BusinessMirror June 17, 2021

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Thursday, June 17, 2021 Vol. 16 No. 246

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

PROJECTION TO 5.4% INOCULATION for the A5 category or the indigent population rolled out on Wednesday (June 16, 2021) at the President Corazon C. Aquino High School in Baseco, Manila. The second jabs of Pfizer for A1, A2, A3 and A4 categories were also offered, with an estimated 1,000 individuals expected to be vaccinated.

The government is urging eligible populations belonging to priority groups to register and get vaccinated, and complete the required number of doses as scheduled. NONIE REYES

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@BcuaresmaBM

HE International Monetary Fund (IMF) slashed its growth projection for the Philippines on Wednesday, citing slow recovery in the first half of the year.

Following the Philippines’s annual economic check-up from the IMF via its Article IV consultation this year, the global monetary authority cut its growth projection of the Philippines from 6.9 percent to 5.4 percent for this year.

What pulled the economy down in the first half of the year is largely the second wave of Covid-19 cases in the country, which likely peaked in April, IMF Article IV Consultation Mission Head Tho-

mas Helbling told reporters in a virtual briefing. The resurgence of cases during the period necessitated stricter quarantine measures which disrupted economic activity and has “weighed” on market confidence, Helbling added.

While the IMF said the economy is expected to start its path to recovery toward the third quarter of the year, Helbling warned of C  A

‘Deficit level must be kept even with Bayanihan 3’ B B D. N @BNicolasBM

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INANCE Secretary Carlos G. Dominguez III told senators the government’s economic team is open to supporting potential revenue-raising measures that can fund Bayanihan 3.

Speaking before the Senate Committee of the Whole on Tuesday, Dominguez said they are still currently looking for funds to finance the proposed stimulus package without further increasing their estimated fiscal deficit this year.

For this year, the government expects the country’s fiscal deficit to reach a new record high of P1.78 trillion or 8.9 percent of GDP, even higher than the P1.37 trillion or 7.6-percent deficit-to-GDP ratio it

recorded last year.

“We are looking at additional collections over and above our budget.... If there are any potential revenue-raising measures that the House and the Senate will propose, then we are also open to that, but the principle is, we have to keep our fiscal deficit at the point that it is now, which in our estimate is 9.3 percent,” Dominguez said.

The House of Representatives has already endorsed for Senate approval the proposed P401-billion Bayanihan to Arise as One Act or the Bayanihan 3.

However, Dominguez told reporters on Wednesday that the Department of Finance (DOF) “has not proposed any tax hikes to in-

PESO EXCHANGE RATES ■ US 47.9620

S “D,” A

SCIENCE-DRIVEN FIXES FOR CLIMATE CHANGE, HUNGER PUSHED IN FAO B J E Y. A @jearcalas

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GRICULTURE Secretary William D. Dar called for greater international cooperation to institutionalize and advance science-driven innovations and technologies in agriculture to mitigate the adverse impacts of climate change and end hunger by 2030.

“It is important that international pooling of knowledge, science and technology, and new innovations are further encouraged, and that their benefits should extend to all sectors and stakeholders across all nations,” Dar said during the June 15 virtual discussion on “Combating Climate Change and Hunger through Innovation.”

The virtual discussion was part of the 42nd Session of the UN-Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) Conference.

In the event, Dar emphasized that the world is now at a moment in history wherein technology and globalization are “changing the dynamics of economic progress.”

With this, it is imperative, he said, that the benefits from science-driven innovation reach small-scale farms and rural families to uplift their lives, especially in the Covid-19 pandemic.

“Because of the complexities brought about by climate

change and its impact on food systems, as well as the new normal brought about by the Covid-19 pandemic, we should ensure that the benefits of science-driven innovation find a place in our farms, as well as in the homes of every rural family and ultimately, in every home in all societies,” Dar said.

“We believe that we have here and now an excellent opportunity to reboot and foster together hope, trust, and mutual understanding that are essential for all citizens of the world to survive and prosper,” Dar added.

In response to philanthropist Bill Gates’s lecture during the virtual event, Dar said the Philippine government is “continuously encouraging stronger private sector investments and partnerships to attain sustainable agricultural modernization and industrialization, equitable prosperity, and national food security.”

Dar pointed out: “Agriculture is the mainspring of rural economic progress in the Philippines, and its development is key to addressing the bigger part of our continuing problem of poverty.

“We employ modern technologies and innovations in our ongoing efforts to revitalize productivity and increase incomes of Filipino farmers and fishers, and mitigate the

PSA: Worst performance for tourism, courtesy of Covid B C U. O @caiordinario

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HE wave of booking cancellations and mobility restrictions brought the tourism sector to its knees last year as it posted its worst performance on record, according to the Philippine Statistics Authority (PSA).

Based on the Philippine Tourism Satellite Accounts (PTSA), the Tourism Direct Gross Value Added (TDGVA) contracted 61.2 percent in 2020, the steepest decline in the data series of the PSA. The TDGVA reached P973.31 billion in 2020, significantly lower than the P2.51 trillion it recorded in 2019. The tourism sector contributed 5.4 percent to the country’s GDP in 2020, less than half

its contribution of 12.8 percent in 2019.

“All forms of tourism expenditures posted downturns in 2020: inbound tourism expenditure declined by -77.9 percent, while domestic tourism expenditure by -82.3 percent, and outbound tourism expenditure by -73.2 percent.

Internal tourism expenditure, comprising inbound and domestic tourism expenditure, decreased by -81.6 percent,” PSA said.

Internal tourism, which is the combination of inbound tourism and domestic tourism, only reached P689.48 billion in 2020, a steep decline from the P3.74 trillion recorded in 2019.

Around 80.8 percent of this C  A

C  A

■ JAPAN 0.4359 ■ UK 67.5641 ■ HK 6.1788 ■ CHINA 7.4859 ■ SINGAPORE 36.1432 ■ AUSTRALIA 36.8732 ■ EU 58.1827 ■ SAUDI ARABIA 12.7906

Source: BSP (June 16, 2021)

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News BusinessMirror

Thursday, June 17, 2021

Deficit...

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crease revenue collections.”

He said, “If we are going to have another round of Bayanihan stimulus package this year, the economic team will work with Congress on looking for funding sources to ensure that it will not further widen our deficit.”

Apart from the President’s order directing all agencies to identify savings from their respective appropriations under the 2020 national budget, Dominguez reiterated that they have taken actions to increase the dividend remittances of government-owned and -controlled corporations (GOCCs) to generate more funds.

The DOF earlier proposed increasing the mandatory dividend remittances of GOCCs from the current 50 percent to at least 75 percent of their net earnings to raise funds for future fiscal stimulus measures.

“As of end-May 2021, collections from dividend remittances have already reached P31.38 billion. We target to collect P47.17 billion in remittances for this year,” he said.

“These steps will ensure that any additional stimulus package would be adequately funded and backed up by available financial resources,” he added. The government’s economic managers expect the country’s fiscal deficit to gradually taper off starting next year to 7.5 percent of the GDP or P1.67 trillion. They also expect the fiscal deficit to further decline to 6.3 percent of GDP (P1.53 trillion) and 5.3 percent of GDP (P1.4 trillion) in 2023 and 2024, respectively.

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Namfrel scoffs at claims of ‘ties’ with opposition bloc 1Sambayan

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B S P. M

@sam_medenilla

HE National Citizens’ Movement for Free Elections (Namfrel) has denied it has any ties with the opposition coalition, 1Sambayan.

“Namfrel does not support any specific political candidate or party as it remains non-partisan,” the election watchdog said in a statement on Wednesday.

Namfrel issued the clarification after a news report published in the Manila Bulletin on Tuesday claimed it has ties with 1Sambayan since its hostname server has Namfrel’s

name in it.

The article also cited how 1Sambayan name redirects to Namfrel’s vote registration campaign web site as proof of the supposed link.

Namfrel, however, belied the connection, stating that it merely engaged an independent thirdparty application development company, which coincidentally also developed an app for 1Sambayan.

“To say that organizations using the same third-party servers are related to each other solely because of such shared third-party server

use, is wrong and misleading,” Namfrel said.

Namfrel served as a citizen’s arm of the Commission on Elections (Comelec) in dozens of past elections.

Meanwhile, 1Sambayan is a coalition of self-described prodemocracy groups and includes former Supreme Court Associate Justice Antonio Carpio, former Ombudsman and Supreme Court Justice Conchita Carpio Morales, and former Foreign Affairs Secretary Albert del Rosario among its conveners.

FROM left to right: Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas Governor Benjamin E. Diokno, Department of Budget and Management (DBM) Secretary Wendel E. Avisado, Department of Finance Undersecretary Gil S. Beltran, National Economic and Development Authority Assistant Secretary Carlos Bernardo O. Abad Santos, International Monetary Fund (IMF) Mission Chief Thomas Helbling, IMF Resident Representative to the Philippines Yongzheng Yang, and IMF South East Asia Voting Group Executive Director Rosemary Lim

IMF CUTS PHL GROWTH PROJECTION TO 5.4% C  A

pockets of uncertainty in the near-term recovery.

“Uncertainty around the pace of the economic recovery is high, and the balance of risks

to economic activity is tilted toward the downside. Supply constraints could lead to delays in vaccinations, which in turn would increase the risk of virus resurgence after the recent second wave and tightening quarantine measures,” Helbling said. “Also, it could amplify the effect

of external shocks, such as rising global interest rates and inflation, that would constrain the monetary policy response and raise financing costs for the public and private sector,” he added.

On Wednesday, the Department of Health (DOH) reported 5,414 new Covid-19 cases, bringing the total to 1,332,832 in the country.

This is larger than the previous day’s 5,389 new cases recorded.

For 2022, the IMF revised its growth projection upward from 6.5 percent to 7 percent on account of expected vaccination rollouts, global economic recovery, reopening of business and low base effects.

Sustained monetary policy

THE projection of growth, Helbling said, is largely hinged on the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas’s (BSP) ability to keep monetary policy accommodative to support the economy.

“For the recovery to take hold, monetary policy should remain accommodative.

While the recent spikes in inflation should be closely monitored, the present monetary policy setting is appropriate as the current inflation pressure appears to be temporary and is likely to taper off in the second half of the year,” Helbling said.

Despite an elevated inflation in the first few months of the year, the BSP has been maintaining its interest rate at record low in its monetary policy setting meetings for the year. The BSP is expected to meet for another monetary policy setting next week.

“I think the main task for monetary policy is really to support recovery and help households and firms, including by keeping debt service costs at low levels,” Helbling said.

Ample fiscal space

ON the fiscal front, the IMF said the Philippines currently has ample fiscal space to respond to downside risks in the economy, should they materialize.

The IMF official also stressed that the timely implementation of fiscal support—with flexibility to address evolving priorities—is crucial for continued recovery.

“The fiscal deficit targeted in the 2021 budget provides significant stimulus to economic activity, but given the imperative to beat the virus and the continued difficulties faced by vulnerable families and businesses, more resources could be needed,” Helbling said.

“Such resources should aim to bolster the health-care system to accelerate vaccinations, strengthen capacity for testing, tracing, isolation, and treatment, and support affected families and businesses. A medium-term fiscal strategy should underpin the eventual rebuilding of fiscal space,” he added.

Crucial reforms

GOING forward, the IMF warned that the Philippines should continue to monitor potential pockets of risks that may disrupt economic recovery in the near term. Helbling urged the government to pass crucial laws to ensure continuity of recovery in the long run.

“The full impact of the pandemic is yet to manifest itself, and continued vigilance is needed to safeguard financial stability. To this end, an expansion of the macroprudential toolkit would help enhance the resilience of the financial system,” Helbling said.

“Faster implementation of the credit guarantee scheme and FIST [Financial Institutions Strategic Transfer], together with expected passage of GUIDE [Government Financial Institutions Unified Initiatives to Distressed Enterprises for Economic Recovery], would help recovery in bank credit, especially for micro, small and medium-sized enterprises.

Moreover, to avoid potential grey-listing by the Financial Action Task Force, it is urgent to continue strengthening the Philippines’s antimoney laundering/combatting the financing of terrorism regime,” he added.

The IMF official said sustained efforts will also be needed to reduce restrictions on foreign investment, fast-track the rollout of the national ID, scale up social protection, strengthen health care and education, and implement climate change commitments.

“These reforms will help the Philippines build back better and position the country for a more equitable and greener future,” he said.

SCIENCE-DRIVEN FIXES FOR CLIMATE CHANGE, HUNGER PUSHED IN FAO C  A

impact of climate change on food security.”

Gates, who delivered the McDougall Memorial Lecture, emphasized the need to help small-holder farmers, especially in low-income countries, invest in results-oriented, climate-resilient agriculture to achieve the sustainable development goals (SDG), according to the Department of Agriculture (DA).

The DA noted that SDG 2 calls for the end of hunger by 2030 and doubling of income and productivity of small-scale food producers.

During the virtual event, FAO Director General Dr. Qu Dongyu said the global community is now

facing multiple challenges—from conflicts, climate extremes, and economic downturns, which undermine efforts to end hunger, food insecurity, and inequalities.

To end hunger by 2030, world leaders and stakeholders “must act holistically and perceive the challenges they face through an agrifood systems lens, particularly by opening the door to the world of digital agriculture,” Dongyu said.

“The future of agriculture needs to be built on science, innovations and digital applications that can produce significant gains in terms of increased efficiency, facilitate the good functioning of supply chains, and enhance sustainability,” he added.

PSA: WORST PERFORMANCE FOR TOURISM, COURTESY OF COVID C  A

came from domestic tourism.

PSA data showed that expenditures for accommodation services for visitors contracted the most at 85.7 percent, followed by entertainment and recreation services which plunged 85.4 percent.

The food and beverage services also declined 84.2 percent last year.

Tourism industries

MEANWHILE, the PTSA also noted that the Gross Value Added of Tourism Industries (GVATI) also contracted. The GVATI, PSA said, is the sum of all gross value added from establishments considered a part of the tourism industry, regardless if they served tourists or not.

The GVATI contracted 72.1 percent in 2020. This was mainly due to the contraction recorded by accommodation services for visitors at 90.3 percent, followed by food and beverages services which contracted 87.5 percent.

Data also showed travel agencies and other reservation services, as well as shopping were also significantly affected as these recorded declines of 82.7 percent and 76.1 percent, respectively.

The PSA data also showed that inbound tourism expenditure, which referred to the expenditure of non-resident visitors (foreign visitors and Filipinos permanently residing abroad) within the Philippines, shared 2.9 percent to the country’s total exports in 2020.

Domestic tourism expenditure, which covers expenditures of resident visitors within the country either as domestic trip or part of an international trip, contributed 4.1 percent of the household final consumption expenditure.

The PSA also said employment in tourism characteristic industries was estimated at 4.68 million in 2020, an 18.1-percent decline from the 5.72 million in 2019. Share of employment in tourism industries to total employment in the country was recorded at 11.9 percent.

Last year, the National Economic and Development Authority (Neda) and the Department of Finance (DOF) shared the results of a survey they conducted to measure the impact of the pandemic, which included tourism.

In terms of income, the survey results showed the industry most affected by the ECQ was in the Arts, entertainment and recreation sector which saw sales decline by 82.3 percent.

It is estimated that 18,661 firms in the sector were closed due to the ECQ and only 1,874 firms were open during lockdown. It is expected that the firms in this sector will be closed for 9 months this year.

This was followed by tourism, which saw revenues plunge 81.9 percent, with 29,147 firms closed during the ECQ and only 2,686 firms opened during the lockdown. It is also expected that firms in this sector will remain closed for 9 months this year.

In terms of job losses in the top 10 hardest hit sectors, the construction and education sectors were the most affected with 689,974 and 130,514 jobs lost, respectively.

This was followed by the repair of motor vehicles and motorcycles, tourism, and finance and insurance activities which recorded 74,758, 51,446, and 41,027 jobs lost during ECQ, respectively.

www.businessmirror.com.ph

The Nation BusinessMirror

SC junks Napoles’s bid for release due to Covid

By Joel R. San Juan @jrsanjuan1573

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HE Supreme Court has junked the plea of Janet Lim Napoles, who was previously convicted for plunder in connection with the pork-barrel fund scam in 2018, to be released or be placed under house arrest due to Covid-19.

In her urgent motion, Napoles said she is at risk of contracting Covid-19 for being a diabetic, which could place her at a higher risk of contracting the virus.

Napoles argued that since there are compelling reasons to support her acquittal, she has the right to seek the application of the Office of the Court of Administrator Circular 91-2020, which mandates the enforcement of an accused right to bail and speedy trial.

She also raised the “Nelson Mandela Rules” that provide the basis for the release of persons deprived of liberty (PDL) in times of public health emergencies.

Napoles is in prison after the Sandiganbayan’s Special First Division issued a decision on December 7, 2018 convicting her and lawyer Richard Cambe, former aide of Senator Ramon “Bong” Revilla Jr.,

of plunder in connection with the utilization of the latter’s Priority Development Assistance Fund (PDAF), or pork-barrel fund.

After being sentenced to suffer reclusion perpetua, Cambe and Napoles separately appealed their conviction before the Court.

Pending resolution of the appeal, Napoles is detained at the Correctional Institution for Women (CIW) while Cambe died inside the New Bilibid Prisons while serving his sentence.

In denying Napoles’s motion, the Court said Republic Act 10389 (or Recognizance Act of 2012) can not be applied in favor of Napoles as it provides that recognizance is available only to those who are entitled to bail, but are unable to post bail due to abject poverty.”

The provision added that it “does not apply to those charged with offenses punishable by death, reclusion perpetua or life imprisonment when evidence of guilt is strong.”

“Here, Napoles never claimed that she was an indigent. Moreover, she was convicted of an offense punishable by reclusion perpetua. Clearly, RA 10389, does not apply to her,” the Court ’s Second Division said in a 13page resolution penned by Associate Justice Mario Lopez.

Editor: Vittorio V. Vitug • Thursday, June 17, 2021 A3

Asean defense ministers raise concern over Chinese Coast Guard law in SCS

By Rene Acosta @reneacostaBM

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SEAN defense ministers have voiced their concerns over the law that China passed and implemented this year, authorizing its Coast Guard to fire at vessels even in maritime territories that it disputes in support of its expansive claims in the South China Sea. The defense ministers raised the issue during commemoration of the 15th anniversary of the Asean Defense Ministers’ Meeting (ADMM) at the 15th ADMM and 8th ADMMPlus held virtually on Tuesday and Wednesday, according to a news statement from Department of National Defense at Camp Aguinaldo.

“On the South China Sea/West Philippine Sea [SCS/WPS], some Plus countries expressed concern on the ambiguous application of the Chinese Coast Guard Law [CGL], while stressing the importance of freedom of navigation and overflight and the early conclusion of a substantive Code of Conduct [COC],” the statement released through spokesman

Arsenio “Popong” Andolong said.

Beijing passed the CGL in January this year and took effect a month later. Among others, it authorizes its Coast Guard to fire at ships and individuals who conduct economic activities even in waters that are subjects of its claims.

The same law also gave the Chinese Coast Guard to demolish any structures in territories that it claimed.

The ADMM-Plus also shared its common regional security challenges such as terrorism, violent extremism, border control, cyber security, maritime security, and climate change.

“On recent developments on regional and international issues, the ADMM-Plus exchanged views on the military coup in Myanmar, situation in the Korean peninsula, importance of the Indo-Pacific region, and major power competition,” Andolong said.

Andolong added that the 8th ADMM-Plus, which include China, also adopted the “Bandar Seri Begawan Declaration of the ADMM-Plus

Defence Ministers on Promoting A Future-Ready, Peaceful and Prosperous Asean,” which endeavors to strengthen cooperation among the ADMM-Plus member-states and build on the practical cooperation under the ADMM-Plus EWGs to address security challenges for the collective benefit of forging a future-ready Asean.

During the 15th ADMM meeting, nine new initiatives and documents were approved, adopted, and noted by the Asean defense ministers. Notably, as coauthors, the Philippines and Singapore endorsed the Concept Paper on the ADMM’s External Engagements, which reaffirms the Asean Centrality within the ADMM and the ADMM-Plus regarding engagements with Asean’s friends and dialogue partners.

The ADMM noted the “Post-Implementation Review” (PIR) of the Annualization of the ADMM-Plus and agreed to continue the annual conduct of the ADMM-Plus.

The ADMM is the highest defense consultative and cooperative mechanism among Asean defense estab-

lishments, while the ADMM-Plus is the ADMM’s platform to meet with the defense ministers of eight plus countries namely: Australia, China, India, Japan, New Zealand, Republic of Korea, Russian Federation, and United States of America.

At the sidelines of the 15th ADMM, the Asean defense ministers met with Chinese Defense Minister Wei Fenghe during the Asean-China Defense Ministers’ Informal Meeting on Tuesday where the 30 years of Asean-China Dialogue Partnership was highlighted.

“The Philippines, as the Country Coordinator for Asean-China Dialogue Partnership from 2018 to 2021, expressed its appreciation to China for organizing several important initiatives and proposals during its coordinatorship and looked forward to advancing cooperation with China, particularly in the ADMM-Plus and its Experts’ Working Groups [EWGs]. The meeting also welcomed Myanmar as the incoming Country Coordinator for Asean-China Dialogue Relations from 2021-2024,” Andolong said.

A4 Thursday, June 17, 2021 • Editor: Vittorio V. Vitug

Economy BusinessMirror

DTI-CPG pilot tests online dispute resolution system

By Tyrone Jasper C. Piad @TyronePiad

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HE Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) has begun the pilot testing of Philippine Online Dispute Resolution System (PODRS) in a bid to improve handling of consumer complaints.

In a news statement on Wednesday, DTI’s Consumer Protection Group (CPG) said the implementation of PODRS is in line with its mandate to protect and educate Filipino consumers.

DTI-CPG noted that it issued Department Administrative Order 2005, Series of 2020 with the “purpose of developing and establishing an integrated national online system

by which all consumer complaints are received, docketed, transmitted, and resolved, providing network facility and limits of disclosure of data to maintain integrity and credibility of the system.”

The DTI aims to make PODRS a Web-based consumer complaint portal for the country. The system w ill automate the whole government process of handling consumer complaints by interlinking the member-agencies of the Consumer Network.

The trade department is rolling out PODRS with the help of United States Agency for International Development (USAID)-University of the Philippines Public Administration Research and Extension Services

Foundation Inc. (UPPAF).

To operationalize the system, PODRS will undergo three phases, including assessment; functional specifications and workshop; and compliance with data privacy, security, risk management and systems development.

“Currently on its Phase 1, the DTI and the UPPAF are in the process of assessing the process and tools used for the DTI consumer complaints management to arrive at recommendations on functionalities to be included in the development of the PODRS,” DTI said.

Apart from streamlining the consumer handling processes, the DTI-CPG is also tasked with making available channels of commu-

nications for easy access regarding consumer queries.

“The system will help both the DTI and the consumers because through the online platform, it will be easier to document and track every process of a complaint,” CPG Assistant Secretary Ann Claire C. Cabochan said.

“The department will do every measure to improve the fair, transparent, and efficient process of resolving consumer complaints in the country,” DTI Undersecretary Ruth B. Castelo added.

The trade department noted that consumer complaints have risen substantially in pandemic amid the increase in online shopping as some consumers avoid physical stores.

Zambales cautiously reopens doors to tourists and visitors

By Henry Empeño

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Correspondent

BA, Zambales—Slowly, safely, surely.

Despite the onset of rains and safety restrictions from the lingering Covid-19 pandemic, local tourism stakeholders, from fruit vendors to hotel owners, are now hoping to catch up with the tail end of the summer season when beaches and mountain resorts in the province become in demand.

This anticipation is shared by the Zambales Tourism Office, which sent out an online invitation two weeks ago for “safe and worry-free travel”

to the province—the first time it did so since the Covid-19 pandemic began 15 months ago.

“Whenever you’re ready, we are ready,” the Tourism Office said, urging visitors to ride the waves, explore exciting trails, and fall in love with nature all over again.

Zambales, which was among the most visited destinations in Central Luzon, received more than 755,000 tourists in 2019. The Department of Tourism (DOT) in Region 3 estimated that this number of arrivals generated some P1.9 billion in tourism expenditure.

But beach resorts and hotels, tour guides and campsite staff, souvenir

makers and even roadside fruit sellers have fallen on hard times since then when Covid-19 took its toll on the travel industry.

Now hope springs fresh with the May 25 memorandum circular issued by Gov. Hermogenes Ebdane Jr., which sought the experimental reopening of the provincial tourism industry, albeit with much caution.

Safe and fun

UNDER Ebdane’s order, a total of 38 hotels, resorts and accommodation establishments—out of hundreds of such facilities scattered across Zambales—have been allowed to accept visitors.

Zambales tourism officer Domitela Mora said these accredited hotels and resorts have been rigorously inspected by DOT-Region 3 and municipal joint inspection teams to enforce their compliance with health safety guidelines and accommodation standards.

“With safety protocols and health standards in place, Zambales is a safe and fun destination under the new normal,” Mora said.

At the moment, 10 out of the 13 towns in the provinces have establishments that can readily admit visitors under stringent health protocols. These are Subic, which has Whiterock Beach Hotel & Waterpark, Krrels Family Resort, Aplaya Del Subic Capati Resort, and ARA-J Lodge; San Antonio, which has eight beach resorts—Hidaway, Arirang, Canoe, Megan’s Paradiso, Destinare, Pearl Island, Pundaquit Luxury, and Youhan.

In San Narciso town, there are six accredited beach resorts: Kakay, La Paz Crystal, Prince JB, Casa Virginia, Trinidad, and Zambawood; San Felipe has three—Zamba Villas, Zambali Woods, and LJV; Cabangan has Villa Mi Amor Resort and Hotel; while Botolan has Haven, C&J Sunset View, Indira, Haya, Inner Circle, and Sundowners.

Further up north, the capital town of Iba has The Roof Bed and Breakfast, Mango Tree Inn, Tammy’s, Chloe Belle Del Monte Carlo, and Funtasea; Palauig has Armada Resort; Masinloc boasts of D’Farm and Park, and Maria’s Hotel; while Candelaria has Dawal Beach, and Potipot Gateway.

Aside from lodging, these accredited establishments have been allowed to host weddings, seminars, conferences, birthday celebrations, reunions and other events under strict health safety protocols.

Safety measure

THE reopening of Zambales to tourists happily coincided with the June 1 resolution of the Inter-Agency Task Force for the Management of Emerging Infectious Diseases (IATF), which allowed residents of all ages from the National Capital Region and the nearby provinces of Bulacan, Rizal, Laguna and to travel point-to-point

to areas under modified GCQ. Still, this was no cause for Zambales to be lax in safety requirements, Gov. Ebdane told the BusinessMirror.

“While [NCR Plus residents] are allowed and can travel as authorized, we maintain the same health protocol by which no person is allowed entry unless certified Covid-19 negative. Otherwise, they have to undergo RT-PCR [reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction] tests upon arrival at our provincial boundaries,” Ebdane said.

“If they are traveling as tourists, they still have to accomplish VisITA forms,” the governor added.

VisITA, which stands for Zambales Information and Travel Assistance, is the official Web-based travel management and tourism promotion platform (https://visita. zambales.gov.ph) that travelers intending to stay overnight in Zambales need to access to register their upcoming travel and upload required documents.

Registering at VisITA would also entail booking at DOT-accredited establishments, which are allowed to operate at only 30 percent capacity.

Meanwhile, the establishments allowed to host social events must also secure clearance from the municipal mayor and the municipal health officer before guests can register with VisITA for the planned events.

The Zambales Tourism Office has clarified recently that saliva tests performed by laboratories authorized by the Department of Health are accepted in place of RT-PCR tests for the negative RT-PCR results required upon entry in the province.

Preparations

LOC AL tourism stakeholders, meanwhile, welcomed the reopening and agreed to the requirements discussed during a meeting between Zambales officials and local resort owners last month.

On May 27, employees of the accredited tourism establishments that joined Phase 1 of the local tourism reopening program subjected themselves to SARS CoV-2 antigen testing as a first step in ensuring the safety of their business and in preparation for the arrival of visitors.

Reports from the town of Botolan indicated that all 67 tourism employees from the three accredited accommodation establishments tested negative of the Covid-19 virus.

The same was true for the 44 hotel and resort workers in San Narciso during the first batch of testing undertaken by the local health unit.

Zambales, which faces the West Philippine Sea, has one of the longest coastlines in the Philippines and is naturally popular for its beaches and island resorts.

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Tugade sets railway infra build-up goal until 2022

By Lorenz S. Marasigan @lorenzmarasigan

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Y the end of his term, Transportation Secretary Arthur P. Tugade hopes that at least 1,000 kilometers of railways in the Philippines should be in various stages of construction with 400 kilometers running commercially.

During a virtual presser, he said the agency targets to “achieve 1,200 kilometers of rails” before the term of President Duterte ends, but “realistically” it might be able to achieve a little lower than that figure.

“Speaking of realities, I want to jump-start up to 1,200 kilometers of rails, but realistically, 900 kilometers to 1,000 kilometers is still a win for us,” Tugade said.

He noted, however, that 400 kilometers should be operational by the end of his term as transport secretary.

According to the railway plan for the Philippines, by 2022, there should be 1,209 kilometers of route length, comprising of 168 stations, 1,381 trains under 34 contracts. All in all, the rail program for the Philippines costs P1.67 trillion.

Tugade noted that this plan is a

huge leap from the state of the railway sector in 2016, when only 77 kilometers of railways were operational with 61 stations, 234 trains, and only nine contracts awarded.

“In terms of actual operations, 400 kilometers will be there,” he said.

According to Transportation Undersecretary for Rails Timothy John R. Batan, the 400 kilometers will comprise of the following: Light Rail Transit (LRT) Line 1 Cavite Extension, LRT Line 2 East Extension, Metro Rail Transit (MRT) Line 7, Metro Manila Subway, and the North-South Commuter Railways.

During the briefing, Tugade also bannered his agency’s achievements in other transport sectors, including the maritime industry, aviation industry, and road sector.

Tugade is still unsure whether or not to run for public office after his term ends, noting that the decision will be based on President Duterte’s call.

“The President will decide. I am a good soldier—what the President says, so it will go,” he said.

For now, Tugade said he will “concentrate on finishing the projects” and not mind the upcoming elections.

MWSS, Maynilad, Manila Water aid Bulacan IPs, farmers with ₧37-million development fund

By Jonathan L. Mayuga @jonlmayuga

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HE Metropolitan Waterworks and Sewerage System (MWSS) and its two private water concessionaires, Maynilad Water Services Inc. (Maynilad) and Manila Water Corp. (Manila Water), have released close to P37-million development fund for indigenous peoples (IP) and farmers in Bulacan involving two major MWSS projects.

In a news statement, MWSS Chairman and Administrator Reynaldo V. Velasco said the Angat Water Transmission Improvement Project (AWTIP), or Tunnel 4, is a classic example on the importance of commitment, collaboration, partnership and respect in securing the approval of IPs in any developmental project within their ancestral domain.

The Tunnel 4 is within the 0.685 hectare ancestral domain of the IPs of Sitio Ipo, Barangay San Mateo, Norzagaray, Bulacan.

The National Commission on Indigenous Peoples (NCIP) classified the project as non-extractive, nonintrusive and small-scale.

The Indigenous Cultural Communities/Indigenous Peoples (ICCs/ IPs), specifically the Dumagat Indigenous Cultural Communities/ Indigenous Peoples of Kabayunan Ancestral Domain in Doña Remedios Trinidad and Norzagaray, Bulacan, have expressed their support to the project during the Free, Prior and Informed Consent (FPIC) processes on consultation, community assemblies, consensus building and decision-making.

“Community participation is always critical in identifying local needs and the MWSS provided an appropriate response from the IPs,” Velasco said, crediting the strong relationship the MWSS has maintained with the IPs/ICCs that paved the way for the signing of the memorandum of agreement (MOA) on December 17, 2019.

The MOA includes the indigenous defined FPIC processes, selfdetermined development plans, and a P20-million Community Development Fund.

The Certification Precondition, or CP, a certificate issued by the NCIP attesting to the grant of FPIC by the Dumagat Indigenous Cultural Communities/Indigenous Peoples of Kabayunan Ancestral Domain was signed on September 25, 2020.

Soon after, the MWSS conces-

sionaires, Manila Water Company and Maynilad Services Inc. funded the check for P20 million promised to the community. For transparency, a ceremonial turnover and acceptance of the community development assistance was held recently.

Mr. Rodolfo Aquino, president of the Indigenous Bulos-Kabol-Lowen Association of Bulacan, accepted the check. In his message, Tribal Governor Rolando M. Rivera stated that the fund will improve the community’s quality of life and will be used to promote the IP’s interests, beliefs, and customs.

Meanwhile, Velasco reported the release of P16.25 million worth of financial support to the 6,500 farmers of Angat-Maasim River Irrigation System (AMRIS) Federation of Irrigators Association Inc. represented by the group’s President Guillermo N. Mangaluz recently.

The financial assistance is part of the AMRIS and Bustos Dam project came following the drought and Covid-19 pandemic in 2020.

Due to the drought and repair of the Bustos Dam in May 2020, MWSS requested the National Water Resources Board (NWRB) to increase allocation for Metro Manila’s domestic use to sustain the high water demand due to Covid-19.

National Irrigation Administration’s (NIA) concurrence and NWRB’s approval of additional release to MWSS ensured continuous water availability in the service area.

In the spirit of bayanihan, MWSS tapped Maynilad and Manila Water to underwrite and equally fund the financial assistance to the farmers.

“With the assistance of NIA, we were able to select the qualified beneficiaries. With gratitude, I wish to thank Maynilad Water Services Inc. and Manila Water Company Inc. for making the necessary payment as compensation to the farmer-beneficiaries,” said Velasco.

Joining Velasco in the turnover of the financial support were NIA Administrator Ricardo R. Visaya, Maynilad CEO Ramoncito S. Fernandez, Manila Water Chief Operations Officer Abelardo P. Basilio, Bulacan Provincial Governor Daniel R. Fernando, Bulacan Provincial Agriculturist Ma. Gloria SF. Carillo, NIA Regional Manager Josephine Salazar, and other officials from NIA Central Office, Regional Office, and Bulacan AMRIS Federation of IA attended the event.

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Thursday, June 17, 2021 A5

New trade body PTFC to hone MSME competitiveness–DOF chief

By Bernadette D. Nicolas @BNicolasBM

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HE newly formed Philippine Trade Facilitation Committee (PTFC) will play a critical role in enabling micro, small and medium enterprises (MSMEs) to actively participate in international trade and broaden their access to global value chains, Finance Secretary Carlos G. Dominguez III said on Wednesday.

At the first meeting of the PTFC on Wednesday, Dominguez pointed out that MSMEs often lack access to global markets and have no financial capacity to overcome “inefficiencies” of the trading system.

Thus, Dominguez said, PTFC will aim to streamline trade processes and modernize major Customs operations, to the benefit of MSMEs. “Our work is especially critical for the micro, small and medium enterprises or MSMEs that often do not have the financial capacity to overcome the inefficiencies of the trading system and lack access to global markets. What we aim to accomplish here will allow them to actively participate in international trade and broaden their access to the global value chains,” said Dominguez, who was designated as PTFC chairman.

The PTFC was created through Executive Order (EO) 136, which was issued last May 18 by President

Duterte to enable the Philippines to comply with its commitments under the World Trade Organization-Trade Facilitation Agreement (WTO-TFA).

The WTO-TFA mandates each member-state to establish and/or maintain a national committee on trade facilitation, or designate an existing mechanism to facilitate both domestic coordination and implementation of the provisions of the agreement.

But beyond compliance to the country’s commitments to the WTO, Dominguez said PTFC was also formed to ensure that the country would remain competitive in the evolving global trade landscape.

Harmonizing the country’s trade processes and modernizing customs operations will also allow the country to thrive in the digital economy and make trade transactions cheaper, more efficient and transparent, the finance chief said. On top of this, it will also enhance revenue generation and allow the government to pinpoint sources of administrative inefficiencies and corruption.

These would also lead to a more conducive trading environment for businesses, which, in turn, will increase the country’s trade volumes and reduce costs for both consumers and producers, he added.

Moreover, Dominguez said, the spillover effects of improved trade

processes and Customs administration will also result in the creation of more jobs and bring in more possible investments, and help advance the skills and capabilities of Filipino workers and local entrepreneurs.

“All these will support the sustainable and long-term growth of the economy,” said Dominguez, adding t hat the expansion of the cou nt r y ’s trade market is one of the vital factors that would help the country's postpa ndem ic recovery.

Department of Trade and Industr y Sec ret a r y (DTI) Secretary Ramon Lopez sits as co-chairman of the PTFC, with

DOLE launches free bicycle, cell-phone program for fully-vaccinated frontliners

By Samuel P. Medenilla @sam_medenilla

A

T least 2,000 fully-vaccinated economic frontliners will be given a brandnew free bicycle from the Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE) as part of the government efforts to vaccinate more Filipinos against Covid-19.

On Wednesday, Labor Secretary Silvestre H. Bello III announced the launch of their “BakSikleta” program on July 1, 2021 to encourage more workers to get their jabs.

He said the beneficiaries of the program could even start a delivery service since the bicycle units will also be equipped with a bag along with cell phone with a P5,000 load.

“Once they get two doses, they will be

entitled to the bike,” Bello said, adding that more details will be announced later on the mechanics of the new program.

He said they would be initially start distributing 1,000 bikes in the National Capital Region and another batch of 1,000 more units in other parts of the country.

As of June 13, 2021, the government was able to vaccinate 152,964 economic frontliners.

Of which, 7,021 have been fully vaccinated after getting their second Covid-19 jabs.

Bello said they expect more workers to be vaccinated by July with the expected arrival of 11.6 million Covid-19 doses.

The National Economic and Development Authority earlier estimated there are a total of 35.5 million workers who are included in the A4 category that mainly comprising of economic frontliners.

House panel eyes penalty vs persons behind error-ridden learning modules

By Jasper Emmanuel Y. Arcalas @jearcalas

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HE House Committee on Public Accounts is mulling over the filing of penalty against the people behind the publication and distribution of school books, learning materials and self-learning modules that contained errors or misleading information in Mabalacat, Pampanga. “ T he Maba lacat lear ning modu le that contained vulgarity is very alarming. While DepEd [Department of Education] officials boasted that they corrected the error, it pains us to learn that the culprit has not been punished,” the committee’s chairman and Probinsyano Ako Party-list Rep. Jose C. Singson Jr. said in a statement on Wednesday.

Singson referred to the report of Antonio Calipjo-Go, who revealed that the vulgar Filipino word for sexual intercourse has been published in the selflearning module (SLM) distributed to students by the DepEd division in Mabalacat, Pampanga.

The obscene word was used in describing what an aswang is and what it does.

Singson said DepEd Undersecretary Tonisito Umali admitted that the DepEd has already acted on the issue as early as February 2021 but the person who “purposely” inserted the vulgar word in the SLM has yet to be identified and punished.

“What he or she did was intentional, glaringly malicious and utterly despicable. Like the numerous errors found by the Commis-

sion on Audit in DepEd’s learning materials, it will be difficult for our students to unlearn what their teachers asked them to digest,” the lawmaker said.

Due to this, Singson said the public accounts panel would determine whether to impose penalties against the persons involved in the publication and distribution of books and learning materials for students in basic and secondary education.

He explained that the possible penalties would be imposed against the authors and writers of the SLM but will also be extended to the government officials and personnel tasked to edit, proofread, examine and approve the errant books for publication and distribution.

“Unlike our students who are minors and are gullible to assimilate what is taught them in school, I believe it is now time to teach those who committed mistakes, whether intentional or not, a lesson,” Singson said.

Singson presided over Monday’s initial hearing on House Resolution 1670 that directed the House panel to conduct an investigation, in aid of legislation, on the Commission on Audit findings on numerous errors in the learning materials and modules that DepEd approved, published or distributed to basic and secondary education students.

Singson added that the House panel also expects an “acceptable justification” from the DepEd regarding its continued failure to comply with the provisions of Republic Act 8047, which removed from the department the responsibility of publishing books.

the Bureau of Customs serving as the Committee Secretariat.

The other members of the PTFC are ranking officials from the Departments of Agriculture, Foreign Affairs, Environment and Natural Resources, and Transportation; National Economic and Development

Authority; Tariff Commission; Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas; DTI-Bureau of International Trade Relations; DTI-Bureau of Import Services; Food and Drug Administration; and the Philippine Economic Zone Authority.

Official representatives of the member-agencies to the PTFC were

appointed during the meeting.

Also invited to the meeting were representatives from the World Bank, who briefed the PTFC on the role of national trade facilitation committees and shared the best practices of other countries that have put in place these mechanisms.

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Barbarians at the cybergate: When defending

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By Rizal Raoul Reyes

UMBERS never lie. But when couched in malicious code, numbers could lie and compromise systems.

Hence, from a sphere involving solely the private sector, cybersecurity has become a major agenda in talks among representatives of advanced economies, like US President Joseph Biden Jr. and Russian leader Vladimir Putin in this week’s summit between the previously opposite poles of a slumbering Cold War. Moreover, cybersecurity was recently in the limelight when cybercriminals attacked two major American establishments through ransomware.

These cybercriminals didn’t spare lesser-developed economies.

According to Russian cybersecurity firm Kaspersky Lab ZAO, data breach is a major challenge facing not only the Philippines but other countries in the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (Asean) region as well. Singapore, Malaysia, Thailand and Vietnam all share the same predicament, making the region a flashpoint of data breaches.

Citing 2020 figures, Kaspersky said it would cost a small enterprise and medium business a hefty $101,000 (P4.8 million) if they get hit. Meanwhile, an enterpriselevel company’s potential losses would be hefty at $1.09 million (P52.4 million). Further, organizations both big and small also expected to see their reputation damaged, resulting to a loss of customers.

Breach in data

REPUTATION would be the least of problems for governments when highly-classified information is compromised.

“For an individual, it is possible becoming a victim of burglary or car theft if your home address, location or vehicle registration det a i l s a re sh a red publ ic ly,” Kaspersky said.

According to the Russian network security provider, the worstcase scenario is if an individual becomes a victim of identity theft.

“If your device is hacked, you could potentially lose priceless personal photos and videos, lose access to your online accounts like social media and email and then get blackmailed, lose money if cybercriminals get hold of your financial information, be charged for loans if they get your social security or passport details—all because someone else now has your data and could easily pretend to be you.”

Kaspersky has long emphasized that governments must immediately address the threat of data breach.

I n A pr i l , a l most 9 0 0,0 0 0 Facebook accounts of Filipino users were reportedly included in a large-scale data leak that affected over 506 million users worldwide. In the same month, some 345,000 sensitive court documents of ongoing legal cases were found to have been made publicly available.

Earlier this year, data of about 3.3 million users of an online lending platform was reported to have been sold on the Dark Web.

Engineering technique

IN 2019, Kaspersky said private details of 900,000 clients of a pawnshop operator were affected by a breach.

There were several more but

the massive leakage of personal information of 55 million Filipino voters in 2016 remains to be the biggest data breach in the history of the Philippines.

“Generally, a data breach happens due to weaknesses in user behavior (human) and technology.

Our devices get more connective features so there are places where data could slip through. There is no specific sector or person that’s being targeted as cyber criminals do not discriminate,” Yeo Siang Tiong, General Manager for Southeast Asia at Kaspersky, said. “Anyone is vulnerable.”

Yeo Siang pointed out that cybercriminals behind data breaches use manipulation techniques like social engineering to exploit human error and penetrate the system. He added that cybercriminals use many forms of social engineering tricks. These include: offering time-sensitive opportunities; mass phishing; carrying out personalized and targeted attacks; intercepting communications; posing as someone legitimate; and, a dozen creative others.

Kaspersky product users in the Philippines reported a 160.43-percent rise in detected web threats under social engineering attacks from the first quarter of 2019 (7,674,407) to the first quarter of 2021 (19,987,120).

Internet users

CYBERSECURITY has been thrust into the top in the agenda of many with the continuing over-reliance on technology to move the gears of the economy.

But unlike its neighbors in the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (Asean), the Philippines has been slow in adopting digital technology. In 2011, only about 31.33 percent or 33.6 million of its 100 million-plus people were Internet users.

Of the Internet users in the country, 75 percent use personal computers while 25 percent use their mobile phones to access the Internet, whether for personal or business purposes.

The average age for Internet users in the country is estimated to be 23 years old and below. Most of them spend around 21.5 hours per week browsing the Internet. About 51 percent of these Internet users have active profiles on YouTube.

As of 2012, the Philippines ranked sixth in the total number of Internet users in Asia but third in the world in the number of Facebook users. About 48 percent of these users are male while 52 percent are female.

Making improvements

ACCORDING to Christina LiangBoguszewicz, founder of BI Consulting Group LLC, the Philippine National Police (PNP) reported a total of 2,778 cybercrime-related offenses from 2003 to 2012.

“This trend in criminal activity necessitates the need for a dedicated unit within the PNP to go after these offenders and improve its cybersecurity posture,” LiangBoguszewicz said.

According to data she obtained, the PNP has recorded a total of 1,184 incidents from 2010 to 2012, with the highest being the attacks targeting government websites where a total of 940 website defacements have been recorded.

Liang-Boguszewicz defines cybersecurity as involving the protection of key information and devices from cyber threats.”

“The classification of information and its protection, the cyber culture in an organization and the critical understanding that cybersecurity is a business level and company-wide are imperative” for many, she added.

Liang-Boguszewicz added that cybersecurity encompasses a complex suite of practices, tools, strategies and people; a culture that now form part of the business across all functions, As a result, tackling cybersecurity requires a holistic picture to be understood.

Assessing roles

LIANG-Boguszewicz points out that conventional strategic thinking will not be effective in meeting the demands of digital growth and cybersecurity. Therefore, it needs a shift in strategic thinking where it treats cybersecurity as fabric, “where all transformation is built upon.”

“There needs to be a top-down cyberculture actually implemented across the board,” she said.

In crafting a comprehensive cybersecurity plan, each member of the C-suite should possess a mindset that considers the impact of digital transformation, LiangBoguszewicz said.

According to her, the CEO must know what he or she should do about digital disruptions in the industry.

“How does digital help me grow the business, enter new markets, or strengthen the position? And how does it threaten my value chain ecosystem of customers, suppliers, and business partners?”

The chief operating officer (COO), meanwhile, must know how to use digital to align the organization for increased speed to market and more flexibility.

“How can the COO deploy digital solutions to improve business process efficiency? Does digital change the level of vertical and horizontal integration?”

Going forward

THE Chief Information Officer (CIO), meanwhile, must consider several factors in the crafting of a comprehensive cybersecurity plan, Liang-Boguszewicz said.

She added that the CIO must know where information technology (IT) helps create new business models and opportunities.

“Does the IT organization have the capabilities to facilitate innovation and enable the business strategy? Where does the CIO need to invest in order to be ahead of the technology curve?”

Last but not the least, the chief finance officer (CFO) must address the economics of the building of a cybersecurity infrastructure, according to Liang-Boguszewicz.

“How can digital help me to improve financial performance?

Where is the profitability of our product/services threatened by digital, new market entrants with much lower cost structures?”

The CIO must know how he or she can better control the business with real-time information.

“Management must collaborate on the digital agenda to properly react to digital disruption in the industry,” Liang-Boguszewicz said.

Both government and the private sector must raise their digital and cyber maturity level to get a clear picture of the situation, she added.

This means each organization must utilize a standard approach, and understand clearly the direction they are going to. The two parties also need to determine their current status to be able to

devise a solution blueprint, LiangBoguszewicz added.

In fledgling state

LIANG-Boguszewicz described the Philippines as “enhancing [the] capability to combat cybercrime but woefully unprepared to deal with cyberterrorism and cyberwar.”

Joanne Wong, LogRhythm Inc. vice president for international markets, agrees saying the country’s cybersecurity infrastructure is still in its fledgling stage.

According to Wong, Covid-19 has accelerated cyber risks and threats which unleashed its own cyber pandemic.

As organizations increasingly embark on digital transformation journeys and shift to remote work and consumers rely on digital services during a global lockdown, there is a huge risk when people expose themselves to opportunistic cybercriminals looking to cash in on cyber vulnerabilities, she added.

“The Philippines, while growing rapidly as a digitally-savvy nation, is still in the nascent stages of its cybersecurity maturity; so [it] remains extremely susceptible to cyberattacks,” Wong said.

“For instance, we saw phishing attempts increase by 200 percent

since the start of the domestic lockdown last year, and 44 percent of Philippines-based consumers have reported being targets for digital fraud within the first quarter of 2021,” Wong added. “Organizations have not been exempted either, with a Filipino fintech platform recently entangled in a highprofile data breach that resulted in close to 3.3 million user records being stolen and sold online.”

Network access

AS the Philippines continues to contain the pandemic and drive economic recovery, Wong underscored giving importance to cybersecurity as a key pillar in its strategy towards economic recovery.

Failure to do so, according to Wong, would have disastrous consequences as the nation will only continue to face heightened threats as digital and online services become more prevalent; including phishing, ransomware, data breaches and online fraud schemes.

Pamela Ong, sales director for Asia-Pacific of Slovakian Internet security firm ESET spol. sro, said the advent of Covid-19 has brought to the table the increasing importance of cybersecurity, especially when the work-from-home concept became more popular in the

Philippines.

At a time when businesses are relying on resilience to rebuild, Ong warned that malicious actors are continually exploiting the security vulnerabilities that accompany remote working. “ With employees accessing business data and corporate network remotely from home, ESET had detected an almost 10-fold increase in [Microsoft Corp.] Window’s remote desktop protocol (RDP) attack attempts in the Philippines in the last four months of 2020 against the [first trimester] (T1) [of that year],” she said.

Globa l ly, Ong pointed out these attacks remained prevalent in the first four months of 2021 (T1 2021) “as our telemetry had recorded close to 27 billion password guesses trying to compromise Internet-facing systems via RDP, which are widely used to allow connecting to the corporate network from remote computers.”

Adopting a model

WONG said the Philippines is on the right track as it has committed to strengthening its National Cybersecurity Plan 2022 to safeguard critical ICT infrastructure and enhance cyber resilience competencies.

She noted that the National

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ng cyberspace means life and death for many Privacy Commission (NPC) has also been proactive to release up d ate d se c u r it y g u ide l i nes during this Covid-19 period, in a bid to support organizations’ remote working efforts, protect personal data for consumers and penalize the private sector for data privacy violations.

Wong emphasized it’s quite important for the Philippines to continue to double-down on its c ybersecur it y efforts and keep a tight eye on potential threats and vulnerabilities in its system. She urges the Duterte government to establish clear guidelines for both public and private institutions on how to conduct c ybersecur it y operations as well as put in place dedicated systems and processes to maintain visibility across their entire network.

“Only then will they be able to detect and remediate threats with speed and ease,” she expl a i ned. “ Fu r t her more, t he y must look to adopt a Zero Trust model to tailor controls around sensit ive d at a a nd net work s based on user roles, so as to minimize the impact of data breaches in the organization.”

Timeframe setting

ACCORDING to Canalys Pte. Ltd., cybersecurity will remain a high priority this year, “as the range of threats broadens and new vulnerabilities emerge, while the frequency of attacks is unlikely to subside.”

The Canalys cybersecurity market global forecast assumes current investment trends will persist. It correctly predicted in January that the first half of the year will be affected by ongoing lockdown restrictions and furloughs in response to the pandemic.

“Covid-19 vaccine approvals and the start of mass vaccination programs have set a timeframe for reopening economies and a sustained global recovery from mid-year.”

Canalys expects the overall cybersecurity market value to reach $60.2 billion this year, covering shipments of endpoint security, network security, web and email security, data security, vulnerability and security analytics and identity access management.

Even in its worst-case scenario, Canalys’s outlook for the cybersecurity market is for annual growth of 6.6 percent.

Canalys said the market’s growth is based on the assumption that “a deeper and protracted economic impact from lockdowns and considers the emergence of new variants of the virus.”

BM GRAPHICS: JOB RUZGAL

Industries included

NONETHELESS, Canalys said in January that “cybersecurity budgets have been resilient during the pandemic.” So far.

However, the company said SM B s p e nd i n g w a s a f fe c te d and workforce reductions and furloughs hurt some renewals and multi-year deals, especially in the hardest-hit sectors, including hospitality, retail and transport.

“Supply chain issues were also a factor in hardware fulfillment earlier in 2020 but have since eased,” Canalys said.

Despite the continued growth in cybersecurity investment, the number of data breaches and records being compromised, as well as ransomware attacks, reached an all-time high last year, according to Canalys.

The company said over 12 billion records, containing a range of personal identifiable information, were reportedly compromised last year, while the number of known ransomware attacks increased by

nearly 60 percent.

“Misconfigurations of cloudbased databases and phishing campaigns targeting the vulnerabilities of unsecured and poorly trained remote workers were key factors,” the research firm said. “Sadly at this time, with the healthcare and education sectors under extraordinary pressure, more attacks and online fraud were directed at them. Ongoing mass remote working and learning, and the acceleration of digital transformation projects will maintain this trend in 2021.”

Various challenges

THE Philippines must also reckon with the dearth of cybersecurity personnel and low level of cybersecurity awareness among its citizens.

A cou nt r y ’s c yber defense strategy is only as strong as its weakest connection, Wong said, citing a need to increase cyber literacy among Filipinos to prevent them from falling victims to cyberattacks.

There is also a need to upgrade the skills of the Philippines workforce to ensure that there are enough cybersecurity professionals that can help support and safeguard today’s digital operations.

Indeed, according to Canalys Chief Analyst Matthew Ball, “cybersecurity professional services engagements in response to this latest issue will be one of many factors contributing to sustained investment this year, especially in newer solutions to mitigate emerging threats.”

It goes without saying that cybersecurity needs to be a collective effort between the public and private sectors, according to ESET’s Ong. While the government sets the tone for cybersecurity, it must draw on the industry expertise of the private sector and take into consideration different industry nuances when developing and implementing new guidelines, she added.

“At the same time, there is also a huge opportunity to partner with private institutions—especially those in the tech and e-commerce sector—to provide IT skills training for Filipinos and raise the level of cyber literacy in the nation.”

Exacerbating the situation

K ASPERK Y ’S Yeo Siang noted that current threats have become increasingly complex and malicious.

To exacerbate the situation, the attacks do not recognize boundaries such that an attack targeting Southeast Asia may be originating from Europe and vice versa, he added.

“A successful defense requires a new approach—one that is proactive and adapts to the threat environment as it changes,” Yeo Siang said. “In short, building an advanced specialized framework with the most intelligent solutions is a recommended countermeasure that any sector in the Philippines needs to have in place to respond quickly to new threats.”

Yeo Siang said an ideal formula must be composed of three elements: continued education on all levels of cyber hygiene; active col laboration bet ween private sectors and the government to combat cyber-attacks; and, use of the most current technolog y.

This is important as, Ball said, “the biggest threats are always those not yet known.”

Indeed, barbarians are at the cybergates, using numbers that appear harmless but lie in wait to breach cyberdefense.

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DOH: Wearing face shields still a must for indoor sites, activities

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By Claudeth Mocon-Ciriaco

@claudethmc3

HE Department of Health (DOH) on Wednesday maintained that wearing of face shields is “mandatory” in specific settings and situations to mitigate Covid-19 transmission as cited in the Joint Memorandum Circular (JMC) issued by various government agencies.

However, the public may consider not wearing face shields when they are outdoors, said an official.

“This has always been the standing policy. At the minimum, face shields are required to be worn in the following settings, as indicated in the Joint Memorandum Circular 20210001 on the Clarificatory Guidelines on the Mandatory Use of Face Shields Outside of Residence for Covid-19 Mitigation,” Health Undersecretary Maria Rosario Vergeire said.

She was referring to: enclosed public spaces, schools, workplaces, commercial establishments such as but not limited to food establishments, malls, and public markets; public transport and terminals; places of worship; and other public spaces wherein 1-meter physical distancing is not possible and there is

gathering of more than 10 people at the same venue at the same time.

The JMC 2021-0001 was issued by the DOH and the Departments of Transportation (DOTr), Labor and Employment (DOLE), Trade and Industry (DTI), Interior and Local Government (DILG), Public Works and Highways (DPWH), Philippine Sports Commission, and Games and Amusement Board.

In an interview with PTV on Wednesday, Labor Undersecretary Lepoldo Vega said wearing of face shields is a must for those who will be indoors or will have face-to-face interactions.

However, he noted that if a person is outside, he or she can remove the face shield since there is lower risk of Covid-19 transmission.

“But if they will go indoors, they

need face shield as an added protection so they will be not transmit or get infected with Covid-19,” Vega said.

He issued the statement amid calls by some local officials for the national government to reconsider requiring the wearing of face shields.

The DOH reiterated on Wednesday that active transport users are not required to use face shields due to its potential safety risks when used during active transport.

During the Senate hearing on the utilization of the vaccination program’s P82.5-billion budget on Tuesday, Interior Secretary Eduardo Año clarified that not wearing of face shield is “allowed outdoors,” but one will still be required to wear it before entering some business establishments.

Senate President Vicente Sotto III asked Health Secretary Francisco T. Duque III to submit “studies, research, and list of places that are mandating and not mandating the wearing of face shield.” Duque promised to do so.

Covid cases

THE DOH, meanwhile, logged 5,414 additional cases on Wednesday, bringing the total number of cases in the country to 1,332,832.

There were also 7,637 recoveries and 158 deaths.

Of the total number of cases, 4.2 percent (56,170) are active, 94.1 percent (1,253,541) have recovered, and 1.73 percent (23,121) have died.

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In uncharacteristic statement, CHR lauds DENR’s pandemic waste mgmt program

By Jonathan L. Mayuga @jonlmayuga

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HE Commission on Human Rights (CHR) has lauded the effort of the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) in implementing programs to improve waste management in the Philippines.

In a news statement, CHR Spokesman Atty. Jacqueline Ann de Guia said while national and local interventions during the pandemic are largely focused on protecting lives and economies, management of waste is also essential to minimize long-term risks to human and environmental health.

“In line with the celebration of the Philippine Environment Month this June, the Commission on Human Rights lauds the effort of the Department of Environment and Natural Resources in completing the closure of the 335 open dumpsites all

over the country, and on its continued commitment to strictly enforce Republic Act 9003, or the Ecological Solid Waste Management Act of 2000,” de Guia said.

In a news statement issued on Tuesday, CHR said “the environmental degradation we are exposed to in our daily lives can lead to very serious and continuing violations of our human rights.

People’s health, food and water safety, housing, and overall wellbeing can be negatively affected by improper disposal of waste and hazardous materials.”

“Some of the health and environmental risks of illegal dumpsites include the contamination of soil and water; increased risks of natural disasters and health issues; and disruption of wildlife. Unlike sanitary landfills, illegal dumpsites do not have built-in systems and constant monitoring for environmental safety,” de Guia said.

De Guia said that RA 9003 specifically bans the use of open dumpsites for solid waste by any person, including local government units (LGUs).

“We commend that appropriate cases have been filed by the DENR against public officials who have not fully complied with the law in their capacity as heads of LGUs,” she said.

According to de Guia, waste management requires integrated assessments and holistic approaches for its solution.

She said that while the CHR supports the successful efforts of LGUs in their crafting and implementation of their own local solid waste management plan, detailing their framework for reusing, recycling, and composting waste in their jurisdiction, “we emphasize that waste disposal system has to be simple and accessible for common people for it to work.”

Bishop, labor group press Palace to cooperate in ICC probe

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HURCH and labor leaders warned the government will continue to lose its own credibility if it continues to refuse to cooperate with the possible investigation of the International Criminal Court (ICC).

In a news statement, Kilusang Mayo Uno secretary general Jerome Adonis said Malacañang’s rejection of the ICC investigation on the alleged human rights violation

in the war against illegal drugs betrays a desperate attempt to shield President Rodrigo R. Duterte from the issue.

“The regime’s refusal to cooperate is actually a sign of guilt,” Adonis said.

Manila Apostolic Administrator Bishop Broderick Pabillo said the government could end speculation on the said issue by simply accepting the ICC probe.

“It [probe] is welcome development since if they have not done anything wrong, it will show in the investigation, but if they did, then it will also show,” Pabillo said in an online news briefing on Wednesday.

He said the Church has been calling for transparency on the issue to prevent the culture of impunity in the government.

Samuel Medenilla

Agriculture/Commodities BusinessMirror

www.businessmirror.com.ph

Editor: Jennifer A. Ng • Thursday, June 17, 2021 A9

‘BAPTC transformation to hike planters income’

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By Jasper Emmanuel Y. Arcalas

@jearcalas

he Department of Agriculture (DA) on Wednesday said the Benguet Agri-Pinoy Trading Center (BAPTC) will be transformed into a corporation to provide it with the flexibility to expand its operations.

Agriculture Secretary William D. Dar, who chairs the BAPTC’s Project Steering Board (PSB), said transforming the BAPTC into a corporation would “optimize” potentials and profitability of the center through “more cost-efficient services and modern facilities.”

Dar noted that the present operation of the BAPTC is “constrained by a bureaucratic government system, hindering its growth, sustainability and profitability.”

“As a corporation, the BAPTC will become a major player in our drive to modernize and industrialize the

agriculture industry in the Cordillera region,” he said.

“With a corporate set-up, stakeholders will be able to optimize their benefits, improve the marketability of Cordillera vegetables, and provide our farmers, buyers and traders reasonable profit for their produce. Further, it could create subsidiaries to engage in other revenue-generating enterprises.”

At present, the BAPTC has six main stakeholders which are represented in the PSB that serves as its policy-making and advisory board, according to the DA. The DA secretary chairs the PSB, while the Benguet State University president sits as vice-chair.

The other members are the Benguet provincial governor, La Trinidad municipal mayor, Benguet district congressman, and representative of the Benguet farmers leaders’ council.

Dr. Violeta Salda of BSU currently serves as BAPTC chief operations officer.

During its meeting last May 31, the DA said the BAPTC board suggested some businesses that the corporation will undertake once its incorporation is completed: trading of farm inputs and implements, other agricultural and food processing equipment; setting up of one-stop shop store including pharmacy; savings and loan unit; training and events management; and physical wellness facility.

The BAPTC started its trading operations in July 2015 with a P700million funding from the DA. The DA noted that the BAPTC was constructed to “decongest the decadesold La Trinidad vegetable trading post, which still operates to this day.”

The BAPTC has facilitated the trading of vegetables in the area

from a mere 269 metric tons (MT) in its initial year to 169,850 MT last year. The number of its stakeholders has ballooned from 108 farmers to more than 40,000 to date, according to the DA. Likewise, BAPTC’s income has grown over the years reaching P11.73 million in 2020 from just P5.6 million in 2017, the DA added.

As of May, the BAPTC has accredited 187 groups, composed of: 146 farmers’ cooperatives and associations (FCAs), with more than 31,400 members; 34 buyers and traders groups, four transport groups, and three packers’ and porters’ group, with a combined membership of more than 4,500.

The BAPTC has also accredited 5,452 individual farmers, market facilitators, buyers, inter-traders, packers and porters, the DA said.

The DA said the bulk of major

vegetables traded in the BAPTC in the past six years, such as cabbage, potato, radish and carrots, came from the towns Mankayan, Kibugan, Buguias, and Bakun, in Benguet and in Bauko, in Mountain Province.

The highland vegetables are sold mostly in Divisoria and Balintawak in Metro Manila; Urdaneta, Pangasinan; Batangas; and Tacloban.

“In all, we are proud that the center has continued operating despite community lockdowns due to the pandemic, thus ensuring unhampered flow of food supply to Metro Manila and other major vegetable consumption areas,” he said.

“In succeeding months and years, we will continue to help Cordillera farmers adopt a market-oriented, value-chain or food systems strategy, aimed at increasing both their productivity and income.”

Group: Govt should focus on restoring Sustained efforts needed to manage marine resources of Manila Bay sardine stocks in Bicol waters–group

By Jonathan L. Mayuga @jonlmayuga

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he militant Pambansang Lakas ng Kilusang Mamamalakaya ng Pilipinas (PAMALAKAYA) chided the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) as the agency led a coconut tree-planting activity along Roxas Boulevard as an added attraction to beach nourishment project along Manila Bay. “Still absurd, trying hard, waste of public resources, and simply for aesthetics with a meager to no contribution to the rehabilitation of Manila Bay,” Fernando Hicap, National coordinator of PAMALAKAYA said in a statement.

Members of the local government of Manila’s Department of Public Services remove trash from Manila Bay According to Hicap, al- during the coconut-planting activity of the Department of Environment and Natural Resources on Wednesday. though it is natural for coconut Roy Domingo palm trees to grow in coastlines, slammed Environment Secretary Roy Cimatu for his alit has “nothing to do with” addressing the environmental leged “misplaced priorities and taking the opposite track” degradation of Manila Bay. of the Supreme Court’s continuing mandamus to clean-up, “Just because it’s natural doesn’t mean it is necessary restore, and rehabilitate Manila Bay. and priority to restore the bay’s ecosystem. Planting of “The DENR has completely lost touch with the reality coconut palm trees along the shores reflects the government’s thrust on Manila Bay a rehabilitation which is solely by ridiculously envisioning a tropical paradise in Manila based on external beautification, rather than restoration Bay when small fisherfolks and coastal residents actuof its marine and fishery resources.” ally need restoration of fishery resources for their liveliPAMALAKAYA has strongly criticized the beach hood and food security,” Hicap, also a fisherman based nourishment project of the DENR and the Department in Cavite said. of Public Works and Highways which involved the Instead of coconut trees, the group proposed the resdumping of crushed dolomite to mimic the white sand toration of mangrove forests and seagrasses that are vital beach of Boracay, the country’s top tourist destination, to Manila Bay’s ecosystem and biodiversity that serve as in Malay, Aklan. fish sanctuaries, pollution filter, and coastal communiThe former Anakpawis Party-list Representative ties’ flood defense.

Drilon. . .

continued from A12

“This is a burden to the next administration,” said Drilon, adding: “I don’t know why they want to run for President [when] we have this hefty debt.”

Still, he affirmed support for government options on borrowings to finance the Covid-19 response, recalling that the Finance secretary made assurances that the debt level “remains manageable.”

He worried, however, that the national debt may continue to increase

as government will have to resort to more borrowings to finance its Covid-19 response, including the purchase of vaccines—given the fact that the Philippine economy has been in the longest recession since the 1980s—and the low tax collections.

Drilon noted the economy shrank by 4.2 percent during the first quarter of this year and recorded a fullyear 2020 economic contraction of 9.5 percent, as he recalled that the World Bank recently downgraded its Philippine economic growth forecast to 4.7 percent from the previous forecast of 5.5 percent.

“Our economy is shrinking. About

4.14 million people lost their jobs in April. About 21 percent of Filipino families experienced involuntary hunger,” he said.

At the same time, Drilon described as a “pipe dream” the Duterte government’s economic projection that the Philippine economy will be able to recover starting the second quarter of 2022. “I don’t believe that.

Even with the election spending in 2022, I don’t think we would be on the road to recovery by the second quarter of 2022. To say that we will be going back to the 2019 economic level by the second quarter of 2022 is a pipe dream.” Butch Fernandez

S

ustainable fisheries management is needed to protect the sardine population in the inner waters of Bicol Region, which provides the second-highest production of this much-favored fish, next only to Zamboanga Peninsula, according to a nongovernment organization.

During the recent orientation and workshop for the National Sardines Management Plan (Plan) for Fisheries Management Area (FMA) 7, stakeholders agree that the fishing grounds of Ticao-Burias Pass, San Bernardino Strait, and Ragay Gulf have an enormous potential in sardine production, but there is compelling urgency for stakeholders to work together to address the challenges in managing the sardine stocks.

Based on the 2019 Philippine Statistics Authority Report on the annual production of sardines, the Bicol Region, next to the Zamboanga Peninsula, recorded the highest production of tamban and tunsoy. There are 20 sardines species that were found in FMA 7, including Sardinella lemuru (lawlaw) and Sardinella gibbosa (alubaybay/tamban/tunsoy).

Oceana Vice President Gloria Estenzo Ramos emphasized the importance of the plan, particularly in the restoration and recovery of sardine stocks, as well as other fisheries and marine habitats.

“It is heart-breaking to see the sardines catch of fishers in Bulan, Sorsogon being wasted because there are no buyers, or the price is too low. These could have been avoided and the fisherfolk are able to earn more if the hurdles in the supply chain are addressed,” Ramos said in a statement.

“Thus, we urge the Management Body of the sardine-rich FMAs to prioritize the conduct of a participatory process to adopt and incorporate the Plan in the respective Management Plan of the FMA. The plan is a comprehensive roadmap to ensure that we are able to sustainably manage our sardines resources in the ocean while our fisherfolk are in a better position to earn money to sustain their daily needs.”

Ramos said it is the role of the FMA Management body to achieve

the goals of the plan, adopt it in the concrete condition and problems, in this case, in FMA 7 where Bulan, Sorsogon is covered, and take action on the areas needing policies and intervention support.

Dr. Juan D. Albaladejo, assistant director for operations of the Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources (BFAR), said while the area covered

by FMA 7 has the capacity to become a sardine powerhouse, a lot is needed to be done to protect it.

“The area is rich but lacking in science. Thus, we should put science at the center of the development, protection, and management of the locality,” said Albaladejo.

Fisheries expert from University of the Philippines Visayas, Dr. Willie Campos, who is conducting a reproductive biology study in the area, said sardine “stock in FMA 7 appears to be in better condition than Zamboanga, but measures have to be taken to maintain and improve the stocks.”

During the workshop, lawyer Roger Joseph Guzman discussed the legal and policy framework for the sardine management in the Philippines. He emphasized the significant role of the local government units (LGU) to exercise primary jurisdiction over municipal waters, as well as in advancing the general welfare, livelihood, and protection of fisheries and the fishermen.

It was observed that small-scale fishers in the area have no access to ice that often results in spoilage of their catch. One effective solution for this is setting up a cold storage facility that will cater for sardine fishers in FMA 7 to help maintain the freshness of the catch.

At present, Oceana said there is only one cannery in Bicol, which is in Bulan, Sorsogon. Some LGUs, it was learned, do not allow sardine fishers to trade with larger

China’s campaign to control commodities goes into overdrive

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hina has stepped up its campaign to rein in commodity prices and reduce speculation in a bid to ease the threat to its pandemic rebound from soaring raw material costs.

State-owned enterprises were ordered to control risks and limit their exposure to overseas commodities markets by the State-owned Assets Supervision and Administration Commission, according to people with knowledge of the matter. The companies have been asked to report their futures positions for Sasac to review, said the people, who asked not to be identified because the information is confidential.

In a second development, the National Food and Strategic Reserves Administration will soon release state stockpiles of metals including copper, aluminum and zinc, the agency said in a statement Wednesday. The metals will be sold in batches to fabricators and manufacturers, it said, without giving the volumes to be released.

Most metals prices in London and Shanghai fell, as did the Singapore Exchange’s iron ore contract. Shares of metals companies in China and Hong Kong declined, while Australia’s metals and mining sub-index posted its biggest loss in almost a month. Mining and steel stocks fell in Europe, with Rio Tinto Plc, BHP Group and

ArcelorMittal SA losing at least 0.8 percent.

“We haven’t seen the country release state reserves for years,” said Jia Zheng, a commodity trader with Shanghai Dongwu Jiuying Investment Management Co. “This will boost short-term supply, sending a bearish signal to the market.”

Speculative risks

The scrutiny on overseas commodities positions, meanwhile, is aimed at “curbing excessive speculation as prices are overheated and could bring risks to SOEs,” said Jia. The run up in commodities prices has

fanned concerns in China that factories will eventually need to pass on higher costs to consumers, hurting the economy. The role of speculators has drawn particular scrutiny from authorities.

While China has accelerated its efforts to curb inflationary pressures, the moves have had mixed results. Chinese Premier Li Keqiang stepped up the rhetoric on May 12, urging the country to deal with soaring prices. Iron ore slumped in the latter part of May following his comments, though it’s since rebounded, and base metals prices remain much higher than last year despite a recent retreat.

canneries. As part of management action for FMA 7, the workshop participants proposed that areas with surplus should be linked to large-scale canneries to further reduce wastage.

The plan—which was approved on May 15, 2020, by Agriculture Secretary William D. Dar—aims to improve science-based indicators for the sustainability of fish stocks and distribution of benefits among sardine fisherfolk communities and strengthen science-based management for sustainable sardine fisheries by the end of 2025.

A10 Thursday, June 17, 2021 • Editor: Angel R. Calso

Opinion BusinessMirror

www.businessmirror.com.ph

editorial

We can help end child labor

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Child labor is one of the most urgent problems all over the world. The International Labor Organization (ILO) said child labor deprives children of their childhood, their potential and their dignity, and that is harmful to physical and mental development. In the Philippines, there are 2.1 million child laborers aged five to 17 years old, according to the Philippine Statistics Authority’s 2011 Survey on Children.

The number of children in child labor has risen to 160 million worldwide— an increase of 8.4 million children in the last four years—with millions more at risk due to the impacts of Covid-19, according to a new report by the ILO and UNICEF—Child Labor: Global estimates 2020, trends and the road forward— that was released ahead of World Day Against Child Labor on June 12. The report warns that progress to end child labor has stalled for the first time in 20 years, reversing the previous downward trend that saw child labor fall by 94 million between 2000 and 2016.

The report points to a significant rise in the number of children aged five to 11 years in child labor, who now account for over half of the total global figure. The number of children aged five to 17 years in hazardous work—defined as work that is likely to harm their health, safety or morals—has risen by 6.5 million to 79 million since 2016.

“The new estimates are a wake-up call. We cannot stand by while a new generation of children is put at risk,” said ILO Director-General Guy Ryder.

“Inclusive social protection allows families to keep their children in school even in the face of economic hardship. Increased investment in rural development and decent work in agriculture is essential. We are at a pivotal moment and much depends on how we respond. This is a time for renewed commitment, to turn the corner and break the cycle of poverty and child labor.”

As part of the International Year for the Elimination of Child Labor, the global partnership Alliance 8.7, of which UNICEF and ILO are partners, is encouraging member-states, business, trade unions, civil society, and regional and international organizations to redouble their efforts in the global fight against child labor by making concrete action pledges.

The Philippines has been doing its share to eliminate child labor. In September 2019, President Duterte signed Executive Order 92 institutionalizing the National Council Against Child Labor to help further implement the Philippine Program Against Child Labor Strategic Framework. EO 92 formally changed the name of the National Child Labor Committee to the National Council Against Child Labor. However, the enforcement of child labor laws remains challenging, especially due to the limited number of inspectors, lack of resources for inspections, and inspectors’ inability to assess penalties.

To reverse the upward global trend in child labor, the ILO and UNICEF are calling for: 1) Adequate social protection for all, including universal child benefits. 2) Increased spending on free and good-quality schooling and getting all children back into school—including children who were out of school before Covid-19. 3) Promotion of decent work for adults, so families don’t have to resort to children helping to generate family income. 4) An end to harmful gender norms and discrimination that influence child labor. 5) Investment in child protection systems, agricultural development, rural public services, infrastructure and livelihoods.

The worst forms of child labor include slavery such as the sale and trafficking of children, child pornography or prostitution, and using children in illegal activities such as trafficking of illegal drugs. The government must pull out all the stops to eliminate child labor in the country. It’s a sad and unfortunate reality that millions of Filipino children are being forced to work. We can help end child labor. We can help open opportunities for poor Filipino children to attend school and prepare for a bright future.

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06 17 2021

N February, a video of a three-year-old boy plowing the field in an unknown place went viral on social media. In May, a video of 10-year-old Reymark Mariano plowing land in Sultan Kudarat with the help of a horse also went viral on social media.

US inflation gone wild John Mangun

OUTSIDE THE BOX

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he seller has the obligation to sell at the highest price possible. The buyer has the obligation to buy at the lowest price possible. However, the buyer determines the price of the final transaction because no one can force the buyer to buy. The seller determines whether or not the transaction will take place because no one can force the seller to sell.

A negotiation takes place to arrive at a price that is acceptable to both parties. We do not negotiate the price directly at the department store. But that negotiation does happen. The department store puts an item on sale and might continue to reduce to a point where all the buyers are happily buying.

Demand and supply imbalances are usually resolved within a short period of time because that is what the free markets do. Because of the lockdowns in the US, there was a massive disruption of both demand and supply for construction lumber.

Initially, in April 2020, the price for 100,000 board feet was at $300.

Nobody wanted any lumber. But

by November 2020 the price had increased to $500 as construction started to come back. But there had been also a supply disruption, which pushed prices in March 2021 to $815 and by May to $1,670. As of June 15th, the equilibrium is coming back and the prices have dropped to $1,009. Demand and supply are almost back to normal.

The current US inflation rate is 5 percent and that is the highest since 2008. The US Bureau of Labor

Statistics said that wholesale prices rose a record 0.8 percent in May on a monthly basis and a blistering 6.6 percent over the last 12 months. That is the biggest jump on record going all the way back to the 1950s. Yes, supply constraints have affected prices and these will recalibrate to demand later this year.

But what we are seeing in the US is the same thing we are seeing in the Philippines. Companies that were able to survive through the Covid pandemic lockdowns are trying to recover some of their lost revenues and profits. It is understandable.

Even as demand increases as economies open up, the increasing revenues will not make up for the losses.

Therefore, companies are raising prices to try to get back where they were pre-Covid.

If you own a burger joint and you see your competitor down the street raising prices, you will also. If the bakery that sells you burger buns sees you raising prices, it’s going to raise prices also. If the bakery raises prices, you are going to raise your prices again for fear of “inflation” in the future.

Inflation, therefore, becomes a vicious cycle of price increase, fear of

inflation, price increase, more fear of inflation, and finally INFLATION. Compounding the problem is government fiscal policy, that is, what the government is doing with its own finances. The US government budget deficit has been worse in the past.

That was when the US economy collapsed in the mid-1980s and after the global debt crisis beginning in 2008.

This time it is different because the US debt to GDP ratio has never been any higher in history, except during World War II. You have the private sector raising prices to try to recover from the Covid lockdowns. You have the US government both spending and borrowing money like a drunken sailor on shore leave.

Inflation is a psychological event.

Businesses and consumers are scared to death that they will not financially recover from the Covid lockdowns.

They are also losing confidence about their government having a clue what is actually going on in the economy.

This will not pass away any time soon.

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.

Lebanon’s crisis threatens one of its few unifiers–the army

By Zeina Karam And Bassem Mroue | Associated Press

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EIRUT—Since the civil war, through wars with Israel, militant bombings and domestic turmoil, Lebanese have considered their military as an anchor for stability, one of the only institutions standing above the country’s divisions.

But the military is now threatened

by Lebanon’s devastating financial collapse, which the World Bank has said is likely to rank as one of the worst the world has seen in the past 150 years.

The economic meltdown is putting unprecedented pressure on the US-backed army’s operational abilities, wiping out soldiers’ salaries and wrecking morale. The deterioration puts at risk one of the few forces unifying Lebanon at a time when sectarian tensions and crime are on the rise amid the population’s deepening poverty.

“Such a decline could be harbinger of the kinds of instability not seen since the last time Lebanon’s political elites gutted or set adrift the Lebanese armed forces, namely in the five years leading up to the 1975-1990 civil war,” said Aram Nerguizian, senior advisor of the Program on Civil-Military Affairs in Arab States at the Carnegie Middle East Center.

The military itself has raised the alarm, unusual for a force that is perhaps unique in the Middle East in that it largely remains outside politics.

Army chief Gen. Joseph Aoun

warned in a speech to officers in March that soldiers were “suffering and hungry like the rest of the people.”

He also openly criticized the political leadership, which has been paralyzed by infighting and has done almost nothing to address the crisis.

“What are you waiting for? What do you plan to do? We have warned more than once of the dangers of the situation,” he said — a startling comment since army officers are not allowed to make political statements.

A senior army official confirmed to The Associated Press that the economic situation has greatly affected morale. “There is no doubt that there is great resentment among the ranks of the military,” the official said.

The official noted that “many duties are demanded of the military,” including maintaining internal stability. “The leadership is worried over developments in the security situation on the ground and the ability to deal with this issue,” the officer said, speaking on condition of anonymity in line with regulations. Supporting the army is crucial to avoid Lebanon falling into chaos, he added.

France is convening a virtual fundraising conference Thursday seeking emergency aid, after army chief Aoun visited Paris last month pleading for assistance. France warned that Lebanon’s military “may no longer be able to fully implement their missions which are essential to the country’s stability.” The US, the army’s largest backer, has pledged to increase aid in 2021.

The military in part counterbalances Hezbollah, the Iranian-backed Shiite faction that boasts a powerful armed force as well as political dominance. Nerguizian warned that degradation of the military would allow Hezbollah to loom even larger —an outcome few outside Lebanon, particularly in Washington, want to see materialize.

It could also open the door for countries like Russia, China, Iran or Syria to co-opt the force and find ways to influence it.

After decades of corruption and mismanagement by the political elite, Lebanon’s economy began to disintegrate in October 2019. The once-thriving banking sector has collapsed, and the currency has lost around 90 percent of its value to the dollar on the black market.

More than half the nation has been plunged into poverty.

Equally hit are the 80,000 members of the military. Before the crisis, an enlisted soldier earned the equivalent of about $800 a month, but that has now dropped to less than

$100 per month. Officers’ salaries are higher but have also dropped in value, now about $400 a month.

The army has tightened spending.

A year ago, it announced it would stop offering meat in meals given to soldiers on duty. It still offers free medical treatment, but those in the force say the quality and effectiveness has sharply deteriorated.

“Morale is below the ground,” said a 24-year-old soldier who quit the force in March after five years of service.

He said that by the time he left, the 1.2 million Lebanese pounds salary he received was barely enough for food, cigarettes and transportation.

He spoke on condition of anonymity, fearing reprisals.

Mohammad Olayan, who retired two years ago after more than 27 years in the military, told The Associated Press that his end-of-service pay has been wiped out by the crash.

Instead of a decent retirement, he now must take odd jobs to sustain his 12-year-old twin girls.

“What incentive is there for young soldiers?” he asked. “I sacrificed so much for my country and look how I ended up because of this mafia,” he said, referring to politicians.

Nerguizian said that while overall cases of desertion remain relatively low, the force has seen increased instances of dereliction of duty, high AWOL rates and more moonlighting by personnel to augment salaries.

Opinion BusinessMirror

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Thursday, June 17, 2021 A11

Drought saps California reservoirs Hall of blame in Luzon power mess as hot, dry summer looms

By Adam Beam | Associated Press

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ROVILLE, California—Each year Lake Oroville helps water a quarter of the nation’s crops, sustain endangered salmon beneath its massive earthen dam and anchor the tourism economy of a Northern California county that must rebuild seemingly every year after unrelenting wildfires.

But the mighty lake—a linchpin in a system of aqueducts and reservoirs in the arid US West that makes California possible—is shrinking with surprising speed amid a severe drought, with state officials predicting it will reach a record low later this summer.

While droughts are common in California, this year’s is much hotter and drier than others, evaporating water more quickly from the reservoirs and the sparse Sierra Nevada snowpack that feeds them. The state’s more than 1,500 reservoirs are 50 percent lower than they should be this time of year, according to Jay Lund, co-director of the Center for Watershed Sciences at the University of California-Davis.

Over Memorial Day weekend, dozens of houseboats sat on cinderblocks at Lake Oroville because there wasn’t enough water to hold them.

Blackened trees lined the reservoir’s steep, parched banks.

At nearby Folsom Lake, normally bustling boat docks rested on dry land, their buoys warning phantom boats to slow down. Campers occupied dusty riverbanks farther north at Shasta Lake.

But the impacts of dwindling reservoirs go beyond luxury yachts and weekend anglers. Salmon need cold water from the bottom of the reservoirs to spawn. The San Francisco Bay needs fresh water from the reservoirs to keep out the salt water that harms freshwater fish. Farmers need the water to irrigate their crops.

Businesses need reservoirs full so people will come play in them and spend money.

And everyone needs the water to run hydroelectric power plants that supply much of the state’s energy.

If Lake Oroville falls below 640 feet (195 meters)—which it could do by late August—state officials would shut down a major power plant for just the first time ever because of low water levels, straining the electrical grid during the hottest part of the summer.

In Northern California’s Butte County, low water prompts another emotion: fear. The county suffered the deadliest US wildfire in a century in 2018 when 85 people died.

Last year, another 16 people died in a wildfire.

Walking along the Bidwell Canyon trail last week, 63-year-old Lisa Larson was supposed to have a good view of the lake. Instead, she saw withered grass and trees.

“It makes me feel like our planet is literally drying up,” she said. “It makes me feel a little unsettled because the drier it gets, the more fires we are going to have.”

Droughts are a part of life in California, where a Mediterraneanstyle climate means the summers are always dry and the winters are not always wet. The state’s reservoirs act as a savings account, storing water in the wet years to help the state survive during the dry ones.

Last year was the third driest on record in terms of precipitation. Temperatures hit triple digits in much of California over the Memorial Day weekend, earlier than expected. State officials were surprised earlier this year when about 500,000 acre feet (61,674 hectare meters) of water they were expecting to flow into reservoirs never showed up.

One acre-foot is enough water to supply up to two households for one year.

“In the previous drought, it took [the reservoirs] three years to get this low as they are in the second year of this drought,” Lund said.

The lake’s record low is 646 feet (197 meters), but the Department

While droughts are common in California, this year’s is much hotter and drier than others, evaporating water more quickly from the reservoirs and the sparse Sierra Nevada snowpack that feeds them. The state’s more than 1,500 reservoirs are 50 percent lower than they should be this time of year, according to Jay Lund, co-director of the Center for Watershed Sciences at the University of California-Davis. of Water Resources projects it will dip below that sometime in August or September. If that happens, the state will have to close the boat ramps for the first time ever because of low water levels, according to Aaron Wright, public safety chief for the Northern Buttes District of California State Parks. The only boat access to the lake would be an old dirt road that was built during the dam’s construction in the late 1960s.

“We have a reservoir up there that’s going to be not usable. And so now what?” said Eric Smith, an Oroville City Council member and president of its chamber of commerce.

The water level is so low at Lake Mendocino, along the Russian River in Northern California, that state officials last week reduced the amount of water heading to 930 farmers, businesses and other junior waterrights holders.

“Unless we immediately reduce diversions, there is a real risk of Lake Mendocino emptying by the end of this year,” said Erik Ekdahl, deputy director for the State Water Board’s Division of Water Rights.

Low water levels across California will severely limit how much power the state can generate from hydroelectric power plants. When Lake Oroville is full, the Edward Hyatt Power Plant and others nearby can generate up to 900 megawatts of power, according to Behzad Soltanzadeh, chief of utility operations for the Department of Water Resources. One megawatt is enough to power between 800 and 1,000 homes.

That has some local officials worrying about power outages, especially after the state ran out of energy last summer during an extreme heat wave that prompted California’s first rotating blackouts in 20 years. But energy officials say they are better prepared this summer, having obtained an additional 3,500 megawatts of capacity ahead of the scorching summer months.

The low levels are challenging for tourism officials. Bruce Spangler, president of the board of directors for Explore Butte County, grew up in Oroville and has fond memories of fishing with his grandfather and learning to launch and drive a boat before he could drive a car. But this summer, his organization has to be careful about how it markets the lake while managing visitors’ expectations, he said.

“We have to be sure we don’t promise something that can’t be,” he said.

Low lake levels haven’t stopped tourists from coming yet. With coronavirus restrictions lifting across the state, Wright—the state parks official for Northern California— said attendance at most parks in his area is double what it normally is this time of year.

“People are trying to recreate and use facilities even more so [because] they know they are going to lose them here in a few months,” he said. Associated Press writer Brian Melley in Los Angeles contributed to this report.

Val A. Villanueva

Businesswise

F

or once, I couldn’t agree more with Sen. Manny Pacquiao when he jabbed at Energy Secretary Alfonso Cusi’s alleged incompetence, accusing the latter of undermining his duties as a Cabinet member in favor of a political agenda.

Pacquiao castigated Cusi for convening the national assembly of the ruling Partido Demokratiko Pilipino-Lakas ng Bayan on May 31, despite Pacquiao’s objection in the wake of rotating brownouts in Metro Manila, and more importantly the still unchecked Covid-19 pandemic, which has overwhelmed global health response. Pacquiao is PDP-Laban’s party president. But Cusi, who had the backing of President Duterte—as confirmed by Palace Spokesman Harry Roque—proceeded with the assembly. In the said meeting, PDP-Laban endorsed the presidential candidacy of presidential daughter and incumbent Davao City Mayor Sara Duterte-Carpio, with her father as running mate.

In a privilege speech on June 2, the professional boxer and senator lamented that the country is facing serious problems of a raging pandemic and dwindling power supply. “…[H]ave we done enough preparations for a surge in power supply demand this summer?” Pacquiao asked.

“I will say it straight: [Cusi] is incompetent for that position.”

Luzon was placed under red alert for three straight days, from May 31 to June 2, when demand for electricity was anticipated to exceed available power supply. The Luzon grid’s lost capacity amounted to 1,372 megawatts because of the paralysis

of unit 2 of the Pagbilao coal-fired plant; units 1 and 2 of the GNPower Mariveles Energy Center’s coal-fired plant, and unit 2 of the Calaca coalfired plant. As three units of the San Roque power plant went offline, the grid also lost some 435 MW. Diminished yield from power plants totaled 2,126 MW, inclusive of 484 MW from KEPCO Ilijan Corp.’s gas-fired plant.

Also, 1,642 MW from other coal, oilbased and renewables plants were deemed “de-rated.”

The outages moved the Energy Regulatory Commission to order the National Grid Corp. of the Philippines to explain the cause of the delay in 33 power transmission projects for which the agency had already been given the green light.

ERC Chair Agnes Devanadera took to task the NGCP—the private operator of the country’s transmission network—and asked it to justify in detail the changes in the timeline and the events that led to the postponement of the projects’ completion. “The completion of the NGCP transmission projects is a crucial element in ensuring the stability of electricity in the entire country,” Devanadera pointed out.

Cusi had also slammed NGCP for being “consistently noncompliant” with the requirement to secure “firm” contracts for ancillary services, which commit the supplier

to deliver, as opposed to “nonfirm” contracts wherein power companies have a leeway to not deliver.

Last April, however, NGCP told the joint congressional energy committee that ancillary services required the availability of excess capacity and that contracts could not be secured if there were no such surplus.

Legislators then turned the tables on the DOE, which they said is solely responsible for the brownouts because it botched to design ways that would have stabilized the country’s power supply. Senators Franklin Drilon, Sherwin Gatchalian, Aquilino Pimentel III, and Francis Pangilinan were dismayed when it appeared that the DOE was trying to evade any accountability.

“It’s disappointing. Blame everyone except yourself. Where is accountability?” Drilon said in a statement. The move is an attempt to shift away the blame from the government, which, obviously, failed to prepare for these power outages over the last five years. The DOE is only using power plants as scapegoats for what happened. It’s a cover-up,” Drilon said.

He echoed the views aired by Pacquiao over the supposed “incompetence” of officials led by Cusi, who Pacquaio accused of prioritizing political affairs over his duties as a member of the Cabinet.

Senate Committee of Energy Chair Gatchalian cited that, while the threat to sue the generation companies might be an important step to compel power firms to improve their operations, such a move was merely reactive on the DOE’s part. “It will not solve the current brownouts that we are experiencing. DOE should have anticipated the worst-case scenario earlier on and put in place contingency measures.”

The power situation wouldn’t be the mess it is now, as this corner has repeatedly written, if only the

government lent a helping hand in allowing Australian-based Energy World’s Liquefied Natural Gas a “cut-in” connection to an existing 230kV transmission line within its project site. The Pagbilao LNG plant is presently 95 percent complete.

The only thing keeping the company from operating is an infrastructure that would have allowed it to export power. Had it been given all the necessary assistance as a courtesy to a foreign investor, which has poured in millions in investments in the project, EWC’s LNG plant could have started exporting power years ago.

The NGCP, mandated to encourage power producers to export power on a first-come-first-served basis, had rejected EWC’s request to hook its plant—notwithstanding that it was technically feasible to do so— to the existing power plant because of the opposition of Team Energy (Pagbilao coal-fired plant). EWC is now in the final construction stages of its own 12-14km transmission line.

Nonetheless, the Australian firm remains undeterred. It is raising about AU$18 million to fund the development of EWC’s projects in Australia and Southeast Asia, a substantial portion of which has been allotted for the completion of the Pagbilao LNG plant’s own transmission facilities, work on which has been delayed due to the pandemic.

It is indeed puzzling where our energy leaders’ priorities lie. While they are busy passing the buck or playing a musical-chair-blame-game, parts of the country could be left in the dark because the powers-that-be in this administration remain blind to the viable solution that the LNG project presents. Truly short-sighted and unfortunate!

For comments and suggestions, e-mail me at mvala.v@gmail.com

China offers glimpse of Tibetan life without the Dalai Lama

By Sam Mcneil | Associated Press

L

HASA, China—A brisk wind ruffles yellow prayer flags as dozens of Tibetans, some on crutches, circle a shrine in a timehonored Buddhist ritual. Across the street, a red banner spells out a new belief system, one being enforced with increasing fervor, of China’s ruling Communist Party.

“Xi Jinping’s new socialist ideology with Chinese characteristics is the guide for the whole party and all nationalities to fight for the great rejuvenation of China,” the sign proclaims in Tibetan and Chinese script, referring to China’s leader, who has sought to put his imprint on virtually every aspect of life across the vast county.

Lately, that has increasingly encompassed religion, both in central China and on its fringes, such as Tibet. The party is pressing a program to Sinicize Tibetan life through programs to separate Tibetans from their language, culture, and especially, their devotion to the Dalai Lama, Tibet’s traditional spiritual leader who has lived in exile since 1959.

In the sun-drenched courtyard of the Jokhang Temple, one of the holiest sites in Tibetan Buddhism, the head monk Lhakpa said the Dalai Lama is not its spiritual leader.

Asked who is, he said: “Xi Jinping.”

The Associated Press joined a rare and strictly controlled media tour to Tibet highlighting what the government describes as the social stability and economic development of the region after 70 years of Communist Party rule. Stops included monasteries, temples, schools, poverty alleviation projects, and tourist sites.

That appears to reflect the party’s confidence that it is prevailing in the global battle of public opinion over Tibet. As a counterweight, Tibet rights groups continue to report frequent detentions, economic marginalization, a suffocating security presence and heavy pressure to assimilate with China’s Han majority while pledging loyalty to the Communist Party.

Tibetans in exile say they were effectively independent for centu-

ries and accuse China of trying to wipe out Tibet’s Buddhist culture and language while exploiting its natural resources and encouraging Chinese to move there from other parts of the country. Beijing says Tibet has long been a part of China and that the communists liberated hundreds of thousands of illiterate serfs when they overthrew the ruling theocracy in 1951.

Security has been tightened significantly since widespread anti-government protests in 2008, shortly before the Beijing Summer Olympics, accompanied by redoubled efforts at economic development and the declining influence of Buddhism.

In the model village of Baji east of Lhasa, the capital, residents dressed in traditional garments told foreign journalists how poverty alleviation campaigns had changed their lives.

“Time has changed, so people’s demands have changed. People needed religious beliefs as their spiritual sustenance in old times, but now we don’t,” said Tsering Yudron, 25, an accountant. The government points to the billions of dollars it has invested in roads, airports, railways, schools and hospitals, saying development has doubled life expectancy, brought electrification, jobs, and opportunities to a region that long lagged behind.

“Tibet has eradicated extreme poverty,” reads a 2019 government report on Tibet. “People now lead better lives and live in contentment. A brand new socialist Tibet has taken shape.”

The impact on traditional culture has been stark. Like Christians and Muslims, Tibetan Buddhists have increasingly been pressured to “Sinicize” their religions under

a program put forth by Xi, China’s most authoritarian leader since Mao Zedong. While repression has been less harsh than in nearby Xinjiang, which has seen mass incarcerations of Turkic Muslims, residents are under extreme pressure to monitor each other and infractions can bring long prison sentences, rights groups say.

The party has evolved a system to try to control Tibetans through their faith, said Robert Barnett, a Tibet scholar at the School of Oriental and African Studies in London. Especially since the 2008 protests, the government has sought to “get the love of the Communist Party into those Tibetan minds when they’re children,” he said. From campuses to homes, portraits of Xi now hang from the walls of homes and temples as once did images of the Dalai Lama.

“Tibetan Buddhism should be guided in adapting to the socialist society and should be developed in the Chinese context,” Xi said last year during a meeting focused on Tibet.

China has increasingly vilified the Dalai Lama, who fled Tibet amid a failed uprising against Chinese rule in 1959, and has in recent years relinquished his political role as head of the self-proclaimed Tibetan government-in-exile. Seeking to quell protests that pop up every decade or so, the party banned all images of the Dalai Lama in 1996, excised the exiled leader from books and broadcasts, and installed cadres in most villages, monasteries and nunneries.

While the Dalai Lama says he seeks only meaningful autonomy under Chinese rule, Beijing accuses him of supporting terrorism and seeking to split Tibet from China, and has cut off all contacts with his representatives.

With the Dalai Lama soon to turn 86, attention has increasingly turned to the question of his succession, or reincarnation as traditional belief holds. The successor is traditionally identified by senior monastic disciples, based on spiritual signs and visions. But China says that only Beijing can appoint the next Dalai

Lama in a ceremony using a golden urn to pick from among candidates approved by the central government.

“Reincarnation of living Buddhas including the Dalai Lama must comply with Chinese laws and regulations and follow religious rituals and historical conventions,” said a foreign ministry spokesman in 2019.

At the government-built Tibetan Buddhist College outside of Lhasa, more than 900 students study religion along with politics, law, computer science, Chinese and Tibetan.

Among them are eight monks aged 7 to 11, recognized as reincarnations or “living Buddhas.”

Chalk art celebrating 70 years of China’s military takeover of Tibet adorns the wall next to a portrait of Xi in a class taught in Tibetan.

“We must adhere to the leadership of the party over the religious affairs and the Sinicization of religions. We must continue to accommodate the religions to the socialist system of China,” said Zhang Liangtian, the college’s top communist party official.

China has built a network of schools and institutions across Tibet to try and manufacture a “domesticated version” of Tibetan Buddhism to counter the leadership in exile, said Dibyesh Anand, the head of University of Westminster’s international relations department in London.

The goal, Anand says, is to change the very core of Tibetan Buddhism by generating confusion about the Dalai Lama and his leadership, and eventually to dismantle his legacy as a “paramount national leader.”

China has meanwhile sought to elevate other spiritual figures, particularly Tibetan Buddhism’s second ranking figure, the Panchen Lama. A boy recognized by the Dalai Lama as the new Panchen disappeared soon after and Beijing produced its own successor, whose legitimacy is highly contested.

Zhang, the Tibet Buddhism College’s top party official, said that while the Dalai Lama had “betrayed his country,” the Panchen Lamas “love the country and the religion.”

A12 Thursday, June 17, 2021

DOLE backs bid to impose shorter quarantine on OFWs

A

By Samuel P. Medenilla

@sam_medenilla

RRIVING overseas Filipino workers (OFW) should also be among those enjoying shorter quarantine periods, according to the Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE).

Labor and Employment Secretary Silvestre H. Bello III issued the statement amid a proposal in the Inter-Agency Task Force for the Management of Emerging Infectious Diseases (IATF) to reduce the quarantine period for investors.

The call to give OFWs a similar consideration was aired by several senators on Tuesday as the Senate Committee of the Whole called another hearing on the national vaccination program. Reacting to a detailed narration of the OFWs’ complaints as made by migrant workers’ advocate Susan “Toots” Ople, Senate President Vicente Sotto III himself said he had received many reports from the OFWs, many of whom, he

said, rushed home not just for leirsure but for urgent business. To use up all their scarce vacation time for quarantine is unjust, he said.

“There are moves, to require fewer days in quarantine. If you can do that with investors, it should also apply for OFWs due to their big investment, which are worth billions, to our economy,” Bello said during an online press briefing on Wednesday.

He explained the current sevenday rule before inbound travelers can be tested for Covid-19 is, as it is, already too taxing for OFWs, who have limited time to stay in the country.

Under such scheme, he said

Bello: “Of the 580,000 overseas Filipino workers, who were repatriated, less than 1 percent were infected with Covid. So why do we attribute the spread of the virus to our OFW?”

OFWs could spend as long as 10 days in government quarantine facilities. Bello said he is proposing to restore the previous protocol, wherein OFWs will be immediately tested upon their arrival.

“Once they test negative [for Covid-19], then they could be allowed to go home,” Bello said.

To recall, this was the same scheme implemented by the provincial government of Cebu before no less than President Duterte ordered it to comply with the seven-day rule policy of the IATF. Bello said he is confident the

IATF will consider his proposal, especially due to the reported low infection rate among OFWs. “Of the 580,000 OFWs, who were repatriated, less than 1 percent were infected with Covid. So why do we attribute the spread of the virus to our OFW?” Bello said.

Nevertheless, he said he said he will leave the matter to be decided by the IATF during its meeting on Thursday.

On Tuesday, the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas (BSP) reported that, despite having been badly hit by the pandemic in their host countries, OFWs sent home $2.3 billion in remittances in April, a 12.7-percent increase over April 2020, and marking the strongest year-on-year growth in almost five years.

The strong April remittance growth pushed the total money sent by Filipino migrant workers in the first four months of the year to $9.9 billion. This is 4.8 percent higher than the $9.4-billion remittance inflows to the country in the same period last year.

January to April remittance level in 2021 also exceeded the prepandemic cash remittance flows.

In 2019, Filipino migrant workers sent $9.7 billion back home.

C.A. REVERSES QCRTC, DECLARES COP GUILTY IN AMPATUAN MASSACRE

By Joel R. San Juan

T

@jrsanjuan1573

HE Court of Appeals (CA) has declared guilty a senior police officer as an accessory to the 57 counts of murder involving the Maguindanao Massacre case.

In a 35-page decion, the CA’s Special Sixth Division set aside the decision issued by Quezon City Regional Trial Court (RTC) Branch 221 Judge Jocelyn Solis-Reyes last March 11, 2021, acquitting SPO2 Badawi Bakal of the charges. “ The Omnibus Order of 11 March 2020 is consequently set aside insofar as it acquitted SPO2 Badawi Bakal who is hereby found guilty beyond reasonable doubt as accessory in Criminal Cases Q-09162148 to 72; Q-09-162216 to 31; Q-10-162652 to 66; and Q-10163766, ” the CA said in a decision penned by Associate Justice Apolinario Bruselas Jr. The CA sentenced SPO2 Bakal to imprisonment of four years and two months of prison correccional as minimum to 10 years of prison mayor as maximum for each of the 57 counts of murder.

Aside from imprisonment, he was also held solidarily liable with his co-convicted accused of the same class to pay civil indemnity and damages to the heirs of the 57 victims, in the sums determined by

the respondent trial court.

The CA gave weight to the testimonies of Esmael Canapia and Takpan Dilon who were brought to the Philippine National PoliceCriminal Investigation and Detection Group (CIDG) office in Cotabato City on Nov. 25, 2009.

Canapia and Dilon claimed that Bakal told them not to say anything about what they witnessed at Mount Masalay last November 23, 2009, otherwise something bad would happen to them and their families.

As a result of the Maguindanao Massacre incident, Bakal was relieved from the Maguindanao Provincial Police Office.

The CA said Bakal prevented Canapia from disclosing what he saw on the day of the massacre.

The CA said Bakal, who was in active service, abused his public office when he concealed the identities of the accused; he failed to effect or cause their immediate arrest; and he contributed to the delay in the investigation of the crime.

He also prevented a witness from disclosing, during an investigation by the CIDG in Cotabato City, the events that he saw.

The CA also said that Quezon City RTC Branch 221 disregarded material and relevant evidence available to it and grossly misappreciated and overlooked the evidence presented by the prosecution.

Lower speed limits in cities should be new norm–experts

By Cai U. Ordinario

I

@caiordinario

F cities will bring down speed limits, international transport experts believe this will improve mobility and make it safer for city dwellers in a post-pandemic world.

In a Transport Development blog, Practice Manager for Transport Europe Karla Gonzalez-Carvajal and World Bank Transport Specialist Elena Lungu said a speed limit of 30 kilometers per hour (kph) should be made the standard in cities where cars, cyclists, and pedestrians often interact.

Gonzalez-Carvajal and Lungu said studies have already established that speed accounted for around 30 percent of fatal transport-related accidents. Further, the authors said, people have a higher chance of surviving a road accident if the car or truck is traveling at 30 kph.

“Lower speeds protect everyone, especially vulnerable people like children, cyclists, pedestrians, the elderly, and people with disabilities. People have a 90 percent chance of surviving after being hit by a car or a truck going at 30 km/h, but less than 50 percent at 50 kph or higher,” the authors said.

In the country, based on the latest data released by the Philippine Statistics Authority (PSA), some 11,612 deaths were caused by transport accidents annually between 2015 and 2020. Almost all these accidents were road accidents at 11,579 annually in the same period.

Prior to 2020, deaths linked to t r a n s p or t at ion acc ide nt s steadily increased to 12,799 in 2019 from 12,536 deaths in 2018; 11,399 in 2017; 11,292 in 2016; and 10,033 in 2015. The highest increase was between 2015 and 2016 of 12.5 percent followed by 2017 to 2018 which recorded a growth of 9.97 percent.

Meanwhile, the experts said lower speeds will also be good for the health of residents and the overall health of the planet. Lower speeds will encourage city residents to live more active lifestyles and would also reduce the carbon footprint of urban areas.

Gonzalez-Carvajal and Lungu said the European Environment Agency found that reducing motorway traffic speeds to 110 kph from 120 kph would lead to 12 to 18 percent fuel savings.

“Many cities in Europe are already moving toward slower speeds, with considerable gains in terms of road safety and quality of life. Brussels and Paris have introduced 30 kph limits in order to improve air quality and reduce noise pollution and traffic collisions,” the authors said.

They also said that by the end of this year, the Dublin City Council’s Transportation Department will also adopt the 30 kph rule while the Spanish government will not only lower speed limits, but also increase fines.

Other cities like Luxembourg have extended the 30 kph rule in all built-up areas while Oslo and Helsinki did not record a single road accident involving a pedestrian or cyclist last year due to slower speeds.

“Low speeds are key to creating livable streets, which are at the heart of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development and can facilitate many of its targets,” Gonzalez-Carvajal and Lungu said.

“In a bid to create a safer, more sustainable future, the ‘Streets for Life’ approach aims to build on some of the key Covid-era innovations that have been redefining transport and urban development: slower traffic speeds; open space for pedestrians, bike and scooter riders, or kids playing on sidewalks; and even the outdoor safe-dining ‘streeteries’ that have opened up in many of the world’s cities,” they added.

Department of the Environment and Natural Resources Secretary Roy Cimatu and Edison Nebrija, MMDA Traffic Manager, lead the planting of coconuts as part of the DENR-led Manila Bay rehabilitation program planting activity held at the Roxas Boulevard bay area, in cooperation with the city government of Manila, Philippine Coconut Authority and Metropolitan Manila Development Authority. Story in Agriculture page, A9.ROY DOMINGO

Drilon: Economy paying for weak Covid-19 response

T

HE country’s economy is “paying a hefty price” for the administration’s anemic response to effectively contain the Covid-19 pandemic and its failure to close boders to China in timely fashion, Senate Minority Leader Franklin Drilon said Wednesday.

The opposition Senator foresees the next administration in 2022 “facing a hefty debt burden and the problems of a shrinking economy and rising unemployment rate and hunger due to mismanagement of the Covid-19 pandemic.”

In a televised inter view, the lawmaker pinned the blame on “mismanagement by t he De partment of Health of the pandemic responses,” noting such bungling led to the rising Covid cases “that caused the collapse of the economy, forcing thousands of businesses to c lose down and leaving millions of Filipinos jobless.”

Drilon said, “Let me emphasize that where we are today is the result of the mismanagement of the DOH [Department of Health] of our pandemic responses,” adding:

“Our original sin, if I may call it as such, is when we refused to close our borders on China.”

He recalled the earlier refusal of Health Secretary Francisco Duque III to “close the Philippine borders on Chinese early last year to prevent the spread of the virus” in the country despite mounting calls by various sectors.

The lawmaker said “the reason ...the country is lagging behind in terms of the availability of the vaccines is...the failure to secure the much-needed doses early by making advanced payments with vaccine

manufacturers. “The inoculation is very slow. At the rate we are going, I don’t know when we can achieve herd immunity.”

He foresees the next administration will be burdened by both the short-and long-term impacts of the pandemic, citing for instance, the record high of P10.9-trillion national debt as of April. He noted that the national outstanding debt increased by roughly P3.2 trillion during the pandemic from approximately P7.73 trillion in 2019.

See “Drilon,” A9

BusinessMirror

www.businessmirror.com.ph

ESTABLISHMENT / ADDRESS No.

NAME OF FOREIGN NATIONAL , POSITION AND BRIEF DESCRIPTION

ESTABLISHMENT / ADDRESS QUALIFICATION AND SALARY RANGE

No.

NAME OF FOREIGN NATIONAL , POSITION AND BRIEF DESCRIPTION

24/7 BUSINESS PROCESSING INC. 11/f Capella Bldg. L-3&4 B2, Asean Drive Filinvest Alabang Muntinlupa City ZHANG, AO Mandarin Speaking Customer Service Representative 1.

Brief Job Description: Responding promptly to the inquiries to ensure customer satisfaction

JIAN, LIXI Mandarin Speaking Customer Service Representative 2.

Brief Job Description: Responding promptly to the inquiries to ensure customer satisfaction

NG TECK POH Mandarin Speaking Customer Service Representative 3.

Brief Job Description: Responding promptly to the inquiries to ensure customer satisfaction

WEI, ZHONGSAN Mandarin Speaking Customer Service Representative 4.

Brief Job Description: Responding promptly to the inquiries to ensure customer satisfaction

WEN, PEIYOU Mandarin Speaking Customer Service Representative 5.

Brief Job Description: Responding promptly to the inquiries to ensure customer satisfaction

Basic Qualification: Proficient in speaking, reading and writing in Mandarin

6.

Brief Job Description: The Indonesian IT Consultant are responsible for maintaining and improving Computer Systems for organization and its client.

CHAI YEONG KANG Malaysian IT Sales 7.

Brief Job Description: The Malaysian IT Consultant are responsible for maintaining and improving Computer Systems for organization and its client.

12.

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

Basic Qualification: Proficient in speaking, reading and writing in Mandarin

AUNG SOE MOE KYAW Customer Service Representative Mandarin Speaking 13.

14.

15.

16.

17.

18.

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

19.

8.

Brief Job Description: Provide telephone voice/email/chat support to resolve customer’s concerns following pre-defined support procedures and policies using support channels and tools provided by Rio Tinto with a primary focus on achieving customer resolution and satisfaction

Basic Qualification: Bachelor’s degree graduate.

Undergraduates are welcome to apply. Can communicate effectively in both oral and written English and French, with a valid certification of TEF/CEFR of at least B2.

Knowledgeable or with experience in Service Desk Management. Willing to work on holidays, weekends, shifting schedules and extended working hours, as needed.

20.

9.

Brief Job Description: Lead Team of People Advisors and client account HR leads as required

21.

Basic Qualification: Graduate of any bachelor’s degree; requires 12 years’ experience in HR Business Partnering with 10 years managerial experience; strong stakeholder management and project management

22.

23.

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

PRAAS, HARM CHRISTIAAN Field Hr Senior Manager 10.

Brief Job Description: Lead Team of People Advisors and client account HR leads as required

Basic Qualification: Graduate of any bachelor’s degree; requires more than 12 years’ experience in HR Business Partnering with 10 years managerial experience; strong stakeholder management and project management

24.

25.

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

FIALHO DE OLIVEIRA LIMA, MAYRON Security Architect Manager 11.

Brief Job Description: Security Event Monitoring and Incident Handling on a 24/7 basis

Brief Job Description: Managing incoming calls and customer service inquiries

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

Brief Job Description: Managing incoming calls and customer service inquiries.

GAO, RONGGUI Chinese Customer Service Brief Job Description: Managing incoming calls and customer service inquiries

GU, ZHUORUI Chinese Customer Service Brief Job Description: Managing incoming calls and customer service inquiries

Basic Qualification: Should have advanced understanding of security concepts and security best practices understanding and familiarity with common code review methods and standards.

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

Brief Job Description: Managing incoming calls and customer service inquiries.

HUANG, SHIYUAN Chinese Customer Service Brief Job Description: Managing incoming calls and customer service inquiries KAY KAY KHAING Chinese Customer Service

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

CHAWLA, KAVITA Field Hr Manager

CENG, QIANYU Chinese Customer Service

HOANG THI LANG Chinese Customer Service

ACCENTURE, INC. 7f Robinsons Cybergate Tower 1 Pioneer St Mandaluyong City

SAOUNDE NGUIMPI, ARSENE Bilingual Service Desk Analyst - French

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

FU, HAIFENG Chinese Customer Service

Salary Range: Php 30,000 - Php 59,999 Basic Qualification: IT, Computer Science, Critical thinking ability, strong solving problem capacity, knowledge of data modelling and data visualization tools.

Basic Qualification: College Grad, experience in Operations Management within the BPO or Shared Services inductry supporting a finance, healthcare, telco, retail or contact center account; 8-10 years leadership experience and at least 15 years industry experience

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

No.

28.

29.

Brief Job Description: Managing incoming calls and customer service inquiries.

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

LU KIM TU Chinese Customer Service Brief Job Description: Managing incoming calls and customer service inquiries

NGAN A DUNG Chinese Customer Service Brief Job Description: Managing incoming calls and customer service inquiries

NGUYEN CANH TAN Chinese Customer Service Brief Job Description: Managing incoming calls and customer service inquiries NGUYEN HONG PHONG Chinese Customer Service

26.

27.

Brief Job Description: Managing incoming calls and customer service inquiries.

NGUYEN NGOC QUE TRAN Chinese Customer Service Brief Job Description: Managing incoming calls and customer service inquiries

30.

31.

32.

33.

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

34.

35.

36.

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

37.

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

38.

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

39.

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

40.

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

41.

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

42.

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

Brief Job Description: Managing incoming calls and customer service inquiries.

Brief Job Description: Managing incoming calls and customer service inquiries.

VONG SAY VANH Chinese Customer Service Brief Job Description: Managing incoming calls and customer service inquiries

VOON TZE CHEAH Chinese Customer Service Brief Job Description: Managing incoming calls and customer service inquiries

VOONG PHUC LAM Chinese Customer Service Brief Job Description: Managing incoming calls and customer service inquiries

Brief Job Description: Managing incoming calls and customer service inquiries.

ZHANG, LIQUN Chinese Customer Service

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

WEI, JINJIU Chinese Customer Service

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

PHUNG THI KIM OANH Chinese Customer Service

TRAN VAN BAO Chinese Customer Service

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

NAME OF FOREIGN NATIONAL , POSITION AND BRIEF DESCRIPTION

TRAN THI PHUONG Chinese Customer Service

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

ANOC99 CORPORATION 5/f To 10/f Ayala Malls Manila Bay Building D. Macapagal Blvd. Cor. Aseana Street Tambo Parañaque City

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

Basic Qualification: IT, Computer Science, Critical thinking ability, strong solving problem capacity, knowledge of data modelling and data visualization tools.

QUALIFICATION AND SALARY RANGE

AMUSETECH BUSINESS OUTSOURCING 2/f Rivergreen Residences 2217 Pedro Gil St. 096, Bgy 880 Santa Ana Manila

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

Brief Job Description: Helping and coaching the team members to improve their capabilities to manage bigger roles and responsibilities

ESTABLISHMENT / ADDRESS

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

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

8 BACUS INC. Unit A&b 20/f Rufino Pacific Tower 6784 Ayala Ave. San Lorenzo Makati City

WYNER TANOTO Indonesian It Consultant

CHAWLA, AMIT Service Delivery Ops Sr. Manager

Thursday, June 17, 2021 A13

43.

Brief Job Description: Managing incoming calls and customer service inquiries.

AYE AYE PHYU Chinese Customer Specialist Brief Job Description: Managing incoming calls and customer service inquiries

CHU NGOC LAN HUONG Chinese Customer Specialist Brief Job Description: Managing incoming calls and customer service inquiries

DINH MANH DUC Chinese Customer Specialist Brief Job Description: Managing incoming calls and customer service inquiries

HAO, CHENGMIN Chinese Customer Specialist Brief Job Description: Managing incoming calls and customer service inquiries

HE, JUNRONG Chinese Customer Specialist Brief Job Description: Managing incoming calls and customer service inquiries

HTET NAING WIN Chinese Customer Specialist Brief Job Description: Managing incoming calls and customer service inquiries

LI, CUICUI Chinese Customer Specialist Brief Job Description: Managing incoming calls and customer service inquiries

MA, YIGANG Chinese Customer Specialist Brief Job Description: Managing incoming calls and customer service inquiries

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

44.

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

45.

MO, XIANGQIAN Chinese Customer Specialist Brief Job Description: Managing incoming calls and customer service inquiries

MO, YUNLONG Chinese Customer Specialist Brief Job Description: Managing incoming calls and customer service inquiries

QUALIFICATION AND SALARY RANGE Basic Qualification: Able to speak, read and write Chinese language Salary Range: Php 30,000 - Php 59,999 Basic Qualification: Able to speak, read and write Chinese language Salary Range: Php 30,000 - Php 59,999 Basic Qualification: Able to speak, read and write Chinese language Salary Range: Php 30,000 - Php 59,999 Basic Qualification: Able to speak, read and write Chinese language Salary Range: Php 30,000 - Php 59,999 Basic Qualification: Able to Speak, Read, and Write Chinese Language Salary Range: Php 30,000 - Php 59,999 Basic Qualification: Able to Speak, Read, and Write Chinese Language Salary Range: Php 30,000 - Php 59,999 Basic Qualification: Able to speak, read and write Chinese language Salary Range: Php 30,000 - Php 59,999 Basic Qualification: Able to speak, read and write Chinese language Salary Range: Php 30,000 - Php 59,999 Basic Qualification: Able to Speak, Read and Write Chinese language Salary Range: Php 60,000 - Php 89,999 Basic Qualification: Able to Speak, Read and Write Chinese language Salary Range: Php 60,000 - Php 89,999 Basic Qualification: Able to Speak, Read and Write Chinese language Salary Range: Php 60,000 - Php 89,999 Basic Qualification: Able to Speak, Read and Write Chinese language Salary Range: Php 60,000 - Php 89,999 Basic Qualification: Able to speak, read and write chinese language Salary Range: Php 30,000 - Php 59,999 Basic Qualification: Able to Speak, Read and Write Chinese language Salary Range: Php 60,000 - Php 89,999 Basic Qualification: Able to Speak, Read and Write Chinese language Salary Range: Php 60,000 - Php 89,999 Basic Qualification: Able to Speak, Read and Write Chinese language Salary Range: Php 60,000 - Php 89,999

Basic Qualification: Able to Speak, Read and Write Chinese language Salary Range: Php 60,000 - Php 89,999

Basic Qualification: Able to Speak, Read and Write Chinese language Salary Range: Php 60,000 - Php 89,999

BusinessMirror

A14 Thursday, June 17, 2021

ESTABLISHMENT / ADDRESS No.

46.

47.

ESTABLISHMENT / ADDRESS

NAME OF FOREIGN NATIONAL , POSITION AND BRIEF DESCRIPTION SHANGGUAN, LIYUAN Chinese Customer Specialist Brief Job Description: Managing incoming calls and customer service inquiries

WEI, WENJIE Chinese Customer Specialist Brief Job Description: Managing incoming calls and customer service inquiries

QUALIFICATION AND SALARY RANGE Basic Qualification: Able to Speak, Read and Write Chinese language Salary Range: Php 60,000 - Php 89,999 Basic Qualification: Able to Speak, Read and Write Chinese language Salary Range: Php 60,000 - Php 89,999

ANZ GLOBAL SERVICES AND OPERATIONS (MANILA), INC. 12th Floor, Solaris One 130 Dela Rosa Street Legaspi Village Makati City TANG, JIAQI Client Services Officer (mandarin And Cantonese Speaker) 48.

Brief Job Description: Deliver excellent customer service to achieve max customer satisfaction by resolving the customer query at first contact in Mandarin and Cantonese.

Basic Qualification: Excellent English, Mandarin, and Cantonese communication skills both spoken and written.

49.

Brief Job Description: The Mandarin Graphic and Web Developer will be a strategist and a leader, able to steer the company to the most profitable direction while also implementing its vision, mission and long term goals

LI, YANG Mandarin Network Administrator Analyst 50.

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

WU, JIANTAO Mandarin Network And System Analyst 51.

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

CHARLES Mandarin Network And System Specialist 52.

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

NIE, XIAO Chinese Customer Support Representative 59.

53.

Brief Job Description: Perform quality audit and translation i n technical issues reporters by users or systems

Basic Qualification: Proven experience as Mandarin Graphic and Developer, excellent communication, interpersonal and presentation skills

JIANG, RONGSHENG Marketing Manager 60.

Basic Qualification: Proven experience as Mandarin Network Administrator Analyst, Excellent communication, interpersonal and presentation skills Salary Range: Php 30,000 - Php 59,999 Basic Qualification: Proven experience as Mandarin Network and System Analyst, excellent communication, interpersonal and presentation skills Salary Range: Php 30,000 - Php 59,999 Basic Qualification: Proven experience as Mandarin Network and System Specialist, excellent communication, interpersonal and presentation skills Salary Range: Php 30,000 - Php 59,999

Basic Qualification: Proficient in Mandarin Language and has excellent communications skills both in written and oral

61.

54.

Brief Job Description: The one responsible to “get the sale” using various customer sales methods

62.

55.

Brief Job Description: To oversee construction projects and supervise the construction team.

ZHAO, YONG Site Supervisor 56.

Brief Job Description: To oversee construction projects and supervise the construction team.

63.

57.

Brief Job Description: The Mandarin network and System Analyst will be strategies and a leader able to steer the company to the most profitable direction while also implementing its vision, mission and long term goals.

Basic Qualification: Preferably years of prior experience in supervisory roles Salary Range: Php 30,000 - Php 59,999

Basic Qualification: Proven experience as Mandarin Network and System analyst, Excellent communication, interpersonal and presentation skills.

64.

58.

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

Brief Job Description: Ensure adherence to the McConnell Dowell management system & project execution plan as related to the safety program

DONG, ZHENG Mandarin Speaking Customer Relations Service Provider

HONG, HUANDONG Mandarin Speaking Customer Relations Service Provider Brief Job Description: Responsible for handling service support calls

65.

YU, WENJIE Mandarin Speaking Customer Relations Service Provider Brief Job Description: Responsible for handling service support calls

66.

ZHANG, LULIN Mandarin Speaking Customer Relations Service Provider Brief Job Description: Responsible for handling service support calls

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

76.

77.

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

Basic Qualification: Proficient in speaking, reading and writing Korean and English

Brief Job Description: Maintain accurate sales records, reconcile delivery records with suppliers monthly.

TOH KIM KIONG Mandarin Team Leader Brief Job Description: Establish strategic plan and goals of the business operation

78.

PINTHONG, SIVINEE Head Of Production Marikina Brief Job Description: Manages the Marikina Production Department

79.

CAMPOS LOPES DOS SANTOS, PEDRO JORGE Manager Open+ Brief Job Description: Managing OPEN+ department

Salary Range: Php 500,000 and above

ZHONG, AIQIN Mandarin Speaking Customer Relations Service Provider

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

Basic Qualification: Proficient in speaking, reading, and writing in Mandarin

SCHMITT, LUDOVIC MICHEL Network And System Engineer 80.

68.

69.

70.

71.

72.

73.

74.

75.

SHI, LEI Chinese Customer Service Brief Job Description: Managing incoming calls and customer service inquires

ZHANG, CONGYANG Chinese Customer Service Brief Job Description: Managing incoming calls and customer service inquiries

GAO, SAILONG Customer Service Representative Brief Job Description: Managing incoming calls and customer service inquiries

LAI, DINGCAI Customer Service Representative Brief Job Description: Managing incoming calls and customer service inquiries

MU, HONGXIA Customer Service Representative Brief Job Description: Managing incoming calls and customer service inquiries

WU, TIANAO Customer Service Representative Brief Job Description: Managing incoming calls and customer service inquiries

ZHANG, YU Customer Service Representative Brief Job Description: Managing incoming calls and customer service inquiries

ZHANG, PENGFEI Customer Service Representative Brief Job Description: Managing incoming calls and customer service inquiries

Brief Job Description: Provide first level support to end-users(French clients and not only) through diagnosis or troubleshooting problems and implementing corrective action either remotely through the phone connectivity or collaborating with it contacts onsite.

CHEN, JINHUO Business Lending Development Officer 81.

Basic Qualification: Proficient in speaking, reading, and writing in Mandarin

CHEN, WEIXIANG Business Lending Development Officer 82.

Basic Qualification: Proficient in speaking, reading, and writing in Mandarin

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

83.

84.

85.

86.

Salary Range: Php 30,000 - Php 59,999 Basic Qualification: Able to speak, read and write Chinese language Salary Range: Php 60,000 - Php 89,999

87.

PHILIPPINE FULL DEGREE COMMUNICATIONS CORP. 10/f Alphaland Makati Place 7323 Ayala Ave. Cor. Malugay St. Bel-air Makati City

Basic Qualification: Ensure OPEN+ deployment in the affiliate for Operations in an Integrated and collaborative way to increase engagement and ownership, deliver value through adopting and improving PMI/region/ cluster best practices in a standardized and systematic way. Lead the E2E Supply Chain and digital OPEN+ journey in the site according to phase progression.

Basic Qualification: IT Service Desk Engineer French Speaker Salary Range: Php 60,000 - Php 89,999

Brief Job Description: Develop business proposals, analyse current and past expenses, develop creative strategies

Basic Qualification: College graduate, fluent in English, preferably 6mos1year lending development experience Salary Range: Php 30,000 - Php 59,999 Basic Qualification: College graduate, fluent in English, preferably 6mos1year lending development experience Salary Range: Php 30,000 - Php 59,999 Basic Qualification: College graduate, fluent in English, preferably 6mos1year lending development experience Salary Range: Php 30,000 - Php 59,999 Basic Qualification: College graduate, fluent in English, preferably 6mos1year lending development experience Salary Range: Php 30,000 - Php 59,999 Basic Qualification: College graduate, fluent in English, preferably 6mos1year lending development experience Salary Range: Php 30,000 - Php 59,999 Basic Qualification: College graduate, fluent in English, preferably 6mos1year lending development experience Salary Range: Php 30,000 - Php 59,999

WU, SHU-CHEN Mandarin Human Resource Specialist Brief Job Description: Recruiting staff who can speak mandarin.

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

SEEKTOP SERVICE MANAGEMENT INC. 25/f Alphaland Corporate Tower 7232 Ayala Ave. Extn. Cor. Malugay St. Bel-air Makati City CHAN KIEN LOON Customer Relation Representative (mandarin Translation) 88.

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

Basic Qualification: Own strategy development and deployment (linked to PDCA and factory CBN) for production units. Promote best practices, knowledge sharing, continuous improvement culture within Production Department.

S AND C CONSULTANCY INC. U-214 Manila Executive Regency 1200 J Bocobo St. 072, Bgy. 670 Ermita Manila

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

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

Brief Job Description: Develop business proposals, analyse current and past expenses, develop creative strategies

ZHANG, BOWEN Business Lending Development Officer

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

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

Brief Job Description: Develop business proposals, analyse current and past expenses, develop creative strategies

YU, KUN Business Lending Development Officer

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

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

Brief Job Description: Develop business proposals, analyse current and past expenses, develop creative strategies

XU, QINGBAI Business Lending Development Officer

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

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

Brief Job Description: Develop business proposals, analyse current and past expenses, develop creative strategies

KONG SIEU LING Business Lending Development Officer

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

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

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

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

Brief Job Description: Develop business proposals, analyse current and past expenses, develop creative strategies

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

Basic Qualification: Proficient in speaking, reading and writing in Mandarin

REST SOLUTION CORP. Unit 209, Plaza B Northgate Cyberzone Fcc,alabang Muntinlupa City

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

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

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

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

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

Basic Qualification: Excellent in Mandarin Speaking and Writing

Salary Range: Php 500,000 and above

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

Basic Qualification: minimum 10 years’ experience in the construction industry specifically involving civil and marine infrastructure

QUALIFICATION AND SALARY RANGE

PMFTC INC. Plant C & D Champaca Ii Fortune Marikina City

MOA CLOUDZONE CORP. 4th-11th Flr. Nexgen Tower C4 Rd. Edsa Ext. Brgy. 076 Pasay City

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

INVECH TREASURE PROCESSING CORPORATION 2nd, 3rd, 4th, 5th Floor Six West Campus Mckinley West Fort Bonifacio Taguig City

JIA, HAOHAO Chinese Customer Support Representative

Brief Job Description: Manage Korean customer queries/complaints.

Brief Job Description: Responsible for handling service support calls

Basic Qualification: Preferably years of prior experience in supervisory roles

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

LI, BIN Mandarin Network And System Specialist

KIM, JUNSU Customer Service Representative

Brief Job Description: Responsible for handling service support calls

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

YEOH JIA YING Mandarin Operations Specialist

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

Basic Qualification: Fluent in English and Chinese.

NAME OF FOREIGN NATIONAL , POSITION AND BRIEF DESCRIPTION

MEGA-WEB TECHNOLOGIES INC. 6,7,8,9,10,11/f Met Live Bldg. Edsa Cor. Macapagal Blvd. Brgy. 076 Pasay City

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

LONG, ZEAN Site Supervisor

Brief Job Description: Coordinate marketing strategies with the sales, financial, public relations, and production departments.

WILSON, CHRISTOPHER GEORGE Welfare And Services Manager

67.

HAMMERTIME CONSTRUCTION INC. Unit 203-s3 2nd Flr. Fbr Arcade Bldg. #317 Katipunan Ave. Loyola Heights 3 Quezon City

Basic Qualification: Able to speak and write in Mandarin and at least college level with related BPO experience

No.

MC CONNELL DOWELL PHILS., INC. Level 4 Nol Tower Commerce Ave. Mbp Muntinlupa City

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

Basic Qualification: Can research accounts and generate or follow through sales leads; can valuate customers skills, needs and build productive long lasting relationships, can meet personal and team sales targets

QUALIFICATION AND SALARY RANGE

KINDOSAR PROCESS SOLUTIONS INC. Unit 5d, Rose Industries Bldg. Pioneer St. Kapitolyo Pasig City

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

C’EST LA VIE EVENT MANAGEMENT INC. 230 Narra Street Marikina Heights Marikina City

WU, SHU-CHIEN Field Sales Consultant

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

ESTABLISHMENT / ADDRESS

KENDAWYNN CORPORATION 77 Cristobal St. Paco Manila, 071 Bgy 662 Ermita Manila

BIG EMPEROR TECHNOLOGY CORP. Eastfield Center Cbp1, Macapagal Blvd. Brgy. 076 Pasay City

WEN, HUIGANG Mandarin Language Specialist

NAME OF FOREIGN NATIONAL , POSITION AND BRIEF DESCRIPTION

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

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

LEI, CHUNWEI Mandarin Graphic And Web Developer

No.

www.businessmirror.com.ph

Brief Job Description: Handle service support calls, emails and chats related to inquiry from clients and/ or customers through Mandarin to English translation NGO LINH CHI Customer Relation Representative (mandarin Translation)

89.

Brief Job Description: Handle service support calls, emails and chats related to inquiry from clients and/ or customers through Mandarin to English translation

Basic Qualification: Through, extensive & fluency in Mandarin language and characters Salary Range: Php 30,000 - Php 59,999

Basic Qualification: Through, extensive & fluency in Mandarin language and characters Salary Range: Php 30,000 - Php 59,999

BusinessMirror

www.businessmirror.com.ph

ESTABLISHMENT / ADDRESS No.

NAME OF FOREIGN NATIONAL , POSITION AND BRIEF DESCRIPTION SLEN LINH YEN Customer Relation Representative (mandarin Translation)

90.

Brief Job Description: Handle service support calls, emails and chats related to inquiry from clients and/ or customers through Mandarin to English translation

ESTABLISHMENT / ADDRESS QUALIFICATION AND SALARY RANGE Basic Qualification: Through, extensive & fluency in Mandarin language and characters

91.

92.

Brief Job Description: Customer relations service provider

ZHAO, BO Customer Service Representative Brief Job Description: Customer relations service provider

LIN, SHUIDE Software Development Specialist 109.

93.

94.

95.

96.

97.

98.

99.

100.

101.

Brief Job Description: Creating and updating customer account information

FAN, CHIER Mandarin Customer Service Agent Brief Job Description: Creating and updating customer account information

GAO, XU Mandarin Customer Service Agent Brief Job Description: Creating and updating customer account information

HUANG, YIXUAN Mandarin Customer Service Agent Brief Job Description: Creating and updating customer account information

LEI, HONGYU Mandarin Customer Service Agent Brief Job Description: Creating and updating customer account information

LI, YANFEI Mandarin Customer Service Agent Brief Job Description: Creating and updating customer account information

LI, ZHIJIN Mandarin Customer Service Agent Brief Job Description: Creating and updating customer account information

LIN, CHENGKUN Mandarin Customer Service Agent Brief Job Description: Creating and updating customer account information

WANG, PANGTING Mandarin Customer Service Agent Brief Job Description: Creating and updating customer account information

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

LIN, HUIJI Software Development Specialist 110.

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

Basic Qualification: can speak read and type mandarin

102.

103.

104.

Brief Job Description: Creating and updating customer account information

ZHANG, LIQUAN Mandarin Customer Service Agent Brief Job Description: Creating and updating customer account information

ZHAO, LING Mandarin Customer Service Agent Brief Job Description: Creating and updating customer account information

GUAN, JUNXI Mandarin Marketing Staff 105.

Brief Job Description: Deliver prepared sales talks, reading from scripts that describe products or services, in order to persuade potential customers to purchase a product or service

QIN, KAIYAN Mandarin Marketing Staff 106.

Brief Job Description: Deliver prepared sales talks, reading from scripts that describe products or services, in order to persuade potential customers to purchase a product or service WU, ZHIXIN Mandarin Marketing Staff

107.

Brief Job Description: Deliver prepared sales talks, reading from scripts that describe products or services, in order to persuade potential customers to purchase a product or service

YIN MON AUNG Mandarin Marketing Staff 108.

Brief Job Description: Deliver prepared sales talks, reading from scripts that describe products or services, in order to persuade potential customers to purchase a product or service

Brief Job Description: Develop, create, and money general computer applications software

LU, MINGLEI Chinese Customer Support Representative 111.

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

Salary Range: Php 30,000 - Php 59,999 Basic Qualification: can speak read and type mandarin Salary Range: Php 30,000 - Php 59,999 Basic Qualification: can speak read and type mandarin Salary Range: Php 30,000 - Php 59,999

112.

113.

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

ZHANG, JUQIANG Customer Service Representative Brief Job Description: Customer relations service provider

114.

BIAN, LIHUA Chinese It Specialist Brief Job Description: Maintain the operation of electronic device

CAO, HUI Chinese It Specialist Brief Job Description: Maintain the operation of electronic device

Salary Range: Php 30,000 - Php 59,999 Basic Qualification: can speak read and type mandarin

115.

CHEN, JINRONG Chinese It Specialist Brief Job Description: Maintain the operation of electronic device

Salary Range: Php 30,000 - Php 59,999 Basic Qualification: can speak read and type mandarin

116.

Salary Range: Php 30,000 - Php 59,999 Basic Qualification: can speak read and type mandarin Salary Range: Php 30,000 - Php 59,999

117.

Basic Qualification: can speak read and type mandarin Salary Range: Php 30,000 - Php 59,999 Basic Qualification: Can speak read and type mandarin Salary Range: Php 30,000 - Php 59,999 Basic Qualification: can speak read and type mandarin

119.

CHEN, ZONGYONG Chinese It Specialist Brief Job Description: Maintain the operation of electronic device

HAN, FUQIANG Chinese It Specialist Brief Job Description: Maintain the operation of electronic device

HE, LEI Chinese It Specialist Brief Job Description: Maintain the operation of electronic device

LIU, KUMEI Chinese It Specialist Brief Job Description: Maintain the operation of electronic device

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

Basic Qualification: Can speak read and type mandarin

120.

QIN, XIAOTONG Chinese It Specialist Brief Job Description: Maintain the operation of electronic device

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

Basic Qualification: Excellent oral and written communication in mandarin

121.

REN, XUEMIN Chinese It Specialist Brief Job Description: Maintain the operation of electronic device

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

Basic Qualification: Excellent oral and written communication in mandarin

122.

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

Basic Qualification: Excellent oral and written communication in mandarin

123.

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

Basic Qualification: Excellent oral and written communication in mandarin Salary Range: Php 30,000 - Php 59,999

No.

Basic Qualification: College graduate; preferably with 1 year of software development experience; fluent in mandarin/basic english

125.

Salary Range: Php 30,000 - Php 59,999 Basic Qualification: College graduate; preferably with 1 year of Softeare Development experience; Fluent in Mandarin/Basic English

126.

Salary Range: Php 30,000 - Php 59,999 127.

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

128.

124.

SUN, XIAOXU Chinese It Specialist Brief Job Description: Maintain the operation of electronic device

WANG, JUNCHUN Chinese It Specialist Brief Job Description: Maintain the operation of electronic device

WEI, RUIRUI Chinese It Specialist Brief Job Description: Maintain the operation of electronic device

NAME OF FOREIGN NATIONAL , POSITION AND BRIEF DESCRIPTION

QUALIFICATION AND SALARY RANGE Basic Qualification: College Graduate with experience in maintaining gaming devices, fluent in Mandarin and English speaking

YUAN, BO Chinese It Specialist Brief Job Description: Maintain the operation of electronic device

Salary Range: Php 30,000 - Php 59,999 Basic Qualification: College Graduate with experience in maintaining gaming devices, fluent in Mandarin and English speaking

ZHANG, CHAO Chinese It Specialist Brief Job Description: Maintain the operation of electronic device

Salary Range: Php 30,000 - Php 59,999 Basic Qualification: College Graduate with experience in maintaining gaming devices, fluent in Mandarin and English speaking

ZHANG, QUANHUI Chinese It Specialist Brief Job Description: Maintain the operation of electronic device

Salary Range: Php 30,000 - Php 59,999 Basic Qualification: College Graduate with experience in maintaining gaming devices, fluent in Mandarin and English

ZHANG, DONGDONG Chinese It Specialist Brief Job Description: Maintain the operation of electronic device

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

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

129.

VERTEX DIGITAL ENTERTAINMENT TECHNOLOGIES, INC. 1439 Adriatico Cor. Sta. Monica St. 072 Bgy. 669 Ermita Manila

Basic Qualification: can speak read and type mandarin

Basic Qualification: Can speak read and type mandarin

QUALIFICATION AND SALARY RANGE

TRIVES TECHNOLOGY CORPORATION Tower 4 Bayport West Naia Garden Residence, Naia Road Tambo Parañaque City

118.

YUAN, FANGXING Mandarin Customer Service Agent

Brief Job Description: Develop, create, and modify general computer applications software

Basic Qualification: Fluent in mandarin, both oral and written

SKYLUSTER TECHNOLOGY, INC. 11/f The Enterprise Center Tower 2 Ayala Ave. Cor. Paseo De Roxas San Lorenzo Makati City 28/f Tower 6789 6789 Ayala Ave. Bel-air Makati City CHEN, LIN Mandarin Customer Service Agent

NAME OF FOREIGN NATIONAL , POSITION AND BRIEF DESCRIPTION

ESTABLISHMENT / ADDRESS

SUPREME CHENGHAO MANAGEMENT OPC Level 26-a Rufino Pacific Tower 6784 Ayala Ave. San Lorenzo Makati City

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

SKY DRAGON GLOBAL TECHNOLOGIES CORP. 2f-5f Unit 710 Shaw Blvd. Global Link Center, Brgy. Wack Wack Mandaluyong City LI, YONG Customer Service Representative

No.

Thursday, June 17, 2021 A15

Basic Qualification: College Graduate with experience in maintaining gaming devices, fluent in Mandarin and English Salary Range: Php 30,000 - Php 59,999 Basic Qualification: College Graduate with experience in maintaining gaming devices, fluent in Mandarin and English Salary Range: Php 30,000 - Php 59,999 Basic Qualification: College Graduate with experience in maintaining gaming devices, fluent in Mandarin and English

130.

Salary Range: Php 30,000 - Php 59,999 Basic Qualification: College Graduate with experience in maintaining gaming devices, fluent in Mandarin and English Salary Range: Php 30,000 - Php 59,999 Basic Qualification: College Graduate with experience in maintaining gaming devices, fluent in Mandarin and English

Salary Range: Php 30,000 - Php 59,999 Basic Qualification: College Graduate with experience in maintaining gaming devices, fluent in Mandarin and English speaking Salary Range: Php 30,000 - Php 59,999 Basic Qualification: College Graduate with experience in maintaining gaming devices, fluent in Mandarin and English

Brief Job Description: Conduct market research to find answer requirements, habits and trends.

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

Basic Qualification: Proven experience as Account manager; excellent communication, interpersonal and presentation skills.

DUAN, XIAOLIN Account Manager 131.

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

Salary Range: Php 30,000 - Php 59,999 Basic Qualification: Proven experience as Project Manager, excellent communication, interpersonal and presentation skills.

LI, MINGTAO Project Manager 132.

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

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

YAKULT PHILIPPINES, INC. 1461 Cor. F. Agoncillo & Escoda Sts. 073, Bgy. 676 Ermita Manila

133.

YUFUNE, YASUYUKI Member Of The Board Of Directors And Corporate Comptroller

Basic Qualification: Stockholder of the Company

Brief Job Description: Maintain Financial Operation, Accounting and Administrative Services

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

ZOEK INC. 11th Floor Net Quad Building 4th Ave., Bonifacio Global City Fort Bonifacio Taguig City

AGUILA GUTIERREZ, ANA LUCIA Marketing Director 134.

Brief Job Description: To formulated marketing strategies and analyze market forces and to increase sales.

Basic Qualification: With at least 1 year of experience.

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

ZTE PHILIPPINES INC. Unit 1201 & 1202 12th Floor Fort Legend Towers 3rd Ave. Corner 31st St. Bgc, Fort Bonifacio Taguig City

Salary Range: Php 30,000 - Php 59,999 Basic Qualification: College Graduate with experience in maintaining gaming devices, fluent in Mandarin and English speaking

Basic Qualification: Foreign language speaking

WUHAN FIBERHOME INTERNATIONAL TECHNOLOGIES PHILS., INC. U-19d 19/f Rufino Pacific Tower 6784 Ayala Ave. Cor. V.a. Rufino St. San Lorenzo Makati City

Salary Range: Php 30,000 - Php 59,999 Basic Qualification: College Graduate with experience in maintaining gaming devices, fluent in Mandarin and English

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

LI, CHENLONG Bilingual Marketing Specialist

Salary Range: Php 30,000 - Php 59,999 Basic Qualification: College Graduate with experience in maintaining gaming devices, fluent in Mandarin and English

Brief Job Description: Maintain the operation of electronic device

VPC CORPORATE SOLUTIONS INCORPORATED 11/f 100 West, Sen Gil Puyat Ave. Cor. Washington St. Pio Del Pilar Makati City

Salary Range: Php 30,000 - Php 59,999 Basic Qualification: College Graduate with experience in maintaining gaming devices, fluent in Mandarin and English

Basic Qualification: College Graduate with experience in maintaining gaming devices, fluent in Mandarin and English

ZIN YU AUNG It Specialist

135.

Basic Qualification: Graduate of any Business course.

WANG, QINGLEI Account Manager Brief Job Description: Project operation and follow project implementation.

ZHANG, YUQING Commercial Manager

136.

137.

Brief Job Description: Craft Evaluate , Negotiate and Execute a wide variety f diff

Salary Range: Php 30,000 - Php 59,999 Basic Qualification: College Graduate of Buss.

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

GAO, XIA Product Solution Manager

Basic Qualification: Business course Graduate

Brief Job Description: Analyze and formulate market and product strategies

Salary Range: Php 30,000 - Php 59,999 *Date Generated: Jun 16, 2021

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: College Graduate with experience in maintaining gaming devices, fluent in Mandarin and English Salary Range: Php 30,000 - Php 59,999

ATTY. SARAH BUENA S. MIRASOL REGIONAL DIRECTOR

Companies BusinessMirror

Editor: Jennifer A. Ng

Thursday, June 17, 2021

B1

NGCP to hold public auction for ancillary services—exec

By Lenie Lectura

T

@llectura

HE National Grid Corporation of the Philippines (NGCP) has committed to conduct a competitive bidding process for its ancillary services (AS) requirement to help meet the objectives of the government and secure the best value for power consumers.

Ancillary services are support services needed to maintain power quality, reliability and security of the grid.

“We want to guarantee the best pricing for AS, especially since this is a pass-on cost to consumers. With an open and public bidding process, we ensure full transparency and comply with internal governance imperative of accountability, which all our stakeholders deserve,” NGCP President Anthony Almeda said Wednesday.

NGCP did not say when it could commence the competitive auction.

Once done, this would have to be approved by the Energy Regulatory Commission (ERC).

However, the company said procuring AS on either firm or non-firm basis is not a solution to the recurring brownouts in the country.

“What we have is a supply and not a distribution problem. For the grid to effectively address imbalances between supply and demand, we need to increase the power capacity of the country to meet rising demand as we start to recover and fully reopen the economy,” Almeda added.

The Department of Energy (DOE) has already issued a circular governing the procurement of firm AS contracts to help secure the availability of power services during untoward occurrences, such as the simultaneous plant outages and “derating” incidents—which led to the series of red and yellow alerts last May 31 and June 1.

Under Department Circular (DC) DC2019-12-0018, “Adopting a General Framework Governing the Provision and Utilization of Ancillary

Services in the Grid”, the NGCP is mandated to procure 100 percent firm power reserves, as well as engage in the forward contracting of reserve requirements to ensure grid reliability.

Almeda said the firm contracting being insisted by the DOE will not “result in additional supply; it will only lead to a change in payment terms where all power, used or unused, will have to be shouldered by the public.”

This take-or-pay arrangement, he added, would only lead to higher electricity cost for consumers.

The NGCP noted that very little progress has been made in developing new energy sources as existing power facilities age and outputs decline.

The annual power consumption in the Philippines is expected to grow by 14.09 percent from pre-Covid-19 levels in 2019 to 2021, when economic activity is expected to catch up and normalize.

‘Vital resource’

A group of power firms on Wednesday stressed an urgent need to fill in the AS requirement of the transmission grid.

On top of this, the Philippine Independent Power Producers Association, Inc. (PIPPA) said this requirement should be complemented with additional capacity coming from new power plants.

“This combination will ensure

that the impact of forced outages will be minimal or, at a best case scenario, no blackouts. We eagerly wait for the completion and expedited processing of transmission and connection facilities,” PIPPA said in a statement.

Apart from the DOE circular on AS contracts, the Independent Electricity Market Operator of the Philippines also said it would soon introduce the Reserve Market (RM) to attract investors to put up facilities to cater the requirement for AS. Under the proposed RM, all generators will offer capacity for energy and reserves to be dispatched by the WESM. This allows investment signals for AS. PIPPA said it fully supports the policies that will result in stability, security and reliability in the energy system.

The group also said that it awaits the grid interconnection between Mindanao and Luzon as there is currently an oversupply of energy that can be tapped and transported.

“By linking the three grids and with firm contracting as per the mandate of the DOE, we can be confident that we have investors entertaining the build of new plants.”

The solutions, it added, should focus on compliance, security and reliability as each industry sector places a vital role in ensuring continuous nation building and recovery. “Energy is, after all, a vital resource , and it needs to be protected.”

D&L files for maiden bond float

By VG Cabuag @villygc

C

hemic a l manufacturer D&L Industries Inc. on Wednesday filed its registration statement with regulators for the maiden sale of its P5 billion threeyear and five-year bonds, which it will offer in the third quarter.

The company’s bond float consist of P3 billion in base offer and an oversubscription option of P2 billion.

The bonds may be offered in series A bonds due in 2024 and series b bonds due in 2026.

China Bank Capital Corp. has been mandated as its sole issue

JFC offers discounts to vaccinated customers

F

ast-food giant Jollibee Foods Corp. on Wednesday said its stores in Metro Manila and nearby provinces are offering discounts to vaccinated customers.

Jollibee said its more than 150 stores in the National Capital Region Plus area is offering a 10 percent discount from June 1 to August 31 for vaccinated individuals. Stores that will offer the discount include Jollibee, Chowking, Mang Inasal, Greenwich, Red Ribbon, Burger King, Panda Express and PHO24.

Through this promo, Jollibee said it hopes to encourage the public to get vaccinated and help the country achieve herd immunity as soon as possible.

Vaccinated individuals only need to show their vaccine card and valid ID to enjoy the incentive for as many times as they want when they dine in from June to August 2021, the company said. Single dose vaccinees are also eligible to enjoy the discount. VG Cabuag

manager, lead underwriter and sole bookrunner.

The bonds shall be issued in scripless form and in denominations of P50,000 each, as a minimum, and in integral multiples of P10,000 thereafter, and traded in denominations of P10,000.00 in the secondary market.

The bonds will be listed on the Philippine Dealing and Exchange Corp.

According to its initial schedule, rate setting is on August 18, public offer period is from August 24 to 31, and listing date is on September 7.

Proceeds of the bonds will be used to pay for the loans it obtained for its new facility in Batangas.

“Capital expenditures [capex] related to the Batangas expansion project has been ongoing since the past year. Prior to the offer, the company funded the project costs through bridge financing of short term loans from its partner banks.

D&L intends to repay these bridge loans from the proceeds of the offer,” the company said.

“It’s more conservative to have some debt long term considering we have some long term assets that we have to finance like the construction in Batangas plant. So that’s why issuing the bond seems to make more sense (that doing a preferred share sale or private placement),”

Alvin Lao, the company’s president and CEO, said. Construction for the expanded factory of the company, which started in late 2018, is expected to to be completed this year.

However, Lao said there may be delays partly as a result of the stricter lockdowns that the government implemented when Covid-19 cases surged in March to April.

“There’s possible delays in the tightness of the supply chain around the world and also in the shipments (of cargo). We’re still assessing the full impact.”

Remaining capex to be deployed for the project is about P4 billion, the company said earlier.

Globe unit to focus on 7 verticals

By Lorenz S. Marasigan @lorenzmarasigan

G

lobe Telecom Inc.’s venture builder subsidiary will develop more digital solutions for seven industries, which it believes are “ripe for disruption.”

917 Ventures Managing Director Vince Yamat said the venture builder will prioritize the development of solutions for the following sectors: health technology, advertising technology, loyalty, data, education technology, financial technology, and e-commerce.

“We would like to focus on these 7 verticals or industries, as these are the industries that are ripe for disruption. These are also the verticals that we have a beachhead and we would like to leverage on that,” he said.

Yamat added that 917 Ventures continuously looks for “nagging pain points or problems” to solve through digital technologies.

Currently, 917 Ventures has six portfolio companies, namely: GCash, HealthNow, KonsultaMD,

Rush, AdSpark, and PureGo. GCash is a fintech app that provides users with financial tools and services through their mobile phones. HealthNow and KonsultaMD, meanwhile, are digital healthcare brands that offer digital medical consultations and on-demand medicines.

Rush offers digital innovations in the area of customer loyalty and retention, made accessible through easy-to-use programs to help businesses grow in the digital space, while AdSpark is the digital advertising arm of 917 Ventures.

Lastly, PureGo is a joint venture with supermarket Puregold.

It allows users to purchase their groceries via the PureGo platform.

“As a venture builder, the primary purpose is to build our own companies, but not discounting possibility of working with other companies as well. We like working with partners that we can leverage on. And we as Globe, contributing our unfair advantage,” Yamat said.

He also noted that these companies may see themselves going public through an initial public offering, but noted that “there’s a perfect timing for that.”

“We’ll see. I’m sure pretty soon,” Yamat said.

917Ventures is Globe’s corporate venture builder that ideates, launches, and accelerates new business ideas that have the potential to grow and scale fast.

SMC officially starts ₧1-B vaccination drive

San Miguel Corp. on Wednesday launched La Salle Green Hills in Mandaluyong City as pilot site for its P1-billion program that will provide free Covid-19 vaccines to its 70,000 employees and extended workforce nationwide. Contributed Photo

S

an Miguel Corp. (SMC) launched its first vaccination site at the La Salle Green Hills (LSGH) in Mandaluyong to officially start its P1-billion Covid-19 vaccine rollout for its 70,000 employees, extended workforce and their families.

Present during the event are SMC President Ramon S. Ang, Senator Joel Villanueva, National Task Force (NTF) Against Covid-19 chief implementer Carlito Galvez Jr., National Task Force Against Covid-19 deputy chief implementer Vince Dizon, Department of Health Secretary Francisco Duque, Mandaluyong City Mayor Menchie Abalos and Metropolitan Manila Development Authority (MMDA) chairman Benjamin Abalos, Jr. “We thank the De La Salle Brothers for partnering with us in vaccinating even more Filipinos, particularly NCR-based workers and their families. We also thank the local government of Mandaluyong and the National Task Force Against Covid-19 for helping make this launch possible. We are vaccinating for free over 70,000 in our workforce. We are also looking to make the vaccines available to more Filipinos, by extending access to those in our workforce’s own networks,” said Ang. “This way, we can help achieve herd immunity for our country, ensure that more lives are safe, and get our economy back on track sooner than later.”

Once fully operational by August, the La Salle Green Hills site will be able to accommodate up to 1,000 persons per day. SMC has purchased vaccines from Astra Zeneca and Moderna for its nationwide vaccination effort. The vaccines are set to arrive by next month.

Aside from the LSGH and Jose Rizal University (JRU) sites in Mandaluyong, Ang said SMC is eyeing 14 other vaccination sites in Laguna, Cavite, Batangas, Albay, Pampanga, Pangasinan, Isabela, Bataan, Cebu,

Mandaue, Iloilo, Bacolod, Davao, and Cagayan de Oro. “We are happy that President Duterte has approved the start of vaccination for essential workers, as they are key to putting the economy back on track. For our part, San Miguel commits to take care of our own, so that when larger volumes of vaccines arrive, they will no longer need to rely on government supplies-which can then be given to more of our countrymen,”Ang said.

To commemorate the event, some 500 essential workers from SMC received their initial doses of the Sinovac vaccine at LSGH, through the COVID-19 Inter-Agency Task Force on Emerging Infectious Diseases (IATF) and the City of Mandaluyong.

Meanwhile, another vaccination site, JRU in Mandaluyong, which is jointly-managed by SMC and the city government, will also continue to accept individuals under the A4 category.

A number of SMC’s own medical staff are posted at the JRU site to boost the local government’s ongoing vaccination effort.

SMC has been deploying its own, mostly newly-hired medical staff to various local government units to help out at understaffed vaccination sites.

The company is looking to hire some 300 medical professionals composed of nurses and doctors, for its vaccination program, and to help partner LGUs implement their vaccine rollout.

To date, over 100 have been hired and deployed to vaccination sites in Mandaluyong, Manila, Quezon City, and Malabon. More will be deployed to Paranaque and Pasig cities.

The government recently issued guidelines to prioritize Filipinos under the A4 category or frontline personnel in essential sectors for vaccination. Majority of SMC’s employees who are waiting for their first dose of COVID-19 vaccine fall under the A4 category.

AC Energy units obtain govt nod to conduct GIS

F

ive units of AC Energy Corp.

(ACEN) have secured the green light of the energy department to proceed with the conduct of a grid impact study (GIS) for its solar, wind and battery energy storage system (BESS) projects.

Based on the list of generation companies issued with Department of Energy (DOE) Certificate of Endorsement to National Grid Corporation of the Philippines (NGCP) for clearance to undertake system impact study, a total of seven firms were issued permits last month.

The 5 units of AC Energy are Giga Ace 5 Inc., which plans to build a 175megawatt (MW) wind power project in Quezon; AC Laguna Solar Inc., which will put up a 250MWP floating solar in Rizal; AC Subic Solar Inc., for its planned 300MWP solar power project in Rizal; Giga Ace 4 Inc., for its 150MW BESS in Rizal; and Giga Ace 10 Inc. for its 40MW BESS in Bataan.

The other two firms are Real Wind Energy, Inc., which plans to build a 250MW wind project in Quezon, and Solar Power Utilities Generation Corp., which will put up a 49.8MWP solar project in Zambales.

The 7 power projects, if pursued,

will add 1,214.8MW of additional capacity. Of which, 915MW would be put up by AC Energy units.

Prior to construction, a power firm must secure the go-ahead of the DOE for it to conduct a GIS. This is necessary in determining if the electricity to be generated by the power project can be absorbed by the country’s transmission system.

Meanwhile, AC Energy is subscribing P415 million worth of shares of its subsidiary, Buendia Christiana Holdings Corp. (BCHC), to fund potential project sites.

In a disclosure to the stock exchange, AC Energy signed a subscription agreement with BCHC for the subscription of 75,000,000 Redeemable Preferred A Shares with a par value of P0.10 per share, and 4,075,000 Redeemable Preferred B Shares with a par value of P100.00 per share, to be issued out of the increase in authorized capital stock of BCHC. BCHC is a special purpose vehicle, which will own land for Ac Energy’s development projects.

The agreement is subject to regulatory approval on the increase in capital stock and full payment of the subscription price. Lenie Lectura

B2

Companies BusinessMirror

Thursday, June 17, 2021

Megaworld seeks approval of SEC for REIT offering

M

By VG Cabuag

@villygc

egaworld Corp. on Wednesday said it has submitted its registration papers to the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) for the initial public offering (IPO) of the company’s real estate investment trust (REIT).

Megaworld said its REIT, which will be called MREIT Inc., will sell secondary shares of up to 1.23 billion common shares at an offer price of P22 per share.

The offer is expected to raise gross proceeds of up to P27.3 billion, as-

suming full exercise of the overallotment option, which would be the biggest REIT offering in the Philippines to date. This would represent up to 49 percent of the total issued and outstanding shares of MREIT, assuming full exercise of the over-

CEB announces new voluntary flight change policy

C

ebu Pacific (CEB), the Philippines’ leading carrier, will be implementing a new policy for passengers who want to make voluntary changes to their flights, in line with the continuous streamlining of processes across the business.

Starting July 1, the travel fund option for voluntary flight changes will only be available for passengers who pre-purchased the CEB Flexi add-on during initial booking as this new and improved product allows passengers to cancel their flights for free, up to two (2) hours before departure, and store the value of the booking in a Travel Fund for as low as P499.

The amount in this virtual wallet is valid for 2 years and may be used to book new flights or purchase other add-ons such as seat selection, additional baggage allowance, or travel insurance.

Passengers who wish to change their bookings voluntarily without purchasing CEB Flexi can make use of the Unlimited Rebooking option of CEB and rebook as many times as they want up to two hours before their scheduled time of departure.

CEB has permanently removed change fees since March to provide guests with the much-needed flexibility during this time.

“We have made it a point that we are agile in responding to our customers’ needs amid the fluid situation. It is our commitment to provide safe, affordable, and convenient air travels for every-

Juan in the years to come, and we need to make sure that we operate sustainably. This is why we are announcing this new and permanent policy after over a year of careful assessment,” said Candice Iyog, Vice President for marketing & customer experience at Cebu Pacific.

The CEB Flexi product has been made available to offer added flexibility to passengers so they may travel with peace of mind. This is also in line with the carrier’s commitment to keep supporting the industry in its efforts to boost the traveling public’s confidence to fly amid changing travel restrictions.

Passengers can also avail of the CEB Flexi product as a bundle through GO Flexi, and enjoy free cancellation, checked-in baggage with a combined weight of up to 20 kilos, and a standard seat.

“Trust that we will continue to listen to our customers and prioritize their needs as we endeavor to respond the best way possible.

We have enhanced our products so everyJuan has access to greater flexibility on top of guaranteed safe and seamless travels with CEB,” added Iyog.

Passengers affected by flight cancellations will continue to have the standard options offered by CEB, namely: unlimited rebooking, refund, and travel fund.

CEB operates the widest domestic network in the Philippines covering 32 destinations, on top of its six international destinations, spanning Asia and the Middle East.

allotment option.

Megaworld intends to reinvest the net proceeds from the offer in 16 projects all over the country.

Through a property-for-share swap, Megaworld injected into MREIT a portfolio of 10 office, retail and hotel assets with an aggregate gross leasable area of 224,430.80 square meters, located in three prime townships of Megaworld - Eastwood City in Quezon City, McKinley Hill in Taguig City and Iloilo Business Park in Mandurriao, Iloilo City.

MREIT portfolio of assets include 1800 Eastwood Avenue, 1880 Eastwood Avenue, E-Commerce Plaza, One World Square, Two World Square, Three World Square, 8/10 Upper McKinley, 18/20 Upper McKinley, One Techno Place, Richmonde Tower and Richmonde Hotel Iloilo.

“Our REIT includes properties in three of our most sought-after premier township developments of Eastwood City, McKinley Hill, and Iloilo Business Park, which are home to around 200,000 BPO and other office workers today. Our ‘tried-and-tested’ signature concept of the township has attracted over 200 BPO and multinational companies to locate with us through the years since we started our first-ever Eastwood cyberpark in 1999,” Kevin Andrew L. Tan, president and CEO of MREIT, said.

BDO Capital and Investment Corp., Credit Suisse (Singapore) Ltd., UBS AG Singapore Branch and DBS Bank Ltd., were mandated as joint global coordinators for the IPO and BDO Capital as domestic lead underwriter.

mutual funds

June 16, 2021 NAV One Year Three Year Five Year

per share

Return*

Y-T-D Return

Stock Funds ALFM Growth Fund, Inc. -a

223.83

10.9%

-4.93%

-3.09%

ATRAM Alpha Opportunity Fund, Inc. -a

1.3974

36.19%

-3.03%

2.19%

6.43%

12.94%

-9.35%

-5.32%

-1.65%

ATRAM Philippine Equity Opportunity Fund, Inc. -a 3.0812

-1.49%

Climbs Share Capital Equity Investment Fund Corp. -a 0.7876 11.64%

-4.62% n.a.

-2.03%

First Metro Consumer Fund on MSCI Phils. IMI, Inc. -a 0.7354 6.49%

-4.48% n.a.

-0.84%

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

13.21%

-2.82%

-1.66%

-0.58%

0.715

4.38%

-6.5%

-6.27%

4.9128

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

98.89

25.22%

-4.28% n.a.

-2.99%

PAMI Equity Index Fund, Inc. -a

-1.94%

45.9377

13.03%

-2.99%

-1.84%

Philam Strategic Growth Fund, Inc. - a

481.4

11.12%

-3.07%

-2.27%

-1.55%

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

1.081

22.05% n.a. n.a.

-1.49%

Philequity Dividend Yield Fund, Inc. -a

1.1551

12.6%

-2.87%

-1.5%

Philequity Fund, Inc. -a

34.3688

13.88%

-2.42%

-1.12%

-0.79%

-1.15%

Philequity MSCI Philippine Index Fund, Inc. -a

0.8961

11.71% n.a. n.a.

-1.85%

Philequity PSE Index Fund Inc. -a

4.7059

13.66%

-2.38%

-1.07%

-1.78%

Philippine Stock Index Fund Corp. - a

788.18

13.76%

-2.25%

-1.18%

-1.68%

Soldivo Strategic Growth Fund, Inc. -a

0.7149

13.13%

-6.6%

-4.42%

-0.56%

Sun Life Prosperity Philippine Equity Fund, Inc. -a 3.5584

11.11%

-4.79%

-2.63%

-1.8%

Sun Life Prosperity Philippine Stock Index Fund, Inc. -a 0.9003 13.17%

-2.61%

-1.34%

-1.9%

United Fund, Inc. -a

-2.73%

-0.43%

-1.09%

-2.04%

-0.56%

3.2828

12.74%

-5.9%

Exchange Traded Fund First Metro Phil. Equity Exchange Traded Fund, Inc. -a,c 105.7854

13.75%

-1.64%

Primarily invested in foreign currency securities $1.2773

36.99%

4.88%

9.37%

6.19%

Sun Life Prosperity World Voyager Fund, Inc. -a $1.7855

ATRAM AsiaPlus Equity Fund, Inc. -b

33.2%

10.75%

12.47%

6.74%

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

1.6903

9.77%

-0.21%

-1.1%

1.3%

ATRAM Philippine Balanced Fund, Inc. -a

2.2605

9.71%

-0.55%

-0.2%

-1.09%

First Metro Save and Learn Balanced Fund Inc. -a 2.6149

7.88%

0.18%

-0.35%

-0.46%

First Metro Save and Learn F.O.C.C.U.S. Dynamic Fund, Inc. -a,1 0.1958 NCM Mutual Fund of the Phils., Inc. -a

1.964

6.57%

PAMI Horizon Fund, Inc. -a

3.704

6.55%

Philam Fund, Inc. -a

16.6159

7.12%

Solidaritas Fund, Inc. -a

2.0715

7.39%

Sun Life of Canada Prosperity Balanced Fund, Inc. -a 3.5366 7.18%

3.6% n.a. n.a.

0.89%

0%

0.75%

-0.24%

-2.22%

0.87%

-0.22%

-1.89%

-0.28%

-0.08%

-1.08%

-1.41%

-1.19%

-1.02%

5.32% n.a. n.a.

-3.08%

Sun Life Prosperity Achiever Fund 2038, Inc. -a,d 0.9148

7.65% n.a. n.a.

-3.62%

Sun Life Prosperity Achiever Fund 2048, Inc. -a,d 0.9032

8.99% n.a. n.a.

-3.2%

Sun Life Prosperity Dynamic Fund, Inc. -a

9.94%

0.45%

Sun Life Prosperity Achiever Fund 2028, Inc. -a,d 0.9911

0.8917

1.88%

-1.81%

-1.33%

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

$0.0382

-0.44%

3.07%

1.4%

-2.35%

PAMI Asia Balanced Fund, Inc. -b

$1.1485

17.01%

2.89%

5.56%

-0.15%

Sun Life Prosperity Dollar Advantage Fund, Inc. -a $4.7195 24.25%

8.42%

8.96%

4.58%

Sun Life Prosperity Dollar Wellspring Fund, Inc. -a,3 $1.2164 12.43%

4.94%

4.99%

1.19%

0.23%

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

371.92

1.95%

3.19%

2.45%

ATRAM Corporate Bond Fund, Inc. -a

1.9262

-0.62%

1.19%

0.24%

1.36%

Cocolife Fixed Income Fund, Inc. -a

3.2271

1.32%

3.8%

4.35%

0.39%

Ekklesia Mutual Fund Inc. -a

2.2597

-0.98%

2.24%

1.41%

-1.58%

First Metro Save and Learn Fixed Income Fund,Inc. -a 2.4408 0.26%

3.25%

1.75%

-0.51%

Philam Bond Fund, Inc. -a

4.4963

-1.25%

4.28%

1.7%

-2.98%

Philam Managed Income Fund, Inc. -a,6

1.3251

2.85%

4.3%

2.81%

0.3%

Philequity Peso Bond Fund, Inc. -a

3.9726

1.13%

4.41%

2.46%

-0.71%

Soldivo Bond Fund, Inc. -a

1.0358

1.16%

4.56%

1.82%

-0.6%

-1.41%

www.businessmirror.com.ph

PSE STOCK QUOTATIONS

June 16, 2021

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

ASIA UNITED BDO UNIBANK BANK PH ISLANDS CHINABANK EAST WEST BANK METROBANK PB BANK PBCOM PHIL NATL BANK PSBANK RCBC SECURITY BANK UNION BANK BRIGHT KINDLE COL FINANCIAL FERRONOUX HLDG IREMIT MEDCO HLDG MANULIFE NTL REINSURANCE PHIL STOCK EXCH VANTAGE

44 117.8 87.35 24.75 9.87 50 10.9 19.7 23.2 55.5 17.2 123.7 77 1.29 4.1 2.96 1.35 0.4 950 0.71 207 0.98

44.65 117.9 88 24.8 9.89 50.1 10.98 19.9 23.25 55.7 17.24 123.9 77.1 1.3 4.15 3.05 1.4 0.415 979 0.74 208 1

44.65 112.7 85.8 24.7 9.84 49.5 10.98 19.9 23.1 55.05 17.2 123.1 75.95 1.3 4.18 3 1.31 0.4 950 0.71 201 0.97

44.65 118.1 88 24.95 10.06 50.35 11 19.9 23.25 55.9 17.24 124.2 77 1.3 4.18 3.01 1.4 0.415 950 0.72 207 0.97

44.4 112.7 85.8 24.7 9.77 49.3 10.9 19.7 22.95 55.05 17.2 123 75.95 1.3 4.1 3 1.31 0.4 950 0.71 201 0.97

44.4 117.9 88 24.8 9.87 50.1 10.98 19.7 23.25 55.7 17.2 123.7 77 1.3 4.15 3 1.33 0.415 950 0.72 207 0.97

1,300 57,970 6,975,820 809,527,746 3,281,560 286,085,358.50 142,900 3,541,785 433,800 4,309,979 3,086,800 153,762,080 30,900 338,902 900 17,780 316,300 7,302,670 1,730 96,402 537,700 9,249,852 1,295,360 160,185,557 40,110 3,084,075.50 75,000 97,500 36,000 149,550 55,000 165,100 13,000 17,690 110,000 44,150 10 9,500 78,000 55,630 33,920 7,000,558 2,000 1,940

INDUSTRIAL

AC ENERGY ALSONS CONS ABOITIZ POWER BASIC ENERGY FIRST GEN FIRST PHIL HLDG MERALCO MANILA WATER PETRON PETROENERGY PHX PETROLEUM PILIPINAS SHELL SPC POWER VIVANT AGRINURTURE AXELUM BOGO MEDELLIN CNTRL AZUCARERA CENTURY FOOD DEL MONTE DNL INDUS EMPERADOR SMC FOODANDBEV ALLIANCE SELECT FRUITAS HLDG GINEBRA JOLLIBEE LIBERTY FLOUR MAXS GROUP MG HLDG MONDE NISSIN SHAKEYS PIZZA ROXAS AND CO RFM CORP ROXAS HLDG SWIFT FOODS UNIV ROBINA VITARICH VICTORIAS CONCRETE A CONCRETE B CEMEX HLDG DAVINCI CAPITAL EAGLE CEMENT EEI CORP HOLCIM MEGAWIDE PHINMA TKC METALS VULCAN INDL CROWN ASIA EUROMED LMG CORP MABUHAY VINYL PRYCE CORP CONCEPCION GREENERGY INTEGRATED MICR IONICS PANASONIC SFA SEMICON CIRTEK HLDG

8.43 1.33 24.25 0.88 30.1 75.3 278 17.12 3.4 4.12 12.62 20.85 11.26 14.5 6.44 2.95 67.25 13.52 22.2 15.78 8.15 10 71 0.66 1.41 83.95 206.8 28.95 6.88 0.31 14.72 8 1.06 4.47 1.45 0.142 145.1 0.89 2.4 52.5 59.8 1.31 2.97 14.32 7.5 6.29 7.1 12.7 1.05 2.17 1.78 1.9 4.6 5 5.42 21.25 4.39 10.78 1.1 5.77 1.35 6.12

8.44 1.34 24.3 0.89 30.3 75.5 279 17.14 3.42 4.23 12.8 20.9 11.3 15.4 6.45 3 76.95 14.34 22.4 15.8 8.16 10.18 71.1 0.67 1.42 84 209 30.45 6.9 0.315 14.74 8.03 1.07 4.54 1.48 0.143 146 0.9 2.5 56.8 60.5 1.32 2.98 14.5 7.7 6.3 7.12 12.76 1.07 2.18 1.79 1.94 4.64 5.17 5.5 21.95 4.4 10.8 1.12 5.8 1.36 6.14

8.35 1.37 24.6 0.8 30.45 72.95 280 16.72 3.43 4.23 12.82 20.8 11.3 15.04 6.41 2.94 66.5 14.34 22.55 16 7.97 10.38 71.1 0.65 1.45 81.5 217 28.85 7.08 0.31 14.7 8.1 1.04 4.55 1.48 0.14 148.4 0.91 2.4 53 60 1.28 2.9 14.54 7.4 6.22 7.02 12.74 1.05 2.17 1.77 1.9 4.5 4.93 5.5 21.05 4.23 10.32 1.12 5.8 1.35 5.86

8.49 1.37 24.7 0.88 30.8 76.1 281.6 17.18 3.43 4.24 12.82 21.2 11.32 15.4 6.47 3 66.5 14.34 22.9 16 8.38 10.38 71.8 0.67 1.45 83.95 223.8 29.8 7.09 0.315 14.76 8.1 1.07 4.55 1.48 0.149 149.2 0.91 2.4 53 60 1.33 2.98 14.54 7.75 6.35 7.2 12.76 1.09 2.3 1.78 1.95 4.95 5.17 5.5 21.3 4.42 10.82 1.12 5.8 1.35 6.28

8.27 1.33 24.1 0.78 30.1 72.95 277 16.72 3.38 4.12 12.78 20.7 11.26 15.04 6.37 2.9 66.5 13.52 22.05 15.5 7.9 10 71 0.65 1.41 79.3 206.8 28.85 6.79 0.3 14.5 7.97 1.04 4.5 1.48 0.137 145.1 0.86 2.3 52.2 60 1.28 2.9 14.3 7.4 6.2 7.02 12.74 1.05 2.15 1.77 1.9 4.14 4.9 5.4 21.05 4.23 10.3 1.08 5.72 1.34 5.86

8.44 1.33 24.3 0.88 30.1 75.5 278 17.12 3.4 4.12 12.8 20.9 11.26 15.4 6.44 3 66.5 14.34 22.2 15.78 8.15 10 71.1 0.67 1.42 83.95 206.8 29.8 6.88 0.31 14.74 8.03 1.07 4.5 1.48 0.143 145.1 0.9 2.4 52.2 60 1.32 2.97 14.48 7.5 6.3 7.12 12.76 1.07 2.18 1.78 1.9 4.64 5.17 5.5 21.25 4.4 10.8 1.11 5.8 1.35 6.12

341,393,507 -31,597,260.50 -2,470 -58,173.00 7,555,075 417,060 -1,008,738 -9,725,231 2,958,624 4,579,266 -

34,587,900 290,157,374 2,336,000 3,132,270 3,360,300 81,947,005 268,019,000 226,307,430 1,072,700 32,478,140 3,987,850 295,462,209.50 228,680 63,799,024 5,220,900 88,684,128 1,840,000 6,269,840 60,000 252,750 60,700 775,966 682,300 14,266,345 233,000 2,628,772 16,200 246,196 4,147,200 26,642,950 3,507,000 10,332,600 20 1,330 2,600 36,626 1,724,200 38,468,585 499,000 7,858,720 5,584,100 45,629,950 3,225,000 32,942,690 95,170 6,769,722.50 3,265,000 2,155,400 15,951,000 22,743,670 204,150 16,780,568.50 1,962,740 423,698,036 33,100 986,075 336,100 2,330,570 5,040,000 1,542,500 9,832,500 144,383,876 113,600 909,399 2,651,000 2,786,800 78,000 352,730 39,000 57,720 30,560,000 4,361,200 1,140,080 167,661,181 5,653,000 5,035,060 57,000 136,500 70 3,670 220 13,200 3,965,000 5,196,500 877,000 2,597,100 37,600 544,470 11,100 82,805 289,200 1,815,518 1,874,900 13,395,355 35,700 455,118 589,000 626,340 13,642,000 30,234,530 76,000 134,970 103,000 198,290 34,115,000 155,058,310 3,100 15,257 200,500 1,088,970 5,500 116,830 12,173,000 52,955,330 1,518,300 16,083,174 132,000 145,790 24,200 139,507 314,000 422,840 6,781,400 41,508,219

-20,593,068 576,900 -23,284,675 -1,772,590 -2,023,420 -279,747,732 -32,512,624 -7,743,826.00 30,320 21,150 -3,607,475 -632,620 241,576 4,280,206 1,620,750 -12,184,810 50,292 17,091,920 -262,504 -5,411,271 -919,380 904,440 2,048,815 -50,772,418 34,590 -16,250 -15,324,350 -133,881 169,450 -348,180 -80,670.00 -62,574,672 188,100 -1,284,470 14,850 3,750 -156,688 3,318,177 -200,318 64,570 -157,530 -180 10,820 99,875 -2,039,050.00 -103,310 146,590 -1,031,116

HOLDING & FRIMS ABACORE CAPITAL 1.12 1.13 1.13 1.14 1.1 1.12 10,196,000 11,393,780 ASIABEST GROUP 7.31 7.35 7.38 7.4 7.3 7.31 5,300 38,755 AYALA CORP 816 819.5 817.5 824.5 815 819.5 285,740 234,072,100 ABOITIZ EQUITY 42.9 43.1 43.5 43.55 42.6 42.9 772,100 33,181,165 10.28 10.3 10.38 10.44 10.26 10.28 4,471,000 46,055,142 ALLIANCE GLOBAL 3.7 3.74 3.7 3.74 3.62 3.74 7,630,000 28,172,080 AYALA LAND LOG 6.78 6.95 6.95 6.95 6.95 6.95 4,400 30,580 ANSCOR ANGLO PHIL HLDG 0.98 0.99 0.94 0.99 0.94 0.98 6,839,000 6,629,060 ATN HLDG A 0.72 0.73 0.72 0.74 0.71 0.73 1,855,000 1,343,310 ATN HLDG B 0.7 0.74 0.7 0.7 0.7 0.7 5,000 3,500 5.39 5.4 5.4 5.44 5.39 5.39 3,839,100 20,727,027 COSCO CAPITAL 6.3 6.46 6.38 6.7 6.3 6.3 16,514,800 106,613,026 DMCI HLDG 8.12 8.16 8.1 8.18 8.1 8.12 24,300 197,698 FILINVEST DEV FORUM PACIFIC 0.275 0.295 0.295 0.295 0.295 0.295 20,000 5,900 GT CAPITAL 608.5 610 600.5 610 600.5 610 149,310 90,724,110 HOUSE OF INV 3.71 3.8 3.77 3.77 3.77 3.77 93,000 350,610 62.45 62.75 61.9 63.4 60.25 62.75 2,575,990 161,333,386.50 JG SUMMIT 1.02 1.03 0.96 1.04 0.96 1.02 9,506,000 9,553,710 LODESTAR 3.31 3.32 3.31 3.31 3.3 3.31 800,000 2,646,000 LOPEZ HLDG LT GROUP 13.38 13.4 13.5 13.58 13.34 13.4 1,437,700 19,323,118 MABUHAY HLDG 0.52 0.56 0.53 0.56 0.52 0.56 1,151,000 629,020 MJC INVESTMENTS 1.55 1.61 1.58 1.62 1.58 1.61 3,000 4,810 4.07 4.08 4.09 4.13 4.05 4.08 13,562,000 55,387,090 METRO PAC INV 3.75 3.94 3.9 3.95 3.75 3.94 22,000 84,370 PACIFICA HLDG 2.92 2.93 3.25 3.25 2.89 2.92 7,866,000 23,685,940 PRIME MEDIA SOLID GROUP 1.21 1.23 1.21 1.21 1.21 1.21 17,000 20,570 SM INVESTMENTS 1,000 1,009 1,003 1,019 1,000 1,000 174,570 175,696,710 SAN MIGUEL CORP 116.9 117 117.7 118 117 117 319,400 37,488,054 SOC RESOURCES 0.73 0.74 0.74 0.74 0.74 0.74 26,000 19,240 130.1 134 134 134 134 134 400 53,600 TOP FRONTIER WELLEX INDUS 0.26 0.265 0.265 0.265 0.26 0.26 150,000 39,500 ZEUS HLDG 0.227 0.237 0.23 0.24 0.226 0.24 490,000 111,720

311,210.00 28,414,510 10,938,810 21,258,778 -778,940 58,080 2,474,915 4,608,662 -86,428 25,833,245 78,133,531 -413,600 -331,000 -15,571,880 -6,715,000 -3,940 -104,410 1,693,590 -8,858,404 -

PROPERTY ARTHALAND CORP 0.62 0.64 0.63 0.64 0.63 0.64 339,000 213,910 ANCHOR LAND 7.41 7.5 7.5 7.5 7.5 7.5 5,000 37,500 AYALA LAND 37.35 37.65 37.1 37.65 37.05 37.65 11,208,900 418,179,330 ARANETA PROP 1.17 1.23 1.25 1.25 1.23 1.23 7,000 8,660 36.45 36.5 36.9 36.9 36.5 36.5 469,600 17,203,380 AREIT RT 1.5 1.52 1.54 1.54 1.5 1.5 421,000 638,580 BELLE CORP 1.02 1.03 1 1.02 0.97 1.02 3,392,000 3,386,910 A BROWN CITYLAND DEVT 0.93 0.94 0.95 0.95 0.92 0.94 336,000 313,430 CROWN EQUITIES 0.125 0.129 0.13 0.13 0.124 0.128 40,930,000 5,117,060 CEBU HLDG 6.74 7 6.95 7 6.7 7 6,600 44,637 3.84 3.85 4.1 4.1 3.81 3.85 7,282,000 28,382,720 CEB LANDMASTERS 0.435 0.45 0.44 0.45 0.43 0.45 22,070,000 9,743,050 CENTURY PROP 0.33 0.34 0.33 0.34 0.33 0.34 510,000 171,100 CYBER BAY DOUBLEDRAGON 12.06 12.08 12.1 12.2 12.02 12.08 428,100 5,185,886 DDMP RT 2.07 2.08 2.01 2.08 2 2.07 17,757,000 36,409,860 DM WENCESLAO 7.08 7.1 6.97 7.2 6.97 7.1 74,000 521,837 0.29 0.3 0.295 0.3 0.295 0.3 710,000 210,700 EMPIRE EAST EVER GOTESCO 0.57 0.58 0.54 0.61 0.53 0.57 294,340,000 168,001,530 1.11 1.12 1.12 1.12 1.11 1.11 2,288,000 2,554,720 FILINVEST LAND GLOBAL ESTATE 0.88 0.9 0.91 0.91 0.88 0.9 305,000 269,740 8990 HLDG 7.28 7.5 7.53 7.53 7.34 7.5 11,500 85,453 PHIL INFRADEV 1.38 1.4 1.39 1.4 1.37 1.4 1,665,000 2,317,060 1.99 2 2.14 2.14 1.96 1.99 5,910,000 11,961,800 CITY AND LAND 3.28 3.29 3.3 3.31 3.26 3.28 33,319,000 109,338,710 MEGAWORLD 0.39 0.395 0.38 0.395 0.38 0.39 26,010,000 10,090,600 MRC ALLIED PHIL ESTATES 0.59 0.6 0.57 0.59 0.56 0.59 7,722,000 4,487,930 PRIMEX CORP 3.69 3.7 3.61 3.71 3.52 3.69 1,498,000 5,427,850 ROBINSONS LAND 17.82 17.84 17.86 18.08 17.82 17.82 2,592,700 46,510,520 PHIL REALTY 0.245 0.248 0.248 0.248 0.245 0.245 590,000 145,130 1.5 1.53 1.5 1.53 1.5 1.53 175,000 262,530 ROCKWELL 2.73 2.74 2.73 2.74 2.66 2.74 144,000 391,030 SHANG PROP STA LUCIA LAND 2.6 2.63 2.62 2.65 2.57 2.63 363,000 951,600 SM PRIME HLDG 37.95 38 37.7 38.15 37.35 38 27,216,700 1,027,164,035 SUNTRUST HOME 1.75 1.76 1.78 1.78 1.71 1.75 757,000 1,312,990 VISTA LAND 3.85 3.86 3.85 3.95 3.82 3.86 18,313,000 70,703,180

SERVICES ABS CBN 11.38 11.4 11.36 11.6 11.36 11.4 127,300 1,456,588 GMA NETWORK 12.86 12.88 13.12 13.4 12.72 12.86 4,300,100 55,440,908 MANILA BULLETIN 0.44 0.45 0.43 0.45 0.43 0.45 190,000 83,000 GLOBE TELECOM 1,877 1,878 1,896 1,899 1,871 1,878 41,720 78,596,040 1,281 1,290 1,310 1,311 1,281 1,281 199,755 258,387,070 PLDT 0.19 0.191 0.196 0.203 0.188 0.19 908,070,000 177,960,490 APOLLO GLOBAL 22.65 22.7 22.1 22.85 21.75 22.65 8,213,100 184,324,025 CONVERGE DFNN INC 4.05 4.1 4.16 4.16 4.03 4.05 259,000 1,048,620 DITO CME HLDG 9.65 9.66 9.31 9.74 9.2 9.65 8,883,800 84,130,552 JACKSTONES 2.28 2.3 2.3 2.3 2.3 2.3 5,000 11,500 2.35 2.4 2.37 2.44 2.34 2.35 2,173,000 5,192,430 NOW CORP 0.405 0.41 0.415 0.43 0.395 0.41 31,790,000 12,947,250 TRANSPACIFIC BR 2.49 2.5 2.5 2.5 2.48 2.5 240,000 598,260 PHILWEB 2GO GROUP 8.52 8.58 8.6 8.6 8.52 8.52 35,800 306,427 ASIAN TERMINALS 14.74 14.76 15 15 14.76 14.76 39,600 585,262 CHELSEA 3.35 3.36 3.2 3.35 3.2 3.35 2,631,000 8,579,420 54.1 54.15 53.25 55.25 53.25 54.15 1,509,100 82,328,159 CEBU AIR 151.9 152 153.9 154.1 151.1 152 914,490 139,790,405 INTL CONTAINER 17.98 18 17.98 17.98 17.98 17.98 1,100 19,778 LBC EXPRESS LORENZO SHIPPNG 1.03 1.07 1.02 1.08 1.02 1.07 82,000 84,700 MACROASIA 5.84 5.85 6.01 6.09 5.64 5.85 5,134,200 29,978,540 METROALLIANCE A 2.19 2.29 2.15 2.28 2.15 2.28 119,000 263,230 2.21 2.34 2.21 2.21 2.21 2.21 2,000 4,420 METROALLIANCE B PAL HLDG 6.05 6.08 6.1 6.1 6 6.05 111,000 670,957 1.21 1.23 1.24 1.25 1.2 1.21 497,000 604,080 HARBOR STAR ACESITE HOTEL 1.74 1.79 1.75 1.78 1.75 1.78 33,000 57,780 BOULEVARD HLDG 0.114 0.115 0.136 0.142 0.099 0.114 2,002,280,000 245,196,220 DISCOVERY WORLD 3.11 3.16 3.12 3.25 3.1 3.11 207,000 647,150 WATERFRONT 0.56 0.57 0.57 0.57 0.55 0.56 1,450,000 816,460 6.58 6.72 6.75 6.75 6.74 6.74 700 4,720 CENTRO ESCOLAR FAR EASTERN U 580 640 615 615 615 615 50 30,750 7.11 7.5 7.03 7.7 7.03 7.7 900 6,662 IPEOPLE STI HLDG 0.375 0.385 0.38 0.385 0.375 0.375 1,610,000 612,150 BERJAYA 5.19 5.3 5.19 5.3 5.19 5.3 3,400 17,822 BLOOMBERRY 6.98 7 7.11 7.2 7 7 6,119,400 43,114,279 2.04 2.11 2.04 2.11 2.03 2.11 214,000 444,760 PACIFIC ONLINE LEISURE AND RES 1.65 1.68 1.65 1.68 1.64 1.68 208,000 343,880 2.11 2.12 2.32 2.34 2.11 2.11 12,254,000 27,020,320 PH RESORTS GRP PREMIUM LEISURE 0.425 0.43 0.425 0.435 0.425 0.425 1,490,000 634,950 PHIL RACING 5.81 6.1 6.39 6.39 5.8 5.81 4,900 29,335 ALLHOME 7.98 8.04 8.1 8.1 7.95 7.98 294,000 2,355,645 1.36 1.38 1.36 1.39 1.34 1.38 669,000 914,550 METRO RETAIL 40.65 40.7 39.85 41.1 39.85 40.7 4,866,600 197,720,070 PUREGOLD 51.1 51.2 52.05 52.05 51 51.1 1,031,880 53,118,350 ROBINSONS RTL PHIL SEVEN CORP 100.2 103 101.1 101.1 100 100.2 2,690 270,729 SSI GROUP 1.3 1.31 1.29 1.33 1.28 1.31 3,921,000 5,135,140 WILCON DEPOT 18.3 18.48 18.7 18.7 18.3 18.3 1,075,700 19,800,698 0.375 0.38 0.385 0.395 0.38 0.38 3,000,000 1,146,750 APC GROUP EASYCALL 6 6.26 6 6.01 6 6 8,100 48,615 GOLDEN MV 418 436 418 436 418 436 1,040 452,720 IPM HLDG 5.55 6 5.55 6 5.55 5.55 4,200 23,355 PAXYS 2.28 2.46 2.26 2.26 2.26 2.26 3,000 6,780 PRMIERE HORIZON 1.75 1.76 1.63 1.75 1.63 1.75 16,672,000 28,673,130 SBS PHIL CORP 4.25 4.34 4.25 4.25 4.25 4.25 1,000 4,250

MINING & OIL

2,478,895 -4,985,795 -77,930 -316,970 257,550 420,686 1,995,270.00 -44,800 -160,620 -583,510 15,860 -53,368,900 1,429,800 6,470 295,330 -3,092,522 88,200 27,000 -18,340 715,025,555 1,780 -3,247,700 -34,553,245 -79,152,830 -650,830 45,888,720 12,210 4,967,535 93,100 380,100 125,000 443,000 756,170 44,868.50 12,006,928 -2,683,389 52,938.00 -12,100 1,754,770 18,780 12,300 -26,085,471 102,300 319,690 -21,500 228,592 372,560 54,744,625 -8,391,972 -59,099 -1,217,180 -14,732,696 1,646,520 -

ATOK 9.6 9.7 9.82 10 9.5 9.6 761,700 7,345,987 -1,088,705 APEX MINING 1.73 1.75 1.75 1.75 1.72 1.75 2,182,000 3,791,740 32,820 ATLAS MINING 7.09 7.12 7.12 7.12 7.03 7.09 1,433,800 10,141,862 34,156 5.31 5.5 5.45 5.54 5.25 5.5 439,900 2,328,518 BENGUET A BENGUET 5.16 5.25 5.39 5.39 5.1 5.25 30,700 157,491 B Sun Life of Canada Prosperity Bond Fund, Inc. -a 3.2113 1.61% 5.44% 2.85% 0.17% COAL ASIA HLDG 0.315 0.32 0.315 0.32 0.305 0.32 340,000 105,750 CENTURY PEAK 2.8 2.85 2.75 2.85 2.75 2.85 15,000 42,650 28,500 Sun Life Prosperity GS Fund, Inc. -a 1.7476 0.72% 4.69% 2.13% -0.42% DIZON MINES 7.07 7.18 7.19 7.19 7.06 7.18 2,600 18,667 1,412 FERRONICKEL 2.45 2.46 2.5 2.5 2.45 2.46 8,855,000 21,810,190 2,252,530 Primarily invested in foreign currency securities 0.335 0.345 0.355 0.355 0.335 0.345 960,000 325,600 34,000 GEOGRACE 0.155 0.156 0.155 0.158 0.153 0.156 72,540,000 11,185,140 LEPANTO A ALFM Dollar Bond Fund, Inc. -a $485.81 2.8% 3.2% 2.35% 0.4% LEPANTO B 0.158 0.162 0.159 0.159 0.158 0.158 660,000 104,460 18,960 MANILA MINING A 0.012 0.013 0.012 0.013 0.011 0.013 184,600,000 2,211,400 ALFM Euro Bond Fund, Inc. -a Є220.16 2.27% 1.18% 1.16% 0.45% MANILA MINING B 0.013 0.014 0.013 0.014 0.013 0.013 225,400,000 2,932,500 MARCVENTURES 1.24 1.25 1.21 1.25 1.21 1.24 836,000 1,026,030 12,300 1.45 1.47 1.49 1.49 1.44 1.47 535,000 777,990 NIHAO ATRAM Total Return Dollar Bond Fund, Inc. -b $1.1882 -2.3% 2.25% 1.24% -7.2% NICKEL ASIA 5.12 5.14 5.29 5.29 5.12 5.12 12,240,200 63,164,461 -16,821,660 0.4 0.42 0.395 0.425 0.395 0.425 80,000 32,450 OMICO CORP First Metro Save and Learn Dollar Bond Fund, Inc. -a $0.0261 1.16% 1.85% 1.11% -1.88% ORNTL PENINSULA 1.02 1.04 1.03 1.04 1.01 1.04 1,136,000 1,163,460 PX MINING 6.8 6.81 7 7.04 6.8 6.8 5,097,600 35,031,042 448,111 PAMI Global Bond Fund, Inc -b $1.0551 -1.41% 0.66% -0.61% -3.44% SEMIRARA MINING 14.58 14.6 14.8 14.92 14.6 14.6 2,460,800 36,415,796 3,855,112 0.0093 0.0096 0.0097 0.0097 0.0092 0.0093 168,000,000 1,586,900 38,200 UNITED PARAGON Philam Dollar Bond Fund, Inc. -a $2.5084 3.29% 5.42% 2.29% -1.07% 18.28 18.3 18.88 18.96 18.26 18.3 239,300 4,440,180 19,072 ACE ENEXOR 0.012 0.013 0.012 0.013 0.011 0.012 111,500,000 1,332,400 ORNTL PETROL A Philequity Dollar Income Fund Inc. -a $0.0629671 4.17% 3.54% 2.26% 1.04% ORNTL PETROL B 0.012 0.013 0.012 0.012 0.012 0.012 3,500,000 42,000 31,200 PHILODRILL 0.012 0.013 0.012 0.013 0.011 0.012 201,100,000 2,360,600 127,200 Sun Life Prosperity Dollar Abundance Fund, Inc. -a $3.1838 0.6% 3.36% 1.14% -1.23% PXP ENERGY 8.29 8.3 8.1 8.38 8.02 8.3 504,700 4,154,660 203,141

Money Market Funds PREFFERED HOUSE PREF B 100.9 101.5 101 101 101 101 4,500 454,500 Primarily invested in Peso securities HOUSE PREF A 100.1 101 101 101 101 101 2,810 283,810 -50,500 AC PREF B1 529.5 535 530 530 530 530 200 106,000 AC PREF B2R 523 530 524 524 520.5 523 1,690 881,470 -52,400 ALFM Money Market Fund, Inc. -a 130.18 1.77% 3.05% 2.52% 0.29% 53.05 53.2 52 53.2 51.6 53.05 169,370 8,946,288.50 -288,933.50 CEB PREF 103.5 104.4 104.4 104.4 104.4 104.4 4,000 417,600 CPG PREF A First Metro Save and Learn Money Market Fund, Inc. -a 1.0525 1.16% n.a. n.a.

0.42% DD PREF 101.4 102 102.2 102.2 102 102 610 62,302 FGEN PREF G 106.6 109.9 107 107 105 106.6 133,820 14,116,204 Sun Life Prosperity Money Market Fund, Inc. -a 1.3048 2.86% 2.56% 0.63% 1.78% GTCAP PREF A 1,000 1,001 1,000 1,001 1,000 1,001 2,610 2,612,000 PREF 3B PNX 103.7 106.9 103.7 106.9 103.7 106.9 550 57,195 Primarily invested in foreign currency securities 1,007 1,008 1,007 1,007 1,005 1,007 450 452,750 PNX PREF 4 PCOR PREF 2B 1,026 1,037 1,037 1,037 1,035 1,035 40 41,440 Sun Life Prosperity Dollar Starter Fund, Inc. -a $1.0574 1.25% 1.68% n.a.

0.48% PCOR PREF 3A 1,115 1,117 1,115 1,115 1,115 1,115 1,000 1,115,000 PCOR PREF 3B 1,146 1,157 1,146 1,146 1,146 1,146 140 160,440 Feeder Funds SFI PREF 1.65 1.85 1.65 1.65 1.65 1.65 4,000 6,600 SMC PREF 2C 79.6 79.8 79.8 79.9 79.5 79.8 13,890 1,106,464.50 Primarily invested in Peso securities 78.3 79.5 79.75 79.75 79.75 79.75 110 8,772.50 SMC PREF 2F SMC PREF 2H 76.5 78.1 78.1 78.1 78 78.1 40,320 3,145,960 SMC PREF 2J 76.5 77 77 77 77 77 85,000 6,545,000 Sun Life Prosperity World Equity Index Feeder Fund, Inc. -a,d,7 1.2569 n.a. n.a. n.a.

11.27% SMC PREF 2K 75.25 76.9 75 76 75 76 845,730 64,274,280 -

Primarily invested in foreign currency securities PHIL. DEPOSITARY RECEIPTS ABS HLDG PDR 11 11.3 11.2 11.2 11.2 11.2 700 7,840 7,840.00 ALFM Global Multi-Asset Income Fund Inc. -b,d,2 $1 8.7% n.a. n.a.

2.04% GMA HLDG PDR 11.28 11.3 11.58 11.68 11.28 11.28 143,800 1,639,950 -326,700

WARRANTS 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).

LR WARRANT 1.91 1.93 1.85 1.94 1.81 1.93 1,830,000 3,450,510 -9,700

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.

SMALL & MEDIUM ENTERPRISES ALTUS PROP 17.38 17.6 17.6 17.6 17.38 17.6 69,300 1,219,152 4 - Renaming was approved by the SEC last October 12, 2018 (formerly, One Wealthy Nation Fund, Inc.). 5 - Launch date is December 09, 2019.

ITALPINAS 2.52 2.55 2.66 2.66 2.51 2.53 1,418,000 3,616,990 -848,750 KEPWEALTH 5.38 5.56 5.57 5.57 5.57 5.57 400 2,228 6 - Re-classified into a Bond Fund starting February 21, 2020 (Formerly a Money Market Fund). 7 - Launch date is July 6, 2020.

MERRYMART 4.41 4.42 4.27 4.48 4.27 4.42 9,467,000 41,716,250 521,820

"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 EXHANGE TRADE FUNDS

FIRST METRO ETF 105.9 106 105.9 106 105.8 105.9 18,210 1,929,273 121,845 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."

Envoys&Expats BusinessMirror

www.businessmirror.com.ph

Diplomatic talks reinforce 46 years of PHL-China bonds

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HONGQING—Secretary of Foreign Affairs Teodoro L. Locsin Jr. as well as Chinese State Councilor and Foreign Minister Wang Yi acknowledged the great strides achieved in the last 46 years of their countries’ official relations.

On the eve of the diplomatic anniversary of the Philippines and China on June 9, the two top diplomats engaged in bilateral talks at the sidelines of the Special Asean-China Foreign Ministers’ Meeting, where they discoursed on a wide range of interests—particularly trade, tourism, development assistance, infrastructure, as well as overall diplomatic and political relations.

China, according to Locsin, has become a key economic partner of the Philippines, becoming the latter’s major trading partner, as well as the third-largest export and tourism market in 2020.

Both also agreed to further intensify vaccine cooperation,

China’s participation in the Build, Build, Build Program, and closer engagement within the Asean-China dialogue mechanism currently led by the Philippines as country coordinator.

Amid the pandemic, Locsin thanked China for the timely provision of a steady supply of vaccines, as the Philippines accelerates its inoculation program. Wang gave assurance that China would continue to prioritize the Philippines, despite the tightening global supply.

Locsin also highlighted the important role the Asian superpower will play in the global economic recovery, stating that “there can be no swift recovery without China’s lead-

SECRETARY Locsin and Chinese Foreign Minister Wang

ing economic role, in partnership with countries in Southeast Asia and the rest of the world.”

On the South China Sea/West Philippine Sea issue, both sides welcomed the progress in negotiations on the Code of Conduct in the disputed waters. They reaffirmed the importance of self-restraint and the peaceful resolution of differ-

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THE Istgah Orchestra of Iran in the Philippine Embassy

PhilConGen-LA to hold Lapulapu art exhibit with top Angono artist

ences within the framework of international law, especially the 1982 United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea. As the two countries approach half-a-century of partnership, the two ministers looked forward to a further expansion of Philippine-Chinese ties in the context of regional peace and stability.

Philharmonic Orchestra through the Philippine Embassy.

Philippine Ambassador to Iran Wilfredo C. Santos underscored in his remarks the importance of “continued sharing with one another the virtues of courage,

hope, and singular purpose,” as he reminded everyone “not to lose heart…[as] the pandemic seems nowhere near its end.”

The Philippine envoy further assured Filipino communities in the three aforementioned countries of the embassy’s unwavering support in times of need, especially during the global health crisis.

This year’s Independence Day celebration coincided with the 500th anniversary of the Victory at Mactan, as well as the commemoration of the Philippines’s role in the achievement of science and humankind in circumnavigating the planet for the first time.

The video presentation can be viewed at the embassy’s official Facebook page @PhinIran, Instagram page @phliniran and web site: www. tehranpe.dfa.gov.ph.

DFA Freedom Day show pays tribute to Filipino IPs’ cultural heritage, stories

THE Department of Foreign Affairs’ online Independence Day presentation

CONSUL General Edgar B. Badajos (left) with Nemi Miranda

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OS ANGELES—In celebration of the Quincentennial of the Victory at Mactan and the 123rd anniversary of the proclamation of Philippine independence, the Philippine Consulate General (PCG) in this city will hold “Imaging Lapu-Lapu,” an exhibit that will feature art works of top Angono artist and painter Nemi Miranda.

The expo, which was scheduled for launch on June 16 at the LA-PCG’s

Community Hall, will showcase about 35 art prints which depict various stages in the life of Lapulapu, as conceptualized by Miranda.

The artist is recognized as the “Father of Imaginative Figurism” and “Angono’s Living Treasure” in his hometown in the province of Rizal for his contributions to the art community.

The exhibit will run for the rest of the month, and will be staged at the LA-PCG’s consular waiting area.

2M+ US-supported vaccines arrive in Cebu, Davao, Manila

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Iran’s PHL embassy features 123rd Independence Day

The Istgah performed the Philippine National Anthem, then rendered classic Filipino ballads and songs. The performances were carefully curated in partnership with the Cultural Center of the Philippines and the Philippine

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CHARGÉ d’Affaires John Law (fourth from right) and Health Secretary Francisco T. Duque III (third from right), with US Embassy personnel and Philippine government officials

PHILIPPINE CELEBRATIONS ACROSS THE GLOBE

EHRAN—The Philippine Embassy in the Islamic Republic of Iran observed the 123rd anniversary of the Declaration of the Philippine Independence on June 12 with a showcase of Filipino music and sounds that featured the Istgah orchestra—one of the most dynamic and artistic local groups.

Prerecorded with the Istgah in accordance with strict health protocols, the celebration highlighted this year’s themes: “Spirit of Freedom in Unity and National Healing,” and “Kalayaan 2021: Diwa ng Kalayaan sa Pagkakaisa at Paghilom ng Bayan,” which honored the resilience and sacrifices of the modern-day heroes, frontline workers, Filipino-Iranians in the said country, and the rest of the Filipino communities in Iran, Turkmenistan and Uzbekistan who continue to grapple with the challenges from the ongoing pandemic.

Thursday, June 17, 2021

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HE rich cultural heritage and inspiring success stories of the Philippines’s indigenous peoples (IPs) were highlighted in the special Independence Day online presentation of the Department of Foreign Affairs.

The online concert, “Lessons for a Changed World: The Legacy of the Indigenous Peoples of the Philippines,” directed by Floy Quintos, showed narratives of the country’s IPs, covering their history, values, traditions, as well as the way they were able to protect and bring with them the traits as they navigate complexities of the modern world.

Through a medley of traditional cultural performances from the

Ramon Obusan Folkloric Group, artistically weaved with stories on the experience and values of local IPs narrated by Menchu Lauchengco-Yulo, viewers took inspiration and learned from the lessons taught by the country’s precolonial ancestors.

The hour-long presentation showed the early Filipinos’ unique and advanced cultures, as well as their kinship to the natural world and their strong desire to defend ancestral lands through artistic dances.

The last part of the show featured profiles of several Philippine IPs who have made their way to faraway lands, while bringing with them their culture and values.

HE United States Embassy’s Chargé d’Affaires John Law joined Health Secretary Francisco T. Duque III, National Task Force Against Covid-19 Chief Implementer Carlito G. Galvez Jr., Presidential Assistant on Foreign Affairs and Chief of Presidential Protocol Robert Eric A. Borje, as well as other stakeholders in welcoming the arrival of the second batch of Pfizer-BioNTech vaccines at the Ninoy Aquino International Airport on June 10.

“The [US] is committed to leading the global response to the...pandemic,” said Law. “And we will continue to support the Philippines’s vaccination and [pandemic] mitigation efforts as its reliable friend, partner, and ally.”

Of the more than 2 million doses that arrived, 1.86 million will go to Manila, 210,600 to Cebu, and 210,600 to Davao. The batch is the biggest shipment to date.

According to the embassy, the ever-increasing quantities of muchneeded vaccines will continue to arrive in the weeks and months ahead.

This delivery is the second tranche of Pfizer-BioNTech vaccines delivered to Manila, following the May 10 arrival of an initial 193,050 doses. To date, the Phil-

ippines has received more than 5 million vaccines through the Covax facility. The US is the largest contributor to the Covax Advance Market Commitment—a global initiative to support equitable access to the coronavirus disease 2019 (Covid-19) vaccines, funding more than one in four vaccinations in the Philippines.

Developed jointly by American pharmaceutical company Pfizer Inc. and German biotechnology company BioNTech SE, the vaccine was the first to receive emergency use authorization from the World Health Organization, and is 95-percent effective in preventing the Covid-19 illness, according to the US Food and Drug Administration.

The June 10 arrival was also the fifth shipment of Covax-sourced vaccines to the Philippines—one of the first countries in the region to receive such. In total, the facility will provide 44 million doses to the country.

In February the US announced a total planned contribution of P194.4 billion, or about $4 billion, to Covax.

To date, total US-government Covid-19 assistance to the Philippines has totaled to nearly P1.3 billion, or about $27 million.

Japan’s quick-disbursing budgetary support arrives

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HE government of the Philippines received on June 8 the ¥20-billion budgetary support pledged by the government of Japan through the Japan International Cooperation Agency, or Jica—less than a month after Prime Minister Yoshihide Suga greenlighted another tranche of the Post-Disaster Standby Loan Phase 2 (PDSL 2) during a summit teleconference with President Duterte on May 19.

According to the Embassy of Japan, the latest disbursement under PDSL 2 is intended to further augment the Philippines’s pandemic “war chest, especially now that [it] continues to show signs of recovery, following the lifting of the enhanced community quarantine in the NCR Plus…”

Signed on September 15, 2020, PDSL 2 is a contingency fund entitling the Philippines to withdraw up to ¥50 billion worth of loans to help finance its response measures in the aftermath of natural and health-related disasters.

To date, Japan has infused a total of ¥40 billion into the recipient’s coffers. The first tranche, which amounted to ¥10 billion disbursed

in October 2020 to boost the recipient’s pandemic response.

The second tranche, which was of the same amount released in January 2021, was earmarked to facilitate a faster recovery from the effects of the series of supertyphoons last year.

PDSL 2 forms part of the Japanese government’s comprehensive assistance to its counterpart in this time of the pandemic. Other than the PDSL 2, the former provided the Philippines a ¥50-billion financing under the Covid-19 Crisis Response Emergency Support Loan, or CRESL, in July last year.

Along with these two loan accords, Japan has further expressed its solidarity with the Philippines through a ¥2-billion grant aid for the procurement of medical equipment and establishment of laboratory-surveillance sites, as well as the recently announced ¥1-billion grant assistance for local cold-chain development.

India stages 7-day online yoga series

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HE Embassy of the Republic of India in Manila is highlighting the practice of yoga with a specially curated series of free online sessions until June 21.

It said the week-long celebration for this year’s International Day of Yoga (IDY) aims to make the holistic well-being practices of yoga asanas, pranayama and meditation accessible to many Filipinos.

Marking the seventh IDY, the sessions currently spearheaded by seven leading Filipino yoga teachers will provide participants a unique opportunity to discover various as-

pects of India’s age-old approach to well-being.

According to the embassy, yoga today is being practiced in various forms around the world. In the Philippines, yoga continues to grow in popularity, with an increasing number of instructors and passionate practitioners going beyond its physical aspects, while engaging with it as a potent tool of self-refinement.

In the last few years, several Filipino yoga enthusiasts and teachers have traveled to India. Some have received the required authorization as a teacher, as others searched for greater depth and authenticity.

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The World BusinessMirror

Thursday, June 17, 2021

US Covid-19 deaths hit 600,000, equal to yearly cancer fatalities

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he US death toll from Covid-19 topped 600,000 on Tuesday, even as the vaccination drive has drastically brought down daily cases and fatalities and allowed the country to emerge from the gloom and look forward to summer.

The number of lives lost, as recorded

by Johns Hopkins University, is greater than the population of Baltimore or Milwaukee. It is about equal to the number of Americans who died of cancer in 2019.

Worldwide, the Covid-19 death toll stands at about 3.8 million.

The milestone came the same day that California and New York lifted most of their remaining restrictions, joining other states in opening the way, step by step, for what could be a fun and close to normal summer for many Americans.

“Deep down I want to rejoice,” said Rita Torres, a retired university administrator in Oakland, California. But she plans to take it slow: “Because it’s kind of like, is it too soon?

Will we be sorry?”

With the arrival of the vaccine in midDecember, Covid-19 deaths per day in the US have plummeted to an average of around 340, from a high of over 3,400 in mid-January. Cases are running at about 14,000 a day on average, down from a quarter-million per day over the winter.

The real death tolls in the US and around the globe are thought to be significantly

higher, with many cases overlooked or possibly concealed by some countries.

President Joe Biden acknowledged the approaching milestone Monday during his visit to Europe, saying that while new cases and deaths are dropping dramatically in the US, “there’s still too many lives being lost,” and “now is not the time to let our guard down.”

The most recent deaths are seen in some ways as especially tragic now that the vaccine has become available practically for the asking.

More than 50 percent of Americans have had at least one dose of vaccine, while over 40 percent are fully vaccinated, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

But demand for shots in the US has dropped off dramatically, leaving many places with a surplus of doses and casting doubt on whether the country will meet Biden’s target of having 70 percent of American adults at least partially vaccinated

by July 4. The figure stands at just under 65 percent.

As of a week ago, the US was averaging about 1 million injections per day, down from a high of about 3.3 million a day on average in mid-April, according to the CDC. At nearly every turn in the outbreak, the virus has exploited and worsened inequalities in the United States. CDC figures, when adjusted for age and population, show that Black, Latino and Native American people are two to three times more likely than whites to die of Covid-19.

Also, an Associated Press analysis found that Latinos are dying at much younger ages than other groups. Hispanic people between 30 and 39 have died at five times the rate of white people in the same age group.

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Unlinked infections threaten Singapore’s reopening plans

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ingaporean authorities found 14 new locally transmitted coronavirus cases on Tuesday, including five untraceable infections, potentially threatening the easing of restrictions pegged to June 21.

Singapore has been pursuing a strategy of aggressively testing and quickly ring-fencing clusters as it moves toward a loosening of restrictions. Over the weekend, a spike in cases from a shopping mall and food center prompted government officials to shut down the locations as well as test and quarantine staff and tenants.

The government loosened restrictions on gatherings as of Monday and is slated to resume dining-in at restaurants and the opening of fitness classes from June 21.

Key developments:

HK finds Covid on Thai crocodile ribs

In this January 9, file photo, transporters Miguel Lopez (right), and Noe Meza prepare to move a body of a Covid-19 victim to a morgue at Providence Holy Cross Medical Center in the Mission Hills section of Los Angeles. The US death toll from Covid-19 has topped 600,000, even as the vaccination drive has drastically slashed daily cases and deaths and allowed the country to emerge from the gloom. AP/Jae C. Hong

Overall, Black and Hispanic Americans have less access to medical care and are in poorer health, with higher rates of conditions such as diabetes and high blood pressure. They are also more likely to have jobs deemed essential, less able to work from home and more likely to live in crowded, multigenerational households.

With the overall picture improving rapidly, California, the most populous state and the first to impose a coronavirus lockdown, dropped state rules on social distancing and limits on capacity at restaurants, bars, supermarkets, gyms, stadiums and other places, ushering in what has been billed as its “Grand Reopening” just in time for summer.

Disneyland is throwing open its gates to all tourists after allowing just California residents. Fans will be able to sit elbow-to-elbow and cheer without masks at Dodgers and Giants games.

Gov. Gavin Newsom celebrated by hosting a drawing in which 10 people won $1.5 million each simply for being vaccinated.

In New York, Gov. Andrew Cuomo said Tuesday that 70 percent of adults in the state have received at least one dose of the vaccine, and he announced that the immediate easing of many of the restrictions will be celebrated with fireworks.

“What does 70 percent mean? It means that we can now return to life as we know it,” he said.

He said the state is lifting rules that had limited the size of gatherings and required some types of businesses to follow cleaning protocols, take people’s temperature or screen them for Covid-19 symptoms. Businesses will no longer have to restrict how many people they can allow inside based on the 6-foot rule.

For the time being, though, New Yorkers will have to keep wearing masks in schools, subways and certain other places.

Ma ssac hu set t s on Tuesd ay officially lifted a state of emergency that had been in effect for 462 days, though many restrictions had already been eased, including mask requirements and limits on gatherings. Republican law makers in K ansas decided to let a state of emergenc y e xpire Tuesd ay. A nd Ma r yl a nd ’s gover nor a nnou nced t hat t he emergenc y t here w i l l end on Ju ly 1, w it h t he st ate no longer requ ir ing a ny mask s.

The first known deaths from t he v i r u s i n t he US were i n ea rly Febr u a r y 2020. It took four months to reach the first 100,000 dead. During the most lethal phase of the disaster, in the winter of 2020 -21, it took just over a month to go from 300,000 to 400,000 deaths.

With the crisis now easing, it took close to four months for the US death toll to go from a half-million to 600,000. AP

Malaysia expects to reopen economy from end-October alaysia expects to fully reopen its economy and lift a ban on inter-state travel beginning end-October at the earliest if new Covid cases average below 500 a day, said Prime Minister Muhyiddin Yassin.

The current phase of the national lockdown is costing the economy 1 billion ringgit ($242 million) a day as most businesses remain shut, Muhyiddin said in a televised address Tuesday. The government expects to begin easing the curbs in steps starting July, he said.

The second phase that’s expected in July will begin once daily cases drop below 4,000 and 10 percent of the population is fully vaccinated, he said, while outlining a recover y plan that contains four phases based on three indicators: average daily infections, ICU bed capacity and the percentage of the population that’s inoculated.

The timeline will be a key test for Malaysia’s government, which has for months struggled to contain an aggressive virus that’s led to rising public anger and attacks from opposition political groups over its handling of the pandemic.

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

Meeting the targets would ease pressure on Muhyiddin and help rejuvenate the nation’s moribund stock market.

“If these targets are successfully met, we expect investors to shift their portfolios in favor of recovery stocks” in July or August, Ivy Ng Lee Fang, head of research at CGS-CIMB, said in a note. The key big-cap recovery picks are Malayan Banking Bhd., Genting Bhd. and Malaysia Airports Holdings Bhd., she added.

Malaysia’s main stock index rose 0.1 percent on Wednesday.

The gauge is still down more than 6 percent from its high in December. The ringgit was little changed against the US dollar.

The lockdown is already showing results, the prime minister said. The nation’s Covid curve has started to flatten, and the health care system is able to handle new cases amid rising recovery rates.

“If ever y t h ing goes wel l, we shou ld e x pect a more conv incing recover y in t he f ina l qu a rter of t h i s yea r,” sa id Mohd A fzanizam Abdu l R ashid, chief econom ist for Ba n k Isl a m Malaysia Bhd. “It is about meeting

t he t imel ine a nd t hreshold s.”

Cases drop

Malaysia went into a lockdown June 1 after daily Covid cases crossed the 9,000 mark, placing the health-care system under tremendous pressure. The curbs were extended Friday by two weeks to June 28. New cases stood at 5,419 on Tuesday.

There’s “light at the end of the tunnel” as the pace of vaccination increases, he said.

M a l ay si a i njec ted 197,9 6 3 shots on Monday, the highest daily tally of inoculations and close to the government’s target of 200,000 doses per day, according to Health Minister Adham Baba.

The government aims to achieve herd immunity by year-end.

Mu hy idd in last mont h unveiled 40 billion ringgit in relief measures ahead of the lockdown, including 5 billion ringgit in direct fiscal injection.

“I am cautiously optimistic that with proper planning, execution and support from all Malaysians, we can emerge victorious and stronger from this crisis,” he said on Tuesday. Bloomberg News

A sample from the packaging of frozen crocodile spare ribs imported from Thailand tested positive for Covid-19, according to a government statement. The source of the virus on the sample, which was taken at the residence of a confirmed patient, is still unknown.

Hong Kong authorities said they have asked the vendor of the crocodile ribs to stop selling them and provide more samples for testing. In China, officials have previously reported finding the coronavirus on product packaging and has advised saying that imported refrigerated goods are risks for re-introducing the coronavirus into the country.

Maldives eases curbs

The Indian Ocean nation of Maldives eased a curfew in its capital, as new coronavirus infections continued to decline. Residents, who’d previously been confined to their homes for 16 hours a day, will be allowed out between 4 a.m. and 8 a.m. to exercise as of Wednesday and from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. provided they get a household permit or special police authorization, according to the state news agency Public Service Media News. Maldives, a country of roughly 540,000, has about 8,155 active Covid-19 cases.

California fully reopens economy

California Governor Gavin Newsom marked the full reopening of the world’s fifth-largest economy Tuesday with a lottery awarding 10 vaccinated residents $1.5 million each. Speaking at Universal Studios near Los Angeles, he touted the most-populous US state’s virus progress while saying he is taking variants seriously and “won’t let our guard down.”

The first state to shut down, California is lifting capacity limits and social distancing requirements and removing most mask mandates for vaccinated individuals.

After recording almost 3.7 million virus cases, the most in the US, California now boasts one of the lowest testpositivity rates in the country.

Half of Italians vaccinated

Italy has vaccinated more than 50 percent of its population with at least one Covid-19 vaccine dose, according to Bloomberg calculations based on government data. The country has administered 42.9 million doses, of which about 30 million are first or single-shot doses, according to the latest government data.

Nigeria to get 3.9 million Astra doses

Nigeria expects to receive 3.92 million doses of AstraZeneca Plc’s vaccine in late July or early August, Faisal Shuaib, executive director of the country’s National Primary Healthcare Development Agency said in Abuja, the capital. The jabs are expected from international partners, Shuaib said, without naming them. Nigeria earlier received about 4 million doses of the AstraZeneca vaccine in March through the Covax initiative backed by the World Health Organization.

Cuomo lifts NY restrictions

New York Governor Andrew Cuomo lifted the state’s pandemic mandates, saying that 70 percent of the state’s adult population has now had at least one dose of a vaccine. “All across the board we can get back to living,” Cuomo said in a briefing. “The state mandates are gone.”

The last protocols included social distancing requirements, capacity restrictions, health screening and collecting contact information for tracing.

Early in the pandemic, New York City had the most coronavirus cases in the world, as well as some of the strongest lockdown restrictions.

Cuomo said last week restrictions would be removed once the state hit the vaccination benchmark. Businesses in the state can opt to continue Covid-19 precautions but are not required to by law.

Scotland likely to delay easing

Scotland is unlikely to push ahead with a planned easing of coronavirus restrictions later this month amid a rise in new cases of the delta variant first discovered in India, First Minister Nicola Sturgeon said.

While a firm decision will be made next week, Sturgeon said that rising case numbers mean it’s now doubtful that Scotland will move to the lowest level of restrictions on June 28 as planned. Instead, the semiautonomous Scottish government expects current restrictions will continue for another three weeks from that date to allow more people to get vaccinated.

Romania seeks slowdown in vaccine deliveries

Romania asked vaccine makers to delay the delivery of over 4 million doses that were scheduled for June because it has a surplus of shots after a decline in daily inoculations, according to deputy health minister Andrei Baciu. The country was supposed to get about 7 million doses in June and will only get 2.6 million.

Bloomberg News

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The World BusinessMirror

Thursday, June 17, 2021

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Myanmar prosecutors present sedition charge against Suu Kyi

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ANGKOK—Prosecutors in the trial of deposed Myanmar leader Aung San Suu Kyi presented arguments on Tuesday that she incited public disorder and flouted coronavirus restrictions, part of a package of charges the ruling military junta is seen as using to discredit her and consolidate its control.

Suu Kyi and other members of her government and party were arrested by the military after its February 1 coup, and criminal charges were brought against some of the top figures on a litany of charges that their supporters and independent observers say are bogus.

The coup reversed years of democratic reforms following decades of harsh military rule and sparked widespread protests and international condemnation.

Suu Kyi and her National League for Democracy party had been due to start a second five-year term in office after winning a landslide victory in a general election last November.

Suu Kyi has not been seen in public since her arrest, and her lawyers say they don’t know exactly where she is currently being held. She has also had only limited time to consult with her legal team.

Her lawyers declined to tell journalists many details of the proceedings on the second day of the trial Tuesday in the courtroom in the capital, Naypyitaw, but said Suu Kyi was “very strong” and followed the process with close interest.

“She carefully listens to what the prosecutor says and she even discusses some points with us during the session,” said one of her lawyers, Min Min Soe. Suu Kyi wore a dress in the traditional style of the Kachin ethnic minority and was in good health after having complained about a toothache a day earlier, the lawyer said.

Tuesday’s session covered a sedition charge brought against Suu Kyi, along with a second count of violating Covid-19 restrictions.

The sedition charge, which is sometimes described as incitement, provides for up to two years’ imprisonment for anyone found guilty of causing fear or alarm that could create an offense against the state or public tranquility. Ousted President Win Myint and the former mayor of Naypyitaw, Myo Aung, who are her close political allies and co-defendants, were also in court.

The plaintiff, a local Naypyitaw official, cited two statements posted on the Facebook page of Suu Kyi’s party as evidence supporting the sedition charge, said another defense lawyer, San Mar La Nyunt.

She said the defense raised an objection to the evidence, noting that all members of the party’s central executive committee, including Suu Kyi, had already been arrested before the statements were posted.

The prosecution and defense will both file arguments on the matter at the next court session, she said. The court is scheduled to meet every Monday and Tuesday.

The sedition charge has been law since Myanmar was a British colony, and has been criticized as a catch-all statute that infringes on freedom of speech and is used for political repression.

The trial, which is closed to the public and media, began Monday with police outlining several of the cases against her.

They covered charges she had illegally imported walkie-talkies that were for her bodyguards’ use; the unlicensed use of those radios; and violation of the Natural Disaster Management Law by allegedly breaking pandemic restrictions during last year’s election campaign, her lawyers said.

Suu Kyi faces additional charges that have yet to be tried, among them accepting bribes, which carries a penalty of up to 15 years in prison, and violating the Official Secrets Act, which carries a maximum prison term of 14 years. But a conviction on virtually any charge could result in Suu Kyi being banned from running in any future election, which many believe is the military’s goal.

One of the reasons the military gave for conducting the coup was that last year’s election was marred by fraud, an assertion rejected by independent poll watchers.

Suu Kyi’s trial has renewed calls for her release and return to civilian rule.

UN deputy spokesman Farhan Haq, responding to a question on Secretary-General Antonio Guterres’ reaction to the trial, said Monday the UN position is clear: “We want her and all of the senior members of her administration to be freed.”

“The secretary-general has called for and continues to call for a reversal of the Feb. 1 coup and the restoration of the legitimate government of Myanmar, of whom Aung San Suu Kyi is a member,” Haq said.

Rights groups have said there is little chance that Suu Kyi will receive a fair trial.

Phil Robertson, deputy Asia director of Human Rights Watch, said the pandemic charges are related to instances during the campaign in which crowds came to see Suu Kyi or she greeted them, and noted that the military had not enforced such regulations for its own gatherings.

“Public health measures should not be applied in an arbitrary fashion,” he said. “Clearly there are double standards being applied in the prosecution of Aung San Suu Kyi.” AP

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E-mails show Trump pressured Justice Dept. over 2020 election W

Thursday, June 17, 2021

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Impatient Democrats prepare to go-it-alone on infrastructure

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A SHINGTON—During the last weeks of his presidency, Donald Trump and his allies pressured the Justice Department to investigate unsubstantiated claims of widespread 2020 election fraud that even his former attorney general declared without evidence, newly released e-mails show.

The e-mails, released Tuesday by the House Oversight Committee, reveal in new detail how Trump, his White House chief of staff and other allies pressured members of the US government to challenge the 2020 election over false claims.

Officials at Homeland Security and the Justice Department, as well as Republican election leaders across the country, repeatedly said there was no pervasive fraud. Former Attorney General William Barr, a longtime Trump loyalist, was among those who said there was no evidence of such fraud.

The e-mails also show the extent to which Trump worked to enlist then-acting Attorney General Jeffrey Rosen in his campaign's failing legal efforts to challenge the election result, including suggesting filing a brief with the US Supreme Court.

Those sent to Rosen include debunked conspiracy theories and false information about voter fraud. Trump's lies about the election helped spur on the mob that stormed the US Capitol on Jan. 6 in a failed effort to stop the certification of Joe Biden's victory.

Several times, for example, Trump allies wrote about Dominion Voting Systems' potential voter fraud, a conspiracy theory now the subject of a billion-dollar defamation lawsuit by the voting company. Trump's chief of staff, Mark Meadows, asked about investigating allegations of voter fraud caused by satellites from Italy.

Meadows tried to have Rosen investigate the conspiracy theories and pushed the acting attorney general to meet with an ally of Trump lawyer Rudy Giuliani who was pitching unfounded election conspiracies that Italy was using satellites and military technology

to change votes.

After Rosen forwarded Meadows' e-mail, Rich Donoghue, the acting deputy attorney general, sent a note to Rosen that said, "pure insanity." Rosen wrote back that he was asked to have the FBI meet with Giuliani's associate and he said no, insisting the man could follow the FBI's normal protocol for tips and just call the public tip line or take his information to an FBI field office. But Rosen said Giuliani was "insulted" by the answer.

"Asked if I would reconsider, I flatly refused, said I would not be giving any special treatment to Giuliani or any of his 'witnesses,' and re-affirmed yet again that I will not talk to Giuliani about any of this," Rosen wrote.

On Dec. 14, the day that Electoral College votes were certified and that Barr said he would be resigning later that month, a Trump White House assistant sent a note to Rosen with the subject "From POTUS," an acronym for president of the United States. The e-mail to Rosen, a deputy attorney general who became acting attorney general after Barr left, included talking points on alleged voter fraud in Antrim County, in a key battleground state, Michigan, Those included claims like "a Coverup is Happening regarding voting machines in Michigan" and "Michigan cannot certify for Biden."

Just moments after the Trump assistant sent the documents, Donoghue sent the same documents to the US attorneys in the Eastern and Western districts of Michigan.

On Dec. 29, the Trump assistant e-mailed Rosen, Donoghue and Acting Solicitor General Jeffrey Wall and included a draft legal brief for the Supreme Court, with a phone number where they could contact the president directly. The proposed complaint asked the court to "declare that the Electoral College votes cast" in the six battleground states that Trump lost "cannot be counted." It asked for the court to order a special election in those states.

One of Trump's private attorneys then emailed senior Justice officials urging them to file the complaint. The e-mails show he repeatedly called Rosen's senior advisers and

others in the Justice Department demanding meetings, saying he was driving from Maryland to Justice Department headquarters in Washington to meet with Rosen because he couldn't reach him.

"As I said on our call, the President of the United States has seen this complaint, and he directed me last night to brief AG Rosen in person today and discuss bringing this action," he wrote in one e-mail. "I have been instructed to report back to the President this afternoon after this meeting."

The Associated Press reported late last year on the effort within the Trump administration to pressure government employees to adopt the false narrative of 2020 election fraud. Trump asked the Justice Department to investigate instances of voter fraud, and Justice leaders sent a memo to the states prioritizing the effort. Trump also asked that a special prosecutor be named to investigate the false voter fraud claims.

And the official serving as Trump's eyes and ears at the Justice Department tried to pressure staffers to give up sensitive information about election fraud and other matters she could relay to the White House. She was banned from the building.

Trump considered replacing Rosen with a more loyal ally, Jeffrey Clark, and even looked into whether the White House could appoint a special counsel without the Justice Department's approval. On Jan. 1, for example, Meadows asked Rosen to have Clark investigate "signature match anomalies in Fulton county, GA." It didn't happen, and on Jan. 3 another Justice official wrote that the "cause of justice won."

Three days later, hundreds of pro-Trump rioters broke into the Capitol, attacking police and causing dozens of injuries, causing $1.5 million in damage and sending lawmakers fleeing for their lives. Five people died, including a police officer who collapsed that day. At least 400 people have been arrested in connection with the riot, the largest Justice Department prosecution in history. AP

ASHINGTON—Patience running thin, Democratic leaders are laying the groundwork for a go-it-alone approach on President Joe Biden's big jobs and families infrastructure plans even as the White House continues negotiating with Republicans on a much more scaled-back $1 trillion proposal.

A top White House adviser assured House Democrats during a closed-door session Tuesday that there would be a fresh assessment by next week on where talks stand with the Republicans. But Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer announced he is moving ahead, huddling privately Wednesday with the Senate Budget Committee to prepare for July votes on a majority-rules approach as wary Democrats prepare to lift Biden's $1.7 billion American Jobs Plan and $1.8 billion American Families Plan to passage.

Schumer and House Speaker Nancy Pelosi are trying to calm worries from anxious rank-and-file Democrats that Biden is leaving too much on the table in talks with Republicans. Restless lawmakers want assurances that if they concede to a scaled-back bill with Republicans, it won't be the last word and the president's push for investments in climate change strategies, child care centers and other Democratic priorities will proceed — with or without GOP votes.

"We'll see where we're going to go after a week or 10 days (of) more dialogue and negotiation," White House counselor Steve Ricchetti said Tuesday, according to a partial transcript of the private caucus meeting obtained

by The Associated Press.

The updated timeline comes as Biden's top legislative priority is teetering in Congress while he is overseas.

The president and the Democratic leaders of the House and Senate have been engaged in a two-track strategy — reaching for a bipartisan deal with Republicans but also setting the stage

for a potential majority-rules strategy in case talks fail.

Over the past week, a bipartisan group of 10 senators has narrowed in on a nearly $1 trillion deal of mainly road, highway and other traditional infrastructure projects, but without the family-related investments in child care centers and other facilities that Ricchetti insisted Tuesday remains a top priority for the administration.

Republicans reject those investments as costly and unnecessary.

"Just ask a working mom if child care is part of her family's infrastructure," said Sen. Debbie Stabenow, D-Mich. "Ask a family with an aging parent who needs help to live at home safely if home care is infrastructure.

We understand that it is."

On Tuesday, the members of the bipartisan group of senators presented the emerging proposal to their colleagues at closed-door Senate lunches and were met with mixed reviews.

The effort by the bipartisan group, five Democrats and five Republicans, has come far in meeting Biden's initial ideas, but the senators and the president remain wide apart over how to pay for the plan.

Republicans have rejected the president's proposal to raise the corporate tax rate, from 21% to 28%, to pay for infrastructure investments, or to increase taxes on wealthy Americans.

Instead, under the bipartisan proposal, the projects would be funded by increasing the gas tax paid at the pump by linking it to inflation, tapping unspent Covid-19 relief funds and trying to recoup unpaid income taxes.

"People were optimistic we could actually get something done," said Sen. John Barrasso, R-Wyo., emerging from the lunch meeting.

But the prospect of raising the gas tax is highly unpopular with some Democratic law ma kers, echoing Biden's refusal to raise taxes on people earning less than $400,000 a year.

AP

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The World BusinessMirror

Thursday, June 17, 2021

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Biden wrings plan out of reluctant European bloc to stand up to China

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n his first overseas trip as president, Joe Biden’s plans for an international coalition that can stand up to Beijing are starting to come into focus.

The settlement on aircraft subsidies sealed Tuesday ahead of his talks with senior European Union officials in Brussels not only parks $11.5 billion of tariffs for the next five years, it also includes a commitment for the US and the EU to tackle, together, “non-market practices of third parties” that could threaten Boeing Co. and its European rival Airbus SE. That’s code for China. Officials in Washington and Brussels say that Beijing has exploited the gaps in the World Trade Organization’s rulebook to deploy as much as $500 billion of state aid to give its companies an unfair advantage in global trade. And Biden made clear that he aims for this to be just the start.

“It’s a model we can build on for other challenges posed by China’s economic model,” the president said in an e-mailed statement af-

ter the deal.

US Trade Representative Katherine Tai told reporters that the deal includes a commitment for “concrete joint collaboration to confront squarely the threats that we experience and will experience from China’s ambition to build an aircraft sector on non-market practices.”

The EU signed up to the deal despite its reluctance to match Washington’s assertive line on China.

The bloc’s approach to China has been hardening since the spring when a tit-for-tat sanctions fight with Beijing over its alleged human-rights abuses in Xinjiang left their landmark investment deal in limbo. The EU also agreed to a deal with Canada on Wednesday to secure supply chains for critical raw materials that don’t rely on China.

In an interview with Bloomberg Television, EU trade chief

to loss of jobs and production,” for Western companies.

“What we are talking about with respect to China are the kinds of support that are available to Chinese industries that the Chinese government has decided are going to be priority sectors that they are going to put all their muscle and all their resources into,” said Tai. “How are we supposed to compete with that? On the spectrum of harm and distortion to competitive terms that is so far away from what either of us have been doing and fighting about.”

President Joe Biden. The Biden administration’s focus on China has been a clear theme running through days of geopolitical talks starting with the Group of Seven summit in Cornwall, England. Bloomberg photo

Valdis Dombrovskis listed a whole series of flaws in the global trading system that the US and the EU want to attack together, including opaque subsidy regimes, unfair competition from state-owned companies and “forced technology transfers.”

“Many of those elements stem from the structural model of China,” he said. “The EU is definitely very much willing to discuss and cooperate with the US specifically on China—that’s not an issue here.”

The aircraft truce comes as US

and European officials recognize that China’s state-sponsored aerospace manufacturer Commercial Aircraft Corp. of China, or Comac, is on track to become a serious rival to Boeing and Airbus by the end of the decade.

It’s been a beneficiary of the Made in China 2025 program, Beijing’s industrial plan to become a global leader in advanced technologies including robotics, aircraft and electric cars. A 2020 US report said Beijing’s industrial plans will “likely result in oversupply, leading

Hardball tactics

The Biden administration’s focus on China has been a clear theme running through days of geopolitical talks starting with the Group of Seven summit in Cornwall, England, from Friday and leading up to a face-to-face meeting with Russian President Vladimir Putin in Geneva on Wednesday.

C h i nese Foreig n Mi n ist r y spokesman Zhao Lijian criticized Biden’s efforts during a news briefing in Beijing before the summit.

The US-led coalition “exposes the bad intentions of the US and a few others to create confrontation and estrangement and expand differences and disagreements,” he said.

Face to face: Biden, Putin ready for awaited summit

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ENE VA—P resident Joe Biden and Russia's Vladimir Putin sit down Wednesday for their highly anticipated summit in the Swiss city of Geneva, a moment of high-stakes diplomacy at a time when both leaders agree that US-Russian relations are at an all-time low.

For four months, the two leaders have traded sharp rhetoric. Biden repeatedly called out Putin for malicious cyberattacks by Russianbased hackers on US interests, a disregard for democracy with the jailing of Russia's foremost opposition leader and interference in American elections.

Putin, for his part, has reacted with whataboutisms and obfuscations— pointing to the Jan. 6 insurrection at the US Capitol to argue that the US has no business lecturing on democratic norms and insisting that the Russian government hasn't been involved in any election interference or cyberattacks despite US intelligence showing otherwise.

Now, the pair will meet for their first face-to-face as leaders—a conversation that is expected to last four to five hours. In advance, both sides set out to lower expectations.

Even so, Biden has said it would be an important step if the United States and Russia were able to ultimately find "stability and predictability" in their relationship, a seemingly modest goal from the president for dealing with the person he sees as one of America's fiercest adversaries. " We shou ld de c ide where it's in our mutual interest, in the interest of the world, to cooperate, and see if we can do that," Biden told reporters earlier this week. "And the areas where we don't agree, make it clear what the red lines are."

Arrangements for the meeting have been carefully choreographed and vigorously negotiated by both sides.

Biden first floated the meeting in an April phone call in which he informed

In this March 10, 2011 file photo, then US Vice President Joe Biden (left) shakes hands with Russian Prime Minister Vladimir Putin in Moscow. AP Photo/Alexander Zemlianichenko

Putin that he would be expelling several Russian diplomats and imposing sanctions against dozens of people and companies, part of an effort to hold the Kremlin accountable for interference in last year's presidential election and the hacking of federal agencies.

Putin and his entourage will arrive first at the summit site: Villa La Grange, a grand lakeside mansion set in Geneva's biggest park. Next come Biden and his team. Swiss President Guy Parmelin will greet the two leaders.

The three will spend a moment together in front of the cameras, but only Parmelin is expected to make remarks, according to a senior administration official who briefed reporters on the condition of anonymity.

Biden and Putin first will hold a relatively intimate meeting joined

by US Secretary of State Antony Blinken and Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov. Each side will have a translator. The meeting will then expand to include five senior aides on each side.

After the meeting concludes, Putin is scheduled to hold a solo news conference, with Biden following suit. The White House opted against a joint news conference, deciding it did not want to appear to elevate Putin at a moment when the president is urging European allies to pressure Putin to cut out myriad provocations.

Biden sees himself with few peers on foreign policy. He traveled

the globe as a member of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee and was given difficult foreign policy assignments by President Barack Obama when Biden was vice president. His portfolio included messy spots like Iraq and Ukraine and weighing the mettle of China's Xi Jinping during his rise to power.

He has repeatedly said that he believes executing effective foreign policy comes from forming strong personal relations, and he has managed to find rapport with both the likes of Turkey's Recep Tayyip Erdogan, whom Biden has labeled an "autocrat," and conventional politicians like Canada's Justin Trudeau.

But with Putin, whom the president has said is a "killer" and has "no soul," Biden has long been wary.

At the same time, he acknowledges that Putin, who remained the most powerful figure in Russian politics over the span of five US presidents, is not without talent.

Biden this week suggested that he is approaching his meeting with Putin carefully.

"He's bright. He's tough," Biden told reporters. "And I have found that he is a — as they say...a worthy adversary."

There are hopes of finding small areas of agreement.

No commitments have been made, but according to the senior administration official, there are hopes that both sides will return their ambassadors to their respective postings following the meeting. Russia's ambassador to the US,

Anatoly Antonov, was recalled from Washington about three months ago after Biden called Putin a killer; US Ambassador to Russia John Sullivan left Moscow almost two months ago, after Russia suggested he return to Washington for consultations.

Both ambassadors will be in Geneva during Wednesday's meeting.

Biden administration officials say they think common ground can be found on arms control. International arms control groups are pressing the Russian and American leaders to start a push for new arms control by holding "strategic stability" talks — a series of governmentto-government discussions meant to sort through the many areas of disagreement and tension on the national security front.

The Biden team will press its concerns on cybersecurity. In recent months, Russia-based hackers have launched crippling attacks on a major US oil pipeline and a Brazilheadquartered meat supplier that operates in the US. The Russian side has said that the imprisonment of Russian opposition leader Alexei Navalny is an internal political matter and one area where Putin won't engage Biden. But the senior Biden administration official said there "is no issue that is off the table for the president," suggesting Navalny will come up.

The meeting is sure to invite comparisons with President Donald Trump's 2018 meeting with Putin in Helsinki, where the two leaders held a joint news conference and Trump sided with Russian denials when asked whether Moscow had meddled in the 2016 presidential election.

Biden has prepared for his oneon-one by reviewing materials and consulting with officials across government and with outside advisers.

Aides said the level of preparation wasn't unusual. Biden, in a brief exchange with reporters upon arriving in Geneva on Tuesday night, sought to offer the impression that he wasn't sweating his big meeting.

"I am always ready," Biden said.

AP

The US and, to a lesser extent, the EU are aiming to build a broad coalition of Western democracies to challenge China’s hardball tactics in the economic sphere.

They plan to update WTO trade rules to include more effective measures to push back on industrial subsidies and other unfair behavior from state-owned enterprises.

“Washington and Brussels need each other to deal with China, particularly at the WTO, and neither derived any meaningful leverage from wielding retaliatory tariffs,” said Marc Busch, a non-resident senior fellow at the Washington, D.C.-based Atlantic Council.

But the US and EU also have other issues to resolve in their trading relationship.

A key next step will be an agreement to withdraw US tariffs on European steel and aluminum, which were ostensibly aimed at curbing a surge of cheap, subsidized metals coming from China. Those tariffs remain popular with US industry and Commerce Secretary Gina Raimondo has said they are “effective” in countering cheap exports from abroad.

“Have the US and EU achieved peace in our time?” Busch asked.

“Don’t bet on it.” Bloomberg News

Israel launches air strikes in Gaza as violence flares

I

srael launched air strikes on Gaza on Wednesday in the first fighting since an 11-day conflict last month killed hundreds of people in the Hamas-ruled territory.

The military acted in response to incendiary balloons sent across the border, the Israel Defense Forces said in a series of tweets, adding it was “ready for all scenarios, including the resumption of hostilities, in the face of continued terrorist operations from the Gaza strip.” Hamas had threatened to take action in response to an Israeli nationalist march in East Jerusalem on Tuesday.

Reuters earlier cited a Hamas radio station as saying an Israeli aircraft attacked a Palestinian training camp in Gaza. The incendiary balloons caused about 20 fires in open fields in communities near the border, Reuters reported, citing the Israeli fire brigade.

The violence comes two days after Naftali Bennett took office as Israel’s prime minister, ending Benjamin Netanyahu’s 12 years in power. Israel and Hamas agreed to an Egyptian-mediated cease-fire on May 20 following fighting that killed at least 243 people in Gaza and 12 people in Israel.

Bennett had said previously that Israel should not tolerate incendiary balloons and should retaliate as if Hamas had fired rockets, Reuters reported.

The 49-year-old former Netanyahu ally opposes Palestinian statehood and the Iran nuclear deal.

Bloomberg News

Parentlife BusinessMirror

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Editor: Gerard S. Ramos

• Thursday, June 17, 2021

CLOCKWISE: my daughter’s CISV (Children’s International Summer Village) journey started with the immersion in Philippine culture and landmarks; at the airport meeting delegates from other Asian countries like India; monthlong learning of social issues with delegates from at least 30 countries; the Philippine delegates’ proud presentation in Filipino food, culture and products.

INNOVATIVE Black & Decker Wet and Dry Vacuum Cleaner for your dad’s cleaning tasks. It has four castor wheels for easier maneuverability.

THIS durable and portable ACE Hardware Squared Table Top Charcoal Grill 14 inches is perfect for dads who love grilling and enjoy the outdoors.

FOR DADS ON THEIR SPECIAL DAY

ALWAYS a helpful place, ACE Hardware shares some gift suggestions for dads of all types on Father’s Day. For the DIY (do-it-yourself) Dad, there are highperformance drill sets that can complete a wide variety of projects like cutting, drilling and plumbing with its attachments and accessories complete with safety features.

Home-repair projects are also made easy for dad with ACEbranded durable hand tools. There are also wet and dry vacuum cleaners with HEPA filters that removes airborne particles.

For the Outdoorsy Dad, he’ll be king of the grill with the durable and portable ACE squared charcoal grill which is perfect for backyard barbecues.

For the Car Lover Dad, there are tire inflators for roadside emergencies and powerful high-pressure washers for essential cleaning tasks.

For the Plantito Dad, ACE Hardware has a best-selling gardening tool set including a trowel, transplanter, cultivator, bottle spray, pruning shears and lightweight plastic case.

Make your dad feel extra special and loved this Father’s Day with ACE Hardware’s amazing tools and items which are available at all ACE branches nationwide.

A youth’s quest for ‘Philippine Independence’

SIGNATURE FEASTS FOR FATHER’S DAY LUXURY hotel Conrad Manila celebrates Father’s Day with well-curated Signature Feasts for the Man of the House to enjoy worry-free dining at the hotel or in the comforts of home.

Executive Chinese chef Eng Yew Khor works the wok at China Blue by Jereme Leung to indulge dads with a Feast Fit for a King. Take pleasure in a modern interpretation of traditional Chinese favorites delicately presented in a special set menu with these highlights: golden roast US duck with BBQ gravy sauce, sautéed premier US sliced beef and cha tsai, black fungus with dried chili pepper sauce, and Steamed Signature house specialty red gold long life custard buns, among other favorites. Prices start at P4,200 per person.

Bring home a special Father’s Day Hamper from C Lounge that includes a bottle of our signature cocktail Hilario or collectible miniature spirits masterfully paired with executive Chef Daniel Patterson’s homemade chicharones, spiced Cajun almonds and more. Prices start at P2,500.

At Brasserie on 3, Dad is spoilt with an indulgent Takeaway Father’s Day BBQ ideal for a family of four to six. Menu highlights include grilled BBQ pork ribs with chili sauce, US steak, Cajun-style chicken breast, chili corn bread, and cheesecake collection, among others.

Price starts at P1,850.

Treat the Hero of your Heart to Bru Coffee Bar’s special Father’s Day Tin Cakes, a special selection of moistinfused sponge cakes topped with premium chocolate, cream or toffee finished with a light and refreshing “chocolate cap.” The tin cakes come in four variations: Peanut Butter Milk Cheesecake, Vanilla Light Macadamia Nut, Whiskey and Dark Chocolate, and Ube Coconut.

Prices start at P200.

More information is available at 0917-6504043, 88339999 and bit.ly/conradmestore.

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HILIPPINE Independence Day was just celebrated last weekend, June 12. My daughter had just finished her school year as well. It made me curious how nationalism is seen through the lens of youth today.

I remembered my daughter’s submission in her research elective class. She could choose any topic under the sun, but she chose to study how reforms in Philippine education can be a long-term solution to solving corruption. I remember reading the methodology and being “eye-opened”. I thought it would be good to share the thoughts of a 15-year-old high-school student: “Corruption has always been generally prevalent in many aspects of Philippine society. On a scale of zero to 100 in the Corruption Perceptions Index, zero being the most corrupt and 100 being highly clean, the Philippines has a score of 34 as of 2019 [Transparency International, 2019]. Out of 180 countries and territories, the country is 113th in the world for overall transparency. Compared to its neighboring countries that were developing at almost the same time, its rank is far lower, as Singapore, Hong Kong, Japan, and Taiwan are high in the top 40. It is safe to conclude that the overall development of these neighboring countries have benefited greatly from their lower

rates of corruption, just as the Philippines’ overall progress has been stunted due to the local abundance of corruption.

“Although the Filipino people are well aware that corruption is apparent in their society, it is difficult to combat an issue in the government when the power and authority lie within the problem itself. At the same time, it has become part of Filipino norm to succumb to acts of corruption such as bribery. This is evident in a survey in 2016 showing that ‘more families or 3 out of 4 gave bribe or grease money when asked. Thus, payment of bribe or grease money is more likely at the behest of a government official rather than purely voluntary. “‘Of the different types of services, the highest percentage of families gave a bribe or grease money when asked by a government official in accessing justice’ [Office of the Ombudsman through the Research and Special Studies Bureau, et al, 2018].

According to Transparency International’s 2009 Global Corruption Barometer, the sectors and institutions most prone to corruption are civil servants and parliamentarian/legislator; judiciary, education, health, tax revenue [Nawaz et al., 2008].

Furthermore, as of 2008, more than 30 percent of the budget allocated to government projects is also lost due to corruption [Nawaz et al., 2008].

“Though many measures have been taken to prevent and manage corruption, as previously mentioned, corruption is still very much palpable as of today. Numerous laws, policies and proponent organizations have been adamant in trying to fix this tough issue, however. I believe that one of the most effective ways of preventing long-term corruption in the future is the reform of the country’s education system.... “...A study done in 2018 on social science teachers in Surabaya [Indonesia] (Sarmini & Nadiroh, 2018,

p. 12167), concluded that ‘social science teachers in Surabaya realize that teaching materials on AntiCorruption Education is very important in social studies learning activities. Despite high awareness of the importance of anti-corruption education materials for students, there are still many social studies teachers who have not yet made instructional materials on the importance of Anti-Corruption Education for students on social studies subjects.” This paper also states that “teaching materials of AntiCorruption Education is a theme of teaching material that is very important to guide the child with hope as early as possible to grow an anti-corruption attitude.”

[Sarmini & Nadiroh, 2018, p. 12167]....”

My daughter’s hope is that “by emphasizing the importance of combating corruption, the results of this study will hopefully be able to promote a reform of the educational system in the Philippines to improve and further its overall progress and development as a nation.”

I think my daughter’s trip to Sweden, where she participated in the CISV (Children’s International Summer Village), planted the seeds of her quest for “Philippine Independence from Corruption”.

From learning more about Philippine culture in their preparatory weeks pre-departure, to learning global social issues and conditions of the more than 30 countries which participated, she garnered the importance of national pride. She did this trip at 11 years old, but I feel she has brought that desire to act in the years that followed.

As a parent, I realized after reading this that the issue of corruption is no different from the pressing issues of sustainability and inclusiveness, which greatly affect our children’s future. I believe it is a good surprise how kids today are actually the ones reminding their parents for a change.

Belated Happy Independence Day, everyone. ■

Reducing maternal mortality

BY RIZAL RAOUL S. REYES MSD recently named Jhpiego, an international nonprofit health organization based in the Philippines, a recipient of the MSD for Mothers Global Grants program that is working to reduce maternal mortality in locations where there is the greatest need.

MSD for Mothers is a $500-million global initiative to help women around the world in overcoming maternal death. The company said this is their contribution to help women achieve safe delivery during their pregnancy. Moreover, MSD for Mothers collaborates across sectors to improve the health and well-being of women during pregnancy, childbirth, and the postpartum period.

In their pre-pandemic study, the United Nations Population Fund and the University of the Philippines Population Institute found out that 2,600 Filipino mothers were dying every year from complications from pregnancy and childbirth, which are preventable conditions. As the Covid-19 continues to batter the country, MSD said it will be

more challenging for disadvantaged women as they have to reckon with the delay of the results, decline in checkups, disruption of medical services, and problems accessing modern contraception.

In this scenario, MSD also warned of the possibility of the rise in the incidence of maternal mortality by 26 percent or up to 670 additional deaths from 2019, and of unintended pregnancies to 2.56 million by the end of 2020.

“We at MSD take a holistic approach to address the many factors that impact maternal health and strive to leverage the private sector for the public good, thus we are very proud of the Philippines’ inclusion once again in our MSD for Mothers program as it also comes at a critical juncture when Filipino mothers’ challenges are compounded by the limitations and threats presented by the pandemic,” said Beaver Tamesis, president and managing director of MSD in the Philippines said in a recent webinar.

Jhpiego, an international non-profit health group dedicated to improving the health of women and families since the 1980s, will focus on maternal

health-care improvement results in Sorsogon, the fourth most populous province in Bicol in a three-year span. “We are optimistic the MSD for Mothers Global Grants program will further help the Philippines accelerate its progress toward the SDGs by improving population health outcomes and increasing access to improved maternal health care.

Moreover, we hope that through this partnership, we reinforce our commitment and support to the country’s move towards Universal Health Care,” Dr. Tamesis emphasized.

Dr. Ingrid Magnata, Jhpiego’s country lead in the Philippines, said maternal mortality is one of the major challenges of developing countries like the Philippines. Furthermore, Magnata pointed out the lack of coordination between levels contact providers puts women at great risk since patients already in serious condition will then arrive at higher-level facilities where the hospital staff and facilities have not been adequately prepared to receive them.

She hopes the project with serve as a model for other districts in Sorsogon.

B10 Thursday, June 17, 2021

It’s Steak Nights with Dad on Father’s Day at Holiday Inn and Suites Makati

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OLIDAY Inn and Suites Makati has prepared a unique Steak Night Kit for the special man in our life. This Father’s Day let’s give our dad a special treat with an intimate celebration at home. Our Dads are our real-life superheroes who deserve nothing but the

best. Time to gather the family and enjoy a delightful feast!

The chefs at Holiday Inn and Suites Makati have prepared a simple yet interesting way of cooking up a special dish at home on this Father’s Day celebration. The Steak Night Kit includes

300 grams Premium Black Onyx Angus Striploin Steak with sauces and seasoning and two Hungarian Sausages perfect for grilling or pan cooking.

Also included in the kit and cooked to perfection are Half-slab Baby Back Ribs, Mashed Potatoes, Roasted Vegetables and Buttered Corn Cob with a mini cheesecake for dessert which completes this delicious and filling meal for the man in the house.

Avail of the Father’s Day Steak Night Kit for only Php 4,375 nett good for 2-3 persons. Order at least one day in advance. You may have it picked up or arrange a convenient delivery at your doorstep. Available until 20 June 2021. For order and inquiries, call +632 7506 8132 or Viber +63 917 5968897.

To know more about the promos and offerings, visit www.makati.holidayinn. com and like and follow us in Facebook and Instagram at HolidayInnMakati.

Join IHG Rewards Club to enjoy exclusive discounts and benefits. Sign up at http://bit.ly/HISMIHGRCSignUp.

Isolate in comfort under the care of Cardinal Santos Medical Center at Discovery Suites Manila

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ARDINAL Santos Medical Center and Discovery Suites Manila have partnered to launch a comprehensive package for patients who need to self-isolate while undergoing virus detection procedures.

The Covid Detect Package offers patients a three-day, two-night stay in one of Discovery Suites’ well-appointed rooms, inclusive of packed breakfast, lunch, and dinner for the whole duration of stay high-speed internet access, and virtual butler assistance .

During their stay, guests receive direct care from Cardinal Santos Medical Center with a scheduled RT-PCR swab test to be administered at the hotel, two teleconsultations with a primary care physician, a COVID support kit, and medical certificate.

Patients may avail of the complete package for as low as PHP 18,500 nett, while rates for one, two, and three-bedroom suites are also available for multiple occupancies such as that of families or groups belonging to one household.

The Covid Detect Package was curated specifically for patients with pending RT-

PCR results, patients who tested negative but are symptomatic and need to be quarantined,and and high-risk patients and who have had previous exposure to a Covidpositive patient. In an effort to provide utmost comfort and care to patients under investigation or monitoring and alleviate their worries where possible.

If you or a loved one is in need of this comprehensive package, inquire today by calling the CSMC Covid Hotline at +63 949 333 5489.

About Discovery Suites

LOCATED in the heart of the Ortigas Central Business District, Discovery Suites is the choice address of business and leisure travelers, as it balances the convenience of a spacious residence with the personal touches of a hotel.

Discovery Suites is a proud member of the Preferred Hotels and resorts Connect Collection, a portfolio of some of the world’s smartest, welcoming hotels designed to connect guests to family and friends, business associates and interesting neighborhoods.

Follow Discovery Suites Manila: Website: www.discoverysuites.com.

Facebook: facebook.com/ DiscoverySuitesOrtigas Instagram: @discoverysuites; Twitter: @discoverysuites

Pandamart expands coverage, now delivers to over 15 cities

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OME deliveries for groceries are one of the ways to stay safe while making sure that your pantry is well stocked with essentials. As the grocery arm of foodpanda, pandamart offers swift and efficient service. You can stay at home and get your groceries in as fast as 20 minutes, so that meal prep or sudden snack-time

cravings is never a problem. It’s easier to plan meals and cook your favorite dishes without having to go out and have to face the hassles of lining up to enter establishments and then pay at checkout counters.

With the contactless delivery protocols in place through the friendly pandamart riders, customers can simply tap on the foodpanda

app and fill their carts with cooking ingredients, snacks, and drinks, along with their beauty and baby needs. There are choices galore with more than 3000 items from different brands that come with deals of up to 70% for bigger savings with no shopping fees!

Now, more households can now enjoy the convenience of shopping on the app, as pandamart has expanded its area coverage to Marikina, Cainta, Taguig, Pasig in Metro Manila and also in Mandaue City and Cebu City!

As a grand welcome, new pandamart shoppers in the new areas can enjoy 30% off on their orders when they use "HEYPANDAMART621" until June 30.

Voucher is capped at P150 maximum discounts for a minimum spend of P300.

What a deal!

What’s more, with a minimum spend of P799 from June 15 to 30, all pandamart users in Metro Manila branches can avail of a free foldable and reusable bag that’s the perfect catch-all for essential items on that next out-of-home trip.

“We are excited to extend our services to more areas so that more customers can experience the convenience of shopping with pandamart. Our fast and flexible delivery options that even allow you to order ahead, along with the daily deals for a wide array of items that cover groceries to gift items from our partner establishments make online shopping an enjoyable and hassle-free experience,” says foodpanda managing director Daniel Marogy.

A4 VACCINATION DRIVE AT THE SM MALL OF ASIA. SM Mall of Asia recently hosted the NCR +8 Commitment Ceremony and Symbolic Vaccination of A4 led by the government and private sector. Shown pledging their commitment are Presidential Adviser Joey Concepcion (center) flanked by SM Prime Holdings Inc. Chairman of the Executive Committee Mr. Hans T. Sy, and Ayala Corporation President & CEO Mr. Fernando Zobel. They are joined by DOH Secretary Francisco Duque, NTF Chief Implementer Carlito Galvez, Presidential Spokesperson Harry Roque, and DOLE Secretary Silvestre Bello. This ceremonial event kicks off the mass vaccination drive of the Priority Group. Pre-registration and schedules may be coordinated with local barangay or nearest Health Center.

PhilHealth now covers cartridge-based PCR tests

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O further boost the country’s targeted testing capacity, the Philippine Health Insurance Corporation (PhilHealth) is now paying for SARS-CoV-2 testing using cartridge-based polymerase chain reaction or PCR tests.

According to its PhilHealth Circular No. 2021-0003, the benefit can be availed of by all PhilHealth members as prescribed by the Department of Health.

The new benefit package ranges from Php 1,059 to Php 2,287 and will be paid directly to the accredited testing laboratories following these conditions:  PCR cartridges are donated to the testing laboratory; the cost of running the cartridge-based PCR test is subsidized by the government  PCR cartridges are donated to the testing laboratory. All services and supplies for the testing are procured and provided by the testing laboratory Members eligible to the said benefit is determined through the DOH Memorandum No. 2020-0258-A which enumerates the priority sub-groups of “at-risk” population needing SARSCoV-2 testing which include individuals with symptoms and relevant history of travel and/or contact; those with no

symptoms but with relevant history of travel or contact or high risk of exposure; contact-traced individuals; healthcare workers; other vulnerable patients like pregnant women, immunocompromised and dialysis patients; returning Overseas Filipino Workers who shall immediately be tested at the port of entry; frontline and economic priority workers; including mass media.

Eligible members should not be charged co-payment/additional payment beyond the set rates, except when availing of extra services such as online appointments, drive thru and home services, among others.

For more details on this package, members and accredited testing laboratories are encouraged to read the full guidelines at https://www.philhealth. gov.ph/circulars/2021/circ2021-0003.pdf or visit the nearest regional or local health insurance office for direct assistance.

St. Luke’s opens Drive-Thru Pedia Vaccination to boost children’s routine immunization

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T. Luke’s Medical Center (SLMC) is making vaccines more accessible to children by opening drive-thru vaccination sites in its hospitals in Bonifacio Global City and Quezon City. These sites are open to all SLMC patients from Monday to Saturday, 8:00 am to 3:00 p.m.

“As we have seen during the COVID-19 pandemic, more people have become hesitant to go outside and seek medical attention due to the risk of being infected with the virus. Providing venues wherein parents can conveniently and safely vaccinate their children is one way that SLMC shows its dedication to giving the best healthcare experience to its patients., said SLMC President and CEO, Dr. Arturo De La Peña.”

The pedia drive-thru vaccination service is one of St. Luke’s initiatives to help patients cope with the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic.

SLMC makes it simple for parents to schedule an appointment to vaccinate their children. First, they need to schedule a consultation with any of SLMC’s world-class

pediatricians. Upon receiving the details of the required vaccinations, they can proceed with booking an appointment through SLMC’s Product Information Hub. After this, parents will receive a confirmation of the payment process and their children’s vaccination schedule through email and SMS. “With SLMC’s drive-thru vaccination sites, parents can take a step in protecting their children from various diseases while having the peace of mind that they will not catch the COVID-19 virus due to the enforcement of stringent health protocols,” Dr. De La Peña concluded.

To schedule an appointment, please contact SLMC’s Product Information Hub at: GLOBAL CITY: 8-789-7700 loc. 5104 or 1050, 09985822285 | 09285200239.

QUEZON CITY: 8-723-0101 loc. 5564 or 4815, 09479943550.

EMAIL: productinfo@stlukes.com.ph, Weekly pediatrician schedules are released on the official St. Luke’s Medical Center Facebook Account.

CHILDREN can now receive safe and timely vaccinations through St. Luke’s Drive-Thru Pedia Vaccination service.

Editor: Anne Ruth Dela Cruz

Health&Fitness BusinessMirror

Thursday, June 17, 2021 B11

Telemedicine is the future of health care, says expert

By Rory Visco

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Contributor

he advent of the Covid-19 pandemic definitely overwhelmed the countr y’s health-care system with the deluge of patients suffering from Covid-19 confined at many hospitals and other medical facilities. However, it also forced those with other ailments to take a back seat, particularly in terms of face-to-face consultation with their doctors at hospitals or even clinics, for fear of contracting the disease.

Medical practitioners had to pivot, to think of strategies that will allow them to diagnose their patients without exposing them to health risks and the SARS-CoV-2 virus.

Information and communications technology (ICT), fortunately, came to the rescue, together with the Internet, that brought about the concept of “telemedicine.”

Telemedicine closes several gaps

T elemedicine is defined by the World Health Organization (WHO) as “the

delivery of health-care services, where distance is a critical factor, by all healthcare professionals using information and communications technologies for the exchange of valid information for diagnosis, treatment and prevention of disease and injuries, research and evaluation, and for the continuing education of health-care providers, all in the interests of advancing the health of individuals and their communities.”

Simply put, it is about doctor-patient communication for purposes of medical consultation during extraordinary times or in cases where distance hinders or prevents them from doing so, using a digital device like the computer to achieve the objective.

Particularly in this pandemic, many people were afraid to go to hospitals to seek consultation with their doctors for fear of the virus. Another concern is whether they would get the attention they need since the priority is treatment of Covid-19 patients.

There are other factors that may have contributed to the rise in the use of telemedicine in the country. For one, those who cannot go to the doctor for many

reasons—work schedule, home concerns, commute/traffic, where transportation expense is a challenge, and many others— would benefit under a telemedicine setup.

As with any other beneficial practice, however, there are challenges. There is still talk of whether the dispensed medical advice is of quality or not, meaning, is it enough to just look at the computer screen to determine if indeed there is something wrong in a patient? Or, if diagnosis given is correct and appropriate.

What if the patient was unable to fully disclose all the needed information to help guide the doctor to give the best medical advice?

A bigger role for health care

For Medgate Philippines, which has been operating in the Philippines since 2016 and is part of Medgate, a pioneer in the telemedicine industry since 1998, believes that by increasing and improving access to high-quality medical care, telemedicine will help shape the future of overall healthcare in the Philippines and even globally.

“The past year and a half has challenged our health-care systems in unimaginable ways, while also changing the

PHL is polio free again, thanks to mass inoculation drive

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By Claudeth mocon-ciriaco

unaisa, 3, from Lanao del Sur, is a very playful girl who can always be seen running around in the neighborhood. But one day, she was different. She could hardly stand up and she suddenly slumped down on to the ground.

Noticing this, her parents brought her to a hospital. Junaisa’s laboratory results showed that she contracted polio, a highly infectious, crippling and sometimes fatal disease that can be avoided with a vaccine. Children under the age of five are particularly vulnerable. The disease remains endemic in only two countries— Afghanistan and Pakistan—and when it is eradicated there, polio will only be the second disease to be completely eradicated.

This incident on September 19, 2019 was recounted by Dr. Rabindra Abeyasinghe, World Health Organization (WHO) Representative to the Philippines, during the special press briefing of the Department of Health (DOH), together with the WHO, United Nations Children’s Fund (Unicef), and other partners on June 11.

Dr. Abeyasinghe said Junaisa was the first polio case to be reported two decades after the eradication of polio was announced in the Philippines and Western Pacific Region.

End of polio outbreak in the Philippines

“Today is a very happy occasion. We are formally celebrating the end of the polio outbreak that has affected the Philippines for more than 600 days. This is indeed a happy occasion for multiple reasons,” Dr. Abeyangsinghe said.

While the WHO and Unicef lauded the DOH and other government agencies, partners and civil society efforts to end the polio outbreak in the Philippines, Dr. Abeyansinghe lamented that “for many of you, you have forgotten that a polio outbreak is a public health emergency of international concern because it was overshadowed by another public health emergency of international concern, the Covid -19 pandemic.

“And we salute all of you who have made this possible during this extremely challenging period by your commitment

and dedication to achieve the closure of this outbreak,” he added.

He noted that the case of Junaisa was a “setback” for public health in the Philippines, “but also the whole world, because until polio is eradicated from every country, no country is safe.”

“The polio outbreak response has been tremendous. The DOH quickly launched decisive and sustained efforts to respond to the outbreak. It was a massive logistical undertaking. Thus began the country’s long and arduous journey to protect every child from the crippling and possibly lifethreatening disease of polio,” he added.

Polio response

Dr. Abeyasinghe highlighted the efforts of the country after recording a new polio case—30 million doses of oral polio vaccines were administered; 11 million children were vaccinated with many receiving multiple doses; 13 vaccination campaign rounds were conducted subnationally: 755 environmental samples were analyzed from 42 sites across all three island groups of the Philippines; and 5,155 polio surveillance samples were tested from the entire country.

The response lasted for 600 days, he said.

“This is a testament of the tremendous work that has been undertaken to close this polio outbreak, while also responding to the Covid- 19 pandemic. Globally, the Philippines is one of the first countries to resume polio campaigns, during the pandemic, and especially during community transmission of Covid-19,” he said citing the other challenges during the response, including typhoons, flooding, impending measles outbreak, and volcanic eruption.

“The Philippines has emerged as an inspiration to the world that with leaders, caring for children, determination, strong leadership, and a focus on a shared goal solving seemingly insurmountable challenge, can turn into a remarkable achievement,” the WHO official said.

Supplemental immunization campaign

Health Undersecretary Maria Rosario Vergeire said that the activities for polio

supplemental immunization campaign were concluded last March 31, 2021.

Vergeire said that the coverage for the supplemental immunization against polio reached 87.3 percent of the targeted population. “This level of coverage is an outstanding accomplishment for the country in combating polio, and this was truly recognized by the World Health Organization,” she said.

Meanwhile, Unicef supported the DOH, through vaccine procurement and delivery, development of immunization guidelines, social mobilization, engaging community members and influencers, and building the capacity of the agency and staff members of the local government units nationwide to plan and ensure that no child was missed.

“The success of the polio immunization in the Philippines is proof that when we come together for children, great things happen. Unicef celebrates all the vaccine champions and partners who made this possible. We must keep the momentum and accelerate routine immunization and safeguard essential child health services while rolling out Covid-19 vaccines for priority groups,” Unicef Philippines Representative Oyunsaikhan Dendevnorov says.

Aside from WHO and Unicef, other core partners of the Global Polio Eradication Initiative—Rotar y Inter national, US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation, and Gavi, the Vaccine Alliance—also supported the Philippine polio outbreak response.

WHO has outlined recommendations to the DOH to ensure systems are in place to protect the gains from the polio outbreak response.

These include giving high priority to quality poliovirus surveillance; developing quarterly surveillance desk reviews between DOH and WHO; protecting human resources involved in immunization; regular reporting to WHO on human resource deployment, vaccine procurement and surveillance performance; developing best practices manual for field level users; and updating material inventories.

way many Filipino patients get treated,” shares Medgate Philippines President Stavros Athanasiou. “Throughout all that, telehealth services have proven to be a prime complement to traditional health care, acting as another avenue for treatment. Medgate is committed to providing those services to even more Filipinos as we continue to navigate the current health crisis.”

Just last year, he said they saw a 170-percent jump in the usage of their services, which led to a total patient base of 1.5 million. In the conduct of these consultations, Medgate uses a medical co-management approach where doctors with multiple specializations consult with a single case. This means that an Internist may also treat a Pediatric case in order to get a better background of and provide a solution to a patient’s condition, which may lead to high treatment rate.

This success is just the first step, Athanasiou said, as the company sees demand for its innovation increasing further in the near future. The company will continue to innovate and grow its telemedicine core business as new technologies emerge. The advent of 5G broadband, he adds, should make for an immersive high resolution video experience, further enhancing the experience of patients. Advances in wearables, especially those with the ability to capture body temperature, blood pressure, and even blood sugar will

usher in a new wave of customers. “The demand is there,” adds Athanasiou. “It’s now a matter of making sure that the proper services and infrastructures are in place to sustain the usage and provide telemedicine to more patients.”

Collaborations to improve telemedicine access

Medgate Philippines also has ongoing tie-ups with some of the country’s leading HMO and health insurance companies including Intellicare and Generali. Through these partnerships, members can conveniently consult with a doctor on the Medgate platform 24/7 even having the option to have their prescribed medicines delivered. These engagements are in line with Medgate’s goal to provide the care that comforts as many Filipinos as possible.

“The work we do alongside our partners is important. This is the perfect time for us to work together towards furthering health-care innovation,” said Medgate Philippines Country Manager, Ronald Estrella. “Medgate continues to further differentiate its telemedicine service from the competition. The company will be expanding its partnerships, growing its base of health-care professionals, and will ensure multiple touchpoints for easier access for patients—be it over the phone, social media, web site, or our upcoming mobile app.”

Patient groups partner with govt to push for Covid-19 vaccination

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p to now, the dengvaxia controversy is believed to be one of the reasons why Filipinos are hesitant to receive the Covid-19 vaccine.

Citing a study of Prof. Heidi Larson of the London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicines, Karen Alparce-Villanueva, Philippine Alliance of Patient Organizations (PAPO) Treasurer and Campaign Project Lead, said the dengvaxia scare had resulted in a decrease in vaccine confidence in the Philippines from 93 percent in 2015 to 32 percent in 2018.

Likewise, the recent Social Weather Stations (SWS) survey found that only three out of 10 Filipinos are willing to be vaccinated even if they were free and approved by the Food and Drug Administration. Efforts, on the other hand, are also under way to identify barriers for the nonvaccination of a number of senior citizens and persons with comorbidities, belonging to the A2 and A3 priority sectors.

through this campaign, we would help in informing the patients and the public that vaccines are safe and effective having gone through regulatory approvals and scientific research. We are stronger and healthier together, which is why we are calling on everyone to get vaccinated,” Villanueva said.

The patient-led campaign also aims to support efforts towards vaccine equity through various initiatives and collaborations with governments, manufacturers and the Covax facility among other platforms.

“The pandemic has made Filipino patients more vulnerable to sickness and hardships. We urge all Filipinos, including patients and their families, to get vaccinated against Covid-19 to protect ourselves and others from this potentially lifethreatening illness. We also support initiatives to urgently address vaccine inequity and secure vaccine access for Filipinos, including those belonging to priority sectors like patients,” said PAPO President Ma. Fatima Lorenzo.

‘Bakuna, Now Na’ campaign

Partnership

The PAPO, representing 38 patient groups in the country launched on June 11 the “Bakuna, Now Na” campaign in a bid to increase vaccination uptake and decrease hesitancy to help curb the pandemic. The campaign is also in partnership with the Department of Health (DOH) and is supported by the Department of Science and Technology (DOST) and the Philippine Medical Association (PMA).

An information and education advocacy to increase vaccine acceptance, the Bakuna, Now Na campaign also kicked off with a Unity Statement with partner groups urging Filipinos to get vaccinated against Covid-19.

PAPO recognizes the necessity to address the people’s concerns through the Bakuna, Now Na advocacy due to the vast number of Filipinos who are hesitant to get vaccinated. The campaign will center on frequently asked questions about Covid-19 vaccines and dispel myths with verified medical facts.

The Bakuna, Now Na is an effort to translate complicated medical terms into easy-to-digest content that will help educate the public.

“The Bakuna, Now Na is a campaign for Filipino patients and by Filipino patients. We aspire that

For her part, Dr. Beverly Lorraine Ho, DOH— Health Promotions Bureau Director, said that the DOH is pleased to partner with the PAPO to boost vaccine confidence and to have more people vaccinated as soon as possible.

“We continue to call on patients and our senior citizens to get themselves vaccinated because vaccines are one of the proven ways by which we could prevent this pandemic. Vaccines along with the wearing of face masks, hand washing, and physical distancing will help us move forward safely from this pandemic. Vaccines are safe and effective kaya Bakuna, Now Na,” Ho said.

Meanwhile. Dr. Nina Gloriani, chairman of the Department of Science and Technology - Vaccine Expert Panel, was also present during the campaign launch as the advocacy will feature verified information coming from the country’s medical and vaccines experts.

The Bakuna, Now Na campaign is being led by PAPO in partnership with the DOH, DOST, PMA, Philippine Pharmacists Association and former Health Secretaries Carmencita Reodica, Dr. Esperanza Cabral, Dr. Manuel Dayrit, and Dr. Janette Garin, and 50 other organizations and growing.

Claudeth Mocon-Ciriaco

Secondhand smoke is dangerous to your health, says ex-DOH exec

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hile most of the people are staying home due to the Covid-19 pandemic, a health group has expressed concern over nonsmokers being exposed to the equally deadly secondhand smoke.

Former Health Secretary Jaime Galvez Tan, a trustee of HealthJustice Philippines, a non-profit organization, warned that exposure to secondhand smoke may have devastating effects to the heart.

He gave the warning for fear of the possibility that staying at home this pandemic will give people more chances to smoke.

HealthJustice Philippines also reiterated that smoking in public transport should be banned at all times to protect the health of the people and to safeguard

the environment.

Lawyer Benidict Nisperos, Legal Consultant of HealthJustice Philippines, urged concerned government agencies to strictly implement the prohibition of smoking in public transport which includes buses, taxis, trains, airports, and ports where people usually queue or gather.

He said that those mentioned are covered under President Duterte’s Executive Order (EO) 26 titled “Providing for the Establishment of Smoke-free Environments in Public and Enclosed Places.”

“According to the World Health Organization, Department of Health, health experts and scientists, there is no safe level of exposure to tobacco smoke. That is why we should first think of our health and measures to avoid the ill-effects of

smoking, vaping, and heated tobacco products,” Nisperos said during SmokeFree Transportation Media briefing held at the Parañaque Integrated Terminal Exchange (PITX) over the weekend.

He was also alarmed that over 20 million people are exposed to tobacco smoke in public transportation in the country and that this should not be ignored for over 20 million “is a huge number.”

“If we are going to look at it, we should be very concerned. They may be exposed to secondhand and thirdhand smoke,” he lamented.

Secondhand smoke and heart disease

According to WHO, tobacco use is the second leading cause of cardiovascular diseases (CVD) after high blood pressure

with smoking and secondhand smoke contributing to approximately 12 percent of all heart disease deaths globally.

Prior to the pandemic, the 2015 Global Adult Tobacco Survey (GATS)—Philippines showed that secondhand smoke exposure is highly prevalent in public places, particularly in bars and nightclubs at 86 percent.

Tobacco exposure has been linked to 87,000 annual deaths among Filipinos, which are more than the number of deaths due to HIV/AIDS, tuberculosis and malaria combined.

Secondhand smoke exposure was also found to be prevalent in public transportation at 38 percent; followed by restaurants at 22 percent.

Other public places also affected by secondhand smoke are in government buildings at 13 percent; schools at 11 percent; and healthcare facilities at four percent.

Meanwhile, the Department of Health (DOH) said that ischemic heart diseases or the “hardening of arteries” continue to be the leading cause of death in the Philippines with more than 74,000 cases recorded in 2016.

It may be noted that chemicals in cigarette smoke cause the blood to thicken and increases the risk of blood clots.

Moreover, the Philippine Statistics Authority lists five other non-communicable diseases linked to smoking as top causes of deaths and diseases among Filipinos namely, cancers, stroke, hypertension, diabetes mellitus and other heart diseases. These are known to be strongly linked to four risk factors, one of which is tobacco use.

The 2015 GATS also reported that close to 16 million Filipino adults have smoked tobacco products; 40 percent are men and 5 percent are women. Claudeth Mocon-Ciriaco

Sports BusinessMirror

WHILE IN TOKYO, PLAY BY THE RULES, OR ELSE

YUKA MEETS RORY US Women’s Open champion Yuka

Saso (right) walks with Rory McIlroy during a practice round of the US Open on Tuesday at Torrey Pines Golf Course in San Diego.

Saso has tried to model her swing after McIlroy and Saso admits she was nervous meeting her golfing idol—but she also shows off her engaging personality. AP

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| Thursday, June 17, 2021 mirror_sports@yahoo.com.ph Editor: Jun Lomibao

Eala stays in winning form in Spain

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LEX EALA returned to action and with new partner Victoria Jimenez Kasintseva of Andorra beat the secondseeded pair of Robin Anderson of the US and Isabella Shinikova of Bulgaria, 6-3, 7-6, to reach the quarterfinals of the International Tennis Federation World Tennis Tour W25 Madrid at the Ciudad de la Raqueta in Spain.

Fresh off winning the juniors doubles crown at Roland Garros with Russian star Oksana Selekhmeteva, the 16-year-old Globe ambassador kept the momentum going, this time pairing up with the 15-year-old Jimenez Kasintseva, the top-ranked juniors player in the world.

They disposed of the Anderson-Shinikova duo who are ranked No. 221 and 216, respectively, in the Women’s Tennis Association singles rankings.

Tied at 3-3 in the first set, the Eala and Kasintseva broke their opponent’s serve twice and held their own to snatch the first set, 6-3. The second set, though, was played on more even terms as the two teams fought to a stalemate, 6-6, to forge a tiebreak.

There, the Filipina-Andorran tandem got two minibreaks late to win the tiebreaker, 7-3, and complete the straight sets victory.

Eala and Jimenez Kasintseva will next face American Ashley Lahey and Australian Olivia Tjandramulia.

Eala is also seeing action in the singles competition and is set to take on Spain’s Andrea Lazaro Garcia in the first round.

ALEX EALA smells another victory at the World Tennis Tour W25 Madrid.

By Butch Fernandez

S

ENATORS are on track to pass a Senate Resolution honoring Yuka Saso for her coveted US Women’s Open victory.

Sen. Juan Edgardo Angara filed the enabling Resolution 755 commending Saso for becoming the first Filipina to bring home the prestigious US Women’s Open, one of five majors in women’s golf.

The Senate Resolution cited the hard work that prepared Saso to win her first

major golf title, capturing the hearts and minds of Filipinos that, Angara noted, generated “increased awareness and interest in the sport of golf in the Philippines.”

In filing Resolution 755, the Senator cited the “hard work and determination” of Saso to continuously improve her game and secure her place among the best female golfers of the world.

Angara recalled that apart from being the first Filipina to win the prestigious tournament, the 19-year-old Saso also matched the feat of Korean Inbee Park, who in 2008 became the youngest golfer to have won the US Women’s Open.

“Again another Filipina athlete has made her mark in the international sporting arena, the Senate Resolution noted,

recalling that: “We have Hidilyn Diaz, who won silver in the Rio Olympics and is vying for another medal in the Tokyo Games. Our tennis rising star Alex Eala, who is making her name in the under-18 tournaments, including a semifinals appearance in Roland Garros last year.”

It adds that “now with Saso winning the US Women’s Open, the whole world is now noticing the quality of athletes the Philippines is producing and I believe even more will emerge sooner than later.”

Angara affirms that “Yuka is an inspiration to all Filipino golfers and will surely encourage more young girls and boys to take up the sport here in the country.”

Moreover, the Angara Resolution conveys the Senators “appreciation of the support

Weightlifter Ando: ‘Surprised’ Olympian

By Josef Ramos

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F the 11 Filipinos who are competing in the Olympics, weightlifter Elreen Ann Ando is perhaps the most surprised—yes, you read that right, surprised.

“It took me more than one hour to believe that I am going to the Tokyo Olympics,” Ando told BusinessMirror on Wednesday. “It’s a dream come true and I can’t hide my excitement.”

Ando was part of an nine-member team that participated in the Asian championships in Tashkent in late April. Soon-to-be four-time Olympian Hidilyn Diaz was there, too, to formally claim her berth for the Tokyo Olympics.

The team went back home with 11 medals—two golds, six silvers, and three bronzes—but no ticket to Tokyo. Ando contributed

Next gen Lakay TESSA JAZMINES | tessa4347@gmail.com

PART OF THE GAME THERE was a time when the legendary Team Lakay dominated the mixed martial arts world with four world championship belts glittering up their kingdom in the Cordilleras.

That was in 2018, a seemingly magical year when Eduard Folayang defeated Amir Khan, Geje Eustaquio bested Adriano Moraes, Kevin Belingon outflashed Bibiano “The Flash” Fernandes and a very young Joshua Pacio etched his name in the public consciousness with his utter domination of then reigning champ Yoshitaka Naito.

As great as 2018 was for the local MMA folk heroes, 2019 turned out to be disastrous. Pacio, Eustaquio, Folayang and Belingon all lost their world titles. The fall from four to zero enveloped the

SENATE TO YUKA: SALUTE!

Lakay faithful in a pall of gloom.

If it was any consolation, then rising star Danny Kingad sizzled as he kept the Lakay in the semifinals of the Flyweight World Grand Prix that year.

And late in the year Pacio recapitulated with a win over compatriot Rene Catalan in ONE Championship: Masters of Fate.

Pandemic Year 2020 was not as awful as 2019, as Pacio again carried Team Lakay on his shoulders with a decision against Alex Silva in January. To date, The Passion remains the only Team Lakay warrior with a championship belt slung across his shoulder. That is because, some say, Team Lakay’s go-to heroes are growing old.

Maybe so, but in spirit, not.

Never count the Lakay out because “never say die” is not just a

provided by the International Container Terminal Services Inc. of tycoon Enrique Razon Jr. to Saso in Yuka’s journey towards golf stardom.”

At the same time, the Senate Resolution thanked the MVP Sports Foundation through its chairman Manuel Pangilinan and president Al Panlilio for its continued support to the development of Philippine sports, including golf through the National Golf Association of the Philippines.

“These are truly exciting times for Philippine sports.” The Senator noted, adding: “I salute Yuka for bringing so much honor and pride to the Philippines. Thanks to the feats of Saso and our other Filipina athletes, our people have something to cheer for amidst the pandemic.”

two silvers and one bronze in the campaign.

More than a month later, on Independence Day last Saturday, Ando woke up to the great news— she’s going to the Olympics.

“I thought everyone was joking.

I just woke up from bed and coach Gary [Hortelano] informed me of my qualification,” the 22-year-old Cebuana said. “I never expected myself to qualify after that tournament in Tashkent.”

Ando made the Olympics by virtue of the quota given to each of the Asia, Europe, Oceania, Africa and Pan American continents. She will vie in the women’s 64-kg class.

“In fact, I was already focused on the Southeast Asian Games in Vietnam and was no longer dreaming of the Olympics,” said Ando, who intends to take up Criminology at the University of Cebu.

But now that her life as an athlete has leveled up by leaps and bounds, Ando said she will dig

deep into training.

“I want to train here in Cebu, I think everything is enough here before I go to the Olympics,” she said. “Focus is very important in training and having a good mindset during the competition.”

Ando will train under Hortelano, Tony Agustin and Ramon Solis, all veteran internationalists in their prime.

On Wednesday, Philippine Sports Commission Commissioners Ramon Fernandez and Charles Raymond Maxey, along with the Cebu Sports Commission and UC, announced in a virtual news conference from Cebu City that they are providing Ando with equipment for her training.

Ando will also get her Pfizer anti-Covid-19 vaccine anytime this week at UC. Life, she said, hasn’t been that easy for her family.

Her mom died when she was still young, while his dad, 56-year-old Lupito, suffered a stroke recently.

“My eldest sister, Donabel, has been working as a domestic helper in Qatar for the last 10 years,” she said. “We’re the only breadwinner in the family now and I don’t want Ate Donabel to work abroad any longer, so I will do my very best to win an Olympic medal—or even the gold—to reunite my family here in Cebu.”

Ando, a 2019 SEA Games silver medalist, has another sister and three brothers. She is the youngest.

“The situation of my father and my brothers and sisters inspire me to work very hard as an athlete,” she said.

Fortune awaits every Filipino athlete who bags a medal in the Olympics. Republic Act 10699 or the Athletes and Coaches Incentives and Benefits Act, rewards an Olympic gold medalist P10 million, a silver medalist P5 million and bronze medalist P2 million.

That is not counting the variable bounty from the private sector.

Diaz, meanwhile, was glad Ando will be with her in Tokyo.

“I am very happy because

basketball battlecry. “I just need the perfect time to unleash that greatness, probably..someday in the future,” Eduard Folayang told media after falling to Aoki anew.

Besides, the stars are aligning for Team Lakay. In February this year five-time MMA champion Stephen “The Sniper” Loman, a Brave Combat Federation star (142) also from Baguio City, joined ONE Championship. The 28-yearold owner of an eight-bout winning streak is in his prime and wants to showcase his skills to a bigger, global audience.

“I want to join my Team Lakay Brothers,” he said. He hopes to become the sixth Lakay warrior to win a ONE World Title after Folayang, Honorio Banario, Kevin Belingon, Geje Eustaquio and Joshua Pacio.

But wait, there’s more. Twentyfive-year old Jeremy Pacatiw, also from Brave, has taken his talents to ONE Championship. The bantamweight with a 10-4 record has won four of his last five fights against Brazilian Felipe Efrain, compatriot Mark “The Ruthless” Alcoba, Pakistani Uloomi Karim and American Keith Lee.

“When I look at my seniors like Kuya Eduard [Folayang], I always feel that I want to join ONE Championship. I really like what they are promoting, which isn’t all about trash talking but rather building a legacy. I was inspired by [my brothers’] achievements. They really showed us that Filipinos are world champions. That lit a fire under me and I also want to rise to the top and be just like them,” he said.

Pacatiw will enter a stacked field full of high-calibre fighters in his division that includes his Lakay brother Kevin Belingon, No. 1-ranked John “Hands of Stone” Lineker of Brazil, No. 3 Yusup Saadulaev of Russia, No. 4 Fabricio “Wonder Boy” Andrade of Brazil, No. 5 Shoko Sato of Japan and the current king of the division ONE Bantamweight World Champion Bibiano “The Flash” Fernandes of Brazil.

Pacatiw admits the competition in his division can be staggering. “But they haven’t fought someone like me,” he says.

“My fighting style is like dancing because I focus on my footwork. Everyone knows that Team

Lakay fighters are strikers, but I’m more of a danger because I am slick. I’m also a striker but I can also wrestle. I’m a well-rounded fighter and I think that’s my biggest strength.”

But perhaps the most exciting addition to the Lakay stable is also the teen-age sensation son of Team Lakay founder and coach, Mark Sangiao. Eighteen year old Jhanlo Mark Sangiao has long been touted as the next big thing to come from the elite squad in Baguio City due to his impressive amateur career and World Champion lineage.

Signing with ONE has been a lifelong dream for Jhanlo who has grown up within the Lakay system and is witness to his stablemates’ triumphs and heartbreaks.

He also plans to compete in ONE’s bantamweight division, by the way.

Jhanlo says he is known in previous amateur competitions for his ground-and-pound and “powers of submissions.”

“When they say Team Lakay, the first thing that comes to people’s minds is, ‘These guys are deadly strikers.’ But for me, I

OKYO—If athletes coming to Japan for the Tokyo Olympics needed a warning, they got it Tuesday as officials rolled out the third and final rendition of so-called Playbooks—the rulebooks governing behavior for these pandemic-tainted games.

The message: Follow the rules when the Olympics open in just over five weeks, or else expect a warning or a fine—or anything in between.

“Respect the Playbook, respect the rules,” said Olympic Games Executive Director Christophe Dubi, speaking on a remote hook-up with Tokyo organizers.

The Playbooks rolled out Tuesday were for athletes. But updates for others like media, broadcasters, sponsors, and so forth will come within the next few days, and all the Playbook rules are quite similar.

Officials say 15,400 athletes are expected for the Olympics and Paralympics. The Olympics open on July 23 followed by the Paralympic on August 24.

Including athletes, the total number expected for both events, factoring in media, broadcasters, Olympic Family, sponsors and others is about about 93,000.

All those entering Japan for the Olympics will be required to follow complex testing rules— before leaving home and after arriving.

They must also agree to have their location monitored by GPS, download several apps, sign a pledge to follow the rules, maintain social distancing, stay off public transportation for the first 14 days and keep organizers informed of your whereabouts.

“We expect everybody to follow the rules. But we also have to be aware there could be infractions,” said Olympic Games Operations Director Pierre Ducrey, also speaking remotely. AP

another Filipino qualified from weightlifting in the Tokyo Olympics,” Diaz said. “We don’t know what could happen [whether we win gold or not]. Always expect the unexpected.”

believe I’m a different breed. I’m a part of the new generation that needs to build new weapons,” he says on the ONE website.

Father Mark Sangiao could not be prouder. Nor edgier. “I never forced him to do MMA and I never told him not to. I left the decision up to him to do what he wants and to navigate what he is really passionate about. And he found MMA, which made me more than proud,” Coach Mark said.

“I have no worries. I believe we got him armed physically, emotionally, mentally, and spiritually for this moment. We did the groundwork and let him not forget to always stay focused and to always carry himself with humility whenever he enters that ONE Circle.”

Now that younger Lakay led by Joshua Pacio, 25; Danny Kingad, 24; Lito Adiwang, 28; Stephen Loman, 29; Jeremy Pacatiw, 25; and Jhanlo Sangiao, 18 are entering the fray in global MMA, expect brighter days ahead for ONE and Team Lakay.

The Lakay flame is ablaze and alive. Indeed.

ELREEN ANN ANDO could hardly believe that she’s going to Tokyo.