BusinessMirror July 15, 2021 by BusinessMirror

VILLAR CONDUCTS FINAL INSPECTION AHEAD OF CLLEX PARTIAL OPENING

RAVEL in Central Luzon, a key economic hub, gets a boon this week with the opening of a crucial highway between two of the region’s most progressive provinces, Tarlac and Nueva Ecija. The Central Luzon Link Expressway (CLLEx) will be opened to the motoring public this week, Public Works Secretary Mark A. Villar announced on Wednesday (July 14), as he made a final inspection of the 4-lane express-

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way project connecting Tarlac and Nueva Ecija. “As declared a month ago, we will inaugurate on Thursday, July 15, 2021, the first 18-kilometer section of CLLEx from Subic-Clark-Tarlac Expressway [SCTEx]/Tarlac-Pangasinan-La Union Expressway [TPLEx] connection in Tarlac City up to the intersection of Aliaga-Guimba Road in Aliaga, Nueva Ecija,” said Villar. C  A

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Thursday, July 15, 2021 Vol. 16 No. 274

P.  |     | 7 DAYS A WEEK

METROPOLITAN Manila Development Authority Chairman Benhur Abalos inspects one of the mobile materials recovery facilities, dubbed as “Recyclable Mo, Palit Grocery Ko,” at the San Isidro Barangay Hall in Makati City. The facility allows residents to trade waste for household commodities and grocery items, such as canned goods, noodles and rice. ROY DOMINGO

B C U. O

@caiordinario

HE gradual recovery of domestic demand has led local economists to believe that the Philippine economy is already on the mend from the ravages of the Covid-19 pandemic.

‘Fitch outlook downgrade is a useful heads up’

HE recent outlook downgrade on the Philippines’s sovereign rating from international credit watcher Fitch Ratings is a “useful heads up” for the economy, private analysts said in a virtual briefing on Wednesday. In its virtual presser on its latest analysis on the Philippine economy, economists at First Metro Investments Corporation (FMIC) and University of Asia and the Pacific (UA&P) said Fitch’s reversion of its “stable” outlook on the Philippines down to “negative” earlier this week could be a reminder of the pitfalls to recovery along the way. First Metro President Jose Patricio Dumlao said the coun-

try should use the next 18 to 24 months to beef up the recovery path of the country to ultimately avoid an actual downgrade. Outlooks of credit watchers are indicators of where the country’s sovereign rating is usually headed if no intervention and development is put in place. The outlooks are usually indicative of an economy’s situation in the next 18 to 24 months. “We look at the recent rating outlook downgrade by Fitch Ratings constructively. It is more of a reminder that economic recovery requires hard work rather than

PESO EXCHANGE RATES ■ US 50.1380

In a briefing on Wednesday, First Metro Investment Corporation-University of Asia and the Pacific (FMIC-UA&P) Capital Market Research said the economy will likely post a full-year growth of 5 to 6 percent this year. This forecast was lower than the 5.5 to 6.5 percent estimate the think tank gave previously, but UA&P economist Victor A. Abola

said this was mainly affected by the first quarter performance of the economy. The country’s GDP in the January-to-March period contracted 4.2 percent. “This half percent is fairly minor which is more aligned to what the government is projecting. They also lowered their growth projection,” Abola said. “We more or less aligned [our expectations] with

how the government views the situation right now.” In his presentation, Abola said the strengths of the Philippine economy right now include ample fiscal and monetary space, robust overseas Filipino worker (OFW) remittances, and spreading optimism. These are boosting domestic demand. “I think there is cause to be

more optimistic but not exactly very, very optimistic. We can see things looking up. The Philippines is an economy bouncing back,” Abola said.

Caveats

AS for the caveats, Abola said, these include the ongoing pandemC  A

DOF EXEC SEES FOOD PRICES PEAKING IN JULY B B D. N @BNicolasBM

OOD prices are expected to peak this July, the Department of Finance said. “Food price inflation is expected to peak this month as imports rise to boost domestic supply. Bolstering food productivity is necessary for long-term food price stability,” Finance Undersecretary and Chief Economist Gil Beltran said in his economic bulletin on Wednesday. Food price inflation maintained its pace in June at 4.88

percent, unchanged from May’s 4.87 percent. Beltran also said average prices of rice, fruits, and vegetables declined by 1.10 percent, 0.64 percent, and 2.71 percent, respectively, muting the higherthan-average inflation in the prices of meat (19.24 percent) and fish (8.66 percent). To recall, Socioeconomic Planning Secretary Karl Kendrick T. Chua last week said Executive Orders (EO) 133 and 134 allowing the increase in Minimum Access Volume for S “DOF,” A

S “F,” A

■ JAPAN 0.4533 ■ UK 69.2857 ■ HK 6.4561 ■ CHINA 7.7511 ■ SINGAPORE 36.9995 ■ AUSTRALIA 37.3277 ■ EU 59.0576 ■ SAUDI ARABIA 13.3680

Source: BSP (July 14, 2021)

BusinessMirror

Thursday, July 15, 2021

TRAVELERS FROM INDONESIA TO BE BARRED FROM PHL

News

NBOUND travelers from Indonesia will no longer be allowed to enter the country starting on Friday as part of the Philippine government’s precautions to prevent the local spread of the Delta variant of Covid-19. In a statement on Wednesday, Presidential Spokesman Harry Roque confirmed President Duterte had approved the imposition of travel restriction for Indonesia after it surpassed India as the epicenter in Asia of incidents of Covid-19, which is caused by SARS-Cov-2. Roque said the restriction will apply on all travelers coming from Indonesia or those with travel history to Indonesia within the last 14 days preceding arrival in the Philippines. “Beginning 12:01 AM of July 16, 2021 until 11:59 PM of July 31, 2021, such travelers shall be prohibited from entering the Philippines,” Roque said. He noted that passengers who are already in transit before the travel restriction takes effect on Friday will still be allowed to enter the country provided they undergo the “full 14-day facility quarantine notwithstanding a negative Reverse Transcription-Polymerase Chain Reaction [RT-PCR] result.” The same protocol will also apply to all those who have been in Indonesia within 14 days immediately preceding arrival to the Philippines. Aside from Indonesia, the country has imposed a travel restriction for India, Pakistan, Bangladesh, Sri Lanka, Nepal, United Arabi Emirates (UAE), and Oman due to the presence of the Delta variant in those countries. Samuel P. Medenilla

www.businessmirror.com.ph

SSS benefits disbursements up 13.3% to P90.5B in Jan to May

B B D. N

@BNicolasBM

TATE-RUN Social Security System (SSS) disbursed a total of P90.52 billion in Social Security and Employees Compensation (EC) benefits for the first five months, posting a doubledigit growth from P79.93 billion in the same period last year.

The benefit disbursements from January to May this year was 13.3 percent higher year-on-year, the pension fund said. Broken down, the lion’s share of the benefit releases were for social security at P89.92 billion while the remaining P608 million were allocated for EC. SSS President and Chief Execu-

tive Officer Aurora Ignacio said that the constant rise of benefit releases to qualified members, pensioners and beneficiaries comes as the membership base continues to increase. “This only shows that SSS remains true to its mandate of providing meaningful social security benefits to all working Filipinos,

especially during times of contingencies,” Ignacio said in a statement. Of the total benefit releases, retirement payouts comprised 60 percent of the amount or P53.74 billion, covering over 1.81 million pensioners. Apart from this, SSS also disbursed P23.72 billion in death benefits to 1.08 million claimants, P2.44 billion in disability benefits to 97,258 members, P5.99 billion in maternity benefits to 157,132 female members, P1.44 billion in sickness benefits to 147,210 members, P1.96 billion in funeral benefits to 84,530 claimants, and P642 million in unemployment benefits to 47,764 members. Under the EC program, SSS also extended P426 million in death benefits to 16,492 beneficiaries, P78 million in disability benefits to 2,044 members, P98 million in sickness benefits to 11,663 mem-

bers, P2 million for medical services to 393 members, and P3 million in funeral benefits to 114 claimants. Ignacio added that employed and self-employed members are entitled to receive EC benefits on top of their regular SS benefits in case of work-related sickness or injury, disability or death. “This is why we always reiterate in our promotional campaigns the primary responsibility of our member-employers, which is to report their workers and remit their SS and EC contributions regularly to SSS,” Ignacio said. Since July 2020, benefit proceeds are released through disbursement accounts under PESONet participating banks, e-wallet, or Remittance Transfer Companies (RTC)/ Cash Pick-up Outlets (CPOs), or through Unified Multipurpose Identification (UMID) Card enrolled as ATM Card.

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ic and the rollout of the vaccination program as well as challenged supply chains owing to global trade disruptions.

Other challenges include the strong peso. However, Abola said the peso-dollar rate could average P49 to P50 to the greenback this year. Further, Abola said concerns

about the Ease of Doing Business remain as investors still encounter issues in conducting their business in the country. In another forum on Wednesday, former Socioeconomic Planning Secretary Arsenio M. Balisacan shared this guarded optimism and said the country’s recovery appeared “slow, uncertain, and weakly inclusive.” Balisacan said more needs to be done such as strengthening the public health system, as well as efforts that promote faster and a more inclusive recovery. This will allow the economy to get back on track to a high growth path. “The Covid-19 pandemic plunged the Philippine economy in 2020 into its most severe recession in recent decades, putting almost 5 million workers out of work at its height, eroding at least three years of recent gains in poverty reduction and inflicting scars that threaten the economy’s potential for inclusive growth. [But] the economy is now showing signs of turning around this year as vaccinations get under way. However, recovery appears slow, uncertain, and weakly inclusive,” Balisacan explained. Efforts to push for inclusive growth are imperative given that quarantine measures put in place to prevent the further spread of Covid-19 have caused more Filipinos to experience hunger and pushed them back into poverty. Balisacan said data from the Social Weather Stations (SWS) showed both moderate and severe hunger increased in 2020 from December 2019. Further, poverty incidence at $3.12 purchasing power parity per day levels increased to around 8.5 million to 9 million, based on Balisacan’s estimates made last year. He added that the pandemic exacerbated existing inequalities and even created new ones such as disproportionate job losses for lessskilled workers in high-contact sectors. Balisacan also noted that employment in the informal sector increased by 500,000 due to the pandemic. The former director general of the National Economic and Development Authority (Neda) said while working remotely has become an option during the pandemic, not all workers are able to avail of this. This was especially the case with poorer workers. “Low-skilled and unskilled workers, fortunate enough to remain employed, are mostly unable to work remotely. Hence, the poorer workers now face a double burden of decreased income and increased health risk. Lower income levels means more hunger

and less access to nutritious meals which can lead to malnutrition,” Balisacan said.

Roots of optimism

ABOLA said domestic demand has been improving since the plunge recorded in the second quarter of last year, when the government imposed lockdowns. In the first quarter of 2021, Abola noted that consumption spending growth was at a contraction of 5 percent, a far cry from the 15-percent contraction in the second quarter last year. He added that investment spending has breached the P800billion mark in the first three months of the year, from below P200 billion in the April-to-June period last year. Abola deems the country’s debtto-GDP ratio as “still okay” and expects it to rise to 62 percent in 2021 and 66 percent in 2022. He added that the growth recorded by OFW remittances is 13 percent in April, a three-year high. He noted that while millions remained jobless, the gains in employment have more than offset the losses, based on the monthly Labor Force Survey results of the Philippine Statistics Authority (PSA). “Our dependable and resilient OFW remittances, which grew 13 percent year-on-year in April this year, and BPO services are anticipated to perform even better. As employment starts to pick up and more people get inoculated, consumer confidence is also expected to improve. The upcoming election next year is likewise anticipated to support growth,” First Metro President Jose Patricio Dumlao said. FMIC noted that the faster global economic recovery, accelerated vaccine mobilization, sustained supportive fiscal and monetary policies, and the government’s commitment to push infrastructure projects, are expected to fuel growth. With its high multiplier effect, the infrastructure spending program of the government will be one of the main drivers of growth. Inflation is projected to remain elevated at 4.2 percent even if food prices have adjusted downward. The upward movement is due mainly to high crude oil prices and supply chain bottlenecks. In the debt market, longer tenors are opening up, which means investors are willing to take on more risks for better returns. With excess liquidity of P2.12 trillion, interest rates should be down but inflationary pressures are pulling it up. For the rest of the year, interest rates are expected to slightly increase from its current levels.

DOF...

C  A

pork imports and the temporary reduction of pork tariffs helped slow the increase in meat prices to 19.2 percent in June 2021 from 22.1 percent in April and May. Chua also said the issuance of EO 135 to temporarily reduce the most favored nation (MFN) tariff rates on imported rice to 35 percent from 40-50 percent helped keep rice prices low. Data from the Philippine Statistics Authority showed rice prices contracted 1.1 percent in June 2021, a sharper decline compared to the contraction of 0.8 percent in May 2021. Despite the expected rise in imports due to the EOs, Beltran told the BM, “it takes time for new shipments to come in and the volume must be large enough before prices start to normalize.” In a message, he said, “Remember—imports don’t get ordered today and arrive tomorrow.” Nonetheless, the finance official expressed confidence that food prices will soon ease. “What is important is prices have peaked and will soon come tumbling down,” he added. Meanwhile, Beltran said the rise in crude oil prices in June was spurred by the boost in oil demand amid global recovery. In June, transport and electricity inflation rose as Dubai crude oil price surged to $70.96/barrel, up 7.5 percent from $65.98 in May 2021 and 76.8 percent from $40.14/ barrel in June 2020. Beltran, however, said the effect of oil price adjustments on the country’s inflation was tempered by the use of energy-efficient technologies. “A quick pass-through of international crude oil prices on domestic prices is desirable since the country is an oil importer. The use of more energy-efficient technologies has allowed the country to trim down the impact of oil price adjustments on domestic inflation,” he said. Inflation eased to 4.1 percent in June, slower than the 4.5-percent inflation recorded in May 2021 but still higher than the 2.5 percent posted in June 2020. Inflation has now reached an average of 4.4 percent in the first half of the year, above the government’s target range of 2 to 4 percent for the year.

Fitch...

C  A

a negative warning,” Dumlao said. “It is a useful heads up, too, about the many pitfalls that line up the path to growth and the myriad of the country’s existing economic strengths to overcome these,” he added. UA&P economist Victor Abola, who was also speaking at the briefing, also expressed confidence in the local economy’s strength, saying there are key indicators that the economy is headed to recovery such as manufacturing and exports and capital goods imports. FMIC First Vice President and Research Department Head Cristina Ulang noted that investors are not showing any signs of strong distress from the recent action and that the market has “confidence” in the economy even after the downgrade. Dumlao said they project the country to grow by around 5 to 6 percent by the end of the year, with the infrastructure spending program of the government as one of the main drivers of growth. “Our dependable and resilient OFW [overseas Filipino workers] remittances, which grew 13 percent year-on-year in April this year, and BPO [business-process outsourcing] services are anticipated to perform even better. As employment starts to pick-up and more people get inoculated, consumer confidence is also expected to improve. The upcoming election next year is likewise anticipated to support growth,” Dumlao added. Bianca Cuaresma

www.businessmirror.com.ph

The Nation BusinessMirror

Congress to ratify final version of LPG safety bill By Butch Fernandez @butchfBM

HE long-awaited liquefied petroleum gas (LPG) safety bill regulating the LPG industry breezed through the bicameral panel, paving the way for its ratification and early enactment into law soon as Congress reconvenes regular session on July 26. Envisioned to “ensure consumer welfare against illegally refilled and poor quality cylinders,” the LPG reform bill took all of 18 years and seven congresses, to inch closer to its final ratification leading to its submission to Malacañang for President Duterte to sign it into law. T he bic a mera l con ference committee wrapped up on Tuesday the final version of the enabling bill embodying the proposed LPG Industry Regulation Act, setting “the best conduct and practices for all domestic industry players and institutionalize the cylinder exchange and swapping program” to allow consumers to purchase any LPG cylinder brand of their choice. Sen. Sherwin T. Gatchalian, chairman of the Senate Energy Committee that crafted the remedial legislation embodied in his Senate Bill 1955, assured the enabling law included additional features to guard against unsafe cylinders. “With one unified LPG bill that will ultimately govern the entire

LPG industry,” Gatchalian assured, “we can now fill in the regulatory gaps that are being experienced by our industry players and strengthen the various regulations issued by the government.” The senator stressed that “most important of all, it will provide safety standards for the protection of the consumers by eliminating unsafe cylinders from circulation.” He recalled that Senate deliberations on the final form of the bill “went smoothly as the panel opted to adopt the House of Representatives’ proposed provisions on penalties and their House counterparts agreeing to the covered prohibited acts laid down by the Senate. The reconciled version of the Senate Bill 1955, authored by Gatchalian, was merged with House Bill 9323 that, likewise, provided standards and responsibilities of LPG industry participants, including importers, bulk suppliers, bulk distributors, haulers, refillers, trademark owners, marketers, dealers, and retail outlets, in complying with the stringent safety protocols. Underscoring the need for a comprehensive regulatory framework to govern the LPG industry, Gatchalian noted that it is widely used for a variety of purposes such as heating, lighting, cooking on a daily basis for four in 10 Filipino households and even fuel for motor vehicles.

Editor: Vittorio V. Vitug • Thursday, July 15, 2021 A3

Metro Manila population density reaches 21,765/sq km–PSA data

By Cai U. Ordinario

@caiordinario

HE population density in Metro Manila is already 60 times that of the national average, according to the Philippine Statistics Authority (PSA). Data showed the population density of the Philippines has reached 363 persons per square kilometer. In Metro Manila or the National Capital Region (NCR), the population density is 21,765 persons per square kilometer. The City of Manila has the highest density at over 73,920 people per square kilometer followed by the City of Mandaluyong at 45,830 persons per square kilometer (sq km) and Pasay City at 31,543 Filipinos sq km. “Noong 2015, ang NCR ay may population density na 20,785 katao. Noong 2010, ang rehiyon ay may population density na 19,137 katao [In 2015, NCR had a population density of 20,785 people. In 2010, the region had a population density of 19,137 people],” National Statistician Claire Dennis S. Mapa said in a briefing on Tuesday. However, according to National Economic and Development Au-

thority (Neda) Director General and Socioeconomic Planning Secretary Karl Kendrick T. Chua, having a high population density is neither good nor bad for any city. Chua said when it comes to the field of economic geography, it is important to remember that there will always be “areas of agglomeration” such as NCR, Calabarzon and Central Luzon. PSA data showed the population density in Calabarzon stands at 977 persons/sq km, while Central Luzon had 567 people sq km. Together with NCR, these regions have the highest population densities nationwide. “High population density is neither good nor bad per se. What is important and what determines where the effect will be good or bad for the people is, if the people are provided with better services, water and sanitation, housing, opportunities, when we are able to

travel without traffic, congestion, and so on,” Chua explained. Chua said economic geography is also concerned with spreading economic growth so that the entire population benefits from it. This means the government, through programs like Balik Probinsya, Bagong Pag-Asa, could give secondary and tertiary cities as well as rural areas the chance to provide the same services to their populations. These services include but are not limited to being able to provide the basics of health services, education, water services, sanitation, and housing to the population. Further, Chua said, if populations in secondary and tertiary cities and rural areas would like to access bigger opportunities found in areas of agglomeration such as NCR, they should be able to do so through sufficient connectivity. “It is important that we have equal opportunities for all Filipinos whether they are in Manila or in Mindanao or in Palawan or Tawi-Tawi and that is what we are also doing in the Balik Probinsya, Bagong Pag-Asa Program,” Chua added. “What is important is we provide equal opportunities and we provide a means to connect different regions or provinces so that they all benefit from the high growth area,” he added. However, with greater population density in NCR, Undersecre-

tary for Population and Development Juan Antonio Perez III told the BusinessMirror on Wednesday that this presents a challenge in terms of the government’s family planning program. Perez, who heads the Commission on Population and Development (Popcom), said the increase in the population density of NCR was mainly a result of internal migration rather than increased fertility in recent years. This exposes residents to certain vulnerabilities, which can be observed at the barangay level where “congestion and crowded housing are affecting pandemic response.” “In order to achieve the demographic dividend at the regional level, we need to also look at internal migration in the mega regions and high fertility in other regions in the Visayas and Mindanao,” Perez said. Based on PSA data, the most densely populated provinces are Cavite, Rizal, Laguna, Bulacan, and Pampanga registering 2,847, 1,754, 1,332, and 1,218 persons per square kilometer, respectively. Outside Metro Manila, the most densely populated Highly Urbanized Cities are Mandaue, Lapu-Lapu, Angeles, Baguio, and Iloilo posting population densities of 14,461, 8,565, 7,305, 6,370, and 5,842 persons per square kilometer.

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‘Born-and-bred’ imports condition threatens to retard

PHL meat industry growth By Jasper Emmanuel Y. Arcalas

OTDOGS are having an identity crisis. It’s all because of a three-word phrase: “Bornand-bred.” No, it’s not the title track in John Mayer’s fifth studio album. But it is something that Philippine state officials and industry players have not come to terms with. Yet. It started in 2020 when the government slapped a series of temporary import bans on countries that had confirmed avian influenza (AI) outbreaks. It was a precaution that the Philippines took to protect its animal and human health. However, the numerous measures that government issued to temporarily ban imports resulted in a technical shutdown of the entirety of European meat products to the Philippines. That has left some industries like meat processors scrambling for imported raw materials. Like in previous years that saw European countries out of the Philippine market, meat processors had to carve their way to ensure continuous production of goods while keeping prices stable.

Chicken MDM

IN April, the Department of Agriculture (DA) allowed domestic meat processors to import mechanically deboned meat (MDM) of chicken from the Netherlands amid an existing import ban on the European country due to ongoing bird flu outbreaks. However, what the meat processing industry thought would be “good news” turned out to be an arduous challenge. By around that time, the Philippines had lost about 60 percent of its chicken MDM supply, a vital raw material used by meat processors to make products like hot dogs and meat loaf, due to existing import bans on European countries. The partial lifting of the import ban on the Netherlands came as a sort of “relief” as the opening of the Dutch market would mean access to about 35 percent of the country’s annual chicken MDM supply. However, this was not 2017; it was 2020 and lockdown measures were being imposed in almost every market. Little did the industry know that the partial lifting of the import ban carried a stringent import condition that Dutch poultry exporters are unable to fully comply with: born-and-bred. The import condition meant that poultry products to be exported to the Philippines—in this case Dutch—must come from birds or poultry that were born-and-bred in the Netherlands.

Raw material

IN a meeting of the Philippine Association of Meat Processors Inc. (Pampi) in the latter par t of April, discussions regarding the latest problem to hit the industr y began. During that April 28 meeting, it was revealed that most of the poultry meat, including MDM, suppliers in the Netherlands cannot comply

with the born-and-bred condition since the European country sources its raw materials (birds) from other European countries like Poland. Given the import condition, Dutch poultry exporters can only supply the Philippines with “very, very few” containers per week, according to the discussions at the meeting. It was also disclosed at that meeting that it is not only the Netherlands that would have difficulties complying with the “bornand-bred” condition but other European countries as well like Germany and the United Kingdom. It was clear to meat processors that the born-and-bred import condition has become one big roadblock: the industry will not be able to get enough raw material supply from Europe.

Individual accreditation

THE Bureau of Animal Industry (BAI), the mandated agency to oversee importation of meat products, stressed that countries sourcing raw materials or products from other countries to be exported to the Philippines as their own “defies” the purpose of the government’s accreditation system. “If the animals or animal products did not come from them, then what’s the point of their animal health programs? Worse, what if the exporting country’s sources of raw materials or products have problems or are not accredited [by the Philippines]?” BAI Director Reildrin G. Morales told the BusinessMirror. The Philippine government provides two types of accreditation to interested meat exporters to the country: a system accreditation and an individual accreditation. A system accreditation means that the Philippines recognizes the exporting country’s food safety system as at par with its very own domestic system. Under such accreditation, any exporter or foreign meat establishment (FME) recognized and accredited by the exporting country could export meat products to the Philippines. An individual accreditation or a FME-based accreditation allows only specific companies to export meat products to the Philippines.

Territorial divisions

MOR ALES explained that the partial lifting of the import ban on the Netherlands, which has an existing system accreditation, was based on the current disease situation in the country, particularly its current bird flu outbreaks. What everyone must understand about the Netherlands’ bird flu situation—and the Europe in general—is that the outbreaks are “progressive,” with cases being confirmed one after another, Morales pointed out. Due to this, the goal of the bornand-raised import condition for

the Dutch poultry MDM is to ensure that the raw materials come from disease-free regions as the government can easily trace their origins, Morales said. “That’s why we required that the source of the MDM must come from birds that were sourced in the disease-free region in the Netherlands,” he said. “Now, if they will just source from other regions or other countries, then it defies [the] purpose of regionalization,” he added. The Paris-based World Organisation for Animal Health (OIE) defines regionalization, which it also interchanges with zoning, as the mechanism of defining “a certain part of a country that contains an animal population or subpopulation with a specific animal health status with respect to an infection or infestation for the purposes of international trade or disease prevention or control.” Regions or zones are defined primarily on geographical basis using natural, artificial or legal boundaries. For example, the Philippines is divided into three regions: Luzon, Visayas and Mindanao.

Influenza’s entry

MOR A LES st ressed t h at t he government is just protecting the country’s borders from the entry of the highly pathogenic avian inf luenza (HPAI) H5N8 strain, the current bird flu strain spreading in Europe, in light of certain bird flu strains being able to infect humans. In February, Russia reported the first human cases of H5N8 infection. A month before that, China reported the first human case of the H10N3 bird flu. “This is H5N8 and we have seen human cases. We are not just being cautious to protect our poultry population but even humans,” Morales said. “And avian influenza in general mutates fast and that’s what we want to be cautious about. We already have H5N6 here and we do not want it to compounded by any means,” he added. Fu r t her more, Mora les e xplained that the Philippines is “entitled to its own policies” to ensure sufficient protection of its animal and human health, especially that it is a “smaller country” that is more vulnerable to economic shock in case of animal disease outbreaks. “While there are standards or agreements, as a sovereign country we are entitled to our own policies that we think can protect our domestic industries. We should also appreciate that as one of the smaller countries with a growing economy, our system is more prone to shocks than bigger economies [in case of outbreaks,” he said. “That dictum is acceptable even in the human health sector. It’s an agreed principle that smaller economies are gravely affected by animal disease outbreaks,” he added.

Compliance requirement

FOR Morales, the Netherlands’ case of not being able to comply with the born-and-bred import condition is “not an issue.” “Technically, the Netherlands is banned due to bird flu and we are just accommodating the regionalization on the economic implication to the local meat processing industry. By all intents

and purposes, the Netherlands is banned,” he said. “And the Netherlands has no issue about it. The industry just informed us that the Netherlands cannot comply with the conditions. This is not an issue with the Netherlands—I would not call it an issue,” he added. But for Pampi, the born-andbred import condition is indeed an issue. In fact, the association told the BusinessMirror that it was “taken aback” with the imposition of the born-and-bred import condition, pointing out that such “was never a requirement.”

A breast, leg

IN Pampi’s opinion, the “logical application” of the import condition is for fresh poultry cuts like breasts and leg quarters -- and not for products like MDM, especially if the countries concerned are under a unified custom and border rules like that of the European Union. “For MDM, it becomes impractical because this raw material is taken from skeletal frames— mostly from the outer back which come in small volumes,” it said. “Because of this, MDM producers in a country with a small poultry population such as the Netherlands will need to import these parts (i.e., outer backs, necks, etc.) from neighboring countries within the EU and UK to produce a substantial volume for export,” it added. T he Meat Impor ters and Traders Association (Mita) is in agreement with Pampi that the European Union must be exempted from the born-and-bred import condition since countries under the customs union have borderless trade. “Born-and-bred import condition has nothing to do with food safety and animal health. It’s a non-tariff measure and a protectionist one,” Mita President Jesus C. Cham told the BusinessMirror. Cham pointed out that discussions regarding born-and-bred import condition date back as far as 15 years ago and it is only this time that such rules have come into play, resulting in economic implications.

Loss of suppliers

IT ’S a grave situation. That’s how Pampi describes the current situation of the industry when it comes to raw material supply. Well, Pampi was not remiss in warning the government of possible raw material shortage due to import bans abroad. As early as March, Pampi had disclosed that their raw material prices have doubled to $1.5 per kilogram due to loss of European suppliers. And an increase in raw material prices would only mean higher retail prices of processed meat products, such as the Filipinos’ beloved hot dogs. And well, what was just a forewarning months ago has become a reality. Hot dog manufacturers hiked their prices in late May and early June. (Related story: https:// businessmirror.com. ph/2021/05/31/meat-processors-set-list-price-hikes-hotdogs-to-cost-more/) “Suppliers from Brazil, US and Canada are trying to fill the void but at atrociously high prices which threaten the businesses of

meat processors and food supply (and costs!) for our consumers,” Pampi said. Morales recognizes the economic implications of the import bans imposed by the government on European countries, but pointed out that their primary concern is protecting the country’s borders. “Everything else is secondary. Some people might say or insist on food security but we are really doing a balancing act—we need to protect our borders and work on our food security,” he said.

Talk, no action

THE Pampi said it has been in continuous dialogue with the DA ever since the problem with the born-and-bred import condition came up. The industry group sums up the dialogue in five words: all talk but no action. “But there is growing frustration among our member-companies, many of them suspecting that DA is taking us for a ride,” the group said. “[We] believe there is basis to think that way because in the many meetings we had with them over the past 6 months, they present nothing but stumbling blocks and practically no solution to our problems,” the group added. “Over the same period of time, our MDM supply dwindled and prices have tripled, resulting to massive hemorrhage to our business,” it lamented. Pampi noted that DA’s rationale behind the born-and-bred import condition has not been clear, but it pointed out that what is clear is that “a food crisis is on the horizon.” Pampi added that they are “carefully” studying the impact of the born-and-bred import condition “to develop a long-term plan.” “We continue to appeal to the DA to have ready solutions to these problems because they affect the consumers in a big way, and it contradicts the thrust of government in keeping food prices low and to curb inflation,” it said.

Health system

THIS is not the first time that the Philippines banned the Netherlands over bird flu outbreaks and eventually allowed meat processors to seek raw material supplies from the European country. This also happened in 2017: different year, same situation but different import conditions. The striking difference, however, between 2017 and 2021 is that there was no born-and-bred import condition. The only condition for meat processors to import poultry MDM from the Netherlands is that they source the raw materials from bird flu-free zones in the country and use them in “cooked products.” This, Pampi said, “has clear scientific basis and relies on the soundness of the exporting country’s animal health system, our country’s meat inspection & accreditation system, and the impartiality of the OIE.” It added: “This time, they simply would not allow it, at a time when it is paramount to strike a balance between disease control and food security.” Gover nment a nd i ndu st r y sources familiar with the matter agree that the 2017 import conditions set by the DA for meat

processors to access Dutch poultry MDM sets precedence. However, sources noted that it seemed that the DA disregarded whatever rules were implemented in 2017 and went to craft a new set of rules based on the current situation. “What would be logical for the DA is to implement the 2017 rules and see if they are still effective. If not, then that’s the time you tweak it accordingly,” one source said. Pampi emphasized that the government’s importation rules, inc lud ing t he 2017 r u les on Dutch poultry MDM, have been effective in preventing the entry of bird f lu through legally imported products. “To-date, there has not been any recorded incident of bird flu virus in the Philippines attributable to imports of poultry from anywhere,” it argued.

Into a corner

AS meat processors were pushed into a tight corner, they had nothing else to do but to find alternative solutions to boost their raw material supply: seek expansion of MDM sources outside the Netherlands. Among the countries where the industry has been seeking ex panded access through accreditation of more FMEs or regionalization of blanket import bans are United Kingdom, Poland and Hungary. (Related story: https:// businessmirror.com. ph/2021/05/25/less-than-45d a ys-w il l-hotdog s-soon-behard-to-find) European countries like Hungary and Poland have also written the DA to seek updates or urgent resolution of their requests for accreditation to export meat products to the Philippines. For example, Hungary emphasized that it remains keen on exporting more pork and poultry products to the Philippines as it is seeking the accreditation for several Hungarian companies. (Related story https://businessmirror.com.ph /2021/06/08/ hungry-for-pork-chicken-tryus-hungary-tells-phl) Cognizant of the Netherlands, situation, the Polish government has expressed an intention to have more of its meat plants accredited by the Philippines, as it argued that it can comply with the born-andbred import condition. In a letter to Dar, the Embassy of the Republic of Poland in Manila Chargé d’affaires ad interim Jarosław Szczepankiewicz explained that “rich European countries like the Netherlands do not raise chickens but rather import their supplies from lower-cost sources like Poland.” “In fact, I believe that Poland is one of the very few, or even maybe the only country in Europe that can meet the criteria of born-and-bred,” Szczepankiewicz said in his letter dated June 8, a copy of which was obtained by the BusinessMirror. (Related story: https://businessmirror. com.ph /2021/06/16/polandseeks-das-urgent-ok-to-exportpoultry-to-phl)

Not mincing words

IN a statement sent to the BusinessMirror, the EU Delegation to the Philippines said European meat exports have been the subject of bilateral discussions with the

DA “for some years now,” including “certain import restrictions imposed on member-states” due to animal disease outbreaks like African swine fever and bird flu. The EU Delegation to the Philippines noted that international standards have been set by the OIE and by the Sanitar y and Phytosanitary (SPS) agreement of the World Trade Organization “to allow safe trade to continue” from disease-free areas and “on which products can be safely continued to be traded whenever an outbreak occurs.” The EU Delegation to the Philippines emphasized that the EU implements “stringent control measures in its affected areas and applies strict regionalization measures guaranteeing safe trade of animals and animal products.” However, the EU Delegation to the Philippines did not mince words when it noted the seeming double standards that the Philippine government has been implementing between locallyproduced meat and imported meat regarding regionalization. “ W hile DA has been implementing regionalization to also a l low s a fe t rade w it h i n t he Philippines (as in the case of A SF for instance), reg iona lization has not been applied consistent ly in respect of cer tain EU meat ex por ts— especia l ly pork,” it said. The EU Delegation to the Philippines also took a swipe at the born-and-bred import condition set by the DA on Dutch poultry MDM, pointing out that the “restrictive trade measures imposed on certain EU meat exports are not in line with WTO SPS Agreement and the OIE standards.”

BusinessMirror

“The EU Delegation is coordinating with concerned Member States including the Netherlands and will pursue the dialogue with the Department of Agriculture to address concerns in this regard,” it said.

Key relations

THE BusinessMirror attempted to get a comment from the Embassy of the Kingdom of the Netherlands in Manila but the diplomatic office responded that it cannot “respond favorably” to this paper’s interview request. T he BusinessMirror a lso sought to interview a representative from the Association of Dutch Poultr y Processing Industries (Nepluvi) but the group has not responded as of press time. L i ke w i se, t he Emba ss y of Spain in Manila informed this newspaper that it is “not available” at the moment for an interview, citing Covid-19-pandemic related problems. Industry sources told the BusinessMirror that Spain is also having some problems regarding the born-andbred import condition. Nonetheless, the Embassy of Spain sent a statement saying that it is “working closely with DA, exporters, importers and all stakeholders, to ensure a sufficient and safe flow of pork meat and meat products to the Philippines.” “The Philippines is a top priority for Spain, and our good and long lasting bilateral relationships are allowing us to be at this moment the largest supplier of pork. We look forward to continue working closely with the Philippines in this and many other areas related to agriculture and food,” its statement read.

The Embassy of Spain noted that it has an “extraordinary” relationship with the DA.

Integrated farming

EUROPEAN countries are not the only ones affected by the bornand-bred import condition. The United States is is in fact one of the countries that immediately raised issues regarding the “new” import condition. Upon the issuance of the renewal of the system accreditation of the US in January of 2020, Washington immediately raised concerns about the new import requirement. The US has an integrated farming for its livestock sector with neighboring countries like the Canada and Mexico. Due to trade agreements and lack of supply, the US sources live anima ls such as pigs or cattle born or born-and-bred from either Canada or Mexico, which obviously could violate the Philippines’s born-and-bred import condition. Sources familiar with the matter told the BusinessMirror that the born-and-bred import condition was not a requirement for US meat products prior to the renewal of its system accreditation. “The source of meat for export shall be from animals born-andbred in United States of America,” Section 3.4.2 of Agriculture Department Order (DO) 02 of 2020 read. The US has held a series of dialogues on the matter until the DA decided to postpone the publication of the said DO, which meant a status quo on the previous import rules on US meat imports, sources familiar with the matter said.

No problem

PEOPLE familiar with the matter told the BusinessMirror that Agriculture Secretary William D. Dar wrote concerned US officials that the DA “considers the concern” they raised regarding the born-and-bred import condition. Dar added that they remain open for “technical discussion” with the relevant competent authority of the US to resolve the latter’s concern. Sought for comment, Morales said the US is allowed to source animals or pigs from countries that are granted with system accreditation by the Philippines, which, in this case, is Canada. “If US sources from Canada there is no problem about it but if it comes from Mexico then we have an issue,” he said, pointing out that Mexico does not have a system accreditation to export meat products to the Philippines. Morales said they told US officials in Manila that the bornand-bred import condition stands as part of measures protecting domestic animal health.

Guaranteed not

US Meat Exporters Federation (USMEF) Senior Vice President for Asia-Pacific Joel Haggard pointed out that having a born-and-bred import requirement does not guarantee a product is intrinsically safer than others. Haggard explained that products born in one country and harvested in another are not any safer than if they were born and harvested in just one country. “The way we see it...the bornand-bred requirement doesn’t make the products any more safer intrinsically,” Haggard said in interview.

Thursday, July 15, 2021

“It doesn’t guarantee the safety of that product anymore than having it just harvested in the US or born in one of the other neighboring countries,” Haggard added. What is important, Haggard said, is that the country exporting to its trade partners observes necessary protocols to ensure the safety of products. “We have trade agreements with health protocols for importing livestock from neighboring countries, which are being taken seriously. These are only made after necessary risk assessments,” he said. The US imports live hogs and feeder cattle from its neighboring countries like Canada and Mexico since it employs integrated farming in certain sectors of its livestock industry.

Born-and-bred

HOW EVER, Haggard said the number of hogs and cattle imported from Canada and Mexico that are exported as pork and beef only accounts for a small percentage of the United States’ total meat exports. “I think the ideal situation would be to entrust the safety of those products going to US born in US or somewhere else look at safety aspect good record with that conducting risk assessment.” Furthermore, Haggard noted that the USDA food safety export library shows a status quo of export requirements to the Philippines. Haggard added that health certificates issued accompanying their exports do not disclose whether the meat products derived from livestock that were born or raised in Canada and Mexico and

imported to the US for slaughter. “Anything that is harvested in the US becomes a product of the US,” he said. Based on publicly available information, the Philippines is not alone in implementing a born-andbred import condition. China also requires the same condition but has explicit rules stating that it allows the entry of US meat products even if they were born or raised in Canada or Mexico as long as they were slaughtered on US soil.

Moving forward

THE BusinessMirror learned t hat gover nment ag r icu lt ure and Pampi officials met in the last week of June to thresh out issues hounding the industr y, inc lud ing t he bor n-a nd-bred import condition. During the meeting, the industry group expressed “ disappointment” over t he t ur t le-paced prog ress of the issues they have repeatedly raised before the department. During the meeting, DA executives told Pampi off icia ls that it “cannot waive” the bornand-bred import condition but disclosed that they are in close coordination with Dutch veterinary authorities regarding the matter. The DA added that a technical working group is currently assessing the situation and the department would provide the industry group with its findings sometime this month. The Pampi also reiterated its appeal for “urgent action” for the accreditation of additional MDM plants in Poland, Hungary and Turkey with the DA promising to send an inspection mission to Hungary and Poland once its team is fully vaccinated.

BM GRAPHICS: JOB RUZGAL

Editor: Dennis D. Estopace

TheBroaderLook

Philippine Por

BusinessMir

Thursday, July 15, 2021

Filipinos are the beneficiarie T he Filipino people have benefitted from the efforts of the Philippine Ports Authority (PPA) to achieve seamless maritime transport interconnectivity.

This was the assessment made by Department of Transportation (DOTr) Secretary Arthur Tugade in a speech he gave during the PPA’s 47th Founding Anniversary celebration at the PPA Corporate Building last July 12, Monday. “The Philippines is an archipelago. If there is one thing that PPA should be doing is that they should address the archipelagic nature of our country. This is why a lot of infrastructure was constructed so that there will be connectivity among the islands, mobility of the people, and eventually public convenience,” he said. In his speech, Tugade related that he had asked himself more than four years ago if PPA would be able to achieve their ver y ambitious goals. “Today, I strongly feel that I will be able to answer those questions

that I asked myself,” he said. “As we celebrate your 47th anniversary, I can truly say that you were able to achieve all your goals and I am very proud of what you have achieved.”

Completed projects

To date, the PPA has completed 420 port projects while some 100 other projects are scheduled to be completed in the next few years. O n e o f P PA’s “ m i l e s t o n e and iconic projects” is the completion in the development of the country’s biggest passenger terminal building (PTB) at the Port of Cagayan de Oro. It can now accommodate 3,000 passengers at any given time of the day. This is three times more the number of passengers it could handle before. Present ly in the works are t wo more passenger ter mina l buildings—one in the Port of

Calapan in Oriental Mindoro and one in the Port of Zamboanga. When completed, the Calapan Port PTB will be able to handle little over 3,000 passengers at one time, while the Zamboanga Port PTB will be able to handle 4,000 passengers at a time. “Don’t you all think that this is such a big achievement? This is a dream come true and because of what you have done, we are able to face the Filipino with much confidence, confident enough for us to say that you are able to meet all your goals,” Tugade said. In addition to the PTB at the Port of Cagayan De Oro, the PPA has completed 27 port projects, some of which are scheduled to be inaugurated within the year. A

total of 36 port projects are still ongoing. Of the total number, 15 of them are in Luzon, 12 in Visayas and nine in Mindanao. The completed projects in Luzon include TMO Pasig, Pasig River; Ports of Bulalacao and Bansud in Oriental Mindoro; Port of Carmen in San Agustin, Romblon; and Abra de Ilog in Occidental Mindoro. In the Visayas, there are seven finished improvements, two of which are in the Port of Ormoc and one each at Port of Estancia, Iloilo; Port of Dumaguete, Dumaguete City; and Ports of Tagbilaran, Tapal and Ubay in Bohol. In Mindanao, the completed port projects are the Port of Timaco, Cotabato City; Port of Liloy, Lamao,

Zamboanga del Norte; Port of Babak, Samal; Port of Iligan, Iligan City; Port of Benoni in Camiguin; and Cantilan Port in Cantilan, Surigao del Sur. In the first five months of 2021, the PPA had already completed seven big-ticket port projects worth about P1 billion. These include the Port of Salomague in Cabugao, Ilocos Sur; Port of Talaga in Mabini, Batangas; the Ports of Legazpi and Tabaco in Bicol; Port of Baybay in Leyte; the Port of Mati in Davao Oriental and the Port of Sindangan in Zamboanga del Norte.

Sound financial acumen

Tugade also noted the PPA’s “sound f ina nc ia l acumen a nd

management” and recordbreaking dividend remittance to support the completion of various inf rastr uct ure projects under the Build, Build, Build Program of the Duterte administration and at the same time aiding the gover nment’s response to the Covid-19 pandemic. In the course of four years, from 2016 to 2020, the PPA turnedover P17.39 billion in dividends, just P3 billion short of its total remittance from 1986-2015, which is P20.8 billion. The PPA in 2020 also remitted P1 billion for the Bayanihan to Heal as One Act. In May 2021, PPA remitted an additional PHP221 million to t he Nat ion a l Tre a s u r y to

rts Authority

rror Special Feature

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ies of PPA’s projects–Tugade further help Government in its Cov id-19 response. T his brings the total dividend remitted to the Government for year 2020 to P3.77 billion representing 57.5 percent of the agency’s net income for 2020. The agency also paid a total of P14.887 billion in corporate income tax from 2016 to 2020 with the recorded highest amount paid in 2018 at P5.9 billion. Despite being adversely affected by the global health emergency, the PPA is forecasing to slowly rebound this year with growth pegged at about seven percent for cargo throughput to 246.790 million metric tons while passenger traffic is forecasted to hover around 25 to 27 million passengers or a growth percentage of about one to two percent.

Covid-19 initiatives

Sec. Tugade also pointed out other initiatives of the PPA to aid the government in the fight against the Covid-19 pandemic. At the earlier stages of the pandemic, t he PPA developed qu a ra nt ine facilities at the Eva Macapagal Super Terminal in Pier 15 inside the Manila South Harbor and at the Port of Capinpin in Orion, Bataan, which were recently converted as dedicated Covid-19 isolation facilities. The PPA’s 25 Port Management offices also continue with its own initiatives to aid struggling Filipinos

to have enough support to weather the current health emergency. The agency also extended support through the provision of essential supplies to typhoon-devasted areas like Tabaco in Albay and Cagayan as well as provide help to other Filipinos affected by other calamities. “PPA, since day one, has shown its desire to help the government achieve its dream to give Filipinos comfortable lives. PPA has outdid itself and exceeded expectations. PPA contributed the intangibles and continue to do so up to this time. I could not thank you enough for all of these. As the Secretary of Transportation, you make me proud, Tugade said. “Every one of you is a true gift to the Filipino people. Providing integrity, honesty and unparalleled public service. Therefore, I challenge every PPA employee to continue to be a blessing to others and altogether we march towards recovery, healing and comfort,” he added. For his part, PPA General Manager Jay Daniel R. Santiago credited Tugade’s guidnance in leading his agency to achieve its goals and aspirations. “If it were not for the leadership of Secretary Arthur Tugade, we will not be here today to celebrate what we have achieved, more so during our 47th Founding Anniversary,” he said.

The World BusinessMirror

Thursday, July 15, 2021

US Covid cases rising again, doubling over three weeks

he Covid-19 curve in the US is rising again after months of decline, with the number of new cases per day doubling over the past three weeks, driven by the fast-spreading Delta variant, lagging vaccination rates and Fourth of July gatherings.

German FM: China using jab donations for political ends

Blinken urges joint action to end Myanmar violence

ndonesia surpassed India’s daily Covid-19 case numbers, marking a new Asian virus epicenter as the spread of the highly contagious Delta variant drives up infections in Southeast Asia’s largest economy. The country has seen its daily case count cross 40,000 for two straight days—including a record high of 47,899 on Tuesday—up from less than 10,000 a month ago. Officials are concerned that the more transmissible new variant is now spreading outside of the country’s main island, Java, and could exhaust hospital workers and supplies of oxygen and medication. Indonesia’s current numbers are still far from India’s peak of 400,000 daily cases in May, and its total outbreak of 2.6 million is barely a tenth of the Asian giant’s 30.9 million. India, with a population roughly five times the size of Indonesia’s 270 million people, saw daily infections drop below 33,000 on Tuesday as its devastating outbreak wanes.

Hunger crisis in India

than 3,400 over the winter—a testament to how effectively the vaccine can prevent serious illness and death in those who happen to become infected. Still, amid the rise, health authorities in places such as Los Angeles County and St. Louis are begging even immunized people to resume wearing masks in public. And Chicago officials announced Tuesday that unvaccinated travelers from Missouri and Arkansas must either quarantine for 10 days or have a negative Covid-19 test. Meanwhile, the Health Department in Mississippi, which ranks dead last nationally for vaccinations, began blocking posts about Covid-19 on its Facebook page because of a “rise of misinformation” about the virus and the vaccine. Mississippi officials are also recommend ing t hat people 65 and older and those with chronic underlying conditions stay away f rom l a rge i ndoor g at her i ng s because of a 150 percent rise in hospita lizations over the past three weeks. In Louisiana, which also has one of the nation’s lowest vaccination rates, officials in the city of New Orleans said Tuesday that they are likely to extend until fall virus-mitigation efforts currently in place at large sporting and entertainment gatherings, including mask mandates or requirements that attendees be vaccinated or have a negative Covid-19 test. State

E R L I N — G e r m a ny ’s for eign minister on Tuesday accused China of tying the delivery of coronavirus vaccines to political demands. Heiko Maas said both Russia and China had been good at publicly promoting the delivery of their vaccines to other countries, but also pursued other aims in doing so. “We note, in particular with China, that the supply of vaccines was also used to make ver y clear political demands of various countries,” he said. Speaking to reporters during a trip to Kalamazoo, Michigan, where Maas visited a Pfizer production facility, he added that such behavior should be rejected. “In order to prevent this happening in the first place we don’t just have to criticize it, but we have to ensure that the affected countries have alternatives,” he said. “ Those alternative are the vaccines we have available and which we of course want to make available to as many countries and regions in the world as possible,” said Maas. “[That way] the Russians and the Chinese can’t continue to conduct their difficult vaccine diplomacy in this fashion, which only has the purpose of increase their own inf luence and not necessarily to save people’s lives in the first instance.” AP

Indonesia replaces India as virus epicenter in Asia

Key developments:

Confirmed infections climbed to an average of about 23,600 a day on Monday, up from 11,300 on June 23, according to Johns Hopkins University data. And all but two states— Maine and South Dakota—reported that case numbers have gone up over the past two weeks. “It is certainly no coincidence that we are looking at exactly the time that we would expect cases to be occurring after the July Fourth weekend,” said Dr. Bill Powderly, co-director of the infectious-disease division at Washington University’s School of Medicine in St. Louis. At the same time, parts of the countr y are running up against deep vaccine resistance, while t he h igh ly cont ag ious mut a nt version of the coronavirus that was first detected in India is accounting for an ever-larger share of infections. Nationally, 55.6 percent of all Americans have received at least one Covid-19 shot, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. The five states with the biggest two-week jump in cases per capita all had lower vaccination rates: Missouri, 45.9 percent; Arkansas, 43 percent; Nevada, 50.9 percent; Louisiana, 39.2 percent; and Utah, 49.5 percent. Even with the latest surge, cases in the US are nowhere near their peak of a quarter-million per day in January. And deaths are running at under 260 per day on average after topping out at more

ANIL A, Philippines— US Secretary of State Antony Blinken asked his Southeast Asian counterparts Wednesday to jointly press for an end to violence in Myanmar, its return to a democratic path and the release of all political prisoners in a video conference attended by the military-led nation’s top diplomat. In the meeting with Association of Southeast Asian Nations representatives, Blinken also underscored the US rejection of China’s “unlawful” claims in the South China Sea and stressed that Washington stands with the nations at odds with Beijing in the sea disputes in the face of China’s “coercion.” Bl in ken’s meet ing w it h t he 10-nation bloc also addressed the coronavirus pandemic, State Department spokesman Ned Price said, as surging infections fill hospitals and morgues and further devastate Southeast Asian states’ once-bustling economies. Blinken “called on Asean to take joint action to urge the end of violence, the restoration of Burma’s democratic transition and the release of all those unjustly detained,” Price said in a statement, using the former name for Myanmar. The US and European nations have been the most vocal opponents of the military takeover that

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

In this July 7, file photo, patrons enjoy cold tropical cocktails in the tiny interior of the Tiki-Ti bar as it reopens on Sunset Boulevard in Los Angeles. Covid-19 cases have doubled over the past three weeks, driven by the fast-spreading Delta variant, lagging vaccination rates in some states and Fourth of July gatherings. Los Angeles County public health officials have urged people to resume wearing masks indoors regardless of their vaccination status. AP/Damian Dovarganes

health officials said cases of the coronavirus are surging, largely among nonvaccinated people. But the political will may not be there in many states fatigued by months of restrictions. In Michigan, Democratic Gov. Gretchen Whitmer is facing a drive to repeal a law that she used to set major restrictions during the early stages of the pandemic. And Republican Gov. K ay Ivey of A labama pushed back against the idea that the state might need to reimpose preventive measures as vaccinations lag and hospitalizations rise. “Alabama is OPEN for business. Vaccines are readily available, and I encourage folks to get one. The state of emergency and health orders have expired. We are moving forward,” she said on social media. Dr. James Lawler, a leader of the Global Center for Health Security at the University of Nebraska Medical Center in Omaha, said bringing back masks and limiting gatherings would help. But he acknowledged that most of the places seeing higher rates of the virus “are exactly the areas of the country that don’t want to do any of these things.”

ousted Aung San Suu Kyi’s elected government in February. Suu Kyi was arrested and detained with top members of her National League for Democracy party, including President Win Myint. Last week, UN human rights chief Michelle Bachelet said the rights situation in Myanmar has changed from a political crisis to a “multi-dimensional human rights catastrophe,” adding that nearly 900 people have been killed and 200,000 forced to f lee their homes because of military raids. The World Food Program has estimated that more than 6 million people are in severe need of food aid, she said. Blinken urged Asean to take immediate action “to hold the Burmese regime accountable” to a consensus forged in April by the bloc’s heads of state with Myanmar’s militar y leader. The five-point document called for an immediate end to violence and the start of a dialogue among contending parties with a special Asean envoy mediating in the talks. A lthough highly contentious issues were raised, the two-hour meeting was “very civil,” a Southeast Asian diplomat told The Associated Press. The diplomat was involved in the meeting but spoke on condition of anonymity for lack

Lawler warned that what is happening in Britain is a preview of what’s to come in the US. “The descriptions from regions of the world where the Delta variant has taken hold and become the predominant virus are pictures of ICUs full of 30-year-olds. That’s what the critical care doctors describe and that’s what’s coming to the US,” he said. He added: “I think people have no clue what’s about to hit us.” President Joe Biden is putting a dose of star power behind the administration’s efforts to get young people vaccinated. Eighteen-yearold actress, singer and songwriter Olivia Rodrigo will meet with Biden and Dr. Anthony Fauci on Wednesday. While the administration has had success vaccinating older Americans, young adults have shown less urgency to get the shots. Some, at least, are heeding the call in Missouri after weeks of begging, said Erik Frederick, chief administrative officer of Mercy Hospital Springfield. He tweeted that the number of people getting immunized at its vaccine clinic has jumped from 150 to 250 daily. “That gives me hope,” he said. AP

of an authority to discuss what went on publicly. It was not immediately clear if Myanmar’s military-appointed foreig n minister responded to Blinken’s concerns or to previous Asean demands. Asean member states have given Myanmar officials the names of its possible envoys from Thailand and Indonesia but there has been no response. Two Asean representatives who traveled to Myanmar last month asked to meet Suu Kyi and other detainees but were rebuffed, the Southeast Asian diplomat said. Bl i n ken’s meet i ng w it h h i s Asean counterparts should have taken place in May but he failed to secure an online connection as he took a f light for an emergency trip to Israel. The bloc’s foreign ministers, who waited for nearly an hour, decided to cancel the meeting. The State Department later apologized. Founded in 1967 in the Cold War era, Asean is a diverse collective of democracies and authoritar ian states that has become a key battleground for regional inf luence bet ween the US and China. Along with Myanmar, its members are Brunei, Cambodia, Indonesia, Laos, Malaysia, the Philippines, Singapore, Thailand and Vietnam. AP

India is seeing an increase in hunger, particularly in urban areas, after legions of residents had their economic toehold ripped away in lockdowns over the last 12 months. While few statistics are available, migrants and workers at food distribution centers in major Indian cities say they can’t remember seeing lines this long of people yearning for something to eat. “This desperation for food and the long lines for rations in families with two wage earners is unprecedented,” said Aditi Dwivedi, who works with migrant communities in the New Delhi at Satark Nagrik Sangathan, a group that works on transparency and accountability in government that has advocated for more food aid for the needy. As India’s economy shrunk by 7.3 percent last year, the daily average wage for about 230 million Indians—enough to make the world ’s fifth-largest nation—dropped below the 375-rupee ($5) threshold, according to a study by the Azim Premji University in Bangalore. “An alarming 90 percent of respondents” reported “that their households had suffered a reduction in food intake as a result of the lockdown,” the study said.

Sydney extends lockdown

Sydney extended its lockdown for a further two weeks as Australia’s most-populous city battles an outbreak of the delta strain of the coronavirus that’s already kept it isolated from the rest of the nation for three weeks. Now authorities are increasingly concerned after infections spread to Melbourne. Stay-at-home orders will remain until at least July 30, New South Wales state premier Gladys Berejiklian told reporters Wednesday. The city recorded 97 new cases yesterday, including at least 24 who were infectious in the community despite being told to stay at home. Sydney’s outbreak has now crossed to Melbourne, the nation’s second-largest city which shuttered for two weeks in late May to halt a spread of the delta strain and last year endured one of the world’s longest and strict lockdowns. Eight new infections were detected in Victoria state in the past 24 hours, up from two on Tuesday.

Singapore expands virus probe of lounges

Singapore is stepping up its investigation of new Covid-19 cases in karaoke lounges, as it seeks to control an emerging cluster linked to the social hostesses who frequent the establishments. The premises will be closed for two weeks to allow for deep cleaning and special testing operations will be conducted for all staff, the Ministry of Health said in a statement late Tuesday. Free Covid-19 testing will also be extended to the public who had frequented these places, or who interacted with the hostesses in any setting over the last two weeks. While Singapore’s daily local coronavirus infection tally hit the highest in nearly a month Tuesday, its overall caseload remains low compared to western financial capitals. The latest daily total of 19 cases in the city-state works out to just over 3 per million. By contrast, New York City’s daily average over the last seven days is about 42 per million.

Record Malaysian cases may climb further

Malaysia’s Covid cases topped a record 11,000 Tuesday and may climb further in the next few days before stabilizing as the outbreak is being driven by the contagious Delta variant, Health Director-General Noor Hisham Abdullah said. Malaysia has been struggling to contain the recent outbreak driven by the emergence of new, more contagious variants despite much of the country being under a lockdown since June 1. The situation is dire in the Klang Valley—an area comprising Selangor and Kuala Lumpur— where Covid-linked admissions have left hospitals short of ICU beds and staff.

Greece sees highest case rate in 2 months

Greece reported 3,109 new cases Tuesday, the highest daily rise in just over two months. To combat the recent increase amid concerns for its tourism industry, authorities said customers of indoor restaurants and indoor areas at entertainment venues will need to show they’ve been vaccinated or have tested negative within the last three days. The requirement will remain in force until the end of August at the earliest, and doesn’t concern outdoor areas.

Cases surge in Netherlands

Weekly cases in the Netherlands surged more than sixfold with 51,957 infections reported by the Dutch health service in the week ending July 13. Last week’s tally was 8,541 cases. On Friday, the Dutch government announced it would reintroduce some pandemic restrictions to reduce the rising number of infections. Nightclubs were closed until Aug. 13 and the opening hours of bars were reduced. Dutch caretaker Prime Minister Mark Rutte publicly apologized on Monday for making an “error in judgement” and easing restrictions too quickly.

Riots force South Africa to halt some vaccines

South Africa’s vaccination program has been partially halted as violent protests following the imprisonment of former President Jacob Zuma rage in two key provinces. State-administered inoculations have been suspended in KwaZulu-Natal and parts of Gauteng, the economic hub, said Nicholas Crisp, a consultant to the National Health Department who helps oversee the program. Bloomberg News

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Editor: Vittorio V. Vitug • Thursday, July15, 15,2021 2021 A9 Thursday, July A9

Artifacts, artwork at Intramuros, National Museum ‘uninsured’ By Ma. Stella F. Arnaldo

@akosistellaBM Special to the BusinessMirror

HE Department of Budget and Management (DBM) refuses to fund the insurance of historical/ cultural artifacts and works of art in Intramuros, such that the Commission on Audit (COA) called the attention of the government agency administering the Walled City. Intramuros Administrator lawyer Guiller Asido told the BusinessMirror, “We wrote DBM several times and requested a budget, but they will

not provide for it. This is actually a problem not just of IA [Intramuros Administration] but other agencies as well. We have to get an appraiser,

whom we will have to pay 1 percent of the appraised value. But appraisers do not want to even work for the government because they will have to register themselves.” In its report, COA told the IA, “Coordinate with other agencies like the National Museum of the Philippines [NMP] or Cultural Center of the Philippines” on how they appraise and insure their works of art and archeological specimens. In a letter to the COA audit team on April 26, 2021, however, Asido disclosed, “We had coordinated with NMP and we were informed that their works of art were not insured, but only their buildings due to cost entails of the premiums. They had not engaged any appraiser as well.”

P8-M insurance proposed

BUT he informed the audit team, in

IA’s proposed P268.3-million budget for 2022, “We have earmarked the amount of P8 million for the insurance of these properties and for possible engagement of an appraiser too fully comply with your recommendation.” Asido told this reporter, the same amount was also included in IA’s previous years’ budget proposals sent to the DBM. In its P248.7-million proposed budget proposal for the 2021 appropriations, for instance, IA included an allocation for insurance, but the DBM even cut the agency’s budget to P90.3 million in 2021, versus P188.83 million in 2020. The IA chief added, “Even COA has the same problems but we are caring for it [artwork] more properly since there are no reports of missing works.” He explained the Government Service InsuranceSystem(GSIS),whichcaninsure the Intramuros artwork, also doesn’t have

its own appraisers, “They usually bid it out as well.” Moreover, Asido said, “We asked for the budget for an appraiser as well, DBM did not accept it.” Despite COA’s observation, the IA “got the highest opinion—unmodified or unqualified for the third straight year—the first time in [the agency’s] history,” he underscored.

COA report

ACCORDING to the COA report on IA’s financial standing in 2020, “The IA’s insurable properties with carrying value of [some P234.03 million] as of December 31, 2020, were not adequately covered/insured with the General Insurance Fund of the [GSIS], exposing the subject properties to the risks of non-indemnification in cases of damage/loss to properties due to fortuitous events or other casualty. Also, the management was not able

to properly assess and evaluate the appraised value of antique items due to the absence of an appraiser resulting in the inability to determine the cost of insurance premiums.” COA also recommended IA management to: “[Make] representation with the DBM to allocate funds and incorporate in the annual budget of the agency the amount necessary to cover the increase in premium relative to the additional insurance coverage for all its insurable properties with the General Insurance Fund of the GSIS…; and instruct the General Services Division to implement [the] timely renewal of insurance policies for all agency’s insurable properties despite the challenges of the pandemic to avoid any unnecessary losses due to non-indemnification in the event of direct physical loss or damage from any external cause.”

BTA told anew to justify ₧160-billion PHL extends to July 31 travel curbs on seven fund spending before term extension countries with rising Covid delta variant cases By Samuel P. Medenilla

‘W

H Y a re t hey a sking for an extension when they can’t account P160 billion in public funds? Where are the projects?” Transform PH Alliance (TPA), a movement for a transformed Philippines, raised these questions anew in a news statement distributed to the media on Wednesday regarding the Bangsamoro Transition Authority’s (BTA) request for an extension up to 2025. TPA President Aio Bautista said, “All the BARMM [Bangsamoro

Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao] government has press releases announcing ribbon cuttings and plans, yet it’s been more than two years, so where are the deliverables, the finished projects?” Bautista explained although there was a delay in the budget of BARMM in 2019, it was able to utilize the P30billion funds remaining from its predecessor, the Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (ARMM). “The multibillion-peso allocations with a whopping total of P160.8

billion were released to BARMM in 2020 and 2021, but why up to now, there are no completed projects?” Bautista asked. “All we are getting are only press releases.” Bautista also disclosed that publicschool teachers are currently not getting their monthly salaries for several months already.“And yet they’ve spent P6 billion for office supplies and materials in just one year?” he added. “Don’t get me wrong, our group wants BARMM to succeed, but it can only be realized through transparency.”

@sam_medenilla

HE government continued to restrict, until the end of the month, the entry of inbound passengers from seven countries with rising cases of Covid-19’s Delta variant. In an online news briefing on Wednesday, Presidential spokesman Harry Roque said the Inter-Agency Task Force for the Management of Emerging Infectious Diseases (IATF) opted to extend the travel restriction from

CENTRAL Luzon Link Expressway

KEY HIGHWAY LINK TO BOOST GROWTH FURTHER IN C. LUZON Continued from A1

In the conduct of the final safety checks before the new road network is opened to vehicular traffic, Villar was joined by Undersecretary for Unified Project Management Office (UPMO) Operations Emil K. Sadain, and Project Director Benjamin A. Bautista. This toll-free expressway project implemented by DPWH UPMORoads Management Cluster 1 is one of the key infrastructure projects with funding assistance from the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) under the Build, Build, Build program.

Cabanatuan and Tarlac Cities belong to Region 3 or Central Luzon. Cabanatuan is a component city of Nueva Ecija while Tarlac City is part of the province of the same name. Central Luzon accounted for 14.28 percent of the country’s GDP last year using 2018 constant prices. The region’s Gross Regional Domestic Product amounted to P254.23 billion in 2020, a 5 percent decline from the P267.58 billion in 2019. The partial opening of CLLEx up to Aliaga is expected to provide options to motorists and spread out traffic better. According to Undersecretary Sa-

dain, the CLLEx sections covered by three contract packages that will be opened are the 4.10-kilometer Tarlac Section, 6.4-kilometer Rio Chico River Bridge Section including 1.5km Rio Chico Viaduct, and the Aliaga Section with up and down ramps at Guimba-Aliaga Road. DPWH vowed to complete the entire 30-kilometer expressway project within the term of President Duterte, with the 10.3-kilometer Cabanatuan Section under Contract Package 4 already at 88.7 percent; while the Zaragoza Interchange Section under Contract Package 5 is at 26.9 percent and expected to gain significant progress

as site possessions are secured for the project’s right of way (ROW) requirements. Once fully operational, the P11.811-billion expressway is expected to shorten the usual travel time of 70 minutes between Tarlac City and Cabanatuan City to just 20 minutes. This new expressway will also form an important east-west link for the expressway network of Central Luzon to ensure continuous seamless traffic flow for the motoring public from Metro Manila and vice versa passing through North Luzon Expressway (Nlex), the SCTEx and the TPLEx).

July 15, 2021 until July 31, 2021. The restriction covers India, Pakistan, Bangladesh, Sri Lanka, Nepal, United Arab Emirates (UAE), and Oman, where a fresh surge in Covid-19 is being attributed to the delta variant, which is more infectious compared to the common SARS-CoV-2. “The IATF ordered the Technical Working Group to study and give the necessary recommendation needed for the testing and quarantine protocols for passengers coming from the said countries and other high-risk

areas,” Roque said. The government first issued a travel restriction for India last April, after it registered the first case of the delta variant. The travel restriction was later expanded to include Pakistan, Bangladesh, Sri Lanka, Nepal, UAE, and Oman. The restrictions, which continued to be extended by the IATF, stranded hundreds of overseas Filipino workers (OFW) in the said countries, and many are anxious as to when they could return to the Philippines.

A10 Thursday, July 15, 2021 • Editor: Angel R. Calso

Opinion BusinessMirror

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editorial

World Bank apologizes

T last, the apology has come! The mighty World Bank was made to say sorry to the Department of Education and the Philippine government for its huge boo-boo. The lender prematurely released an insulting report on the state of Philippine education without following protocols. That’s why Education Secretary Leonor Magtolis Briones demanded an apology. The World Bank’s inadvertence caused undue reputational risk to the Philippine education sector. It used a three-year-old data without giving the DepEd a chance to give an update on what has since been done to correct the ills of the Philippine educational system. As a result, the DepEd and the government were subjected to public censure and criticism because of the stupid mistake. “Even if done inadvertently, the World Bank has inflicted harm on DepEd and the government,” said Briones. “If you release a report on a country, the country should know first about what you’re reporting on. There was no heads up; they released it to the media right away.” Malacañang and the Department of Finance supported her call for an apology. Finance Secretary Carlos Dominguez III asked the World Bank to remove the report from its web site because it “does not reflect current realities” and “has the effect of misleading the public and causing undue reputational risk to the Philippine education sector.” “The failure of Bank officials to follow the protocol of consulting with the DepEd prior to publication illustrates the lack of professionalism, which we come to expect from the World Bank and its staff,” Dominguez said, adding that the report failed to recognize the historical context of the Philippine education sector and how it has evolved, which the lender should have taken into account as it has been a “valuable partner of the national government for almost 75 years.” In its apology, the World Bank said it deeply regrets the early publication of its controversial report without giving the Department of Education a chance to provide its inputs. “This was an oversight on our part,” the World Bank admitted. The Department of Education accepted the World Bank apology concerning the premature release of a synthesis report. “More than admitting to their oversight, we hope the World Bank statement has clearly reiterated the commitment and concrete steps being taken by the Department, together with our partners, to resolve century-old issues plaguing the Philippine education system,” the DepEd said. President Duterte on Monday accepted the World Bank’s apology. “I accept the apology. It’s a very good one. I said it’s a poignant one, direct to the point,” the President said. He also applauded the DepEd secretary for calling out the World Bank over the mindless report. The controversy started in 2018 when Briones made a brave decision. To determine the true state of the Philippine education system, she did what no other Secretary of Education before her dared to do: Allow young learners to participate in international educational assessments. Under her direction, the Philippines joined the Program for International Student Assessment (Pisa) in 2018, the Trends in International Mathematics and Science Study (TIMSS) in 2019, and the Southeast Asia Primary Learning Metrics (SEA-PLM) in 2019. Briones made this unprecedented move saying she wanted to show the DepEd’s commitment and seriousness to monitor the performance of the country’s learners compared with students in other countries. Unfortunately, the findings showed “poor performance” of Filipino students in some key learning areas. The DepEd welcomed the disheartening results, saying that it values the immense data they can offer. It also said that Philippine participation in international assessments is a “step forward towards addressing curriculum and learning gaps in the country’s basic education.” Two years after the Pisa debacle, in November 2020, DepEd announced that the Philippines will join the 2022 Pisa. Briones believes the DepEd has done a good job implementing actions that have a direct impact on our learners. She hopes that the country will improve its performance in the 2022 Pisa, the second time that the Philippines will join the international student assessment. We can only guess how our learners would be performing today if her predecessors at the Department of Education have done half of what Briones is currently doing. They could have tried to address learning gaps in the country’s basic education to prevent these gaps from becoming giant crevices. Better late than never.

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The Fitch negative outlook John Mangun

OUTSIDE THE BOX

nvestopedia: “A credit rating is a quantified assessment of the creditworthiness of a borrower in general terms or with respect to a particular debt or financial obligation. Ratings directly affect the interest rate that an organization must pay to buyers of its bonds and other debt.”

When Investopedia first started, I wrote many definitions for them and it is a valuable source of information. However, these are “textbook” descriptions in that “the facts” do not include negatives that should also form the complete definition. “Fitch Ratings is an international credit rating agency based out of New York City and London. Investors use the company’s ratings as a guide as to which investments will not default and subsequently yield a solid return.” You need to reach deeper for a better understanding of the topic. The Nation: “Standard & Poor’s, the self-righteous credit-rating agency, provoked scary headlines by solemnly threatening to ‘short’ America. That is, downgrade the credit-worthiness of US Treasury

bonds unless Congress and the president oblige creditors by punishing the citizenry with severe budget cuts. What a load of crap. News coverage on S&P’s credit warning typically failed to mention that Standard & Poor’s itself is in utter disrepute. It was an unindicted co-conspirator in the Wall Street deceitfulness that brought the nation to financial ruin.” See what I mean? The excuse is often made that the big three rating agencies—S&P Global, Moody’s, and Fitch Ratings are basically reputable and credible. When there are “anomalies,” they are pinpointed to be only with corporations because “The companies, like Enron, lied to Moody’s.” That sort of ignores the idea that the credit rating agencies exist to catch the lies, but that is another matter. And

The four pillars of my life By Evelyn Dumaguin Arranza

very one of us has different priorities in life. For me, the four pillars of my life are freedom, art, respect and money—for which I gave the acronym FARM. We have wide horizons of needs, but I confine myself to these major four pillars to make the essence of my life simpler. PILLAR 1—Freedom. For me, freedom connotes dignity as a human being. We are not to be regimented or ordered what to do because people have free will—we are free thinkers. People also have a conscience, which makes us aware of what is right and wrong. We are on top of the hierarchy in the animal kingdom, gifted by nature with emotions to variably use them at the proper time and occasion. There is a time to feel elated and happy; there’s a time to feel sad, angry, afraid, ashamed, and to be humble. There’s a time to feel a lover’s passion, to care, to feel lonely, to regret things and be guilty, to feel numb or to ponder situations and then articulate them. We also have pride and decorum, which place us on a higher plane than those without these virtues. That’s why we want to be educated, to be informed, to have the capacity to understand everything that affects us. All of

these, and more, make us human. Pillar 2—Art. We are gifted with our five senses to be able to enjoy and appreciate life to the fullest. Our sense of sight wonderfully opens up colors for us to appreciate and determine what appeals to us or what repels us. Our sense of sight allows us to see things that are good or bad. Our sense of taste gives us the ability to enjoy food. Human taste can be distilled down to the basic five taste qualities of sweet, sour, bitter, salty and umami or savory. It is said that the sense of touch is the first sense that a person develops in life. It is the primary means of experiencing the world through infancy and well into childhood. Our sense of smell is another blessing for human beings. Unfortunately, many people infected with Covid-19 are reported to have lost their sense of smell and taste. The medical term for a complete loss of

“It came to light that during the lead-up to the 2008 crisis, rating agencies were bribed to provide falsely high bond ratings, thereby inflating their worth.” there is, of course, the fact that “It came to light that during the leadup to the 2008 crisis, rating agencies were bribed to provide falsely high bond ratings, thereby inflating their worth.” However, the sovereign credit rating and outlook is a valuable tool for every “current administration” and “constructive opposition.” The credit rating is a great political propaganda force when the rating is going up or going down, respectively. The rating itself is valuable to the lenders to a nation. Fitch has 16 different ratings from CCC+ to AAA. It would be easier if “CCC+” meant “These guys are like your brotherin-law and will never pay off,” but it does not work that way. It serves as a comparison tool between countries. The Fitch rating for the Philippines of “BBB” means the Philippines will definitely pay all its debt obligations unless the “shit” really hits the fan (or the Spratly Islands as the case may be) big time. The Philippine rating puts the nation in the same group as Thailand, Mexico, Indonesia, Panama, and Uruguay as “Investment Grade.” Vietnam, on

We want to be in a conforming society where there is order and consideration for others; where peace reigns. We want people’s good remarks about us. That’s why many people consider respect as more important than money. smell is anosmia, while a partial loss of smell is called hyposmia. Lastly, we are blessed with the sense of hearing. This allows us to enjoy listening to good music that brings us fond memories, which fire up our enthusiasm and excitement to continue dreaming or hoping for good things to come. Pillar 3—Respect. We want to be highly esteemed; to be held in high regard by people around us. We want to be in a conforming society where there is order and consideration for others; where peace reigns. We want people’s good remarks about us. That’s why many people consider respect as more important than money. Even a lowly servant desires to be respected. That’s why this comment: “It’s better to be a servant than be a whore with much money.” Respect is oftentimes the motivation to always do good to oth-

the other hand, is “Non-investment grade speculative” at “BB.” That does not mean that Vietnam is going to miss a payment or will default. It means that it would take “less shit” than the Philippines to cause Vietnam financial problems. I hope all these financial terms are not too complicated and confusing. Fitch uses 18 variables spread over “Structural Features,” “Macroeconomic performance, policies, and prospects,” “Public Finances,” and “External Finances.” I am sure that everyone commenting on the Philippines outlook downgrade to “Negative” from “Stable” found the seven-page report as interesting and informative as I did. The details are always more important than the headline. We are cautioned against “A sustained rise in the government/debt to gross domestic product ratio, deterioration in foreign-currency reserves, and weaker medium-term macroeconomic prospects”. But there is an interesting final note. “Key Assumptions: The global economy performs in line with Fitch’s June 2021 Global Economic Outlook.” A rising tide floats all boats. A tsunami sinks them all. 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.

ers, which is difficult to do if many shameful opportunities abound. But getting respect is well worth it. Some people are mean because they think that they are entitled to belittle others. Sometimes, envy of other people could hurt or destroy others, but a good person’s accomplishments always carry them through. This will earn them the highest kind of respect, which is the wisdom embodied in the old adage, “The thing speaks for itself.” Pillar 4—Money. In this modern and contemporary period, we need money to survive because other people regulate our needs. We can’t have what we want if we don’t have the money to buy them. From Ecclesiastes 10:19: Meaning of Money Is the Answer for Everything. “A feast is made for laughter, wine makes life merry, and money is the answer for everything.” That is, anything for the physical need or want is being taken care of by money, and even encroaching in abstract areas like safety, happiness, intelligence, awareness, confidence, comfort, good health, and so on. That’s why we should be circumspect in our financial endeavors, and have the prudence of people who spend their money wisely.

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Opinion

The unsinkable virus

Musings on the amendments of the Accountancy Law

BusinessMirror

Val A. Villanueva

Joel L. Tan-Torres

Businesswise

he global and local threat of the Covid-19 remains critically high, despite the availability of vaccines meant to slow it down, if not to completely eradicate it.

Experts agree that the virus has the agility to morph into other variants faster than the creation and modifications of vaccines to fight it. The main problem is the slow pace of vaccination worldwide. Unvaccinated people are most vulnerable. The longer they remain or refuse to take the jab, the more they become breeding grounds for even more lethal Covid-19 variants. Dangers lurk, experts say, when people dismiss science over conspiracy theories on vaccine efficacy. The result is a world that becomes just as defenseless, if not more susceptible than it was in December 2020. “We know that if you give the virus the opportunity to circulate and replicate, you give it the opportunity to generate more variants,” Dr. Anthony Fauci, President Joe Biden’s chief medical adviser, told CNN. According to experts, herd immunity happens only when 70 percent of the world’s population gets vaccinated. Records show that we have a long way to go. As of July 11, the volume of doses given worldwide was at 3.42 billion, with fully vaccinated people at 940 million, or just 12.1 percent of the world’s total inhabitants. Even though China, the world’s most populous country, has administered jabs to almost all of its people at 1.3 billion (total population as of 2019: 1.398 billion), only 223 million there have been fully vaccinated. Meanwhile, India has recorded 337 million jabs, with 73.3 million or 5.4 percent of its population receiving full vaccination; the United States, at 334 million, with 159 million fully vaccinated people, and Brazil at 114 million and 30.6 million fully vaccinated. The Philippines has so far administered 13.1 million jabs, with the fully vaccinated recorded at only 3.2 percent. The Delta variant is among the newest in a long list of Covid-19 modifications that have easily and, more often than not, caused more serious debility. This is why people who refuse to be vaccinated should be a cause for alarm. Each time a virus spreads, it seizes the opportunity to discover how to metamorphose. The World Health Organization (WHO) reports that the Delta variant has been detected in 100 countries, and has overtaken the worrying Beta or B.1.351 variant in South Africa. On July 3, the Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) reported that, as of mid-June, the Delta variant has accounted for 51.7 percent of cases in the US. In the United Kingdom, according to Public Health England, the variant accounts for 99 percent of Covid-19 cases. The European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control states that 90 percent of the cases in Europe would be the Delta variant by the end of August. “Delta is the most transmissible of the variants identified so far,” WHO Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus said last month. CDC Director Dr. Rochelle Walensky told a White House briefing last Thursday that “…the Delta variant has increased transmissibility, and [is] currently surging in pockets of the country with low vaccination rates.” Experts believe that, while most Covid-19 vaccines offer protection against the Delta variant, the virus can still evade vaccines to a certain degree. The good thing is that vaccines minimize the risk of severe disease and hospitalization caused by the variant. The fear is that the next virus iteration could fully outsmart vaccines, creating havoc even in countries that have high vaccination rates. “We’ve been lucky with the variants so far that they’ve been relatively susceptible to our vaccine, but the more you roll the dice, the more

opportunities,” says Fauci. Another worrisome development is that American pharmaceutical company Pfizer sees declining immunity to its coronavirus vaccine. Now doing its best to develop a booster dose that will protect people from variants, the pharma giant says it would publish data about a third dose of vaccine and submit it to the US Food and Drug Administration, European Medicines Agency, and other regulators. This August, it plans to seek company-specified use authorization for a booster dose. Pfizer and its partner BioNTech say there is evidence that people’s immunity begins to fade after they have been fully vaccinated: “As seen in real-world data released from the Israel Ministry of Health, vaccine efficacy in preventing both infection and symptomatic disease has declined six months post-vaccination, although efficacy in preventing serious illnesses remains high,” says Pfizer. Israel’s health ministry in a statement earlier this week said that it had monitored a drop of Pfizer shot’s efficacy from more than 90 percent to about 64 percent in lieu of the spread of B.1.617.2 or Delta variant. This development puts a damper on global vaccination efforts. The drug maker’s jab is the foundation of many countries’ vaccination efforts. For one, two-thirds of doses released around the European Union is from Pfizer. In the Philippines, the country’s health experts have so far detected 19 cases of the Delta variant which is believed to be driving the surge in infections worldwide. President Duterte is set to announce the new quarantine classifications in the country this week, as current restrictions are set to lapse today (July 15). On July 13, in a weekly presidential briefing aired by the state-run PTV station, Octa Research fellow Ranjit Rye urged the government to strengthen enforcement of minimum public health standards. Octa Research called on the government to maintain general community quarantine (GCQ) in Metro Manila until the end of July. “In NCR [National Capital Region], we should continue with GCQ. We can just ease restrictions on business establishments. We say this because there is still the threat of the Delta variant,” Rye said, urging health authorities to ramp up vaccination in “NCR Plus 8,” comprising of Metro Manila, Bulacan, Cavite, Rizal, Laguna, Pampanga, Batangas, Metro Cebu, and Metro Davao. The focus on “NCR Plus 8” is part of the government’s tack to double up vaccinations in areas with high numbers of active cases. The Department of Health also saw an uptick in Covid-19 cases in the cities of Makati, San Juan, Muntinlupa, Mandaluyong, Manila, Malabon, and Navotas. Dr. Alethea de Guzman of the DOH Epidemiology Bureau noted that, after having negative two-week growth rates from June 13 to 26, these cities logged positive Covid growth rates from June 27 to July 10. The end of this pandemic is not yet on the horizon. Most likely, this generation would need to learn to coexist with the virus. In the meantime, the survival of each inhabitant on this planet depends largely on everyone’s adherence to health protocols and their respective government’s ability to learn from missteps in handling this crisis. Now is the time for the world to act as a global village to beat Covid-19. For comments, suggestions, e-mail me at mvala.v@gmail.com

DEBIT CREDIT Ninth of a series

ou are graduating soon from college with the course that you took, such as Bachelor of Science in Internal Audit (BSIA), or BS in Management Accounting (BSMA), or BS in Accounting Information System (BSAIS). Your school offered this program/s for the first time in 2018 following the guidelines set forth in the Commission on Higher Education Memorandum Order 28 to 30. Now that you are finishing your chosen program, what does your future look like? Based on the present provision of the Accountancy Law (Republic Act 9892), do not expect to take the professional licensure examinations administered by the Professional Regulatory Board of Accountancy (BOA) and become a Certified Public Accountant. The law specifically provides that only graduates of the BS in Accountancy (BSA) are qualified to take the CPA examinations. Though these licensure examinations are very grueling, a large number of accounting students still aspire to take and pass these to eventually become CPAs. Passing the examinations have been quite difficult, with the passing rates in the examinations since October 2018 hovering at around 20 percent.

So, with this letdown upon knowing that the current law does not allow you to take the board examinations after your graduation, you have the option of proceeding immediately to find work that requires your recently completed training and education. For the graduates of the BSMA, there’s a demand from businesses for management accountants who can prepare accounting data for use within a company for its budgeting, investing, and other decision-making processes. For graduates of BSIA, they can be hired to assess the risks, controls and regulatory compliance of the business enterprise. With the growing trend and reliance of organizations on the use of technology systems, the graduates

Thursday, July 15, 2021 A11

While the BOA is in the process of formulating amendments to the law, it may be appropriate to include changes that will address, in particular, the demands of the BSBA, BSIA, and BSAIS accounting students and graduates, and, in general, address the interest of the accountancy profession.

of the BSAIS can be hired to analyze and interpret the different types of computer or information systems being used by these organizations. Furthermore, for accounting graduates who still aspire to become certified accounting professionals, they can seek to attain the global professional certification pertaining to their chosen education and career. These internationally recognized accounting certifications provide the qualification brands that employers and businesses recognize for the value of the tested training and specialized competencies of the holders of these titles. Thus, the graduates of the different accounting programs, who desire to stand out from their peers, can start preparing to take the applicable qualification examinations. Upon passing these tests, they can include in their credentials the qualification of Certified Management Accountant, Certified Internal Auditor, or Certified Information Systems Auditors. However, I still recognize that

Merkel’s message to Biden: Europe wants a seat at the table, too

By Alberto Nardelli, Patrick Donahue & Ania Nussbaum Bloomber Opinion

hen Joe Biden met with Vladimir Putin last month, the US president set an example to Europe. Just not the example he might have anticipated.

As Biden held talks with his Russian counterpart in Geneva, Europe found itself in the surreal position of having to sit around and wait for a US debrief on issues of direct relevance to the continent, according to a diplomat with knowledge of German Chancellor Angela Merkel’s thinking. One week later, Merkel and French President Emmanuel Macron unveiled a joint proposal to hold European Union talks with the Russian president, a format abandoned in 2014 after Putin’s annexation of Crimea. Such a channel of communication with the Kremlin would allow the EU to confront Putin directly as a united bloc, the diplomat said. The initiative is part of Merkel’s bid to usher in a more muscular European foreign policy, particularly in relation to Russia and China—even at the risk of diverging from the US line. She and Macron held a joint call with Chinese President Xi Jinping last week in which they urged more direct flights to ease tensions. That’s after they spearheaded an EU-China investment deal in December that was criticized by members of the incoming Biden administration, and which is now stalled. As she travels to Washington for perhaps the last time as chancellor to meet with Biden on Thursday, that approach presents Merkel at once with a dilemma and a potential legacy moment. Her challenge is to press Europe’s determination to stand on its own two feet while acknowledging Biden’s moves in areas from climate policy to human rights as those of a dependable ally. Her success or failure may determine transatlantic relations on issues from trade to taxes, and shape Europe’s $700 billion economic ties with China. Still, it’s a gamble that doesn’t enjoy full support in Europe let alone in Washington. “I’m guessing she may think Europe needs to hedge against a return of Trumpism,” said Constanze Stel-

zenmueller, holder of the Fritz Stern Chair on Germany and transatlantic relations at the Brookings Institution in Washington. “Europe and Germany don’t seem to realize that supporting the Biden administration abroad allows it to focus more on its internal challenges.” Senior European officials and diplomats say there’s no disagreement with Washington on the need to confront Moscow and Beijing where required. Rather, Europe— with Merkel as senior stateswoman —wants to send the message that, bruised by the antagonism of the Trump administration, the days of automatically following the US lead are over, even with a more collaborative president in the White House. Either way, with just months left of her fourth and final term, Merkel is in a rush to forge that more assertive European stance, according to people familiar with her thinking. Yet efforts to pursue what has been termed strategic autonomy are still prone to misconception, all the more so since their chief proponent has a habit of being misunderstood even after more than 15 years in power.

‘Historical myopia’

Merkel’s attempt to convince fellow EU leaders to hold direct talks with Putin is a case in point. While many officials reasonably complained that the Germans and French had sprung their idea on leaders without prior consultation, one foreign minister called the initiative “irresponsible” and a case of “historical myopia.” The half-dozen countries that opposed it either regard Merkel as wanting to soften the 27-nation bloc’s stance toward the Kremlin in a naive gift to Putin, or accuse her of advocating for narrow German economic interests. believes it cannot outsource the decision-making to the US, they say. US officials and diplomats remain unimpressed, saying they’ve heard it all before. The problem is the same as ever, said a person familiar with the thinking in the Biden administration. The Europeans want the US to lead but they want it to operate mostly through multilateral forums, even as they still want it to provide security guarantees, said the person. Germany, for example, is still not willing to spend enough on collective defense, the person said.

Nord Stream 2

Nothing has done more to fuel mutual distrust than the Nord Stream 2 natural-gas pipeline from Russia to Germany, a link opposed by the Biden administration as well as Ukraine and EU member Poland. Top of the agenda in Washington will be an attempt to reach a deal to blunt any geopolitical maneuvers Russia might try once the pipeline is finished. It’s an example where diplomats say the chancellor’s attitude to Russia is misconstrued. One rebutted claims that the proposal Merkel and Macron tabled last month indicated a softening of their stance, saying that the package they put forward also included a call to prepare new and more effective sanctions to respond to malign Russian activities, including through economic measures. After all, it was Merkel who took in Russian opposition leader

there are still accounting graduates of the three programs who prefer to take the traditional CPA examinations and call themselves CPAs. When I was the Chairman of the BOA, the Board formulated a framework and approach to provide a way for graduates of non-BSA programs. This consists of reformatting the traditional CPA licensure qualification process and the amendment of the Accountancy Law. While the BOA is in the process of formulating amendments to the law, it may be appropriate to include changes that will address, in particular, the demands of the BSBA, BSIA, and BSAIS accounting students and graduates, and, in general, address the interest of the accountancy profession. I also note that the framework that we formulated some years back are now being considered and implemented by the accounting sectors of other countries, including the United States of America. To be continued. Joel L. Tan-Torres is the Dean of the University of the Philippines Virata School of Business. Previously, he was the Commissioner of the Bureau of Internal Revenue, the chairman of the Professional Regulatory Board of Accountancy and partner of Reyes Tacandong & Co. and the SyCip Gorres and Velayo & Co. He is a Certified Public Accountant who garnered No. 1 in the CPA Board Examination of May 1979. This column accepts articles for publication from the business and academic community. Articles not exceeding 600 words can be e-mailed to jltantorres@up.edu.ph.

Alexey Navalny after his poisoning, and visited him in the Berlin hospital where he received treatment. Despite some frustration with the US, such as differences on intellectual property rights for vaccines and the US withdrawal from Afghanistan, European officials are at pains to stress that transatlantic relations are strong and functional again under Biden. Most differences are on priorities and process rather than substance, and neither Merkel nor Macron view any contradiction between close US ties and European autonomy. An entente may be coming on Nord Stream 2, too. Biden dropped plans for sanctions on the project, while Merkel took a step toward him Monday when she said that Europe will do everything in its power to ensure gas supplies continue to flow through Ukraine even after the pipeline’s completion. When it comes to China, both the EU and US view Beijing as a partner on climate change, an economic and trade competitor, and an adversary when it comes to democratic values and human rights. The prominence they each place on those three prongs differs. Though the EU has sanctioned Beijing over human rights, it has been careful not to over-antagonize China as its priorities are climate and economic relations, according to two people familiar with government thinking in Paris and Berlin. In an address to the nation on Monday evening, Macron said that France’s EU presidency from Jan. 1 will focus on a common agenda of “industrial and technological independence.” Meantime, Merkel will continue to work with Macron to push forward their Russia proposal, people familiar with her thinking said. One said that EU leaders already moved closer to Germany’s proposal at the summit, while another said that the chancellor in others would come around to her point of view once they meet again in October. But Merkel is aware that time, a negotiating tool she has so often used to her advantage, is not on her side, a third person said. Whether she even attends the October summit will depend on how long it takes to form a government after September’s election.

A12 Thursday, July 15, 2021

PHL looks to China’s Udenna to have 90% control ‘inspiration’ in effort of Malampaya by end-2021 at poverty reduction By Cai U. Ordinario @caiordinario

HE government is open to having a closer collaboration with China on poverty reduction, according to the National Anti-Poverty Commission (NAPC) and the National Economic and Development Authority (Neda). In a Pre-State of the Nation Address briefing on Wednesday, NAPC Secretary Noel K. Felongco said the agency has been very active in anti-poverty efforts in the region with China and other Asean countries. Felongco said China’s efforts are of particular interest since the country was able to lift 800 million Chinese citizens from poverty. He considered this an inspiring feat which the Philippines could emulate through appropriate projects and programs. “We are seeing you (China) as our inspiration in having our poverty reduction programs and activities projects in the Philippines. There’s still a way to go but with the leadership of the president, Cabinet, and government workers, we will be able to achieve the target of this administration to lower the poverty incidence to 14 percent by 2022,” Felongco said. Neda Undersecretary for Planning and Policy Rosemarie G. Edillon agreed and said China’s reforms in agriculture, industrial and trade policy allowed them to lift millions from poverty. “We really are looking very closely at the experience of China,” Edillon said. “(This can be done through face-to-face meetings, so to speak, with policymakers, the program designers. We know we can learn a lot.” Felonco said the NAPC has also engaged the International Poverty Reduction Center in China, which also shared some experiences in the region in terms of best practices in poverty reduction efforts. Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) Secretary Rolando Joselito D. Bautista said the recent efforts of the national government to reduce poverty included the Social Amelioration Program (SAP).

The program, funded through Bayanihan 1 law and initially targeted to distribute some P200 billion, was able to keep over 400,000 families or over 2 million Filipinos from becoming poor during the pandemic. “The SAP reduces the number of Filipinos who (would have) become poor (due to the pandemic),” Bautista said. “Masasabi nating malaki ang naitulong ng SAP [We can say that the SAP significantly helped in poverty reduction].” In January, the Philippine Institute for Development Studies (PIDS) said the government’s distribution of the SAP will not prevent millions of Filipinos from joining the ranks of the poor due to the lockdowns imposed by the government to prevent the spread of Covid-19. In a study titled Mitigating the Impact of Covid-19 Pandemic on Poverty, a team of researchers led by PIDS President Celia M. Reyes estimated that around 2.816 million Filipinos, or 400,400 households, will still become poor despite SAP. However, without the SAP, Reyes and her coauthors estimate that as many as 7.535 million or 1.443 million households will become poor because of the efforts of the government to impose quarantines. The PIDS estimates also showed that without the SAP, the country’s poverty incidence per population will reach 23.8 percent, while the estimate with SAP showed that the poverty incidence will reach 19.4 percent. These would translate to 25.205 million poor Filipinos in a scenario without SAP, and 20.486 million with SAP. These are still higher than the 16.7 percent estimated prior to Covid-19. Based on 2018 official statistics, there were 17.670 million poor Filipinos. In terms of households or families, poverty incidence will increase to 18 percent under the “without-SAP” scenario and 13.8 percent in the “with-SAP” scenario. These translate to 4.447 million poor households in the without-SAP scenario and 3.405 million poor families in the withSAP scenario.

Big infra deals lack transparency, accountability–ADRi president

STUDY by a think tank has identified several transparency and accountability issues in four Chinese-funded infrastructure projects, saying these need to be addressed to safeguard Philippine interests. Stratbase Albert del Rosario Institute (ADRi) President, Prof. Dindo Manhit said, “This paper is part of the institute’s advocacy partnership with international think tank Center for International Private Enterprise and a broad network of think tanks in the region to study the impact of Chinese investments on fragile economies like the Philippines.” “It is the responsibility of the government to ensure transparency and accountability when it comes to transactions with other states especially for foreign investments,” Manhit said. The paper, “Chinese Investments in The Philippines: Are They Corrosive Capital?” featured in “SPARK”—a quarterly online publication of ADRi and authored by Prof. Edwin Santiago of the De La Salle University Political Science Department—said, “These projects have become controversial for the Duterte administration primarily due to allegations that they followed a unique way of doing things that disregarded the rule of law and characteristically lacked transparency and accountability.” Santiago said that one common issue was the severe lack of transparency in the deals and “Critical information seem to be left out deliberately to force some form of interpretation inconsistency that could eventually weaken one’s data presentation and analysis.” “For instance, leaving out the exchange rate used in the computations will invariably lead to inconsistencies with government data—such incongruence can be used

to undermine the credibility of the data,” Santiago said. Citing the case of the Chico River Pump Irrigation Project (CRPIP), Santiago said, “Although to the government’s credit, while more information was disclosed in other projects, they were still significantly incomplete. For the selection of project contractors, there is no information about how CAMCE (China CAMC Engineering Co., Ltd.) was selected for the CRPIP. Even conflicting pronouncements from cabinet members regarding the issues surrounding the selection were largely ignored and allowed to die down.” He added, “For the NCWS-KDP (New Centennial Water Source-Kaliwa Dam Project), while the negative findings from the Commission on Audit about the bidding process were publicized, no action resulting from the findings was ever disclosed. It is practically the same level of information dissemination insofar as the bidding process for the selection of the third telecommunications player in the Philippines and the Safe Philippines project are concerned.” Santiago said the government’s claim “that the agreements have been vetted— even if true—does not necessarily mean that there is nothing wrong with them.” “Moreover, using as defense the reason that these are standard provisions in loan agreements with China does not abandon the point that they are indeed onerous. Also, it hardly offers any explanation as to why our government officials will concede to terms that are unconstitutional at worst or burdensome at best. If at all, this raises the question as to why the Philippines would even consider loans from China,” Santiago said.

By Lenie Lectura

@llectura

ENNIS UY-LED Udenna Corp. could take over the 45-percent interest of Malampaya operator in Shell Philippines Exploration B.V. (SPEX) in December this year amid disapproval from a lawmaker who said that SPEX should have been more prudent in selecting its successor. Malampaya Energy XP Pte Ltd., a unit of UC, said foreign experts would help in the operation of the gas field, which delivers a fifth of the Philippines’s growing electricity requirements through the supply of natural gas to five power plants in Luzon. Malampaya Energy Chief Executive Officer Raouf Kizilbash said during a Senate Energy Committee hearing on Wednesday that the new shareholders are expected to take over by late November or early December this year. “There are two layers to this transition. One is the orderly takeover of the new shareholder and next is the regulatory process. The one that Shell and I have control of is the first. “The target date where the new shareholder will start making decisions would be end November or December 1, that’s the target. Based on very detailed plans, as a new shareholder, we can effectively support the business,” said Kizilbash. SPEX managing director Don Paulino confirmed this. He said during the hearing that based on the transition plan it would take six months for a smooth turnover. He said the technical expertise of the new operator would come from the existing workforce of SPEX, new consultants and contractors who have years of experience in the same field. The $380-million deal between SPEX and UC are still subject to approval by the Department of Energy (DOE), which said that it would take 21 days for the agency to evaluate the deal once all documents are submitted. “This will be presented to us and we will evaluate to make sure that it is compliant with the standards required on the legal, financial and technical aspects. These are the basis of our evaluation… If it will affect the technical operation and it’s not legal then we have reason to disapprove it,” said Energy Secretary Alfonso Cusi.

three remaining operated blocks that we have and the other four non-operated blocks that we have because in our pursuit of energy security and efficiency, we need to support other exploration activities not withstanding that we’ve donated P3 billion for our fight against Covid-19…. So, we recommended not to exercise our right to match,” Briguez said. This caught the ire of Senate Energy chairman Sherwin Gatchalian who said

“We can remedy that [PNOC-EC’s financial concerns] through law. My point here is lost opportunity. It was sold at a discount, the payback period is quite short and you’re already there, already a part of the operational entity.”

sherwin gatchalian

Senate energy chairman

PNOC-EC waiver irks Win

If and when the DOE approves it, the group of the Davao businessman would effectively control 90 percent of the gas project. UC38 LLC, another subsidiary of UC, earlier bought the 45-percent stake of Chevron Malampaya LLC for $562 million. State-owned PNOC Exploration Corp. (PNOC-EC), which controls the remaining 10 percent, has waived its right to match the offer of Malampaya Energy. “Yes, we issued it and sent it to SPEX but not the consent for the sale to proceed,” said PNOC-EC President Rozzano Briguez during the hearing. Briguez said PNOC-EC had considered exercising its right of first refusal and even discussed financing options with banks. However, he said government would still have to shell out half of the amount because the banks were only willing to lend up to 50 percent. Pursuing this would have caused a financial dent on PNOC-EC’s existing exploration projects. “The remaining 50 percent is barely enough for us to sustain because that time, our cash is just probably over a little above our in-house valuation of the 50 percent that the banks will not support. “If we do that, we will compromise the

that government gave up its chance “to truly become an oil and gas company and not just a paper holding company.” Gatchalian said there are ways to address PNOC-EC’s financial concerns. “We can remedy that through law. My point here is lost opportunity. It was sold at a discount, the payback period is quite short and you’re already there, already a part of the operational entity,” the senator pointed out. According to Briguez, $375 million of the total deal would be paid via bank loans and $157 million from the so-called Malampaya net entitlement proceeds. The remaining $33 million would be sourced from borrowings. “So, what value did the buyer bring in? How much did it come up with? Financial, it’s not there. Technical, wala din [none also]. You don’t bring in anything [to] the table, any value, so might as well let the government do it,” said Gatchalian. But Briguez said PNOC-EC did not receive advance notice from SPEX regarding its plan to divest its Malampaya stake. “We didn’t have previous notice because all notice will come from the mother company of Shell. The only time we will know is when there is an agreement. So, we were not informed.”

LOCSIN HAILS U.S. HELP IN FIGHTING PANDEMIC

‘G

REAT powers may fight if they must, compete by all means; but rivals need not fight over everything and anything,” Foreign Affairs Secretary Teodoro L. Locsin Jr. asserted during an omnibus intervention in the special Asean-US Foreign Ministers’ Meeting on Wednesday. “There are things the fiercest opponents have an equal stake in preserving: our one and only Earth. There can’t even be a battlefield if there isn’t that —a sustainable Earth,” he mused, referring to the rivalry between the United States and China. Secretary Locsin said the post-pandemic recovery depends on US economic recovery, now well under way, but also equally depends on China’s recovery. The former Makati legislator noted that 200 million Americans were vaccinated within two months of the new administration, and now approaching 300 million. “Free-for-all democracy works. That’s the end of the autocratic argument. Autocracies, elected or imposed, are falling all over the place.” He said there were American apologies for over-ordering vaccines, but he thanked America for it. “If it hadn’t over-ordered, there wouldn’t be the excess it is now giving away to governments that didn’t order enough or at all. Or, more sadly, didn’t have the means.” Locsin, a former Philippine Permanent Representative to the UN, thanked all countries that have helped the Philippines directly, but singled out the US “for its good taste.” “It has contributed tens of billions of dollars in cash and vaccines; not so much directly to particular countries, except for dire cases like India. But mostly indirectly

through Covax—the UN initiative that is redeeming the expense of its existence.” He said that, “unlike typhoons, earthquakes, other natural disasters, there’s no predictable end to this pandemic.” The solution is vaccines, he stressed. “Vaccinate until herd immunity.” However, Locsin warned that even if one had been vaccinated, one should still “mask up, shield down, wash often, keep your distance—all the things you do if not vaccinated,” as the virus may mutate out of range of the available vaccines.

The America we know

According to Manila’s highest envoy, Philippine recovery is dependent on that of the US. “It is more than that; our survival in this pandemic depends on the US.” Locsin noted that Biden supported the proposal to waive intellectual property protections on vaccines “to enable and speed up their production worldwide.” This shows, he noted, that the US is back to being what it was fondly remembered for: “bragging—and then walking its talk. The America we grew up with.” Locsin added, “We see more of that America in the US decision to rejoin the Paris Agreement.” In his conversation with Special Envoy John Kerry, Locsin said they have agreed “on the need to work together towards Glasgow, and remain steadfast towards the goal of net zero emissions,” referring to the global economic powers’ bid to reduce emissions to avert global warming.

Arbitral award

Meanwhile, Locsin welcomed the US’s open support for the 2016 Arbitral Award,

on its 5th anniversary last July 12. “It is binding international law and the most authoritative application of Unclos [United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea] on the maritime entitlements of features in the South China Sea,” he said. He said the decision contributes to the rules-based order in Asean and benefits all the countries that use the vital artery that is the South China Sea. “The rest is bluster. We thank America for its reaffirmation with greater clarity of the protection to Philippine sovereignty by the Mutual Defense Treaty,” Locsin added, saying in the Southeast Asian context, “that translates to keeping the peace and maintaining stability without pointless distractions.” On Myanmar, he said the Philippines upholds the Five-Point Consensus Asean reached in Jakarta: an end to the violence, constructive dialogue, designation of a Special Asean Envoy, provision of humanitarian assistance through the AHA Centre, inspection visits to Myanmar by the Special Asean Envoy—be it single or multiple. Unsaid but imperative, Locsin insisted, is “the restoration of the political status quo ante the coup,” meaning, releasing the elected Myanmar leader, Daw Aung San Suu Kyi and the rest of the elected opposition now in jail. Despite setbacks caused by Covid-19, Locsin said the resumption of negotiations on the Code of Conduct on the South China Sea is ongoing. As Asean-China coordinator, “we promised to deliver a much shorter and more digestible yet still comprehensive COC draft for second reading. I will turn over the coordinator role to Myanmar in two months.” Recto L. Mercene

BusinessMirror

www.businessmirror.com.ph

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NAME OF FOREIGN NATIONAL, POSITION QUALIFICATION AND AND BRIEF DESCRIPTION SALARY RANGE 24/7 BUSINESS PROCESSING INC. 7/f Capella Bldg. L-3&4 B2, Asean Drive Filinvest Alabang Muntinlupa City Basic Qualification: Any nationality who can speak and write Chinese fluently *preferably 6 DENG, HAIFENG months to 1 yr customer Customer Service Representative (Chinese Accounts) service experience detail1. oriented and has the Brief Job Description: ability to multi task Assist Clients with all their concerns Salary Range: Php 30,000 - Php 59,999 No.

LAI, XIANGJIE Customer Service Representative (Chinese Accounts) 2.

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Basic Qualification: Any nationality who can speak and write Chinese fluently *preferably 6 months to 1 yr customer service experience detailoriented and has the ability to multi task

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ANOC99 CORPORATION 5/f To 10/f Ayala Malls Manila Bay Building D. Macapagal Blvd. Cor. Aseana Street Tambo Parañaque City Basic Qualification: CHEN, ZHANGTAO Able to Speak, Read, and Chinese Customer Specialist Write Chinese Language 5. Brief Job Description: Salary Range: Managing incoming calls and customer service inquiries Php 30,000 - Php 59,999

LIU, WENHAO Chinese Customer Specialist

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

Brief Job Description: Managing incoming calls and customer service inquiries

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BIG EMPEROR TECHNOLOGY CORP. Eastfield Center Cbp1, Macapagal Blvd. Brgy. 076 Pasay City XIE, JIAO Mandarin Customer Relations Officer 7.

Brief Job Description: Handles the concerns of the people who buy their company’s products or services.

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CHEN, MEI Mandarin Customer Service 8.

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LIN, JIE Mandarin Customer Service 14.

Brief Job Description: Offer full range of customer service to employer and clients. LIU, JIAN Mandarin Customer Service

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LONG, SHASHA Mandarin Customer Service 17.

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21.

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Salary Range: Php 30,000 - Php 59,999 Basic Qualification: At least college level and able to speak, read write and type fluently in MANDARIN language. Salary Range: Php 30,000 - Php 59,999 Basic Qualification: At least college level and able to speak, read write and type fluently in MANDARIN language. Salary Range: Php 30,000 - Php 59,999 Basic Qualification: At least college level and able to speak, read write and type fluently in MANDARIN language. Salary Range: Php 30,000 - Php 59,999 Basic Qualification: At least college level and able to speak, read write and type fluently in MANDARIN language.

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BL ASIA SUPPORT SERVICES INC. 3/f Pamcor Bldg. Pascor Drive Sto Nino Parañaque City DUSSOSSOY, THOMAS, ALFRED JACQUES Operations Control Manager 26.

Brief Job Description: Responsible for performing complex data research, and analysis to support business operations, responsibility on certain tasks, identifying opportunities to expand or shift course

ESTABLISHMENT / ADDRESS QUALIFICATION AND SALARY RANGE Basic Qualification: At least college level and able to speak, read write and type fluently in MANDARIN language. Salary Range: Php 30,000 - Php 59,999

No.

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ZHANG, KUNHUA Mandarin Quality Inspector 36.

Basic Qualification: At least college level and able to speak, read write and type fluently in BURMESE language.

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

Brief Job Description: The Mandarin Cost Control Coordinator will be strategist and a leader able to steer the company to the most profitable direction while also implementing its vision, mission and long term goal.

ZHENG, MINGXIAN Mandarin Deputy Project Supervisor 30.

Brief Job Description: The Mandarin Deputy Project Supervisor will be strategist and a leader able to steer the company to the most profitable direction while also implementing its vision, mission and long term goal.

CUI, WEI Mandarin Field Service Coordinator

Salary Range: Php 30,000 - Php 59,999 31.

Brief Job Description: The Mandarin Field Service Coordinator will be strategist and a leader able to steer the company to the most profitable direction while also implementing its vision, mission and long term goal.

Basic Qualification: Proven experience as a Mandarin Cost Control Coordinator, Familiarity, knowledge and awareness on Machinery and Heavy Equipment use by company, Demonstrable experience in developing strategic business plan. Salary Range: Php 30,000 - Php 59,999 Basic Qualification: Proven experience as a Mandarin Deputy Project Supervisor, Familiarity, knowledge and awareness on Machinery and Heavy Equipment use by company, Demonstrable experience in developing strategic business plan. Salary Range: Php 30,000 - Php 59,999 Basic Qualification: Proven experience as a Mandarin Field Service Coordinator, Familiarity, knowledge and awareness on Machinery and Heavy Equipment use by company, Demonstrable experience in developing strategic business plan. Salary Range: Php 30,000 - Php 59,999

Brief Job Description: The Mandarin Quality Inspector will be strategist and a leader able to steer the company to the most profitable direction while also implementing its vision, mission and long term goal.

Basic Qualification: Proven experience as a Mandarin Quality Inspector, Familiarity, knowledge and awareness on Machinery and Heavy Equipment use by company, Demonstrable experience in developing strategic business plan. Salary Range: Php 30,000 - Php 59,999

CHEN, GANG Mandarin Structural Maintenance Analyst

Salary Range: Php 30,000 - Php 59,999 Basic Qualification: Master's degree in commerce, management, industrial technology or industrial engineering, must be fluent in English and French, "Big picture" thinking, strong personal and professional judgment

Basic Qualification: Proven experience as a Mandarin Project Management Coordinator, Familiarity, knowledge and awareness on Machinery and Heavy Equipment use by company, Demonstrable experience in developing strategic business plan. Salary Range: Php 30,000 - Php 59,999

37.

Brief Job Description: The Mandarin Structural Maintenance Analyst will be strategist and a leader able to steer the company to the most profitable direction while also implementing its vision, mission and long term goal.

Basic Qualification: Proven experience as a Mandarin Structural Maintenance Analyst, Familiarity, knowledge and awareness on Machinery and Heavy Equipment use by company, Demonstrable experience in developing strategic business plan. Salary Range: Php 30,000 - Php 59,999

COGNIZANT TECHNOLOGY SOLUTIONS PHILIPPINES, INC. 2nd, 3rd, And 4th Floors, Science Hub Tower 4 Bldg. Mckinley Hill Cyberpark Fort Bonifacio Taguig City Basic Qualification: BA or BS Degree Holder; Minimum 2-year(s) HO THI HOAN customer service support Senior Process Executive experience (voice, e-mail, or chat), working Brief Job Description: with direct consumers Service Support Solution includes diagnosis, resolution 38. preferably in a B2C and reporting of customer issues and questions relating environment; Native YouTube paid content products. Service is Tier 1 end Vietnamese Speaker user support with escalations to Google Salary Range: Php 90,000 - Php 149,999 CRONYX INC. No. 4th-10th Flr. Yinhope Bldg. Dela Rama Cor. Zoili Hilario St. Seascape Village, Ccp Complex Subd. Zone 10, Barangay 076, District 1 Pasay City Basic Qualification: With at least 6 Months LI, YONGQUAN Customer Service Chinese Speaking Data Entry Clerk Experience/ Good in Oral and Written 39. Brief Job Description: Communication Assist/Help Customers, Give Customers Information about Products and Services Salary Range: Php 30,000 - Php 59,999

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

29.

Brief Job Description: The Mandarin Project Management Coordinator will be strategist and a leader able to steer the company to the most profitable direction while also implementing its vision, mission and long term goal.

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

CHINA HARBOUR ENGINEERING COMPANY 5/f Rm 501 Ramon Magsaysay Center 1680 Roxas Blvd. 076, Bgy. 699 Malate Manila Basic Qualification: Proven experience as a LI, HONGXIN Mandarin Construction Mandarin Construction And Facilities Supervisor and Facilities Supervisor, Familiarity, knowledge and Brief Job Description: awareness on Machinery The Mandarin Construction and Facilities Supervisor will and Heavy Equipment use 28. be strategist and a leader able to steer the company to by company, Demonstrable the most profitable direction while also implementing experience in developing its vision, mission and long term goal. strategic business plan.

LIU, ANHUAI Mandarin Cost Control Coordinator

Brief Job Description: The Mandarin Project Controls Supervisor will be strategist and a leader able to steer the company to the most profitable direction while also implementing its vision, mission and long term goal.

Basic Qualification: Proven experience as a Mandarin Project Controls Supervisor, Familiarity, knowledge and awareness on Machinery and Heavy Equipment use by company, Demonstrable experience in developing strategic business plan. Salary Range: Php 30,000 - Php 59,999

Salary Range: Php 30,000 - Php 59,999 Basic Qualification: At least college level and able to speak, read write and type fluently in MANDARIN language.

Brief Job Description: The Mandarin Mechanical Works Supervisor will be strategist and a leader able to steer the company to the most profitable direction while also implementing its vision, mission and long term goal.

Basic Qualification: Proven experience as a Mandarin Mechanical Works Supervisor, Familiarity, knowledge and awareness on Machinery and Heavy Equipment use by company, Demonstrable experience in developing strategic business plan. Salary Range: Php 30,000 - Php 59,999

Basic Qualification: At least college level and able to speak, read write and type fluently in MANDARIN language. Salary Range: Php 30,000 - Php 59,999

Brief Job Description: The Mandarin Hydro Structural Coordinator will be strategist and a leader able to steer the company to the most profitable direction while also implementing its vision, mission and long term goal.

QUALIFICATION AND SALARY RANGE Basic Qualification: Proven experience as a Mandarin Hydro Structural Coordinator, Familiarity, knowledge and awareness on Machinery and Heavy Equipment use by company, Demonstrable experience in developing strategic business plan. Salary Range: Php 30,000 - Php 59,999

Salary Range: Php 30,000 - Php 59,999 Basic Qualification: At least college level and able to speak, read write and type fluently in MANDARIN language.

NAME OF FOREIGN NATIONAL, POSITION AND BRIEF DESCRIPTION

XIANG, QIANJIANG Mandarin Hydro Structural Coordinator

Basic Qualification: At least college level and able to speak, read write and type fluently in MANDARIN language.

BORAM MILLENIALS MARKETING CORPORATION (BORAM MILLENNIAL CENTER AND BORAM MILLENNIAL STORE) Room 108 Cabrera Bldg., #130 Timog Ave. Sacred Heart 4 Quezon City Basic Qualification: College Graduate / Level JO, SANGHO preferably with Sales Interpreter / Translator Experience, Fluent in Korean / Basic English 27. Brief Job Description: Interpreter / Translator Salary Range: Php 30,000 - Php 59,999

Basic Qualification: At least college level and able to speak, read write and type fluently in MANDARIN language.

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

Brief Job Description: Offer full range of customer service to employer and clients.

ZAW LIN AUNG Myanmari Customer Service

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

Basic Qualification: At least college level and able to speak, read write and type fluently in MANDARIN language.

Brief Job Description: Offer full range of customer service to employer and clients.

ZHENG, XIAOYING Mandarin Customer Service

Salary Range: Php 30,000 - Php 59,999 Basic Qualification: At least college level and able to speak, read write and type fluently in MANDARIN language.

Brief Job Description: Offer full range of customer service to employer and clients.

WAN, SHANSHAN Mandarin Customer Service

Salary Range: Php 30,000 - Php 59,999 Basic Qualification: At least college level and able to speak, read write and type fluently in MANDARIN language.

Brief Job Description: Offer full range of customer service to employer and clients.

SHI, WEIZHE Mandarin Customer Service

Basic Qualification: Has excellent problemsolving and communication skills in MANDARIN, with related BPO experience

Basic Qualification: At least college level and able to speak, read write and type fluently in MANDARIN language.

Brief Job Description: Offer full range of customer service to employer and clients

MEI, XUEFEI Mandarin Customer Service

24.

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

Brief Job Description: Offer full range of customer service to employer and clients MA, CHUNSHENG Mandarin Customer Service

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

AMAZON OPERATION SERVICES PHILIPPINES, INC. B21 Three E-com Moa Complex Harbour Drive Cor. Bay Shore Brgy. 076 Pasay City NGUYEN HONG KIM ANH Basic Qualification: Seller Support Associate Fluency in both English and Vietnamese Brief Job Description: 4. Resolve seller queries and provide efficient service to Salary Range: amazon sellers and merchants Php 30,000 - Php 59,999

Brief Job Description: Offer full range of customer service to employer and clients LUO, JUNQIANG Mandarin Customer Service

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

LIANG, RONGDE Customer Service Representative (Chinese Accounts)

NAME OF FOREIGN NATIONAL, POSITION AND BRIEF DESCRIPTION

Thursday, July 15, 2021 A13

CHEN, FUCHENG Chinese Speaking Data Entry Clerk 40.

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

DA, BOLIN Chinese Speaking Data Entry Clerk 41.

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

DENG, BING Chinese Speaking Data Entry Clerk 42.

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

DU, JIEHUA Chinese Speaking Data Entry Clerk 43.

Brief Job Description: Assist/help customers, give customers information about products 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 Basic Qualification: With At least 6 Months Customer Service Experience/ Good in Oral and Written Communication Salary Range: Php 30,000 - Php 59,999

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

BusinessMirror

A14 Thursday, July 15, 2021

ESTABLISHMENT / ADDRESS No.

NAME OF FOREIGN NATIONAL , POSITION AND BRIEF DESCRIPTION FANG, YUNTAO Chinese Speaking Data Entry Clerk

44.

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

GONG, XUEJIE Chinese Speaking Data Entry Clerk 45.

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

GUAN, HAITAO Chinese Speaking Data Entry Clerk 46.

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

HU, YANG Chinese Speaking Data Entry Clerk 47.

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

JIANG, HAN Chinese Speaking Data Entry Clerk 48.

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

JIANG, WANGLING Chinese Speaking Data Entry Clerk 49.

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

LI, SHANGCHENG Chinese Speaking Data Entry Clerk 50.

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

LIANG, HAO Chinese Speaking Data Entry Clerk 51.

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

LIANG, YONGJIA Chinese Speaking Data Entry Clerk 52.

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

LIU, ZHENG Chinese Speaking Data Entry Clerk 53.

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

LUO, SHIQIANG Chinese Speaking Data Entry Clerk 54.

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

PAN, NIANNIAN Chinese Speaking Data Entry Clerk 55.

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

SHA, LONGFEI Chinese Speaking Data Entry Clerk 56.

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

SONG, HAORAN Chinese Speaking Data Entry Clerk 57.

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

SU, HUALIN Chinese Speaking Data Entry Clerk 58.

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

WANG, YUYU Chinese Speaking Data Entry Clerk 59.

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

WEI, YANQING Chinese Speaking Data Entry Clerk 60.

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

WU, XIHAO Chinese Speaking Data Entry Clerk 61.

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

ESTABLISHMENT / ADDRESS QUALIFICATION AND SALARY RANGE Basic Qualification: With at least 6 months customer service experience/Good in oral communication and written

No.

XIE, HUANHUAN Chinese Speaking Data Entry Clerk 62.

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

Basic Qualification: With At least 6 Months Customer Service Experience/ Good in Oral and Written Communication Salary Range: Php 30,000 - Php 59,999

63.

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

XU, YINGQI Chinese Speaking Data Entry Clerk 64.

Brief Job Description: Maintain database by entering new and updated customer and account information

YAN, WEN Chinese Speaking Data Entry Clerk 65.

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

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

ESTABLISHMENT / ADDRESS QUALIFICATION AND SALARY RANGE Basic Qualification: With at least 6 months customer service experience; Good in oral communication and written. Salary Range: Php 30,000 - Php 59,999

Basic Qualification: With At least 6 Months Customer Service Experience/ Good in Oral and Written Communication Salary Range: Php 30,000 - Php 59,999

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

YU, YUXIN Chinese Speaking Data Entry Clerk 66.

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

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

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

YU, YIFAN Chinese Speaking Data Entry Clerk 67.

68.

Basic Qualification: With at least 6 Months Customer Service Experience/ Good in Oral and Written Communication Salary Range: Php 30,000 - Php 59,999 Basic Qualification: With at least 6 Months Customer Service Experience/ Good in Oral and Written Communication Salary Range: Php 30,000 - Php 59,999 Basic Qualification: With at least 6 Months Customer Service Experience/ Good in Oral and Written Communication

69.

70.

71.

72.

Salary Range: Php 30,000 - Php 59,999 Basic Qualification: Assist/Help Customers, Give Customers Information about Products and Services Salary Range: Php 30,000 - Php 59,999

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

ZHAO, TING Chinese Speaking Data Entry Clerk 73.

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

ZHAO, CHEN Chinese Speaking Data Entry Clerk 74.

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

ZHENG, CHENG Chinese Speaking Data Entry Clerk 75.

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

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

ZHANG, MIAO Chinese Speaking Data Entry Clerk

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

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

ZHANG, ZENAN Chinese Speaking Data Entry Clerk

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

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

ZHANG, DINGZHI Chinese Speaking Data Entry Clerk

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

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

ZHANG, WEI Chinese Speaking Data Entry Clerk

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

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

ZHANG, CHENGLONG Chinese Speaking Data Entry Clerk

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

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

XU, LITING Marketing Consultant (mandarin Speaking Clients) 78.

Brief Job Description: *Studying company profile and operations to understand its marketing needs. * Implementing a marketing strategy according to objectives and budget.

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

ZHOU, SHENGSHANG Chinese Speaking Data Entry Clerk 76.

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

EASTERN GOLD CORPORATION 503 Nueva St Binondo Manila BAI, GUIZHEN Marketing And Sales Agent 77.

Brief Job Description: Researches and develops various marketing strategies for products and services and implements marketing plans and works to meet sales quotas

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

WANG, ZONGNENG Customer Service Representative 80.

82.

Brief Job Description: Customer Service

84.

Salary Range: Php 30,000 - Php 59,999 Basic Qualification: With at least 6 Months Customer Service Experience/ Good in Oral and Written Communication Salary Range: Php 30,000 - Php 59,999

85.

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

86.

Basic Qualification: With At least 6 Months Customer Service Experience/ Good in Oral and Written Communication Salary Range: Php 30,000 - Php 59,999 Basic Qualification: can contributes information, ideas, and research to help develop marketing strategies; can help to detail, design, and implement marketing plans for each product or service being offered. Salary Range: Php 30,000 - Php 59,999

Brief Job Description: Maintain database by entering new and updated customer and account information

RUDI FERIMA WIJAYA Chinese Speaking Data Entry Clerk 87.

Brief Job Description: Maintain database by entering new and updated customer and account information

VIDANI Chinese Speaking Data Entry Clerk 88.

Brief Job Description: Maintain database by entering new and updated customer and account information YANG, YIFAN Chinese Speaking Data Entry Clerk

89.

Brief Job Description: Shall answer incoming phone calls from Chinese clients and troubleshoot customer technical problems with computer software and hardware. ZHANG, GENGEN Chinese Speaking Data Entry Clerk

90.

Brief Job Description: Maintain database be entering new and update customer and account information

ZHOU, XIANGDONG Chinese Speaking Data Entry Clerk 91.

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

Basic Qualification: College Graduate/Level and Fluent in Mandarin/ Basic English Salary Range: Php 30,000 - Php 59,999

Brief Job Description: Maintain database be entering new and update customer and account information

Basic Qualification: With at least 6 months customer service experience/good in oral communication and written Salary Range: Php 30,000 - Php 59,999 Basic Qualification: With at least 6 months customer service experience/good in oral communication and written Salary Range: Php 30,000 - Php 59,999 Basic Qualification: With at least 6 months customer service experience/good in oral communication and written Salary Range: Php 30,000 - Php 59,999 Basic Qualification: With at least 6 months customer service experience/good in oral communication and written Salary Range: Php 30,000 - Php 59,999 Basic Qualification: With at least 6 months customer service experience/good in oral communication and written Salary Range: Php 30,000 - Php 59,999 Basic Qualification: With at least 6 months customer service experience/good in oral communication and written Salary Range: Php 30,000 - Php 59,999 Basic Qualification: With at least 6 months customer service experience/good in oral communication and written Salary Range: Php 30,000 - Php 59,999 Basic Qualification: Must be fluent in Chinese language (writing and speaking) Salary Range: Php 30,000 - Php 59,999 Basic Qualification: With at least 6 months customer service experience/good in oral communication and written Salary Range: Php 30,000 - Php 59,999 Basic Qualification: With at least 6 months customer service experience/good in oral communication and written Salary Range: Php 30,000 - Php 59,999

INVECH TREASURE PROCESSING CORPORATION Ground, 2nd, 3rd And 4th Floor Eight West Campus Mckinley West Fort Bonifacio Taguig City CHEN, YANZI Mandarin Customer Support Representative 92.

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

Brief Job Description: Maintain database be entering new and update customer and account information

LU, HUIHUI Chinese Speaking Data Entry Clerk

Basic Qualification: With at least 6 Months Customer Service Experience/ Good in Oral and Written Communication Salary Range: Php 30,000 - Php 59,999

Brief Job Description: Maintain database be entering new and update customer and account information

KONG KAR YUNN Chinese Speaking Data Entry Clerk

Salary Range: Php 30,000 - Php 59,999 Basic Qualification: With at least 6 Months Customer Service Experience/ Good in Oral and Written Communication

Brief Job Description: Maintain database by entering new and updated customer and account information

FANG, XUN Chinese Speaking Data Entry Clerk

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

Brief Job Description: Maintain database be entering new and update customer and account information

CHUA SHEN LOO Chinese Speaking Data Entry Clerk

Salary Range: Php 30,000 - Php 59,999 Basic Qualification: With at least 6 Months Customer Service Experience/ Good in Oral and Written Communication

Basic Qualification: *Preferably 6 months experience with the above position. *Can multi-task and keen to details. *Any nationality who can speak and write Chinese fluently.

INFOVINE INC. 9/f Y Tower, Moa Complex Coral Way Drive Cor. Macapagal Brgy. 076 Pasay City Basic Qualification: With at least 6 months ADRIAN LIEW customer service Chinese Speaking Data Entry Clerk experience/good in oral communication and Brief Job Description: 81. written Maintain database by entering new and updated customer and account information Salary Range: Php 30,000 - Php 59,999

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

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

QUALIFICATION AND SALARY RANGE

FLYING DRAGON NETWORK PHILIPPINES INC. 4th-11th Floor Aseana 3 Building Aseana Avenue Corner Diosdado Macapagal Tambo Parañaque City Basic Qualification: LU GIN YIN College Graduate/Level Customer Service Representative and Fluent in Mandarin/ Basic English 79. Brief Job Description: Customer Service Salary Range: Php 30,000 - Php 59,999

83.

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

NAME OF FOREIGN NATIONAL , POSITION AND BRIEF DESCRIPTION

FLY ASIAN INTERNATIONAL CORPORATION Eighty One Newport Blvd. Newport City Va, Brgy. 183 Pasay City

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

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

No.

CHAI CHUNG CHEK Chinese Speaking Data Entry Clerk

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

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

XING, HAIPENG Chinese Speaking Data Entry Clerk

Basic Qualification: With at least 6 Months Customer Service Experience/ Good in Oral and Written Communication Salary Range: Php 30,000 - Php 59,999

NAME OF FOREIGN NATIONAL , POSITION AND BRIEF DESCRIPTION

www.businessmirror.com.ph

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

CHENYANG, ZHIWEI Mandarin Customer Support Representative 93.

Brief Job Description: Supports customers by providing helpful information, answering questions, and responding to complaints. LIU, PENG Mandarin Customer Support Representative

94.

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

QU, JUNLONG Mandarin Customer Support Representative 95.

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

Basic Qualification: Able to speak and write in MANDARIN/FUKIEN and at least college level with related BPO experience. Salary Range: Php 30,000 - Php 59,999 Basic Qualification: Able to speak and write in MANDARIN/FUKIEN and at least college level with related BPO experience. Salary Range: Php 30,000 - Php 59,999 Basic Qualification: Able to speak and write in MANDARIN/FUKIEN and at least college level with related BPO experience. Salary Range: Php 30,000 - Php 59,999 Basic Qualification: Able to speak and write in MANDARIN/FUKIEN and at least college level with related BPO experience. Salary Range: Php 30,000 - Php 59,999

BusinessMirror

www.businessmirror.com.ph

ESTABLISHMENT / ADDRESS No.

NAME OF FOREIGN NATIONAL , POSITION AND BRIEF DESCRIPTION YAN, HUIYING Mandarin Customer Support Representative

96.

Brief Job Description: Supports customers by providing helpful information, answering questions, and responding to complaints. ZHANG, JIANPING Mandarin Customer Support Representative

97.

Brief Job Description: Supports customers by providing helpful information, answering questions, and responding to complaints. NGUYEN THI PHUONG Vietnamese Customer Support Representative

98.

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

ITECHNO SPECIALIST INC. U-608 Eastfield Ctr. Moa Comp. Macapagal Ave. Brgy. 076 Pasay City LI, SHENGLAN Chinese Customer Service Representative 99.

Brief Job Description: The Chinese Customer Service Support (CCSS) will provide information to the company's Chinese clients or customers in response to inquiries. LI, SHUAISHUAI Chinese Customer Service Representative

100.

Brief Job Description: The Chinese Customer Service Support (CCSS) will provide information to the company's Chinese clients or customers in response to inquiries. WANG, FAJUN Chinese Customer Service Representative

101.

Brief Job Description: The Chinese Customer Service Support (CCSS) will provide information to the company's Chinese clients or customers in response to inquiries. BUI VAN HUYEN It Support Specialist

102.

Brief Job Description: Responsible for providing quality it support of enterprise systems throughout the Chinese clientele.

JAPAN AIRLINES INTERNATIONAL CO. LTD. 2/f Oledan Square 6788 Ayala Ave. San Lorenzo Makati City MOCHIHARA, CHIKARA Country Manager 103.

Brief Job Description: Act as true lawful attorney for protecting the interests of Japan Airlines in the Philippines.

ESTABLISHMENT / ADDRESS QUALIFICATION AND SALARY RANGE Basic Qualification: Able to speak and write in MANDARIN/FUKIEN and at least college level with related BPO experience.

105.

Brief Job Description: Attracts potential customers by answering product and service questions; suggesting information about other products and services CHEN, YING-CHEN Chinese Mandarin Customer Service Representative

106.

Brief Job Description: Attracts potential customers by answering product and service questions; suggesting information about other products and services CHEN, YING-JUNG Chinese Mandarin Customer Service Representative

107.

Brief Job Description: Attracts potential customers by answering product and service questions; suggesting information about other products and services HUANG, TSUI-LIEN Chinese Mandarin Customer Service Representative

108.

Brief Job Description: Attracts potential customers by answering product and service questions; suggesting information about other products and services. JIN, MAOTAO Chinese Mandarin Customer Service Representative

109.

Brief Job Description: Attracts potential customers by answering products and services questions; suggesting information about other products and services. LIAN, ZHENG Chinese Mandarin Customer Service Representative

110.

Brief Job Description: Attracts potential customers by answering product and service questions; suggesting information about other products and services. LIOU, JHIH-HONG Chinese Mandarin Customer Service Representative

111.

Brief Job Description: Attracts potential customers by answering product and service questions; suggesting information about other products and services. WANG, YUGUI Chinese Mandarin Customer Service Representative

112.

Brief Job Description: Attracts potential customers by answering product and service questions; suggesting information about other products and services ZHAN, LIN Chinese Mandarin Customer Service Representative

113.

Brief Job Description: Attracts potential customers by answering product and service questions; suggesting information about other products and services LY DUC THUAN Vietnamese Customer Service Representative

114.

Brief Job Description: Attracts potential customers by answering product and service questions; suggesting information about other products and services

116.

Salary Range: Php 30,000 - Php 59,999 Basic Qualification: A Chinese and fluent in Chinese writing and speaking language Salary Range: Php 30,000 - Php 59,999

MOA CLOUDZONE CORP. 4th-11th Flr. Nexgen Tower C4 Rd. Edsa Ext. Brgy. 076 Pasay City CHEN, HAO Chinese Customer Service 118.

119.

120.

121.

122.

Basic Qualification: Can speak and read Cantonese, mandarin, and Fukien language Salary Range: Php 30,000 - Php 59,999 Basic Qualification: College graduate with 25 years’ experience in specialized field; Excellent written and oral communication skills in Nihonggo.

123.

124.

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

125.

126.

127.

128.

Salary Range: Php 30,000 - Php 59,999 Basic Qualification: At least 19 years old; Ability to speak, write and communicate in Chinese Mandarin

129.

Salary Range: Php 30,000 - Php 59,999 Basic Qualification: At least 19 years old; Ability to speak, write and communicate in Chinese Mandarin Salary Range: Php 30,000 - Php 59,999 Basic Qualification: At least 19 years old; Ability to speak, write and communicate in Chinese Mandarin Salary Range: Php 30,000 - Php 59,999 Basic Qualification: At least 19 years old; Ability to speak, write and communicate in Chinese Mandarin Salary Range: Php 30,000 - Php 59,999

130.

131.

132.

133.

Basic Qualification: At least 19 years old; Ability to speak, write and communicate in Chinese Mandarin Salary Range: Php 30,000 - Php 59,999 Basic Qualification: At least 19 years old; Ability to speak, write and communicate in Chinese Mandarin Salary Range: Php 30,000 - Php 59,999 Basic Qualification: At least 19 years old; Ability to speak, write and communicate in Chinese Mandarin

134.

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

KONGANBUDDIES MARKETING INC. 48/f Lower Ground Pbcom Tower 6795 Ayala Ave. Cor. V.a. Rufino St. Bel-air Makati City Basic Qualification: FENDY SUWANDY Proficient in Indonesian Customer Service Representative Mandarin,Bahasa, English and any other multi-lingual Brief Job Description: language 115. Responds to telephone and/or on cam inquiries and complaints using standard scripts and procedures Salary Range: Php 30,000 - Php 59,999

QUALIFICATION AND SALARY RANGE Basic Qualification: Proficient in Mandarin,Bahasa, English and any other multi-lingual language

135.

CHEN, GUANJIE Chinese Customer Service

Basic Qualification: Able to speak, Read, and Write Chinese language

Brief Job Description: Managing incoming calls and customer service inquiries

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

KHUU NGUYEN UYEN TRINH Chinese Customer Service

Basic Qualification: Able to speak, Read, and Write Chinese language

Brief Job Description: Managing incoming calls and customer service inquiries

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

LE TAN HIEU Chinese Customer Service

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

Brief Job Description: Managing incoming calls and customer service inquiries

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

LIU, XIANG Chinese Customer Service

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

Basic Qualification: Able to speak, Read, and Write Chinese language

Brief Job Description: Managing incoming calls and customer service inquiries

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

MAO, SEN Chinese Customer Service

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

Brief Job Description: Managing incoming calls and customer service inquiries

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

NGUYEN THI TRAM CHAU Chinese Customer Service

Basic Qualification: Able to speak, Read, and Write Chinese language

Brief Job Description: Managing incoming calls and customer service inquiries

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

OUYANG, WENFENG Chinese Customer Service

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

Brief Job Description: Managing incoming calls and customer service inquiries

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

SHEN, MINGZHEN Chinese Customer Service

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

Brief Job Description: Managing incoming calls and customer service inquiries

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

XU, LIANGLIANG Chinese Customer Service

Basic Qualification: Able to speak, Read, and Write Chinese language

Brief Job Description: Managing incoming calls and customer service inquiries

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

ZHAO, ZHEYANG Chinese Customer Service

Basic Qualification: Able to speak, Read, and Write Chinese language

Brief Job Description: Managing incoming calls and customer service inquiries

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

CUI, YANLONG Chinese Customer Specialist

Basic Qualification: Able to speak, Read, and Write Chinese language

Brief Job Description: Managing incoming calls and customer service inquiries

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

KYAW AUNG MYINT Chinese Customer Specialist

Basic Qualification: Able to speak, Read, and Write Chinese language

Brief Job Description: Managing incoming calls and customer service inquiries

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

QU, QIUYANG Chinese Customer Specialist

Basic Qualification: Able to speak, Read, and Write Chinese language

Brief Job Description: Managing incoming calls and customer service inquiries

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

WANG, LONG Chinese Customer Specialist

Basic Qualification: Able to speak, Read, and Write Chinese language

Brief Job Description: Managing incoming calls and customer service inquiries

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

ZENG, HAILIN Chinese Customer Specialist

Basic Qualification: Able to speak, Read, and Write Chinese language

Brief Job Description: Managing incoming calls and customer service inquiries

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

Brief Job Description: Customer Service

CHENG, YI Customer Service Representative 137.

Brief Job Description: Customer service

CHENG, LUN Customer Service Representative 138.

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

LIU, YANG Chinese Customer Service

CHEN, JIANYE Customer Service Representative 136.

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

Brief Job Description: Managing incoming calls and customer service inquiries

Brief Job Description: Customer service

No.

Basic Qualification: College Graduate/Level and Fluent in Mandarin/ Basic English

139.

140.

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

141.

Brief Job Description: Customer service DUONG SAM MUI Customer Service Representative

142.

Brief Job Description: Customer service FELIXS OCTAVIANUS Customer Service Representative

143.

Brief Job Description: Customer service

HE, LIU Customer Service Representative 144.

Brief Job Description: Customer service

HUYNH THI Y NHU Customer Service Representative 145.

Brief Job Description: Customer service JIA, MINGFANG Customer Service Representative

146.

Brief Job Description: Customer service LAM, CHIU FAN Customer Service Representative

147.

Brief Job Description: Customer Service LI, XIAOPENG Customer Service Representative

148.

Brief Job Description: Customer Service LIANG, FU Customer Service Representative

149.

Brief Job Description: Customer Service

LIN, WEISHENG Customer Service Representative 150.

Brief Job Description: Customer service

LIU, JINRONG Customer Service Representative 151.

Brief Job Description: Customer service

LIU, YULIN Customer Service Representative 152.

Brief Job Description: Customer service

LU, HAOBO Customer Service Representative 153.

Brief Job Description: Customer Service

MOE HNIN OO Customer Service Representative 154.

Brief Job Description: Customer service RONG, LI Customer Service Representative

155.

Brief Job Description: Customer service

SUN, HAIDI Customer Service Representative 156.

Brief Job Description: Customer service

TA MINH XUAN Customer Service Representative 157.

158.

159.

Brief Job Description: Customer service

VONG NGOC YEN Customer Service Representative Brief Job Description: Customer service WANG, SHIWANG Customer Service Representative Brief Job Description: Customer service WANG, MAOMING Customer Service Representative

160.

Basic Qualification: College graduate/level and fluent in Mandarin / basic English Salary Range: Php 30,000 - Php 59,999

Brief Job Description: Customer service DU, JIAN Customer Service Representative

Salary Range: Php 30,000 - Php 59,999 Basic Qualification: College Graduate / Level and Fluent in Mandarin / Basic English

Brief Job Description: Customer service DAI, DUO Customer Service Representative

Salary Range: Php 30,000 - Php 59,999 Basic Qualification: College Graduate/Level and Fluent in Mandarin/ Basic English

NAME OF FOREIGN NATIONAL , POSITION AND BRIEF DESCRIPTION CHENH KIM LIEN Customer Service Representative

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

Brief Job Description: Managing incoming calls and customer service inquiries

CAO, KAI Customer Service Representative

Salary Range: Php 30,000 - Php 59,999 Basic Qualification: At least 19 years old, ability to speak and communicate in Chinese Mandarin

Brief Job Description: Responds to telephone and/or on cam inquires and complaints using standard scripts and procedures

ESTABLISHMENT / ADDRESS

LULU FINANCIAL SERVICES (PHILS.) INC. Unit 1006 One World Place Condominium Blk 7 Lot 5, 32nd St. Fort Bonifacio Taguig City Basic Qualification: MOHAN, MANOJ Graduate in IT Accounting/ Business Financial Analyst MBA in Finance 117. Brief Job Description: Salary Range: Support valuation, planning, and forecasting. Php 30,000 - Php 59,999

Salary Range: Php 30,000 - Php 59,999 Basic Qualification: A Chinese and fluent in Chinese writing and speaking language

NAME OF FOREIGN NATIONAL , POSITION AND BRIEF DESCRIPTION HADI SAMSUDI Indonesian Customer Service Representative

Salary Range: 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 Makati City Basic Qualification: CHANG, TSAI-PIN At least 19 years old; Chinese Mandarin Customer Service Representative Ability to speak, write and communicate in Chinese Brief Job Description: 104. Attracts potential customers by answering products and Mandarin services questions; suggesting information about other Salary Range: products and services. Php 30,000 - Php 59,999 CHEN, TZU-YEN Chinese Mandarin Customer Service Representative

No.

Thursday, July 15, 2021 A15

Brief Job Description: Customer service WANG, PENG Customer Service Representative

161.

Brief Job Description: Customer Service

QUALIFICATION AND SALARY RANGE Basic Qualification: College Graduate / Level and Fluent in Mandarin / Basic English Salary Range: Php 30,000 - Php 59,999 Basic Qualification: College graduate/level and fluent in Mandarin / basic English Salary Range: Php 30,000 - Php 59,999 Basic Qualification: College graduate/level and fluent in Mandarin / basic English Salary Range: Php 30,000 - Php 59,999 Basic Qualification: College Graduate / Level and Fluent in Mandarin / Basic English Salary Range: Php 30,000 - Php 59,999 Basic Qualification: College graduate/level and fluent in Mandarin / basic English Salary Range: Php 30,000 - Php 59,999 Basic Qualification: College Graduate / Level and Fluent in Mandarin / Basic English Salary Range: Php 30,000 - Php 59,999 Basic Qualification: College Graduate / Level and Fluent in Mandarin / Basic English Salary Range: Php 30,000 - Php 59,999 Basic Qualification: College Graduate / Level and Fluent in Mandarin / Basic English Salary Range: Php 30,000 - Php 59,999 Basic Qualification: College Graduate/Level and Fluent in Mandarin/ Basic English Salary Range: Php 30,000 - Php 59,999 Basic Qualification: College Graduate/Level and Fluent in Mandarin/ Basic English Salary Range: Php 30,000 - Php 59,999 Basic Qualification: College Graduate/Level and Fluent in Mandarin/ Basic English Salary Range: Php 30,000 - Php 59,999 Basic Qualification: College Graduate / Level and Fluent in Mandarin / Basic English Salary Range: Php 30,000 - Php 59,999 Basic Qualification: College Graduate / Level and Fluent in Mandarin / Basic English Salary Range: Php 30,000 - Php 59,999 Basic Qualification: College Graduate / Level and Fluent in Mandarin / Basic English Salary Range: Php 30,000 - Php 59,999 Basic Qualification: College Graduate/Level and Fluent in Mandarin/ Basic English Salary Range: Php 30,000 - Php 59,999 Basic Qualification: College graduate/level and fluent in Mandarin / basic English Salary Range: Php 30,000 - Php 59,999 Basic Qualification: College Graduate / Level and Fluent in Mandarin / Basic English Salary Range: Php 30,000 - Php 59,999 Basic Qualification: College Graduate / Level and Fluent in Mandarin / Basic English Salary Range: Php 30,000 - Php 59,999 Basic Qualification: College Graduate / Level and Fluent in Mandarin / Basic English Salary Range: Php 30,000 - Php 59,999 Basic Qualification: College Graduate / Level and Fluent in Mandarin / Basic English Salary Range: Php 30,000 - Php 59,999 Basic Qualification: College Graduate / Level and Fluent in Mandarin / Basic English Salary Range: Php 30,000 - Php 59,999 Basic Qualification: College Graduate / Level and Fluent in Mandarin / Basic English Salary Range: Php 30,000 - Php 59,999 Basic Qualification: College Graduate/Level and Fluent in Mandarin/ Basic English Salary Range: Php 30,000 - Php 59,999

BusinessMirror

A16 Thursday, July 15, 2021

ESTABLISHMENT / ADDRESS No.

NAME OF FOREIGN NATIONAL , POSITION AND BRIEF DESCRIPTION HAN, CHUNYUN Chinese IT Specialist

162.

163.

164.

Brief Job Description: Maintain the operations of electronic gaming devices

Brief Job Description: Customer Service

Brief Job Description: Customer Service Basic Qualification: College Graduate / Level and Fluent in Mandarin / Basic English

XU, KELONG Customer Service Representative Brief Job Description: Customer service

Brief Job Description: Customer service

Brief Job Description: Customer service YE, JINCAI Customer Service Representative

167.

Brief Job Description: Customer Service

ZHANG, BINGHUI Customer Service Representative 168.

Brief Job Description: Customer service

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

HONG, YINGQUN Head Chef (Sichuan Cuisine) 169.

Brief Job Description: Planning and directing food Preparation and culinary activities, modifying menus or create new ones that meet quality standards, estimating food requirements and food/labor costs, supervise kitchen Staff’s activities, performing other duties assigned by the Company

ZHANG, ZHONGHUA Head Chef (Sichuan Cuisine) 170.

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

WU, JINYONG Customer Service Representative

YE, WENLONG Customer Service Representative 166.

QUALIFICATION AND SALARY RANGE Basic Qualification: College Graduate/Level and Fluent in Mandarin/ Basic English

WU, JINYONG Customer Service Representative

YANG, CHAOGUANG Customer Service Representative 165.

ESTABLISHMENT / ADDRESS

Salary Range: Php 30,000 - Php 59,999 Basic Qualification: College graduate/level and fluent in Mandarin / basic English

Salary Range: Php 30,000 - Php 59,999 Basic Qualification: College Graduate/Level and Fluent in Mandarin/ Basic English

Basic Qualification: Ability to produce excellent high-quality Authentic Chinese Food and developing unique and cuisineappropriate menus while staying current on trends in the Chinese restaurant industry Collaborating with the Restaurant/Operations Manager to set item prices, Ability to work unsupervised and deliver quality work, High level of attention to detail With Experience in Chinese Restaurants, Fluent in the Chinese Language, both oral and written, At least 25 years old Salary Range: Php 30,000 - Php 59,999 Basic Qualification: Ability to produce excellent high-quality Authentic Chinese Food and developing unique and cuisine-appropriate menus while staying current on trends in the Chinese restaurant industry Collaborating with the Restaurant/ Operations Manager to set item prices, Ability to work unsupervised and deliver quality work, High level of attention to detail With Experience in Chinese Restaurants, Fluent in the Chinese Language, both oral and written, At least 25 years old

Brief Job Description: Manages incoming calls and inquiries, Handling complaints, Provide solutions process customer accounts and file documents

HUANG, LU Chinese Customer Service 173.

Brief Job Description: Manages incoming calls and inquiries, Handling complaints, Provide solutions process customer accounts and file documents

LIAN, WEILONG Chinese Customer Service 174.

Brief Job Description: Manages incoming calls and inquiries, Handling complaints, Provide solutions process customer accounts and file documents

LIU, MIN Chinese Customer Service 175.

Brief Job Description: Manages incoming calls and inquiries, Handling complaints, Provide solutions process customer accounts and file documents

LUO, ZHIFENG Chinese Customer Service 176.

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

LUO, MOUHAI Chinese Customer Service 177.

Brief Job Description: Manages incoming calls and inquiries, Handling complaints, Provide solutions process customer accounts and file documents

179.

180.

181.

Salary Range: Php 30,000 - Php 59,999 Basic Qualification: College Graduate, Preferably 1 year experience in the similar field , Speak and write Fluently language And English Salary Range: Php 30,000 - Php 59,999

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

ZHOU, SHUNGANG Chinese Customer Service 182.

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

SHENLIN FU Malaysian Customer Service 183.

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

HKAWNG ZE Myanmari Customer Service 184.

Brief Job Description: Manages incoming calls and and inquiries, Handling complaints, Provide solutions process customer accounts and file documents

MYO AUNG Myanmari Customer Service 185.

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

LUU VAN BAO Vietnamese Customer Service 186.

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

LY KIM HANG Vietnamese Customer Service 187.

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

NGUYEN THI LAN ANH Vietnamese Customer Service 188.

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

OAMPI INC. 8/f 6780 Ayala Ave. Ayala Ave. San Lorenzo Makati City MULLER, RAINER WILFRIED German Content Moderation Analyst 189.

Brief Job Description: To organize by its community of users provide quality service support in variety of areas.

PANPHIL MARINE SERVICES CORP. 2626 Maytubig St. Corner P. Ocampo St., 078 Bgy. 719 Malate Manila SHI, YUQIAN Operation Manager 190.

Brief Job Description: Responsibilities include managing both the operations process, embracing, design, planning, control, performance improvement, and operations strategy and habits, standard fluency in mandarin etc. TAN, JINJING Operation Manager

191.

192.

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

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

YIN, ZHENGXIANG Chinese Customer Service

Salary Range: Php 30,000 - Php 59,999 Basic Qualification: College Graduate, Preferably 1 year experience in the similar field , Speak and write Fluently language And English

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

WANG, YUNWU Chinese Customer Service

Salary Range: Php 30,000 - Php 59,999 Basic Qualification: College Graduate, Preferably 1 year experience in the similar field , Speak and write Fluently language And English

Brief Job Description: Customer support and data base services

MA, GUIYUE Chinese Customer Service

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

NEW ORIENTAL CLUB88 CORPORATION 3rd, 5th, 6th, 7th, 8th, 9th & 10th/f Pearl Marina Building Pacific Drive Don Galo Parañaque City Basic Qualification: College Graduate, CHEN, XIAOJUAN Preferably 1 year Chinese Customer Service experience in the similar field , Speak and write Brief Job Description: Fluently language And 171. Manages incoming calls and inquiries, Handling English complaints, Provide solutions process customer accounts and file documents Salary Range: Php 30,000 - Php 59,999

172.

178.

Salary Range: Php 30,000 - Php 59,999 Basic Qualification: College Graduate / Level and Fluent in Mandarin / Basic English

NAME OF FOREIGN NATIONAL , POSITION AND BRIEF DESCRIPTION MA, CHUNJIAO Chinese Customer Service

Salary Range: Php 30,000 - Php 59,999 Basic Qualification: College Graduate / Level and Fluent in Mandarin / Basic English

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

CHEN, JILONG Chinese Customer Service

No.

193.

www.businessmirror.com.ph

ESTABLISHMENT / ADDRESS QUALIFICATION AND SALARY RANGE Basic Qualification: Knowledgeable in computer applications with good oral and written communication skills

No.

YANG, MAN Chinese Speaking Business Development Associate 195.

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

196.

197.

198.

199.

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

Salary Range: Php 60,000 - Php 89,999 Basic Qualification: Familiar with china's maritime law, familiar with Chinese shipping operations.

200.

Salary Range: Php 30,000 - Php 59,999 Basic Qualification: Familiar with china's maritime law, familiar with Chinese shipping operations.

194.

Brief Job Description: Prepare and maintain company documents and reports and coordinate for daily administrative reports.

Brief Job Description: Troubleshooting hardware/Software issues

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

QIU, YU Mandarin Technical Support

Basic Qualification: Skills in Computer Networking and Hardware

Brief Job Description: Troubleshooting hardware/Software issues

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

ZHAO, GUANGZHI Mandarin Technical Support

Basic Qualification: Skills in Computer Networking and Hardware

Brief Job Description: Troubleshooting hardware/Software issues

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

Brief Job Description: Directly involved in managing and delivering large scale transformation programs and projects

HU, CONG Chinese Customer Service Representative 201.

Brief Job Description: Answering inquiries, resolving problems, fulfilling requests and maintaining data base

SA RIVENDELL GLOBAL SUPPORT, INC. 9-11 Flr., The Biopolis Bldg. Macapagal Blvd. Brgy. 076 Pasay City ZHANG, YAN Chinese Customer Service 202.

Brief Job Description: Customer support and database services

HUANG, DANLI Mandarin Accounts Staff 205.

Brief Job Description: Maintain & monitor Accounts information

LI, SIYU Mandarin Customer Service 206.

Brief Job Description: Business process outsourcing (BPO) LU, SHAOQIN Mandarin Customer Service

207.

Brief Job Description: Answer products and services questions JI, ZHENWEI Mandarin Technical Support

208.

209

Brief Job Description: Troubleshoot hardware/software issues

Salary Range: Php 30,000 - Php 59,999 Basic Qualification: Has knowledge in computer applications Salary Range: Php 30,000 - Php 59,999

Brief Job Description: Maintain & monitor Accounts information Basic Qualification: Strong mathematical & analytical skills

212.

Salary Range: Php 30,000 - Php 59,999 Basic Qualification: Skills in computer networking and hardware Salary Range: Php 30,000 - Php 59,999

Brief Job Description: Troubleshooting hardware/software issues.

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

Brief Job Description: Responsible for providing quality IT Support of enterprise systems throughout the Chinese clientele CHEN, JIE Chinese IT Support Specialist

211.

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

Basic Qualification: Skills in computer networking and hardware

TIANYU TECHNOLOGY INC. 15/f Socialdesk Tower H.v. Dela Costa St. Bel-air Makati City CHEN, SUJIE Chinese IT Support Specialist 210

Basic Qualification: Fluent in Mandarin both oral and written

ZHONG, DONGHONG Mandarin Technical Support

Brief Job Description: The Chinese IT Support Specialist is an integral of the company infrastructure, Application Support, and of the IT Division and is responsible for providing quality IT support of enterprise systems throughout the Chinese clientele.

CHEN, ZHIHAO Chinese IT Support Specialist

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

Basic Qualification: College graduate, fluent in English, Preferably 6mos1year customer service experience

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

Basic Qualification: Proficiency in handling customer questions about services or products/ Excellent Mandarin communication skills.

Basic Qualification: Bachelor's degree or above in business management, engineering or related discipline, 7+ years of work experience with leadership experience in consulting including, Implementation follow through, program management and project management, affinity with problems on the intersection of organizational design, process, people and technology

SEAGULL-WORLD INC. Unit 2807 28/f Cityland Pasong Tamo Tower, 2210 Chino Roces Ave. Pio Del Pilar Makati City Basic Qualification: CHEN, PIN-YU Excellent in reading, Mandarin Speaking Customer Service writing and speaking in Mandarin 203. Brief Job Description: Responsible for inbound and outbound service calls Salary Range: Php 30,000 - Php 59,999 SYNAGIE INC. Office J 11th Floor Net Quad Bldg. 4th Avenue Cor. 30th St., Bgc Fort Bonifacio Taguig City Basic Qualification: ZHANG, JINGJING a.k.a. MRS. CHEYROUZE JINGJING At least 10 years of Regional E-commerce Cross Border Head work experience; Outstanding leadership, Brief Job Description: communication, problem 204. To lead, develop, and implement e-commerce cross solving. border activities in the region to help accelerate business growth. Salary Range: Php 150,000 - Php 499,999 TELOQUET OUTSOURCING SERVICES INC. Upper 2/f Unit B 2444-a Burgundy Transpacific Place Taft Ave. 079, Bgy 727 Malate Manila HUANG, DANLI Mandarin Accounts Staff

PERFECTZEST INC. 16th Floor Tower 6789 6789 Ayala Avenue Bel-air Makati City CAI, ZHUOXING Chinese Speaking Admin Associate

Salary Range: Php 30,000 - Php 59,999 Basic Qualification: Skills in Computer Networking and Hardware

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

Salary Range: Php 30,000 - Php 59,999 Basic Qualification: Familiar with china's maritime law, familiar with Chinese shipping operations.

Salary Range: Php 30,000 - Php 59,999 Basic Qualification: Project Management experience

Salary Range: Php 500,000 and above

Salary Range: Php 30,000 - Php 59,999 Basic Qualification: Familiar with china's maritime law, familiar with Chinese shipping operations.

Basic Qualification: Proficiency in handling customer questions about services or products/ Excellent Mandarin communication skills.

PENG, QINGHUI Mandarin Technical Support

HAATAINEN, PASI JUHA ILARI Program Manager - Transformation

Salary Range: Php 30,000 - Php 59,999 Basic Qualification: Question and answer flat form using English and German language.

Brief Job Description: Optimizing operational processes and procedures for maximum efficiency.

QUALIFICATION AND SALARY RANGE

RENOIR IMPLEMENTATION SERVICES, INC The Enterprises Center 28/f 6766 Ayala Avenue San Lorenzo Makati City

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

Brief Job Description: Developing, Implementing Sales strategies, client service, plan and analyzing sales data. WANG, QILIN Mandarin Operations Specialist

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

NAME OF FOREIGN NATIONAL , POSITION AND BRIEF DESCRIPTION

Basic Qualification: Fluent in Chinese writing and speaking language Salary Range: Php 30,000 - Php 59,999 Basic Qualification: Fluent in Mandarin, Cantonese and Fukien language Salary Range: Php 30,000 - Php 59,999

Basic Qualification: Fluent in Mandarin, Cantonese and Fukien language Salary Range: Php 30,000 - Php 59,999

BusinessMirror

www.businessmirror.com.ph

ESTABLISHMENT / ADDRESS No.

NAME OF FOREIGN NATIONAL , POSITION AND BRIEF DESCRIPTION CHENG, SHUAI Chinese IT Support Specialist

213.

Brief Job Description: Responsible for providing quality it support of enterprise systems throughout the Chinese clientele. DU, JIE Chinese IT Support Specialist

214.

Brief Job Description: Responsible for providing quality IT Support of enterprise systems throughout the Chinese clientele GAN, YINGFANG Chinese IT Support Specialist

215.

216.

217.

218.

Brief Job Description: Responsible for providing quality IT Support of enterprise systems throughout the Chinese clientele GUO, YUEMEI Chinese IT Support Specialist Brief Job Description: Responsible for providing quality IT Support of enterprise systems throughout the Chinese clientele LI, RONG Chinese IT Support Specialist Brief Job Description: Responsible for providing quality IT Support of enterprise systems throughout the Chinese clientele LI, JIANGCHENG Chinese IT Support Specialist Brief Job Description: The Chinese IT Support Specialist is an integral of the company infrastructure, Application Support, and of the IT Division and is responsible for providing quality IT support of enterprise systems throughout the Chinese clientele. LI, HAO Chinese IT Support Specialist

219.

220.

Brief Job Description: The Chinese IT Support Specialist is an integral of the company infrastructure, Application support and of the IT division and is responsible for providing quality IT Support enterprise systems throughout the Chinese clientele LIU, YIBIN Chinese IT Support Specialist

221.

222.

Brief Job Description: Responsible for providing quality IT Support of enterprise systems throughout the Chinese clientele QIN, WEI Chinese IT Support Specialist

223.

224.

225.

226.

227.

228.

Brief Job Description: Responsible for providing quality IT Support of enterprise systems throughout the Chinese clientele SHAO, JIANZHUANG Chinese IT Support Specialist Brief Job Description: Responsible for providing quality IT Support of enterprise systems throughout the Chinese clientele WANG, LANQING Chinese IT Support Specialist Brief Job Description: Responsible for providing quality IT Support of enterprise systems throughout the Chinese clientele WANG, MINGLE Chinese IT Support Specialist Brief Job Description: Responsible for providing quality it support of enterprise systems throughout the Chinese clientele. WANG, YUJIE Chinese IT Support Specialist Brief Job Description: Responsible for providing quality it support of enterprise systems throughout the Chinese clientele. WANG, JUNJUN Chinese IT Support Specialist Brief Job Description: Responsible for providing quality it support of enterprise systems throughout the Chinese clientele. WEI, SHUN Chinese IT Support Specialist

229.

Brief Job Description: Responsible for providing quality IT Support of enterprise systems throughout the Chinese clientele XU, XINGKOU Chinese IT Support Specialist

230.

231.

YAN, MENGJIAO Chinese IT Support Specialist 232.

233.

Brief Job Description: Responsible for providing quality IT Support of enterprise systems throughout the Chinese clientele YIN, JUNXIONG Chinese IT Support Specialist

234.

ESTABLISHMENT / ADDRESS QUALIFICATION AND SALARY RANGE

No.

YUAN, FENG Chinese IT Support Specialist

Basic Qualification: Fluent in Chinese writing and speaking language Salary Range: Php 30,000 - Php 59,999

235.

Basic Qualification: Fluent in Chinese writing and speaking language

Salary Range: Php 30,000 - Php 59,999 Basic Qualification: Fluent in Chinese writing and speaking language Salary Range: Php 30,000 - Php 59,999 Basic Qualification: Fluent in Chinese writing and speaking language

236.

237.

Brief Job Description: Responsible for providing quality IT Support of enterprise systems throughout the Chinese clientele ZHANG, DONGSHENG Chinese IT Support Specialist

238.

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

Basic Qualification: Fluent in Mandarin, Cantonese and Fukien language

Salary Range: Php 30,000 - Php 59,999 Basic Qualification: Fluent in Mandarin, Cantonese and Fukien language

Salary Range: Php 30,000 - Php 59,999 Basic Qualification: Fluent in Chinese writing and speaking language

NAME OF FOREIGN NATIONAL , POSITION AND BRIEF DESCRIPTION

239.

Brief Job Description: Responsible for providing quality it support of enterprise systems throughout the Chinese clientele.

ZHAO, WEI Chinese IT Support Specialist 240.

Basic Qualification: Fluent in mandarin , Cantonese and fuken Language

Brief Job Description: Responsible for providing quality IT Support of enterprise systems throughout the Chinese clientele ZHAO, WENXIN Chinese IT Support Specialist

Salary Range: Php 30,000 - Php 59,999 241. Basic Qualification: Fluent in mandarin , Cantonese and Fukien Language Salary Range: Php 30,000 - Php 59,999

242. Basic Qualification: Fluent in Chinese writing and speaking language

Brief Job Description: Responsible for providing quality IT Support of enterprise systems throughout the Chinese clientele

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

ZHAO, XUE Chinese IT Support Specialist

Basic Qualification: Fluent in Chinese writing and speaking language

243.

Salary Range: Php 30,000 - Php 59,999 Basic Qualification: Fluent in Chinese writing and speaking language

ZHONG, YONGLONG Chinese IT Support Specialist 244.

245.

246.

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

Basic Qualification: Fluent in mandarin , Cantonese and Fukien Language Salary Range: Php 30,000 - Php 59,999

Basic Qualification: Fluent in mandarin , Cantonese and Fukien Language

247.

248.

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

Brief Job Description: The IT Support Specialist is an integral of the company infrastructure, Application Support, and of the IT Division and is responsible for providing quality IT support of enterprise systems throughout the Chinese clientele. HUYNH NGUYEN PHUONG CHI IT Support Specialist

249

250.

251.

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

Basic Qualification: Fluent in Mandarin, Cantonese and Fukien language

Brief Job Description: Responsible for providing quality IT Support of enterprise systems throughout the Chinese clientele CHIAT CHIN JIUN IT Support Specialist

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

Basic Qualification: Fluent in Chinese writing and speaking language

Brief Job Description: Responsible for providing quality it support of enterprise systems throughout the Chinese clientele.

CHAO, TZU-MIN IT Support Specialist

Salary Range: Php 30,000 - Php 59,999 Basic Qualification: Fluent in mandarin , Cantonese and Fukien Language

Brief Job Description: Responsible for providing quality it support of enterprise systems throughout the Chinese clientele.

ZHU, KAI Chinese IT Support Specialist

Salary Range: Php 30,000 - Php 59,999 Basic Qualification: Fluent in Chinese writing and speaking language

Brief Job Description: Responsible for providing quality it support of enterprise systems throughout the Chinese clientele.

ZHOU, XIAOKANG Chinese IT Support Specialist

ESTABLISHMENT / ADDRESS QUALIFICATION AND SALARY RANGE Basic Qualification: Fluent in mandarin , Cantonese and Fukien Language

No.

VERTEX DIGITAL ENTERTAINMENT TECHNOLOGIES, INC. 1439 Adriatico Cor. Sta. Monica St. 072 Bgy. 669 Ermita Manila DONG, JINGCHUAN Chinese It Specialist 252.

Brief Job Description: Maintain the operations of electronic gaming devices

NAME OF FOREIGN NATIONAL , POSITION AND BRIEF DESCRIPTION LIU, CHUNYAN Chinese It Specialist

253.

Brief Job Description: Maintain the operations of electronic gaming devices

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

Basic Qualification: Fluent in Mandarin, Cantonese and Fukien language

LIU, HUA Chinese It Specialist 254.

Salary Range: Php 30,000 - Php 59,99 Basic Qualification: Fluent in Chinese writing and speaking language

255.

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

Basic Qualification: Fluent in Mandarin, Cantonese and Fukien language

256.

Basic Qualification: Fluent in Chinese writing and speaking language Salary Range: Php 30,000 - Php 59,999

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

Basic Qualification: Fluent in mandarin , Cantonese and Fukien Language 260.

261.

262.

263.

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

Basic Qualification: Fluent in mandarin , Cantonese and Fukien Language

264.

265.

Basic Qualification: Fluent in Mandarin, Cantonese and Fukien language

Brief Job Description: Maintain the operations of electronic gaming devices

QUALIFICATION AND SALARY RANGE Basic Qualification: 300 Vacancy/College Graduate with experience in maintain gaming devices fluent in mandarin and English Speaking Salary Range: Php 30,000 - Php 59,999 Basic Qualification: 300 Vacancy/College Graduate with experience in maintain gaming devices fluent in mandarin and English Speaking Salary Range: Php 30,000 - Php 59,999 Basic Qualification: College graduate with experience in maintain gaming devices, fluent in Mandarin and English Speaking Salary Range: Php 30,000 - Php 59,999 Basic Qualification: 300 Vacancy/College Graduate with experience in maintain gaming devices fluent in mandarin and English Speaking Salary Range: Php 30,000 - Php 59,999 Basic Qualification: College graduate with experience in maintain gaming devices, fluent in Mandarin and English Speaking Salary Range: Php 30,000 - Php 59,999 Basic Qualification: College graduate with experience in maintain gaming devices, fluent in Mandarin and English Speaking Salary Range: Php 30,000 - Php 59,999 Basic Qualification: College graduate with experience in maintain gaming devices, fluent in Mandarin and English Speaking Salary Range: Php 30,000 - Php 59,999 Basic Qualification: College graduate with experience in maintain gaming devices, fluent in Mandarin and English Speaking Salary Range: Php 30,000 - Php 59,999 Basic Qualification: College graduate with experience in maintain gaming devices, fluent in Mandarin and English Speaking Salary Range: Php 30,000 - Php 59,999 Basic Qualification: 300 Vacancy/College Graduate with experience in maintain gaming devices fluent in mandarin and English Speaking Salary Range: Php 30,000 - Php 59,999 Basic Qualification: 300 Vacancy/College Graduate with experience in maintain gaming devices fluent in mandarin and English Speaking Salary Range: Php 30,000 - Php 59,999 Basic Qualification: College graduate with experience in maintain gaming devices, fluent in Mandarin and English Speaking Salary Range: Php 30,000 - Php 59,999 Basic Qualification: College graduate with experience in maintain gaming devices, fluent in Mandarin and English Speaking Salary Range: Php 30,000 - Php 59,999

WESERV SYSTEMS INTERNATIONAL, INC. 11f Net 2 Square 3rd Ave. Crescent Park West Bonifacio Global City, Fort Bonifacio Taguig City SATO, HIROHARU Bilingual Technical Project Manager Basic Qualification: Brief Job Description: N/A Responsible for design, creation, testing and 266. documenting of new and amended programs from Salary Range: supplied specifications in accordance with agreed Php 60,000 - Php 89,999 standards. WHG CUSTOMER SERVICES PHILIPPINES, INC. (WILLIAM HILL ONLINE) Six/neo, 5th Ave. Corner 26th Street Crescent Park West Bonifacio Global City Taguig City Basic Qualification: 5+ years of experience working with payments HUBBARD, PAUL STEPHEN ALBERT in an e-commerce Senior Payments Manager setting; and experience of managing distributed Brief Job Description: teams, third party 267. Responsible for the development and execution of suppliers, and leading / payment strategy from a technical and an operational supporting commercial view negotiations WISHLAND SOFTWARE TECHNOLOGY INC. 28/f Techzone Condo Corp. 213 Buendia Ave. San Antonio Makati City FENG, LIAN Chinese Customer Service Staff 268.

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

Brief Job Description: Maintain the operations of electronic gaming devices

NGUYEN THI NGOC TRANG It Specialist

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

Basic Qualification: Fluent in mandarin , Cantonese and Fukien Language

Brief Job Description: Maintain the operations of electronic gaming devices

LUONG THI HOAN It Specialist

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

Basic Qualification: Fluent in Mandarin, Cantonese and Fukien language

Brief Job Description: Maintain the operations of electronic gaming devices

ZHANG, WEI Chinese It Specialist

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

Brief Job Description: Maintain the operations of electronic gaming devices

YUAN, WEI Chinese It Specialist

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

Basic Qualification: Fluent in Chinese writing and speaking language

Brief Job Description: Maintain the operations of electronic gaming devices

YIN, PENGYU Chinese It Specialist

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

Basic Qualification: Fluent in Chinese writing and speaking language

Brief Job Description: Maintain the operations of electronic gaming devices

YAN, SHAODI Chinese It Specialist

Basic Qualification: Fluent in Chinese writing and speaking language

Brief Job Description: Maintain the operations of electronic gaming devices

XIE, LINGPING Chinese It Specialist 259.

Basic Qualification: Fluent in Chinese writing and speaking language

Brief Job Description: Maintain the operations of electronic gaming devices

WANG, CUICUI Chinese It Specialist

Basic Qualification: Fluent in Chinese writing and speaking language

Basic Qualification: Fluent in mandarin , Cantonese and Fukien Language

Brief Job Description: Maintain the operations of electronic gaming devices

SUN, HAO Chinese It Specialist 257.

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

Brief Job Description: Maintain the operations of electronic gaming devices

MENG, SONG Chinese It Specialist

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

Brief Job Description: Maintain the operations of electronic gaming devices

LUO, SHANGYOU Chinese It Specialist

258.

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

Salary Range: Php 30,000 - Php 59,999 Basic Qualification: Fluent in Chinese writing and speaking language

Thursday, July 15, 2021 A17

Brief Job Description: Deal w/ and help resolve customer complaints

Salary Range: Php 150,000 - Php 499,999 Basic Qualification: excellent in speaking, reading and writing Chinese Salary Range: Php 30,000 - Php 59,999

*Date Generated: Jul 14, 2021 In the ad material of Notice of Filing of Application for Alien Employment Permits published on July 09, 2021, the name of LIU, LANG under MOA CLOUDZONE CORP., should have been read as LIU, LIANG and not as published. Any person in the Philippines who is competent, able and willing to perform the services for which the foreign national is desired may file an objection at DOLE-NCR Regional Office located at DOLE-NCR Building, 967 Maligaya St., Malate Manila, within 30 days after this publication. Please inform DOLE-NCR if you have any information on criminal offense committed by the foreign nationals.

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

Basic Qualification: 300 Vacancy/College Graduate with experience in maintain gaming devices fluent in mandarin and English Speaking Salary Range: Php 30,000 - Php 59,999

ATTY. SARAH BUENA S. MIRASOL REGIONAL DIRECTOR

Companies BusinessMirror

Editor: Jennifer A. Ng

Thursday, July 15, 2021

FMIC: Earnings recovery will allow PSEi to hit 7,800 points

By VG Cabuag

@villygc

he benchmark Philippine Stock Exchange index (PSEi) may end the year within 7,400 points to 7,800 points as spending for next year’s presidential elections is expected to boost economic recovery. Cristina Ulang, First Metro Investment Corp.’s (FMIC) head of research, noted that economic expansion during an election period is accompanied by a strong earnings per share (EPS) growth, which reached 10 percent and 14.43 percent in the 2016 and 2019 elections, respectively. “Historically, it means GDP growth has been very strong during

election year, 6.7 percent on the average versus the non-election years of 5.2 percent,” Ulang said. For 2022, she said the EPS growth is projected to hit 28.86 percent. This year, EPS is projected to grow 25 percent, enough to give the PSEi a price-to-earnings ratio of 17 times if it closes at 7,800. “So it’s a big incentive for seizing

opportunities every time the market dips,” she said. As of the first quarter, the 30-company PSEi posted a 19-percent growth on recurring core income basis, which signifies recovery from the impact of the Covid-19 pandemic starting last year. “So this is what’s [enabling] the recovery of the PSEi. The main catalyst is the GDP [growth], and the recovery of earnings,” she said. Foreign funds, however, have yet to return to the market. Foreign sellers sold $2.5 billion, cutting foreign investors’ stake in listed companies to 21 percent, an all-time low dating back to 2013, Ulang said. On the fixed-income market, Daniel Camacho, FMIC investment banking head, said investors have been taking in more risk. In February, broker Philstocks Financial Inc. said the PSEi may end

the year within 7,150 to 7,750 points if corporate earnings will grow by double digits. In its research, the broker said its corporate earnings per share (EPS) should grow by least 20 percent this year as its base case scenario and 30-percent increase as its best case scenario. “Easing of restrictions is also seen to allow more consumption which in turn would boost our companies’ revenues. Our expectation is also hinged on improving consumer and business confidence. Better consumer sentiment would lead to more spending which in turn would help our corporates’ top lines,” it said. The PSEi closed at 7,139.71 up by 17.46 points or 0.3 percent on the last trading day of 2020. The PSEi climbed 54.4 percent from its lowest closing level in 2020 of 4,623.42 on March 19.

‘PNR Calamba project to create 10K jobs’ By Lorenz S. Marasigan @lorenzmarasigan

epartment of Transportation (DOTr) Secretary Arthur P. Tugade said the Philippine National Railways (PNR) Calamba project will generate 10,000 direct jobs once its construction starts next year. “It is important to note that the project will provide more than 10,000 jobs during its construction phase. It is also important to note that this is just direct jobs,” he said, noting that it will also generate indirect jobs related to construction.

He added that the project will provide significant benefits to employees and students. “The benefit of this project is that we will have faster mobility. Those who will benefit from these are mainly students going to their schools and workers going to their place of work,” Tugade said. Aside from this, Tugade also expects the train system to “boost local and regional economic development.” “Once we complete this, we are sure that the economy of Calamba, Laguna will expand. Remember, this is a historical site. Imagine the ben-

efits it would generate for tourism.” The PNR Calamba is the third phase of the North-South Commuter Railway (NSCR) Project. The 56-kilometer railway aims to connect Metro Manila via Solis St., Tondo and Calamba, Laguna and cut travel time from current four hours to just one hour. It is expected to serve at least 340,000 passengers a day during its partial operations, while ridership is expected to increase up to 550,000 passengers once the railway is on full operation in 2028. It will have 19 stations. The project is funded by an offi-

cial development assistance package from the Asian Development Bank and the the Japan International Cooperation Agency. In May, Tugade said the train cars for the NSCR are set to arrive in the fourth quarter. He said the actual train cars will arrive in December, while a training simulator for the first phase of the PNR Clark Phase 1 will arrive between September and October. The DOTr chief has ordered the immediate completion of the first two segments of the NSCR project. So far, he said, the Philippine National Railways (PNR) Clark Phases 1 and 2 are “on track.”

Cebu Pacific Cirtek: Quarantine pantry will remain open transports L 1M vaccines

he Philippines’s leading airline, Cebu Pacific, delivered another 1 million Sinovac vaccine doses from Beijing via flight 5J 671, hitting its 10-million-mark on the number of doses flown from China to the Philippines since April. “We are thankful for another shipment of vaccines to the country, and we appreciate the efforts of Cebu Pacific and other carriers in continuously supporting our country’s vaccine distribution,” said Secretary Carlito Galvez, Jr., chief implementer of the National Task Force Against Covid-19. All transported vaccines were subject to the most stringent standards and kept in temperaturespecific refrigerated containers to maintain product integrity. “We are happy to keep contributing to the safe and timely delivery of vaccines to the country,” said Alex Reyes, Chief Strategy Officer at Cebu Pacific. “We remain committed to playing our role to fly Covid-19 vaccines in collaboration with the national and local government units.” On July 8, Cebu Pacific achieved and exceeded the landmark number of 2.5 million doses transported domestically to 20 provinces. The airline expects to fly more shipments this month. Aside from the vaccines from Sinovac, the Philippines is also expecting the arrival of the second tranche of 250,800 doses of United States-made Moderna on Thursday from the COVAX facility. Recto L. Mercene

aguna-based Cirtek Electronics Corp. on Wednesday said it will continue its community garden and community pantry initiatives, which augmented the needs of its employees amid the pandemic. “After four months of collective effort and labor in nurturing what used to be an idle garbage dump area of land, the dedicated employees now gathered the fruits of their cultivated garden,” the company said. Cirtek said the produce of its garden were sold to employees “for a very cheap price.” The proceeds were donated to those who were required to undergo quarantine. The project, dubbed quarantine pantry, contained produce from the garden and donations from employees and management. Cirtek’s pantry is open to employees seeking aid for their daily needs. It also provides financial relief to those who have to leave work and not earn temporarily to follow the health protocols imposed by the government. An employee can choose from whatever is available on hand for their daily needs. The supplies are then replenished by internal and external donors. “The community pantry benefits both ways—the employees feel they are nurtured by the company and consequently returns the gratitude with loyalty, higher productivity and efficiency,” the company said. “The Garden of Life and Quarantine Pantry shall be continued for as long as their existence has value, or yet may be turned over later into another form of a charitable program for whatever crisis the company might face in the future.”

Mangroves

The National Grid Corporation

Photo from www.cirtek-electronics.com

of the Philippines (NGCP) said Wednesday its CSR initiatives continue to gain recognition as its mangrove project at Brgy. Kulasihan, Kolambugan, Lanao del Norte has been transformed into an ecotourism site and declared a protected area through a Sangguniang Bayan Resolution. In partnership with the Lanao Aquatic Marine Fisheries Center for Community Development, Inc. (LAFCCOD) and Kulasihan Fisherfolks Association (KUFA), the mangrove reforestation project is part of NGCP’s efforts to mitigate the effects of climate change. In 2018, members of KUFA were engaged to plant an initial of 50,000 seedlings on the waters of Panguil Bay, occupying an area of approximately 7 hectares. The project is unique from other tree planting programs as it adheres to a more holistic approach to ensure sustainability. Prior to the project’s commencement, LAFCCOD organized trainings to orient KUFA mem-

bers on the importance of mangroves to the environment and the people. They also conducted research to determine the most suitable varieties to plant in the area. “Our partnership with LAFCCOD and KUFA enabled us to integrate nursery establishment, planting, growing, parenting, and nursing of mangroves into our strategy. This gave us the confidence that we would reach our target of at least 80 percent survival of the mangroves, which we exceeded after our assessment,” the company said. After three years of continuous management and monitoring, the site is now home to more than 46,000 mangroves of 3 different species. From previously being a dump site, the protected mangrove area will also serve as the community’s natural sea barrier and a sanctuary for commercially valuable fish and other marine life. The host community also transformed the area into an ecotourism site after building a boardwalk and cottages for visitors. VG Cabuag, Lenie Lectura

IPM Holdings unit opens sanitary landfill in Iloilo

ublicly-listed IPM Holdings Inc. on Wednesday said its unit, Basic Environmental Systems and Technologies Inc. (BEST), has opened the first of several engineered sanitary landfills in the country. The 10-hectare sanitary landfill in Passi City is capable of handling solid waste from 28 local government units (LGUs) in the third, fourth and fifth districts of Iloilo Province. The facility also accepts solid waste from other LGUs within the province. The company has set its sights on becoming the country’s leading local designer, builder and operator of integrated waste management facilities, BEST President and CEO Isabelita Paredes Mercado said. The facility using the public-private partnership (PPP) model may address major concerns shared by many LGUs in the country, she said. “For one, a sanitary landfill helps safeguard the environment from pollution due to mismanaged wastes; second, it helps LGUs who lack finances and technical expertise to build and operate landfills that are fully compliant with RA [Republic Act] 9003; and, finally, it can help relieve pressures against closure of open dumpsites and residuals containment areas including possible prosecution of violators,” Mercado said. The Passi Integrated Waste Management Facility is estimated to reach full capacity by 2030 based on the volume of waste generated by its LGU clients. The facility is designed, built and operated by BEST in partnership with Passi City government, whose officials led led by Passi City Mayor Stephen Palmares and Vice Mayor Jesry Palmares welcomed the facility’s opening as it will allow them to comply with the strict requirements of RA 9003 or the Ecological Solid Waste Management Act of 2000. Apart from Iloilo, BEST is pursuing similar sanitary landfill projects using the PPP modality in strategic areas in the Philippines. Palmares said the city’s landfill is expected to generate envi-

ronmental, health, economic, and social benefits for city residents. “Neighboring municipalities will also have an environmentfriendly disposal area thereby complying with the strict requirements of RA 9003. The clustered SLF [sanitary landfill] will redound to improved public health, sanitation, and overall well-being of Iloilo residents,” he said. Passi City adopted its PPP framework in 2014. After a competitive challenge process, Passi selected BEST to be the private sector proponent to undertake the design, construction, operation and maintenance of the city’s engineered sanitary landfill facility under a joint venture agreement. “The birth of PPPs in waste management recognized the significant role of the private sector as a partner in implementing environmental and solid waste management programs as well as accelerating the country’s infrastructure development and sustained economic growth,” the company said. BEST was incor porated in the Philippines on September 15, 1999. The primary purpose of the corporation is to engage i n cont r ac t i ng a nd con s u lt ing for waste management related business including waste collection,transport and disposal; waste management facilities infrastructure; public cleansing and general hygiene;provision of waste management technology; operations and maintenance of environment and waste management related facilities including transfer stations, landfills, and other facilities, waste water treatment plant, recycling and resource recovery facilities. BEST said its primary mission is to “provide avenues such as services and facilities for comprehensive waste disposal systems, public cleansing, general hygiene and material recovery that promote and implement sustainable development through proper solid waste disposal and resource conservation in the environmental and social spheres of urban and rural areas.” VG Cabuag

Companies B2

www.businessmirror.com.ph

Thursday, July 15, 2021

Aboitiz unit to develop 7-tower office complex By VG Cabuag

@villygc

hospitals, hotels, civic centers and other commercial uses, the company said. These types of establishments will complement existing commercial components in the zone and the planned office complex, giving investors and developers a unique opportunity to take part in the growth of LIMA, it said. As of June, 46 percent of the commercial lots within the CBD have been sold and investors may start construction by the first quarter of 2022. LIMA Land is also developing over 100 hectares of its existing 794-hectare property in the next few months to accommodate more industrial locators. The expansion, which is targeted for completion by the third quarter of 2022, is expected to generate up to 20,000 new jobs in Batangas and neighboring areas. Aside from the infrastructure around LIMA, the development already has infrastructure services in place run by Aboitiz Group affiliates, such as LIMA Enerzone and LIMA Water. Together with LIMA Land, they are transforming the estate into a next generation development through upgrades to existing facilities and the introduction of smart technologies. LIMA is also close to 23 universities and colleges within a 10-kilometer radius, including De La Salle Lipa, Batangas State University and University of Batangas. Inside LIMA CBD itself is Edustria Senior High School by the Far Eastern University and the Technological Institute of the Philippines. LIMA Land is managed by Aboitiz InfraCapital Inc. under its Aboitiz Integrated Economic Centers business unit.

and Lorenz S. Marasigan

@lorenzmarasigan

boitiz-led LIMA Land Inc. is selling some four hectares of land in its 30-hectare development in Batangas and is set to develop a seven-tower office complex in LIMA’s commercial zone. Aboitiz InfraCapital Inc. said LIMA plans to capitalize on the “anticipated anticipated boom” of business process outsourcing (BPO) companies in Batangas. “We are excited to get started on our seven-tower office complex, which will further spur much-needed economic activity and employment opportunities in the countryside post-pandemic. We believe that this is a fitting next step in our expansion, as we seek to drive the growth of Batangas through this worldclass development,” Rafael Fernandez de Mesa, the company’s first vice president for Aboitiz Integrated Economic Centers, said. LIMA Tower One is set to break ground later this year. No further details about the project were given. Aboitiz is transforming the 30-hectare commercial area to become the first central business district (CBD) in Batangas. It currently houses various commercial components such as Outlets at Lipa, LIMA Exchange, its hotel and transport hub. LIMA Land has also put up four hectares of commercial lots for sale. Lot sizes range from 1,800 up to 5,000 square meters, ideal for BPO companies, offices, dormitories, condominiums, schools,

mutual funds

July 14, 2021

NAV

One Year Three Year Five Year

per share Return*

Y-T-D Return

Stock Funds ALFM Growth Fund, Inc. -a

218.32

8.03%

-4.61%

-4.47%

-3.92%

ATRAM Alpha Opportunity Fund, Inc. -a

1.4464

37.8%

0.18%

1.37%

10.16%

ATRAM Philippine Equity Opportunity Fund, Inc. -a 3.023

10.56%

-8.79%

-6.76%

-3.51%

-4.53% n.a.

-4.63%

Climbs Share Capital Equity Investment Fund Corp. -a 0.7667 10.92% First Metro Consumer Fund on MSCI Phils. IMI, Inc. -a 0.7583 12.34%

-2.97% n.a.

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

-2.48%

-2.7%

-2.44%

3.6%

-5.83%

-6.78%

-0.98% n.a.

0.76%

4.8205

11.13%

First Metro Save and Learn Philippine Index Fund, Inc. -a,4 MBG Equity Investment Fund, Inc. -a

102.71

0.7101 29.57%

2.25%

PAMI Equity Index Fund, Inc. -a

44.7008

9.75%

-2.77%

-3.43%

-4.58%

Philam Strategic Growth Fund, Inc. -a

469.52

8.02%

-2.78%

-3.81%

-3.98%

Philequity Alpha One Fund, Inc. -a,d,5

1.0758

21.16% n.a. n.a.

-1.96%

Philequity Dividend Yield Fund, Inc. -a 1.14 Philequity Fund, Inc. -a

10.95%

-2.47%

-2.73%

-2.41%

33.5947

11.23%

-2.15%

-2.27%

-3.38%

9.03% n.a. n.a.

-4.64%

Philequity MSCI Philippine Index Fund, Inc. -a

0.8706

Philequity PSE Index Fund Inc. -a

4.5832

10.47%

-2.14%

-2.65%

-4.34%

Philippine Stock Index Fund Corp. -a

767.23

10.46%

-2.05%

-2.76%

-4.29%

Soldivo Strategic Growth Fund, Inc. -a

0.7035

11.79%

-5.9%

-5.68%

-2.14%

Sun Life Prosperity Philippine Equity Fund, Inc. -a 3.4939

9.46%

-4.32%

-4.03%

-3.58%

Sun Life Prosperity Philippine Stock Index Fund, Inc. -a 0.8761 9.95%

-2.42%

-2.91%

-4.53%

United Fund, Inc. -a

-2.84%

-2.04%

-3.55%

-1.83%

-2.21%

3.2013

10.88%

-6.54%

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

103.0217

10.48%

-4.21%

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

$1.2381

19.7%

6.73%

7.6%

2.93%

Sun Life Prosperity World Voyager Fund, Inc. -a $1.819

26.91%

12.23%

12.3%

8.74%

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

1.6844

6.86%

0.6%

-1.88%

0.95%

ATRAM Philippine Balanced Fund, Inc. -a

2.2165

6.58%

-0.44%

-1.33%

-3.01%

First Metro Save and Learn Balanced Fund Inc. -a 2.5817

5.99%

0.41%

-0.77%

-1.72%

First Metro Save and Learn F.O.C.C.U.S. Dynamic Fund, Inc. -a,1 0.1934

3.48% n.a. n.a.

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

1.9402

4.75%

1.92%

-0.03%

PAMI Horizon Fund, Inc. -a

3.6546

3.87%

1.08%

-1.32%

-3.52%

Philam Fund, Inc. -a

16.3832

4.6%

1.21%

-1.27%

-3.27%

Solidaritas Fund, Inc. -a

2.0404

5.49%

-0.23%

-0.99%

-2.56%

Sun Life of Canada Prosperity Balanced Fund, Inc. -a 3.4941 5.83%

-1.07%

-2.23%

-2.21%

Sun Life Prosperity Achiever Fund 2028, Inc. -a,d 0.9806

2.62% n.a. n.a.

-4.11%

Sun Life Prosperity Achiever Fund 2038, Inc. -a,d 0.8956

4.33% n.a. n.a.

-5.65%

Sun Life Prosperity Achiever Fund 2048, Inc. -a,d 0.8819

5.78% n.a. n.a.

-5.49%

Sun Life Prosperity Dynamic Fund, Inc. -a

7.25%

-1.48%

0.8746

-1.53%

-2.56%

-2.62%

-1.21%

Primarily invested in foreign currency securities Cocolife Dollar Fund Builder, Inc. -a $0.03821

-1.24%

2.88%

1.26%

-2.33%

9.56%

3.63%

4.2%

-3.02%

20.21%

9.33%

8.59%

5.9%

Sun Life Prosperity Dollar Wellspring Fund, Inc. -a,3 $1.223 10.01%

5.39%

4.66%

1.74%

0.34%

PAMI Asia Balanced Fund, Inc. -b

$1.1155

Sun Life Prosperity Dollar Advantage Fund, Inc. -a $4.779

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

372.35

1.47%

3.17%

2.41%

ATRAM Corporate Bond Fund, Inc. -a

1.9222

-1.11%

1.04%

0.17%

1.15%

Cocolife Fixed Income Fund, Inc. -a

3.2319

1.16%

3.71%

4.29%

0.54%

Ekklesia Mutual Fund Inc. -a

2.2613

-1.94%

2.18%

1.21%

-1.51%

First Metro Save and Learn Fixed Income Fund,Inc. -a 2.4405 -0.6%

3.27%

1.67%

-0.52%

Philam Bond Fund, Inc. -a

4.4727

-3.65%

4.29%

1.09%

-3.49%

Philam Managed Income Fund, Inc. -a,6

1.3179

1.26%

4.05%

2.7%

-0.25%

Philequity Peso Bond Fund, Inc. -a

3.9807

0.12%

4.48%

1.94%

-0.51%

Soldivo Bond Fund, Inc. -a

1.0337

-0.51%

4.67%

1.44%

-0.8%

Sun Life of Canada Prosperity Bond Fund, Inc. -a 3.2124

1.03%

5.34%

2.16%

0.2%

Sun Life Prosperity GS Fund, Inc. -a

0.13%

4.62%

1.45%

-0.38%

1.7483

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

$486.31

2.43%

3.16%

2.15%

0.5%

ALFM Euro Bond Fund, Inc. -a

Є220.13

2.06%

1.09%

0.97%

0.43%

ATRAM Total Return Dollar Bond Fund, Inc. -b

$1.1984

-2.22%

First Metro Save and Learn Dollar Bond Fund, Inc. -a $0.0261

2.49%

1.27%

-6.4%

1.85%

0.78%

-1.88%

PAMI Global Bond Fund, Inc -b

$1.0567

-1.51%

0.71%

-0.87%

-3.29%

Philam Dollar Bond Fund, Inc. -a

$2.5095

2.42%

5.14%

1.79%

-1.03%

Philequity Dollar Income Fund Inc. -a $0.0630171 3.8%

3.57%

2.17%

1.12%

Sun Life Prosperity Dollar Abundance Fund, Inc. -a $3.1829 -0.24%

3.38%

0.65%

-1.26%

2.53%

0.42%

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

130.35

1.56%

3.02%

First Metro Save and Learn Money Market Fund, Inc. -a 1.0534 1.06% n.a. n.a.

0.51%

Sun Life Prosperity Money Market Fund, Inc. -a

0.72%

1.3059

1.67%

2.82%

2.55%

Primarily invested in foreign currency securities Sun Life Prosperity Dollar Starter Fund, Inc. -a $1.0579

1.17%

1.66% n.a.

0.52%

Feeder Funds Primarily invested in Peso securities Sun Life Prosperity World Equity Index Feeder Fund, Inc. -a,d,7 1.3208

33.63% n.a. n.a.

16.93%

Primarily invested in foreign currency securities ALFM Global Multi-Asset Income Fund Inc. -b,d,2

7.53% n.a. n.a.

2.04%

a - NAVPS as of the previous banking day. b - NAVPS as of two banking days ago. c - Listed in the PSE. d - in Net Asset Value per Unit (NAVPU). 1 - Launch date is September 28, 2019. 2 - Launch date is November 15, 2019. 3 - Adjusted due to stock dividend issuance last October 9, 2019. 4 - Renaming was approved by the SEC last October 12, 2018 (formerly, One Wealthy Nation Fund, Inc.). 5 - Launch date is December 09, 2019. 6 - Re-classified into a Bond Fund starting February 21, 2020 (Formerly a Money Market Fund).

7 - Launch date is July 6, 2020.

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

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Thursday, July 15, 2021

Australian intl devt minister engages with PHL govt officials

USTRALIA’S Senator Zed Seselja, who is minister for International Development and the Pacific, highlighted his country’s commitment to support the Philippines’s pandemic response and economic recovery.

The inclusion of the Philippines in the minister’s first visit to the region reflects the importance of the bilateral relationship between the two countries, the Embassy of Australia said. “I am pleased that my first visit to the Philippines coincides with the celebration of 75 years of diplomatic relations,” stated Seselja in his official trip to Manila last week. “[It] reaffirms our deep and enduring relationship…based on mateship and bayanihan. This is a partnership...responding to the challenges facing the Indo-Pacific—including the pandemic.” During his visit the minister met with senior officials of the national government led by secretaries Francisco T. Duque III, Carlito G. Galvez and Vivencio B. Dizon. They discussed Australia’s comprehensive assistance to bol-

ster the Philippines’s vaccine procurement and delivery capability, particularly to reach the poorest and most vulnerable regions, inline with the country’s pandemic action and vaccination plan. Seselja had the opportunity to impart the importance of the bilateral relationship with Secretary of Foreign Affairs Teodoro L. Locsin Jr., while reaffirming his country’s commitment to partner with the Philippines on development programs and its recovery from the health crisis’ economic impacts. The senator also had the opportunity to meet with representatives of United Nations agencies and nongovernment organizations, which are key partners in delivering Australia’s local development investments. Australia has responded to the pandemic with its “Partnerships for Recovery” program, which redirects

FILIPINO ENVOY PRESENTS CREDENTIALS President of the Hellenic Republic Katerina Sakellaropoulou (left) received Ambassador Giovanni E. Palec (right) on June 15 at the Presidential Mansion in Athens. Palec conveyed the greetings of President Duterte to the Greek head of state, as well as to her government and people. He also expressed the hope to further enhance and deepen the friendly ties between their two countries. Minister and Consul General Rosario P. Lemque accompanied the ambassador, while Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs Kostas Fragogiannis and Secretary-General/ Ambassador Vassilios Papadopoulous witnessed the ceremony. ATHENS PE

MINISTER Zed Seselja (second from left), with secretaries Carlito G. Galvez (from left), Francisco T. Duque III and Vivencio B. Dizon

AU$80-million assistance (equivalent to P2.8 billion) to health security, stability, and economic recovery. Under its regional Vaccine Access and Health Security Initiative, the commonwealth is also providing an additional AU$35.9 million (about P1.26 billion) spread over two years of direct support to the Philippines to procure and deliver vaccines. This initiative includes AU$7.52 million (or some P263 million) in vaccine-delivery support to the Department of Health, as well as the Department of Information and Communications Technology, delivered by the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF), and the World Health Organization.

Envoy to Netherlands holds lecture at intl law conference T HE H AGUE—Philippine ambassador to the Netherlands J. Eduardo Malaya recently conducted a book lecture at the Teaching and Researching International Law in Asia (TRILA) Conference. Featured during the lecture on July 3 was the book Philippine Treaties in Force 2020, which Malaya coauthored with Atty. Crystal Gale Dampil-Mandigma, who is a foreign service officer-lawyer at the Department of Foreign Affairs’ Office of Treaties and Legal Affairs. The first such publication in decades, Philippine Treaties… is a comprehensive index to the 3,367 subsisting bilateral, Asean and multilateral agreements entered into the country since 1946, with links to online treaty databases for most of the agreements. The University of the Philippines (UP) Law Center published the book in March 2021. In his presentation, moderated

by Professor Elizabeth AguilingPangalangan, the Netherlandsbased Filipino envoy cited the importance of making the Philippines’s treaties readily accessible to the public: “Treaties embody our country’s commitments and legal obligations; or its flipside, [its] rights and entitlements visà-vis the international community. The provisions in agreements present immense opportunities to our country and people.” The ambassador added, “Entrepreneurs, exporters and companies can benefit from agreements on trade access, investment promotion and protection, and avoidance of double taxation.” He cited examples: “Farmers and fisherfolks may benefit from foreign-technical and development assistance. Students and the youth can avail of educational and cultural exchange programs. For policy-makers, we need to know

what are our contractual rights and obligations, where the gaps are with respect to our development and other priorities, and what we need to work on.” Other than the said book, Malaya is main author, coauthor or editor of nine books—including three on treaty law and practice: Treaties: Guidance on Practice and Procedure (2018) with UP Law professor Rommel J. Casis, as well as Philippine Treaties Index 19462010 with Ma. Antonina MendozaOblena and Allan Casupanan. The speakers, moderators and panelists at the three-day TRILA conference included Judge Raul C. Pangalangan (formerly with the International Criminal Court), Professor Aguiling-Pangalangan (Philippine Society of International Law (PSIL) and UP College of Law), Dean Sol Mawis (Philippine Association of Law Schools (PALS)), Professor Antony Anghie (National University of Singapore-Centre for International

Its embassy said Australia’s support will bolster the country’s vaccine-delivery capability—particularly in the poorest and most vulnerable regions. Also under the Vaccine Access and Health Security Initiative, Australia is providing AU$13.72 million (approximately P480.2 million) through its UNICEF procurement agreement to purchase vaccines for the Philippines. This will be an important contribution to meeting the country’s vaccine needs in 2021. The vaccine procurement will be accompanied by end-to-end distribution support to help roll-out the Australian-funded jabs in the country.

MALAYA

Law (NUS CIL)), Dr. Lowell Bautista (University of Wollongong-School of Law), Professor Sedfrey Candelaria (Ateneo de Manila UniversitySchool of Law), Dean Rodel Taton (San Sebastian College-RecoletosSchool of Law), and Professor Mohammad Shahabuddin (University of Birmingham-Law School). The conference is the seventh in the series of country-specific programs which are part of the “TRILA on the Road” initiative of the NUS CIL. TRILA aims to foster the development of Asian scholars, practitioners, officials and diplomats who are highly knowledgeable and skilled in international law and its operations in a continuously changing global environment. NUS CIL organized the conference, in partnership with the PSIL and the PALS.

PHL, Japan stage first air-to-air bilateral training on humanitarian assistance, disaster relief

MEMBERS of Filipino and Japanese air forces

ROM July 5 to 8 the Japan Air Self-Defense Force (JASDF) conducted a bilateral training on humanitarian assistance and disaster relief (HA/DR) with the Philippine Air Force (PAF) at Clark Air Base in Mabalacat City, Pampanga. The training was the first airto-air bilateral training between the two air forces, which marked a significant milestone for defense cooperation between Japan and the Philippines. Both countries are vulnerable to natural disasters such as earthquakes and typhoons due to their climate and topography. Its embassy said Japan is proud to share with the PAF the JASDF’s experience and knowledge on delivery operations of relief goods to people in urgent need. During the said exercise the JASDF deployed a training unit of Air Support Command C-130H cargo aircraft, along with its personnel, and took part in a four-day joint-training session. The unit strictly observed all health and safety guidelines—including quarantine rules set by the Philippine government. Due to the recent incident involving a PAF C-130 aircraft, the inflight training was cancelled, and the activity was focused on ground training such as load/offload training and simulated emergency procedure which used the JASDF’s C-130H. The training aimed to strengthen interoperability in delivering relief goods to affected people in isolated areas in severe emergency situations. JASDF Unit Commander Major Masaki Mizuno also expressed his sympathies over the tragic crash in Sulu, as he also praised the PAF and airmen for their cooperation on the bilateral-training exercise.

“We are deeply saddened by the plane crash...We offer our sincerest condolences to [families of] all those who were lost due to the tragic crash,” said Mizuno. “Nevertheless, we are still very grateful for the opportunity to visit the Philippines and work with the PAF for the first air-to-air bilateral training on HA/DR—especially [as we mark] 65 years of friendship and 10 years of strategic partnership between our countries.” He added, “We shared our knowledge and experience through the exercise and achieved a higher level of coordination and operative capabilities on HA/DR with our Filipino counterparts. As a strategic partner and friend of the Philippines, we are very much satisfied that our bilateral training contributes greatly to further strengthen the cooperation between our two air forces.” Japan, through its embassy, reiterated the importance of maintaining a free and open Indo-Pacific, which is inclusive and based on the rule of law, democratic values, territorial integrity, transparency, and peaceful resolution of disputes, as it underscored its intention to work together with the Philippines and other partner-countries through a wide range of activities and cooperation for peace, stability and prosperity in the region and beyond. Back in 2013 the JASDF extended assistance to the Philippines in the aftermath of Typhoon Haiyan in November. Japan’s Ministry of Defense and the Japan Self-Defense Forces deployed in total 1,180 personnel, three vessels, and 16 aircraft, of which seven were C-130Hs for transportation of medical assistance and relief supplies in affected areas.

N celebration of 75 years of diplomatic relations between the Philippines and the Kingdom of Denmark, the latter’s embassy has partnered with online-shopping application Lazada through a curation of high-quality Danish brands under one “virtual” pavilion. According to the embassy, Danish brands have been entering the Philippine market at a steady pace, as Filipinos grow more conscious of the products they purchase online. Functionality, durability and sustainability has played greater roles in the decision-making process of consumers—a standard in Danish merchandise. A dedicated landing page on

LazMall, “Think Happiness. Think Denmark.” provides a convenient and unique experience for shoppers looking for quality, functional and well-crafted products that Denmark is known for. Adding more value to the wide-array of products seen in the app, the Danish Embassy goes further by bringing a unique selection of high-quality items that consumers can easily purchase and have delivered at their doorsteps. The selection of Danish brands include Arla, Trollbeads, Tulip, ECCO, Kvik, Cocoes Estate/Lionheart, Taster Wine and LEO Pharma. The online pavilion will be available until December 31.

GPCCI bats for deployment exemption Denmark showcases goods in online-shopping platform of Germany-bound Filipino HCWs I O N June 15 the GermanPhilippine Chamber of Commerce and Industry Inc. (GPCCI) organized a private dialogue with Labor Secretary Silvestre H. Bello III on the status of the deployment of Filipino health-care workers (HCWs), in response to their temporary suspension following the Philippine Overseas Employment Administration’s Advisory 71 s. 2021. The exchange was attended by almost 100 participating firms. “The large participation on this subject matter proves there is a big interest in this cooperation,” said GPCCI president Stefan Schmitz. “At the same time we also respect the

Philippine government’s decision to ensure that the country has an adequate number of medical workers to properly respond to [its] pandemic efforts.” In the meeting, Bello was able to exchange with the private stakeholders who were not only concerned about the deployment cap, but also relayed their concerns on honoring the existing contracts of Filipino HCWs with employers. In addition, the discussion also touched on the subject of Germanlanguage education, which involves a remarkable investment for all parties. It was reported that there are around 2,000 Filipino HCWs in the

pipeline that have already committed to their deployment. They are either currently studying, or have already accomplished their Germanlanguage certification. For his part, the Department of Labor and Employment chief also noted that support in the vaccination of HCWs could be a way forward to discuss potential exemptions. Likewise, recommendations for exempting special cases of qualified HCWs are being proposed to the Inter-Agency Task Force for the Management of Emerging Infectious Diseases—subject to their approval. “Strengthening the cooperation

in the deployment of Filipino HCWs to Germany remains a priority for [our] embassy,” confirmed Ambassador Anke Reiffenstuel. “We are aware that the current deployment cap imposed by [local authorities constitutes an enormous challenge for recruitment agencies both in our countries, but also for the health-care sector in Germany, which is counting on our] partnership...” She added, “I am confident that the intensified dialogue with the Philippine government, including on pandemic-related aspects and requirements, will contribute [in finding solutions for] this important issue.”

Agriculture/Commodities

A4 B4 Thursday, July 15, 2021 • Editor: Jennifer A. Ng

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‘Innovation in agri will allow PHL to hit SDGs’ By Jovee Marie N. Dela Cruz @joveemarie

ESPITE the health and economic crises brought about by Covid-19, which have disrupted food systems, the Department of Agriculture (DA) has expressed confidence that the Philippines can meet the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) by 2030. During the opening of the twoday National Dialogue for Food Systems last July 12, Agriculture Secretary William D. Dar said a “whole-of-nation approach” is key to achieving the SDGs. “Our national strategies have

already been laid out to attain a food- and nutrition-secure Philippines, but this could be successfully done if there is unity among the people, and if all actors—both state and non-state—will agree with it,” Dar said. “Rather than looking at it from a ‘whole-of-government approach,’ we would prefer that this task is seen as a whole-of-nation approach.” He said the DA is also adopting a “new thinking for agriculture” to change mindset and introduce “durable approaches.” These approaches include farm consolidation to promote economies of scale, increasing youth par-

ticipation in agriculture, facilitating adoption of new and modern technologies, enhancing climate-smart and promoting digital agriculture, encouraging more investments in provincial agriculture and fisheries, and updating commodity industry road maps. Meanwhile, Dar said the two-day National Dialogue for Food Systems seeks to address the five action tracks that will be tackled during the United Nations Food System Summit (UNFSS). He said the Philippine dialogue will form the basis for the country’s renewed commitment when the United Nations conducts the UNFSS

in New York, in September this year, on the sidelines of the annual UN General Assembly. Moreover, Dar said the five action tracks that will be tackled in the September summit include: ensuring access to safe and nutritious food for all; shifting to sustainable consumption patterns; boosting nature-positive production; Advancing equitable livelihoods; and building resilience to vulnerabilities, shocks and stress. The UN forecast that from the current 109 million, the population of the Philippines will reach 126 million by 2030 and about 142 million by 2040, posing a challenge to both the government and the private sec-

tor to design “a workable pathway” that will ensure food security for its people while safeguarding the environment for future generations. “This pandemic has shown the fragility and inequalities of our food systems and underscored the urgency to make more sustainable, inclusive, and resilient. We must act collectively in order to face these challenges head on,” said Dar, who has been designated as the country’s National Convenor for the UNFSS. The UNFSS is part of the decade of action to achieve the SDGs by 2030. According to Dar, the action tracks came as a result of year-long consulta-

tions and dialogues that the DA conducted with various stakeholders and prescriptive interventions that have been identified and put into place. The DA said these five action tracks offer stakeholders from a wide range of backgrounds a space to share and learn, with a view to fostering new actions and partnerships and amplifying existing initiatives to address global poverty and hunger, as well as protection of natural resources. The agency said each action track is designed to address possible tradeoffs with other tracks, and to identify solutions that can deliver widereaching benefits.

Cantilan planters earn extra cash via rat control program Jica: Irrigation project to boost yield of Pangasinan farmers

By Manuel T. Cayon @awimailbox

By Cai U. Ordinario

Mindanao Bureau Chief

@caiordinario

AVAO CITY—Farmers have earned P55,000 for selling rat tails in Surigao del Sur under a program of the municipal government which seeks to prevent rodents from damaging rice crops in Cantilan. While the amount may not be significant, the bayanihan effort not only prevented rats from infesting rice fields but also allowed planters to earn extra money amid the Covid-19 pandemic. The municipal government of Cantilan has offered its farmers P7.50 per rat tail. As of June, farmers turned in 7,430 rat tails, which fetched P55,725 from the office of the Municipal Agriculture Officer. The municipal government offered the bounty through the agriculture office under the town’s program dubbed Oplan Rat Blanketing. Cantilan has a total rice area of 1,800 hectares cultivated by 3,833 farmers. “Digging, flooding, and trapping are the common approaches for rat control in rice fields but these measures are not enough. Instead, actions should be coordinated through an effective, community-based management strategy,” said Municipal Agriculturist Caesar Blanco. The community rat campaign has been implemented since 2016. For this year, the local government of Cantilan allotted P100,000 for the Oplan Rat Blanketing. It also allowed farmers to get free rodenti-

PHOTO FROM WWW.PHILRICE.GOV.PH

cides worth P100,000. “The campaign aims to rekindle the bayanihan spirit among the farmers with the collective action this will lead to reducing the losses brought by rat infestation,” Blanco said. The program encourages the participation of the 46 farmers’ associations and cooperatives in the municipality. One of those that stood out is the Tigabong Farmers Association. Members of the group submitted 2,552 rat tails valued at P19,140. Alberto A. Ortega, president of the association, said he and other

members of the association searched the field for rats usually at night. “Rats like to hide and burrow in weedy areas near major irrigation canals, so we know where to find them. The money we earn will be shared among members for our daily expenses,” said Ortega. According to Francis Louie Parina, Regional Integrated Pest Management coordinator of the Department of Agriculture, “one of the factors preventing the rice sector from reaching its full potential in production is the pest and diseases infestation and one of the major pests identified is the rat.”

Parina cited an International Rice Research Institute study which indicated that farmers lose an estimated 5 percent to 10 percent of their rice crop annually due to rat infestation. “The solution must be holistic. If we put effort to increase palay yield, we must, likewise, put effort to prevent the rats from decreasing the yield.” He said farmers must adopt synchronous planting, improved sanitation, and community action. These recommended management practices will allow farmers to become “proactive rather than reactive.”

Pesticide caused kids’ brain damage, California lawsuits say

IN this May 13, 2004, file photo, a foreman watches workers pick fruit in an orchard in Arvin, California. AP PHOTO/DAMIAN DOVARGANES, FILE

AWSUITS filed Monday in California seek potential classaction damages from Dow Chemical and its successor company over a widely used bug killer linked to brain damage in children. Chlorpyrifos is approved for use on more than 80 crops, including oranges, berries, grapes, soybeans, almonds and walnuts, though California banned sales of the pesticide last year and spraying of it this year. Some other states, including New York, have moved to ban it. Stuart Calwell, lead attorney in the lawsuits, argued that its effects

linger in Central Valley agricultural communities contaminated by chlorpyrifos during decades of use, with measurable levels still found in his clients’ homes. Lawyers project that at least 100,000 homes in the nation’s largest agricultural state may need to dispose of most of their belongings because they are contaminated with the pesticide. “We have found it in the houses, we have found it in carpet, in upholstered furniture, we found it in a teddy bear, and we found it on the walls and surfaces,” Calwell said.

“Then a little child picks up a teddy bear and holds on to it.” All that needs to be cleaned up, he says, because “it’s not going away on its own.” State records show 61 million pounds of the pesticide were applied from 1974 through 2017 in four counties where the lawsuits were filed, Calwell said. Officials with Dow and its affiliated Corteva Inc. did not immediately respond to telephone and e-mail requests seeking comment. Corteva stopped producing the pesticide last year. The Delawarebased company was created after a merger of Dow Chemical and Dupont and had been the world’s largest manufacturer of chlorpyrifos. The company has said it believes the product is safe and said it stopped production because of declining sales. Scientific studies have shown that chlorpyrifos damages the brains of fetuses and children. It was first used in 1965 but was banned for household use in 2001. The US Environmental Protection Agency is weighing whether to ban the product or declare it safe, including for infants and children. The 9th US Circuit Court of Appeals in April ordered the EPA to make a decision after studying the product for more than a decade. The Trump administration had halted the rulemaking process.

The lawsuits were filed on behalf of people in Fresno, Kings, Madera and Tulare counties, though Calwell said they are a precursor to seeking class-action status. Aside from Dow-related companies, they name various farming companies they say applied the chemical near the plaintiffs’ homes. In each case, the plaintiffs are parents suing on behalf of children who suffer from severe neurological injuries that the lawsuits blame on their exposure to the chemical while they were in the womb or when they were very young. Aside from nearby spraying, the lawsuits say the parent, relatives or others in frequent contact with the child worked in the fields or packing plants and became contaminated with the chemical that they passed on to the child. Calwell filed related lawsuits last fall on behalf of farmworkers who his firm said “spent years marinating in the pesticide.” The first of those related lawsuits blames chlorpyrifos for causing autism, cognitive and intellectual disabilities in a now-teenager born in 2003. The teen’s father worked spraying pesticides on farm fields and his mother packed what the lawsuit says was chlorpyrifos-covered produce in a facility surrounded by fields treated with the pesticide, often applied by aerial spraying. AP

HE Japan International Cooperation Agency (Jica) said planters in Pangasinan will see higher yields due to a new irrigation project. Jica said the National Irrigation Sector Rehabilitation and Improvement Project (NISRIP) will boost the agriculture sector and benefit some 1,565 farmers in San Fabian, Pangasinan. It estimates that the NISRIP will help increase farmer’s yields to 5 tons per hectare during the wet season and to 4.8 tons per hectare during the dry season. “Philippine agriculture reported growth despite the pandemic, and this project can help enhance the potential of this sector in economic recovery,” said Jica Senior Representative Ohshima Ayumu in a statement. “There are several other industries closely linked to agriculture and by helping raise farmers’ productivity through better infrastructure, the multiplier effect to the economy will be further realized.”

Jica said the NISRIP has been empowering Filipino farmers by raising their productivity and improving their income. Overall, some 25,000 farmers are seen to benefit from this development cooperation. Apart from Pangasinan, the project is also being implemented by the National Irrigation Administration (NIA) in Ilocos Norte, Pampanga, Quezon, Palawan, Iloilo, Bukidnon, Davao del Sur, Maguindanao, Sultan Kudarat, and Agusan del Sur. Aside from rehabilitating and improving irrigation systems, NISRIP also supports capacity building of farmers and irrigators associations in operating and maintaining the infrastructure. Five river irrigation systems have already been rehabilitated in the Philippines under NISRIP. Since the 1960s, Jica has been supportive of the Philippine agriculture sector, with about 7 percent of Jica’s Official Development Assistance (ODA) allocated to the sector. The Japanese bilateral aid agency likewise helps enhance the value chain including not only production but also processing, distribution and consumption of agriculture products.

New strategy aims to secure fisheries in the Mediterranean

N ambitious commitment adopted last week by 22 countries plus the European Union aims to secure a sustainable future for fisheries and aquaculture in the Mediterranean and the Black Sea. FAO Director- Genera l QU Dongyu opened the launch event, highlighting the strategy’s alignment with FAO’s new Strategic Framework and its importance in these challenging times. The strategy’s launch last July 9 took place at a virtual meeting, bringing together ministers and high-level representatives from Mediterranean and Black Sea countries. The launch of the 2030 Strategy of the General Fisheries Commission for the Mediterranean (GFCM) of the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) comes with the backing of many inter-governmental and nongovernmental organizations and marks the beginning of a critical decade of development for the two sectors. “The Covid-19 pandemic hit fisheries and aquaculture activities in the Mediterranean and Black Sea hard, with substantial decreases in operations, production and drastic drops in prices for aquatic products,” Qu said. “In building back, we must ensure that recovery efforts focus on the longterm sustainability and resilience of the sector.” Qu commended the GFCM for helping Members address the significant challenges that Mediterranean and Black Sea fisheries currently face. He noted that the new 2030 GFCM Strategy will play a key role in addressing them further, as well as in

protecting livelihoods derived from small-scale fisheries. He also highlighted FAO’s readiness to support the efforts of the GFCM, including through its Covid-19 Response and Recovery Programme. He stated that the new FAO Strategic Framework for the next decade provides “a clear path” to sustainably transform all agri-food systems - including fisheries and aquaculture - to make them more efficient, inclusive, resilient and sustainable. I n h i s speec h, V i rg i n iju s Sinkevičius, European Commissioner for Environment, Oceans and Fisheries, stressed the need for countries to continue working together to protect their seas and oceans, while Foteini Arampatzi, Greece’s Deputy Minister for Rural Development and Food, highlighted the impact of Covid-19 before officially declaring the event open. Fisheries and aquaculture play a vital role in the Mediterranean and Black Sea region, supporting hundreds of thousands of livelihoods and providing nutritious food for millions. However, the sectors face increasing challenges from climate change, overfishing and IUU fishing, and serious action is needed to preserve the fish stocks and other resources, on which so many people depend. FAO said the last five years have seen “encouraging progress.” The GFCM has adopted a solid body of conservation and management measures to protect marine living resources and convenes a number of technical meetings that pioneer the development of sustainable fisheries and aquaculture and the protection of marine ecosystems at regional and sub-regional level.

Parentlife BusinessMirror

www.businessmirror.com.ph

Editor: Gerard S. Ramos

• Thursday, July 15, 2021

Nurturing dads raise emotionally intelligent kids—helping make society more respectful and equitable BY KEVIN SHAFE� Brigham Young University

COOL character tees for teens now priced at P200 each.

TOUGH Kids Gareth Sneakers for boys, now at P300 for every pair.

SUGAR Kids Farliza Mary Janes, each pair now priced at P150.

GREAT CLEARANCE ITEMS TO BE HAD FOR FAMILIES WHETHER there’s a lingering pandemic or not, smart families are always mindful of clearance sales where great fashion finds and markdowns for all members of the family can be had. Now, The SM Store is holding a Big Clearance Sale from July 12 to 25. After more than a year of keeping safe and healthy, this is the best time to refresh wardrobes big and small with new clothes, shoes, accessories and much more. With safety protocols continuing to be in place, families can be at ease checking out the sale items at The SM Store. Those who prefer to shop in the comforts of their homes can visit bit.ly/3AYb6MI and use the SM Call to Deliver #143SM (#14376).

Some random cheesy thoughts EVER find yourself craving something cheesy at the most random times of the day? These four snacks from Universal Robina Corp. (URC, www.urc.com.ph) can be one’s new go-to munchies to satisfy cheesy cravings whenever, wherever. Pop open a pack or four of Magic Chips Cheese for delicious baked crackers to munch on while the family enjoys the latest blockbuster movie on their home entertainment system. Something piping hot would be preferrable? This latest cheesy snack should meet the family’s approval: Nissin Cup Noodles Cheesy Seafood, which only needs hot water and a few minutes to satisfy those cheesy cravings. Can’t decide on what to munch on while busy working from home or with remote schooling? Consider Pic-A’s Ultimate Cheddar Chips, which combines the cheesy goodness of well-loved snacks like Piattos, Nova and Tortillos. Getting cheesy may be one of life’s underrated pleasure—whether in one’s sentiment or preferred snack.

PIC-A Ultimate Cheddar offers a mix of Piattos, Nova, and Tortillos.

HEN my oldest son, now nearly 13, was born in July of 2008, I thought I could easily balance my career and my desire to be far more engaged at home than my father and his generation were. I was wrong. Almost immediately, I noticed how social policies, schools and health care systems all make it difficult for dads to be highly involved and engaged at home. Contradictory expectations about work and family life abound. As a fatherhood researcher with four kids of my own, I am convinced that fathers are transformative figures for children, families and communities. But a man’s mere presence, paycheck and willingness to punish misbehaving children is not nearly enough. Many of the benefits of fathering for children come from dads being nurturing, loving and engaged in all aspects of parenting. When fathers are caregivers—when they provide emotional support and act affectionately toward their kids—the effects go well beyond growth, development, good health and solid grades. My research shows the benefits also include having children who value emotional intelligence, gender equality and healthy competition. NURTURING VERSUS STOIC DADS THINKING about the broad impact fathers have, I analyzed how fathering affects different social values—such as a belief in gender equality—in May 2021. Surveying more than 2,500 American fathers 18 and older, I found that involved fathering has a longlasting impact on the personal principles and cultural perspectives of children. In my survey, the differences between the least nurturing and the most nurturing fathers are stark. Surveyed fathers who reported that their own fathers were highly withdrawn tended to be hypercompetitive, emotionally stoic and unappreciative of women’s contributions outside the home. In contrast, surveyed fathers who said they had highly nurturing dads were much more likely to achieve their goals in a healthy manner, be more emotionally open and believe in equitable partnership. HOW DADS INSTILL VALUES SEVERAL decades ago, many fathers were unwilling or unable to provide their children with emotional support or physical care. Instead, they focused on bread-winning, children’s discipline and simply being present in the home. These traditional norms left many contemporary fathers ill-equipped for modern parenthood. Contemporary social norms set broad expectations for fathers: rule enforcement and economically supporting the family while also providing for children’s physical and emotional needs. Broad paternal involvement with kids is important because dads have unique effects on kids. Children’s values, beliefs, emotional expression and social development are strongly associated with fathering. Kids are better regulated emotionally, more resilient and more open-minded when their fathers are involved in their education and socialization. Boys, for better and worse, often mirror the habits, interests and values of their own fathers. My colleague Scott Easton and I found that how

one’s father behaves is especially powerful given that cultural, social and institutional norms about fatherhood are much weaker than they are for motherhood. For example, mothers have traditionally been known for showing children affection and providing emotional support. Social expectations for these behaviors are not well-defined among fathers. As a result, dads have a much larger impact on their sons’ fathering behaviors than moms have on their daughters’ mothering behaviors. Positively, this means that a sizable portion of men replicate the best attributes of their own fathers— such as being loving and affectionate. Negatively, this means bad behaviors—such as extremely harsh discipline—are sometimes repeated across generations. However, some men compensate for their own fathers’ poor or nonexistent parenting by forming their own ideas and values about parenting. BENEFITS FOR ALL THE findings from my survey build on decades of research on the benefits of positive fathering. And these advantages aren’t just for children. Mothers and other parenting partners are healthier and happier when fathers are highly engaged with their kids. Men who care for and support their kids benefit too—with improved self-image, life purpose and relationships. And communities gain increased trust and safety from the relationships built when fathers positively participate in their kids’ activities, schooling and social networks.

VALUING SUPPORTIVE FATHERS HOW can society ensure that healthy competition, emotional openness and respect for women are widespread among future generations of men and fathers? Part of the answer is by valuing loving, supportive fathering. That means more support for fathers in workplaces, public policy and institutions. Paid family leave, flexible work arrangements and integration of fathers into prenatal and postnatal care are all effective ways to encourage fathers to be more involved. Many fathers increased their share of child care tasks during the Covid-19 pandemic. These shifts may become permanent, ultimately changing cultural values around parenting and gender roles. Society also needs to provide clearer messaging to fathers about what does and does not work in parenting. For example, my colleagues and I have shown that men who believe they should be nurturing parents are more involved in their children’s lives. Fathers who demonstrate healthy masculine traits like assertiveness and strong goal orientation also tend to be sensitive, engaged parents. Thus, there are many routes to transformative fathering. And this is not simply behavior for biological fathers. Fatherhood is broadly defined, and people often look to nonbiological father figures like relatives, stepfathers, foster fathers and unrelated mentors. All men who support and care for children have a critical role to play in instilling positive social values in future generations. THE CONVERSATION

Vaccinated teachers and students don’t need masks, CDC says NEW YORK—Vaccinated teachers and students don’t need to wear masks inside school buildings, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention said recently in relaxing its Covid-19 guidelines. The changes come amid a national vaccination campaign in which children as young as 12 are eligible to get shots, as well as a general decline in Covid-19 hospitalizations and deaths. “We’re at a new point in the pandemic that we’re all really excited about,” and so it’s time to update the guidance, said Erin Sauber-Schatz, who leads the CDC task force that prepares recommendations designed to keep Americans safe from Covid-19. The nation’s top public health agency is not advising schools to require shots for teachers and vaccine-eligible kids. And it’s not offering guidance on how teachers can know which students are vaccinated or how parents will know which teachers are immunized. That’s probably going to make for some challenging school environments, said Elizabeth Stuart, a John Hopkins University public health professor who has children in elementary and middle schools. “It would be a very weird dynamic, socially, to have some kids wearing masks and some not. And tracking that? Teachers shouldn’t need to be keeping track of which kids should have masks on,” she said.

Another potential headache: Schools should continue to space kids—and their desks—3 feet apart in classrooms, the CDC says. But the agency emphasized that spacing should not be an obstacle to getting kids back in schools. And it said distancing is not required among fully vaccinated students or staff. All of this may prove hard to implement, and that’s why CDC is advising schools to make decisions that make the most sense, Sauber-Schatz said. The biggest questions will be at middle schools where some students are eligible for shots and others aren’t. If sorting vaccinated and unvaccinated students proves too burdensome, administrators might choose to just keep a masking policy in place for everyone. “The guidance is really written to allow flexibility at the local level,” Sauber-Schatz said. State mandates are further complicating the issue. Several states, including California and Virginia, have policies requiring all students to wear masks at school regardless of vaccination. But governors and lawmakers in some other states, including in Arizona, Iowa and Texas, have barred local school officials from requiring masks. Widespread mask-wearing is expected to continue this fall in some of the nation’s largest school districts,

but not in others. In Detroit’s public schools, everyone will be required to wear a mask unless everyone in the classroom has been vaccinated. Philadelphia was planning to require masks, but the school district was reviewing the policy based on the new CDC guidance. Houston will not require masks at all because of the Texas law. What about requiring Covid-19 vaccination as a condition of school attendance? That’s commonly done across the country to prevent spread of measles and other diseases. The CDC has repeatedly praised such requirements, but the agency on Friday didn’t recommend that measure because it is considered a state and local policy decision, CDC officials said. Early in the pandemic, health officials worried schools might become coronavirus cauldrons that spark community outbreaks. But studies have shown that schools often see less transmission than the surrounding community when certain prevention measures are followed. The new guidance is the latest revision to advice the CDC began making to schools last year. In March, the CDC stopped recommending that children and their desks be spaced 6 feet apart, shrinking the distance to 3 feet, and dropped its call for use of plastic shields. AP

PHOTO BY KELLI MCCLINTOCK ON UNSPLASH

B6 Thursday, July 15, 2021

Experience dining indulgence at Cowrie Grill Tulong Kapatid foundations support TYF’s farming, urban poor communities

TYF Chairman Fr. Manoling Francisco, S.J. (center) accepts the donation of P1M each from MPIF, PSF, and OMF. Present at the turnover were (L-R) Smart Communications, Inc. Group Head and FVP for Enterprise Risk Management Debbie Tan, MPIF President Melody del Rosario, PSF President Esther Santos, and OMF President Jeff Tarayao.

ETRO Pacific Investments Foundation, PLDT-Smart Foundation, and One Meralco Foundation donated P1M each to Tanging Yaman Foundation Inc. (TYF) in support of their Gulayan Para Sa Community Pantries program in a turnover ceremony last July 5, 2021. Spearheaded by Chairman Manuel V. Pangilinan, the Tulong Kapatid foundations contributed P3M total to TYF, a conduit foundation that continues to bridge donors and beneficiaries during the pandemic. The group’s donation will be utilized to provide fresh vegetables and rice to various parishes, organizations, and community pantry organizers in Metro Manila. Since 2020, TYF has helped various farming communities in Central and Northern Luzon by sourcing vegetables and rice from them, augmenting the income they lost due to the lockdown. The produce is donated to urban poor parishes and communities in NCR and nearby provinces. In the second wave of 2021, TYF

temporarily stopped its distribution of food packs and transitioned to supporting Community Pantries by providing them with fresh produce sourced through their donors, benefactors and partners. TYF has already served around 670 community pantries, distributing more than 130 tons of vegetables and 31 tons of rice, supporting around 1,500 farmers in the process. “As our Chairman has always said, if we are able to help one individual, then we have done our jobs,” says MPIF President Melody del Rosario. “This contribution helps beyond a singular beneficiary. It helps communities thrive and helps small businesses bounce back from the adversity they faced over the past year. We at MPIF and the whole MVP group are truly blessed to be able to afford them that.” “We in PSF support this initiative of TYF to sustain the community pantries and feeding programs of the various parishes in need,” says PSF President Esther Santos. “As the pandemic continues and lives and livelihoods are at risk, sharing our resources and bayanihan should also

be part of the new normal.” OMF President Jeff Tarayao adds, “As we continue to rebuild lives and livelihoods, OMF partners with organizations like TYF to reach the neediest among our communities. We hope that beyond providing for physical sustenance, this coming together for our underprivileged families is an assurance that nobody will be left behind in the country’s recovery.” Aside from the Foundation presidents and Smart Communications, Inc. Group Head and FVP for Enterprise Risk Management Debbie Tan, beneficiaries were present during the event such as the Priests and Lay Collaborators from the Diocese of Pasig, Diocese of Cubao, Diocese of Novaliches, Diocese of Antipolo, Diocese of Kalookan, Kalinga Center, Tulay ng Kabataan, Payatas Orione Foundation, and Phil. Jesuit Prison Service; and Pantry Organizers from Sampaloc, Manila, Sto. NIño, QC, Sta. Mesa, Manila, and Tangos South, Navotas. TYF Chairman Fr. Manoling Francisco, S.J., said: “We have distributed eight tons of vegetables this morning to the poorest communities of the five dioceses in Metro Manila. But apart from feeding the hungry in the metropolis, we have also augmented the income of the farmers, the producers of our vegetables from Benguet, Isabela, Nueva Ecija, Bulacan, Pampanga, and Tarlac.” Aside from this donation, the Foundations are actively distributing livelihood tools to beneficiaries across the country through the Bike for Livelihood program and the celebration of First Pacific Co. Ltd.’s 40th Anniversary.

DOOH grows by leaps and bounds with The ONE EDSA

OUNG people, especially the millennials, would always change gear and push themselves hard to try and find many jobs to their hearts’ content. There’s really nothing wrong with this. After all, everyone is entitled to his or her own happiness and that includes finding the job he or she really wants. But this isn’t the case for Troy Alcala, the marketing director for Digital Out Of Home, Inc. (DOOH). Starting out as a young graduate of a Bachelor Science Degree with a Major in Economics from the University of Santo Tomas, he stuck it out and rose from the ranks with the DOOH for the last 20 years. “Actually, my initial work experience was in an international bank. But after three years, I moved on to the out-of-home media industry with the MacGraphics Carranz because our office then was much closer to UP Diliman where I was taking units for Professional Education. After completing the course, I decided to continue working in the company as it has become both financially and professionally fulfilling,” Alcala explained. “And why I stayed all through these years? That’s because I like the way my boss, Mr. Alvin Carranza, the company owner works – he operates on a very personal level,” Troy said. Troy reminisced the time he was applying for an Executive Assistant post among several aspirers. He said he was the first one interviewed by Mr. Carranza himself, the CEO. Thereafter, the CEO sent him to HRD for the formal processing of his application. Before leaving the office, Carranza passed by the HRD and advised Troy to report the following week right in front of the rest of the applicants. Moreover, according to Troy, Carranza subscribes to the idea of sociochemistry – “he has a way of knowing if someone has

Mr. Troy Alcala, marketing director for Digital Out Of Home, Inc. (DOOH). the potential to work with him harmoniously.” “He considers a person’s skill set, but he also needs to assess if you will fit the role effectively and efficiently. Mr. Carranza would communicate his vision on a project, while sometimes I would doubt its feasibility, but nevertheless, I would still support his direction. To this day, he manages to surprise me, when his vision which seemed initially lofty but becomes a success,” Troy enthused in admiration of the company’s CEO.

DOOH through the years

FROM MacGraphics Carranz International Corp. to DOOH, there is no doubt that the company has grown by leaps and bounds. Aside from its existing billboard sites in strategic areas in Metro Manila, the best testament to this enormous growth is The ONE EDSA, the most modern and highly technical led billboard located in Mandaluyong City. It’s the biggest and tallest digital billboard screen on EDSA, a 34,200-square-foot tower, that’s truly a force to reckon with. Since it was lit up to full operation in August 2020, The ONE EDSA has been helping global and local brands sell

their products and services with much success. More important, it has been providing free broadcast announcements by government agencies in the midst of the pandemic. “The effect of the lockdowns due to COVID-19 is an extraordinary challenge for the out-of-home media industry. When there are lockdowns, out-ofhome media loses its audience. In spite of this, DOOH continues to market and sell, using our programmatic and content management features intensively,” Troy said. That DOOH has surpassed many challenges is an understatement according to Troy who had juggled several roles in the company, which included interim functions as an Executive Assistant, an Account Manager, eventually Sales Head, and at several times, even as an EventPlanner for Café Lupe Restaurant which Mr. Carranza also owns. As the economy recovers from COVID-19, Troy sees the need for the out-of-home industry. “It means more eyeballs and longer viewing periods. This is the ideal medium for companies to inform the public that in spite of the pandemic, they are still here to provide for their needs through their products and services.” On a personal note, Troy’s success is guided by “two values that I live by in both my career and personal life, which is also both biblical and practical.” “First is, in whatever you do, do it for God’s glory. When you choose to do something, always give your best. If you believe in a God or someone who matters to you, then you know they deserve the best. “Second, always count your blessings. Sometimes we are busy comparing our success with the success of others. Whatever hard work you put out has a corresponding reward,” he concluded.

OMETIMES, the occasion calls for you to indulge in the finer things in life – and what better to splurge on than an unforgettable meal? Paying homage to its former home with old world opulence, The Manila Hotel-managed Cowrie Grill delights guests by offering the choicest selection of meats and seafood. Fine dining goes one step further at Cowrie Grill. It is a gem of a restaurant located at Promenade 3 Mall, Greenhills on Missouri Street. It is upscale and impressive, coupled with warm service reserved for VIP guests. Explore our distinctively flavored steaks handcrafted by our chefs, as well as tantalizing menu that includes main entrees, appetizers, healthy greens, and desserts. As a start, go for the French Onion Soup, or try the Maitre D’ Caesar Salad – freshly prepared greens with crunch from romaine lettuce, croutons, generously drizzled in olive oil, cheese and bacon complemented by the sweet and zesty Caesar salad dressing. Pair it with the flavorful pan-seared scallops on mushroom risotto. Menu standouts are the Surf and Turf set duo of Pitik Lobster Thermidor [fresh slipper lobster] and US Angus Beef Tenderloin with baked garlic and garden vegetables. Go for US Angus Beef Rib or the US Angus Chateaubriand that are seasoned and grilled to perfection. Complement this with any of Cowrie Grill’s fine selection of red wines. You also have a choice of a generous serving of certified Angus Beef

Tomahawk [best shared by two]. When it comes to the food, Cowrie Grill is a great place to go for variety. Aside from meat cooked to perfection, the seafood is much more than an afterthought. Pescatarians will enjoy our mouth-watering sweet and silky Chilean Sea Bass, or the Grilled Norwegian Salmon Steak. You must also try other good choices like the Symphony of Scallops, Baked Oysters, Iberico pork loin, and Angus Beef Burger. An excellent ending to your hearty meal is our Chuao Chocolate Gateau, a rich fourlayered cake served with Crème Anglaise. Then, there’s the crowd favorite, Baked Alaska, with its perfectly browned meringue, flambéed with brandy, mouthwatering moist sponge cake with strawberry ice cream in the middle, and layers of different textures and flavors all in one bite. With scrumptious food and impeccable service, Cowrie Grill’s guaranteed to impress. For table reservations, please call (02) 84631993 or email r.cowriegrill@ themanilahotel.com

URCommunity Mart 2021 brings popular, favorite snacks closer to households

URCommunity Mart goes to Rizal

HE past year may have changed the way people shop, but one thing remains the same: people constantly look for good food choices that can be enjoyed and shared with the entire household. To keep Pinoy favorites closer to Filipino families across Metro Manila, Universal Robina Corporation (URC) brings back its roving store, URCommunity Mart. Through the URCommunity Mart, classic Pinoy snacks are brought right at the doorstep of Filipino households. Shoppers can take advantage of URC’s affordable bundles of food essentials and well-loved treats like Piattos, Great Taste, Nissin Cup Noodles, Magic Flakes, Payless Xtra Big, and others that people can share with their loved ones. They can save up to P75 on these special food packs. Starting July 8, URC’s roving food mart

will visit these barangays within Antipolo City – Brgy. Sta Cruz, Brgy. Dela Paz, Brgy. Bagong Nayon and Brgy. Mayamot. It will continue making stops at select Barangays and communities within Manila, Makati City, Taguig and Caloocan throughout the year. URC ensures that the teams handing out bundle packs strictly observe proper health protocols such as wearing PPEs, masks, shields, and practicing social distancing measures. URC aims to delight Filipinos with a wide selection of snacks and drinks that can be enjoyed by every generation. It launched URCommunity Mart last 2020 to offer Pinoys a safe and convenient way to shop for their favorite goodies. For more updates on the URCommunity Mart’s upcoming stops, visit URC’s Facebook page and website.

FCB Manila appoints new president and CEO

EADING advertising agency FCB Manila has announced the appointment of Lizette V. Santos as its new president and Chief Executive Officer. Prior to her appointment to the new position, Santos was vice president for Strategy as well as co-Chief Operating Officer. Santos is a seasoned executive with 21 years of experience in the advertising industry, having worked for top agencies such as Lowe Philippines, Harrison Communications, Campaigns and Grey and the FCB office in Jakarta. She built the strategic planning discipline in FCB Manila and has also been a driving force in the successful digital transformation of the agency. She also brings with her a wealth of expertise in Advertising and Communications through her work with the regional offices of Procter & Gamble (P&G), Dole Foods, Beiersdorf, GlaxoSmithKline (GSK), and likewise created strategies and communications for local brands such as PLDT, Smart, Asia Brewery, and Emperador Distillers, among others. The new president and CEO is also part of the award-winning team that created

Lizette V. Santos the current digital communications for UnionBank of the Philippines. “We believe in creating advertising that is not just attention-seeking but more importantly, adds value not just to our clients but also to the viewers and consumers,” Santos said. “This is how we will shape our work as we move forward from the pandemic,” she added, explaining how the agency is stepping up amid the covid-19 situation.

Editor: Anne Ruth Dela Cruz

Health&Fitness BusinessMirror

Fusion of western, Chinese medicine key to fight against Covid-19 surge By Rory Visco Contributor

t was in the middle of March 2021 that the National Capital Region (NCR) started experiencing a “serious surge” in Covid-19 infections. The OCTA Research Group last March 17 reported that there was a 78 percent increase in the number of Covid-19 cases versus the previous week. They said the Reproduction Number—the “R”—which is the number of people that a Covid-19 positive can infect, in the region at that time was at 1.96. The team said the goal was to bring “R’ to below one to contain virus transmission. By late March, the surge continued and affected even more people. Last October 2020, the daily reported cases in the country was at 2,000-3,000 levels, but this increased even further when 12,576 new cases were reported on April 3, 2021. This necessitated the re-imposition of stricter lockdowns in NCR plus four other provinces (Bulacan, Cavite, Rizal, Laguna) due to the surge of Covid-19 new cases. Mobility and non-essential movements, mass gatherings and even dining in restaurants were restricted to curb the virus’ further spread and so as not to overwhelm hospitals and healthcare workers.

The China experience This week, the Department of Foreign Affairs - Foreign Service Institute (DFA-FSI) , together with Philippine Archipelago International Trading Corp., conducted a webinar which featured prominent figures in Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM), the practice deemed instrumental in the management of the Covid-19 pandemic in China. Titled “Learning from the China Experience – Control and Surge Prevention,” academician Zhang Boli, Honorary President of the Tianjin University of Traditional Chinese Medicine and recipient of the national honorary title of People’s Hero in August

2020, together with Dr. Jia Zhenhua, Chief Physician of TCM, Doctoral Supervisor and President of Hebei Institute of Integrated Traditional Chinese and Western Medicine, discussed China’s strategies on how they were able to control, manage and prevent further surges in Covid-19 infections in their country. Dr. Jia Zhenhua said the utilization of TCM, including the practice of good hygiene, played a good part in the prevention and treatment of respiratory infectious diseases in China. He broke down Covid-19 based on what he called “Collateral Disease Theory” and discussed how this is treated using the TCM approach. The “Collateral Disease Theory” is a theoretical system that contains characteristics of TCM and studies two branches: the “Qi” collateral theory and vessel collateral theory. One mode of treatment he specifically mentioned was the use of the Lianhua Qingwen capsules. “This is already widely used and distributed in major drugstores in the Philippines,” he said. For his part, Zhang Boli, who is one of the most prominent figures in China’s fight against Covid-19, illustrated how they integrated the benefits of both Chinese and Western medicine in dealing with the deadly disease. He also introduced Xuanfei Baidu decoction, another TCM formulation widely used in China’s war versus the disease and likewise stressed the importance of medication. “Quarantine without medicine is only half the success,” he explained. He also shared how they spread this knowledge with the world through donations of Lianhua Qingwen to different countries around the world that were affected by the disease. Exchange of knowledge through presentations like this webinar were also done in other countries as well.

The Philippines responds The webinar also featured key personalities from the Philippine government who

are tasked with important responsibilities in dealing with Covid-19, namely National Task Force Against Covid-19 Deputy Chief Implementor and Testing Czar Secretary Vince Dizon, Baguio City Mayor Benjamin Magalong, including DFA Secretary Teodoro “Teddy Boy” Locsin who delivered a few words. Magalong pointed to how Baguio City navigated through the pandemic, where the local government employed proactive contact tracing and control efforts. This strategy, he said, enabled them to control further spreads, which he likened to a “Hammer and Dance” situation, a two-phase strategy in dealing with the pandemic. The “Hammer and Dance” strategy starts with a strong confinement stage to temporarily limit economic activity and therefore control the pandemic, which is the “hammer.” The coming up of economic rescue efforts then follow so that companies and households are shielded from negative economic impact. He also bared the effort of Baguio City to become a smart city by next year, which is part of the city’s Recovery and Resiliency Plan. For his part, Dizon reported on the status of country’s National Vaccination Program and likewise thanked the support of Chinese foreign service representatives for their country’s supply of Covid-19 vaccines to the country, now standing at 11 million procured and one million donated. He also expressed gratitude to Philippine Archipelago International Trading Corp. President, Olivia Limpe Aw, as Emergency Use Authorization holder of Sputnik V vaccines, for the supply of the Russia’s Covid-19 vaccine. Locsin thanked the presenters of the webinar, where he highlighted that knowledge sharing remains to be one of, if not the most, essential form of cooperation with regard to managing Covid-19. “No one is safe unless everyone is safe.” he said.

Community-based mental health program a success in Region 4A By Claudeth Mocon-Ciriaco

chizophrenia is a leading mental disorder in the Calabarzon (Cavite, Laguna, Batangas, Quezon) area and the Department of Health (DOH) was able to help treat these patients through a communitybased mental health program. During the one-year implementation of the Community-Based Mental Health Program (CMHP) in the pilot areas in the provinces of Rizal and Laguna, DOH-Calabarzon was able to successfully conduct treatment and management of 84 schizophrenic patients. According to Regional Mental Health Coordinator, Paulina A. Calo, the CMHP was initiated by former Regional Director Eduardo C. Janairo with the objective of integrating mental health into the primary health care system to facilitate person-centered treatment and provide complete services of mental health patients in the community. Calo said that the CMHP aims to integrate mental health into primary care to facilitate person-centered and holistic services, consistent with the mandate of Republic Act 11036 (Mental Health Act of 2017), including the primary values and principles of primary health care. “The core of CMHP is a referral system between health centers and tertiary-level mental health services for the diagnosis and continuing management of persons with mental health conditions, as well as the use of innovative medication, specifically for people with schizophrenia,” she explained.

Psychosis

Calo disclosed that schizophrenia (25 percent) and psychosis (22 percent) are among the most frequently reported mental health conditions in Calabarzon in 2019. The regional office provided medicines such as second-generation antipsychotic long-acting injectable therapies (SGA LAI) and paliperidone palmitate once-monthly injection (PP1M), which was distributed and used as the primary treatment to schizophrenia patients in the four pilot implementation sites in Jala-Jala in the province of Rizal and Mabitac, Sta. Maria, Siniloan and Pagsanjan in the province of Laguna. “Product trainings for the consumption of the medicines we conducted for the recipients’ Municipal Health Officers (MHOs)

and community workers were conducted and psychiatrist-consultants were brought in to provide support for the pilot sites,” she added.

How the CMHP works

The DOH-Calabarzon CMHP Initiative is designed for the identification and management of patients with schizophrenia in a primary care setting. When a person is suspected to have mental health, the condition is identified at the community level through an assessment by health centers. The person is then referred to an identified tertiary mental health facility, which will provide diagnosis and initiate treatment. Monitoring of patient compliance will be the principal responsibility of health centers, with periodic follow-up scheduled in tertiary mental health facilities.

Patients’ improvements

Reports of patients’ improvement in most symptom categories of schizophrenia were recorded by caregivers. “A caregiver in Laguna reported that during the duration of the treatment program, they no longer restrained their patient when at home and they also have better functionality after administration of PP1M,” Calo disclosed. No relapsed or hospitalized patient were also reported during the one-year program implementation. There were also fewer or no adverse effects with the PP1M compared to their prior medications.

Cost effective program

Janairo, who authored the CMHP Initiative, stated that the cost of treatment for a schizophrenia patient at the community level during the one-year pilot implementation which includes medications, services provided by healthcare providers, transportation for patients in crisis from the community to the hospital, hospitalization of relapse patients, and lost income by caregiver during the period of hospitalization is less compared to the conventional treatment and can save at least P800,000 in resources. “The implementation of mental health services at the primary care level can be achieved but requires strong leadership and support from various levels of care and cooperation from the local government units for resource

mobilization, field implementation, and ensured sustainability because of the chronic and relapsing nature of mental health conditions which requires a longer provision of appropriate treatment modalities,” he added. With the integration of mental health into primary care system, Janairo added that individuals can be assured of “better access to mental health services and better health outcomes including recovery and social integration.” “It is also very important that a professional psychiatrist be present at the regional or provincial level to undertake diagnosis and initiate treatment for new cases and provide periodic assistance to local health officers in the continuing management of patients,” he emphasized.

Innovative treatments

The innovative treatments during the conduct of the CHMP were proven to successful and more economical and financially viable in the long run. “When implementing the program, the decision point should not just be the price per dose of a treatment intervention but also the potential savings from reduced health resource utilization, including other tangible and intangible benefits,” he added. “We have proven that this innovative approach is successful, it is time that we consider its implementation in our health care system to help improve psychiatric care at the community level for the benefit of individuals with mental health concerns,” Janairo urged. “The Community-Based Mental Health Program in Calabarzon: Preliminary report from an internal review of an innovative service integration initiative for schizophrenia” was published at the Philippine Journal for Health Research on June 30, 2021. OIC-Reg iona l Director Pau la Pa z M. Sydiongco stated that the CMHP program is still ongoing and will be expanded to support the management and treatment of schizophrenia patients in other areas of the region. “Health care is a basic right and the government must do everything they can to provide it. Although schizophrenia is a low prevalence disorder, we still need to provide therapeutic modalities to those affected for them to recover and be reintegrated again to society,” Sydiongco emphasized.

Thursday, July 15, 2021

Help children overcome the effects of the pandemic with these tips

hile Covid-19’s impact on adults is inevitable, children are just as affected. While quarantine restrictions are slowly easing up with children aged five years old and above allowed to go outside, children cannot visit malls and there is a high probability that distance learning will continue this coming schoolyear. Strict social distancing measures force kids to keep masks on and limit, if not avoid, physical contact with family members and friends. “Seeing their parents stressed, frustrated, and mentally exhausted from the effects of the pandemic only fuels their worry and fears,” says Anna Josefina Vazquez-Genuino, MD, Child and Adolescent Psychiatrist at the Section of Psychiatry in Makati Medical Center (MakatiMed). Unlike adults who have experience in dealing with stressful situations, children do not, so they tend to act out by being cranky, rude, overly quiet or sensitive. “Watch out for red f lags like insomnia or oversleeping, eating too much or too little, body aches and pains, keeping to oneself for days, and clinging to parents when they leave the house for work or errands,” adds Dr. Vazquez-Genuino. Granted, these unprecedented times can leave anyone, regardless of age, overwhelmed. “But once you give yourself a break and remind yourself that you’re doing the best you can, you can be a source of stability and security for your children in these trying times,” says Dr. Vazquez-Genuino. Here are practical ways parents can support their children’s mental health and wellbeing during this pandemic: Respect what they have to say. This is not the time to scold or dismiss the feelings of the younger people in the household, says Dr. Vazquez-Genuino. “Encourage them to express themselves and assure them that you will get through this pandemic together,” she adds. Kids need to feel they are valued and that their feelings are validated; they need to be reassured about their fears; if it is something unrealistic, explain to them what can be done to resolve or allay them. Limit gadget time. This pandemic has given families an opportunity to be together thus we might as well make the most of it by doing enjoyable things together and to do a variety of activities. From sharing stories, playing games— computer, board or physically active— to zoom parties, watching movies and outdoor activities. Introduce new and fun activities.

Cheer up a dreary home atmosphere with animated storytelling, videoke nights, and lively board games. Fill up lulls in the day by teaching kids how to cook, do the laundry, develop their interest in taking care of plants, or organize their study area. “This takes their mind off their worries and gives them the social interaction they’re looking for,” Dr. Vazquez-Genuino explains. Start healthy habits. In this pandemic, it is important to stay healthy and strong against the virus. “Maintain nutritious food like fruits and vegetables during mealtimes, and cut down on junk food,” she advises. “Get everybody moving by dancing or following exercise videos. Make sure everybody gets morning sun exposure and enough sleep at night.” Give them hope. “When times are uncertain, give your kids something to look forward to,” says Dr. Vazquez-Genuino. “Ask them about their dreams and what they would like to do once quarantine rules are relaxed. Map out achievable and realistic plans and agree on a timeline. The last thing we want is for the kids to be disappointed due to unfulfilled dreams and plans.” Ask for help. Feeling sad to the point of wanting to hurt themselves, or overly anxious to the point that they no longer want to engage in previously enjoyed activities, as well as sleep and appetite changes, may indicate a need to seek professional help. Difficulty in concentrating and deterioration in academic interests or performance may be another red flag. Instead of thinking the child is just lazy, hardheaded or manipulative, find out first what is really bothering your child with love, patience, calm mood, and a listening ear. Trust your parental instinct and read up on normal child development as well as common problems encountered especially during this pandemic. “If all else fails or you are still in a quandary regarding your children, then you may consider seeking professional help via online consultations,” says Dr. Vazquez-Genuino. While psychiatrists and other mental health professionals are trained to get to the root of your child’s problems, they cannot replace what parents can give. “Assure your child of your acceptance of them regardless of what they are going through or how they are behaving and ask them if they are willing to see a mental health professional, explaining to them that seeking professional help or advice is nothing to be ashamed of, but rather the first step to getting better,” says Dr. Vazquez-Genuino.

New oral spray fights mouth problems

here is a new product in the market that fights mouth diseases like sore throat, stomatitis, gingivitis, cough, tonsilitis, bronchitis, alveolitis, periodontitis and others. It also prevents Covid-19 by fighting viruses. The product is Oracur Solution Spray, which Baby F. Go, president of Royal Imperial House Trading and Consultancy Inc., and Dr. Jose Odilon Aranton, president-COO of GMA 8 International Development Corp. discussed in a recent product launch. Oracur, which easily fits in one’s purse, is FDA (Food and Drug Administration) approved. The only one of its kind in the world, it is more affordable and has more indications than imported brands. Oracur contains cloves oil, menthol, camphor, eucalyptus and garlic, all of which have synergistic anti-bacterial, anti-inflammatory and anti-viral effects. This is significant because the World Hea lth Organization ( W HO) states that 80 percent of the population has oral diseases. Oral health care reduces oral infections by controlling bacterial growth in the oral cavity. If untreated, gum diseases like periodontitis and periodontitis could enhance Covid-19 symptoms. This could also make bacteria enter the bloodstream, and cause blood clots and blood thickening. Those with poor hygiene tend to have a weaker immune system, which, in turn can cause Covid-19, heart disease, diabetes and cancer. Dentists from the US, Canada, Malaysia, Singapore, and Japan attest to the effectivity of Oracur. They have affixed their signatures and license numbers on documents endorsing the product. Manuel “Manoling” Morato, then PCSO (Philippine Charity Sweepstakes Office) chair, took Oracur in 2008 and was pleased with the results. He bought the product in bulk and endorsed it to Dr.

Larry Sedro, a PCSO top official. Certified naturopathic practitioner Melchor Rito of the wellness group Green Life Center for Alternative Medicine Inc. (GLCAM), Dr. Art Dulce, GLCAM founder and Mary Jean Bautista of the Marikina Municipal Health Office conducted clinical trials and Oracur passed the test. The Provincial Health Office of Batangas City conducted clinical trials on Oracur. Dr. Dionisio Burog, provincial oral health program coordinator, certified that the product brought instant relief from cough, sore throat and bronchitis. Soon, around 3 million Bulakenos will be able to prevent, protect and intervene many diseases through Oracur when it becomes available in the provincial health office. Oracur’s benefits are established by clinical trials. One such research at Chang Gung Memorial Hospital, Kaohsiung City, Taiwan, showed that Oracur cured mouth diseases. “Just spray it in the mouth when your throat itches, or when you feel other symptoms,” advises Aranton. Oracur is also helping indigenous people. Aranton signed an agreement with the Aeta chieftain in Bamban, Tarlac, to lease a 2,000-hectare property in the area that will be planted to eucalyptus and garlic, two of Oracur’s main ingredients. Aeta farmers will extract oil from the eucalyptus plant using a machine engineers from the Department of Science and Technology (DOST) will teach them to operate. Aranton will buy the oil extracts to produce more Oracur products. He will also provide seedlings. Aranton has also tapped families with no source of income to repackage Oracur . This way, the product helps improve many Filipinos’ lives. Royal Imperial House Trading and Consultancy Inc. is the exclusive distributor of Oracur in the Philippines and abroad.

PACQUIAO CAMP HITS BOXING BODY M

ANNY PACQUIAO Promotions President Sean Gibbons slammed the World Boxing Association (WBA) for refusing to reinstate Manny Pacquiao as world super welterweight champion. “We were never given due process, we were never notified that there’s an issue with the WBA,” Gibbons told BusinessMirror on Wednesday. “The recess is over and we’re the champion—you don’t lose your belt in a boardroom.” The WBA relegated Pacquiao as champion in recess because of the Filipino boxing icon’s failure to defend his crown in pandemic year 2020. But Pacquiao, Gibbons said, followed WBA rules to the letter by fighting inside a 12-month period—July 15, 2018 to July 20, 2019— becoming world super

welterweight champion after he knocked out WBA regular welterweight champion Lucas Matthysse in Kuala Lumpur. Pacquiao defended his belt against four-division world champion Adrien Broner via unanimous decision in January 19, 2019, and scored a split decision win over erstwhile unbeaten Keith Thurman in July 20, 2019 also at the MGM Grand Arena in Las Vegas to seize the super welterweight title. Gibbons said he is frustrated with the WBA’s decision of keeping Cuban Yurdonis Ugas as its super welterweight champion despite Pacquiao all set to fight unified champion Errol Spence Jr. on August 21 at the T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas. “We are filing a notice that we are the WBA super champion and we want to be recognized,” Gibbons said. “We were never notified properly and legally.” “Manny didn’t receive due process and respect,” Gibbons said. “It took two years to get the world title belt he earned inside the ring by beating the undefeated Thurman.” Josef Ramos

Sports BusinessMirror

| Thursday, July 15, 2021 mirror_sports@yahoo.com.ph Editor: Jun Lomibao

MANNY PACQUIAO’S handlers say he is the rightful world super welterweight champion. AP

GREEN-AND-GO FOR PBA

By Josef Ramos

MARCIAL

Powerlifter Guion clinches ticket to Tokyo Para Games

OWERLIFTER Achelle Guion qualified for the Tokyo Paralympic Games after the International Paralympic Committee (IPC) approved her bipartite application on Tuesday, according to Tokyo Paralympics Chef de Mission Francis “Kiko” Diaz. “We are definitely happy and excited with this lean delegation,” Diaz, Dean of the College of Human Kinetics of the University of the Philippines, told BusinessMirror on Wednesday. “Each and every para athlete is committed to do their best and hopefully land a medal for our country.” Guion, a veteran of the London 2012 Paralympics, will be competing in the women’s 41-kg class of powerlifting in the August 24 to September 5 Tokyo Games. The 49-year-old powerlifter from Manila joined Ernie Gawilan and Gary Bejino (swimming), Jerold Magliwan and Janete Aceveda (athletics) and Allain Ganapin (taekwondo) on Team Philippines. The delegation surpassed the five para athletes at Rio 2016 where Josephine Medina bagged a bronze medal in women’s table tennis. Diaz said all athletes have a chance to win a medal in Tokyo. “While we can’t predict and most certainly assure medals from them, our best bets could Ernie (Gawilan) and Jerold (Magliwan),” said Diaz, who thanked the Philippine Sports Commission headed by Chairman William Ramirez for extending allout support to the para athletes. Guion was a silver medalist in the Incheon 2014 and Jakarta 2018 Asian Para Games in the 45-kg class. Josef Ramos DANIELLA UY survives a rollercoaster round.

HE Philippine Basketball Association (PBA) opens shop still under a pandemic cloud with a triple-header on Friday that will usher in the Season 46th Philippine Cup at the Ynares Center in Pasig City. Gone though are the pomp and pageantry of the league’s traditional opening ceremony. Under strict health and safety protocols, the 11 a.m. opening ceremony will feature only the 12 governors taking part in a simple

program from the nearby Sports 5 studios in Mandaluyong City while the players get ready for action at the Ynares court only some 2 kms away. Prior to the Sunday Ginebra game, the Asia’s first ever professional basketball league unfolds the new season with an 11 a.m. opening ceremony followed by a 12:30 p.m. match between Blackwater and Alaska, followed by Rain or Shine and NLEX at 3 p.m. and finally Northport and Meralco at 6 p.m. “I am praying nothing wrong will happen and we’re also praying that we sustain a beautiful start until the end of the season,” PBA

Commissioner Willie Marcial told BusinessMirror on Wednesday. A double-header— TNT Tropang Giga against Terrafirma at 2 p.m. and Magnolia against Phoenix Super LPG at 4:35 p.m.— are up on Saturday. On Sunday, Barangay Ginebra San Miguel opens defense of the all-Filipino title against NLEX at 4:35 p.m. Sandwiching the Gin Kings-Road Warriors showdown are the Terrafirma-Alaska game at 12:30 p.m. and Blackwater-Rain or Shine tussle at 7 p.m. The PBA is no longer new to holding more than two games per playing day. The league went to as far as four games a day in the Clark

bubble during the Philippine Cup in the last quarter of 2021. The league, Marcial said, could be holding a two-conference season due to time constraints. The Philippine Cup is expected to be finished on August 27 and sans strict travel protocols, the second conference could be featuring foreign imports. Ginebra won the Philippine Cup at the expense of TNT KaTropa in five games inside the Clark bubble. That was the league’s only tournament in pandemic-stricken 45th season. Gin Kings Head Coach Tim Cone said his wards are expecting a grind to kick off the season.

“We just found out just today that we’re playing NLEX on Sunday, so we haven’t had much time to think about them.,” Cone said. “Still, we know Coach Yeng’s [Guiao] team is going to be incredibly tough.” “We haven’t had any tune-up games so it’s hard to tell where we are at the moment,”Cone added. But nevertheless, Cone remains in high spirits defending their title this season. “I know this, however: no matter how we play on Sunday, we know we will get better as the conference goes along, and at the end, we expect to be competing for a championship,” he added.

PHL Sports Hall of Fame enshrines 10 heroes

HE Philippine Sports Hall of Fame (PSHOF) will formally enshrine 10 of the country’s sports heroes in an elegant digital ceremony worthy of their unparalleled achievements on Sunday. Football great Paulino Alcantara, famed swimmer Eric Buhain, track and field star Elma Muros-Posadas, basketball legend Robert Jaworski and 1988 Olympic bowling gold medalist Arianne Cerdeña will be elevated into the pantheon of Filipino sports heroes in the ceremony to be aired over PTV4 starting 7 p.m. Joining the fourth batch of inductees since the Philippine Sports Commission established the PSHOF more than a decade ago are Dionisio Calvo (basketball and football coach), Gertrudes Lozada (swimming), Rogelio Onofre (athletics) and Olympic bronze medalist boxers Leopoldo Serantes and Roel Velasco. “Congratulations to all the

fourth batch of enshrines. These heroes and their achievements have become a source of pride and inspiration for us and the future generation of Filipinos,’’ said PSC Chairman William Ramirez. By virtue of Republic Act 8757 or the Philippine Sports Hall of Fame Act, Ramirez chaired the PSHOF Selection Committee as PSC chief with Philippine Olympic Committee President Abraham Tolentino as vice-chairperson. “I definitely appreciate the work of the committee for this recognition of our sports heroes, which serves as an inspiration to all,’’ Tolentino said. Games and Amusements Board Chairman Abraham Mitra and national sports association representatives—Philippine Football Federation secretary general Atty. Ed Gastanes and PhilCycling secretary general Atty. Billy Sumagui—were members of the selection committee.

Completing the selection committee are Philippine Olympians Association president Akiko Thomson-Guevara and University Athletic Association of the Philippines executive director Atty. Rene Andrei Saguisag Jr. “It was a journey of discovery. I would like to thank everyone for all their work. It is very enriching for me to be part of this,” Ramirez said. “I am pleased with the choices of both the review and selection committees.” The 10 enshrinees will receive P200,000 each and an elegantlycrafted PSHOF trophy. The review committee was composed of media practitioners Ed Andaya (People’s Tonight), Joe Antonio (People’s Journal), Rey Bancod (Daily Tribune), Dodo Catacutan (Spin.ph), Quinito Henson (Philippine Star), Tessa Jazmines (BusinessMirror and Larc&Asset PR), Jun Lomibao (BusinessMirror) and Tito Talao (Manila Bulletin).

Uy overcomes shaky windup, up by 1 shot at Eagle Ridge

ANIELLA UY came out on top in a shaky finish that marred the start of the International Container Terminal Services Inc. (ICTSI)

Eagle Ridge Ladies Classic at the tricky Norman course, hacking out a one-under 71 for a one-stroke lead over Chihiro Ikeda, Princess Superal and Sunshine Baraquiel in General Trias, Cavite, on Wednesday. The former Junior World champion fought off a rollercoaster round with a birdie on the 17th to go two-under with two holes to play and stayed at the helm despite a bogey on the first hole as Ikeda and Superal also both dropped a shot on the tough par-4 No. 1, which served as the finishing hole. That enabled Uy to seize control behind one of her strongest starts in the circuit, where her best finish at the Ladies Philippine Golf Tour (LPGT) resumption after a long hiatus due to pandemic was third in the last of two Riviera bubble tournaments late last year. Uy, who ended up sixth at Sherwood last week, rebounded from a bogey on No. 2 with birdies

on Nos. 4 and 7. She yielded strokes on Nos. 9 and 10 but regained them in the next two before dropping another shot on No. 13. “I’ll just stick to the plan and try to make it simple,” said Uy, who birdied the par-five 15th then added another on the 17th. “But we’re really very excited to be competing again. This also gives a chance to prepare us for overseas campaign,” added the Ladies Professional Golfers Association Tour of Taiwan veteran. Superal, who edged Chanelle Avaricio to reign at Sherwood, also birdied No. 17 to likewise hit a twounder card in a separate flight. But the multi-titled shotmaker wavered and bogeyed the last two holes to drop into a tie at 72 with Ikeda and Baraquiel. “I missed putts from close range, including on the last two holes,” said Superal, who birdied Nos. 4 and 6 to be among the early leaders then reeled back with a bogey on No. 12.

JAYRACK DELA NOCHE (1) and Alexander Iraya are a proud Philippine team in Thailand.

Beach boys from Victorias impress in Asian tourney

AYRACK DE LA NOCHE and Alexander Iraya fell to Thailand 3’s Narakorn Chumaphai and Nopphawit Puttarong, 18-21, 10-21, in the quarterfinals to drop out of the Fourth Asian U21 Beach Volleyball Championships in Nakhon Pathom, Thailand, on Wednesday afternoon. But for the Dela Noche-Iraya pair, reaching the tournament’s last eight was an achievement no other Philippine team has ever pulled off in the past. The Filipinos, seeded No. 7 in the tournament, stunned No. 2 seed Australia 1’s Connor O’Neill and Ruben Gale, 15-21, 21-14, 15-10, in their morning match, thus becoming the first Philippine team to advance this deep in an Asian level competition. Making the feat even sweeter was the fact that the 18-yearold boys from Victorias City duo were competing overseas for the first time.

“We’ll do our best to even do better here,” said De la Noche, still shocked with their conquest over the more experienced and taller Aussies. Iraya delivered the matchclinching kill for the Philippine side—fielded in the tournament by the Philippine National Volleyball Federation and backed by the Philippine Sports Commission and Rebisco—which rallied from a first-set loss in the knockout contest against Australia. “I am proud of these boys and all I can say at this very moment is I am goose-bumped all over,” said Carmela “Melay” Gamboa, PNVF director and events commission chair who also dabbled as the boys’ coach in the Thai joust. The men from Down Under were all praises for the boys from Negros Occidental. “The Philippines came out and played really well against us,” O’Neill said.