course, Burns said: “The US has to be careful that in protecting its leadership, it does not create an existential threat to China by eliminating their ability to move toward semiconductor independence.”

The increasing political tension over recent years may have had more impact on fixed-capital flows than on trade.

US companies have slowed new investments in China. For many, “the risk/reward calculation has tilted against continuing to operate in China,” said Thilo Hanemann, who tracks US-China direct investment for the Rhodium Group.

Businesses are concerned about the growth outlook for China itself, as well as the rising geopolitical tensions, he said. “We are

definitely seeing evidence that investors are withdrawing.”

Rhetoric and reality

SOME are relocating to places like Vietnam and Mexico, which could help those countries grab a bigger share of the US import pie at China’s expense—although Chinese firms may also find ways to operate in those economies, and keep selling to the US.

Meanwhile, Chinese investment in the US has slowed dramatically since a surge in the mid2010s. Hanemann attributes that peak to a tweak in Chinese law around 2014, which gave domestic firms more freedom to pursue projects abroad, and resulted in a glut of purchases of US companies and real estate.

Still, there are plenty of large companies with big capital investments in China that are showing signs of staying for the long haul— and plenty of global firms willing to keep plowing money in.

“The rhetoric around decoupling continues to outpace the reality,” said Ali Wyne, a senior analyst at Eurasia Group and author of a recent book on the US-China relationship. The US and China “will find it difficult, if not impossible, to sever their economic linkages entirely.” With assistance from Alex Tanzi and James Mayger/Bloomberg.

UK teachers join strikes as nurses escalate dispute with Rishi Sunak

By Eamon Akil Farhat

TEACHERS and nurses

plan to strike in England and Wales next month as unions remain at loggerheads with the government over belowinflation pay deals.

The National Education Union said teachers voted 90 percent in favor of industrial action in England and 92 percent in Wales, becoming the latest set of workers to join a wave of labor strife sweeping Britain. The turnouts were 53 percent and 58 percent respectively.

The NEU says its membership numbers around 300,000 teachers and support staff.

The first strike will affect 23,400 schools on Feb. 1, the union said. Though it plans seven days of strikes, it said no school will suffer more than four.

Separately, nurses announced further industrial action on February 6 to 7 and accused the government of refusing to negotiate a better pay deal.

Nurses were given a pay rise averaging between 4 percent and 5 percent for the current fiscal year, while teachers were offered 5 percent with new starters getting up 8.9 percent. UK inflation was recorded at 10.7 percent in November.

The Royal College of Nursing held its first ever nationwide strike last month and is set to hold two more this week.

The RCN said there would be walkouts at 73 National Health Service trusts on the February dates, up from 44 trusts during its December action and 55 trusts this month. Next month’s strikes will not take place in Scotland or Northern Ireland, the union said.

“It is with a heavy heart that nursing staff are striking this week and again in three weeks,” said Pat Cullen, the RCN’s general secretary. “My olive branch to government—asking them to meet me halfway and begin negotiations—is still there. They should grab it.”

The new strike dates add to pressure on Prime Minister Rishi Sunak, whose administration

is already grappling with unrest across the NHS, transport system and civil service. A strike by teachers could have particularly severe repercussions in the wider workforce, with parents forced to stay at home.

Ministers have repeatedly argued that they must abide by the decisions of pay review bodies, while unions say these groups aren’t truly independent.

Still, Health Secretary Steve Barclay last Monday signaled flexibility, saying he’s open to backdating the next pay rise for health workers to cover part of the present fiscal year. Some health union bosses have said talks with Barclay have become more positive.

Staff exodus

A MEETING between the NEU and Education Secretary Gillian Keegan last week did not lead to any breakthroughs on pay, however, with union representatives accusing the minister of “downplaying the prospects of movement this year.”

Teaching unions say an erosion of wages in real terms over the past decade has led to a staff exodus.

The next meeting between Keegan and NEU representatives is on Wednesday, General Secretary Mary Bousted said, adding that the strike mandate would give the union “strength” in negotiations.

“They know that we mean business. They know that you are prepared to take action to protect your jobs, to protect your pay and costs, and to protect your ability to remain in the profession,” Bousted said.

The NEU result comes after only 42 percent of members voted in a ballot of another teachers’ union, NASUWT, meaning that its vote for strike action wasn’t valid. Nevertheless, it did secure a mandate for strikes at more than 130 private schools. The head teachers union, the NAHT, also did not meet the threshold.

Teachers have already been walking out in Scotland and started a fresh round of 16 days of strikes Monday. The Educational Institute of Scotland also announced a further 22 days of strikes.

Germany’s defense minister resigns amid Ukraine criticism

By Geir Moulson & Frank Jordans The Associated Press

BERLIN—Germany’s muchcriticized defense minister announced her resignation Monday following a series of missteps while her department steers the massive project of modernizing the country’s military and oversees expanding weapons deliveries to Ukraine.

Christine Lambrecht said in a written statement that she had submitted her resignation to Chancellor Olaf Scholz, adding that “months of media focus on my person” had stood in the way of a factual debate about the military and Germany’s security policy.

“The valuable work of the soldiers and many people in my department must stand in the foreground,” she said.

Scholz thanked Lambrecht for her work in difficult times, saying he had “great respect” for her decision.

He declined immediately to say who would replace her but indicated that this would happen soon.

The new minister will quickly be thrown into the deep end in their new job. US Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin is scheduled to visit Berlin this week and then host a meeting of allies at the Ramstein Air Base in western Germany. On Sunday, the German and French governments will hold bilateral talks that include a meeting of the countries’ joint security council.

“I know from my perspective how things should proceed and we will announce that in due time too,” said Scholz.

A government spokesperson, Christiane Hoffmann, said earlier Monday that it was important to Scholz to ensure gender parity among ministers, but declined to comment on a possibility of a wider Cabinet reshuffle.

The 57-year-old Lambrecht had been defense minister since Scholz became chancellor in December 2021. Critics had long portrayed her as out of her depth. But Scholz stood by her, describing her last month as “a first-class defense minister.” Pressure on her mounted recently after an ill-judged New Year’s video message.

Lambrecht’s resignation comes at a sensitive moment, as Scholz faces mounting pressure to make another significant step forward in German military aid to Ukraine by agreeing to deliver Leopard 2 battle tanks. Earlier this month, Germany agreed to provide 40 Marder armored personnel carriers and a Patriot air defense missile battery to Kyiv.

Germany has given Ukraine substantial support in recent months, including howitzers, Gepard selfpropelled anti-aircraft guns and the first of four IRIS-T surface-to-air missile systems. But critics, some inside Germany’s governing coalition, have long complained of Scholz’s perceived hesitancy to step up aid. Lambrecht was overshadowed on the issue by the chancellor, who made most major announcements.

Lambrecht was then-Finance Minister Scholz’s deputy before being appointed justice minister in 2019. She also was minister for families and women in the closing months of then-Chancellor Angela Merkel’s government.

She was respected in those roles but was widely viewed as one of the Scholz government’s weakest links at the Defense Ministry.

The notoriously unwieldy department has a history of diminishing ministers’ reputations.

Its importance increased with Russia’s invasion of Ukraine. That prompted Scholz to announce a special 100 billion-euro ($108 billion) fund to upgrade the German military, the Bundeswehr, which has suffered for years from neglect and in particular from aging, poorly functioning equipment.

Last month, Lambrecht dismissed suggestions that the government had been too slow to get going on its spending drive. She said officials have moved fast but that “such projects must be carefully negotiated—this is tax money.”

The minister also drew criticism for hapless communication, starting with a January 2022 announcement that Germany would deliver 5,000 military helmets to Ukraine as “a very clear signal that we stand by your side.”

In April, she took her 21-year-old son along on a military helicopter flight, which became public when he posted a photo on Instagram that it turned out the minister had taken herself. Her ministry said she had applied for permission and paid the costs herself, but critics said it showed poor judgment.

An amateurish New Year’s video message on her own private Instagram account prompted new opposition calls for Lambrecht’s departure and strained political allies’ patience.

It showed a barely audible Lambrecht speaking against a backdrop of loud New Year’s Eve fireworks in a Berlin street.

“A war is raging in the middle of Europe,” she said. “And connected with that for me were a lot of special impressions that I was able to gain—many, many meetings with interesting, great people.”

Business outlook sours in Canada, complicating interest-rate path

By Erik Hertzberg & Randy Thanthong-Knight

SENTIMENT among Canadian firms is at its lowest since the Covid-19 pandemic and inflation expectations remain elevated, Bank of Canada surveys show.

The central bank’s business outlook indicator fell to 0.07 in the fourth quarter, from a revised 1.74 previously. About 70 percent of businesses see the economy heading into a recession, and more firms than usual expect their sales to decline. Higher interest rates and inflation have also limited the ability of consumers to spend, the bank said in a separate survey.

The data suggest the Bank of Canada won’t need to increase interest rates much further in order to bring demand and supply back into balance, and that last year’s aggressive hikes are already working to slow growth.

“ The survey data very much suggests that the bank may be quite close to the end of its tightening cycle,” Toronto-Dominion Bank strategists Andrew Kelvin and Robert Both said in a report to investors. Nevertheless, “the bank can ill afford a premature pause in 2023.”

Most workers don’t expect their earnings to catch up with recent price pressures, and about half of households think they will be negatively affected by a potential recession. About half of consumers who expect a downturn think it will be moderate in severity and length, while 90 percent of businesses expect it to be mild.

The surveys and December’s inflation report from Statistics Canada—due Tuesday morning—are the final major inputs into the central bank’s January 25 policy decision.

Traders in overnight swaps markets were putting the odds of a 25-basis-point hike at more than 80 percent.

The yield on benchmark two-year Canada bonds was at 3.586 percent as of 1:14 p.m. Ottawa time, down 8 basis points from Friday’s close and slightly below its trading level before the survey release.

The contrast between the deteriorating business outlook and a recent string of strongerthan-expected economic data complicates the bank’s policy response.

W hile the headline annual inflation rate eased in November, underlying price pressures trended higher. Early estimates suggest the economy is on track to expand at an annualized rate of 1.2 percent in the last quarter of 2022—more than double the Bank of Canada’s forecast. Last month, the labor market blew past expectations and added more than 100,000 jobs, while the unemployment rate fell to near a record low of 5 percent.

amid the heated national security rhetoric in Washington and fears of “decoupling.”

Teaching unions say an erosion of wages in real terms over the past decade has led to a staff exodus. BLOOMBERG

Governor Tiff Macklem and his officials have slowed down the pace of rate hikes and signaled that future decisions will depend on economic data. The central bank has already raised borrowing costs by 4 percentage points since last March, bringing the benchmark overnight rate to 4.25 percent.

Ukraine strike deaths reach 40; Russia seen bracing for long war

By Vasilisa Stepanenko & Andrew Meldrum The Associated Press

DNIPRO, Ukraine—Ukrainian emergency crews on Monday sifted through what was left of a Dnipro apartment building destroyed by a Russian missile, placing bodies from one of the war’s deadliest single attacks in months in black bags and gingerly carrying them across steep piles of rubble.

Authorities said the death toll from Saturday’s strike rose to 40 and that 30 people remained missing Monday. Tall cranes swung across the jagged gaps in a row of residential towers, the engines growling as residents of one of Ukraine’s largest cities watched largely in silence under a gray sky.

About 1,700 people lived in the multistory building, and search and rescue crews have worked nonstop since the missile strike to locate victims and survivors in the wreckage. The regional administration said 39 people have been rescued and at least 75 were wounded.

The reported death toll put it among the deadliest attacks on Ukrainian civilians since before the summer, according to The Associated Press-Frontline War Crimes Watch project. Residents said the apartment tower did not house any military facilities.

Oleksander Anyskevych said he was in his apartment when the missile struck.

“Boom—and that’s it. We saw that we were alive and that’s all,” Anyskevych said Monday as he went to the site to see his wrecked apartment.

He told The Associated Press that he knew people who died under the rubble. One of his son’s classmates lost her parents.

Dnipro residents took flowers, candles and toys to the ruins.

“All of us could be in that place,” local resident Iryna Skrypnyk said.

The European Union’s foreign policy chief, Josep Borrell, called the strike, and others like it, “inhumane aggression” because it directly targeted civilians. “There will be no impunity for these crimes,” he said in a tweet Sunday.

United Nations Secretary-General Antonio Guterres strongly condemned the Dnipro strike, saying “attacks against civilians and civilian infrastructure violate international humanitarian law” and “must end immediately,” U.N. associate spokesperson Stephanie Tremblay said Monday.

Asked about the strike Monday, Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said the Russian military doesn’t target residential buildings and suggested the Dnipro building was hit as a result of Ukrainian air defense actions.

The strike on the building came amid a wider barrage of Russian cruise missiles across Ukraine. The Ukrainian military said Sunday that it did not have the means to

intercept the type of Russian missile that hit the residential building in Dnipro.

Fierce fighting continued to rage Monday in Ukraine’s eastern Donetsk province, where military analysts have said both sides are likely suffering heavy troop casualties. No independent verification of developments was possible.

Donetsk and neighboring Luhansk province make up the Donbas, an expansive industrial region bordering Russia that Russian President Vladimir Putin identified as a focus from the war’s outset. Moscow-backed separatists have been fighting Kyiv’s forces there since 2014.

The Russian and Belarusian air forces began a joint exercise Monday in Belarus, which borders Ukraine and served as a staging ground for Russia’s Feb. 24 invasion of Ukraine. The drills are set to run through Feb. 1, the Belarusian Defense Ministry said. Russia has sent its warplanes to Belarus for the drills.

The Institute for the Study of War, a Washington think tank, reported signs of the Kremlin taking steps to turn its Ukraine invasion into “a major conventional war” after months of embarrassing military reversals.

What Moscow calls “a special military operation” aimed to capture the Ukrainian capital, Kyiv, within weeks and to install a Kremlin-friendly regime there, but Russian forces ultimately withdrew from around Kyiv, the think tank said. Then came a successful Ukrainian counteroffensive in recent months before the onset of winter slowed military advances.

“The Kremlin is likely preparing to conduct a decisive strategic action in the next six months intended to regain the initiative and end Ukraine’s current string of operational successes,” the Institute for the Study of War said in a report late Sunday.

It noted reports indicating the Russian military command was in “serious preparations” for an expanded mobilization effort, conserving mobilized personnel for future use, while seeking to boost military industrial production and reshuffling its command structure.

That means Ukraine’s Western allies “will need to continue supporting Ukraine in the long run,” the think tank said.

Nato member nations have sought in recent days to reassure Ukraine that they will stay the course. The United Kingdom has pledged tanks and the US military’s new, expanded combat training of Ukrainian forces began in Germany on Sunday.

Poland’s prime minister urged the German government to supply a wide range of weapons to Kyiv and voiced hope that Berlin would soon approve a transfer of battle tanks.

Meldrum reported from Kyiv.

Nations express ‘deep concern’ at Israel’s punitive measures

By Edith M. Lederer The Associated Press

UNITED NATIONS—More than 90 countries have expressed “deep concern” at Israel’s punitive measures against the Palestinian people, leadership and civil society following a UN request for an advisory opinion by the International Court of Justice on the legality of Israeli policies in the occupied West Bank and east Jerusalem.

In a statement released Monday by the Palestinians, the signatories called for a reversal of the Israeli measures, saying regardless of their position on the General Assembly’s resolution, “we reject punitive measures in response to a request for an advisory opinion by the International Court of Justice.”

The 193-member General Assembly voted 87-26 with 53 abstentions on Dec. 30 in favor of the resolution that was promoted by the Palestinians and opposed vehemently by Israel. Even though rulings by the International Court of Justice are not legally binding, they can be influential on world opinion.

Israel’s new hardline government responded on Jan. 6, approving steps to penalize the Palestinians in retaliation. Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu told a meeting of his Cabinet two days later that the measures against the Palestinians were aimed at what he called “an extreme anti-Israel”

Baby, teen mom among 6 killed in shooting at California home

VISALIA, California—Six people— including a 17-year-old mother and her 6-month-old baby—were killed in a shooting early Monday at a home in central California, and authorities are searching for at least two suspects, sheriff’s officials said.

Deputies responded around 3:30 a.m. to reports of multiple shots fired at the residence in unincorporated Goshen, just east of Visalia, the Tulare County Sheriff’s Office said.

“Actually the report was that an active shooter was in the area because of the number of shots that were being fired,” Sheriff Mike Boudreaux told reporters.

Deputies found two victims dead in the street and a third person fatally shot in the doorway of the residence, Boudreaux said.

Three more victims were found inside the home, including a man who was still alive but later died at a hospital, he said.

The sheriff said investigators are searching for at least two suspects. They believe there is a gang connection to the killings. The sheriff’s office conducted a narcotics-related search warrant at the residence last week, Boudreaux said.

“We also believe this was not a random act of violence. We believe this was a targeted family,” he said.

Two of the victims, the young mother and her child, were shot in the head, the sheriff said.

Samuel Pina said Monday that his teenage granddaughter, Alissa Parraz, and her baby, Nycholas Nolan Parraz, were among those killed.

“I can’t wrap my head around what kind of monster would do this,” he told The Associated Press.

Pina said Parraz and her baby were living with her father’s side of the family in Goshen, and that her dad’s uncle, her dad’s cousin, and her grandmother and great-grandmother were also killed. AP

step at the United Nations.

The government’s Security Cabinet decided to withhold $39 million from the Palestinian Authority and transferring the funds instead to a compensation program for the families of Israeli victims of Palestinian militant attacks.

It also decided to deduct the amount of revenue Israel typically transfers to the cash-strapped

Palestinian Authority by a sum equal to the amount paid last year to families of Palestinian prisoners and those killed in the conflict, including militants implicated in attacks against Israelis. The Palestinian leadership describes the payments as necessary social welfare, while Israel says the so-called Martyrs’ Fund incentivizes violence.

The Security Cabinet also targeted Palestinian officials directly, saying it would deny benefits to “VIPs who are leading the political and legal war against Israel.” The first Palestinian affected was Foreign Minister Riad Malki who said in a statement on January 8 that he was returning from the Brazilian president’s inauguration when he was informed that Israel rescinded his VIP travel permit, which allows top Palestinian officials to travel more easily in and out of the occupied West Bank than ordinary Palestinians.

The statement released Monday was signed by representatives of Arab nations and the 57-member Organization of Islamic Cooperation and 37 other countries—27 of them from Europe, including

Germany, France and Italy, as well as Japan, South Korea, Brazil, Mexico and South Africa.

Palestinian UN Ambassador Riyad Mansour welcomed the statement of support, telling The Associated Press that “we exercised our democratic rights to go to the General Assembly in a peaceful way, a legal way, and put a question to the ICJ to seek an advisory opinion.”

“What is amazing about that statement,” he said, is that it was signed by some countries that abstained or voted against the resolution referring the question to the court.

“But to punish people for going to the General Assembly in an adoption of a resolution is something else,” Mansour said. “That’s why they stood with us and opposed this policy of the Israeli government, and they are demanding a reversal of this decision.”

He predicted more countries will support the statement when the Security Council holds its monthly meeting on the Middle East focusing on the decades-old Israeli-Palestinian conflict on January 18.

RESCUE workers carry the body of a man who was killed in a Russian missile strike on an apartment building in the southeastern city of Dnipro, Ukraine on Monday, January 16, 2023.

AP/EVGENIY MALOLETKA

Solving the problem of food waste in PHL

AtyPicAL Filipino household throws away 43 grams of rice daily, according to a 2015 survey conducted by the Food and Nutrition Research institute (FNRi) of the Department of Science and technology. there are nearly 23 million Filipino households, which means that total rice wasted could be around one million kilograms daily or about 1,000 metric tons. According to the BusinessMirror’s estimates, the volume of rice wasted by households every year is enough to significantly reduce the country’s rice imports.

Results of the FNRI survey also indicated that Filipinos waste other food items such as fish, meat, poultry and vegetables (See, “Food waste, postharvest losses where millions remain hungry,” in the BusinessMirror, October 18, 2018). Households throw away some six grams of fish and fish products, one gram of meat and meat products, and one gram of poultry. Consumers also wasted some five grams per plate of vegetables, including the green, leafy and yellow vegetables.

Food waste does not only occur in Philippine households. Our farmers also incur postharvest losses, which the Food and Agriculture Organization has defined as measurable losses in edible food mass or nutritional value of food intended for human consumption. The International Food Policy Research Institute noted that large quantities of food are wasted or lost at each of the stages of the postharvest system every year. Citing a FAO-commissioned study, IFPRI said in a paper published in 2018 that around 1.3 billion tons of food produced for human consumption is lost or wasted globally each year.

Reducing the amount of food thrown away by households and the produce lost after harvest will not happen overnight, but it is an effort worth pursuing. It would do well for the Marcos administration to look into this problem. A solution to our food wastage can help boost the country’s food security. Beefing up the country’s food supply is not only about increasing production; it also entails collective efforts to minimize postharvest losses. Authorities can also launch a strategic campaign to encourage households to stop throwing away food.

The International Rice Research Institute has warned policymakers more than a decade ago that the volume of rice being wasted by the country is worth more than $200 million. Data from other government agencies have also shown that the Philippines could significantly reduce food imports by addressing the food waste problem. Despite the warnings made by various institutions, no campaign was launched to address the problem. Thus, the Philippines continued to import rice, as local production could not keep pace with increasing demand. The spike in the prices of various commodities, including fertilizer, should prompt policymakers to seriously consider putting money in schemes that would help the country beef up its food supply. Investing in postharvest facilities and enabling farmers to have access to these facilities are some of the practical solutions. Unfortunately, farmers in many rural areas still lack these vital cogs in the postharvest system. As climate shocks and other threats compound the difficulty of increasing farm output, the ideal scenario we hope to see is for government to work with the private sector to implement the necessary interventions that can help stop food waste in the country.

‘If not now, then when?’: A slogan of activism

do anything, who will? If we don’t do it now, when will it happen?”

The Philippine Collegian is the official weekly student publication of the University of the Philippines Diliman and commonly known as Kulê.

Kuwentong Peyups

‘i F Not Now, t h en When?” is the favorite motto of Miss USA R’Bonney Gabriel as the newly crowned Miss Universe 2022.

Coincidentally, it is the English translation of “Kung hindi ngayon, kailan pa?” slogan of Abraham “Ditto” Sarmiento, Jr. who was the editorin-chief of the Philippine Collegian in 1975-1976.

The motto is visibly printed on the back of the orange cape Gabriel used during the swimwear competition, which she created using recyclable materials, specifically plastic bottles.

In her Instagram, she said that she transformed the cape to showcase how art can be made out of what is perceived as trash.

“I designed this swimsuit cape inspired by the story of the Phoenix Rising, who emerged from adversity to become stronger, smarter and more powerful,” Gabriel said. “Setbacks will always happen in life but we can choose whether to let them bring us down or use them as fuel to rise.”

During the final round, Gabriel was asked how she would work to demonstrate Miss Universe is “an empowering and progressive organization”.

“I would use it to be a transforma-

tional leader,” she responded, citing her work using recycled materials in her fashion design and teaching sewing to survivors of human trafficking and domestic violence.

“It is so important to invest in others, invest in our community and use your unique talent to make a difference,” Gabriel continued. “We all have something special, and when we plant those seeds to other people in our life, we transform them, and we use that as a vehicle for change.”

Gabriel is a fashion designer, model and sewing instructor, and is the first Filipino American to win Miss USA and eventually Miss Universe.

Gabriel’s motto is a familiar line to those who were involved in the student movement.

As one of the most famous front page of the Philippine Collegian, the slogan “Kung hindi tayo kikibo, sino ang kikibo? Kung hindi tayo kikilos, sino ang kikilos? Kung hindi ngayon, kailan pa?” was lifted from Sarmiento’s 1976 editorial.

The English translation is “If we don’t fight back, who will? If we don’t

cHiNA S economy grew last year at the second slowest pace since the 1970s as covid restrictions hammered activity, though better-than-forecast fourth quarter and December data add to optimism it may be primed for a recovery.

Gross domestic product in the world’s second-largest economy grew 3 percent in 2022, the National Bureau of Statistics said Tuesday, higher than the median estimate of 2.7 percent in a Bloomberg survey of economists. For the final quarter, the economy expanded 2.9 percent from a year earlier, topping economists’ forecasts for 1.6 percent growth.

The CSI 300 gauge of onshore stocks edged lower after initially erasing declines following the data release. Hong Kong’s Hang Seng Index dropped as much as 1.1 percent. Both the onshore and offshore yuan extended drops to 0.4 percent.

The government had initially set a growth target of “around 5.5 percent,” although Covid lockdowns and the sudden abandoning of restrictions in December put that GDP goal out of reach. Activity was weak

in December, though not as bad as economists had feared:

n Industrial output rose 1.3 percent from a year ago, higher than a forecast of 0.1 percent.

n Retail sales contracted 1.8 percent versus a predicted 9 percent decline.

n Fixed-asset investment gained 5.1 percent last year, largely in line with forecasts.

n The urban jobless rate fell to 5.5 percent last month from 5.7 percent in November

“This is a positive GDP report, and lays a solid ground for the economy to recover in the coming year,” said Zhou Hao, chief economist at Guotai Junan International Holdings. “We believe both consumption and investment will see further improvement in the next few quarters, as the reopening has been gaining momentum and the

During Martial Law, Kule defied the media blackout by going underground. Student newspapers served as voice of defiance and became part of the “mosquito press.”

Sarmiento fought martial law, not with brute force, but through the power of the pen.

In January 1976, Sarmiento was arrested by the Marcos regime and told to tone down his criticism of the dictatorship in exchange for his release. He refused.

His health deteriorated during his imprisonment for seven months and seven days.

Sadly, he died due to heart attack at the age of 27 a little over a year after being released from prison.

For speaking out against the Marcos regime, the Kule head was harassed and thrown in prison, which led to his death.

It was on my third year in college that I became part of the UP student movement as the photographer for the Philippine Collegian and later as a member of the Sandigan Para sa Mag-aaral at Sambayanan.

UP also produced beauty queens, including Paz de los Reyes (1929, Law), Maita Gomez (1967, MA Economics), Nelia Sancho (1969). Elizabeth de Padua (1976, Biology), Maria Isabel Lopez (1982, Fine Arts, Sara Jane Paez (1989), Zorayda Andam (2001, Economics, Law), Karla Bautista (2004, Mass Communication),

Catherine Untalan (2006, Psychology), Lia Andrea Ramos (2006 , Political Science), Theresa Licaros (2007, Broadcast Communication, Law), Venus Raj (2010, MA Community Development), Shamcey Supsup (2011, Architecture), Ariella Arida (2013, Chemistry), Patch Magtanong (2019, Economics, Law),  and Jerelleen Rodriguez (2022, Accounting, Law).

In 1969, while still a student, Nelia Sancho joined Binibining Pilipinas and finished first runner-up to Gloria Diaz, who became the country’s first Miss Universe titleholder. Two years later, she represented the country at the Queen of the Pacific and won the title.

Sancho became a student activist and later joined the underground after Martial Law was declared. She was arrested during a raid in Cagayan de Oro City and spent over two years in prison, from 1976 to 1978. She later became a familiar face in women’s right movement as co-founder of Gabriela along with Maita Gomez.

Before her death on September 1, 2022, I had the chance to work with Sancho on the comfort women campaign for the victims of sexual slavery and violence during World War 2. With Gabriel’s motto “If Not Now, Then When?,” the new Miss Universe hopefully will personify the famous beauty pageant tagline “beauty with a purpose.”

Peyups is the moniker of Philippine Collegian. Atty. Dennis R. Gorecho heads the seafarers’ division of the Sapalo Velez Bundang Bulilan law offices. For comments, e-mail info@sapalovelez.com, or call 0917-5025808 or 0908-8665786.

government will add more impetus on infrastructure investment.”

China stuck to its Covid Zero policy for most of 2022, scarring output across the nation—from financial center Shanghai and technology hub Shenzhen to iPhone city Zhengzhou and car manufacturing base Jilin.

The policy’s rapid dismantling in December caused more economic strain as infections surged, but activity has rebounded in recent weeks where cases have peaked, such as in the capital of Beijing.

“China’s fourth-quarter GDP should be viewed with both concern and a degree of relief. The overshoot relative to expectations will assuage worries about a crash. The data were still very weak—there’s no hiding the fact that the economy took a very heavy blow from the messy exit from Covid Zero and outbreaks that swept across the country in December. Even so, high-frequency indicators suggest that the economy may have bottomed. We see a solid rebound taking hold in 2Q23,” said Bloomberg economists Chang Shu

and Eric Zhu.

Economists are now betting on a stronger recovery in coming months as consumer spending picks up and the housing slump eases. The median estimate in a Bloomberg survey of economists is for growth to accelerate to 4.8% this year, although some major banks like Morgan Stanley, Bank of America and Citigroup Inc. expect growth to be closer to 5.5 percent or higher.

The NBS said the recovery’s foundation is “not solid yet,” highlighting an international environment that remains “complex and severe” and triple pressures of contracting domestic demand, supply shocks and weakening expectations.

China also faces challenges that will weigh on longer-term growth. The population shrank in 2022 for the first time in six decades, the NBS said Tuesday, with repercussions for the labor market, demand for housing and the country’s pension system.

“China cannot rely on the demographic dividend as a structural See “China,” A13

Dennis Gorecho

Ambassador Antonio L. Cabangon Chua Founder

Turkish President Erdogan keeps the world guessing on Nato expansion

By Kati Pohjanpalo, Natalia Drozdiak & Selcan Hacaoglu Bloomberg Opinion

six months since Turkey agreed to Nato allies inviting sweden and Finland to join the alliance, the expansion has stalled as Ankara holds out on ratifying the applications.

Fresh tensions flared last week after protesters in Stockholm affiliated with Kurdish movements hanged an effigy of President Recep Tayyip Erdogan, prompting Turkey to put yet more pressure on Sweden to crack down on outlawed groups.

Now, with a Turkish election due in June, and Erdogan hinting repeatedly that the vote could come in May to keep the opposition offbalance, the situation seems more in limbo—even if Nato diplomats are confident it will be resolved in the end, potentially in time for the alliance’s summit in Vilnius in July.

By now, 28 of the North Atlantic Treaty Organization’s 30 members have ratified the Nordic application, with Turkey and Hungary the lone holdouts. The two put in their bids for accession in May following Russia’s invasion of Ukraine. Turkey’s opposition was a surprise, since it had raised no objections earlier.

An agreement hammered out at Nato’s June summit in Madrid allowed the process to move forward, but Ankara’s position is little changed.

Turkey says Sweden must do more to tackle terrorist support among a Kurdish population of about 100,000, and to extradite suspects.

While Turkey has also made demands of Finland, it’s said it is happy with Helsinki’s level of cooperation.

Sweden has to “show through actions, and not just through words or statements, that the PKK will not be present, will not be allowed to collect money, or to recruit members,” presidential spokesman Ibrahim Kalin said Saturday. PKK, the Kurdistan Workers’ Party, is banned across the European Union and has also been labeled a terrorist organization by the US.

Following last week’s demonstration, Turkey summoned Sweden’s ambassador, opened a probe, and canceled a planned visit to Ankara by Sweden’s top lawmaker. Sweden’s government condemned the protests, calling them “disgusting” and an attempt to “sabotage” its Nato bid.

Sweden’s government has already tightened its anti-terrorism laws, but has acknowledged it won’t be able to meet all of Turkey’s demands.

Although Sweden has deported at least one of the suspects sought by Erdogan, its government can’t overrule courts in extradition cases where the judiciary has declined to send the accused to Ankara.

Still, Erdogan continues to insist Sweden needs to hand over “about 130” people.

“We told them that if you do not hand over terrorists among you, we cannot pass it through the Parliament,” Erdogan said Sunday, according to state-run TRT television. “If they do not take a stand against the PKK provocation, our relations with Sweden may become much more strained.”

Erdogan’s leverage

FOR Erdogan, the sway he now has over Finland and Sweden is potentially a once-in-a-lifetime political gift after years of feeling that his concerns over terrorism have been shrugged off by allies.

“He was very unhappy with a number of Nato countries and I’m sure that he wanted to advance his positions in the wider Nato sphere by leveraging the accession of Sweden and Finland,” Finnish President Sauli Niinisto said of Erdogan in an interview with Sweden’s Dagens Nyheter newspaper Saturday.

Pushing the demands most notably allows Erdogan, 68, to appear strong to voters as he seeks to extend his rule for another five years.

“Erdogan will hold the Finnish

While it’s no surprise Erdogan is looking to use his leverage for as long as possible, there’s still a catch: the US, the most powerful country in the military alliance, has put its weight behind the Nordic nations. It’s also using a potential $20 billion sale of F-16 fighter aircraft as a lure to get Ankara to fall in line.

and Swedish Nato memberships hostage for as long as he thinks it will benefit him,” said Minna Alander, research fellow at the Finnish Institute for International Affairs. Turkey’s leader is likely weighing up whether there’s more benefit to him to ratify the bids before or after the election, she said.

Nato diplomats are cautiously optimistic the issues will be resolved in the end, most likely after Turkey’s election. One noted that a stronger Nato ultimately works in Turkey’s favor, especially in the Black Sea and the Middle East.

The alliance’s chief Jens Stoltenberg last week repeated he was confident the Nordic countries’ accessions would be ratified. For Finland and Sweden the process—which can take years—has already moved faster than any other in the alliance’s modern history, he added.

US strategy

W HILE it’s no surprise Erdogan is looking to use his leverage for as long as possible, there’s still a catch: the US, the most powerful country in the military alliance, has put its weight behind the Nordic nations. It’s also using a potential $20 billion sale of F-16 fighter aircraft as a lure to get Ankara to fall in line.

The US cautioned Turkey that Congress may not approve the jet sale unless Ankara ratifies Sweden and Finland’s Nato bids, said a senior Turkish official speaking anonymously due to the sensitivity of the information. US officials are linking the issues, a person familiar said, but the Biden administration has stopped short of telling Ankara that getting the jets only comes with the Nato bids being passed.

That leaves Erdogan to decide whether or when to bend to Washington’s pressure. Should Turkey hold out past its elections, Finnish policy makers have said they’re hoping for progress before the Vilnius summit that starts July 11. The Nordic countries hope to attend as members, but as formal invitees to join the alliance they’ll be there in any event.

Article 5

THE delay in accession means Sweden and Finland aren’t yet covered by Nato’s collective defense commitment, Article 5. But the security risk is mitigated by commitments made by the US, UK and others to defend them if they come under attack before becoming full members. “It’s inconceivable that Finland and Sweden will face any military threats without Nato reacting to that,” Stoltenberg said.

There’s also downside to stalling the Nordic bids indefinitely: the longer Erdogan waits, the more questions will be asked by other Nato members on how committed he is to the bloc and allies’ security—or whether he’s playing into Russia’s hands.

Suggestions that Turkey is dragging its feet to do Russia a favor have nothing to do with reality and are a repudiation of Turkey’s concerns about the PKK, said a senior Turkish official speaking anonymously due to the sensitivity of the information. With assistance from Jennifer Jacobs and John Follain / Bloomberg.

Everybody rise for rice once more

tary Arthur C. Yap. Rice production per hectare then reached as high as 300 cavans per hectare.

MAKE SENSE

Awise man once said, “Those who cannot remember the past are condemned to repeat it.” The unfolding events today affecting the price and supply of some agricultural products like onion, remind me of a similar predicament in the country five years ago involving the price and supply of rice.

Rice is not only a staple food in the Philippines. For most Filipinos, it is essential for survival. As the source of over 70 percent of caloric intake in Asia, rice packs life-sustaining carbohydrates at a price all Filipinos can afford, including the poor. Even if a significant number of Filipinos have changed their eating habits by consuming less rice for health reasons, the country’s growing population still rely mostly on rice for their survival.

I wrote in my column before that the spiraling price of rice and depleting stock inventory threaten the social and economic fabric of the Filipino nation. I also pointed out that old farming techniques that result in low rice production output per hectare are adversely affecting the very lives of Filipinos.

As the nation is being threatened by another rice crisis, I would like to reiterate an earlier call for all Filipinos to rise for rice. Get involved and help the country’s poor farming communities improve their rice production output, if only to help beef up the country’s rice supply. An impending rice crisis is a concern not only of the government, but also of every Filipino who have the power to help, so we can avoid the pain of a rice shortage.

I am therefore appealing to all

cause oriented, religious, professional and business groups, including all civic organizations in the country, regardless of the nature of their organization, roots and origins, to take action. For example, these groups can adopt poor farming communities to help our local farmers improve their harvest. We made this call before when the country was facing a rice crisis. We’re making this call again as the nation is being threatened by an impending rice crisis.

If all of us work together, we can help provide poor farming communities with the needed farm inputs, such as certified hybrid seeds and fertilizers. We can also help them modernize their farming techniques, among others. Under the auspices of the Department of Agriculture, we can help identify those with existing irrigation systems and palay drying facilities that are still facing the challenge of low rice productivity per hectare. The DA can help in identifying these beneficiary communities.

The country’s average rice-production output is now placed at 80 cavans per hectare. However, with the right certified hybrid seeds, fertilizers and farming technique, this production output can be doubled, if not tripled, as tested and proven during the time of Agriculture Secre-

On a need basis, concerned individuals and groups can help poor farming communities to rise from hopelessness and help them become self-reliant and improve their harvest. But to change the mindset of farmers from the dole-out mentality, and to help instill in them the value of hard work and self-respect, they will have to pay their benefactors back whatever amount was used in helping them improve their production. I propose a staggered and liberal payment scheme.

The country’s traditional farming method and spiraling cost of agricultural inputs hurt the country’s poor farmers the most. This vulnerable and marginalized sector is virtually helpless from the effects of the volatility of rice prices and supply. And while there may be some private corporations interested to help these farmers, the procedures may, however, be complicated and take some time to implement.

I believe that private individuals or groups can immediately send help to these poor farmers. With many poor families eating rice spiked with salt twice a day, the need for everybody to rise for rice to help improve the country’s rice-production output is not only compelling, but immediate, as well.

The country’s rice crisis reminds me of my advocacy against smuggling. In one of the Senate hearings about rice smuggling, my testimony identifying Davidson Bangayan as the same person as David Tan, the suspected leader of a big-time ricesmuggling syndicate, led to the prosecution of Tan. My testimony was even corroborated by no less than President Rodrigo Duterte himself, who was then the Mayor of Davao City. Duterte happened to be in that

Senate hearing, as well. However, I’m still wondering what happened to the rice-smuggling case against Bangayan, a.k.a. David Tan.

Indeed, the current rice crisis is a very sensitive and emotional issue, for it strikes into the very heart and stomach of poor Filipinos. As concerned Filipinos, let us, therefore, stand up and rise for rice, if only to help save a nation and countless Filipinos from hunger, by helping poor farming communities improve their harvest.

As FPI Chairman, I believe that with the help of the officers and members of the Federation, spearheaded by FPI President Alberto Lina, the program to help poor farmers will help bolster the country’s food security.

As I said before, we also warmly welcome the participation of non-FPI members, as it is my belief that we can all help mitigate the impact of a food crisis, if not avoid it altogether.

It is with pleasure that I make this announcement: The FPI will jumpstart this campaign of helping our rice farmers. The Federation of Philippine Industries will sponsor a big tract of land in Nueva Ecija for this purpose, and to help President Ferdinand Bongbong Marcos Jr. fulfill his dream for the Philippines to attain rice sufficiency.

In closing, let me share this famous Kennedy quotation. In his January 20, 1961 inaugural address as the 35th US president, the late John F. Kennedy said this about helping the poor: “If a free society cannot help the many who are poor, it cannot save the few who are rich.”

Dr. Jesus Lim Arranza is the chairman of the Federation of Philippine Industries and Fight Illicit Trade; a broad-based, multisectoral movement intended to protect consumers, safeguard government revenues and shield legitimate industries from the ill effects of smuggling.

Italy’s most-wanted Mafia boss nabbed after 30 years on run

By Frances D’emilio | The Associated Press

ROMe italy’s No. 1 fugitive, a Mafia boss convicted of helping to mastermind some of the nation’s most heinous slayings, was arrested Monday when he sought treatment at a private clinic in sicily after three decades on the run.

Matteo Messina Denaro was tried in absentia and convicted of dozens of murders, including helping to mastermind, along with other Cosa Nostra bosses, a pair of 1992 bombings that killed top anti-Mafia prosecutors—and led the Italian state to stiffen its crackdown on the Sicilian crime syndicate. He faces multiple life sentences that he is expected to serve in a maximum security prison and under the particularly restrictive conditions reserved for top organized crime bosses.

He went into hiding a year after those bombings while still a young man — but he was still considered one of Cosa Nostra’s top bosses even as a fugitive. Hundreds of police officers were tasked over the years with tracking him, the last of three longtime top-level Mafia bosses who managed to elude capture for decades.

He is now 60, and his health condition helped investigators zero in on him, according to Carabinieri Gen. Pasquale Angelosanto, who heads the police force’s special operations squad.

“It all led to today’s date (when) he would have come for some tests and treatment” at the clinic, the Carabinieri general said.

Authorities did not say what he was being treated for, but he was captured at La Maddalena clinic in

China . . . continued from A12

driver for economic growth,” said Zhiwei Zhang, president and chief economist at Pinpoint Asset Management. “Going forward, demographics will be a headwind. Economic growth will have to depend more on produc-

Palermo, an upscale medical facility with a reputation for treating cancer patients, and Italian media said he was undergoing treatment for a year.

During an evening news conference, authorities said Messina Denaro’s treatment could continue at a hospital prison ward.

Investigators said he was unarmed and dressed like a typical patient at the clinic, though wearing a watch worth at least 30,000 euros (about $33,000).

“He didn’t resist at all,” Carabinieri Col. Lucio Arcidiacono told reporters.

A pair of Carabinieri officers, each holding an arm, walked Messina Denaro down the front steps of the clinic to a waiting black van in pouring rain. He was dressed in a brown leather jacket trimmed in shearling, a matching white-andbrown skullcap and his trademark tinted glasses. His face looked wan and he stared straight ahead.

Shortly after his arrest, the sun peeked through, and a rainbow could be seen in the sky over the clinic.

When dozens of police officers, wearing ski masks, converged on the clinic, local residents knew something big was about to happen. When Messina Denaro was brought outside, applause rang out on the sidewalks.

Palermo Chief Prosecutor

tivity growth.”

Policy makers have signaled they’re prioritizing economic growth in 2023, with more fiscal and monetary stimulus on the cards. Key to their strategy is to boost consumption and investment in the country in order to drive growth. The government also recently took steps to ease its regulatory overhaul of the

Maurizio De Lucia told reporters that the fugitive had used the pseudonym Andrea Bonafede and had an Italian identity card in that name. He used the alias—the surname roughly means “good faith” in Italian—to book a morning appointment at the clinic.

In addition to convictions for the killings of prosecutors Giovanni Falcone and Paolo Borsellino, he was also found guilty of killing Falcone’s wife and several of their bodyguards as well as the grisly murder of a Mafia turncoat’s young son, who was abducted and strangled before his body was dissolved in a vat of acid.

He also was among Cosa Nostra bosses convicted of ordering a series of bombings in 1993 that caused fatalities and damaged the Uffizi Galleries in Florence, two major churches in Rome and an art gallery in Milan.

“We captured the last of the massacre masterminds” of the 19921993 Mafia killings, prosecutor De Lucia said. “It was a debt that the Republic owed to the victims of those years.”

Italian Premier Giorgia Meloni tweeted that Messina Denaro’s capture is a “great victory of the state, which shows that it doesn’t surrender in the face of the Mafia.”

Monday’s arrest came 30 years and a day after the Jan. 15, 1993, capture of Mafia “boss of bosses” Salvatore “Toto” Riina, in a Palermo apartment, after 23 years on the run.

Messina Denaro went into hiding during the summer of that year.

The Italian Mafia boss who set the record for the longest time on the lam was Bernardo Provenzano. He was captured in a farmhouse near Cor-

technology industry and reverse some of the restrictions on the real estate market.

China’s provinces are all targeting economic growth of 5 percent or more in 2023. Officials are debating a national economic growth target of around 5 percent, Bloomberg News reported last month.

The better-than-expected retail

leone, Sicily, in 2006 after 38 years as a fugitive. Once Provenzano was in police hands, the hunt focused on Messina Denaro, who managed to elude arrest despite numerous reported sightings, including in northern Italy.

That all three top bosses were ultimately arrested in the heart of Sicily while they conducted clandestine lives for decades won’t surprise Italy’s police and prosecutors. Law enforcement officials have long said that such bosses rely on contacts and the confidentiality of fellow mobsters and complicit family members to move them from hideout to hideout, supply food, clean clothing and communication, and a code of silence known as “omertà.”

But Messina Denaro, besides staying in hideouts in Sicily, also traveled abroad while a fugitive, including to Marseille, the French port city, where he underwent surgery some years ago, according to investigators.

Riina and Provenzano lived out the last years of their lives in the strictest of Italian prison conditions reserved for unrepentant organized crime bosses and refused to cooperate with investigators.

Some have speculated whether Messina Denaro might agree to cooperate with prosecutors in exchange for more lenient prison conditions.

During his years on the run, he had a series of lovers and passed time by playing video games, according to Italian media reports. Messina Denaro is believed to have fathered two children while a fugitive. One of his girlfriends was arrested and convicted of having hidden him for a time.

sales last month was partly due to strong growth in car purchases as well as an almost 40 percent jump in medicines. Restaurant sales plunged further though, contracting 14.1% in December from a year ago, after declining 8.4% in November. With assistance from James Mayger, Malcolm Scott, Fran Wang, Ishika Mookerjee and Chester Yung / Bloomberg.

Dr. Jesus Lim Arranza

BSP’S 2-IN-1 TACK: OLD NOTES FOR DIGITAL CASH

By Cai U. Ordinario @caiordinario

FRUIT vendors and other wet market sellers in Bohol province were recently able to exchange unfit banknotes and coins with digital cash, according to the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas (BSP).

B SP Visayas Regional Office (VRO) offered currency exchange services to market vendors on the sidelines of the Paleng-QR Ph Plus launch in Tagbilaran City.

T his is not the first time the BSP exchanged unfit banknotes and coins with digital cash. In December, the BSP Mindanao Regional Office, during the launch of the Paleng-QR Ph Plus, allowed e-wallet users to exchange their unfit banknotes and coins for e-money.

The ‘BSP Piso Caravan’ currency exchange program was conducted for the first time in Visayas to replace unfit money by depositing the equivalent amount to clients’ e-wallets. The BSP VRO staff also assisted those without e-wallets in setting them up,” BSP said in a statement.

Unfit banknotes are soiled, limp, stained, or have faded print, obvious writings, or

markings. Meanwhile, unfit coins are those with corrosion or markings.

Juliet Boniel, a fruit vendor at the Tagbilaran City Central Public Market, shared the benefits she experiences using an e-wallet.

“ Mas pinadali at hassle-free ang mga transaksyon. Nabawasan din ang pagpila ko sa mga bangko at remittance centers para mag-transfer ng pera [It hastened and made my transactions hassle-free. I also need to line up less frequently at banks and remittance centers to transfer cash],” Boniel said.

T he BSP Piso Caravan is in line with the central bank’s commitment to preserve the integrity of the Philippine currency and promote digital payments to bolster financial inclusion.

E arlier, BSP said mutilated or damaged banknotes are also accepted for exchange provided that they passed the three qualifications for redemption.

T hese qualifications are: the current size is equivalent to at least 60 percent of the original size of the banknote; the security thread is intact; and a portion of the signature of the President of the Philippines or the BSP Governor is present.

Filipinos need own arms manufacturing technology–Zubiri

‘Bright spot for Asean, PHL favors PBBM’s Davos pitch’

By Jovee Marie N. dela Cruz @joveemarie

THE bright economic prospects for the Philippines and the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) amid fears of a global slowdown leverage President Ferdinand R. Marcos, Jr.’s efforts to lure more investments into the country during his participation at the World Economic Forum (WEF) in Davos, Switzerland, the leader of the House of Representatives said on Tuesday.

President Marcos’s participation in the Davos meet this year is timely as favorable economic forecasts for both the Philippines and the ASEAN would serve him in good stead in his effort to secure more investments to allow our country to shake off the effects of the pandemic and protect us from global headwinds,” Speaker Martin Romualdez said in a statement.

A t a luncheon hosted for President Marcos’s delegation to WEF, Finance Secretary Benjamin Diokno said the government expects a strong full-year gross domestic product (GDP) growth for 2022, and around 6.5 percent GDP growth in 2023.

Moreover, Romualdez cited the January 14, 2023 article of Joo-Ok Lee, head of the Regional Agenda

for the Asia Pacific region at the WEF, who noted that ASEAN is one of the few bright spots as the global economy continues to stall.

L ee noted that ASEAN economies enjoyed strong growth in 2022 amid a post-Covid-19 surge in activity.

He added that while the global chill will have some effect, overall growth forecasts for 2023 are pegged at 4.4 percent for the Asean-6 (Indonesia, Malaysia, the Philippines, Singapore, Thailand, and Vietnam).

I n addition, Lee said the pandemic prompted a huge update in online trade in the region, such that several ASEAN countries are now leading globally in some sectors of digitalization, including ecommerce retail growth.

A ccording to Lee, the Philippines and Malaysia are the two top countries in this respect, “registering growth of 25 percent and 23 percent respectively per year,” aside from the fact that the Philippines also continues to serve as a steady source of online labor to the rest of the world.

R omualdez, who is part of the President’s official delegation to WEF, said “taken together, these factors make a compelling case to showcase the Philippines as an investment hub during President Marcos’s interaction with global industry and government leaders at the World Economic Forum.”

P resident Marcos is the lone ASEAN leader, and one of the only two leaders from Asia, attending this year’s forum.

Favorable ACCORDING to the Speaker, the same conditions also favor Marcos’s plan to soft-launch the Maharlika Investment Fund at the WEF.

R omualdez is the principal author of House Bill (HB) No. 6608, which the chamber approved by an overwhelming majority on December 16, 2022, creating the sovereign wealth fund to help Marcos keep the country on the high-growth path.

T he MIF, according to the Speaker, will adhere to the best practices and the principles of transparency

and accountability.

A part from members of the Cabinet, seven of the country’s top businessmen are in Davos to support Marcos’s inaugural participation in the WEF 2023 meet.

E arlier, the President noted that normally, the biggest deals are accomplished on the sidelines of international forum when parties engage in pull-away interactions to discuss possible trade or investment partnerships.

T he second day of the WEF is scheduled to kick off Tuesday at 10:30 a.m. in Switzerland (around 4:30 p.m. PH time) with the speech of Switzerland’s President Alain Berset.

A mong the key activities Marcos is scheduled to join includes the Philippines Country Strategy Dialog with the economic team, as well as separate bilateral meetings with Kristalina Georgieva, Managing Director of the International Monetary Fund (IMF), and with officials of the mining and commodities trading giant Glencore.

L ater Tuesday, Marcos and First Lady Louise Araneta-Marcos were scheduled to join WEF founder and Chair Dr. Klaus Schwab and his wife Hilde in a private dinner.

It was Dr. Schwab who invited President Marcos to attend the WEF during a breakfast meeting on the sidelines of the ASEAN summits in Cambodia.

By Josef T. Ramos

Senate President Juan Miguel Zubiri says it is time to develop and support the Philippines’s very own weapon manufacturing technology by turning his priority bill—Philippine Defense Industry Development Act—into a law this year.

Zubiri, 53, told BusinessMirror that he projects the bill to be passed at the committee level in the second quarter in the Senate so that President Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr. can sign it into law within the year.

“ Pro defense is absolutely pro Philippines,” Zubiri said after he tested the ARMSCOR Global Defense’s newly-launched latest product RIA 5.0 firearm pistol in a windy and very cold weather desert here at the 2023 Shot Show’s Media Day on Monday.

Maybe within this year we hope to pass it on the committee level by this quarter or maybe the second quarter; hopefully before the break we [can] pass it,” he added. “It’s moving also in the [House of Representatives] as well with Speaker Martin Romualdez also in favor of this.”

P resident Marcos, Zubiri said, is expected to sign it since he has been supportive of the bill for a Defense Industry Development Act (DIDA) from the very beginning.

T he DIDA bill would amend procurement laws; support the local weapons manufacturing technology back home; and encourage some international companies to build factories or plants here in the Philippines and hire Filipinos.

“ The procurement laws dictate that there must be a bidding process at the lowest price. You know in the defense industry, the lowest is the poorest and not the best among the items, just like guns that won’t fire most of the time and [are] jammed. We must consider only the best for our military, our police force, and for our defense forces.”

Z ubiri, who filed Senate Bill 315 last July 22—backed by fellow Senators Ronald Dela Rosa and Jinggoy Estrada—asserted that the country must be self-reliant in its defense military forces due to the increasing threats in the Indo pacific region.

A nd, he stressed, a “minimum credible defense program” is not acceptable for the Philippines, noting that most of our Southeast Asian neighbors like Malaysia, Thailand, Indonesia and Vietnam have been preparing for many years to establish a self-reliant and strong defense force.

Senate panel reviews law on

SENATORS are determined to complete amendatory legislation on a nine-month-old law professionalizing the military amid recent reports of unrest within the ranks of uniformed personnel.

S enate Committee on National Defense Chairman Sen. Jinggoy Ejercito Estrada presided at Tuesday’s hybrid hearing on Senate Bill Nos.9 (SBN) 1601 and 1603 which seek to amend Republic Act (RA) 11709, or An Act Strengthening Professionalism in the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP).

“ With the help of our resource persons, the esteemed members of this body and our dear colleagues, we shall ensure this legislation leads to the professionalization, effective operations and fulfillment of the mandate of our Armed Forces,” Estrada said.

T he committee also tackled SBN 1608, or the Free Legal Assistance to Any Officer or Enlisted Personnel of the AFP and the Philippine National Police and SB Nos. 1100 and 1113 seeking to establish the Philippine Air Force Academy

(PAFA).

I n the same hearing, Sen. Francis “Tol” Tolentino expressed full support to proposals in strengthening the professionalism in the AFP, giving free legal assistance to any officer or enlisted personnel of the AFP and the PNP, and establishing the Philippine Air Force Academy (PAFA).

A t the hybrid hearing of the Committee on National Defense and Security, Peace, Unification and Reconciliation, Tolentino reminded everyone that the evolu -

tion of the law should be always in accordance with the Constitution.

Just a reminder to all of us, especially all those in uniform that because of this hearing initiated by the good chairman (Sen. Jinggoy Ejercito Estrada), what we are experiencing is a reminder that the law is not etched in stone, it is evolving, it is in a state of process that should meet the demands and needs of the current period and this is what this hearing is all about.

BOULDER CITY, Nevada—

“We shoot at the PSG firing range together with the President and he’s very vocal about it, so I’m sure he will sign it.”

Editor: Jennifer A. Ng

BusinessMirror

SEC warns public against 3 firms offering securities

By VG Cabuag @villygc

The Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) has warned the public against dealing with FDMS Business and Marketing Solutions Inc., Trading Cartel and Lele Gold Farm due to its unauthorized solicitation of investments without the necessary license from the agency.

In an advisory, the SEC said FDMS is headed by Frederick Bahalla Sabater, Marlon Salvador A driano, Mylene Balayan Cureg, Daniel Dela Cruz Sta. Rita and Ronaldo Dizon Villena.

SEC records showed that FDMS was registered with the

agency on March 15, 2021. However, such registration merely g rants personality to the corporation but does not authorize it to issue, sell or offer for s ale securities to the public nor undertake business activities requiring a secondary license.

“Further, per records of the commission, FDMS Business and Marketing Solutions Inc. is not authorized to solicit investments from the public as this entity did not secure prior registration and/or license to solicit investment from the commission as pr escribed the Securities Regulation Code,” the agency said.

Trading Cartel, meanwhile, is not registered with the SEC as a corporation or partnership and is not authorized to solicit investments from the public since i t has not secured prior registration and license from the agency a s prescribed under the Securities Regulation Code.

“A verification of said reports showed that persons have been engaging in the investment scheme being offered by certain individuals affiliated with w here they promise a return of as much as 5 percent to 10 percent monthly interest,” the SEC s aid in its advisory.

The agency also said the pub -

lic must be wary of investing in L ele Gold Farm (Lele Gold Coin or Gold Farm), which promises earnings while investors play their games.

Lele Gold Farm is a mobile application that can be downloaded in Google Playstore, and t he group of persons claiming to represent it has been found to be promising investors luxury earnings of as much as P2,310 up to P 345,600 monthly income while playing the said game within its platforms.

The SEC said Lele Gold Farm is not registered with the agency and operates without the necessary license for the investment s cheme.

All of these investment schemes, the agency said, resemble a pyramid or Ponzi scheme, w here investors earn through recruitment fees instead of the sale o f actual products and services that investors are paid using the contribution of new members, according to the SEC.

Aboitiz breaks ground on Albay plant

By Lenie Lectura @llectura

AB o ITI z P ower Corp. (AboitizPower), through its subsidiary AP Renewables Inc. (APRI), broke ground f or its new 17 megawatt (MW) binary geothermal power plant in Tiwi, Albay.

The power project will be built from the ground up with an entirely new binary plant system, p ipes, and transmission line. Construction is targeted for completion by the end of 2023.

It is located within the 1.5-hectare of land where the Tiwi Geothermal Power Plant, the first and oldest geothermal power plant in the country.

Globe: More tutors join startup unit

By Lorenz S. Marasigan @lorenzmarasigan

Globe Telecom Inc. said on Tuesday its portfolio company e d Venture, an education technology startup, closed 2022 with more tutors and sales.

Globe said as of end-December, ed Venture has 1,100 tutors that provide personalized online tutorials for students from preschool to 10th grade.

The startup has also logged more than 10,000 learning hours with over 10,000 parents availing of its services.

e d Venture, which brings tutors and students closer through an online platform, was launched in May 2021.

According to e d Venture e n trepreneur in Residence Ina Gervasio, the platform is “evolving to meet the needs of its customers.”

This includes the introduction of new products such as Singapore Math, an improved customer experience through updates to the website, and a rebranding campaign with a new logo, brand colors, and mascots.

“Improving our customer’s experience on the platform has always been a high priority here at e d Venture. We’ve revamped our website with various enhancements to improve user experience. Aside from updating our branding, parents can expect a more intuitive experience from registration, searching for their favorite tutors, booking sessions for their kids as well as visual improvements,” she said.

“The Tiwi Binary Power Plant is a facility designed to extract the recoverable heat from the geothermal brine that is processed in a closed-loop system w here no harmful gas or liquid is being emitted nor any waste products are discharged to the atmosphere.

The design will produce an additional 17MW gross generated electricity - an additional s ource of clean energy to the Luzon grid,” said APRI President Jeffrey Estrella.

Estrella and Department of Energy Assistant Secretary Mario Marasigan led the groundbreaking ceremony on Tuesday a fternoon.

Geothermal energy, a form

of renewable energy (RE), comes from the earth’s heat and is produced by drilling production wells into the ground t o tap high temperature fluids from geothermal reservoirs. Residual heat from the hot brine side of the geothermal production process, otherwise unutilized before reinjecting back to the earth, is harvested to produce electricity through the binary geothermal power plant.

o f ficials said the concept of recovering heat from the geothermal brine and converting i t into electricity is a novel solution that improves its overall t hermal efficiency. In addition, the binary plant has no emission

to the environment as its binary fluid operates in a closed-loop system.

The project is part of the company’s goal to grow the portfolio o f its RE brand, Cleanergy, by the end of the decade.

AboitizPower will build an additional 3,700 MW of RE, growing its capacities to 4,600 MW o r three times the company’s current renewables portfolio by 2030. The company said it has around 1,000 MW of disclosed RE projects and is on its way to achieving its targets.

APRI delivers 290 MW baseload power from its two facilities i n Tiwi, Albay and the areas of Bay and Calauan in Laguna and Sto. Tomas, Batangas.

in 3 sellers in SE Asia uses live selling’

By Andrea E. San Juan @andreasanjuan

oNE i n 3 e-commerce sellers in Southeast Asia has tried live selling, according to a white paper released by logistics firm Ninja Van Philippines.

The white paper introduces live selling as one of t he “up-and-coming” e-commerce trends in Southeast A sia and shares live selling insights collected from over 1,000 Ninja Van’s e-commerce sellers across Singapore, Malaysia, Indonesia, P hilippines, Thailand, and Vietnam.

o f t hose who are already into live selling, Ninja Van noted that 9 in 10 prefer to do it themselves, while only one in 10 taps influencers to do live selling for them.

The company also noted that Filipino sellers are among the “most prolific” live sellers in Southeast Asia, with 47 percent doing it daily, against a 31 percent regional average.

M ore Filipinos than their regional counterparts also believe t hat live selling brings in new business, with 74 percent saying that attracting new customers is a top driver for conducting live selling. Ninja van said a second -

ary driver would be to increase pr ofit, with 52 percent of Filipino sellers saying live selling i s more profitable than just posting items on marketplaces and apps.

“Live selling is an interesting marketing tactic for e-commerce sellers,” Winston Seow, Chief Marketing and Enablement o fficer of Ninja Van Group said.

S eow added that it’s the only tactic that can “fast-track” shoppers’ purchase journeys, from a wareness straight to conver -

sion. He said live selling gives e -commerce sellers “the ability to build relationships at s cale with their shoppers, both new and existing.”

Ninja Van said Filipino sellers can spend up to 14 hours weekly conducting live selling sessions, versus a regional average of up to 6 hours. In terms of product categories, Ninja Van said most of the early adopters of live selling are from “lowinvolvement” ones such as Fashion, Beauty and Personal Care, Food and Beverages, as well as Home and Living.

o f t he platforms being used for live selling, Ninja Van said 27 percent use Shopee, 25 percent use Facebook, a nd 22.5 percent are utilizing Tiktok.

T he white paper noted that live selling is a marketing tactic that “gives more control to the shoppers, engages their attention, and increases their purchase intent.”

I t added that live selling is accessible since shoppers can now watch live selling sessions on their phones that are with them “all the time,” compared to a time when shoppers still had to monitor the television and tune into home shopping channels at fixed hours.

CADPI labor unions ready to stage strike

By Samuel P. Medenilla @sam_medenilla

TW o l abor unions at the Central Azucarera Don Pedro Inc. (CADPI) may stage a strike after Tuesday’s negotiations on the separation package for workers affected by the mill’s closure b ogged down.

National Congress of the Unions in the Sugar Industry of the Philippines (NCUSIP) President Roland de l a Cruz told the BusinessMirror in a phone interview that the CADPI management refused to budge on its position on the separation package for the 125 workers of its milling department.

The two labor unions of CADPI— the Batangas Labor Union (BLU), which covers the rank and file employees and the Professional Technical Workers Union (PTWU)—are a ffiliated with the NCUSIP.

“There was no agreement since the management did not present an improved offer for the [affected] workers,” de la Cruz said.

Without the compromise deal, the labor leader said they will now wait for the strike ban period to end and stage a work stoppage at the refinery of CADPI.

“What they stopped was the operation of their raw sugar milling. T hey will still operate their refinery. So if ever we will hold a strike,

w hat will be affected will be the refinery operations.”

The Department of Labor and Employment (D oL E) has scheduled another conciliation and mediation meeting between the management and the CADPI workers before the end of the strike ban.

De la Cruz said the unions are hoping the management will consider their demands and will provide a better “win-win” deal during t he said meeting to settle the labor dispute.

“For the side of the union, we don’t want the entire operations [of CADPI] to be affected. We just want them to make amends on the mistakes they made in their separation program, which they did n ot disclose to the union before its implementation,” de la Cruz said.

BLU and PTWU filed a complaint against CADPI after it suddenly announced it will shutter its milling o peration last month, which will result in the displacement of 125 workers.

The labor unions charged that the move was a form of union busting, unfair labor practices, and g ross violation of collective bargaining agreement.

T he dispute eventually escalated to a notice of strike after CADPI management and its two unions failed to reach an agreement after several meetings called by D o L E.

Foxconn replaces iphone biz chief

KE y A pple Inc. manufacturing partner Foxconn Technology Group has appointed a new boss for its iPhone assembly business after a tumultuous year in China, highlighting the company’s efforts to ready a new generation of leaders to help it navigate a post-Covid world.

Michael Chiang was first identified in his new role at Taiwan-based Foxconn’s annual year-end party on Sunday, succeeding longtime leader Wang Charngyang as head of the division responsible for iPhone assembly. Chiang was recently promoted to chief of the A business group as Wang steps back to focus on a role on the board, according to people familiar with the matter.

The appointment is part of efforts by Chairman yo ung Liu of Foxconn’s flagship unit Hon Hai Precision Industry Co. to elevate younger executives to maintain the company’s supply chain leadership in the face of growing competition from Chinese contenders. Foxconn may also face new rivals in India as Apple seeks to further diversify its production footprint following pandemic-related supply snarls and draconian restrictions that wrought havoc on device output in China.

Chiang is a longtime Foxconn manager who has helped the company meet the high standards Apple requires, according to one of the people, who asked not to be named discussing internal matters. Wang, who was appointed to Hon Hai’s board in the summer of 2022, remains a director and his departure from the iPhone operations role isn’t connected to the Covid-related output disruptions Foxconn suffered last year, the people said.

Chiang has a master’s degree in human resources development from California’s Claremont Graduate University

and he joined Foxconn in 1999, according to a wide-ranging interview he did with an insurance broker company that was posted online in June 2021.

When Foxconn encountered unprecedented worker unrest at its main iPhone campus in the central Chinese city of z h engzhou late last year, Chiang played a pivotal role in communicating with the local government and making sure Apple’s demands would be satisfied, one of the people said.

The appointment highlights Foxconn’s efforts in recent years to foster a younger cohort of executives to help the company navigate prolonged tensions between Washington and Beijing, diversify its manufacturing bases outside of China, and fend off Chinese challengers including Luxshare Precision Industry Co.

In the 2021 interview, Chiang said he had gone to India three times to help Foxconn build its manufacturing presence in the country.

“The biggest challenge we face in India is cultural shock including its caste system. It’s brand new to us,” Chiang said.

Chiang also divulged some details of the iPhone assembly process in the interview.

“For Chinese Android phones, we only have to assign 100 workers per production line, but we need 1,200 for the iPhone,” Chiang said, underlining Apple’s exacting demands.

Liu took over from Foxconn founder Terry Gou and became Hon Hai chairman in 2019. Since then, he has been filling key positions with younger employees by both recruiting seasoned hands externally and promoting staff internally, with Chiang being the most high-profile appointment he has made so far.

Entrepreneur

DTI-11 puts up 286 SSFs for MSMEs

DAVAO CITY—The Department of Trade and Industry in the Davao Region (DTI11) has put up 286 shared service facilities (SSF) and helped 1,370 micro, small, and medium enterprises (MSMEs) across the region since 2013, an official said Monday Maria Belenda Ambi, DTI-11 director, said the SSF projects did not only assist MSMEs with their respective operations but also aided 4,146 other beneficiaries by generating 1,497 employment opportunities.

“We are optimistic that our beneficiaries will continue to maximize and optimize the benefits of the SSF projects we have provided them with,” Ambi said in a news statement.

Since 2013, Ambi said DTI-11 managed to “progressively address” the gaps and bottlenecks in the value chain of priority industry clusters in the region by providing machinery, equipment, tools, and other related accessories for processing, production and manufacturing to the 1,370 MSMEs.

“They can also approach our provincial and field offices, including our Negosyo Centers throughout the region, for any form of assistance, especially technical,” she said.

With the projects, several MSME success stories have been documented, including the virgin coconut oil production of the Cocolife Multipurpose Cooperative in Pantukan, Davao de Oro, with its first project established on June 21, 2013, and received an addendum on December 16, 2015.

The cooperative has established a reputable name in the province since 2005. PNA

By Sabah Meddings Bloomberg News

AUK technology firm that helps the country’s health service to provide “hospitals at home” is expanding further into clinical trials through the acquisition of a German rival.

Huma Therapeutics, which enables clinicians to monitor patients remotely, has bought Alcedis, a clinical trials specialist, for an approximate valuation of more than £20 million ($24.1 million.)

The tie-up will allow Huma to use its technology to monitor patients taking part in clinical trials, reducing the number of in-person visits to hospitals and clinics, and enabling participants to provide a greater amount of data at more regular intervals.

BusinessMirror

Filipinos’ interest in entrepreneurship grows amid Go Negosyo drive–study

By Roderick L. Abad @rodrik_28 Contributor

Prof. Ranjit Rye of OCTA Research revealed that 81 percent of adults in the country would like to go into business, “granting that they had enough know how to do so.”

In their latest survey, which involved 1,200 respondents aged 18 years and older, he bared that such “desire remains high at 80 percent among classes A, B, C and D, and 74 percent from class E.”

The report also found that more than half, or 53 percent were aware of Joey Concepcion and his work at Go Negosyo.

This nonprofit movement he founded in 2005 is seen either as a partner, or a supporter, of MSMEs by 52 percent of adult Filipinos, or as one that teaches how to run a business by 47 percent of them.

“I am glad that the work we have done for the last 17 years continues to bear fruit. The recent survey by our friends at OCTA Research found

that a big percentage of Filipinos are willing to go into business, and that more than half of the respondents are aware of the advocacy that I and the Go Negosyo team have been promoting,” Concepcion said.

“It is so important to build the MSME’s optimism and the willingness to engage in the economy,” he added.

Going

into business

PER the entrepreneurial czar, the study is indicative of the positive impact of Go Negosyo and its push for an entrepreneurial mindset on the Filipinos.

Since its inception, this advocacy has promoted entrepreneurship as a way for the people to lift themselves out of poverty.

“There are about 26 million Filipinos still living in poverty, unable to meet their basic food and nonfood needs. This represents nearly

a fourth of our entire population,” said Concepcion.

“By providing access to the three M’s essential in successful entrepreneurship, namely, mentoring, and access to markets, and money or capital, we can increase the number of Filipinos who can build successful businesses, and in turn employ more of our countrymen,” he explained.

The Go Negosyo founder said that with MSMEs accounting for more than 62 percent of job generation, helping them grow will bring more jobs nationwide.

Proper guidance PRESIDENT Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr.

appointed Concepcion as the lead of the jobs cluster of the Private Sector Advisory Council, which comprises business sector leaders.

Serving as the government’s top advisor on entrepreneurship, he is deemed highly fit, apparently, as Go Negosyo’s mentoring programs have benefited tens of thousands of active and aspiring entrepreneurs through the years.

Among its initiatives are the highly successful mall-based free tutoring roadshow “3M on Wheels,” a structured training for active entrepreneurs in cooperation with the Department of Trade and Industry and the Department of Agricul-

ture, and its regular Facebook Live show Go Negoshow that offers free mentoring over the social media platform on the Go Negosyo Facebook page.

The advocacy group recently renewed its Kapatid Angat Lahat program to foster the transformation of MSMEs through the inclusion of small businesses in the value of chain of large companies; as well as giving them access to mentorship, money, and markets; process and production improvements; resources; business models; digital innovation; capacity-building; and new technologies.

For Concepcion, MSMEs were negatively affected during the pandemic yet digital technology enabled some to pivot and find new ways to do business.

“With the pandemic now behind us, and even with the current headwinds facing the global economy, I am confident that 2023 will be a much better year for our entrepreneurs,” he said.

“I think our growth will continue, and I believe that, perhaps by the second quarter, we will reach a tipping point where commodity prices will go down. Interest rates definitely will taper off and, hopefully, by the second quarter and maybe towards the third, interest rates will go down, and it will be the same with power rates. Barring any further escalation between Russia and the Ukraine, we might have already seen the worst,” he stressed.

delivery

FOODPANDA reported that food delivery was still indemand among its users last year, as new trends like dine-in and pick-up services continue their growth trajectory on the back of the easing Covid-19 health protocols.

This is a boon for restaurants and other food businesses, especially small and home-bound entrepreneurs who stay afloat even further amid the reopening of the economy.

“In 2022, we transitioned from a long period of lockdowns to more relaxed restrictions where people can finally go out and perform outdoor activities like shopping and dining out,” said Daniel Marogy, chief executive officer (CEO) of Foodpanda Philippines.

“So evidently, the consumer trends and behavior also reflected this where we saw a mix of demand for online food delivery services and face-to-face services in physical establishments like dine-in and pickup,” he added.

fort snacks like milk tea and french fries were the topmost ordered items on the app in the last 12 months.

When Covid cases started to decline and mass vaccinations began rolling out, Foodpanda also saw a surge in on-premise consumption and pack orders.

“With dine-in and pick-up, even when consumers are finally going out, Foodpanda can be their partner to satisfy their cravings,” he said, while citing that they are a huge game-changer not just for their company but also for the way their customers use their platform. “We’re offering new and improved ways to get their favorite meals for pick up and dine at their favorite restaurants.”

Dine-in forms part of the app’s pandapro subscription that gives users exclusive access to discounts, deals, and more. On average, they order 150 percent more and save five times over than non-users.

care items, Marogy shared.

“It’s worth noting that these items are what consumers would usually buy at physical stores or groceries, yet we see these products at our top order list. So it shows that consumer buying behavior has definitely evolved nowadays,” he explained.

The CEO also emphasized that even with improved foot traffic outdoors, online grocery delivery remains a regular shopping routine of their app users, a clear indication of how consumers have enjoyed convenience and decided to never go back to the old normal of buying at the brick-and-mortar store mainly due to health reason.

Excited for the new year, the online food delivery platform provider vows to offer more surprises and new things that customers can look forward to.

Dan Vahdat, chief executive officer and founder of Huma, said the technology would provide trial participants with a “sense of security and comfort,” as they would be continually monitored using their smartphone. Participants are called in if doctors spot a worrying change in their data, for example blood oxygen or heart rate.

Huma’s platform is already being used across England and Wales —monitoring people with Covid, diabetes, cardiovascular disease and after surgery. Its software enables doctors to keep tabs on patients using a mobile app and also uses wearable devices to gather data on heart rate and oxygen saturation. The company also used its technology to support AstraZeneca Plc’s Covid vaccine trial during the pandemic.

Huma, which was founded in

2011 as Medopad, has grown as Covid accelerated a shift toward digital health. The company lost £27.5 million on revenue of £5.3 million for 2021, in a year in which it raised $130 million in an investment round led by the corporate venture funds of Bayer and Hitachi. It expects revenue of around £15 million for 2022.

The National Health Service aims to provide an extra 2,500 so-called virtual ward beds to increase capacity, as the health service reaches crisis point. During Covid, Huma created a remote patient monitoring smartphone app, for patients with suspected or confirmed Covid-19— tracking heart rate, blood pressure and blood oxygen to spot patients at risk of deterioration. Through this, the company said it reduced hospital admissions by a third.

Marogy said the quick commerce platform recorded the highest orders of the year for delivery during Valentine’s Day, a time when people were still stuck at home due to the lockdown period.

“Since people wanted to celebrate this special day but were a bit wary of spending it outdoors, they opted just to order in from the comfort and safety of their homes,” he noted.

The firm also revealed that com-

“We wanted to focus and amplify our efforts on services our users can enjoy other than delivering. So our pandapro subscription offers these big savings and special privileges like free delivery or discount vouchers,” the top executive pointed out.

On the other hand, pandamart witnessed changing preferences from the users. Bread lorded over the list of the most ordered item on this grocery arm.

This was followed by frozen goods, fresh produce, and personal

“The various events, awesome deals, and new services, including the launch of our cute mascot PauPau last year, ushered in an era of excitement and fun-loving service that we want to imbibe to our customers,” said Marogy.

“This year, our aim is to become an even more trusted and go-to platform that will cater to the different food-related needs of customers. This will be our north star moving forward while ensuring that our community of other stakeholders like partner vendors and delivery partners, are all satisfied and happy,” he stressed.

AS micro, small and medium enterprises (MSMEs) comprise as much as 99.9 percent of registered businesses in the Philippines, more and more Filipinos are interested to become one of them, according to a new study.

Roderick Abad

Foodpanda users mainly opt for

but still prefer dine-in, pick up services

KADIWA ENTREPRENEURSHIP A vendor arranges various agricultural products at the Kadiwa store inside the compound of the Philippine Statistics Authority office along East Avenue, Quezon City on January 13, 2023. The Kadiwa store offers fresh vegetables, processed food and meat

GO Negosyo meets with presidents and area heads of the Philippine Chamber of Commerce and Industry to discuss mentorship for aspiring entrepreneurs. In photo are (seated from left) Alfred Carandang (PCCI Quezon City), Sarah Deloraya-Mateo (PCCI Central National Capital Region, Teresita Ngan Tian (PCCI NCR), Go Negosyo Founder Joey Concepcion, Elvie Sanchez-Quiazon (PCCI South NCR), Yolanda Dela Cruz (PCCI Valenzuela), Lolit Duria (PCCI Parañaque); (standing, from left) Santi Morante (PCCI Manila), Marites Joan Quezon (PCCI Mandaluyong), Mitch Balleteros (PCCI Pasig), Myra Miranda (PCCI Las Piñas), Gene Sy (PCCI North NCR), Fe Zulueta (PCCI Muntinlupa), Oliver Uy (PCCI Caloocan), Philip Lirag (PCCI Malabon), and Lito Solangon (PCCI Makati). CoNtRibuted Photo

Banking&Finance

Favorable rates bids abet govt fund-raising

By Jasper Emmanuel Y. Arcalas @jearcalas

THE Bureau of the Treasury (BTr) on Tuesday awarded P49 billion in 20-year reissued Treasury bonds (T-bonds), exceeding its P35-billion offering.

The Treasury said its auction committee decided to fully award the Tbonds due to the favorable interest rates bids by investors.

“With a remaining term of 19 years and 10 months, the security fetched an average rate of 6.525 percent, lower than the original coupon rate of 8.125 percent set on its original issuance last November 2022 as well as the comparable secondary market benchmark,” the Treasury

said in a statement after the auction.

The secondary market benchmark for a 20-year T-bond was at 7.070 while secondary market benchmark coupon rate for the government security was at 7.032 percent.

The interest rates for the 20-year T-bonds were as low as 6.49 percent and as high as 6.6 percent.

Treasury data showed that the auction was 3.82 times oversubscribed as total offer from investors reached

South African firm to ‘birth’ GoTyme ‘in cloud’

By Roderick Abad @rodrik_28 Contributor

GOTYME Bank Corp. announced it has tapped Berlin, Germany-headquartered GmbH to scale its operations “efficiently.”

South Africa-headquartered Tyme Bank Ltd., which has tied up with Gokongwei Group to launch the said bank in the Philippines, has had a long-standing relationship with Mambu, a software-as-a-service (SaaS) banking engine provider, as they have been working together for many years in South Africa, according to a GoTyme Bank executive.

“With the knowledge gained from transitioning TymeBank in South Africa to a fully digital bank, we knew we needed GoTyme Bank to be ‘born in the cloud’ in order to have the capacity to scale efficiently, so Mambu’s SaaS cloud-native, [application pro-

gramming interface]-first banking platform was the obvious choice for us,” said GoTyme Bank President and CEO Nate Clarke.

According to Clarke, they “understood what the Mambu platform was capable of and we were confident it would enable us to ‘lift and shift’ the TymeBank digital bank concept from South Africa to the Philippines, a market very similar in some ways, but very different in others, particularly in terms of the regulatory landscape.”

According to the executive, his company promises to offer “nextlevel” digital banking services via kiosks set up in retail outlets belonging to listed firm Robinsons Retail Holdings Inc. (RRHI), a business under the Gokongwei Group. Last Monday, RRHI disclosed to the Philippine Stock Exchange it purchased a 4.4-percent stake in the Bank of the Philippine Islands.

Clarke continued by saying they expect to have 348 kiosks in operation nationwide by the end of the year. He said these kiosks aim “to provide secure, convenient and highquality financial services to the millions of Filipinos who are currently excluded from the formal banking system.”

According to Clarke, less than three percent of Filipinos today have access to affordable loan like credit card. The same estimate goes for insurance and high yield investments such as stocks.

“Every year, millions of smart, employed Filipinos fall short of their potential because they do not have access to high-quality banking products. At GoTyme Bank, we are here to unlock the financial potential of all Filipinos through next-level banking,” he said.

“Like Tyme Group, our focus with everything we do is making banking

better for everyone and improving access to financial services, so this partnership is rewarding on many levels,” added William Dale, regional vice president for Asia Pacific at Mambu.

Products and services on offer to customers via GoTyme Bank at launch include a free Visa debit card for in-person and online purchases, bank transfers via the mobile app, and Go Rewards via partner Robinsons.

The increase in online transactions in the country has been driven both by the pandemic and the commitment of Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas to reaching 50 percent of total transactions being digital by 2023.

Clarke also promises that the 4-month-old GoTyme Bank will roll out a number of new products and services through the banking app in the coming months.

Makati surpasses 2022 revenue target by 16%

By Claudeth Mocon-Ciriaco @claudethmc3

MAKATI City Mayor MarLen Abigail S. Binay boasted last Tuesday that the city has surpassed by 16 percent its 2022 revenue target, posting a total of nearly P21 billion in revenue collection.

“Things are definitely looking up for the city,” Binay said through a statement. “The significant increase in our locally-sourced revenue collection from business and real property taxes in 2022 is a clear sign of the strong trust and confidence of Makati residents and the business community in the city government.”

The mayor said that collections from local revenue sources have increased by nine percent compared with 2021.

Based on the report from City Treasurer Jesusa E. Cuneta, the bulk of collections came from “Business Tax” with about P9.13 billion, up by 10 percent from 2021.

“Real Property Tax” came in second with nearly P8.15 billion, or seven percent higher than total RPT collection in 2021.

The city official said revenue generated from realty taxes surpassed the target by around 70 percent fol-

lowing an “intensive” information drive targeted at villages and condominiums to remind real property owners to settle outstanding tax obligations to the city.

Spearheaded by the Office of the City Treasurer, the campaign tapped the assistance of the barangay government as well as building and condominium management.

Cuneta said the support and cooperation of barangay leaders have been instrumental to its successful outcome. She expressed gratitude to these officials “who even took charge of the delivery of notices to concerned taxpayers, making sure these reached the intended recipients.”

More robust, sustainable BI NAY thanked the city’s taxpayers and investors for “their unstinting support and cooperation as we gradually recover from the pandemic.”

“We can confidently look forward to a more robust and sustainable local economy this year,” she added.

Binay said the city’s continuing financial stability will ensure the continuous delivery of quality services to Makati citizens, and the effective implementation of major programs aimed to accelerate Makati’s trans-

STATE deposit insurer Philippine Deposit Insurance Corp. (PDIC) announced that its quality management systems (QMS) for five of its core processes continued to be certified under ISO 9001:2015 standards in 2022.

The recertification/surveillance audits conducted by Socotec Certification International and TÜV Rheinland Philippines on the corporation’s five core processes resulted in zero non-conformities.

Socotec conducted the recertification audit for PDIC’s QMS for claims settlement operations and assessment of member banks, while TÜV Rheinland audited real-property disposal, loans-management and bank-examination operations. The supporting processes for the certified areas were, likewise, covered by the audits.

“The organization’s commitment to the continual improvement of the quality management system is highly commendable,” according to the Socotec’s audit report. TÜV Rheinland’s report echoed the same, remarking that the organization has established and maintained an effective system to ensure compliance with its policy and objectives.

“The recertification of these frontline services shows the unyielding commitment of PDIC to provide efficient and responsive service to its clients and stakeholders. As we gradually shift to a less restrictive pandemic environment, we continue to equip our people with opportunities for skills enhancement to better serve our clients. We also pursue collaborations with partner institutions for a more effective service delivery that is more

formation into a “smart city.”

On the other hand, revenue from other local sources also increased, including fees and charges, P744.2 million (three percent) and economic enterprises, P340.7 million (66 percent).

Records of the Business Permit and Licensing Office (BPLO) show that as of December 31, 2022, there have been 4,439 new business registrants and 34,590 business permit renewals. The new enterprises chalked up a total of P29.02 Billion in capital investments. Registered businesses in the city also reported total sales of P1.42 Trillion in 2022.

In October last year, Makati was awarded as the second top-performing local government unit in the country and also the second topperforming city in Metro Manila, based on the 2021 locally sourced revenues. The city was also recognized into the Local Revenue Generation Hall of Fame, based on its revenue generated from local sources from 2018 to 2020.

Implemented reforms

SINCE July 2016, the city government has implemented reforms at City Hall to facilitate business registration and promote transparency,

including an aggressive campaign against fixers.

For five straight years, the city government received an “unmodified opinion” from the Commission on Audit after a review of its annual financial statements for fiscal years 2017 to 2021.

In June 2020 at the height of the pandemic, the city established an online assessment and payment portal through which residents and business owners can pay their real property and business taxes, using their smartphones or laptops. This eliminated the need for them to go to City Hall and risk exposure while lining up at the counters.

In October 2021, Makati launched its first satellite office at the fourth floor of the SM shopping center at the commercial and business district.

Last December, the facility was transferred to a bigger area at the third floor of the mall, where it is open from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m., Monday to Friday.

Among the services offered are: issuance of local citizen card application; issuance of Individual Mayor’s permit and health certificate; updating of vaccination record and issuance of digital vaccination certificate; and, payment of business and realty taxes.

attuned to the evolving financial landscape,” PDIC President and CEO Roberto B. Tan was quoted in a statement as saying.

The ISO-certifying firms also noted that the PDIC’s strategic quality management policies are established, including an internal environment that motivates employees to achieve the management system’s goals and objectives.

Socotec also commended the corporation’s adoption of other payment facilities for depositors of closed banks to receive their deposit insurance claims from the state deposit insurer. It also lauded the traceability of PDIC’s transactions for AMB, which include audit assessments and collection of premiums, as well as the high level of consistency in preparing records and documents.

For its part, TÜV Rheinland cited how the PDIC continuously builds up the competencies of its personnel and enhances its systems under the RPD; the corporation’s implementation of the Closed Bank Loan Incentive Program (CLIP) to encourage borrowers of closed banks to pay their outstanding loans; the state deposit insurer’s ability to innovate strategies for boosting asset disposals such as conducting hybrid publ ic biddings (online and in-person) and enhancement of the Assets for Sale microsite; and the PDIC’s recruitment of marketing officers to further support its asset disposal initiatives.

An ISO certification is a seal of approval from a third-party certifying body that gives higher credibility to an organization’s delivery of its services to its stakeholders and clients.

nearly P134 billion, prompting its auction committee to “double the allocation for non-competitive bids.”

“With its decision, the Committee raised P49.0 billion, bringing the total outstanding volume for the series to P76.6 billion,” it said.

This is now the fourth consecutive T-bond offering that Treasury made a full award, historical BTr data showed. The national government seeks to raise a total of P200 billion

from the sale of Treasury bills and T-bonds this month.

For the whole year, the national government plans to borrow P2.207 trillion with a 75:25 mix in favor of domestic sources. In terms of domestic borrowings, the national government aims to raise a total of P1.654 trillion, P54.1 billion of which coming from the sale of Treasury bills with the remaining amount would be funded through auction of T-bonds.

Corporate gifts

CHRISTMAS is the season for celebration, joy and gifts. Giving gifts to your friends and relatives is normal and traditional.

However, there are issues when the relationship is business based, and there is a concern of conflict of interest when the fine line is crossed between a gift and a bribe.

Different companies may have different rules on accepting tokens or gifts, some do not allow it, others put in a limit to the monetary amount equivalent, while others may require full disclosure and approval.

Amongst the employees and executives who are most likely to receive the best “gifts” are those that can approve or facilitate the awarding of a contract, granting a loan, providing preferential treatment, releasing a permit or making a payment.

In most questionable situations, the “gifts” are not even sent to the office of the recipient but delivered directly to the home. Corporations are able to protect themselves from this anomaly through auditing documents, doing lifestyle checks and making background investigations.

Looking at the more legitimate side of corporate gifts, it allows companies to promote their products and provide a token of appreciation to their clients. Typically, these gifts would have the name and logo of the company and comes in all types, quality and price range, depending on how important the customer is to the company.

Sometimes, the customer could even request what he wants for his gift. Number one on my list is the planner that has a weekly spread with each column representing the day and within the column is the hourly space where you can write your appointments.

This way I can see what is happening during the week in one go. I have been doing this for more than 30 years and it is easy enough to keep the planners for each year. For this year I have to thank the RCBC Wealth Management for giving me exactly what I wanted. A variant of this is the notebook, which I guess would be more flexible but nowhere near as useful for my intended purpose.

I have also received personalized gifts such as pens, bags and the like with my name engraved or embroidered on the item. It is a very classy and makes the customer feel important. I particularly like pens with my name on it. I have received ball pens ranging from Parker, Cross all the way to Montblanc. Of course to bring it a notch higher, instead of a ball pen, a personalized fountain pen would truly set it apart.

Another common giveaway is a collared sports shirt that many people like. Even I use our own company’s sports shirt in playing golf with a matching golf cap. We spend more to have a better quality shirt so that it will be worn by even our more affluent customers and friends.

The exposure we get from people wearing our shirts in the most exclusive golf courses is worth it. We also make sure we have it in different sizes so that it fits better and make it nicer to wear.

Of course there are so many other corporate gifts available such as umbrellas, face towels, calendars, key chains, and so on. However, to some of our best customers and friends, the best gift that they look forward to being invited is our Christmas party where they are given VIP seats, enjoy the program, food and drinks, but most of all to meet and mingle with us while having a good time. I guess nothing beats the old fashioned face to face encounter!

Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year to all of you!

The views and comments of Dr. George S. Chua are his own and not of the BusinessMirror or the Financial Executives Institute of the Philippines (Finex). Chua, 2016 Finex President, is currently a Professorial Lecturer at the University of the Philippines’s Diliman and BGC campuses and an active entrepreneur. Comments may be sent to gschua@ up.edu.ph.

FInex Free enterprIse

George s. Chua

YEN TRADE This June 15, 2022, photo shows a currency exchange shop in Hong Kong. The Bank of Japan’s policy decision due Wednesday is shaping up to be the biggest risk for the dollar-yen pair since the global financial crisis, with traders betting on a possible swing of 2 percent or more in favor of either currency. BloomBerg News

Developing a good relationship with your manager

reports, provide them the information they need to make sound decisions. Your manager depends on you to provide accurate and reliable information so make sure you know what kinds of information they need on a regular basis, and which ones they need to urgently take action. In terms of issues, how involved do they want to be? Do they want to be copyfurnished in all emails? Or, do they want to be copied only on issues that involve people based on rank or urgency? These things help keep your communication lines open and ensure issues are addressed expediently before they become problems.

PROBABLY

professional relationship you will ever have is with your manager. I say this because they can influence where your career is headed and they have the power to open opportunities for your career. But this does not mean you kowtow to their every demand because they are also dependent on your work to fulfill their deliverables. Hence, you need each other if you are to succeed in attaining your goals.

A good working relationship between you and your manager impacts both your careers because their success is also your success. When you work well with your manager, you consistently attain your goals, you enjoy your work more, and you find ways to be fully engaged in the way you do work. Given the nature of how your work is intertwined with your manager’s, it is important to have a mutually beneficial professional relationship.

To begin, assess for yourself what can be improved in your relationship with your manager. You need to understand that your career development depends on your manager so you need to know what they expect from you. When your manager sits down with you for your performance evaluation, ask them what they expect you to develop within the year. Do they see you running a small group within the team? Do they see you taking up more stakeholder management tasks? Do they see you as slacking? Asking them directly will help you fine-tune your action plans, as well as indicate to your manager that you want to professionally grow.

Next, clarify tasks to ensure that you understand what is expected from you. There are people who would just accept tasks without question and end up disappointing their manager and grumbling that the task was not explained properly. When given a task, your manager needs to depend on you to clarify the task if it is unclear because if you do not ask

questions, they will expect you to follow through. When you agree to a task without fully understanding the end goal, you will just frustrate yourself and your manager. If you do not understand what your manager really wants, you will make the same mistakes over and over again. So, it is important for you to know what exactly is expected from you. One thing you need to know about your manager is their work style. You need to know how they work to understand how they react and deal with you, their fellow managers, and their direct supervisors. This does not mean adopting their own work style but by knowing how they work, you can adjust your work output deliberately. For example, ask how frequent they need a report on a project, how detailed they want it to be, or even what time in the day they

want it. These things will determine what you need to highlight in your project status reports and the manner of delivering them. Related to their work style is their personality. If they are analytical and introverted, you might want to stick to reporting project status reports using a dashboard and highlighting only those that need their attention. If they are easy-going and extroverted, you can focus your report on what they can communicate in the next management committee meeting. Their personality can affect the way you do your work, so you will have to adjust based on their preferences. As an added caution, people change, including your manager, so you need to regularly make allowances for these changes.

Depending on how frequent they want status

During discussions and team meetings, check your own emotions toward your manager and identify why you are feeling the way you do. These could indicate unrealistic expectations or unresolved issues that might be clouding your judgment. Check your own biases and understand how they affect the way you perceive your manager and how you communicate

Whether you like it or not, your perception of your manager shows in the way you talk, your choice of words, and even your body language. Your manager can pick up on these things and might take them as cues for insubordination or distrust. So check your

Whenever disagreements arise between you and your manager, adopt a solution-based mindset. Focus on the facts and base your discussion on shared reports and documents. Understand that your manager may have other considerations aside from those that you have raised, and is in a better position to evaluate whether a certain action plan is tenable. Try to get as much information from your manager to understand why they decided the way they did, but also understand that they will decide based on all available information, so strive to provide accurate and reliable information.

When conflicts are resolved, rebuild trust by setting clear expectations from each other. Acknowledge how you contributed to the fall-out and then identify steps on how to move forward. If needed, involve human resources so that future incidents are monitored and they can provide alternative working arrangements when needed.

Your manager plays a key role in your success. You need to know how to best position yourself so that you get the support and help that you need. When you develop a good working relationship with your manager, doors of opportunities will open for your own success. n

By Dinna Chan Vasquez

LIKE many tourist destinations in the country, Boracay was hard hit by the Covid-19 pandemic. Because tourists stopped coming, resorts, restaurants and cafes closed down. People lost their jobs and many business owners simply cut their losses and left.

But Boracay is back and the pandemic is, hopefully, just a bad memory for the resort and restaurant owners and the locals whose livelihood depends solely on tourism.

The Henann Group of Resorts is one of the brands that stayed on and rode the waves. Recently, the group opened its seventh property on the island. Henann Park Resort, Boracay is a world-class resort located at Station 2 with 232 premium rooms and an expansive pool surrounding the property. Orchard Cafe serves Southeast Asian cuisine and it’s where house guests can enjoy a buffet breakfast. There’s also a sunken pool bar where you can have drinks before dinner.

The construction of Henann Park started in 2018 and was completed in December 2020 but for obvious reasons, the opening had to be delayed.

The Henann Group of Resorts is under the leadership of its chairman Dr. Henry Chusuey alongside his sons, group president Alfonso Chusuey and vice president for marketing Karl Chusuey. The

other Henann Group properties on the island are Henann Regency (soon hitting its 25th anniversary), Crystal Sands, Prime Beach, Palm Beach, Garden, and Lagoon. Already in the planning stage is the opening of Henann Group’s first luxury resort.

“Boracay has always meant the world to us as a family, and our Henann locations are a way for us to share that love with vacationers from the Philippines and all over the world,” said Karl.

Things started picking for Boracay when local borders opened again. Luckily, Boracay is easy to go to and, not surpringly, tourists local and foreign showing up again. “The average occupancy for all seven Henann hotels right now in Boracay is 80 percent. For Henann Park, it’s 70 percent to 80 percent during the weekdays and higher during the weekends. Before the pandemic, the guests were mostly Koreans, Chinese and Filipinos. The mix of nationalities was diverse. Right now, it’s mostly locals and Koreans,” added Karl. Although it’s not a beachfront property, Henann Park Resort is located at the center of Boracay so it has access to everything in the island, including restaurants, drugstores, a hospital, and commercial establishments.

So here are seven reasons why you should choose Henann Park Resort when you’re going to Boracay: The resort has various types of rooms for every

tourist. The categories are Deluxe, Premier (upper rooms with balconies), Premier with Direct Pool Access, and Family Rooms (for four people). The rates start at P4,000.

Here are a few reasons why Henann Park Resort should become another success story for the company:

1. Of all Henann Group properties, Henann Park has the most resort-like atmosphere. Most of the rooms offer a balcony overlooking the pool and the sunken poolside bar. Maybe it’s the lighting on this side of the island but at 5 pm, the sky is really beautiful and you really feel like you’re in paradise.

2. Like all Henann properties, the rooms are beautifully appointed and spacious at Henann Park Resort. The décor is nature-based with queen-size beds, 300-thread count linen, premium bathrobes, slippers, a safe and mini ref, 43-inch LED TV, WiFi, complimentary tea and coffee, and balcony with breakfast nook and drying rack. The large marble bathroom has a rainforest shower heads, dual vanity sinks, bidet, hair dryer, and guest amenities such as toothbrushes, shower caps, razors, soap, lotion, and bath gel. Let me tell you that the shower cap here was one of the best I have ever used because it’s so snug that it really prevents your hair getting wet.

3. You won’t see any plastic water bottles in the guests rooms. There is a pitcher that you can fill up in

water refill station in the hallway. The one near our room was just around six steps away from our door.

4. Henann Park Resort is part of the Henann ecosystem, which means you’ll get good and consistent service, five-star amenities, and seamless transfers, all at Filipino-friendly prices. Henann, the company, will soon mark its 25th anniversary and that means that as far as hospitality is concerned, they know what they’re doing.

5. You can book poolside or in-room massages and braiding services.

6. Henann Park is fairly new so it means that everything smells good and all the fixtures are working perfectly. There are no leaking faucets, crusty bathtubs, and door locks that seem loose and ineffective.

7. The food is really good. Their cakes and pastries are outstanding. If you ever see the brownies at the buffet, get them all as they’re quite good. I also love how you get pancakes, waffles, crepes and French toast all at the same time in the breakfast buffet every day!

Hennan Park Resort Boracay is at Station 2, Main Road, Boracay Island, Malay, Aklan. Book at www. hennan.com, or contact the Manila office at 8230-3000 or 0956-3361922; the resort at (36) 288-9700 or 09177131802; or e-mail manila.hpk@henann.com.

PHOTO BY LINKEDIN SALES SOLUTIONS ON UNSPLASH

AN expansive pool surrounds the Henann Park Resort, Boracay property

THE rooms are inspired by nature and most of them have a view of the pool ❸ ORCHARD Café serves Southeast Asian cuisine

A Healthier 2023 Begins with Simple, Meaningful, Sustainable Lifestyle Choices

Winning Against Pandemic Menaces: A Promising LPG Franchise Business

IT’S that time of the year when businesses celebrate the wins and successes of the year that was. For both Superkalan Gaz and Brent Gas, it was all stories of challenges, not just achievements, that paved their way to closing this year-round chapter with flying colors.

A lot happened in 2022, not to mention the store expansions, growth and conversions that happened so quickly within the silent radar of the brands. In fact, significant gains were duly demonstrated with 26 companyowned-turned-franchised stores, ten of which onboarded as the new breed of franchisees.

A collaborative effort on franchise recruitment was made known through joining a line-up of expositions and conventions for small franchisees who want to explore this commoditized industry. More than 1,000 franchisee-tobes and interested dealers took a chance on Superkalan Gaz and Brent Gas, and inquired best-fit packages according to their business intention. Some of the renowned expos that the brands took

part in are Manila Foods and Beverages Expo (MAFBEX) which happened last June 15 to 19, 2022 in World Trade Center Manila; Franchise and Entrep Expo held at Xavier School last July 16 to 17, 2022; IFEX Philippines in World Trade Center Manila last September 22 to 24, 2022; and International Franchise Expo by Franchise Asia Philippines in SMX Convention Center Manila last October 14 to 16, 2022.

All the while, the brands maintained a good working relationship and built rapport with its existing franchisees.

Superkalan Gaz and Brent Gas bounced back on its annual drive to operational enhancement, a hands-on initiative to convene and support its franchisees with boosted sales, namely, the 2022 Semi-Annual Franchise Meet which was held strategically in three regional areas (Central Luzon, South Luzon and National Capital Region) from July to August.

The pandemic sure was a challenge, along with the implementation of the LPG Law or Republic Act 11592 meant to regulate the LPG industry.

During the event, implementation and penalties were covered in line with the law. Accordingly, knowledge-sharing on best practices, store sales updates and programs (Linis Kalan, Barangay Safety Seminar, Palit Sulit, etc) and other LPG trends were facilitated by both sales heads and sales coordinators, as well as internal industry experts for boost in sales and alignment with the LPG Law. Awards were also given away to franchisees for appreciation and recognition. All were focused to move on with the Covid-19 circumstances, bearing in mind the learnings left of this pandemic, and finally boost confidence in their franchisees.

Looking back on the year that was, really, it was all winning back against the bearings of this pandemic, with learnings ready to be implemented far better than the previous year, all for a fruitful 2023. This goes to show the growing trust for the brand and harmonized relationship in view of customer service. Truly, an exciting journey awaits current and future franchisees of Superkalan Gaz and Brent Gas.

FOR over 25 years, Sunnywood Superfoods Corporation has shown a promising dedication in providing healthy, high-quality rice products that best suit their consumers’ preferences and lifestyles. Among their brands is Harvester’s which provides an exciting variety of rice– from white, unpolished, to long grain, and more. Bringing forth a wide span of healthier rice that truly makes one’s meal, the company continuously lives up to their motto: “More than Just Rice — It’s the Meaning of Life.”.

They believe that God has been good and faithful and has blessed man with every good thing. Rice, of which their main business is based, is just one of the uncountable blessings given to man. The company recognizes His goodness, lifts up its humble gratitude and strives to follow in His footsteps.

Sunnywood Superfoods Corporation started operating as a single proprietorship in September of 1997 supplying branded rice to consumers in the supermarkets. Through the years, the company has grown from a beginning where only nine items were sold in the markets, to one that supplies a wide range of exciting varieties. The business was incorporated in 2009 and continues to be focused on its main thrust of being a major, reliable, consistent supplier of quality rice to consumers.

“It has been the commitment of the company to work with cooperatives in various parts of the country encouraging them to go into organic rice farming in spite of the challenges to its growing and marketing. We’d like to believe that our sustained and consistent support has significantly helped Philippine organic rice farming establish a solid foundation that will allow it to expand even further in reach and appreciation,” stated Romeo Ong, president of Sunnywood.

Ong further added, “It will be a joyful and proud day when in the near future our special rice can make its

presence felt at an international level. The benefits of livelihood and stability to the farmers cannot be underestimated.”

Outside of its core business activity of rice, Sunnywood Superfoods Corporation has been reaching out to street and public school children by way of support of the Child Evangelism Fellowship NCR South Area whose volunteers teach and impart biblical moral values. The impact on the lives of these young people when they are shown love, attention and care are immeasurable.

Sunnywood Superfoods Corporation will continue to be a responsible leader in the distribution of this important Filipino staple with its commitment to help our farmers attain a better living standard and to make available to the Filipino family healthy varieties of rice at all times.

True to their vision, their brands: Harvester’s, Jordan Farms and Farmboy have been broadening their consumers’ horizons when it comes to their choice of rice used for their meals.

Harvester’s wide selection of quality rice has been recognized for its delicious taste and nutrient-density which benefits our bodies. Experts have shown that rice is an excellent carbohydrate that provides energy on a daily basis and some varieties are also high in

fiber, thiamin, niacin, potassium, and magnesium.

Those who journey into living a healthier lifestyle would oftentimes have a misconception about rice which leads them to exclude it from their diets to manage their weight or health; however, what really needs to be taken note of is the amount of rice that is consumed daily. With Harvester’s rice, offering a range of rice varieties such as Black, Red, and Brown Rice, Short, Long, and Whole Grain, Malagkit, Sinandomeng, Dinorado, Thai Jasmine Rice and more, everyone can still be healthy without letting go of a staple part of their daily meals.

Harvester’s offers a wide variety of local and imported rice. The brand’s Thai Jasmine Rice can transform everyday meals into special ones with its superior all-around taste and texture for that well-rounded goodness perfect to pair with the family’s favorite dishes. For more nutritious rice, you can go with their whole grain unpolished rice like Harvester’s Black, Brown and Red rice which has optimum amount of nutrients as its fiber and germ are still intact.

Each variety has its own unique health benefits. Among the three, Harvester’s Black Rice contains the highest amount of antioxidants called anthocyanins, which effectively aid in preventing inflammation and protecting against Type 2 diabetes, cancer, and heart disease. Harvester’s Brown Rice, together with proper diet and exercise, may help control blood sugar levels. Harvester’s Red Rice variety, on the other hand, helps strengthen bones and improve metabolism with its rich content in zinc and manganese and low glycemic index.

Overall, these rice varieties being whole grain, unpolished rice, and gluten free are perfect for those trying to manage weight. Aside from being nutritious and delicious, it is also a great source of energy.

WITH the start of a new year comes fresh opportunities to make better, healthier choices. Developing habits supporting one’s lifestyle goals may prove to be challenging, but Pepsi-Cola Products Philippines, Inc. (PCPPI) encourages Filipinos to take even small, simple steps to build sustainable habits over time.

“Our brands support Filipinos as they take strides towards a healthier, more productive 2023. We believe that by making more mindful choices over time, more people can reap the positive benefits of adopting a more active, balanced lifestyle,” said Frederick D. Ong, PCPPI president and chief executive officer. Aside from exclusively producing well-loved beverages such as Pepsi-Cola, Mountain Dew, and Gatorade in the country, PCPPI also bottles and distributes Premier Purified Water. As one of the country’s respected drinking water brands, Premier Purified guarantee consumer satisfaction as products pass high standards after stringent quality and safety testing.

PCPPI suggests five key tips to start 2023 on the right foot:

EXPLORE healthier dietary options. According to the World Health Organization (WHO), adults should maintain a diet high in fruit, vegetables, legumes, nuts and grains, but lower in salt, free sugar, and saturated fats. When filling one’s food basket, spend a few more minutes to check the nutrition labels. Developing healthy dietary habits may help strengthen the body in fighting non-communicable diseases (NCDs) such as diabetes, heart disease, stroke, and cancer.

Integrate movement in your daily routine. The worst exercise routine is a non-existent one. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), an adult needs 150 minutes of moderateintensity physical activity each week. That’s only 30 minutes every week day, so getting a few steps, skips, and stretches in may work wonders for one’s overall well-being.

Engaging in physical activities can also improve one’s self-esteem and cognitive

functions, and can also help reduce tendencies for anxiety and depression.

Recovery is key. While physical activity and dietary choices are important in one’s annual health kick-start, getting adequate rest allows the body to recharge and reset. More than getting sufficient hours of sleep, medical studies suggest reducing one’s use of digital devices while in bed to help improve the quality of resting time.

Make time for mental health. Practicing self-care and kindness goes a long way. Taking a few minutes to pause and reflecting on the brighter side of daily life can do wonders when managing stress. One’s health also has to do with embracing mindfulness, patience, and compassion towards oneself and others. It may help to keep a daily journal, or write down three positive things that happened at the end of the day as forms of “self check-in.”

Drink more water. The CDC says everyone should consume eight to 10 glasses of water. Aside from preventing dehydration, doing so helps regulate cognitive, hormonal, and circulatory functions. Having a bottle of Premier Purified Water handy is recommended for proper nourishment even when on-the-go.

Other than Premier Purified Water, PCPPI is the sole Philippine manufacturer and distributor of Pepsi, Mountain Dew, 7-Up, Mirinda, Mug, Gatorade, Sting, Tropicana, Lipton, Aquafina, and Milkis. For more information about PCPPI and its brands, please visit pepsiphilippines.com.

SUBWAY

In the video, Kimpoy talks about his reputation as a lover boy who’s smitten with three different loves—B, M, and T—who are played by the wonderfully talented Natazha Bautista, Breena Ylaya, and Queen Semana.

Kimpoy understandably flip-flops— one is adventurous, another is practical, and the last is health-conscious. In the end, we find that Kimpoy is hooked, not on the three ladies but on three craveworthy B.M.T.™ sandwiches from Subway!

Kimpoy is incredibly excited about his role in the ad. “Actually, sobrang relate ako,” says Kimpoy. “Whenever I go to Subway, parang may sandwich palagi for any occasion. Ang hirap talaga mamili ng favorites! No matter your mood, there’s a B.M.T.™ sandwich for you.”

The commercial perfectly highlights the variety one gets from Subway®’s three B.M.T.™ options. The B.M.T.™ classic brings the thrill of a sandwich done just right. The “double cheese” offers more flavor, an added value at a good price.

For

“What can be a more relatable feeling than love?” Wahiman says. “So we want to show the overwhelming love one can feel for all the sandwich options at Subway. We also feel that Kimpoy did a fantastic job of conveying this in a fun way in our latest digital ad.”

The cheeky and humorous video was crafted by some of the best creative minds in the production industry. At the helm was award-winning director Chris Cahilig, who led an A-List crew that included director of photography Noel Teehankee, food stylist Kia del Rosario, and line producer Jel Planas.

They were joined by a talented postproduction crew: offline editor Yvette Mijares, online editor Kenneth Amparo, sound designer Kat Salinas, Dia Magsaysay on color, and Paulo Almaden on scoring.

“We’re enormously pleased with the finished product,” says Wahiman. “We look forward to Kimpoy’s fans hopping over to Subway and experiencing firsthand how tough it is to pick from all our amazing options.”

SunnywoodPH is more than just rice; it’s the meaning of life

SUPERKALAN Gaz and Brent Gas Franchisees with BIVMC Sales Team and Executives

has just announced its latest digital ad campaign featuring noted YouTube vlogger Kimpoy Feliciano. With over 1.6 million subscribers to his name, Kimpoy hopes to tap into the power and clout of his fanbase when exploring this new partnership with Subway.

Meantime, the egg mayo B.M.T.™ Plus presents an even healthier choice for discerning eaters out there.

Joshua Wahiman, marketing manager of Subway Philippines, the ad sums up what it’s like to be a Subway guest.

YouTube vlogger Kimpoy has enough love for Subway’s 3 B.M.T.™ sandwiches in new digital ad

THE commercial perfectly highlights the variety one gets from Subway®’s three B.M.T.™ options.

Costa del Hamilo promotes coastal sustainability

By Rizal Raoul S. Reyes

According to the Global Green Growth Institute, green growth promotes sustainability for environmental protection and remediation, while at the same time promoting employment, improvements in social equity, and other related objectives.

Colliers said applying green building standards immediately promotes a safe environment, improved health and wellbeing, and addressing the environmental impacts of real-estate development.

It noted that both commercial and residential buildings and project owners can immediately enjoy utility cost savings, reduced maintenance fees from sustainably sourced materials, higher-valued assets in the long term, and reduced overall greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions.

Further, Colliers noted green buildings usually draw the interest of conglomerates that adopt sustainable busi -

ness practices within the company’s Environmental, Social, and Governance (ESG) principles who are willing to pay a premium for green buildings compared to non-green buildings.

“There is an untapped green market in the provincial area, especially in the municipalities of Southern and Central Luzon, where demand for residential housing is stable. Project owners and planners must work collaboratively to find ways of adopting green building strategies into residential developments and create an offering to the applicable market segment,” Colliers said.

Partnership for sustainability S I n CE t he year 2007, Costa Del Hamilo Inc. (CDHI), developer of Hamilo Coast and World Wide Fund for n a ture Philippines (WWF) have been active in promoting sustainability on key areas for sustainability—coastal resource management, ridge-to-reef management,

solid waste management, mangrove reforestation, the use of renewable energy sources, and environmental awareness.

Franklin M. Bolalin, CDHI Assistant Vice President for Estate Management and Operations said Hamilo Coast has declared three of its coves—namely Pico de Loro, Etayo and Santelmo—as Marine Protected Areas (MPA). He pointed out the move will further safeguard ecosystems for marine life; protect threatened and endangered species and preserve their habitats; and cultivate marine resources, among others.

He said Hamilo Coast walked the talk as it manifested its readiness to take care of Olive Ridley Sea turtles that has made the development its nesting ground. Olive Ridley Sea turtles, so- called for their olive-green color, are known for their heart-shaped shells and are considered to be among the world’s smallest sea turtles. The females of the species return to the

same beach they hatched on to spawn or lay their own eggs, and bury them in sand nests to incubate for 45 to 72 days.

To keep these eggs safe and undisturbed, Bolalin said Hamilo Coast estate personnel installed nest cages and monitored these regularly, following the guidelines of WWF. With nest cages protecting the eggs from predators, he said their chances for survival significantly rose. In just a few weeks, these eggs will crack, and hatchlings will emerge within three to seven days to reach the surface and race towards the ocean.

Bolalin stressed that, “protecting the turtles is just one of several measures we take to make Hamilo Coast a safe haven, not just for its residents and guests but also for marine wildlife.”

Bolalin likewise affirms that, after all, a majestic and sustainable sanctuary has always been part of Costa del Hamilo’s vision for Hamilo Coast.

Just recently, he said turtle hatchlings were released to the ocean by the SM Leisure

HOME plays a major role in various s tages of our lives, and for multiple reasons. More than just a place to stay, our home is where we live our best life and celebrate multiple milestones in life.

With all the different stories of various home seekers, RLC Residences finds itself inspired to share how they shaped the brand’s purpose as seen on their offerings and operations. Hence, the premiere of its Brand Story that was launched during Heart Evangelista’s partnership renewal with the brand.

“Over the years, we at RLC Residences strive to bring to life homes that are attuned to the needs of our clients. And more than that, we wanted to help them create a delightful experience through living spaces based on their needs. This way, they can achieve the life that they envision for themselves and their families,” says Karen Cesario, Marketing Head and Chief Integration Officer.

Raising the Game in Life

T HE B rand Story featured the stories of residents of RLC Residences. One of the stories highlighted how a father’s daughter inspired him to raise his game as a parent so he can provide the best life for her. This is shortly followed by how RLC Residences, led by its mother company President and CEO Frederick Go, raises its game by developing projects that are aligned with the dreams of home seekers.

“In designing our projects, we try to put our clients’ needs at the center. We understand how homes play a huge role for families to build and create good memories together.

So we will continue to listen to them and incorporate what we learn as we continue to build beautiful and well-designed homes that they can proudly call theirs,” shares Cesario.

The same story is echoed by Ismael Family, one of the RLC Residences homeowners,“We wanted to provide a secure home for our family. What we like most about The Magnolia Residences is its convenience. It’s strategically located. It’s beside the mall and there are so many activities that you can do especially when you have a baby.”

Living The Best Life

In V ESTI n G o ur hard-earned money requires one major decision to make—especially if this is your first time doing it. The second story highlighted a buyer’s home journey—from researching about the right home investment, meeting up with a Property Specialist to explore options, to choosing the the right place to call their own. This is followed by how RLC Residences ensures that its developments are smart and ready for the future through digital innovations and other relevant home upgrades.

“Because building homes took time, we need to ensure that these spaces are relevant now and ready for the future of our homeowners. Especially during the height of the pandemic, we learned that having a dedicated space for work and features that enhance safety and security are important for our clients so they can continue to live their best life. That’s why we incorporate these inside our condos that add value to their investment, such as Smart Home features, digital services such as myRLC, and even work-from-home provisions inside every unit,” mentioned Cesario.

For a millennial homebuyer like Michelle, having a space where she can be smart and productive is what made her decide to invest in one of the developer’s properties. She said, “At RLC Residences, there are many services. [After getting to know the developments], I realized that this is what I can call my home.”

Deep and Meaningful Connections

IDERED m odern-day heroes, Over -

seas Filipino Workers (OFWs) sacrifice a lot working abroad. As the majority of them dream of giving a better life to their families in the Philippines, they endure having to live apart from their loved ones so they can give them a better future.

The story of an OFW mother who finally received her family’s own RLC Residences unit was the last story featured. Having a home in a safe community has always been her family’s dream and seeing it come true is a priceless feeling—the lifelong commitment of RLC Residences.

Just like her, no el also expressed how he wanted to have his own condo unit where he and his family can enjoy the perks. “I left the Philippines in 1994. My sister bought a unit before, so I had the experience of staying in one of the towers. It’s very accessible to the mall, so it’s very nice. Even my children—when they were here—they found it very convenient to go to the mall and try all the amenities.”

“We are delighted to hear from our clients because their feedback always plays a role in improving our offerings. As we promise to Raise, Live, Connect, we will continue to improve our projects and design them for the better so they can live their best life,” said Cesario.

Watch RLC Residences Brand Story Video on their official Youtube channel. For more info on RLC Residences, check out the brand’s official Facebook page at https:// www.facebook.com/RLCResidencesPH/ and Instagram account at https://www.instagram.com/rlc_residences/.

Resort Residences team in Pico de Loro Cove. n e w nest cages were also installed in Santelmo Cove, awaiting the hatchlings’ emergence in the weeks to come. A total of 56 Olive Ridley Sea Turtles have been released as of mid- n o vember 2022 in Hamilo Coast.

Protecting the Olive Ridley Sea turtles is just one of CDHI’s ways of establishing sustainable practices. He said the partnership between WWF and CDHI has been expanding and enhancing the scope of its sustainability program as part of a longterm strategic framework in the Hamilo Coast development.

Hamilo Coast is a recipient of the Longest Sustainability Partner award from the World Wide Fund (WWF) for n ature Philippines. “Our sustainability efforts, in partnership with WWF, have created a positive impact in the Philippine tourism industry,” Bolalin relates. “We hope to continue encouraging seaside developments in the country to prioritize the conservation and protection of our beautiful marine resources.”

Wilcon Depot beefs up connectivity partnership with Converge

By Roderick L. Abad

CO n S TRUCTIO n supplies and home improvement retailer Wilcon Depot has partnered with Converge ICT Solutions, Inc. in order to adapt to the working environment under the new normal and become a more innovative retailer amid the digitalization.

By tapping the latter’s Direct Internet Access (DIA), it helps secures the merchandizer to constantly be on top of its position in the country with the ensuing Covid-19 pandemic.

This enterprise-grade product of Converge makes sure that the company could maintain the smooth flow of operations and keep on providing excellent service to its customers.

The DIA granted Wilcon Depot a well-orchestrated operational process of virtual video conferences between different departments, comprehensive data sharing, and coordinated logistical communication to guarantee continuous business productivity.

“The IT [information technology] infrastructure is very important to any growing company. Especially for us as a retailer, we need data very quickly. We need the data to be consolidated back at our head office,” said Lorraine BeloCincochan, president and chief executive officer of Wilcon Depot.

“And we need data to be consistent and available to our teams so we can make proper decisions. Operationally, we cannot run our costs, we cannot run our systems without connectivity,” he added.

For the majority of its branches, Wilcon Depot is now subscribed to the Converge iBiz product, a pure fiber internet plan created to provide businesses with quality connections at an affordable cost.

As the it evolves and grows with a need for more bandwidth, it works hand-in-hand with Converge as it transitions from iBiz to flexiBIZ—a businessgrade connectivity solution designed for maximum efficiency during daytime business peak hours.

“We needed to have stable connectivity when we realized that video conferencing is here to stay for a while. One of the things that we are looking into is upgrading our connectivity. n o t just in the head office because people worked from home, but we also needed to communicate with our branches. When we reopened, we amped up our bandwidth because we offered our Browse

Call Collect service on Viber. It’s still available today and Converge helped us make it possible. We couldn’t have done it with the existing bandwidth that we had before Covid,” Belo-Cincochan noted. Direct Internet Access—Time of Day, an innovative and different kind of product from Converge, bolsters Wilcon Depot’s operations and helps in its plans for nationwide expansion through a premium, dedicated, and secured internet service with double of its subscribed bandwidth as needed, especially during the most critical hours of operations, thus, providing flexibility and unmatched value for money.

“We’re happy to be Wilcon Depot’s longtime partner in connectivity. Helping them maintain their status as a pioneer in construction supply and home improvement retail in the Philippines despite the challenges of the pandemic is in line with our guiding belief in accessibility, innovation, and growth,” said Converge Chief Operating Officer Jesus C. Romero.

“We are proud to be their continued partner in providing solutions for every Filipino home as they continue to expand nationwide. Converge remains committed to supporting businesses as they adapt to new operating models to improve efficiency and increase productivity,” he stressed.

The emergence of green building certifications will expand the greening of the Philippine property sector and offer a lot of opportunities, according to property management consulting company Colliers Philippines.

WILCON Depot and Converge ICT Solutions Inc. cement a solid partnership to promote sustainable, practical, and eco-friendly construction supplies and home improvement solutions in protecting the environment. Converge Chief Operating Officer Jesus Romero (right) offers a Converge upcycled gift bag made from recycled campaign tarpaulins to Wilcon Depot President and Chief Executive Officer Lorraine Belo-Cincochan (left) as a symbol of shared commitment for this endeavor.

Homeseekers Dream: RLC Residences unwraps Filipinos’ ideal home

Tu R TLE hatchlings were released to the ocean in Pico de Loro Cove by the SM Leisure Resort Residences team headed by Business unit Head and Executive Vice President, Shirley C. Ong (4th from left).

Ha M ILO Coast estate personnel install nest cages to protect the eggs from predators and monitor these regularly, following the guidelines of World Wide Fund for Nature Philippines (WWF).

RUSSIA, BELARUS FLAGS BANNED AT AUSSIE OPEN

100. He was given a wild-card entry by tournament organizers.

When you see you have to play against Dominic you know it’s not going to be easy. I know he’s going through some not easy times so I wish him all the best to come back to the level he can be as fast as possible,” Rublev said.

Rublev will now play either the Australian qualifier Max Purcell or Emil Ruusuvuori of Finland.

No. 5 Aryna Sabalenka maintained her unbeaten start to the year with a 6-1, 6-4 win over Tereza Martincova. Sabalenka, who won the Adelaide International title in the first week of the year, hit 29 winners to her opponent’s seven as she won her fifth consecutive match.

It wasn’t that easy, I’m superhappy to start with the win,” said Sabalenka, who will play American Shelby Rogers in the second round. “I have to work on my mindset and stay calm and not get too upset when I make mistakes. I really believe this is the only thing missing in my game.”

Sabalenka, who has yet to win a Grand Slam singles title, hasn’t made it past the fourth round at the Australian Open in five previous visits.

Brownlee: It’s unbelievable

JUSTIN DONTA BROWNLEE took his oath of allegiance before Senator Francis “Tol” Tolentino on Monday, describing his experience as “unbelievable.”

T he Barangay Ginebra San Miguel resident import thanked his fans, and especially lawmakers in both the Senate and the House of Representatives, for going the extra mile to hasten his naturalization.

As a citizen, I will try my best to make the Filipino people and everybody proud,” Brownlee said. “I want to keep making you guys proud and do whatever I can to help the national team.”

Tolentino was the primary sponsor of House Bill No. 6224 that was unanimously adopted by the Senate on December 12, 2022.

P resident Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr. signed Republic Act (RA) 11937 into law on January 12, 2023, effectively granting Brownlee a Filipino citizenship.

A copy of RA 11937 was presented to Brownlee by Senators Joseph Victor “JV” Ejercito and Christopher Lawrence “Bong” Go.

H e took his oath in a special ceremony at the Senate of the Philippines on Monday, a day after Ginebra won the Philippine Basketball Association Commissioner’s Cup at the Philippine Arena.

Brownlee is expected to immediately join the men’s national team for the International Basketball Federation World Cup and Southeast Asian Games later this year.

Flags from Russia and Belarus were banned from the site of

the Australian Open on Tuesday after more than one was brought into the stands by spectators on Day 1 of the year›s first Grand Slam tournament.

Normally, flags can be displayed during matches at Melbourne Park.

But Tennis Australia reversed that policy for the two countries involved in the invasion of Ukraine that began nearly a year ago.

Our initial policy was that fans could bring (flags) in but could not use them to cause disruption,” Tennis Australia said in a statement on Tuesday. “Yesterday we had an

incident where a flag was placed courtside. We will continue to work with the players and our fans to ensure that this is the best possible environment to enjoy the tennis.”

One Russian flag was displayed during Ukrainian player Kateryna Baindl’s 7-5, 6-7 (8), 6-1 victory over Russian player Kamilla Rakhimova on Court 14 in the first round on Monday.

A nother was offered to Russian player Daniil Medvedev to autograph after his 6-0, 6-1, 6-2 win over Marcos Giron in Rod Laver Arena.

Athletes from Russia and Belarus were barred from competing at Wimbledon and team events such as the Billie Jean King Cup and Davis Cup last year because of the war in Ukraine. Russia invaded, with help

from Belarus, in February.

Russian and Belarusian players have been allowed to enter the other three Grand Slam tournaments but as “neutral” athletes, so their nationalities are not acknowledged on any official schedules or results for the event and their countries’ flags are not displayed on TV graphics.

A ndrey Rublev, meanwhile, beat wild-card entry Dominic Thiem, 6-3, 6-4, 6-2, on Tuesday to book his place in the second round of the Australian Open.

Th iem, a runner-up at the Australian Open in 2020 and the US Open winner the same year, missed much of 2021 due to injuries but has recovered from outside the top 350 last year to a place just inside the top

Spikers’ Turf gets going with Open tourney Sunday

MEN’S  volleyball takes the spotlight again this weekend as the Spikers’ Turf unveils its new season with 11 teams eager to dispute the Open Conference crown at the Paco Arena in Manila.

A youth-laden National University-Sta. Elena swept Sta. Elena in last year’s finals of the country’s first and only men’s volleyball league, which marked its return from a three-year hiatus due to pandemic in explosive fashion, drawing huge crowds, particularly during the semis and championship series.

W ith four more squads joining the title chase beginning Sunday, it only underscores the continued growth of the league, which aims to produce talents who could be tapped, developed and trained to become members of future national teams.

It’s really a blessing that we’re getting more teams interested in joining the Spikers’ Turf. We’re growing and this is a good sign. It just shows everybody that there really is interest not only in women’s volley but also in the men’s side. “ said Ricky Palou, president of the organizing Sports Vision, during the Philippine Sportswriters Association at the Rizal Memorial Sports Complex on Tuesday.

Volleyball icon and league president Alyssa Valdez and tournament director Mozzy Ravena also graced the forum.

Our aim is to really look for new talents for the sport to hopefully come up with a really good national team. So far,

it’s slowly happening and we’re happy with the results and we hope it’s going to get bigger and we’re hoping to bring the Spikers’ Turf to greater heights,” Palou added.

W hile the Bulldogs, now supported by the Archipelago Builders, are back for another shot at the crown, they will have their hands full this time with star players Joshua Retamar and Nico Almendras begging off to anchor NU’s campaign in the University Athletic Association of the Philippines Season 85 in February.

Honestly now, who did you choose to win?

Tim Cone of Brgy. Ginebra, the winningest PBA coach ever?

O r Brian Goorjian, who mentored unfancied Australia to third-place in the 2020 Tokyo Olympic Games?

I f we go by stats, Goorjian’s Bay Area Dragons had the grander record going to the final clash than Cone’s Ginebra Gin Kings.

The visitors from Hong Kong topped the eliminations with a 10-2, win-loss record.  However, one of their losses was inflicted by the Gin Kings.

A nd, in their second meeting that became the Finals opener on Christmas Day, Ginebra made it back-to-back by assembling a 96-81 rout.

Garbine Muguruza, the runner-up in Melbourne in 2020, lost her fifth consecutive match to start the year when she was beaten 3-6, 6-7 (3), 6-1 by Elise Mertens.

Two-time Grand Slam champion Muguruza served for the match at 6-5 in the second set.

Taylor Townsend won her first Grand Slam match since becoming a mother, beating Diane Parry, a wildcard entry from France, 6-1, 6-1. The American will next meet Ekaterina Alexandrova.

L eylah Fernandez, the former US Open runner-up, beat Alize Cornet, 7-5, 6-2. Martina Trevisan, seeded 21st, was beaten 6-3, 6-2 by qualifier Anna Karolina Schmiedlova. AP

RAMON “TATS” SUZARA was elected to a fresh twoyear term as president of the Philippine National Volleyball Federation (PNVF) during the national sports association’s board meeting at The Vault at the Bonifacio Global City.

I would like to thank the PNVF board for their trust and confidence on me leading the federation. Rest assured, I will work toward making volleyball better and our national athletes stronger in the next two years,” said Suzara, who also thanked the Philippine

Suzara reelected president of PNVF, Cayetano named chairman emeritus

Olympic Committee (POC) and the Philippine Sports Commission for supporting the PNVF.

Senator Alan Peter Cayetano was elevated as the PNVF’s chairman emeritus, while Dr. Arnel Hajan of Isabela City (Basilan) was named chairman.

Thank you for the small part that I have been given in the PNVF,” Cayetano said in a brief speech after the elections. “Let’s look forward againt to 2023 and further.”

C ayetano was also named head of delegation of the national volleyball team to the Cambodia

32nd Southeast Asian Games in May and Senator Pia Cayetano of the squad to the Hangzhou Asian Games in September.

A lso reelected were Richard “Ricky” Palou as Vice President, Donaldo Caringal as SecretaryGeneral, Tuguegarao City Councilor Maria Rosario “Charo” Soriano as Treasurer and Yul Benosa as Auditor. M aking up the board are Anthony “Tonyboy” Liao, Carmela Arcolas Gamboa, Rodrigo Roque, Fr. Victor “Vic” Calvo Jr., Sisinio Ariel Paredes, Karl Jeffrey Chan and Michael Angelo “Miko” Vargas.

PHL, Portuguese cyclists ride for Victoria Sports

VICTORIA Sports Cycling Team (VSCT)—the third International Cycling Union (UCI) continental team registered in the country—vowed to establish a reputation as one of the more competitive teams in the Asian circuit.

The mixed team consists of

professionals from the Philippines and Portugal and endorsed by the national federation for cycling, PhilCycling, headed by Philippine Olympic Committee president Rep. Abraham “Bambol” Tolentino.

The team is composed of a mix of veteran riders and young up-andcoming athletes from the Philippines

The next four games became a pendulum affair as both sides won two matches apiece.

Game 3 went to Ginebra (89-82), Game 4 to Bay Area (94-86) as Kobey Lam exploded with eight triples for 30 points, Game 5 to Ginebra (101-91) and Game 6 to Bay Area (87-84) for the 3-3 deadlock in the best-of-seven Finals.

Naturally, a thriller was eagerly anticipated in the youor-me Game 7 clash.

A ll-in as in poker.

Everything must go as in a garage sale.

No more tomorrow as in a gun duel between two men fighting for the love of the woman of their dreams.

A las, there was none of that.

How Ginebra gunned down Bay Area Dragons

YOU had a coach waving 24 titles going to a Game 7 decider of the Philippine Basketball Association (PBA) Commissioner’s Cup trophy.

You had another coach on the other end bragging an Olympic bronze medal going to the win-it-all match.

S hining brightly in that one-sided win was Justin Brownlee, the 6-foot-6 Ginebra import, who fired 28 points, grabbed 13 rebounds and issued six assists.

But shining brightest that night was LA Tenorio, whose 22 points proved to be the game-changer even as the Gin Kings immediately made their intentions clear by recording a 58-35 margin in rebounding over their admittedly taller opponents.

The euphoria was short lived, though, as Hong Kong came back roaring in Game 2, constructing a 99-82 victory behind Zhu Song Wei’s blazing 25 points to level the series at 1-1.

A lmost as immediately as the bark of the starting gun was fired, Brownlee fired two straight jumpers to ignite what was to become one of the most—if not the most— lopsided victory in a Game 7 in PBA lore.

A fter grabbing a 27-21 first quarter lead, Ginebra went on to erect an ego-inflating 61-39 bulge at halftime, which all but wrote finis to a crown clash that was much ballyhooed as a fight to the finish, a combat to the last gasp of breadth.

So ridiculously one-sided was the contest that Ginebra led at one point by 28 unreachable points.

and Portugal, including two former World Tour riders, José Mendes and André Cardoso,” said Pako Ochoa, one of VSCT’s top Filipino rider.

The other members of the team are Jhay Oconer, Kelvin Mendoza, Márcio Barbosa, Luis Krog, Pedro Paulinho, Ean Cajucom, Mendes, Daniel Cariño and Jerry Aquino.

A nd even as the thoroughly outgunned Dragons had crept to within 13 points, the outcome was never put in doubt as the Gin Kings cruised courageously to a titleclinching 114-99 victory before a record 54,589 mostly proGinebra fans at the Philippine Arena in fireworks-famous Bocaue, Bulacan.

Brownlee banged home 34 points, getting ample support from Tenorio, Scottie Thompson, the game’s best player Jamie Malonzo, the dunking Japeth Aguilar and Christian Standhardinger, who emerged the Finals’ Most Valuable Player.

The energy from the crowd really boosted us to levels I don’t think we could get to,” said Cone, adding, “we were not just playing for the fans around the country but for the league itself.”

So true.  It all boiled down to a battle between the PBA and the fire-spewing invaders from Hong Kong—if not between the Philippines and China. The difference is the same?

THAT’S IT The happiest person perhaps with the Ginebra victory was Ramon S. Ang, the low-key Gin Kings owner whose squad won its 15th PBA title a day after he celebrated his birthday (January 14).  Cheers!

SEN. Francis “Tol” Tolentino congratulates Justin Donta Brownlee after he takes his oath of allegiance to the Republic of the Philippines in a special ceremony at the Senate of the Philippines on Monday.

DANIEL MEDVEDEV autographs a Russian flag after defeating Marcos Giron of the US in the first round on Monday. AP

MELBOURNE—

SEN. Alan Peter Cayetano (seated, center) is named chairman emeritus along with president Ramon “Tats” Suzara (seated, left). Also in photo are Philippine Olympic Committee observer Karen Tanchanco Caballero (seated, right) and (standing from left) Karl Chan, Carmela Arcolas Gamboa, Yul Benosa, Dr. Arnel Hajan, Donaldo Caringal, Maria Rosario “Charo” Soriano, Atty. Alfedo Villamor Jr. and Richard “Ricky” Palou.

SPORTS Vision President Ricky Palou with Spikers’ Turf tournament

Director Mozzy Ravena and league President Alyssa Valdez—along with Ken Baloaloa of Philippine Army, Dexter Clamor of Cignal HD and Cecil Tabuena Cruzada of Philippine Navy—grace the forum.