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‘DANGEROUS GAME’ A far-flung Taiwan island risks triggering a US-China clash

AN aerial view of Dongsha Atoll, also known as Pratas Atoll, South China Sea, Taiwan. GALLO IMAGES/ORBITAL HORIZON/COPERNICUS SENTINEL DATA 2021/GETTY IMAGES

By Kari Lindberg & Cindy Wang | Bloomberg News

it claims as its own. Meanwhile, the drumbeat of exercises adds to the domestic political concerns for Taiwanese President Tsai Ingwen, who rejects Beijing’s claims to sovereignty.

The campaign has put new strain on Taiwan’s aging air force, which has seen three fatal crashes in the past nine months. The service announced in March that it expected to spend NT$2.1 billion ($76 million) more this year countering PLA operations.

China’s warplanes made more incursions into the southern part of Taiwan’s air defense identification zone last year than in the previous five years combined. While

W

HEN 28 Chinese warplanes streaked through the skies around Taiwan on Tuesday—the largest such incursion this year—they followed a pattern that has generated alarm among US and Taiwanese military planners.

Some of the People’s Liberation Army (PLA) planes, including bombers, fighter jets and surveillance and reconnaissance aircraft, flew east from the Chinese coast around the southern tip of Taiwan.

The rest broke off and briefly darted further south toward tiny Pratas Island in the South China Sea before turning back.

The PLA has flown close to the atoll—uninhabited except for a garrison of Taiwanese marines and

coast guard officers—once a week on average since September 16, when the Taiwanese Defense Ministry began releasing detailed data. If all incursions into Taiwan’s air-defenseidentification zone between Pratas and the Chinese mainland are included, the patrols have become an almost daily occurrence.

The exercises signal Beijing’s displeasure with the democratically elected government in Taipei and its successful effort to court great-

PESO EXCHANGE RATES n US 48.3680

er US support, as seen by a mention in the Group of Seven communiqué this week. In response to China’s moves, President Joe Biden’s administration has stepped up surveillance flights near Pratas, raising the risk of a confrontation or clash between two of the world’s most powerful militaries.

The Chinese focus on Pratas serves several aims of President Xi Jinping, highlighting Taiwan’s vulnerability to attack while probing its defenses. The strategy also tests the limits of Washington’s security commitment, and whether it’s willing to go to war to defend largely vacant reefs hundreds of miles from the nearest American base.

The aerial campaign demonstrates that Beijing has options for striking a blow against Taipei that fall well short of a dangerous inva-

Beijing has blamed the exercises on Tsai’s refusal to accept that both sides belong to “one China,” the increase has tracked with US efforts to step up arm sales and diplomatic exchanges with Taiwan.

Tuesday’s operation came after the G-7 called for a “peaceful resolution” of the dispute in a statement more critical of China than past communiqués. “We urge the relevant countries to observe their promise to China and handle the Taiwan question properly and stop sending wrongful signals to Taiwan separatist forces,” Taiwan Affairs Office spokesman Ma Xiaoguang told reporters Wednesday in Beijing.

Continued on A2

sion across the 130-kilometer Taiwan Strait, which is becoming a more urgent concern for American military planners. Taking Pratas Island—located closer to Hong Kong than Taiwan—could give China a new launching ground for future military operations without provoking a full-scale conflict with the US. “There is now a serious possibility that China seeks to occupy one of the outer islands,” Ben Schreer, who studies Taiwan’s defense policy and heads Macquarie University’s department of security studies and criminology in Sydney. “If that happens, what is the international community going to do? What is the US going to do?”

Even if Xi has no immediate plans to seize any land, regular incursions help establish China’s long-term presence in territory

n JAPAN 0.4387 n UK 67.3670 n HK 6.2292 n CHINA 7.5001 n SINGAPORE 36.0363 n AUSTRALIA 36.5227 n EU 57.6015 n SAUDI ARABIA 12.8978

Source: BSP (June 18, 2021)

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A2 Saturday, June 19, 2021

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In poorest countries, surge combines with vaccine shortage

By Rodney Muhumuza & Farai Mutsaka

K

is a small fraction of the world’s caseload, but many fear the crisis could get much worse.

Nearly 90 percent of African countries are set to miss the global target of vaccinating 10 percent of their people by September, according to the World Health Organization.

One major problem is that Covax, the UN-backed project to supply vaccine to poor corners of the world, is itself facing a serious shortage of vaccine.

The Associated Press

AMPALA, Uganda—Hati Maronjei once swore he would never get a Covid-19 shot, after a pastor warned that vaccines aren’t safe.

Now, four months after the first batch of vaccines arrived in Zimbabwe, the 44-year-old street hawker of electronic items is desperate for the shot he can’t get.

Whenever he visits a clinic in the capital, Harare, he is told to try again the next day.

“I am getting frustrated and afraid,” he said. “I am always in crowded places, talking, selling to different people. I can’t lock myself in the house.”

A sense of dread is growing in some of the very poorest countries in the world as virus cases surge and more contagious variants take hold amid a crippling shortage of vaccine.

The crisis has alarmed public health officials along with the millions of unvaccinated, especially those who toil in the informal, off-the-books economy, live handto-mouth and pay cash in health emergencies. With intensive care units filling up in cities overwhelmed by the pandemic, severe disease can be a death sentence.

Vulnerable

AFRICA is especially vulnerable.

Its 1.3 billion people account for 18 percent of the world’s population, but the continent has received only 2 percent of all vaccine doses

administered globally. And some African countries have yet to dispense a single shot.

Health experts and world leaders have repeatedly warned that even if rich nations immunize all their people, the pandemic will not be defeated if the virus is allowed to spread in countries starved of vaccine.

“We’ve said all through this pandemic that we are not safe unless we are all safe,” said John Nkengasong, a Cameroonian virologist who heads the Africa Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. “We are only as strong as the weakest link.”

Zimbabwe, which has imposed new lockdown measures because of a sharp rise in deaths and cases in the country of over 15 million people, has used just over a million of 1.7 million doses, blaming shortages in urban areas on logistical challenges.

Long lines form at centers such as Parirenyatwa Hospital, unlike months ago, when authorities were begging people to get vaccinated. Many are alarmed as winter sets in and the variant first identified in South Africa spreads in Harare, where young people crowd into betting houses, some with masks dangling from their chins

Just wait and worry

PEOPLE wait in the stands to receive coronavirus vaccinations at the Kololo airstrip in Kampala, Uganda, Monday, May 31, 2021. AP/NICHOLAS BAMULANZEKI

and others without.

“Most people are not wearing masks. There is no social distancing. The only answer is a vaccine, but I can’t get it,” Maronjei said.

At the start of the pandemic, many deeply impoverished countries with weak health-care systems appeared to have avoided the worst. That is changing.

In Zambia, where a vaccination campaign has stalled, authorities reported that the country is running out of bottled oxygen. Sick people whose symptoms are not severe are being turned away by hospitals in Lusaka, the capital.

“When we reached the hospital, we were told there was no bed space for her,” Jane Bwalya said of her 70-year-old grandmother. “They told us to manage the disease from home.

So we just went back home, and we are trying to give her whatever medicine can reduce the symptoms.”

Uganda is likewise fighting a sharp rise in cases and is seeing an array of variants.

Authorities report that the surge is infecting more people in their 20s and 30s.

Intensive care units in and around the capital, Kampala, are almost full, and Misaki Wayengera, a doctor who heads a committee advising Uganda’s government, said some patients are “praying for someone to pass on” so that they can get an ICU bed.

Feeling hopeless in Uganda

MANY Ugandans feel hopeless when they see the astronomical medical bills of patients emerging from intensive care. Some have turned to concoctions of boiled herbs for protection.

On social media, suggestions include lemongrass and small flowering plants. That has raised fears of poisoning.

Ugandan President Yoweri Museveni imposed new restrictions this month that included

closing all schools. But he avoided the extreme lockdown measures of last year, saying he didn’t want to hurt people’s livelihoods in a country with a vast informal sector.

For beauticians, restaurant workers and vendors in crowded open-air markets struggling to put food on the table, the threat from Covid-19 may be high, but taking even a day off when sick is a hardship. Testing costs $22 to $65, prohibitive for the working class.

“Unless I am feeling very sick, I wouldn’t waste all my money to go and test for Covid,” said Aisha Mbabazi, a waiter in a restaurant just outside Kampala.

The 28-year-old had a scare weeks ago, she said, noting that a Covid-19 infection could cost her the job if her employer found out. But she has been unable to get a shot.

“I really wanted the vaccine because for us, any time you can get Covid,” she said. “Even just touching the menu.”

Dr. Ian Clarke, who founded a hospital in Uganda, said that while vaccine demand is growing among the previously hesitant, “the downside is that we do not know when, or from where, we will get the next batch” of shots.

Africa has recorded more than 5 million confirmed Covid-19 cases, including 135,000 deaths. That

AMID a global outcry over the gap between the haves and the havenots, the US, Britain and the other Group of Seven wealthy nations agreed last week to share at least 1 billion doses with struggling countries over the next year, with deliveries starting in August.

In the meantime, many of the world’s poor wait and worry.

In Afghanistan, where a surge threatens to overwhelm a war-battered health system, 700,000 doses donated by China arrived over the weekend, and within hours, “people were fighting with each other to get to the front of the line,” said Health Ministry spokesman Dr. Ghulam Dastigir Nazari.

The vaccine rush is notable in a country where many question the reality of the virus and rarely wear masks or social distance, often mocking those who do.

At the end of May, approximately 600,000 Afghans had received at least one dose, or less than 2 percent of the population of 36 million. But the number of those fully vaccinated is minute— “so few I couldn’t even say any percentage,” according to Nazari.

In Haiti, hospitals are turning away patients as the country awaits its first shipment of vaccines. A major delivery via Covax was delayed amid government concern over side effects and a lack of infrastructure to keep the doses properly refrigerated.

“I’m at risk every single day,” said Nacheline Nazon, a 22-yearold salesperson who takes a colorful, crowded bus known as a taptap to work at a clothing store in Haiti’s capital, Port-au-Prince, because that is all she can afford.

She said she wears a mask and washes her hands. If the vaccine becomes available, she said, “I’ll probably be the first one in line to get it.”

‘DANGEROUS GAME’ Continued from A1

Such exercises help “carry out military simulations according to an actual combat plan and rehearse in the real environment,” Song Zhongping, a former PLA instructor on missile technology, told a social-media account run by the Beijing Youth Daily newspaper.

While Taiwan’s military has expressed confidence in its ability to defend Pratas, it would be operating more than 400 kilometers from its coast and facing the world’s largest navy. Taiwan has scrambled to upgrade its defenses around the atoll, reinforcing the garrison with 200 marines, sending in anti-armor rockets and restarting a stalled project to upgrade the local airstrip.

65% chance

ANOTHER concern for Taiwan is a permanent loss of control over the skies between the main island and its territories in the South China Sea (SCS), as Taipei seeks to avoid close confrontations with China that could escalate into a clash.

Chinese state media have hinted at an expansion of the strategy amid domestic calls for a tougher response to US moves. The Global Times newspaper, which last year said Beijing was considering military flights directly over Taiwan, reported that China may retaliate over a visit by an American C-17 cargo plane earlier this month by sending patrols closer to Taipei.

Enodo Economics, an independent macroeconomic and political forecasting company focused on China, raised the chances of a military conflict between the US and China to 65 percent in March, compared with 10 percent in January 2019.

“While a surprise attack on Taiwan is possible, a more characteristic Chinese approach would be to ratchet up threats with

a view to both eroding Taiwan’s will to resist and providing a retrospective justification for its actions,” said Diana Choyleva, Enodo’s chief economist. “China is currently attempting to bring about reunification through a ‘gray zone’ campaign of mounting pressure, confident that time is on its side and that within the next few years the PLA will be able to overmatch the US in the Taiwan Strait.”

The flights show China demonstrating its ability to project force far from its coast, potentially encircling Taiwan and denying the US access to possible battlefields. With no troops on Taiwan, the bulk of American forces during any conflict would be deployed from their main bases in Japan, South Korea and Guam. US warships in the Western Pacific seeking to intervene near Pratas would need to pass through the Bashi Channel, which separates southern Taiwan from the northern Philippines.

Correspondingly, the PLA has made nine flights into the channel since September, giving its long-range H-6 bombers a route to the open sea while picking up data on rival defense systems and allowing its pilots to become more comfortable.

China also test-fired anti-ship missiles into the SCS last year, in what US IndoPacific Command Admiral Phil Davidson called an “unmistakable message” of the country’s focus on “countering any potential third-party intervention during a regional crisis.” The PLA Air Force separately released a video in September showing H-6 bombers making a simulated strike on a runway that looked similar to one at Anderson Air Force Base on Guam.

‘Dangerous game’

THE US has sought to prove its commitment to ensuring the security of key shipping routes inside the so-called first-island chain, which includes the Philippines, Japan and Taiwan. The Pentagon has rough-

ly doubled reconnaissance flights over the South China Sea this year, according to Peking University’s SCS Sea Strategic Situation Probing Initiative, with 72 such patrols last month.

Much of those flights passed over the Bashi Channel, according to sites that monitor military air traffic. In a written response to questions from Bloomberg News last month, Lieutenant Mark Langford, a spokesman for the US’s Seventh Fleet, declined last to provide specifics on such flights, citing a need to maintain “operational security.”

Ely Ratner, Biden’s nominee to be assistant secretary of defense for the IndoPacific, told the Senate Armed Services Committee on Wednesday that the US needs a “combat-credible” posture in the region to counter China. He added that he would “carefully review the current military balance across the Taiwan Strait to ensure that our defense cooperation with Taiwan is commensurate with the threat posed” by China.

All that military activity increases the risk of a confrontation, such as the crisis that erupted in April 2001 when a US Navy EP-3 reconnaissance plane collided with a Chinese F-8 fighter jet. Two dozen American crewmembers were held for 11 days after making an emergency landing on Hainan Island.

The Biden administration has renewed calls for China to open a hotline to help keep misunderstandings between the two sides from escalating into a conflict, so far with little success.

“I worry about accidental collisions with tragic results given the PLA’s aggressive actions close to Taiwan and other countries,” said Shirley Kan, an independent specialist in Asian security who previously worked for the US Congressional Research Service. “China is playing a dangerous game.”

www.businessmirror.com.ph • Editor: Vittorio V. Vitug

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WB approves more loans, grants for climate-change resilience projects

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By Cai U. Ordinario

HE World Bank (WB) has approved an add it iona l loan a nd g ra nt f i na nc i ng for t he Philippine Rural Development Project (PRDP) to invest in climate changeresilient infrastructure.

The Washington-based lender said the Board of Executive Directors approved a n add it iona l $280 -mi l l ion loan and 18.3-million-Euro grant for the PRDP. The additional financing will support 267 climate-resilient rural infrastructure and 287 enterprise development subprojects to boost rural incomes, and strengthen planning and implementation capacities among local government units and producer organizations.

“This project boosts the country’s efforts to end extreme poverty and promote shared prosperity by targeting investments in agriculture, which is a major source of livelihood and income in the rural areas,” WB Country Director for Brunei, Malaysia, Philippines and Thailand Ndiame Diop said in a statement.

“We hope that this additional financing will further foster partnerships in productive investments between farmers’ groups and commercial buyers, contributing to improved market access and higher income opportunities for rural residents,” he added.

WB said the additional financing will invest in rural roads designed to withstand adverse weather events to ensure uninterrupted connectivity and access to markets.

The funds will also be used for communal irrigation subprojects to address water scarcity and avoid the risk of largescale crop failure.

Ot her prog ra m med i nvest ment s include warehouse facilities and solar dr yers to prevent post-har vest crop losses, and g reenhouses to protect selected crops from extreme heat and support improved water management, among others.

T he add it ion a l f i n a nc i ng a l so e xp a nd s t he i nc lu s i v e ne s s of PR DP b y s u p p or t i n g more l o c a l go v e r n me nt u n it s i n M i nd a n a o t h at e x p e r ie nc e p o v e r t y a nd c o n f l i c t .

A grant from the European Union aims to cofinance and provide incentives for the Mindanao local government units with a higher incidence of poverty, lower capacity, more conf lict-affected areas, and larger numbers of indigenous people to participate in PRDP. L o c a l go v e r n me nt u n it s i n t he Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (BAR MM) are particularly encouraged to participate. “ This integrated planning approach is an important step in merging local priorities and national development programs, thus making the DA and

Comelec wary of ‘digital vote buying’ in ’22 polls

A

By Samuel P. Medenilla

re digita l platforms a boon or bane for the upcoming 2022 national and local elections (NLE)?

The Commission on Elections (Comelec) is now closely monitoring on how new online technology could alter changing election landscape amid the Covid-19 pandemic.

Comelec Spokesman James Jimenez has admitted the poll body is wary on possible “digital vote buying” in the NLE. “We’ve been saying this as much for the longest time, or since the people started using e-wallets, we have seen that potential. Especially with the onset of the pandemic, many transactions have moved into online transactions,” Jimenez said in a television interview on Friday.

He candidly stated the Comelec alone can not do anything to address the matter since it involves matters, which are already beyond the poll body’s jurisdiction.

“Addressing this issue isn’t something that anyone of our agencies can do by itself. It will have to be a common effort by all agencies,” Jimenez said.

In a recent tweet, Jimenez urged the voters to shut the illegal practice

of vote buying, whether it’s online or off line, which he said “taints” the outcome of the polls.

Registration impact Jimenez, however, noted that new technology could also help in the conduct of the elections particularly in empowering more people to become registered voters.

He cited their recently launched Mobile Registration app, which they are now pilot testing nationwide.

The app, which was designed to allow people to fill up the Comelec voter registration form even offline through their phones, was already downloaded 100,000 times in the last three days alone.

Jimenez said they expect the app’s effect to their ongoing voter registration will become apparent in the coming weeks.

“When you download, it doesn’t mean you go out and register same day. A lot of people register after some time. We will see that impact downstream,” Jimenez said.

Last Thursday, Comelec said it has registered over 4.8 million first-time and reactivated voters.

The deadline for voter registration is on September 30.

POEA temporarily suspends deployment of OFWs to Oman

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he Ph i l ippi ne O versea s Employ ment Administration (POE A) h a s i mposed a tempo ra r y su spension on t he deploy ment of oversea s Fi l ipi no workers (OF W ) bou nd for Om a n.

In its Resolution 5, Series of 2021, POEA said it imposed the departure ban in response to the travel restrictions imposed by the Oman government for travelers who passed through the Philippines.

L a b or s pok esm a n R ol ly Fr a nc i a sa id t he dec ision of POE A wa s ba sed on t he recom mend at ion of t he De pa r t ment of Foreig n A f fa irs (DFA) to protest against the “unfair” travel restr iction from the Oman government, wh ic h took ef fec t on May 4, 2021.

T he deploy ment suspension is e xpected to ta ke ef fect “unti l such time t h at Om a n gover nment a l lows ent r y of ou r OF Ws a nd Fi l ipi no t ravelers to t he sa id cou nt r y.”

Francia said they stil l have no data on t he nu mber of OF Ws who w i l l be a f fected by t he new deploy ment sus pension, but noted that from Januar y to May, a tot a l of 5,0 0 0 OF Ws were deployed to Om a n.

A f ter hea r i ng of t he deploy ment suspension, he sa id , t he Om a n Emba ssy cont acted t he Depa r t ment of L abor a nd Employ ment (DOLE) to add ress t he m at ter.

“So t here w i l l be a meet i ng to n ight bet ween t he m i n ister of L abor of O m a n a nd S e c ret a r y [Si lvest re H.] Bel lo III to d isc uss how to set t le t he i mpa sse rega rd i ng t he [t ravel] rest r ic t ion i n Om a n a nd t he deployment suspension of OF Ws to Om a n,” Fra nc i a sa id.

Fra nc i a sa id t hey hope t he issue w i l l be resolve i mmed i ately so t he deploy ment of OF Ws to Om a n cou ld resu me a s soon a s possible.

Samuel Medenilla

loca l gover nments ef fect ive partners in the development of the farming and fishing sector,” said Eli Weiss, WB senior agricultural economist.

Under t he PR DP, t he DA provides technical and financial support to the planning p ro c e s s of p ro v i nc i a l , c it y and municipal governments, as well as in the implementa-

tion and deliver y of ser vices, rural infrastructure, and enterprise development based on provincial and city commodity investment plans, value chain analysis, and suitable production areas.

To date, 454 r ura l inf rastructure subprojects benefiting 608,887 households have been approved, and 261 are

completed. Around 1,229 km of farm-to-market roads have been completed, and 859 km are under construction.

More than 637 enter prise projects have been approved, benefiting 136,267 members, 46 percent of them women. Of these subprojects, 70 percent are completed, while another 30 percent (185) a re u nder

implementation.

In a recent evaluation, users of the rural roads reported that their real household incomes increased by an average of 36 percent, while beneficiaries of enter prise development subprojects increased by an average of 113 percent, while having a 51-percent increase in their annual marketed output.

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IATF hikes deployment cap for doctors, nurses

By Samuel P. Medenilla

A

n additional 1,500 newly hired health-care workers (HCW ) will now be allowed to work abroad under a

new Inter-Agency Task Force for the Management of Emerging Infectious Diseases (I ATF) issuance.

In its Resolution 122, the IATF raised the existing deployment

cap for HCWs, which are classified as mission critical skills (MCS) amid the novel coronavirus disease (Covid-19), from 5,000 to 6,500. “ Those HCWs falling under MCS with perfected contracts as of 31 May 2021, shall from part of the adjusted [deploy ment] ceiling,” Presidential Spokesman Harry Roque said in a news statement issued on Friday.

A lso e xempted f rom t he de -

ploy ment cap a re HC Ws, who w i l l be deployed u nder gover nment-to-gover nment labor ag reements.

In a Viber message, Philipp i n e O v e r s e a s E m p l o y m e nt A d m i n i s t r at ion ( P OE A ) A d ministrator Bernard P. Olalia said the Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE) would come out with the labor advisor y for the implementation of the 6,500 deployment cap.

However, he said, they have already resumed the processing the overseas employment certificate (OEC) for HCWs on Friday. An OEC is a document issued by POEA for overseas Fi lipino workers before they could work abroad.

T he I AT F ra i sed t he de ployme nt c ap a f te r P OE A s to p p e d t he d e plo y me nt of HC Ws a f ter t he 5,0 0 0 deploy ment quot a for de ployed HC Ws t h i s

y e a r w a s e x h au s t e d e a r l i e r t h i s mont h .

POEA imposed the deployment cap this year to ensure the countr y w ill still have a sufficient pool of HCWs to help in the government’s Covid-19 response.

S ome g roups a re pu sh i ng for t he l if t ing deploy ment cap a m id c l a ims t hat it prevents HC Ws f rom ge t t i n g g a i n f u l employ ment abroad.

Duterte admin eyes completion of 29 more IFPs

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By Cai U. Ordinario

HE national government aims to complete 29 more of its infrastructure flagship projects (IFPs) during the remaining term of President Duterte, data released by the Bases Conversion and Development Authority (BCDA) showed.

In a briefing on Friday, BCDA President and CEO Vivencio “Vince” B. Dizon said these projects amount to P238.48 billion.

This is part of the latest list of 119 IFPs, according to the BCDA. The IFPs will amount to a total of P4.73 trillion.

Are we done with the work of the Duterte administration? Not yet. So many things have yet to be done. That’s what Secretaries Mark [Villar], Karl [Nograles] and Art

[Tugade] have been saying; everything must go on. There is no one administration that can complete these projects. You cannot imagine the complexity and the difficulty of infrastructure projects,” Dizon said. “Our message to the public is, President Duterte has started this; and this should continue. Let’s not stop it,” he added in a mix of Filipino and English.

With the 11 IFPs completed by the Duterte administration, this means only 40 of the IFPs wou ld h ave b e e n comple te d by the nationa l gover nment.

Of the 119 projects, 51 projects w il l be completed by 2023 and 28 w il l remain in the pipeline.

Dizon said this is a good place to star t to jump-star t the infrastructure project of the succeeding administration.

The 51 ongoing projects that would likely be completed by 2023 amount to P3.28 trillion, while the 28 in the pipeline amount to P1.086 trillion.

Earlier, the National Economic and Development Authority expressed confidence that the Duterte administration would be able to complete over 3,000 big and small infrastructure projects by next year.

In a mid-year briefing co-presented by the Economic Journalist’s Association of the Philippines (EJAP) and Filinvest REIT FR on Tuesday, Socioeconomic Planning Secretary Karl Kendrick T. Chua said these projects could be accomplished despite delays caused by the pandemic.

Chua said 314 of the projects were completed as of June 2019

Lacson allays concern over Covid vax funding S

enator Panfilo Lacson allayed concerns over availability of multibillion peso funding for minors’ anti-Covid vaccine, assuring that this is “amply covered by existing borrowings.”

The senator affirmed in a news statement issued on Friday that P57.3 billion in loans were already secured by the Duterte government for the procurement of vaccines to cover the P25 billion requirement for the vaccination of minors.

Citing updated figures from the Philippine Statistics Authority (PSA), Lacson added this indicates “only P30.462 billion may be needed to inoculate 68.2 million adult Filipinos this year.”

“Figures from the PSA as of March 28 this year shows the Philippines’ midyear population will reach 110,198,654

by July 1. Of this, 62 percent or 68.323 million are adults.

If we multiply this by P446 per dose, including logistical costs, we will need about P30.472 billion to inoculate our adult Filipinos. Thus the difference of P26.83 billion is more than enough to cover the P25 billion requirement to procure the vaccines for our minors,” Lacson summed up.

He noted that based on these figures, we may not need to look for an additional P25 billion since it is amply covered by the “excess” in borrowings.”

Lacson added that “even if the government were to inoculate 83.8 million adults based on the Inter-Agency Task Force for the Management of Emerging Infectious D i sea ses’ ( I AT F) f ig u res, at P446 per dose, including logistical requirements, it would only need P37.374 billion—still way below the P57.3 billion in borrowings.”

Citing assurance by the a d m i n i s t r at io n’s v a c c i ne c z a r C a rl ito Ga lve z Jr.,

Lacson recalled the official saying that “we have 68 million free doses of vaccines, including 44 million from the COVA X facility and 24 million from two brands.”

The senator stressed that “every peso counts and must be accounted for, especially during these difficult times,” reminding that “the IATF and Department of Finance should further clarify the figures that they presented during last Tuesday’s Committee of the Whole hearing.”

Lacson recalled that during the Senate Committee of t he W hole hea r ing on the government’s vaccination program last June 15, Fi n a nce Sec ret a r y C a rlos Dominguez III reported to t he sen ators t h at of t he P88.6-billion budget to procure vaccines, P57.3 billion had been sourced through concessional loans from our multilateral partners.

Moreover, Lacson reminded that he and Senate President Vicente Sotto III agreed that with more than enough funds to achieve herd immunity for this year, the government should “focus more on ensuring the efficient rollout of the vaccines.”

At t he sa me t i me, t he senators are set to scrutinize agencies’ requests for additional budgets against the pandemic, including an additional P66 billion being requested by the Depar tment of Health for pandemic response.

Lacson added: “First, they [agencies] will have to account for P660.1 billion which, according to the Department of Budget and Management, has been released to the agencies concerned for the overall Covid-19 response over the last 15 months or so.”

He reminded that “during these times when the country is almost neck deep in

debt with an unprecedented P11 trillion in foreign and domestic borrowings, not to mention an alarmingly low revenue collection, every peso that comes from the treasury should count and made sure to be put to good use.”

The senator suggested the Duterte government should all the more do a “good job” of promoting trust in the vaccination process and maximizing limited resources to do so after Australia’s commitment to provide P480.2 million to procure additional Covid-19 vaccine jabs.

“We are very thankful to Australia for its gesture, which will go a long way for us Filipinos to get the jab done’ and be vaccinated from Covid-19.

But more importantly, this should be an added motivation for the government to ‘get the job done’ by maximizing the use of our limited resources to promote public trust in the vaccination process. This includes using our resources wisely by getting the most accurate facts and figures possible,” Lacson said.

He recalled that on Thursday, Australian Ambassador to the Philippines Steven Robinson said Austra lia conve ye d a n adde d commit ment of A $13.72 mi llion (P480.2 million) for the Philippines to buy vaccines.

Lacson said this new commitment is in addition to Australia’s support through the COVA X facility, to which Austra lia has contr ibuted A $13 0 m i l l ion , re c a l l i ng the Philippines has received 5,025,870 doses from the COVA X facility.

This, as the ambassador also assured Australia’s Vaccine Response Plan for the Ph i l ippi nes h a s prov ided A$7.52 million in vaccine del iver y suppor t t hrough the Unicef and World Health Organization. Butch Fernandez

and 2,800 are set to be completed by 2022. These comprise part of the medium-term Public Investment Program (PIP) of the administration.

Chua explained that majority of the infrastructure projects being undertaken by the administration are “small-scale” and are largely locally funded inf rastr ucture under ta k ings.

The number of projects expected to be completed by next year still does not include the f lagships or t he game-chang ing inf rastructure projects of the administration.These projects, including the infrastructure f lagship projects, comprise the PIP. The government intended to spend P7.74 trillion for infrastructure between 2016 and 2022 under the PIP for 2017 to 2022.

LGU execs told: Don’t hitch a ride on vaccination drive for ’22 polls

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By Claudeth Mocon-Ciriaco

he Department of Health (DOH) on Friday appealed to local government officials to refrain from using the Covid vaccination program to advance their political agenda in the upcoming 2022 elections.

Smiling just a bit when she answered the question on “how to prevent local officials from taking advantage of the vaccination rollout,” Health Undersecretary Maria Rosario Vergeire stressed an important point: the welfare and protection of the people should be of utmost importance.

“Kailangan isaisip ng buong bansa, kasama ang ating local government officials na isipin natin na ang ating ginagawang pagbabakuna ang para sa malasakit natin sa ating kababayan. Sa proteksyon ng sambayanang Pilipino [The whole nation, including our local government officials, should keep in mind that our vaccination activity is being done out of our concern for our countrymen. For the protection of the Filipino people],” Vergeire stated.

Vergeire urged local officials to set aside their personal “objectives” to make the vaccine rollout a success.

“Let’s us put emphasis on our focus: we want to ease up the burden that we are facing due to this pandemic,” she added.

Adverse effects

Vergeire, at the same time, disclosed that as of June 6, 2021, the overall percentage of reported “suspected” adverse effects from total doses administered is at 0.68 percent.

“Of these reported suspected reactions to vaccines, 98 percent are non-serious and only 1.89 percent were tagged as serious,” she said.

Vergeire added that all were given “appropriate care.”

Covid cases

As of 4 p.m. of June 18, 2021, the DOH, meanwhile, logged 6,833 additional Covid-19 cases, bringing the total number of infections in the country to 1,346,276. There were also 3,441 recoveries and 110 deaths.

Of the total number of infections, 4.6 percent (61,776) are active, 93.7 percent (1,261,115) have recovered, and 1.74 percent (23,385) have died.

Fourteen duplicates were removed from the total case count. Of these, 10 are recoveries and 1 is a death.

Moreover, 30 cases previously tagged as recoveries have been validated to be active cases and 60 cases that were previously tagged as recoveries were reclassified as deaths after final validation.

All laboratories were operational on June 16, 2021 but 5 were not able to submit their data to the Covid-19 Document Repository System.

Based on data in the last 14 days, the 5 non-reporting labs contribute, on average, 2.6 percent of samples tested and 4.4 percent of positive individuals.

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

The World

NoKor’s Kim ready for dialogue and confrontation with Biden

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EOUL, South Korea—North Korean leader Kim Jong Un ordered his government to be prepared for both dialogue and confrontation with the Biden administration—but more for confrontation, state media reported Friday, days after the United States and others urged the North to abandon its nuclear program and return to talks.

Kim’s statement indicates he’ll likely push to strength his nuclear arsenal and increase pressure on Washington to give up what North Korea considers a hostile US policy, though he’ll also prepare for talks to resume, some experts say.

During an ongoing ruling party meeting Thursday, Kim analyzed in detail the policy tendencies of the US under President Joe Biden and clarified unspecified steps to be taken in relations with Washington, the Korean Central News Agency said.

Kim “stressed the need to get prepared for both dialogue and confrontation, especially to get fully prepared for confrontation in order to protect the dignity of our state and its interests for independent development and to reliably guarantee the peaceful environment and the security of our state.”

In 2018 and 2019, Kim held a series of summits with then-President Donald Trump to discuss his advancing nuclear arsenal.

But their negotiations fell apart after Trump rejected Kim’s calls for extensive sanctions relief in return for a partial surrender of his nuclear capability.

Biden’s administration has worked to formulate a new approach on North Korea’s nuclear program that it describes as “calibrated and practical.” Details of his North Korea policy haven’t been publicized, but US officials have suggested Biden would seek

a middle ground between Trump’s direct meetings with Kim and former President Barack Obama’s “strategic patience” to curb Kim’s nuclear program.

Earlier this week, leaders of the Group of Seven wealthy nations issued a statement calling for the complete denuclearization of the Korean Peninsula and “the verifiable and irreversible abandonment” North Korea’s nuclear and missile programs. They called on North Korea to engage and resume dialogue and respect human-rights conditions.

Sung Kim, the top US official on North Korea, is to visit Seoul on Saturday for a trilateral meeting with South Korean and Japanese officials. His travel emphasizes the importance of the trilateral cooperation in working toward complete denuclear ization of the Korean Peninsula, the State Department said Thursday.

Kim has recently threatened to enlarge his nuclear arsenal and build high-tech weapons targeting the US mainland if Washington refused to abandon its hostile policy on North Korea.

I n M a rc h , K i m’s m i l it a r y per for med its f irst shor tra nge ba l l ist ic m issi le tests in a yea r. But Nor t h Korea st i l l m a i nt a i n s a mor ator iu m on long-range missile and nuclear tests in an indication that K im st i l l wa nts to keep prospects for d iplomac y a l ive.

Kwak Gil Sup, head of One Korea Center, a web site specializing in North Korea affairs, wrote on Facebook that Kim’s statement suggested he’s taking a two-track approach of bolstering military capability and preparing for talks.

But he said Kim will more likely focus on boosting military strength and repeating his demand for the US to withdraw its hostile policy, rather than hastily returning to talks. AP

BusinessMirror

Saturday, June 19, 2021

A5

After Trump’s flattery, GOP hits Biden as weak on Russia

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ASHINGTON— Republicans are accusing President Joe Biden of being weak on Russia after his summit with Vladimir Putin, conveniently ignoring four years of Putin flattery from former President Donald Trump.

House Minority Leader Kevin McCarthy said Biden had given Putin a “pass” at their summit in Switzerland Wednesday, while Trump said the US “didn’t get anything” from the meeting. Former Secretary of State Mike Pompeo, a potential 2024 contender, declared, “America today is weaker than it was on the world stage just 48 hours ago.”

It’s a curious line of attack from a party that largely turned a blind eye as Trump spent four years praising the Russian strongman, including stunning comments at a 2018 joint news conference in Helsinki during which Trump sided with Putin over his own intelligence agencies’ conclusion that Russia had meddled in the 2016 US to help elect Trump.

And it comes as Republicans have struggled to drag down Biden’s approval ratings, which have been buoyed by praise of his handling of the coronavirus pandemic.

“President Biden should have used yesterday’s summit to show that the United States will hold Russia accountable for its long list of transgressions. Instead, he gave Vladimir Putin a pass,”

McCarthy tweeted. “We need real leadership that puts the American people first again.”

Calling into Sean Hannity’s Fox News Channel show, Trump said Biden’s summit had accompl ished too l itt le—repeating criticism Trump himself faced for holding two summits with North Korean leader K im Jong Un that produced few measurable changes, while elevating the dictator on the world stage.

“We gave a very big stage to Russia and we got nothing,” Trump said Wednesday night. “And you know, you have to form your own judgments, it’s not for me to say.

But I will say that I think it was a good day for Russia. I don’t see what we got out of it.”

Pompeo told The Associated Press that Biden had missed “a chance to make it clear to the Russians that their maligned activity was not acceptable and to make clear that we were going to impose real costs in the event that they continued it.”

He cr iticized Biden’s policies, including extending the New START treaty, which would have expired earlier this year

President Joe Biden and Russian President Vladimir Putin, arrive to meet at the “Villa la Grange” on June 16 in Geneva, Switzerland. AP

had Trump won reelection, and hit Biden for refusing to appear alongside Putin at a joint press conference. Biden instead held his own, separate event.

The White House said it hadn’t wanted to give Putin a platform to showboat and wanted Biden to have the last word.

Bot h Biden and Put in de clared the talks constructive.

While there were no major breakthroughs, the two agreed to return their respective ambassadors to Washington and Moscow in a bid to improve badly deteriorated diplomatic relations.

And on cyber security, Biden said they agreed to have their experts work out an understanding about what types of critical infrastructure would be off-limits amid a flood of ransomware attacks against US businesses and government agencies.

But Putin’s rhetoric did not budge, as he refused to accept any responsibility for his nation’s election meddling, cyberhacking or crackdown on

domestic political opponents. At the summit’s conclusion Biden acknowledged that he could not be confident that Putin would change his behavior even with newly threatened consequences.

Biden national security adviser Jake Sullivan defended the talks during a Thursday call with reporters and said Biden had challenged Putin “on a range of issues that the previous president, who Representative McCarthy supported, strongly gave President Putin a pass on.”

Sullivan said Biden had confronted his Russian counterpart on issues, including the treatment of jailed opposition leader Alexei Navalny, detained Americans in Russia, cyber attacks and interference in US elections.

“He didn’t side with Putin against the intelligence community on that, quite the contrary,” he said, adding: “I really do not believe it is hyperbole to say that Joe Biden returns from this trip as the clear and the consensus leader of the free world.”

Israel strikes Gaza Strip after Hamas fires incendiary balloons for 3rd straight day

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ERUSALEM—Israel launched air strikes on the Gaza Strip late Thursday for a second time since a shaky cease-fire ended last month’s 11-day war. The strikes came after activists mobilized

by Gaza’s militant Hamas rulers launched incendiary balloons into Israel for a third straight day.

T here were no i mmed i ate reports of casualties from the strikes, which could be heard from Gaza City. Israel also carried out air strikes early Wednesday, targeting what it is said were Hamas facilities, without killing or wounding anyone.

The military said fighter jets struck Hamas “militar y compounds and a rocket launch site” late Thursday in response to the balloons. It said its forces were preparing for a “variety of scenarios, including a resumption of hostilities.”

Rocket sirens went off in Israeli communities near Gaza shortly after the air strikes. The military later said they were triggered by “incoming fire, not rockets.”

Surveillance camera footage obtained by The Associated Press showed what appeared to be heavy machine-gun fire into the air from Gaza, a possible attempt by Palestinian militants to shoot down aircraft. Other footage showed projectiles being fired from Gaza, but it was unclear what kind or where they landed.

Tensions have remained high since a cease-fire halted the war on May 21, even as Egyptian mediators have met with Israeli and Hamas officials to try and shore up the informal truce.

Israel and Hamas have fought

Palestinian mourners chant anti-Israel slogans during the funeral of Ahmad Shamsa, 15, in the West Bank village of Beta, near Nablus on June 17. The Palestinian health ministry said Thursday that Shamsa who was shot by Israeli troops in the West Bank a day earlier died of his injuries. AP

four wars and countless smaller skirmishes since the Islamic militant group seized power from rival Palestinians forces in 2007. Israel and Egypt have imposed a crippling blockade on Gaza, which is home to more than 2 million Palestinians, since Hamas took over.

Earlier, Israeli police used stun grenades and a water cannon spraying skunk water to disperse Palestinian protesters from Damascus Gate in east Jerusalem, the epicenter of weeks of protests and clashes in the run-up to the Gaza war.

After the crowds were dispersed, Palestinians could be seen throwing rocks and water bottles at ultra-Orthodox Jews walking in the area.

Calls had circulated for protesters to gather at Damascus Gate in response to a rally held there by Jewish ultranationalists on Tuesday in which dozens of Israelis had chanted “Death to Arabs” and “May your village burn.” The police had forcibly cleared the square and pro-

vided security for that rally, part of a parade to celebrate Israel’s conquest of east Jerusalem.

In a separate incident, a Palestinian teenager died Thursday after being shot by Israeli troops in the occupied West Bank during a protest against a settlement outpost, the fourth demonstrator to be killed since the outpost was established last month.

T he I s r ae l i m i l it a r y s a id Wednesday that a soldier stationed near the wildcat outpost in the West Bank saw a group of Palestinians approaching, and that one “hurled a suspicious object at him, which exploded adjacent to the soldier.” The army said that the soldier fired in the air, then shot the Palestinian who threw the object.

The Palestinian Health Ministry said Thursday that Ahmad Shamsa, 15, died of a gunshot wound sustained a day earlier.

Settlers established the outpost, which they refer to as Eviatar, near the northern West Bank

town of Nablus last month and say it is now home to dozens of families. Palestinians say it is built on private land and fear it will grow and merge with other large settlements nearby.

Nearly 500,000 Jewish settlers live in some 130 settlements across the occupied West Bank.

The Palestinians and much of the international community view the settlements as a violation of international law and a major obstacle to peace.

Israeli authorities have evacuated the outpost on several occasions. They appear reluctant to do so this time because it would embarrass Prime Minister Naftali Bennett and other right-wing members of the fragile government sworn in over the weekend.

Palestinians from the nearby village of Beita have held several protests in which demonstrators have hurled stones and Israeli troops have fired tear gas and live ammunition. Four Palestinians have been killed since mid-May, including Shamsa and another teenager.

The Israeli military also shot and killed a Palestinian woman on Wednesday, saying she had tried to ram her car into a group of soldiers guarding a West Bank construction site.

In a news statement, the army said soldiers fired at the woman in Hizmeh, just north of Jerusalem, after she exited the car and pulled out a knife. The statement did not say how close the woman was to the soldiers, and the army did not release any photos or video of the incident.

The family of Mai Afaneh in-

sisted she had no reason or ability to carry out an attack.

In recent years, Israel has seen a series of shootings, stabbings and car ramming attacks against Israeli soldiers and civilians in the occupied West Bank. Most have been carried out by Palestinians with no apparent links to organized militant groups.

Palestinians and Israeli humanrights groups say the soldiers often use excessive force and could have stopped some assailants without

killing them. In some cases, they say that innocent people have been identified as attackers and shot.

The Palestinians seek the West Bank, where the Palestinian Authority exerts limited self-rule in population centers, as part of a future state along with the Gaza Strip and east Jerusalem. Israel captured all three territories in the 1967 war and says Jerusalem is indivisible. There have been no substantive peace talks in more than a decade. AP

A6 Saturday, June 19, 2021

ExportUnlimited BusinessMirror

DTI-EMB invites Filipina exporters to join ‘SheTrades Global’ Dubai

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HE Department of Trade and Industry-Export Marketing Bureau (DTI-EMB) is inviting Filipina exporters to apply for “SheTrades Global Dubai” organized by its partner organization, the International Trade Centre (ITC). The deadline for application is on June 30, 2021.

SheTrades Global Dubai is the premier global business event to connect women entrepreneurs with buyers, investors, and partners. The hybrid event will be held from October 17 to 19, 2021 during Expo 2020 Dubai.

This is the 8th edition of SheTrades Global, co-hosted by ITC and Dubai

Industries & Exports, in partnership with Expo 2020.

“Filipina exporters should grab this unique opportunity to be part of SheTrades Global Dubai,” said DTI Undersecretary Abdulgani Macatoman. “Over 3,000 top industry leaders, international delegations of

women entrepreneurs, policy-makers, and investors from more than 90 countries will come together in search of innovation, new trade, and investment opportunities.”

Criteria to attend as a woman entrepreneur is as follows: • At least 30 percent owned, managed, and controlled by women; • Legally registered and incorporated company domiciled in an economy in transition/developing country or in host country (UAE); and • Planning and/or implementing corporate sustainable practices.

Interested participants should register before June 30, 2021 to benefit from this unique opportunity.

Registration process: Apply to SheTrades Global Dubai

by June 30, 2021. Click on the link: https://shetradesglobaldubai.converve.

io/registration.html. Under the question “Is your company a member of an ITC project / HUB?,” please select “SheTrades Philippines.”

For clarifications, check the FAQ page at https://shetradesglobaldubai. converve.io/FAQs.html or e-mail the team at shetradesglobal@intracen.org.

By applying to attend SheTrades Global, the applicant will automatically be registered on SheTrades.com, a platform for women-owned businesses, organizations, companies, and ITC SheTrades partners to sell their products and services, learn new skills, and participate in trade events.

SheTrades Hubs are present in 9 countries, including in the Philippines. DTI-EMB is the local partner for the implementation of the SheTrades Philippines Hub. Exporters can e-mail exports@dti.gov.ph for questions and concerns.

‘Futures’ for Philippine creative industries to be explored in upcoming digital conference

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REATE Philippines is gathering the creative industry in a special two-day digital conference featuring leaders and experts, to inspire and discuss the future of the Philippine creative economy.

In its fourth edition, CREATE Philippines presents Creative Futures on June 28 and 29, 2021. The online event promises to be a productive convergence of creatives in the fields of Animation, Advertising, Communication Design, Game Development, Digitalized Creative Content, and Comics and Illustration, among others. Furthermore, the event serves as both a celebration of the inherent creativity of Filipinos and a take-off point for realizing the economic potential and business viability of the creative industry.

Inspired by derivative contracts in business, the conference was aptly named Creative Futures to reflect the impact of the creative industry in the country’s overall economy when developed further. The conference is meant to foster community building where creatives can find a space to collaborate and learn from leaders in the field and pioneers in the digital landscape. From this community, the Center for International Trade Expositions and Missions (CITEM) aims to promote the Philippine creative to potential clients as the agency highlights the best of what the industry has to offer.

With prolific editor, writer, and composer Erwin T. Romulo as the program director, Creative Futures is packed with a curated lineup of speakers, features, and panel discussions that will tackle the future of the creative industry. Notable industry champions in the public sector, business leaders, and key people in the creative industry will share their stories of navigating the “new normal” and offer insight on how they see their industries advancing in the coming years.

The Creative Economy Council of the Philippines (CECP) named 2030 as the target year for the country to become the top creative economy in the Asean region. For Creative Futures Program Director Romulo, the target year factored heavily in the selection of programs that shaped the conference. “We took that very seriously and started with the mindset of presenting case studies, presentations, and conversations that would help in creating an environment for that goal to be achieved,” he explained.

“Time is a big factor and we have less than a decade to go. Therefore, we started with initiatives that are already happening and existing. This way, we envisioned the conference as an avenue that will help push these remarkable projects a little further on. Either by forging partnerships or facilitating conversations with potential collaborators in the private and public sector,” Romulo added.

One of the highlights of Creative Futures is the presentation of the Philippine Creative Industries Act. Authored by Congressman Christopher “Toff” de Venecia and filed by the Arts and Culture, and Creative Industries Bloc of the 18th Congress (ACCIB), the bill aims to provide an enabling policy and governance framework that will shape the Philippine creative industry, make it globally competitive, and ensure a sustainable future for the country’s local talents.

Recognizing the vital role the government has to play in the rise of Filipino creatives, CITEM is pushing institutional support by fostering enabling environments where creatives can flourish and develop ways to support and encourage future creatives.

“We wanted to put together an event that would treat creativity in such a manner that it presents options about how creative assets can be treated as ‘futures,’” CITEM Executive Director Pauline SuacoJuan said. “These are things we want to highlight and it’s worth taking a second look for support to grow their sector,” she added.

The first day of the event features the following lineup of activities and speakers: An Adobo Magazine-produced panel of local creatives, including Design Center of the Philippines (DCP) Executive Director Maria Rita “Rhea” O. Matute, Intramuros Administra-

tor Atty. Guiller Asido, Curiosity’s Kristine Layaoen, Design Advisory Council’s (DAC) Architect Royal Pineda, and Plus63 Design Co. Founding Partner Dan Matutina, who will talk about the role of data and graphic design in enhancing Intramuros’ urban planning and user experience. Trese creators Budjette Tan and Kajo Baldisimo, and director/showrunner Jay Oliva who will talk about the comic book’s journey to becoming a Netflix adaptation Filipino-American comic book writer and artist Whilce Portacio who will share insights on telling Filipino stories to a global audience Scheduled on the second day are: • Kiddo Cosio’s presentation of La Union’s The Great Northwest and talk on how they’ve run and managed their business, and navigated the lockdowns brought about by the pandemic; • A presentation by Kumu Philippines, together with its Co-Founder and Social TV Chief of Content Angelo Mendez and Vice President for Marketing Vicky Herrera, on how it plans to make the country the region’s latest technology hub; and • A panel discussion on eSports with Evident Communications CEO Cecile Yujuico, Tier One’s Tryke Gutierrez, Gariath Concepts’ Joebert Yu, and eSports caster Mara Aquino.

National Artist for Cinema Kidlat Tahimik’s short film about empowering communities in storytelling.

DA forges deal with S. Korea to upgrade PHL swine industry

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HE Economic Development Cooperation Fund (EDCF) of South Korea and the Department of Agriculture (DA) have collaborated on a study to improve the Philippines’s swine industry through a $1.2-million project.

The “Feasibility Study on Enhancing Meat Safety and Quality through Establishment of Modern Livestock Infrastructure and Inspection Facilities with Traceability Systems” is “important, critical, urgent, timely and high impact that if successfully implemented will benefit livestock industry,” Agriculture Secretary William Dar said in a news statement issued on Monday, June 14, 2021.

The result of the study was released by the EDCF, a subsidiary of the Export-Import Bank of Korea (KEXIM Bank), which is the official export credit agency of South Korea.

The EDCF feasibility study was based on five components: installation of new inspection equipment; establishment of modern livestock facilities with global standard meat complex in Regions 3 (Central Luzon) or 4A (Calabarzon); development and implementation of information and communications technology system; capacity-building; and policy recom-

mendation.

Under the project, a meat enhancement facility is eyed to rise in 2023 in Calabarzon, one of the regions where structures for the improvement of the swine industry will be constructed.

In a recent regional briefing, Jonathan Sabiniano Sr. Technical and Planning Officer of the Office of the Undersecretary for Livestock, shared that the facility will have a slaughterhouse, storage facility, meat cutting, and packaging facilities, carcass auction market wholesaling space, and chilling and freezing warehouses.

The study will also pave the way for the construction of a Meat Academy, a Philippine training center for meat slaughtering and processing; a 50-ton capacity feed mill; and the upgrade of the Regional Animal Disease Diagnostic Laboratory and National Meat Inspection System (NMIS) laboratory.

Sabiniano said Calabarzon, particularly Batangas, National Capital Region, and Regions 3, 7, and 11 are prospect sites for developments.

KEXIM-EDCF will donate seaport container scanners with interpretation room for the international container terminals in Batangas. PNA

Malaysian durians carving out premium niche in China

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ALAYSIAN durians have topped fruit and vegetable presales at a big Chinese retail festival, showing the pulling power of the pungent delicacy.

T he top-sel ling var iet y at JD.com’s 618 festival—China’s second-largest shopping event after Alibaba’s Singles’ Day—was the Sultan durian from Pahang state, according to local media that cited data from the e-commerce giant.

Sales have even exceeded that of ice cream and peaches.

With its creamy custard-like flesh and powerful odor, the thorny fruit has surged in popularity in

China. Imports of fresh durians quadrupled to $2.3 billion last year from 2017, according to United Nations data, and they overtook cherries to become the country’s No. 1 fruit import by value in 2019.

T houg h “ D u r ioTou r i sm”— where Chinese tourists visit Malaysian farms—is currently at a halt due to travel restrictions, durian diplomacy is still going strong.

MAPC Sdn. Bhd., Malaysia’s largest durian supplier that exports about 90 percent of its fruit to China, has set up seven centers to promote the Musang King variety in second- and third-tier Chinese cities over the past year. Bloomberg News

www.businessmirror.com.ph

OurTime BusinessMirror

DSWD, DTI finalize guidelines on senior citizen, PWD online purchase discounts

ELDERLY residents of a Manila village practice social distancing during the distribution of cash assistance from the city government in this April 2021 photo. Citizens aged 60 and above and those with disabilities regardless of age enjoy a 20-percent discount on transportation, food and medicines.

PHOTO COURTESY OF MANILA-PIO

By Christine Cudis

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A NIL A—T he Depar tment of Soc i a l Welfare and Development (DSWD) and the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) will con-

duct a stakeholders’ consultation meeting in July to discuss discounts for online transactions of senior citizens and persons with disabilities (PWDs).

DSWD is still consolidating the comments of agencies and partners

regarding the guidelines.

The DTI, on the other hand, will identify different business groups and consumer protection groups that may be invited to the meeting.

Under the Joint Administrative Order (JAO) or the “Guidelines On

The Provision Of The Statutory Benefits And Privileges Of The Senior Citizens And Persons With Disabilities On Their Purchases Through Online [E-Commerce] And Phone Call/SMS,” it is hoped the statutory privileges granted to senior citizens and PWDs will be recognized by all establishments, business owners, and individual sellers, including those not registered with the DTI and the Bureau of Internal Revenue (BIR), the DSWD said in a statement.

The guidelines would help correct the misconception that the observance of statutory privileges is limited only to registered businesses.

The crafting of the JAO started in March and was based on the consultative efforts of the DSWD, DTI, BIR, National Commission of Senior Citizens, National Council on Disability Affairs, Department of Health, and the Department of the Interior and Local Government.

The DSWD vowed to continue to protect and promote the rights and interests of the vulnerable sector.

Its collaboration with DTI and other agencies to finalize the JAO is a testament to its commitment to safeguard the interest and promote the welfare of the elderly and persons with disabilities, the agency added. PNA

Western Visayas social pensioners get stipend

By Perla Lena June

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LOILO CITY—All 365,908 elderly pensioners in Western Visayas have received their stipend for the first semester of this year totaling P1,097,724, the Department of Social Welfare and Development Field Office 6 (DSWD 6) said on Thursday.

DSWD community-based section head and Social Pension Program focal person Judith T. Barredo said that they have completed the distribution of the Social Pension Program for Indigent Senior Citizens (SPISC) in 133 local government units (LGUs) in the region on June 14.

“In spite of the risk, we tried

and at least we hit the target before the end of June,” Barredo said in an interview.

Each qualified senior citizen received P3,000, which is equivalent to their pension of P500 per month from January to June.

She said they have to adjust their strategy amid the pandemic.

A big factor in the fast release of the pension was their sufficient number of personnel that allowed them to bring the payout down to the barangay level.

She also said that local government units also assisted through identifying the venues of the payout in barangays.

Hopefully, she said, that by next year they would be able to release the stipend through cash cards.

“We submit their names to the system that is being managed by our central office. Hopefully, by next year the social pension of our beneficiaries will be through cash cards,” she added.

They are already processing the documents for the second-semester pension.

“Our preparations include updating of our clean list, identification of special disbursing officers who can do the cash advance along with the releasing of stipend for the second semester,” Barredo said.

The social pension as mandated in the Expanded Senior Citizens Act of 2010 seeks to augment the daily subsistence and medical needs of indigent elderly to improve their living condition.

Annually, qualified recipients are entitled to a P6,000 stipend to be given in two tranches.

Meanwhile, there are no additional beneficiaries yet, in response to queries on possible inclusion to the program, Barredo said, but present beneficiaries can avail themselves of the Aid to Individuals in Crisis Situation (AICS) if they have medical needs such as maintenance medicines. PNA

Reverse mentoring can eliminate ageism in the workplace

By Jim Falteisek & Hetty Sabater

W

E are familiar with the concept of mentoring.

Typically, a more senior employee is tasked with guiding a junior colleague. But what if we told you it could be the other way around?

Gone are the days that seniority means superiority. The world is increasingly fast-paced today, and more and more millennials are joining the workplace.

The Philippine Statistics Authority estimates that there are 29.4 million Filipinos from the ages of 15 to 30, accountingforalmost27percentofthetotal population. Typically characterized as flexible, adaptable, and tech-savvy, millennials offer much to the work force,andoldergenerationsindeedhave a lot to learn from the young.

More companies, like 3M, are therefore pairing their senior leaders with younger mentors in this concept called reverse mentoring. There are several benefits, including imparting critical perspectives on strategic thinking, leadership, mindsets, and values in the workplace. They also provide leaders an insight into the minds of the younger generation, allowing leaders to better understand their values, priorities, and motivations, how they wish to be treated, and how to optimize their talents to enhance

engagement and retention, ultimately building bridges between generations.

It allows us to confront ageism in the workplace head-on—by getting both younger and older generations to share their perspectives, foster better understanding, and dispel myths.

How leader mentees benefit: Bridging generational gaps

WITH Covid-19 accelerating the digitalization of work, being paired with a younger colleague has been helpful in navigating the new era of digital communications, especially in the world of remote work.

One of the first things my younger mentor, Hetty, taught me was how the younger generation perceives digital communication and social media. I had the opportunity to witness the rise of social media and, at first, I did not understand that social-media platforms such as Facebook and Instagram were perceived as a personal space. It was through Hetty’s sharing that I was able to understand this concept and look at it from a different perspective.

This then motivated me to develop a Yammer group for 3M employees in Asia, a professional social networking tool that helps build community at 3M. With Hetty guiding me through the entire process, Yammer has been a very helpful tool to engage, post questions or share

information with coworkers, and collaborate with different teams, especially during Covid-19.

One of the leadership principles I’ve stuck to is the importance of communicating thanks and recognizing my colleagues. To my surprise, Hetty shared that her generation appreciates informal recognition and shoutouts through digital tools such as e-mail or through 3Mpower and HighFIVE, points-based peerto-peer recognition platforms in the Philippines. This paved the way quite nicely toward strong adoption this 2021 of 3M’s new a global peer to peer recognition platform called Everyday Wins. As someone who comes from a generation where personal handwritten cards were the norm, this was a bit shocking to me. I was worried that it seemed quite informal and even insincere, but Hetty explained that the younger generation does not perceive it that way.

These days, I find myself sending out more “thank you” notes to my colleagues because it’s simply much more efficient than handwriting cards. This helped create a great camaraderie among team members and bring our culture to life.

How young mentors benefit: Two-way mentoring

ON the flip side, as Covid-19 necessitated remote work, having a leader

mentee is critical in helping younger employees, especially fresh entrants, make sense of the changes and anchor perspectives in the new world of work.

Beyond the typical wealth of experience younger mentors may gain from their seniors, reverse mentoring revolutionizes the traditional model of mentoring. It enables two-way communication and allows for a more conversational approach. Through this channel, younger employees can share their insights, and be heard.

Besides boosting morale and productivity, reverse mentoring even allows younger employees to influence higher-level company decisions. During our regular meetings, Hetty shared her work in launching several employee resource networks in the Philippines.

I was able to utilize these learnings from the ground to further enhance targeted inclusion strategies and actions for 2021, which I am currently implementing. Employee resource networks in the Philippines include the Women’s Leadership Forum, 3M Pride, disAbility Awareness Network, and the New Employee Opportunity Network.

Jim Falteisek is the 3M Senior Vice President, Asia Corporate Affairs, and Hetty Sabater is the HR People Relations Partner.

Editor: Angel R. Calso • Saturday, June 19, 2021 A7

A nation of ‘pwede na’

By Nick Tayag

MY SIXTY-ZEN’S WORTH

‘M

EN bungle their affairs.

Everywhere, I see incompetence rampant, incompetence triumphant.”

That was in a book written 50 years ago (1969) entitled Peter’s Principle, authored by Dr. Peter Laurence and Raymond Hull, which was a No. 1 best seller. I still have a copy of it, just a thin paperback edition.

Now is a good time as any to revisit it because it could have been written today to describe our present state of affairs. It appears that incompetence knows no barrier of time or place. It does not want to leave us, it just mutates, like a modern-day virus.

What is the Peter Principle?

Simply stated: in a hierarchy, every employee tends to rise to his level of incompetence. And this pattern is the reason “why things always go wrong,” which is the book’s subtitle.

It is a useful cautionary guide especially for people in management who are primarily responsible for promoting employees in business establishments. But the principle can be applied not just to business but also to any area of human endeavor. As the blurb of the book states: “It tells why schools do not bestow wisdom, why governments cannot maintain order, why courts do not dispense justice, why prosperity fails to produce happiness, why Utopian plans never generate Utopias.”

What makes it even worse is when the incompetent person placed in a critical position exhibits what psychologists call DunningKruger effect, which simply means overestimating one’s knowledge or competence. A person with this egocentric trait fails to recognize genuine skill in others and is not even aware of his inadequacy.

It wasn’t too long ago when we witnessed how the chief executive of a powerful nation became a walking and talking embodiment of Peter’s Principle and Dunning-Kruger effect—a person who was elected to a position without the required competence for it and who showed symptoms of illusory superiority, mistakenly assessing his ability as much higher than it really was.

Alas, the world watched him blunder, fumble, and falter in his own incompetence and ego-centrism, bringing down his country by several notches together with him.

But right under our flat noses, we have Peter’s Principle and Dunning-Kruger effect gone rampant.

We have lockdowns that come and go, and yet the number of infections has stayed on the high side. The tally is not even reliable because of limited testing. Contact tracing never even got off the ground. Our vaccine rollouts are sporadic because the supply is delayed and it comes in spurts, to the dismay of city mayors. The economy is being opened but workers are struggling to get a ride.

All these are to be expected when people with military background are put in charge of addressing a vital public health and social crisis.

Not an epidemiologist, not a public health expert, not even a doctor of medicine. Something doesn’t fit. No wonder our country is floundering in its efforts to manage this neverending plague.

And who made the decision to put them in those positions? Let me quote Professor Randy David who states it better: “A pre-modern local politician who knows almost noth-

ing about the challenges of modern statecraft, and, even less, of the imperatives of political leadership in a globally interconnected world.”

Incompetent people are in high positions because we elected them.

We go with anyone who is popular, ignoring his or her incompetence.

That’s how one popular old actor got elected to a national policy-making body, only to become invisible for his entire term. A champion boxer who is a local hero now dares to run for president, because he is widely known and will probably get elected, in spite of his past dismal record as an elected official.

Some highly educated people who should know better must share the blame for lowering the bar. Top businessmen and respected opinion makers who have been vocal in demanding competence from people in government have embraced and supported such phonies, proclaiming them as “the real deal.”

The painful truth is, we have been suckered by con artists.

Our tolerance for incompetence has allowed know-nothing and do-nothing young personalities to make politics and entertainment a family business, simply by capitalizing on the family name. Most of them are without skills and have nothing better to do. Public office and showbiz are now a sustainable source of fame, power or wealth.

Nick Joaquin once had an essay entitled “A Heritage of Smallness” in which he pointed out how the Filipino people can be so much contented with all that is small, all that is little and all that is just enough. We have a term for it: “Mababaw ang kaligayahan” or “madaling makontento.”

Now, aside from our heritage of smallness, we are becoming a nation of low expectations. As a social analyst commented: “Beyond poverty of the mind and pocket we have a serious case of poverty of expectation and ambition. We can’t even have decent, realistic and proper expectation of our leaders.

You cannot sow stupidity, bad planning, inefficiency, incapacity and expect to reap wisdom, organized society, efficiency and success.”

We deserve better but we don’t demand it. It’s true: “A people get the leaders they deserve.” We have either chosen, allowed, tolerated, been complicit about or encouraged poor leadership and we pay the price together. We are doing this to ourselves. Time and again, this is all I hear from people around me: Pwede na. Sige na nga. Nandyan na ’yan. Pagtitiyagaan na lang.

Let us first of all look at ourselves.

Do we value competence in what we do? Are we striving to grow in skills and expertise? The problem isn’t our leaders’ incapacity nor their failure or their lack of vision. The real problem starts with our own individual low regard for competence, never mind excellence.

What we need to do in our postpandemic future is to regain that high regard for competence in ourselves and in people we work with.

By doing so, we help build herd immunity against shoddy performers, a critical mass of people who have higher expectations, and low tolerance for incompetence and mediocrity. Then to lead us, let us choose outliers, persons who are not just competent but who are, most of all, difference-making achievers.

Enough of pwede na. Instead, as one people, let us demand: “Pwede ba, step up ka naman!”

Education BusinessMirror

A8 Saturday, June 19, 2021

Pinoy students get ₧57M aid from US universities

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T least 80 Filipinos accepted to universities in the United States have signed up for EducationUSA Phils.’ second virtual pre-departure orientation on June 10.

A real-time survey during the free event revealed more than half of the participants have received financial-aid offers from their respective schools. The amount totaled more than P57 million (or about $1.2 million).

More than 15 students also obtained financial-aid awards that are renewable each year.

The departing Filipino students include undergraduates and graduates who will attend a wide range of higher education institutions (HEIs) throughout the US. Chargé d’Affaires John Law of the US Embassy welcomed the learners and commended them for their successful acceptance to universities in his country: “I want to thank you in advance for

the contributions you will make [in] enriching US campuses and classrooms.”

The orientation answered timely questions about international study and travel in a pandemic, as most US universities return to in-person classes.

The embassy’s Consular Section joined the event to address queries on student visas.

P a r t i c i p a nt s a l s o h e a r d from EducationUSA program a lumni, who shared stor ies from their time at US universities and provided pieces of adv ice to the outgoing students: Macy Lee (University of California Davis), A xelle Miel (Duke University), Atty. Jill De Dumo-Cornista and Atty. Nory Dianne Miano (Georgetow n

University-Law).

EducationUSA parent-ambassador Marillete Suarez, whose son is currently studying at Lehigh University in Pennsylvania, also shared her insights and experiences supporting her child's US study abroad.

Participants also learned about classroom culture, campus life, best practices in travel planning, remote learning, and ways to make the most of their time outside the classroom while in the US. EducationUSA encourages all students accepted in US universities who were unable to attend the event to reach out to EducationUSA advisers with any questions or concerns via manila@educationusa. org or cebu@educationusa.org.

Filipinos aspiring to study in a US university are invited to join EducationUSA’s mini-fair, which will feature different universities and colleges online on June 25: https://bit.ly/ EdUSA-Mini-Fair-2021.

EducationUSA provides free advising services to prospec-

tive international students in more than 170 countries, and offers students resources and tools to help navigate the five steps to US study: researching schools, identifying financialaid opportunities, completing applications, obtaining a student visa, and preparing for departure.

There are more than 4,700 accredited HEIs in the US, and an EducationUSA adviser can help students narrow their options, define their priorities, and plan their college careers. EducationUSA does not offer scholarships, but can assist students in identifying scholarship and financial-assistance opportunities.

Fi nd more i n for m at ion about EducationUSA on Facebook: www.facebook.com/educationusa.philippines and on Twitter: @EducationUSA_PH. T he US Embassy in the Philippines is celebrating the 75th year of US-Philippine d iplom at ic re l at ion s, a nd increased access to international education in the US is among its top priorities.

Mapúa to offer world-class ISO courses with UK’s BSI

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APÚA University will start offering short certificate-training courses on International Organization Standardization (ISO), as it signed a memorandum of understanding with the United Kingdom’s national standards body British Standards Institution (BSI).

Formed in 1901, BSI is the world’s first national standards body and author of technical standards on a wide range of products and services, including ISO. Mapúa University President and CEO Dr. Reynaldo B. Vea and BSI Group Phils.

Managing Director Ava Taniajura were present during the virtual signing ceremony on May 12.

Mapúa is the first academic partner of BSI in the Philippines. The three-year partnership enables it to be an authorized ISO training and certification provider for around 20 ISO categories, ranging from quality-management system, occupational health and safety management system, to calibration

UNIVERSITY President Dr. Reynaldo B. Vea and BSI Group Phils. Managing Director Ava Taniajura

laboratories, among others.

Included in the partnership is the option for Mapúa to integrate the ISO training in its undergraduate and graduate programs’ curricula as one of the electives or specialization tracks for students to choose. Students may also opt to take the courses outside the curriculum to enhance their skills and competencies to become a certified ISO auditor in engineering, information technology, management, and other related businesses and industries.

“When ISO training is integrated in their curriculum and certified, [students] are industry-ready when they gradu-

ate, even when they enroll it as a short course in our Center for Continuing Education and Special Competencies,” Dr. Vea said.

Experts from BSI will conduct the lectures, as well as train interested Mapúa faculty members and nonteaching personnel to become certified ISO trainers. BSI resources and digital platforms for teaching will also be aligned to Mapúa’s project of developing asynchronous courses for its various programs.

An ISO certification is a global certification, with BSI as a global brand. It is sharing knowledge, innovation, and best practices to make excel-

lence a habit across various businesses and organizations.

BSI helps businesses improve performance, reduce risk, and achieve sustainable growth, with solutions and services also supporting the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals.

The latest partnership further enforces the worldclass education from Mapúa University—the leading engineering and technological school in the country, and a trailblazer in digital education. Interested applicants may contact its Center for Continuing Education and Special Competencies at ccesc@mapua.edu.ph.

Fil-Canadians get to know ‘baybayin’ C

ALGARY—Filipino Canadians had the opportunity to learn baybayin—the Philippines’s ancient script or syllabary—during the fourth episode of Sining Filipinas International Online Lecture Series on May 31.

Resource speaker Dr. Edwin V. Antonio, head of the National Committee on Northern Cultural Communities of the National Commission for Culture and Arts (NCCA), showed viewers how baybayin is written and read, as he explained the ancient writing system’s vowels and consonants.

According to Dr. Antonio, baybayin—the Tagalog script—

was used as the writing system all over the country during the precolonial times until at least the 17th Century. When Filipinos then opted to use the Roman and Latin alphabets “for certain reasons,” the baybayin became half-buried in the memory of ancestors, only to be seen later in some artifacts of stone and copper, as well as some potsherds.

A few ethnolinguistic groups, such the Hanunuo and Buhid Mangyans of Mindoro, as well as the Tagbanwa and Pala’wan, continued to use their native scripts to date. As Dr. Antonio cited, the native scripts of these people were formally inscribed in 1999 in the Memory of the

World Register in the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization, or Unesco.

He shared the use of such has “hyped up at least in the past few decades.” It led to the signing of the Baybayin Act of 2013, which calls for the use of the Philippine native-writing systems in the logos of government agencies, departments and offices. Now, baybayin scripts can be seen in the current logos of government cultural institutions such as the NCCA, Cultural Center of the Philippines, National Library, National Archives and Komisyon sa Wikang Filipino, among others.

Baybayin writings were also incorporated in the New Generation Series of Philippine banknotes released by the Bangko Sentral, and the Philippine passport.

Consul General Zaldy B. Patron described this latest episode of Sining Filipinas as “truly educational and revealing of the Filipinos’ ancient writing system.” He encouraged the younger generation of Filipinos to know, learn and practice baybayin to enrich their heritage and culture.

The event, organized by Binhi ng Lahi Philippine Folk Dance Troupe and cosponsored by the Philippine Consulate General, was streamed via Facebook.

Editor: Mike Policarpio

IBM Phils. partners with Valenzuela City for P-TECH

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QUIPPING its youth with the skills needed to keep its economic engine running smoothly, the city government of Valenzuela recently signed a memorandum of agreement (MOA) with IBM Phils. to integrate a Pathways in Technology Early College High Schools (P-TECH) model in its Senior High School-toCollege-to-Industry Program starting Academic Year 2021-2022.

In a webinar, Aileen Judan-Jiao, president and country general manager of IBM Phils., pointed out that the partnership between the private and public sector is important, as it helps students keep abreast with the latest technology trends.

“Working within industry while learning helps students gain early exposure and credentials to be competitive in STEM [science, technology, engineering and mathematics] and new-collar careers,” Jiao said. “[These] are some of the fastestgrowing fields in technology requiring more than a high-school diploma, but not necessarily a university degree.”

“We know there is an urgent need for a sustainable pool of skilled STEM talents, which is why we’re grateful to the city government of Valenzuela for partnering with us to expand PTECH Philippines,” the IBM executive added. “We’re also calling on more like-minded partners to join us and open doors for more students to gain the skills they will need for the jobs of the future.”

Est abl i shed i n 2011, P-T EC H establishes a route between high school, college and career by merging the expertise of the public and private sectors to strengthen technical and professional skills in education, while reinvigorating local economies.

To date, P-TECH is present in more than 266 schools globally, and in 28 countries. More than 600 businesses in technology, health care, advanced manufacturing and other industries are currently participating as industry partners around the world.

IBM Phils. believes the program will be a big boost for Valenzuela

City’s substantial number of skilled work force to sustain its vibrant local industry, with the majority of its registered businesses engaged in production and manufacturing.

The company sees P-TECH assisting the local government unit’s Senior High School-to-College-toIndustry Program in increasing its pool of skilled talents in STEM. Valenzuela City Mayor Rex Gatchalian said his office is committed to allocate funds and materials in support of the P-TECH program, and to bring partners within local industries on board.

Meanwhile, IBM Phils. will provide technical assistance and resources on the P-TECH Model to Valenzuela City stakeholders, such as in skills mapping, work-based learning, mentoring and internships. The company will also make Open P-TECH—a free online-learning platform—available to students and teachers with skills in emerging technologies and professional skills.

Moreover, Gatchalian is upbeat in seeing the partnership materialize, as it strengthens the holistic approach of the city’s existing programs in education: “IBM’s P-TECH program is strongly aligned with our Education 360-Degrees Investment Program, which aims to deliver holistic quality and inclusive education to our citizens.”

The local chief executive stated, “I am excited to see how this program will help ignite our youth’s interest in STEM, and improve our local education system’s capacities to produce much needed, job-ready talents required by industries.”

The program spans from Grades 11 to 14, with the aim of providing students with free advanced level national certification in technical vocational education and training or TVET, or with an associate’s degree in college across in-demand jobs in advanced manufacturing, packaging, electronics, automotive; or heating, ventilation, and air conditioning industries, otherwise known as HVAC. Rizal Raoul S. Reyes

Lumad Bakwit students lose their school anew in Bukidnon

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UMAD Bakwit School students have decried that a school in Bukidnon built after they were displaced was destroyed again by the military.

On June 5, the 72nd Infantry Battalion of the Philippine Army coerced residents, mostly lumad, to demolish the Lumad school facilitated by Mindanao Interfaith Services Foundation Inc. in Barangay Sagundanon, Kitaotao, Bukidnon.

According to lumad students in the Bakwit School, their parents called them a week earlier and said they were being forced by soldiers to participate in the demolition, or else they were to face trumped-up charges and arrest if they failed to cooperate.

Grade 12 st udent C hr icely n said in the vernacular that they were afraid of their families being guarded by soldiers, and that even if members needed to call, the learners had to hide in fear of their safety.

“This is the second time Chricelyn and her classmates lost their school. In 2015 they were traumatized when soldiers and village officials threatened them to leave their school in White Culaman, also in Kitaotao,” said Save Our Schools Network’s spokesperson Rius Valle.

“Their trauma [resurfaced, as their school in Sagundanon was] being torn apart.”

Students said their parents told them that soldiers, who took part in demolishing the school, wore civilian clothes to show that they were “residents.” Several media posts also validated that present in the destruction of the school was 72nd

IB Battalion Commander Jose Regonay Jr. wearing civilian clothes.

“This has been the trend among the [Armed Forces of the Philippines, and the National Task Force to End Local Communist Armed Conflict],” explained Valle. “First, they parade residents and civilians as fake surrenders, force them to destroy the schools they have built, then coerce them to file trumpedup cases against teachers, leaders and human-rights defenders, [just like] what happened...in Cebu and Davao.”

Despite the trauma and fear, the kids vowed to expose the attacks and rights violations even during the pandemic. Chricelyn, along with her schoolmates, were the focus of the 2020 award-winning documentary Bullet-laced Dreams, where she voiced the attacks on their school.

The film won the Best Documentary plum at the 2020 Mindanao Film Fest, and had its world premiere at the Global Visions section in 2020’s DMZ International Documentary Film Festival in South Korea. The film also won the Best Pitch award at the Colors of Asia Tokyo Docs International Pitching Forum, and the If/Then Southeast Asia Prize in Bali, Indonesia.

Chricelyn remarked in her native dialect that even if their school was destroyed, they are still students, and that even in the streets, beneath bridges or under the shades of trees, they will still study in the Bakwit school, and that learning and their thirst for knowledge and justice will not be constrained inside classrooms.

Tourism&Entertainment BusinessMirror

Editor: Carla Mortel-Baricaua

Saturday, June 19, 2021 A9

Gwalior Fort, Up Close Its exterior is adorned exquisitely with blue ceramic tiles.

The Gwalior Fort stands strategically on top of a hill overlooking the city.

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Gwalior Fort was once called the ‘Gibraltar of India.

It is one of the largest forts in India.

Story & photos by Marky Ramone Go

s I learn the extent of pain and suffering caused by the Covid-19 pandemic in India, the more heartbroken I feel for the country and its people who have given me countless wonderful experiences.

To momentarily blank out the sorrow, I draw from an almost full vault of delightful memories and remember India the way I experienced it. From time to time, I will share in this space some of my fondest recollections of India. Let’s get started with a famous fort in Madhya Pradesh.

As I was letting every second of being awed linger, I fixated my thoughts on the massive walls of Gwa lior Fort—the popular landmark in the state of Madhya Pradesh in India. I started wondering about the stories of resilient kingdoms and bloody battles it conceals. Like peeling off layers of paint, I survey the colossal architectural grandeur of the 8th century structure before me and briefly imagined being transported in time.

As if voicing out loud what’s in my head, I hear our tour guide narrate how the Fort changed hands during its height of significance.

“The fort has seen several changes,

throughout its history. It came under the rule of the Rajput, then the Mughals, the Mamluks, the Huns and the Akbars, Suris, Marathas and even the British.”

If only the walls of Gwalior Fort could talk, it would reverberate with never-ending battle cries, yells of triumph and cries of defeat.

The sheer amount of history it has witnessed fills every inch of its 3 sq km area.

Originating from a smaller fort first constructed strategically atop Gopachal Hill by a local king Suraj Sen in the third century, the bigger portion of the fort were constructed beginning as early as the 6th century, according to the inscriptions found inside detailing a sun temple that was built during the reign of Mihirakula, who ruled Central India from 502-530 CE. While the outer walls appear like an artwork due to its varying intricate designs, the fort houses various temples and palaces adorned with diverse architectural styles—

The fort’s imposing structure is part of the city’s identity and architecture.

Towering 7th-century Jain monuments can be seen on the side road.

thanks to the sundry tastes of a list of rulers who lorded over the fort.

Entering a time capsule

After a pleasing time regaling at the picturesque outer walls of the fort, we gingerly walked behind one of the mammoth gates and instantly, as if hurtling our group inside a time machine to the past, a fascinating set of architectural marvels greeted us. Intricately carved walls, giant stonewashed doors and moss-covered ceilings, all super-sized to fit the spacious fort grounds, were combined for a hodgepodge of painterly details.

Likening the mood to the ones I’ve had visiting other forts in India—especially in the state of Rajasthan—which is falling into some sort of historical envisioning, I darted my mind to the time when

Babur, the founder of the mighty Mughal empire, captured the fort only to lose it to the Hindu General Hemu, but then his grandson Akbar recaptured it many years later.

Mirroring the Taj Mahal in Agra, Gwalior Fort is also the setting for some of the Mughal empire’s infamous events. It was here where Aurangzeb (remember him? the one who jailed his father Shah Jahan, the builder of The Taj Mahal in Agra Fort) had his brother Murad and nephews Sepher and Suleman executed.

Towering carved Jain Monuments

After bidding goodbyes with my fellow travel writers and the staff from Madhya Pradesh Tourism Office, I opted to extend my stay in Gwalior for a couple of days. I took

advantage of my alone time by going back to the Fort. This time, I made my way to the 300-feet Gopachal Hill on foot.

On my way up on the side of the steep curving road heading to Gwalior Fort, I saw the 7th century rock-cut Gopachal Parvat Jain Monuments. Spanning hundreds of meters, these boulder-carved shrines were built from the 7th century until the 15th century.

Regaling at the intricate details of each statues gave me an opportunity to rest as well, so I milked every delightful details of every statues until my interest was piqued by the deities of the Jain Tirthankara s— said to be the spiritual teachers of the “dharma way” or the “righteous path”—which are presented in a seated Padmasana and a standing Kayotsarga postures.

A few hundred meters away, another series of carved monuments can be seen, including the 57 foot image of Adinatha (another famous Tirthankara).

As I arrived back at the top of the hill just a stone-throw away from the thick walls of Gwalior Fort, I sat on a ridge and stared at the view of the city below. I imagined being one of the watchmen during one of the bloody wars of many centuries ago.

Just when I was starting to picture in my head the deathly spears flying in the air, a flock of doves flew by on top of me and a group of young students alighted out of their bus.

I delighted at the thought that a new group of people—especially them young ones—will have their turn in learning the many enthralling stories hidden inside the thick walls of Gwalior Fort.

Hong Kong’s timeless traditions

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ong Kong is a truly unique city, with a curious mix of modernity and tradition.

While it always keeps pace with the latest in technology, finance, convenience and health care, it has not lost its charm when it comes to food, craftsmanship and culture. Whether you’re a born and bred Hong Kong local, a visiting tourist or an expat who’s made the city your home, there are some customs that will always find a place in your heart.

Lindsay Varty is a writer, journalist and rugby player. Half Macanese and half British by birth, but 100% Hong Kong local by heart, she has written a book called Sunset Survivors about “the trades and craftsmen of the real Hong Kong.”

For her, the true taste of Hong Kong lies in visiting a dai pai dong.

“These iconic eateries are typically set up in alleyways and outdoor spaces with a tarpaulin overhead and simple set up below. They serve all sorts of Hong Kong classic

dishes; from HK style French toast to an amazing tomato macaroni broth.”

Lindsay, who has traveled the world, believes that the food and the no-frills set up are what make them so special and different from stalls you may find in other parts of the world.

“I suggest everyone should try a dai pai dong! My pick for anyone visiting the city—a visit to Sing Heung Yuen dai pai dong in Central is a must as the food and service is great, the owner Irene Lee is my friend!”

Staying with food and Hong Kong delicacies, Lindsay admits that she is a huge fan of dim sum (who isn’t?). Dim sum is often made in bamboo steamers, but this process is becoming increasingly mechanical - often made by factories in China. To watch a unique local art form, drop by Tuck Chong Sum Kee Bamboo Steamer Company in Sai Ying Pun. Watching the craftsman at work through the little win-

Lindsay Varty (c) Annie Yuen for Sassy Hong Kong-medium dow at the shop is a privilege and you’re sure to be tempted to pick up a steamer or two yourself! Lindsay explains why.

“Master Raymond Lam has been working in his family business for over 40 years! He is the fifth generation owner of his business and works all day every day making steamers for hotels, restaurants, shops and homes all around Hong Kong and internationally as well.”

Lindsay observes that as handcrafted bamboo steamers are being increasingly seen as an art form, bamboo steamers are now being

Raymond Lam (c) Gary Jones for Sunset Survivors-small used as candle holders, lamps, storage containers and wall decorations.

She adds, “It’s great to see them being used for any purpose as it builds awareness for their beauty and for Hong Kong culture, but ultimately I think their main use is still for steaming food and Hong Kong locals do plenty of that to keep the industry alive!”

Talking about machines replacing the human touch, it’s also very visible when it comes to the making of mahjong tiles. Mahjong playing is very popular in Hong

Irene Lee (c) Gary Jones for Sunset Survivors-medium Kong, with some locals playing all weekend. However, nowadays cheaper, plastic mahjong tiles are replacing the traditional hand painted ones.

“Painting them takes a long time and a lot of effort and the handmade sets can cost about HK$4,000 [approximately US$515]. One of the few remaining traditional mahjong artists Master Cheung Shun-king, or ‘Uncle King’ as he is more commonly known, works in Biu Kee Mahjong in Jordan. He still hand makes entire mahjong sets and hand paints and engraves the tiles

Cheung Shun-king (c) Gary Jones for Sunset Survivors himself using a traditional method that has been passed down generations in his family. Interestingly, Master King doesn’t even know how to play mahjong himself—he said he stares at the tiles all day so doesn’t want to look at them when he finally goes home!”

Want to see what it takes to hand paint mahjong tiles? Try one of the workshops in the city as this art form is seeing a revival of sorts. Get in touch with Uncle King or Karen Aruba, and make your own special connection with Hong Kong’s rich culture and history.

A10 Saturday, June 19, 2021 • Editor: Gerard S. Ramos

BusinessMirror

www.businessmirror.com.ph

Own an Echo? Amazon may be helping itself to your bandwidth and in November that Sidewalk was coming. The company says you’ll also get a notification when you set up gadgets that work with Sidewalk.

HOW CAN I STOP THIS?

ONCE you know about it, it’s relatively straightforward, if not exactly simple, to opt out of Sidewalk. Echo users can go into the Alexa app, tap “More” in the lower right hand corner, then tap “Settings,” then “Account Settings,” where they’ll find a section for Amazon Sidewalk and a button to disable it. In the Ring app, go to “Control Center” and then tap “Sidewalk.”

WHY IS AMAZON DOING THIS?

By Joseph Pisani and Matt O’Brien

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The Associated Press

EW YORK—Do you own an Amazon smart device? If so, odds are good that the company is already sharing your Internet connection with your neighbors unless you’ve specifically told it not to.

On Tuesday, the company launched a program that forces users of many Echo smart speakers and Ring security cameras to automatically share a small portion of their home wireless bandwidth with

neighbors. The only way to stop it is to turn it off yourself.

Amazon says the program, called Amazon Sidewalk, is a way to make sure lights, smart locks and other gadgets outside the home and out of reach of a Wi-Fi connection stay working.

But some experts warn that the technology is so new that privacy and security risks remain unclear. And almost no one seems happy that Amazon forced consumers into Amazon Sidewalk—or that many people may not know they can opt out of it.

DID AMAZON TELL CUSTOMERS THIS WAS HAPPENING?

AMAZON says it sent e-mails to customers last month

THE idea behind Sidewalk is to integrate residential wireless connections into a “mesh network” that can extend coverage to areas home Wi-Fi can’t reach. Amazon’s Echo and Ring devices band together to create a this network by grabbing a slice of bandwidth from each cooperative home network. That can extend the range of devices designed to work with Sidewalk so they’ll stay connected even when away from your home network.

One example of such a device is Tile, a tracking device that can be placed on keys or a dog’s collar. If your dog goes missing in a neighborhood where Sidewalk is working, it might turn up quickly via Tile.

Other products that work with Sidewalk include smart locks that can be controlled by phone and wearable devices that can track people with dementia who may wander. Amazon expects additional devices, including outdoor lights and motion detectors, will work with Sidewalk before long.

HOW DOES IT WORK?

AMAZON is tapping into a variety of radio technologies, including one called LoRa for its long range and better known for industrial and business applications such as keeping track of cattle roaming through pasturelands.

“The goal here is not to create coverage for a single home,” said Marc Pegulu of chipmaker Semtech, which is partnering with Amazon on the technology. “It’s kind of a shared network, a community shared network.”

Among other things, devices connected to the shared network can supposedly search for the best signal in a way that can preserve their battery life.

WHAT ARE THE RISKS?

HACKERS could potentially infiltrate home networks via Sidewalk, said Eric Null, a policy manager at digital rights group Access Now. If that happens, Null said hackers could observe everything you do, take over your devices or access your files to steal information.

“It’s only a matter of time before someone’s network gets hacked and data gets breached,” said Null.

William Tong, Connecticut’s attorney general, warned consumers this week that the program was “uncharted territory” and that people should opt-out of Sidewalk unless they are sure their privacy and security will be protected.

“Wireless networks are already notoriously vulnerable to hacks and breaches,” Tong wrote in a statement. “Families need better information and more time before giving away a portion of their bandwidth to this new system.”

WHAT DOES AMAZON SAY?

WHEN asked about privacy and security concerns, an Amazon spokesman said he couldn’t respond to “hypothetical situations.” The company didn’t respond to a request to make an executive available for an interview, but said that data that flows through its network has three-layers of encryption that’s meant to to keep hackers from seeing it.

Samir Jain, director of policy at the Center for Democracy and Technology, said Amazon’s efforts to encrypt data was a good step. But Jain said that it’s hard to identify security vulnerabilities until a new technology is deployed in the real world.

Company partners with organization that promotes safe and inclusive workplaces

Brownout? Here’s how to stay connected POWER outages could be an inconvenience especially now that most are working or learning from home and heavily dependent on Internet connectivity. With Globe At Home Prepaid Mobile WiFi devices MyFi LTE and LTE-Advanced (LTE-A), these help ease one’s worries so power interruptions don’t interrupt what needs to be done for school, work, or life.

These devices from Globe At Home are touted to be the best companions to have in case of emergencies—like sudden power outages. Consumers can stay connected and experience Globe’s reliable and ultra-fast LTE speeds with these pocket-sized powerhouse gadgets.

“Our Globe At Home MyFi devices are necessary instruments to have on-hand so Filipinos experience affordable and reliable Internet connection wherever and whenever they need it,” said Darius Delgado, Globe Vice President and Head of Broadband Group. “In times like this, staying online is more important than ever as it enables us to continue learning, working, and, in the case of power outages or interruptions, stay informed and reachable.”

Globe At Home’s MyFi LTE is a personal WiFi device that lets you experience speeds up to 42Mbps and lasts up to 48 hours on a single charge. Its portability allows you to charge it through an emergency power supply such as a power bank so you enjoy more connectivity for longer periods of time. These are perfect for students who need to constantly be online to do research for their modules and assignments, or be in constant communication with their group mates for projects.

For those who consume more data and are in frequent Zoom meetings and send data-heavy files and documents for work, Globe At Home’s MyFi LTE-A is what they need. This rechargeable personal hotspot is built-in with a 3300mAh battery and provides hours of Globe mobile Internet that can reach speeds up to 100Mbps. Plus, it has a screen where you can see the WiFi signal strength, battery level, and time at a glance.

Globe At Home’s MyFi LTE is currently available for only P799 while MyFi LTEA is at P1,899. Both devices at these price points come with FREE Sur4All99 which gives users 9GB all-access data valid for seven days.

Globe At Home offers a lot of affordable promos to choose from with big data allocations—from their HomeSurf promos starting at HomeSurf99 with 10GB data up to HomeSurf999 up to 100Gb of data. There’s also their “On-The-Go” promos like Surf4All99, Surf4All 249, or GoPlus99.

Loading and reloading is easy as customers can do it via Globe web site, GlobeOne or GCAsh apps, Autoload Max or Share-A-Load, or even online banking.

They may also purchase Globe call cards available from most convenience stores and partner retailers nationwide.

Both devices are available through the Globe Online Shop, as well as Globe’s Lazada and Shopee official stores. These are also available in Globe Stores nationwide and customers may visit the branch nearest them. More information can be found at www.globe.com.ph/prepaid/myfi-lte.

INCLUSION is one thing that the majority, particularly cisgender people, take for granted. At one or several points in our lives, we have experienced discrimination but that is nothing compared to the ongoing struggles of LGBTQIA+.

Even the simple act of entering a public restroom is something that many of them dread.

Members of the LGBTQIA+ are harassed, heckled and catcalled almost every day of their lives, whether they are home, on the streets, in school, or at work.

Making workplaces safe places for LGBTQIA+ is very important because one’s office is like a second home.

The fight for equality and anti-discrimination for the LGBTQIA+ community continues. Without the sexual orientation and gender identity and expression (SOGIE) bill (this has been refiled for the next Congress), members of the community have very little protection, if any at all.

There have been small steps but the way they are looked upon and treated leaves a lot to be desired.

Thankfully, some companies are trying to build more diverse, inclusive and equitable workplaces.

Karl Sandoval first applied for a job at Mondelēz International around five years ago.

“The fear was there. This was a cisgender maledominated industry and there are gender roles assigned at work. But my recruitment experience was good. They acknowledged me for my individuality,” said Sandoval, the People Lead for Supply Chain at Mondelēz International.

Sandoval has been there for five years and the workplace “feels like home.”

Mondelēz International’s brands include Toblerone, Cadbury, Orea, Tang, Milka, Halls, Belvita, Eden Cheese and many others. They are one of the world’s top snacking companies.

Earlier in the week, the company announced that it was partnering with the Philippine Financial & Inter-Industry Pride (PFIP), “a collaborative, voluntary and non-profit community of practice composed of dedicated representatives from LGBTQIA+ Employee Resource Groups [ERGs] or Human Resource/Diversity teams of the financial services industry.”

As an organization, PFIP aims to make industries safe and inclusive for LGBTQIA+.

“Partnering with PFIP is a real milestone. We are the first Mondelēz in the region to take this lead. We are looking forward to learning and growing stronger. We hope to make Mondelēz Philippines a truly inspiring workplace where each

person is able to retain their individuality,” Ashish Pisharodi, country director of Mondelēz Philippines, Inc.

Mondelēz Philippines has implemented several policies which support members of the LGBTQIA+ community including HMO benefits for domestic partners, primary caregiver leaves, single parent leaves, and remote working policy for employees whose partners are working abroad.

Mondelēz Philippines “has also launched an internal campaign to surface the issue of unconscious bias and has provided guidance and training to its colleagues to eliminate blind spots in this regard through speaking up and mutual feedback.”

The partnership aims to promote three basic LGBTQIA+ rights in the workplace: the right to a chosen name and preferred pronouns to affirm one’s gender identity; the right to dress according to one’s gender expression; and the right to access inclusive facilities and amenities including restrooms.

“For companies who are looking to evolve their workplace culture, we recommend starting with these inclusive practices,” said Chris Eugenio, PFIP Board of Trustee.

As part of its policies and programs for diversity and inclusion, Mondelēz Philippines is granting, among others, HMO benefits for domestic partners of all genders, primary caregiver and single parent leaves regardless of birth story, equal pay for all genders and HMO coverage for more illnesses. Cait Punzalan, Communications Manager for Mondelēz Philippines, said the HMO for employees was updated in 2020 to cover treatments for STDs and AIDSrelated diseases for its employees.

New online salary loan facility launched amid pandemic

By Roderick L. Abad Contributor

TO help the work force get more access to lending to augment their limited income in this pandemic, the MFT Group of Companies has launched a new product that provides the employees of its partner-companies a platform for quick, hassle-free salary loans.

The Quick Loans Online (QLO), a loan facility under MRACC Credit Corp., has fully automated processes accessible via its portal qlo.com.ph, making it much easier for the availing employees to track their finances. Its application dashboard enables the user to see upcoming payment dues and payment history.

“Motivating and sustaining energies of companies’ talent pool are vital. Through QLO, the MFT Group extends resources to our partner companies to help them cross over challenging times and keep their focus on their respective missions,” said MFT Group Chief Executive Officer Mica F. Tan.

Given the increasing number of the unbanked and the underserved portions of the country’s population, majority of Filipinos do not have sufficient savings.

With this in mind, QLO offers employees a credit line for their urgent financial needs, according to MFT Group Vice President for QLO Mary Ruth A. Oquendo.

“We understand the stress of having insufficient funds for something important, so this option to borrow during a time of need can be a saving grace that companies can offer their employees. QLO enables companies to swiftly respond to their people’s urgent financial needs,” she explained.

“We also offer this service to companies outside Metro Manila. We want our offer to reach the people who need it and be accessible to as many Filipinos as possible,” Oquendo added.

Working with a company’s Human Resources (HR) department, QLO makes its processes as seamless as possible for partner-firms and provides them with customized offers. Disbursement of loan proceeds to qualified employees takes a period of 24 hours upon

endorsement of their respective HR groups.

Borrowers may choose the payment terms that they deem fitting for their paying capacity. Terms range from three to 12 months to fully settle their accounts. Loan settlement is automatically deducted from their monthly salary.

QLO offers companies customized facilities as additional perks that boost employee morale with the flexibility and ease of the processes. Collaborating with Sun-Life, it is the only facility that gives eligible borrowers personal accident insurance valid for one whole year.

Partner-companies must have at least 100 regular employees. But the group has its own ways of assisting those with a lesser number.

Rates are affordable with QLO. Loans are also wired to the employee’s payroll bank account within days of processing the loan with a company’s HR.

QLO is a member of Fintech Philippines Association and is registered with the Securities and Exchange Commission and the National Privacy Commission.

BusinessMirror

www.businessmirror.com.ph

Slew of new Pokémon games coming THE Pokémon Company International and Nintendo have revealed the release schedules of Pokémon Brilliant Diamond, Pokémon Shining Pearl, and Pokémon Legends: Arceus games.

Pokémon Brilliant Diamond and Pokémon Shining Pearl (diamondpearl.pokemon.com/en-us/) will be launched on November 10, along with the double pack of both games. January 28, 2022 brings the Pokémon Legends: Arceus games, with the series featuring exciting action with RPG elements. Players will be on the mission to create and complete the Sinnoh region’s first-ever Pokedex by catching, surveying and researching the wild Pokémons.

The Pokémon Diamond and Pokémon Pearl are the older versions of the Pokémon Brilliant Diamond and Pokémon Shining Pearl, which were released on the Nintendo DS system in 2006. In the latest remakes, the original story has been reproduced along with various game functions available in Nintendo Switch. Pokémon trainers will be challenged to discover the mysterious connection between Dialga or Palkia, and the Sinnoh region in great adventures that can be both fresh and nostalgic.

The Pokémon Brilliant Diamond, Pokémon Shining Pearl, and Pokémon Legends: Arceus games will be released exclusively on Nintendo Switch systems.

The latest update of Pokémon Home, the cloud service for Nintendo Switch and compatible mobile devices, introduces the Catch Calendar.

With this feature, trainers can easily relive memories of their adventures such as the day they first caught a certain Pokémon event, or occasions when they received a Pokémon as a gift. The Catch Calendar can also be marked with personal birthdays and anniversaries of the very first encounter with a rare or favorite Pokémon.

This update also enables trainers to view their Pokémon registered to the Pokedex, in Pokémon Home, from different angles. This adds extra fun in discovering new details of a Pokémon.

Moreover, Poke Home is compatible across multiple platforms, including the Nintendo Switch games Pokemon: Let’s Go Pikachu!; Pokémon: Let’s Go, Eevee!; Pokémon Sword; and Pokémon Shield; the Nintendo 3DS software Pokémon Bank; and Pokémon GO.

As a special treat, Pokémon fans users can receive Bulbasaur and Squitle as Mystery Gifts in the mobile device version of Pokémon Home and in Pokémon Sword and Pokémon Shield. In Pokémon Home, the Mystery Gifts feature is available only on the mobile device (iOS/Android) version. Reni Salvador

Editor: Gerard S. Ramos

• Saturday, June 19, 2021 A11

Economy of ‘nXscale’ T

HE Philippines has been ranked as one of the best outsourcing countries in the world with a talent pool that could easily adapt to time difference, has a high level of language proficiency, excellent work ethic, and quality work that’s cost effective.

Compared to the average salary of a Customer Service Representative in the UK and US, which is pegged at $39,000 annually, the average cost to hire a customer service representative in the Philippines is only about $18,718 per year.

This is why more and more start-ups are looking at the Philippines to expand their operations. The country with its limitless reserve of talent and innovation is set to carve a niche of its own in the global start-up scene.

According to the Global Startup Ecosystem Report (GSER) 2020 released by Startup Genome, Manila’s start-up market is valued at $1.6 billion in 2020, with $102 million (about P4.9 billion) invested over the last two and a half years. Startups are crucial to the country’s economy by bringing in investments, providing job opportunities, and contributing to a community’s development.

For these start-ups to succeed, they need a strong foundation on which to build; and for entrepreneurs, a mentor is of great importance to help them build momentum, get visibility, develop connections and have access to resources.

As most companies are now prepping up for reopening, nXscale, a People Solutions Partner for Startups and Scaleups, believes this is also the most opportune time for the company.

“The pandemic has forced a lot of companies to rethink the way they do business, and that includes how they hire, who they hire and where they hire from, and this is a boon for nXscale. This setup would allow us to tap talents outside the metro, thus distributing equal job opportunities,” says a new Kei San Pablo, nXscale’s Chief Executive Officer (CEO).

nXscale essentially connects global companies with the local talent market and provides customized services a global company would like to outsource in the Philippines. For example, if a foreign firm would like their accounting function be done in the Philippines, nXscale can form that support group for the client’s specific need.

Balancing control of costs without compromising quality, start-ups outsource work force talent across the globe targeting labor markets which offer highly skilled, well-educated workers at a lower cost.

nXscale is optimistic that with the Filipinos’ creativity, innovation and know-how to keep up with changing technology, the Philippines will be the leading start-up hub in Asia. “We are passionate about connecting global companies to the local talent market. We see more investors and entrepreneurs coming into play because of our highly skilled personnel.

The global health crisis has put an immense strain on businesses and start-ups alike, but it has also proven that the work-from-home setup is possible and more companies are now open to the possibility of remote or hybrid work.

nXscale advocates hybrid and remote work which would provide competitive or equal salary to employees outside NCR. Being digital-savvy is only one among many traits the young company is looking for from candidates. “Hiring for talent—either online or offline—can be challenging. We hire by assessing

THE Huawei MatePad T10

not just the candidate’s skills but also their motivators and potential to grow to ensure they will fit with the culture of the start-up they will be working with,” said San Pablo.

San Pablo was previously the Philippines country manager for Canva and SafeCulture. At nXscale she’s joined in the leadership team by Pat Erick Buna, Chief Operating Officer; Law Llamelo, Chief People Officer; and Frank David, Chief Experience Officer.

For its hiring, San Pablo said they don’t discriminate schools and location; rather they focus on positive attributes likes skills, talent, character and experience.

The start-up staffing company also advocates for workplace diversity, which means fostering an open environment where every voice is welcome, heard, and respected. It is providing an equal opportunity by focusing on an individual’s skills, talent, character and work experience regardless of their gender, age, socioeconomic status, and even location, to name a few.

GOING BACK TO ‘HOME’ SCHOOL

SCHOOL season is right around the corner, but just like with parents who are still working from home, it looks like online schooling will still be the norm among educational institutions.

This doesn’t mean that students cannot achieve the optimum learning experience offered by traditional modalities. One device that has regained its popularity because of online learning is the tablet.

Handy and portable, tablets are capable of handling essential tasks related to studying without the hefty price tag of usual devices like laptops.

Compared to smartphones, tablets bring the virtual classroom experience closer to reality with their large screens. They can be used to take notes, read textbooks, do homework, participate in gamified lessons, engage in live lectures, and even watch educational videos.

Making its technology more attainable to Filipinos, Huawei recently launched an upgraded version of the MatePad T10 with LTE. Priced at just P7,999, it presents a more affordable and viable option compared to a laptop or PC, and better suited for younger students.

The Huawei MatePad T10 LTE has a 9.7-inch HD screen with a 16:10 aspect ratio for better viewing, and double large sound speakers that is optimized with the support of Histen 6.0, making watching educational videos more engaging.

On a single school day, students attend at least three to five different classes with different teachers. This leads to a long list of homework, tasks, and modules that needs to be accomplished alongside each other. This is where the MatePad T10 LTE’s App Multiplier is most helpful. Through this feature, the users’

singular screen can display two apps at a time—increasing efficiency in handling multiple tasks. The Kirin710A octa-core chip ensures the smooth operation of multiple large-scale applications, ensuring a satisfying user experience.

For those with younger students, the Huawei MatePad T10 LTE has an improved Kids’ Corner. Kid’s Corner has a 4-layer protection for eye care: Blue Light Filter, Posture Alerts, Bumpy Road Alerts, and e-Book Mode, all of which ensure the optical wellbeing of young users. Parents can set tablet usage limits and customize the homepage layout by adding frequently used apps onto it so the kids can easily access them.

They can also implement strict time management to ensure that their children rest from a day’s work on the tablet. Furthermore, parents can lock certain files to protect kids from unnecessary apps or media content, helping them to form healthy habits when using the tablet.

A crucial component to successful online schooling is a reliable Internet connection. Students today need to download and upload several documents of varying sizes—not to mention the need to join synchronous classes and participate in live online activities. A slow Internet connection may just add to the pile of anxiety-triggering factors that can derail a student’s academic performance. As a SIM-ready tablet, you can still connect the Huawei MatePad LTE even when there’s no WiFi.

UK watchdog examines Apple-Google mobile system control LONDON—UK competition regulators are looking into Apple and Google smartphone operating systems, app stores and browsers, over concern that the control of “mobile ecosystems” by the two tech giants is harming consumers.

The Competition and Markets Authority on Tuesday opened a market study of Apple’s iOS, App Store and Safari browser and Google’s Android, Play Store and Chrome browser.

The authority said it’s taking a closer look at the “effective duopoly” the two companies have

on the various gateways through which users can access online content such as music, TV and video streaming; services such as fitness tracking, shopping and banking; and products like smart speakers and watches.

Google said its Android operating system provides people with more choice than any other mobile platform in terms of apps they can use.

“We welcome the CMA’s efforts to understand the details and differences between platforms before designing new rules,” Google said.

Apple did not reply immediately to a request for comment.

The watchdog said it’s examining whether the role Apple and Google have in mobile ecosystems is stifling competition in digital markets, and whether it could lead to reduced innovation and higher prices, either for devices and apps or for other goods and services because their makers face higher digital advertising prices.

“Apple and Google control the major gateways through which people download apps or browse the

web on their mobiles,” CMA chief executive Andrea Coscelli said. “We’re looking into whether this could be creating problems for consumers and the businesses that want to reach people through their phones.”

The study adds to the scrutiny that US tech giants are facing in the UK and elsewhere in Europe.

British regulators this month opened an investigation into Facebook’s use of data in classified ad and online dating services, and also said they will have a role overseeing Google’s phase-out of ad-tracking technology from Chrome. AP

/

THE nXscale top brass led

by CEO Kei San Pablo

Sports BusinessMirror

A12

| Saturday, June 19, 2021 mirror_sports@yahoo.com.ph Editor: Jun Lomibao

DE LA HOYA

L

OS ANGELES—Oscar de la Hoya says he is returning to the boxing ring for a bout against former UFC champion

De la Hoya, 48, fighting again Vitor Belfort.

The 48-year-old de la Hoya announced Thursday that he will end his nearly 13-year ring retirement September 11 in Las Vegas for what is expected to be an exhibition fight. The Golden Boy’s return is backed by Triller, the social networking service that has aggressively jumped into the fight game over the past year.

De la Hoya hasn’t fought an actual fight since losing to Manny Pacquiao in December 2008. The Olympic gold medalist from Los

Angeles was one of the biggest pay-per-view stars in the sport during his heyday while winning world championships in six weight classes.

De la Hoya, who also runs Golden Boy Promotions, praised Triller in a statement for its “game-changing model of reimagining the boxing business as four-quadrant entertainment.”

Triller has gained a quick foothold in boxing by promoting highly non-traditional bouts such as Mike Tyson’s entertain-

Didal returns home to Cebu for brief vacation with family

ing exhibition against Roy Jones Jr., and YouTube star Jake Paul’s non-exhibition stoppage of mixed martial arts fighter Ben Askren.

The Triller shows feature musical performances interspersed with fights, and the company says it intends to put on a full festival concert around de la Hoya’s return.

The 44-year-old Belfort held the UFC’s light heavyweight title and knocked out 12 opponents while gaining a reputation as a strong striker. The Brazilian hasn’t fought a mixed martial arts bout since 2018, and he won his only previous professional boxing match. AP

NADAL, OSAKA SKIP

MARGIELYN DIDAL (third from left) arrives at the Mactan International Airport with Philippine Olympic Committee President Rep. Abraham “Bambol” Tolentino (second from left), skateboarding association head Carl Sambrano and Coach Daniel Bautista.

WIMBLEDON M

RAFAEL NADAL says he will rest and recover “after listening to my body” while Naomi Osaka will shoot for an Olympic gold medal in Tokyo. AP

R

AFAEL NADAL and Naomi Osaka are sitting out Wimbledon, leaving the oldest Grand Slam tennis tournament without two of the sport’s biggest stars as it returns after being canceled last year because of the coronavirus pandemic.

Nadal, a two-time champion at the All England Club, announced via a series of social-media posts Thursday that he would also miss the Tokyo Olympics to rest and recover “after listening to my body.”

“The goal,” the 35-year-old Spaniard said, “is to prolong my career and continue to do what makes me happy.”

Osaka’s agent, Stuart Duguid, said Thursday in an e-mail that the four-time Grand Slam champion does plan to head to the Summer Games after skipping Wimbledon.

“She is taking some personal time with friends and family,” Duguid wrote. “She will be ready for the Olympics and is excited to play in front of her home fans.”

Osaka is a 23-year-old who was born in Japan to a Japanese mother and Haitian father; the family moved to the United States when she was 3 and she is still based there.

Osaka has been ranked No. 1 and is currently No. 2; she is the highest-earning female athlete and was the 2020 Associated Press Female Athlete of the Year. She is 14-3 this season, including a title at the Australian Open in February.

Last month, Osaka was fined $15,000 when she didn’t speak to reporters after her first-round victory at the French Open. The next day, Osaka pulled out of the tournament entirely, saying she experiences “huge waves of anxiety” before meeting

with the media and revealing she has “suffered long bouts of depression.”

In a statement posted on Twitter at the time, she said she would “take some time away from the court now, but when the time is right I really want to work with the Tour to discuss ways we can make things better for the players, press and fans.”

Osaka has played at Wimbledon three times, twice exiting in the third round and losing in the first round in 2019.

Another Grand Slam title winner, 2020 US Open champion Dominic Thiem, tweeted Thursday that he will not go to the Olympics, saying: “I don’t feel ready to play my best in Tokyo.”

Wimbledon, which was called off in 2020 for the first time since World War II because of Covid-19 concerns, begins main-draw play on June 28. The Olympic tennis competition opens on July 24.

Nadal lost to Novak Djokovic in four grueling sets that lasted more than four hours in the semifinals of the French Open last week—just the third loss for Nadal in 108 career matches at Roland Garros, where he has won a record 13 championships.

That defeat ended Nadal’s 35-match winning streak at the clay-court major tournament and his bid for a fifth consecutive title there.

Nadal is tied with Roger Federer for the most Grand Slam titles won by a man with 20; Djokovic went on to win the French Open on Sunday for

Tough teams foil PHL beach volley bets’ bid

T

HE Philippine men’s beach volleyball team ended its Olympic bid after topranked Australia surfed its way through in the Asian Volleyball Confederation Continental Cup semifinals in Nakhon Pathom, Thailand, on Friday.

Christopher McHugh and Damien Schumann set the tone for an Aussie victory with a quick 21-11, 21-15 win over Jaron Requinton and James Buytrago in the first match.

Maximilian Guehrer and Zachery Schubert then won the second match via forfeit as Jude Garcia suffered cramps when he and Anthony Arbasto were trailing, 4-12, in the second set. The Aussies took the first set, 11-21.

The Aussies used their height and athleticism to the hilt for the straight-set romp.

They will face second seed Japan, which eliminated No. 3 Kazakh stan via a two-match sweep, for a spot in next week’s finals at 10 a.m. on Saturday.

The fourth-ranked Philippines defeated Lebanon, 2-1, in the first semifinals match.

Earlier on Friday, Garcia and Requinton swept Lebanon’s Paul Bou Aki and Joe El Azzi, 21-16, 21-17, in the golden match to keep the country’s hopes alive.

The Philippines and Lebanon split their first confrontation, thus sending the duel to a golden match or tie breaker.

Requinton subbed a cramping Arbasto and was fresh against the Lebanese, who are seeded one rung behind the Filipinos at No. 5 in these semifinals where the winner advances to the finals on June 24 in the same venue.

“The Lebanese just wouldn’t simply sink in the sand,” the 20-year-old Requinton said. “It was tough throughout the golden match—it was a fight for pride— but we showed Pinoy heart.”

Lebanon drew first blood with Chedid and El Azzi fashioning out a 21-19, 21-19 win over Requinton and James Buytrago.

But a cool and calculated tandem of Garcia and Arbasto didn’t let their guard down and rallied from a four-point deficit in the deciding set to beat Akl and Salba Chafix, 16-21, 21-18, 18-16, to force the golden match.

The Filipinos, backed by the Philippine Sports Commission and Philippine National Volleyball Federation (PNVF) partner Rebisco, will have their hands full when they face Australia later in the afternoon.

Japan eliminated Kazakhstan also on Friday— 21-15, 23-25, 15-10 and 19-21, 21-19, 18-16— to also stay in contention for an Olympic slot at home.

The winner here will qualify for the finals where defending champion Qatar and zonal titlists China (east), Indonesia (Southeast Asia), Iran (central), New Zealand (Oceania) and Oman (west) and host Thailand lie in waiting.

Only the No. 1 team of the finals will earn a ticket to Tokyo.

his 19th major.

Nadal’s Slam total includes trophies at Wimbledon in 2008 and 2010. He also owns two Olympic gold medals, in singles at the 2008 Beijing Games and in doubles with Marc Lopez at the 2016 Rio de Janeiro Games, where Nadal was Spain’s flag bearer at the opening ceremony.

In 2012, Nadal pulled out of the London Olympics and the US Open because of knee tendinitis. AP

By Josef Ramos

ARGIELYN DIDAL is back home in Cebu City on Friday to reunite with her family that she hasn’t seen for two-and-a-half months as she campaigned—and succeeded—in the US and Italy for her qualification for skateboarding that makes its Olympic debut in July in Tokyo.

“It’s about family…because we’re Filipinos, a family-oriented nation,” Didal told BusinessMirror aboard a King Air beechcraft 10-seater plane commissioned by Philippine Olympic Committee President Rep. Abraham “Bambol” Tolentino to fly the gold medal hopeful to Cebu.

“I wanted to go home because I miss them so much, I wanted to see them,” added the Jakarta 2018 Asian Games and 2019 Southeast Asian Games street gold medalist.

Skateboarding and Roller Sports Association of the Philippines President Carl Sambrano and coach Daniel Bautista, as well as POC

legal committee chairman Atty.

Wharton Chan accompanied Didal and Tolentino to Cebu.

They then motored to Didal’s home in Barangay Lahug for an emotional reunion with her dad Julito “Tolits,” mom Juliana and her two brothers and two sisters.

Didal vied in Olympic qualifying tournaments at the Iowa Dew Tour in the US in May and at the Street Skateboarding Championships in Rome early this month. She qualified for Tokyo by virtue of her No. 13 world ranking in skateboarding’s street, making the top 16 cutoff.

“I hope to bring home a medal,” said Didal, who had to be hotel quarantined for 14 days upon her arrival from Italy. “I’ll just do my best.”

“I know how much Margie [Didal] wanted to be with her family and the satisfaction it will give her before going to the Olympics.

We just exerted all efforts to make it happen,” Tolentino said. “It will boost her confidence to capture the country’s first Olympic gold medal.”

Didal, however, will be home for only 11 days. She will fly to Sta. Monica and Los Angeles on July 1 to train.

She will fly to Japan on July 18, giving her a week to train under Tokyo conditions for her July 24 competition.

Red Jins grab 2 gold medals in virtual ‘NC’

S

AN BEDA University won two gold medals in poomsae action at the resumption of the virtual 96th National Collegiate Athletic Association Season.

Michael Macario won gold for the Red Jins in men’s freestyle during the online competition on Thursday shown on GMA’s GTV channel, the league’s new broadcast partner.

Macario finished with 7.033 points, beating Jose Rizal University’s (JRU) Mikko Jeremi Bataoil, who tallied 6.367 for the silver medal. CSB Justin Carl Dominic Nacua took the bronze medal with 5.600 points.

Together with Alfritz Arevalo’s gold medal of men’s standard event last Monday, the Mendiola-based school pocketed two gold medals and a bronze in the four-day competition.

Krizelle Therese Yadao of Saint Benilde won the gold medal in women’s freestyle.

Yadao finished with 6.900 points, beating Shyenler Emelo Cedo of JRU in the two-way battle. Cedo settled for the silver.

Prior to Yadao’s win, CSB had two silvers and a bronze medal. The Bombers had one gold and two silvers to finish third, while Letran—this year’s host— had a bronze medal.

In the juniors division, Emilio Aguinaldo College (EAC) completed a two-gold medal sweep after John Mcleary Ornido topped Raphael Ongkiko of CSB-La Salle Greenhills in the freestyle event with 6.800.

Ongkiko scored 6.700 points for the silver medal.

San Sebastian College also had one silver medal, while San Beda wound up fourth with a bronze medal.

The speed-kicking event started Friday with the four-day juniors contest. Men’s action is scheduled June 22 to 29 while the women’s side is set from June 30 to July 5.

“This is a new event, which the Philippine Taekwondo Association is doing for the NCAA. It’s exciting because this is the first time we’ll see our athletes in this kind of competition,” said NCAA Management Committee (MANCOM) Chairman Fr. Vic Calvo of Letran.

BusinessMirror

www.businessmirror.com.ph

ESTABLISHMENT / ADDRESS No.

NAME OF FOREIGN NATIONAL , POSITION AND BRIEF DESCRIPTION

ESTABLISHMENT / ADDRESS QUALIFICATION AND SALARY RANGE

24/7 BUSINESS PROCESSING INC. 14/f Capella Bldg. L-3&4 B2, Asean Drive Filinvest Alabang Muntinlupa City 11/f Capella Bldg. L-3&4 B2, Asean Drive Filinvest Alabang Muntinlupa City CHENG, JUNJIE Mandarin Speaking Customer Service Representative 1.

Brief Job Description: Responding promptly to the inquiries to ensure customer satisfaction JING, YAFEI Mandarin Speaking Customer Service Representative

2.

Brief Job Description: Responding promptly to the inquiries to ensure customer satisfaction LI, DASHUAI Mandarin Speaking Customer Service Representative

3.

Brief Job Description: Responding promptly to the inquiries to ensure costumer satisfaction.

WANG, YAOQI Mandarin Speaking Customer Service Representative

4.

Brief Job Description: Responding promptly to the inquiries to ensure customer satisfaction WU, RONGZHI Mandarin Speaking Customer Service Representative

5.

Brief Job Description: Responding promptly to the inquiries to ensure customer satisfaction YOU, YUANJIAN Mandarin Speaking Customer Service Representative

6.

Brief Job Description: Responding promptly to the inquiries to ensure customer satisfaction ZHANG, FUJUN Mandarin Speaking Customer Service Representative

7.

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

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

No.

LIU, GANG Mandarin Customer Service Representative 20.

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

21.

22.

23.

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

24.

8.

Brief Job Description: Interact with customer to provide information, support and problem solution to inquiries and order status CHEN, JINFU Mandarin Customer Service Representative

9.

Brief Job Description: Interact with customer to provide information, support and problem resolution to inquiries and order status GONG, SHIYU Mandarin Customer Service Representative

10.

Brief Job Description: Interact with customer to provide information, support and problem resolution to inquiries and order status HOANG THI PHUONG NHUNG Mandarin Customer Service Representative

11.

Brief Job Description: Interact with customer to provide information, support and problem resolution to inquiries and order status JIAO, YU Mandarin Customer Service Representative

12.

Brief Job Description: Interact with customer to provide information, support and problem solution to inquiries and order status KE, JIAO Mandarin Customer Service Representative

13.

Brief Job Description: Interact with customer to provide information, support and problem solution to inquiries and order status LE THI KHANH LINH Mandarin Customer Service Representative

14.

Brief Job Description: Interact with customer to provide information, support and problem resolution to inquiries and order status LI, SHUXIN Mandarin Customer Service Representative

15.

Brief Job Description: Interact with customer to provide information, support and problem solution to inquiries and order status LI, WENBIN Mandarin Customer Service Representative

16.

Brief Job Description: Interact with customer to provide information, support and problem solution to inquiries and order status LI, YANSEN Mandarin Customer Service Representative

17.

Brief Job Description: Interact with customer to provide information, support and problem solution to inquiries and order status LI, MINGSHENG Mandarin Customer Service Representative

18.

Brief Job Description: Interact with customer to provide information, support and problem resolution to inquiries and order status LIU, CHENGJUN Mandarin Customer Service Representative

19.

Brief Job Description: Interact with customer to provide information, support and problem solution to inquiries and order status

Basic Qualification: Fluent in Mandarin both oral and written.

Brief Job Description: Interact with customer to provide information, support and problem resolution to inquiries and order status OSKONBAEVA, BEGIMAI Mandarin Customer Service Representative

25.

Brief Job Description: Interact with customer to provide information, support and problem resolution to inquiries and other status SHI, JINJIE Mandarin Customer Service Representative

26.

Brief Job Description: Interact with customer to provide information, support and problem resolution to inquiries and order status SONG, YIYI Mandarin Customer Service Representative

27.

Brief Job Description: Interact with customer to provide information, support and problem resolution to inquiries and other status SONG, ZHEYI Mandarin Customer Service Representative

28.

8 STONE BUSINESS OUTSOURCING OPC 5/f To 10/f, Tower 4 Pitx #01 Kennedy Road Tambo Parañaque City BIAO, CHUNNAN Mandarin Customer Service Representative

Brief Job Description: Interact with customer to provide information, support and problem resolution to inquiries and other status NGUYEN THI MINH THU Mandarin Customer Service Representative

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

Brief Job Description: Interact with customer to provide information, support and problem solution to inquiries and order status NGUYEN THI HOA Mandarin Customer Service Representative

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

Brief Job Description: Interact with customer to provide information, support and problem solution to inquiries and order status LUO, LIQIN Mandarin Customer Service Representative

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

Brief Job Description: Interact with customer to provide information, support and problem solution to inquiries and order status LIU, WEIJIAN Mandarin Customer Service Representative

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

NAME OF FOREIGN NATIONAL , POSITION AND BRIEF DESCRIPTION

Brief Job Description: Interact with customer to provide information, support and problem resolution to inquiries and order status TANG, CHENG-LIN Mandarin Customer Service Representative

29.

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

Brief Job Description: Interact with customer to provide information, support and problem resolution to inquiries and order status

Basic Qualification: Fluent in Mandarin both oral and written

TIAN, YU Mandarin Customer Service Representative 30.

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

Brief Job Description: Interact with customer to provide information, support and problem resolution to inquiries and other status

Basic Qualification: Fluent in Mandarin both oral and written

WANG, HAICHAO Mandarin Customer Service Representative 31.

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

Brief Job Description: Interact with customer to provide information, support and problem resolution to inquiries and order status

Basic Qualification: Fluent in Mandarin both oral and written

WANG, WENYAN Mandarin Customer Service Representative 32.

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

Brief Job Description: Interact with customer to provide information, support and problem resolution to inquiries and order status

Basic Qualification: Fluent in Mandarin both oral and written.

WU, YIJIA Mandarin Customer Service Representative 33.

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

Brief Job Description: Interact with customer to provide information, support and problem resolution to inquiries and other status

Basic Qualification: Fluent in Mandarin both oral and written.

XIAO, LONGYAO Mandarin Customer Service Representative 34.

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

Brief Job Description: Interact with customer to provide information, support and problem resolution to inquiries and order status.

Basic Qualification: Fluent in Mandarin both oral and written

YANG, MING Mandarin Customer Service Representative 35.

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

Brief Job Description: Interact with customer to provide information, support and problem resolution to inquiries and other status

Basic Qualification: Fluent in Mandarin both oral and written.

YANG, YANG Mandarin Customer Service Representative 36.

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

Brief Job Description: Interact with customer to provide information, support and problem resolution to inquiries and other status

Basic Qualification: Fluent in Mandarin both oral and written.

YANG, CHUANHANG Mandarin Customer Service Representative 37.

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

YANG, XIAOBO Mandarin Customer Service Representative 38.

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

Brief Job Description: Interact with customer to provide information, support and problem resolution to inquiries and order status.

ZHANG, GUIXING Mandarin Customer Service Representative

39.

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

Brief Job Description: Interact with customer to provide information, support and problem resolution to inquiries and order status.

Brief Job Description: Interact with customer to provide information, support and problem resolution to inquiries and other status ZHANG, XIAOXIAO Mandarin Customer Service Representative

40.

Brief Job Description: Interact with customer to provide information, support and problem resolution to inquiries and other status

Saturday, June 19, 2021 A13

ESTABLISHMENT / ADDRESS QUALIFICATION AND SALARY RANGE Basic Qualification: Fluent in Mandarin both oral and written.

No.

ZHOU, YU Mandarin Customer Service Representative 41.

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

LAOWONG, SUTTIDA Thai Speaking Customer Service Representative 42.

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 Basic Qualification: Fluent in Mandarin both oral and written 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 Basic Qualification: Fluent in Mandarin both oral and written 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 Basic Qualification: Fluent in Mandarin both oral and written 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 Basic Qualification: Fluent in Mandarin both oral and written 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 Basic Qualification: Fluent in Mandarin both oral and written 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 Basic Qualification: Fluent in Mandarin both oral and written 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

43.

Basic Qualification: Fluent in Mandarin both oral and written.

Brief Job Description: Responsible for the company marketing communication activities with the goal

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ARR LU MAY Chinese Customer Specialist Brief Job Description: Managing incoming calls and customer service inquiries DAI, WENYUAN Chinese Customer Specialist Brief Job Description: Managing incoming calls and customer service inquiries DARWIS Chinese Customer Specialist Brief Job Description: Managing incoming calls and customer service inquiries DENG, QIN Chinese Customer Specialist Brief Job Description: Managing incoming calls and customer service inquiries DENG, FEIJIAN Chinese Customer Specialist Brief Job Description: Managing incoming calls and customer service inquiries DONG, ZHICHENG Chinese Customer Specialist Brief Job Description: Managing incoming calls and customer service inquiries GUO, XIAOJUN Chinese Customer Specialist Brief Job Description: Managing incoming calls and customer service inquiries LIU, KUN Chinese Customer Specialist Brief Job Description: Managing incoming calls and customer service inquiries NONG, XUEJIN Chinese Customer Specialist Brief Job Description: Managing incoming calls and customer service inquiries WANG, JINGJING Chinese Customer Specialist Brief Job Description: Managing incoming calls and customer service inquiries YUAN, ZHILING Chinese Customer Specialist Brief Job Description: Managing incoming calls and customer service inquiries ZHU, XIDONG Chinese Customer Specialist Brief Job Description: Managing incoming calls and customer service inquiries

SABACH, NADAV Finance Manager 56.

Brief Job Description: Ensure Business Process Administration and Financial Management Maintaining Accounting System Review Financial Reports Monitor Financial Details to ensure Legal Compliance

COHEN, MOSHE OZ ISRAEL Technical Sourcing Specialist

Basic Qualification: Fluent in Mandarin both oral and written

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

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

Basic Qualification: Preferably with 6 months to 1 year customer service experience Salary Range: Php 30,000 - Php 59,999 Basic Qualification: Preferably with 6 months to 1 year marketing experience and must be fluent in Vietnamese speaking 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 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 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

BEST RELIABLE RESOURCES CORP. Ub 111 Paseo De Roxas Bldg. Paseo De Roxas San Lorenzo Makati City

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

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

Basic Qualification: Fluent in Mandarin both oral and written

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

Basic Qualification: Fluent in Mandarin both oral and written.

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

Brief Job Description: Deal with all customer’s queries/complaints, should be fluent in Thai and English speaking NGUYEN TRA MI Vietnamese Speaking Product Marketing Specialist

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

Brief Job Description: Interact with customer to provide information, support and problem resolution to inquiries and other status

QUALIFICATION AND SALARY RANGE

ALFANET GLOBAL SOLUTIONS, INC. Flr. No. 4th & 5th W Mall Bldg. Diosdado Macapagal Ave. St. Zone 10. Barangay 076, District 1 Pasay City

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

NAME OF FOREIGN NATIONAL , POSITION AND BRIEF DESCRIPTION

57.

Brief Job Description: Source and engage mission Driven quality candidates in line with hiring goals Ensure positive Candidate experience and memorable relationships Schedule phone screens and onsite interviews for high volume hiring work closely with our recruiting team and hiring managers to develop and maintain a strong candidate flow in order to meet quarterly hiring goals

Basic Qualification: Bachelor’s degree in Finance Accounting or related/ 3 years FP&A, Investment Banking / Management consulting EXP ACCA, IFA A-Level / Hebrew speaker preferred / English speaker Salary Range: Php 60,000 - Php 89,999 Basic Qualification: Bachelor’s degree in Human Resources/Business Ad / 6 years sourcing experience / applicant tracking systems Taleo Bullhorn ICIMS / Hebrew speaker preferred English speaker Salary Range: Php 60,000 - Php 89,999

CHN-PHL HUAIYUAN INTERNATIONAL CONSTRUCTION CORPORATION Unit A&b 20/f Rufino Pacific Tower 6784 Ayala Avenue San Lorenzo Makati City

BusinessMirror

A14 Saturday, June 19, 2021

ESTABLISHMENT / ADDRESS No.

NAME OF FOREIGN NATIONAL , POSITION AND BRIEF DESCRIPTION LIU, HAIFENG Mandarin Reinforcement Iron Analyst

58.

Brief Job Description: Determine quantities, sizes, shapes and location of reinforcing rods from blueprints sketches or oral instruction, position and secure steel bars, rods, cables in concrete forms

CHEN, CHANGWEN Mandarin Structural Rigger Analyst 59.

Brief Job Description: Monitor and maintain rigging equipment to ensure safety. Report all safety concerns/issues to management immediately. Set up and break down necessary equipment.

ESTABLISHMENT / ADDRESS QUALIFICATION AND SALARY RANGE Basic Qualification: With good oral and communication skills, specifically in English and Mandarin language familiarity in field and construction works.

Basic Qualification: With good oral and communication skills, specifically in English and Mandarin language familiarity in field and construction works.

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

60.

Brief Job Description: Assist external users of the client’s technical products or services, identify, investigates, research and provide resolution to users questions and problems

Basic Qualification: Associate’s Degree in related discipline with six years of related technical experience

HARI, MUKAND Hindi Speaking Technical Support 61.

Brief Job Description: Accurately process and record call transaction using computers and designated tracking software

SUKHBIR SINGH Hindi Speaking Technical Support 62.

Brief Job Description: Accurately process and record call transaction using computers and designated tracking software

75.

76.

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

77.

63.

Brief Job Description: Prepare airline and custom documentation

GROSJEAN, ROMAIN MICHEL JOSEPH General Manager For Regional Business Unit

64.

Brief Job Description: Evaluate an optimize marketing and pricing strategies

79.

65.

Brief Job Description: Plan, develop and deliver Ducasse Institute Pastry Courses

66.

67.

68.

Brief Job Description: To provide customer service LUO, KAI It Technical Mandarin Brief Job Description: To provide customer service LI, JIANCHUAN Mandarin Customer Service Brief Job Description: To provide customer service

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

80.

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

Basic Qualification: College graduate. Preferably 2 years’ experience in Admin and Marketing position Salary Range: Php 60,000 - Php 89,999

Basic Qualification: Ducasse Institute Certification on pastry expertise with experience at least 2 years Salary Range: Php 150,000 - Php 499,999

Basic Qualification: Knowledgeable in networks and systems

Basic Qualification: Knowledgeable in networks and systems

81.

69.

Brief Job Description: Attracts potential customer by answering product and service questions , suggesting information about other products and services LI, MAN WAI Mandarin Speaking Customer Service Representative

70.

Brief Job Description: Attracts potential customer by answering product and service questions , suggesting information about other products and services LU, TINGTING Mandarin Speaking Customer Service Representative

71.

Brief Job Description: Attracts potential customer by answering product and service questions , suggesting information about other products and services SUN, HUI Mandarin Speaking Customer Service Representative

72.

Brief Job Description: Attracts potential customer by answering product and service questions , suggesting information about other products and services WANG, JIAXIN Mandarin Speaking Customer Service Representative

73.

Brief Job Description: Attracts potential customer by answering product and service questions , suggesting information about other products and services WANG, LI Mandarin Speaking Customer Service Representative

74.

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

Basic Qualification: 18-50 Y/O, Good organization , skills proficient in relevant computer applications

82.

Salary Range: Php 30,000 - Php 59,999 Basic Qualification: 18-50 Y/O, Good organization , skills proficient in relevant computer applications Salary Range: Php 30,000 - Php 59,999

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Basic Qualification: 18-50 Y/O, Good organization , skills proficient in relevant computer applications Salary Range: Php 30,000 - Php 59,999 Basic Qualification: 18-50 Y/O, Good organization , skills proficient in relevant computer applications Salary Range: Php 30,000 - Php 59,999

Basic Qualification: 18-50 Y/O, Good organization , skills proficient in relevant computer applications Salary Range: Php 30,000 - Php 59,999 Basic Qualification: 18-50 Y/O, Good organization , skills proficient in relevant computer applications Salary Range: Php 30,000 - Php 59,999

Basic Qualification: A degree in chemical or relevant field within JJIP industry segment and 10 years of successful track record in management role Salary Range: Php 150,000 - Php 499,999

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

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Salary Range: Php 30,000 - Php 59,999 102.

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

Basic Qualification: College graduate; 1 year service and sales experience; Fluent in Korean and English Salary Range: Php 90,000 - Php 149,999

Brief Job Description: Conducting research and marketing strategies to develop areas of the business

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

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CHEN, JIAN Chinese Customer Service Brief Job Description: Managing incoming calls and customer service inquiries CHEN, KUNJIE Chinese Customer Service Brief Job Description: Managing incoming calls and customer service inquiries DIEP QUOC HIEN Chinese Customer Service Brief Job Description: Managing incoming calls and customer service inquiries GAN, XING Chinese Customer Service Brief Job Description: Managing incoming calls and customer service inquiries HAN, LIN Chinese Customer Service Brief Job Description: Managing incoming calls and customer service inquiries JAR LA Chinese Customer Service Brief Job Description: Managing incoming calls and customer service inquiries JIANG, XIN Chinese Customer Service Brief Job Description: Managing incoming calls and customer service inquiries KYEIN YWAE Chinese Customer Service Brief Job Description: Managing incoming calls and customer service inquiries LI, ZEXIAN Chinese Customer Service Brief Job Description: Managing incoming calls and customer service inquiries LIANG, YOUCAI Chinese Customer Service Brief Job Description: Managing incoming calls and customer service inquiries

LIN, ZHIYONG Chinese Customer Service Brief Job Description: Managing incoming calls and customer service inquiries OU, YONGJIAN Chinese Customer Service Brief Job Description: Managing incoming calls and customer service inquiries

104.

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

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

Salary Range: Php 30,000 - Php 59,999 Basic Qualification: 18-50 Y/O, Good organization , skills proficient in relevant computer applications

Brief Job Description: Ascertain industry/ logistics best practices to identify new and/ or unique programs to differentiate Customer from the marketplace and drive customer satisfaction.

XIAO, BING Mandarin Speaking Marketing Specialist

87.

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

95.

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

MIGHTY-MERCHANT BUSINESS TRADING INCORPORATED Unit 2505- E The Finance Centre 26th St. Fort Bonifacio Taguig City

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

Basic Qualification: 18-50 Y/O, Good organization , skills proficient in relevant computer applications

Brief Job Description: Conducting research and marketing strategies to develop areas of the business

OH, SEOKJIN Marketing Consultant

Salary Range: Php 30,000 - Php 59,999 Basic Qualification: Knowledgeable in managing incoming calls

Basic Qualification: 18-50 Y/O, Good organization , skills proficient in relevant computer applications

No.

KPLS GLOBAL PHILIPPINES INC. Block 1lot 2 Marion Road 1 Marian Subdivision San Martin De Porres Parañaque City

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

INTEGRITY GLOBAL GROUP, INC. 2/f-3/f Ayala Malls Circuit A.p. Reyes Ave. Carmona Makati City CRUZ TAVERAS, ARELIS DEL CARMEN Mandarin Speaking Customer Service Representative

Brief Job Description: Maintain, manage and repair IT systems

LI, GUANJUN Mandarin Speaking Marketing Specialist

FIRST GREAT COMPUTER TECHNOLOGIES INC. Lot 5 Sta. Agueda Cor. Queensway Pagcor Drive Sto. Niño Parañaque City FAN, LIANG It Technical Mandarin

MUN, JUNGHO Technical Support Specialist

KING-MERCHANT BUSINESS TRADING INCORPORATED Unit 2505-f The Finance Centre 26th St. Fort Bonifacio Taguig City

Basic Qualification: Have skills in documentation

QUALIFICATION AND SALARY RANGE

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

ENDERUN COLLEGES, INC. 1100 Campus Avenue Mckinley Hill Pinagsama Taguig City MOREAU, LAETITIA FANNY GWENAELLE Ducasse Institute Executive Pastry Chef

Brief Job Description: The General Manager for Regional Business Unit (RBU), as Head of Company for Philippines, has overall accountability and authority of the executive function of the company.

Basic Qualification: College graduate, strong verbal and written communication skills with an ability to build relationships in India Punjabi, Hindi speaking

ECOSAN FOOD AND HEALTH CARE INC. Suite A, 2/f Basic Petroleum Bldg. 104 C. Palanca St. San Lorenzo Makati City BRASLAVSKII, VLADIMIR Admin And Marketing Officer

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

ESTABLISHMENT / ADDRESS

JEBSEN & JESSEN INGREDIENTS (P) INC. 5th Orion Bldg. 11th Ave. Cor. 38th St., Bonifacio Global City Fort Bonifacio Taguig City

DEXIN INTERNATIONAL IMPORT AND EXPORT CORP. 534 Tomas Mapua St. 029 Bgy. 298 Santa Cruz Manila CHEN, GUIFA Chinese Cargo Office Agent

Brief Job Description: Attracts potential customer by answering product and service questions , suggesting information about other products and services YANG, AITING Mandarin Speaking Customer Service Representative

78.

Basic Qualification: College graduate, strong verbal and written communication skills with an ability to build relationships in India Punjabi, Hindi speaking

Brief Job Description: Attracts potential customer by answering product and service questions , suggesting information about other products and services WEI, WANJING Mandarin Speaking Customer Service Representative

Salary Range: Php 60,000 - Php 89,999

COUNTRYWIDE TRAVEL & TOURS CORP. 2/f Rfc Mall Alabang-zapote Road Pamplona Tres Las Piñas City

NAME OF FOREIGN NATIONAL , POSITION AND BRIEF DESCRIPTION WANG, LIANG Mandarin Speaking Customer Service Representative

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

CONCENTRIX SERVICES CORPORATION 18th, 20th, 21st Floor, Tera Tower Bridgetown Along C-5 Road Ugong Norte Quezon City KIM, EUN SU Advisor I, Technical Support

No.

www.businessmirror.com.ph

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

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

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

Brief Job Description: Managing incoming calls and customer service inquiries SUN, LIMIN Chinese Customer Service Brief Job Description: Managing incoming calls and customer service inquiries TAO, WEIHAO Chinese Customer Service Brief Job Description: Managing incoming calls and customer service inquiries WANG, FEI Chinese Customer Service Brief Job Description: Managing incoming calls and customer service inquiries WANG, YIBIN Chinese Customer Service Brief Job Description: Managing incoming calls and customer service inquiries WANG, XUEFENG Chinese Customer Service Brief Job Description: Managing incoming calls and customer service inquiries WANG, SHILIN Chinese Customer Service Brief Job Description: Managing incoming calls and customer service inquiries WEI, QING Chinese Customer Service Brief Job Description: Managing incoming calls and customer service inquiries WU, ZHAOYANG Chinese Customer Service Brief Job Description: Managing incoming calls and customer service inquiries YANG, JIAN Chinese Customer Service Brief Job Description: Managing incoming calls and customer service inquiries ZHANG, JINXIN Chinese Customer Service Brief Job Description: Managing incoming calls and customer service inquiries ZHAO, ZHENHUI Chinese Customer Service Brief Job Description: Managing incoming calls and customer service inquiries ZHENG, JIAHAO Chinese Customer Service Brief Job Description: Managing incoming calls and customer service inquiries ZOU, KUN Chinese Customer Service Brief Job Description: Managing incoming calls and customer service inquiries ZOU, DAFAN Chinese Customer Service Brief Job Description: Managing incoming calls and customer service inquiries CHEN, YUJIAN Chinese Customer Specialist Brief Job Description: Managing incoming calls and customer service inquiries LEI, FEI Chinese Customer Specialist Brief Job Description: Managing incoming calls and customer service inquiries LI, MENG Chinese Customer Specialist Brief Job Description: Managing incoming calls and customer service inquiries LIU, LINGGAO Chinese Customer Specialist Brief Job Description: Managing incoming calls and customer service inquiries NGUYEN THI THAI Chinese Customer Specialist Brief Job Description: Managing incoming calls and customer service inquiries SHEN, SHAOYING Chinese Customer Specialist Brief Job Description: Managing incoming calls and customer service inquiries

HU, YANQIU Chinese Customer Service

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

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

PAN, LIANGJUN Chinese Customer Service

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

NEW ORIENTAL CLUB88 CORPORATION 3rd, 5th, 6th, 7th, 8th, 9th & 10th/f Pearl Marina Building Pacific Drive Don Galo Parañaque City

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

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

LI, YANG Chinese Customer Service 117.

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

Basic Qualification: College graduate , preferably 1 year chinese customer service experience in the similar field, must be fluent in mandarin and english written and orally Salary Range: Php 30,000 - Php 59,999 Basic Qualification: College graduate , preferably 1 year chinese customer service experience in the similar field, must be fluent in mandarin and english written and orally Salary Range: Php 30,000 - Php 59,999

BusinessMirror

www.businessmirror.com.ph

ESTABLISHMENT / ADDRESS No.

NAME OF FOREIGN NATIONAL , POSITION AND BRIEF DESCRIPTION PU, ZHICHENG Chinese Customer Service

118.

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

WANG, HAIYU Chinese Customer Service 119.

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

WEN, YONG Chinese Customer Service 120.

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

XIANG, YUQIANG Chinese Customer Service 121.

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

XIE, XIAOHUI Chinese Customer Service 122.

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

YAN, JINPING Chinese Customer Service 123.

ESTABLISHMENT / ADDRESS

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

QUALIFICATION AND SALARY RANGE Basic Qualification: College graduate , preferably 1 year chinese customer service experience in the similar field, must be fluent in mandarin and english written and orally

Basic Qualification: College graduate, preferably 1 year Chinese Customer Service experience in the similar field, must be fluent in Mandarin and English, written and orally.

124.

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

YAM CHAK WAH Malaysian Customer Service 125.

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

PHYU PHYU THWE Myanmari Customer Service 126.

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

CHENH A PAU Vietnamese Customer Service 127.

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

DUONG TUAN ANH Vietnamese Customer Service 128.

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

TRAN THANH PHAT Vietnamese Customer Service 129.

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

TRAN THI HUONG Vietnamese Customer Service 130.

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

Salary Range: Php 30,000 - Php 59,999 Basic Qualification: College graduate, preferably 1 year Chinese Customer Service experience in the similar field, must be fluent in Mandarin and English, written and orally.

131.

Brief Job Description: To analyze and design business processes in collaboration with stakeholders XIE, LIANJIE Multilingual Business Process Development Consultant

132.

Brief Job Description: To analyze and design business processes in collaboration with stakeholders

133.

Basic Qualification: College graduate, preferably 1 year Chinese Customer Service experience in the similar field, must be fluent in Mandarin and English, written and orally.

Salary Range: Php 30,000 - Php 59,999 Basic Qualification: College graduate, preferably 1 year Chinese Customer Service Representative experience in the similar field, must be fluent in Mandarin and English, written and orally. College graduate, preferably 1 year Chinese Customer Service Representative experience in the similar field, must be fluent in Mandarin and English, written and orally.

Basic Qualification: College graduate, preferably 1 year Chinese Customer Service Representative experience in the similar field, must be fluent in Mandarin and English, written and orally.

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

Brief Job Description: It process complaints and issues related to products or services, they help customers complete purchases, upgrades, and returns, and frequently provide advice and technical assistance as well.

LI, BINGSHUN Multilingual Customer Service Specialist

134.

Brief Job Description: It process complaints and issues related to products or services, they help customers complete purchases, upgrades, and returns, and frequently provide advice and technical assistance as well.

YANG, CHANGJIE Multilingual Customer Service Specialist

135.

QUALIFICATION AND SALARY RANGE

Brief Job Description: It process complaints and issues related to products or services, they help customers complete purchases, upgrades, and returns, and frequently provide advice and technical assistance as well.

ZHANG, MENGYU Chinese Finance Manager 136.

Brief Job Description: Manage the company financial accounting, monitoring and reporting system

WU, JIANHUA Chinese Technical Supervisor 137.

Brief Job Description: Manage teams of technicians in a supervisory capacity and travel into field to oversee workers and conduct inspections on complete work orders

Basic Qualification: 18-50 y/o, good organizational skills, proficient in relevant computer applications

Basic Qualification: 18-50 y/o, good organizational skills, proficient in relevant computer applications Salary Range: Php 30,000 - Php 59,999 Basic Qualification: 18-50 y/o, good organizational skills, proficient in relevant computer applications Salary Range: Php 30,000 - Php 59,999

138.

Brief Job Description: Conducting research and marketing strategies to develop areas of the business CHENG, CHUN-HSIEN Mandarin Team Leader

139.

Brief Job Description: Leading the team with motivation and inspire to reach the goal

140.

Brief Job Description: Control and oversee all business operations YAN, JINFENG Translator/interpreter

141.

Brief Job Description: Reads through or listens to material in one language etc., and converts it into a second language, making sure to preserve the original meaning

LEONG ZHEN SEONG Mandarin It Support Staff

LIN, YOULIANG Mandarin It Support Staff 143.

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

144.

145.

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

TRIVEDI, HARSH PARIMAL Senior Manager - Account Management 146.

MEI, ZHUANG Mandarin Customer Service 152.

Brief Job Description: Performance tracking evaluation and feedback to team members

LI, LICHUN Consultant 147.

Brief Job Description: Conducting research surveys and interviews to gain understanding of the business

GAO, MINGFEI Financial Service Consultant 148.

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

Brief Job Description: A Commendable sales performance specializing in financial services and in corporate banking or wealth management/ Financial planning services to high net worth clients , Fluency in English and Mandarin Language is a must LIU, CHUANHONG Marketing Specialist

149.

Brief Job Description: Developing and Implementing marketing plans, Undertaking competitor research and analyses Conducting market research to establish customer trends and habits, et al.,

Brief Job Description: Serves customers by providing product and service information and resolving product and service problems.

ZHANG, ZHENGWEN Mandarin Customer Service Brief Job Description: Serves customers by providing product and service information and resolving product and service problems.

ROBIN GOH KOK LIN Chinese Speaking Admin Associate 154.

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

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

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.

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: Proficiency in handling customer questions about services or products, excellent Mandarin communication skills Salary Range: Php 30,000 - Php 59,999

VPC CORPORATE SOLUTIONS INCORPORATED 11/f 100 West, Sen Gil Puyat Ave. Cor. Washington St. Pio Del Pilar Makati City SHI, XIAOYUAN Bilingual Marketing Specialist

Basic Qualification: Foreign language speaking

155.

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

WISHLAND SOFTWARE TECHNOLOGY INC. 28/f Techzone Condo Corp. 213 Buendia Ave. San Antonio Makati City

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

156.

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

Basic Qualification: At least with five (5) years’ experience

157.

Salary Range: Php 30,000 - Php 59,999 Basic Qualification: At least with one (1) year experience

158.

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

Basic Qualification: Excellent oral and written communication in MANDARIN.

159.

160.

Salary Range: Php 30,000 - Php 59,999 Basic Qualification: Excellent oral and written communication in MANDARIN.

161.

162.

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

Basic Qualification: Strong Knowledge of consumer industry , ability to think critically and creativity fluency in English and Mandarin Language is a Must Salary Range: Php 30,000 - Php 59,999 Basic Qualification: Excellent communication interpersonal and listening skills , the capability to explain complex information simply and clearly , the ability to network and establish relationships with clients

HE, HANG Chinese Customer Service Staff Brief Job Description: Deal with and help resolve customer complaints

163.

Brief Job Description: Deal with and help resolve customer complaints SONG, YUQING Chinese Customer Service Staff Brief Job Description: Deal with and help resolve customer complaints

Brief Job Description: Providing details to clients relative to service being offered

Brief Job Description: Providing details to client relative to services being offered

Brief Job Description: Providing details to client relative to services being offered

Brief Job Description: Providing details to client relative to services being offered YAN, JIACAI Chinese Marketing Staff

164.

165.

166.

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

LIEW CHI YAN Chinese Customer Service Staff

TANG, YAO Chinese Marketing Staff

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

Basic Qualification: 8+ years of management experience, solid experience managing operations for a technology account

Brief Job Description: Deal with and help resolve customer complaints

SU, YU Chinese Marketing Staff

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

CHOU, KUEI-YU Chinese Customer Service Staff

PAN, CHUNJIANG Chinese Marketing Staff

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

Brief Job Description: Conduct market research to find answers about consumer requirements, habits & trends.

HUANG, XIANGPENG Chinese Marketing Staff

TANZILA TRADING INC. U-29 3/f Bac. Bagong Milenyo F.b. Harrison St. Brgy. 076 Pasay City

Basic Qualification: 18-55 y/o, with atleast 6 months experience, with good oral anditten

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

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

Basic Qualification: Strong Knowledge of consumer industry , ability to think critically and creativity fluency in English and Mandarin Language is a Must

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

SUTHERLAND GLOBAL SERVICES PHILIPPINES, INC. 12th Floor Philplans Corporate Center Kalayaan Avenue & Triangle Drive Fort Bonifacio Taguig City

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

Basic Qualification: 18-55 y/o, with atleast 6 months experience, with good oral anditten

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 LI, XIAOYAN Mandarin Marketing Staff

Salary Range: Php 30,000 - Php 59,999 Basic Qualification: College graduate, preferably 1 year Chinese Customer Service experience in the similar field, must be fluent in Mandarin and English, written and orally.

Brief Job Description: Design and implement software solutions that can be enable the business to operate.

HUANG, XIAOFENG Mandarin Marketing Staff

Salary Range: Php 30,000 - Php 59,999 Basic Qualification: College graduate, preferably 1 year Chinese Customer Service experience in the similar field, must be fluent in Mandarin and English, written and orally.

Brief Job Description: Design and implement software solutions that can be enable the business to operate.

Brief Job Description: Serves customers by providing product and service information and resolving product and service problems.

VISA VALOR CONSULTANCY INCORPORATED Unit 25d 2/f Zeta Ii Bldg. 191 Salcedo St. San Lorenzo Makati City

142.

Basic Qualification: College graduate , preferably 1 year Chinese customer service experience in the similar field, must be fluent in mandarin and English written and orally

151.

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

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

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

CHEN, HONGJUN Mandarin Customer Service

153.

Basic Qualification: fluent in mandarin and English language both in written and verbal, must familiar in financial management

QUALIFICATION AND SALARY RANGE

TELFA OUTSOURCING SERVICES INC. Unit 3b Mrb 1160 J. Bocobo St., 072 Bgy. 670 Ermita Manila

SKY DWELLER HOLDING INC U-54b Zeta Ii Bldg. 191 Salcedo St. San Lorenzo Makati City LI, HONGXING Managing Director

Brief Job Description: Creating and Implementation of a trade marketing strategy managing brand awareness across various categories and products develop implement and communicate metrics reporting processes and documentation across plants and companies in collaboration with operations, marketed and sales functions fluency in english and mandarin language is a must

Basic Qualification: fluent in mandarin and English language both in written and verbal, must familiar in financial management

SKYLUSTER TECHNOLOGY, INC. 10/f The Enterprise Center Tower 2 6766 Ayala Ave. Cor. Paseo De Roxas San Lorenzo Makati City 28/f Tower 6789 6789 Ayala Ave. Bel-air Makati City

Basic Qualification: College graduate , preferably 1 year Chinese customer service experience in the similar field, must be fluent in mandarin and English written and orally

150.

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

RED DOT MARKETING AND BRANDING INC. Unit 1514 Burgundy Transpacific Place Taft Ave. 079, Bgy. 727 Malate Manila TRINH HUU DUC Foreign Language Marketing Specialist

NAME OF FOREIGN NATIONAL , POSITION AND BRIEF DESCRIPTION HUANG, BIYING Trade Marketing Specialist

Basic Qualification: College graduate, preferably 1 year Chinese Customer Service experience in the similar field, must be fluent in Mandarin and English, written and orally.

Basic Qualification: College graduate , preferably 1 year Chinese customer service experience in the similar field, must be fluent in mandarin and English written and orally

No.

POWERCHINA PHILIPPINES CORPORATION Unit 2101 21/f Bdo Equitable Tower 8751 Paseo De Roxas Bel-air Makati City

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

OKKDA ASIA TECHNOLOGY INC. Unit 5b 5/f Marvin Plaza 2153 C. Roces Ave. Pio Del Pilar Makati City XIE, KUNHUI Multilingual Business Process Development Consultant

HUANG, MAOTAO Multilingual Customer Service Specialist

Salary Range: Php 30,000 - Php 59,999 Basic Qualification: College graduate, preferably 1 year Chinese Customer Service Representative experience in the similar field, must be fluent in Mandarin and English, written and orally.

NAME OF FOREIGN NATIONAL , POSITION AND BRIEF DESCRIPTION

ESTABLISHMENT / ADDRESS

OPTIMORE INC. Unit 3-c 3/f Lpl Tower 112 Legaspi St. San Lorenzo Makati City

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

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

CHAN CHOON PO Malaysian Customer Service

No.

Saturday, June 19, 2021 A15

Brief Job Description: Providing details to clients relative to service being offered DANG THE HIEU Vietnamese Customer Service Staff Brief Job Description: Deal with and help resolve customer complaints CHIEU KIM PHUNG Vietnamese Customer Service Staff Brief Job Description: Deal with and help resolve customer complaints

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

*Date Generated: Jun 18, 2021 In the ad material of Notice of Filing of Application for Alien Employment Permits published on June 17, 2021, the name of WANG, PANGTING under SKYLUSTER TECHNOLOGY, INC., should have been read as WANG, PANTING and not as published.

Any person in the Philippines who is competent, able and willing to perform the services for which the foreign national is desired may file an objection at DOLE-NCR Regional Office located at DOLE-NCR Building, 967 Maligaya St., Malate Manila, within 30 days after this publication.

Please inform DOLE-NCR if you have any information on criminal offense committed by the foreign nationals.

Salary Range: Php 30,000 - Php 59,999 Basic Qualification: Strong Knowledge of consumer industry , ability to think critically and creativity fluency in English and Mandarin Language is a Must Salary Range: Php 30,000 - Php 59,999

ATTY. SARAH BUENA S. MIRASOL REGIONAL DIRECTOR