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BOP IN DEFICIT ANEW, www.businessmirror.com.ph

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Thursday, June 24, 2021 Vol. 16 No. 253

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

BLEEDS $1.4B IN MAY ’21 INTERIOR and Local Government Undersecretary Marjorie Jalosjos and Las Piñas Vice Mayor April Aguilar-Nery visit one of the city’s 18 vaccination sites on Wednesday. The city has vaccinated 175,258 of its population, and all local government units in Metro Manila are ramping up their inoculation drives against Covid-19 as the nation struggles to attain herd immunity. The Philippine Red Cross is ramping up its vaccine drive, and the MMDA is eyeing to finish 10-million jabs in the metropolis in the next three months. Story on page A12. NONIE REYES

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@BcuaresmaBM

HE Philippines’s balance of payments (BOP) position went back to bleeding dollars in May after a one-month surplus in the previous month, the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas (BSP) reported on Wednesday.

Data from the Central Bank showed that the country’s BOP slumped back to a $1.4-billion deficit in May this year, after the $2.6-billion surplus in April. The May 2021 deficit is also a turnaround from the May 2020 surplus of $2.4 billion.

The BOP is usually considered an important economic indicator in an economy as it shows the level of earnings or expenses of the Phil-

ippines with its transactions with the world. A deficit means that the country had more dollar expenses than what it earned in foreign currency during the period.

The BSP attributed the May deficit mainly to outflows arising from the foreign currency withdrawals of the national government (NG) from its deposits with the BSP as S “BOP,” A

BSP seen to keep record low rates at MB meeting

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HE Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas (BSP) is likely to hold on to their low rates throughout the year, as the economy continues to grapple with renewed restrictions in an effort to contain the country’s Covid-19 cases, private economists said.

In separate analyses on Wednesday, economists at the ING Bank and Standard Chartered forecast that BSP will likely keep their monetary policy rates unchanged in their upcoming meeting today (Thursday), and for the rest of 2021.

“With inflation on the downturn and the economy still struggling with the ill effects of mobility curbs we expect Diokno to stick to

his guns, pledge accommodation and skip any mention of a rate hike or the implementation of his exit strategy for at least another year,” ING Bank economist Nicholas Mapa said.

Similar views have been shared by economists at Standard Chartered.

“We expect inflation to ease in the second half of the year as the low base from 2020 fades; this should provide BSP with space to maintain easy monetary policy, at least through the rest of 2021,” Standard Chartered said.

“Credit growth has declined to multi-decade lows on lukewarm C  A

PESO EXCHANGE RATES ■ US 48.7170

PANDEMIC STALLS BID TO CUT CHILD LABOR B C U. O @caiordinario

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EETING the government’s zero child labor goal next year may be an uphill climb especially with the suspension of the profiling of child laborers due to the pandemic, according to Social Watch Philippines (SWP).

Of the 266,873 profiled child laborers between 20182020, only 21 percent or 56,276 of the profiled children have been removed from child labor.

Under the updated Philippine Development Plan (PDP), SWP said the government’s target of zero child labor in the Philippines means removing 2.1 million children from the labor force by next year.

“In support of the childlabor-free Philippines, we have been advocating for the sufficient funding for the implementation of the child labor profiling and monitoring under the DOLE’s Child Labor Prevention and Elimination Program [CLPEP] and the Livelihood Assistance to Parents or Guardians of Child Laborers,” SWP explained.

SWP said the suspension of the profi ling of child laborers led to the realignment of P224.4 million for Covid-19 response programs of the DOLE. “The profiling and monitoring of child laborers is a crucial administrative initiative to fostering updated database

and assessment platform in the provision of interventions to remove them from child labor in a responsive manner.

Profiling and monitoring of child laborers should instead continue amid Covid-19,” SWP stressed.

The target of ending child labor in the country by next year was a welcome development for SWP after the initial version of the PDP aimed to merely reduce child laborers to 630,000 by next year.

SWP noted that the country’s commitment under the Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) 8.7 and the Third National Action Plan of Children underlines the Philippines’s obligation to eventually eradicate child labor by 2025.

However, SWP said attaining this target means the President must approve the Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE) proposal of providing P135 million for the salaries, operations and other expenses for the implementation of child labor profiling and monitoring in the 2022 national budget.

“Responsive and effective program on the prevention and elimination of child labor hinges on a firm policy commitment for adequate and sustained funding allocation,” SWP said.

The coordination between SWP and DOLE has led to the agency’s improved budget for the Child Labor Prevention

House eyes combination of Bayanihan 2, 3 in a bill B J M N. D C @joveemarie

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HE House of Representatives is eyeing to combine the expiring Bayanihan 2 law and the proposed Bayanihan 3 in one bill, a leader of the lower chamber said on Wednesday.

In a news conference, Albay Rep. Joey Sarte Salceda said Congress can now approve the proposed Bayanihan to Arise as One Act or the Bayanihan 3 into law as the Department of Finance (DOF) already found P173 billion to fund the third tranche of the Bayanihan law.

“We already have the go-ahead from the DOF to go as high as P173 billion for Bayanihan 3 so I think both of them [Bayanihan 2 and

Bayanihan 3] can be tackeled in a special session through Commitee of the Whole,” he said.

“We’re [the leadership] talking of combining Bayanihan 3 and extension of Bayanihan 2,” he said.

According to Salceda, Article VI, Section 15 of the House provides that “the President may call a special session at any time.”

“This was invoked in passing the Bayanihan to Heal as One Act. The House and the Senate are also allowed by their respective rules to call for a special session without the President’s call,” Salceda said.

Salceda earlier called for an extension of Bayanihan 2 through a memorandum for the House leadership, which the House tax panel S “H,” A

S “P,” A

■ JAPAN 0.4403 ■ UK 67.9553 ■ HK 6.2728 ■ CHINA 7.5169 ■ SINGAPORE 36.2613 ■ AUSTRALIA 36.7813 ■ EU 58.1730 ■ SAUDI ARABIA 12.9916

Source: BSP (June 23, 2021)

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News BusinessMirror

Thursday, June 24, 2021

BOP...

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the NG settled its foreign currency debt obligations and paid for various expenditures.

These outflows were partly offset, however, by the inflows from the BSP’s foreign exchange operations and from the NG’s external borrowings that were deposited with the BSP. The deficit in May also pushed the cumulative BOP position of the country for the period January to May 2021 to a deficit of $1.63 billion, a reversal of the $4.03-billion surplus recorded in the same period a year ago.

“Based on preliminary data, this cumulative BOP deficit was partly attributed to wider merchandise trade deficit and net outflows of foreign portfolio investments,” the BSP said.

The BSP recently said it expected the country’s BOP to hit a surplus of $7.1 billion by the end of the year. This means the country must incur a monthly average surplus in BOP of $1.2 billion for the rest of the year.

Despite the optimism on the BOP’s recovery, the BSP earlier said the threat of resurgence of Covid-19 cases, the emergence of new variants of the virus and the risk of slower-than-expected vaccine deployment amid supply issues could “cast a shadow” on the projected recovery path of the BOP. For 2022, the BSP projects overall BOP surplus to settle lower at $2.7 billion, driven mainly by the anticipated narrower current account surplus for the year.

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PHL Covid-19 case trend shows signs of decline—DOH official

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@Claudethmc3

HE country’s Covid-19 case trend may be showing signs of decline, but areas outside of the National Capital Region (NCR) Plus are reporting higher figures, according to an official of the Department of Health (DOH).

In an online Kapihan Session, Dr. Alethea de Guzman, Epidemiology Bureau Director of the DOH, noted that cases in other areas of Luzon, Visayas, and Mindanao have all “surpassed” the numbers reported by areas in the NCR Plus.

This as the DOH logged 4,353 additional Covid-19 cases on June 23, with 7,139 recoveries and 119 deaths. The total number of infections in the country rose to 1,372,232 while the death toll stood at 23,928.

“There is a continuous slowing

down of the decline in cases in the NCR Plus areas. Mindanao exhibited consistent increases in cases since the second week of June and currently has the highest number of reported cases,” de Guzman said.

While there are some improvements in the critical care capacity of Visayas and Mindanao areas, she said critical care utilization is still reaching high to critical risk levels, “thus, the need for continuous monitoring and immediate augmentation to prevent further increase in deaths.”

“This is a marathon, not a race.

It took mere weeks to reach the new peak in cases but the decline in trend takes months even with strict CQ [community quarantine] classification. Regions have to monitor not just daily data but trends to see if we are doing better or worse. And act fast,” de Guzman said.

In her presentation, de Guzman said there is a slight increase in the two-week growth rate and average daily attack rate (ADAR) seen nationally. She noted that Caraga, Regions 6, 11, 12 are at high risk.

All regions are at low to moderate hospital care utilization rate (HCUR) while Region 11 is at critical risk ICU bed utilization rate (ICUR). Regions 2, 6, 12, and 10 are at high risk ICUR. As of June 22, de Guzman said that the top regions of new cases are: 1. Region 4A - 684 2. Region 8 - 447 3. NCR - 403 4. Region 6 - 316 5. Region 12 - 297

Top areas of new cases: 1. Laguna - 275 2. Cavite - 256 3. Bohol - 159 4. Isabela - 116 5. Southern Leyte - 113 6. South Cotabato - 113

Nationally, the case trend is showing signs of decline, the DOH official said.

The average daily reported cases in the country are as follows: June 16-22: 5,790; June 9-15: 6,678; June 2-8: 6,480; ; May 26-June 1: 6,692 ; and April 9-15 (peak): 10,845.

For NCR, case trend is exhibiting a slow decline after plateauing.

The average daily reported cases are: June 16-22: 685; June 9-15: 825;June 2-8: 949; May 26-June 1: 1,132; and March 29-April 4 (peak): 5,534.

In NCR, the ADAR remains high risk for Pateros, Makati, San Juan, Pasig, Pasay, and Las Piñas. The ICU utilization of Makati is at critical risk, while that of Las Piñas is at high risk.

SC JUNKS RAPS VS. MAYOR REXLON IN KENTEX FIRE T HE Supreme Court has affirmed the dismissal of the criminal and administrative charges filed against Valenzuela City

Mayor Rexlon Gatchalian and two other city officials in connection with the tragic fire inside the Kentex footwear factory that claimed

74 lives and injured several others on May 13, 2015.

In a 24-page decision penned by Associate Justice Rodil Zalameda, the Court’s First Division affirmed the ruling issued by the Court of Appeals (CA) on November 28, 2016, which ordered the dismissal of the administrative cases for grave misconduct and gross neglect of duty against Gatchalian.

Likewise, the SC upheld the Sandiganbayan’s decision issued in December 2016 which dismissed the criminal complaints for violation of Section 3 (e) and G of R.A. No. 3019 or the Anti-Graft and Corrupt Practices Act and reckless imprudence resulting in homicide and multiple physical injuries under Article 365 of the Revised Penal Code.

“In fine, the Court is convinced that the Sandiganbayan correctly dismissed the cases for lack of probable cause and the CA correctly granted Mayor Gatchalian's petition,” the SC ruled.

The rulings of the Court of Appeals and the Sandiganbayan were appealed before the SC by the Office of the Ombudsman and the Department of Interior and Local Government (DILG) and the Office of the Special Prosecutor, respectively.

Earlier, Gatchalian was found administratively liable by the Ombudsman after it was established by the Inter-Agency Anti-Arson Task Force that Kentex was issued with business permit on January 15, 2014 despite the lack of Fire Safety Inspection Certificate (FSIC).

On the other hand, named as Gatchalian’s co-respondents in the criminal complaint filed before the Sandiganbayan were Eduardo Carreon, who recommended the issuance of the business permit for Kentex in 2015 despite the lack of FSIC and lawyer Renchi Padayao, who signed the permit as officer-in-charge of the Business Permits and Licensing Office (BPLO), for Gatchalian.

In affirming the dismissal of the administrative complaint against Gatchalian, the SC said it would appear that the mayor “had no

hand in the issuance of the permits of Kentex” and all other businesses during the time relevant to the case, since this duty has already been delegated to the BPLO. It noted that Carreon recommended the approval of the permits while Padayao approved the same for Gatchalian.

“The Court holds that no substantial evidence exists to support the assailed joint resolution of the Ombudsman,” the SC pointed out.

In issuing business permits to Kentex, the SC said the City Government of Valenzuela merely followed the procedure laid down in Joint Memorandum Circular No. 1, Ordinance No. 62 and other administrative issuances of the Bureau of Fire Protection and the DILG. The said circular encourages local government units (LGU) to reduce the steps and processing time for business permits, and allows LGUs to issue “temporary permits” that give applicants a period of time (usually 2 to 3 months after issuance of the permit) to comply with the other requirements such as the FSIC. This streamlined procedure allowed the submission of the FSIC within a reasonable time after a business permit had been issued.

If no FSIC is submitted, the business permit is then revoked.

In appealing the Sandiganbayan’s decision dismissing the criminal complaint against Gatchalian, Carreon and Padayao, the special prosecutor argued that FSIC is an indispensable requirement under the Fire Code, which cannot be dispensed with on the basis of Ordinance No. 62, and other issuances.

However, the SC said: “There is no direct causal connection between the issuance of the business permit and the fire which resulted [in] the death and injury of the victims.”

It noted the proximate cause of the fire which resulted to the death and injury of the victims was the stockpiling of 400 sacks or ten tons of supercell blowing agent known as Azodicarbonamide, in an area not intended for such storage and adjacent to the welding activities near the stockpile. Joel R. San Juan

Old cables blamed for Clark’s PAF area outages B A M @ashleymanabat

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LARK FREEPORT—The Philippine Air Force (PAF) community inside this freeport zone is at a loss as to when electric power will be restored in their area.

This developed after a power outage hit the PAF housing area at the northwest section of this freeport since Thursday last week.

Residents said they have learned that it will take a month before power can be restored in their housing units, which leave them in a quandary.

On Wednesday, the Clark Development Corp. (CDC) said the PAF housing area has its own feeder and directly gets its electric power distribution from the Clark Electric Distribution Corp. (CEDC).

CDC communications manager Eric Jimenez said “CDC has nothing to do with their [electricity] needs.”

CEDC chief operating officer Radito “Ding” P. Tuazon confirmed that the PAF housing area maintains its own distribution lines with the use of underground cables which were installed since the time of the US Air Force.

But Tuazon disclosed that the PAF had already reached out to them for assistance.

“PAF operates and maintains their distribution lines within their area. They have underground problems...and their plan is to just install overhead lines, maybe 10 spans to restore the power,” he said.

He said CEDC has been continually helping the PAF community here. This time, they need the CEDC to endorse their budget plan to fi x their problem, he added.

Tuazon said he is puzzled as to why it was only now that the PAF had sought their assistance when it was confirmed that they have had no electricity since last week.

Pandemic...

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and Elimination Program.

The CLPEP received a budget of P100 million in 2019, and an additional P15 million and P30 million in 2020 and 2021, respectively.

The program also provided a P68.7-million budget for Livelihood of Parents of Child Laborers to 2,289 beneficiaries this year.

Under the CLPEP, each beneficiary receives P30,000 worth of subsidy from the DOLE.

BSP seen to keep record House... low rates at MB meeting

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private-sector activity; we expect it to remain muted this year on subdued sentiment. We expect BSP to keep rates on hold through 2021 and 2022, on a moderation in inflation combined with still-soft growth and subdued sentiment,” it added.

Earlier this week, Moody’s Analytics, the research arm of Moody’s Group also said the BSP will likely “delay further action” as near-term prospects “remain worrisome” for the Philippines. The next monetary policy meeting today,June 24, is the fourth such meeting of the

Central Bank for the year.

In the first three monetary policy meetings for the year, the BSP had opted to keep their rates at record-low levels despite rising inflation numbers in order to support the local economy.

“The BSP affirms that maintaining an accommodative stance should quicken the economy’s transition toward a sustainable recovery. The BSP remains committed to deploying its full range of instruments as appropriate in support of its price and financial stability mandates,” BSP Governor Benjamin Diokno earlier said.

Bianca Cuaresma

chairman says the leadership is actively exploring.

About P18.4 billion in unobligated funds for critical pandemic response and recovery programs under the Bayanihan are about to expire on June 30.

On the Bayanihan 3, the House already endorsed for Senate approval the proposed P401-billion Bayanihan to Arise as One Act or the Bayanihan 3.

The P401-billion bill is divided into three phases. Phase 1 would amount to P165.9 billion, Phase 2 with P186 billion and Phase 3 with P48.6 billion.

A4 Thursday, June 24, 2021 • Editor: Vittorio V. Vitug

Economy BusinessMirror

DOF says P8.71-B PDSL-2 loan to provide relief to vulnerable sectors in NCR Plus

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By Cai U. Ordinario

@caiordinario

HE latest disbursement of the P8.71 billion received under the second phase of the PostDisaster Standby Loan (PDSL-2) will help provide emergency assistance to vulnerable sectors, the Department of Finance (DOF) said.

Finance Secretary Carlos Dominguez III said the funds will be used as emergency cash aid to families affected by the enhanced community quarantine (ECQ) and modified ECQ (MECQ) that were imposed in the National Capital Region (NCR) and nearby provinces from March 27 to May 14 this year.

The disbursement represents the third tranche of the PDSL-2 loan extended by the Japan International Cooperation Agency (Jica) to the Philippines in September last year.

“We hope to utilize the amount to be disbursed under PDSL-2 to sup-

port a portion of the total requirement for the implementation of the SAP [Social Amelioration Program] and other mechanisms necessary to properly implement Covid-19 response and recovery interventions in the country,” Dominguez said.

Earlier, Dominguez wrote Jica Philippines Chief Representative Eigo Azukizawa last May 11 to request for the disbursement of the JPY20-billion fund.

The declaration of ECQ and MECQ in NCR and the provinces of Bulacan, Cavite, Laguna and Rizal, collectively known as the “NCR Plus

By Claudeth Mocon-Ciriaco

improve the delivery of quality education “no matter what the circumstances will be in the coming months. While we remain optimistic to open schools when our situation improves, we are ready to fulfill our constitutional mandate in supporting our learners and teachers in any form of learning available.”

On Monday, Education Secretary Leonor Magtolis Briones announced that some 300 schools across the country may conduct pilot limited F to F classes for school year (SY) 2021-2022. The original number was 1,900 schools as recommend by the regional directors of DepEd. “After the assessment, this was trimmed down to 600 schools, and then further lessened to 300 schools,” Briones said.

Briones then added, however that the number would still change,

We hope to utilize the amount to be disbursed under PDSL-2 to support a portion of the total requirement for the implementation of the SAP [Social Amelioration Program] and other mechanisms necessary to properly implemented Covid-19 response and recovery interventions in the country.

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Finance Secretary Carlos Dominguez III Bubble,” served as triggers for disbursements under PDSL-2.

In case of the current Covid-19 pandemic or any other public health emergency, the imposition of an ECQ or its equivalent in the NCR or in any other highly urbanized area in the country will trigger the disbursement of the loan. “Jica will continue to support our partner countries like the Philippines in building back better from the Covid-19 crisis,” Azukizawa said.

“The disbursement hopefully will support the social amelioration program for vulnerable people and sectors, and thereby cushion the economic impact of the pandemic in the

Philippines particularly job losses and support economic recovery efforts,” he added. The first and second tranches amounting to JPY10 billion each were released last October 27, 2020 and January 5, 2021, respectively.

PDSL-2 aims to quickly disburse Japanese funding support for post-disaster response efforts in the event of a national calamity or health emergency.

Under this agreement, the disbursement of the standby loan to the Philippines will be made available through: 1) the declaration of a state of calamity; or 2) declaration of a state of public health emergency.

“depending on the behavior of the Delta Covid-19 variant and Covid-19 will largely [have an impact] whether we will have extensive face-to-face or not.”

and “learn from the lessons of current school year before declaring the start of another.”

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House ad hoc body finds ‘win’ solution in MUP pension issue–lawmaker

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HE House Ad Hoc Committee on the Military and Uniformed Personnel (MUP) pension system on Wednesday approved the proposed retention of the current MUP pension scheme, with the condition that salary increases of MUP personnel will be capped at an annual increase of 5 percent for 10 years.

Following the executive meeting of the committee, panel chairman and Albay Rep. Joey Salceda said members of the committee approved the proposal as the new substitute bill after requests from the military and uniformed services to consider the unique risks in their profession.

“We have studied and listened to the concerns of the uniformed services. Our resolution is to simplify the reform. The heart of the problem is indexation to very rapidly growing salaries. So, the solution is to contain the most crucial aspect of the problem. Let’s contain uncontrollable salary increase,” said Salceda in a news statement.

Even with the 5-percent cap, the lawmaker said the MUPs still “win.”

“The average nominal wage increase over the last 5 years is 4.2

percent. Over the last 10 years, the growth has been 4.4 percent. So, if that cap is imposed, the MUP are still in a privileged place compared to others. This is part of our commitment to recognizing the inherent risks of their job,” Salceda added.

Under the current MUP system, almost the entire pension spending for MUP comes from the national budget.

“And because President Duterte raised their salaries almost by double, they are starting from a high base.

So, 5 percent for them is really much higher in monetary terms than 5 percent for a lower-paid employee,” Salceda explained.

“By retaining the pension system structure, I mean everything, including voluntary retirement. So, we are addressing the service members’ concerns about early retirement. We will not change how the pension is computed, or how benefits are computed,” Salceda said.

The lawmaker also explained that the proposed version saves the system from collapse, and ensures that the government can fund pensions for the next 10 years. Jovee Marie N. Dela Cruz

Pampanga poised to lead Drop F to F classes, stick to ‘enhanced’ blended learning–DepEd PHL’s tourism recovery @claudethmc3

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HE Department of Education (DepEd) may be left with no option but to continue to implement the enhanced blended learning following the decision of President Duterte to postpone the implementation of limited face-toface (F to F) classes in low-risk areas.

“Our utmost priority is the safety of our 27 million learners and more than 840,000 teachers and we will defer to the professional assessment of the Department of Health [DOH], the Inter-Agency Task Force for the Management of Emerging Infectious Diseases [IATF], and the wisdom of the President in ensuring their protection,” a DepEd news statement issued on Wednesday read.

Nonetheless, the DepEd said, they will continue to prepare and

TDC lauds Duterte’s decision

THE Teachers Dignity Coalition (TDC) lauded the decision of the President and they expect that the same learning system will be used in the entire country for school year 2021-2022.

“And thus, the same problems of inaccessibility of children to online platform, non-provision of gadgets for our teachers, lack of self-learning modules or its erroneous content and inability of many parents to facilitate the learning may again be encountered,” said Benjo Basas, TDC chairman.

Basas said that they are calling on the DepEd to prepare the system

Final school calendar

THE DepEd, on the other hand, said that the agency will release the final school calendar for SY 2021-2022 once they get the final approval of the President.

“We are proposing that he choose among either August 23, 2021, September 6, 2021, or September 13, 2021.”

“We are hopeful that our partners and stakeholders will come together once again in this endeavor and work with us to serve the interest of our Filipino learners,” it added.

Briones reiterated, however, that the proposed pilot F to F will not necessarily be implemented in all regions and that the schools must be assessed by the DOH and the IATF.

LTFRB: ₧1.1B in payouts Guangzhou, Anvil donate P6M worth paid to drivers under SCP of school supplies for 10,000 public

By Lorenz S. Marasigan @lorenzmarasigan

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HE Department of Transportation (DOTr), through the Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board (LTFRB), has disbursed P1.1 billion in payouts for drivers under the Service Contracting Program (SCP).

The total amount disbursed was recorded on June 21, according to a media advisory.

“Included in the whole payout amount for drivers under the program is the P4,000 weekly payout and one-time onboarding incentives nationwide,” the advisory read.

The transport regulator also reminded drivers to “log-in to the LTFRB driver app every time they ply the roads to get additional weekly payout.”

The app is free for download and is available for Android phones. PUV drivers stand to receive an additional P7,000 if they log-in via the LTFRB’s Driver mobile application (app) for five days a week.

The SCP is part of the government’s efforts to provide assistance to drivers during the pandemic.

Under the DOTr’s SCP,

participating PUV drivers will receive an onboarding incentive and a per kilometer fee to ferry medical frontliners, authorized persons outside of residence (APORs), and essential employees through the “Libreng Sakay” program.

For those joining the Free Ride initiative under the Service Contracting Program, the DOTr and the LTFRB have increased the amount of payouts from P46.80 to P82.50 per kilometer for buses, and P52.50 for jeepneys.

Aside from this, Transportation Secretary Arthur P. Tugade noted that the government is also providing a scholarship program for drivers and conductors through a partnership with the Technical Education and Skills Development Authority (Tesda).

Called the DOTr-Tesda Tsuper Iskolar Program, the initiative aims to provide drivers and conductors, and their families with free skills training, skills assessment, and entrepreneurship training.

Tsuper Iskolar beneficiaries and their dependents will receive a regular stipend of P350 for the duration of the training sessions.

“This program will equip our drivers with skills and talents in different areas such as mechanics and troubleshooting, among others,” Tugade said.

school students through Mayor Isko

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UANGZHOU City and Anvil Business Club on June 22 turned over to Manila Mayor Isko Moreno at Manila City Hall the donation of seven tons of school supplies worth about P6 million to benefit 10,000 Manila public-school students.

Formerly spelled “Canton” in the past, Guangzhou is now a major industrial and financial center. Its Mayor Wen Guohui said the donation is Guangzhou’s expression of friendship and solidarity with Manila City and the Philippines. Guangzhou in southern China is a sister city of Manila. Last year in March at the start of pandemic lockdown, Guangzhou had also donated medical supplies to Manila City.

Anvil Business Club is a business and civic organization of young Filipino Chinese entrepreneurs led by chairman Wilson Lee Flores, President Hubert Chua, EVP Kenneth Dee, VP Richmond Co, who is also chairman of this school supplies civic project.

Wilson Lee Flores said: “This civic project of Guangzhou City in partnership with Anvil Business Club seeks to help Manila publicschool students in this difficult time of lockdown. This donation is our contribution to the future of this great city now under a dy-

namic mayor and also our tribute to the past, because many of us have ancestors who had started life in the Philippines here in Manila City. This is our gift to the children of Manila and also our gift to Manila on its 450th anniversary on June 24.”

Flores added: “Speaking of the past, it is not true the Philippines had no culture or no economy before the Spaniards had ‘discovered’ this place 500 years ago. Actually, even before the Spaniards came here to colonize the Philippines and to establish Manila City in Intramuros, this area called Maynila was an independent rajahnate doing flourishing trade over a thousand years ago with China of the Sung and Yuan dynasties. And across Pasig River from Maynila was the then pre-colonial independent kingdom of Tondo which also had flourishing trade ties with China and other Asian countries.

Before the Western colonizers came, early pre-colonial Filipinos already had trade and diplomatic ties with Asia, and there was also already a vibrant local Chinese community here mostly of traders and artisans. Let us not forget the rich history of Manila and the Philippines as we all help build a great, exciting future.”

THE façade of Park Inn by Radisson Clark in Clark, Pampanga. CONTRIBUTED PHOTO

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

S

M Hotels and Conventions Corp. (SMHCC) is optimistic Clark, Pampanga will take the lead in the recovery of the tourism industry of the country, even as the rest of the tourist destinations will likely see a slower upturn.

In an online presser, SMHCC Executive Vice President Peggy E. Angeles said, “Overall, I think for SM hotels, where our properties are located in all three islands of Luzon, Visayas, and Mindanao, we believe that recovery through pandemic times will probably take a little bit longer. It will probably start towards the end of 2023, on to 2024.”

SMHCC opened the second wing of its Park Inn by Radisson Clark on Wednesday, adding 100 rooms and suites to the property, which was opened in January 2016.

“As for Clark, because it has been on MGCQ [modified general community quarantine] for a very long time, the recovery of tourism and the hospitality industry in this part of the country will be faster than any of our other destinations. And that’s why we proceeded with finishing this project.” The company spent “over P470 million” for the South Wing, similar to what it cost to build the North Wing, according to Angeles, or a total of P1.3 billion, including the SMX Convention Center next door, set to open in the first quarter of 2022.

DOT Regional Director for Central Luzon Carol Uy was bullish as well on the recovery of Pampanga, and the region in general, as she mentioned several hybrid MICE events held recently at Clark, and sports events in Subic Bay, Zambales.

“So, it only means that Region 3, having all the support facilities, having the international gateway,

seamless access roads—all of that gives us the advantage of being able to welcome back our tourists both from the local and international [markets]. And, of course, from being able to receive thousands of returning overseas Filipinos. Most of our hotels are slowly shifting back to operating as business and leisure hotels. So that gives us a very, very good signal that we are gaining back the confidence of our tourists the travel again.”

For quarantine and biz guests with the hotel now having two separate wings, the property is primed to take full advantage of its current classification as a “multiple-use hotel,” said its general manager Ann Olalo.

“The existing building, the North Wing, is now dedicated for quarantine guests. So that’s 154 rooms and with a separate reception desk, a separate entry and exit. What’s ideal with the South Wing, we can now really segregate our regular business guests here…[we also have] a separate entryexit and separate reception. With the same standards of cleaning disinfection, our guests will be assured that they will really have a safe and comfortable stay,” she added. (See, “DOT approves 35 hotels that can host quarantine, non-quarantine guests,” in the BusinessMirror, June 15, 2021.)

For his part, Andre de Jong, vice president for operations, Southeast Asia and Pacific of the Radisson Hotel Group, said, “The unveiling of the new South Wing at Park Inn

by Radisson Clark will enhance our ability to create exceptional, upbeat guest experiences. At Radisson Hotel Group, we appreciate the strong, long-standing relationships we have with our owners in the Philippines.

[SMHCC] has been instrumental in the rollout of Park Inn by Radisson’s new brand positioning and we look forward to continuing our relationship with them in future.”

450 Manila Day th

A BusinessMirror Special Feature

www.businessmirror.com.ph

Thursday, June 24, 2021 A5

Restoring Manila to its former glory

E

By Stephanie Joy Ching

VERY June 24, the city of Manila celebrates its founding. As the country’s capital, Manila boasts of being one of the country’s earliest links to the outside world and is home to a variety of historical landmarks, tourist spots and majority of the country’s universities.

MANILA CITY KEY PROJECTS 1

Manila Covid-19 Food Security Program. The City Government of Manila launched the Covid-19 Food Security Program (FSP) in February 2021.

Under this program, around 700,000 families in Manila receive a monthly food box containing three kilos of rice, 16 canned goods, and eight sachets of coffee.

The FSP will continue until July 2021.

2

Mass Vaccination Program. On December 31, 2020, the City Government of Manila launched its Covid-19 vaccine preregistration portal manilacovid19vaccine. ph, which is intended for those living or working in the capital city. The LGU officially started deploying Covid-19 vaccines on March 2, 2021. As of June 18, 2021, the City of Manila has administered 461,409 vaccines, with 328,028 done with their first doses and 133,381 already with their second doses.

3

Manila Covid-19 Field Hospital. The 4,402-square meter hospital — which is located within Rizal Park's 2.8-hectare Burnham Green — was completed on June 10, 2021 and is set to be formally inaugurated today. It was finished in just 52 days.

With a P154 million budget, the hospital is meant to accommodate around 344 mild to moderate Covid-19 patients.

4

Manila Covid-19 Vaccine Storage Facility. The City of Manila’s Covid-19 Vaccine Storage Facility at the Sta. Ana Hospital, inaugurated on February 11, is equipped with 12 biomedical freezers that will keep the vaccine vials stable. The hospital also has a back-up generator for the vaccine storage facility in case of any power interruption.

5

Bagong Ospital ng Maynila. The LGU broke ground for this P2.3 billion project on June 24, 2020. The 10-story hospital with a total floor area of 29,951 square meters will have a 384-bed capacity. It will have a 12-bed intensive care unit, 20 private rooms, as well as a three-story parking building and a helipad.

6

Bagong Manila Zoo. Work on the Bagong Manila Zoo project started on July 25, 2020. A budget

of P1.7 billion was allotted to revive and redevelop the five-hectare property.

Under the redevelopment plan, the complex includes a sewage treatment plant, a materials recovery facility, and a new veterinary hospital.

7

Manila Islamic Cemetery and Cultural Hall. The LGU broke ground for this historic project on July 22, 2020 and it was inaugurated on June 7.

Covering 2,400 square meters, the complex is located within Manila South Cemetery and can accommodate 378 tombs.

8

Tondominium 1 andTondominium 2. The LGU broke ground for these two 15-story tenement housing buildings on June 1, 2020. Located along Vitas Street in Tondo, Tondominium 1 and Tondominium 2 make up the city’s very first in-city vertical housing project.

Each building will have 336 units measuring 44 square meters each.

9

Binondominium.

On July 23, 2020, the LGU broke ground for the 15-story housing project along Delpan Street in Binondo. The Binondominium has 126 units. Each unit will have an area of 40 square meters.

10

Basecommunity.

The LGU broke ground for the townhousestyle horizontal housing project in Baseco Compound on December 21, 2020. The BaseCommunity development is located in the area facing the shores of Baseco Beach. It boasts of 229 two-story units, each with a total of 42 square meters of living space.

11

Mass Swab Testing.

The first molecular testing laboratory of the City Government is located at the Sta. Ana Hospital and was officially operational on June 25, 2020. Since then, RT-PCR swab testing service has been made available for free to everyone, whether a Manila resident or not. A second molecu lar lab at the Sta. A na Hospita l was officia l ly tur ned over to the LGU on September 29, 2020, while the free dr ive-thr u swab test facilit y at the Quir ino Grandstand began ser v ing the public on January 18, 2021. Compiled

by Ma. Leonila R. Garcia

MANILA Mayor Isko Moreno formally opens the Manila Islamic Cemetery.

However, the city had fallen into disrepair in recent years, with corruption siphoning precious tax resources that could have been used for public service. Moreover, poor urban planning and maintenance left many areas filthy and disorganized. Yet, as a new generation of leaders replace the old, we are slowly seeing Manila return to its former glory. At the helm of this change is none other than the current mayor of Manila himself, Francisco Domogaso or more popularly known as Isko Moreno.

Preserving the past and preparing for the future

IN just a few months into his term, the actor-turned politician proved that despite the many problems that are embedded in the government, one can still change things.

One of the first things Moreno did as mayor was to make Manila a more liveable and less congested place to live in. His mission was to preserve Manila’s rich heritage without compromising its potential of becoming a full modernized city.

“My desire to bring back the glory of Manila is translated into the physical development projects that we are now implementing,” he said. “Our physical development plans also aim to increase our green spaces and preserve our heritage and culture.”

As the first step of his plan, he initiated the clean-up of Claro M. Recto Avenue near Divisoria and Quiapo. Despite being a four-lane road, the area was almost impassable as it was full of sidewalk vendors. In order to clear the area but at the same time not alienate those from the informal sector, he set up a rental scheme that will allow Manila based vendors to still set up in the area.

Moreno also helmed the preservation and restoration of historical and tourist sites, which were largely left to fend for themselves before Moreno stepped into power.

In particular, he lamented how the Bonifacio monument in Lawton had become the “Kubeta ng Bayan” and many high-rise buildings have obstructed the view in many national parks.

“That is the office of the mayor, the seat of power of the City of Manila. Tapos eto, amoy tae rito. Nagkalat,” he remarked.

To achieve this, he made sure that he worked closely with the Department of Tourism (DOT) to ensure that Manila’s cultural heritage is properly preserved and each of Manila’s 47 national parks are restored and maintained in

the best way possible.

“We at the DOT share the vision and enthusiasm of Mayor Moreno in providing our international visitors a great first impression of the Philippines as soon as they set foot in Manila,” said Tourism Secretary Bernadette Puyat.

COVID tracking and response

WHEN the World Health Organization (WHO) first declared that the novel coronavirus was a pandemic, the City of Manila wasted no time in making preparations for it despite the very limited information surrounding the virus.

At first, their main objective was

to contain and delay COVID-19, or CODE COVID-19 for short.

“Umasa po kayo, sa tulong ng ating Vice Mayor at ating kawaning medikal, at lahat ng kawani ng ating lungsod, ay patuloy nating gagampanan na haharapin itong nasabing pandemic na ito,” he said in a livestream last March 12, 2020.

He then established a 24/7 hotline called the Manila Emergency Operations Center (MEOC).

This hotline, combined with the medical survey on Moreno’s official Facebook page, proved to be instrumental in the collection of data and the dispatching of medical assistance to many Manila citizens as quickly as possible. He also made swab testing free and passed several laws and programs that would keep the city afloat during the lockdown.

However, making a rundown city rise from the ashes of corruption and a global pandemic is not a feat one person could do alone. Though Moreno is one of the most prominent individuals in this chapter of Manila’s history, it is the fact that he coordinated and listened to his people that made all his projects a reality.

“With all honesty, what I'm doing is just basic. Goal ko talaga, all encompassing, 'yung alam mong mapataas ko lang ang antas ng buhay ng isang tao, masaya na ako. Kasi hindi naman kita mapapayaman eh. It is up to you, at the end of the day. Depende 'yan sa abilidad mo, sa pagpupursige mo. Pero 'yung mapataas ko 'yung antas ng buhay mo, panatag kang nakakatulog, ligtas ka naglalakad, maaliwalas at fair ang gobyerno, tapos available basic needs being provided by the government. I hope we can achieve that you can be proud of your Manila, na batang Maynila ka,” he said.

450 Manila Day th

A BusinessMirror Special Feature

A6 Thursday, June 24, 2021

www.businessmirror.com.ph

MANILA THEN AND NOW T

By Leony R. Garcia

HE Spanish “Walled City,” the Manila that was then known as Intramuros, was the Manila many of us know. For National Artist for Literature Nick Joaquin, it was the “Manila we remember, the Manila of Rizal and the Revolution, the last great creation of Spain in the Philippines.”

History records showed that construction of the walls of Intramuros began in 1589 after Miguel Lopez de Legazpi claimed the locale for Spain, formally founding the Ciudad de Manila (the City of Manila) in 1574. Chinese and Filipino workers made use of adobe stone to build the wall while a Spanish military engineer and fortification specialist oversaw the construction.

By the 18th century, Manila was completely enclosed in walls, hence its name Intramuros (“within the walls” in Latin).

Intramuros became the capital of the Spanish East Indies, which included the Philippines, Guam, Palau, and the Marianas. The Walled City became the center of political and ecclesiastical power. Soon, the Spaniards expanded their colonization, and the Walled City became part of a large

province that encompassed the surrounding suburbs and 28 other towns.

The province was known as Provincia de Manila with Bulacan as its boundary to the north; the district of Morong and Laguna de Bay, to the east; the provinces of Laguna and Cavite, to the south; and the Manila Bay, to the West.

With the Philippine Revolution in 1896 culminating in the death of Dr. Jose Rizal in December of the same year and the proclamation of Philippine Independence on June 12, 1898, the Spanish forces had to let go of Manila and the entire Philippines.

“PARIS OF THE EAST”

ONCE hailed as the “Paris of the East,” Manila was the envy of neighboring Asian countries because of its European-inspired structures.

Credit goes to Spanish officials for bringing in Western architects to make Manila feel more like home.

Travelers in the 19th-century would always refer to Manila as “a splendid, fortified city of wide, cobbled streets and regal townhouses.”

On July 31, 1901, the Taft Commission, passed Act No. 183 (the City Charter of Manila), which patterned the city government after the District of Columbia in the United States. Act No. 183 absorbed the suburbs to create a larger City of Manila. Intramuros was no longer the capital city of the Philippines, but one of the eleven districts of the new Manila along with Paco, Malate, Ermita, San Miguel, Sampaloc, Quiapo, Santa Cruz, Binondo, San Nicolas, and Tondo. Santa Ana and Pandacan were added in 1902.

During the American occupation (1920-1930), American Architect Daniel Burnham, the master planner of Chicago and Baguio, was tasked to produce a master plan for Manila to make the city “remarkable for its simplicity and its cognizance of Philippine conditions.”

Soon, Manila became a city with American enclaves and one whose official civic and social architecture adopted American influences with the establishment of the Philippine General Hospital, the Manila Hotel, the Army and Navy Club, the Normal School, and the YMCA under Act No. 1495 of the Philippine Commission with William E. Parsons as

Consulting Architect.

Shortly before World War II, the city boasted of its Art Deco buildings and palatial government offices. It has also become the choice destination in Asia for expats wanting to relocate to milder climates. Back then, Westerners actually chose to live and work in Manila and not just out of duty.

On January 1, 1942, President Manuel L. Quezon issued Executive Order 400 s. 1942, creating the City of Greater Manila, encompassing the City of Manila, Quezon City, and all the territory comprised in the municipalities of Caloocan, San Juan, Mandaluyong, Makati, Pasay, and Parañaque. This was done in light of the impending Japanese invasion.

Sadly, Manila never recovered from WWII. Researchers have claimed that the Battle of Manila was “the single most devastating instance of urban warfare fought between the United States and Japan in the Asia-Pacific.” Some of the buildings were never rebuilt and Burnham’s urban plan never grew to fruition.

After the war, Manila undertook the painstaking task of restoration, as important government buildings were slowly rebuilt. Manila’s status also changed after the war. On July 17, 1948, President Elpidio Quirino signed Republic Act. No. 333, which moved the capital from Manila to Quezon City, as was originally planned by President Quezon.

The first mayoral election of Manila was held in 1951, with Arsenio Lacson, congressman of the

2nd district, winning the polls.

Plaza Miranda, a plaza fronting the Quiapo Church, rose to prominence for providing a political forum of Philippine democracy. The plaza was eventually silenced with the bombing in 1971.

On November 7, 1975, President Ferdinand E. Marcos established Metropolitan Manila by virtue of Presidential Decree No. 824, s. 1975 covering the cities of Manila, Quezon City, Pasay, Caloocan, Makati, Mandaluyong, San Juan, Las Piñas, Malabon, Navotas, Pasig, Pateros, Parañaque, Marikina, Muntinlupa, Taguig, and Valenzuela.

A year later, the seat of the national government was moved from Quezon City to Manila through Presidential Decree No. 940, which was signed on May 29, 1976.

Manila in the time of Moreno

WHILE Manila remains the capital city of the Philippines, it is said to have been left behind by other cities in terms of development and business income. All this changed with the election of Francisco Domagoso, more popularly known as Isko Moreno, as Manila Mayor back in 2019.

In one of his first engagements as Mayor, Moreno was a guest at a gathering of dignitaries, businessmen, investors, and seafaring Filipinos in Malate. He was well-received by the community and he promised that there would be a different Manila in the following 12 months.

“I cannot promise to bring and to see you all on the new horizon.

But this one thing I assure you,

there will be a new Manila in one year’s time,” he said.

He also encouraged the private sector to do business in Manila. “If you want Manila to be the face of the country, help me because I cannot do it alone. We all want a clean, revitalized vibrant Manila, the city that we all love,” he said.

Further, Domagoso likened himself to be the rudder, or steering wheel (timon), with the city policy as the captain of the boat and the citizens as crew members (tripulante) of the ship. “We should all work together in the direction that we want to be. Help me, I beg of you,” he added.

Immediately upon assumption to his post, the former actorturned-politician ordered a cleanup of the city’s streets, dismantling vendors’ stalls that had littered Manila’s major roads for decades and evicting informal settlers who made the city’s parks and sidewalks their homes, among others. Loading and unloading signs were also put up for commuters and public utility vehicles (PUVs) to decongest traffic.

During his first 100 days in office, Domagoso was hands on when it came to managing Manila. He made use of his Facebook page to inform his constituents of his accomplishments. He often goes on inspections unannounced and even cancels his attendance at events when he feels the need to be in an urgent operation or duty.

“We really want to move heaven and earth to bring back the old glorious days of the city” has become the young mayor’s mantra up to now.

A4 Thursday, June 24, 2021 • Editor: Vittorio V. Vitug A8

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DFA chief Locsin on award of SCS arbitration: ‘It’s final’

By Recto Mercene @rectomercene

T

HE Arbitral Award is the “north star” that would hopefully keep us on course in the present and provide the right direction in the future, Foreign Affairs Secretary Teodoro Locsin Jr., on the

5th anniversary of the Permanent Court of Arbitration’s (PCA) historic award granted to the Philippines in 2016, said.

“For as long as nations abide by the rule of law and not of military might, the award is the north star that will keep us on course in the present, and that will point us back

to the right direction in the future should we, in a moment of weakness or inaction, lose our way,” the country’s top diplomat said.

“The award is final. We firmly reject attempts to undermine it; may, even erase it from law, history and our collective memories,” Locsin added.

He said the award conclusively settled the status of historic rights and maritime entitlements in the South China Sea (SCS) “and declared as without legal effect claims that exceed geographic and substantive limits of maritime entitlements under UNCLOS,” referring to China’s nine-dash line, which the PCA invalidated and deemed illegal.

“It dashed among others a nined ash l ine; and any expectation t h at p o s session i s 9/10ths of the law. Bec au s e t he mere fact of possession produces no legal effect, such as a territorial sea of any extent,” said the Harvard-trained lawyer.

Locsin stressed that the Arbitral Award “became and continues to be a milestone in the corpus of international law and is available to other count r ies w it h the same problematic maritime features as ours.”

A s ide

from the Philippines and China, other claimants to the strategic waters include Vietnam, Malaysia, Brunei and Taiwan.

Locsin said in seeking a peaceful way to find a solution to the ticklish issue, the award “puts one issue out of the way of conflict; because there is nothing there taken by force that results in any gain in law.”

“In summary, the award gives littoral states guideposts on how much waters their features—be they islands or rocks—can generate, where their fishermen can fish, where they can exercise law enforcement patrols, where they can send their ships without permission from the nearest state, without creating a cause of action or a casus belli between them,” he said.

This statement, Locsin added, gives littoral fishermen the assurance that henceforth, they would able to engage in exploiting the marine resources of the area, for generations their traditional fishing grounds, without fear of outside intervention.

T he for mer president i a l spokesman noted that the award benefits the world across the board. “We do not see it as directed at any other country, near or far,” he said.

“We see it as it should be seen: as favoring all which are similarly situated by clarifying definitively a legal situation beyond the reach of arms to change,” Locsin said.

Locsin echoed President Duterte’s pronouncement at the UN General Assembly that the award “is now part of international law, beyond compromise and beyond the reach of passing governments to dilute, diminish or abandon.”

He added that the Philippines is proud to have contributed to the international rules-based order, to the affirmation of UNCLOS, and the strengthening of the legal

order over the seas.

At the time of the conflict with the Asian giant in 2012, the Philippines was the lone country that brought the case before the International Tribunal in The Hague—a David against a Goliath scenario—“amid hosts of indifferent spectators.”

But despite the absence of friend or ally, Locsin said, “right prevailed.”

“For the Arbitral Award was given to a set of maritime circumstances that would be as true in our waters as in others.” It is the legacy that a-not-rich country leaves to mankind along with a greater prospect of peace and cooperation,” he stated.

Locsin said “might does not make right. But then neither does right make might. Right alone produces almost nothing: nothing but conviction. And that we have.”

Presently, the three-time Makati congressman noted that “the rest of the world is coming around to our point of view, which means as little to us now as it did then when we fought alone.”

Locsin paid tribute to President Duterte’s being courteous at the United Nations, when the latter said: “We welcome the increasing number of states that have come in support of the award and what it stands for—the triumph of reason over rashness, of law over disorder, of amity over ambition. This is the majesty of law.”

The Philippines and China, despite some hiccups along the way, are on good terms, being able to settle their differences amicably.

The Chinese proposed to leave the issue to future generations, “who may be more intelligent than we are in finding a solution.”

Both countries have drafted a joint cooperation agreement to explore and exploit prospective oil and gas resources in the West Philippine Sea, with China agreeing to the 6040 sharing scheme embodied by the Philippine Constitution.

Comelec calls on overseas voters to join voting test runs next month

T

HE Commission on Elections (Comelec) on Wednesday said it would conduct next month live test runs of their Internet overseas voting systems for the 2022 elections.

This, after the Comelec signed last Monday the memoranda of agreement (MOA) with two Internet voting solutions providers.

“The Internet voting test runs form part of the commission’s exploratory study of Internet-based technologies for possible use in Internet voting.

The test run is the third phase of the implementation plan, which will involve the actual test voting activity,” Comelec said in a news statement issued on Wednesday.

The poll body also invited registered overseas voters to be part of the test run.

The final call for participants in the test runs ends on June 25, 2021.

“Test voters who have previously signified interest and [have] given [their] consent will participate in a mock election using the solutions providers’ apps or platforms,” it said.

For her part, Commissioner

Ma. Rowena Amelia V. Guanzon, commissioner-in-charge (CIC) for Overseas Voting, said the test runs, which will be conducted at no cost to the commission, will begin in July.

“This exploratory test use of a mobile app for overseas voters is groundbreaking, and the results will have a significant and valuable impact on how elections may be conducted in the future,” she said.

Meanwhile, Commissioner Antonio T. Kho Jr., vice CIC for Overseas Voting, signed the MOA on behalf of the Comelec, while Ryan Earl So of Indra Sistemas and Henry Tan Sim of Voatz signed as representatives of the solutions providers.

Due to conflict of schedule, the Comelec said Smartmatic would sign the MOA on a later date.

The Comelec also said the signing of non-disclosure agreements will be conducted prior to the actual test run.

Republic Act 9189 or the Overseas Voting Act authorizes the Comelec to explore Internet-based technologies for overseas voting. Jovee Marie N. Dela Cruz

Manila courts closed today for city’s 450th founding anniversary–SC

By Joel R. San Juan

T

@jrsanjuan1573

HE Supreme Court has announced that all courts in Manila would be closed today, Thursday, to give way for the celebration of the 450th founding anniversary of the city.

“In view of Proclamation 1167, declaring Thursday, 24 June 2021, a Special [Non-Working] Day in the City Of Manila, there will be no work in all courts in the City of Manila,” the SC announced.

The SC and the Court of Appeals (CA) and

the trial court in the city are covered by the special non-working day.

Prior to this, Executive Secretary Salvador Medialdea signed Proclamation 1167, declaring June 24 a special non-working holiday in Manila City.

“It is but fitting and proper that the people of the City of Manila be given full opportunity to celebrate and participate in the occasion with the appropriate ceremonies, subject to community quarantine, social distancing, and other public health measures,” Medialdea said in Proclamation 1167.

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SBMA: Covid testing center key factor in Subic economic rebound

By Henry Empeño Correspondent

S

UBIC BAY FREEPORT—Covid-19 testing facilities put up by the Subic Bay Metropolitan Authority (SBMA) and the Philippine Red Cross (PRC) here have played an important role in the continuing economic growth in the Subic Bay Freeport Zone despite the onset of the Covid-19 pandemic early last year.

This was highlighted by SBMA Chairman and Administrator Wilma T. Eisma on Wednesday, as PRC and SBMA officials and testing facilities staff marked one year of the swabbing center and the Covid-19 molecular laboratory that began operations here in June 23 last year.

Eisma said the two establishments were instrumental in the success here of the medical fight against the virus, as well as in the economic battle to provide services and resources that would keep business establishments and the Subic community going.

“These facilities gave Subic an advantage,” Eisma stressed. “They helped us establish that Subic was a safe haven—a virtual bubble where people can continue to do business with all the necessary health safety protocols and facilities in place.”

She added that because of this safe image, the Subic Bay Freeport easily became a choice location for international crew change operations, a quarantine site for arriving overseas Filipino workers, a destination for bubble sports tournament, as well as a continuing attraction for tourists from nearby areas despite the restrictive effects of the Covid-19 pandemic.

The PRC said a total of 87,000 individuals have been tested for Covid-19 infection in this free port in the first year of operation of SBMA’s swabbing center and the PRC’s labo-

ratory where samples were tested.

Eisma also said these facilities had a huge impact in keeping business and industries operational in Subic, and in enabling workers to keep their jobs and feed their families during the pandemic.

“In fact, some production, importation and exportation projects kept growing since last year because Subic has remained to be a relatively safe venue for economic activities,” she added.

The SBMA chief also noted that aside from putting up the swabbing center, the Subic agency initiated the establishment of isolation facilities in the free port for the use of residents, locator workers, SBMA employees, as well as patients from nearby communities.

She said the SBMA also introduced innovations to keep Subic safe, including a cashless public transportation system, online medical and dental consultation, online job fairs, online public bidding for projects, online seminars and virtual meetings, drive-through markets, and quarantine hotels.

On Wednesday, PRC SecretaryGeneral Liza Zaballa also visited the PRC-SBMA testing facilities to congratulate the personnel and thank them for keeping up with their mission to help save lives.

She said the frontline staff in the swabbing center and laboratory have been working for a year now and doing so without much rest. “They are really heroes in this pandemic,” Zaballa said.

The latest announcement from the SBMA indicated a relatively low number of Covid-19 cases in the free port, compared to neighboring communities.

As of June 22, the SBMA recorded a total of only 119 Covid-19 cases among free port residents since last year, with 13 active ones, 105 recoveries, and one death.

2-M doses of Sinovac vaccine expected to arrive today at Naia

A

SHIPMENT of about 2 million doses of Sinovac vaccine is expected to arrive at 7:30 a.m. today, Thursday, June 24, 2021, at the Ninoy Aquino International Airport (Naia) from Beijing, China, on board Cebu Pacific flight 5J671.

Health Secretar y Francisco Duque lll, vaccine czar Carlito Galvez Jr., Manila Mayor Francisco “Isko” Moreno Domagoso and Vice Mayor Maria Sheilah “Honey” Lacuna Pangan are expected to welcome the vaccine cargo.

The Department of Health (DOH) said the 1.6 million doses are consigned to the DOH, while the 400,000 doses for the LGU of Manila.

Meanwhile, the three Israeli health experts, who were brought in by the government to assess the country’s vaccination efforts visited the PharmaServ Express cold-storage facility in Marikina City last Wednesday.

The Israeli delegation is composed

of Adam Segal, logistics and operations manager of Salomon Levid and Elsein Ltd; Dafna Segol, consultant of Healthcare Policy and Innovation; and Avi Ben Zaken, deputy director general of the Ichilov Medical Center.

They also shared Israel’s best practices when on cold chain and logistics systems, especially when it involves Pfizer and Moderna vaccines. The country is expected to obtain millions of doses of Pfizer and Moderna vaccines in the coming days.

During a meeting with InterAgency Task Force for the Management of Emerging Infectious Diseases (IATF) on Tuesday, the Israeli experts advised their local counterparts to create centralized hubs for vaccine storage that will cater to metropolitan areas and other key cities nationwide.

They also proposed the creation of storage hubs for anti-Covid vaccines that will be deployed in remote areas throughout the country. Recto Mercene

Neda pins hopes for gradual F2F classes’ return on jabs’ pace continued from a12

He explained that the majority of the infrastructure projects being undertaken by the administration are “small-scale” and are largely locally funded infrastructure works.

The number of projects expected to be completed by next year still does not include the flagships or the gamechanging infrastructure projects of the administration.

These projects, including the 112 infrastructure flagship projects

(IFPs), comprise the PIP. The government intended to spend P7.74 trillion for infrastructure between 2016 and 2022 under the PIP for 2017 to 2022.

Neda said the Duterte administration aims to complete 29 more IFPs costing P238.476 billion this year and next year.

Based on the list released by Neda, there are a total of 112 projects in the IFPs. This amounts to a total of P4.687 trillion. Cai U. Ordinario

Thursday, June 24, 2021 A9

Senators alert Facebook on resurgence of ‘troll farms’ ahead of 2022 elections

By Butch Fernandez @butchfBM

S

ENATE President Vicente Sotto III and Senator Panfilo Lacson are alerting Facebook Philippines against the growing number of “troll farms” reportedly being set up in advance of the 2022 presidential elections.

In backing the Senate President’s initiative, Lacson disclosed he was also tipped off about a recent report indicating that a Cabinet undersecretary is organizing troll farms—two in each province—in time for next year’s election, but withheld the Executive department official’s identity for the meantime.

Troll farms are facilities where social-media operators unleash propaganda for and against certain

parties with the use of thousands of fictitious accounts.

Lacson, a victim of previous demolition jobs, advised: “Resist the urge to engage them, report them, and block them.”

“But as we wait for the companies concerned to take appropriate action,” the senator suggested that “it would be better for us to develop the habits that will deny these trolls their prize.”

Lacson suggested the threepoint habit (resist, report and block) in dealing with trolls can be developed against Internet trolls, even as the victims await action from Facebook and other social media platforms to crack down against the perpetrators.

Lacson added: “We know trolls are financially and emotionally fueled by agitating and getting a response

from their targets. Denying them that fuel is a good first step.”

A crack investigator during his stint at the defunct Philippine Constabulary (PC) which was merged with the Integrated National Police (PC-INP) that became Philippine National Police (PNP), Lacson was promoted and served as PNP Chief from 1999 to 2001, and later won a seat in the 24-member Senate.

H av i n g e ncou nt e re d a nd dealt with trolls on social media, Lacson’s office provided tips to detect signs of online trolls that ordinary Filipinos can look out for may include: The person’s main Facebook profile has no activity; and usually has a generic or unidentifiable profile photo; overly aggressive and/or condescending behavior, with tar-

geted offensive messages instead of reasonable arguments; use of “copypaste” or distinguishable patterns in their comments; use of fake news and/or twisted logic; sudden surge of ‘like-minded’ comments targeting and attacking one who does not share their views.

Earlier, Lacson said he has blocked from his Tw itter account those who are “out of topic, out of reason, and out of their mind—and whose only happiness is to bash like a troll.” He had blocked over 2,000 accounts as of June 2021. At the same time, Lacson affirmed he favored Twitter because “it only takes one click of a finger to block followers who are out of topic, out of context, out of reason and out of their mind whose only happiness is to bash like a troll.”

PNP IDs cops who may have Lakas CMD, Hugpo renew alliance shot two teens in Biñan drug for natl and local polls next year ops; urges witnesses to testify

By Jovee Marie N. Dela Cruz

By Rene Acosta @reneacostaBM

T

WO policemen who reportedly fired the lethal gunshots that killed two suspects during an anti-illegal drugs operation in Laguna have been identified, the Philippine National Police (PNP) said on Wednesday.

PNP Chief General Guillermo Eleazar said the identification was made following ballistics examination and the cross matching on the slugs recovered from the bodies of 16-year-old Jhondie Maglinte Helis and Antonio Dalit, who both died during the operation in Biñan City, Laguna, on Wednesday, June 16, 2021.

“The Regional Crime Laboratory Office of Police Regional Office [RCLO] 4A reported that the slugs specimen taken from the cadaver of Jhondie Maglinte Helis matched with a cal. 45 gun submitted by one of the operatives with a rank of police senior master sergeant,” Eleazar said.

“A .45 pistol owned by a police commissioned officer also matched a bullet recovered from Dalit’s body based on the same report of the RCLO 4A,” he added.

The PNP chief said the results of the investigation by the FactFinding Investigation Task Group created by Brig. Gen. Eliseo DC Cruz, regional director of Police Regional Office-Calabarzon, are proof that the police organization is serious in finding out the truth behind the incident.

A total of 11 firearms were submitted for ballistics examinations and cross matching.

Both Helis and Dalit sustained two gunshot wounds based on the autopsy report of the RCLO 4A. Both Helis and Dalit also tested positive

for gunpowder nitrates during paraffin tests of their bodies.

Eleazar, however, said that while the identities of the policemen were already established, the missing part is the determination on whether there was indeed an exchange of gunfire between the police operatives and the two slain subjects of police operation.

Another primary focus of the investigation groups is to look into allegation that Helis was handcuffed at the time he was shot.

“There’s a presumption of regularity in the conduct of this operation, unless there are witnesses who could corroborate that there was no exchange of gunfire and that Helis was already handcuffed when he was repeatedly shot as claimed by the relatives,” Eleazar said.

The PNP chief said no witnesses have surfaced so far to substantiate the allegations.

“Our Internal Affairs Service [IAS] investigators went to the house of the relatives to console their families and to ask for their statements of the incident, together with their witnesses but they refused,” Eleazar said, quoting a report from IAS Inspector General Alfegar Triambulo.

Eleazar reiterated his call to the relatives of Helis and Dalit and other possible witnesses to come forward and give their statements to the different investigating bodies as they could help shed light on what really transpired.

The PNP chief said that it was concerning that there seemed to be many witnesses to the incident in the video uploaded on social media, based on the audible chat on the video’s background, but none of them were coming forward to actually provide their statements to the police.

@joveemarie

T

HE Lakas-Christian Muslim Democrats (CMD) has renewed its alliance agreement with the regional party Hugpong ng Pagbabago (HNP) of Davao City Mayor Sara Duterte for the 2022 national and local elections, House Majority Leader and Lakas President Martin Romualdez said on Wednesday.

In a national executive meeting, top officials of the Lakas-CMD unanimously adopted a resolution that authorizes Romualdez to sign the renewal of their alliance agreement with the HNP. Romualdez said the alliance agreement would bind the two parties to support whoever they decide to field as candidate for President in next year’s election.

“If Mayor Sara Duterte decides to

seek higher office for 2022, we are ready to work for her victory in the coming election,” Romualdez said.

“I call on other political parties to join us and be part of our mission to form a broad multi-party coalition anchored on shared principles. We need coalition partners that share the same vision of building a strong Republic through sustainable growth and development of the regions,” added Romualdez.

Meanwhile, the resolution said “Lakas-CMD believes that Hugpong ng Pagbabago shares the same vision of a Strong Republic through the sustainable economic growth and development of the regions.”

The Lakas-CMD previously signed an alliance agreement with HNP on November 7, 2018, which paved the way for their partnership in the 2019 national and local elections.

PRC boosts vaxx work; MMDA eyes 10-M jabs in 3 mos continued from a12 As of June 22, around 3.6 million of Metro Manila’s population of about 14 million have been vaccinated—2.8 million received the first dose while 877,958 received the second dose, said Abalos, citing data based on daily reports of NCR local government units. Metro Manila posts an average of 114,000 jabs a day at present.

He cited the key role the National Vaccination Operations Center (NVOC) plays in achieving this important goal, particularly in ensuring the steady supply of vaccines.

“The numbers are encouraging; the pace of the vaccination is increasing. The national government, through NVOC and led by Secretary Carlito Galvez Jr., ensures the steady supply of Covid-19 vaccines in Metro

Manila,” Abalos said.

“If the jab numbers are sustained and further increase, with a steady supply of vaccines, we can have majority of Metro Manila’s population protected by end of September this year or hopefully earlier,” said Abalos. This includes the IATF priority groups such as A1, A2 and A3 and other identified sectors of our society.

He enjoined all Metro Manila residents to have themselves inoculated.

“Months after the launch of the mass vaccination campaign, more and more people are willing to get vaccinated,” he said, and praised the unrelenting efforts of the 17 Metro Manila LGUs in ramping up their vaccination capacities.

Claudeth Mocon-Ciriaco

MLA grows even more expensive for expats Based on the data, more than half of the top 10 most expensive cities are located in Asia.

Shanghai and Beijing ranked sixth and ninth respectively, up one place from last year, while Singapore moved from fifth place to seventh.

Other cities appearing in the top 10 of Mercer’s most costly cities for international employees are Zurich ranked 5th; Geneva, 8th; and Bern, 10th.

The survey saw a rise in rankings across all Mainland China cities, buoyed by currency

appreciation against the US dollar and a swift recovery from the impact of Covid-19.

Data showed that Tianjin and Chengdu climbed 12 positions to 26th and 28th respectively. Mercer said the strengthening of the Taiwan dollar saw Taipei jump six places to 22.

Currency fluctuations and deflation saw Southeast Asian cities like Bangkok and Kuala Lumpur drop in rankings.

Bangkok ranked 46th after dropping 11 places, while Kuala Lumpur ranked 144th reflecting

an eight-notch drop in the rankings.

Mumbai ranked 78th, as India’s most expensive city, but it dropped 18 places in this year’s ranking due to the relatively weak Indian rupee in comparison with other cities in the ranking.

Mercer’s latest COL Survey aims to help employers understand the importance of monitoring currency fluctuations and assessing the inflationary and deflationary pressures on goods, services and accommodation in all

continued from a12

operating locations.

The data aims to assist employers in determining and maintaining compensation packages for employees on international assignments and when working abroad.

Additionally, the cost of living in a location can have a significant impact on its attractiveness as a destination for talent, and influences site selection decisions for organizations expanding and transforming their geographic footprint.

A10 Thursday, June 24, 2021 • Editor: Angel R. Calso

Opinion BusinessMirror

www.businessmirror.com.ph

editorial

Don’t court disaster, wear your face shield

P

resident Duterte on Monday apologized to the nation for the confusing policy statements on the use of face shields as protection against Covid-19.

“I will apologize to the Filipino people, that this thing is being discussed openly and many thought that we were ready to do away with face shields,” Duterte said in his weekly public address. “But with the kind of aggressive infection that poses a very grave danger.... It’s a small inconvenience actually. I know that it is inconvenient to be wearing the mask. But that is only a small price to pay than gamble on doing away with it and courting disaster.”

On June 17 the President decided to ease the face shield requirement by allowing its use only in hospitals. But he clarified on Monday that he decided to retain the use of face shields, aside from face masks, to protect people from the threat posed by the contagious Delta variant that ravaged India.

Duterte told the nation the government cannot afford a second wave of Covid-19 infections. “We cannot afford it. The first wave depleted the resources of government. Another one would be disastrous for this country. That is why the stricter you are, the better,” he said.

The President said he realized that he and the senators may have erred in discussing the policy in public. “When I mentioned about the face shield, I was only shooting the breeze with members of Congress. I never said with finality that we will do away with the face shield,” he said.

Are face shields necessary? Will a face shield protect you from Covid?

A 2014 study showed that when tested against an influenza-infused aerosol from a distance of 18 inches away, a face shield reduced exposure by 96 percent during the period immediately after a cough. The face shield also reduced the surface contamination of a respirator by 97 percent. “Because they extend down from the forehead, face shields protect the eyes as well as the nose and mouth,” says pediatric infectious disease specialist Frank Esper, MD. The coverage that face shields offer is ideal since the new coronavirus can enter the body through those points.

From Bloomberg: “About 1 million people in Sydney will be barred from leaving the city, as Australia races to control an outbreak of the Delta variant that’s having ramifications as far afield as New Zealand. The surge in cases has created “a very real and present danger,” state Health Minister Brad Hazzard told reporters. “This is a very serious situation.” The stricter measures come as 13 new cases were recorded in less than a day in Australia’s most-populous city, bringing the cluster to at least 30 infections.”

From the Associated Press: “The US government is stepping up efforts to get younger Americans vaccinated for Covid-19 as the White House acknowledges it will miss two key vaccination benchmarks and as concern grows about the spread of a new variant that threatens to set the country back in the months ahead. The Delta variant, first identified in India, in the last two weeks has come to represent more than 20 percent of coronavirus infections in the US, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention reported Tuesday. That’s double what it was when the CDC last reported on the variant’s prevalence.”

A recent Social Weather Stations survey said large majorities of Filipinos follow Covid-19 protocols, including the wearing of face masks and face shield, frequent hand washing, and practicing physical distancing. However, there are some people opposed to wearing face mask and face shield as if the pandemic is gone. We must remember that people without symptoms can spread the virus. As the President said, wearing our mask and face shield is a small inconvenience. We must do our part to fight Covid.

Health experts say that nobody is safe until everyone is safe.

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John Mangun

OUTSIDE THE BOX

A

bout a month ago, my good friend Mr. Salvador “Buddy” Villasis was appointed as Executive Director of Cebu IT/ BPM Organization (CIB.O). Buddy and I go back 30 years to when we were trading the financial markets together.

Next month, CIB.O will hold its “2021 Transformation Summit” to discuss strategies for the big leap forward under a global pandemic with its far-reaching impact on lives and businesses. The conference will cover a wide range of topics from “World Market Trends and Innovation” to “Artificial Intelligence and Digital Education.”

But I want to center on something that Buddy posted on his Facebook page that I think is the most critical to both individuals and companies in the short and long term.

“The Covid-19 pandemic disrupted labor markets globally. The short-term consequences were sudden and severe. Millions of people were furloughed or lost jobs, and

others rapidly adjusted to working from home as offices closed. Many other workers were deemed essential and continued to work in hospitals and grocery stores, on garbage trucks and in warehouses, yet under new protocols to reduce the spread of the novel coronavirus. The pandemic accelerated existing trends in remote work, e-commerce and automation, with up to 25 percent more workers than previously estimated potentially needing to switch occupations.”

That short paragraph summarizes in broad strokes the labor and employment situation that the world has faced in the last 15 months. However, when you start to fill in the blanks—such that “millions” actu-

ally means “tens of millions”—the picture is depressingly grisly. The simple idea that essential workers had to function under new protocols hardly describes the on-the-ground situation.

We all know that it was not merely having to wear a mask and/ or a face shield to go to work, but getting to work held its own special nightmare. Even with all the protocols in place, there were still incredible situations that occurred.

One factory in South Korea brought some 200 workers back on the line only to have one employee testing positive the next day. All 200 were forced to quarantine at the factory for a couple of weeks.

Then we come to some of the “side benefits” of the lockdowns. Even as economies began to open and employees could go back to work, you had situations where schools and daycare centers were still under lockdown. Single parents, particularly women, could not go to work because there was no place and no one to look after the children. Likewise, parents had to make choices between working and shepherding their children through online schooling.

We probably know this already.

Data analysis from Harvard University, Brown University, and the Bill

and Melinda Gates Foundation calculated how different employment levels have been impacted during the pandemic. The findings reveal that government lockdown orders—for the US but applicable everywhere— devastated workers at the bottom of the financial food chain but left the upper tier actually better off.

The data are damning. They offer another reminder that government lockdowns hurt most those who could least afford it. Employment for lower-wage workers, defined as earning less than $27,000 annually, declined by 23.6 percent. Employment for middle-wage workers, defined as earning from $27,000 to $60,000, declined by 4.5 percent.

However, employment for high-wage workers, defined as earning more than $60,000, actually increased 2.4 percent over the measured time period despite the country’s economic turmoil.

Two weeks ago, the Philippines started vaccinating individuals in the A4 category, which includes lower income earners such as tricycle drivers. It’s about time.

E-mail me at mangun@gmail.com. Follow me on Twitter @mangunonmarkets. PSE stock-market information and technical analysis provided by AAA Southeast Equities Inc.

A record buyout is just the start as wealthy flee US tax hike

By Melissa Karsh, Michelle F. Davis & Devon Pendleton Bloomberg Opinion

F

or 110 years, four generations of Mills family members earned their money by expanding their great-grandfather’s Chicago apron business into a medical supplier that ranked among the nation’s largest private companies.

T. Anthony C. Cabangon

Senior Editors

Creative Director Chief Photographer

Pandemic transformation

But soon after Democrats turned their attention toward raising taxes for the wealthy this year, the family signed a deal to cash out billions.

It was no coincidence, according to people close to the more-than $30 billion transaction, which sold part of Medline Industries Inc. to a consortium of Wall Street investors in the health-care industry’s biggest leveraged buyout. The threat of subjecting billions in proceeds to additional capital gains taxes motivated the clan to get it done before the end of 2021, when higher rates could take effect, the people said.

Such maneuvers are suddenly in the works throughout the opaque world of private US corporations, as founders and their offspring discreetly consult tax experts and bankers with a pointed question: How much might they save by selling quickly?

Suddenly, in just a matter of a few months, the vast dealmaking machinery that caters to wealthy entrepreneurs has started buzzing with a level of activity that some industry veterans say they haven’t

seen before, potentially setting up a cascade of sales for later this year.

A combination of high valuations on companies and potentially higher taxes in the future is proving to be a potent motivator.

A spokesman for the Mills family didn’t respond to messages seeking comment on the role taxes played in the deal—a motive that hasn’t been reported before. Earlier this month, the Chicago Tribune quoted Medline President Andy Mills as saying the goal of the sale was to strengthen the business while unlocking cash for family members whose net worth was tied up in it. About 20 to 30 of them will benefit.

The family may be worth about $30 billion, according to the Bloomberg Billionaires Index.

Many scenes are playing out far beyond Wall Street’s gilded towers: In an old, brick roofing-supply building in Birmingham, Alabama, executives atop boutique M&A firm Founders Advisors are settling into a freshly expanded office space and completing a hasty hiring spree to increase staffing 50 percent. They’re signing

up millionaire owners of companies, eager to start the process of selling at least part of what they built.

“For as long as we’ve been in business, it’s the most vibrant” market yet, Chief Executive officer Duane Donner said. More than half of his clients hail from nearby states and Texas, where the firm has two outposts. “We’ve got more engagements than we’ve ever had.” The No. 1 reason, he said: “taxes.”

In the Midwest, the co-founder of an online marketing company is giving up his dream of stepping into a less active role and letting the business keep growing in coming years under the next generation. Now, selling just makes more financial sense, he said, speaking on the condition his company not be identified. He and his partners are in the midst of setting up their exit.

Founders aren’t the only owners facing pressures. In Manhattan, Boston and other hubs of the private equity world, senior managers are talking with companies in their portfolios about potentially reducing or selling stakes this year to lower tax liabilities and maximize returns, executives and their advisers said in interviews. They’re also looking for opportunities to buy companies that might come up for sale because of tax changes. Company owners would be smart to get out now, one private equity executive noted, because by this fall in the US there will be too many

sellers crowding into the market.

“It’s clear from a seller’s perspective—whether family-owned or private equity sponsor-owned —that there is increasing debate,” Rick Landgarten, the global head of health-care and real estate advisory teams at Barclays Plc., said in an interview. They’re asking, “Can I get done this year? Because I expect sometime later this year or early next year for there to be tax-rate increases.”

Calling lawmakers

The irony is that Democrats haven’t even coalesced around a plan yet.

President Joe Biden has proposed raising the capital-gains tax rate to 39.6 percent from 20 percent for those earning $1 million. But any such measure almost certainly faces months of negotiation before it could be passed. More than 20 House Democrats from high-tax states have threatened to reject Biden’s tax plans unless they also address the so-called SALT cap imposed under President Donald Trump. And recently, a new debate has broken out among Democrats over whether to also seek an even more controversial wealth tax.

Meanwhile, company owners are eager for certainty—pressing tax experts, bankers and even their congressional representatives to specify how much higher tax bills will jump if they wait to sell in the future. Many See “US tax,” A11

Opinion BusinessMirror

www.businessmirror.com.ph

Thursday, June 24, 2021 A11

UK pushes Pacific trade talks Three-child and other population policies: amid broader new focus on Asia Why governments care

By David Rising & Pan Pylas | Associated Press

B

ANGKOK—The UK launched negotiations Tuesday to join a trans-Pacific trade bloc as it looks to explore new opportunities following its departure from the European Union and strengthen its strategic interests in Asia.

The start of talks to join the Comprehensive and Progressive Agreement for Trans-Pacific Partnership (CPTPP), made up of 11 countries with a combined half billion people, came as Foreign Secretary Dominic Raab met with his counterpart and other Vietnamese officials during his fifth visit to Southeast Asia in his current job.

Britain is also looking to attain “dialogue partnership” status with the 10-country Association of Southeast Asian Nations, or Asean, as it pursues a “tilt” toward the IndoPacific region in response to China’s growing influence on the world stage that was recommended by a recent British government review of defense and foreign policy.

“The UK is committed to strengthening our friendship across the IndoPacific,” Raab said ahead of the trip.

“We are demonstrating this through our commitment to join CPTPP, partner with Asean and invest more energy, time and effort in our bilateral relations in the region.”

The push comes as the region’s countries are looking for “options and alternatives” to China as their main source of capital and trading opportunities, said Euan Graham, senior fellow for Asia-Pacific security with the International Institute for Strategic Studies’ office in Singapore.

For Britain to be taken seriously it needs to show that it’s prepared to be engaged for the long-term, he said.

“It’s no good just saying you’re engaged from the safety of London, even in a pandemic you have to commit to face time in the region,” he said.

Beyond trade, Britain earlier this year dispatched a strike group led by the Royal Navy’s flagship aircraft carrier the HMS Queen Elizabeth on a 28-week deployment to Asia.

It is also expected to announce the forward deployment of smaller Royal Navy vessels to the Indo-Pacific, Graham said.

“That would be noticed in the region,” he said. “It won’t change the balance of power, but it does demonstrate to China and others that this is not only a US-China bilateral dynamic.” Whether the diplomatic, economic and military outreach will succeed, however, will take time.

“I think they can maintain their ambitions over a four-year timeframe, and that might be enough to develop the momentum that they

US tax. . .

continued from A10

are concerned that Democrats might thwart such an escape anyway, by making any capital gains tax hike retroactive. Biden’s proposal assumes the increase would be retroactive to late April, when it was proposed. But it’s unclear whether Congress would approve such a measure.

“Frankly, just the volatility of the tax discussion—what will pass, when will it pass, whether it will be retroactive—is making it hard to drive the boat when you are not entirely sure what each of these entrepreneurs should do and how they should plan,” said Brad Bernstein, managing partner at private equity firm FTV Capital, which specializes in working with founders of fintech businesses.

Some are floating alternative tax strategies.

Private equity funds could, for example, decide to take portfolio companies public and then have the general partners collect their performance fee, known as the carry, in shares, said Bernstein. That would put off capital gains and income taxes until they sell their stock.

Another approach for company owners is to trigger a tax bill this year, such as by moving abroad and renouncing US citizenship or engag-

need,” Graham said, adding that closer ties to the region are probably more important for Britain than vice versa.

Following Vietnam, Raab was to visit Cambodia and then end his trip to the region in Singapore.

Britain said joining the CPTPP would open new access to fast-growing economies across Asia-Pacific and the Americas, including Mexico, Malaysia and Vietnam. Other countries in the pact include Australia, New Zealand and Canada, but Britain would be the first European country if it succeeds in joining.

Britain singled out digital, services and finance as sectors that stand to gain from a trade deal, which it said should mean tariff-free trade for 99.9 percent of exports.

“Membership of the CPTTP freetrade partnership would open up unparalleled opportunities for British businesses and consumers in the fast-growing Indo-Pacific,” Prime Minister Boris Johnson said. “It’s an exciting opportunity to build on this country’s entrepreneurial spirit and free-trading history to bring economic benefits across the whole of the UK.” The CPTTP is a much looser arrangement than the European Union, which the UK formally left last year, as it does not include any political integration.

After the conclusion of a transition period that was intended to smooth the UK’s departure, the country is now able to negotiate its own trade deals. Last week, the British government negotiated the broad outlines of a trade deal with Australia that will see tariffs on a range of goods eliminated over coming years.

The United States, the world’s biggest economy, is not part of the CPTTP; former President Donald Trump withdrew the country from its predecessor, the Trans-Pacific Partnership. His successor, Joe Biden, has previously indicated that he would like to rejoin the grouping but has yet to set out any substantial plans since taking office in January.

China, the world’s No. 2 economy, also does not belong.

The British government said CPTPP countries accounted for around 110 billion pounds ($153 billion) worth of UK trade in 2019.

Though substantial, the amount is around six times less than the business the UK conducts with the EU. ing in other transfers that constitute a deemed sale, said David Lesperance, an international tax and immigration adviser at Lesperance & Associates. The idea is to pay taxes before rates rise, giving owners more time to arrange a sale with optimal terms.

Eager buyers

TO be sure, there are many factors contributing to talk of deals. The stock market is near an all-time high, burnishing valuations of private companies. Buyout firms are loaded with dry powder for takeovers after the pandemic. Blank-check firms known as SPACs, which flooded into the stock market in the past year, are under pressure to find desirable takeover targets. Low interest rates also make it easier for companies to finance strategic acquisitions. And investor interest in IPOs remains robust, behooving private equity firms to unload holdings before it softens.

About 65 percent of the private equity executives surveyed by EY in February and March expect changes in tax policy to have an impact on the timing of their exits.

“We’ve seen a strong resurgence in exit activity overall,” Pete Witte, EY global private equity lead analyst, said in an interview. “As we go into the balance of the year, the tax piece will be particularly important here as well.”

Juan Antonio A. Perez III, MD, MPH

Eye on population

T

HREE children in one family is now okay in the People’s Republic of China (PROC).

Forty-two years and two generations ago, the Asian superpower imposed its one-child policy on one-fourth of humanity (I recall selling tickets to Edgar Snow’s documentary on that subject as a young activist in the 1970s in Manila). It boggled the mind then that one country, government and party ruled so much of humanity.

China and Edgar Snow were delivering the message that with so many people under one regime, something must be going right.

In 1979 the PROC made a targeted fertility rate its official population policy, a one-child policy for every woman. PostMao China apparently was no longer a proud leader of onefourth of humanity; it would be content with a smaller share of the world population in exchange for economic growth.

Two generations later, China is choosing greater social cohesion and solidarity, counting on its economic power to pay for a more stable population-age structure.

China’s example of a “roller coaster” population policy is a lesson for governments, which have short-term economic goals, with matching short-term population policies.

Plans, programs, policies

Numbers count in the way countries plan for their future; usually, medium-term plans that last five to six years. Those plans begin with demographics: population census, population growth rates, fertility rates and eventually total fertility rate (the latter is actually interpreted unofficially as a preferred fertility rate, not a target). The Philippines has aligned itself with most countries that prefer a fertility rate of two children, and the demographic dividend that follows once a population has stabilized at that fertility rate.

Soon after China announced its new three-child policy, a quick survey showed support from a thousand respondents, but an overwhelming 22,000 did not agree with it. The Chinese population had lost its appetite for large families.

But it would be wrong to blame it all on a shortsighted population

Now is the best time to review our population policy, which is as old as the Commission on Population and Development created in 1969. The country is at a crossroads in terms of its demographic transition, which we will only pass once in this decade of the 2020s.

policy. All over the world, people are choosing smaller families and lower fertility. While much of the world in the 20th Century—the second half of it—were worried with limits to growth, by 1994 the UN was advising countries to respect sexual and reproductive health and rights in population programs and all countries removed population and fertility targets (except China, which only lifted its one-child policy in 2015).

In the 21st century countries are more concerned with age structure than about fertility. A burgeoning older population and smaller base of young people has turned economic calculations on its head: a larger older population means higher social costs which cannot be maintained by decreasing numbers of a country’s working population.

PHL’s ‘demographic window’ closing

The Philippines is a latecomer to these population concerns, even in our Asean region, due to our relatively higher fertility rates. The country has only recently addressed

its high fertility with the implementation of the Responsible Parenthood and Reproductive Health Law, since it was only in November 2017 when all legal challenges to the ruling were lifted.

Even as the country is only now seriously addressing high fertility, the numbers of older Filipinos are continuing to increase. The Philippines is expected to become an aging society by 2035, when 14 percent of Filipinos will be 60 years and older.

With the window of opportunity of a demographic dividend opening in a matter of four years when the country achieves a stable population with a fertility rate of 2.1, we will have only a decade of a demographic dividend before it closes with the advent of an aging Philippines in 2035—less than 15 years from now.

Now is the best time to review our population policy, which is as old as the Commission on Population and Development created in 1969. The country is at a crossroads in terms of its demographic transition, which we will only pass once in this decade of the 2020s.

We have the latecomers’ opportunity to learn from the experience of China to craft our own population policy based on our long-term ambition (think Ambisyon 2040), not just the medium-term plans of the next administration.

Undersecretary Juan Antonio “Doc Jeepy” Perez III is the executive director of the Commission on Population and Development, or POPCOM. For comments and reactions, e-mail juan.perez@popcom.gov.ph.

Long-drawn COA action on tax-credit schemes questioned Val A. Villanueva

Businesswise

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or a surprisingly long time, the Philippines has relied on the use of tax credit certificates as incentives to export firms in the hope of enhancing national competitiveness in an increasingly market-driven global economy. Although TCCs are refunds—instead of returning cash—the government, through the Department of Finance (DOF) issues certificates that applicant firms can use to pay their liabilities, including taxes or debts to creditor firms. TCCs are as good as cash. What makes the scheme unique is that TCCs are transferrable to other users.

Now, the Commission on Audit is being accused of failing to audit all issuances of TCCs between 2008 and 2014. On May 3, at least 21 employees of the One-Stop-Shop Inter-Agency Tax Credit and Duty Drawback Center (OSS-Center) filed three petitions for certiorari and prohibition against COA before the Supreme Court. In their 168-page petition, they asked the SC to stop COA from its unrestrained issuance of Notices of Disallowance (NDs), an act which they claimed had no legal basis and authority.

The petition stemmed from the COA’s special audit report, where it ruled that 3,250 tax credit certificates (TCCs)—involving P11.19 billion—issued between 2008 and 2014 to 33 Board of Investments (BOI)-registered textile and garment firms were all declared to have been issued without any legal or factual basis. Since the 2018 release of the special audit report, at least 578 NDs were issued in nine batches to eight of the 33 firms.

According to the OSS Center petitioners, COA had deviated without reason from the original objective of conducting a “sectoral performance audit,” as it audited only 3,259 TCCs issued to 33 firms out of the total 8,792 TCCs, representing only 33 percent of the issued TCCs. Moreover, the special audit report covering 2008-2014 came out in 2018, or more than three years after the supposed completion of the audit, raising confusion. It was unclear whether the unaudited firms would have to

return the amounts in their TCCs. COA has allegedly failed to audit the transfer and use of some P8.65 billion worth of TCCs issued to eight firms: namely, Phoenix Petroleum which had the biggest amount of transferred TCCs at P2.87 billion; followed by Therma Luzon, a subsidiary of Aboitiz Power, at P2.339 billion; Steel Asia Manufacturing, at P1.98 billion; Scandinavian Motors had P556.89 million, and Therma South, another subsidiary of Aboitiz Power, had P467.09 million.

DOF insiders told BusinessWise that Finance Secretary Sonny Domiguez is taking special interest in the petition. For one, the finance secretary is not too sold on exports as a way to economic progress. He is said to lean more toward import substitution or substitution industrialization, an economic theory resorted to by developing countries or emerging market nations that seek to decrease dependence on developed countries.

This approach promotes the protection of newly formed domestic industries and nurturing them to become fully developed sectors so that local goods are kept competitive with imported goods. Under the ISI theory, the process makes local economies, and their nations, self-sufficient.

The OSS-Center has long been suspected of being embroiled in corruption, but no one in the DOF has so far offered concrete proof. In 2014, news of “speculative nature” broke about a “massive scam” in the OSS-Center. DOF officials, however, could neither identify nor file court

Mercado said the Center is petitioning for the Supreme Court to intervene so that “the grave abuse of discretion being committed by the audit team” would be addressed. He expressed the hope that it would not take another 16 years before the COA would be able to resolve the issue.

charges against the yet-unidentified parties. This was what was claimed to have prompted the DOF to urge COA to conduct an audit in 2015 that lasted for three years.

The OSS-Center petitioners have also alleged that the COA special audit team committed fraud by altering the actual provisions of Article 39 (j) of Executive Order 226, or the Omnibus Investment Code—of which the Center is one the implementing agencies—and the contents of an OSS-Center executive committee resolution (ExCom) passed on October 18, 2020. The twin moves have appeared to fit the desired conclusion of the audit team that the subject TCCs were all issued without legal justification.

There is basis though for some people in the DOF to believe that corruption in the OSS-Center exists. Recall that, during Bobby de Ocampo’s time as the DOF secretary in the Fidel Ramos administration, the Center became enmeshed in the so-called tax credit scam when some P8 billion vanished into thin air.

In 1998, then DOF Chief Edgardo Espiritu ordered a top-to-bottom revamp of the agency. The overhaul proved effective for some time. Established in 1992, the OSC-Center underwent five special audits between 1998 and 2009. During the first four audits, COA didn’t find anything amiss in the Center’s systems and operations. For some unexplained reasons, the fifth audit took more than three years (2015-2018).

It was the 2018 or fifth special audit report that became the basis for 21 employees and officers of the Center to file before the SC the certiorari and prohibition.

Speaking through their lawyer Marlon Mercado, the OSS-Center officers and staff said they were prompted to file the petition be-

cause COA had answered only two of the 11 petitions for review. They claimed the answers were insufficient to the points they had raised in their petitions.

According to the petitioners, the 578 NDs cover 18 percent of the total NDs issued. Also, eight of the 33 firms represent only 24 percent, with 25 firms or 76 percent of the total number of firms not having been issued any NDs three years after the release of the special audit report.

Moreover, the 578 NDs issued to the eight firms constitute only 50 percent of the NDs issued to them.

Despite official communications by the special audit team that the audit would cover 33 firms involving P11.19 billion, the petitioners claimed, COA only conducted a partial audit of eight firms involving P2.21 billion. Moreover, they alleged that the special audit report has reflected COA’s unfamiliarity with the TCC environment.

In their letters to COA Chair Michael Aguinaldo in September 2019, the OSS-Center workers cited evidence to support their claim of “fraudulent representations” in the 2018 special audit report, which became the basis of the issuance of NDs. Through his October 21, 2019 letter to the OSS-Center employees, Aguinaldo reassured them the COA special audit team members were “required to file Answer addressing the issues raised in the appeals including the alleged fraudulent misrepresentations.”

More than 19 months have passed, however, since Aguinaldo’s letter, but the special audit team has not responded to the allegations, including the issue of fraudulent actions they allegedly committed in the conduct of the audit. Mercado noted that such nonresponse could only mean the contentions raised by the OSS-Center workers were “valid.” Mercado said the Center is petitioning for the Supreme Court to intervene so that “the grave abuse of discretion being committed by the audit team” would be addressed. He expressed the hope that it would not take another 16 years before the COA would be able to resolve the issue.

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

A12 Thursday, June 24, 2021

DTI vows to support creative industry’s pandemic recovery

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By Tyrone Jasper C. Piad @Tyronepiad

HE Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) vowed to support the creative industry—a sector seen generating highvalue activities and job opportunities—in its bid to recover post-pandemic.

Trade Undersecretary Rafaelita M. Aldaba said at a recent event that DTI Competitiveness and Innovation Group has been implementing a program dedicated to shaping the creative sector.

The program aims to scale up creative talents, startups, entrepreneurs and businesses implementing new business models and information technology tools such as artificial intelligence.

“Our program provides support

services, such as incubation and acceleration, mentorship, industry matching, along with internationalization activities to expose creative startups to ecosystems abroad,” Aldaba said.

“The pandemic has adversely affected the creative industry and through this program, which focuses on innovation and use of new technology, we hope to help the creative sector in their post-pandemic growth and recovery,” she added.

Aldaba said that the Trade department is working with the Philippine Statistics Authority in coming up with the Philippine Creative Industries Satellite Account to address the lack of official industry data.

Currently, she said there are about 745,000 workers in the formal creative sector, but there are millions more in the gig and informal economy.

“This [satellite account] will provide us with more comprehensive industry statistics that will serve as vital input for both government and industry,” Aldaba pointed out.

The trade official said that DTI is collaborating with the industry, other government agencies and the academe in crafting roadmaps for the creative industry.

In 2019, the Creative Economy Council of the Philippines submitted to the Trade department and Board of Investments the Creative Economy Roadmap, which sets five development sectors: advertising, film, animation, game development and design.

The roadmap aims to make the Philippines the top creative economy in the Asean region by 2030 in terms of size and value of creative

industries, as well as competitiveness of talent and content.

The scope covers six cultural domains: cultural and natural heritage; performance and celebration; visual arts and artisan products; books and press; audio-visual, broadcast and interactive media; and creative services.

“The creative industries are at the crossroads of the art, culture, business and technology. All these activities are intended in creative fields and can generate income through trade and intellectual property rights,” Aldaba said.

“Leveraging on our cultural richness, highly skilled content artists and creators and their use of new technologies, we can transform the creative industries to thrive and fuel our economic recovery and growth,” she continued.

The United Nations Conference on Trade and Development (Unctad) designated 2021 as the “International Year of Creative Economy for Sustainable Development.”

Earlier this year, Unctad urged to fast-track initiatives boosting recovery of the creative economy as the global community aims to reach the Sustainable Development Goals in 10 years.

MLA GROWS EVEN MORE EXPENSIVE FOR EXPATS

By Cai U. Ordinario @caiordinario

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ANILA has become an even more expensive place to live for expatriates this year, according to the 2021 Cost of Living (COL) rankings released by US-based firm Mercer.

The Philippine capital now ranks 78th out of 209 cities. This is two notches higher than its 2020 ranking of 80th out of 209 cities globally.

For those working abroad, it is more expensive to live in Manila than other Southeast Asian places, namely, Yangon in Myanmar; Jakarta in Indonesia; Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh in Vietnam; and Kuala Lumpur in Malaysia.

“Across the region, companies are actively reassessing their talent and mobility strategies in light of the complex challenges brought on by Covid-19. Companies are realizing more than ever that they need to diversify their mobility scenarios and related compensation practices,” Julia Radchenko, Global Mobility Leader, Asia Pacific, said.

“And it is no longer about just geographical mobility, it is about talent mobility which implies lateral moves, distributed workforce, geographical mobility, interna-

tional remote working, virtual assignments, etc.,” she added.

Mercer said the COL is affected by several factors such as food, alcohol and tobacco, domestic supplies, housing, and clothing and footwear.

It added that factors such as home services, utilities, personal care, transportation, and recreation and entertainment are also taken into consideration.

Mercer said Ashgabat, Turkmenistan is now the costliest city for international employees, both in Asia and globally. Hong Kong ceded the top spot—a position it held for the past three years—and ranked second most expensive for expatriates.

“Cost of living has always been a factor for international mobility planning, but the pandemic has added a whole new layer of complexity, as well as long-term implications related to health and safety of employees, remote working and flexibility policies, among other considerations,” Ilya Bonic, Career President and Head of Mercer Strategy, said.

“As organizations rethink their talent and mobility strategies, accurate and transparent data is essential to compensate employees fairly for all types of assignments,” she added.

Continued on A9

Neda pins hopes for gradual F2F classes’ return on jabs’ pace

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HE speed of vaccinations could make it possible for face-to-face classes to gradually resume this year, according to the National Economic and Development Authority (Neda).

In his presentation at the 42nd National Conference of Employers on Wednesday, Socioeconomic Planning Secretary Karl Kendrick T. Chua said 8.4 million vaccines have already been administered and the government has begun the vaccination for the A4 category or economic frontliners.

Chua hopes this will lead to greater confidence and allow further reopening of the economy especially with the arrival of 30 million more vaccines. He noted that vulnerable Filipinos such as senior citizens and persons with comorbidities have already been vaccinated.

“We can all work out the gradual opening of face to face this year, especially since we can achieve much in vaccination,” Chua told BusinessMirror on Wednesday via Viber.

“If health workers, seniors and parents who work are vaccinated, then children going to school is safer. That is why it is important to accelerate our vaccination of A1 to A4,” the Neda Chief added.

Chua, in his presentation, said a total of 6.25 million Filipinos have received their first dose of the vaccine while 2.15 million have received their second dose.

The data he shared, which was as of June 20, showed that 1.57 million health workers have received their first jab and 1.067 million received their second dose of the vaccine.

He added that over 2 million Filipino seniors and those with comorbidities received their first dose of the anti-Covid-19 vaccine. Data showed 2 million seniors and 2.09 million Filipinos with comorbidities received their first vaccine doses.

Chua said over half a million

seniors and persons with comorbidities received their second dose as of June 20 this year. Half a million economic frontliners have also received their first dose while less than 100,000 of indigents or A5 have received their first jabs.

The Department of Health (DOH) earlier reported that Covid-19 cases in Metro Manila or the National Capital Region (NCR) posted a “very slow decline.”

As of June 14, the DOH reported that new cases in NCR reached 832, placing the region second only to Calabarzon which had 940 new cases.

“Since NCR cases have gone down a lot and are roughly the same as in October when we opened the economy, then yes, there [can be] opening but subject to vigilance against the newer variants,” Chua told BusinessMirror.

The national government remains confident that the economy can register growth of 6 percent this year and 7 percent next year.

Chua noted that the lessons gleaned from the closure of 70 percent of the economy will allow the country to recover from the pandemic this year.

He said the government has a P2-trillion recovery package composed of cash and non-cash tools including Bayanihan 1 and 2; the CREATE law; FIST to address liquidity problems of firms; GUIDE to address insolvency problems; and the 2021 national budget.

The Neda Chief said the Build, Build, Build program will also contribute to the recovery. Earlier, Chua said over 3,000 infrastructure big and small projects under the Public Investment Program will be completed by next year.

Chua said 314 of the projects have already been completed as of June 2019 and 2,800 are set to be completed by 2022. These projects are part of the medium-term Public Investment Program (PIP) of the administration.

Continued on A9

The prices of vegetables in some markets have increased. The Department of Agriculture attributed the increase in the prices of several agriculture commodities to supply issues. At the Pasay market, for example, the price of eggplants, ampalaya and others increased by P40 per kilo and others by P60 per kilo. The DA is now checking the inventory of all agricultural products in the country to determine if the supplies and prices match. ROY DOMINGO

PRC boosts vaxx work; MMDA eyes 10-M jabs in 3 mos

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HE Philippine Red Cross (PRC) received additional doses of Sinovac Covid-19 vaccines from the government on June 23, allowing to honor its commitment to aid efforts in vaccinating people in priority groups as well as working individuals.

The PRC established six Bakuna Centers in Metro Manila at the PRC molecular laboratory in Mandaluyong; PRC Port Area; Kabaka Compound in Pandacan, Manila; San Lorenzo, Makati; Arcovia City, Pasig and the PRC Pasay City Chapter. PRC Bakuna Centers have been lauded for being efficient, uncrowded, and faithful to health protocols to circumvent infection.

“The Philippine Red Cross is committed to help the government reinforce our defense against Co-

vid-19 by vaccinating our people.

The Red Cross has the manpower, the resources, and the compassion to reach out to our people and prevent them from getting sick,” PRC Chairman and CEO, Sen. Richard Gordon emphasized.

The Red Cross is not new to vaccination as it also provided substantial support in past campaigns against polio and measles-rubella, tapping its pool of volunteers and partner institutions like the Philippine Nurses Association (PNA), the Philippine Medical Association (PMA) and top medical universities in the country.

Recently, Gordon also proposed that relatives and household members of frontline workers be prioritized for vaccination, which was approved by the Inter-Agency

Task Force for the Management of Emerging Infectious Diseases in a letter signed by Secretary Carlito Galvez, Jr. on June 18.

“Our healthcare and economic workers face the danger of being exposed to the virus every day and are even more burdened with worry that they might bring the virus to their homes. Prioritizing their household members will allay their fears and boost their morale, knowing that they can return to their families safely after working in the frontlines,” Gordon said in an interview.

10-M jabs in 3 months

Meanwhile, given the daily average of vaccinations conducted in the metropolis, Chairman Benjamin “Benhur” Abalos Jr.

of the Metropolitan Manila Development Authority (MMDA) on Wednesday expressed conf id e nc e t h at t he re m a i n i n g 10. 3 -m i l l ion jabs c a n be attained in three months or less to achieve population protection against Covid-19.

Abalos said, “targeting at least 50 percent of Metro Manila’s 14 million population, around 14 million jabs would be needed; and so far, with the 3.6 million jabs done as of June 22, we would be looking at around 10.3 million jabs remaining. Given our daily average jabs, we will be having at least 3.4 million jabs per month.

Therefore, the remaining 10.3 million jabs can be attained in three months or less.”

Continued on A9

BusinessMirror

www.businessmirror.com.ph

ESTABLISHMENT / ADDRESS No.

NAME OF FOREIGN NATIONAL , POSITION AND BRIEF DESCRIPTION

ESTABLISHMENT / ADDRESS QUALIFICATION AND SALARY RANGE

No.

24 INCH GAUGE CONSTRUCTION INC. L4 Blk. 4 Near Kay Buboy Bridge San Dionisio Parañaque City

CHEN, YUMING Marketing Specialist 1.

Brief Job Description: Responsible for coordinating with other marketing and sales professionals to implement innovative campaigns for branding or product launches

YU, ZHIJUN Marketing Specialist 2.

Brief Job Description: Responsible for coordinating with other marketing and sales professionals to implement innovative campaigns for branding or product launches

XU, ZIDANG Project Coordinator 3.

Brief Job Description: Plan, organize, and direct the activities of a construction project, under the direction of a general manager.

XU, WENQIANG Project Coordinator 4.

Brief Job Description: Plan, organize, and direct the activities of a construction project, under the direction of a general manager.

Basic Qualification: Ability to work under pressure and motivation to succeed in a competitive environment; Should have a bachelor’s degree in journalism, marketing, communications or a related field; Good communication and interpersonal skills Salary Range: Php 30,000 - Php 59,999 Basic Qualification: Ability to work under pressure and motivation to succeed in a competitive environment; Should have a bachelor’s degree in journalism, marketing, communications or a related field; Good communication and interpersonal skills Salary Range: Php 30,000 - Php 59,999 Basic Qualification: Bachelor’s degree in business or related field of study; Competency in Microsoft applications including Word, Excel, and Outlook; Knowledge of file management, transcription, and other administrative procedures. Or a related field; Good communication and interpersonal skills Salary Range: Php 30,000 - Php 59,999 Basic Qualification: Bachelor’s degree in business or related field of study; Competency in Microsoft applications including Word, Excel, and Outlook; Knowledge of file management, transcription, and other administrative procedures or a related field; Good communication and interpersonal skills Salary Range: Php 30,000 - Php 59,999

AMAZON OPERATION SERVICES PHILIPPINES, INC. B21 Three E-com Moa Complex Harbour Drive Cor. Bay Shore Brgy. 076 Pasay City Basic Qualification: CHAYSAN, NATCHANOK Proactive documentation Investigation Specialist I - Thai Language of Operational procedures required to tackle known risk 5.

Brief Job Description: related Investigate suspicious activity and behavior that could pose a risk to Amazon, our customers or merchant.

Salary Range: Php 30,000 - Php 59,999 MAHAYODSANAN, PHAKKARAPHAT Basic Qualification: Seller Support Associate Good customer service skills/ experience.

6.

Brief Job Description: To provide prompt and efficient service to Amazon sellers Salary Range: and merchants including the appropriate escalation of Php 90,000 - Php 149,999 seller’s issues Basic Qualification: NGUEN QUOC VU Proactive documentation Vietnamese Speaking Investigations Specialist of operational procedures required to tackle known risk 7.

Brief Job Description: related.

Communicate effectively via email and/or telephone with buyers, merchants and internal customers.

Salary Range: Php 60,000 - Php 89,999 ANOC99 CORPORATION 5/f To 10/f Ayala Malls Manila Bay Building D. Macapagal Blvd. Cor. Aseana Street Tambo Parañaque City Basic Qualification: BUI VAN TIEN Able to speak, read, and Chinese Customer Service write Chinese language 8.

Brief Job Description: Salary Range: Managing incoming calls and customer service inquiries Php 30,000 - Php 59,999 Basic Qualification: CHEN, YUYUAN Able to speak, read, and Chinese Customer Service write Chinese language 9.

Brief Job Description: Salary Range: Managing incoming calls and customer service inquiries Php 30,000 - Php 59,999 Basic Qualification: DANG THI HOAI Able to speak, read, and Chinese Customer Service write Chinese language 10.

Brief Job Description: Salary Range: Managing incoming calls and customer service inquiries Php 30,000 - Php 59,999 Basic Qualification: DAO THI HUE Able to speak, read, and Chinese Customer Service write Chinese language 11.

Brief Job Description: Salary Range: Managing incoming calls and customer service inquiries Php 30,000 - Php 59,999 Basic Qualification: DONG, KUN Able to speak, read, and Chinese Customer Service write Chinese language 12.

Brief Job Description: Salary Range: Managing incoming calls and customer service inquiries Php 30,000 - Php 59,999 Basic Qualification: GAO, JUNLONG Able to speak, read, and Chinese Customer Service write Chinese language 13.

Brief Job Description: Salary Range: Managing incoming calls and customer service inquiries Php 30,000 - Php 59,999 Basic Qualification: KYAW SOE Able to speak, read, and Chinese Customer Service write Chinese language 14.

Brief Job Description: Salary Range: Managing incoming calls and customer service inquiries Php 30,000 - Php 59,999 Basic Qualification: LE MINH THINH Able to speak, read, and Chinese Customer Service write Chinese language 15.

Brief Job Description: Salary Range: Managing incoming calls and customer service inquiries Php 30,000 - Php 59,999 Basic Qualification: LE VAN QUAN Able to speak, read, and Chinese Customer Service write Chinese language 16.

Brief Job Description: Salary Range: Managing incoming calls and customer service inquiries Php 30,000 - Php 59,999

17.

18.

19.

20.

21.

22.

23.

24.

NAME OF FOREIGN NATIONAL , POSITION AND BRIEF DESCRIPTION HUANG, HANYU Chinese Customer Specialist Brief Job Description: Managing incoming calls and customer service inquiries LIU, YUE Chinese Customer Specialist Brief Job Description: Managing incoming calls and customer service inquiries LONG, CHAOLIANG Chinese Customer Specialist Brief Job Description: Managing incoming calls and customer service inquiries LU, LIFENG Chinese Customer Specialist Brief Job Description: Managing incoming calls and customer service inquiries SHEN, JUNCHI Chinese Customer Specialist Brief Job Description: Managing incoming calls and customer service inquiries TANG, SHIJIE Chinese Customer Specialist Brief Job Description: Managing incoming calls and customer service inquiries ZHANG, WUBING Chinese Customer Specialist Brief Job Description: Managing incoming calls and customer service inquiries ZHANG, LINA Chinese Customer Specialist Brief Job Description: Managing incoming calls and customer service inquiries

ESTABLISHMENT / ADDRESS QUALIFICATION AND SALARY RANGE

25.

Brief Job Description: Strategize for contingency planning and risk mitigation and schedule project deliverables, Support development of division protocol and policies.

YUAN, WEI Chinese Speaking IT Project Associates

26.

Brief Job Description: Strategize for contingency planning and risk mitigation and schedule project deliverables, Support development of division protocol and policies.

BEST RELIABLE RESOURCES CORP. Ub 111 Paseo De Roxas Bldg. Paseo De Roxas San Lorenzo Makati City SHOHAM, OR Data Analyst 27.

Brief Job Description: Interpret data analyze results using statistical techniques and provide ongoing reports develop and implement databases data collection systems data analytics And other strategies that optimize statistical efficiency and quality

LUGASI, EDEN Human Resources Training Manager 28.

Brief Job Description: Create programs that helps employees to develop the skills and garner the knowledge they need to perform well in their job positions for the overall performance of the company

No.

Basic Qualification: Able to Speak, Read, and Write Chinese Language Salary Range: Php 60,000 - Php 89,999 Basic Qualification: Able to Speak, Read, and Write Chinese Language Salary Range: Php 30,000 - Php 59,999 Basic Qualification: Able to Speak, Read and Write Chinese language Salary Range: Php 60,000 - Php 89,999 Basic Qualification: Able to Speak, Read and Write Chinese language Salary Range: Php 60,000 - Php 89,999 Basic Qualification: Able to Speak, Read and Write Chinese language Salary Range: Php 60,000 - Php 89,999 Basic Qualification: Able to Speak, Read, and Write Chinese Language Salary Range: Php 30,000 - Php 59,999 Basic Qualification: Able to Speak, Read, and Write Chinese Language Salary Range: Php 30,000 - Php 59,999 Basic Qualification: Able to Speak, Read and Write Chinese language Salary Range: Php 60,000 - Php 89,999

AXISCOVE INC. Unit 1 & 3 14/f Sshg Law Center Sycip Law Center 105 Paseo De Roxas San Lorenzo Makati City LI, YI Chinese Speaking IT Project Associates

Thursday, June 24, 2021 A13

Basic Qualification: Proficiency in handling customer questions about services or products.

Excellent Mandarin communication skills 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

Basic Qualification: Bachelor’s degree in related technical and it and comsci a minimum of 3 years my sql html css net c++ java script/ programming r or phyton tableau it trends (AI machine) Hebrew speaker preferred English speaker Salary Range: Php 30,000 - Php 59,999 Basic Qualification: Bachelor’s degree in human resources business management or related field required A minimum of 5 years of human resource management experienced required Shrm-cp or shrm0scp highly desired / Hebrew speaking / English language

PORAT, ANAT Technical Recruiter 32.

SUKHOLUTSKY, YIGAL Marketing Specialist 29.

Brief Job Description: Develop implement and track marketing programs such as email social media or digital campaign and events

Salary Range: Php 30,000 - Php 59,999 GOLAN, SHLOMIT Project Data Administrator 30.

Brief Job Description: Schedule regular meetings and record decisions 0e’g.

Assigned tasks next steps) Break projects into doable tasks and set timeframes and goals Create and update workflows Conduct risk analysis Prepare and provide documentation to internal teams and key stakeholders meetings

DAXIFA CORPORATION Mpire Center 93 West Avenue Project 7 Bungad 1 Quezon City

BERENSHTEIN, SHARON Recruitment Specialist 31.

Brief Job Description: Connecting with potential candidates online and offline screening applications and supporting hiring managers experience evaluating candidates for roles of various fields and seniority levels ultimately responsible for hiring qualified people while maintaining a positive candidate experience

WEI, YIJIE Mandarin Speaking Customer Service Representative 40.

Basic Qualification: BS human resources / 2 years experience / hands on experience with the largest job sites like monster and indeed applicant tracking systems / niche professional website like linked in Facebook github and stack overflow.

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

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

EASTERN GOLD CORPORATION 503 Nueva St Binondo Manila HONG, CHAOJI Marketing And Sales Agent 41.

Basic Qualification: Bachelor’s degree in related marketing and business ad / a minimum of 8 years excel (queries, pivot tables and vlookups) and access sql base and html code semrush seo / sem Hebrew speaker Salary Range: Php 60,000 - Php 89,999

Brief Job Description: Collaborates with hiring managers to understand the need and roles to be filled reviews job descriptions assist with the development and revision of specifications And job descriptions fore selected positions

QUALIFICATION AND SALARY RANGE Basic Qualification: Bachelor’s degree in related technical and HR field with a minimum of 6 years recruiting experience and technical roles shrm’s talent acquisition specialty credential / Hebrew speaker preferred English language Salary Range: Php 30,000 - Php 59,999

C3/CUSTOMERCONTACTCHANNELS PHILIPPINES LTD. 11/f, 17/f, 18/f, 19/f, 20/f Bonifacio One Technology Tower 3030 Rizal Drive Cor. 31st St. Bgc Fort Bonifacio Taguig City Basic Qualification: SUNDARAM, ANAND Knowledge and experience in Senior Vice President - Transformation Management transformation management, Organization project management , corporate strategy , financial 33.

Brief Job Description: planning and analysis, and Partners with leadership and teams to develop, lead and operations execute enterprise wide- initiatives that deliver improved business performance Salary Range: Php 150,000 - Php 499,999 CBMI CONSTRUCTION CO. LTD. Unit 37-b Rufino Pacific Tower 6784 Ayala Ave. San Lorenzo Makati City Basic Qualification: Proven experience as ZHU, XIAOPING Mandarin Mechanical and Mandarin Mechanical And Electrical Maintenance Analyst Electrical Maintenance Analyst, excellent Brief Job Description: 34. communication, The Mandarin Mechanical and Electrical Maintenance interpersonal and Analyst will be a strategist and a leader able to steer presentation skills. the company to the most profitable direction while also implementing its vision, mission and long term goals.

Salary Range: Php 30,000 - Php 59,999 CHINA RAILWAY 25TH BUREAU GROUP PHILIPPINES CONSTRUCTION CORP. 16/f Tower 6789 6789 Ayala Ave. Bel-air Makati City Basic Qualification: WANG, RUI Proven experience as Mandarin Electrical Commissioning Analyst Mandarin Electrical Commissioning Analyst, Brief Job Description: excellent communication, 35.

The Mandarin Electrical Commissioning Analyst will be a interpersonal and strategist and a leader able to steer the company to the presentation skills. most profitable direction while also implementing its vision, mission and long term goals.

Salary Range: Php 30,000 - Php 59,999 Basic Qualification: QI, JIXIAN Proven experience as Mandarin Field Service Coordinator Mandarin Field Service Coordinator, excellent Brief Job Description: communication, 36.

The Mandarin Field Service Coordinator will be a strategist interpersonal and and a leader able to steer the company to the most presentation skills. profitable direction while also implementing its vision, mission and long term goals.

Salary Range: Php 30,000 - Php 59,999 Basic Qualification: LI, KE Proven experience as Mandarin Finance Analyst Mandarin Finance Analyst, excellent communication, Brief Job Description: interpersonal and 37.

The Mandarin Finance Analyst will be a strategist and a presentation skills. leader able to steer the company to the most profitable direction while also implementing its vision, mission and Salary Range: long term goals.

Php 30,000 - Php 59,999 Basic Qualification: LYU, HONGBIN Proven experience as Mandarin Project Planning And Design Analyst Mandarin Project Planning and Design Analyst, Brief Job Description: excellent communication, 38.

The Mandarin Project Planning and Design Analyst will interpersonal and be a strategist and a leader able to steer the company to presentation skills. the most profitable direction while also implementing its vision, mission and long term goals.

Salary Range: Php 30,000 - Php 59,999 CHN-PHL HUAIYUAN INTERNATIONAL CONSTRUCTION CORPORATION Unit A&b 20/f Rufino Pacific Tower 6784 Ayala Avenue San Lorenzo Makati City Basic Qualification: Proven experience as Mandarin Technical LUO, CHEN Service of Coal Mill Officer, Mandarin Technical Service Of Coal Mill Officer familiarity, knowledge and awareness on machinery 39.

Brief Job Description: and heavy equipment use A strategist and a leader able to steer the company to by company, demonstrable the most profitable direction while also implementing its experience in developing vision, mission and long term goals. strategic business plan

Salary Range: Php 60,000 - Php 89,999 Basic Qualification: Bachelor’s degree in marketing / 2 years’ experience / Marketo , Google analytics / crm systems (e.g. Salesforce) and content management systems net insight omniture web trends semrush seo sem

NAME OF FOREIGN NATIONAL , POSITION AND BRIEF DESCRIPTION

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

LUO, DUXIN Marketing And Sales Agent 42.

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

YANG, LEIMING Marketing And Sales Agent 43.

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

Salary Range: Php 30,000 - Php 59,999 Basic Qualification: Ability to communicate fluently in Mandarin Chinese (spoken & written) with customers Salary Range: Php 30,000 - Php 59,999 Basic Qualification: Can contributes information, ideas, and research to help develop marketing strategies; can help to detail, design, and implement marketing plans for each product or service being offered.

Salary Range: Php 30,000 - Php 59,999 Basic Qualification: Can contributes information, ideas, and research to help develop marketing strategies; can help to detail, design, and implement marketing plans for each product or service being offered.

Salary Range: Php 30,000 - Php 59,999 Basic Qualification: Can contributes information, ideas, and research to help develop marketing strategies; can help to detail, design, and implement marketing plans for each product or service being offered.

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

BusinessMirror

A14 Thursday, June 24, 2021

ESTABLISHMENT / ADDRESS No.

NAME OF FOREIGN NATIONAL , POSITION AND BRIEF DESCRIPTION ZHOU, SHAOHUA Marketing And Sales Agent

44.

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

ECHOTECH SERVICES INC. 18/f Philamlife Tower 8767 Paseo De Roxas Bel-air Makati City SHI, ZEYU Mandarin Field Marketing Manager 45.

Brief Job Description: Plans and implements different marketing campaigns in order to grow the brand

ESTABLISHMENT / ADDRESS QUALIFICATION AND SALARY RANGE Basic Qualification: Researches and develops various marketing strategies for products and services and implements marketing plans and works to meet sales quotas

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

55.

Brief Job Description: A customer service representative supports customers by providing helpful information, answering questions, and responding to complaints. They’re the front line of support for clients and customers and they help ensure that customers are satisfied with products, services, and features.

WANG, JIAXIN Customer Service Representative 56.

Brief Job Description: A customer service representative supports customers by providing helpful information, answering questions, and responding to complaints. They’re the front line of support for clients and customers and they help ensure that customers are satisfied with products, services, and features.

ZHANG, BIFENG Customer Service Representative 57.

Brief Job Description: A customer service representative supports customers by providing helpful information, answering questions, and responding to complaints. They’re the front line of support for clients and customers and they help ensure that customers are satisfied with products, services, and features.

58.

Salary Range: Php 30,000 - Php 59,999 Basic Qualification: Must be a College graduate; Can Prepare product or service reports by collecting and analyzing customer information; Can contribute to team effort by accomplishing related results as needed; Can Manage large amounts of incoming calls` Salary Range: Php 30,000 - Php 59,999 Basic Qualification: Must be a College graduate; Can Prepare product or service reports by collecting and analyzing customer information; Can contribute to team effort by accomplishing related results as needed; Can Manage large amounts of incoming calls

59.

Brief Job Description: Collecting Customer Information And Analyzing Customers’ Needs CAO, WEIJIAN Customer Service Representative - Mandarin Speaking

60.

Brief Job Description: Collecting Customer Information And Analyzing Customers’ Needs LIU, JINTUAN Customer Service Representative - Mandarin Speaking

61.

Brief Job Description: Recommends potential products or services to management by collecting customer information and analyzing customer needs.

LI, XIANG Customer Service Representative-mandarin Speaking

62.

Brief Job Description: Recommends potential products or services to management by collecting customer information and analyzing customer needs,

ESTABLISHMENT / ADDRESS QUALIFICATION AND SALARY RANGE Basic Qualification: Proven experience in digital marketing particularly within the industry and good communication skills Salary Range: Php 30,000 - Php 59,999 Basic Qualification: Proven experience in digital marketing particularly within the industry and good communication skills Salary Range: Php 30,000 - Php 59,999 Basic Qualification: Proven experience in digital marketing particularly within the industry and good communication skills Salary Range: Php 30,000 - Php 59,999 Basic Qualification: Proven working experience in Digital Marketing particularly within the industry and good communication skills.

Salary Range: Php 30,000 - Php 59,999 Basic Qualification: Proven working experience in Digital Marketing particularly within the industry and good communication skills.

IDINSIGHT PHILIPPINES INC. 3/f Molave Bldg. 2231 Chino Roces Ave. Bangkal Makati City ALEXANDRA AGCAOILI Client-facing Associate 64.

Brief Job Description: High performing early-career professionals passionate to experience the front-line realities of evidence-based policymaking INTEGRITY GLOBAL GROUP, INC. 2/f-3/f Ayala Malls Circuit A.p. Reyes Ave. Carmona Makati City LU HSIN-YING a.k.a. LU JO-LING Executive Assistant (mandarin Speaking)

65.

Brief Job Description: Providing administrative assistance, Managing information flow in a timely manner J-NA ALLOUT TECHNOLOGY SOLUTIONS CORP. 3/f Lipams Bldg. #48 President Avenue Bf Homes Parañaque City

66.

YANG, CHANGHUAN Chinese Customer Service Representative Brief Job Description: Managing incoming calls and customer service inquiries

Salary Range: Php 30,000 - Php 59,999 Basic Qualification: 0-4 years’ work experience, with bachelors and or/ master’s degree

Basic Qualification: Good oral communication skills, basic computer literacy

67.

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

Basic Qualification: Fluent in mandarin, Melayu and English language

Brief Job Description: Implements business strategies to ensure company Salary Range: productivity and efficiency Php 60,000 - Php 89,999 KONGANBUDDIES MARKETING INC. 48/f Lower Ground Pbcom Tower 6795 Ayala Ave. Cor. V.a. Rufino St. Bel-air Makati City Basic Qualification: ERWIN MARSETO TOH College Graduate, Speaks Account Supervisor and write fluently taiwanese and english mandarin multi68.

Brief Job Description: lingual language Lead Account Executive Manage Accounts financial aspects Salary Range: Php 30,000 - Php 59,999 Basic Qualification: HENDRY HALIM College Graduate, speaks Bahasa Customer Service Representative and write fluently Taiwanese and English Mandarin Multi69.

Brief Job Description: Lingual Language Assist in text production and integrating the relationship of text graphics Salary Range: Php 30,000 - Php 59,999 Basic Qualification: JOHAN College Graduate, speaks Bahasa/chinese Language Customer Service and write fluently Taiwanese Representative and English Mandarin Multi70.

Lingual Language Brief Job Description: Assist in text production and integrating the relationship Salary Range: of text graphics Php 30,000 - Php 59,999 Basic Qualification: ERWIN NGADIMIN College Graduate speaks and Hod Marketing Head write Fluently and english mandarin multi-lingual 71.

Brief Job Description: language Setting objectives and developing marketing strategies for the company Salary Range: Php 30,000 - Php 59,999 Basic Qualification: MEIVIANI ANATARIUS ANGGI College Graduate speaks and Hod Marketing Head write Fluently and english mandarin multi-lingual 72.

Brief Job Description: language Setting objectives and developing marketing strategies for the company Salary Range: Php 30,000 - Php 59,999 Basic Qualification: EDY *College graduate *speaks Indonesian Customer Service Representative fluently Taiwanese and English Mandarin multi73.

Brief Job Description: lingual language Identify and assess customers’ needs to achieve satisfaction Salary Range: Php 30,000 - Php 59,999 Basic Qualification: ELZE *College graduate *speaks Indonesian Customer Service Representative fluently Taiwanese and English Mandarin multi74.

Brief Job Description: lingual language Identify and assess customers’ needs to achieve satisfaction Salary Range: Php 30,000 - Php 59,999 FINA CITRA Indonesian Customer Service Representative 75.

Brief Job Description: Identifies and assess customers’ needs to achieve satisfaction JIMMY Indonesian Customer Service Representative

76.

Brief Job Description: Communicate appropriate for resolutions and service in timely manner

77.

Basic Qualification: *College graduate *speaks fluently Taiwanese and English Mandarin multilingual language Salary Range: Php 30,000 - Php 59,999 Basic Qualification: Speaks and write fluently multi-lingual language Salary Range: Php 30,000 - Php 59,999

Brief Job Description: Assist in text production and integrating the relationship of text to graphics KENNY NG Indonesian Customer Service Representative

78.

Brief Job Description: Assist in text production and integrating the relationship of text to graphics LEONARDO CAHYAWIRA Indonesian Customer Service Representative

79.

Brief Job Description: Identify and assess customers’ needs to achieve satisfaction NOFANDA LIE Indonesian Customer Service Representative

80.

Brief Job Description: Identify and assess customers’ needs to achieve satisfaction ROBIN Indonesian Customer Service Representative

81.

Brief Job Description: Assist in text production and integrating the relationship of text to graphics STEVEN WIJAYA Indonesian Customer Service Representative

82.

Brief Job Description: Identify and assess customers’ needs to achieve satisfaction SUWINDINA Indonesian Customer Service Representative

83.

Brief Job Description: Assist in text production and integrating the relationship of text to graphics WISNU DHARMA Indonesian Customer Service Representative

84.

Brief Job Description: Assist in text production and integrating the relation of text to graphics CHU, HSIN-LING Mandarin Help Desk Assistant

85.

Salary Range: Php 30,000 - Php 59,999 Basic Qualification: College Graduate, Speaks and Write Fluently, Mandarin / English

NAME OF FOREIGN NATIONAL , POSITION AND BRIEF DESCRIPTION JUNIWAN HALIM Indonesian Customer Service Representative

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

KINGKROSS GLOBAL CO. LTD. Unit 2810 One Corporate Center Meralco Ave. Cor. Julia Vargas, Ortigas Center San Antonio Pasig City CHAI YEONG SIONG Malaysian Account Manager

No.

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

GLENMARK PHILIPPINES INC. Unit 901 & 902 9/f, 11th Corporate Ctr. Bldg. 11th Ave., Cor. Triangle Dr. Bgc Fort Bonifacio Taguig Basic Qualification: Fluent in Hindi and English.

At least 15 years’ experience AGRAWAL, BIKASH KUMAR in the pharmaceutical Treasurer And Finance Controller industry with knowledge in finance, accounts, audit, 63.

Brief Job Description: merger and acquisition, TP Managing the team of professionals working in process and International accounting, finance, inventory and local MIS reporting funding

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

GENX SPORTS & MEDIA PRODUCTION CORP. 26th And 27th Flr. Eastwood Cyber One Bldg. Eastwood City Cyberpark No. 188 E. Rodriguez Jr. Ave. Bagumbayan 3 Quezon City 11/f Aseana I Bldg. Bradco Ave. Aseana City Tambo Parañaque City

Brief Job Description: Collecting Customer Information And Analyzing Customers’ Needs WONG YIK SIANG Customer Service Representative - Malaysian Speaking

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

Basic Qualification: Must be a College graduate; Can Prepare product or service reports by collecting and analyzing customer information; Can contribute to team effort by accomplishing related results as needed; Can Manage large amounts of incoming calls

NAME OF FOREIGN NATIONAL , POSITION AND BRIEF DESCRIPTION CHANG ZEE JUAN Customer Service Representative - Malaysian Speaking

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

FIRST GREAT COMPUTER TECHNOLOGIES INC. Lot 5 Sta. Agueda Cor. Queensway Pagcor Drive Sto. Niño Parañaque City Basic Qualification: BIAN, BINGQING Knowledgeable in managing Mandarin Customer Service Chinese incoming calls 46.

Brief Job Description: Salary Range: To provide Chinese customer service Php 30,000 - Php 59,999 Basic Qualification: SU, WENTONG Knowledgeable in managing Mandarin Customer Service Chinese incoming calls 47.

Brief Job Description: Salary Range: To provide Chinese customer service Php 30,000 - Php 59,999 Basic Qualification: YANG, BIAN Knowledgeable in managing Mandarin Customer Service Chinese incoming calls 48.

Brief Job Description: Salary Range: To provide Chinese customer service Php 30,000 - Php 59,999 FLY ASIAN INTERNATIONAL CORPORATION Eighty One Newport Blvd. Newport City Va, Brgy. 183 Pasay City Basic Qualification: Preferably 6 months JIAN, HUNG-REN experience with the above Marketing Consultant (mandarin Speaking Clients) position; Can multi-task and keen to details; Any Brief Job Description: 49. nationality who can speak Studying company profile and operations to understand and write Chinese fluently. its marketing needs; Implementing a marketing strategy according to objectives and budget.

Salary Range: Php 30,000 - Php 59,999 Basic Qualification: Preferably 6 months LIN, FENG-PING a.k.a. JAMES LIN experience with the above Marketing Consultant (mandarin Speaking Clients) position; Can multitask and keen to details; Any 50.

Brief Job Description: nationality who can speak Study company profile and operations to understand its and write Chinese fluently. marketing needs; Implementing a marketing strategy according to objectives and budget.

Salary Range: Php 30,000 - Php 59,999 GATEWAYSOLUTIONS CORP. Unit 2306 Antel Global Corporate Center Julia Vargas Ave. Ortigas Center, San Antonio Pasig City Basic Qualification: Must be a College graduate; CAO DUC HIEU Can Prepare product Customer Service Representative or service reports by collecting and analyzing Brief Job Description: customer information; Can A customer service representative supports customers 51. contribute to team effort by by providing helpful information, answering questions, accomplishing related results and responding to complaints. They’re the front line of as needed; Can Manage large support for clients and customers and they help ensure amounts of incoming calls that customers are satisfied with products, services, and features.

Salary Range: Php 30,000 - Php 59,999 Basic Qualification: Must be a College graduate; HUANG, XIANG Can Prepare product Customer Service Representative or service reports by collecting and analyzing Brief Job Description: customer information; Can A customer service representative supports customers 52. contribute to team effort by by providing helpful information, answering questions, accomplishing related results and responding to complaints. They’re the front line of as needed; Can Manage large support for clients and customers and they help ensure amounts of incoming calls that customers are satisfied with products, services, and features.

Salary Range: Php 30,000 - Php 59,999 Basic Qualification: Must be a College graduate; LI, ZHONGYANG Can Prepare product Customer Service Representative or service reports by collecting and analyzing Brief Job Description: customer information; Can A customer service representative supports customers 53. contribute to team effort by by providing helpful information, answering questions, accomplishing related results and responding to complaints. They’re the front line of as needed; Can Manage large support for clients and customers and they help ensure amounts of incoming calls that customers are satisfied with products, services, and features.

Salary Range: Php 30,000 - Php 59,999 Basic Qualification: Must be a College graduate; LIN, SHANLI Can Prepare product Customer Service Representative or service reports by collecting and analyzing Brief Job Description: customer information; Can A customer service representative supports customers 54. contribute to team effort by by providing helpful information, answering questions, accomplishing related results and responding to complaints. They’re the front line of as needed; Can Manage large support for clients and customers and they help ensure amounts of incoming calls that customers are satisfied with products, services, and features.

Salary Range: Php 30,000 - Php 59,999 SHI, CHUANYU Customer Service Representative

No.

www.businessmirror.com.ph

Brief Job Description: Assist in text production and integrating the relationship of text to graphics

QUALIFICATION AND SALARY RANGE Basic Qualification: College graduate, speaks and write fluently Taiwanese and English Mandarin multilingual language Salary Range: Php 30,000 - Php 59,999 Basic Qualification: College graduate, speaks and write fluently Taiwanese and English Mandarin multilingual language Salary Range: Php 30,000 - Php 59,999 Basic Qualification: *College graduate *speaks fluently Taiwanese and English Mandarin multilingual language Salary Range: Php 30,000 - Php 59,999 Basic Qualification: *College graduate *speaks fluently Taiwanese and English Mandarin multilingual language Salary Range: Php 30,000 - Php 59,999 Basic Qualification: College graduate, speaks and write fluently Taiwanese and English Mandarin multilingual language Salary Range: Php 30,000 - Php 59,999 Basic Qualification: *College graduate *speaks fluently Taiwanese and English Mandarin multilingual language Salary Range: Php 30,000 - Php 59,999 Basic Qualification: College graduate, speaks and write fluently Taiwanese and English Mandarin multilingual language Salary Range: Php 30,000 - Php 59,999 Basic Qualification: College Graduate, Speaks and Write Taiwanese and English Mandarin Multi-Lingual Language Salary Range: Php 30,000 - Php 59,999 Basic Qualification: College Graduate speaks and write fluently taiwanese and english mandarin multilingual language Salary Range: Php 30,000 - Php 59,999

KOREA SME BUSINESS CENTER CORP. U-1807 18/f One San Miguel Avenue Condo. San Miguel Ave. Cor. Shaw Blvd. Ortigas Center, San Antonio Pasig City Basic Qualification: University/college graduate, LEE, HAKJUN at least 1yr. professional Business Development Manager relevant work experience, able to speak Korean and Brief Job Description: English (or Filipino) fluently, 86.

Business development manager are concerned with able to read and write improving and growing a business, by establishing and Korean and English with developing relationships with customers, suppliers and clarity. other partners Salary Range: Php 30,000 - Php 59,999 Basic Qualification: University/college graduate, KIM, SOJUNG at least 1yr. professional Customer Service Representative relevant work experience, able to speak Korean and Brief Job Description: English (or Filipino) fluently, 87.

A customer service representative to manage customer able to read and write queries and complaints. you will also be asked to process Korean and English with orders, modifications, and escalate complaints across a clarity. number of communication Salary Range: Php 30,000 - Php 59,999 Basic Qualification: University/college graduate, LEE, SUNMIN at least 1yr. professional Customer Service Representative relevant work experience, able to speak Korean and Brief Job Description: English (or Filipino) fluently, 88.

A customer service representative to manage customer able to read and write queries and complaints. you will also be asked to process Korean and English with orders, modifications, and escalate complaints across a clarity. number of communication.

Salary Range: Php 30,000 - Php 59,999 M AND J SOLUTIONS PROVIDER INC. Ub 111 Paseo De Roxas Bldg. Paseo De Roxas San Lorenzo Makati City Basic Qualification: Bachelor’s Degree in related computer engineer and TURNBULL, JACK EEE/ a minimum of 5 years Senior Software Engineer UI (angular js, React vue js) HTML and CSS JavaScript Brief Job Description: 89. agile software phyton Develops software solutions by studying information my SQL es7 ruby, mongo need, conferring with users, studying systems flow, data db kubernetes , German usage and work progress: investigating problem areas and speaker, English Speaker following the software development lifecycle Salary Range: Php 60,000 - Php 89,999

MARKETROLE ASIA PACIFIC SERVICES, INC. 26/f, 27/f, 28/f The Enterprise Center Tower 1 6766 Ayala Ave. Cor. Paseo De Roxas San Lorenzo Makati City Basic Qualification: HAO, JIANGUO Can speak Chinese/ Chinese Speaking Customer Service Staff Mandarin Fluently 90.

Brief Job Description: Salary Range: Provide outstanding and exceptional customer service Php 30,000 - Php 59,999 Basic Qualification: LI, PINTAO Can speak Chinese/ Chinese Speaking Customer Service Staff Mandarin Fluently 91.

Brief Job Description: Salary Range: Provide outstanding and exceptional customer service Php 30,000 - Php 59,999 Basic Qualification: LI, WENQIANG Can speak Chinese/ Chinese Speaking Customer Service Staff Mandarin Fluently 92.

Brief Job Description: Salary Range: Provide outstanding and exceptional customer service Php 30,000 - Php 59,999 MAYEKAWA PHILIPPINES CORPORATION 4f Unit A&b Suntree Tower 13 Meralco Avenue, Ortigas Center San Antonio Pasig City UENO, HIROYUKI Japanese Electrical Consultant 93.

Brief Job Description: Provides in depth knowledge with Electrical team, coordinates complicated Electrical concerns to Japan electrical team to be able to troubleshoot projects and provides training for Electrical Team

Basic Qualification: 10 years or more experience as Electrical Engineer in Industrial Engineering, Japanese and with strong background on MYCOM brand compressor Salary Range: Php 60,000 - Php 89,999

MICE INDUSTRY AND SPECIAL EVENTS INC. Level 10-1 One Global Place 5th Cor. 25th St., Bonifacio Global City Fort Bonifacio Taguig City

BusinessMirror

www.businessmirror.com.ph

ESTABLISHMENT / ADDRESS No.

NAME OF FOREIGN NATIONAL , POSITION AND BRIEF DESCRIPTION TRANG, JOHN MARTIN Chief Marketing Officer

94.

Brief Job Description: Responsible for marketing, advertising and public relations.

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

95.

96.

97.

98.

99.

100.

101.

102.

103.

104.

105.

106.

107.

108.

109.

110.

111.

112.

113.

LEE SIE KAI Chinese Customer Service Brief Job Description: Managing incoming calls and customer service inquiries LIM JUN HAO Chinese Customer Service Brief Job Description: Managing incoming calls and customer service inquiries REN, YIBO Chinese Customer Service Brief Job Description: Managing incoming calls and customer service inquiries RET, RINA Chinese Customer Service Brief Job Description: Managing incoming calls and customer service inquiries SAI, XIAYI Chinese Customer Service Brief Job Description: Managing incoming calls and customer service inquiries SAI THAN AUNG Chinese Customer Service Brief Job Description: Managing incoming calls and customer service inquiries SAY TEE Chinese Customer Service Brief Job Description: Managing incoming calls and customer service inquiries SOE MOE AUNG Chinese Customer Service Brief Job Description: Managing incoming calls and customer service inquiries SOUA, SINGHA Chinese Customer Service Brief Job Description: Customer Service SU, AILIANG Chinese Customer Service Brief Job Description: Managing incoming calls and customer service inquiries SUI, CHAO Chinese Customer Service Brief Job Description: Managing incoming calls and customer service inquiries TAR KU NYAN Chinese Customer Service Brief Job Description: Managing incoming calls and customer service inquiries TEDDY Chinese Customer Service Brief Job Description: Managing incoming calls and customer service inquiries WANG, DONGMING Chinese Customer Service Brief Job Description: Managing incoming calls and customer service inquiries WANG, LIN Chinese Customer Service Brief Job Description: Managing incoming calls and customer service inquiries WU, LONGYI Chinese Customer Service Brief Job Description: Managing incoming calls and customer service inquiries ZENG, PIAO Chinese Customer Service Brief Job Description: Managing incoming calls and customer service inquiries ZHANG, ZHIFEI Chinese Customer Service Brief Job Description: Managing incoming calls and customer service inquiries ZHOU, KAINING Chinese Customer Service Brief Job Description: Managing incoming calls and customer service inquiries

NEW ORIENTAL CLUB88 CORPORATION 8/f Ecoplaza 2305 Don Chino Roces Ave. Magallanes Makati City

114.

ANDY WILIANTO Customer Service Representative Brief Job Description: Customer support and Database services

ESTABLISHMENT / ADDRESS QUALIFICATION AND SALARY RANGE Basic Qualification: Knowledge in marketing in events industry Salary Range: Php 30,000 - Php 59,999

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

115.

116.

117.

Brief Job Description: Responding promptly to customer inquiries

LIU, CHENGLIN Mandarin Customer Service Brief Job Description: Responding promptly to customer inquiries

TAN, SONG Mandarin Customer Service Brief Job Description: Responding promptly to customer inquiries

118.

Salary Range: Php 30,000 - Php 59,999 Basic Qualification: Able to speak, Read, and Write Chinese language Salary Range: Php 30,000 - Php 59,999 Basic Qualification: Able to speak, Read, and Write Chinese language Salary Range: Php 30,000 - Php 59,999 Basic Qualification: Able to speak, Read, and Write Chinese language Salary Range: Php 30,000 - Php 59,999 Basic Qualification: Able to speak, Read, and Write Chinese language Salary Range: Php 60,000 - Php 89,999 Basic Qualification: College Graduate/Level and Fluent in Mandarin/ Basic English 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: Knowledgeable in computer applications with good oral and written communication skills 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

119.

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

ONPOINT CORP. Unit Ug-11 Ug/f Cityland 10 Tower 2 154 H.v. Dela Costa Cor. Valero Sts. Bel-air Makati City

Brief Job Description: Provides customer service support to the organization by obtaining, analyzing and verifying the accuracy of order information in a timely manner. Initiates and/or implements corrective action as needed in order to ensure that an excellent standard of service and a high level of customer satisfaction are maintained.

XU, PINGYANG Mandarin Management Analyst

ESTABLISHMENT / ADDRESS QUALIFICATION AND SALARY RANGE

YUAN, XIANG Mandarin Customer Service 134.

Brief Job Description: Serves customers by providing product and service information and resolving product and service problems.

NIU, CHENG Mandarin Technical Support

135.

Brief Job Description: Installing and configuring computer hardware operating systems and applications

No.

NAME OF FOREIGN NATIONAL , POSITION AND BRIEF DESCRIPTION

QUALIFICATION AND SALARY RANGE

Basic Qualification: College graduate fluent in Cantonese , Taiwanese and mandarin language , excellent interpersonal and communication skills, at least 1year working experience as collection officer

THERMAX INSTRUMENTATION LIMITED Unit 3 9/f Galleria Corporate Center Edsa Ugong Norte 3 Quezon City

Salary Range: Php 30,000 - Php 59,999 Basic Qualification: College graduate. Fluent in Cantonese, Taiwanese, and Mandarin Language.

Excellent interpersonal and communication skills. At least 1 year working experience as CSR.

TOPAZBLITZ INC. Unit No. Unit 2c, Flr. No. 4/f, One E-com Center Building Bldg. Ocean Drive St., Mall Of Asia Complex Subd. Zone 10, Barangay 076, District 1 Pasay City

136.

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

Basic Qualification: Diploma in Mechanical Engineering

PERUMAL, PALANICHAMY Station Manager Brief Job Description: Power plant operation and maintenance in charge.

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

Basic Qualification: Proficiency in handling customer question about services or products excellent mandarin communication sills / good organizational skills

DU, WEN Chinese Speaking Admin Associate 137.

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

Basic Qualification: Brief Job Description: College graduate. Fluent Management analyst proposed ways to improve in Cantonese Taiwanese company’s efficiency and advice office managers on and Mandarin language. how to make the company more profitable through Excellent interpersonal and reduced costs and increased revenues, Management communication skills, At least 120.

Analyst specialize inventory management or reorganizing 1 year working experience as corporate structures to eliminate duplicate and management analyst nonessential jobs. may supervise team working on more complex projects and become more involved in seeking Salary Range: out new opportunities. Often work under tight deadlines Php 30,000 - Php 59,999 and must use their time efficiency to complete projects on time PHILIPPINE FULL DEGREE COMMUNICATIONS CORP. 10/f Alphaland Makati Place 7323 Ayala Ave. Cor. Malugay St. Bel-air Makati City Basic Qualification: FAN, TING Outstanding in team leading Mandarin Team Leader and good in Mandarin 121. speaking Brief Job Description: Maintain and drive program knowledge for self and team Salary Range: Php 30,000 - Php 59,999 PIONEER FLOAT GLASS MANUFACTURING, INC. M.h. Del Pilar St. Pinagbuhatan Pasig City Basic Qualification: graduate of electrical LI, GUI mechanical technology Electro Mechanical Technician or related/large scale reflective glass coater Brief Job Description: machine installation Providing clients with market advantage, knowledge and vacuum sputtering coating 122. technical input to improve their manufacture processing technology programmable handling and specification or use glass resolving client logic control HMI and issues testing products and applications documenting pneumatic system Chinese process application instruction generating innovative speaker ideas conducting training sessions and seminars Salary Range: Php 30,000 - Php 59,999 S AND C CONSULTANCY INC. U-214 Manila Executive Regency 1200 J Bocobo St. 072, Bgy. 670 Ermita Manila Basic Qualification: ZHAO, YUANCHAO Proficient in speaking, Mandarin Supervisor reading and writing in 123.

Mandarin Brief Job Description: Manage and develop employee performance expectations Salary Range: Php 90,000 - Php 149,999 SKYEAST VISA CONSULTANCY INC. 3f Salcedo One Center 170 Salcedo St. San Lorenzo Makati City Basic Qualification: Proficiency in handling LI, HUI customer questions about Chinese Speaking Business Analyst services or products 124. / Excellent Mandarin Brief Job Description: communication skills Planning, maintaining and coordinate the development of primary and secondary market research Salary Range: Php 30,000 - Php 59,999 Basic Qualification: Proficiency in handling WU, JING customer questions about Chinese Speaking Business Analyst services or products 125. / Excellent Mandarin Brief Job Description: communication skills Planning, maintaining and coordinate the development of primary and secondary market research Salary Range: Php 30,000 - Php 59,999 SPEED QUALITY TECH INC. 20/f Techzone Bldg. 213 Sen. Gil Puyat Ave. San Antonio Makati City Basic Qualification: GAN, RONGRONG Fluent in Mandarin both oral Mandarin Customer Service Specialist and written 126.

Brief Job Description: Salary Range: Customer service Php 30,000 - Php 59,999 Basic Qualification: HSIEH, HSIN-HUA Fluent in Mandarin both oral Mandarin Customer Service Specialist and written 127.

Brief Job Description: Salary Range: Customer service Php 30,000 - Php 59,999 Basic Qualification: HUANG, CHE-YI Fluent in Mandarin both oral Mandarin Customer Service Specialist and written 128.

Brief Job Description: Salary Range: Customer service Php 30,000 - Php 59,999 TELFA OUTSOURCING SERVICES INC. Unit 3b Mrb 1160 J. Bocobo St., 072 Bgy. 670 Ermita Manila Basic Qualification: CHANG, WEI-CHEN a.k.a. CHANG, TZU-EN Proficient in speaking, Mandarin Customer Service reading and writing in 129.

Mandarin.

Brief Job Description: Serves customers by providing product and service Salary Range: information and resolving product and service problems.

Php 30,000 - Php 59,999 Basic Qualification: CHEN, LIEQING Proficient in speaking, Mandarin Customer Service reading and writing in 130.

Mandarin.

Brief Job Description: Serves customers by providing product and service Salary Range: information and resolving product and service problems.

Php 30,000 - Php 59,999 Basic Qualification: LIU, BING Proficient in speaking, Mandarin Customer Service reading and writing in 131.

Mandarin.

Brief Job Description: Serves customers by providing product and service Salary Range: information and resolving product and service problems.

Php 30,000 - Php 59,999 Basic Qualification: TIAN, LINLIN Proficient in speaking, Mandarin Customer Service reading and writing in 132.

Mandarin.

Brief Job Description: Serves customers by providing product and service Salary Range: information and resolving product and service problems.

Php 30,000 - Php 59,999 Basic Qualification: XU, ZHIYING Proficient in speaking, Mandarin Customer Service reading and writing in 133.

Mandarin.

Brief Job Description: Serves customers by providing product and service Salary Range: information and resolving product and service problems.

Php 30,000 - Php 59,999

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

Brief Job Description: Responsible for conducting loss mitigation and recovery efforts with regard to a company’s delinquent or chargedoff accounts includes making calls to determine and possibly cure customer delinquencies assuring that all files have current financial statements at all times, and establishing payment arrangements to cure past due debts LIU, JIAN Mandarin Customer Service Representative

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

NAME OF FOREIGN NATIONAL , POSITION AND BRIEF DESCRIPTION LIU, HUI Mandarin Collection Officer

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

NEWBAY INTERNATIONAL TECHNOLOGY INC. 2/f Mezzanine Tower 1 The Enterprise Center 6766 Ayala Ave. Cor. Paseo De Roxas Makati City HE, HANCHENG Mandarin Customer Service

No.

Thursday, June 24, 2021 A15

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

Salary Range: Php 30,000 - Php 59,999 Basic Qualification: Proficiency in handling customer question about services or products excellent mandarin communication sills / good organizational skills

WAN, KAIKUN Chinese Speaking Admin Associate 138.

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

YANG YANG MYO Chinese Speaking Business Analyst 139.

Brief Job Description: Planning, maintaining and coordinate the development of primary and secondary market research

CEN, QIUYING Chinese Speaking Customer Service Representative 140.

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

HAN, CHAO Chinese Speaking Customer Service Representative 141.

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

LAI, ZHAN Chinese Speaking Data Entry Clerk 142.

Brief Job Description: Enters customer and account data and keeping and maintaining information confidential

YU, CHENGMAN Chinese Speaking Data Entry Clerk 143.

Brief Job Description: Enters customer and account data and keeping and maintaining information confidential

Salary Range: Php 30,000 - Php 59,999 Basic Qualification: Proficiency in handling customer question about services or products excellent mandarin communication sills / good organizational skills Salary Range: Php 30,000 - Php 59,999 Basic Qualification: Proficiency in handling customer question about services or products excellent mandarin communication sills / good organizational skills Salary Range: Php 30,000 - Php 59,999 Basic Qualification: Proficiency in handling customer question about services or products excellent mandarin communication sills / good organizational skills Salary Range: Php 30,000 - Php 59,999 Basic Qualification: Enters customer and account data and keeping and maintaining information confidential Salary Range: Php 30,000 - Php 59,999 Basic Qualification: Proficiency in holding 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 HUANG, TSAI-LING Bilingual Finance Support Specialist 144.

145.

146.

Brief Job Description: Process and prepare financial and business forms for the purpose of checking account balances, facilitating purchases etc.

LI, YIMEI Bilingual Finance Support Specialist Brief Job Description: Process and prepare financial and business forms for the purpose of checking account balances, facilitating purchases etc.

TA QUANG MINH Vietnam-speaking Customer Service Officer Brief Job Description: Prepares product or service reports by collecting and analyzing customer information.

Basic Qualification: Foreign Language Speaking.

Salary Range: Php 30,000 - Php 59,999 Basic Qualification: Foreign Language Speaking.

Salary Range: Php 30,000 - Php 59,999 Basic Qualification: Foreign Language Speaking Salary Range: Php 30,000 - Php 59,999

WUHAN FIBERHOME INTERNATIONAL TECHNOLOGIES PHILS., INC. U-19d 19/f Rufino Pacific Tower 6784 Ayala Ave. Cor. V.a. Rufino St. San Lorenzo Makati City LI, PENG Account Manager 147.

Brief Job Description: Responsible for managing and growing key customers of Fiberhome in the Philippines TANG, MINGCHEN Outsourcing Manager

148.

Brief Job Description: Responsible in handling outsourcing issue such meeting arrangement with subcontractors DU, WEI Project Manager

149.

Brief Job Description: Responsible for managing technical issues on materials, equipment being used on projects ZHOU, SHAOFEI Supply Chain Manager

150.

Brief Job Description: Responsible international and local procurement management CHEN, JUNJIE Training Manager

151.

Brief Job Description: Manage the technologies and technical personnel required to develop, manage and deliver training.

Basic Qualification: Fluent in Mandarin language, College degree Salary Range: Php 30,000 - Php 59,999 Basic Qualification: Fluent in Mandarin language, College degree Salary Range: Php 30,000 - Php 59,999 Basic Qualification: Fluent in Mandarin language, College degree Salary Range: Php 30,000 - Php 59,999 Basic Qualification: Fluent in Mandarin language, College degree Salary Range: Php 30,000 - Php 59,999 Basic Qualification: Fluent in Mandarin language, College degree Salary Range: Php 30,000 - Php 59,999 *Date Generated: Jun 23, 2021

In the ad material of Notice of Filing of Application for Alien Employment Permits published on June 15, 2021, the position of MA, ZHIJIE under MOA CLOUDZONE CORP., should have been read as CHINESE CUSTOMER REPRESENTATIVE 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: Proficient in speaking, reading and writing in Mandarin Salary Range: Php 30,000 - Php 59,999

ATTY. SARAH BUENA S. MIRASOL REGIONAL DIRECTOR

Editor: Jennifer A. Ng

Companies BusinessMirror

Thursday, June 24, 2021

B1

‘Filipinos prefer hybrid work model’

T

By Lorenz S. Marasigan

@lorenzmarasigan

he vast majority of Filipinos want the flexible working arrangements to continue postpandemic, American multinational technology conglomerate Cisco said on Wednesday.

Karrie Ilagan, the managing director of Cisco Philippines, said Cisco found that Filipino workers want more control over how they work.

This, she said, means that Filipinos want to be able to juggle work remotely or in the office.

“Today, 95 percent of Filipino workers actually want more choices in terms of choosing where they do their work even when the pandemic

is over,” she said, citing a study conducted by Cisco about hybrid work.

She added that 87 percent of Filipinos believe there is proof that collaboration can be achieved even without being physically present together, while another 51 percent felt increased trust when working remotely.

“The ability to work from anywhere has paved the way for more

flexibility and also inclusivity,” she said.

In the world of hybrid work, Cisco found that 98 percent of meetings will have participants who will not be in the same physical location or will be attending their meetings remotely.

“It will not only be that people will not be able back at the office all of the same time, there will also be a difference at the level of frequencies of people being in the office all at the same time,” Ilagan said.

Businesses, she said, will also be providing their workforce with greater flexibility and will soon “rethink their real estate footprint and technology to maximize their capabilities.”

To implement hybrid work successfully, Ilagan said businesses must use the right collaboration solutions.

“Collaboration solutions are integral for business continuity or busi-

ness resiliency. The right collaboration tools are fundamental for us to thrive in this changed world.”

She said the Philippines is ready for the hybrid set up, noting that Cisco’s Webex solutions have powered almost 2 million minutes of meetings and consultations for the Department of Health (DOH) last year. The Senate has also been using Webex on a daily basis since last year.

“In the last six months, we have added 800 new features and devices to Webex all geared towards creating the most flexible and inclusive user experience for businesses who are looking to be more inclusive in their hybrid work approach and for people who continue to work from anywhere,” said Hariharan S, Managing Director, Software, Cloud and Collaboration, Cisco APJC. “The allnew Webex Suite ensures everyone in a hybrid workforce has equal opportunity and voice.”

NCIP shutters Benguet hydropower plants

T

he National Commission on Indigenous Peoples in the Cordillera Administrative Region (NCIP-CAR) has ordered Aboitiz Power Corp.’s unit to halt the operations of its run-of-river hydropower plants in Benguet.

Aboitiz Power said Wednesday that NCIP-CAR issued a cease and desist order (CDO) against Hedcor

Inc.’s Lower Labay Hydro, FLS Hydro, and Lon-oy Hydro last June 22.

The issuance of the CDO was due to alleged irregularities regarding the Free Prior Informed Consent-Memorandum of Agreement (FPIC-MOA) between Hedcor and the Bakun Indigenous Tribes Organization (BITO) that was signed on October 15, 2019.

Hedcor maintained that it has

been fully compliant. “We believe that we have been compliant with all the requirements during the course of the FPIC application process, and have been waiting for the issuance of the Certificate Precondition (CP) since the FPIC-MOA was signed,” Hedcor Vice President for Corporate Services Noreen Vicencio said in a statement.

The company said it would continue to actively reach out to the community for a dialogue, with the guidance of NCIP. “The CDO will not just affect Hedcor, but also the customers and communities we serve.

At this time of a red alert situation in the Luzon grid, the continued operation of our plants is very crucial,” added Vicencio. Lenie Lectura

B2

Companies BusinessMirror

Thursday, June 24, 2021

PSE STOCK QUOTATIONS

June 23, 2021

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

ASIA UNITED BDO UNIBANK BANK PH ISLANDS CHINABANK CITYSTATE BANK EAST WEST BANK METROBANK PB BANK PBCOM PHIL NATL BANK PSBANK RCBC SECURITY BANK UNION BANK BRIGHT KINDLE COL FINANCIAL FERRONOUX HLDG IREMIT MEDCO HLDG NTL REINSURANCE PHIL STOCK EXCH SUN LIFE VANTAGE

43.2 114 87 24.65 7.93 9.66 48.9 10.8 19.66 22.45 55.9 17.5 119.7 76.1 1.32 4.11 3 1.33 0.405 0.7 197.1 2,400 0.97

44 114.1 87.05 24.8 8.45 9.67 48.95 10.96 19.7 22.5 56 17.88 120 76.25 1.36 4.18 3.08 1.46 0.41 0.72 199 2,450 1

43.5 114.4 86.55 24.5 8.45 9.7 48.6 10.14 19.7 22.5 55.55 17.56 120.5 76.5 1.3 4.19 3.1 1.33 0.41 0.7 199 2,400 0.96

44 115.5 87.3 24.9 8.49 9.7 49.25 10.8 19.7 22.6 56 17.58 120.8 76.5 1.32 4.19 3.1 1.33 0.41 0.72 199 2,400 1

43 113.6 86.55 24.5 8.45 9.65 48.55 10.14 19.7 22.3 55.3 17.5 119.7 76.05 1.3 4.17 3.1 1.33 0.41 0.7 197 2,400 0.96

44 114.1 87.05 24.8 8.49 9.67 48.95 10.8 19.7 22.45 56 17.5 119.7 76.25 1.32 4.18 3.1 1.33 0.41 0.7 197.1 2,400 1

3,000 2,060,370 981,880 98,800 200 296,100 668,600 13,300 1,500 152,500 3,810 58,900 439,830 4,340 122,000 58,000 2,000 44,000 30,000 81,000 1,870 5 48,000

130,430 235,341,721 85,387,131.50 2,445,670 1,694 2,865,175 32,741,790 142,264 29,550 3,423,615 212,197.50 1,031,444 52,807,149 330,929.50 159,390 242,620 6,200 58,520 12,300 57,100 370,386 12,000 47,680

8,620 -66,611,354 -50,827,036.50 -719,355 -1,566,969 -2,507,680 13,480 -2,653,494 -168,289 217,580 -3,500 -

INDUSTRIAL AC ENERGY 8.5 8.52 8.55 8.61 8.45 8.5 13,580,900 115,886,460 ALSONS CONS 1.36 1.37 1.36 1.37 1.36 1.36 5,111,000 6,951,780 ABOITIZ POWER 24.65 24.7 24.7 24.85 24.35 24.65 3,045,600 75,064,610 BASIC ENERGY 0.79 0.8 0.81 0.81 0.79 0.8 20,380,000 16,265,500 FIRST GEN 30.65 30.8 30.95 31.25 30.6 30.8 207,600 6,399,965 75.25 77 75.2 77 75.15 77 106,780 8,202,805 FIRST PHIL HLDG 275.2 276.2 276 278 275.2 275.2 214,430 59,249,060 MERALCO 17.62 17.76 17.06 17.8 17.06 17.62 5,092,400 89,258,720 MANILA WATER 3.31 3.35 3.37 3.38 3.31 3.35 979,000 3,273,330 PETRON PETROENERGY 4.03 4.13 4.04 4.04 4.03 4.03 3,000 12,100 PHX PETROLEUM 12.6 13 13 13 12.9 13 11,200 144,520 PILIPINAS SHELL 20.6 20.7 20.8 21 20.5 20.6 181,200 3,737,925 SPC POWER 12.28 12.3 11.86 12.4 11.56 12.3 557,100 6,671,600 VIVANT 15.1 15.5 15.06 15.5 15.02 15.5 2,600 40,024 6.33 6.34 6.3 6.38 6.28 6.34 4,920,200 31,096,448 AGRINURTURE 2.95 2.98 2.94 2.98 2.94 2.98 848,000 2,523,820 AXELUM 13.18 14.3 14.3 14.3 14.3 14.3 1,000 14,300 CNTRL AZUCARERA CENTURY FOOD 22.5 22.55 22.75 23 22.5 22.55 1,968,300 44,453,600 DEL MONTE 16.1 16.14 15.96 16.2 15.92 16.12 482,400 7,731,372 DNL INDUS 8.43 8.44 8.32 8.55 8.3 8.43 5,038,500 42,606,203 EMPERADOR 11.1 11.12 10.9 11.12 10.88 11.1 5,869,000 64,648,336 SMC FOODANDBEV 71.95 72 73 73 70.45 72 331,570 23,874,866.50 0.62 0.63 0.62 0.64 0.62 0.63 89,000 55,530 ALLIANCE SELECT FRUITAS HLDG 1.38 1.39 1.4 1.41 1.38 1.39 5,878,000 8,222,350 96.05 98 95 98 90.2 98 153,110 14,657,207.50 GINEBRA 210.2 210.4 208.4 212 208.4 210.4 453,390 95,364,246 JOLLIBEE 30.05 30.95 31.45 31.45 29.85 30.05 1,800 55,005 LIBERTY FLOUR MACAY HLDG 7.5 7.99 7.39 8 7.39 7.41 3,000 22,251 MAXS GROUP 6.9 6.94 6.53 6.98 6.5 6.9 334,400 2,261,596 MG HLDG 0.3 0.305 0.295 0.305 0.295 0.3 3,040,000 912,200 MONDE NISSIN 14.74 14.76 14.58 14.76 14.52 14.74 10,198,600 149,883,804 8.1 8.13 7.82 8.13 7.81 8.1 5,664,500 45,840,848 SHAKEYS PIZZA 1.04 1.07 1.07 1.08 1.04 1.04 743,000 779,170 ROXAS AND CO 1.46 1.48 1.46 1.46 1.46 1.46 8,000 11,680 ROXAS HLDG SWIFT FOODS 0.167 0.168 0.173 0.19 0.167 0.168 659,310,000 117,851,950 UNIV ROBINA 139.6 140 139.2 141 139.2 140 309,430 43,307,665 VITARICH 0.86 0.87 0.87 0.88 0.86 0.87 2,007,000 1,749,380 VICTORIAS 2.39 2.4 2.39 2.39 2.39 2.39 34,000 81,260 CONCRETE A 52.5 56.7 52.2 52.2 52.2 52.2 1,750 91,350 CEMEX HLDG 1.3 1.32 1.31 1.33 1.29 1.32 1,882,000 2,469,160 3.08 3.12 3.24 3.28 3.07 3.08 5,495,000 17,417,360 DAVINCI CAPITAL 14.6 14.9 14.5 14.9 14.4 14.9 584,400 8,592,288 EAGLE CEMENT EEI CORP 7.51 7.7 7.5 7.7 7.5 7.7 58,000 440,514 HOLCIM 6.27 6.3 6.38 6.38 6.22 6.3 141,800 890,396 MEGAWIDE 6.7 6.77 6.67 6.8 6.67 6.7 148,500 1,002,034 PHINMA 12.76 12.8 12.8 12.8 12.8 12.8 36,700 469,760 TKC METALS 1.04 1.07 1.04 1.07 1.04 1.07 157,000 166,080 VULCAN INDL 2.09 2.1 2.1 2.12 2.08 2.1 1,260,000 2,650,130 1.77 1.78 1.78 1.79 1.77 1.78 163,000 291,190 CROWN ASIA EUROMED 1.9 1.93 1.93 1.93 1.9 1.9 68,000 130,600 PRYCE CORP 5.45 5.47 5.48 5.5 5.48 5.48 47,100 258,508 CONCEPCION 21.3 21.95 21.3 21.3 21.3 21.3 1,200 25,560 GREENERGY 4.14 4.15 4.18 4.27 4.1 4.15 14,546,000 61,109,460 INTEGRATED MICR 9.97 10.1 10.3 10.3 9.91 9.97 3,993,900 40,515,706 IONICS 1.14 1.15 1.17 1.17 1.13 1.14 611,000 699,560 PANASONIC 5.84 5.85 5.85 5.85 5.72 5.84 9,100 52,888 SFA SEMICON 1.36 1.39 1.39 1.4 1.36 1.36 224,000 306,080 6.71 6.72 6.78 6.8 6.56 6.71 3,335,100 22,246,009 CIRTEK HLDG

219,626 -13,212,855 47,800 924,700 -866,829 -32,715,212 -440,986.00 -412,090 -1,810,330 -75,232 -1,486,159 -1,299,280 -35,325,860 -1,389,628 283,834 -1,855,540 -15,436,231.50 -84,600 -2,349,154 45,009,466 -3,145 614,384 -90,000 13,469,020 -3,345,306 -17,810 -592,560 -18,705,008 -533,910 -965,640 61,427 -359,680 21,000 11,871,120 -24,058,297 -506,081

HOLDING & FRIMS ABACORE CAPITAL 1.13 1.14 1.15 1.18 1.12 1.13 34,130,000 39,374,240 ASIABEST GROUP 7.26 7.38 7.25 7.4 7.25 7.26 15,500 113,184 AYALA CORP 805 819 811 819 802.5 819 43,060 35,039,020 ABOITIZ EQUITY 42.3 42.5 42.25 42.75 42.25 42.3 1,612,800 68,321,060 ALLIANCE GLOBAL 10.24 10.28 10.22 10.3 10.16 10.24 1,210,200 12,377,476 3.9 3.92 4.03 4.03 3.8 3.9 3,152,000 12,295,350 AYALA LAND LOG 6.83 7 6.95 7 6.83 6.83 10,600 73,387 ANSCOR ANGLO PHIL HLDG 0.92 0.93 0.88 0.93 0.87 0.93 3,957,000 3,569,200 0.71 0.72 0.72 0.72 0.71 0.71 232,000 166,740 ATN HLDG A ATN HLDG B 0.69 0.74 0.69 0.69 0.69 0.69 5,000 3,450 COSCO CAPITAL 5.4 5.42 5.45 5.46 5.4 5.4 1,018,000 5,525,089 DMCI HLDG 6.27 6.28 6.27 6.44 6.27 6.27 5,462,800 34,696,984 FILINVEST DEV 8.06 8.18 8.2 8.2 8.06 8.18 50,500 414,051 FJ PRINCE A 2.97 3.2 3.2 3.2 3.2 3.2 1,000 3,200 0.28 0.295 0.28 0.29 0.28 0.29 600,000 172,600 FORUM PACIFIC GT CAPITAL 612 616 614.5 617.5 608 612 138,070 84,758,670 3.9 3.96 3.9 3.9 3.9 3.9 178,000 694,200 HOUSE OF INV 60 60.3 60.3 61.05 60 60 999,660 60,200,585.50 JG SUMMIT JOLLIVILLE HLDG 5.62 5.87 6.27 6.27 5.57 5.87 15,000 85,973 LODESTAR 0.99 1 1.02 1.03 0.98 1 3,182,000 3,214,340 LOPEZ HLDG 3.37 3.38 3.36 3.37 3.36 3.37 627,000 2,112,430 LT GROUP 13 13.08 12.96 13.16 12.96 13 7,102,500 92,399,996 0.57 0.59 0.56 0.6 0.56 0.57 544,000 312,000 MABUHAY HLDG MJC INVESTMENTS 1.55 1.58 1.58 1.58 1.58 1.58 2,000 3,160 METRO PAC INV 4.02 4.05 4.04 4.08 4 4.02 16,249,000 65,362,310 3.65 3.79 3.8 3.8 3.8 3.8 6,000 22,800 PACIFICA HLDG PRIME MEDIA 3.02 3.04 3.07 3.1 2.96 3.02 1,380,000 4,181,100 REPUBLIC GLASS 2.75 2.89 2.88 2.89 2.72 2.89 40,000 113,090 SOLID GROUP 1.25 1.28 1.23 1.3 1.23 1.28 317,000 405,560 SM INVESTMENTS 999 1,000 992 1,000 990 1,000 125,735 125,529,667.50 SAN MIGUEL CORP 113.3 113.5 114.9 114.9 113 113.5 860,950 97,743,254 0.81 0.82 0.75 0.84 0.75 0.82 1,583,000 1,268,890 SOC RESOURCES 131 135.5 134 135.5 131 135.5 322,820 43,258,362 TOP FRONTIER 0.285 0.295 0.28 0.3 0.28 0.295 3,060,000 892,750 WELLEX INDUS ZEUS HLDG 0.227 0.233 0.226 0.228 0.221 0.227 3,220,000 723,260

-3,802,330.00 7,250 -6,222,670 -14,843,200 -10,531,698 349,560 36,000 -2,031,761 -6,092,896 408,379.00 19,350,355 -690,300 -17,044,297.50 8,370 -88,648,380 -15,146,320.00 21,050 -14,091,037.50 -73,473,586 15,400 -58,960 -

PROPERTY ARTHALAND CORP 0.63 0.64 0.63 0.64 0.63 0.63 90,000 56,720 ANCHOR LAND 8 9 7.45 8 7.45 8 25,600 201,025 AYALA LAND 37.55 37.9 36.9 37.9 36.9 37.9 5,576,400 209,464,900 ARANETA PROP 1.17 1.23 1.17 1.17 1.17 1.17 13,000 15,210 AREIT RT 36.2 36.4 36.35 36.4 36.15 36.2 800,700 29,078,985 1.5 1.51 1.53 1.54 1.49 1.5 700,000 1,054,300 BELLE CORP 0.99 1 1 1.04 1 1 1,932,000 1,953,090 A BROWN 1.03 1.04 1.02 1.09 1.02 1.03 6,233,000 6,564,450 CITYLAND DEVT 0.137 0.138 0.128 0.144 0.126 0.137 78,240,000 10,342,240 CROWN EQUITIES CEBU HLDG 6.77 7 6.8 6.8 6.8 6.8 10,000 68,000 CEB LANDMASTERS 4.04 4.05 3.78 4.04 3.77 4.04 7,145,000 28,386,770 CENTURY PROP 0.485 0.49 0.485 0.49 0.475 0.49 45,450,000 21,893,600 DOUBLEDRAGON 11.98 12.02 12.1 12.1 11.96 11.98 443,300 5,316,896 DDMP RT 2.03 2.04 2.05 2.06 2.03 2.03 5,071,000 10,360,000 7 7.04 7.04 7.05 6.98 7 72,900 510,976 DM WENCESLAO 0.295 0.3 0.3 0.3 0.3 0.3 2,580,000 774,000 EMPIRE EAST EVER GOTESCO 0.51 0.52 0.475 0.51 0.46 0.51 318,870,000 156,317,150 1.12 1.13 1.13 1.13 1.12 1.13 9,728,000 10,955,140 FILINVEST LAND GLOBAL ESTATE 0.89 0.9 0.88 0.9 0.88 0.89 190,000 167,760 8990 HLDG 7.35 7.48 7.4 7.47 7.25 7.35 64,800 476,270 PHIL INFRADEV 1.46 1.47 1.48 1.49 1.44 1.46 969,000 1,411,760 CITY AND LAND 1.92 1.93 1.93 1.93 1.88 1.92 2,057,000 3,919,210 3.16 3.17 3.15 3.16 3.13 3.16 14,908,000 46,966,220 MEGAWORLD 0.395 0.4 0.395 0.405 0.395 0.4 11,150,000 4,446,900 MRC ALLIED 0.74 0.75 0.73 0.75 0.66 0.74 144,230,000 100,417,270 PHIL ESTATES 3.62 3.64 3.65 3.65 3.57 3.64 789,000 2,854,910 PRIMEX CORP 17.68 17.7 17.72 17.72 17.62 17.7 545,800 9,662,318 ROBINSONS LAND PHIL REALTY 0.255 0.265 0.25 0.265 0.25 0.265 2,650,000 686,900 ROCKWELL 1.51 1.52 1.55 1.55 1.5 1.52 212,000 320,560 SHANG PROP 2.63 2.69 2.64 2.68 2.63 2.68 271,000 715,080 STA LUCIA LAND 3.25 3.29 3.5 3.5 3.22 3.29 2,425,000 8,146,080 37.1 37.15 36.75 37.4 36.75 37.15 3,656,200 135,649,410 SM PRIME HLDG 3.8 3.85 3.78 3.85 3.78 3.85 29,000 110,090 VISTAMALLS SUNTRUST HOME 1.73 1.75 1.79 1.81 1.74 1.77 1,128,000 1,993,770 3.63 3.65 3.67 3.71 3.63 3.63 3,234,000 11,808,320 VISTA LAND

SERVICES ABS CBN 11.36 11.4 11.6 11.6 11.4 11.4 177,400 2,033,466 GMA NETWORK 14.06 14.18 13.98 14.38 13.9 14.06 7,729,200 109,532,722 MANILA BULLETIN 0.44 0.46 0.455 0.46 0.455 0.46 150,000 68,850 MLA BRDCASTING 9.78 10.38 9.76 10.46 9.76 10.4 2,300 23,282 GLOBE TELECOM 1,840 1,841 1,830 1,845 1,821 1,840 45,790 84,045,225 1,273 1,274 1,296 1,298 1,271 1,274 168,550 215,441,490 PLDT 0.188 0.189 0.185 0.189 0.181 0.189 222,170,000 41,088,360 APOLLO GLOBAL 22.55 22.6 22 22.7 22 22.6 2,634,800 58,854,095 CONVERGE 4.03 4.09 4.03 4.12 4.01 4.09 342,000 1,386,120 DFNN INC DITO CME HLDG 9.3 9.31 9.36 9.38 9.27 9.3 5,674,100 52,788,201 IMPERIAL 1.63 1.69 1.62 1.62 1.62 1.62 7,000 11,340 JACKSTONES 2.31 2.36 2.3 2.36 2.3 2.36 21,000 48,720 NOW CORP 2.43 2.45 2.44 2.48 2.4 2.45 1,769,000 4,338,970 TRANSPACIFIC BR 0.48 0.485 0.475 0.485 0.455 0.485 32,440,000 15,252,900 2.49 2.5 2.49 2.5 2.45 2.5 388,000 964,310 PHILWEB 8.5 8.56 8.45 8.56 8.4 8.56 11,000 93,641 2GO GROUP ASIAN TERMINALS 14.8 15.1 15.14 15.14 14.8 14.8 8,800 130,852 CHELSEA 3.16 3.19 3.2 3.24 3.15 3.2 388,000 1,231,130 CEBU AIR 52.95 53 53.2 53.4 52.7 53 434,800 23,061,326 INTL CONTAINER 160.9 161 157.2 162.5 157 161 1,382,490 222,678,254 LBC EXPRESS 17.14 18.06 18 18 17.14 17.14 1,300 23,314 MACROASIA 5.83 5.85 5.7 5.92 5.7 5.85 1,510,800 8,784,945 2.22 2.23 2.26 2.27 2.2 2.22 84,000 188,090 METROALLIANCE A HARBOR STAR 1.19 1.2 1.2 1.22 1.18 1.19 172,000 206,640 1.77 1.81 1.77 1.82 1.77 1.82 20,000 36,150 ACESITE HOTEL BOULEVARD HLDG 0.133 0.134 0.118 0.133 0.115 0.133 904,420,000 114,328,280 3.07 3.16 3.01 3.25 3 3.16 323,000 1,022,460 DISCOVERY WORLD WATERFRONT 0.58 0.59 0.6 0.6 0.56 0.59 7,626,000 4,411,250 FAR EASTERN U 588 600 585 588 585 588 110 64,650 IPEOPLE 7.13 7.5 7.4 7.4 7.4 7.4 200 1,480 STI HLDG 0.38 0.385 0.38 0.385 0.38 0.385 1,960,000 754,400 5.2 5.3 5.23 5.3 5.23 5.3 6,100 31,910 BERJAYA BLOOMBERRY 6.66 6.7 6.7 6.88 6.66 6.66 4,429,700 29,655,775 2.06 2.1 2.1 2.11 2.1 2.1 73,000 153,900 PACIFIC ONLINE LEISURE AND RES 1.6 1.65 1.62 1.66 1.58 1.6 3,266,000 5,202,400 MANILA JOCKEY 2.07 2.19 2.19 2.19 2.19 2.19 80,000 175,200 PH RESORTS GRP 2.08 2.1 2.15 2.22 2.04 2.1 8,423,000 17,818,870 PREMIUM LEISURE 0.43 0.435 0.435 0.435 0.43 0.435 620,000 268,300 ALLHOME 7.81 8.04 8.05 8.05 7.81 7.81 356,000 2,797,896 METRO RETAIL 1.39 1.4 1.37 1.41 1.37 1.39 1,320,000 1,833,580 40.45 40.7 40.3 40.7 40 40.7 1,200,600 48,644,250 PUREGOLD 53.4 53.55 52.95 53.55 52.95 53.55 922,510 49,200,175.50 ROBINSONS RTL 99.8 101.2 101.2 101.2 99.8 99.8 5,860 591,514 PHIL SEVEN CORP 1.22 1.24 1.23 1.24 1.21 1.22 4,536,000 5,537,530 SSI GROUP WILCON DEPOT 18.98 19 18.88 19 18.82 19 997,800 18,940,972 APC GROUP 0.375 0.38 0.38 0.38 0.375 0.375 1,840,000 696,600 EASYCALL 6.15 6.3 6 6.15 6 6.15 23,200 142,080 GOLDEN MV 410 439.4 425.2 439.4 425.2 439.4 630 275,656 5.54 5.58 5.58 5.58 5.58 5.58 2,000 11,160 IPM HLDG PAXYS 2.28 2.46 2.3 2.3 2.27 2.27 50,000 114,100 PRMIERE HORIZON 1.71 1.72 1.64 1.71 1.63 1.71 16,544,000 28,001,420 4.05 4.17 4 4.2 4 4.17 167,000 685,060 SBS PHIL CORP

163,030 86,104,500 -24,258,485 -443,100 32,640 -2,212,140 -32,860 -81,110 83,300 433,222 -442,630 -70,500 1,644,100 3,945,960.00 14,103 -71,340 -10,147,310 220,000 696,790 333,220 -2,137,184 -54,850 -3,130 49,143,100 1,790 -8,994,410 -21,085,790 -35,144,935 924,940 8,199,145 -442,600 -944,033 29,440 -7,650 -677,280 1,399,846 4,784,594 324,944 -10,730 -965,480 -22,420 7,600 -1,653,461 262,550 1,768,910 -558,157 11,860,660 10,325,865 -559,578 -1,628,530 10,663,716 -724,540 -81,800.00

MINING & OIL ATOK 8.59 8.6 9.2 9.2 8.59 8.59 1,519,700 13,346,453 -36,037 APEX MINING 1.64 1.65 1.65 1.66 1.64 1.65 911,000 1,502,970 19,850 ATLAS MINING 6.4 6.43 6.36 6.43 6.28 6.4 849,100 5,397,156 -377,664 BENGUET A 5.15 5.16 5 5.22 4.95 5.15 274,200 1,402,967 5 5.15 5 5.15 5 5 206,000 1,033,420 103,000 BENGUET B 0.31 0.32 0.315 0.32 0.31 0.31 240,000 75,000 COAL ASIA HLDG CENTURY PEAK 2.84 2.87 2.87 2.87 2.84 2.87 17,000 48,700 28,700 6.71 6.88 6.9 6.9 6.7 6.9 300 2,050 -20 DIZON MINES FERRONICKEL 2.46 2.47 2.43 2.48 2.43 2.47 1,478,000 3,631,590 1,343,400 GEOGRACE 0.34 0.345 0.33 0.34 0.33 0.34 1,520,000 515,650 -17,000 LEPANTO A 0.159 0.16 0.155 0.16 0.153 0.16 52,610,000 8,345,390 LEPANTO B 0.158 0.16 0.156 0.163 0.156 0.163 300,000 47,510 MANILA MINING A 0.011 0.012 0.011 0.012 0.011 0.011 552,500,000 6,078,300 0.012 0.013 0.013 0.014 0.013 0.013 318,700,000 4,143,200 9,100 MANILA MINING B 1.21 1.23 1.2 1.24 1.2 1.21 243,000 295,100 MARCVENTURES NIHAO 1.5 1.51 1.49 1.53 1.49 1.5 73,000 108,920 NICKEL ASIA 5.17 5.18 5.15 5.18 5.1 5.18 1,633,400 8,368,961 2,107,074 OMICO CORP 0.405 0.415 0.405 0.405 0.405 0.405 100,000 40,500 ORNTL PENINSULA 0.99 1.02 0.98 1.02 0.96 1.02 1,800,000 1,783,320 -20,250 PX MINING 6.42 6.45 6.5 6.53 6.41 6.45 1,340,000 8,645,771 1,919,749 SEMIRARA MINING 14.44 14.46 14.3 14.68 14.3 14.46 1,276,400 18,519,182 -249,600 0.0092 0.0093 0.009 0.0092 0.009 0.0092 141,000,000 1,272,000 UNITED PARAGON ACE ENEXOR 19.8 19.86 20.4 20.4 19.5 19.86 145,900 2,904,846 85,424 0.011 0.012 0.012 0.013 0.011 0.012 239,300,000 2,831,400 ORNTL PETROL A PHILODRILL 0.011 0.012 0.012 0.012 0.012 0.012 31,200,000 374,400 PXP ENERGY 8.06 8.07 8.18 8.18 8.07 8.07 323,300 2,617,848 -14,567

PREFFERED HOUSE PREF B 101 101.2 101.5 101.5 101 101 2,000 202,750 HOUSE PREF A 100.5 101.4 101.1 101.1 100.1 100.1 35,010 3,511,461 ALCO PREF B 100.8 104 103 103 103 103 2,000 206,000 AC PREF B2R 523 530 526.5 526.5 526.5 526.5 22,890 12,051,585 CEB PREF 51.5 51.6 51.95 52 51.25 51.5 65,100 3,354,705.50 -272,241.50 103.5 104 104 104 104 104 11,000 1,144,000 CPG PREF A DD PREF 101.5 102.5 102.5 102.5 102.5 102.5 3,010 308,525 GLO PREF P 503.5 517 503.5 503.5 503 503.5 19,000 9,566,050 GTCAP PREF A 1,000 1,006 1,006 1,006 1,006 1,006 35 35,210 GTCAP PREF B 1,035 1,049 1,049 1,049 1,049 1,049 5 5,245 MWIDE PREF 100.6 101 101 101 100.6 101 970 97,662 MWIDE PREF 2A 99.2 104.5 100 100 100 100 10,000 1,000,000 MWIDE PREF 2B 100.5 101.8 101 101 100.5 100.5 16,300 1,638,400 PNX PREF 4 1,003 1,007 1,009 1,009 1,002 1,002 3,400 3,412,300 1,027 1,049 1,035 1,035 1,030 1,030 1,000 1,030,050 PCOR PREF 2B PCOR PREF 3A 1,114 1,115 1,114 1,114 1,114 1,114 4,125 4,595,250 PCOR PREF 3B 1,150 1,159 1,150 1,150 1,150 1,150 3,800 4,370,000 SFI PREF 1.76 2 2.46 2.46 1.62 1.62 8,000 16,320 SMC PREF 2C 78.8 79 79.1 79.8 79 79 1,890 149,841.50 SMC PREF 2E 76.15 76.2 76.3 76.3 76.2 76.2 27,700 2,112,460 SMC PREF 2F 78.7 79 79.4 79.55 79 79 22,530 1,780,142 SMC PREF 2H 77.1 78.1 78 78.5 78 78.5 23,000 1,799,652.50 78.2 79.5 78.25 79.5 78.25 79.5 11,200 877,150 -829,450 SMC PREF 2I 76.8 77 76.5 77 76 77 840,100 64,645,190 SMC PREF 2J SMC PREF 2K 75.6 76 76.9 76.9 75.9 75.9 2,040 155,876 -

PHIL. DEPOSITARY RECEIPTS GMA HLDG PDR 12.7 12.76 12.48 12.92 12.48 12.7 377,100 4,785,216 -1,402,706

WARRANTS LR WARRANT 1.9 1.91 1.96 2.01 1.9 1.91 1,155,000 2,242,590 -24,000

SMALL & MEDIUM ENTERPRISES ALTUS PROP 17.9 18 18 18.18 17.8 18 101,000 1,817,188 ITALPINAS 2.47 2.53 2.48 2.55 2.47 2.47 314,000 782,480 KEPWEALTH 5.26 5.3 5.26 5.7 5.26 5.26 55,900 302,594 -33,734 MERRYMART 4.27 4.28 4.28 4.32 4.23 4.28 6,060,000 25,902,260 -93,430

EXHANGE TRADE FUNDS

FIRST METRO ETF 105 105.1 104.6 105.5 104.5 105 8,460 888,528 9,495

www.businessmirror.com.ph

Drop in power demand cuts spot market prices–IEMOP

T

By Lenie Lectura

@llectura

he average Wholesale Electricity Spot Market (WESM) price dropped to P6.53 per kilowatt hour (kWh) from June 1 to 20 as demand for electricity eased compared to last month.

“For the first 20 days of June 2021, a decreased demand and a slight improvement in supply was observed which reflected a decrease in the resulting market prices with an average of P6.53/kWh,” said WESM operator Independent Electricity Market Operator of the Philippines (IEMOP).

The trend is expected to continue for the remaining days of June. As such, the Effective Spot Settlement Price (ESSP)—effective rate paid by the customers for their respective WESM transactions for each billing month—is expected to be lower than

May’s P8.31 per kWh. IEMOP reported that the ESSP recorded in May was double than that of the April ESSP of P4.04 per kWh. Last month, supply was greatly affected by generator outages and deratings. The outages, which reached as high as 2,396MW and deratings of 4,984MW, triggered yellow and red alert warnings, particularly on May 31 and June 1.

Market interventions were also called for several intervals by the National Grid Corporation of the Philippines (NGCP), due to manual

load dropping as a result of generation deficiency.

With the tight supply conditions, the Secondary Price Cap was imposed as the average price breached the P9 per kWh threshold. Moreover, the total generation for the May market transactions was recorded at 7,236 gigawatt hours (GWh) which is higher than the previous month’s record of 6,818 GWh. The Secondary Price Cap is a price-mitigating mechanism imposed when there are persistent high market prices.

The generation mix for the month of May continued to be dominated by coal power plants which generated 56.1 percent of the supply. This is a slight increase from its generation last month of 54.6 percent. Likewise, an increase in the generation of oil-based power plants, which are usually dispatched only during peak hours, was observed from 1.1 percent to 3.1 percent. Meanwhile, the generation from natural gas, geothermal, hydro, wind, and solar plants declined.

IEMOP, meanwhile, announced that the launch of the Enhanced WESM Design and Operations (EWDO) will take place on June 26.

A key feature of the EWDO is the transition to a 5-minute interval for WESM from one hour.

“For the Luzon and Visayas market participants, this entails the implementation of a fiveminute scheduling pricing, and market settlement. However, dispatch compliances will be relaxed for the first three months or until September 25, in order to provide market participants ample time to adjust to the new trading interval,” it said.

For Mindanao, a WESM Central Scheduling will initially be implemented for one month in order to provide time for some participants to complete the registration process. After which, a relaxed compliance period of three months will be implemented to enable the Mindanao participants to adjust as well to the market based scheduling and pricing mechanisms.

Nat Re wants to resume dividend payment

T

he National Reinsurance Corp. of the Philippines (Nat Re) is aiming to generate enough profits and net assets which will allow it to declare dividends again for the stockholders.

Nat Re President and CEO Allan R. Santos said during an annual stockholder meeting on Wednesday that the company has to meet the requirements set by the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) and the Insurance Commission (IC) prior to dividend declaration.

While the reinsurer already met SEC’s required retained earnings, Santos said it has yet to meet the adjusted net-worth threshold set by the IC. “Rest assured, we are working hard to generate additional earnings and grow our net assets to exceed the threshold and restart paying dividends.”

Last year, the national reinsurer saw its net profits fall by 24 percent to P120 million from P157 million in 2019 due to lower investment income.

Economic recovery may be “slower than initially expected” with the “intermittent surges in Covid-19 infections and delays in the arrival of the vaccine,” Santos said. The reinsurer said its clients may find it challenging to generate new business.

Still, the Nat Re chief said the company continues to identify growth opportunities from the need for capi-

tal relief solutions, further health insurance coverage, collaboration with foreign firms and crafting of reinsurance facilities.

“As we face 2021, we assure you that we will continue to pursue profitable growth,” he added.

Meanwhile, Santos said Nat Re is closely monitoring its investment portfolio amid the uncertainties in the market. He said the company, along with its investment fund managers, is balancing the risk and optimizing the returns of the investments.

“The market volatility brought about by the pandemic has adversely affected our equity investments, but favorably impacted our fixed income assets,” he said.

The reinsurer holds P8.6-billion worth of investment portfolio, bulk or 60 percent of which are accounted for by government bonds. The remaining 40 percent include corporate bonds and equities.

Santos also discussed the Philippine Catastrophe Insurance Facility (PCIF), which is a collaboration among Nat Re, IC and the Philippine Insurers and Reinsurers Association.

He said this will “enable insurers to more efficiently manage their catastrophe exposures and boost their capacity to take in more catastrophe risks.”

“In doing so, the PCIF will provide the public with more inclusive access to catastrophe insurance protection

Execs of UnionBank bag awards from NPC

K

ey officials of the Union Bank of the Philippines were recognized for their efforts to protect the data privacy of its customers in the recently concluded Privacy Awareness Week 2021 (PAW) Awards organized by the National Privacy Commission (NPC).

The financial institution said UnionBank Chief Technolog y and Operations Officer and Chief Transformation Officer Henry Aguda was named the Privacy Advocate of the Year for his outstanding effort in advancing the development of policies to ensure data protection in the organization.

He was also recognized for advocating for the implementation guidelines, projects and programs that relate to privacy and data protection in the Bank.

UnionBank Data Privacy Officer and Head of AI and Data Policy Maria Francesca Montes also received the Privacy Leadership Award.

This special award recognizes the leadership skills and capabilities of the individuals whose works have significant impact in their sector and field. Montes also holds an executive seat in the NPC Data Privacy Council representing the banking sector. Bianca Cuaresma

which will ultimately increase our country’s resilience to catastrophes and allow faster recovery of the communities from a natural disaster.”

Just last year, the Philippines was devastated by the Taal Volcano eruption in January and three typhoons in the last quarter.

Credit rating agency AM Best

affirmed this month Nat Re’s financial strength rating of B++ and the long-term issuer credit rating of “bbb” with stable outlook. The ratings were based on the company’s balance sheet strength, operating performance, neutral business profile and appropriate risk management. Tyrone Jasper C. Piad

mutual funds

June 23, 2021

NAV

One Year Three Year Five Year

per share

Return*

Y-T-D Return

Stock Funds ALFM Growth Fund, Inc. -a

220.99

6.63%

ATRAM Alpha Opportunity Fund, Inc. -a

1.3971

35.8%

ATRAM Philippine Equity Opportunity Fund, Inc. -a 3.0406

7.99%

-3.37%

-3.88%

-1.65%

1.49%

-7.89%

6.41%

-6.1%

-2.95%

Climbs Share Capital Equity Investment Fund Corp. -a 0.7754 7.66%

-3.48% n.a.

-3.55%

First Metro Consumer Fund on MSCI Phils. IMI, Inc. -a 0.7283 6.74%

-2.86% n.a.

-1.79%

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

-1.15%

-2.17%

-1.84%

0.48%

-4.68%

4.8504

9.14%

First Metro Save and Learn Philippine Index Fund, Inc. -a,4 MBG Equity Investment Fund, Inc. -a 99.47

24.18%

PAMI Equity Index Fund, Inc. -a

45.2378

Philam Strategic Growth Fund, Inc. -a

475.28

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

8.17%

8.65%

Philequity Fund, Inc. -a

33.8816

-2.77%

-1.53%

-3.11%

-2.8%

17.46% n.a. n.a.

-2.03%

-1.51%

-2.27%

9.42%

-0.98%

Philequity MSCI Philippine Index Fund, Inc. -a

0.8825

Philequity PSE Index Fund Inc. -a

4.6354

8.75%

Philippine Stock Index Fund Corp. -a

776.24

Soldivo Strategic Growth Fund, Inc. -a

0.7068

-3.44%

-2.35% -1.65%

7.1% n.a. n.a.

Sun Life Prosperity Philippine Equity Fund, Inc. -a 3.5142

-6.7% -6.82%

-2.42%

-1.29%

7.02%

1.075

Philequity Dividend Yield Fund, Inc. -a 1.1407

0.708

-3.36% n.a.

-2.55% -3.34%

-0.61%

-1.99%

8.86%

-0.51%

-2.09%

-3.17%

8.44%

-5.09%

-5.17%

-1.68%

6.86%

-3.25%

-3.27%

-3.48%

-3.02%

Sun Life Prosperity Philippine Stock Index Fund, Inc. -a 0.8866 8.27%

-0.89%

-2.26%

-3.39%

United Fund, Inc. -a

-1.35%

-2.56%

3.2341

7.6%

-1.36%

ALFM

-2.74%

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

104.1932

8.81%

-0.3%

-1.51% -3.13%

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

$1.2561

31.4%

6.11%

8.66%

4.42%

Sun Life Prosperity World Voyager Fund, Inc. -a $1.7708

28.19%

10.84%

11.84%

5.86%

0.29%

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

1.6734

6.76%

1.22%

-1.61%

ATRAM Philippine Balanced Fund, Inc. -a

2.2398

6.86%

0.42%

-0.68%

-2%

First Metro Save and Learn Balanced Fund Inc. -a 2.5928

5.7%

1.31%

-0.65%

-1.3%

First Metro Save and Learn F.O.C.C.U.S. Dynamic Fund, Inc. -a,1 0.1943

2.53% n.a. n.a. -2.17%

NCM Mutual Fund of the Phils., Inc. -a 1.9509

4.98%

2.66%

0.42%

-0.67%

PAMI Horizon Fund, Inc. -a

3.6781

4.62%

2%

-0.73%

Philam Fund, Inc. -a

16.4957

5.12%

2.04%

-0.75%

Solidaritas Fund, Inc. -a

2.0565

5.06%

0.64%

-0.61%

-1.8%

Sun Life of Canada Prosperity Balanced Fund, Inc. -a 3.5084 4.74%

-0.36%

-1.64%

-1.81%

-2.9% -2.6%

Sun Life Prosperity Achiever Fund 2028, Inc. -a,d 0.9848

3.47% n.a. n.a.

Sun Life Prosperity Achiever Fund 2038, Inc. -a,d 0.9044

4.21% n.a. n.a.

-4.72%

Sun Life Prosperity Achiever Fund 2048, Inc. -a,d 0.8919

5.13% n.a. n.a.

-4.42%

Sun Life Prosperity Dynamic Fund, Inc. -a

0.8824

7.13%

-1.08%

-1.94%

-3.7%

-0.6%

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

$0.03833

-0.34%

3.37%

1.48%

PAMI Asia Balanced Fund, Inc. -b

$1.1283

-2.02%

14.98%

3.21%

4.98%

-1.9%

Sun Life Prosperity Dollar Advantage Fund, Inc. -a $4.6808 20.83%

8.41%

8.51%

3.72%

Sun Life Prosperity Dollar Wellspring Fund, Inc. -a,3 $1.2089 10.76%

4.91%

4.68%

0.57%

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

372.22

1.96%

3.23%

2.47%

0.31%

ATRAM Corporate Bond Fund, Inc. -a

1.9278

-0.57%

1.28%

0.3%

1.45%

Cocolife Fixed Income Fund, Inc. -a

3.228

1.35%

3.81%

4.33%

0.41%

Ekklesia Mutual Fund Inc. -a

2.2624

-0.71%

2.26%

1.51%

-1.46%

0.53%

3.28%

1.75%

-0.46%

First Metro Save and Learn Fixed Income Fund,Inc. -a 2.442 Philam Bond Fund, Inc. -a

4.4939

-0.99%

4.52%

1.6%

Philam Managed Income Fund, Inc. -a,6

1.323

2.75%

4.24%

2.77%

0.14%

Philequity Peso Bond Fund, Inc. -a

3.9755

1.68%

4.41%

2.52%

-0.64%

Soldivo Bond Fund, Inc. -a

1.0379

4.81%

1.85%

-0.39%

Sun Life of Canada Prosperity Bond Fund, Inc. -a 3.2117

1.75%

5.47%

2.87%

0.18%

Sun Life Prosperity GS Fund, Inc. -a

0.91%

4.73%

2.23%

-0.4%

1.748

1.51%

-3.04%

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

$485.97

ALFM Euro Bond Fund, Inc. -a

Є220.06

2.12%

1.13%

1.16%

0.4%

ATRAM Total Return Dollar Bond Fund, Inc. -b

$1.1918

-1.93%

2.66%

2.36%

3.2%

2.34% 1.29%

-6.92%

1.03%

0.43%

First Metro Save and Learn Dollar Bond Fund, Inc. -a $0.0261 0.77%

1.85%

PAMI Global Bond Fund, Inc -b

$1.0587

-0.95%

0.79%

-0.5%

-3.11%

Philam Dollar Bond Fund, Inc. -a

$2.5133

3.09%

5.51%

2.31%

-0.88%

-1.88%

Philequity Dollar Income Fund Inc. -a $0.0629872 4.08%

3.56%

2.25%

1.07%

Sun Life Prosperity Dollar Abundance Fund, Inc. -a $3.1804

0.27%

3.34%

1.1%

-1.34%

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

2.53%

0.36%

First Metro Save and Learn Money Market Fund, Inc. -a 1.0527 1.16% n.a. n.a.

0.44%

Sun Life Prosperity Money Market Fund, Inc. -a

130.28 1.305

1.76% 1.74%

3.06% 2.85%

2.56%

0.65%

Primarily invested in foreign currency securities Sun Life Prosperity Dollar Starter Fund, Inc. -a $1.0575

1.23%

1.66% n.a.

0.48%

Feeder Funds Primarily invested in Peso securities Sun Life Prosperity World Equity Index Feeder Fund, Inc. -a,d,7 1.26 n.a. n.a. n.a. 11.54% Primarily invested in foreign currency securities ALFM Global Multi-Asset Income Fund Inc. -b,d,2

$0.99

6.45% n.a. n.a.

1.02%

a - NAVPS as of the previous banking day. b - NAVPS as of two banking days ago. c - Listed in the PSE. d - in Net Asset Value per Unit (NAVPU).

1 - Launch date is September 28, 2019. 2 - Launch date is November 15, 2019. 3 - Adjusted due to stock dividend issuance last October 9, 2019.

4 - Renaming was approved by the SEC last October 12, 2018 (formerly, One Wealthy Nation Fund, Inc.). 5 - Launch date is December 09, 2019. 6 - Reclassified into a Bond Fund starting February 21, 2020 (Formerly a Money Market Fund).

7 - Launch date is July 6, 2020.

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

Envoys&Expats BusinessMirror

www.businessmirror.com.ph

Thursday, June 24, 2021

B3

PHL ambassador enhances learning exchange with Netherlands institute

T

HE HAGUE—Ambassador to the Netherlands J. Eduardo Malaya made a courtesy call on June 10 to Ron Ton, director of the Clingendael Institute—one of the world’s leading think-tanks and diplomatic academies.

Both had a lively exchange of views on Philippine-Netherlands relations, and tackled recent developments in their respective regions.

Malaya also conveyed apprecia-

tion to Ton for Clingendael’s support to the capacity-building of the Department of Foreign Affairs officers and staff who benefited from the short-course training sessions conducted by the institute. They

covered topics on the Law of the Sea, diplomatic advocacy, as well as a specialized course for diplomats from Asean member-states and the Asean Secretariat.

The Philippine envoy took the occasion to donate books to Clingendael. They included Philippine Treaties in Force 2020, which he coauthored with Crystal Gale Dampil-Mandigma; Stewards of the Nation: Aguinaldo to Duterte and their Inaugural Visions, which he wrote with Undersecretary Jonathan E. Malaya; Women in Diplomacy; and The Remarkable Ambassadors in the Philippine Foreign Service edited by former secretary of foreign affairs Delia Domingo-Albert.

In time for the Philippine hero’s

AMBASSADOR J. Eduardo Malaya (right) and Clingendael Institute’s Ron Ton HAGUE PE

EU, Asean: Natural partners with a common agenda

By Josep Borrell

European Union High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy; European Commission Vice President

M

Y visit to Jakarta and Asean the other week underlined the European Union’s (EU) commitment to the Indo-Pacific region, and it reconfirmed a clear demand in the region for more cooperation and EU presence.

All my interlocutors stressed that they want to shape a broad common agenda for cooperation: from the pandemic and recovery, to connectivity and trade; from the green agenda, to the key area of security.

The EU is well aware that the global center of gravity is shifting toward the Indo-Pacific. It creates 60 percent of global gross domestic product, and two-thirds of global growth. It is the second-largest destination for EU exports, and home to four out of the EU’s Top 10 trading partners. Around 40 percent of the EU’s foreign trade passes through the South China Sea. The union is also the top investor in, and development-assistance provider, for the Indo-Pacific. It is the Asean’s No. 1 development partner, and its third major trade partner and investor. Exports to member-countries grew from €54 billion in 2010 to €85 billion in 2019. Our imports grew even more: from €72 billion to €125 billion. These numbers remind

BORRELL

us of our strong connection, and the big stakes the EU has in this dynamic part of the world.

The Indo-Pacific is the future, but the present is just as important.

Insecurity and tensions are rising, threatening the order and balance of this region. Stability, development and economic growth rests on openness, on stable and shared rules and shared security. The EU’s interest is precisely this: that the regional order stays rules-based, free and open for all. We can contribute to this significantly, and our regional partners, who view the EU as a trusted and reliable actor, recognize this.

Asean is the nucleus around which inclusive forms of cooperation are built, and regional integration is a way to safeguard our respective “strategic autonomy.”

Security cooperation

THE EU launched in April 2021 an Indo-Pacific strategy with one key message: We want to step up our engagement and work with our partners to boost trade and investments, economic openness, and a sustainable approach to connectivity in the region. Apart from being an econom-

ic powerhouse, the EU is also ready to be a political and security actor in the region, and to do more work on strategic and security issues—in particular, maritime security.

We already have a dialogue with Asean on maritime security cooperation, and are currently extending our Critical Maritime Routes Programme, which strengthens regional maritime-surveillance capacities from the Indian Ocean to Southeast Asia. We are also exploring options to enhance the EU’s maritime presence in the vast Indo-Pacific space.

Furthermore, we have to step up cooperation to respond to the ongoing “democratic recession” worldwide, as well as the growing attacks on pluralism and political freedoms.

Myanmar is the most dramatic case in point in this regard. The EU looks to Asean leadership in this situation, and we are ready to back more regional engagement. Given the complete refusal by the military junta to engage in negotiations and their growing repression, the EU is also working on a new sanctions package to further defend human rights.

Many countries, and certainly the people in this region, share our view: These values and principles are universal, and that people should determine their own political future and have their rights protected. Often, as we see in Myanmar, the erosion of such rights and freedoms comes with severe consequences for one’s personal safety and security.

Doing more with PHL

BEYOND the regional angle, the EU and the Philippines are close partners bound by shared values and common interests, such as the support to a rules-based international order and mutual beneficial trade. I hope to engage very soon with Secretary of Foreign Affairs Teodoro Locsin Jr. to explore ways of deepening our bilateral, regional and multilateral agenda even further.

The Philippines-EU Partnership and Cooperation Agreement is being implemented with the recent holding of three subcommittee meetings in trade and investment; human rights and governance; as well as development cooperation.

These illustrate our mutual interest in constructive cooperation in various areas.

The pandemic has shown us that cooperation is key to achieve a green and sustainable economic recovery. Furthermore, the Philippines will also hold a key role as Asean coordinator for Dialogue Relations with the EU starting next August. The three years ahead will be crucial for the full implementation of the Asean-EU Strategic Partnership.

The EU’s message is clear: We want to do more with the Philippines, Asean, in Southeast Asia, and in the wider region. Asean and its people, can count on the EU to be a strong and reliable partner as we jointly tackle challenges of our time.

FFCCCII fortifies PHL-China ties

By Recto L. Mercene @rectomercene

T

HE Federation of Filipino-Chinese Chambers of Commerce and Industry Inc. (FFCCCII) recently celebrated its 46th anniversary with a star-studded list of guests, which included government leaders past and present, as well as cabinet members.

FFCCCII president Henry Lim Bon Liong shared that as early as the 9th Century, Chinese traders from the Song dynasty came in large groups across Southeast Asia, following the seasonal wind patterns all the way to the Philippines and Thailand, and traded their motherland’s unparalleled products at that time: porcelain, silk, tea, foodstuff and spices.

The FFCCCII official explained that “Spanish conquistador El Adelantado Miguel Lopez de Legazpi was not the first foreigner to set foot in Manila,” because when he dropped anchor in Manila Bay, he already encountered Chinese traders.

He said Spain’s actual purpose in coming over to these islands was to Christianize the world, and in the process, “we had our first saint: a Filipino-Chinese named Lorenzo Ruiz,” and added that his kinfolk were active even during the Philippine-Spanish wars, as pure and half-Chinese joined the guerilla movement in fighting the invading Japanese.

The FFCCCII president said that since its inception, the FFCCCII had built schools, hospitals and provided seeds for hybrid rice in the Philippines.

The latter gave employment to millions of farmers in rural areas and contributed to the country’s economic growth.

‘Common values’

FFCCCII Secretary General Dr. Fernando Gan said the Filipino-Chinese have lived in harmony through centuries, and have always cooperated to pursue common goals and development. “[We] share common values of hard work, festivals and food... We have the same aspirations to seek prosperity, harmony and stability

for our country,” he said.

“Let us continue to build bridges, [foster understanding, and] pursue meaningful programs to promote growth,” he urged, then revealed the federation had helped procure the 500,000 doses of Sinovac vaccines that arrived on June 10.

For his part, the Embassy of China’s Charge d’affaires Tan Qing Sheng hoped that the federation would continue to be a moving force in the private sector, boosting tourism and investments, “and also [spreading friendship, understanding and] our good partnership that have bound our peoples together.”

Secretary of Foreign Affairs Teodoro L. Locsin Jr. commented: “We represent the best of both worlds: the intrepid and pioneering spirit that sought opportunities in distant shores, [with a will that perseveres in adversity. Rarely in our ties] can you find one so effortless to keep, as that between Filipinos and Chinese.”

He added that the abiding trust and goodwill of the two countries nurtured

HENRY Lim Bon Liong FFCCCII WEBSITE

through the years will bear much fruit in the years ahead.

“As in the old days, when we broke through barriers, one after another, in language, culture and beliefs, I have faith that we will once again overcome our differences, that faith has a deep foundation down to the bone, of shared blood and life stories,” Locsin added, then hinted of the tension between Manila and Beijing over unresolved issues in the disputed waters.

However, as in previous statements, Manila’s highest envoy said the issue in the common waterway “is not the sum total of Philippine-Chinese relations.”

‘Shared vision’

SENATOR Sherwin T. Gatchalian, himself a Filipino-Chinese, said there were more than 2 million ethnic Chinese in the Philippines in 2020 who share similar experiences.

160th birth anniversary, the diplomat also handed out copies of José Rizal’s novels: Noli Me Tangere (Raak me niet aan!) and El Filibusterismo (De revolutie), which were translated in Dutch by Gerard Arp. Clingendael, or the Netherlands Institute of International Relations Clingendael, is a leading independent think-tank and academy on international affairs based in The Hague. It undertakes research, training and public discourse on a wide range of issues—including security and terrorism and rule of law, sustainable development, and diplomatic skills such as negotiation techniques, economic diplomacy, conflict management and crisis control.

Exploring PHL seas today, for tomorrow’s generations

By John Law

US Embassy Chargé d’Affaires

I

N March 2021 a leading Philippine oceanographer and an American explorer together reached the deepest point of the Philippine trench—a historic voyage to one of the least-explored places on Earth.

By partnering on marine issues, whether on marine sustainability or maritime-domain awareness, we protect and explore the world’s interconnected waters—including the Philippine seas.

This June we celebrate not only World Oceans Month, but also the 75th anniversary of diplomatic relations between the United States and the Philippines. Our cooperation on maritime issues stands out for its incredible promise.

Since the launch of the Peace Corps and United States Agency for International Development (USAID) in the Philippines 60 years ago, Americans and Filipinos have been working together to protect Philippine marine spaces and marine species. In the coming years, we must redouble our efforts to protect the richness of Philippine seas.

Plastic debris in PHL seas

WHEN Dr. Deo Florence L. Onda and Victor Vescovo reached the Emden Deep, even there they discovered ocean plastics. Plastic debris in our oceans is a global problem that costs the world as much as $2.5 trillion annually.

Earlier this month, during a marine-focused “Oceans of Opportunities” conference, the US Center for Strategic and International Studies, as well as the University of Philippines-Institute for Maritime Affairs Law of the Sea, characterized the local marine environmental situation as “stark.” They noted that the country and its neighbors are “literally choking on plastic debris,” 750,000 metrics tons of which leach into the sea from the Philippines every year.

However, in the face of this challenge, one expert claimed US-Philippine marine cooperation is one of the “most productive endeavors we have seen historically.” Together, we are improving waste management and developing innovations in packaging and recycling to keep debris out of the ocean, while raising community awareness to change handling of plastic waste. Our work to make Philippine waters plastic-free will revive coral reefs, boost fish populations, clean up the beaches, support tourism, and reduce greenhouse gases in the atmosphere.

Illegal, unreported and unregulated fishing costs the Philippines

LAW

an estimated P63 billion a year and endangers the marine species that produce food and income for millions of Filipinos. We’ve partnered with the Philippine Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources and local government units throughout the Philippines to help stop these destructive practices. Through USAID’s “Fish Right,” we’re also working to ensure safe, legal fishing practices are not only sustainable but profitable for Filipino fisherfolk.

Taking action

BECAUSE waters are all connected, we are committed to increase regional and multilateral cooperation on marine issues. Through regional projects like USAID Oceans, events like the Leaders’ Summit on Climate, and organizations like the Young Southeast Asian Leaders Initiative, we are bringing global partners to take action by improving the management and sustainability of our shared resources.

In April a team of Filipino and American explorers jointly discovered a sunken Navy destroyer—the USS Johnston, which was lost during the Battle of Samar on October 25, 1944, as our peoples fought to liberate the Philippines during World War II. The shipwreck, the deepest of its kind at 21,000 feet underwater, presents a unique opportunity to learn more about marine habitat and history.

This amazing discovery—more than 75 years after the USS Johnston was thought lost for good—highlights the need for more research and visibility into our waters.

While conservation efforts are critical, preserving marine species requires protecting marine spaces.

This August marks the 70th anniversary of the Mutual Defense Treaty, which underpins our security alliance. The security benefits of MDT enable cooperation to improve maritime domain awareness and deter nations from committing environmental crimes. Using tools like the visible infrared imaging radiometer suite and satellite imagery, the US and the Philippines are working together to stop environmental damage before it happens.

With much at stake—sovereignty, food security, and livelihoods—we must continue to do our utmost to protect the world’s waters.

B4

The World BusinessMirror

Thursday, June 24, 2021

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

Colombia reaches 100,000 deaths from Covid-19 as infections surge

B

OGOTA, Colombia— Colombia reached 100,000 confirmed deaths from Covid-19 this week, becoming just the tenth country in the world to hit the grim milestone.

The South American nation of 50 million has been registering a growing number of daily cases since April and over the past seven days it had the world’s third-highest per capita death rate from Covid-19, according to data published by Oxford University.

On Monday night, President Iván Duque blamed antigovernment protests that began at the end of April for many of the fatalities, saying that “more than 10,000 deaths could have been avoided” if Colombians had not held large gatherings over the past seven weeks.

But epidemiologists in Colombia said it’s too soon to tell how much of an impact the protests had on the current surge in Covid-19 deaths.

“ T he protests def in itely played a role” in coronavirus contagion, said Diego Rosselli, a professor of epidemiology at the Javeriana University in Bogota. “But at this moment putting any number on how many deaths they caused is mere speculation.”

More than 25,000 people have died from Covid-19 in Colombia since May 1, or about a quarter of those who have died from the disease since the first case of coronavirus was registered in Colombia in March of last year.

Rosselli said more contagious variants of the virus may have contributed to the sharp acceleration in death rates, as has happened in nearby countries like Argentina and Brazil.

Cemetery and funeral workers lift a coffin containing the remains of a man who died of Covid-19, at the Zipaquira’s Park Cemetery in Zipaquira, Colombia on June 18. Funeral workers in Colombia are struggling to dispose of bodies as the country experiences a surge in deaths from Covid-19. AP/Fernando Vergara

Fatigue with sanitary measures—like using facemasks— crowded living arrangements and fewer restrictions on gatherings have also fueled contagion in Colombia and elsewhere in South America. The region makes up just 5 percent of the world’s population but accounts for almost a quarter of all Covid-19 deaths.

In Colombia, the rise in cases comes as the government lifts some of the last restrictions it had put in place to control the spread of the coronavirus and allows nightclubs, bars and cinemas to open for the first time in more than a year.

Cities like Medellin and Bogota are also preparing to hold trade shows and music events that will be attended by thousands of people, while 10,000 people recently attended a soccer match in the coastal city of Barranquilla.

Municipal governments say they have no option but to allow these events in order to regain jobs and help the economy get back on its feet.

Colombia’s unemployment rate doubled last year as the government implemented several lockdowns to slow down contagion and the country’s GDP shrank by 7 percent.

Vaccination sped up in June with up to 350,000 doses administered in one day, but only 10 percent of Colombia’s population is fully vaccinated.

Doctors fear that recent decisions to allow more gatherings will increase the number of severely ill patients arriving at hospitals, which are already struggling to cope. In Bogota, Cali and Medellin, more than 95 percent of intensive care beds at hospitals are already occupied.

Paola Cabra, an emergency room doctor in the Samaritana University Hospital in Bogota, said the best thing would be to return to lockdowns to decrease infections.

“But in a country like Colombia you can’t do that,” Cabra said. “Most people here work independently to make a living and cannot afford to stay home doing nothing.”

The hospital’s 19 intensive care units for Covid-19 patients have been full for weeks, forcing staff to add respirators and other equipment to ER beds.

“I would like to be wrong,” Cabra said. “But it looks like the situation will get worse in the following weeks.” AP

www.businessmirror.com.ph

The World BusinessMirror

Thursday, June 24 2021

B5

Sydney’s Delta outbreak triggers travel clamps, mandatory masks

A

bout 1 million people in Sydney will be barred from leaving the city, as Australia races to control an outbreak of the Delta variant that’s having ramifications as far afield as New Zealand.

From 4 p.m. on Wednesday, households will be limited to hosting five guests, while masks will be mandatory in indoor venues including workplaces and shops, New South Wales Premier Gladys Berejiklian told reporters.

Residents in eastern and inner-west areas of Sydney won’t be allowed to travel outside the city for nonessential reasons for at least a week.

The surge in cases has created “a very real and present danger,” state Health Minister Brad Hazzard told reporters. “This is a very serious situation.” The stricter measures come as 13 new cases were recorded in less than a day in Australia’s most-populous city, bringing the cluster to at least 30 infections.

The outbreak is placing pressure on Australia’s socalled “Covid zero” strategy, designed to eliminate the virus from the community, with the infectious Delta variant creating more leaks from hotels used to quarantine Australians returning from overseas. Those outbreaks have triggered localized lockdowns that are hampering economic recovery.

Australia and New Zealand are among the handful of Asia-Pacific places where strict containment is a growing economic disadvantage as highly vaccinated countries like the US, UK and parts of Europe begin to open up.

These “Covid zero” places, which include Singapore, Hong Kong and China, are facing growing backlash as the measures that kept fatalities low are now leaving their populations isolated.

Travel bubble

In response to the Sydney cluster, New Zealand has halted its travel bubble with New South Wales. After it was discovered that an infectious Australian tourist visited the capital city Wellington over the weekend, authorities there limited the size of gatherings and imposed new social distancing restrictions.

While standard bearers when it comes to keeping out Covid, both Australia and New Zealand have struggled with securing and rolling out vaccines. The lack of infections has made Australians hesitant around receiving jabs, particularly given concern about blood clots from the AstraZeneca Plc vaccine that’s being given to people over 60.

The country of more than 25 million people has administered shots to cover 13.2 percent of its population, according to Bloomberg’s vaccine tracker, versus the US at almost 50 percent and the UK at 56 percent. New Zealand has inoculated just 9.1 percent, the tracker shows.

Since an initial nationwide lockdown imposed when the pandemic began in March 2020, Berejiklian hasn’t enforced a strict city-wide lockdown for Sydney, even as the neighboring state of Victoria has endured more than 120 days of tough restrictions. On Wednesday, she didn’t rule out taking further measures later this week if required.

Sections of the business community have ramped up demands on the nation’s federal and state leaders to abandon the Covid zero strategy, saying enforced shutdowns put too much pressure on affected businesses.

“It’s going to impact services spending, in particular in New South Wales,” said Ryan Felsman, a senior economist at the securities unit of Commonwealth Bank of Australia. “When there are snap lockdowns or minilockdowns, we see spending restraint.”

The Sydney outbreak will also increase pressure on Prime Minister Scott Morrison to ramp up the nation’s tardy vaccine rollout. While the federal government has abandoned its original October target to inoculate the population, it’s also said it won’t reopen borders until its safe to do so, meaning Australia is likely to be isolated from most of the world into next year.

The outbreak will impact the nation’s tourism industry, with other states and territories moving to restrict travel from people in Sydney -- Western Australia and South Australia on Wednesday announced that arrivals from New South Wales would no longer be permitted.

That comes as the sector, including airlines, has already born the brunt of the economic fall-out in the countr y. New South Wales is due to start its two-week mid-winter school holiday season this weekend.

“Certainly it’s going to crimp those travel plans of people that were heading” interstate or to New Zealand, Felsman said. “That will have an impact on bookings for holiday accommodation and broadly the services economy.” Bloomberg News

Agriculture/Commodities

B6 Thursday, June 24, 2021 • Editor: Jennifer A. Ng

BusinessMirror

www.businessmirror.com.ph

PHL coffee production expands by 12.4% in Q1

T

By Jasper Emmanuel Y. Arcalas

@jearcalas

he country’s dried coffee berry output in the first quarter grew by 12.4 percent to 19,350.32 metric tons (MT) from 17,220.46 MT recorded last year, the Philippine Statistics Authority (PSA) said.

In its quarterly report published on Wednesday, the PSA said Robusta remained as the most popular type of coffee as it accounted for the bulk of total output or 72.7 percent.

Robusta coffee production from January to March reached 14,067.2 MT, 18 percent higher than the 11,923.15 MT recorded a year ago, based on PSA data.

PSA data showed that Arabica coffee production, which accounted for almost 20 percent of total output,

rose slightly to 3,793.64 MT from last year’s 3,764.64 MT. Production of Excelsa and Liberica coffee varieties, however, declined on an annual basis in the first quarter. PSA data showed that Excelsa coffee output fell by 2.7 percent to 1,392.78 MT while Liberica coffee production declined by 4.8 percent to 96.71 MT. “SOCCSKSARGEN was the top coffee producer with 6,970 MT output or 36 percent share to the total production for this quarter,”

the PSA said in its report. “This was followed by Northern Mindanao and Davao Region with respective shares of 14.5 percent and 12.2 percent.”

Dried coffee berry production in SOCCSKSARGEN expanded by 26.8 percent to 6,974.88 MT from last year’s 5,499.51 MT. Dried coffee berry production in Northern Mindanao went up by 30.5 percent to 2,800.59 MT from 2,146.24 MT while output in Davao Region declined by 1.6 percent to 2,353.18 MT from 2,391.17 MT. In the same report, the PSA said cacao production in the first quarter increased by 11.8 percent to 2,249.52 MT from 2,011.90 MT last year.

“Davao Region was still the major producer of cacao with 1,780 MT output or 79.2 percent share to the country’s total cacao production for this quarter.”

The PSA said Davao region’s cacao output grew by 11.9 percent from 1,592.5 MT recorded in the first quarter of 2020.

Coffee beans sit in a cup. Bloomberg

DENR urges local govts, private sector Draft executive order on agri extension program sent to Malacañang–DA to revive Samal’s capiz shell industry

T

By Jonathan L. Mayuga @jonlmayuga

T

he Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) is urging local government units (LGUs) and the private sector to invest in the Manila Bay-Bataan Coastal Strategy project.

DENR Undersecretary Analiza R. Teh said in a statement that such investment will create jobs and bring to life key biodiversity areas.

A key result should be the restoration and sustainability of the windowpane oyster (capiz) industry in Samal, Bataan, Teh said.

“Bagac and Morong (Bataan) abound with numerous fish species. And the locally known capiz or windowpane oyster shells used to be abundant in Manila Bay. It still can be found along the coast of Samal,” said Teh during a workshop of the Manila Bay-Bataan Coastal Strategy project.

The windowpane oyster shell industry in Samal, Bataan was once a flourishing industry. However, it declined due to the dwindling supply of the oyster shell caused by illegal and destructive fishing.

Given the increased investment of LGUs all over Manila and Bataan in the coastal areas’ restoration, the investment for Manila Bay-Bataan’s restoration will result not only in natural resources preservation but also yield economic benefits for residents, said Teh. “The Mandanas ruling will increase internal revenue allotment [IRA] of LGUs by 56 percent. So there’s an opportunity for us to engage the LGUs to invest more in natural resources protection. We can convince LGUs to undertake comanagement of Protected Areas with the community,” said Teh. “Sustainable land management in Bataan promises long-term benefits

Windowpane oyster shells found in Samal, Bataan, are used as material for home décor.

Photo from Pinterest

to the ecosystem and the economy.”

Teh said the private sector should be persuaded to also invest in the project.

“There is also an opportunity for us to rally the private sector to invest. Let’s see how we can provide incentives to them so they can participate actively not only as part of CSR [corporate social responsibility] but investment on natural resources protection,” she said.

Teh noted that on top of livelihood benefits, fisheries production, and tourism, these natural resources automatically become the Filipino people’s health protection.

“Natural resources are our ‘vaccine’ to any health crisis. We need to show how we can contribute to our economic recovery and help solve the pandemic,” she said.

The Manila Bay-Bataan Coastal Strategy project is a comprehensive 5-year project financed by the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO).

It covers three phases: cleanup and water quality improvement; rehabilitation and resettlement; and education and sustainment.

The Global Environment Facility has allotted $2.7 million for the project, while the government will provide a budget of $15.5 million.

The project will train provincial government people in sustainable land management.

“Interventions include the identification and uptake of biodiversityfriendly agriculture and sustainable fisheries. [These activities should] reduce pressure on the biodiversity and ecosystems especially in uplands and address soil erosion and excessive sedimentation downstream in the riparian areas and coastal zones,” according to a project briefer.

The project will be co-implemented by DENR’s-Biodiversity Management Bureau and the Department of Agriculture-Bureau of Soils and Water Management.

NIA acquires light, transport equipment

T

he National Ir rigation Administration (NIA) has acquired 95 units of light and transport equipment worth P155.315 million for the monitoring and evaluation of the status of its ongoing construction and operations and maintenance activities.

The light and transport equipment was turned over by the winning bidder, CT Citimotors—Mitsubihi Motors Philippines Corp., to NIA’s top management officials last June 21.

The purchase of light/transport and heavy equipment is part of the three-year re-fleeting program of

the agency from calendar year (CY) 2017. For CY 2017, NIA purchased 34 units of light/transport vehicles and 17 units of heavy equipment.

For CY 2018, NIA acquired 91 units of light/transport vehicles and 18 units of heavy equipment.

Meanwhile, five units of heavy equipment and 91 units of light/transport vehicles were set for procurement in 2019.

As of December 31, 2020, NIA maintained in operating condition 3,201 units of heavy, light/transport, other support, and special equipment in support to the operations and maintenance of irrigation systems nationwide.

The agency also said 622 units of equipment are non-operable or needing repair while 1,382 units of equipment are recommended for disposal. Thus, the three-year re-fleeting program is expected to make NIA operations more efficient and reliable.

Preceding the handover ceremony of equipment was the handover of 319 units of shotgun and ammunition from Trust Trade Inc., represented by Ms. Marinyl S. Belino, to NIA Administrator Ricardo R. Visaya.

The administrator then turned over the shotguns to the Civil Security Affairs Office, headed by Engr. Eusebio S. Villamanto.

he Department of Agriculture (DA) said it has submitted to Malacañang a draft executive order (EO) which seeks to institutionalize its province-led program to accelerate the growth of the country’s farm sector.

The DA said the draft EO calls for institutionalizing its province-led Agriculture and Fisheries Extension Systems (PAFES).

“We are serious in pursuing PAFES, although we are just piloting a few provinces this year. We have sent to Malacañang a draft executive order, institutionalizing PAFES starting next year to cover all provinces nationwide,” Agriculture Secretary William D. Dar said in a statement.

PAFES is one of the DA’s key programs that seek to strengthen the collaboration among stakeholders—the department, local government units (LGUs), academe and the private sector—to bring extension services to the grassroots level amid the challenges of devolution.

Under PAFES, the provinces serves as an extension hub that synchronizes agricultural plans and programs of various stakeholders involved, according to the DA. The department will “co-plan, co-

invest, co-implement, and co-monitor priority projects in the provinces as they embark on commodity specializations to maximize comparative advantage” under PAFES. PAFES is also seen as one of the key measures to boost agriculture growth in the provinces in light of the implementation of the MandanasGarcia ruling next year, which will hike the funding of LGUs. “Through PAFES, and the implementation of the Mandanas-Garcia ruling next year, we would like to see more LGUs investing in agri-fishery projects that would produce traditional as well as emerging products that enjoy a comparative advantage,” Dar said.

The DA has identified Bohol as a model for the PAFES program following a successful meeting between its governor and former agri chief, Arthur C. Yap, and Dar. During their recent meeting, Yap presented the island-province’s programs for its agriculture and fishery sector, which the DA noted was in line with its OneDA reform agenda framework.

“Governor Yap’s presentation and package of proposed projects remain one of the best we have seen to date,

as he matched Bohol’s priority agrifishery programs and plans with the OneDA agenda,” Dar said.

Citing Yap, the DA said Bohol is funding P588.8-million worth of agriculture and fishery projects this year, including a rice program that seeks to increase average palay yield in the province to 8 metric tons (MT) for hybrid variety and 6 MT for inbred seeds.

“Other initiatives cover corn, root crops [ube kinampay], coconut, bangus, tilapia, seaweeds, dairy, native chicken, swine, and farm-to-market roads [FMRs].”

The DA said Yap has requested an additional funding support from the department of up to P976 million for its programs and P1.4 billion for farm-to-market road projects. The DA added that Dar has accepted Yap’s proposals and promised that the funding request would be “favorably acted upon.”

The DA said several provinces, such as Isabela, Ilocos Norte, Ilocos Sur, Pangasinan, Quirino, Pampanga, Bulacan, Nueva Ecija, Batangas, Cebu, and Marinduque, are now taking the initiative to invest much of their budget in agriculture.

Jasper Emmanuel Y. Arcalas

Davao Occidental school gets DOST funding

By Manuel T. Cayon @awimailbox Mindanao Bureau Chief

D

avao City—An agriculture and marine school in Davao Occidental received nearly P200,000 in funding from the regional Department of Science and Technology (DOST) for its research on improving the processing and shelf life of the province’s products.

The Southern Philippines AgriBusiness and Marine and Aquatic School of Technology (Spamast) in Malita town of Davao Occidental was granted P199,070 to support its research on calamansi nip and marinated tilapia to help local farmers and processors improve product form and shelf longevity while preserving the taste and texture of the two food items.

The Spamast presented for DOST funding its research titled “Development of Calamansi Nip in Dry Form Using Spray Drying Method,” and the “Improvement of Nutrient Content and Sensory Quality of SPAMAST Tilanggit (Dried Marinated Tilapia)

by Vacuum-Frying.”

In the explanatory note on calamansi released by the DOST, Spamast said developing calamansi nip into its

dry form “may enable mass production during peak seasons.”

“This will be beneficial to producers and traders promoting a stable price for agricultural commodities like calamansi and ginger to compensate for their cost of production and optimize their income,” Spamast said. Hence, “the development of calamansi nip in dry form may be considered as another opportunity to generate or provide additional income not only to target beneficiaries, but most of all to the farmers.”

The Spamast Tilanggit “aims to produce vacuum-fried Tilanggit with improved quality and extended shelflife to address the factors that affect the nutrient content of Tilanggit, such as the source of Tilapia, ingredients and drying conditions, and cooking methods.”

During processing, nutrient content and sensory qualities, such as color, taste, aroma, and texture of a product may change, Spamast added. “It is therefore important to standardize the processing methods that can preserve the nutrient content and other qualities of Tilanggit.”

Spamast has been producing Tilanggit in Davao Occidental for a decade, the DOST added.

The Davao regional office of the

DOST said it funded the projects under its program for micro, small, and medium enterprises (MSMEs) to promote local food research and improve the quality of their existing products and develop and commercialize new ones.

The Food Processing Innovation Center (FPIC) in Davao would also work on the research projects, “which will serve as the venue in the development of the said innovative products using the DOST-High Impact Technology Solutions (HITS) equipment namely, spray dryer and vacuum fryer,” the agency said.

It said the FPIC-Davao is a banner project of DOST-11 to serve as a onestop food research and development facility where local food processors, students, faculty, and researchers can develop value-added food products using local agricultural and fishery resources.

The research collaboration was formalized on June 14 via a memorandum of agreement signed by Spamast President Ruth S. Lucero, Provincial Science and Technology Center—Davao Occidental Director Maria Victoria I. Dado, Spamast Associate Professor Edelyn Albiso and Spamast Instructor Jamaica N. Meralles.

www.businessmirror.com.ph

Parentlife BusinessMirror

Editor: Gerard S. Ramos

• Thursday, June 24, 2021

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SAFERKIDSPH STATEMENT ON APPROVAL OF SENATE BILL PROTECTING CHILDREN AGAINST ONLINE SEXUAL ABUSE AND EXPLOITATION

SEB PERIQUET in his own ‘Playmobil’ room.

SEB with his parents Paolo and Alexis.

Bonding in building F

ATHER’S Day was celebrated last weekend.

I remember a chance conversation I had with a little boy named Seb, while waiting for a meeting to resume two years ago. He is the son of Paolo Periquet (Pao), founder of Magis Construction; and educator/commercial model Alexis Abello Periquet (Alexis). In those few minutes, I remember admiring a smart, insightful boy who was equally warm and gentle. He is now seven years old and just finished first grade. I thought it would be great to trace how strong bonds build a boy.

In my recent conversation with Seb, I asked him what makes him most proud of his dad. He said, “He taught me a lot of things. He’s so generous—like yesterday, he gave me a book about one of my most favorite topics, mysteries. Also, he gave me this giant Star Wars toy.” When asked what lessons he has learned from his dad that he would like to pass to his own children, he replied, “He taught me so much— about history, about the world around me, and I think about life, how life goes. Like when you’re a kid, you have friends; and when you get older, things start to change and you learn something new from each person....”

I was most struck when I asked him: What does

your dad remind you of most often? His answer? “Get better every day. Before you go to bed, you thank God and after that you do well.”

These words made me curious about how Pao is as a father. Pao said: “I see a father as a guide. Pretty much like Yoda to Luke. He’s the hero of his story, and I’m the 900-year-old battle-tested teacher that hopefully imparts a useful thing or two. Being a ‘guide’ came naturally for me, but I can’t take credit for it. I married a marvelous person. I have wonderful parents and a great family. I’m surrounded by an incredible group of friends, too.”

Pao shared that one of the things he is most proud of Seb is his empathy, like how he always voluntarily holds his lolo’s hand, or how he checked-up on his lola when she was ill.

I admire how Alexis arranges what Seb calls his “hardworking day.” Seb happily described his day of doing chores, helping his mom cook, playing the piano, reading, spelling, studying math, and his “side chores” of “planting the garden.” It is also great that in the face of the issue of lack of social interaction among kids in this pandemic, Alexis arranges regular Zoom playdates with friends, weekly visits with a small group of family members, and phone conversations with Seb’s grandparents from Bacolod.

What also struck me when I visited their place then was his Playmobil collection. And as I would often hear Pao talk about Seb’s toy collections, it made me conclude how block play was a great source of father-and-son bonding for Pao and Seb. “I grew up with Playmobil. It’s a great toy line—a figure comes with a generic face and a standard body.

Their parts and accessories are interchangeable so a child can make his own heroes and villains, adventures and stories.... They’re so durable that I passed down my set from the 1970s,” shared Pao.

According to Pao, Seb started off with the Playmobil animals when he was a year old. Then he graduated to the knights and history lines when he was three. Pao saw how Playmobil directed Seb’s curiosity. “When he had the animal sets, he wanted to learn more about them,” said Pao. Pao added that Seb’s knights sets sparked his interest in history, particularly the medieval and Roman era. It got him into reading books about castles, warfare and the famous personalities of those periods. Travel also became more worthwhile because he enjoyed touring historical sites and museums as much as he did going to toy stores and zoos.

Seb shared to me that his latest interest is in the series Novelmore, where there are two sides of water and fire. Pao shared: “He came to the office once, saying he was going to apply for a job with Playmobil.

He had drafted a letter, saying he had ideas for them.

He must’ve been four, but he was quite resolute.”

Lego was also something that Seb had an early start with. He had Duplo blocks that he used to build towers, then later on building sets and vehicles, like the fire engine in the Lego City series. Pao appreciates that Lego gives a sense of accomplishment after a child completes an instructed build, then it can become anything the imagination wants it to become.

It allowed Seb to freely build structures and got him interested in architecture.

For me, I believe finding this common interest in building blocks is a perfect example on how play sets one of the many great stages for happy family learning and bonding. It is not just the toy, but the time spent playing with our kids. In as much as we want to impart all the values and teachings to our kids, I think play has been my best way to communicate with my own children, as is the case with Pao, Alexis and Seb. ■

Father gives daughter life-saving gift as living organ donor CARRIERE, Mississippi—Sitting poolside with his wife and two daughters, Rhett Shaffette says he’s already received the best gift this Father’s Day. His 12-year-old daughter is thriving, eight months after getting a portion of his liver. She received the transplant after nearly losing her life to internal bleeding.

“It was a very close call,” Rhett said. His daughter Cecilia, 11 at the time, had spent years in frustration on the transplant list, and was twice called to be a back-up recipient, only to be sent home again in disappointment.

After Cecilia’s near-fatal bleed last year, the family decided to look instead for a partial transplant from a living donor.

And they didn’t have to look far: Tests and scans revealed that Rhett’s liver was an ideal match. A few weeks later, both were prepped for surgery. “It was a godsend,” Rhett said. “That’s the only way to explain it.”

Cecilia had been suffering since birth with biliary atresia. That’s when bile ducts in the liver don’t form normally, preventing the organ from functioning properly. It’s one of the most common reasons why children in the US require liver transplants, said John Seal, one of the surgeons on the family’s transplant team at Ochsner Hospital for Children in New Orleans.

Having a biological parent as a living donor helps with immunity and lowers the chance of organ rejection. But some kids awaiting transplants are in foster care or situations where a biological parent isn’t available or willing to donate. So now there’s a movement among pediatric surgeons and programs across the country to push for more anonymous living donors, Seal said.

Organs from living donors have been found to be

CECILIA SHAFFETTE relaxes in the backyard with her father Rhett Shaffette, at their home in Carriere, Mississippi on June 16. The 12-year-old is thriving, eight months after getting a portion of her father’s liver. She received the transplant after nearly losing her life to internal bleeding. AP

superior in quality to those harvested from deceased donors, he said. And because the liver regenerates quickly, children and small adults typically only need a part of a healthy donor’s liver. Both patients can typically expect their livers to return to normal size within a few months to a year, Seal said.

“No kid should die waiting for a liver,” he said. “The biggest risk is that time waiting for an organ, and that wait time is getting longer and longer throughout the country.”

Eight months after his life-saving gift, Rhett says he’s feeling great, is back at work and enjoying his

favorite pastimes, hunting and fishing. He said he’s “anxious to see her be all that she can be, now that nothing’s holding her back.”

Cecilia knows how fortunate she is, thanks to her father’s love and generosity. “I’m very lucky and grateful that he could do this for me,” she said. “I have an awesome dad. He’s always been my hero.” AP

THE SaferKidsPH consortium of Unicef, The Asia Foundation, and Save the Children Philippines, in partnership with the Australian Embassy, commends the Senate’s approval on third and final reading Senate Bill 2209, strengthening protections against online sexual abuse and exploitation of children. The consortium extends its congratulations to the Senate for bringing the bill one step closer to legislation. The fight against online abuse and sexual exploitation of children is the primary objective of SaferKidsPH, which aims to create a safer online environment for children by encouraging positive behaviour toward the protection of children from online abuse and exploitation; strengthening investigation, prosecution and adjudication of online sexual abuse and exploitation of children (OSAEC) cases; and improving services to prevent and protect children where online exploitation is rampant.

SaferKidsPH calls on both chambers of the Philippine Congress to immediately pass Senate Bill 2209 into law before the end of the 18th Congress. The bill will institutionalize existing efforts and interventions in supporting the government, introduce stronger, more responsive and protective measures for children, and involve all relevant stakeholders including the public in the fight against OSAEC. The consortium is also asking lawmakers to urgently pass pending bills on child rights, namely the amendment to increase the age of statutory rape from 12 to below 16, promulgate the bill banning child marriage, and work toward the revitalization of the positive discipline bill banning all forms of corporal punishment.

SLEEK and slender, the Jasper Gold 20-Piece Flatware Set adds drama to the table with softly pointed handles and a luxe brushed gold finish.

Global specialty home retailer now online WHILE most families remain homebound as the Covid-19 pandemic lingers, there’s no reason for the homemaker not to spruce up the home. To that end, they can now shop for their favorite Crate and Barrel pieces from the convenience of home as www.crateandbarrel.com.ph goes online.

Create that dream home with the global brand’s timeless classics with a distinct variety of selections. Explore home furniture, houseware and accessories that compliment the living room, dining and kitchen, bedroom, home office and all other corners of the home, with each category featuring a curated selection of pieces for every style.

There is Cavett’s mid-century inspired living room collection that is best for small spaces...Phoenix work tables handcrafted from reclaimed Brazilian telephone poles...sleek Italian design Curran chairs with gracefully curved backs... artisanal-designed Marin dinnerware from Portugal that transports families and friends to the tasteful atmosphere of the European countryside.

Such fine creature comforts should quickly take the mehs out of extended sheltering.

HANDCRAFTED from reclaimed Brazilian telephone poles, the Phoenix Work Table’s rustic top rises from a distinctive black steel base that’s angled just so.

THIS Cavett Loveseat Twine’s mid-century lines capture the best of 1950s design in solid American walnut and cushioned seating upholstered in a warm, textural weave with a hint of retro character.

B8

Thursday, June 24, 2021

P&G presents Clean and Efficient Energy citation at Europa Awards

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ROCTER & Gamble Philippines, the leading multinational consumer goods company and manufacturer of trusted health and hygiene brands, presented the Clean and Efficient Energy trophy to Shell Philippines Exploration B.V. in the first-ever Europa Awards recently.

The Europa Awards is an awardgiving body established by the European Chamber of Commerce of the Philippines (ECCP). It recognizes companies that make significant contributions towards sustainability in line with global standards and the Philippine Development Plan.

The Chamber is actively involved in sustainability-related advocacies covering energy, water management, circular economy, and more.

The Clean and Efficient Energy Award is given to the company that has successfully incorporated the use of clean energy and accelerated efficient practices in its day-today operations. Shell Philippines Exploration B.V. was recognized for its solar farms, NXplorations project, Access to Energy, Shell Livewire, and clean energy programs.

“We are proud to present the Clean and Efficient Energy Award at the inaugural Europa Awards. We believe environmental sustainability is a real business strategy and hope this prestigious recognition encourages other companies and organizations to integrate it into theirs,” says Raffy Fajardo, President and General Manager of P&G Philippines.

Present in the event were keynote speakers; Mr. Lars Wittig, Vice President, European Chamber of Commerce of the Philippines, H.E. Luc Veron, Ambassador to the Philippines, EU Delegation, H.E. Igor Driesmans, Ambassador of the Mission of the European Union to ASEAN, Sen. Pia Cayetano, Chairperson in the Committee on Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), Innovation, and Futures Thinking Philippine Senate, Usec.

Mercedita Sombilla, Undersecretary

of the National Economic and Development Authority, and Mr. Florian Gottein, Executive Director of the European Chamber of Commerce of the Philippines.

P&G as a champion for climate action

AS a platinum sponsor of the Europa Awards, P&G is a proud supporter of and champion for environmental sustainability.

Under “Ambition 2030,” which P&G aims to make responsible consumption possible by making impactful interventions in the areas of climate, water, and waste.

Under its climate commitments, P&G aims to be carbon neutral by the end of the decade. Its plant in Cabuyao, Laguna uses 100% renewable electricity. They have reduced the site’s greenhouse

gas emissions (GHG) by 80%, ahead of its global target of 50% reduction of GHG in its sites by 2030. What it can no longer reduce, it offsets via its P&G Forests for Good reforestation program in the Sierra Madre Mountain Range.

P&G also aims to conserve water and source at least five billion liters from sustainable sources. Moreover, it strives to achieve a 35% increase in manufacturing water efficiency at P&G sites. The company has already sourced two billion liters and has observed a 27% increase in water efficiency.

Lastly, P&G aspires to create smart packaging and circular solutions, so no waste finds its way into nature or the oceans. The company aims to cut its use of virgin plastic in packaging by 50% and make 100% of its packaging recyclable or reusable by 2030.

Metro Retail Stores takes customer safety to the next level

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ETRO Retail Stores Group, Inc. (MRSGI) is strengthening its commitment to ensure the health and safety of its customers as its branches started displaying the Safety Seal, which signifies their compliance with the health standards set by the government.

The Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) has certified Metro Alabang, Metro Plaza 66 in Pasay City, Metro Lucena, Metro Ayala Feliz in Pasig

City, and Metro Market! Market! in Taguig with this seal.

“Ensuring the safety and sanitation of our stores has always been our top priority, so we are proud of this latest distinction as it provides greater confidence to our customers as well as to our employees,” said Manuel Alberto, President and Chief Operating Officer of MRSGI. The Safety Seal attests that Metro Retail branches strictly adhere to

social distancing, use the StaySafe.Ph contact tracing system, and have ample sanitizing stations, on top of other measures to regularly disinfect their premises.

MRSGI stated that more branches will bear the Safety Seal in support of the government’s call for more establishments to comply with the certification program and encourage more people to step out and contribute to the reopening of the economy.

IN PHOTO are Jessie Legera, Metro Alabang Store Manager (center); Irene Montemayor, Supermarket Manager (3rd from left); and staff

”ENABLING THE PEOPLE TO FEEL THE DOLE“ DOLE, DFA ink new MOU. Labor Secretary Silvestre H. Bello lll (left) and Foreign Affair Secretary Teodoro M. Locsin Jr. show the signed copy of the new Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) on cooperation in the deployment of private staff, stating among others that household staff will receive additional benefits and protection. The signing ceremony was held Virtually last June 11, 2021 . (Photo by Regie D. Mason, DOLE-IPS)

Sykes, Sitel partner to enhance offerings and provide more competitive CX solutions for the global market

S

ITEL Group®, a leading global provider of customer experience (CX), recently announced it has entered into a definitive agreement to acquire Sykes Enterprises, Incorporated (“SYKES”), a leading full life cycle provider of global customer experience management services, multichannel demand generation and digital transformation. Under the terms of the agreement, a subsidiary of Sitel Group will acquire all outstanding shares of SYKES common stock in an all-cash transaction valued at approximately $2.2 billion.

Sitel Group is active in the global customer experience sector, offering a wide range of products and solutions for its more than 400 customers. The acquisition of SYKES makes the combined company poised for sustainable growth, as one of the leading BPO players with a comprehensive range of CX products and solutions, leveraging EXP+, the Enterprise Experience Platform from Sitel Group.

Following the proposed transaction, the combined company will employ 155,000 employees across global offices in 39 countries, serving 600+ clients in over 50 languages.

“We are committed to our people and the legacy of Sitel Group in the business landscape; by joining forces with such a healthy, profitable and financially solid U.S. brand that also has a stellar reputation, we will further enhance our global reach,” said

Laurent Uberti, President, Chief Executive Officer & Co-Founder of Sitel Group.

Olivier Camino, Global Chief Operating Officer & Co-Founder of Sitel Group said, “Postpandemic, the forces of digital disruption and dynamism are accelerating. A new world is emerging with the rise of the work at home model, and the need for valuable emotional connections and conversations between brands and their consumers has never been so important. This acquisition is a fantastic opportunity for Sitel Group with the addition of SYKES’ CX solutions in digital, social media and robotic process automation (RPA), through their suite of digital transformation capabilities such as Clearlink and Symphony.”

“This combination marks a major milestone in our more than 40-year operating history,” said President & Chief Executive Officer of SYKES, Chuck Sykes. “As we embark on the next phase of our journey, there is an opportunity to take the business to historic heights with a proven partner.”

The transaction is not subject to a financing condition and is expected to be completed in the second half of 2021, subject to the approval of SYKES’ shareholders and customary closing conditions. Upon the closing of the transaction, SYKES will become a privately-held company and its shares will cease trading on Nasdaq.

For information, visit www.sitel.com and www.sykes.com.

Celebrating nine years of exciting partnership with the Filipino community

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IRST launched in the Philippines in 2012, Grab has grown from a ride-hailing service to a superapp supporting Filipinos every day. Grab remains committed to consistently providing consumers value through the many convenient services offered via its platform, while also supporting the longterm success of its driver-, delivery- and merchant-partners.

“We are extremely grateful to be celebrating nine remarkable years of committed service in the Philippines.

Reaching this exciting milestone only reinforces our commitment to leveraging our platform and technology to make sure that consumers can always easily fulfil their daily needs at reasonable prices and that our partners continue to have access to earning opportunities. We hope our Manyversary campaign will be both fun and rewarding to consumers while boosting the livelihoods of our partners,” said Grab Philippines Country Head Grace Vera Cruz.

Celebrate Grab’s 9th birthday with Grab Manyversary: The Anything and Everything Sale for exciting prizes available and up to 70% discount from June 21 to July 4, 2021. Check out the Grab app or visit www.grab.com.

Over the years, Grab has been a partner to many Filipinos, providing them with vital services daily such as mobility, deliveries, and cashless payments. Since the onset of the pandemic, many Filipinos have been focused on ensuring value for money in their everyday activities such as ordering food, groceries and daily essentials, or paying their bills.

Through the Manyversary campaign, Filipinos are able to get more value out of their regular activities all in one superapp such as 50% off GrabExpress Pabili, 20%

cashback on your Bills Payment transaction, up to P300 off Lazada purchases when using your GrabPay Card, up to 50% off your order via GrabFood, 20% off your deliveries via GrabExpress and more.

The fun doesn’t stop there as Grab gives consumers even more ways to save just by taking a spin on Grab’s Wheel of Fortune.

Test your luck for a chance to win P999,999 worth of GrabReward points, a P5,000 GrabMart shopping spree, P2,000 worth of GrabFood vouchers, and more vouchers you can use throughout the sale.

Editor: Anne Ruth Dela Cruz

Health&Fitness BusinessMirror

No end in sight for long haul Covid-19 effects yet

H

By Rory Visco Contributor

ealing from the dreadful Covid-19 is just one thing; recovering is another.

Take the case of a 32-year-old nurse who works for a hospital in the National Capital Region and developed Covid-19 in August last year.

She was coughing for three days, had sore throat, lost her sense of smell and taste, had headaches and experienced difficulty in breathing. At that time, she was pregnant with her second baby (they already have a one-year-old).

She isolated herself and when the rest of the family were swabbed, her baby tested positive, which caused her a lot of stress and she became very emotional.

She was not admitted to the hospital and after further checks, she was diagnosed with Antiphospholipid Antibody Syndrome (APS), an autoimmune condition where abnormal proteins are produced in the blood that can make it flow improperly, leading to dangerous clotting in the arteries and veins and can cause miscarriage.

She took a leave from work and fortunately was able to deliver her baby through C-section last February. She felt better already so she went back to work but noticed breathing difficulties.

‘Gagaling pa ba ako, Doc?’ In the recent webinar titled “Gagaling pa ba ako, Doc? Pangmatagalang Komplikasyon ng Covid,” which was organized by the University of the Philippines, together with UP Manila-National Institutes of Health (NIH), National Telehealth Center and UP Philippine General Hospital, Dr. Marishiel Samonte, Head, UP Health Service and Active Consultant, Department of Family and Community Medicine at the UP Philippine General Hospital, said more than 14,000 healthcare workers have been infected with Covid-19 in the Philippines, majority of them with mild infection, while 10 percent were moderate to critical.

She said recovery after Covid will have short- and long-term effects. Dr. Samonte explained that there are increasing reports of potential sequelae (consequences/effects after Covid-19) after recovery, where 23 percent reported one or more

health issues at least 30 days post-Covid-19, even if they are technically recovered already.

She cited some hypothetical causes like non-specific effects of hospitalization or sudden hospitalization of a person even at the best of health; prolonged ventilation, especially those who stayed at the ICU for an extended period; social isolation, like being avoided by people or not being able to join social activities, or the impact of pre-existing conditions.

Post-Covid conditions Dr. Samonte said there are a very wide range of new, returning or ongoing health problems that people can experience four weeks after their Covid-19 infection such as long-term complications or sequelae that include post-Covid syndrome, postCovid asthenia (abnormal physical weakness or lack of energy) and issues related to mental health such as post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), anxiety and depression.

“These can happen to asymptomatic to severely symptomatic Covid-19 patients.

However, there is no clear correlation between severity of infection and the longterm sequelae.”

She added that there is no definite criteria for diagnosis and assessment of severity, unlike other medical issues, so there is also no support or planning for appropriate services.

Long Covid patients They are called “long haulers,” where the post-Covid effects can last weeks or months after first being infected, and there are also different types or combinations of health problems at varying severity for different lengths of time.

It is also unknown how multi-organ system effects (according to US CDC: tiredness or fatigue, difficulty in thinking or concentrating or “brain fog,” headaches, loss of smell or taste, dizziness when standing, fast-beating heart, chest pain, difficulty breathing, cough, joint or muscle pains, depression/anxiety, fever, symptoms that get worse after physical or mental activities), with difficulty in breathing and tiredness fatigue as the most common complaint, might last and whether the effects could lead to chronic health conditions.

Risk factors for long Covid Based on a recent study by Raveendran, AV, a specialist in internal medicine, risk is twice more common in women versus men. It said the presence of more than five symptoms especially if there are so

many at the onset, could be a risk factor for long Covid, the presence of comorbidities, and increasing age, which are present in the cited case.

Why do people develop long Covid? “The presence of the virus is not a pre-requisite to say that the patient will experience persistent disease, and there are many precedents for autoimmune and inflammatory responses by acute viral infection leading to long-term sequelae.”

She pointed to those hit by Chikungunya, a viral disease transmitted to humans by infected mosquitoes, still experience pain even after recovering from the disease.

Among the symptoms that can lead to long Covid are respiratory symptoms, like difficulty in breathing (43 percent) due to residual pulmonary involvement; fatigue (53 percent); chest pain (22 percent).

Neurologic symptoms are also included like headaches, tremor, “brain fog” or difficulty in concentration and thinking clearly due to possible disruption in microstructural and functional brain integrity in recovered patients. Relatedly, the psychological impact, where one experiences a high level of emotional distress. “The announcement of the pandemic already made the stress level very high, what more if the person gets hit by Covid?”

There is also stigma from community, co-workers, changes in protocols, persistently positive PCR test, prolonged period of isolation from family/community, fear of survival while everyone else are dying, of infecting others, financial worries, risk of reinfection, fluctuating symptoms.

Other symptoms can manifest as well like gastrointestinal symptoms, joint pains, and reduced quality of life.

Dr. Samonte said that with Covid, since multi-organ systems were affected, management of long Covid needs a multidisciplinary approach, where 50 percent will need post-Covid rehabilitation such as physiotherapy, occupational therapy, or psychological therapy.

‘So ‘yun nga, gagaling pa ba ako, Doc?’ Admittedly, Dr. Samonte said when she is asked if they will still recover or be healed of Covid and its effects, everything is still unanswerable by yes or no at the moment. She emphasized that it is difficult to answer because everyone is still learning about Covid, perhaps in the next few months there will be an answer to this question.

“Patients are still suffering. It’s good if their symptoms are mild but for those experiencing severe symptoms that affect their functionality with reduced quality of life, I hope we get an answer soon.”

Batangas town opens its own molecular laboratory

By Anne Ruth Dela Cruz

M

ABINI, Batangas—A two-hour drive from Manila, this town of Mabini, Batangas is probably famous for two things. The first is that the town derives its name from Apolinario Mabini, the spokesman and the brain of the Philippine Revolution.

The second is that it is home to the tourist and dive destination of Anilao. It lies on a peninsula overlooking Batangas and Balayan Bay and is considered to be the birthplace of the Philippine’s scuba driving industry.

Mabini’s proximity to Manila proved to be advantageous to the growth of tourism in the area, making it the nearest equivalent to beach and diving spots like Boracay or Puerto Galera.

There is a latest addition to the list of things that Mabini will be known for. It will now be known as the home of the Mabini Community Hospital Molecular Laboratory, one of only a handful of molecular laboratories in the province of Batangas.

New facility

Community hospitals do not sit well with Filipinos. Pictures of dilapidated equipment, buildings that are in need of repair and the lack of medical facilities come to mind. What makes this 18-bed hospital

different is that it is a very new facility as it was only inaugurated last year.

The hospital is also a product of what may be called a “public-private partnership” as two of the hospital buildings were sponsored by San Miguel Corp. through the Petron Foundation. The same could be said of the molecular laboratory which was a partnership between the local government of Mabini and Dr. Jovit Royales, owner of Best Care Medical Clinic and Diagnostic Center.

According to Dr. Royales, who is a cardiologist based in Valenzuela, there was a need for Mabini to have its own testing center because the samples would be brought Research Institute for Tropical Medicine (RITM) in Muntinlupa and it would take days before the results are released.

“Since it is a pandemic, we really see the need for the laboratory. The local government units [LGUs] should be empowered to have their own testing centers because they send their samples to RITM,” Dr. Royales noted.

“We really have to decongest RITM and make the testing faster so we came up with the project to partner with the LGU through a public-private partnership agreement where the private sector will construct, apply, have it licensed and operate the molecular laboratory at no cost to the government,” he added.

Present during the inauguration were, among others, Jinky Luistro, the wife of Mabini Mayor Noel B. Luistro, Mabini Vice Mayor Jun Villanueva and Municipal Health Officer for Mabini Dr. Melanio Ramir P. Beloso.

Next goal

In her remarks, Luistro said she was very grateful to the private sector for the support they have extended to Mabini. She added that their next goal is to construct private rooms so that they will be able to cater to constituents who can afford to pay for medical services.

“The opening of this molecular laboratory is a welcome development. We will be able to ensure that our community, especially those who work here, are healthy and safe from Covid-19,” she said. “The hospital caters to the people of Mabini, Bauan and Tingloy Island but we expect to serve more with the molecular laboratory.” Initially, the RT-PCR test will be offered at P3,500 with the results available in 12 to 24 hours.

“My fist goal is to help the community eradicate this virus and I saw that they needed help in testing. So anything we can offer, we give it to the LGU. It is grassroots empowerment because the LGU should be empowered to fight this disease. This was the inspiration behind this project,” Dr. Royales reiterated.

Thursday, June 24, 2021 B9

Dengue cases down; public told to take precautions

By Claudeth Mocon-Ciriaco

D

engue is one of the most feared diseases in the country. It also affects all ages.

Once you get get sick, you don’t know if you will experience the mild or the severe form of dengue.

The dengue virus is transmitted to humans through the bite of infected Aedes aegypti, found indoors, and Aedes albopictus mosquitoes which prefer to stay in shrubs and trees. The virus enters the mosquito’s salivary gland, where it incubates for eight to 10 days. Then, the mosquito can pass the virus on to the next person it bites.

Progress in dengue prevention

The Philippines has shared the progress in its dengue prevention and control since the Declaration of the National Epidemic in August 2019.

Data from the Department of Health showed that there has been an 81 percent decrease in dengue cases and deaths for 2020 compared to 2019.

Based on the Philippine Integrated Disease Surveillance and Response Report, there is an observed continued 55-percent decrease in cases and 56-percent decrease in deaths during the same time period.

The DOH underscored that such a milestone can be attributed to the implementation of the “Guidelines for the Nationwide Implementation of the Enhanced 4S-Strategy against Dengue, Chikungunya and Zika.”

The main strategies include: 1) Search and destroy mosquito-breeding sites; 2) Self-protection (i.e., wearing long pants and long-sleeved shirts, and daily use of mosquito repellent); 3) Seeking early consultation; and 4) Support fogging/spraying only in hotspot areas in anticipation of increased infectious diseases, especially during the rainy season.

To further strengthen its prevention measures, the DOH, through the Disease

Prevention and Control Bureau (DPCB), has released policy issuances related to the current Dengue activities such as Department Order 2020-0536, titled “Guidelines in the Conduct of a Dengue Mortality Review,” and Administrative Order 2021-0009, titled “Guidelines for the Establishment of Dengue Centers of Excellence (COEs) in Tertiary Hospitals.”

These interventions aim to identify current gaps in clinical management and to improve the service delivery for dengue.

The steady decline in dengue cases is indeed a very welcome development, according to Health Secretary Francisco T. Duque III but appealed to the public not to be complacent.

“We need to continually address the root causes of dengue and practice preventive measures all year round. I urge everyone to remain vigilant and sustain the gains of the enhanced 4S strategy to keep dengue at bay,” Duque said.

Dengue awareness

The DOH on June 15 led the conduct of the 2021 Asean Dengue Day Regional Forum in observance of the National Dengue Awareness Month with the theme “ASEAN Unite Against Dengue Amidst the Covid-19 Pandemic.”

Proclamation 1204 series 1998 declares the month of June as the National Dengue Awareness Month.

For this year’s celebration, the Philippines was identified as the lead country for the celebration of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations Dengue Day. Participants shared their best practices in the prevention and control of dengue within the region amidst the Covid-19 pandemic during the Asean Dengue Day Regional forum.

Despite the decreasing trend, Centers for Health Development (CHDs) and local government units (LGUs) are encouraged to continuously implement the Enhanced 4S-Strategy to meet our goal.

Diagnosing and preventing heart disease in a pandemic

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ardiovascular diseases, such as hypertension, stroke, coronary artery disease and heart failure are some of the common diseases that affect Filipinos. About 20% of total deaths and 35% of premature deaths are caused

by CVDs, and about 1 in 6 in Filipinos are affected by these ailments.

This fact is especially relevant now, as the country faces the Covid-19 pandemic, because patients who suffer from CVDs may experience worse symptoms if they contract Covid-19 with worse prognosis if they have concomitant co-morbidities.

This is why it is important for patients without CVDs but are predisposed to it to always be aware of their overall health.

And to help patients understand the status of their cardiovascular health, Cardinal Santos Medical Center (CSMC) introduced groundbreaking cholesterol tests that can provide doctors and their patients a clearer picture of their heart health and their potential to get CVDs. Dr. Lourdes Ella Santos, head of CSMC’s Preventive Cardiology Department and an Internist specializing in Preventive Cardiology, Clinical Lipidology, and Hypertension, said that these new tests go beyond a patient’s lipid profile to look at other lipoproteins. With these novel tests, doctors can determine if there are additional work-ups a patient should undergo in order to prevent cardiovascular disease in the future.

One of the tests measures Apolipoprotein B (ApoB). ApoB is a lipoprotein found on the surface of all cholesterol molecules that have the propensity to form cholesterol plaques in the lining of the arteries.

In patients where the LDL-cholesterol is already being addressed, targetting ApoB allows more intensive lowering of cholesterol molecules that can continue to deposit in our blood vessels and cause blockage.

“Apolipoprotein B is not routinely monitored by doctors [in the Philippines] because they aren’t familiar with it,” Dr. Santos said. “[But] this particular lipoprotein molecule… has been proven to predict progression of atherosclerosis,” Dr. Santos stressed.

Another test that will be beneficial to patients is Lipoprotein (a) testing. This lipoprotein shows if patients have a genetic predisposition to atherosclerosis, or cholesterol buildup. Elevated levels of this lipoprotein can allow doctors to aggressively screen other family members for a familial cause of hypercholesterolemia. This paves the way to cardiovascular prevention of premature cardiovascular events in those with genetic predisposition to early strokes and heart attacks.

As to who exactly will benefit from taking these tests, Dr. Santos identified patients who are 45 years old and above

as the primary demographic. “We saw in clinical trials that this [age of 45 and above] is the time when there is a value to treat high LDL-cholesterol levels if determined by testing to be elevated,” Dr. Santos stated. “[We] have to screen patients 45 years old and above with an annual lipid profile because if we find that their cholesterol is elevated, they are the ones that have benefit for treatment.”

She also noted that certain risk factors be the basis for requesting these tests.

“We know that other underlying contributory factors like hypertension, sugars that are uncontrolled, a sedentary lifestyle, smoking and alcohol binge drinking can contribute to the development of cardiovascular disease,” Dr. Santos said. “We’re hoping that by addressing these risks individually, similarly with elevated LDL-c levels, we can prevent the onset of coronary and cardiovascular disease [in Filipinos].”

For people who are already afflicted with CVDs, Dr. Santos underscored the importance of regular consultations with one’s doctor, especially now in the time of Covid-19.

“During this pandemic, we do want patients to understand that heart disease should not be overlooked just because of the fear of coming to the hospital,” Dr. Santos stated.

She adds that there are now many options for patients to continue seeing or speaking with their doctors. From CSMC’s E-consult which allows patients to directly discuss their condition with their doctors via videoconferencing to CSMC’s Cardinalon-Wheels which brings select laboratory, diagnostics and therapeutic services directly to the patient. These are several avenues offered to continue to stay in touch with healthcare providers and stay healthy even if one is hesitant to go to the hospital.

Aside from these programs, CSMC also implements several measures to ensure that it remains a safe place for healing, both for Covid and non-Covid patients.

“Strict protocols have been carried out to ensure that those patients who come in the outpatient department are separate from the rest of the hospital, [which] allows us to be able to manage our patients with cardiovascular disease safely,” Dr. Santos further explained.

“Get in touch with your doctors despite the limitations, despite the challenges.

There are [new ways] created for doctors to be able to reach out to patients, so it should not be an excuse during this Covid pandemic to neglect cardiovascular disease and allow its progression. Get in touch with your physicians so you know how to manage cardiovascular disease,” Dr. Santos concluded.

Sports

ERNIE GAWILAN will compete in his second consecutive Paralympics.

BusinessMirror

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| Thursday, June 24, 2021 mirror_sports@yahoo.com.ph Editor: Jun Lomibao

WELCOME, LADIES!

By Josef Ramos

T

WO more athletes— both ladies—made the growing list of Filipino qualifiers for the Tokyo Olympics following the entry of judoka Kiyomi Watanabe and runner Kristina Marie Knott on Wednesday.

Watanabe formally made the female -63 kgs class of judo following the International Judo Federation’s (IJF) announcement of her qualification through continental quota close to midnight on Wednesday.

“The final word came in the middle of the night that Kiyomi [Watanabe] is qualified,” Philippine Judo Federation Presi-

dent Dave Carter told BusinessMirror on Wednesday.

The IJF, Carter said, contacted Philippine Olympic Committee President Rep. Abraham Tolentino to confirm Watanabe’s qualification.

“She is the first Filipina Olympian in judo,” Carter said of the Filipino-Japanese, who owns four consecutive gold medals at the Southeast Asian Games and a silver at the Jakarta 2018 Asian Games.

Knott, on the other hand, made the grade in the women’s 200-meter run of athletics via the universality rule.

The Filipino-American Knott, however, will lose at least 14 days of training time after she contracted the Covid-19 virus.

Doctors in the US are determining if it’s of the delta variant strain.

“You have to deserve it, it’s not an automatic

thing,” Philippine Athletics Track and Field Association President Philip Ella Juico told a virtual news conference on Wednesday.

“She was right there at the middle of it, her rankings were within fairly striking distance of the qualification.”

Tolentino, meanwhile, welcomed the entry of Watanabe and Knott as he underscored gender equity is at its finest for Team Philippines in the July 23 to August 8 Olympics.

“It’s great we have a lot of Filipinas who will compete in

Tokyo, and the chances of winning our first-ever Olympic gold medal have increased,” Tolentino told BusinessMirror on Wednesday.

“I salute their overall courage to qualify and compete. It’s women empowerment all the way.”

Of the 15 officially qualified Filipino athletes so far, seven are women—Watanabe, Knott, boxers Irish Magno and Nesthy Petecio, weightlifters Hidilyn Diaz and Elreen Ann Ando and skateboarder Margielyn Didal.

But count Yuka Saso and Bianca Pagdanganan in—both are shoo-ins in women’s golf— and the ladies outnumber the men, 9-8.

The male athletes are pole vaulter Ernest John “EJ” Obiena of athletics, gymnast Carlos Yulo, boxers Eumir Marcial and Carlo Paalam, rower Cris Nievarez, taekwondo’s Kurt Barbosa, shooter Jayson Valdez and golfer Juvic Pagunsan.

Saso and Pagdanganan are expected to be officially announced as Olympic qualifiers by the International Golf Federation on Tuesday.

Eric Cray will try to qualify in the men’s 400m hurdles by competing in a meet in Gothenburg, Sweden, on Sunday.

JUDOKA Kiyomi Watanabe and runner Kristina Marie Knott punch their tickets to Tokyo.

L

OS ANGELES—Kobe Bryant’s widow has agreed to settle a lawsuit against the pilot and owners of the helicopter that crashed last year, killing the National Basketball Association (NBA) star, his daughter, Gianna, and seven others.

Vanessa Bryant, her children and relatives of other victims filed a settlement agreement notice

VANESSA BRYANT, her children and relatives of other victims file a settlement agreement notice with a federal judge in Los Angeles. AP

Kobe’s widow to settle lawsuit over deadly crash Tuesday with a federal judge in Los Angeles but terms of the confidential deal weren’t disclosed.

If approved by the court, the settlement—first announced by KABC-TV—would end a negligence and wrongful death lawsuit filed against the estate of the pilot and the owner and operator of the helicopter that crashed into a hillside on January 26, 2020.

Bryant, his 13-year-old daughter, Gianna, and six other passengers were flying from Orange County to a youth basketball tournament at his Mamba Sports Academy in Ventura County. The helicopter encountered thick fog in the San Fernando Valley north of Los Angeles.

Pilot Ara Zobayan climbed sharply and had nearly broken through the clouds when the Sikorsky S-76 helicopter banked abruptly and plunged into the Calabasas hills below, killing all nine aboard instantly before flames engulfed the wreckage.

The others killed were Orange Coast College baseball coach John

Great expectations TESSA JAZMINES | tessa4347@gmail.com

PART OF THE GAME DESTINY will trump savvy predictions every time.

When the National Basketball Association’s (NBA) 2020-2021 season started, pundits named the teams most likely to win it all: Lakers, Nets, Sixers, Nuggets.

“The [Los Angeles] Lakers will be looking to repeat [their] champions’ feat one again…[and are] bigger favorites than they were last campaign..LeBron James is having an MVP caliber season while showing no signs of slowing down..

[They have added] young players who are hungry for their first trip to the NBA Finals..They are “tipped to win with +360 odds” in free NBA picks—the favorites in most NBA picks,” said mountainwestwire.com.

Only the Nets came close to LA with +320 odds in free NBA picks.

Brooklyn looked stacked and fabulous like never before. Boston Celtics coach Brad Stevens called them “probably the most talented team that’s been assembled since I’ve been in the NBA.” “Anything short of the 2021 NBA championship should be an embarrassment for the Brooklyn Nets,” said Ben Rohrback in Yahoo Sports in late May. Yup, they were “beyond loaded.”

Not only do they have the so-called “three-headed monster” of Kyrie Irving, Kevin Durant and James Harden. They also had Joe Harris, the most lethal three-point shooter during the past two NBA seasons.

Add to that Blake Griffin, Spencer

Altobelli, his wife, Keri, and their daughter Alyssa; Christina Mauser, who helped Bryant coach his daughter’s basketball team; and Sarah Chester and her daughter Payton. Alyssa and Payton were Gianna’s teammates.

The National Transportation Safety Board released a report in February that blamed pilot error for the crash. The NTSB said a series of poor decisions led Zobayan to fly blindly into a wall of clouds where he became so disoriented he thought he was climbing when the craft was plunging.

The agency also faulted Island Express Helicopters Inc. for inadequate review and oversight of safety matters.

The settlement agreement would end legal action against Zobayan’s estate, Island Express Helicopters Inc. and its owner, Island Express Holding Corp. The suit alleged the companies didn’t properly train or supervise Zobayan and that the pilot was careless and negligent to fly in fog and should have aborted the flight.

Island Express Helicopters has denied responsibility and said the crash was “an act of God” it couldn’t control. It countersued two Federal Aviation Administration air traffic controllers, saying the crash was caused by their

Dinwiddie, Jeff Green, Landry Shamet, Bruce Brown and Nicolas Claxton. You’ve got yourself the most lethally offensive team with an ultra-talented, very deep bench.

Beyond the Nets, you need not look far. The Philadelphia 76ers were also in the mix and in the running for the Best in The East and beyond. The Sixers led the East all season long, making it look like they were going to deal with some champagne and confetti at the end of the relatively short but more challenging grind.

After many frustrating seasons, the Sixers looked like they’ve got their checklist perfect. Savvy, winning coach who can push the right buttons, check. A new, reconditioned Joel Embiid who’s an absolute beast, a Tobias Harris who’s playing at a different level; Dwight Howard waiting in the wings just in case, a sweet-shooting Curry (Seth) to amp up the artillery, and Ben Simmons—he of the tentative, unpredictable performance—now laser-focused on his role and committed to defense. Check, check, check, check, check.

The Denver Nuggets were a much respected team too this season. Scoring, courtesy of Michael Porter, Jr., vet moves by Paul Milsap, Austin Rivers’s savvy backcourt maneuvers and the recent Aaron Gordon trade gave them stalwart defense, youth, strength and agility—a well-rounded, fighting squad.

The biggest reason—the MVP, Nikola Jokic—was on this Nuggets team. Nobody but nobody was better than the 6-foot-11 Serbian this time. He carried Denver on his big back all year as he showed a level of productivity that dimmed all other competing figures. Well, had Jamal Murray been healthy, it could have been a different story.

So there. The great expectations for LA, Brooklyn, Philadelphia and Denver went tumbling down. For a while, it did look like these four teams would really be the ones to compete in the Eastern and Western Conference finals as the best of the best in the two conferences.

But no. Destiny has a strange agenda that cannot be viewed beforehand. Right now the East is being disputed by the Milwaukee

“series of erroneous acts and/or omissions.”

The settlement agreement wouldn’t include the countersuit against the federal government. AP

Gawilan gets another shot at Paralympics gold medal

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RNIE GAWILAN returns to the Paralympics in Tokyo in August as a grizzled para athlete with a more intense desire to land a podium finish.

“I will swim my very best. I will either surpass my previous ninth place [backstroke] and freestyle [400 meters],” Gawilan told BusinessMirror on Wednesday. “And I will do my very best to bring home a gold medal.”

“It will be very difficult, but I will give it my best shot,” added Gawilan, who is under quarantine at the Hotel Sofitel in Pasay City after arriving recently from the World Para Swimming World Series in Berlin where he clinched a swimming bronze medal.

Gawilan, competing out of the Island Garden City of Samal in the Davao Region, formalized his entry to the Tokyo Paralympic Games after passing the reclassification review status on the S7 category in Berlin. The review

was based on the amputation and paralysis of the Rio 2016 veteran.

Gawilan was fifth in the 100-meter breaststroke heats with a one minute and 44.89 seconds clocking but swam a bronze medal-clinching 5:03.74 in the 400-m freestyle topped by Argentina’s Inaki Basiloff (4:41.96) and Israeli’s Mark Malyar (4:42.77).

Gawilan will swim the 400-meter freestyle, 100-meter backstroke and 200-meter individual medley in the Tokyo Paralympics set from August 24 to September 5.

Coach Tony Ong, meanwhile, said they are awaiting the approval of the bipartite application of another para swimmer, Gary Bejino, for his qualification for the Tokyo Games.

Bejino hopes to qualify for the 400m freestyle and 200m individual medley.

Allain Ganapin also qualified for the Paralympics taekwondo competition. Josef Ramos

Eala to wear Globe logo on tournament outfits

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OUNG tennis sensation Alex Eala will now be able to wear the Globe logo in her tournament outfits.

The 16-year-old Eala, a twotime Grand Slam winner and Rafael Nadal Academy scholar, said it’s a big deal for her to finally put the Globe logo on her outfit.

“For Globe to have my back since I was eight years old really means a lot to me. I’m always hearing good things from my friends about all they have done during the pandemic,” Eala said.

“It’s really amazing how they were able to step up to make people’s lives a bit easier and happier, including mine,” she said. “I am a very proud ambassador of Globe.”

The development is a testament to the long relationship between Globe and the current French Open and Australian Open girls’ doubles champion.

Eala recalled the time when her mom used to stitch Globe logos on her uniform when she was competing in 10-and-under tournaments.

“I’ve been waiting for so long for this to happen, to be able to give back something to Globe is really a big deal for me,” Eala said. “This will continue to inspire me to play better and do

well in my games.”

Globe has been supporting Eala since she started competing in several age-group tournaments not only against older opponents but also against boys.

She became a Globe Ambassador at the age of eight.

“From the very start we always knew that Alex would become a world-class tennis player because of her determination, dedication and discipline even at a young age,” Globe President and CEO said.

“Her sheer will power to overcome adversities, being away from her family and having to train everyday to further improve her game are just few of the qualities that set her apart from her peers.”

The support Globe provided helped Eala to become one of the biggest names in the International Tennis Federation juniors. She is currently No. 3 in the juniors world ranking with a career best No. 2 spot she achieved October last year.

Eala is now ranked 662nd in the Women’s Tennis Association Tour from a career best 624th last June 3.

Early last year, Eala won the Australian Open girls’ double event with Indonesian partner Priska Nugroho before adding her second Grand Slam title with a championship run in the recent French Open with Russian Oksana Selekhmeteva.

Eala is now turning her sights on competing for the first time in Wimbledon, the third Grand Slam event of the year.

TENNIS teen sensation Alex Eala is on the right path.

Bucks and the Atlanta Hawks.

While in the West, the sun is rising for Phoenix, and the Los Angeles Clippers are asserting their might as the stronger LA team, at least for this season.

Who would’ve thought that LA would fold so early? That the Bucks that KD and the Nets drubbed in Game 6 would return in Game 7 on the wings of a previously humbled Giannis Antetokounmpo who scored 40 points that night? Who would’ve thought that the game would go into overtime. And that Durant—who worked black magic on the Bucks’ defense all night— could have won the game for the Nets in regulation had his shoe size been a few millimeters shorter?

Who would’ve imagined that in the homestretch, Kyrie Irving, who had invited the whole world to unite (“I hope everybody is with us”) as the Nets moved on to the second round of the playoffs, would suffer that freak injury that kept him out of the equation forever more? Or that James Harden would be playing through a Grade 2 hamstring strain in the midst of battle?

In the same manner, how could the No. 5 seed Atlanta Hawks have defeated the No. 1 seed, all-dominant Sixers in their best-of-seven?

Perhaps Trae Young has a date with destiny as well.

The LA Clippers have always been contenders with Kawhi Leonard and Paul George in the mix. And this year they can almost touch the sky. Yesterday’s heartbreaking loss to the Phoenix Suns may be a bit discouraging, and Leonard’s injury is worrying. But we can’t second guess destiny who always has twisted scenarios that challenge reason and expectations.

Now the sun is up for Chris Paul and the Phoenix Suns. Long overlooked and even underrated, people are looking at CP3 with fresh, awed eyes. Out for Games 1 and 2 due to health protocols, he just may return in Game 3 and carry this team that hasn’t yet won an NBA finals on his trusty back.

Don’t make predictions just yet if you want to keep your pride. No matter what we think and no matter who looks stronger, Destiny always holds the cards and has the last laugh.