BusinessMirror January 27, 2022 by BusinessMirror

PSA revises Q3 GDP growth downward to 6.9% By Cai U. Ordinario @caiordinario

AJOR revisions in the estimates for financial and insurance activities prompted the Philippine Statistics Authority (PSA) to revise downward the country’s third quarter GDP growth. On Wednesday, a day before the preliminary fourth quarter and 2021 full-year GDP growth will be announced, PSA said third quarter 2021 growth was now at 6.9 percent, lower than the 7.1 percent in the preliminary estimate made last year. The PSA said this was largely due to the downward revision

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in the Financial and Insurance Activities (FIA) growth to 3.9 percent from the initial estimate of 6.4 percent. “The revision in FIA was caused mainly by revision in Insurance from 25.8 percent to 10.5 percent due to the updated financial statements of insurance companies as consolidated by the Insurance Commission,” PSA Assistant National Statistician Vivian R. Ilarina told the BusinessMirror. The PSA said other factors that contributed to the downward revision were Professional and business services (PBS) and Real estate and ownership of dwellings (Real Estate). Data showed the growth of

PBS was revised downward to 10.6 percent from 11.5 percent while Real Estate growth was revised to 3.8 percent from 4.7 percent. PSA Macroeconomic Accounts Service Division Chief Randy Polistico clarified to the BusinessMirror that PBS includes professional, scientific and technical activities as well as administrative and support activities, where the revisions came from. “For the PBS, revisions came from additional responses of the establishments from the Quarterly Survey on Phil Business and Industry [QSPBI]. For Real Estate, revisions are due to additional availability of

financial statements from major companies,” Polistico said. Meanwhile, the growth rate in Net Primary Income (NPI) from the Rest of the World recorded an upward revision to a contraction of 50.6 percent from a decline of 52.3 percent. PSA also said the growth rate in Gross National Income (GNI) in the third quarter of 2021 recorded a downward revision to 2.7 percent from 2.8 percent. The PSA revises the GDP estimates based on an approved revision policy (PSA Board Resolution No. 1, Series of 2017053) which is consistent with international standard practices on national accounts revisions.

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Thursday, January 27, 2022 Vol. 17 No. 111

’21 BOP SURPLUS SHORT OF $1.6-B PROJECTION T n

P25.00 nationwide | 2 sections 20 pages | 7 DAYS A WEEK

Govt keeps domestic borrowings at P.2T in Feb

By Bianca Cuaresma @BcuaresmaBM

HE country’s surplus in its dollar transactions fell short of the government’s projection for the year, despite ending 2021 on a positive note with a surplus.

The Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas (BSP) reported on Wednesday that the country’s Balance of Payments—the data summary of all the country’s transactions with the rest of the world—hit $1.345 billion at the end of 2021. The BOP is usually considered as an important economic indicator in an economy as it shows the level of earnings or expenses of the Philippines with its transactions with the world. A surplus means that the country had more dollar earnings than its dollar expenditures during the period. The BOP surplus took into account the national government’s (NG) foreign-currency deposits of proceeds from its issuance of ROP (Republic of the Philippines) global bonds. The lower merchandise trade deficit due to the muted local and global economy during the period also contributed to the BOP surplus pile-up during the year. The 2021 BOP surplus of the country is a normalization from the $16-billion BOP surplus seen in 2020. It is, however, short of the government’s $1.6-billion assumption for the year. The country’s BOP ended 2021 in a surplus, albeit at a lower tone at $991 million for December. This is significantly lower than the $4.24 billion surplus seen in December 2020. The BSP said the December data reflected the structural inflows for the year, such as the BSP’s income from its investments abroad, personal remittances, trade in services, foreign direct investments, and net foreign borrowings by the See “BOP,” A2

By Bernadette D. Nicolas @BNicolasBM

AFTER spending more than a month helping restore power in Cebu and Bohol, areas devastated by Typhoon Odette, Manila Electric Company (Meralco) linemen and engineers are given a heroes’ welcome by 2Go and Meralco officials at the North Harbor Pier 4 in Tondo, Manila. ROY DOMINGO

COVID, BIZ COSTS, EQUITY CURBS TOP I.P.A CONCERNS By Bernadette D. Nicolas @BNicolasBM

OREIGN investments in the country are mainly hampered by the Covid-19 pandemic, high costs of doing business and foreign equity restrictions, investment promotion agencies (IPAs) said. Finance Assistant Secretary and Fiscal Incentives Review Board (FIRB) Head Juvy Danofrata said during the FIRB meeting last December 15 that investment promotion agencies identified these three as the main barriers to foreign investments in the country, among others. On top of this, some IPAs observed that foreign investments are also hindered by the lack of basic utilities as well as quality Internet connectivity in the country, Danofrata said. As instructed by the FIRB chairperson, the IPAs presented to the FIRB their investment promotion efforts, strategies, and leads and barriers to investments.

The Corporate Recovery and Tax Incentives for Enterprises (CREATE) Law enacted last year mandated the FIRB to oversee the IPAs with regard to the grant of fiscal incentives. In response, Finance Secretary Carlos G. Dominguez III, who chairs FIRB, said the top issues raised by the IPAs affirm the steps being taken by the government to promote jobgenerating investments in the country, including pushing for the passage of the priority economic liberalization bills. “To address the restrict ions to foreig n equ it y, t he Duter te ad m in ist rat ion has st rongly suppor ted t he amendments to the Public Service Act, Retail Trade Liberalization Act, and Foreign Investment Act, which will responsibly open up our economy to more foreign investments that will benefit our people in the form of more quality jobs, products, and services. This, by the way, will also help investors

and Filipino families have access to faster and more reliable Internet connection. That is why it is critical that we liberalize the telco industry,” he said. In December, President Duterte signed Republic Act (RA) 11595 amending the twodecade-old Retail Trade Liberalization Act. The newly signed law lowered the required paid-up capital for foreign retail enterprises to P25 million from the previous $2.5 million (around P125 million) under the Retail Trade Liberalization Act of 2000 (RA 8762). To further open up the economy, the Senate and the House of Representatives separately ratified in December last year the bicameral report on the bill amending the Foreign Investment Act of 1991. As for the amendments to the 85-year-old Public Service Act, the measure is still pending in the bicameral conference committee. Dominguez also said the government will continue to

rapidly implement the Covid-19 vaccination program as well as the efforts to simplify government to achieve the ease of doing business. Access to basic utilities will also be improved through the sustained implementation of the government's Build, Build, Build infrastructure program, he added. The Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas reported earlier this month that the country's foreign direct investments (FDI) in October surged by 98.9 percent year-onyear, bringing the country’s total 10-month FDI inflows above the $8-billion mark. FDI to the country grew for the fifth consecutive month in October last year to hit $855 million from the $430 million in the same month in 2020. The strong FDI performance in October brought the 10-month FDI of the country to $8.14 billion, up 48.1 percent from the January-to-October period in 2020.

HE Bureau of the Treasury (BTr) kept the domestic borrowing program for February at P200 billion, the same level it aimed to raise from the local debt market this month. The schedule of government securities offering the BTr released on Wednesday revealed government aims to raise P140 billion in Treasury bonds (T-bonds) and P60 billion in Treasury bills (T-bills). National Treasurer Rosalia V. De Leon told the BusinessMirror they retained the local borrowing level on the back of “good liquidity” in the financial system. De Leon is also hanging on every word of Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas Governor Benjamin E. Diokno: “We still have good liquidity and we are reassured by [Diokno’s] statement,” the National Treasurer said. Earlier this month, the Central Bank governor said monetary authorities are unlikely to raise policy rates in the first half of 2022 as the BSP wants to make sure the economy is recovering well before looking into making some adjustments. In 2020, monetary officials cut main policy rates to record lows to provide massive support as the economy spiraled downward after Duterte ordered borders closed. The BSP maintained this record low rate all throughout the year 2021 to keep borrowing costs manageable, especially for businesses. The Treasury maximized this opportunity and tapped the local debt market via selling government securities. It appears the Treasury sees the opportunity still there early in the year as it plans to offer P15 billion in 91-day, 182-day and 364-day T-bills on January 31, February 7, February 14 and February 21. The Treasury will be offering T-bonds on February 2, February 8, February 15 and February 22. Four-year T-bonds will be auctioned off on February 2 since February 1 (Tuesday) was declared a special non-working holiday with the See “Govt,” A2

PESO EXCHANGE RATES n US 51.3130 n JAPAN 0.4507 n UK 69.2726 n HK 6.5904 n CHINA 8.1118 n SINGAPORE 38.1708 n AUSTRALIA 36.6785 n EU 57.9991 n SAUDI ARABIA 13.6802 Source: BSP (January 26, 2022)

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A2 Thursday, January 27, 2022

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PHL human rights listed among EU’s 2022 monitoring priorities T

IATF meets on Thursday for possible NCR alert level downgrade

By Malou Talosig-Bartolome

@maloutalosig

HE Philippines has been named among countries whose human-rights situation the European Union will closely monitor in 2022, the European leaders and the European Commission announced recently.

The European Council, composed of heads of governments of the European Union and the European Commission President, identified their priorities in ensuring the promotion of human rights, democracy and the rule of law all over the world during a meeting held last January 24. “The EU will continue monitoring the human-rights situation globally and denouncing human-rights violations and abuses wherever they occur,” it said in a document released recently. On top of Europe’s mind are Afghanistan, Belarus, Burundi, DPRK, Eritrea Ethiopia, and Myanmar where the bloc will

take a “leading role” in promoting human rights. The Council also said they will “follow closely initiatives” on human-rights situation in the Philippines, as well as in Cambodia, Central African Republic, Democratic Republic of Congo, Georgia, Iran, Libya, Mali, Nicaragua, the occupied Palestinian territory, Somalia, South Sudan, Sri Lanka, Sudan, Syria, Yemen and Venezuela. The Philippines, once the defender of human rights in international fora, was placed under the radar of EU alongside other countries in the past few years owing to reports—albeit numbers are disputed—of 10,000 killings

linked to the anti-narcotics campaign of President Duterte, as well as harassment against journalists, including Rappler CEO Maria Ressa. Last year, the EU reviewed the Generalized System of Preference Plus (GSP+) trading privilege it gave to the Philippines which allows certain Philippine products to be exported to EU members without tariffs. The EU said will continue to support the International Criminal Court (ICC) “to [fight] impunity and delivering justice for victims” and will continue to call for the universal ratification of the Rome Statute and for full cooperation with the ICC. “The EU will continue to call on all states to uphold international human-rights law and grant unconditional and unhindered access to their [ICC] territories for the UN and humanrights monitoring mechanisms,” the Council added. The ICC has started its investigation on alleged human-rights violations during the anti-drug war campaign under the leadership of President Duterte. But it temporarily stopped after the Philippine government sought a deferral to give time to do its own internal investigation. Aside from the ICC, the EU acknowledged the role of the UN

General Assembly Third Committee and UN Human Rights Council in addressing country-specific human-rights situations. The EU will also continue to keep its eyes on the Autonomous Republic of Crimea and the city of Sevastopol which Russia “illegally annexed.” They will also support general debates, interactive dialogues with special procedures’ mandate holders which tackle human-rights abuses in Russia and China. “The EU will address recently emerging risks for human rights, such as hybrid threats, risks inherent to technological developments and to environmental degradation and climate change, as well as persisting consequences of the ongoing Covid-19 pandemic on human rights, especially women and girls’ enjoyment of rights, and on fundamental freedoms,” the Council said.

HE Inter-Agency Task Force for the Management of Emerging Infectious Disease (IATF) is set to discuss on Thursday the possible downgrading of the Alert Level in the National Capital Region (NCR). Acting presidential spokesperson Karlo B. Nograles said the IATF will review the bed utilization rate, average daily attack rate, and the two-week growth rate in the region to decide if it will de-escalate the Alert Level 3 in NCR to 2 starting next month. He noted the decreasing cases of Covid-19 as well as health care utilization in the region could persuade the IATF to bring down the Alert Level in the region, allowing more businesses to resume their operations. “If you look at the trend in Metro Manila, we are seeing a decrease in the number of cases. So its two-week growth rate is probably going to be lower or even a negative growth rate,” Nograles said in an interview with CNN Philippines on Wednesday.

He also said the healthcare utilization rate in NCR is now at moderate level. “So what we have to look at now is the average daily attack rate, meaning the average number of daily cases per 100,000 population,” Nograles said. The concurrent Cabinet secretary said the IATF may decide on the matter during the weekend before the current Alert Level 3 classification of NCR lapses by Feb. 1, 2022. Aside from its effect on businesses, the lower alert level in NCR will also lead to the scrapping of the “no vaccine, no ride” policy, which is currently being implemented by the Department of Transportation (DOTR) for public utility vehicles in the region. Nograles explained the policy is based on the separate ordinances passed by local government units (LGU) in NCR, which will no longer be in effect once the Alert Level in the region becomes lower than 3. Samuel P. Medenilla

DOT cuts Berjaya Makati’s suspension to 2 mos to protect investments, hotel employees By Ma. Stella F. Arnaldo

@akosistellaBM Special to the BusinessMirror

HE Department of Tourism (DOT) has suspended the accreditation of Berjaya Makati Hotel for two months and fined it P13,200 for violations of health and safety protocols with regard to the mandatory quarantine of Filipinos arriving from abroad. The agency also revoked the hotel’s permit to operate as a multiple-use hotel, in a resolution dated January 18, 2022 and signed by Tourism Secretary Bernadette Romulo Puyat, a copy of which was obtained by the BusinessMirror. The DOT decision was sent to Berjaya Makati president Jose A. Bernas, through Gladiolyn Badiola, hotel general manager. No longer a multi-use hotel, Berjaya can only operate strictly as a quarantine hotel after completion of its suspension. It is no longer allowed to accept bookings for social gatherings and business meetings. Berjaya was penalized after the DOT found out that it had lied and allowed balikbayan guest Gwyneth Anne Chua “to leave the premises despite being under mandatory quarantine as an international arriving passenger….Ms. Chua was seen leaving the hotel on 22 December 2021 at around 11:45 pm. Ms. Chua was later seen returning to the hotel on 25 December 2021 at around 9 pm.”

She later tested positive for Covid-19, after the DOT also gathered photo and video evidence that she had partied in Kampai bar in Poblacion, Makati, thus earning her the monicker “Poblacion Girl.” In the DOT’s final resolution on the case, following an appeal made by Berjaya, Romulo Puyat shortened the suspension of the hotel’s accreditation to two months, down from the original three-month suspension ordered on January 3, recognizing the establishment’s service during the pandemic, investments made by its principal owners, as well as consideration for its employees who will lose their income. The Makati City government padlocked the hotel on January 6 for violations of the city’s health and safety standards, despite the establishment having 15 days to appeal the DOT’s initial suspension order. On January 7, the hotel appealed the DOT’s initial suspension order. (See, “DOT looking for other hotels for displaced Berjaya guests,” in the BusinessMirror, January 6, 2022.)

Warning of severe penalties

“DESPITE not raising new and substantial arguments in its appeal that would warrant a reconsideration of the assailed decision and the revocation of its approval to operate as a multiple-use hotel, Berjaya nonetheless implores the understanding of this Office regarding this lapse, invoking the investments it has made in

BOP…

Govt…

Continued from A1

national government (NG). However, these inflows were moderated by a wider trade in goods deficit. The December BOP was a recovery from the $123-million deficit seen in November 2021. Rizal Commercial Banking Corporation (RCBC) economist Michael Ricafort said the improvement in the latest BOP data could be attributed to the seasonal in-

order to operate safely, its issuance of ‘Enhanced Quarantine Procedures and Control’ in order to prevent similar incidents from happening in the future, and its overall record and continuous commitment to be a partner of the government in serving the public amid a global pandemic. Berjaya also seeks sympathy for its employees who would be rendered without income while the hotel is suspended,” said Romulo Puyat. “In light of the foregoing, this Office finds that a reduction of the period of suspension of Berjaya’s DOT accreditation from three months to two months may be justified. However, respondentappellant is warned that a repetition of the same or similar infraction shall not be subject of mitigating circumstances and will be dealt with more severely. Berjaya is also reminded that it cannot even operate as a quarantine hotel during the length of its suspension,” she wrote. Romulo Puyat also said Rule 6, Section 2 of the revised implementing rules and regulations of Republic Act No. 113322, the law on the reporting of communicable diseases, “explicitly provides that hotels and other accommodation establishments, whether public or private, are required to accurately and immediately report notifiable diseases and health events of public health concern,” in response to Berjaya’s assertion only health facilities were covered.

Continued from A1

crease in structural inflows of the country, especially OFW remittances and conversion to pesos during the holiday season in December, as well as BPO revenues. The economist said foreign direct investments (FDI) and proceeds of some foreign borrowings and the increase in various corporate fund-raising activities may have also helped push the December dollar inflows to the country.

celebration of the Chinese New Year. Ten-year T-bonds will be offered on February 8 and February 22 while 7-year T-bonds will be auctioned off on February 15. For 2022, the national government earlier programmed to borrow P2.47 trillion, down by nearly a fifth from P3.07 trillion in 2021. The Treasury has yet to release a report on the national government’s outstanding debt as of December last year. The debt stock was trimmed to P11.93 trillion as of endNovember but this was still beyond the government’s expected level of P11.73 trillion. It dipped by P39.7 billion or 0.3 percent from P11.97 trillion as of end-October mainly due to the net redemption of domestic securities and favorable foreign exchange rates. However, this was still a 17.7-percent surge from P10.13 trillion as of end-November 2020.

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Editor: Vittorio V. Vitug • Thursday, January 27, 2022 A3

DOJ indicts 4 suspects in BDO hacking incident By Joel R. San Juan @jrsanjuan1573

HE Department of Justice (DOJ) announced on Wednesday that it has indicted four of the five individuals who were earlier arrested for being part of the “Mark Nagoyo Heist Group” allegedly behind the hacking of the country’s largest bank, BDO, which affected more than 700 customers late last year. Charged for violation of Republic Act (R A) 8484 or the “A c c e s s D e v i c e s R e g u l at i o n Act of 1998” and Republic Act (R A) 10175 or the “Cybercrime Prevention Act of 2012” were Jherom Anthony Taupa, Nigerian national Ifesinachi Fountain Anaekwe, Ronelyn Panaligan and Clay Revillosa. The DOJ’s Office of the Prosecutor General, on the other hand, referred for the conduct of further investigation for the similar complaint filed against the fifth suspect identified as Chukwuemeka Peter Nwadi, also a Nigerian national. Other than his presence during the entrapment operation, the DOJ said no other evidence was presented by complainants as to his participation in the trafficking of unauthorized access devices. Nwadi was ordered released from detention pending further investigation. The suspects were arrested by operatives of the NBI-Cybercrime Division (NBI-CCD) in a series of entrapment operations between January 20 and 22, 2022 based on several information that the agency received pointing to the suspects as those responsible for the illegal act. Based on the NBI-CCD’s complaint, the tasks of the suspects were “compartmentalized,” meaning they allegedly played separate roles to make the fraudulent transfers or illegal access of online accounts possible. The NBI-CCD also likened the group’s modus operandi to money laundering activities considering that after the hackers have illegally accessed the online banking account or banking system, they would transfer the money to a dummy bank account. “Thereafter, another transfer would then be made either to another dummy bank account, GCash or PayMaya account. Money mules are then engaged to personally withdraw or cash-out the stolen money, which would earn by getting commissions from the total amount of withdrawn money. It

is only after a series of transfers would the stolen money be moved to the syndicate’s personal accounts,” the complaint said. Specifically, the NBI-CCD accused Anaekwe and Nwadi of being engaged in the business of providing access devices to anyone looking for options to cash out funds fraudulently obtained. These access devices ranges from bank accounts, crypto wallets or even point of sale terminals of legitimate merchants, according to the complaint. A motion for Issuance of a Hold Departure Order will be filed against Anaekwe, and a motion for issuance of precautionary hold departure order against Nwadi. Meanwhile, Taupa was caught in the act of selling a “scampage,” or a phishing web site which is an imitation of the webpage of GCash a well-known electronic money issuer whose real site is hosted on https:// www.gcash.com. The NBI said “scampage” is used to harvest the login details, usernames, passwords and mobile personal identification numbers (MPINs) of unwitting victims who would access the scampage under the mistaken belief that they were accessing GCash ’s official portal. The scampage, which was being sold for P2,000, further provides access to victims’ GCash accounts in order to steal the funds therein. The NBI said Taupa has executed an extrajudicial confession where he admitted to developing GCash scampages. The case against Taupa was electronically filed with the Office of the Clerk of Court, Regional Trial Court of Guagua, Pampanga last January 25. On the other hand, the NBI said Panaligan is a member of “Max Bounty” Facebook Page h id i ng behind the user name “Luka Hanabi.” The NBI said Panaligan is a known verifier and seller of dummy accounts who pretends to conduct a survey in a market and asks the victims for their identification cards and

DOH logs addl 15,789 cases, 66 Covid-19 deaths on Wed By Claudeth Mocon-Ciriaco

@claudethmc3

HE Department of Health (DOH) on Wednesday logged additional 15,789 Covid-19 cases, bringing the total number of infections in the country to 3,475,293. There were also 32,712 recoveries and 66 deaths. Of the 15,789 reported cases, 15,061 (95 percent) occurred within the recent 14 days (January 13 to January 26, 2022). The top regions with cases in the recent two weeks were Region 4A (2,248 or 10 percent), NCR (2,135 or 14 percent), and Region 7 (1,520 or 10 percent). Of the 66 deaths, 65 occurred in January 2022 (98 percent), and one in August 2021 (2 percent) due to late encoding of death information to COVIDKaya. This issue, the DOH said, is currently being coordinated with the Epidemiology and Surveillance Units to ensure information is up to date. Of the total number of cases, 6.6 percent (230,410) are active, 91.8 percent (3,191,219) have recovered, and 1.54 percent (53,664) died. There were 142 duplicates were removed from the total case count. Of these, 80 are recoveries. Moreover, 10 cases that were previously tagged as recoveries were reclassified as deaths after final validation. All laboratories were operational on January 24, 2022 but three labs were not able to submit their data to the Covid-19 Document Repository System. Based on data in the last 14 days, the three labs contribute, on average, 0.1 percent of samples tested and 0.1 percent of positive individuals.

take their photograph. A fee of P50.00, through telecommunication load, is then given to the owners of these cards for participating in the sur vey. “Panaligan would then use t he i n for m at ion a nd photo graph of her victims, without their knowledge, to apply for verified GCash or PayMaya ac-

counts. After securing the debit cards, Panaligan would offer it for sale to hackers looking to pseudonymously cash out funds from illegitimate sources,” the NBI-CCD said. “Panaligan executed an extrajudicial confession wherein she admitted the kind of business she is engaged in. She even admitted that prior to her arrest, she had

already nine verified PayMaya accounts. Panaligan was only able to offer the poseur customer one account,” it added. In the case of Revillosa, the NBICCD said he was caught selling 800,000 mailing lists (e-mail addresses) containing log-in credentials of online banking accounts for P30,000.00. The mailing lists are used in the

preparatory stages of large-scale fraudulent activities. Revillosa also executed an extrajudicial confession admitting that he hacked the database of certain web sites to obtain the mailing lists. He also admitted that he was able to confirm the group behind the BDO incident that contacted him to purchase the mailing lists.

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A4 Thursday, January 27, 2022 • Editor: Vittorio V. Vitug

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Unvaxxed NCR workers told: Get Covid shots ASAP By Lorenz S. Marasigan @lorenzmarasigan

HE government is tightening the mobility restrictions for unvaccinated and partially vaccinated workers in the National Capital Region (NCR), barring them after 30 days from using public transport, according to the Departments of Transportation (DOTr), Interior and Local Government (DILG), and Labor and Employment (DOLE).

In a joint decision, the three agencies said the move aims to encourage workers to get their Covid-19 jabs and help increase the vaccination rates in the country, which is still currently experiencing a spike in new infections per day. Transportation Undersecretary for Administrative Service and official representative to the InterAgency Task Force for the Management of Emerging Infectious Diseases Artemio Tuazon Jr. said

workers have until February 25 to get fully vaccinated in order to “continue riding public transportation and public utility vehicles [PUVs] in entering, exiting, and going around the metropolis.” “This is to ensure that only those fully protected against Covid-19 are safe from using public transport. Data show that workers who remain unvaccinated against the virus that causes Covid-19 are more vulnerable to severe and critical infections,”

Tuazon said. The new rule, he added, covers both formal and informal economies. The same exemptions— those boarding public transport to buy essential goods, for medical purposes, and individuals that are medically incapacitated to get the vaccine—still apply. “We want our workers to get fully vaccinated, especially now that there is no longer a shortage of Covid-19 vaccines, and there is a threat of highly transmissible vari-

ants of the virus. We are giving our workers the time to get themselves vaccinated,” he said. Tuazon noted, however, that unvaccinated workers may still come to their workplaces, but through other transport means, claiming that this move is “not discriminatory.” “They are simply not allowed to use public transportation, but can still use other means such as active transport, private vehicles, or company shuttle services,” he said.

The new policy will be in effect as long as the capital region is under Alert Level 3 or higher. “Once we deescalate to Alert Level 2, the policy will be automatically lifted,” Transportation Assistant Secretary Goddes Hope O. Libiran noted. The DOTr earlier implemented the “No Vaccination, No Ride Policy,” which essentially bars unvaccinated individuals from riding public utility vehicles while Metro Manila is under Alert Level 3 for Covid-19.

Bill for creation of economics and devt planning dept clears 2nd House reading

HE House of Representatives approved on second reading House Bill (HB) 1062, which seeks to establish the Department of Economics and Development Planning (DEDP). The DEDP will effectively replace the current National Economic and Development Authority as it will have the

latter’s rights, obligations, powers, functions, assets and personnel following the measure’s enactment. The bill seeks to “strengthen the culture of development planning in the country thereby ensuring that the programs and policies of the government are consistent, well-coordinated and

integrated for the purpose of national development.” HB 1062 also intends to “revitalize the role of an independent economic and planning agency of the government as the lead integrator of economic development programs and policies of the government.”

Based on the measure, the proposed agency is tasked with leading the planning and investment programming in a bid to facilitate sustainable and inclusive economic growth. DEDP will be assigned as the principal secretariat of the Legislative-Executive Department

Advisory Council. T he bil l a lso establishes the Economic and Development Council, which is “responsible for directing and prov iding overa l l polic y direction on economic, financia l, socia l and env ironmenta l matters.” HB 10625, which is titled “An

Act Creating the Department of Economics and Development Planning, Defining its Functions, and Appropriating Funds Therefor,” was introduced by Representatives Joey Sarte Salceda, Weslie Gatchalian, Victoria Yap, Rufus Rodriguez and Angelo Marcos Barba. Tyrone Jasper C. Piad

Sen. Marcos bemoans ‘ever shrinking pandesal’ from neighborhood bakeries By Butch Fernandez

@butchfBM

EN. Imee Marcos bemoaned on Wednesday the “ever-shrinking pandesal,” a popular daily fare in most Filipino morning breakfast and midday merienda. “What bite is left in the ever-shrinking pandesal?,” the senator asked as she aired mounting concerns that the staple bread of ordinary Filipinos’ breakfast and merienda will “continue to shrink and no longer satisfy a groaning stomach.” Marcos, chairperson of the Senate Committee on Economic Affairs, expects consumers would “surely balk” at the three-peso increase that producers of pandesal and Tasty bread are asking for, predicting that

“with the way things are going, pandesal might just shrink to the size of a marble.” This, even as the lawmaker observed that “rising raw material costs and operating expenses are forcing producers to increase their prices [of pandesal], while customers’ budgets remain tight amid the pandemic.” In a news statement, she noted that in pushing for the P3-peso increase in the prices of Tasty bread and pandesal, bread producers cited the present P35 per loaf and P21.50 per 10-piece bag date back to 2016. At the same time, Marcos prodded the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) to “consider a price freeze on raw material costs to ease the burden of neighborhood bakeries in particular.” She suggested that authorities could also consider another option

to import flour on a government-to-government basis, “but only for emergency use.” According to the senator, a longer-term solution would be to “add value to bread by increasing its nutritional content,” recalling the popular protein-enriched Nutribun in the 70s. Marcos clarified that “like the Nutribun, bread can be made with locally available non-wheat flours from camote, cassava, monggo, squash, potato, and rice,” suggesting that “it can further be protein-enriched with peanut and malunggay.” Moreover, the senator reminded that cost comparisons for wheat-based flour in 2020 and 2022 showed the price of first-class flour rising from P670 to P970, all-purpose flour from P900 to P1,140, and third-class flour from P600 to P890, while the cost of LPG used for bread ovens also shot up from P52 per kilogram in 2020 to P65.15 today.

‘Railroading’ of Kaliwa Dam project pact scored

NVIRONMENTALgroupsonWednesday chided the Metropolitan Waterworks and Sewerage System (MWSS) and the National Commission on Indigenous Peoples (NCIP) for allegedly “railroading” the Kaliwa Dam Project with the signing of an agreement between the Dumagat/ Remontado Indigenous peoples of Quezon and Rizal Provinces despite the surge of Covid-19 cases in the Philippines. The memorandum of agreement signing held in Tanay, Rizal was reportedly conducted with select leaders who are in favor of the project having been invited to take part. From January 24 until January 29, leaders from the Dumagat communities in Gen. Nakar were invited to a week-long MOA validation and Community Royalty Development Program (CRDP) discussion. Ironically, Rizal is currently placed at Alert Level 3 by the IATF, the Stop Kaliwa Dam Network pointed. More than a hundred indigenous peoples are in attendance in two different venues,

while some are connected via Zoom. In a news statement, Conchita Calzado, one of the Dumagat leaders invited to the assembly, said the participants were somewhat selected because many stakeholders were not allowed entry, while those who were allowed to take part were not given opportunity to speak. Calzado’s group also raised concerns regarding the real agenda of the event before the start of the assembly. The invitation letter was reportedly sent to select leaders and stated that the event is only for the MOA Validation and CRDP drafting. But upon arrival, the MOA signing is already being discussed without a period for validation of the MOA and the completed CRDP with the communities involved, Calzado alleged. While many were still demanding for clarifications from the NCIP regarding the issue, Calzado’s group claimed they did not receive a clear response from the project proponents. Jonathan L. Mayuga

Salceda sees enactment of SK reform measures By Tyrone Jasper C. Piad

@TyronePiad

OUSE Ways and Means Committee Chairman Joey Sarte Salceda is optimistic for the enactment into law of a bill seeking to grant Sangguniang Kabataan (SK) officials honoraria and appropriate certificates of civil service (CSC) eligibility. The House of Representatives has recently approved on second reading House Bill 10698, which is expected to benefit about 300,000 SK kagawads and chairmen. “With the Senate version already approved, and the House expected to approve

this on final reading next week, we will likely see enactment. There is strong minority and majority support for the measure, so I expect very smooth sailing for this proposal,” the Albay lawmaker said. The pending bill covers two measures: HB 1030, which proposes granting SK councilors the “barangay official eligibility” issued by the Civil Service Commission, and HB 1667, which provides SK councilors honoraria. Currently, the law only provides the said benefits to SK chairpersons. “If we want to professionalize the SK, we also have to ensure that its efforts are compensated. The SK were very crucial to the fight against Covid-19, as they were among the barangay frontliners that could be mobilized for ‘ayuda’ distribution and module distribution,” Salceda said.

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Solon presses filing of raps vs pastillas scam suspects By Butch Fernandez

@butchfBM

EN. R isa Hontiveros on Wednesday urged the filing of criminal charges against individuals involved in the pastillas bribery scam. “Kung akala nila napatahimik nila ang imbestigasyon ukol sa pastillas scam, nagkakamali sila. Oras na para todong i-overhaul ang Bureau of Immigration. Ang mga inirerekomenda nating kasuhan sa ating committee report ay mga immigration personnel. Dalawang taon ang ginugol ng imbestigasyong ito dahil desidido tayong mapanagot ang mga tunay na may sala,” Hontiveros stated. The recommendation comes as the senator is now routing the Committee Report on Senate Resolution No. 131 after the two-year probe of the Committee on Women, Children, Family Relations, and Gender Equality. The committee held a series of hearings aimed to look into the link between the rise of the Philippine offshore gaming operators (POGO) industry and the increase in cases of prostitution and human trafficking. “Malakas ang ebidensya natin— mula sa napakaraming screenshots hanggang sa testimonya mismo ng ating mga whistle-blowers na taga-BI rin. Salamat sa kanilang katapangan at pakikiisa. Ito din ay patunay na hindi lahat sa BI masasama at corrupt; may mabubuting loob na gusto rin baguhin ang mga nakasanayan na,” the senator said. Aside from immigration personnel, the committee report also recommends further investigation on the liability of former Justice Secretary Vitaliano Aguirre II for his appointment of Marc Red Mariñas and his issuance of Department Order No. 41 which allowed a father-and-son tandem wide discretion over the approval of Visa Upon Arrivals. “Dapat may managot. Bilyonbilyong salapi ang nakupit ng mga kriminal na nasa likod ng pastillas scam sa Bureau of Immigration. Malaking kahihiyan ito. Nang dahil sa kanila, nakapasok ang mga masasamang elemento sa ating bansa na nambiktima ng ating kababaihan at kabataan,” said Hontiveros. In 2020, Hontiveros started leading Senate hearings on the pastillas scam, which revealed that some immigration personnel receive grease money in exchange for the seamless entry of Chinese nationals, most of whom are Philippine Offshore and Gaming Operation workers. “Kailangang palakasin ang check and balance mechanisms sa loob ng BI. Nang dahil sa mga tiwaling opisyal, buhay at kinabukasan ng mga Pilipino ang nasisira. Bigyan natin ng hustisya ang ating kababaihan at kabataan. Kasuhan ang may anomalya, panagutin ang may sala,” Hontiveros concluded.

Subic town breaks ground for P100-M public hospital By Henry Empeño Correspondent

UBIC, Zambales—Town and provincial government officials, along with officers of the Department of Health (DOH), on Wednesday broke ground for the P100-million Subic General Hospital project here envisioned to provide premier health care and medical services to local residents, as well as patients from surrounding communities in Zambales. Led by Subic Mayor Jonathan Khonghun and brother Zambales Vice Governor Jay Khonghun, the ceremony marked the start of construction for the 100-bed health facility that is expected to be finished in one year. Mayor Khonghun described the project as a “timely endeavor in these times when there are mounting health concerns and when the local population keeps on growing.” He said that the local government meant the project to be forward-looking. “We have a big vision for this, and we would like it to eventually become a Level 3 facility,” he added. A Level 3, or tertiary, hospital would provide intensive care and have high-level specialty intervention facilities. Governor Hermogenes Ebdane

SUBIC Mayor Jonathan Khonghun (center) lowers the time capsule for the Subic General Hospital during the project groundbreaking ceremony on Wednesday in Subic, Zambales. Some of the officials behind him are Vice Gov. Jay Khonghun; Zambales Gov. Hermogenes Ebdane Jr.; Health Asst. Secretary Maria Francia Laxamana; and Fiesta Communities President Wilfredo Tan. HENRY EMPEÑO

Jr., who was one of the VIP guests in the ceremony, welcomed the project and pointed out that it will also ease hospital capacity in nearby

@sam_medenilla

HE Commission on Elections (Comelec) has maintained its “temporary accommodation” policy to the two opposing Partido Demokratiko Pilipino–Lakas ng Bayan (PDP-Laban) factions in the printed ballots pending the resolution of their pending leadership dispute. Comelec spokesperson James Jimenez said they opted to allow the aspiring candidates of the faction led by Energy Secretary Alfonso G. Cusi and as well as other faction led by Senator Emmanuel “Manny” D. Pacquiao to

Olongapo City and San Marcelino town where a government district hospital is located. “This is a right initiative and we

CA confirms nominations of COA commissioner, AFP chief Centino

HE cong ressiona l Commission on Appointments (CA) confirmed Wednesday the nominations of newly-named Commission on Audit (COA) Commissioner Mario Lipana and General Andres Centino as the 57th Chief of Staff of the Armed Forces of the Philippines. Also confirmed by the CA were ad interim promotions of 16 other AFP senior officers promoted to the ranks of General, Lieutenant General, Major General and Brigadier Generals. Lipana will serve as COA Commissioner until February 2, 2027.

At his confirmation hearing, Lipana vowed to fast track issuance of COA reports said to take one to two years to finish, adding this could be done by hiring additional certified public accountants (CPAs) and lawyers. At the same time, the bicameral Appointments body, chaired by Senate President Vicente Sotto III, was given an assurance by COA chief Lipana that audit reports will be issued much earlier than previous practice taking one to two years. At the hybrid confirmation hearing, administration Sen. Christo-

pher Lawrence “Bong” Go affirmed support and thanked AFP officers for ensuring public safety amid the pandemic. For his part, first-term Sen. Rona ld “Bato” del a Rosa reminded Centino to ensure the gover n ment ’s a nt i-i nsu rgency efforts stay on track given the several months left of the Duterte administration. Centino, in turn, affirmed the AFP’s operational success in neutralizing rebels and guerilla fronts in efforts to clear barangays from influence of communist rebels.

Butch Fernandez

support it,” Ebdane said. The hospital project is located in a half-hectare lot donated by Fiesta Communities Inc., a property de-

veloper, which has built residential units nearby. Mea nwhi le, t he P10 0 -mi llion fund needed for hospital construction would be shared by the Subic municipal government, Zambales provincial government, and the DOH, said Vice Governor Khonghun. Health Assistant Secretary Maria Francia Laxamana and DOH regional director Corazon Flores attended the groundbreaking rites and both promised support for the hospital project. Vice Governor Khonghun added that the Subic hospital has long been a dream for the town’s top political family. “Building a hospital is the easy part; what’s quite difficult is the maintenance. So, we thought about this project long and hard before finally deciding to pursue it,” he said. He said the hospital would have public wards, as well as private rooms. “But it will cater to everybody, and there will be no discrimination on whether a patient is a resident of Subic or not,” he added. By his estimate, the hospital construction will be finished in a year, while the facilities, equipment and other appurtenances will be completed in two years.

DOH reports five deaths due to Covid-19 Omicron variant

HE Department of Health (DOH) on Wednesday reported the death of five persons due to the Covid-19 Omicron variant. “As per verification, we have five recorded deaths,” Health Undersecretary Maria Rosario Vergeire said. Of the reported deaths, three are seniors and all have comorbidities. “One [was] partially vaccinated, one unvaccinated, and the remaining three are still for verification,” Vergeire added. OnTuesday,theDOHconfirmedthat Omicron sublineage BA.1 and BA.2, detected in at least 49 countries and 17 US states, were found in the country. Vergeire said that BA.1 and BA.2

were detected upon “further analysis” of the University of the Philippines-Philippine Genome Center. According to Vergeire, BA.1 was detected in only eight regions and is predominant in Region 5 and among returning overseas Filipinos (ROFs). Meanwhile, BA.2 (“stealth” Omicron) is predominant in local cases in most regions. “No significant difference in clinical presentation between BA.1 and BA.2, however. Available data is limited,” Vergeire explained. Although BA.1 is the globally prevalent Omicron sublineage, Vergeire said, thereisarecentincreaseinthedetection of BA.2 sequences. Claudeth Mocon-Ciriaco

‘Ka’ Leody outlines leadership platform on economy, labor, taxation if elected president By Roderick L. Abad Contributor

@rodrik_28

RESIDENTIAL aspirant and labor leader Leodegario “Ka Leody” de Guzman talked about his socioeconomic reform advocacies, focusing on the labor market, agriculture and taxation. During the recent Pandesal Forum held at the Kamuning Bakery Café in Quezon City, he said that together with his running mate, vice presidential candidate Dr. Walden Bello, they are running “not only for change of faces and personalities in politics, but to

advocate systemic reforms.” Among the proposals for change of the presidential bet of Partido Lakas ng Masa and chairman of the Bukluran ng Manggagawang Pilipino is reducing working hours for workers and employees from eight hours to six hours daily, but maintaining same benefits and wages so that millions of additional new jobs can be created. De Guzman plans to impose a onetime 20-percent wealth tax on the country’s top 500 families to finance his P1-trillion Philippine economic recovery plan. It will consist of P475 billion for his public jobs generation

Comelec keeps ‘temporary accommodation’ tack in PDP-Laban ballot print amid party tiff By Samuel P. Medenilla

Thursday, January 27, 2022 A5

both use the PDP-Laban affiliation in their printed ballots. He said they would keep the status quo until the Comelec en banc finally decides on which of the two factions will become recognized as the official PDP-Laban. The decision is also expected to determine the number of watchers the two factions will be allowed to deploy in polling precincts during the 2022 elections. When asked if the said measure can be considered as a “special” treatment for the administration’s ruling party, Jimenez said it was not since they have taken similar action before. “A case before also involved the ruling administration

party. It is just that before, the issues involved were much clearer and less complicated and again we are now nearing the elections,” Jimenez said in an online news forum on Wednesday. To note, Cusi’s camp asked Comelec last September to declare the group of Pacquiao as “illegal representatives” of PDP-Laban. The split happened after Cusi’s group held a national assembly last July 17, which led to the energy secretary’s election as president of PDP-Laban and ousting Pacquiao from the said position. Pacquiao’s PDP-Laban wing rejected the result of the said election.

program, P400 billion for health stimulus and P125 billion assistance for micro, small and medium-sized enterprises (MSMEs). If elected president, he will double the budget for agriculture subsidies and support for farmers and fishermen; push for progressive taxation of taxing more the rich and lessening taxes regressive taxation on ordinary workers like the valueadded tax or VAT; nationalize basic and strategic public utilities like water and power services to prioritize “people over profits.” His “Labor First Policy” aims to allay the worries of MSMEs. It in-

cludes instituting a P750 national minimum wage and the abolition of all forms of contractualization. “What we are fighting for is ‘labor first’ not ‘labor only’. The next-in-line beneficiary of substantial wage hikes and regularization will be the MSME sector because Filipino will have more purchasing power to buy from local businesses. The demand for their goods and services will correspondingly increase. To counter the tendency to increase prices with higher demand, the other pressing concerns of small business have to be addressed through government in-

tervention, regulation, and control to power rates and fuel prices,” the presidential hopeful explained in both Filipino and English. Ka Leody also wants to institute a People’s Sovereign Wealth Fund to bankroll local industrialization via aggressively investing in MSME’s where importation is highest. He intends to initially finance this with $50 billion from the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas’ Gross International Reserves, which has already reached $107.9 billion as of October 2021 as driven by a decade’s worth of remittance inflow from overseas Filipino workers (OFWs).

PNP chief designates new spokesperson By Rene Acosta @reneacostaBM

HILIPPINE National Police (PNP) chief General Dionardo Carlos announced on Wednesday the designation of Colonel Jean Fajardo as his official spokesperson. At a news conference in Camp Crame, Carlos formally introduced Fajardo, a lawyer, as his official spokesperson, vice newly promoted Brig. Gen. Roderick Augustus Alba. Alba will assume the full-time position of chief of the PNP Public Information Office (PIO), the official publicist of the PNP, in addition to his other duties as PNP head coordinator with the Presidential Task Force on Media Security and executive producer of PNP public affairs programs on radio, television and

social-media platforms. Alba is a member of the PNPA Class of 1992. Fajardo, a member of the PNPA Class of 1996, graduated from Jose Rizal University College of Law and was admitted to the Philippine Bar in 2009. She was a former deputy director for operations of the PNP Drug Enforcement Group (DEG), former PNP provincial director of Pampanga and former PIO chief of Police Regional Office 3.

Sharp drop in NCR crime

MEANWHILE, the National Capital Region Police Office (NCRPO) registered a sharp decline in focus crime cases over the past 14 months. The latest NCR Crime Statistics recorded a total of 109,079 focus

crimes from November 10, 2020, to January 23, 2022, a 16.9-percent drop from the 131,230 incidents covering the period of September 5, 2019 to November 9, 2020. The focus crimes include homicide, physical injury, robbery, theft, vehicle theft, motorcycle theft and rape. Among these incidents, cases of physical injuries posted the biggest reduction of 42 percent from 1,934 to 934; robbery with 22-percent drop and theft, with 16-percent decrease. NCRPO chief Major Gen. Vicente Danao Jr. attributed the downtrend to the “trust and confidence” of the public through “support and cooperation on the programs of the PNP, particularly in the fight against all forms of criminality.”

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Thursday, January 27, 2022

ESTABLISHMENT / ADDRESS NAME OF FOREIGN NATIONAL , POSITION AND BRIEF DESCRIPTION ALI MAKATI HOTEL PROPERTY, INC. 28/f Tower One & Exchange Plaza, Ayala Ave., Bel-air, City Of Makati

No.

RIECK, BELA KLAUS Executive Chef 1.

Brief Job Description: Responsible for the overall operations of the culinary dept. that will ensure exquisite dining experience for all guests.

ESTABLISHMENT / ADDRESS QUALIFICATION AND SALARY RANGE Basic Qualification: Graduate of a degree in culinary with at least 10 years of int’l experience in fine dining multi outlet kitchens. Salary Range: Php 500,000 and above

ALL OUT MULTI-MEDIA SOLUTIONS CORP. Unit 2302-a West Tower, Pse Centre, Exchange Road, Ortigas Center, San Antonio, City Of Pasig Basic Qualification: HEO, YUMI Proficient in Speaking, Reading Customer Service Representative and Writing Korean and 2. English Brief Job Description: Manage Korean Customer Queries/Complaints Salary Range: Php 30,000 - Php 59,999 ANOC99 CORPORATION 5/f To 10/f Ayala Malls Manila Bay Building D., Macapagal Blvd. Cor. Aseana Street, Tambo, City Of Parañaque Basic Qualification: AGUSTINA Able to speak, read and write Chinese Customer Service Chinese language 3. Brief Job Description: Salary Range: Managing incoming calls and customer service inquiries Php 30,000 - Php 59,999 Basic Qualification: DO CHI THANH Able to speak, read, and write Chinese Customer Service Chinese language 4. Brief Job Description: Salary Range: Managing incoming calls and customer service inquires Php 30,000 - Php 59,999 Basic Qualification: DUONG VAN KHIEM Able to speak, read and write Chinese Customer Service Chinese language 5. Brief Job Description: Salary Range: Managing incoming calls and customer service inquiries Php 30,000 - Php 59,999 Basic Qualification: ERLY MARINI Able to speak, read, and write Chinese Customer Service Chinese language 6. Brief Job Description: Salary Range: Managing incoming calls and customer service inquires Php 30,000 - Php 59,999 Basic Qualification: FENDI Able to speak, read, and write Chinese Customer Service Chinese language 7. Brief Job Description: Salary Range: Managing incoming calls and customer service inquires Php 30,000 - Php 59,999 Basic Qualification: FENDY Able to speak, read and write Chinese Customer Service Chinese language 8. Brief Job Description: Salary Range: Managing incoming calls and customer service inquiries Php 30,000 - Php 59,999 Basic Qualification: HAN MANH TUAN Able to speak, read, and write Chinese Customer Service Chinese language 9. Brief Job Description: Salary Range: Managing incoming calls and customer service inquires Php 30,000 - Php 59,999 Basic Qualification: JOEY CHRISTINE Able to speak, read, and write Chinese Customer Service Chinese language 10. Brief Job Description: Salary Range: Managing incoming calls and customer service inquires Php 30,000 - Php 59,999 Basic Qualification: JONSON Able to speak, read, and write Chinese Customer Service Chinese language 11. Brief Job Description: Salary Range: Managing incoming calls and customer service inquires Php 30,000 - Php 59,999 Basic Qualification: JULIKA Able to speak, read and write Chinese Customer Service Chinese language 12. Brief Job Description: Salary Range: Managing incoming calls and customer service inquiries Php 30,000 - Php 59,999 Basic Qualification: LE VU HA GIANG Able to speak, read and write Chinese Customer Service Chinese language 13. Brief Job Description: Salary Range: Managing incoming calls and customer service inquiries Php 30,000 - Php 59,999 Basic Qualification: LU TRUYEN QUAN Able to speak, read and write Chinese Customer Service Chinese language 14. Brief Job Description: Salary Range: Managing incoming calls and customer service inquiries Php 30,000 - Php 59,999 Basic Qualification: MULYADI Able to speak, read and write Chinese Customer Service Chinese language 15. Brief Job Description: Salary Range: Managing incoming calls and customer service inquiries Php 30,000 - Php 59,999 Basic Qualification: NGUYEN DINH HIEU Able to speak, read, and write Chinese Customer Service Chinese language 16. Brief Job Description: Salary Range: Managing incoming calls and customer service inquires Php 30,000 - Php 59,999 Basic Qualification: NGUYEN HOANG HA Able to speak, read, and write Chinese Customer Service Chinese language 17. Brief Job Description: Salary Range: Managing incoming calls and customer service inquires Php 30,000 - Php 59,999 Basic Qualification: NGUYEN THI UYEN THI Able to speak, read, and write Chinese Customer Service Chinese language 18. Brief Job Description: Salary Range: Managing incoming calls and customer service inquires Php 30,000 - Php 59,999 Basic Qualification: OKTAVIANI Able to speak, read and write Chinese Customer Service Chinese language 19. Brief Job Description: Salary Range: Managing incoming calls and customer service inquiries Php 30,000 - Php 59,999 PHAM THANH DUNG Basic Qualification: Chinese Customer Service Able to speak, read, and write Chinese language 20. Brief Job Description: Managing incoming calls and customer service inquires Salary Range: Php 30,000 - Php 59,999

21.

22.

TEDDY Chinese Customer Service Brief Job Description: Managing incoming calls and customer service inquires THI LE ANH Chinese Customer Service Brief Job Description: Managing incoming calls and customer service inquiries

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

No.

23.

24.

25.

26.

NAME OF FOREIGN NATIONAL , POSITION AND BRIEF DESCRIPTION TRUONG CONG SON Chinese Customer Service Brief Job Description: Managing incoming calls and customer service inquires USMAN Chinese Customer Service Brief Job Description: Managing incoming calls and customer service inquiries VIVIAN Chinese Customer Service Brief Job Description: Managing incoming calls and customer service inquires YANTONI Chinese Customer Service Brief Job Description: Managing incoming calls and customer service inquires

BONO DE LUXE PHILIPPINES INC. No. 21, Mindanao Ave., Bagong Pag-asa, Quezon City YUK, CHANG YEOB Chief Operating Officer 27.

28.

29.

Brief Job Description: Spearheading strategies to steer the company’s future in a positive direction GOOK, GALAM General Manager Brief Job Description: Responsible for administering and overseeing the overall business operations MIN, SEONGKI Marketing Manager

Brief Job Description: Evaluating and optimizing marketing and pricing strategies C’EST LA VIE EVENT MANAGEMENT INC. 230, Narra Street, Marikina Heights, City Of Marikina

BALANELS, SERGEJS General Trade Marketing Specialist Consultant 30.

Brief Job Description: Responsible for developing and executing commercial strategies.

Basic Qualification: College graduate Salary Range: Php 60,000 - Php 89,999 Basic Qualification: College graduate Salary Range: Php 60,000 - Php 89,999 Basic Qualification: College graduate Salary Range: Php 60,000 - Php 89,999 Basic Qualification: Can work as an independent consultant to provide marketing expertise to clients; can research industries, markets, demographics, trends, sales results, and other data related to the client’s products or services. Salary Range: Php 30,000 - Php 59,999

CAPSLOCK INC. 7th & 8th Flr. Y Tower Bldg., Coral Way Drive Cor. Macapagal Ave., Barangay 76, Pasay City LEE WEI SEONG Basic Qualification: It Support Specialist Must be fluent in Chinese Language Writing and Brief Job Description: Speaking 31. The IT Support Specialist shall answer incoming phone calls from clients and troubleshoot customer technical problems Salary Range: with computer software and hardware Php 30,000 - Php 59,999 CMA CGM PHILIPPINES, INC. 9/f One E-com Center Moa, Harbor Drive, Barangay 76, Pasay City Basic Qualification: Bachelor degree in business course, proficient in the use GUGLIELMI, MONICA of English language, computer Business Development Manager and system literate, excellent 32. interpersonal skills and Brief Job Description: easily adaptable to a new Assist the QPM in reviewing the agency depts JD’s and environment workflow and ensure alignment with the group’s core model Salary Range: Php 60,000 - Php 89,999

COLDSTREAM MARKETING SOLUTION INC. 603-4 Eastfield Ctr., Moa Comp. Macapagal Ave., Barangay 76, Pasay City HENDRICK Basic Qualification: Customer Service Representative Must be fluent in Mandarin, Cantonese and Fukien 33. Brief Job Description: Language Responsible for a variety of customer service functions for the company’s Chinese clientele Salary Range: Php 30,000 - Php 59,999 Basic Qualification: TIFANNY Must be fluent in Mandarin, Customer Service Representative Cantonese and Fukien 34. Language Brief Job Description: Responsible for a variety of customer service functions for Salary Range: the company’s Chinese clientele Php 30,000 - Php 59,999 CONCENTRIX DAKSH SERVICES PHILIPPINES CORPORATION Bldg. F, Ayalaland, Technohub, Quezon City Basic Qualification: HSIEH, WAN-JU Ability to effectively Advisor I, Email Support communicate, both written and verbally (Mandarin 35. Brief Job Description: language) Will be providing Customer Service Support for Spotify Customer thru email/chat Salary Range: Php 90,000 - Php 149,999 Basic Qualification: INKONG, KWANTHIP Ability to effectively Advisor I, Email Support communicate, both written 36. and verbally (THAI language) Brief Job Description: Will be providing Customer Service Support for Spotify Salary Range: Customer thru email/chat Php 60,000 - Php 89,999 CRONYX INC. No. 4th-10th Flr. Yinhope Bldg., Dela Rama Cor. Zoili Hilario St., Seascape Village, Ccp Complex Subd. Zone 10, Barangay 76, Pasay City Basic Qualification: MA, HUAWU With Atleast 6 Months Chinese Speaking Data Entry Clerk Customer service experience Goodmin Oral Communication 37. Brief Job Description: and Written Assist/Help Customers, Give Customers Information about products and services Salary Range: Php 30,000 - Php 59,999 Basic Qualification: DONG, YULIN With Atleast 6 Months Chinese Speaking Program Designer Customer service experience Goodmin Oral Communication 38. Brief Job Description: and Written Assist/Help Customers, Give Customers Information about products and services Salary Range: Php 30,000 - Php 59,999 TAN, JIUFU Chinese Speaking Program Designer 39.

Brief Job Description: Assist/Help Customers, Give Customers Information about products and services

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Basic Qualification: With Atleast 6 Months Customer service experience Goodmin Oral Communication and Written Salary Range: Php 30,000 - Php 59,999

CYPRINE TRADING CORPORATION 12/f Aseana 3 Bldg., Macapagal Cor. Aseana Ave. Aseana City, Tambo, City Of Parañaque

No.

40.

41.

NAME OF FOREIGN NATIONAL , POSITION AND BRIEF DESCRIPTION CHEN, SHAOJUN Livestock Analyst Brief Job Description: Responsible in monitoring staff, crops, and livestock. YAO, XINLING Livestock Analyst Brief Job Description: Responsible in monitoring staff, crops, and livestock.

DAXIFA CORPORATION Mpire Center 93 West Avenue, Project 7, 1, Bungad, Quezon City TAN, HONGXIANG Mandarin Speaking Customer Service Representative 42.

Brief Job Description: Delivering excellent customer service and managing the needs of customer through phone calls and emails

QUALIFICATION AND SALARY RANGE Basic Qualification: Know how in natural resource management. Salary Range: Php 30,000 - Php 59,999 Basic Qualification: Know how in natural resource management. Salary Range: Php 30,000 - Php 59,999 Basic Qualification: Ability to communicate fluently in Mandarin Chinese with customers Salary Range: Php 30,000 - Php 59,999

DIGICHROM INC. Unit 2602 & 2603 26/f Pbcom Tower, 6795 Ayala Ave., Bel-air, City Of Makati HANG TU KIET Basic Qualification: Vietnamese Speaking Customer Service Representative Proficient in speaking, reading, and writing in Vietnamese 43. Brief Job Description: Immediately escalating serious complaints or issues that you Salary Range: are not equipped to deal with Php 30,000 - Php 59,999 EASTERN GOLD CORPORATION 503, Nueva St., Barangay 289, Binondo, City Of Manila Basic Qualification: Can contribute Information HE, PINGFU , Ideas and Research to help Marketing And Sales Agent develop marketing strategies Can Help to detail and 44. Brief Job Description: implement marketing plans Researches and Develops various marketing strategies for for each product or service products and services and implements marketing plans and being offered works to meet sales quotas Salary Range: Php 30,000 - Php 59,999 Basic Qualification: Can contribute Information TANG, YAN , Ideas and Research to help Marketing And Sales Agent develop marketing strategies Can Help to detail and Brief Job Description: implement marketing plans 45. Researches and Develops various marketing strategies for for each product or service products and services and implements marketing plans and being offered works to meet sales quotas Salary Range: Php 30,000 - Php 59,999 Basic Qualification: Can contribute Information YANG, QIAN , Ideas and Research to help Marketing And Sales Agent develop marketing strategies Can Help to detail and 46. Brief Job Description: implement marketing plans Researches and Develops various marketing strategies for for each product or service products and services and implements marketing plans and being offered works to meet sales quotas Salary Range: Php 30,000 - Php 59,999 FIBERHOME PHILS., INC. U-19d 19/f Rufino Pacific Tower, 6784 Ayala Ave. Cor. V.a. Rufino St., San Lorenzo, City Of Makati Basic Qualification: Proven experience as a Finance Manager, MA, RUIHAN Familiarity, knowledge and Finance Manager awareness on Machinery and Heavy Equipment use 47. Brief Job Description: by company, Demonstrable The Finance Manager will be strategist and a leader able to experience in developing steer the company to the most profitable direction while also strategic business plan. implementing its vision, mission and long term goal. Salary Range: Php 30,000 - Php 59,999

FRESENIUS MEDICAL CARE SOLUTIONS SERVICES (PHILIPPINES), INC. 9th Floor Aeon Center, Lot 2a-3a Block 45, Alabang-zapote Rd. Cor. North Bridgeway, Filinvest City, City Of Muntinlupa Basic Qualification: SRIPEN, SARINTHON Language expert. Proficient in Financial Analyst Thai (speaking, reading and writing); Finance / Accounting 48. Brief Job Description: Background; Skills in SAP Executes day-to-day activities such as processing and/or Accounting System data entry with a customer-focused mindset directed by respective Process Lead: Salary Range: Php 90,000 - Php 149,999 FRONTIER TOWER ASSOCIATES PHILIPPINES INC. 3rd Floor Unit E, Active Fun Bldg., 9th Ave. Cor. 28th St., Bgc, Fort Bonifacio, City Of Taguig Basic Qualification: DE WITT, ALBERTUS PAUL IZAK 10+ year experience in Head Of Roll-out leadership position focusing on telecom implementation 49. Brief Job Description: network rollout projects Reports to the COO with a focus on roll-out related sites, colocation activities and telecom implementation Salary Range: Php 500,000 and above GLOBALLGA BUSINESS PROCESS OUTSOURCING Ground Level, Level 2-5 Floor, Silver City 4, Ortigas East, Ugong, City Of Pasig

LIU, HUI Customer Service Representative Mandarin Speaking 50.

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

XU, PENG Customer Service Representative Mandarin Speaking 51.

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

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

GRAND PREMIUM CREST HOLDING INC. 16/f Tower 6789, 6789 Ayala Ave., Bel-air, City Of Makati

TANG, YEFANG Chinese Speaking Customer Financial Officer 52.

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

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

BusinessMirror

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ESTABLISHMENT / ADDRESS No.

NAME OF FOREIGN NATIONAL , POSITION AND BRIEF DESCRIPTION

ZHAO, LU Product Manager For Core Network Project 53.

Brief Job Description: 1. Develop and implement new core network solutions based on corporate strategies. 2. Cultivate local communications talent to prepare technical reserves for future process and business localization.

YONG, CHONGWEI Technology Director For Wireless Maintenance Turnkey Project 54.

Brief Job Description: 1. - Will act as the chief in charge for maintaining stable network operation and as the cyber security. 2. - Organize and control the technical teams and the customer on the accident site recovery, and be responsible for the quick accident recovery result.

INFINITECHNOLOGIES VENTURES INC. Room 506 Estuar Building, #41 Timog Ave., South Triangle, Quezon City CHEN, YUSHENG Financial Analyst 55.

Brief Job Description: Recommend actions by analyzing & interpreting data & making comparative analysis SHENG, YUTING Financial Analyst

56.

Brief Job Description: Recommend actions by analyzing and interpreting data and making comparative analysis

ESTABLISHMENT / ADDRESS QUALIFICATION AND SALARY RANGE Basic Qualification: 1. Has experience sales and marketing management of core network products. 2. Has extensive operation experience for overseas network carriers. 3. Must have a Bachelor’s Degree in Telecommunication Engineering. 4. Highly proficient in Chinese and English language. Salary Range: Php 150,000 - Php 499,999 Basic Qualification: 1. With at least 5 years working experience in the communications industry 2. With ability to manage customer expectations. 3. Knowledgeable in ITR and SD processes. 4. Highly proficient in Chinese and English language. Salary Range: Php 150,000 - Php 499,999 Basic Qualification: Bachelor’s degree in finance, business administration, accounting, statistics or economics Salary Range: Php 30,000 - Php 59,999 Basic Qualification: Bachelor’s degree in finance business admin action accounting statistics or economics Salary Range: Php 30,000 - Php 59,999

INFOVINE INC. 9/f Y Tower, Moa Complex, Coral Way Drive Cor. Macapagal, Barangay 76, Pasay City Basic Qualification: OUYANG, WENHAI With at least 6 months Chinese Speaking Business Development Associate customer service experience/ good in oral communication 57. Brief Job Description: and written Assist/help customers, give customers information about products and services Salary Range: Php 30,000 - Php 59,999 Basic Qualification: TIAN, JIAHAO With at least 6 months Chinese Speaking Business Development Associate customer service experience/ good in oral communication 58. Brief Job Description: and written Assist/help customers, give customers information about products and services Salary Range: Php 30,000 - Php 59,999 Basic Qualification: HUANG, JIAYU with at least 6 months Chinese Speaking Data Entry Clerk customer service experience/ good in oral communication 59. Brief Job Description: and written assist/help customers, give customers information about product and services Salary Range: Php 30,000 - Php 59,999 Basic Qualification: LEE LEAN PIN with at least 6 months Chinese Speaking Data Entry Clerk customer service experience/ good in oral communication 60. Brief Job Description: and written assist/help customers, give customers information about product and services Salary Range: Php 30,000 - Php 59,999 INQUICK SERVICES INC. Unit 606 6/f Itc Bldg., 337 Sen. Gil Puyat Ave., Bel-air, City Of Makati CHEN, YANYUN Basic Qualification: Mandarin Speaking Marketing Officer Proficient in speaking, reading and writing in Mandarin 61. Brief Job Description: Optimize CRM campaigns & newsletter based on Salary Range: performance and engagement data Php 30,000 - Php 59,999 LAN, JIANG Basic Qualification: Mandarin Speaking Marketing Officer Proficient in speaking, reading and writing in Mandarin 62. Brief Job Description: Optimize CRM campaigns & newsletter based on Salary Range: performance and engagement data Php 30,000 - Php 59,999 LIU, CHANGXUN Basic Qualification: Mandarin Speaking Marketing Officer Proficient in speaking, reading and writing in Mandarin 63. Brief Job Description: Optimize CRM campaigns & newsletter based on Salary Range: performance and engagement data Php 30,000 - Php 59,999 INVECH TREASURE PROCESSING CORPORATION Ground, 2nd, 3rd And 4th Floor, Eight West Campus Mckinley West, Fort Bonifacio, City Of Taguig Basic Qualification: JUNHENDRI Able to speak and write Indonesian Customer Support Representative in Indonesian and at least college level with related BPO 64. Brief Job Description: experience. Supports customers by providing helpful information, answering questions, and responding to complaints. Salary Range: Php 30,000 - Php 59,999 Basic Qualification: JI, HONGKAI Able to speak and write in Mandarin Customer Support Representative Mandarin/Fukien and at least college level with related BPO 65. Brief Job Description: experience. Supports customers by providing helpful information, answering questions, and responding to complaints. Salary Range: Php 30,000 - Php 59,999 Basic Qualification: LI, XIAOQIN Able to speak and write in Mandarin Customer Support Representative MANDARIN/FUKIEN and at least college level with related 66. Brief Job Description: BPO experience. Supports customers by providing helpful information, answering questions, and responding to complaints. Salary Range: Php 30,000 - Php 59,999 ITECHNO SPECIALIST INC. 24/f Yuchengco Tower I, Rcbc Plaza, Bel-air, City Of Makati CHEN, SIXIN Basic Qualification: Chinese It Support Specialist Fluent in Chinese writing and speaking language 67. Brief Job Description: Responsible for providing quality it supports of enterprise Salary Range: systems throughout the Chinese clientele. Php 30,000 - Php 59,999 J-NA ALLOUT TECHNOLOGY SOLUTIONS CORP. 3/f Lipams Bldg., #48 President Avenue, B. F. Homes, City Of Parañaque Basic Qualification: KIM, HYUNBUM college graduate, speaks Korean Customer Service Representative and write fluently (korean & 68. english) Brief Job Description: track main industry trends in Korean through blogs, micro Salary Range: blogs and forums Php 30,000 - Php 59,999 JFE ENGINEERING CORP. - PHILIPPINE BRANCH 23/f Cyberscape Alpha Bldg., Sapphire & Garnet Roads, Ortigas Center, San Antonio, City Of Pasig Basic Qualification: SAWADA, MAI Administrative, sales and Deputy Branch Representative marketing for engineering firm 69. experience Brief Job Description: Manage and oversee the overall performance of Philippine Salary Range: branch Php 30,000 - Php 59,999 JIU ZHOU TECHNOLOGIES INTERNATIONAL, INC. U-2801 28/f Pbcom Tower, 6795 Ayala Ave. Cor. V.a. Rufino St., Bel-air, City Of Makati Basic Qualification: Proficient in speaking, reading, HUANG, HAO-CHEN a.k.a. HUANG, CHENG-HAN and writing in English and their Chinese Customer Service Representative respective native language for the position applied for, Fluent 70. Brief Job Description: in Chinese Mandarin is an Attracts potential customers by answering product and advantage service questions; suggesting information about other products and services Salary Range: Php 30,000 - Php 59,999

No.

NAME OF FOREIGN NATIONAL , POSITION AND BRIEF DESCRIPTION

QUALIFICATION AND SALARY RANGE

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

MEGA-WEB TECHNOLOGIES INC. 6,7,8,9,10,11/f Met Live Bldg., Edsa Cor. Macapagal Blvd., Barangay 76, Pasay City CHEN, YEN-JU Basic Qualification: Mandarin Speaking Customer Relations Service Provider Proficient in speaking, reading and writing in mandarin 73. Brief Job Description: Open and maintain customer accounts by recording account Salary Range: information Php 30,000 - Php 59,999 MINDSCAPE CREATIVES INC. Unit 19-o, Burgundy Corporate Tower, 252 Sen. Gil Puyat Ave., Pio Del Pilar, City Of Makati GAO, JIANING Basic Qualification: Mandarin Marketing Specialist Proficient in speaking, reading, and writing in mandarin 74. Brief Job Description: Conducting research and marketing strategies to develop Salary Range: areas of the business opportunities Php 30,000 - Php 59,999 Basic Qualification: WANG, ZHEN Proficient in speaking, reading, Mandarin Technical Support and writing in mandarin 75. Brief Job Description: Salary Range: To troubleshoot, maintain and monitor the computer system Php 30,000 - Php 59,999 Basic Qualification: ZHAO, SHUANWEI Proficient in speaking, reading, Mandarin Technical Support and writing in mandarin 76. Brief Job Description: Salary Range: To troubleshoot, maintain and monitor the computer system Php 30,000 - Php 59,999 Basic Qualification: ZOU, GUICHU Proficient in speaking, reading, Mandarin Technical Support and writing in mandarin 77. Brief Job Description: Salary Range: To troubleshoot, maintain and monitor the computer system Php 30,000 - Php 59,999 MJP-INTERNATIONAL TECH INC. 7r Fort Palm Spring, 30th St. 1st Ave., Fort Bonifacio, City Of Taguig Basic Qualification: KWON, BOSUNG 25 years old above, can speak Technical Support Specialist and write Korean language, 78. with IT knowledge Brief Job Description: Oversees computer systems for business and offers support Salary Range: to the system users Php 60,000 - Php 89,999 MOA CLOUDZONE CORP. 4th-11th Flr. Nexgen Tower, C4 Rd. Edsa Ext., Barangay 76, Pasay City Basic Qualification: CAO THI THU Able to speak, read, and write Chinese Customer Service Chinese language 79. Brief Job Description: Salary Range: Managing incoming calls and customer service inquires Php 30,000 - Php 59,999 Basic Qualification: CAO THI THUY Able to speak, read, and write Chinese Customer Service Chinese language 80. Brief Job Description: Salary Range: Managing incoming calls and customer service inquires Php 30,000 - Php 59,999 Basic Qualification: CHAU MINH Able to speak, Read, and Write Chinese Customer Service Chinese language 81. Brief Job Description: Salary Range: Managing incoming calls and customer service inquiries Php 30,000 - Php 59,999 Basic Qualification: CHEN, SONGCAN Able to speak, read, and write Chinese Customer Service Chinese language 82. Brief Job Description: Salary Range: Managing incoming calls and customer service inquiries Php 30,000 - Php 59,999 Basic Qualification: CHENG, PING Able to speak, read, and write Chinese Customer Service Chinese language 83. Brief Job Description: Salary Range: Managing incoming calls and customer service inquiries Php 30,000 - Php 59,999 Basic Qualification: CHUA CHEN YUAN Able to speak, read, and write Chinese Customer Service Chinese language 84. Brief Job Description: Salary Range: Managing incoming calls and customer service inquires Php 30,000 - Php 59,999 Basic Qualification: CINDY GRACIELA Able to speak, Read, and Write Chinese Customer Service Chinese language 85. Brief Job Description: Salary Range: Managing incoming calls and customer service inquiries Php 30,000 - Php 59,999 Basic Qualification: DENI CHANDRA Able to speak, Read, and Write Chinese Customer Service Chinese language 86. Brief Job Description: Salary Range: Managing incoming calls and customer service inquiries Php 30,000 - Php 59,999 DINH VAN DO Basic Qualification: Chinese Customer Service Able to speak, read, and write Chinese language 87. Brief Job Description: Managing incoming calls and customer service inquires Salary Range: Php 30,000 - Php 59,999

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Brief Job Description: Managing incoming calls and customer service inquiries DONNIE Chinese Customer Service Brief Job Description: Managing incoming calls and customer service inquiries DUONG ON PHUONG Chinese Customer Service Brief Job Description: Managing incoming calls and customer service inquires DUONG THI CHAI Chinese Customer Service Brief Job Description: Managing incoming calls and customer service inquiries GIP SANG PHON Chinese Customer Service Brief Job Description: Managing incoming calls and customer service inquiries GUI, ZEMING Chinese Customer Service Brief Job Description: Managing incoming calls and customer service inquiries

ESTABLISHMENT / ADDRESS

JSW PLASTICS MACHINERY (PHILIPPINES) INC. Unit 2205, 22f Asian Star Building, Asean Dr., Fcc, Alabang, City Of Muntinlupa KANAE, YUSUKE Basic Qualification: Finance Division Manager Knowledgeable in Japanese language is a must. 71. Brief Job Description: Work with director to coordinate and supervise daily Salary Range: operations. Php 150,000 - Php 499,999 MARCOPAY INC. 8th Floor Three/neo Building, 3rd Avenue Corner 30th Street, Bgc, Fort Bonifacio, City Of Taguig Basic Qualification: Have at least 6 years of experience in maritime sector including 2 years in ship TOKORO, REO owning and 2 years of digital Sales Manager tech related business planning sector; Can communicate Brief Job Description: effectively in both oral The sales manager will help MarCoPay for securing clients and written English and 72. and gather customer requirements, needs, thoughts which Japanese; Excellent analytical, will lead to customer satisfaction. they are also responsible conceptual thinking and for bridging the gap between customer requirements and problem-solving skills; and feasibility in the point of view of regulatory compliance by Excellent organizational and communicating with compliance department time management skills and attention to detail

DOMIVIANUS Chinese Customer Service

Thursday, January 27, 2022

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

HAN, QINGHONG Chinese Customer Service Brief Job Description: Managing incoming calls and customer service inquiries HARIYANTO Chinese Customer Service Brief Job Description: Managing incoming calls and customer service inquiries HE, ZHIKUN Chinese Customer Service Brief Job Description: Managing incoming calls and customer service inquires HENDERA Chinese Customer Service Brief Job Description: Managing incoming calls and customer service inquiries HO DUNG NGUYEN Chinese Customer Service Brief Job Description: Managing incoming calls and customer service inquires HOANG MANH HA Chinese Customer Service Brief Job Description: Managing incoming calls and customer service inquiries HOANG THI THIEN Chinese Customer Service Brief Job Description: Managing incoming calls and customer service inquires HU, XUDONG Chinese Customer Service Brief Job Description: Managing incoming calls and customer service inquires HUANG, ZHILONG Chinese Customer Service Brief Job Description: Managing incoming calls and customer service inquires JIANG, SHIJIAN Chinese Customer Service Brief Job Description: Managing incoming calls and customer service inquiries LAI LUONG KY Chinese Customer Service Brief Job Description: Managing incoming calls and customer service inquires LAI SU KIAN Chinese Customer Service Brief Job Description: Managing incoming calls and customer service inquiries LANG KWONG JIE Chinese Customer Service Brief Job Description: Managing incoming calls and customer service inquiries LANG THI KIEU TRANG Chinese Customer Service Brief Job Description: Managing Incoming calls and customer service inquiries LE QUY NHAN Chinese Customer Service Brief Job Description: Managing Incoming calls and customer service inquiries LE THI MY HANH Chinese Customer Service Brief Job Description: Managing Incoming calls and customer service inquiries LE THI PHUONG Chinese Customer Service

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

NAME OF FOREIGN NATIONAL , POSITION AND BRIEF DESCRIPTION

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Brief Job Description: Managing Incoming calls and customer service inquiries LE VAN TOAN Chinese Customer Service Brief Job Description: Managing incoming calls and customer service inquiries LI, JINE Chinese Customer Service Brief Job Description: Managing Incoming calls and customer service inquiries LI, XILONG Chinese Customer Service Brief Job Description: Managing incoming calls and customer service inquiries LIANG, MI Chinese Customer Service Brief Job Description: Managing incoming calls and customer service inquiries LIEU DUY LINH Chinese Customer Service Brief Job Description: Managing incoming calls and customer service inquiries LIN, JUNNAN Chinese Customer Service Brief Job Description: Managing incoming calls and customer service inquiries LIN, LI-WEN Chinese Customer Service Brief Job Description: Managing incoming calls and customer service inquiries LIN, QINRONG Chinese Customer Service Brief Job Description: Managing incoming calls and customer service inquiries LIU NHOC SANG Chinese Customer Service Brief Job Description: Managing Incoming calls and customer service inquiries LIU, GUANGLONG Chinese Customer Service Brief Job Description: Managing Incoming calls and customer service inquiries LIU, SHU Chinese Customer Service Brief Job Description: Managing incoming calls and customer service inquiries

QUALIFICATION AND SALARY RANGE Basic Qualification: Able to speak, read, and write Chinese language Salary Range: Php 30,000 - Php 59,999 Basic Qualification: Able to speak, Read, and Write Chinese language Salary Range: Php 30,000 - Php 59,999 Basic Qualification: Able to speak, read, and write Chinese language Salary Range: Php 30,000 - Php 59,999 Basic Qualification: Able to speak, read, and write Chinese language Salary Range: Php 30,000 - Php 59,999 Basic Qualification: Able to speak, read, and write Chinese language Salary Range: Php 30,000 - Php 59,999 Basic Qualification: Able to speak, read, and write Chinese language Salary Range: Php 30,000 - Php 59,999 Basic Qualification: Able to speak, read, and write Chinese language Salary Range: Php 30,000 - Php 59,999 Basic Qualification: Able to speak, read, and write Chinese language Salary Range: Php 30,000 - Php 59,999 Basic Qualification: Able to speak, read, and write Chinese language Salary Range: Php 30,000 - Php 59,999 Basic Qualification: Able to speak, read, and write Chinese language Salary Range: Php 30,000 - Php 59,999 Basic Qualification: Able to speak, read, and write Chinese language Salary Range: Php 30,000 - Php 59,999 Basic Qualification: Able to speak, read, and write Chinese language Salary Range: Php 30,000 - Php 59,999 Basic Qualification: Able to speak, read and write Chinese language Salary Range: Php 30,000 - Php 59,999 Basic Qualification: Able to speak, Read, and Write Chinese Language Salary Range: Php 30,000 - Php 59,999 Basic Qualification: Able to speak, Read, and Write Chinese Language Salary Range: Php 30,000 - Php 59,999 Basic Qualification: Able to speak, Read, and Write Chinese Language Salary Range: Php 30,000 - Php 59,999 Basic Qualification: Able to speak, Read, and Write Chinese Language Salary Range: Php 30,000 - Php 59,999 Basic Qualification: Able to speak, read, and write Chinese language Salary Range: Php 30,000 - Php 59,999 Basic Qualification: Able to speak, Read, and Write Chinese Language Salary Range: Php 30,000 - Php 59,999 Basic Qualification: Able to speak, read and write Chinese language Salary Range: Php 30,000 - Php 59,999 Basic Qualification: Able to speak, read, and write Chinese language Salary Range: Php 30,000 - Php 59,999 Basic Qualification: Able to speak, read, and write Chinese language Salary Range: Php 30,000 - Php 59,999 Basic Qualification: Able to speak, read, and write Chinese language Salary Range: Php 30,000 - Php 59,999 Basic Qualification: Able to speak, Read, and Write Chinese language Salary Range: Php 30,000 - Php 59,999 Basic Qualification: Able to speak, read and write Chinese language Salary Range: Php 30,000 - Php 59,999 Basic Qualification: Able to speak, Read, and Write Chinese Language Salary Range: Php 30,000 - Php 59,999 Basic Qualification: Able to speak, Read, and Write Chinese Language Salary Range: Php 30,000 - Php 59,999 Basic Qualification: Able to speak, read and write Chinese language Salary Range: Php 30,000 - Php 59,999

BusinessMirror

Thursday, January 27, 2022

ESTABLISHMENT / ADDRESS No.

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NAME OF FOREIGN NATIONAL , POSITION AND BRIEF DESCRIPTION LOH WEI JIET Chinese Customer Service Brief Job Description: Managing incoming calls and customer service inquiries LOO TONG YEW Chinese Customer Service Brief Job Description: Managing incoming calls and customer service inquiries LUO, JUNYIN Chinese Customer Service Brief Job Description: Managing incoming calls and customer service inquiries LUO, WENDA Chinese Customer Service Brief Job Description: Managing Incoming calls and customer service inquiries LUU THI LINH Chinese Customer Service Brief Job Description: Managing Incoming calls and customer service inquiries LUU THI NGOC ANH Chinese Customer Service Brief Job Description: Managing Incoming calls and customer service inquiries LY THI TUOI Chinese Customer Service Brief Job Description: Managing incoming calls and customer service inquiries MAI THANH TRI Chinese Customer Service Brief Job Description: Managing incoming calls and customer service inquiries MAI THI THUONG Chinese Customer Service Brief Job Description: Managing incoming calls and customer service inquiries NGO THI YEN Chinese Customer Service Brief Job Description: Managing incoming calls and customer service inquiries NGUYEN CHON THO Chinese Customer Service Brief Job Description: Managing incoming calls and customer service inquiries NGUYEN HUU VINH Chinese Customer Service

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Brief Job Description: Managing incoming calls and customer service inquiries NGUYEN QUANG QUYEN Chinese Customer Service Brief Job Description: Managing incoming calls and customer service inquiries NGUYEN THANH LAM Chinese Customer Service Brief Job Description: Managing incoming calls and customer service inquiries NGUYEN THI HUONG LY Chinese Customer Service Brief Job Description: Managing incoming calls and customer service inquiries NGUYEN THI HUYEN Chinese Customer Service Brief Job Description: Managing incoming calls and customer service inquiries NGUYEN THI LAN ANH Chinese Customer Service Brief Job Description: Managing incoming calls and customer service inquiries NGUYEN THI THANH XUAN Chinese Customer Service Brief Job Description: Managing incoming calls and customer service inquiries NGUYEN THI TRAM Chinese Customer Service Brief Job Description: Managing incoming calls and customer service inquiries NGUYEN VAN TAM Chinese Customer Service Brief Job Description: Managing incoming calls and customer service inquiries NOVELINE Chinese Customer Service Brief Job Description: Managing incoming calls and customer service inquiries ONG WAI KEAT Chinese Customer Service Brief Job Description: Managing incoming calls and customer service inquiries PHAN NGUYEN HOAI NAM Chinese Customer Service Brief Job Description: Managing incoming calls and customer service inquiries PHAN TRUONG SINH Chinese Customer Service Brief Job Description: Managing incoming calls and customer service inquiries SHI, LEI Chinese Customer Service Brief Job Description: Managing incoming calls and customer service inquiries TIAN, JUNKAI Chinese Customer Service Brief Job Description: Managing incoming calls and customer service inquiries TIONG WEI YONG Chinese Customer Service Brief Job Description: Managing incoming calls and customer service inquiries TRAN THI NGOC TRANG Chinese Customer Service Brief Job Description: Managing incoming calls and customer service inquiries

ESTABLISHMENT / ADDRESS QUALIFICATION AND SALARY RANGE Basic Qualification: Able to speak, read, and write Chinese language Salary Range: Php 30,000 - Php 59,999 Basic Qualification: Able to speak, read and write Chinese language Salary Range: Php 30,000 - Php 59,999 Basic Qualification: Able to speak, read and write Chinese language Salary Range: Php 30,000 - Php 59,999 Basic Qualification: Able to speak, Read, and Write Chinese Language Salary Range: Php 30,000 - Php 59,999 Basic Qualification: Able to speak, Read, and Write Chinese Language Salary Range: Php 30,000 - Php 59,999 Basic Qualification: Able to speak, Read, and Write Chinese Language Salary Range: Php 30,000 - Php 59,999 Basic Qualification: Able to speak, Read, and Write Chinese language Salary Range: Php 30,000 - Php 59,999 Basic Qualification: Able to speak, Read, and Write Chinese language Salary Range: Php 30,000 - Php 59,999 Basic Qualification: Able to speak, Read, and Write Chinese language

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

TRAN THUA DAT Chinese Customer Service Brief Job Description: Managing incoming calls and customer service inquiries TRAN VAN KHANH Chinese Customer Service Brief Job Description: Managing incoming calls and customer service inquiries TRINH HUU THO Chinese Customer Service Brief Job Description: Managing incoming calls and customer service inquiries VO DANG PHUONG Chinese Customer Service Brief Job Description: Managing incoming calls and customer service inquiries VO THI TUYET Chinese Customer Service Brief Job Description: Managing incoming calls and customer service inquiries VU VAN HIEP Chinese Customer Service Brief Job Description: Managing incoming calls and customer service inquiries WANG, ZHENYU Chinese Customer Service

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

NAME OF FOREIGN NATIONAL , POSITION AND BRIEF DESCRIPTION

Brief Job Description: Managing incoming calls and customer service inquiries YUAN, XIAOYUN Chinese Customer Service Brief Job Description: Managing incoming calls and customer service inquiries ZHANG, DIAN Chinese Customer Service Brief Job Description: Managing incoming calls and customer service inquiries ZHANG, HAO Chinese Customer Service Brief Job Description: Managing incoming calls and customer service inquiries ZHANG, JUN Chinese Customer Service Brief Job Description: Managing incoming calls and customer service inquiries LI, YANHONG Chinese Customer Specialist Brief Job Description: Managing incoming calls and customer service inquiries

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ESTABLISHMENT / ADDRESS QUALIFICATION AND SALARY RANGE

No.

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

NEO INCORPORATED North Tower Centrum Bldg., Aseana Avenue, Entertainment City, Baclaran, City Of Parañaque Basic Qualification: PENG, CHONG With at least 6 months Chinese Speaking Admin Associate customer service experience/ good in oral communication 162. Brief Job Description: and written Assist/help customers, give customers information about product and services Salary Range: Php 30,000 - Php 59,999 NEW ORIENTAL CLUB88 CORPORATION 8/f Ecoplaza, 2305 Don Chino Roces Ave., Magallanes, City Of Makati Basic Qualification: RONG, MENGHE Knowledgeable in computer Chinese Customer Service application with good oral and 163. written communication skills Brief Job Description: Customer support and data base services Salary Range: Php 30,000 - Php 59,999 Basic Qualification: ZHAN, TIANWEI Knowledgeable in computer Chinese Customer Service application with good oral and 164. written communication skills Brief Job Description: Customer support and data base services Salary Range: Php 30,000 - Php 59,999 Basic Qualification: ZHANG, ZHAO Knowledgeable in computer Chinese Customer Service application with good oral and 165. written communication skills Brief Job Description: Customer support and data base services Salary Range: Php 30,000 - Php 59,999 Basic Qualification: CHEW SOON HUANG Knowledgeable in computer Malaysian Customer Service application with good oral and 166. written communication skills Brief Job Description: Customer support and data base services Salary Range: Php 30,000 - Php 59,999 REVON MOTION BUSINESS CONSULTANCY INC. G/f Pmj Bldg., Evangelista Cor. Cuangco Sts., Pinagkaisahan, City Of Makati Basic Qualification: NGUYEN VAN PHUONG College Graduate. Fluent In Mandarin Business Consultant Cantonese, Taiwanese and Mandarin Language, Excellent Brief Job Description: Communication Skills. At least 167. Helps a business owner improve his or her business 1 Year Experience as Business operations. A consultant may specialize in a specific area, Consultant. such as information technologies, human resources or marketing or may offer general services Salary Range: Php 30,000 - Php 59,999 Basic Qualification: College Graduate. Fluent In PHAM THI NHAM Cantonese, Taiwanese and Mandarin Coordinator Mandarin Language, Excellent Communication Skills. At 168. Brief Job Description: least 1 Year Experience as Works under a Mandarin Manager to maintain office Coordinator. equipment, physical space and telecommunications systems for single building. Salary Range: Php 30,000 - Php 59,999 Basic Qualification: College Graduate. Fluent In DUONG TAN PHAT Cantonese, Taiwanese and Mandarin Customer Service Representative Mandarin Language, Excellent Communication Skills. At least 169. Brief Job Description: 1 Year Progressive Customer Provides customer service support to the organization by Service Experience. obtaining, analyzing and verifying the accuracy of order information in a timely manner. Salary Range: Php 30,000 - Php 59,999 Basic Qualification: College Graduate. Fluent In VU VAN HOANG Cantonese, Taiwanese and Mandarin Customer Service Representative Mandarin Language, Excellent Communication Skills. At least 170. Brief Job Description: 1 Year Progressive Customer Provides customer service support to the organization by Service Experience. obtaining, analyzing and verifying the accuracy of order information in a timely manner. Salary Range: Php 30,000 - Php 59,999 Basic Qualification: College Graduate. Fluent In XIAO, JIANING Cantonese, Taiwanese and Mandarin Customer Service Representative Mandarin Language, Excellent Communication Skills. At least 171. Brief Job Description: 1 Year Progressive Customer Provides customer service support to the organization by Service Experience. obtaining, analyzing and verifying the accuracy of order information in a timely manner. Salary Range: Php 30,000 - Php 59,999

NAME OF FOREIGN NATIONAL , POSITION AND BRIEF DESCRIPTION

QUALIFICATION AND SALARY RANGE

DINH THI HUONG Mandarin Office Manager 172.

Brief Job Description: 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. HUYNH NGUYEN PHUONG ANH Mandarin Team Leader

173.

Brief Job Description: Responsible for Business Consultancy practice. Accountable for the successful delivery of complex project implementation. In which the team leader also acts as Project Manager.

Basic Qualification: College Graduate. Fluent In Cantonese, Taiwanese and Mandarin Language, Excellent Communication Skills. At least 1 Year Experience as Office Manager. Salary Range: Php 30,000 - Php 59,999 Basic Qualification: College Graduate. Fluent In Cantonese, Taiwanese and Mandarin Language, Excellent Communication Skills. At least 1 Year Experience as Team Leader Salary Range: Php 30,000 - Php 59,999

RGB LTD. (PHILIPPINE BRANCH) 15/flr. R Magsaysay Ctr, Roxas Blvd. 076, Barangay 699, Malate, City Of Manila Basic Qualification: Candidate should have LOW CHANG KIONG a minimum 1 year solid Assistant System Manager experience in the same field. Should be fluent in mandarin 174. Brief Job Description: and able to understand esl. Assist the systems manager with maintaining all it systems Good computer skills. and equipment and maintains the hardware, cabling systems, networks, software and addresses other technical issues. Salary Range: Php 60,000 - Php 89,999 SA RIVENDELL GLOBAL SUPPORT, INC. 9-11 Flr., The Biopolis Bldg., Macapagal Blvd., Barangay 76, Pasay City Basic Qualification: HUANG, XIAOYI Knowledgeable in computer Customer Service Representative application with good oral and 175. written communication skills Brief Job Description: customer support and data base services Salary Range: Php 30,000 - Php 59,999 Basic Qualification: STEVEN knowlegable in computer Customer Service Representative application with good oral and 176. written cpmmunication skills Brief Job Description: customer support and data base services Salary Range: Php 30,000 - Php 59,999 Basic Qualification: TANG TIEU YEN Knowledgeable in computer Customer Service Representative application with good oral and 177. written communication skills Brief Job Description: Customer support and data base services Salary Range: Php 60,000 - Php 89,999 SAP PHILIPPINES, INC. 27/f Nac Tower, 32nd St., Fort Bonifacio, City Of Taguig Basic Qualification: Minimum upper-intermediate written and spoken Bahasa Indonesia and JESMON FREDDY PARNINGOTAN English, Minimum tertiary Finance Operations Specialist (bahasa Speaker) qualification from university or college, Preferably 1 year Brief Job Description: or more experience within 178. Review deals, contract preparation, and contract bid management, process management, answering queries from internal customers, management, procurement, validation, and assist booking teams to ensure on time software licensing, contract processing of customer sales orders into SAP systems. administration, business or sales operations. Salary Range: Php 60,000 - Php 89,999

TRIVES TECHNOLOGY CORPORATION Tower 4 Bayport West, Naia Garden Residence, Naia Road, Tambo, City Of Parañaque WANG, BIN Basic Qualification: Mandarin Customer Support Representative College Graduate 179. Brief Job Description: Salary Range: Supports customers by providing helpful information, Php 30,000 - Php 59,999 answering questions, and responding to complaints. VPC CORPORATE SOLUTIONS INCORPORATED 11/f 100 West, Sen Gil Puyat Ave. Cor., Washington St., Pio Del Pilar, City Of Makati WIEGERSMA, JELGER Basic Qualification: Customer Service Manager Foreign language speaking 180. Brief Job Description: Salary Range: Communicating with internal teams to discuss sales targets Php 90,000 - Php 149,999 PHAM QUANG NAM Basic Qualification: Vietnam-speaking Customer Service Officer Foreign language speaking 181. Brief Job Description: Salary Range: Prepares product or service reports by collecting and Php 30,000 - Php 59,999 analyzing customer information. WANFANG TECHNOLOGY MANAGEMENT, INC. U-3501/02 35/f Pbcom Tower, Cor. Ayala Ave. & V.a. Rufino St., Bel-air, City Of Makati Basic Qualification: Proficient in speaking, reading, ZENG, DI and writing in English and their Chinese Technical Support Representative respective native language for the position applied for, Fluent 182. Brief Job Description: in Chinese Mandarin is an Attracts potential customers by answering product and advantage service questions; suggesting information about other products and services Salary Range: Php 30,000 - Php 59,999 XUSHENG TECHNOLOGY CORP. Flr. No. 1-5 Bldg., No. 0050 F.b. Harrison St. Cor. Williams And Roberts St. Zone 4, District 1, Barangay 13, Pasay City Basic Qualification: NGUYEN HUU HOA Proficient In Speaking, Reading Bilingual Technical Support and Writing in Bilingual 183. Language Brief Job Description: Deals With Hardware and Application Support Queries and Salary Range: Issues Reported to the Php 30,000 - Php 59,999 Basic Qualification: NGUYEN MINH HIEP Proficient In Speaking, Reading Bilingual Technical Support and Writing in Bilingual 184. Language Brief Job Description: Deals With Hardware and Application Support Queries and Salary Range: Issues Reported to the Php 30,000 - Php 59,999 Basic Qualification: PHAM THI YEN Proficient In Speaking, Reading Bilingual Technical Support and Writing in Bilingual 185. Language Brief Job Description: Deals With Hardware and Application Support Queries and Salary Range: Issues Reported to the Php 30,000 - Php 59,999 PHAN THU THUY Bilingual Technical Support 186.

Brief Job Description: Deals With Hardware and Application Support Queries and Issues Reported to the

TU TRONG QUAN Bilingual Technical Support 187.

Brief Job Description: Deals With Hardware and Application Support Queries and Issues Reported to the

Basic Qualification: Proficient In Speaking, Reading and Writing in Bilingual Language Salary Range: Php 30,000 - Php 59,999 Basic Qualification: Proficient In Speaking, Reading and Writing in Bilingual Language Salary Range: Php 30,000 - Php 59,999 *Date Generated: Jan 26, 2022

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

ATTY. SARAH BUENA S. MIRASOL REGIONAL DIRECTOR

The World BusinessMirror

Editor: Angel R. Calso

Canada probes cyberattack amid tensions with Russia

ORONTO—An attack on the computer systems of Canada’s Global A ffairs Department last week has kept at least some diplomats without access to some online functions, the government's Treasury Board said. The board said Tuesday that “access to a very limited number of Internet-based services remain restricted as part of the mitigation measures.” It didn’t say who was behind the Jan. 19 attack or give details of what occurred. The incident came a day before the Canadian Centre for Cyber Security urged companies to bolster protections against the potential for Russian-backed attacks amid escalating tensions over a potential Russian invasion of Ukraine. “The Government of Canada deals with ongoing and persistent cyber risks and threats every day,”

the board said. “Cyberthreats can result from system or application vulnerabilities, or from deliberate, persistent, targeted attacks by outside actors to gain access to information.” Moscow is currently in a military standoff with NATO—including Canada—over Russia’s military buildup on the border with Ukraine, which reported Jan. 16 that Russia appeared to be behind an attack on its websites—something Russia denied. Earlier, Microsoft said dozens of computer systems at an unspecified number of Ukrainian government agencies had been infected with destructive malware disguised as ransomware. Families of Canadian diplomatic staff in Ukraine have been told to return to Canada due to the Russian military buildup and “destabilizing activities in and around Ukraine.” AP

Mexico’s remittances pass $50 billion during pandemic

OMACHUEN, Mexico—Mexico's remittances—the money migrants send home to their relatives—have soared in the past two years, and are now expected to top $50 billion for the first time once 2021's figures are added up. That would surpass almost all other sources of Mexico's foreign income. But as happy as the Mexican government is about the news—it calls the migrants “heroes”—the boom raises questions: Will Mexicans always have to emigrate? And is it sustainable, or just blip fueled in part by US government pandemic support payments? In many rural places such as Comachuen, Michoacan, every store, business and family depends on remittances. “Without these remittances that migrants send back to their families here in Comachuen, the town would have no life,” said Porfirio Gabriel, who has spent nearly 13 years working on farms in the United States and now recruits and supervises people to go north. Remittances as a percentage of Mexico’s GDP have almost doubled over the past decade, growing from 2% of GDP in 2010 to 3.8% in 2020, according to the government. Between 2010 and 2020, the percentage of households in Mexico receiving remittances grew from 3.6% to 5.1%. For the first 11 months of 2021, remittances grew by almost 27%. Mexico is now the third largest receiver of remittances in the world, behind only India and China, and Mexico now accounts for about 6.1% of world remittances, according to a government report. On one hand, the spike was simply a matter of need, caused in part by the coronavirus pandemic. Mexico’s GDP shrank 8.5% in 2020, and while the economy recouped about 4.7% of that loss in the first three

quarters of 2021, growth appears to have slowed and inflation spiked in the last quarter. “When a Mexican family suffers illness or their household suffers damage, they receive more. … Why? Because, basically, they ask for help, and that is what I think happened here last year,” said Agustín Escobar, a professor at Mexico’s Center for Research and Higher Education in Social Anthropology. Ironically, part of that growth may have been fueled by a temporary decrease several years ago in the number of new Mexican migrants heading to the United States and a decline in the relative percentage of migrants without proper documents. Escobar said that means established migrants face less wage competition from new, young, undocumented arrivals. “But how much it can continue to improve in the future is an open question,” he added. And the fact that a smaller percentage of Mexican migrants don't have proper documents than before means more qualified for US pandemic support payments in 2020. A report by the Liberty Street Economics blog from the Federal Reserve Bank of New York said, “We find that about $24 billion went to US residents born in Mexico, Central America, and the Dominican Republic in April through September” of 2020 when pandemic support payments began to flow under the CARES Act. While people in Comachuen report using their money to educate their children and build up businesses, research shows the vast majority of remittances are used for subsistence needs—buying more food or medicine, or much-needed household appliances like refrigerators that will save families on food costs in the long run. AP

US warns chip shortage could shut down factories

A SHI NGTON —T he US supply of computer chips has fallen to alarmingly low levels, raising the prospect of factory shutdowns, the Commerce Department reported Tuesday. Companies that use semiconductors are down to less than five days of inventory—a sharp drop from 40 days in 2019, according to a department survey of 150 companies. The chips used in the production of automobiles and medical devices are especially scarce. Demand for chips, the department said, was up 17% last year from 2019. Citing the results, the Biden administration called on Congress to pass stalled legislation that would provide $52 billion for domestic

semiconductor production. “The semiconductor supply chain remains fragile, and it is essential that Congress pass chips funding as soon as possible,” Commerce Secretary Gina Raimondo said in a statement. “With skyrocketing demand and full utilization of existing manufacturing facilities, it's clear the only solution to solve this crisis in the long-term is to rebuild our domestic manufacturing capabilities.” Chip shortages have disrupted auto production and driven up car prices, contributing significantly to a 7% year-over-year increase in consumer prices last month—the hottest inflation in four decades. Still, it would take years for semiconductor factories to begin operation. AP

Thursday, January 27, 2022

S. Korea tests new virus steps as infections reach new high

EOUL, South Korea—South Korea on Wednesday began enforcing new Covid-19 response measures, including reduced quarantine periods and expanded rapid testing, as its new cases jumped nearly 50% in a day. The 13,012 new cases were 4,400 more than the previous single-day high of 8,571 set on Tuesday. It underscores the speed of transmissions driven by the highly contagious Omicron variant, which became the country’s dominant strain just last week. South Korean officials say their early analysis suggests Omicron spreads more than twice as fast as the Delta variant, which spiked the country's hospitalizations and fatalities during a devastating winter surge, but is also significantly less likely to cause serious illness or death. South Korea also has a high vaccination rate. More than 85% of South Korea’s more than 51 million people have been fully vaccinated and more than 50% of the population have received booster shots. Still, there are concerns that a sudden explosion in infections could possibly overwhelm hospitals and cause disruption at work-

places and essential services by constantly placing huge numbers of people under quarantine. Starting Wednesday, the quarantine period for virus carriers who test positive after being fully vaccinated was reduced from 10 days to seven days. Fully vaccinated people who come in close contact with virus carriers will no longer be quarantined, but they will be required to report their daily health conditions to health officials before being tested within six or seven days. Officials also planning to treat most mild cases at home and reshape a testing regime that had been centered around PCR tests, which will now be saved mostly for people in their 60s and older or those with pre-existing medical conditions. Most people will be asked to first use rapid test kits available at public health offices, testing stations and pharmacies and receive PCR when those tests are positive.

Health workers wearing protective gears stand to help visitors at a temporary screening clinic for the coronavirus near the Seoul City Hall in Seoul, South Korea on Wednesday, Jan. 26, 2022. AP Photo/Lee Jin-man

The new testing policy was enforced at three cities near capital Seoul and the southern South Jeolla Province on Wednesday, and officials plan to expand the changes nationwide in early February. Despite the benefits of faster results, officials had previously been reluctant to depend on rapid testing as they are known to be less accurate than PCR tests, which require large numbers of health professionals administrating nasal and throat swabs and high-tech laboratory machines analyzing samples. Son Youngrae, a senior Health Ministry official, said it's inevitable that the country narrows

its focus toward reducing serious illnesses and deaths among highrisk groups. He acknowledged the new approach may result in “disadvantages in the diagnosis and infection prevention of lowrisk groups.” “Our current goal is to manage the spread of the virus at a certain level, so that it doesn't explode and create an excessively huge peak, and minimize serious cases and fatalities,” Son said during a briefing. “We want to avoid the experience of foreign countries, where hospital systems collapsed or overwhelmed and led to damages in the treatment of non-Covid-19 patients.” AP

As Fed meets, investor angst over rate hikes spooks markets

Saudi restores full diplomatic ties with Thailand after diamond heist

ASHINGTON—Wild volatility in the stock market this week has put heightened sc r ut i ny on the Federal Reser ve’s meeting Wednesday and whether the Fed will clarify just how fast it plans to tighten credit and potentially slow the economy. With high inf lation squeezing consumers and businesses, the Fed is expected to signal that it will raise its benchmark shortterm interest rate in March in a dramatic reversal from the ultralow-rate policies it imposed during the pandemic recession. To further tighten credit, the Fed also plans to end its monthly bond purchases in March. And later this year, it may start reducing its huge stockpile of Treasury and mortgage bonds. Investors fear there may be still more to come. Some on Wall Street worry that on Wednesday, the Fed may signal a forthcoming half-point increase in its key rate. There is also concern that at a news conference, Fed Chair Jerome Powell could suggest that the central bank will raise rates more times this year than the four hikes most economists expect. Another wild card—particularly for Wall Street—is the Fed's bond holdings. A s recently as September, those holdings were growing by $120 billion a month. The bond purchases, which the Fed financed by creating money, were intended to reduce longerterm rates to spur borrowing and spending. Many investors saw the bond buying as helping fuel stock market gains by pouring cash into the financial system. Earlier this month, minutes of the Fed ’s December meeting revealed that the central bank was considering reducing its bond holdings by not replacing bonds that mature—a more aggressive step than just ending the purchases. A nalysts now forecast that the Fed could begin shrinking its holding as early as July, much sooner than was expected even a few months ago. The impact of reducing the

Fed ’s bond stockpile isn't well known. But the last time the Fed raised rates and reduced its balance sheet simultaneously was in 2018. The S&P 500 stock index tumbled 20% in three months. If, as expected, the Fed raises its key rate in March by a quarter-point, it would lift the rate to a range of 0.25% to 0.5%, up from near zero. The Fed's moves are likely to make a wide range of borrowing—from mortgages and credit cards to auto loans and corporate credit—more expensive. Those higher borrowing costs, in turn, could slow spending and weaken corporate profits. The gravest risk is that the Fed's abandonment of low rates, which have nurtured the economy and the financial markets for years, could trigger another recession. T hose wor r ies h ave sent stock prices f luctuating wildly. The Dow Jones average plunged more than 1,000 points during Monday's trading session before recovering and finishing with a modest gain. On Tuesday, the S&P 500 closed down 1.2%. Steady declines since the start of the year have left the S&P down nearly 10% —the level that investors define as a “correction.” Economists have forecast that when the Fed does start allowing some of its $8.8 trillion in bond holdings to roll off its balance sheet, it will do so at a pace of $100 billion a month. By not replacing some securities, the Fed in effect reduces demand for Treasuries. This raises their yields and makes borrowing more expensive. Yet some analysts say they aren’t sure how big the impact on interest rates will be or how much the Fed will rely on reducing its balance sheet to affect interest rates. “ There is a fair bit of uncertainty about what to expect,” said Michael Hanson, global economist at JPMorgan Chase. Gennadiy Goldberg, US rates strategist at TD Securities, said that Wall Street has also been unnerved by the sharp jump in the

inf lation-adjusted interest rate on the 10 -year Treasur y. That rate has jumped by one-half a percentage point just this month, an unusually swift rise. All of which means Powell will face a delicate and even risky balancing act at his news conference Wednesday. “It’s a threading-the-needle story,” Goldberg said. “They want to continue to sound hawkish— just not so hawkish as to create extreme market volatility.” If the stock market is engulfed by more chaotic declines, economists say, the Fed might decide to delay some of its credit-tightening plans. Modest drops in share prices, though, won’t likely affect its plans. “ The Fed does not at all mind seeing a repricing of risk here but would want to see it in an orderly fashion,” said Ellen Gaske, lead economist at PGIM Fixed Income, a global asset manager. Some econom i st s h ave e xpressed concern that the Fed is already moving too late to combat high inf lation. Others say they worry that the Fed may act too aggressively. They argue that numerous rate hikes would risk causing a recession and wouldn't slow inf lation in any case. In this view, high prices mostly ref lect snarled supply chains that the Fed ’s rate hikes are powerless to cure. This week ’s Fed meeting comes against the backdrop of not only high inf lation—consumer prices have surged 7% in the past year, the fastest pace in nearly four decades—but also an economy gripped by another wave of Covid-19 infections. Powell has acknowledged that he failed to foresee the persistence of high inf lation, having long expressed the belief that it would prove temporary. The inf lation spike has broadened to areas beyond those that were affected by supply shortages—to apartment rents, for example— which suggests it could endure even after goods and parts f low more freely. AP

UBAI, United Arab Emirate s — S aud i A r a bi a on Tuesday ordered the restoration of full diplomatic ties with Thailand and said the countries agreed to trade ambassadors, closing the chapter on three decades of mistrust and hostility between the nations that stemmed from a sensational jewelry heist. The rapprochement came during Thai Prime Minister Prayuth Chan-ocha’s official visit to the kingdom, which marked the highest-level meeting between the countries since relations soured over the 1989 political scandal. Saudi Arabia downgraded its diplomatic relations with Thailand over the theft that led to a string of mysterious killings and became known as the Blue Diamond affair. Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, the country's de facto leader, agreed to bury the hatchet with Prayuth and boost the nations' economic, security and political ties, said a statement published on the official Saudi Press Agency, SPA, late Tuesday after talks at the royal palace. T he cou nt r ies w i l l e x plore joint investment in fields ranging from energy and petrochemicals to tourism and hospitality, the statement added. Tourism is a key element of Vision 2030, Saudi Arabia’s economic reform plan meant to wean the kingdom off oil. Saudi Arabian Airlines, meanwhile, said it would start direct flights from Riyadh to Bangkok in May, promoting Thailand in a Twitter post as “the land of culture.” Prince Mohammed has ventured into diplomatic territory where previously the government refused to go. In 1989, a priceless 50-carat blue diamond was among an estimated $20 million worth of gems and jewelry pilfered by a Thai janitor from a Saudi prince's palace in the heist that wrecked relations between the countries. AP

A10 Thursday, January 27, 2022 • Editor: Angel R. Calso

Opinion BusinessMirror

www.businessmirror.com.ph

editorial

The silver lining of Omicron variant

ore than two months since South African doctors first reported the Omicron variant to the World Health Organization on November 24, 2021, it has spread rapidly across the globe. This prompted the WHO chief to describe the wave of new infections as a “tsunami of cases”. Health experts said if there’s good news in the latest surge of Covid-19 infections in many countries, it’s the fact that the Omicron variant does not seem to make people as sick. Many hospitals have confirmed that fewer patients need intensive care or help breathing with a ventilator. Janet Diaz, WHO clinical management chief, said Omicron is less severe than the Delta variant. She said early studies showed there was a reduced risk of hospitalization from the variant compared with Delta. “There appears also to be a reduced risk of severity in both younger and older people, but uncertainties remain”. “We are seeing less acuity, less severity, even among the people who do end up hospitalized,” said Dr. David Wohl, an infectious disease specialist at UNC Medical Center in Chapel Hill, North Carolina. “This is the silver lining of Omicron. It’s spreading widely; many people are getting infected, but mildly to moderately.” From the Associated Press: “World health officials are offering hope that the ebbing of the Omicron wave could give way to a new, more manageable phase of the Covid-19 pandemic, even as they warn of difficult weeks ahead and the possibility of another, more dangerous variant arising. In the US, cases have crested and are dropping rapidly, following a pattern seen in Britain and South Africa, with researchers projecting a period of low spread in many countries by the end of March. One influential model projects that nearly all nations will be past the Omicron wave by mid-March, including China and other countries with “zero Covid” policies. The wave will leave behind high levels of immunity — both from infection and vaccination—that could lead to low levels of transmission for many weeks or months.” In Metro Manila, Covid-19 cases are now on a downward trend after it reached its peak earlier this month, according to the Department of Health. In a press briefing on Monday, Health Secretary Francisco Duque III said they observed that the daily cases and the contribution of the National Capital Region to the country’s Covid-19 total caseload has been declining. OCTA Research Group member Guido David confirmed Duque’s statement citing they also came up with similar findings. He said daily Covid-19 cases in NCR reached its peak on January 10, 2022 at 18,000 cases. A similar trend also occurred in South Africa, where the Omicron variant was first reported. Cases in the African country rose for over two weeks before it started to drop. “Our experience is in line more or less with that of South Africa,” David said, adding that if the downward trend continues, the daily Covid cases in NCR may drop below 1,000 by Valentine’s Day (Read, “Daily Covid-19 cases in NCR on downward trend,” in the BusinessMirror, January 24, 2022). This development prompted Duque to say the NCR is ready to go down to Alert Level 2 should the government decide for a less restrictive level by February. He described as “good” the NCR’s vaccination coverage, saying the government is confident that individuals would strictly observe the minimum public health standards. WHO Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus on Monday warned that conditions remain ideal for more coronavirus variants to emerge and it’s dangerous to assume Omicron is the last one or that “we are in the endgame.” He said there are different scenarios for how the pandemic could play out and how the acute phase could end, and “it’s dangerous to assume that Omicron will be the last variant or that we are in the endgame. On the contrary, globally, the conditions are ideal for more variants to emerge”. But he insisted that “we can end Covid-19 as a global health emergency, and we can do it this year,” by reaching goals like WHO’s target to vaccinate 70 percent of the population of each country by the middle of this year, with a focus on people who are at the highest risk of Covid-19, and improving testing and sequencing rates to track the virus and its emerging variants more closely.

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What ‘democracy’ is John Mangun

OUTSIDE THE BOX

inston Churchill said in 1947 that “many forms of government have been tried, and will be tried in this world of sin and woe. No one pretends that democracy is perfect or all-wise. Indeed it has been said that democracy is the worst form of government except for all those other forms that have been tried from time to time.” If he were alive today, he might change his analysis. Global surveys by the Pew Research Center in the past few years show the same trend worldwide. We the People want a government of participatory democracy. We see the advantages of how a “Fair Judiciary” “Free Press/Speech,” “Free Religion,” and that “Opposition parties can operate freely” can be best achieved under democratic rule. However, the percentage of people who feel their “State is run for the benefit of everyone” is dismal. Only 30 percent in Italy, 48 percent in Germany, 46 percent in the US, and 44 percent in the UK agree. In answer to the question that their “Political system needs major changes or needs to be completely reformed,” the results are scary. In Spain 86 percent said “yes”; as did 84

percent in South Korea, 73 percent in France, 66 percent in Japan, and 56 percent in Taiwan. And “free and democratic” elections are part of the problem. For example, Germany’s new government, parliamentary government, is a collation of center-left Social Democrats that signed a coalition agreement with the Green Party and the Free Democrats. Compromise is great but none of these parties could reach a majority. So, it is a compromise of policies that a majority of the people do not want. One local candidate for national office publicly writes, “CIVIL WAR IS CERTAIN—There is one thing certain if Bongbong Marcos is elected president: this country will be torn by civil war. Millions of us would rather die fighting this bastard upstart than have this country go back

If democracy is dying it may be the consequence of government, even democratically elected governments, not respecting the will of the people. “Strongman politics” may be the result. In general and as a group, people are pragmatic. Rules and laws are obeyed if and when they make sense. If a seemingly “authoritarian/military” leader does a better job and that is what the people want, maybe that is what a participatory democracy really is. to the dark past. Democracy must protect itself from forces that seek to destroy it.” Sounds like “Democracy” must protect itself from the plurality if not the majority of the voters. Another is concerned that the Philippines might experience a situation like in the US where people “stormed” the Capitol Building in Washington, D.C. This analyst failed to mention that the protestors were supporters of the losing candidate, Donald Trump. Pew Research also found that people feel more divided even from 2020 to 2021. “My country is more divided”: US/88 percent, Netherlands/83, Belgium/66, Germany/77, and Canada/61. The people want two things for government. They want their views to be listened to and respected. That

is the “participatory” part of the democratic process. Secondly, the vast majority want the outcomes of elections to be respected by the “losers.” Again from Pew, a wide majority of Americans (69 percent) say it is “very important” for federal law enforcement agencies to find and prosecute the people who broke into the US Capitol. This clearly shows that regardless of the actual vote count of the election—51.3 percent for Biden and 46.9 percent for Trump— even those that supported the losing candidate expect the results to be peacefully accepted. That is what a democracy should be, not “civil war is certain”. For several years there has been the two mantras of “Democracy Is Dying/Dead” and variations of “Strongman politics is a global crisis.” If democracy is dying it may be the consequence of government, even democratically elected governments, not respecting the will of the people. “Strongman politics” may be the result. In general and as a group, people are pragmatic. Rules and laws are obeyed if and when they make sense. If a seemingly “authoritarian/ military” leader does a better job and that is what the people want, maybe that is what a participatory democracy really is. E-mail me at mangun@gmail.com. Follow me on Twitter @mangunonmarkets. PSE stock-market information and technical analysis provided by AAA Southeast Equities Inc.

Biden’s big test: Proving he can rally allies against Putin By Aamer Madhani And Zeke Miller | Associated Press

ASHINGTON—President Joe Biden’s effort to rally support, both at home and abroad, ahead of a potential Russian invasion of Ukraine is just the latest big test of his ability to bridge ideological gaps and balance competing interests to build effective coalitions. His record so far as president suggests it’s no sure thing. Biden is trying to pull off the kind of alliance on the international front that has eluded him on his domestic agenda as he faces defeats on voting rights and his signature $2.2 trillion domestic and climate spending bill. Now, he faces a complicated and globally more dangerous task: keeping the West unified as it faces what White House officials say is an increasingly likely further invasion of Ukrainian territory ordered by Russian President Vladimir Putin. The pileup of difficult moments is providing a major test of the twin pillars of Biden’s 2020 candidacy: that he could get things done competently at home and restore America’s standing in the world after Donald Trump’s volatile four years in the White House. “Starting with the messy end of

the war in Afghanistan in the late summer, the upsurge in Covid cases into the fall, overlaid by economic concerns of inflation and labor shortages and his issues with his legislative agenda, Biden’s found himself with a weary American public who are seeing a number of unfulfilled promises,” said Christopher Borick, director of the Institute of Public Opinion at Muhlenberg College. “The situation in Ukraine presents another test of his competency.” The latest crisis comes as Biden already has seen his public support dragging. Only about a quarter of Americans have significant confidence in Biden to effectively manage the military or promote US standing in the world. Close to 4 in 10 have little confidence in Biden in these areas, according to an Associated Press-NORC Center for Public Af-

fairs Research Poll. Democrats are now less likely than they were as he took office to say they have “a great deal of confidence” (48percent vs. 65 percent), according to the poll. Administration officials have been scrambling to get Nato allies on the same page with a Russian attack seen as more likely. Biden’s national security aides have been working with individual European nations, the European Commission and global suppliers on contingency plans if Russia interrupts energy supplies to the continent. The president has said repeatedly that he will not send US troops to Ukraine. But he has ordered 8,500 to be on heightened alert for deployment to the Baltic Region. And he warned again on Tuesday of “enormous consequences” and severe sanctions for Russia—as well as Putin personally—if Russia takes military action against Ukraine. He said he’d spoken with every Nato ally “and we’re all on the same page.” In fact, Biden, who met by secure video call with several key European leaders on Monday, claims there’s “total unanimity” in the Western

alliance’s approach to the crisis. But there are signs of differences. Germany declined to send military aid to Ukraine even as the US and other Nato allies sent aid and looked to assist Kyiv further. The Germans argued that such aid could further inflame tensions. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy bristled at Biden’s comment last week that a “minor incursion” of Ukraine would result in more limited consequences for Moscow. The president and White House quickly moved to clarify that the US would impose severe sanctions against Russia for any invasion of Ukrainian territory. Ukrainian officials also complained that the US State Department was “premature” in calling on families of American Embassy workers and nonessential employees in Ukraine to leave the country was “premature.” French President Emmanuel Macron said Tuesday it was a “good thing” that the US and Russia have been talking, but he noted he did not see any concrete results. Macron said he planned to speak directly with Putin on Friday Meanwhile, Croatian President See “Biden” A11

Opinion BusinessMirror

www.businessmirror.com.ph

Thursday, January 27, 2022 A11

Ukraine’s front line: Where lives turn on distant decisions

The polarizing effect of the pandemic

‘L

Val A. Villanueva

Businesswise

By Inna Varenytsia And Lori Hinnant | Associated Press

he trenches are dusted with snow and tinged with soot and dirt. Dull colors will cling to them for weeks to come, as the men inside search for enough cellphone signal to hear the latest from the distant capitals that will decide their fate. Moscow, Washington, London, Paris, Berlin, Vienna. Sometimes Kyiv. But only sometimes. These Ukrainians are far from the Russian ships headed to a naval exercise off the coast of Ireland, from the American-built fighter jets streaming to the Baltics and from the US aircraft carrier steadily sailing the Mediterranean. As Western-supplied weapons land by the planeload in Kyiv, soldiers and civilians alike wait here with helpless anticipation for decisions made by people who know little about Ukraine and even less about the eastern front lines — a battleweary region near where Russia has massed tens of thousands of soldiers in a troop buildup that US President Joe Biden said could mount the largest invasion since World War II. The soldiers in Zolote 4 have been defending against Russian encroachment for years. They are just a few hundred meters from pro-Russia separatist fighters, who are on the other side of a checkpoint that no one can safely cross. The soldiers assume that’s where the snipers are, though they’ve never seen any gunmen. After three days with no shooting, “all of a sudden they opened up with grenade launchers and firearms. One mortar shell flew over and fell in the field behind us. Two more hit between ours and the next position. In 15 minutes, everything was quiet again. Why? What for? Nobody knows. And that’s how it is around here,” said Oleh Surhov, a Ukrainian soldier who fled Crimea in 2014 after the Russians seized the peninsula. He joined the fight soon after he evacuated his wife, children and grandchildren to western Ukraine. Zolote 1 through 5 got their names decades ago during the Soviet era — the name means “Golden” — when they were labeled as units of the local coal mining operation. Now 1 through 4 are in Ukraine and 5 sits less than a kilometer (half-mile) away, across the checkpoint. The sense of waiting for someone else’s decisions has also infected the nearby village of Katerynivka, which bears the scars of eight years of shelling. It has newer trenches, which are heated by rough wood stoves whose warmth draws nearly as many dogs and cats as soldiers. The luckiest trench cats get taken back by soldiers when they rotate off the front. “We joke that hope is the last thing to die. All of us are waiting for peace. Neither our children nor grandkids can visit us,” said Liubov, a local woman who wouldn’t give her last name. “We talk on the phone and that’s enough. Let’s wait until peace comes!”

If war comes instead, it is as likely as not to strike first in eastern Ukraine, where the pro-Russia separatists have been in control since 2014. In Russia, across the border, more than 100,000 troops are gathering, and thousands more are going into position for what Russia says are military exercises on Ukraine’s border to the north with Belarus. Moscow denies it is planning an assault, but the United States and its NATO allies are preparing for a possible war, bolstering their presence in the Baltics and putting 8,500 American troops on higher alert for potential deployment to Europe. Britain and the US have sent multiple planeloads of weapons to Ukraine. Ukrainian officials have accepted the help but found themselves on the sidelines of several rounds of highstakes diplomacy that so far have not yielded a breakthrough. “Nothing about Ukraine without Ukraine,” US Secretary of State Antony Blinken said early this month after one such meeting. On Monday, the White House summoned European leaders, including NATO’s secretary-general, to a videoconference about Ukraine to discuss US ideas on how to respond to Russia’s demands. “We have shared those ideas with our European allies and partners,. We are taking their feedback. We are incorporating that feedback into the written response,” US State Department spokesman Ned Price said. Ukraine wasn’t invited to the videoconference. And Ukraine’s president was left to fume on Twitter last week when Biden mused aloud about how to respond to a “minor incursion.” “We want to remind the great powers that there are no minor incursions and small nations. Just as there are no minor casualties and little grief from the loss of loved ones,” President Volodymyr Zelenskyy wrote. Ukrainian and Russian diplomats are scheduled to meet Wednesday in Paris to discuss the prospects for a stalled 2015 peace deal brokered by France and Germany to end the conflict in eastern Ukraine. If Ukraine sometimes seems to be an afterthought for the powerful countries deciding its fate, the country’s east is even farther from the centers of power. In Vesele, a separatist area in the eastern Donetsk region, little has changed since the fighting in 2014. Signs still warn about minefields. Concrete block buildings have only crumbled further in the years since they were shelled, and no one has come to tow away the cars hastily abandoned under gunfire. Lori Hinnant reported from Paris

oose lips sink ships.” This American English idiom has often characterized President Duterte’s brand of messaging since becoming president in 2016. His penchant for shooting from the hip and his constant flip-flopping on what he publicly declares have kept his communications team scrambling to “massage” his seemingly thoughtless remarks.

For the past weeks or so, a video clip being circulated in various social-media platforms has shown Duterte declaring in a public address recorded on September 30 last year that Covid-19 booster shots are no longer necessary. In the same briefing, Duterte said that too many vaccines in a body would be dangerous, suggesting without any scientific proof that the dead virus from the vaccines could be “resurrected.” He added that getting “multiple” doses deprives other people who were yet to receive their first dose. Three months later, the chief executive would be heard urging people to “take advantage” of the country’s sufficient vaccine supply and get their booster shots to prevent the spread of the highly contagious Omicron variant. Although the Rappler fact checking team declared that the video was taken out of context, and that booster shots were approved by the Department of Health (DOH) only about two months after the video was recorded, the President still had not exercised caution in discussing sensitive issues that could affect the mindset of his devoted followers. On Monday, in an appeal for the President’s words to be taken “in the proper context,” Acting Presidential Spokesman and Cabinet Secretary Karlo Nograles said that Duterte has issued a public encouragement in December last year for the public to get their booster jabs. Unfortunately, the harm has been done. The video has become a centerpiece of the anti-vax campaign perpetuated by people who supposedly “value their life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness” as provided for

Biden . . .

continued from A10

Zoran Milanovic blamed the escalation of tensions on the Biden administration and the pressure from “hawks” on both sides of the US political scene. Croatia is a member of Nato, and its troops have taken part in the alliance’s missions abroad. Biden’s task in wrangling a global community with such differing perspectives and motivations is somewhat similar to his challenge at home, where he’s been confronted by the realities of a 50-50 Senate and a Democratic coalition whose members don’t always see eye-to-eye. Yet the stakes for Biden and the world are potentially much greater as he tries to reassert American leadership after Europe began looking inward during the Trump years.

Unless scientifically refuted, the fact is that Covid-19 vaccines are safe and effective. They were evaluated in tens of thousands of participants in clinical trials. Not only have they undergone thorough evaluation by the Food and Drug Administration using rigorous scientific standards for safety, effectiveness, and manufacturing quality, they have been authorized for use by the Center for Disease Control and the World Health Organization.

by the Constitution, intentionally blurring the lines between fact and fiction, and science and pseudoscience. These science deniers remind me of some people I know personally who would rather get health advice from a “snake-oil salesman” than a licensed medical expert. As of this writing about more than half the people I know have been positive for Omicron. The rate of infection is sky-high that even if it’s been declared milder than other Covid variants, health experts say it still has the capacity to cause death specially to the unvaccinated and to exponentially spread it to those with comorbidities, to the elderlies and to those with autoimmune diseases. The anti-vax group has also found a willing ally in Public Attorney’s Office chief Persida Acosta who vowed to defend people whom the government will persecute for refusing to take the Covid jab or those who will be prohibited in public places for being unvaccinated. Acosta, who admitted to being unvaccinated for age and health reasons, nonetheless said she is not anti-vax. She confessed she has issues with mRNA vaccines and is just waiting for the development of protein-based Covid vaccines. Acosta said there is no law that compels people to get vaccinated, and it is the people’s basic right to get the jab or not. There is, however, a huge disconnect in this argument. What about those who are likely to get the virus from the unvaccinated? Isn’t it the right of the State to control the spread of the virus, which has so far infected about 3.46 million and killed almost 54,000 Filipinos? I find

it unacceptable that the rights of the anti-vax should reign supreme over the rights of those who also value life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness not only for themselves, but for their families and communities. There is a provision in the Constitution that states that a law is no longer required when the protection of public health is at stake. In Imbong v. Ochoa, the Supreme Court ruled that this Constitutional provision is self-executory especially when it concerns the protection of public health. Anti-vax people for me are no different from flat-earthers and Holocaust deniers. They revel in ludicrous conspiracy theories, such as their belief that vaccines kill more than it protects; that a microchip is implanted on one’s skin during vaccination for the fictitious “deep state” to control how people move or think, or that a vaccine is a carcinogen or a means to control population growth. I just wonder how these people could have lived a full life today without being vaccinated against diphtheria, tetanus, pertussis, smallpox, polio, and other jabs they had been given as a baby and over the years. Immunization is an important component of healthcare simply because it prevents children and adults from getting diseases for which there are often no medical treatments and can result in serious complications and even death. It may interest them to know that life expectancy has dramatically increased because of immunization. Researchers at the University of Washington recently published a study in the journal Demographic

At home, as the crisis has developed in recent weeks, Biden has faced criticism from Republican lawmakers who have pushed for the White House to preemptively levy sanctions against Moscow. Biden says the U.S. has made clear to Russia that sanctions would be unprecedented and severe, but officials argue that preemptively acting would undermine any chance of moving Russia to step back from action. Skeptical Republicans have sought to remind voters about Biden’s decision last year to waive sanctions against the Russia-to-Germany Nord Stream 2 gas pipeline. The United States had long argued that the pipeline project would threaten European energy security by increasing the continent’s reliance on Russian gas and allowing Russia to exert political pressure on vulnerable Eastern and Central European

nations, particularly Ukraine. But Biden, who raised his own concerns about the pipeline dating back to his time as vice president, announced last year he would waive sanctions against German entities because of the damage they would have done to US-German relations. Republican Sen. Ted Cruz of Texas, a potential 2024 White House contender, earlier this month made an unsuccessful legislative attempt to impose sanctions on the pipeline, which is completed but not yet operating. Secretary of State Antony Blinken and other administration officials have said it is unlikely gas will flow through the pipeline if Russia invades. Republican National Committee spokesman Tommy Pigott said, “Biden ignored his own advice and handed Putin a major geopolitical win by waiving sanctions on his pipeline.”

Pfizer begins testing Omicron-matched Covid shots in adults By Lauran Neergaard AP Medical Writer

fizer is enrolling healthy adults to test a reformulated Covid-19 vaccine that matches the hugely contagious Omicron variant, to see how it compares with the original shots. Pfizer and its partner BioNTech announced the study on Tuesday. Covid-19 vaccine-makers have been updating their shots to better match Omicron in case global health authorities decide the change is needed. Omicron is more likely than previous variants to cause infection even in people who’ve been vaccinated, but it’s not yet clear that a change to the

vaccine recipe will be ordered. Among the issues regulators are weighing: Some of the first places to face an Omicron surge already are seeing the mutant wane—and there’s no way to know if the next variant that arises will resemble Omicron or be totally different. The original vaccines still offer good protection against severe illness and death. Studies in the US and elsewhere have made clear that adding a booster dose strengthens that protection and improves the chances of avoiding even a milder infection. Another wrinkle in deciding whether vaccines need an update: A new US report Tuesday echoes data from Britain and South Af-

Pfizer’s CEO told CNBC earlier this month that the company could have some Omicron-matched doses ready as early as March. But doing what the company calls “at-risk” manufacturing doesn’t mean those doses will be rolled out to the public.

rica that Omicron infections cause less severe illness—at least in part because so many people have some protection from vaccination or prior infection. During the Omicron surge, 13% of hospitalized Covid-19 patients ended up in intensive care, compared with about 18% during two earlier waves, according to the

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Still, “we recognize the need to be prepared in the event this protection wanes over time and to potentially help address Omicron and new variants in the future,” Kathrin Jansen, Pfizer’s vaccine research chief, said in a statement. The new US study will include up to 1,420 volunteers ages 18 to 55 to test the updated Omicron-based shots for use as a booster or for primary vaccinations. Researchers will examine the tweaked vaccine’s safety and how it revs up the immune system in comparison to the original shots. Full study results will take many months as volunteers receive mul-

tiple vaccine doses—and as researchers measure how long virusfighting antibodies remain at high levels after an Omicron-adapted dose versus the regular booster. Pfizer’s CEO told CNBC earlier this month that the company could have some Omicron-matched doses ready as early as March. But doing what the company calls “at-risk” manufacturing doesn’t mean those doses will be rolled out to the public. Pfizer and other vaccine makers also have brewed and tested experimental doses to match previous variants, changes that ultimately weren’t needed but offered valuable practice at tweaking the recipe. For the new study, one group of

Research, which shows a likely rise in human longevity by the end of this century. While the number of people who live past the age of 100 has grown to half a million worldwide over the past several years, there are a few who have even reached 110, or older. Unless scientifically refuted, the fact is that Covid-19 vaccines are safe and effective. They were evaluated in tens of thousands of participants in clinical trials. Not only have they undergone thorough evaluation by the Food and Drug Administration using rigorous scientific standards for safety, effectiveness, and manufacturing quality, they have been authorized for use by the Center for Disease Control and the World Health Organization (WHO). The good news, according to the director of WHO Europe on Sunday, is that the Omicron variant has moved the Covid-19 pandemic into a new phase and could bring it to an end in Europe (and hopefully the world). “It’s plausible that the region is moving towards a kind of pandemic endgame,” Hans Kluge told Agence France-Presse in an interview, adding that Omicron could infect 60 percent of Europeans by March. Once the current surge of Omicron currently sweeping across Europe subsides, “there will be for quite some weeks and months a global immunity, either thanks to the vaccine or because people have immunity due to the infection, and also lowering seasonality.” “We anticipate that there will be a period of quiet before Covid-19 may come back towards the end of the year, but not necessarily the pandemic coming back,” Kluge said. Top US scientist Anthony Fauci expressed similar optimism on Sunday. He told ABC News talk show This Week that with Covid-19 cases coming down “rather sharply” in parts of the United States, “things are looking good.” While cautioning against over confidence, he said that if the recent fall in case numbers in areas like the US’s northeast continues, “I believe that you will start to see a turnaround.” For comments and suggestions, e-mail me at mvala.v@gmail.com

White House officials pushed back that GOP criticism ought to ring hollow after Trump tried unsuccessfully in his final months in office to dramatically scale back the US troop presence in Europe, which they viewed as only emboldening Russian aggression in the region. Senate Republican Leader Mitch McConnell, who previously criticized the Biden administration for not taking preemptive action against Moscow, offered a measure of support for the president on Tuesday. The senator called it “encouraging” that Biden was surging military aid and putting US troops on heightened alert for deployment to Nato allies in the Baltics “It appears to me the administration is moving in the right direction,” McConnell said. Associated Press writers Jovana Gec, Bruce Schreiner, Josh Boak and Emily Swanson contributed to this report.

about 600 volunteers who received two doses of the current Pfizer vaccine three to six months ago will receive either one or two Omicronbased shots as boosters. Another 600 who have already gotten three regular doses of the Pfizer vaccine will be given a fourth dose of either the regular vaccine or the Omicronmatched version. The study also will enroll some unvaccinated volunteers who will receive three doses of the Omicronbased vaccine. Pfizer plans to produce 4 billion vaccine doses in 2022, and said Tuesday the amount isn’t expected to change if an Omicron-adapted version is needed. Associated Press writer Mike Stobbe contributed to this report.

A12 Thursday, January 27, 2022

NTC LETS 3 MEDIA FIRMS USE FREQUENCIES HELD BEFORE BY ABS-CBN By Lorenz S. Marasigan @lorenzmarasigan

HE National Telecommunications Commission (NTC) announced on Wednesday it has also granted the group of the late ambassador Antonio L. Cabangon Chua as well as the media arm of televangelist Apollo Quiboloy separate provisional authorities to use the frequencies previously held by ABS-CBN Corp. The announcement came a day after the NTC confirmed that it has granted Channel 16 and its simulcast Channel 2 to Advanced Media Broadcasting System Inc. (AMBS), a company linked to billionaire Manuel Villar Jr. In separate statements, the commission said it granted on January 5 Aliw Broadcasting Corp. and Swara Sug Media Corp. provisional authorities to operate broadcasting services in Metro Manila and Mega Manila using Channels 23 and 43, respectively. Aliw is part of the ALC Group of Companies, which also owns and controls the BusinessMirror. According to the NTC, Aliw was the “second applicant for an authority to install, operate, and maintain a digital TV in Metro Manila.” The group applied for the license on July 30, 2007. On the other hand, Swara Sug Media is the company behind Sonshine Media Network International, the official broadcasting arm of the Kingdom of Jesus Christ movement led by Quiboloy, the self-proclaimed son of God and close ally of President Duterte. The NTC said Swara Sug applied for the same license on October 16, 2007, making it the third entity to request for authority to broadcast digital TV. ABS-CBN used to hold the frequencies for Channels 23 and 43, broadcasting ABS-CBN Sports and Action and TV Plus Channels, respectively. ABS-CBN lost

its franchise bid in 2020, when lawmakers refused to grant a franchise extension. Aliw and Swara Sug were granted the PAs based on “legal, technical, and financial qualifications,” the NTC said, noting it sought the policy guidance from the Department of Information and Communications Technology (DICT), the legal opinion of the Department of Justice (DOJ), and the concurrence of the Office of the President-Office of the Executive Secretary.

Palace: Pure legal question

MALACAÑANG on Wednesday said it has no hand in the selection of companies which were awarded the frequencies previously used by ABS-CBN Broadcasting Network. In an inter view w ith CNN Philippines, Acting presidential spokesperson Karlo B. Nograles clarified the National Telecommunications Commission (NTC) merely sought the legal opinion of the Office of the President and the Department of Justice (DOJ) in allocating “unused and available frequencies and the power to issue provisional authorities.” “There was no mention of any names of anyone or any private company or entities. It was a pure legal question asking for a legal opinion,” Nograles stressed. Nograles noted the NTC decided to approve these permits based on existing laws as well as its existing regulations. ABS-CBN lost control of channels 2, 23, and 43 in 2020, when the House of Representatives decided not to renew its franchise. The National Union of Journalists of the Philippines called for transparency on how the frequencies were distributed to other media companies. It expressed hope the new assignment of the Channel 2 spectrum will not prevent ABS-CBN from reapplying for its franchise in Congress. With a report by Samuel P. Medenilla

Farm growth in ‘21 slowest in over 2 decades–PSA

By Cai U. Ordinario

@caiordinario

HE country posted its slowest agriculture production growth in over two decades, according to the Philippine Statistics Authority (PSA). Based on PSA data, agriculture growth contracted 1.7 percent in 2021, the lowest since 2001 under the 2018-based data. The PSA has only rebased data to 2018 only until 2001. Prior to 2001, the lowest agriculture growth was recorded in 1998, an El Niño year. The 1985-based data for agriculture growth that year showed a contraction of 8.85 percent. Ateneo Eagle Watch Senior Fellow Leonardo A. Lanzona Jr. told the BusinessMirror the contraction “is expected in light of the supply side constraints along with the continuing swine flu and the ever present natural calamities.” However, Lanzona said “the issue is that the DA [Department of Agriculture] apparently has not fully studied the impact of the recent policies on importation and trade.” “Because if they did, they would have known that a comprehensive modernization of the agricultural sector would be required to keep agriculture sustainable,” the economist told the BusinessMirror.

Typhoon Odette

FOR Philippine Institute for Development Studies (PIDS) Senior Research Fellow Roehlano M. Briones, the performance of the agriculture

sector, particularly for the fourth quarter last year, would have been better without the impact of Typhoon Odette. Based on PSA data, agriculture posted a 0.6-percent growth in the fourth quarter. The DA said that were it not for Odette, the farm sector would have breached the 20-million ton level. Typhoon Odette damaged more than 130,000 metric tons of palay, which would have boosted farm output. “The fourth quarter was better than expected [even with] Odette. [The sector is] still suffering from ASF [African Swine Fever], reduced fisheries and typhoon impact,” Briones said. “Fortunately, the DA is starting structural reforms such as the ‘farm and fisheries clustering and consolidation’ program and diversification to lift long-term growth.”

Way forward

LANZONA said that while programs can easily be designed, there is always the issue of implementation. He said he has yet to see an effective implementation of an agricultural program. The economist lamented that “there seems to be no overriding urgency and commitment to improve agriculture.” He said for one,

the government should have reallocated the budget to the agriculture sector in order to boost the sector as well as recover from the pandemic. Lanzona said the government should endeavor to move toward the development of other crops that would allow the country to trade with other countries and diversify its export markets. “This plan should also be in line with a comprehensive industrialization effort so we can shift to processed products instead of primary commodities,” Lanzona told the BusinessMirror. “We can know the budget once we have the plan. This is consistent with the overall problem of this administration in coming up with huge reforms and programs but having no supporting plans.”

Growth drag

THE main growth drag for the agriculture sector in 2021 was livestock, which contracted by 17 percent, the deepest in a period of 21 years. The hog industry, which has been suffering from the ASF since 2019, posted a contraction of 20.8 percent. This despite the DA reporting a decline in ASF outbreaks (Story here: https://businessmirror. com.ph/2021/06/08/da-reportsdecline-in-asf-outbreaks/) Meanwhi le, PSA data a lso showed poultry also posting a contraction of 0.3 percent, while crops posted a growth of 2.3 percent while fisheries grew 0.1 percent. Data showed the crops subsector accounted for 57.1 percent of total agriculture growth. This was followed by fisheries with a share of 15.1 percent, livestock with 14.3 percent and

poultry with 13.4 percent. Under crops, the lion’s share was accounted for by palay which had a 23-percent share, followed by banana at 8.7 percent; corn at 6.6 percent; and coconut, 5.2 percent.

Subsectors

IN the fourth quarter, livestock again posted the lowest growth with a contraction of 9.7 percent. All other subsectors posted singledigit growth. Poultr y posted the fastest growth at 2.7 percent followed by crops at 2.6 percent; and fisheries, 1.4 percent. The DA said the crops subsector, that contributed 59 percent to total value of production, expanded by 2.6 percent, bannered by palay, corn and other major crops like sugarcane, pineapple, coconut, banana and mango. Amid the Covid-19 pandemic, mobility restrictions and losses due to Typhoon Odette in December last year, totaĺ annual palay production registered an all-time high of 19.96 million metric tons (MMT), 3.4 percent more than the previous record of 19.29 MMT, based on PSA estimates. The DA also said corn production also hit a record output of 8.3 MMT in 2021, 2.2 percent more than the 8.12 MMT yield in 2020, according to the PSA. Other positive performers in terms of total volume of production in 2021 compared to 2020 are: sugarcane, up by 7.7 percent; cacao, 7.1 percent; pineapple, 5.8 percent; rubber, 1.9 percent; coconut, 1.6 percent; banana, 0.4 percent; and, mango, 0.3 percent.

PHL 5th most in peril from global warming–think tank

HE Philippines is among the top countries in the world that are the most vulnerable to global warming in the world, according to UK-based USwitch. In its latest study, the Philippines ranked 5th out of nearly 200 countries with an overall score of 9.59 out of 10. The score is based on the natural disasters experienced by countries, affected people, and the cost of damages. The data (found here: https:// www.uswitch.com/gas-electricity/ global-warming-and-natural-disasters/) also showed that these disasters cost the Philippine economy $42.929 billion. This translates to $360.75 million in costs annually between 1902 and 2021. “Global climate change causes increased air and water temperatures which lead to rising sea levels and higher wind speeds. These factors increase the frequency and intensity of natural disasters like prolonged droughts, wildfire seasons, heavy precipitation, supercharged storms and flooding,” USwitch said. The research analyzed historical global data of over 15,000 disasters from 1902-2021. USwitch created a points-based index to determine the countries most likely to suffer from natural hazards. Based on the analysis, the Philippines experienced a total of 671 natural disasters between 1902 and 2021. This includes 377 storms and 156 floods as well as 40 earthquakes; 31 landslides; and 29 volcanic activities. Other disasters experienced by the Philippines during the 119year period were 22 epidemics; 10 droughts; three mass movements (dry); two insect infestation; and one wildfire. USwitch said disasters that were not experienced by the country during the period included extreme temperatures; fog; and glacial outbursts. These were all part of the natural disasters included in the report.

Further, a total of 239 million people were affected by the disasters experienced by the country between 1902 and 2021. This does not include the 71,961 fatalities that occurred due to these disasters. Energy expert Will Owen says reducing one’s carbon footprint is one way to help slow the rate of global warming. “Carbon dioxide is a greenhouse gas—as it builds up in the Earth’s atmosphere, it traps sunlight that is reflected back into space, warming the planet. ‘Global warming’ refers to these issues, as well as the potentially harmful effects of a warmer planet.” China is the country most vulnerable to global warming with a score of 9.978, having been ranked first for both total number of people affected at over 3.3 billion and secondhighest estimated economic damage at almost $800 billion. Global warming has contributed to China’s suffering from more droughts than any other country on our list, with 39 recorded events since 1902. India is in second place among the countries most affected by global warming with a score of 9.912. There are 60 cases of extreme temperature events recorded in India which makes it the only country in the top 10 to experience glacial lake outbursts. Bangladesh comes in third with a score of 9.720. Out of the 356 natural disasters recorded, almost 80 percent have been either floods or storms. In total, 464 million people have been affected by these events and cost $39 billion in damages. In fourth place is the USA with a score of 9.648. This nation experiences more natural disasters than any other country and the highest amount of economic impact at $1.7 trillion or about 8 percent of its GDP. The USA suffered from 685 recorded storm events which is the most in the world. Cai U. Ordinario

ARMED with a Letter of Authority signed by Customs Commissioner Rey Leonardo Guerrero, joint operatives of Customs Intelligence and Investigation Service of the Manila International Container Port led by Alvin Enciso, NBI Special Action Unit, and PCG Task Force Aduana raided an online seller of smuggled unregistered Clungene Covid-19 test kits in San Miguel, Manila, as the government cracks down on the illegal selling online of smuggled test kits and medicines. NONIE REYES

ADB starts dabbling in blockchain technology

ORE than a decade after Satoshi Nakamoto released a white paper on Bitcoin, the Asian Development Bank (ADB) announced it will be undertaking a project that will connect central banks and securities depositories in the Asean+3 region via blockchain technology. The ADB said doing so will make cross-border securities transactions in Asia and the Pacific more efficient and secure. The Asean+3 region consists of member-states of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations plus Japan, the People’s Republic of

China and the Republic of Korea. “Directly connecting the institutions within a blockchain network could reduce both transaction costs and settlement risks—the possibility that securities are not exchanged within an agreed time frame,” ADB said in a statement. The ADB said the project will be carried out in two phases: a designing phase, to be completed by the end of March, and a prototyping phase, scheduled for the second quarter of 2022. The results will be discussed with Asean+3 government officials and

members of the Cross-Border Settlement Infrastructure Forum of the Asian Bond Markets Initiative. The latter is made up of central banks and securities depositories from across the region. The ADB said it is partnering with ConsenSys Inc., Fujitsu General Ltd., R3 LLC and Soramitsu Co. Ltd. on the project. According to the ADB, the project will examine systems interoperability and the viability of central bank digital currencies in the region. The lender said the project is supported by ADB’s Digital Innovation Sandbox

program, a platform for partners across the public and private sectors to collaborate on digital solutions. The ADB said cross-border securities transactions in the Asean+3 region are currently processed through a global network of custodians and correspondent banks, which go through global centers in either the United States or Europe. As a result, intraregional transaction settlements in Asean+3 take at least two days, due to time differences as well as varying operating hours for markets within the same time zone. Cai U. Ordinario

Companies

Editor: Jennifer A. Ng

Thursday, January 27, 2022

SEC greenlights ₧6-B bond issue of Century Properties By VG Cabuag

@villygc

he Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) has approved the P6-billion bond shelf registration of Antonio-led property developer Century Properties Group Inc. Century Properties will immediately float half of the said shelf registration, issuing up to P2 billion of five-year fixed-rate bonds due 2027, and an oversubscription option of up to P1 billion. The SEC approved the said registration statement during its en banc meeting on Tuesday. The remaining tranche may be floated by the property developer

in one or several tranches within three years. Proceeds of the first tranche will be used to partially refinance the company’s debt, fund capital expenditures for horizontal affordable housing developments and other general corporate requirements. Century Properties will offer the bonds comprising the first tranche at face value from February 14 to 18,

in time for their listing on the Philippine Dealing and Exchange Corp. on February 24, according to the latest timetable submitted to the SEC. The company has engaged China Bank Capital Corp. as the sole issue manager, sole lead underwriter and sole bookrunner for the offer. The company said it will allocate some P1 billion for the refinancing of its bonds that carry an interest rate of 7.8203 percent, which will mature by April. Century Properties also allocated some P959 million to fund its capital expenditures for its projects and P985 million for its general corporate requirements. “The company’s capital expenditure for 2022 includes the funds needed for future horizontal affordable housing development projects in Cavite and Bataan. The net proceeds from this offering will be disbursed

to the respective operating subsidiaries of the company to partially finance the residential and commercial projects.” The company has been focusing on its horizontal developments after it ran out of projects for its high-rise buildings. Its horizontal projects are mainly carried out through Phirst Park Homes Inc., a joint venture between Century Properties and Mitsubishi Corp. It sells horizontal affordable homes, with previously launched communities in Tanza, Cavite; Lipa, Batangas; San Pablo, Laguna; Calamba, Laguna; Nasugbu, Batangas; Magalang, Pampanga; General Trias, Cavite; and Tayabas, Quezon. Century Properties and and Mitsubishi earlier extended its partnership through Phirst Park as they seek to build more residential and non-residential projects.

Meralco, PEDC seek nod for PSA By Lenie Lectura @llectura

he Manila Electric Co. (Meralco) and Panay Energy Development Corp. (PEDC) are seeking regulatory approval to implement their power supply agreement (PSA). In a 24-page application filed before the Energy Regulatory Commission (ERC), they asked the agency to immediately issue an order granting provisional authority or interim relief to authorize the immediate implementation of the 2021 Meralco-PEDC PSA. In November last year, Meralco executed a PSA with PEDC for the purchase of 70MW via a competitive selection process (CSP). PEDC submitted the lowest total headline rate of P2.9906 per kilowatt hour (kWh) and total levelized cost

of electricity (LCOE) rate of P2.948 per kWh. The offer was below the reserve prices of P5.0268 per kWh for the headline rate and P3.7898 per kWh for LCOE rate that were set for the bidding. PEDC will source power from its coal-fired power plants in Iloilo to supply Meralco’s requirements. Based on its power situation outlook for 2022 and succeeding years, Meralco foresees a baseload capacity deficit in its portfolio covering 70MW. Thus, in order to ensure continuous and reliable electricity for Meralco customers, there is a need for the distribution utility firm to source additional baseload capacity through bilateral power supply contracts. “The non-issuance of a provisional authority for implementation of the instant PSA will result in a defi-

cit in Meralco’s PSPP [Power Supply Procurement Plan] by 70MW. This, coupled with the increased frequency and persistent occurrence of SPEX-Malampaya gas supply restrictions, which is expected to continue to result in the de-rating of gas-fired power plants, and the anticipated thinning electricity operating margins leading up to the May 2022 elections, especially with upcoming simultaneous scheduled maintenance and possible forced outages of power plants, will ultimately result in the exposure of Meralco’s customers to the highly volatile prices of the WESM,” it said. Meanwhile, Meralco said 43 linemen and engineers who were on duty for a month during Super Typhoon Odette are finally back home. “Today, electricity service has been restored in more communities in Cebu City and Bohol as hundreds

of poles have been erected and vital lines have been reconnected in these areas. Thanks to the bayanihan of so many stakeholders including one of our partners, 2Go, our kababayans severely affected by the typhoon are now recovering,” One Meralco Foundation (OMF) President Jeffrey Tarayao said. “I would like to express gratitude to 2Go and its team for helping us bring our trucks and other vehicles needed to support the power restoration work in Cebu and Bohol,” he added.

AllDay opens 35th branch in Mandaluyong

llDay Supermarket on Wednesday said it opened its 35th branch in the Villar-owned Worldwide Corporate Center (WCC) in Mandaluyong. “We are pleased to build on our current pace as we continue to pursue expansion initiatives for AllDay Supermarket. The opening of AllDay Supermarket WCC not only adds to the convenience and promise of one of our busiest commercial developments in WCC, but is also a key addition to our Metro Manila presence,” said AllDay Marts Inc. Chairman Manuel B. Villar Jr. “We believe that this is a timely addition to the AllValue portfolio, as we anticipate a surge in the need for essentials as we manage the latest challenges posed by the pandemic.” AllDay Vice Chairman Camille Villar said the company remains committed to its strategy of leveraging its “established strengths of innovation and upgraded experiences” to maintain its status as the midpremium supermarket segment leader of the Philippines. “We take pride in the total AllDay offering and are excited to share this with our newest community in Mandaluyong by way of our AllDay WCC branch.” She said the company recognizes that the Mandaluyong market is one that will benefit from its dual-format model, which has a physical and an online store. “This newest location adds a ready ecommerce hub for `, further strengthening our e-commerce reach in the Metro Manila area,” she said. Frances Rosalie T. Coloma, the company’s CEO, said the new branch is part of the company’s push to widen its store network

towards 100 stores by 2026. “We are pleased with our latest supermarket offering in WCC, one that continues to be informed by our strategy to leverage a premium in-store and online experience. On the strength of our sustained success thus far, we believe that our 35th store will not only perform to our expectations, but also bring delight to our newest community in Mandaluyong,” she said. AllDay’s newest location is part of the proceeds from its recent initial public offering last November. The company recently opened its new branch in the Eastlake estate of the Villar

Group in Muntinlupa. The company earlier said its sales in January to September 2021 rose 22 percent to P6.9 billion from P5.6 billion in the previous year. Its income grew 61 percent for the period to P265 million from P165 million in 2020. “AllDay’s stellar performance to date continues to validate our concept of an elevated supermarket experience. This consistent growth shows that the AllDay experience—in- store and online—continues to resonate with the upgraded tastes and purchasing power of the Filipino consumer,” Villar said. VG Cabuag

PSE keen on returning to normal trading hours

he Philippine Stock Exchange (PSE) is considering reverting back to its normal trading hours—from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m.—by February, according to its memorandum to trading participants. The PSE is implementing the new schedule starting February 2, according to the memorandum. February 1 is a trading holiday as the country will celebrate Chinese New Year. In a separate announcement on its Twitter account, however, the PSE said it “will provide further updates on the February trading schedule,” hours after it announced the new trading schedule. Earlier this month, the PSE issued a memorandum which indicated that starting January 14 through the end of the month, the exchange will again implement a shortened trading hours, from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. The PSE in December already adjusted its trading hours to up to 3 p.m. as authorities lowered its Covid-19 classification of Metro Manila and nearby provinces to Alert Level 2.

In its previous circular, however, the PSE said: “We will await further updates from the IATF-DOH [Inter-Agency Task Force For The Management Of Emerging Infectious DiseasesDepartment of Health] on the status of Covid cases and quarantine situation in Metro Manila a few days before January 31, 2022 and make the appropriate announcement on PSE’s trading hours after said date.” The IATF still has to announce the new alert level classification for Metro Manila for February. “Cut-off for for corporate disclosures to be posted on the PSE EDGE portal is at 1:30 p.m., for the period January 14, 2022 up to January 31, 2022. All disclosures received on or before this cut-off, including the end of day disclosure of First Metro Philippine Equity Exchange Traded Fund Inc., will be released on the same trading day. Corporate disclosures filed after the 1:30 p.m. cut-off will be posted on the PSE EDGE portal the following trading day,” it said in the previous memorandum. VG Cabuag

Companies BusinessMirror

Thursday, January 27, 2022

PSE STOCK QUOTATIONS

January 26, 2022

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

ASIA UNITED BDO UNIBANK BANK PH ISLANDS CHINABANK CITYSTATE BANK EAST WEST BANK METROBANK PBCOM PHIL NATL BANK PSBANK PHILTRUST RCBC SECURITY BANK UNION BANK BRIGHT KINDLE FERRONOUX HLDG IREMIT MANULIFE PHIL STOCK EXCH

142,215 354,342,025 171,485,397.50 1,339,340 4,853 1,317,907 156,783,488 18,000 2,468,525 101,831 2,062 212,100 225,260,951 4,670,822.50 80,940 1,932,620 840 46,500 262,266

13,200 -151,623,837 -21,845,993 -775,054 4,410,148.50 606,580 14,140 -60,101,753 -143,677 -

INDUSTRIAL AC ENERGY 9.55 9.56 9.6 9.63 9.5 9.55 14,022,900 134,138,829 ALSONS CONS 1.04 1.05 1.04 1.06 1.03 1.06 61,000 63,240 ABOITIZ POWER 32.7 32.75 32.35 32.95 32.3 32.75 986,500 32,267,320 BASIC ENERGY 0.53 0.54 0.55 0.55 0.54 0.54 5,352,000 2,896,540 FIRST GEN 27.15 27.2 27.15 27.65 27.1 27.2 692,900 18,966,035 FIRST PHIL HLDG 70.2 70.5 70.4 70.45 70.2 70.2 66,890 4,707,207 MERALCO 324.4 325 324.8 325 320 325 111,750 36,097,380 MANILA WATER 24.5 24.7 24.8 25 24.3 24.5 756,100 18,589,900 PETRON 3.26 3.27 3.3 3.3 3.26 3.26 514,000 1,684,240 PHX PETROLEUM 10.54 10.78 10.56 10.78 10.56 10.78 5,000 53,458 SYNERGY GRID 12.82 12.88 12.92 12.92 12.8 12.82 3,479,600 44,762,416 PILIPINAS SHELL 18.96 19 19 19.02 18.96 18.96 245,000 4,654,486 SPC POWER 14.12 14.28 14.22 14.3 14.1 14.28 55,200 784,920 SOLAR PH 2.06 2.07 2.03 2.09 2 2.07 239,796,000 491,105,640 AGRINURTURE 4.68 4.75 4.7 4.87 4.7 4.7 67,000 316,540 AXELUM 2.85 2.89 2.88 2.89 2.88 2.89 110,000 317,600 CNTRL AZUCARERA 12.98 13.58 12.98 12.98 12.98 12.98 6,500 84,370 CENTURY FOOD 27.5 27.75 26.75 28.2 26.7 27.5 1,691,300 46,163,575 DEL MONTE 15.68 15.76 15.7 15.76 15.6 15.76 25,900 405,602 DNL INDUS 8.47 8.5 8.36 8.5 8.34 8.5 1,138,500 9,555,019 EMPERADOR 20 20.1 19.7 20.5 19.7 20 1,451,900 29,118,093 SMC FOODANDBEV 69.1 69.95 69.95 69.95 69.1 69.95 97,890 6,800,878 FIGARO COFFEE 0.91 0.92 0.79 0.94 0.77 0.92 508,631,000 441,532,540 ALLIANCE SELECT 0.6 0.62 0.62 0.62 0.62 0.62 1,000 620 FRUITAS HLDG 1.24 1.27 1.26 1.27 1.23 1.27 11,906,000 14,862,360 GINEBRA 117.5 118 115.9 118.2 115.5 118 24,220 2,844,509 JOLLIBEE 231.4 232 232 232.2 227 232 564,050 130,018,476 KEEPERS HLDG 1.39 1.4 1.35 1.4 1.35 1.4 3,823,000 5,296,800 LIBERTY FLOUR 26.6 27.95 26.65 26.65 26.6 26.6 500 13,315 MAXS GROUP 6.41 6.45 6.45 6.45 6.36 6.45 32,900 210,830 MG HLDG 0.14 0.141 0.14 0.141 0.14 0.141 410,000 57,710 MONDE NISSIN 16.74 16.84 16.82 16.96 16.72 16.74 6,946,200 116,862,440 SHAKEYS PIZZA 9.41 9.5 9.6 9.6 9.41 9.41 108,200 1,018,587 ROXAS AND CO 0.66 0.67 0.65 0.67 0.65 0.67 74,000 49,020 RFM CORP 4.51 4.55 4.51 4.55 4.51 4.55 37,000 167,880 SWIFT FOODS 0.102 0.103 0.103 0.103 0.102 0.102 270,000 27,630 UNIV ROBINA 126 126.5 127.5 127.6 126 126 1,346,940 170,147,533 VITARICH 0.69 0.7 0.7 0.7 0.69 0.7 3,307,000 2,313,660 VICTORIAS 2.41 2.52 2.53 2.53 2.53 2.53 4,000 10,120 CEMEX HLDG 1.06 1.08 1.07 1.09 1.06 1.06 611,000 652,710 EAGLE CEMENT 14.32 14.34 14.6 14.6 14.34 14.34 13,600 197,340 EEI CORP 6.19 6.2 6.19 6.3 6.18 6.2 317,600 1,964,299 HOLCIM 5.85 5.9 5.9 5.9 5.85 5.9 72,100 424,854 MEGAWIDE 5.01 5.02 5.01 5.05 5.01 5.01 526,100 2,641,649 PHINMA 20.75 20.95 20.95 20.95 20.75 20.95 13,000 272,170 TKC METALS 0.77 0.8 0.77 0.8 0.77 0.78 28,000 22,080 VULCAN INDL 0.87 0.88 0.92 0.92 0.87 0.88 1,107,000 979,530 PRYCE CORP 5.7 5.75 5.7 5.75 5.7 5.7 144,100 821,375 GREENERGY 2.02 2.03 2.1 2.12 1.95 2.03 3,237,000 6,692,010 INTEGRATED MICR 9.91 9.92 10.36 10.36 9.9 9.92 2,265,300 22,877,376 IONICS 0.7 0.71 0.71 0.71 0.71 0.71 108,000 76,680 PANASONIC 6.02 6.09 6.1 6.1 6.05 6.09 8,200 49,969 SFA SEMICON 1.08 1.1 1.06 1.1 1.06 1.09 107,000 115,680 CIRTEK HLDG 3.72 3.73 3.58 3.75 3.57 3.72 1,060,000 3,911,220

12,142,067 1,093,280.00 -450,815 618,420 -6,148,538 5,429,740 -350,350 -10,880,952 -2,403,500 2,858 -3,590,840 -47,780 -97,960 -1,258,050 573,919.00 -2,073,129 -151,314.50 16,208,820 -641,580 -1,142,323 -35,641,812 111,010 13,973,962 -423,694 13,530 -108,607,857 -1,080 -1,681,364 -17,650 1,112,752.00 -3,501,010.00 -116,782 50,760

HOLDING & FRIMS

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

44.1 124.6 94.8 25.55 6.87 9.32 56 17.72 20.3 57.6 103.1 20.2 105 95.5 1.78 2.93 0.82 930 209

0.91 5.35 863 62.5 12.7 7.88 0.88 0.57 0.6 5.09 8.25 7.11 0.265 551 3.51 60.05 6.2 0.63 3.25 10.04 0.375 3.79 1.18 1.1 950 111.8 0.22 0.175

44.95 125.1 95 25.7 8.35 9.34 56.05 18 20.35 57.8 115 20.4 106.9 96 1.8 3.11 0.84 990 210

0.92 5.4 868 62.95 12.72 7.99 0.91 0.58 0.63 5.13 8.27 7.38 0.285 552 3.6 62 8 0.64 3.26 10.06 0.415 3.82 1.23 1.13 953 112.5 0.245 0.177

44.95 127 94.75 25.65 6.78 9.3 56.25 18 20.45 57.8 103.1 20.2 108.5 97.5 1.8 3.15 0.84 930 210

0.93 5.35 876 63 12.4 7.9 0.92 0.59 0.64 5.08 8.27 7.39 0.265 560 3.6 61 8 0.63 3.26 10.12 0.375 3.82 1.25 1.1 950 112.5 0.22 0.175

44.95 127.3 95.4 25.7 8.35 9.4 56.25 18 20.6 58 103.1 20.2 109.3 99.9 1.8 3.15 0.84 930 210

0.93 5.35 878 63.5 12.78 7.9 0.92 0.62 0.64 5.13 8.36 7.39 0.265 560 3.6 62 8 0.65 3.26 10.2 0.375 3.83 1.25 1.1 950.5 112.5 0.22 0.177

44 124.4 93.4 25.5 6.78 9.26 55.7 18 20.3 57.6 103.1 20.2 105 95.5 1.78 2.9 0.84 930 209

0.91 5.35 860 61.85 12.38 7.9 0.87 0.58 0.61 5.08 8.2 7.11 0.265 545 3.6 59.4 8 0.63 3.25 10.04 0.375 3.79 1.25 1.1 938.5 111.8 0.22 0.175

44.95 124.6 95 25.5 8.35 9.34 56 18 20.3 57.8 103.1 20.2 105 95.5 1.78 3.11 0.84 930 210

0.92 5.35 868 62.5 12.7 7.9 0.88 0.58 0.63 5.09 8.27 7.11 0.265 551 3.6 62 8 0.65 3.25 10.06 0.375 3.79 1.25 1.1 950 112.5 0.22 0.177

3,200 2,833,800 1,812,560 52,200 600 140,900 2,803,640 1,000 121,300 1,760 20 10,500 2,125,820 48,340 45,000 640,000 1,000 50 1,250

752,000 2,000 221,130 1,793,130 4,439,500 3,000 24,000 3,909,000 222,000 1,011,000 3,654,900 1,900 10,000 174,900 3,000 2,763,240 100 108,000 180,000 13,717,400 100,000 17,287,000 1,000 50,000 377,950 29,760 200,000 510,000

693,860 10,700 192,139,570 112,189,169 56,240,736 23,700 21,040 2,312,510 137,020 5,150,165 30,257,943 14,013 2,650 96,078,945 10,800 167,478,366 800 68,120 585,530 138,984,706 37,500 65,698,990 1,250 55,000 357,188,330 3,345,150 44,000 89,750

PROPERTY ARTHALAND CORP 0.61 0.63 0.61 0.61 0.61 0.61 10,000 6,100 ANCHOR LAND 6.05 7.45 6.07 6.07 6.02 6.02 7,000 42,340 AYALA LAND 34.1 34.3 34.6 34.65 34.1 34.1 9,624,500 330,127,120 AYALA LAND LOG 5.92 5.93 6.07 6.08 5.9 5.93 1,808,200 10,757,891 ARANETA PROP 0.97 1.03 1.03 1.03 1.03 1.03 5,000 5,150 AREIT RT 51.45 51.65 51.8 51.8 51.45 51.45 582,860 30,064,596 A BROWN 0.78 0.79 0.78 0.79 0.78 0.79 15,000 11,710 CITYLAND DEVT 0.74 0.76 0.74 0.74 0.72 0.74 381,000 280,000 CROWN EQUITIES 0.099 0.104 0.106 0.107 0.098 0.104 5,850,000 579,520 CEB LANDMASTERS 2.89 2.9 2.88 2.9 2.88 2.89 220,000 636,900 CENTURY PROP 0.4 0.405 0.4 0.4 0.395 0.4 460,000 183,950 DOUBLEDRAGON 7.05 7.1 7.07 7.1 7.05 7.05 124,700 881,929 DDMP RT 1.8 1.81 1.8 1.82 1.8 1.8 2,661,000 4,805,690 DM WENCESLAO 6.77 6.78 6.73 6.78 6.68 6.78 48,100 321,926 EVER GOTESCO 0.32 0.33 0.32 0.33 0.315 0.33 12,310,000 3,999,650 FILINVEST RT 7.59 7.6 7.75 7.77 7.6 7.6 2,572,500 19,778,418 FILINVEST LAND 1.08 1.1 1.09 1.1 1.08 1.09 667,000 727,980 GLOBAL ESTATE 0.93 0.96 0.97 0.97 0.96 0.96 40,000 38,440 8990 HLDG 11.2 11.46 11.42 11.58 11.4 11.46 81,100 931,580 GOLDEN MV 530 536 537 540 537 540 170 91,560 PHIL INFRADEV 1.07 1.08 1.09 1.1 1.07 1.08 582,000 632,040 CITY AND LAND 0.86 0.89 0.89 0.89 0.87 0.89 78,000 68,080 MEGAWORLD 3.16 3.18 3.2 3.2 3.12 3.16 10,377,000 32,681,150 MRC ALLIED 0.236 0.237 0.23 0.24 0.23 0.236 2,980,000 702,230 MREIT RT 22.05 22.1 22.15 22.2 22.05 22.1 1,734,300 38,367,395 OMICO CORP 0.35 0.36 0.34 0.35 0.34 0.35 70,000 24,150 PHIL ESTATES 0.48 0.49 0.49 0.49 0.48 0.49 4,140,000 2,004,700 PRIMEX CORP 2.13 2.14 2.06 2.14 2.06 2.13 612,000 1,293,060 RL COMM RT 8.51 8.52 8.7 8.94 8.5 8.52 10,290,400 88,343,561 ROBINSONS LAND 18.5 18.8 18.74 18.84 18.28 18.8 1,129,300 21,035,054 PHIL REALTY 0.193 0.2 0.2 0.2 0.2 0.2 20,000 4,000 ROCKWELL 1.46 1.5 1.46 1.46 1.46 1.46 16,000 23,360 STA LUCIA LAND 2.66 2.84 2.84 2.84 2.84 2.84 11,000 31,240 SM PRIME HLDG 34.9 35.2 35.05 35.2 34.3 35.2 6,492,700 226,344,015 VISTAMALLS 4.25 4.29 4.78 5.4 4.04 4.29 2,472,000 11,136,910 SUNTRUST HOME 1.09 1.1 1.09 1.1 1.09 1.1 12,000 13,150 VISTA LAND 3.5 3.52 3.52 3.55 3.49 3.52 605,000 2,129,950 SERVICES ABS CBN 12.72 12.76 13.8 13.8 12.76 12.76 1,770,700 23,241,978 GMA NETWORK 14.74 14.76 14.7 14.82 14.7 14.76 815,700 12,034,304 MANILA BULLETIN 0.42 0.44 0.44 0.44 0.44 0.44 70,000 30,800 MLA BRDCASTING 9.02 9.99 9.99 9.99 9.02 9.02 700 6,896 GLOBE TELECOM 3,210 3,220 3,246 3,270 3,204 3,220 74,020 238,758,480 PLDT 1,840 1,852 1,876 1,884 1,840 1,840 133,180 246,710,335 APOLLO GLOBAL 0.074 0.075 0.075 0.077 0.074 0.075 125,970,000 9,495,000 CONVERGE 31.3 31.45 31.05 31.65 30.65 31.45 3,858,800 120,395,600 DFNN INC 2.26 2.31 2.26 2.31 2.26 2.26 41,000 92,710 DITO CME HLDG 5.18 5.22 5.21 5.3 5.13 5.22 7,105,300 36,955,026 NOW CORP 1.32 1.33 1.36 1.41 1.31 1.32 1,305,000 1,748,460 TRANSPACIFIC BR 0.335 0.345 0.335 0.36 0.33 0.345 5,980,000 2,052,750 2GO GROUP 7.44 7.5 7.5 7.5 7.44 7.44 14,100 104,964 ASIAN TERMINALS 13.8 13.9 13.9 13.9 13.9 13.9 100 1,390 CHELSEA 1.65 1.66 1.68 1.68 1.66 1.66 93,000 154,860 CEBU AIR 42.7 42.95 42.65 43 42.5 42.95 114,400 4,885,395 INTL CONTAINER 202 204 204.2 206 200.2 204 801,400 163,266,378 LBC EXPRESS 23.5 24.7 22.7 23.5 22.7 23.5 900 20,910 MACROASIA 5.09 5.1 5.08 5.1 5.08 5.1 1,146,100 5,843,980 METROALLIANCE A 1.03 1.05 1.03 1.03 1.02 1.03 74,000 76,210 METROALLIANCE B 1.05 1.11 1.06 1.06 1.06 1.06 10,000 10,600 ACESITE HOTEL 1.42 1.58 1.4 1.6 1.4 1.58 18,000 27,260 DISCOVERY WORLD 1.73 1.78 1.79 1.79 1.73 1.73 61,000 106,470 WATERFRONT 0.47 0.49 0.47 0.47 0.47 0.47 100,000 47,000 CENTRO ESCOLAR 6.52 6.92 6.93 6.93 6.93 6.93 1,000 6,930 FAR EASTERN U 535 549 550 550 550 550 20 11,000 IPEOPLE 7.3 7.7 7.54 7.7 6.7 7.7 167,500 1,206,438 STI HLDG 0.33 0.335 0.325 0.335 0.325 0.335 230,000 75,050 BELLE CORP 1.33 1.35 1.35 1.35 1.33 1.33 8,000 10,700 BLOOMBERRY 6.06 6.11 6.11 6.2 6.05 6.06 3,593,400 21,872,218 LEISURE AND RES 1.37 1.38 1.38 1.38 1.37 1.37 229,000 314,430 PH RESORTS GRP 0.81 0.82 0.76 0.82 0.76 0.81 4,680,000 3,693,730 PREMIUM LEISURE 0.445 0.45 0.445 0.45 0.445 0.45 890,000 396,800 PHIL RACING 5.5 6.97 5.6 5.6 5.6 5.6 190,000 1,064,000 PHILWEB 2 2.03 2 2 2 2 8,000 16,000 ALLDAY 0.59 0.6 0.61 0.61 0.59 0.6 18,786,000 11,254,090 BERJAYA 5.52 5.6 5.52 5.69 5.52 5.6 18,300 102,760 ALLHOME 8.56 8.6 8.87 8.87 8.55 8.55 247,600 2,134,795 METRO RETAIL 1.37 1.39 1.37 1.39 1.37 1.37 1,117,000 1,530,420 PUREGOLD 36.6 36.85 37.2 37.6 36.6 36.6 1,337,400 49,499,735 ROBINSONS RTL 58.05 58.4 59 59.5 58.05 58.4 1,412,670 82,392,377 PHIL SEVEN CORP 87 89.9 86.15 87.1 86 87.1 40,410 3,508,289.50 SSI GROUP 1.07 1.08 1.06 1.09 1.06 1.08 849,000 913,470 WILCON DEPOT 28.4 28.5 28.5 28.65 28.2 28.4 1,714,200 48,662,530 APC GROUP 0.226 0.238 0.229 0.229 0.229 0.229 1,010,000 231,290 IPM HLDG 6.9 7 6.85 7 6.7 7 8,600 59,085 MEDILINES 1.08 1.09 1.07 1.12 1.07 1.08 7,803,000 8,496,970 PRMIERE HORIZON 0.54 0.55 0.55 0.56 0.53 0.54 4,364,000 2,377,670 MINING & OIL ATOK 5.94 6.13 6 6.13 5.93 6.13 14,500 87,515 APEX MINING 1.83 1.84 1.81 1.91 1.81 1.84 25,731,000 47,934,630 ATLAS MINING 6.08 6.09 6.07 6.09 6.07 6.08 108,100 657,186 BENGUET A 5.14 5.34 5.11 5.15 5.11 5.13 12,000 61,600 CENTURY PEAK 2.7 2.73 2.56 2.73 2.56 2.73 40,000 107,240 DIZON MINES 5.05 5.25 5.04 5.05 5.04 5.05 1,200 6,050 FERRONICKEL 2.23 2.24 2.2 2.25 2.2 2.24 2,723,000 6,068,810 LEPANTO A 0.137 0.138 0.137 0.139 0.135 0.138 5,410,000 742,600 MANILA MINING A 0.0097 0.0098 0.0097 0.0097 0.0097 0.0097 7,000,000 67,900 MANILA MINING B 0.0097 0.011 0.0097 0.0097 0.0097 0.0097 3,000,000 29,100 MARCVENTURES 1.51 1.52 1.46 1.52 1.41 1.51 3,227,000 4,817,340 NIHAO 0.98 1.02 0.99 0.99 0.98 0.98 88,000 86,740 NICKEL ASIA 5.88 5.9 5.81 6.04 5.81 5.9 11,423,700 67,643,413 ORNTL PENINSULA 0.82 0.84 0.82 0.84 0.82 0.84 5,000 4,120 PX MINING 5.8 5.81 5.81 5.95 5.81 5.81 1,502,200 8,822,133 SEMIRARA MINING 24.4 24.45 24.15 24.65 23.9 24.4 946,100 23,035,935 UNITED PARAGON 0.007 0.0073 0.007 0.0073 0.007 0.007 16,000,000 113,500 ACE ENEXOR 32.2 33.3 33.5 33.6 32.05 33.3 165,200 5,385,650 ORNTL PETROL A 0.011 0.012 0.011 0.012 0.011 0.012 209,700,000 2,408,400 PHILODRILL 0.0092 0.0094 0.0093 0.0094 0.0093 0.0093 27,000,000 251,200 PXP ENERGY 5.92 6 6 6 5.92 5.92 78,900 470,576 PREFFERED AC PREF B1 513 524.5 513 513 513 513 40 20,520 BRN PREF A 103.5 104 103.3 103.5 103.3 103.5 1,400 144,880 CEB PREF 41.65 41.95 41.55 42 41.55 41.95 45,700 1,904,890 CPG PREF A 102 103 103 103 102.5 103 980 100,935 DD PREF 100 100.8 100 100 100 100 178,110 17,811,000 EEI PREF A 104 105.1 104.9 105.6 102 104 16,000 1,656,250 EEI PREF B 106.6 107.8 107.8 107.8 107.8 107.8 20,780 2,240,084 FGEN PREF G 103 104.3 104.3 104.3 104.3 104.3 180 18,774 JFC PREF B 1,001 1,006 1,006 1,006 1,001 1,001 6,280 6,288,430 MWIDE PREF 2A 98.55 99.95 99.95 99.95 98.5 98.5 510 50,249.50 MWIDE PREF 2B 100.5 101.2 101.2 101.2 101.2 101.2 7,510 760,012 MWIDE PREF 4 99.5 100 99.5 100 99.5 100 260 25,900 PNX PREF 3B 102 102.5 102.5 102.5 102.5 102.5 950 97,375 PNX PREF 4 998 1,000 1,000 1,000 998 1,000 4,560 4,555,500 PCOR PREF 3A 1,046 1,047 1,047 1,060 1,047 1,047 4,440 4,653,850 PCOR PREF 3B 1,097 1,130 1,130 1,130 1,129 1,129 15 16,940 SFI PREF 1.5 1.99 1.5 1.5 1.5 1.5 2,000 3,000 SMC PREF 2F 79.3 79.6 79.2 79.2 79.2 79.2 20 1,584 SMC PREF 2H 75.95 76.75 76.9 76.9 76.9 76.9 150 11,535 SMC PREF 2I 79.4 79.6 79.3 79.3 79.3 79.3 410 32,513 SMC PREF 2J 77 77.1 77.1 77.1 77.1 77.1 20 1,542 SMC PREF 2K 76 76.2 75.85 76 75.85 76 6,330 480,740 TECH PREF B2D 53 53.5 53.5 53.5 53 53 157,010 8,329,335 PHIL. DEPOSITARY RECEIPTS ABS HLDG PDR 12.2 12.9 13.2 13.2 12.12 12.2 34,300 428,066 GMA HLDG PDR 14.14 14.2 14 14.3 14 14.2 99,800 1,412,928 WARRANTS TECH WARRANT 0.86 0.88 0.86 0.88 0.84 0.86 3,520,000 3,044,580

-4,486,815 -29,648,990.50 18,927,576 1,809,019 -14,834,723 10,318 -52,081,120 -24,571,998 -114,190 -3,748,552 -48,485,690 26,119,855 -547,513 6,100 -150,113,775 473,355 -6,572,789.50 195,520 66,490 -3,950 53,366 641,500 816,950 -373,517 -69,330 -42,422 -555,420 -1,546,280 -26,051,140 14,550 -25,177,341.00 -3,195,650.00 -10,220 32,561,710.00 -53,540 21,060 22,008,900 -116,456,935 866,980 24,609,900 0 3,818,166 -189,860 2,250 1,670 -372,625 -10,328,188 -5,211,180.00 6,930 3,350 4,050 -12,841,178 116,920 -32,000 314,480 220,619 -2,254,540 -17,105,097.50 -1,801,139.50 432,000 18,608,775 -545,590 -33,040 22,800 -7,286,300 81,640 -146,140 -69,460 7,811,721 -1,981,937 1,245,810 383,045 62,752 -1,596,395.00 -47,115 247,498 -1,760

SMALL & MEDIUM ENTERPRISES

ALTUS PROP HAUS TALK ITALPINAS MERRYMART XURPAS

18 1.29 1.01 2.01 0.455

18.54 1.3 1.03 2.02 0.46

EXHANGE TRADE FUNDS FIRST METRO ETF

110

110.9

18 1.32 1.02 2.02 0.45

18.58 1.37 1.03 2.06 0.47

18 1.28 1.01 2.02 0.445

18.54 1.3 1.03 2.02 0.455

25,800 7,128,000 484,000 3,268,000 6,090,000

469,672 9,444,220 494,230 6,645,610 2,782,050

1,854 -49,130 1,098,050 22,500

110.6 111.3 110 110 17,610 1,943,576 147,520

www.businessmirror.com.ph

Support startups to bolster cleantech growth–report

By Tyrone Jasper C. Piad

@TyronePiad

oosting the clean technology space requires building a robust startup ecosystem that can support new players as well as providing support for early adopter customers. This is according to Frans Nauta, founder of ClimateLaunchpad, who identified design principles that can bolster the solar and wind energy and electric vehicle (EV) industries in “The Global Startup Ecosystem Report: Cleantech Edition” report by Startup Genome. Clean technology, or cleantech for short, refers to processes or products that promote and facilitate environmental sustainability. To help this flourish, Nauta cited the need to back the startups so they can introduce new green solutions that can potentially change the game.

“Startups are the turbo booster for deployment-led innovation. They supercharge change in industries by threatening existing players,” he said. He said the startup ecosystem should provide entrants access to investment funds and a “good legal setup,” which covers intellectual property, stock compensation and bankruptcy laws. In relation to investment funds, Cycle Momentum CEO Patrick Gagne, in the same report, agreed that the funding for startup support organizations (SSOPs) like in-

cubators and accelerators is key to developing the cleantech startup ecosystem. “To accelerate their development, SSOPs need to increase corporate involvement in the cleantech sector,” he said, noting that they have been generally “more reliant on public funding” given that establishing startups is “capital-intensive.” Among the initiatives suggested by Gagne include sponsoring ecosystem events, establishing a residency in a cleantech hub, developing a startup-corporate matchmaking program and launching an open innovation program. The programs and partnerships, he said, will allow quicker commercialization of innovations, provide access to in-depth knowledge in key sectors and create value, including additional revenues and investments, among others. “To maximize benefits, corporations need to onboard their key employees and executives and go beyond a financial commitment in their collaborations with startups,”

Gagne added. Meanwhile, providing support or incentives to early adopter customers can also help the growth of the cleantech industry, Nauta said. An example cited is establishing charging stations near the residence of an EV owner. These kinds of infrastructure, he said, can be installed quickly with government subsidies. Nauta also noted the need to improve the applied research funding and education for the sector. “Applied research can dramatically boost the learning of industries, speed up innovation, increase efficiency, and reduce costs. Education provides a fresh talent pool for new, fast-growing industries,” he said. In the same report, it was revealed that advanced manufacturing and robotics; blockchain; agriculture technology and new food; artificial intelligence; and big data, which are collectively known as “deep tech,” are the fastest growing group in the startup landscape. Financial technology also showed “substantial growth” in the last five years, it added.

Phoenix unit bags ISO certification P

hoenix Petroleum Corp. said on Wednesday its Vietnam subsidiary, Phoenix Gas Vietnam, has secured a certification on quality management given by the International Organization for Standardization (ISO). Certifying body Universal GmbH, through PQI Vietnam, granted Phoenix Gas Vietnam (PGV) with the ISO Certificate 9001:2015, proving the company’s commitment and compliance to quality products and services. This covers PGV offices in Ho Chi Minh City, Danang, CamRanh, Nha-Trang, and Go-Dau. The certification is the company’s first ISO nod, and the fourth one for the whole Phoenix Group. “Since our establishment in 2019, Phoenix Gas Vietnam has been continuously working on improving our operations and services to ensure that we only provide world-class, safe, and high-quality products and services to our customers. As a young brand, we wanted to establish PGV as a credible and reliable brand in the Vietnamese market. Hence, this certification from ISO is a great achievement for us,” Phoenix Gas Vietnam General Direc-

tor Duong Nghia Dung said. Phoenix Petroleum President Henry Albert Fadullon welcomed the addition of yet another ISO certificate to the group. “PGV has been doing exemplary over the past years, getting landmark achievements for the whole group. This only proves that even with its overseas subsidiaries, Phoenix maintains the same level of operational excellence and quality that it has across its ventures, and shows that Filipino businesses are truly worldclass,” he said. Last year, PGV was awarded the Top 20 Gold Service Award for Consumer Rights 2021 by the Committee on Good Vietnamese Products and Consumers’ Rights in recognition of its exemplary performance in the supply and trade of LPG in Vietnam. Previously, Phoenix Petroleum received two ISO certifications in 2019, and another one in 2020 for its Quality Management System, Environmental Management System, and Occupational Health and Safety Management System. The certification covers the company’s Philippine offices, including its terminals and depots. Lenie Lectura

mutual funds

January 26, 2022

NAV

One Year Three Year

Five Year

per share Return*

Y-T-D Return

Stock Funds ALFM Growth Fund, Inc. -a

232.05

3.18%

-4.78%

-1.88%

-0.45%

ATRAM Alpha Opportunity Fund, Inc. -a

1.6094

24.21%

2.76%

2.88%

-3.29%

3.35%

-8.32%

-4.68%

-0.91%

ATRAM Philippine Equity Opportunity Fund, Inc. -a 3.2082

Climbs Share Capital Equity Investment Fund Corp. -a 0.7569 -3.79%

-7.55% n.a.

0.05%

First Metro Consumer Fund on MSCI Phils. IMI, Inc. -a 0.7583 4.36%

-4.88% n.a.

-1.63%

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

5.6%

-2.53%

-0.02%

-0.19%

0.7791

4.51%

-4.53%

-3.49%

-8.67% n.a.

-1.02%

5.1727

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

93.47

-8.2%

PAMI Equity Index Fund, Inc. -a

47.7769

3.07%

-3.42%

-0.3%

-0.73%

Philam Strategic Growth Fund, Inc. -a

498.42

2.98%

-3.22%

-0.8%

-0.45%

Philequity Dividend Yield Fund, Inc. -a

1.3978

20.34%

1.65%

2.65%

3.06%

Philequity Fund, Inc. -a

36.4936

5.91%

-2.31%

0.77%

-0.28% -0.04%

0.941

3.95%

-3.74% n.a.

Philequity PSE Index Fund Inc. -a

Philequity MSCI Philippine Index Fund, Inc. -a

4.9262

3.89%

-2.74%

0.33%

-0.7%

Philippine Stock Index Fund Corp. -a

822.84

3.7%

-2.74%

0.3%

-0.68%

0.742

4.13%

-6.7%

-2.86%

-1.41%

4.1%

-4.77%

-1.16%

-0.85%

Soldivo Strategic Growth Fund, Inc. -a

Sun Life Prosperity Philippine Equity Fund, Inc. -a 3.7434 Sun Life Prosperity Philippine Stock Index Fund, Inc. -a

0.9376

3.21%

-3.08%

0.07%

United Fund, Inc. -a

3.54%

-2.86%

0.6%

-0.95%

3.4046

-0.54%

-0.73%

Primarily invested in Peso securities (units) Philequity Alpha One Fund, Inc. -a

1.163

Philippine Stock Index Fund Corp. -a

7.58% n.a. n.a.

0.03%

1013.27 n.a. n.a. n.a. n.a.

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

110.7458

-2.53%

0.78%

-0.66%

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

$1.1085

Sun Life Prosperity World Voyager Fund, Inc. -a $1.6872

-16.59%

4.92%

4.63%

-1.6%

-2.63%

12.68%

9.74%

-8.62%

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

1.6677

-0.17%

-1.33%

-0.75%

ATRAM Philippine Balanced Fund, Inc. -a

2.2864

0.34%

-0.32%

-0.03%

0.21%

2.98%

0.45%

1.32%

-0.01%

First Metro Save and Learn Balanced Fund Inc. -a 2.6908

First Metro Save and Learn F.O.C.C.U.S. Dynamic Fund, Inc. -a 0.213 NCM Mutual Fund of the Phils., Inc. -a

2.0117

-1.44%

7.9% n.a. n.a.

2.47%

1.63%

1.79%

PAMI Horizon Fund, Inc. -a

3.7577

-0.42%

1.1%

0.61%

-0.2%

Philam Fund, Inc. -a

16.8101

-0.39%

0.66%

0.57%

-0.21%

Solidaritas Fund, Inc. -a

2.1141

1.36%

-0.74%

0.43%

-0.34%

Sun Life of Canada Prosperity Balanced Fund, Inc. -a 3.6253 1.84%

-1.82%

-0.08%

-0.6%

-0.4%

0.48%

0.41%

Sun Life Prosperity Dynamic Fund, Inc. -a

0.9581

8.02%

1.91%

-0.25%

Primarily invested in Peso securities (units)

RAFI to assist victims of typhoon in Visayas

ver a month after Typhoon Odette (international code name Rai) hit and caused massive destruction in the Visayas region, the Ramon Aboitiz Foundation, Inc. (RAFI) has been working closely with the affected communities to alleviate its disastrous effects. To know the actual situation on the ground, RAFI deployed teams to conduct quick assessment and validation and has been implementing a phased approach to its humanitarian relief operation plans to help those affected by the strongest storm to hit the country late last year. In the first stage of its initiative, the “Emergency Relief Phase”, the foundation lent 34 generator sets to water refilling stations, distributed 279,580 liters of water, and provided 143,866 relief packs to thousands of families in Cebu, Bohol, Negros Occidental, and Southern Leyte. Also, it conducted psychosocial programs to

help the young survivors cope with trauma sustained during the ordeal. Next month, RAFI will transition its efforts towards the recovery and rehabilitation phases with the support of its partners from individuals to private corporations, government agencies and international nongovernment organizations. To date, the foundation has raised P37 million in cash and pledges from individual donors and organizations, and has spent P84 million for its emergency relief operations. Its counterpart has so far ran at P46 million. RAFI continues to accept donations and partnerships from the community. Its Donation Hub is open for donations and support from local and international organizations, as well as individual donors. Donations will be used for the provision of immediate relief for affected families and communities. Roderick L. Abad

Sun Life Prosperity Achiever Fund 2028, Inc. -a

0.9805

-4.06% n.a. n.a.

-0.94%

Sun Life Prosperity Achiever Fund 2038, Inc. -a

0.9408

-0.05% n.a. n.a.

-0.39%

Sun Life Prosperity Achiever Fund 2048, Inc. -a

0.9292

0.53% n.a. n.a.

-0.5%

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

$0.03718

-4.57%

1.57%

1.05%

-2%

$1.0659

-12.79%

3.9%

3.21%

-0.11%

PAMI Asia Balanced Fund, Inc. -b

Sun Life Prosperity Dollar Advantage Fund, Inc. -a $4.5175 -2.59%

9.17%

7.3%

-5.93%

Sun Life Prosperity Dollar Wellspring Fund, Inc. -a,2 $1.1548 -3.46%

4.85%

3.72%

-3.65%

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

374.63

0.8%

2.83%

2.54%

0.09%

ATRAM Corporate Bond Fund, Inc. -a

1.8863

-0.9%

0.31%

0.11%

0.08%

Cocolife Fixed Income Fund, Inc. -a

3.2476

0.93%

2.89%

3.84%

0.11%

Ekklesia Mutual Fund Inc. -a

2.2514

-2.19%

1.68%

1.4%

First Metro Save and Learn Fixed Income Fund,Inc. -a 2.4278 -1.07%

2.98%

1.86%

0.07%

Philam Bond Fund, Inc. -a

4.3973

-5.47%

4.26%

1.42%

0.04%

Philam Managed Income Fund, Inc. -a

1.3198

-0.24%

3.73%

2.85%

0.05%

Philequity Peso Bond Fund, Inc. -a

3.9856

-0.08%

3.8%

2.69%

0.5%

Soldivo Bond Fund, Inc. -a

1.0294

-1.17%

4.23%

0.12%

Sun Life of Canada Prosperity Bond Fund, Inc. -a 3.1906

-0.63%

4.29%

3.19%

0.1%

Sun Life Prosperity GS Fund, Inc. -a

-1.24%

3.46%

2.56%

0.11%

1.7325

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

$488.83

0.88%

2.82%

2.44%

-0.15%

ALFM Euro Bond Fund, Inc. -a

Є219.32

0.93%

-0.31%

ATRAM Total Return Dollar Bond Fund, Inc. -b

$1.1911

-6.91%

1.59%

1.51%

-1.06%

1.06%

0.72%

-1.15%

-1.22%

-1.04%

-2.05%

First Metro Save and Learn Dollar Bond Fund, Inc. -a $0.0257 -2.65% PAMI Global Bond Fund, Inc -b

$1.0018

Philam Dollar Bond Fund, Inc. -a

-8.12%

$2.4543

-3.04%

3.77%

2.38%

-2.05%

$0.0620626

-0.53%

2.79%

1.88%

-0.37%

Sun Life Prosperity Dollar Abundance Fund, Inc. -a $3.1028 -3.54%

2.32%

1.14%

-2.92%

Philequity Dollar Income Fund Inc. -a

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

131.3

1.03%

2.66%

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

1.0588

0.95% n.a. n.a.

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

1.47%

2.52%

1.317

2.55% 2.52%

0.08% 0.1%

0.11%

Primarily invested in foreign currency securities (shares) Sun Life Prosperity Dollar Starter Fund, Inc. -a $1.0609

0.73%

1.4% n.a.

0.03%

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

46.46 n.a. n.a. n.a. n.a.

Sun Life Prosperity World Equity Index Feeder Fund, Inc. -a 1.2901

10.61% n.a. n.a.

-6.71%

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

$0.94

-5.05% n.a. n.a.

a - NAVPS as of the previous banking day. b - NAVPS as of two banking days ago.

c - Listed in the PSE.

-3.09%

d - in Net Asset Value per Unit (NAVPU).

1 - Renaming was approved by the SEC last July 8, 2021 (formerly, Sun Life Prosperity Money Market Fund, Inc.). 2 - Adjusted due to stock dividend issuance last November 25, 2021.

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

Agriculture/Commodities BusinessMirror

www.businessmirror.com.ph

Editor: Jennifer A. Ng • Thursday, January 27, 2022 B3

DA inks deal with 3 firms for urban agri projects By Jovee Marie N. Dela Cruz @joveemarie

HE Department of Agriculture (DA) has signed partnerships with three private entities for the implementation of various urban agriculture projects. Agriculture Secretary William D. Dar signed three memorandum of agreement (MOA) with the Aboitiz Foundation Inc. and Pilmico Foods Corp., TriMerA Integrated Farm, and the SM Super Malls. Dar said these entities share the same vision of the DA to produce sustainable food items for Filipinos. Under the partnership with DA, TriMerA will identify an area suitable for rabbit production and train personnel who will also serve as trainors to other enthusiasts in the future. TriMera will sustain the operation of the project through the dissemination of new stocks from the project beneficiaries and will lead the marketing and distribution

THROUGH Farmers’ Produce, various SM malls nationwide are selling local produce to help jumpstart the country’s agriculture and restaurant industry in a sustainable and socially responsible manner. CONTRIBUTED PHOTO

of the produce. The DA, together with Bureau of Plant Industry (BPI), Bureau of Animal Industry (BAI), and National Livestock Program (NLP) will provide starter kits, IEC materials and extension/education support in coordination with the Agricultural Training Institute (ATI). They will also extend technical assistance to TriMerA to maintain and sustain the project, and conduct monitoring activities. In October, the DA said it will support domestic rabbit production given its viability as a substitute for pork, which remains expensive due to the supply problems caused by a fatal hog disease. The DA noted that rabbit meat can be a healthy alternative to pork, which has become more expensive due to the impact of African swine fever on the country’s hog industry. In a separate agreement, SM Supermalls will take the lead in the establishment of a food garden, which aims to serve as source of safe, accessible,

Pangilinan to OFWs: Invest in agriculture and fisheries By Butch Fernandez

@butchfBM

EN. Francis Pangilinan prodded overseas Filipino workers (OFWs) to invest their foreign currency earnings in agriculture and fisheries and “help feed hungry Filipinos,” amid the country’s uncertain future caused by the pandemic. Pangilinan, one of the vice presidential aspirants, pointed out that in over a decade of farming when Congress is not in session, he met many OFWs who expressed common

Bayer, PMCP to recognize sustainable farm innovations

O recognize and support much needed sustainable agriculture programs in the country, the Pest Management Council of the Philippines Inc. (PMCP) and Bayer CropScience Philippines is opening the PMCP-Bayer Agricultural Sustainability Award for nominees. The award aims to put the spotlight on high-impact programs and initiatives accomplished by individuals contributing towards promoting and strengthening agricultural sustainability in the country. The PMCP-Bayer AgriculturalSustainabilityAwardisopen toindividualsfromtheprivateandpublic sector—such as researchers, scientists, farmers, entrepreneurs, government officials,employees,orpartoftheacademe. Individuals should have accomplished either of the following within the scope of both pest management and agricultural sustainability: Developed a research paper contributing to sustainable pest management practices Demonstrated the importance of sustainable use of agricultural technologies for small holder farmers Conducted a field trial or experiment that resulted to a milestone or learning on sustainable pest management Spearheaded an initiative leading to advocacy or promotion (ex. educational programs) of sustainable pest management practices and adoption of sustainable agricultural practices Contributed to enactment of significant policies or guidelines on sustainable pest management Acted as a catalyst within his/ her community or organization that led to shift in pest management practices with sustainability principles. Anewlyestablishedaward,thenominee’saccomplishmentsshouldhavebeen completedwithin2019-2021withsufficientdocumentationtoshowevidenceof his/her accomplishment and its PMCPBayerAgriculturalSustainabilityAward open for Filipino agri changemakers — impactonagriculturalsustainability,includinglettersofrecommendationfrom the nominee’s network.

wishes to go into full-time farming upon their retirement. The senator suggested that if the returning OFWs-turned-farmers become partners of government and the private sector to boost agriculture, “We can be sure that will wipe out hunger in the country.” “This investment would create more local jobs for Filipinos affected by the ongoing pandemic,” he said, adding: “Nakita naman natin kung gaano kahalaga ang agrikultura nitong nakaraang pandemic. Kumbaga, merong

opportunity sa mga OFW, meron din na maiangat ang kalagayan ng mga magsasaka at mangingisda. Sila ang nagsisigurado na mayroong pagkaing nakahain sa ating mga mesa.” The senator recalled that through the years, “OFWs keep the economy afloat through their hard-earned remittances,” making up at least 10 percent of the country’s GDP based on government data. In a statement issued on Tuesday, Pangilinan noted, however, that according to Bangko Sentral ng Pilipi-

nas (BSP) Senior Director Redentor Paolo Alegre of the BSP Department of Economic Statistics, only a few OFWs are investing in different investment schemes as observed in the last quarter of 2021. The senator suggested that OFWs should allot a portion of their income to investments, noting this would “help them when their retirement day comes, endorsing agriculture as a good investment, and so this must be considered by the modern-day heroes.”

At the same time, he aired hopes that many OFWs would opt to invest in agriculture. “We need them [OFW’s investments] more so now amid the pandemic and series of setbacks facing our farmers and fisherfolks,” Pangilinan pointed out. “Through their investments, the farmers can be trained to adopt new and updated techniques in farming that will boost their harvests to provide food for their family, the community and the country,” he added.

Algae market potentially worth $320B draws Honda, Eneos

IL refiner Eneos Holdings Inc. and Honda Motor Co. are among a group of more than 35 Japanese companies and institutions that have banded together to try to tap the potential of microalgae to help replace fossil fuels and to provide an array of food and consumer goods products. By banding together under an initiative called Matsuri (Microalgae Towards Sustainable & Resilient Industry), the group is hoping to create enough demand for the phytoplankton to make a large-scale algae farm viable in Malaysia. The growing facility would be built by Singapore-headquartered Chitose Bio Evolution Pte. Ltd., which is constructing a 5 hectare (12 acre) trial farm on the Malaysian part of Borneo Island, with financial support from Japan’s New Energy and Industrial Technology Development Organization. Startups and companies around the world have been investing in microalgae because of its potential to replace biomass fuels such as corn and soybeans, that are part of the global food supply. One commonly used algae genus, Chlamydomonas, can absorb about 8.7 times more carbon dioxide than soybeans, according to Takanori Hoshino, an executive officer at Chitose Laboratory Corp. The problem has been to grow and process algae at a scale that would be commercially competitive. Dozens of algae-fuel startups around the world have gone bust or retreated from trying to make biofuel over the past decades. By banding together, the Japanese group hopes to use their combined demand to make a largescale farm viable. Chitose is negotiating with the local Sarawak state government to secure land to expand its facility to 2,000 hectares by around 2027, and is looking to raise 200 billion yen ($1.8 billion) for the project. The farm initially would use carbon dioxide from a local thermal power plant to feed the algae and produce 140,000 tons of microalgae a year. After the planned expansion,

SIGNAGE is displayed at an Eneos gas station, operated by JXTG Nippon Oil & Energy Corp., in Kawasaki, Kanagawa Prefecture, Japan, on April 27, 2020. PHOTOGRAPHER: AKIO KON/BLOOMBERG

it would be one of the world’s largest purpose-built algae farms, according to Rebecca White, executive director of the US-based Algae Biomass Organization. At full capacity, the company expects 100 billion yen in annual sales from algae. The site in the Malaysian state of Sarawak was chosen because of its more intense tropical sunshine, low risk of natural disasters and easy access to markets in Asia, said Tomohiro Fujita, chief executive officer of Chitose. “Creating a business is within the realm of imagination,” said Fujita. “But we are creating an industry, which is something extraordinary.” Natural algae have been harvested for centuries in Asia as a food source and began to gain popularity in the West in the 1970s with the development of a market for the cyanobacteria spirulina as a so-called superfood. To date, most production has come from harvesting natural sources in

lakes and oceans for use as food additives for humans, fish and livestock, or as fertilizer. Algae products in the food, feed, fuel and chemical sectors could have a combined annual market of $320 billion in 2030, according to the Center for Climate and Energy Solutions, and the past decade has seen a boom in cultivated products, typically by adding sugar to tanks of water to feed the algae. While most projects are focused on food and cosmetic ingredients, the big prize is to find a cost-effective way to make auto and jet fuel. Eneos, which has been working on bio-jet fuel for more than 15 years, aims to begin commercial production of algae-based biofuel once Chitose starts operation in 2025. Honda said it is still at the research stage for possible uses for algae and is also conducting its own investigation into cultivation. “We are mainly expecting to use algae as a fuel for

aviation, which is hard to electrify, as well as resin autoparts,” the company said in an e-mail. The Matsuri consortium also includes half a dozen chemical companies, including Mitsui Chemicals Inc., which is considering using algae as an alternative to naphtha, a feedstock used to make fuels, solvents and plastics. “By replacing chemical-based naphtha with a bio-based one, we can reduce carbon dioxide emissions and also convert many household products to biomass-derived products,” said Vice President Hideki Matsuo. Other group members are investigating using the algae in applications as varied as printing, food, cosmetics and medical industries. Still, the major hurdle is cost. Fujita predicts that Chitose will be able to produce algae for about 300 yen per kilogram once its expanded site is up and running. “If the price drops to the 100 yen per kilogram level, many more companies will consider replacing their petroleum-based products with microalgae-based alternatives,” said Motonari Shibakami, senior researcher at National Institute of Advanced Industrial Science and Technology. A key market needed to produce the scale to drive down the price is food. Microalgae offer an alternative protein source to crops such as soybeans. Spirulina, for example, is about 70 percent protein, and can produce as much as 14 times the output per unit area than soybeans, using less water, according to Toshiya Sasaki, chief operating officer of Chitose’s food startup Taberumo. In an interview in Tokyo, Sasaki serves up a green-colored algae-filled meal, with pasta, mayonnaise, frozen dessert and guava and pineappleflavored juice. He says the number of packets it has sold of flaked raw Spirulina, the company’s principal product, has increased 14-fold since April 2020. “We want to establish the culture of eating algae,” Sasaki said. Bloomberg News

and affordable food to households and communities in the urban areas. The garden will also provide additional income to project participants, who will undergo training and capacity enhancement from DA, through ATI. DA-BPI, for its part, will provide starter kits for the establishment of urban gardens and peri-urban gardens, extend technical assistance, and conduct monitoring activities. To address the social and economic needs of various stakeholders, DA, Aboitiz, and Pilmico will work together and set up livelihood projects by building urban and periurban gardens. Under the agreement, Aboitiz and Pilmico will provide packages for egg and swine production, and aquaponics farming systems. Meanwhile, the department said it will see to it that proper and relevant training is extended to beneficiaries, who will also be provided capability-enhancement orientation to ensure the success of the initiative.

Rotary Club wants youth to help boost farm productivity

HE Rotary Club of Makati on Tuesday launched the “Hack4Food Project” to encourage the youth to step up and make a positive impact in the country’s agriculture sector. During the virtual launching, Atty. Luis Angel G. Aseoche, president of the Rotary Club of Makati, said Hack4Food Project aims to improve the lives of farmers and fishermen through practices that result in economies of scale; and empower them by encouraging them to form groups to think of practices that improve overall efficiency and productivity, upgrade operations, and increase profit. He said the project also supports and encourages farmers to engage in crop diversification that has been proven to help fertilize the soil. “This project would also make them veer away from traditional farming methods and practices that denude our forests, start forest fires, kill animals, and harm the environment,” he added. Also, he said the Hack4Food Project challenges the youth to use their creative talent to design value chain systems that would take into account, climate change and other risks; and develop forecasting models and tools that would guide them in formulating decisions with respect to value chains. The project aims to foster creativity and collaboration in solving the challenges facing agriculture and food systems. As the Philippines is home to an estimated 111 million people spread across its 7,641 islands, the Rotary Club said ensuring food sustainability and inclusivity for its growing population is “serious business.” It said achieving the desired state of agriculture will require a lot of work from both the public and private sectors. “The youth of our country have a substantial stake in propelling the developmental progress of agriculture as they will inherit all its gifts and ills.” This one-week virtual hackathon challenges is open to all stakeholders passionate about the fate of the planet and its inhabitants and committed to make a difference. Hac k4Food Project was launched by the Rotary Club of Makati, in collaboration with Rotary Club of Bay, Rotaract Club of Makati, and the Analytics Association of the Philippines. Winners of these challenges will receive P50,000 (1st place), P30,000 (2nd place) and P20,000 (3rd place). Jovee Marie N. Dela Cruz

Envoys&Expats BusinessMirror

Thursday, January 27, 2022

AMITY OF NATIONS Ambassadors Michèle Boccoz of France (right) and Anke Reiffens-

tuel of Germany interacted with teachers and students of the Lycée Français de Manille and the German European School Manila as they celebrated Franco-German Friendship Day on January 22. The former said both their countries’ “shared commitments within the European Union are a source of inspiration that we are proud of,” and reflect their common work in the Philippines.

“DOSES OF HOPE” Ambassador of the United Kingdom Laure Beaufils (third from right) led the welcoming delegation for the 1.8 million AstraZeneca vaccines on January 21. According to her, a total of 16.5 million doses of the brand have so far arrived “procured through agreements [with] the Philippine government, local government units and the private sector, as part of our support to [this country’s vaccination program] and equitable access to vaccines worldwide.” TWIT-

TER: @LAUREBEAUFILS

TWITTER: @MBOCCOZ

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FOR TYPHOON SURVIVORS

The Embassy of the State of Israel sent relief assistance for those in Surigao affected by Typhoon “Odette” through Ambassador Ilan Fluss (right). The aid was received by Presidential Communications Operations Office Secretary Martin Andanar—a Surigaonon—at the Villamor Airbase. PCOO

exchanges notes verbale Ambassador’s confirmation heralds Japan for post-‘Odette’ quick response modern era in PHL-Morocco relations F

by Malou Talosig-Bartolome

FTER being closed for almost 30 years, the Philippine Embassy in Rabat, Morocco reopened in 2020.

Leslie J. Baja, the Philippines’s envoy to the North African country, presented his credentials to King Mohammed VI, together with 38 other ambassadors on January 17. Also in attendance was Moroccan Foreign Minister Nasser Bourita, who earlier received Baja in June 2021. In a ceremony steeped in tradition, the Filipino diplomat was ushered to the king at the Throne Room of the Royal Palace in Rabat. After presenting his letters of credence, Baja extended President Duterte’s best wishes and hopes for a new era in Philippine-Moroccan relations. As the Philippines established diplomatic relations with Morocco on April 10, 1975, the country’s embassy

is gearing up for its 50th anniversary in 2025. There are about 4,600 Filipinos in Morocco, mostly employed in the domestic, beauty and wellness, as well as skilled sectors. In his first meeting with the local Filipino community in June 2021, Baja paid tribute to their positive image, describing them as the “better ambassadors of the Philippines in Morocco.” A number of agreements await the signing between the two countries in the areas of air services, cooperation between news agencies and diplomatic academies, as well as political consultations. At least two ministerial visits are being planned which would convene the Joint Commis-

AMBASSADOR Leslie J. Baja (left) during his credentials presentation

sion on Bilateral Cooperation. Despite the pandemic, trade between the two countries flourished in 2020, which totaled close to $23 million, with the balance in favor of the Philippines. Baja is a veteran diplomat in the Philippine foreign service, having started in the Department of Foreign Affairs in 1986 as a casual employee.

He was previously an ambassador to Switzerland, Liechtenstein, Egypt, Sudan, Ethiopia, Eritrea and Djibouti. He arrived in Morocco in May 2021. Aside from his latest deputation, he is presently accredited as nonresident ambassador to Mauritania, and is awaiting an opportunity to also present credentials in Guinea, Mali and Senegal.

PHL’s Instrument of Accession sent to the Istanbul Convention

RUSSELS—Ambassador to Belgium, Luxembourg, and the European Union Eduardo José A. de Vega deposited the Philippines’s Instrument of Accession to the Convention on Temporary Admission (Istanbul Convention) at the headquarters of the World Customs Organization (WCO) in the Belgian capital on January 17. The convention is a customs procedure to bring goods, intended for re-exportation within a specified period and have not undergone any change, into the territory of a party to the convention for a specific purpose with total or partial relief from import duties and taxes. Secretary-General Kunio Mikuriya accepted the document on behalf of the WCO, and expressed his best wishes for the Philippines. The ceremony was preceded by a meeting between both officials, where they discussed how easier customs facilitation benefits not just the Philippines, but also its economic partners such as the Asean. Filipino-owned businesses attending trade fairs and exhibitions in territories which are parties to the convention are among those expected to benefit as it takes effect for the Philippines on April 17, making the country the 73rd contracting party.

AMBASSADOR Eduardo José A. de Vega (left) and World Customs Organization (WCO) Secretary-General Kunio Mikuriya

Turnover of Chinese military aid for PHL set in February

HINA recently allocated P1billion worth of military assistance to the Philippines, with the initial set costing P614 million delivered a week ago. Ambassador Huang Xilian said the equipment, mostly composed of vehicles, would be formally turned over next month. “The first batch of the military equipment worth RMB76 million

arrived in Manila on January 16, including rescue and relief equipment, which will be formally turned over to the [Department of National Defense] and [the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP)] in February,” Huang said in a statement on Saturday. “The second batch worth RMB54 million will be delivered on a later date.” The donation was part of Chinese

President Xi Jinping’s 2019 commitment to assist and support the Philippine government in its counternarcotics and counterterrorism campaigns. In 2020 Chinese State Councilor and Minister of National Defense Wei Fenghe formally pledged military donations to the country worth RMB130 million (P1 billion). “I hope [they would play a role

in maintaining peace and fighting terrorism campaign, as well as providing humanitarian assistance and disaster-response mission following the ravage of] Typhoon Odette,” the Chinese envoy further stated. “China will continue to support the Philippines’s disaster-relief and recovery efforts, [as well as the AFP’s] capability-building to the best of its ability,” he added. Joyce Ann L. Rocamora/PNA

OLLOWING their government’s earlier decision to provide $13 million (approximately P663 million) in disaster-relief assistance for the implementation of humanitarian activities benefiting survivors of Typhoon “Odette” (international name Rai), Japanese officials in New York exchanged a note verbale with representatives of the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) on January 20. According to its embassy in Manila, the UN agency will receive $1.6 million for the “Typhoon Rai Emergency Response” project which will support 51,000 persons in the provinces of Surigao del Norte, Dinagat Islands and Southern Leyte. UNICEF will prioritize increased access to safe water and sanitation facilities such as latrines and handwashing facilities, distribution of water and hygiene supplies, as well as the promotion of health and hygiene practices—including Covid-19 infection prevention and control. This initiative, the embassy said, will provide quick, integrated humanitarian aid and protection to children and families with most urgent needs, as well as restore access to critical services promoting rapid recovery of affected communities.

With UNOCHA, UNHCR

JAPANESE government officials in Geneva, Switzerland also reciprocated notes verbale with representatives of the Office of the UN High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) and the UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (UNOCHA) on January 14 and 17, respectively. T he UNOCH A w ill receive $200,000 for the “Strengthening humanitarian coordination, monitoring and advocacy in the Typhoon Rai response in the Philippines” project. This will enable smooth interagency coordination among the office’s staff with more than 53 international and national operational partners on the ground for an effective and principled emergency response which will benefit 530,000 affected people. For its part, the UNHCR will have $170,000 for the “Emergency Response to Typhoon Rai in Region 13 (Caraga)” project, which will allow for the distribution of 1,000 hygiene kits, 1,000 solar lamps, 1,000 plastic sheeting, and 300 tarpaulins to 1,000 households in severely affected areas. Said office will also implement four quickimpact projects which will augur well for 3,000 households in Agusan del Norte and Agusan del Sur, as well as provide technical aid to the Department of Social Welfare and Development-Caraga Regional Office indirectly benefiting 51,000 displaced families. Likewise on January 17, Japanese government officials in Geneva traded notes verbale with represen-

tatives of the International Organization for Migration (IOM) for the “Shelter, Camp Coordination and Camp Management (CCCM) and Health Response to Super Typhoon Rai (Odette) in Central Visayas, Eastern Visayas and Caraga Regions” undertaking, which is also part of the $13-million Emergency Grant Aid. The IOM will receive $4.2 million to fund the following: n Shelter repair kits to be distributed to 2,420 households, for a total of 12,100 individuals, and training sessions on “Build Back Safer” construction techniques for 3,682 community members, including 2,420 household beneficiaries, to facilitate self-recovery and improved access to safer living spaces; n CCCM assistance for 4,000 internally displaced persons at 20 evacuation centers, to provide safer and more dignified living conditions; n Operation of mobile health clinics for 90 communities to improve primary health-care access; n Capacity building for 7,400 persons, including orientation on peer support for 600 community heads, psychological first-aid sessions for 800 frontliners as well as mental health and psychosocial support sessions for 6,000 community members; n Emergency medical equipment for four health facilities, and emergency health kits for 200 communities. IOM’s project partnership with the Catholic Relief Services and CARE Philippines will indirectly benefit an estimated total of 64,681 individuals.

Also with IFRC

A NOTE verbale with representatives of the International Federation of the Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies (IFRC) was also swapped on January 14. The federation will receive $1.83 million for “Typhoon Rai (Odette) Emergency Operation in the Philippines,” which will be utilized to support persons affected in Surigao del Norte, Bohol, Southern Leyte and Palawan. Beneficiaries will be given emergency shelter, food and essential nonfood items “to alleviate suffering and uphold [their] dignity.” Other provisions by the IFRC will cover emergency health assistance, including medical aid via the Philippine Red Cross’ emergency medical unit, mental health and psychosocial support, as well as essential Covid-19 prevention and protection services. This initiative, according to the embassy, will provide and meet the survivors’ immediate needs in a safe and dignified manner, to help them self-recover from the crisis in a sustainable way, and strengthen their resilience to shocks from untoward natural events.

www.businessmirror.com.ph

Parentlife BusinessMirror

Where do we begin?: Part II

Editor: Gerard S. Ramos

• Thursday, January 27, 2022

Omicron surge vexes parents of children too young for shots By Lindsey Tanner The Associated Press

AST week, I shared my 2022 plan of action on where to begin amidst the volatility of circumstances we are facing today. I started with “Breathe,” “Quiet the Noise” and started with some points on how to “Assert the Choice to Take Charge.” This week, let me continue how we can take charge. With regards to child education, taking charge means cooperating more with our kids’ teachers, as well as the school’s administration. Be sure to check the school announcements and try your best to attend parent-teacher conferences for all subjects, not just those with problematic grades. It is good to know how your children are participating and how to further motivate them. It is good to also have sources of praise to give your child on the subjects they do well in, instead of just those they are struggling with. Different schools offer different parent support. I like this 4-C program I learned about that Greenmeadows Learning Center (GLC) together with the Learning Center Affiliates are offering. 4-C means Core Community Check and Care. It is a digital avenue for families during these extraordinary times to be able to have a channel for medical bulletins, inspirational messages, practical reminders and suggested home activities, as we all cope with the extended pandemic situation and unexpected surge of the new variant. A chat box is also provided for parents that may have any questions. With the surge of the new variant affecting most families and their household, they aim to be proactive in making their school community presence felt. They hope to extend their compassion and care through a digital platform, and be a channel for your inquiries on health, the child, emotional aspects and others. To get these information, the materials are uploaded daily in a child’s Google Classroom for families of Learning Center Affiliates (LCA) community. These are also posted at the school affiliate social media accounts. It is a short-term program and will conclude by February when the surge of the new Covid variant will hopefully be on a downward trajectory. Their teaching team will also be checking on each and every family through a text message to make sure all are doing well and if there is any assistance needed. They are respectful of each family’s privacy and assures that health information and personal matters are kept confidential with the school team at all times. They even have medical consultants that they can refer for consult and likewise have Ogalala and Dr. Ds Happy Learning World as partners to be available for those who are interested. For more information, you can contact them via +63929-8001781, avr.lca.ph@gmail. com, or glc.elearningprogram@gmail.com. My last point in taking charge involves taking charge in our “craft”. This involves our daily activities at work, home and the community. I choose to lump them as one because I believe in having “one” solution for this. Although I am aware that there are around seven areas of our lives—spiritual, health/wellness, financial, social, relationships, educational and career/purpose—I choose

PHOTO BY TIM MOSSHOLDER ON UNSPLASH

to apply the same principles to “Simplify My Life”. I am lucky that my sister, Joan Ross Yao, has been a mental health and wellness practitioner for five years. I also have great mentors here and around the globe that continuously direct me to a more guided path. From them, as well as from books I have shared before, like The One Thing by Gary Keller, my method to take charge are: mindset, core and “Do to Learn”. I have shared many thoughts on having a growth mindset in the past but I love Joan’s way of explaining it as multiple sizes of bilaos (native shallow baskets for rice or local snacks). She shares it is our decision on how big we want ours to be and to work toward expanding it. The second is about building and protecting our core. For me, this means being clear about the values I opt to adhere to and demand from people

around me. Joan suggests these to be “Empowered, Integrity and Respect”. It sounds simple, but I truly feel this second point makes me a whole lot calmer in making either daily or big decisions. And, lastly, I decided to do things not necessarily to win but to learn. It takes the pressure off. So, as long as I have planned everything to the best of my ability, I just press the “Go” button in me. If this pandemic has taught me anything, it is that I need to accept the volatility of my external circumstances but also take charge on how I choose to live through it for myself, my family and my circle of influence. Do I choose fear or faith? I decided that I choose to always begin in faith that life is and will always be good, as long as we choose to see it so. Let’s all look forward to a better 2022.

CONRAD MANILA WELCOMES YEAR OF THE TIGER CONRAD Manila (www.conradhotels.com) welcomes the Chinese New Year of the Water Tiger with indulgent offerings such as the traditional Yee Sang Prosperity Toss, colorful Nian Gao Treasures and a well-curated set menu at China Blue by Jereme Leung. “We look forward to ushering in the Lunar New Year and celebrating ‘roaring’ new beginnings with our esteemed guests and team members,” shares general manager Linda Pecoraro, adding, “With the many challenges that we have all faced and triumphed together over the last two years, we wish everyone good health and prosperity in the Year of the Tiger.” China Blue by Jereme Leung’s Executive Chinese Chef Eng Yew Khor masterfully works the wok for the festive season with a selection of traditional favorites such as: braised money bag of minced beef with fish lips and spring onions gong chai soup; braised abalone, stuffed fish maw and dry oyster in superior

egg white dry scallop sauce; steamed lapu lapu with assorted shredded mushroom, pork and zha chai superior soya sauce, available a la carte or in a set menu for 10 persons or more. The restaurant also offers specially curated Yee Sang, Suckling Pig and Dim Sum Platter available for pre-order and takeaway through its e-store (bit.ly/conradestore). Patrons are invited to bring home a box of Nian Gao available for pre-order and takeaway in four mouthwatering flavors and beautifully presented in delicately crafted boxes. Each Nian Gao is shaped in koi fish and mini gold bars to represent good fortune and prosperity in the following flavors: Traditional Brown Sugar, Tropical Coconut, Red Bean, and Sweet Lemon. Conrad Manila remains committed to the wellbeing of its guests and team members, adhering to stringent health and safety protocols, and always ensuring social distancing. The hotel also features

Hilton CleanStay, Hilton’s heightened standard of cleaning and disinfection developed to ensure guests of an even cleaner and safer stay and dining experience.

AFTERNOONS with Grammy. Birthday parties. Meeting other toddlers at the park. Parents of children too young to be vaccinated are facing difficult choices as an omicron variant-fueled surge in Covid-19 cases makes every encounter seem risky. For Maine business owner Erin Connolly, the most wrenching decision involves Madeleine, her 3-year-old daughter, and Connolly’s mother, who cares for the girl on the one day a week she isn’t in preschool. It’s a treasured time of making cookies, going to the library, or just hanging out. But the spirited little girl resists wearing a mask, and with the highly contagious variant spreading at a furious pace, Connolly says she’s wondering how long that can continue “and when does it feel too unsafe.’’ Connolly, of West Bath, said she worries less about Madeleine and her 6-year-old vaccinated son getting the virus than about the impact illness and separation would have on the grandparents. But she’s also concerned about her vaccinated parents contracting breakthrough cases. Although health experts say omicron appears to cause less severe disease and lead to fewer hospitalizations, its rapid spread indicates that it is much more contagious than other variants. Covid cases in US children and teens nearly doubled in the last two weeks of December, totaling nearly 326,000 in the final week alone, according to a report from the American Academy of Pediatrics and the Children’s Hospital Association. The omicron-fueled surge has also put children in the hospital in record numbers: During the week of December 27, 2021, to January 2, 2022, an average of 672 children 17 and under were admitted per day to hospitals with the coronavirus—more than double the number from the previous week. Children still represent a small percentage of those being hospitalized, however. Anthony Fauci, the top infectious disease doctor in the US, said surrounding children with vaccinated adults is one way to keep them from contracting the virus. Health officials also reiterate that face masks prevent transmissions, and putting them on children 2 and older in public and group settings can help keep them safe. Connolly, 39, and her mother had a difficult conversation Tuesday morning about the dilemma. “Will Madeleine be masked?” her mother asked. “I said, ‘We’re trying, but I don’t know if she will,’’’ Connolly recalled. “I said, ‘Does that mean that Thursdays with Grammy will go away?’ She said, ‘I’m not sure yet,’’’ Connolly said, choking back tears. Parents who had hoped the new year might bring a Covid vaccine for young children had a setback when Pfizer announced last month that two doses didn’t offer as much protection as hoped in youngsters ages two to four. Pfizer’s study has been updated to give everyone under age five a third dose, and data is expected around the end of March or beginning of April, a company scientist told US officials Wednesday. Researchers were disappointed by the setback, said Dr. Yvonne Maldonado, who is leading Stanford University’s Pfizer vaccine studies in children under 12. Maldonado said she understands the frustration of parents with young children, but that she advises them to avoid unnecessary travel during this current surge, and to make sure their day care centers, preschools and other care providers are requiring masks and taking other recommended precautions. Watching omicron’s spread, Honolulu resident Jacob Aki is contemplating forgoing a first birthday party for his 10-month-old son. Celebrating the milestone is important in his native Hawaiian culture. The tradition stems from a time before the measles vaccine was available, when it was a feat to reach one’s first birthday. The family also canceled plans to experience snow in Canada. Meanwhile, every cough and sniffle is provoking anxiety. “Babies normally get sick at this age,” Aki said. “But with everything with Covid...anxiety is high.” Stanley, 35, a cook at a popular organic farm, used to take Ralph grocery shopping, a trip he looked forward to and that represented one of his few social interactions outside preschool. But few shoppers wear masks, she said, and now that seems too risky as well. The shy little boy has had three recent scares and three negative Covid tests. “Getting the swab test was really traumatic for him,” said Stanley, who added that “virus” and “swab” are now part of his vocabulary. “He keeps saying, ‘I don’t want to get a swab!’” she said. “If a vaccine comes for him, we’ll definitely get it.” n Associated Press writer Jennifer Sinco Kelleher in Honolulu contributed to this report.

MakatiMed renews pact with Eye Bank Foundation THE country’s top health institution Makati Medical Center (MakatiMed, www.makatimed.net.ph) has renewed its partnership with the humanitarian Eye Bank Foundation of the Philippines (Eye Bank). The hospital’s Department of Ophthalmology and the Eye Bank formalized the renewal of the partnership with the signing of a new Memorandum of Agreement on World Sight Day last October 14. The MOA was signed by MakatiMed representatives, Saturnino P. Javier, MD, medical director; Sherman O. Valero, MD, chairman of the Department of Ophthalmology; and Eye Bank representatives Ma. Dominga B. Padilla, MD, president and CEO, and Ellen S. Lagan, manager. The signing was broadcasted live to the MakatiMed and Eye Bank

communities, and was virtually attended by Atty. Pilar Nenuca P. Almira, MakatiMed president and CEO; and Reynaldo E. Santos, MD, president of Philippine Cornea Society. The event was concluded with a symbolic signing of an organ donation pledge card. Corneal blindness is one of the common causes of visual loss throughout the world. Unfortunately, the lack of corneal tissue poses a hindrance in many patients requiring corneal transplant to improve their vision and quality of life. Through the agreement, trained personnel from the Eye Bank are allowed to retrieve eyes or corneas in MakatiMed with consent from patients or their next of kin. If two corneas are obtained from one donor, one cornea shall automatically be offered for use in transplant surgery for a patient of the hospital. The other cornea

will go into the pool of the Eye Bank for distribution to another patient in the country in need of corneal transplant. Both parties have reiterated their commitment to the promotion of eye health, donation, and transplantation through patient education, counseling, and various public health endeavors. The Eye Bank is the only state-of-the-art eye banking facility in the country that evaluates and distributes donated eye tissue and corneas for use in transplantation, research and education. As part of its long-time partnership with the hospital, it regularly conducts cornea and eye donation awareness workshop-forum for the MakatiMed community to underline the importance of corneal donation and how corneal transplantation positively impacts the lives of recipients and their loved ones.

Showcasing their donor cards are (from left) Ellen Lagan, Eye Bank manager; Sherman Valero, MD, MakatiMed chairman department of Ophthalmology; Ma. Dominga Padilla, MD, Eyebank president and CEO; and Saturnino Javier, MD, MakatiMed medical director.

B6 Thursday, January 27, 2022

2GO moves 500 tons of relief goods free of charge for victims of Odette PH

GO Group, Inc.’s business arm 2GO Sea Solutions, the country’s leader in domestic freight transportation, has transported 500 tons of relief goods free of charge from Manila to Cebu, Tagbilaran, Cagayan de Oro and Ozamis to assist victims of Typhoon Odette. As of January 19, the firm has moved essential goods such as water, food packs, rice, linens, mattresses, tents, generator sets, batteries and medicines in partnership with organizations including the Gokongwei Brother’s Foundation (GBF), Courage Cebu, Philippine Multimodal Transport and Logistics Association Inc. (PMTLAI), and the Philippine Coast Guard. It also transported items upon personal requests of employees and partners for their families. “Responding to the needs of the communities we serve, especially in times of crisis, is an important part of the work that we do at the Gokongwei

Brothers Foundation. While our core advocacy is education, we are equally committed to help our communities to rebuild and rise strong from this calamity,” says GBF executive director Grace Colet. “Through the Bayanihan spirit of various Gokongwei Group companies, the volunteerism of our employees, and the shared goodwill of our partners such as Shang Properties, Kerry Group Philippines Foundation, SM Foundation and logistics firm 2GO, we’re able to swiftly bring help to affected communities. We are grateful for their generosity and the blessings that we are able to share,” she added. Together with One Meralco Foundation, 2GO also transported nine basket trucks and carried Meralco’s power restoration teams and equipment to help complete power restoration in the Visayas. “We profusely thank 2GO for its generosity in sending our Meralco trucks and manpower in Cebu and

Bohol to aid the much-needed power restoration in these provinces. Sailing this equipment aboard 2GO vessels fast tracked the return of services relying on power. We thank them for their concern to our kababayans, and we in One Meralco Foundation are honored to be their partners in this Bayanihan effort,” said OMF president Jeffrey Tarayao. In Iloilo, the firm has worked with SM Foundation and SM Supermalls to provide much needed supplies of blankets, hot meals and food packs to affected passengers. “At 2GO, we are on a daily mission to ensure an unhampered flow of goods and to transport passengers safely. No matter what the situation is, we are always in the service of the Filipino people. The team worked tirelessly to help with the immediate relief operations including employees who were also affected by the typhoon,” concludes its assistant vice president for marketing Blessie Cruz.

LANTERNS OF LUCK AT SM MEGAMALL. SM Megamall welcomes the Year of the Tiger with the glow of over a thousand gold tasseled red lanterns in different sizes in its entrances. Red lanterns are traditional Chinese New Year symbols of wealth, fame, and prosperity.

Kenichiro Kitamura joins Canon Philippines as new Office Imaging Products Director

MPIC unveils positivity through its 2022 Ang Kulay ng Pag-Gabay Calendar

ETRO Pacific Investments Corporation (MPIC) recently released its 2022 corporate calendar entitled Ang Kulay ng PagGabay, highlighting the six MVP Gabay Advocacies for a Sustainable Philippines. The company’s second coloring bookstyle calendar features the entire Manuel V. Pangilinan (MVP) Group’s positive community impact programs that underline the holistic progress that the conglomerate continues to make throughout the years. “The idea of Gabay is to serve as a guiding light, a driving force, and most importantly, a helping hand towards achieving a more significant purpose. Signifying that in this calendar gets our message across in one meaningful and useful package,” the MPIC's President and CEO said.

The Color of Positive Community Impact

GUIDED by one of the six Gabay

Advocacies – Kalikasan, Kalusugan, Karunungan, Komunidad, Kabataan, and Kabuhayan – each page not only showcases an illustration that tells the story of a project, but also features quotes from key people who have either been instrumental to the progress or have sentiments that express the true essence of the good work being done. “Everything that we do at MPIC is anchored on our purpose – to contribute significantly to nation-building by delivering high quality essential services and thereby uplifting the lives in the communities we serve,” says Chief Finance, Risk, and Sustainability Officer Chaye Cabal-Revilla.

The Art of New Opportunities

AMID the darkness brought about by 2020 and its effect on 2021, MPIC found a spark of brightness through its monthly Color Your World contests on social media, discovering its Ang Kulay sa Pag-Gabay artist through successive

showstopping artworks submitted each month. Jeanette Toledo Obiasca, a housewife and mother of three, won the social media contest three months in a row and was declared a Hall of Famer. She was commissioned as the principal artist and given the opportunity to illustrate each visual for the 2022 calendar. Without any professional practice, Obiasca brought to life the essence of the Gabay advocacies. This engagement not only provided her with a stable source of income for her and her children but gave her an expansive platform to showcase her timeless talent. “Passion ko po ang arts, dahil ito po ay tapat na paraan para ipahiwatig ang aking pananaw sa mundo,” said Obiasca. “Nagpapasalamat po ako sa Metro Pacific Investments Corporation, dahil hindi lamang nila binigyang kulay ang taon ng pamilya ko, kung di binuhay muli ang aking pagmamahal sa pagguhit.” MPIC VP for PR and Corporate Communications Melody M. Del Rosario, who found Obiasca through a social media group, was truly invested in making her a part of this publication. “Jeanette was truly instrumental in showing us how our businesses bring color to the world of our customers with each masterpiece she submitted last year. She also embodies the essence of Gabay, of someone who just needs the right tools, opportunities, and people behind her to make her dreams a reality.” As 2022 begins, it is vital for the country and all Filipinos to embrace it with open hearts and open minds. More importantly, however, all must be proactive in coloring the bigger picture it brings, to make it brighter and more alive than the years that passed.

ANON recently announced the appointment of Mr. Kenichiro “Ken” Kitamura as Office Imaging Products (OIP) Director of Canon Marketing (Philippines), Inc. In his new position, Kitamura will be responsible for Canon Philippines’ business category covering multi-function devices, scanners, document management solutions, network cameras, production printers, among others. These offerings have been particularly relevant during the pandemic, empowering companies to automate processes and streamline workflows necessary for today’s hybrid work environment. Prior to joining Canon (Marketing) Philippines, Inc., Kitamura got his start with Canon Group under the OIP product planning department in 2000. Since then, he has amassed over 20 years of experience and held various positions in product procurement, marketing, operations, and sales across Canon Japan, USA, Canada, and Singapore. “I’m honored to be a part of Canon Philippines and lead its Office Imaging Products division, the same group that I first joined with the company more than two decades ago. As companies call for

KENICHIRO Kitamura joins Canon Philippines as new Office Imaging Products Director more streamlined operations and flexible work arrangements, Canon is committed to offering valuable technology that makes it easier for people to connect and get things done safely and securely,” said Kitamura.

Cheesy goodness means Double Cheese from Subway

OUBLE the fun with more cheese in this limited-time-offer New Subway® Double Cheese Chicken and Double Cheese Steak that will indulge sub-lovers with the cheesy goodness experience from January 19, 2022 to April 12, 2022! The Double Cheese menu will be the next set of daily favorite subs to try! It promises double the amount of cheesiness in the subs guaranteed to satisfy any ultimate cheese lover, and it comes with chicken and steak variants! The Double Cheese Chicken ala carte price starts at Php155 for the 6-inch sub, Php300 for the footlong sub, Php165 for 10-inch wrap, and Php205 for the salad. The Double Cheese Steak ala carte price starts at Php165 for the 6-inch sub, Php320 for the footlong sub, Php175

for the 10-inch wrap, and Php215 for the salad. For the Double Cheese Regular meals, it comes with a 22oz drink and two (2) Cookies. Regular meal starts at Php240 for the 6-inch sub, Php385 for the footlong sub, Php250 for the wrap, and Php290 for the salad. The Double Cheese Steaks regular meal starts at Php250 for the 6-inch sub, Php405 for the footlong sub, Php260 for the 10inch wrap, and Php300 for the salad. Subway's new menu is an affordable option that allows their guests to make the most of their day. It can be consumed on a daily basis as a snack or as a quick meal on the go, providing an exciting and satisfying boost with every bite. One can also safely order at the comfort of your homes using messenger Botty delivery.

Editor: Anne Ruth Dela Cruz

Health&Fitness BusinessMirror

Govt PREPARATIONS for pedia Covid-19 jab in full swing By Rory Visco Contributor

he Covid-19 response team of the national government has already announced that the inoculation of children five to 11 years old will start on February 4, 2022 as the vaccine supply for this age group is set to arrive last week of January.

But is the government really ready? Even the kids? The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) already approved Pfizer BioNTech for use to vaccinate the five to 11 age bracket and is awaiting the arrival of the vaccines while vaccinators are already being trained on how to administer the doses to kids.

What do we know about Covid-19 in children?

During the latest episode of the TV UP webinar series “Covid-19 Pediatric Vaccination: Ready na ba Tayo?,” organized by the University of the Philippines together with UP Manila National Telehealth Center and in cooperation with UP Philippine General Hospital, Dr. Enrique “Eric” Tayag, Epidemiologist and Public Health Expert Director IV, Department of Health - Knowledge Management and Information Technology Service (DOH-KMITS) said that children, just like adults, are susceptible to Covid-19. Incidence is also similar to adults despite the low risk of exposure, and testing is infrequent to confirm diagnosis. “Many parents don’t suspect if it is Covid-19 because many of them are already used to the usual cough and cold,” he said. Also, Dr. Tayag said up to 18 percent of laboratory-confirmed Covid-19 cases are children though the actual number of cases are deemed underestimated since symptoms are mild and most likely were not tested. The incidence of Covid-19 in children

also increases as age increases based on studies. Infections occur in children when they are exposed to an adult who is an Index Case while secondary attack rates were noted at over 75 percent, and transmission from asymptomatic kids were reported as well, while reinfections can also occur. The risk factors for Covid-19 in children, he said, can be from an infected household member, visitors at home, and gatherings with nonhousehold members present. With regard to face-to-face classes, Dr. Tayag reported that children get infected not because of attending the classes but due to the inconsistent use of masks, while asymptomatic infections can range from 15 percent to 42 percent. Children also have similar symptoms as adults but frequency may vary and typically includes, fever or chills and cough. Children with underlying conditions have higher rates of hospital and ICU admissions. Fortunately, most children with Covid-19 recover in about four weeks, while SARS-CoV2-related deaths in children are rare, but may also be susceptible to long Covid, or its after-effects. The Global Advisory Committee on Vaccine Safety (GACVS) concluded that in all age groups, the benefits of the mRNA Covid-19 vaccines in reducing hospitalization and Covid-19 deaths still outweigh the risks.

Considerations

The World Health Organization

Prioritization Roadmap, according to Dr. Tayag, said that focus should be to protect sub-populations with highest risk of hospitalization and deaths. “So are the children in this age bracket considered as sub-population?” He also said that countries with few or no vaccine supply constraints should consider issues like global equity when making policy decisions about vaccinating children and adolescents. “Many countries have not even started their first doses, or simply marginal if they did. Many are still ramping up to achieve the 40-percent vaccination target. And although safety and effectiveness of vaccines have been proven, the stringent regulations should be followed, and maintaining education for school-aged children should be an important priority during this pandemic,” he said. Many countr ies have a lready started vaccinating this age group, Dr. Tayag said, which include the USA, Canada, Spain, Italy, France, Bahrain, China, Venezuela, Argentina, Costa Rica, Israel, Saudi Arabia, UAE, Oman. The Philippines targets to vaccinate at least 12.5 million five to 11 year-olds by the first quarter of this year, plus booster shots by the third quarter of 2022.

How are we getting ready?

The FDA already provided an Emergency Use Authorization (EUA) to Pfizer last December 23, 2021 for use on five to 11 years old. The Philippine Pediatric Society (PPS) and the Pediatric Infectious Disease Society of the Philippines (PIDSP) already issued a joint position statement, which said that priority should be in areas with reported high local transmission, children in the A3 (or children with co-morbidities) category, the A1 or children of medical frontliners. “The groups also cautioned implementing agencies that due diligence should be applied to ensure vaccine equity and access.” Guidelines from the Health Technology Assessment (HTA) Council,

the National Immunization Technical Advisory Groups (NITAG), and the National Vaccination Operations Center (NVOC), however, are still pending. “The procurement of the appropriate Pfizer vaccines is also pending since they will come in a different formulation, but the townhall meetings for healthcare workers are scheduled next month, while social mobilizations are already being planned so I hope the local government units are being implemented it already,” he said. He said pre-registration is now ongoing at least in the City of Manila, while vaccine team volunteers are already being signed up, and awareness building via social media and other forms of publicity are being prepared.

Preparing for the jabs

How do we prepare kids for vaccination? Dr. Tayag suggests to prepare them days ahead so the experience will be less upsetting, that they understand how the vaccines will protect them and those around them, including playmates, and explain that there may be unpleasant experiences on the first jab to help encourage them to go back for a second one. Parents should not be in a hurry and allot enough time to explain to their kids what to expect in the vaccination process and alleviate their fears and concerns. “Perhaps it would be best if the explanation is accompanied by photos and other visuals for them to better understand, or substitute words like using Pisil [pinch] instead of Turok [injection].” On vaccination day, they can be distracted unexpectedly when about to be injected, to close their eyes and learn how to handle crying, or sitting beside them or holding their hands during the ordeal can be of help to take away their fears. Putting ice packs on the injection site can also be of help, or even a gift/reward after injection to provide comfort and joy and take their mind off the pain. And remember to tell them to keep their masks on. “Let’s all pursue to make children’s future safe and brighter each day,” Dr. Tayag said.

Duterte told to veto vape bill to save the youth By Claudeth Mocon-Ciriaco

ormer Health Secretary Dr. Jaime Galvez Tan has expressed his strong support for medical groups who have called on President Duterte to veto the Vaporized Nicotine Products Regulation Act, or the Vape Bill, to protect minors and help save lives. According to Galvez Tan, the bill cannot be considered a legacy of President Duterte since he likened vaping to the use of cigarettes and tobacco. President Duterte made a strong stand against vape proliferation in the country in 2019 when he said that these products are “toxic” and that the government has “the power to issue measures to protect public health and interest.” As a result of this statement, two laws were passed strictly regulating e-cigarettes by raising the age of access to vapes from 18 to 21, restricting vape flavors to menthol and tobacco, and putting regulatory power over the product under Food and Drug

Administration. However, the Sen. Vape Bill (SB 2239) of Senator Ralph Recto attempts to reverse these restrictions by lowering access to vapes to 18, allowing more flavors, and even providing looser policies on the use of vapes in public. Galvez Tan, trustee of HealthJustice Philippines, agreed with the stand of the medical groups when they claimed that the bill would finally regulate vaping, make it available so smokers can stop smoking, and protect minors.

Former health secretaries

Also, seven former health secretaries have the joined the call for the Senate to junk the Vape Bill. “The Vape Bill is a huge step backward in protecting Filipinos’ health. It is a danger, especially in a pandemic,” according to former health secretaries Dr. Alfredo Bengzon, Dr. Esperanza Cabral, Dr. Manuel Dayrit, Dr. Enrique Ona, Dr. Carmencita Reodica, Dr. Paulyn Ubial, and Galvez Tan.

The former health secretaries noted that the Vape Bill relaxes the provisions of Republic Act 11467, an existing law that strictly regulates the products. The bill lowers the age of access to vapes and e-cigarettes from 21 to 18 and transfers regulatory jurisdiction from the Food and Drug Administration to Department of Trade and Industry. The bill also reverses a ban on flavors (except menthol and tobacco) and allows sales online. “By lowering the age of access from 21 to 18, the Vape Bill exposes more of our youth, those who are still in senior high or about to enter college, to HTPs [Heated Tobacco Products] and e-cigarettes,” said Galvez-Tan. “Why are we exposing them to this risk when under our laws, we are already protecting them?” For her part, Reodica said that the senators should listen to health experts “at this crucial time.” “The medical community already explained that nicotine exposure at a young age impairs maximum development of the brain, making the youth

New PLIA head to ensure health, future of Filipinos By Roderick L. Abad Contributor

he Covid-19 pandemic has made Filipinos more conscious of their health and well-being. Due to the health crisis brought about by the pandemic, life insurance has been brought to the top of the minds of Filipinos. Des pite t he u nprecedented growth of the surety industry, however, the Philippines remains to have a high underinsured population. This is one of the issues that Etiqa Philippines President and Chief Executive Officer Rico T. Bautista seeks to address as the newly-appointed president of the Philippine Life In-

surance Life Association, Inc. (PLIA). According to him, protecting people’s lives while providing financial security, including health, savings, and investments instruments, will be his priority. With his new designation, he plans to make insurance more relevant and accessible to Filipinos. “We believe that a well-informed insuring public is one key dependency to enabling a significant improvement in the insurance penetration rate in the country,” noted Bautista, who has over 20 years of salesmanagement and business-building experience.

Champion concerns

Guided by the presidential theme

“Navigate to Elevate!” the 2022 PLIA president will also champion and represent the industry’s concerns and issues to regulators, government and non-government agencies, and international groups. “Maintaining the close working relationship between PLIA and the Insurance Commission is critical to the achievement of our industry’s objectives. We are fortunate to have a responsive and empathetic regulator as a partner in charting the growth and development of the life insurance industry,” he said. Being the head of the umbrella organization of all life insurance companies in the country, Bautista has called for unity and collaboration among

vulnerable to engaging in harmful habits that are hard to break,” Reodica added. Meanwhile, Ubial said that “data on the use of vapes and e-cigarettes among the youth show that we should be strengthening, and not relaxing our policies on these products.”

Harmful effects

The Department of Health, together with the World Health Organization, and medical societies, warned the public on the harmful effects of electronic cigarettes and heated tobacco products. “Electronic cigarettes and HTPs are sold in the market as alternatives for smokers trying to wean themselves off tobacco. Some studies claim that they contain fewer toxic chemicals and are less harmful alternatives to cigarettes,” said Secretary Francisco T. Duque III. “We do not support their claim of reduced harm. These products endanger the health of both users and non-users, and are clearly not meant for children,” Duque stressed.

the officers and staff of the member companies, and urged their firms to become more involved in raising public awareness about the services and benefits of having life insurance. He also pledged to support the government’s thrust on financial inclusion by promoting business growth among members of the organization. A ligned with PLI A’s vision of upholding the highest ethical standards in the conduct of life insurance operations, Bautista envisions it to be an “active contributor to the country’s social and national development, through its significant investments in government bonds and securities; the insurance and corporate taxes that it adds to the national coffers; and the Corporate Social Responsibility programs that it undertakes.”

Thursday, January 27, 2022 B7

Globe Business digital solution to help future-proof hospitals By Erica Torres

ealth-related challenges, inc lud ing t he Covid-19 pandemic, have significantly highlighted the need to accelerate digital transformation in hospitals due to the recent influx of patients, the limited number of medical staff, and the tedious process of manual medical records. Healthcare institutions can now scale up operations and provide quality care to patients through Globe Business’ Hospital Information System (HIS), developed in partnership with HYBrain. This product innovation introduces digital clinical records, laborator y information management and backend processes that ease accounting, finance, and overall hospital management tasks. John Augustus Diesto, the head of the IT department at Corazon Locsin Montelibano Memor ia l Regiona l Hospita l (CLMMR H) in Bacolod Cit y, said the digital shift through Globe Business’ HIS has helped them better manage medical records, accounting systems, i nventor y, e C l a i m s s y stem , and other processes in the organization. Formerly known as Occidental Negros Provincial Hospital (ONPH), the CLMMRH is the only end referral government hospital for Bacolod City, Negros Occidental, and the provinces of the Western Visayas region. It has a 400-bed capacity and serves as a tertiary teaching-learning hospital.

Digital acceleration

The digital acceleration is also expected to link the hospital’s 12 departments, namely General Surgery, Internal Medicine, Obstetrics and Gynecology, Ophthalmology, Family and Community Medicine, Pediatrics, Anesthesiology, OtolaryngologyHead and Neck Surgery, Orthopedics and Traumatology, Pathology, Diagnostic Imaging, and Radiologic Sciences and Emergency Medicine. “The digital shift is difficult at the beginning,” said Diesto, citing hospital personnel have been used to manual paperwork for the medical records, accounting systems, inventory, and other procedures. Globe Business, however, makes sure that there is a reliable technical team to provide support in the hospital’s digital journey from training of personnel to tailor fitting the systems and procedures. “Through the hard work of the Globe Business’ technical team, our personnel at CLMMRH were able to obtain the necessary training on the use of new technology based on the require-

ments of the organization,” said Diesto.

Freely customized

Diesto said the integrated HIS is freely customized to suit the hospital process. The CLMMRH also included the SMS feature to enhance the communication system between doctors and nursing stations. Globe Business’ HIS a lso pro v ides e nd - u s e r t r a i n i n g for hospital personnel to ensure that staff will familiarize themselves and operate the new system. These include hands-on digital procedures such as item inventory, beginning balance, and accounting settings, which require time, while the system can be populated with data and be used. Manelle Cousart Suyat, Globe Business Industry Marketing Head for Healthcare, said maintaining a manual records system puts patient records at risk of loss or mismanagement and is very tedious and time-consuming for our healthcare professionals. She said that with an integrated HIS in place, the digitization of records will help promote seamless collaborations between departments and physicians, while keeping patient records up-todate. The integrated HIS also alleviates the pressure on the ground, as it allows healthcare professionals to focus on what they do best—extend their best care to the patients. “Globe Business has always been at the forefront of digitization and a trusted partner in helping the Micro, Small, and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs) transition to their digital journey,” said Suyat.

Future proofing

She added that Globe Business has always supported future proofing their businesses and fostering better experiences for both patients and healthcare professionals alike. Globe Business also partnered with the Bank of Philippine Islands (BPI) through the Globe Business TechLoans Loan Program to offer hospitals an exclusive term loan facility to avail of ICT Solutions. Moreover, Globe Business’ HIS aims to support compliance of hospitals to the recent directive of the Department of Health (DOH) and improve overall patient care. Through this, hospitals can have an Electronic Medical Records System (EMRS) that can facilitate efficient services to meet the goals of DOH requirements. This digital innovation will provide hospitals the capacity to meet the demands of increasing the number of patients, provide quality care to clients and be at par with the global standards.

Operation Smile to set up new cleft care center in Pampanga

peration Smile Philippines Foundation (OSP) is setting up a new cleft care center at the Rosario Memorial Hospital (RMH) in Guagua, Pampanga after securing RMH’s agreement to allow the use of the hospital’s premises and facilities for the comprehensive treatment of children born with oral cleft by its medical and allied medical volunteers. The agreement was signed recently by OSP executive director Emiliano Romano and RMH executive vice president Josephine M. Salvador. OSP has been providing free reconstructive surgery, dental treatment, medical examination and speech therapy to children afflicted with cleft lip and cleft palate since 1982. The procedures are carried out by highly trained and credentialed volunteer plastic surgeons, anesthesiologists, pediatricians, dentists, nurses and speech pathologists.

Partner hospitals

To date, they have treated over 30,000 patients with cleft condition all over the country through medical missions in partner hospitals or in OSP cleft care centers. The cleft care center in RMH, a level 1 hospital, will be OSP’s third after the ones in Manila and Davao City. “It will boost our capability to provide comprehensive cleft care year-round,” Mr. Romano said, adding that OSP had earlier inked an agreement with the Philippine National Police in Region 3 to scout for patients and transport them to treatment sites. “We welcome the partnership with OSP especially since it will give our hospital staff training and volunteering opportunities that we think are essential for keeping our people sharp, motivated and in high spirits,” Ms. Salvador said.

JUICO

PHILIP JUICO: POC DECISION RAILROADED

MBATTLED athletics chief Philip Ella Juico branded the Philippine Olympic Committee (POC) decision to declare him persona non grata as “railroaded” and executed without due process. “There was no due process because there was no division of the house,” Juico said in a statement on Wednesday. “Instead, the POC claimed that a pre-circulated resolution was signed by 36 POC members who affixed their signatures [without any] resolution having presented during the General Assembly for voting.” Juico furthered: “Neither I nor several others POC members received this resolution as the same resolution to be voted on during the General Assembly.” Juico said in the same statement that the POC Notice dated January 3 (2022) clearly stated that “the matter will be reported and taken up during the Regular General Assembly scheduled on 12 January 2022.” “Nothing was taken up,” he said. “The POC did not give any opportunity for the General Assembly to verify this 36-member preapproved resolution.” “I may now be persona non grata in the eyes of the POC, but this will not distract us in our quest for truth, accountability, transparency and justice in our federation,” he said. “If this is the price I have to pay for holding my athlete accountable, so be it. I have nothing to be ashamed of. I will step out of the POC with my head held high.”

PHILIPPINE Olympic Committee President Rep. Abraham “Bambol” Tolentino presides over the body’s crucial General Assembly on Wednesday.

By Josef Ramos

HILIP ELLA JUICO is now officially persona non grata in the Philippine Olympic Committee (POC) after the body’s General Assembly ratified an Executive Board recommendation

Sports

Petrov blasts athletics chief

BusinessMirror

| Thursday, January 27, 2022 mirror_sports@yahoo.com.ph Editor: Jun Lomibao

HEAT’S ON DOWN UNDER M

ELBOURNE, Australia— Iga Swiatek took three hours in the afternoon heat to beat 36-year-old Kaia Kanepi, 4-6, 7-6 (2), 6-3, on Wednesday, with the payoff being a spot in the Australian Open semifinals against Danielle Collins. “This match was crazy,” the 20-yearold, 2020 French Open winner said. “First set I think my mistake was I had so many break points, I felt like I missed my chances. In the second set,...I felt like she’s playing so fast that I can’t be tight. I had to finish my forehands.” The temperature hit 36 degrees Celsius (97 degrees Fahrenheit) on Day 10, continuing a week of hot

days at the year’s first Grand Slam tournament. Collins won the opening match on Rod Laver Arena before the heat peaked, swinging it in her favor with a key service break in the final game of the opening set on her way to a 7-5, 6-1 victory over Alize Cornet. No. 115-ranked Kanepi made her Grand Slam debut in 2006 but was playing in the quarterfinals in Australia for the first time, completing a career set after making it to the last eight twice at each of the sport’s three other major tournaments. She was coming off an upset, three-set win over No. 2-ranked Aryna Sabalenka and took the game to Swiatek, who saved nine set points before losing the first set. Swiatek rallied in the second, exchanging service breaks twice before winning it in a tiebreaker. There was another exchange of breaks early in the third set and Swiatek was broken again when she was serving for the match in the

IGA SWIATEK arranges a semifinals showdown with Danielle Collins (left). AP eighth game. She eventually clinched on Kanepi’s serve, scrambling to stay in the point until the Estonian player sent a forehand wide. After the first three quarterfinals were decided in straight sets— Ash Barty beat Jessica Pegula and Madison Keys beat Barbora Krejcikova on Tuesday—the last one went all the way. AP

POC G.A. DECLARES JUICO PERSONA NON GRATA to sanction the Philippine Athletics Track and Field Association (Patafa) president. All 54 national sports associations (NSAs) recognized by the POC participated in the exercise with 36 voting yes, 11 submitting a “no vote” which means they didn’t sign the notion, five opposing the recommendation and three abstaining. Tokyo Olympics gold medalist Hidilyn Diaz and former top swimmer Jessie Lacuna relayed the Athletes Commission’s “yes” vote, while weightlifting president Monico Puentevella and representatives from wushu, squash, hockey and Juico, who virtually attended the hybrid General Assembly based at the Grandmaster Hotel in Tagaytay City

stressing their opposition. International Olympic Committee Representative to the Philippines Mikee Cojuangco Jaworski and representatives from dancesports and netball abstained. The Executive Board decided in late December to recommend a persona non grata penalty on Juico for “harassing” Ernest John “EJ” Obiena by making “malicious public accusations” against world-class pole vaulter. The Patafa initially accused Obiena of non-payment of his Ukranian coach Vitaly Petrov’s salary but later changed its accusation to the world No. 5 pole vaulter’s failure to liquidate Philippine Sports Commission funds properly. “We’re just following the

procedure and there’s nothing personal against Mr. Juico and the moment EJ [Obiena] and Juico [agree] or EJ withdraws his complaint, the General Assembly can revisit the Executive Board’s decision,” POC President Rep. Abraham “Bambol” Tolentino told an online news conference after the exercise. Tolentino stressed that Juico remains as athletics president “for other matters” but is no longer recognized by the POC. “The Patafa could still function as an NSA under the national Olympic committee,” Tolentino said. “He is still the Patafa president for other matters [without recognizing him], but they still have their vice president and secretary general who can attend POC activities.”

Tolentino said that the vote doesn’t need a full majority because they are not suspending nor ousting Juico as Patafa president. “We do not need a three-fourth or two-third vote because we’re not ousting and suspending him as president,” he said. “We’re only declaring him as persona non grata— but still, 36 already represents a twothird vote.” This is not the first time the POC punished an NSA president as persona non grata. The body then headed by Jose Cojuangco Jr. meted then Patafa head Go Teng Kok the same penalty in 2011 for bringing to government courts a leadership dispute in the karate federation. The General Assembly was the first for 2022.

Pitmaster Foundation donates P20M homecare kits to NCR

ITMASTER Foundation continued with its initiative to help out Covid-19 patients by donating P20 million worth of homecare kits that will benefit 17 local government units (LGUs) in the National Capital Region (NCR). “This is just part of the initiative the foundation is doing to avoid Covid-19 lockdowns, help our health workers and protect small businesses,” said Atty. Caroline Cruz, the foundation’s executive director. According to Cruz, the marching order

of the Foundation’s Chairman, Charlie “Atong” Ang, is to help LGUs in the NCR in its fight against the dreaded Covid-19 in line with the government’s Covid-19 Response Program. Pitmaster has been one of the leading charitable institutions in town today. Its door has been open for requests for quite some time now and the quick release of the homecare kits was its response to the requests forwarded by NCR mayors. Every homecare kit contains lagundi

Grudge match GRUDGES. They’re great motivating factors in the world of sports that give a little extra chili pepper, a bit more sriracha and lots of pop and crackle to the mix. Through countless seasons, there have been grudge matches of the most exquisite variety. Stemming from wellestablished rivalries like Ateneo-La Salle in the University Athletic Association, Crispa-Toyota in the Philippine Basketball Association of yore, and the Celtics-Lakers in the National Basketball Association, grudge matches happen when there is history between two parties. It’s usually a tit for tat exchange that’s been going on for generations. Or it can be just a simple “I wanna get back at you and beat you bad” feeling. Ultimately it’s a need for an ego boost, or a catharsis. Invariably the end result is sitting on top of the heap when

herbal medicine, vitamin C plus Zinc, Lola Remedios syrup, digital thermometer, facemask, paracetamol, bactidol, alcohol and pamphlet on how to avoid Covid-19. The beneficiary mayors, on the other hand, promised to distribute at once the kits to their constituents. Pitmaster Foundation had earlier donated P50 million cash and P50 million worth of antigen test kits to NCR LGUs in its effort to complement the government’s program to stop the rampaging virus in thickly populated areas, notably the NCR.

all the forces have been resolved. A feeling of redemption surges. Euphoria ensues. Denice “Lycan Queen” Zamboanga is aching to get back at South Korean Seo Hee Ham in ONE Championship. Six months ago, the two she-wolves faced each other in ONE: Empower in the quarterfinals of the ONE Women’s Atomweight World Grand Prix. Denice was the reigning No. 1 contender to the atomweight crown held by Angela Lee. But the Korean, called “Arale Chan” ranked No. 3, put a wrench on her ambition to easily challenge “Unstoppable” Lee. During the furious exchange, where Ham scored on strikes in the third round, a clash of heads gave Zamboanga a gash on her forehead. But the plucky Pinay minded it little, took down her opponent, landed in top position and unleashed a barrage of punches that she sustained till the end. However, when the moment of truth came, the judges called the fight in favor of the South Korean. Zamboanga shed tears—angry tears—at the post fight press conference. She deserved to win this, she said, in so many words. Social media erupted with comments calling out the decision. Mainstream media likewise commented that Zamboanga got the shorter end of the stick. ONE Founder, Chairman and CEO Chatri Sityodtong himself said on Facebook that “I thought Denice Zamboanga beat Seo Hee Ham.” She “controlled the cage work, takedowns and ground action” while Ham landed “the cleaner, heavier punches.” A review of the fight—the first of its kind—was ordered. But in the end, the decision stayed, dealing Zamboanga her first ever loss in her career. Now, Denice is ripe for revenge. Her wish to have a

THE homecare kits donated by Pitmaster Foundation to 17 local government units in the National Capital Region.

rematch with her ONE: Empower opponent will come true in ONE X on March 26. It is the tenth anniversary promotion of ONE, the biggest event ever. “I can’t explain the excitement! This is what I have been waiting for even after our first fight,” she said. Zamboanga is out to prove that she truly was the one who deserved to get her hands raised last September and is using the controversial decision to fuel her preparations for this grudge match. “I’m okay now and I’ve moved on from that decision. I’m using that to push myself to train more,” she said. Zamboanga is aware of where a win in this fight would take her. The victor likely gets a shot at the winner of the bout between reigning ONE Women’s Atomweight World Champion “Unstoppable” Angela Lee and ONE Women’s Atomweight World Grand Prix Champion Stamp Fairtex, who are facing off at the same ONE X main event. “This match will be a stepping stone for me to finally be given a chance to challenge the champion,” Zamboanga said, adding that it’s a huge privilege to be part of ONE Championship’s 10-year anniversary show. “This is so special for me because I will be part of history. Just look at the title fights on this card, and how it’s stacked from top to bottom. You can see how great the matches and the fighters are, so I’m really blessed to be part of it.” Zamboanga says she will show how much more she has “improved since the last time I fought inside the ONE Circle. I can’t put it into words, but you will see the leveled up version of me. [I’ll] definitely be eyeing for a finish,” she said. Let the Grudge match begin!

EGENDARY pole vault coach Vitaly Petrov slammed the Philippine Athletics Track and Field Association (Patafa) for dropping him as Olympic athlete Ernest John “EJ” Obiena coach. “[From] the seven years of work that I have done with EJ, I have never heard Patafa or Mr. Philip [Ella] Juico ask me what they can do to help me develop EJ,” the 84-yearold Petrov said in a statement on Wednesday, the same day the Philippine Olympic Committee General Assembly declared Juico as persona non grata. “If this Federation is dropping a world-class athlete instead of helping; drops his coach who have trained him to be one of the best pole vaulters; brands a sport patron persona non grata who have done nothing but helped bring this Filipino boy to where he is now, then I ask what is this federation doing?” Petrov said. Petrov expressed displeasure over Patafa president Juico for accusing Obiena of funds embezzlement and estafa and “destroying the athlete’s reputation and credibility.” “I have helped him [EJ] jump 5.93m, which is the current Asian record,” the Ukranian added. “Money has never been an issue. There are even times where I spend my own money, like paying for a gymnastic coach to help EJ improve,” he said, noting that it’s all about his passion for coaching to reach the athlete’s maximum potential.” “Now that the time has come for EJ to realize his hard work; reap the reward of our time and effort then suddenly Patafa cancels me as their coach,” Petrov said. “I was never Philip Juico’s pole vault coach, I am the coach of Thiago Braz, Sergey Bubka, Yelena Isinbayeva and EJ Obiena. I am proudly the coach of these hardworking athletes.” Russian-Ukrainian Bubka owns six world championships gold medals, three world indoor titles and one Olympic gold medal, while Russian Isinbayeva was Olympics gold medalist twice, world championships three times and world indoor champion four times. Brazilian Thiago Braz da Silva was the Rio 2016 Olympics gold medalist. Josef Ramos

Ex-Tour champ Bernal remains in intensive care

OGOTA, Colombia—Former Tour de France champion Egan Bernal remained in intensive care in Colombia on Tuesday after undergoing what his team described as “two successful surgeries.” The 2019 Tour champion from Colombia, where he is a beloved celebrity, collided with a bus parked on the shoulder of a road outside Bogota on Monday morning while training with his team Ineos Grenadiers. Bernal was transferred to the University of La Sabana Hospital near the capital. His team said he fractured his right femur, right kneecap, several ribs and a vertebrae and suffered a punctured lung and chest trauma. “Doctors were able to medically pin his right leg and stabilize the vertebrae fracture in two separate surgeries last night,” Ineos said. “He is now in an intensive care unit where other potential secondary injuries are being managed, as well as his body’s response to the trauma.” Colombian President Iván Duque went on social media to wish the cyclist a speedy recovery. Camilo Pardo, a sports doctor in Bogota, said cyclists usually take around eight months to recover from a fractured femur, while a kneecap injury like the one sustained by Bernal could take even longer to heal. AP A SPORTS doctor in Bogota says cyclists usually take around eight months to recover from a fractured femur, while a kneecap injury like the one sustained by Egan Bernal could take even longer to heal.