BusinessMirror June 24, 2022 by BusinessMirror

Budget gap shrinks as revenues rise in May PHL to fix weak spots in path to $500-B dream

PHL to fix weak spots in path to $500-B dream By D. Nicolas BBernadette S A @BNicolasBM B A C S A Bloomberg A News C

PT P

he national government’s Bloomberg News

HILIPPINES’S ecocumulativeincoming budget deficit nomic secretary HILIPPINES’S incoming ecoas planning of end-May shrankArby senio Balisacan plans to bol-Arnomic planning secretary P107.5 billion year-on-year on ster thesenio economy’s weak spots plans to as bolback at of least aBalisacan more robust revenue hethe targets 6-percent ster the economy’s weak annual spots as collection and a slowdown state growth throughout the term ofinPreshe targets at least 6-percent annual spending. ident-elect Ferdinand the Marcos growth throughout termJr. of PresThBudget e next Ferdinand administration shortfall for themust first ident-elect Marcos Jr. boost investment in agriculture and e next ofadministration must fiveTh months the year narrowed manufacturing and build infrastrucboost investment in agriculture and to P458.7 billion, down by almost ture to grow the and economy between manufacturing build billion infrastruc19 percent from P566.2 re6-8 percent annually to 2028,between Baliture toingrow the economy corded the comparable period in sacan in an interview Wednes6-8 said percent annually to 2028, Bali2021, latest data from the Bureau day. sacan said in an interview Wednesof the Treasury showed. Farm and industry output curday. rently account for less than 40 perBudget deficit occurs when exFarm and industry output curcent of gross domestic product, while rently account for less than 40 perpenditures exceed revenues. cent of gross domestic product, while More revenues were collected

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by thecontributes government during the services the majority. period, posting athose double-digit “I would like to see weakest services contributes the majority. growth of priority 15.46 toweakest reach points the of the adminis“Ias would like topercent see those P1.44 from P1.24 trillion tration,” said 64-year-old, who’s pointstrillion as thethe priority of the adminiscurrently chairman of the of nation’s atration,” year ago onthe the64-year-old, back higher said who’s antitrust currently chairman of the nation’s tax andcommission. non-tax revenues. Consistently growing at the rate antitrust commission. Meanwhile, state expenditures of 6 percent for sixgrowing years will make Consistently at P1.896 the rate from January to May hit Philippines a for half-a-trillion dollar of 6 percent six years will make trillion, up by 4.69topercent from economy, according Bloomberg Philippines a half-a-trillion dollar the previous year’s P1.81 trillion. calculations. economy, according to Bloomberg ThFor e nation’s first-quarter expanthe month of May, the budcalculations. sion 8.3 percent is already getof gap also fellfito P146.8 among billion, Th e nation’s rst-quarter expanAsia’s thanks the sionfastest, of 8.3 percent istoalready among contracting by nearly 27reopenpercent ingAsia’s fromfastest, the pandemic. Still, Marthanks to thebillion. reopenyear-on-year from P200.3 cos’s team challengingRevenues fromfaces the immediate pandemic. Still, year MarMay es:cos’s inflation is atin its fastestthis inchallengthree team faces immediate stood at P304.9 billion, jumping years, budget has widened es: infl ation isdefi at cit its fastest in three by 18.9 percent from P256.4 biland the global outlook dimmed. years, budget defi cithashas widened Still, said the economy lion in the same month last year as and theBalisacan global outlook has dimmed. can expand by at leastsaid 7 percent this Still, the economy more taxBalisacan revenues were collected. canExpenditures, expand by at least 7 percent this however, dipped

by 1.1 percent P451.7 year, within the offito cial growthbillion estifromriding P456.7 billion asfrom primary mate, the recovery the year, within the official growth estispending fell.the recovery record in 2020 from due tothe mate,contraction riding Primary spending, which therecord pandemic. He saidinhe2020 will push contraction dueexto for more targeted support measures cludes interest payments, dethe pandemic. He said he will push tocreased easemore inflin ation’s the poorto for targeted measures Mayburden bysupport 2.32onpercent while ensuring “tight” government to ease infl ation’s burden on the poor P417.9 billion from P427.8 billion finances are managed properly. while ensuring “tight” government in“We thecan same month lastwith year. achieve more less,” finances are managed properly. For ING Bank senior economist he said, adding that a review “We can achieve more withand less,” Nicholas revenue streamlining of improved benefi are he said, Mapa, adding that aciaries review and needed. The nation also cannot collection andofthe slowdown in streamlining benefi ciaries af-are ford removal certain onafexpenditures ahead oftaxes the elecneeded. The of nation also cannot goods proposed some sectors, ford asremoval of by certain taxes on tions due to bans resulted in the hegoods said. as proposed by some sectors, continued narrowing of budget he said.as of end-May. deficit

Experienced economist “Budget deficit continues to exnarBALISACAN willeconomist draw from his Experienced

row given improved perience in crafting a collection. newfrom economic BALISACAN will draw hisTwo exdevelopment plan. takingbe factors this.Before periencedriving in crafting aOne new would economic helm of the antitrust body, served development Before taking increased BoC plan. [Bureau ofhe Customs] helm of the antitrust body, he served collections associated with more

global crude secretary prices. Secaspricey economic planning of ondly, improving economic situathe late president Benigno Aquino as economic planning secretary of tion results in higher collections as from 2016. the2012 late to president Benigno Aquino To sustain growth economic up.” of at from 2012activity toeconomic 2016.picks leastBoth 6 percent, next administrathe the government’s To sustain economic growthmain of at tion must address rednext tape administraandBureau build least 6 percent, the collection agencies—the infrastructure needed attract intionInternal must address redtotape and build of Revenue (BIR) and vestment in manufacturing and ag-ininfrastructure needed to attract the BOC—recorded better collecriculture, said who holds vestment inBalisacan, manufacturing and aagtion as the ofwho end-May PhD inperformance Economics from Univerriculture, said Balisacan, holds a this sity of year. Hawaii. PhD in Economics from the UniverGiven a budget deficit ated During the period, theinfl BIR colsity of Hawaii. bylected pandemic-era support programs, P959 up by Given a billion, budget defi cit9.92 inflperated companies multilateral develby pandemic-era support cent from and P872.4 billion aprograms, year ago. opment agencies may be tappeddevelto companies and the multilateral Meanwhile, BOC’s cumulafinance roads, rail and irrigation, heto opment agencies may be tapped tiveBalisacan revenue take surged by the 28.4 said. finance roads, helped rail andmanage irrigation, he percent to P320.5 billion from Aquino administration’s fl agship said. Balisacan helped manage the P249.6 in the comparable public-private partnership infraAquino billion administration’s fl agship period last year.partnership infrapublic-private

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2006 National Newspaper of the Year CLUBNewspaper OF MANILA JOURNALISM AWARDS 2011 ROTARY National of the Year National Newspaper the Year 2013 2006 Business Newspaper of theofYear National Newspaper the Year 2017 2011 Business Newspaper of theofYear Business Newspaper the Year 2019 2013 Business Newspaper of theofYear Business Newspaper of the Year 20212017 Pro Patria Award 20192018 Business Newspaper of the Year PHILIPPINE STATISTICS AUTHORITY Data Champion 2021 Pro Patria Award PHILIPPINE STATISTICS AUTHORITY 2018 Data Champion

AAbroader look at today’s business look at today’s business A■broader broader look at today’s business Thursday, June 2, 2022 Vol. 17 No. 237

S “PHL,” A S “PHL,” A See “Budget,” A2

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Friday, JuneJune 24, 2022 Vol. 17 No. 259 Thursday, 2, 2022 Vol. 17 No. 237

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ON NEW ECONOMIC TEAM’ ON NEW ECONOMIC TEAM’ AMID RISING INFLATION By Bianca Cuaresma

@BcuaresmaBM

he Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas (BSP) tightened its monetary policy for the second time this year amid expectations that inflation targets for 2022 and 2023 would be breached. In its monetary policy meeting on Thursday, the BSP hiked the interest rate on its overnight reverse repurchase facility by 25 basis points to 2.5 percent. Accordingly, the interest rates on the overnight deposit and lending facilities were raised to 2 percent and 3 percent, respectively. BSP Governor Benjamin E. Diokno said the Monetary Board mainly considered the rising inflationary pressures in tightening their monetary policy stance during the meeting. In particular, the BSP now expects

inflation to average at 5 percent for this year, revised from its earlier forecast of 4.6 percent in May. The country’s inflation target for this year and next year is at 2 to 4 percent. For this meeting, the BSP also announced that inflation will breach the target for 2023, and is expected to average at 4.3 percent. This is an upward adjustment to their withintarget forecast of 3.9 percent in May. However, average inflation is also seen to subsequently decline to 3.3 percent in 2024. See “BSP,” A2

PEZA TO SPUR FOOD OUTPUT VIA SPECIAL ECONOMIC ZONES By Andrea E. San Juan

QUEEN Pangke Tabora swims in her mermaid suit as she conducts a mermaiding class in front of the Ocean Camp in Mabini, Batangas, on May 22, 2022. For the transgender Filipina woman approaching middle age, seeing her legs encased in vibrant, scaly-looking neoprene three years ago was the realization of a childhood dream. Across the world, there are thousands more merfolk like her—at its simplest, humans of all shapes, genders and backgrounds who enjoy dressing up as mermaids. In recent years, a growing number have gleefully flocked to mermaid conventions and competitions, formed local groups called “pods,” launched mermaid magazines and poured their savings into a multimillion-dollar mermaid tail industry. AP/AARON FAVILA

Plaza noted that despite the years of shooting for sufficiency, THE BRP Melchora Aquino, the second ofEconomic two multi-role response procured by the Philippine government from Japan, is welcomed by the Philippine Coast Guard at the Port Area in Manila on Wednesday, June 1, 2022, completing its maiden voyage from Japan. Constructed by Mitsubishi Shipbuilding Co. in Japan, the ship, named he Philippine thevessels country continues to import after Sora, the Grand Woman ofofthe Revolution during thevessels Spanish colonialbyperiod, is part ofgovernment the Maritimefrom Safety Capability Improvement Project ofCoast the Coast DOMINGO THETandang BRP Melchora Aquino, the second two multi-role response procured the Philippine Japan, is welcomed by the Philippine GuardGuard. at theROY Port Area in Manila on Wednesday, June 1, 2022, completing its maiden voyage from Japan. Constructed by Mitsubishi Shipbuilding Co. in Japan, the ship, named Zone Authority (Peza) is food and remains dependent on after Tandang Sora, the Grand Woman of the Revolution during the Spanish colonial period, is part of the Maritime Safety Capability Improvement Project of the Coast Guard. ROY DOMINGO planning to use around other countries to beef up its B C U. O @caiordinario 12 million hectares of agriculdomestic supply despite having B C U. O @caiordinario tural lands and the country’s millions of hectares of idle lands. he Department of Trade port for EVs. are income-based incentives like the DTI wants to provide timefishing grounds for special ecoShe said these idle lands and Industry (DTI) is tarHowever, Aldaba told the Busiincome tax holiday and duty or bound, targeted, performancenomic zones on agriculture and “must be our focus on how to geting to implement the nessMirror that the agency is tax-free importation of capital based and transparent fiscal and aquamarine to spur domestic utilize responsibly our very incentives strategy for electric “recalibrating” the figure because equipment and raw materials and non-fiscal support in order to food production. fertile lands and rich natural vehicles (EVs) by early next year. “we are reviewing assumptions other fiscal incentives available attract EV and EV parts manuSenatemanufacPresiDrilon moved to elect electronic Majority Peza Director General Chariresources as the country aims Trade Undersecretary Rafathat we used in estimating demand to EVUTGOING and EV parts facturing, particularly B J M N. D C and ourgiven political Vicente Sotto III Leader Juan Miguel Zubiri as the to B. Plaza said food produced to push for a self-reliant, selfelita M. Aldaba presented the forstrengthened EV especially the and panturingdent and charging facilities parts and other strategic compoUTGOING Senate PresiDrilon moved to elect Majority @joveemarie governmental institutions. B J M N. D C and strengthened ourinpolitical and declared at 7:41 Sotto pm ofIII acting Senate Pro Temby the special ecozones will not sustaining and resource-generproposed Electric Vehicle Incendemic and changes consumer through the [Corporate Recovnents, batteries, charging dent Vicente Leader Juan President Miguel Zubiri asstathe “Despite the institutions. many challenges governmental Wednesday asIncentives adjourned sine dieof pore from noon of June 30 at 7:41 pm acting Senate Prountil Temonly boost domestic food supply ating economy.” tive Strategy @joveemarie of the government behavior and other developments ery and declared Tax for Entertions, and thePresident establishment of HE House of Representatives that “Despite happenedthe during tenure manymychallenges the thirdCREATE regular session of thedie July 25,from when the of 19th Congress Wednesday as adjourned sine pore noon June 30 until but will also help prop up the at a on virtual forum on Thursday. along with the assumptions used prises] Act,” she added. testing facilities. ended the asthat your happened Speaker, we have risen and HEWednesday House of Representatives during my tenure See “Peza,” A2 18th Congress part ofof the convenes. theUnder third tregular session the first July 25, when the 19th Congress country’s export receipts. Initially, the DTI aims to provide in estimating fiscal support.” heonPthe roposed Elec18th highlighting ourselves One Conon Congress, Wednesday ended the proven as your Speaker,to webe have risen and Senate, capping what Minority Earlier inSee the day,A2colleagues 18th Congress on the part of the fi rst convenes. “DTI,” a total of P83-billion fiscal sup“Currently, [however] there tric Vehicle Incentive Strategy, its 3-year achievements, including gress, ready to servetoour people,” 18th Congress, highlighting proven ourselves be One Con- Leader Franklin Drilon thatinZubiri had colleagues secured Senate, capping whatdescribed Minority signaled Earlier the day, laws to helpachievements, the country navigate histo colleagues. its 3-year including Velasco gress, told ready serve our people,” asLeader cabinet can handle the emerging scenario,” the In its latest Market Call report, First Metro “one of Franklin the most Drilon productive sesthe “votes” that of majority senators described signaled Zubiri of had secured emerge strongernavigate from “One Congress, ready to scrutilaws toand help the country Velasco told his colleagues. report stated. Investment University of Asia First and the sions” of the chamber, an featSAUDI made who will sitSource: in 19th Senate, a cabinet handle n the emerging In itsCorp. latestand Market Call report, Metro as “one of the most productive sesthe “votes” ofthe majority of senators n US can 54.4840 japan scenario,” 0.4002 then UKthrough 66.8410 n HK 6.9410 n CHINA 8. 1 295 n singapore 39.2904 n australia 37.7193 n EU 57.5732 arabia 14.5209 BSP (June 23, 2022) the Covid-19 pandemic. the national budget, pass through and emerge stronger from nize “One Congress, ready to scrutiOne of the major risks that post the most Pacifi c (FMIC-UA&P) Capital Markets Research remarkable by chamber, the fact that much confisit rmed by Drilon. report stated. Investment Corp. and University of Asia and the sions” of the a feat made matter who will in the 19th Senate, a In Covid-19 his valedictory laws, conduct hearings, the pandemic. speech, nizetothe national budget,totopropass ofremarkable uncertainty is the Russia-Ukraine saidPacifi thecgrowth momentum which gave rise to One to of the the economy major risks that post the most (FMIC-UA&P) Capital Markets Research it was in a pandemic. Zubiri confi appears to be the by the fact that much matter rmednow by Drilon. Speaker Velascospeech, said vide oversight on the implementaIn Lord his Allan valedictory waruncertainty which willtomark its first 100 days. The war thesaid 8.3-percent growth in the fiwhich rst quarter laws, to conduct hearings, to prothe economy is the Russia-Ukraine the growth momentum gave will rise to peers heaped praise on only Zubiri likely candidate to stand ofHis it was in a pandemic. appears now to befor the the 18th Congress was Velasco a key and of oversight laws, and on to generally make Speaker Lord Allan said tion began February 24 this anddays. will The reachwar spillthe over to the second quarter. vide the implementawar in which will mark its fiyear rst 100 8.3-percent growth in the first quarter will SottoHis for his leadership, and laudelection as the next Senate Presi-for peers heaped praise on only likely candidate to stand steady partner of President easier theand next 100began days on 3. FMIC-UA&P Capital However, of the economy in the 18th Congress was aDuterte key and it tion offor laws, to Congress generally and make edSotto in June February 24 this year and Markets will reach spill over tothe theperformance second quarter. and thanked as well theand seven after as Sen. Cynthia Villar, earfor his leadership, laud- dent, election the next Senate Presiinsteady passing lawsof that promoted Research saidoncommodity prices, particularly oil the third and fourth quarters will of bethe determined to continue the legpartner President Duterte itsitleadership, easier for the next Congress and other 100 days June 3. FMIC-UA&P Capital Markets However, the performance economy in “graduating” members of seven the lier touted a strong contender, ed and thanked as well the dent, afterasSen. Cynthia Villar, earprices, could remain elevated until the particularly war in East- oil by the the third policies be implemented the new economic development, work for the sake of our in passing laws thatstrengthpromoted islative Research said commodity prices, andtofourth quarters will by be determined its leadership, to continue thekaleg- chamber, including two other of pilwithdrawing other “graduating” members the announced lier toutedshe as awas strong contender, ernprices, Europecould is resolved. This uncertainty lead economic will greet ened the administration justice babayans,” he added. remain elevated until the will war in Eastby the team. policiesMuch to beuncertainty implemented by thethenew economic development,ofstrengthislative work for the sake of our ka- lars—Drilon and Senate President from the race. chamber, including two other pilannounced she was withdrawing to an ation of above 5 percent in economic managers as the pandemicwill continues and thethe ruleadministration of law, enhanced the ernaverage Europe infl is resolved. This uncertainty willthelead economic team. Much uncertainty greet the He said the ened of justice babayans,” hepandemic added. forced the Pro Tempore Ralph “Walathe nang [There is no] SP race,” lars—Drilon and Recto. Senate President from race. country year. inflation of above 5 percent in the andeconomic commodity prices remain protection of labor andenhanced social welto anthis average managers as theelevated. pandemic continues to be dynamic, and the rule of law, the House Heleadership said the pandemic forced the As his “last offi cial act,” Drilon she told reporters, Pro Tempore Ralph Recto. “Wala nang [Thadding, ere is no]“ISPwant race,” In April, “Thecommodity robustness in the economic country thisthe year.Philippine Statistics Authority and prices remain elevated.recovery, fare, improved of and and proactive. protection of the laborquality and social wel- innovative House leadership to be dynamic, introduced a resolution meant to a simple life” and explained she As his “last offi cial act,” Drilon she told reporters, adding, “I want (PSA) reported that infl ation nationwide increased founded“The heavily on employment gains, should In April, the Philippine Statistics Authority robustness in the economic recovery, increased access to “Despite the lingering threat fare, improved theeducation quality ofand and innovative and proactive. prevent a month-long leadership just wanted to “take care of my adintroduced a resolution meant to a simple life” and explained she to 4.9 percent in April 2022. The average infl ation spillfounded over intoheavily Q2 [theonsecond quarter]. And while (PSA) reported that inflation nationwide increased employment gains, should information, enhanced our health increased access to education and “Despite the lingering threat gap in the aSenate, as the terms of vocacy, agriculture,” heradprevent month-long leadership just wanted to “takesignaling care of my for tothe4.9first four months of theThe yearaverage stood at a tighter fiscal andsecond inflation pose And serious percent in April 2022. infl3.7 ation spill over intospace Q2 [the quarter]. while C  A and emergencyenhanced response our system, information, health Sotto and endasatthenoon ofof desire to keep her chairmanship gap in theRecto Senate, terms vocacy, agriculture,” signaling of her headwinds anation economic for the first four months of the year stood at 3.7 a tighterinfiH2 scal[second space half], and infl poseteam serious C  A and emergency response system, S “H,” A Butch Fernandez June 30. and Recto end at noon of that committee. Sotto desire to keep her chairmanship of of high-quality the new President’s headwinds intechnocrats H2 [secondinhalf], an economic team S “H,” A June 30. that committee. Butch Fernandez of high-quality technocrats in the new President’s

T T

HE performance of the Philippine HE performance of thehalf Philippine economy in the second the second half ofeconomy the year in will rest squarely of the yearofwill squarely on the shoulders therest incoming on the shoulderseconomic of the incoming administration’s team, administration’s economic team, according to a local think tank. according to a local think tank. PESO exchange rates

DTI aims to roll out EV incentives scheme by next year

Sotto closes ‘productive’ Sotto closes ‘productive’ PANDEMIC CHALLENGE T PANDEMIC CHALLENGE session; Zubiri next SP? MARKS 18TH CONGRESS session; Zubiri next SP? MARKS 18TH CONGRESS

O O

PESO EXCHANGE RATES ■ US 52.4120 ■ JAPAN 0.4073 ■ UK 66.0496 ■ HK 6.6799 ■ SINGAPORE 38.2625 ■ AUSTRALIA 37.6004 ■ SAUDI ARABIA 13.9750 ■ EU 56.2643 ■ CHINA 7.8555 Source: BSP (June 1, 2022) PESO EXCHANGE RATES ■ US 52.4120 ■ JAPAN 0.4073 ■ UK 66.0496 ■ HK 6.6799 ■ SINGAPORE 38.2625 ■ AUSTRALIA 37.6004 ■ SAUDI ARABIA 13.9750 ■ EU 56.2643 ■ CHINA 7.8555 Source: BSP (June 1, 2022)

News

BusinessMirror

A2 Friday, June 24, 2022

DTI...

Continued from A1

It also aims to narrow the cost gap between EVs and traditional motor vehicles and enable the shift to EV in line with its goal of achieving production targets within 10 years from the promulgation of the incentive strategy. Aldaba also said the DTI and other concerned agencies aim to release the implementing rules and regulations (IRR) of Republic Act 11697 or the Electric Industry Development Act (Evida). Under Section 30 of the said Act, t he Department of Energy (DOE) together with the Department of Transportation (DOTr) shall, in coordination with the DTI, and in consultation with other relevant government agencies and public and private stakeholders, issue the IRR within 120 days upon the effectivity Evida, which lapsed into law last April 15. In May, a month after the enactment of Evida, Lopez said that with the said law, “the Philippines is now in a stronger position to further attract hi-tech investments and create high-value jobs in the country by taking advantage of the ongoing global shift to EVs [electric vehicles] through strong national policy support.” Andrea E. San Juan

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Pork products drive hike in PHL meat imports in Jan-May—BAI By Jasper Emmanuel Y. Arcalas

@jearcalas

he country’s meat imports in January to May rose by almost 5 percent year-on-year to 460,000 metric tons (MT), the latest Bureau of Animal Industry data showed. Figures from BAI showed that meat imports during the five-month period were 20,915.912 MT higher than the 439,986.873 MT recorded a year ago. BAI data showed that higher pork imports drove the increase in the overall volume of imported meat products during reference period. BAI data showed that imports of chicken, buffalo meat, beef and even duck meat products declined year-on-year. The country’s pork imports during the five-month period expanded

by 16.23 percent to 250,928.838 MT from 215,883.294 MT in the same period of last year, based on BAI data. Pork imports accounted for 54.44 percent of the total meat imports from January to May. BAI data showed that imports of pork cuts and pork bellies, which accounted for about half of the total pork imports, reached 127,952.354 MT. Imports of pork cuts and pork bellies benefited from the lower pork tariffs rates implemented by the government to boost domestic

supply amid the lackluster domestic pork production due to the devastation caused by African swine fever (ASF). BA I data showed that imports of pork cuts and pork bellies grew by almost 30.76 percent from last year’s 97,848.393 MT. T he countr y’s chicken meat imports declined by 4.57 percent to 130,530.549 MT from last year’s 136,790.391. BAI data showed that the country’s chicken imports rose by 10.18 percent yearon-year to 15,466.855 MT while imports of mechanically deboned meat (MDM) chicken grew by 14.6 percent on an annual basis to 82,354.645 MT. The increase in the country’s purchases of imported chicken cuts and chicken MDM, however, was not enough to boost the overall volume of imported poultry products, which took a hit

because of the 36.72-percent year-on-year decline in imports of chicken leg quarters. BAI data showed that shipments of chicken leg quarters during the five-month period reached 29,786.56 MT, 17,291.308 MT lower than last year’s 47,077.868 MT. Figures from the attached agency of the Department of Agriculture also indicated that the country’s imports of beef, buffalo meat, duck meat, and turkey meat contracted during the period. Beef imports fell by 5.69 percent to 62,879.526 MT from last year’s 66,677.759 MT while buffalo meat imports declined by 18.43 percent to 16,015.832 MT from 19,634.598 MT last year. BA I data showed that duck meat imports plunged by 61.9 percent year-on-year to 20.509 MT while turkey meat imports fell 64.62 percent to 251.269 MT.

DOST-Science for Change Program wins 2022 UN Public Service Awards Continued from A16

“The S4CP brought about positive changes on the ground that

our direct beneficiaries and our regional operations witnessed firsthand,” stated DOST-Undersecretary for Regional Operations, Engr. Sancho A. Mabborang. Mabborang said DOST’s partner state universities and colleges (SUCs), higher educational institutions, research and development institutions (RDIs), national, regional and local government institutions, private firms and industry associations “share in this accomplishment of the United Nations Public Service Award.” S4CP enhances the ability of SUCs, government RDIs, and private companies to use R&D in accomplishing the SDGs, by establishing R&D centers (SDGs 2, 3, 7, 9, 11, 13, 14 and 15); improving tertiary education (SDG 4) through R&D; addressing the disparity of R&D funding (SDG 10): and catalyz-

ing partnerships among government, academe, industry and the civil society (SDG 17). “Staying true to its slogan, ‘Science for Change Program is Science for the People,’ the S4CP continues to deliver R&D outputs, which aim to provide solutions, create positive impact, support wealth generation, and elevate the bar of public service for the benefit of Filipinos,” de la Peña added. The UNPSA is the most prestigious international recognition of excellence in public service. It rewards creative achievements and contributions of public service institutions that lead to a more effective and responsive public administration in countries worldwide. Through an annual competition, the awards promote the role, professionalism, and visibility of public service.

BSP...

Continued from A1

“In deciding to raise the policy interest rate anew, the Monetary Board noted that upside risks continue to dominate the inflation outlook up to 2023, with pressures emanating from the potential impact of higher global non-oil prices, the continued shortage in domestic fish supply, as well as pending petitions for transport fare hikes due to elevated oil prices,” Diokno said. “Meanwhile, the impact of a weaker-than-expected global recovery and the possible reimposition of local Covid-19 restrictions amid an uptick in infections continue to be the main downside risks to the outlook,” he added. Deputy BSP Governor Francisco Dakila Jr. said the BSP has raised its oil price forecasts for the year, which largely affects inflation for 2022 and 2023. Dakila said the BSP’s latest forecast on crude oil prices is that it will settle at $106.30 per barrel, up from its $104.04 per barrel forecast in May. For next year, crude oil is expected to hit $95.30 per barrel, from the $89.50 per barrel forecast in May. The deputy governor said a Dubai crude oil price of $90 per barrel in 2023 is the threshold at which the Philippines can expect that inflation will decelerate to within the target band for that year. “Given these considerations, the Monetary Board believes that a follow-through increase in the policy rate enables the BSP to withdraw its stimulus measures while safeguarding macroeconomic stability amid rising global commodity prices and strong external headwinds to domestic economic growth,” the governor said. Diokno also reiterated the BSP’s call and support for “carefully coordinated efforts” of other government agencies as part of a whole-ofgovernment approach in implementing non-monetary interventions to mitigate the impact of persistent supply-side factors on inflation. W hile the BSP said their “general direction” is further normalization of monetary policy rates in its coming meeting, BSP officials did not say whether they will stick to the initial plan of a “gradual tightening” or shift to more aggressive hikes as price growth continues to hasten. Dakila said they will continue to monitor data for their next moves.

Budget... Continued from A1

Peza... Continued from A1

“In planning for our country and our people’s needs, we must first assess how we can properly utilize both our human and natural resources, the Philippines’s biggest advantages, to attain total development.” Plaza added that this can be done through the creation of different types of economic zones that will attract targeted, specialized, strategic and big-ticket investments and spur countryside development. Last month during Peza’s signing of the Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR), the Peza chief said in a statement that ecozones are drivers of economic growth outside the National Capital Region (NCR). During the same event, Plaza also said Peza will recommend to the incoming administration incentives for strategic and big-ticket

industries that will be located in the countryside to attract investors. Unde r t he MOU, t he DENR and Peza have agreed that when compared with other regions, Region 13 or the Caraga Administrative Region has the greatest potential to contribute to economic development being the timber and mining capital of the country. “We aim to restore back the once major industry of wood and put order in the utilization of the raw minerals processed into many other products in Caraga, which has the biggest timberland and mining lands,” Plaza said. Peza and DENR have identified seven lands in Caraga that are viable for ecozone development. Four of the proposed special economic zones will be located in Agusan del Norte, while there’s one proposed for Agusan del Sur, Surigao del Norte, and Surigao del Sur. Currently, there are 23 operating agro-industrial ecozones in Peza of which 13 are in Mindanao.

W hile there was slowdown in state spending, Mapa said the incoming Marcos administration expressed willingness to pursue aggressive spending to help the economy recover despite high levels of debt and deficit. “Should sizable fiscal stimulus package be deployed this year, we could see the deficit widen unless revenue collection can keep up.” Given this, Mapa said it is hard to conclude whether the government is on track to hitting its lower programmed budget deficit for the year. “Difficult to say and that will depend largely on the new administration. They will need to improve collection should they opt to spend more,” he said. The Cabinet-level Development Budget Coordination Committee programmed this year’s budget deficit to settle at P1.651 trillion, equivalent to 7.6 percent of GDP. Last year, the national government’s budget deficit soared to a new record-high of P1.67 trillion on the back of weaker revenue collection and increased spending amid the Covid-19 pandemic. As share of the Philippine economy last year, budget deficit also soared to an unprecedented level of 8.61 percent.

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Manila Day A BusinessMirror Special Feature

Friday, June 24, 2022 A3

Manila celebrates 451st founding anniversary By Leony R. Garcia

UNE 24, 1571, is regarded as the City of Manila’s official founding date when Spanish conquistador Miguel López de Legazpi conquered it. Since then, Manila has become the Philippines’ center of trade and commerce.

And with the country’s geographical position and current economic standing, Manila has remained on the investment map with a good number of global companies and foreign investors considering the city as a viable business location and investment destination in Southeast Asia. Today, all eyes are on Manila City once again. That’s because, this year’s celebration of Manila’s 451st founding anniversary is marked by a changing of the guard with the upcoming leadership of Manila Mayor-elect Honey Lacuna who is likewise making history as the first woman mayor of the country’s premier city. The incoming Mayor is expected to continue, if not duplicate, the remarkable changes and development of Manila under the leadership of true-bloodied Manilan and former Tondo resident Mayor Francisco “Isko Moreno” Domogoso. Domogoso’s infrastructure projects are impressive in their quantity and scale, achieved in a single three-year mayoral term and during a pandemic. For this achievement, many believe, he has bested several past mayors including his two immediate predecessors who had the benefit of multiple terms. Domogoso’s projects, among them – the headline-grabbing Manila Zoo that had its soft opening in December 2021, the celebrated facelift of the once dirty and dark Lagusnilad Underpass, and the Baseco Community compound of 200 townhouses built for victims of a Tondo fire – are part his ambitious and dynamic leadership which has attracted many sectors to support his endeavors. Two years into the pandemic, Manila not only has a renovated park; it has a brand new one. In February 2021, Domogoso and Lacuna opened Hidden Garden in Lawton, a landscaped park with benches and lit-up trees with its own Garden Café.

Inauguration of the new Ospital ng Maynila

ACCORDING to Domogoso, the construction of the hospital is 99 percent complete and all the major equipment are in place. The 29,951-square-meter 10-story fully airconditioned hospital has 384 beds, six operating rooms, a neonatal intensive care unit, two intensive care units that would segregate patients with infectious and non-infectious diseases and 20 private rooms. The emergency room has 30 beds and the hospital is equipped with various equipment like the MRI or magnetic resonance imaging; CT scan, 4-D ultrasound and X-ray machines. It also has a so-called “healing garden” and an esplanade con-

Manila Mayor Isko Moreno feeds Mali, the resident elephant at Manila zoo. MANILA.GOV.PH.

Manila Mayor Isko Moreno signs an agreement with Pamantasan ng Lungsod na Maynila President Emmanuel Leyco that would transform the old Ospital ng Maynila building into the College of Medicine and Allied Health Services of PLM. FB PAGE OF ISKO MORENO.

One of the private rooms at the Bagong Ospital ng Maynila. MANILA.GOV.PH.

opened the landmark formally known as the Manila Zoological and Botanical Garden, for a limited time and closed it on June 1 for ‘finishing touches. The zoo will be temporarily closed for renova-

The Bagong Ospital ng Maynila building. MANILA.GOV.PH.

necting the old and new Ospital ng Maynila buildings. It also has a three-story parking building. Domagoso vowed that the new hospital will be at par with the leading private hospitals in terms of facilities and services available, which will be provided for free. The facility also has a helipad in preparation for future use. “Even in public facilities, firstclass service should be provided. What a private hospital can provide, so should a public hospital. The people deserve better. It is their money, so it should be returned to them through good and quality service," Domagoso said in previous interviews The upgrading of the hospital is a flagship project of the city government and its construction started in June 2020, at the height of the Covid-19 pandemic. The Bagong Ospital ng Maynila has a P2.3 billion budget sourced from a P5 billion loan from the Development Bank of the Philippines, signed in January 2021. That same loan also helped finance the building of the condominiums in Tondo and Binondo and the renovation of the Manila Zoo.

Old Ospital ng Maynila to become PLM College of Medicine

MEANWHILE, the old building of the Ospital ng Maynila Medical Center will soon become the Pamantasan ng Lungsod ng Maynila (PLM) College of Medicine and Allied Health Services. Domagoso and PLM president Emmanuel Leyco signed the deed of donation for the old structure during the celebration of the school’s 55th foundation anniversary on Monday, June 20.. The Colleges of Nursing, Physical Therapy, and Science, and School of Public Health will also be transferred transfer to the new site. Domagoso committed the current Ospital ng Maynila building to PLM in 2021 while the construction of the new hospital was in full swing.

62-year-old Manila Zoo comes to life

ONCE tagged as one of the major polluters of Manila Bay, the 62-year-old Manila Zoo is nearing full rehabilitation and will soon be pronounced fit for both its residents and the visiting public. The city government recently

tion. It is expected to open again by mid-July. The zoo was established in July 1959 and the current major renovation is its first. In 2019, then Environment

Secretary Roy Cimatu visited the zoo and discovered that it did not have a sewage treatment facility and that untreated sewage was being dumped into an estuary connected to Manila Bay. This prompted then Manila Mayor Joseph Estrada to order the closure of the zoo, in support of the government’s efforts to rehabilitate the bay. When Domagoso took over as mayor, he invested P1.74 billion of the city funds on the reconstruction project intended to “stimulate the city’s economy in the long term.” Manila’s own Jurassic Park, as Domagoso likened it, has elevated viewing decks around the animal enclosures. Visitors will have access to the animal museum, botanical garden, and butterfly garden with their respective viewing lofts. Separate enclosures for endemic animals and birds are now in place. Mali, the resident elephant for over 40 years, has been given a bigger enclosure. Its huge replica greets everyone at the entrance of the zoo. Before opening the zoo to the public, the families of around 1,300 workers were the VIP guests at the soft opening to give “tribute to their hard work and ingenuity in creating a facility that is ‘at par with the world’s best zoological and botanical gardens,’” Domagoso said during the December 2021 soft opening.

Economy BusinessMirror

A4 Friday, June 24, 2022 • Editor: Vittorio V. Vitug

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PCCI bats for long-term agri policy for food sufficiency By Andrea San Juan

HE Philippine Chamber of Commerce and Industry (PCCI) hopes that Presidentelect Ferdinand “Bongbong” R. Marcos Jr. will consider setting up a long-term institutionalized agricultural policy with a master plan that aims to implement self-sufficiency in food, among others. In news a statement issued on Thursday, PCCI Agriculture Committee Chair Paul Cuyegkeng expressed hope that Marcos Jr. will consider coming up with a longterm institutionalized agricultural policy with an overall consistent

master plan that aims to implement self-sufficiency in food; an agroindustrial base for processed agricultural products for both domestic and export markets; and export of fresh agricultural products with a competitive advantage. In fact, the PCCI Agriculture Committee prepared a policy paper for the incoming administration, highlighting among others, the need to increase the Department of Agriculture (DA)’s budget and the appointment of competent and knowledgeable officials based on meritocracy and track record. Cuyegkeng added that the incoming President’s decision to

simultaneously assume the Agriculture department shows his decisiveness to fix the bureaucracy to improve its performance. Further, he noted that this move anticipates the impact of the global events such as the immediate food crisis brought by the war between Russia and Ukraine as well as Thailand and Vietnam’s restriction of their rice exports. The business group’s agriculture committee chief emphasized that the decision of Marcos Jr. to take on the DA portfolio is a “bold move and one that shows strong leadership.” Meanwhile, for his part, PCCI President George T. Barcelon, in

a separate statement, assured the incoming President that he has the full support of the business community as he takes on the crucial role of leading the country for the next several years. “The business community will lend its full support and cooperation to the new government. We definitely recognize the need for us to unite and rally behind Presidentelect Marcos Jr. in order to accelerate the country’s recovery and growth momentum,” said Barcelon, as he noted that Marcos Jr. will have to face several policy issues, citing the growing debt as the most critical, among others, which resulted from

the two-year global pandemic which placed the whole country under stringent lockdowns. On the key sectors to zero in, Barcelon stressed that the new government should focus on harnessing and developing key sectors that have a huge beneficial impact on the economy particularly in terms of employment, which include agriculture, manufacturing, tourism, and infrastructure. The PCCI chief also expressed optimism on the recent decision of Marcos Jr. to take the role of the Agriculture chief. “This is truly a confidence-building measure that under his leadership, agriculture

ERC OKs rules on electricity retail aggregation program By Lenie Lectura

@llectura

HE Energy Regulatory Commission (ERC) has approved the rules governing the aggregation of electricity requirements of end-users in the Competitive Retail Electricity Market (CREM). “We have just promulgated the Rules for the Electric Retail Aggregation Program which is another means of empowering consumers to exercise their freedom of choice,” ERC Chairperson and CEO Agnes VST Devanadera said. At the same time, the ERC welcomed the pilot implementation of Retail Aggregation scheme in UP Diliman Campus during the signing of memorandum of understanding (MOU) between the University of the Philippines and the Manila Electric Co. (Meralco). “The ERC would like to thank the UP and Meralco for their initiative in making possible this pilot implementation. This pilot will help promote

Retail Competition and Open Access. “With their partnership, we hope that the electricity consumers will be more enlightened about the benefits of retail aggregation which ultimately is for the consumers to have the power to choose from among the electricity suppliers that offer better rates and better services,” Devanadera said. The Rules for the Retail Aggregation Program seeks to establish standardized rules and procedures governing the aggregation of electricity requirements of end-users in the CREM. It will also prescribe and clarify the requirements, conditions, eligibility, qualifications and disqualifications of participants in the Electric Retail Aggregation Program, the agency added. As of April 2022, a total of 1,897 contestable customers with total demand of 3,924.53 megawatts are enjoying lower rates in the retail market, with a weighted average generation rate of P4.05/kWh.

The said program is a scheme wherein two or more end-users or all end-users within a contiguous area joined together and are treated as a single contestable customer, based on the current threshold demand prescribed under the rules, wherein such contestable customer shall be part of the contestable market, and enjoy the benefits enjoyed in the Retail Competition and Open Access. The retail aggregation rules shall apply to end-users; Retail Electricity Suppliers, Local Retail Electricity Suppliers, Distribution Utilities, Suppliers of Last Resort, National Grid Corporation of the Philippines, Central Registration Body and all other relevant industry participants. Aggregation of the electricity requirements of end-users whose total monthly average peak demand is at least 500 kilowatts within a contiguous area shall be implemented effective December 26, 2022.

Lawyer David Erro is DAR caretaker until June 30

TTY. David Erro, a Department of Agrarian Reform (DAR) Undersecretary, has been appointed as Officer in Charge Secretary of the DAR, replacing Acting Secretary Bernie Cruz. By operation of the law, Cruz’s appointment should pass through the Commission on Appointments. Congress has adjourned this June 2022, and Cruz’s appointment has therefore been considered bypassed, prompting the Office of the President to assign an OIC. Cruz was appointed as acting DAR Secretary in November 2021 after former Secretary John Castriciones quit his post to run for the Senate. Cruz is now back serving as an undersecretary of the department. Jonathan L. Mayuga

will finally be given the long-overdue attention it needs as a sector that is crucial and foundational part of our country’s economic transformation,” added Barcelon. At a news briefing on Thursday, incoming President Marcos Jr. will prioritize increasing the country’s food production when he takes over as concurrent head of the Agriculture department. He pointed out that the rice exportation ban being imposed by Thailand and Vietnam, the Philippines’s main sources of imported rice, has left the country with no choice but to increase its local production of the staple grain.

BBM names Bello as Meco chair

RESIDENT-ELECT Ferdinand “Bongbong” R. Marcos Jr. on Thursday nominated two outgoing officials from the Duterte administration as the pace of filling up vacant posts in his incoming administration picks up. Marcos, who will be sworn in as the 17th President of the Philippines on June 30, has named outgoing Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE) Secretary Silvestre “Bebot” H. Bello III as ChairmanandResidentRepresentativedesignate of the Manila Economic and Cultural Office (Meco). Appointed as DOLE Secretary by President Duterte in 2016, Bello has spent decades in public service and has held various positions such as Acting Secretary of Justice and later on Solicitor General in 1998 during the term of then-president Fidel Ramos. Bello was appointed Cabinet Secretary by former president Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo from 2004 to 2010 and was a party-list representative from 2013 to 2016. Meanwhile, President-elect Marcos also renominated former Cabinet Secretary Karlo Nograles as Civil Service Commission Chairman-designate. Nograles was among the Duterte ad-interim appointees that were bypassed for lack of quorum by the Commission on Appointments (CA) this June. Nograles, a lawyer, was Davao City’s 1st district Representative for eight years before President Duterte appointed him to several posts in the Executive branch.

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Lacson lists options for ‘aggrieved’ web sites By Butch Fernandez

@butchfBM

EN. Panfilo Lacson, citing the blocking of 27 web sites suspected to be “affiliated to and supporting terrorist organizations,” said the web site operators can avail of judicial relief if they were wrongfully accused. “If the blocked web sites had to do with financing the activities of the Communist Party of the PhilippinesNew People’s Army [CPP-NPA] that the Anti-Terrorism Council already designated as a terrorist organization,” the senator affirmed, the National Telecommunication Commission (NTC) then was acting well within its jurisdiction. “There is legal basis under the law for such action undertaken by the National Telecommunications Commission,” Lacson pointed out. Reminding that the action of the blocked web sites involved funding “illegal activities” of the CPP-NPA that the Anti-Terrorism Council already designated as a terrorist organization, “there is enough legal basis under the law for such action undertaken by the NTC may be challenged before the court because it is the basic right of an ‘aggrieved’ party to do so as it has something to do with the interpretation of the law.”

Army, LGU: Davao de Oro now free of communist insurgents By Rene Acosta @reneacostaBM

HE provincial government of Davao de Oro (formerly Compostela Valley) and the Army’s 10th Infantry Division (ID) have declared the province as insurgencyfree following the dismantling of all the guerrilla fronts of the New People’s Army. Capt. Mark Anthony Tito, 10th ID spokesman, said the declaration was jointly made on Wednesday afternoon by provincial and military officials as a result of the dismantling of all the eight rebel fronts that previously operated in Davao de Oro. Tito said guerrilla front 27 (GF 27) was dismantled in 2018 and the GFs 15 and 34 in 2019. On the other hand, GF 33 was dismantled in 2020, followed by the GF North in 2021. For this year, GFs 3 and 2, which is one of the oldest guerilla fronts in Mindanao, and the sub-regional guerilla unit (SRGU) were also dismantled. Aside from the GFs, Tito said the 10th ID also neutralized Menandro Villanueva alias Bok, the highest-ranking rebel leader in Mindanao, while Maximo Catarta, secretary of the GF 3, and Rosefel Movera, secretary of GF 2, have yielded to the government. The 10th ID said that from 2016 up to 2022, the division initiated 159 armed encounters with the NPA, which resulted in the killing of 42 rebels, surrender of 619 others and the capture of 103. The division and its units also recovered 776 firearms and recorded the surrender of more than 7,000 rebel supporters and followers. Major Gen. Nolasco Mempin, 10th ID commander, attributed the feat to military commanders on the ground, provincial officials and the operation of the government’s counter insurgency task force. Active and retired military officials, including National Security Adviser Hermogenes Esperon Jr., attended the declaration event. In San Jose, Nueva Ecija, a reported expert bomb maker of the NPA surrendered to the 84th Infantry Battalion (IB), also on Wednesday.

Editor: Vittorio V. Vitug • Friday, June 24, 2022 A5

Maynilad eyeing used but purified potable water for Metro consumers By Jonathan L. Mayuga @jonlmayuga

UE to the scarcity of freshwater supply, Maynilad Water Services Inc. (Maynilad), the private water service provider for the West Zone, is now looking at purifying used water to make it potable similar to what is being done in Singapore, South Africa, Namibia, and the United States. “Water is a scarce resource. Given the growing population’s increasing demand for water plus the strain on existing sources due to climate change, we should consider using pre-

viously untapped sources—including used water—to augment supply. There are now reliable and effective treatment technologies that make it a viable option,” Maynilad President and CEO Ramoncito S. Fernandez said in a news statement. Maynilad is planning to utilize some of its new Modular Treatment Plants (ModTP) for the purpose instead of purifying raw water drawn directly from rivers. The plan is to purify the already treated used water that is just being discharged into rivers by its Sewage Treatment Plants (STP). “The treated used water dis-

charged by STPs is actually a more reliable water source than raw river water because it is climate independent; the quality is controlled and less variable,” said Maynilad Quality, Sustainability and Resiliency head Roel S. Espiritu. “If we use the river directly as the source, trash and other pollutants are thrown into it by surrounding communities could drastically change the river water’s quality. This could affect the volume output of a ModTP, which has to adjust its treatment parameters with sudden shifts in the raw water quality.” Maynilad treats raw water from

Laguna Lake in a similar way, as it uses a sewage treatment method for initial purification of the lake water before it passes through several more treatment processes for full conversion to drinking water. The company has been tapping Laguna Lake as an alternative raw water source since 2010, which enabled it to reduce overreliance on Angat Dam and serve customers in the south. The ModTPs of Maynilad uses treatment technology from Israel, a known global leader in water innovation, featuring a multi-stage process that includes Pressurized Media Filtration, Ultrafiltration, Reverse Os-

mosis, and Chlorine Disinfection to convert used water to drinking water. “By including used water to our supply source options, we have an enhanced capability to generate more water whenever existing supplies run short,” added Fernandez. Maynilad is working with local government units, the Department of Health, and other government agencies to ensure that the used water treated by Maynilad’s ModTP is potable. The company is also conducting a series of market research activities to establish social acceptance among consumers of water reuse.

BBM names DOTr secretary-designate, SC rules old party-list formula nominees to key transport cluster posts in determining seats remains

RESIDENT-ELECT Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr. on Thursday named veteran airline executive Jaime “Jimmy” Bautista as the Department of Transportation (DOTr) Secretary-designate along with other key nominees in his administration’s transportation cluster. Bautista, a Certified Public Accountant, worked at the country’s flagship Philippine Airlines (PAL) for 25 years and was its president for a combined 13 years before retiring for the second time in 2019. Bautista rose through the ranks of PAL, eventually becoming vice president for finance from 1993 to 1994, chief finance officer from 1994 to 1999, executive vice president from 1999 to 2004, and president from 2004 to 2012, and from 2014 until 2019. President-elect Marcos Jr. also named former Light Rail Transit Authority (LRTA) Deputy Administrator Cesar Chavez as Undersecretarydesignate for Rails of the DOTr. Appointed by President Duterte to the same post in 2017, Chavez was instrumental in securing the National Economic and Development Authority Board’s approval for the Metro

Manila Subway project, Philippine National Railways (PNR) Manila to Calamba, PNR Manila to Bicol, and the Tagum-Davao-Digos Mindanao rail projects. Chavez is also credited for overseeing the interconnection of the Light Rail Transit (LRT) Line 1 in Monumento to Metro Rail Transit 3 in North Edsa, ensuring seamless travel for the passengers. Before working in the transport sector, Chavez was Assistant General Manager for Planning of the Metropolitan Manila Development Authority, Chairman of the National Youth Commission, and youth sector Representative in the 9th Congress. Meanwhile, veteran journalist and lawyer Atty. Cheloy E. Garafil, MNSA was nominated by Presidentelect Marcos as Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board (LTFRB) Chairman-designate. Atty. Garafil, currently a Service Director at the Committee on Rules of the House of Representatives, was a Prosecutor for the Department of Justice (DOJ) and State Solicitor for the Office of the Solicitor General (OSG). She worked as a media practitioner for over a decade in various media

organizations such as the Philippine Daily Globe, Central News Agency, Associated Press, and Malaya. Atty. Garafil also holds a Master’s degree in National Security Administration from the National Defense College and is a Philippine Air Force reservist with the rank of Lieutenant-Colonel. Rounding up President-elect Marcos’s nominees for his transport cluster is Christopher “Chet” Pastrana, who will be General Manager-designate of the Philippine Ports Authority. Pastrana, a successful businessman in the transportation field, brings with him decades of experience in various aspects of aviation, logistics, and public maritime transport. A graduate of Bachelor of Science in Agricultural Business from the University of the Philippines, Los Baños, in 1987, Pastrana is currently the President and CEO of CAPP Industries, a supply and logistics conglomerate. Pastrana is also the chairman of Archipelago Philippines Ferries Corp., which operates FasCat ferries, the sector’s most recognizable and well-respected transport provider.

SBMA inaugurates ₧24.7-M fire station By Henry Empeño Correspondent

UBIC BAY FREEPORT—The Subic Bay Metropolitan Authority (SBMA) has inaugurated a P24.7-million fire station designed to modernize the operations of the agency’s corps of elite firefighters and further upgrade capacity for emergency response. The stone and brick architecture that will house Fire Station No. 7 summons images of classic fire facilities and has become a standout in its location at the Central Business District of the Subic Bay Freeport. The construction of the new fire station began in July 2020 under an SBMA program to replace aging facilities built when Subic was still an American naval base. Last Monday, SBMA officials led by Chairman Rolen Paulino Sr. inaugurated the building with guests coming from the fire departments of Makati City and Olongapo City. SBMA Fire Chief Ranny Magno said the new fire station provides ample space for both personnel and their growing amount of equipment. Apart from the new building, which occupies 593.38 sq m, there is also an apparatus floor covering 167.89 sq m that can accommodate up to four fire trucks, he said. Magno disclosed that the new facility has a water and oil separator engineering system, which is designed to conform to the Environmental Management System (EMS) stan-

SBMA Senior Deputy Administrator for Public Works Marco Estabillo (left) and SBMA Engineering Department Manager Garry Fernandez unveil the marker for the new Fire Station No. 7, as SBMA Fire Chief Ranny Magno appreciatively looks on. HENRY EMPEÑO

dards for ISO14001. This would ensure that fire and rescue operations preclude pollution and detrimental effects on the environment. The new building is also gender-sensitive, Magno said, as it is equipped with all-gender comfort rooms, and male and female quarters that considered breast feeding functions and hygiene concerns. Moreover, the new facility has a mini museum with display of old fire and rescue equipment that will come in handy during educational tours. Magno said the brick architecture was initially rejected as it defied the traditional design of fire stations in the country. However, it was eventually approved when he argued that

the Hispanic aesthetic feature was intended to preserve the institutional memory, rich history and heritage of the Subic Bay Freeport as a former facility of the Spanish Navy, and subsequently, the United States Navy. “We must have a sense of history. This is a former Spanish and American naval base that has become our show-window to the whole world,” the Subic fire chief added. Meanwhile, Paulino, who led a brief inspection of the new facility, said the improved facility would further cement Subic Bay’s reputation as a complete community and boost SBMA efforts to sustain the attractiveness of Subic as an investment destination.

By Joel R. San Juan @jrsanjuan1573

HE Supreme Court has affirmed with finality its decision upholding the constitutionality of the formula it promulgated in the BANAT case for computing the winners in party-list elections. In a 17-page resolution penned by Associate Justice Amy LazaroJavier, the Court denied for lack of merit the motion for reconsideration filed by party-list groups Ang Partido ng Mga Marinong Pilipino Inc. (Angkla), Serbisyo sa Bayan (SBP) and Aksyon Magsasaka-Tinig Partido ng Masa (AKMA-PTM) seeking the reversal of the Court’s decision issued on September 15, 2020. The petitioners ranked just below the 51 winning party-list groups in the May 13, 2019 elections. AKMAPTM was No. 52; SBP was No. 53 while Angkla was No. 54. The SC, in the said decision, declared as “not unconstitutional” Section 11 (b) of Republic Act 7941 or the Party-list System Act that gives party-list garnering at least 2 percent of the votes for the party-list system (two percenters), a guaranteed seat in the House of Representatives. Furthermore, the said law provides that those garnering more than 2 percent of the votes shall be entitled to additional seats in proportion to their total number of votes, provided that each party, organization or coalition “shall be entitled to not more than three seats.” The SC said the interpretation of Section 11 (b) of RA 7941 had long been settled in the case of Barangay Association for National Advancement and Transparency (BANAT) vs. Commission on Elections decided on July 8, 2009. The BANAT case laid down the parameters and methodology on how the seats for the party-list sector should be allocated. But, in their motion for reconsideration, the petitioners argued that the manner of allocating additional seats in the second round violates the “one person, one vote” policy protected under the equal protection clause. They asserted that all votes are equal and should carry the same weight, thus, votes counted and considered in the allocation of guaranteed seats in the first round should be deducted before allocating seats in the second round. To do otherwise, according to the petitioners, would be a clear case of double counting of votes where the votes that are already used to elect representatives through the guaranteed seat are once again used to elect a representative for the additional seat. However, the SC stressed that the arguments raised by the pe-

titioners in their motion for reconsideration (MR) were mere rehash of the arguments raised in their main petition. “Notably, the issue raised herein has already been passed upon and deliberated in full in the Court’s decision dated September 15, 2020. Indeed, petitioners do not raise any new arguments against the Court’s ruling but merely reiterate those raised in their petition,” the SC said. The Court said majority of the justices remain unconvinced of the arguments reiterated by the petitioners. It noted that the petitioners are “misguided” in their view on how the concept of “one person, one vote” policy applies to the partylist system. The SC stressed that subscribing to this concept would cause chaos in the political landscape not only in the application of Section 11 (b) of R A 7941 to party-list systems but also with respect to laws reapportioning legislative districts. The Court also noted that the petitioners agreed to the uneven valuation of votes when they concurred in the distribution of party-list seats in two rounds using two different formulas and when they proposed that the three-seat limit under the law should still be observed. It further pointed out that the most obvious sign of petitioners’ concurrence with the law was their availment of the benefits of the BANAT formula in previous elections. “The Court is therefore in quandary on why petitioners are now claiming that the votes of non-twopercenters are being diluted in supposed violation of the ‘one person, one vote’ policy when they should have known based on their prior experience that, on the contrary, it is their votes which are being overvalued when seats are allocated in their favor in the second round,” the SC explained. The SC also stressed that the BANAT formula is in accordance with the clear intent of RA 7941. “All told, the idea of the petitioners and the dissents on what is fair and equitable is simply not what was legislated. Indeed, there are infinite methods of allocating additional seats, which may be considered fair, equitable, and proportional. But surely, it is not for the Court to recalibrate the formula for the party-list system to obtain the broadest representation possible; and make it seemingly less confusing and more straightforward,” the SC said. “This is definitely a question of wisdom which the legislature alone may determine for itself. Thus, until RA 7941 is amended, Section 11 [b] as outlined in BANAT remains to the applicable law,” it added.

Friday, June 24, 2022

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ESTABLISHMENT / ADDRESS No.

NAME OF FOREIGN NATIONAL , POSITION AND BRIEF DESCRIPTION

ESTABLISHMENT / ADDRESS QUALIFICATION AND SALARY RANGE

No.

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

CORREA MORO, FRANCISCO JAVIER Sw/app/cloud Tech Support Analyst

Brief Job Description: Position will require candidates to take calls using any of the 6 languages to support our clients with their IT-related incidents and requests. some of the roles and responsibilities for the role include perform initial triage for it issues raised by customer, log, track and update incidents, attempt first time fix resolution for known issues, identify target resolver group and route tickets, do remote troubleshooting, install/uninstall applications for incidents raised by customer.

KADJAT, JONAS MUTSHAIL Sw/app/cloud Tech Support Analyst

Basic Qualification: Graduate of any 4yr course, preferably it or engineering related. Strong working knowledge of the service desk function. Good knowledge level on multiple it technologies. Excellent communications skills both written and verbal. Willing and able to work effectively in a diverse and multi-cultural environment. Willing and able to work on a shifting schedule.

CANO FERNANDEZ, GIANCARLO WILLIAN Sw/app/cloud Tech Support Sr Analyst

Brief Job Description: Perform initial triage for it issued raised by customers. log, track and update incidents; attempt first time fix resolution for known issues; identify target resolver group & route tickets; do remote trouble shooting; install/uninstall applications for incidents raised by customers.

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Salary Range: Php 30,000 - Php 59,999 Basic Qualification: Graduate of any 4yr course, preferably it or engineering related. Strong working knowledge of the service desk function. Good knowledge level on multiple it technologies. Excellent communications skills both written and verbal. Willing and able to work effectively in a diverse and multi-cultural environment. Willing and able to work on a shifting schedule. Salary Range: Php 30,000 - Php 59,999

SAENZ GARCIA, CARLOS ANDRES Sw/app/cloud Tech Support Analyst

12.

15.

NUCHBANPA, SIRIRAT Sps Associate - Th 6.

Brief Job Description: Provide service to amazon sellers and merchants including escalation of sellers’ issues

Basic Qualification: Clear and effective oral and written communication with the ability to transition easily from communicating in both Vietnamese and English fluently.

10.

11.

Brief Job Description: Managing incoming calls and customer service inquiries YAW HANNAH Burmese Customer Service Representative

Brief Job Description: Managing incoming calls and customer service inquiries

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

VU MANH CUONG Vietnamese Customer Service Representative Brief Job Description: Managing incoming calls and customer service inquiries

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

TRAN HOAI THUONG Customer Support Specialist - Vietnamese Speaking 16.

Brief Job Description: Evaluation of the systems’ problems to recommend enhancements

Basic Qualification: Experience using help desk software and remote support tools

CALDERON, FELIPE Associate Professor 17.

Brief Job Description: The qualified candidate will teach in degree and special courses and conduct research in their specific fields with an emphasis on sustainability, digital transformation, and other specialized topics; and serve in administrative functions as required

KEVIN LAU BENG KIENG Operations Executive 18.

Brief Job Description: Serves as a liaison between the customer and various departments and ensures that basic CS suctions are performed.

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

26.

19.

Brief Job Description: Serves as a liaison between the customer and various departments and ensures that basic CS suctions are performed.

27.

28.

KANAKKACHERI VAYALIL, JAYAPRAAKASAN Welder Specialist 21.

Brief Job Description: Performing and supervising all common welding, able to use multiple welding methods

29.

Basic Qualification: Must have a Doctorate Degree in said areas, with at least 5 years of teaching experience in AACSB accredited schools, and experience in curriculum planning, and managing programs is highly desirable. Salary Range: Php 150,000 - Php 499,999

30.

31.

Basic Qualification: Must be native Must be native Cambodian / Vietnamese / Singaporean / Korean / Japanese/ Malaysian/ Taiwanese / Vietnamese / Indonesian / Thai, fluent in English and respective native language; with at least 2 years experience in similar field

32.

33.

34.

35.

Basic Qualification: Fluently speak and write in Bahasa language to cater foreign market

36.

Brief Job Description: Responsible for the output and development. Assists with the development of both gaming markets.

Basic Qualification: Minimum, 3 years relevant experience as welder foreman working with hydraulic (wet) sand fill. At least three letters of recommendation from previous international employers on sand fill projects or dredging industry.

37.

38.

Basic Qualification: Strong interpersonal, sales and negotiation skills

39.

23.

Brief Job Description: Responsible for making overall project planning

Brief Job Description: Customer Service

HENGKY REJEKSON Call Center Agent Brief Job Description: Customer Service

JIANG, XU Call Center Agent Brief Job Description: Customer Service

LIANG, YU Call Center Agent Brief Job Description: Customer Service

LUO, YU Call Center Agent Brief Job Description: Customer Service

PU, JINRONG Call Center Agent Brief Job Description: Customer Service

SONG, YUNLONG Call Center Agent Brief Job Description: Customer Service

WANG, YANAN Call Center Agent Brief Job Description: Customer Service

WEI, JINLIANG Call Center Agent Brief Job Description: Customer Service

WONG CHENG YE Call Center Agent Brief Job Description: Customer Service

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

CHINA CAMC ENGINEERING CO. LTD. PHIL BRANCH Unit 2104-a West Tower, Psec Exchange Road, Ortigas Ctr., San Antonio, City Of Pasig XU, ZHIMING Deputy Project Manager

CHRISMART STEYVEN Call Center Agent

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

BRIGHTLEISURE MANAGEMENT INC. 10/f Newport Entertainment & C Newport City, Manlunas, Barangay 183, Pasay City

22.

Brief Job Description: Responsible for managing technical issued on materials, equipment being used

YANG, CHAO Call Center Agent

24.

Brief Job Description: Responsible for managing and growing key customers of Fiberhome in the PH

Basic Qualification: Fluent in Mandarin and English language both verbal and written Salary Range: Php 90,000 - Php 149,999 Basic Qualification: Fluent in Mandarin and English language both verbal and written Salary Range: Php 30,000 - Php 59,999 Basic Qualification: Fluent in Mandarin and English language both verbal and written Salary Range: Php 30,000 - Php 59,999 Basic Qualification: Fluent in Mandarin and English language both verbal and written Salary Range: Php 30,000 - Php 59,999 Basic Qualification: Fluent in Mandarin and English language both verbal and written Salary Range: Php 30,000 - Php 59,999

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

Basic Qualification: Fluent in mandarin and English language both verbal and written

40.

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

GAMMA INTERACTIVE INC. 21/f Alphaland Makati Place, 7232 Ayala Ave. Cor. Malugay St., Bel-air, City Of Makati

Brief Job Description: Customer Service

FIBERHOME PHILS., INC. U-19d 19/f Rufino Pacific Tower, 6784 Ayala Ave. Cor. V.a. Rufino St., San Lorenzo, City Of Makati WANG, YUEZHENG Account Manager

QUALIFICATION AND SALARY RANGE

FLYING DRAGON NETWORK PHILIPPINES INC. Ri Rance Ii Bldg., Block 2 Lot 3 Aseana City, Tambo, City Of Parañaque

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

LEE, SUNJUNG Vip Marketing Manager

Brief Job Description: Responsible for managing and growing key customers of Fiber home in the PH LI, JIAWEI Project Manager

BIGCAT SOFTWARE SOLUTIONS, INC. 18/f Pbcom Tower, 6795 Ayala Avenue Cor. Rufino Street, Salcedo Vill., Bel-air, City Of Makati

Brief Job Description: Create specific promotions for affiliates

Brief Job Description: Responsible for managing and growing key customers of Fiber home in the PH LEE HAO LU Marketing Manager

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

YOHANES WINATA Bahasa Indonesian Language-officer Marketing

Brief Job Description: Helps in communication gap between Mandarin and English language FANG, HAN Marketing Manager

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

MIYAKE, HIROTO Operations Executive

Brief Job Description: Recommend optimal transportation modes, routing, equipment or frequency ZHU, TAO Marketing Director

AVANTICE CORPORATION 19/f Pbcom Tower, Ayala Ave., Bel-air, City Of Makati

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

25.

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

ASIAN INSTITUTE OF MANAGEMENT, INC. 123, Paseo De Roxas, San Lorenzo, City Of Makati

NAME OF FOREIGN NATIONAL , POSITION AND BRIEF DESCRIPTION LIU, KELI Logistic Manager

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

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

YE WIN PAING Burmese Customer Service Representative

TAN WEI TUO Malaysian Customer Service Representative

Brief Job Description: Managing incoming calls and customer service inquiries

No.

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

BOSKALIS PHILIPPINES INC. Unit 3701, 3801 The Orient Square, F. Ortigas Jr. Road, Ortigas Center, San Antonio, City Of Pasig

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

Brief Job Description: Managing incoming calls and customer service inquiries

TRAN THI BICH PHUONG Vietnamese Customer Service Representative

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

Basic Qualification: Fluency in Thai

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

SRI YANTI Indonesian Customer Service Representative

Brief Job Description: Managing incoming calls and customer service inquiries

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

20.

Brief Job Description: Managing incoming calls and customer service inquiries

TONG XUAN KHANH Vietnamese Customer Service Representative

QUALIFICATION AND SALARY RANGE

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

ANOC99 CORPORATION 5/f To 10/f Ayala Malls Manila Bay Building D., Macapagal Blvd. Cor. Aseana Street, Tambo, City Of Parañaque SAI HSAI MUNN Burmese Customer Service Representative

Brief Job Description: Managing incoming calls and customer service inquiries

ESTABLISHMENT / ADDRESS

APRICUS TECHNOLOGY INC. 8/f Aguirre Building, 107 Aguirre St. Legaspi Village, San Lorenzo, City Of Makati

AMAZON OPERATION SERVICES PHILIPPINES, INC. B21 Three E-com Moa Complex, Harbour Drive Cor. Bay Shore, Brgy. 076, Pasay City

Brief Job Description: Acts as the primary interface, collecting the required information and documentation and conducting the relevant verification so the Seller can complete registration and begin selling on Amazon.

PHUNG CUN BAU 2 Vietnamese Customer Service Representative

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

CAO THI NHU ANH Seller Support Associate

NAME OF FOREIGN NATIONAL , POSITION AND BRIEF DESCRIPTION

www.businessmirror.com.ph

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

BRANDA LEE JIE MIN Business Analyst Chinese Speaking 41.

Brief Job Description: Assist in implementation of process improvement initiative in terms of business analysis perspective

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

Basic Qualification: 21 years old and above with Business Analysis experience Salary Range: Php 30,000 - Php 59,999

BusinessMirror

www.businessmirror.com.ph

ESTABLISHMENT / ADDRESS No.

NAME OF FOREIGN NATIONAL , POSITION AND BRIEF DESCRIPTION LUONG VIEN ANH Business Development Vietnamese Speaking

42.

Brief Job Description: Assist in collaborating sales goals, maintaining short, forecasting and planning PHAM MINH HUNG Business Development Vietnamese Speaking

43.

Brief Job Description: Assist in collaborating sales goals, maintaining short, forecasting and planning CAO XUAN GIA Marketing Executive Vietnamese Speaking

44.

ESTABLISHMENT / ADDRESS

Brief Job Description: Manages the execution of different marketing strategies for a company

QUALIFICATION AND SALARY RANGE

No.

Basic Qualification: 21 years old and above with Business Analysis experience Salary Range: Php 30,000 - Php 59,999

WANG, RONGFEI Visa Consultant

56.

Basic Qualification: 21 years old and above with Business Analysis experience Salary Range: Php 30,000 - Php 59,999 Basic Qualification: 21 years old and above with Business Analysis experience Salary Range: Php 30,000 - Php 59,999

LIN, SHAOHUANG Account Manager For 5g Network Project 45.

Brief Job Description: 1. Establishment and management of customer relationship platform such as customer relationship planning, customer relationship development and customer relationship management. 2. Manage Customer business success promoters and lead the sales team and project.

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

ZHOU, DIANYAO Marketing Campaign Manager For Wearable And Audio Campaign 46.

Brief Job Description: 1. Produce campaign marketing plans and strategies for the wearable and audio campaign project. 2. Manage campaign timeline and track all the tasks, issues and risks.

Basic Qualification: 1. Must have at least 3-year work experience as Product Manager. 2. Strong background for business campaign management. 3. Must have a Bachelor’s Degree in Business Management. 4. Highly proficient in Chinese and English languages.

57.

58.

59.

60.

CORREIA, PAULO RICARDO Service Manager 47.

Brief Job Description: Work with stakeholders to define business and systems requirements for new technology implementations

Basic Qualification: 8 years successful leadership PMO and technology service teams, solid leadership skills Salary Range: Php 150,000 - Php 499,999

LIU, XUE Mandarin Customer Support Representative 48.

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

GAO, ZHIFU Mandarin Customer Support Specialist

61.

62.

63.

49.

Brief Job Description: Experts at their product, and their primary duty is to resolve customer issues quickly and efficiently.

YE, LING Mandarin Customer Support Specialist 50.

Brief Job Description: Experts at their product, and their primary duty is to resolve customer issues quickly and efficiently.

ZHANG, HUANBIN Mandarin Customer Support Specialist 51.

Brief Job Description: Experts at their product, and their primary duty is to resolve customer issues quickly and efficiently.

DANG THIET VU Vietnamese Customer Support Specialist 52.

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

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

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

53.

Brief Job Description: Analysis on call logs in order to discover any underlying issues or trends

54.

Brief Job Description: Responsible that all the information from the Chinese and Vietnamese client to local documentation officer are correct; responsible to follow up local liaison officer of all immigration issues and operations remaining up to date with any changes to legislation and overseeing all the aspects involved in processing a visa and immigration services. WANG, CHENG Visa Consultant

55.

Brief Job Description: Responsible that all the information from the chinese and vietnamese client to local documentation officer are correct; responsible to follow up local liaison officer of all immigration issues and operations remaining up to date with any changes to legislation and overseeing all the aspects involved in processing a visa and immigration services.

Basic Qualification: Preferably 6 months -1year as visa consultant; fluent in mandarin or vietnam and english language.

66.

67.

Brief Job Description: Interacting with customers queries

YOO, KYUMIN Customer Service Representative Brief Job Description: Interacting with customers queries

Brief Job Description: Managing incoming calls and customer service inquires KAM MYINT Burmese Customer Service Representative Brief Job Description: Chinese customer service representative

LA SANG Burmese Customer Service Representative Brief Job Description: Chinese customer service representative

Brief Job Description: Managing incoming calls and customer service inquires

Brief Job Description: Managing incoming calls and customer service inquires FU, KANG Chinese Customer Service Representative

68.

69.

Brief Job Description: Managing incoming calls and customer service inquiries LIU, HUI Chinese Customer Service Representative Brief Job Description: Chinese customer service representative NING, XIAOLEI Chinese Customer Service Representative

70.

Brief Job Description: Managing incoming calls and customer service inquires PENG, JIATANG Chinese Customer Service Representative

71.

Brief Job Description: Managing incoming calls and customer service inquires ADI SRIGANTI Indonesian Customer Service Representative

72.

Brief Job Description: Managing incoming calls and customer service inquires CHRIS LEVENISE Indonesian Customer Service Representative

73.

Brief Job Description: Managing incoming calls and customer service inquires DARLLY Indonesian Customer Service Representative

74.

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

LEE, HOOSUK Customer Service Representative

CUI, JIANYANG Chinese Customer Service Representative

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

Basic Qualification: Preferably 6 months -1year as visa consultant; fluent in mandarin or vietnam and english language.

Brief Job Description: Interacting with customers queries

CHEN, SHUANG Chinese Customer Service Representative

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

LUCKY BINTANG CONSULTANCY INC. Unit G-02 Makati Executive Tower 2, 7652 Dela Rosa St. Cor. P. Medina St., Pio Del Pilar, City Of Makati CHEN, YEN-JU Visa Consultant

65.

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

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

JUNG, JUNSIK Customer Service Representative

BAI, PENG Chinese Customer Service Representative

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

KINDOSAR PROCESS SOLUTIONS INC. Unit 5d, Rose Industries Bldg., Pioneer St., Kapitolyo, City Of Pasig KO, MYOUNGWOOK Korean It Specialist

64.

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

Brief Job Description: Interacting with customers queries

AINTAM, DUANGDAO Chinese Customer Service Representative

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

JUNG, CHANGSU Customer Service Representative

BYAR YAW SAT Burmese Customer Service Representative

INVECH TREASURE PROCESSING CORPORATION 3rd Floor, E Six West Campus Le Grand Avenue, Mckinley West,, Fort Bonifacio, City Of Taguig Basic Qualification: Able to speak and write in MANDARIN and at least college level with related BPO experience.

QUALIFICATION AND SALARY RANGE Basic Qualification: Preferably 6 months -1year as visa consultant; fluent in mandarin or vietnam and english language. Salary Range: Php 30,000 - Php 59,999

No.

Basic Qualification: Fluent in Chinese dialect (Mandarin, Folkien, Cantonese) Salary Range: Php 30,000 - Php 59,999

76.

77.

78.

Brief Job Description: Managing incoming calls and customer service inquiries DODI Indonesian Customer Service Representative

75.

Brief Job Description: Managing incoming calls and customer service inquiries

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

79.

80.

81.

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

82.

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

83.

84.

85.

86.

87.

88.

89.

90.

91.

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

92.

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

Brief Job Description: Managing incoming calls and customer service inquiries

Brief Job Description: Managing incoming calls and customer service inquires LUONG DIN DUNG Vietnamese Customer Service Representative Brief Job Description: Chinese customer service representative

LUONG HUU THANG Vietnamese Customer Service Representative Brief Job Description: Chinese customer service representative

MA QUOC QUAN Vietnamese Customer Service Representative Brief Job Description: Chinese customer service representative

NGO VAN QUAN Vietnamese Customer Service Representative Brief Job Description: Chinese customer service representative

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

NGUYEN MANH NAM Vietnamese Customer Service Representative

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

Brief Job Description: Chinese customer service representative NGUYEN THANH HUONG Vietnamese Customer Service Representative

95.

Brief Job Description: Managing incoming calls and customer service inquires NGUYEN THI GIANG Vietnamese Customer Service Representative

96.

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

Brief Job Description: Managing incoming calls and customer service inquires

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

NGUYEN TRONG KIEN Vietnamese Customer Service Representative

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

97.

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: Managing incoming calls and customer service inquires 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

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

Brief Job Description: Managing incoming calls and customer service inquires

94.

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

Brief Job Description: Managing incoming calls and customer service inquires

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

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

NGO XUAN LUC Vietnamese Customer Service Representative 93.

QUALIFICATION AND SALARY RANGE

HA THI MUI Vietnamese Customer Service Representative

HA VIET HAO Vietnamese Customer Service Representative

Salary Range: Php 30,000 - Php 59,999 Basic Qualification: Managing incoming calls and customer service inquires

Brief Job Description: Managing incoming calls and customer service inquires

DUONG TRUNG THUY Vietnamese Customer Service Representative

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

Brief Job Description: Managing incoming calls and customer service inquires

DONG VAN DINH Vietnamese Customer Service Representative

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

Brief Job Description: Managing incoming calls and customer service inquires

DIP THI XUAN HUONG Vietnamese Customer Service Representative

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

Brief Job Description: Chinese customer service representative

BUI CONG LUAN Vietnamese Customer Service Representative

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

MARTINUS HENDRIK SIMANJUNTAK Indonesian Customer Service Representative

CHIN LEE SHI Malaysian Customer Service Representative

Salary Range: Php 30,000 - Php 59,999 Basic Qualification: Managing incoming calls and customer service inquires

Brief Job Description: Managing incoming calls and customer service inquiries

ARIC JEMMY SON MARIE LING Malaysian Customer Service Representative

Salary Range: Php 30,000 - Php 59,999 Basic Qualification: Managing incoming calls and customer service inquires

Brief Job Description: Managing incoming calls and customer service inquiries JURIAH Indonesian Customer Service Representative

Basic Qualification: Fluent in Chinese dialect (Mandarin, Folkien, Cantonese) Salary Range: Php 30,000 - Php 59,999

Brief Job Description: Managing incoming calls and customer service inquiries JOPI Indonesian Customer Service Representative

Basic Qualification: Fluent in Chinese dialect (Mandarin, Folkien, Cantonese) Salary Range: Php 30,000 - Php 59,999

Brief Job Description: Managing incoming calls and customer service inquiries JOHNSON Indonesian Customer Service Representative

Basic Qualification: Fluent in Chinese dialect (Mandarin, Folkien, Cantonese) Salary Range: Php 30,000 - Php 59,999

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

MOA CLOUDZONE CORP. 4th-11th Flr. Nexgen Tower, C4 Rd. Edsa Ext., Barangay 76, Pasay City

Salary Range: Php 90,000 - Php 149,999 INCHCAPE DIGITAL DELIVERY CENTER PHILIPPINES INC. 28/f Robinsons Cyberscape Gamma,, Topaz & Ruby Roads, San Antonio, City Of Pasig

ESTABLISHMENT / ADDRESS

MACH 86 TECHNOLOGIES CORP. 6th-13th Flr. Workspace Bldg., 1419 Industry St. Corner Finance St. Mbp Ayala, Alabang, City Of Muntinlupa

HUAWEI TECHNOLOGIES PHILS. INC. U-5302, 53/f Pbcom Tower, 6795 Ayala Ave., Cor., V.a. Rufino St., Bel-air, City Of Makati Basic Qualification: 1. Must have work experience as Account Manager for an IT company. 2. With strong background and skills ISDP, Matlab and 5G Network. 3. Must be a graduate with Bachelor’s Degree in Economics, Mathematics or any other related courses. 4. Highly proficient in Chinese and English language.

NAME OF FOREIGN NATIONAL , POSITION AND BRIEF DESCRIPTION

Friday, June 24, 2022

Brief Job Description: Managing incoming calls and customer service inquires

Basic Qualification: Able to speak, read, and write Chinese language Salary Range: Php 30,000 - Php 59,999 Basic Qualification: Managing incoming calls and customer service inquires Salary Range: Php 30,000 - Php 59,999 Basic Qualification: Managing incoming calls and customer service inquires Salary Range: Php 30,000 - Php 59,999 Basic Qualification: Managing incoming calls and customer service inquires Salary Range: Php 30,000 - Php 59,999 Basic Qualification: Managing incoming calls and customer service inquires 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: Managing incoming calls and customer service inquires Salary Range: Php 30,000 - Php 59,999 Basic Qualification: Able to speak, read, and write Chinese language Salary Range: Php 30,000 - Php 59,999 Basic Qualification: Able to speak, read, and write Chinese language Salary Range: Php 30,000 - Php 59,999 Basic Qualification: Able to speak, read, and write Chinese language Salary Range: Php 30,000 - Php 59,999

BusinessMirror

A10 A6 Friday, June 24, 2022

ESTABLISHMENT / ADDRESS No.

NAME OF FOREIGN NATIONAL , POSITION AND BRIEF DESCRIPTION NGUYEN VAN HOAN Vietnamese Customer Service Representative

98.

Brief Job Description: Managing incoming calls and customer service inquires NGUYEN VAN TU Vietnamese Customer Service Representative

99.

Brief Job Description: Managing incoming calls and customer service inquires PHAM VAN CUONG Vietnamese Customer Service Representative

100.

101.

Brief Job Description: Managing incoming calls and customer service inquires

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

104.

Brief Job Description: Provide Product/Services, Information, Answer Questions And Resolve Emerging Problems

119.

120.

121.

Salary Range: Php 30,000 - Php 59,999 122.

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

123.

NEW ORIENTAL CLUB88 CORPORATION 1331 Pearl Plaza Bldg., Quirino Ave., Tambo, City Of Parañaque DENG, XIAOHUI Chinese Customer Service 105.

106.

107.

108.

Brief Job Description: Knowledgeable in computer application with good oral and written communication skills

GAN, BINGXI Chinese Customer Service Brief Job Description: Customer support and data base services.

HE, HAIMEI Chinese Customer Service Brief Job Description: Customer support and data base services

JU, JIAHAO Chinese Customer Service Brief Job Description: Customer support and data base services.

LI, CHANGYAN Chinese Customer Service 109.

110.

Brief Job Description: Knowledgeable in computer application with good oral and written communication skills

LI, ZONGMEI Chinese Customer Service Brief Job Description: Customer support and data base services.

LIN, ZHIXIAN Chinese Customer Service 111.

112.

Brief Job Description: Knowledgeable in computer application with good oral and written communication skills

LIU, JIA Chinese Customer Service Brief Job Description: Customer support and data base services

LIU, YAOJIAN Chinese Customer Service 113.

Brief Job Description: Knowledgeable in computer application with good oral and written communication skills SUN, XIAOZHEN Chinese Customer Service

114.

115.

116.

Brief Job Description: Knowledgeable in computer application with good oral and written communication skills

WANG, CHUNLING Chinese Customer Service Brief Job Description: Customer support and data base services

WANG, YUNXUE Chinese Customer Service Brief Job Description: Customer support and data base services

Basic Qualification: Customer support and data base services

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

124.

125.

126.

127.

Basic Qualification: Knowledgeable in computer application with good oral and written communication skills. Salary Range: Php 30,000 - Php 59,999

128.

Basic Qualification: Customer support and data base services Salary Range: Php 30,000 - Php 59,999 Basic Qualification: Knowledgeable in computer application with good oral and written communication skills. Salary Range: Php 30,000 - Php 59,999

129.

130.

131.

Basic Qualification: Knowledgeable in computer application with good oral and written communication skills Salary Range: Php 30,000 - Php 59,999

132.

133.

Basic Qualification: Customer support and data base services Salary Range: Php 30,000 - Php 59,999

Basic Qualification: Knowledgeable in computer application with good oral and written communication skills Salary Range: Php 30,000 - Php 59,999

Brief Job Description: Knowledgeable in computer application with good oral and written communication skills AGUSTINI Indonesian Customer Service Brief Job Description: Customer support and data base services

ANTONY WIHARDI Indonesian Customer Service Brief Job Description: Customer support and data base services

LAM SU LIONG Indonesian Customer Service Brief Job Description: Customer support and data base services

Brief Job Description: Knowledgeable in computer application with good oral and written communication skills

Brief Job Description: Knowledgeable in computer application with good oral and written communication skills JOO MAN KEI Malaysian Customer Service Brief Job Description: Customer support and data base services

GON JA Myanmari Customer Service Brief Job Description: Customer support and data base services

LE JEIN LYO Myanmari Customer Service Brief Job Description: Customer support and data base services

NAN KHIN MAY OO Myanmari Customer Service Brief Job Description: Customer support and data base services

Brief Job Description: Knowledgeable in computer application with good oral and written communication skills

DAO THI HONG THUY Vietnamese Customer Service Brief Job Description: Customer support and data base services

Brief Job Description: Knowledgeable in computer application with good oral and written communication skills

LE MINH DUC Vietnamese Customer Service Brief Job Description: Customer support and data base services

LINH THI NGUYET LE Vietnamese Customer Service 134.

Basic Qualification: Knowledgeable in computer applications with good oral and written communication skills Salary Range: Php 30,000 - Php 59,999

Brief Job Description: Knowledgeable in computer application with good oral and written communication skills

LAI A LAN Vietnamese Customer Service

Basic Qualification: Customer support and data base services Salary Range: Php 30,000 - Php 59,999

Brief Job Description: Customer support and data base services

NAY LIN Myanmari Customer Service

Basic Qualification: Customer support and data base services Salary Range: Php 30,000 - Php 59,999

XIN, MINGKUN Chinese Customer Service

LEE, CHULIN Korean Customer Service

Basic Qualification: Knowledgeable in computer application with good oral and written communication skills Salary Range: Php 30,000 - Php 59,999

Brief Job Description: Customer support and data base services

WILLY Indonesian Customer Service

Salary Range: Php 30,000 - Php 59,999 Basic Qualification: Knowledgeable in computer application with good oral and written communication skills.

WANG, ZHIMING Chinese Customer Service

ZOU, JIALI Chinese Customer Service

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

Basic Qualification: Graduate 4 Years Bachelor Degree With Critical Thinking And Problem Solving Skills

NAME OF FOREIGN NATIONAL , POSITION AND BRIEF DESCRIPTION

ZHANG, LIANGFANG Chinese Customer Service

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

MPOTECH DIGITAL SYSTEM INC. 2/f 331 Bldg., Sen. Gil Puyat Ave., Bel-air, City Of Makati HUNDEE, NATTIKA Thai Customer Service Representative

118.

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

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

Brief Job Description: Managing incoming calls and customer service inquires

117.

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

Brief Job Description: Managing incoming calls and customer service inquires

No.

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

VU DINH LUAN Vietnamese Customer Service Representative 103.

QUALIFICATION AND SALARY RANGE

PHAN THI TUYET TRINH Vietnamese Customer Service Representative

PHAN VAN THAI Vietnamese Customer Service Representative 102.

ESTABLISHMENT / ADDRESS

135.

136.

Brief Job Description: Knowledgeable in computer application with good oral and written communication skills

NGUYEN HOANG LONG Vietnamese Customer Service Brief Job Description: Customer support and data base services

www.businessmirror.com.ph

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

No.

137.

Salary Range: Php 30,000 - Php 59,999 Basic Qualification: Knowledgeable in computer application with good oral and written communication skills

138.

Basic Qualification: Knowledgeable in computer application with good oral and written communication skills

NGUYEN THI HUE Vietnamese Customer Service Brief Job Description: Customer support and data base services

Salary Range: Php 30,000 - Php 59,999 Basic Qualification: Customer support and data base services

Brief Job Description: Knowledgeable in computer application with good oral and written communication skills

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

VO VAN CUONG Vietnamese Customer Service 139.

Salary Range: Php 30,000 - Php 59,999 Basic Qualification: Customer support and data base services

QUALIFICATION AND SALARY RANGE

NGUYEN VAN TUAN Vietnamese Customer Service

Salary Range: Php 30,000 - Php 59,999 Basic Qualification: Customer support and data base services

NAME OF FOREIGN NATIONAL , POSITION AND BRIEF DESCRIPTION

Basic Qualification: Customer support and data base services

Brief Job Description: Knowledgeable in computer application with good oral and written communication skills

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

OUTWIT, INC. 2/f Marvin Plaza, 2153 Chino Roces Ave., Pio Del Pilar, City Of Makati

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

Basic Qualification: Good oral and written communications skills in mandarin.

LIU, CHENG-XIN Mandarin Speaking Financial Officer

Basic Qualification: Knowledgeable in computer application with good oral and written communication skills

140.

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

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

Basic Qualification: Knowledgeable in computer application with good oral and written communication skills Salary Range: Php 30,000 - Php 59,999 Basic Qualification: Knowledgeable in computer application with good oral and written communication skills

141.

142.

Salary Range: Php 30,000 - Php 59,999 Basic Qualification: Customer support and data base services Salary Range: Php 30,000 - Php 59,999 Basic Qualification: Knowledgeable in computer application with good oral and written communication skills Salary Range: Php 30,000 - Php 59,999 Basic Qualification: Customer support and data base services Salary Range: Php 30,000 - Php 59,999 Basic Qualification: Knowledgeable in computer application with good oral and written communication skills Salary Range: Php 30,000 - Php 59,999 Basic Qualification: Customer support and data base services Salary Range: Php 30,000 - Php 59,999 Basic Qualification: Knowledgeable in computer application with good oral and written communication skills Salary Range: Php 30,000 - Php 59,999

NGUYEN THI HONG Vietnamese Customer Service

Basic Qualification: Customer support and data base services

Brief Job Description: Knowledgeable in computer application with good oral and written communication skills

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

Basic Qualification: Can speak mandarin

Brief Job Description: Maintain accurate sales record

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

Brief Job Description: Serves as primary contact for problem resolution and information gathering customer complaints and work assignments.

Basic Qualification: A native speaker of the Indonesian language (spoken and written). Salary Range: Php 30,000 - Php 59,999

SA RIVENDELL GLOBAL SUPPORT, INC. 2/f Star Cruises Ce Bldg., Andrews Drive, Newport City St., Barangay 183, Pasay City NGUYEN THI NGUYET Customer Service Representative 143.

Basic Qualification: Customer support and data base services

Brief Job Description: Knowledgeable in computer application with good oral and written communication skills

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

TELUS INTERNATIONAL PHILIPPINES, INC. Units 23/f, 31st/f - 37th/f Discovery Centre, Adb Avenue, Ortigas Center, San Antonio, City Of Pasig DIAMOKINA-BOUMBA, DIANIC JESPER French Operations Csr Ii 144.

Basic Qualification: Skilled in French Language.

Brief Job Description: Provides expedient and accurate customer service to French speaking clients and customers. HAGENIMANA, CHRISTIAN French Operations Csr Ii

145.

146.

Brief Job Description: Provides expedient and accurate customer service to French speaking clients and customers.

Salary Range: Php 60,000 - Php 89,999 Basic Qualification: Skilled in French Language.

Brief Job Description: Provides expedient and accurate customer service to French speaking clients and customers. LEE, DAESOO Korean Operations Csr Ii

148.

Salary Range: Php 60,000 - Php 89,999 Basic Qualification: Skilled in French Language.

KRAGBE, SANTOS JEOVANI ANDRE French Operations Csr Ii 147.

Salary Range: Php 60,000 - Php 89,999 Basic Qualification: Skilled in French Language.

HIRWA, BENITE French Operations Csr Ii

Salary Range: Php 30,000 - Php 59,999 Basic Qualification: Knowledgeable in computer application with good oral and written communication skills

LI, SHIJUE Mandarin Operations Specialist

KEVIN Indonesian - Language Customer Support Staff

Salary Range: Php 30,000 - Php 59,999 Basic Qualification: Knowledgeable in computer application with good oral and written communication skills

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

RUNNINGMAN CORPORATION 8/f Techzone Bldg., 213 Sen. Gil Puyat Ave., San Antonio, City Of Makati

Salary Range: Php 30,000 - Php 59,999 Basic Qualification: Customer support and data base services

Brief Job Description: Keep accurate records for all daily transactions.

Brief Job Description: Provides expedient and accurate customer service to French speaking clients and customers.

Salary Range: Php 60,000 - Php 89,999 Basic Qualification: Skilled in Korean Language. Salary Range: Php 60,000 - Php 89,999

TORN YANG PHILS. INC. Mabato, Road, Ibayo-tipas, City Of Taguig CHUANG, KUN-TE Technical Consultant 149.

Brief Job Description: Manage the business affairs of the company, initiate and develop company policies, projects, plans and programs

Basic Qualification: He must be seen with high standard of professionalism and to be embodied the ideal of the company Salary Range: Php 30,000 - Php 59,999

ZAPPORT SERVICES, INC. 36/f Burgundy Corporate Tower, 252 Sen. Gil J. Puyat Ave., Pio Del Pilar, City Of Makati VU DINH THONG Vietnamese-speaking Customer Service Officer 150.

Brief Job Description: Vietnamese written reports on a daily operation of call center activities performing customer oriented telephone activities and various background operation duties

Basic Qualification: Vietnamese Speaking and Written Salary Range: Php 30,000 - Php 59,999

*Date Generated: Jun 23, 2022 In the ad material of Notice of Filing of Application for Alien Employment Permits published on JUNE 21, 2022, the position of NANG HOM NOOM MYANAMARI CUSTOMER SERVICE under NEW ORIENTAL CLUB88 CORPORATION, should have been read as MYANMARI CUSTOMER SERVICE and not as published. In the ad material of Notice of Filing of Application for Alien Employment Permits published on JUNE 21, 2022, the Position of NANG MYA HTET HTET WAI MYANAMARI CUSTOMER SERVICE under NEW ORIENTAL CLUB88 CORPORATION, should have been read as MYANMARI CUSTOMER SERVICE 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 National Capital Region located at DOLE-NCR Building, 967 Maligaya St., Malate Manila, within 30 days after this publication. Please inform DOLE National Capital Region if you have any information on criminal offense committed by the foreign nationals.

News BusinessMirror

www.businessmirror.com.ph

Friday, June 24, 2022 A11

DOLE notes rise in reported labor disputes amid loosening of curbs

HE Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE) has reported an uptick in the number of labor disputes following the easing of quarantine restrictions this year. A labor group, meanwhile, said the cases could further rise in the coming months as rising fuel prices and other economic issues, which may compel companies to implement cost-cutting measures to the detriment of their

workers, hit the country. In its preliminary Alternative Dispute Resolution report, DOLE’s National Conciliation and Mediation Board (NCMB) recorded a slight increase in the number of actual labor strikes this year. From January to May, it registered four actual strikes from just one incident in the same period last year. Three of the said cases this year were

due to unfair labor practice, while one was caused by a collective bargaining negotiations deadlock. The work stoppages this year in the National Capital Region (NCR), as well as in Regions 4A and 12 were already settled, while the case in Region 10 was certified for compulsory arbitration. The NCMB also reported that the number of notices of strike/

lockout (NS/L), a requirement before a labor union could legitimately hold a work stoppage, also rose to 85 during the first five months of the year compared to 78 in the same period in 2021. Among the current NS/L cases, 58 percent or 49 cases were already settled, which awarded 2,554 workers with P548.37 million worth of financial benefits.

While there was an increase in incidents of strike and NS/L, NCMB noted preventive mediation (PM) cases from January to May slightly dropped to 192, compared to the 222 cases last year. Of the preventive mediation cases this year, 146 or 76 percent were already settled resulting in the awarding of over P126.88 million worth of monetary benefits to 1,740 workers.

Federation of Free Workers (FFW) Vice President Julius Cainglet expects the number of labor disputes to further rise as the country is now faced with economic-related issues. “As the costs of fuel prices rise, we will find a lot of companies implementing measures to save on production costs by sacrificing workers [like] giving them less wages and benefits,” Cainglet said. Samuel P. Medenilla

TheWorld BusinessMirror

A12 Friday, June 24, 2022

Powell says recession is possible as Fed hikes rates to halt inflation By Christopher Rugaber

AP Economics Writer

ASHINGTON—Federal Reserve Chair Jerome Powell sought Wednesday to reassure the public that the Fed will raise interest rates high and fast enough to quell inflation, without tightening credit so much as to throttle the economy and cause a recession.

Te s t i f y i n g t o t h e S e n a t e B a n k i n g Com m it te e, Po we l l faced skeptical questions from members of both parties about the Fed ’s ability to tame inf lation, which has surged to the top of Americans’ concerns as congressional elections near. Democrats wondered whether the Fed’s accelerated rate hikes will succeed in curbing inflation or might instead just tip the economy into a downturn. Several Republicans charged that the Powell Fed had moved too slowly to begin raising rates and now must speed up its hikes. Powell acknowledged that a recession is possible as the Fed pushes borrowing costs steadily higher. “It’s certainly a possibility,” he said in response to a question from Sen. John Tester, a Democrat from Montana. “It’s not our intended outcome, but it’s certainly a possibility.” Powell stressed that the Fed ’s primar y goal is to reduce inf lation but said he still hopes to achieve a “soft landing”— a reduction in inf lation and a slowdow n in grow th w ithout triggering a recession and high unemployment. “We do think it’s absolutely essential that we restore price stability, really for the benefit of the labor market as much as anything else,” Powell said on the first of two days of testimony as part of the Fed’s semiannual report to Congress. He said the pace of future rate hikes will depend on whether— and how quickly—inflation starts to decline, something the Fed will assess on a “meeting by meeting” basis. The central bank’s accelerating

rate increases—it started with a quarter-point hike in its key shortterm rate in March, then a halfpoint increase in May, then threequarters of a point last week—has alarmed investors and led to sharp declines in the financial markets. Powell’s testimony comes exactly a week after the Fed announced its three-quarters-of-apoint increase, its biggest hike in nearly three decades, to a range of 1.5 percent to 1.75 percent. With inflation at a 40-year high, the Fed’s policymakers also forecast a more accelerated pace of rate hikes this year and next than they had predicted three months ago, with its key rate reaching 3.8 percent by the end of 2023. That would be its highest level in 15 years. Concerns are growing that the Fed will end up tightening credit so much as to cause a recession. This week, Goldman Sachs estimated the likelihood of a recession at 30 percent over the next year and at 48 percent over the next two years. A senior Republican on the Banking Committee, Sen. Thom Ti l l is of Nor t h Ca rol ina, on Wednesday accused Powell of having taken too long to raise rates, saying the Fed’s hikes “are long overdue” and that its benchmark short-term rate should go much higher. “The Fed has largely boxed itself into a menu of purely reactive policy measures,” Tillis said. Tillis, like many Republicans, also blamed President Joe Biden’s $1.9 trillion financial stimulus package, approved in March 2021, for being excessively large and exacerbating inflation. Many economists agree that the additional spending contributed to rising prices by magnifying demand even while supply chains

Federal Reserve Chairman Jerome Powell speaks to the Senate Banking, Housing and Urban Affairs Committee, as he presents the Monetary Policy Report to the committee on Capitol Hill on Wednesday, June 22, 2022, in Washington. AP/Manuel Balce Ceneta

were snarled by Covid-related shutdowns and labor shortages were driving up wages. Inflation pressures were further worsened by Russia’s invasion of Ukraine. Biden on Wednesday called on Congress to suspend US gas and diesel taxes for three months to reduce the sting of high pump prices, which are averaging nearly $5 a gallon. Many economists are skeptical that consumers will see the full benefit of a tax holiday on the 18.4 cents-a-gallon gas tax. T he public’s anxiety about inflation has weakened Biden’s approval ratings and raised the likelihood of Democratic losses in November. While taking some steps to try to ease the burden of inflation, the president has stressed his belief that the ability to curb inflation rests mainly with the Fed. At Wednesday’s hearing, Sen. Elizabeth Warren, a Democrat from Massachusetts, challenged Powell’s rate hike plans and asked whether they would reduce gas or food prices, some of the highest-profile drivers of inflation. Powell acknowledged that they wouldn’t. Instead, Powell said that higher borrowing costs for things like mortgages, auto loans and credit cards, resulting directly from the Fed’s hikes, can help slow consumer demand and inflation pressures. Yet Warren and other Democrats argued that the Fed’s approach carries the risk of weakening the economy and heightening unemployment even as the war in Ukraine keeps gas and food prices high. Such a dynamic would resemble the dreaded “stagflation” of the 1970s.

“You know what’s worse than high inflation with low unemployment?” she asked. “High inflation and a recession with millions of people out of work.” “I hope you consider that before you drive the US economy off a cliff,” Warren added. Warren said that Biden’s efforts to fight inflation, such as trying to clear clogged supply chains and increasing the use of antitrust rules to break up monopolies, would more effectively fight higher prices. At a news conference last week, Powell suggested that a rate hike of either one-half or three-quarters of a point will be considered at the Fed’s next meeting in late July. Either one would exceed the quarter-point Fed hikes that have been typical in the past, and they reflect the central bank’s struggle to curb high inflation as quickly as possible. Anticipating additional large rate hikes ahead, investors have sent Treasur y y ields shar ply higher, making borrowing costs for home purchases, in particular, more expensive. With the average 30-year fixed mortgage rate up to roughly 5.8 percent— nearly twice the rate just a year ago—home sales have weakened. Credit card users and auto are also being hit with higher borrowing costs. Powell also said Wednesday that the Fed isn’t yet seeing any signs that inflation is moderating in a meaningful way, even though some price measures, excluding gas and food, have slowed a bit in the past four months. “We’re looking for that,” he said. “We’re not seeing it yet.”

Myanmar’s Suu Kyi moved from secret location to prison By Grant Peck

The Associated Press

ANGKOK—Ousted Myanmar leader Aung San Suu Kyi was transferred Wednesday from a secret detention location to a prison in the country’s capital, legal officials familiar with her case said. Her ongoing court cases will be tried at a new facility constructed in the prison compound, they said. Suu Kyi was arrested on February 1, 2021, when the army seized power from her elected government. She was initially held at her residence in the capital, but was later moved to at least one other location, and for about the past year has been held at an undisclosed location in the capital, Naypyitaw, generally assumed to be on a military base. She has been tried on multiple charges, including corruption, at a special court in Naypyitaw that began hearings on May 24, 2021.

Each of the 11 corruption counts she faces is punishable by up to 15 years in prison. A lready she has been sentenced to 11 years’ imprisonment after being convicted on charges of illegally importing and possessing walkie-talkies and violating coronavirus restrictions. In addition to the corruption cases that are underway, she also has been charged with election fraud and violating the Officials Secrets Act. Suu Kyi’s supporters and rights groups say the charges against her are politically motivated and are an attempt to discredit her and legitimize the military’s seizure of power while keeping her from returning to politics. Many senior members of her government and party were also arrested and tried, and several are co-defendants in some of her cases. According to the Assistance Association for Political Prisoners, a private organization

that tracks government killings and arrests, a total of 11,174 people are currently in detention for suspected opposition to the ruling military council. Suu Kyi, who turned 77 on Sunday, spent about 15 years in detention under a previous military government, but virtually all of it was under house arrest at her family home in Yangon, the country’s biggest city. Three legal officials said Suu Ky i ’s l aw yers were infor med Tuesday that a new building at the prison has been completed and all Suu Kyi’s remaining court hearings will be held there starting on Thursday. The officials all spoke on condition of anonymity because they are not authorized to release any information about her cases. One of the officials said the government intended to put her in solitary confinement after her first conviction last year, but had to wait until the new facilities at

the main prison in Naypyitaw were completed. No government spokesperson was available to confirm Suu Kyi’s move. The secret location where she had been held for about the past year was a residence where she had nine people to help with her living arrangements, along with a dog that was a gift arranged by one of her sons. Australian economist Sean Turnell, who was an adviser to Suu Kyi, is being held at the same prison where Suu Kyi was sent. Turnell and Suu Kyi are being prosecuted in the same case under the Official Secrets Act, which carries a maximum prison sentence of 14 years, so both are to appear at the court inside the prison on Thursday. In addition to the 11 counts of corruption, Suu Kyi and several colleagues have been charged with election fraud, which carries a maximum sentence of three years.

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

Afghanistan quake kills 1,000 people, deadliest in decades By Ebrahim Noroozi

The Associated Press

AYA N, A fg h a n i st a n— A powerful earthquake struck a rugged, mountainous region of eastern Afghanistan early Wednesday, flattening stone and mud-brick homes and killing at least 1,000 people. The disaster posed a new test for Afghanistan’s Taliban rulers and relief agencies already struggling with the country’s multiple humanitarian crises. The quake was Afghanistan’s deadliest in two decades, and officials said the toll could rise. An estimated 1,500 others were reported injured, the state-run news agency said. The disaster inflicted by the 6.1-magnitude quake heaps more misery on a country where millions face increasing hunger and poverty and the health system has been crumbling since the Taliban retook power nearly 10 months ago amid the US and NATO withdrawal. The takeover led to a cutoff of vital international financing, and most of the world has shunned the Taliban government. In a rare move, the Taliban’s supreme leader, Haibatullah Akhundzadah, who almost never appears in public, pleaded with the international community and humanitarian organizations “to help the Afghan people affected by this great tragedy and to spare no effort.” Residents in the remote area near the Pakistani border searched for victims dead or alive by digging with their bare hands through the rubble, according to footage shown

by the Bakhtar news agency. It was not immediately clear if heavy rescue equipment was being sent, or if it could even reach the area. At least 2,000 homes were destroyed in the region, where on average every household has seven or eight people living in it, said Ramiz Alakbarov, the UN deputy special representative to Afghanistan. The full extent of the destruction among the villages tucked in the mountains was slow in coming to light. The roads, which are rutted and difficult to travel in the best of circumstances, may have been badly damaged, and landslides from recent rains made access even more difficult. Rescuers rushed in by helicopter, but the relief effort could be hindered by the exodus of many international aid agencies from Afghanistan after the Taliban takeover last August. Moreover, most governments are wary of dealing directly with the Taliban. In a sign of the muddled workings between the Taliban and the rest of the world, Alakbarov said the Taliban had not formally requested that the UN mobilize international search-and-rescue teams or obtain equipment from neighboring countries to supplement the few dozen ambulances and several helicopters sent in by Afghan authorities. Still, officials from multiple UN agencies said the Taliban were giving them full access to the area. The Associated Press writers Rahim Faiez and Munir Ahmed in Islamabad and Jon Gambrell and Isabel DeBre in Dubai, United Arab Emirates, contributed to this report.

New Sri Lanka prime minister says economy ‘has collapsed’ By Krishan Francis The Associated Press

OLOMBO, Sri Lanka—Sri L a n k a ’s d e b t - l a d e n e c o n o m y has “collapsed” after months of shortages of food, fuel and electricity, the prime minister told lawmakers Wednesday in comments that underscored the country’s dire situation as it seeks help from international lenders. Ranil Wickremesinghe told Parliament the South Asian nation faces “a far more serious situation” than the shortages alone, and he warned of “a possible fall to rock bottom.” “Our economy has completely collapsed,” he said. The crisis on the island of 22 million is considered its worst in recent memory, but Wickremesinghe did not cite any specific new developments. His comments appeared intended to emphasize to critics and opposition lawmakers that he has inherited a difficult task that cannot be fixed quickly. “He’s setting expectations really, really low,” said Anit Mukherjee, a policy fellow and economist at the Center for Global Development in Washington. Wickremesinghe’s remarks also sent a message to potential lenders: “You can’t let a country of such strategic importance collapse,” said Mukherjee, who noted that Sri Lanka sits in one of the world’s busiest shipping lanes. The Sri Lankan economy is foundering under the weight of heavy debts, lost tourism revenue and other effects of the pandemic, as well as surging costs for commodities. The result is a country hurtling towards bankruptcy, with hardly any money to import gasoline, milk, cooking gas and toilet paper. Lawmakers from the two main opposition parties are boycotting Parliament this week to protest Wickremesinghe, who became prime minister just over a month ago and is also finance minister, for failing to deliver on his pledges to turn the economy around.

Wickremesinghe said Sri Lanka is unable to purchase imported fuel due to heavy debt owed by its petroleum corporation. The Ceylon Petroleum Corporation is $700 million in debt, he told lawmakers. “As a result, no country or organization in the world is willing to provide fuel to us. They are even reluctant to provide fuel for cash.” The crisis has started to hurt Sri Lanka’s middle class, which is estimated to be 15 percent to 20 percent of the country’s urban population. The middle class began to swell in the 1970s after the economy opened up to more trade and investment. It has grown steadily since. Until recently, middle-class families generally enjoyed economic security. Now those that never had to think twice about fuel or food are struggling to manage three meals a day. “They have really been jolted like no other time in the last three decades,” said Bhavani Fonseka, a senior researcher at the Centre for Policy Alternatives in Colombo, Sri Lanka’s capital. “If the middle class is struggling like this, imagine how hard hit the more vulnerable are,” Fonseka added. The situation has derailed years of progress toward relatively comfortable lifestyles aspired to across South Asia. Government officials have been given every Friday off for three months to save on fuel and grow their own fruits and vegetables. The inflation rate for food is 57 percent, according to official data. Wickremesinghe said IMF assistance seems to be the country’s only option now. Officials from the agency are visiting Sri Lanka to discuss the idea. A staff-level agreement is likely to be reached by the end of July. “ We h a v e c o n c l u d e d t h e i n i t i a l discussions, and we have exchanged ideas on various sectors,” Wickremesighe said. Krutika Pathi and Bharatha Mallawarachi in Colombo and Paul Wiseman in Washington contributed to this report.

www.businessmirror.com.ph

TheWorld BusinessMirror

Friday, June 24, 2022 A13

North Korea’s talks of new army duties suggest nuke deployment By Hyung-Jin Kim

The Associated Press

EOUL, South Korea—North Korea discussed assigning additional duties to its frontline army units at a key military meeting, state media said Thursday, a suggestion the country may want to deploy battlefield nuclear weapons targeting South Korea along the rivals’ tense border. The discussion comes as South Korea officials said North Korea has finished preparation for its first nuclear test in five years as part of its possible efforts to build a warhead to be mounted on short-range weapons capable of hitting targets in South Korea. During an ongoing meeting of the Central Military Commission of the ruling Workers’ Party on Wednesday, leader Kim Jong Un and other top military officers discussed “the work of additionally confirming the operation duties of the frontline units of the Korean People’s Army and modifying the operation plans,” according to the official Korean Central News Agency. Kim also ordered steps to be taken to “enhance the operational capabilities of the frontline units,” KCNA said. A KCNA photo showed what appeared to be a big map of the Korean Peninsula’s eastern coast including border sites standing near the conference table. “I can assess the issue of forwarddeploying tactical nuclear weapons were discussed at the meeting in an in-depth manner,” said Cheong Seong-Chang, a senior analyst at South Korea’s private Sejong Institute. Kim Jun-rak, a spokesperson for South Korea’s Joint Chiefs of Staff, told reporters later Thursday that it’s closely monitoring related North Korean activities but didn’t elaborate. In April, when North Korea test-fired a new type of tactical guided weapon,” it said the weapon has “great significance in drastically improving the firepower of the front-line long-range artillery units, enhancing the efficiency in the operation of (North Korea’s) tactical nukes and diversification of their firepower missions.” Its use of the words “tactical nukes” suggested the weapon is likely a shortrange weapons system armed with a nuclear warhead. Some experts said at the time that North Korea intended to deploy such weapons threatening key facilitates in South Korea, including US

military bases there. Later in April, Kim said North Korea could preemptively use its nuclear weapons if threatened, saying his nukes would “never be confined to the single mission of war deterrent” in situations where the North faces external threats to its “fundamental interests.” The possibility of North Korea having an escalatory nuclear doctrine could pose greater concern for South Korea, Japan and the United States. Kim convened the Central Military Commission meeting earlier this week to confirm “crucial and urgent tasks” to expand military capabilities and implement key defense policies, state media said. Cheong, the analyst, said North Korea is expected to preform its seventh nuclear test after the meeting, saying that its third nuclear test in 2013 also came days after another Central Military Commission meeting. Before this week’s meeting, Kim had convened a meeting of the Central Military Commission 16 times since he took power in late 2011 but this is the first lasting two days or longer, Cheong said. Wednesday was the second-day session, and KCNA said discussions were continuing on the agenda, indicating the meeting would continue on Thursday. Earlier this year, North Korea testlaunched a spate of missiles with potential ranges placing both the US mainland and its Asian allies like South Korea and Japan within striking distances. North Korea has intercontinental ballistic missiles potentially capable of reaching the United States, but experts say the country still needs to master reentry capability and other technologies to make them functioning weapons. Some experts say the North’s weapons launches were meant to modernize its weapons systems and boost its leverage in future negotiations with the United States to win sanctions relief and other concessions. South Korean and US officials have warned North Korea to face consequences if it goes ahead with a nuclear test. But the divisions between permanent members of the UN Security Council make the prospects for fresh punitive international sanctions on North Korea unclear. Russia and China this year vetoed US-sponsored resolutions that would have increased sanctions, insisting Washington should focus on reviving dialogue.

China says Ukraine crisis has sounded alarm for humanity

EIJING—The conflict in Ukraine has “sounded an alarm for humanity,” Chinese leader Xi Jinping said Wednesday, as China continues to assume a position of neutrality while backing its ally Russia. China has refused to criticize Russia’s war in Ukraine or even to refer to it as an invasion in deference to Moscow, while also condemning US-led sanctions against Russia and accusing the West of provoking Moscow. “ T he U k ra i ne c r isis h a s aga i n sounded the alarm for humanity. Countries will surely end up in security hardships if they place blind faith in their positions of strength, expand military alliances, and seek their own safety at the expense of others,” the official Xinhua News Agency quoted Xi as saying. Xi, who did not propose any solutions, was speaking at the opening of a virtual business forum of the “BRICS” countries—Brazil, Russia, India, China, and South Africa. In other comments, Xi said imposing sanctions could act as a “boomerang” and a “double-edged sword,” and that the global community would suffer from “politicizing, mechanizing and weaponizing” global economic trends and financial flows. Brazilian President Jair Bolsonaro maintained an unusual diplomatic tone in his brief recorded speech to the forum, exalting his administration’s re-

sults without naming any other country. “The current international context is a cause for concern because of the risks to trade and investment flows to the stability of energy supply chains and investment,” he said. “Brazil ’s response to these challenges is not to close itself off. On the contrary, we have sought to deepen our economic integration.” Xi also said China would seek to reduce the damage to international supply chains caused by the Covid-19 pandemic, which it has confronted with a hardline policy of lockdowns and quarantines, despite a diminishing number of cases and the increasing economic cost. China’s increasingly assertive foreign policy and drive to dominate global markets have prompted a backlash in the US, Europe and elsewhere, including calls to replace Chinese suppliers and reduce reliance on the Chinese economy. Xi called for nations to work together on such issues, saying efforts to “build a small courtyard with high walls” was in no one’s interest. “Economic globalization is an objective requirement for the development of productive forces and an irresistible historical trend,” Xi said. “Going backwards in history and trying to block other people’s road will only block your own road in the end,” he said. AP

A14 Friday, June 24, 2022 • Editor: Angel R. Calso

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A truly safe place

N the day that John Albert Laylo, a promising lawyer, died a senseless death in America, President Joe Biden fell off his bicycle at his Rehoboth Beach vacation home in Delaware.

Unconnected events? Laylo represents a billion-dollar sector that’s keeping America rich, and Biden has the power to strengthen the economy by keeping the US safe for visitors. That’s how the US can keep its position as the top global destination. In 2021, inbound tourism receipts in the US hit $69 billion despite the pandemic. The Filipino lawyer was fatally shot in Philadelphia on Saturday, in a shooting incident initially described by police investigators as “mostly likely a case of mistaken identity.” Laylo and his mother, Leah, were reportedly on a 30day trip in the US to visit family. Reports said Laylo and his mother were heading to the airport when a shooter in a vehicle behind their rideshare car fired through the back windshield, striking Laylo in the back of the head and injuring his mother with broken glass. Investigators reportedly recovered at least a dozen cartridge casings from the scene. Consul General Elmer Cato said Philadelphia Mayor Jim Kenney has expressed shock and sorrow over the killing of Laylo. The mayor is offering a $20,000 reward for information that will lead to the arrest of the gunman. From the Associated Press: “Senate bargainers reached agreement Tuesday on a bipartisan gun violence bill, potentially teeing up final passage by week’s end on an incremental but landmark package that would stand as Congress’ response to mass shootings in Texas and New York that shook the nation.” Pundits said the agreed Senate bill is a diluted measure that does not include more potent proposals like total ban of assault-type weapons, prohibiting high-capacity magazines, and requiring background checks for all gun sales. They also doubted whether Congress could sustain momentum for the gun violence bill after lawmakers come back from a two-week July 4th recess. America is currently experiencing a surge in gun violence. Mass shootings, where four or more people—not including the shooter—are injured or killed, have averaged more than one per day so far this year. The National Public Radio said that as of June 5, “America has already seen at least 246 mass shootings.” NPR said 38 have taken place since a rampage at an elementary school in Uvalde, Texas left 19 children and two teachers dead on May 24. The National Shooting Sports Foundation said there are about 20 million AR-style weapons in circulation in the US. They are part of a total 393 million guns owned by US civilians, more than the US population. These guns are killing Americans, and unfortunate visitors like Laylo, every single day. In 2020 alone, more than 45,000 Americans died at the end of a barrel of a gun, whether by homicide or suicide. Is it safe to travel to the US? With the unabated and rising number of mass shootings, the answer should be obvious. Surprisingly, only Japan has warned its residents that the US is a “gun society.” In 2019, Japan’s Consulate General in Detroit issued a statement instructing Japanese citizens to “be aware of the potential for gunfire incidents everywhere in the United States.” The warning came following the deadly mass shootings in Gilroy, California; El Paso, Texas; and Dayton, Ohio. There’s no stopping gun violence in America unless US authorities do something about the 393 million guns owned by US civilians, including the 20 million assault weapons in circulation. It would do well for other states to follow the initiative of the Miami police “seeking to get weapons off the streets—and into the hands of Ukrainian soldiers fighting Russian troops.” That was the stated goal of the “Guns 4 Ukraine” buyback program that the city’s police department recently launched. The Miami police are offering $50 for handguns, $100 for shotguns and $150 for “high-powered” rifles such as AK-47s or AR-15s. No questions asked. Just bring your guns to them. A recent survey said 53 percent of Americans are highly concerned about gun violence every single day. Here’s the interesting part: Worry and fear are driving some people who were anti-gun to embrace firearms for protection. If this trend continues, we pray that America will become a truly safe place for everybody.

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Better Days

ith just a few days left before the new administration formally takes over, one of the topics that has remained abuzz throughout public discussions and social media chatter is about the incoming cabinet of President-elect Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr. While several well-respected, competent individuals have already been named, many positions have yet to be filled. What’s particularly noteworthy though is that the two highest elected officials of the land are already slated to take on portfolios that deal with two of the biggest systemic challenges the country has faced for decades. The first pertains, of course, to President-elect Marcos recently announcing that he himself will take on the Department of Agriculture (DA) on a concurrent basis—at least in the first part of his administration. In a recent press briefing, the incoming President said that he intends to focus on increasing domestic rice production in light of the recent decision of Thailand and Vietnam to form an export cartel. He also said that he plans to reorganize the DA in

such fashion that it will be prepared and agile enough to respond to the growing challenges to the nation’s food security. While it’s possible that the President and his team are still searching for somebody capable and competent enough to handle Philippine agriculture’s gargantuan challenges, the decision to temporarily assume the portfolio of the DA only demonstrates that the incoming administration is rightfully prioritizing the country’s food security. A confluence of factors both here and abroad have led to very high food prices, which only adds to the burden of many Filipinos who are still reeling from the economic disruptions caused by the Covid-19 pandemic. The World Bank even recently calculated that since food prices could jump by 37 percent on account of the

The face and the heel

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Ma. Angelica B. America

EAGLE WATCH

Lourdes M. Fernandez

N professional wrestling, a face is a heroic, good-guy, fan-favorite wrestler, booked by promoters as someone to be cheered by the people. By contrast, a heel is a wrestler who portrays a villain, bad guy, or scoundrel who receives jeers. There seems to be a parallelism between professional wrestling and social affairs, where faces are often portrayed by politicians, and heels are often portrayed by economists. Princeton economist Alan Blinder provides a description of the Lamppost Theory: Politicians typically use economics the way a drunk person uses a lamppost—for support, not illumination. This means that politicians, for better or worse, decide their positions on political criteria, and then they sometimes seek economists to bless those positions. That decisions are made politically in a democracy is hardly shocking, and neither is it inherently wrong. The real problem, however, as Blinder argues, is that good economics often makes bad politics, and good politics often makes bad economics.

Blinder notes that politicians have a different—and well-known— objective: getting elected and reelected. Thus, politicians often strive to appeal to ordinary people who feel that their concerns are disregarded by established elite groups—the very meaning of populism. By contrast, economists, particularly those who are not employed by special interest groups, generally support policies they deem to be in the national interest. They realize that virtually every policy change creates some losers, but they instinctively favor the ones likely to create the most benefits for the most people.

armed conflict between Russia and Ukraine, a global food crisis of catastrophic proportions is in the offing to likely hit developing countries like the Philippines harder. Having no less than the Chief Executive manning the DA opens up the opportunity for a true whole-of-government approach not just to fix up our agricultural sector, but also to respond to such global developments that impact our people’s capacity to feed their families. The other one concerns Vice President Sara Duterte-Carpio taking on the Department of Education (DepEd). Many consider her a rather unorthodox choice for the position; one that is in charge of what is arguably the biggest bureaucracy in the country. But given that the incoming Vice President has demonstrated that her leadership style is very hands-on, there is hope that the diverse, multifaceted problems of the DepEd will be given adequate attention. That she earned a resounding mandate in the recent elections should also be seen as auspicious. Solving the ongoing “learner’s crisis” that groups such as Philippine Business for Education (PBEd) have been spotlighting for many years will need no less than a broad base of support from the citizenry. Furthermore, the outgoing 18th Congress—before it recently adjourned sine die—had also passed a measure establishing a Second Con-

The sobering truth is that genuine and inclusive development will not be attained with a quick-fix blanket solution that politicians often promise. It will involve making difficult choices and systemic reforms that will shake up the status quo—something that most people are not willing to embrace. The story of this year’s recently concluded elections is truly instructive. Campaigns leading to the polls were truly polarizing, as the top candidates faced off with the heavy use of social media optics and grand rallies. Nevertheless, eloquent election platforms seemed to have mattered less than how the voting populace perceived candidates. Candidates poured a lot of resources in maximizing their presence online where there is wider reach—with some even employing the services of vloggers and influencers to help rebrand their image to make themselves more palatable to younger and older voters alike. “Less talk, better visuals” was the game. The goal was to make these candidates appear down-to-earth and approachable to the masses, thereby convincing voters that the candidates truly represented

gressional Commission on Education or EDCOM 2 to conduct a sweeping review of our education system and propose solutions to the problems that have resulted in our students ranking among the world’s lowest in the Program for International Student Assessment (PISA). Should the measure be enacted into law, it bodes well that the incoming DepEd secretary is known as a person not just of principle, but also of action. A sense of urgency could very well be infused into our response to the education system’s many problems. The agriculture and education sectors are critical to our survival as a people. They are cornerstones to our collective development and prosperity. That the Philippines has had perennial problems in these two areas explain in part why we have yet to achieve our deepest aspirations as a nation. Now that two of the highest elected officials of the land have showed that they have the political will to take on these systemic issues, we’re more than hopeful that we are about to reach an inflection point as these two crucial sectors have been taking a hit in the last few years. Senator Sonny Angara has been in public service for 18 years—9 years as Representative of the Lone District of Aurora, and 9 as Senator. He has authored and sponsored more than 250 laws. He is currently serving his second term in the Senate. E-mail: sensonnyangara@yahoo.com| Facebook, Twitter & Instagram: @sonnyangara

their hopes and aspirations, whether or not this was true. What does truth mean nowadays? People did not seem to be sure anymore, despite the wealth of information available to validate information. Was perception really more important than the truth? Furthermore, for millions of Filipinos, what could be more true than the suffering they experience on a daily basis, due to a system that does not champion the marginalized? Despite this seemingly stark reality, many still wanted to latch onto the fantasy that populism promises to bring. Given the results of the recently concluded elections, it is all the more apparent that many politicians prey on the hope of their voting base. Because these people are impressionable due to a lack of technical knowledge in economics, it is easy to hook them on sugary promises, as these are marketed well like a rebranded but subpar product. As long as keywords like “lower prices,” “more jobs,” and “better lives” are present in the rhetoric, people hold onto them, perhaps because it is easier to fantasize about a brighter future than to discuss excruciating details on how to actually make progress happen. See “Eagle Watch,” A15

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Eagle Watch. . . continued from A14

What people forget is that once politicians take power, difficult tradeoffs must be made to keep the government running. For instance, to increase government revenues and afford certain promises like lower prices for commodities and subsidies for senior citizens and PWDs, the government might need to raise taxes or defer tax reductions because trillions had been borrowed to mobilize the pandemic response. Populism does not mention these hard measures. It simply promises support for ordinary Filipinos who want to get back on their feet. Sadly, social media has been an ally of populism, especially in this election. Given the right optics and motherhood statements, even bad economics can look like a promising solution to the country’s woes. The sobering truth is that genuine and inclusive development will not be attained with a quick-fix blanket solution that politicians often promise. It will involve making difficult choices and systemic reforms that will shake up the status quo— something that most people are not willing to embrace. Indeed, either a face or a heel can influence people’s individual and collective choices, which will always entail some hardship. It may be difficult to tell who the face or the heel really is. Perhaps, it is still best to be reminded of this old saying: “Beware of a wolf in sheep’s clothing.” Ms. Ma. Angelica B. America is a faculty member of the Department of Economics at Ateneo de Manila University.

The tale of two cats Tito Genova Valiente

By Alan Fram

ASHINGTON—The country has long endured a numbing succession of mass shootings at schools, places of worship and public gathering places. None forced Congress to react with significant legislation—until now. Last month, a white shooter was accused of racist motives in the killings of 10 Black people in a supermarket in Buffalo, New York. Another gunman killed 19 students and two teachers at an elementary school in Uvalde, Texas. The slayings of shoppers and school children just 10 days apart— innocents engaged in every day activities—helped prompt a visceral public demand for Congress to do something, lawmakers of both parties say. Bargainers produced a bipartisan gun violence bill that the Senate is moving toward approving later this week, with House action expected sometime afterward. Here’s a look at the confluence of factors that helped to produce a compromise.

Republican motivation

This is an election year. Republicans are favored to take over the House, now narrowly controlled by Democrats, and have a solid chance of capturing the 50-50 Senate. To reinforce their chances, Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell, R-Ky., knows they need to attract moderate voters like suburban women who will decide competitive races in states like Arizona, Georgia, Nevada and North Carolina. Taking steps aimed at reducing mass shootings helps the GOP demonstrate it is responsive and reasonable — an image tarnished by former President Donald Trump and the hard-right deniers of his 2020 election defeat. Underscoring the focus he prefers, McConnell lauded the gun agreement by pointedly telling reporters Wednesday that it takes significant steps to address “the two issues that I think it focuses on, school safety

annotations

nnova was the first cat to arrive in the Savage Mind Bookshop. For all the innovations and readiness for change implicated in that word, the name of the cat came from a most undramatic provenance: he was found under a car bearing the said name. Unimaginative as the moniker may appear, it was a solution that needed to be arrived at. Like human children whose names are changed whenever they become sickly during their early years, cats have to have labels a human can use to call them. To not have those branding is to lose them to the wild urban poor surroundings of their youth.

The name was necessary for this animal in order that it be tamed, domesticated. Innova was thus placed within the rooms of the bookstore, accompanying its owner and the many personalities who, as writers, cultural workers, and unheralded artists, feel they own the spaces now given to a cat. While everyone seemed to profess ownership of the cat, Innova was never a pet. He was brooding and isolated himself most of the time, qualities that ironically endeared him to those who got to know him—a beast for the moment domiciled as if he rightfully belonged among books and other curiosities. The first days of progress for Innova were also the rise of Savage Mind. It was the place to be—a shrine for readership and intellectualism, never mind if people came to the place not to read but to be photographed

Ghastly shootings, political forces align to prompt gun deal The Associated Press

Friday, June 24, 2022 A15

and mental health.” The bill would spend $8.6 billion on mental health programs and over $2 billion on safety and other improvements at schools, according to a cost estimate by the nonpartisan Congressional Budget Office. The analysts estimated its overall cost at around $13 billion, more than paid for by budget savings it also claims. But it also makes the juvenile records of gun buyers aged 18 to 20 part of background checks required to buy firearms, bars guns for convicted domestic abusers not married to or living with their victims and strengthens penalties for gun trafficking. It finances violence prevention programs and helps states implement laws that help authorities temporarily take guns from people deemed risky.

Democrats want middle ground, too

The measure lacks stronger curbs backed by Democrats like banning the assault-style rifles used in Buffalo, Uvalde and other massacres and the high-capacity ammunition magazines those shooters used. Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer, D-N.Y., said Wednesday that this time, Democrats decided they would not “hold a vote on a bill with many things we would want but that had no hope of getting passed.” That’s been the pattern for years. Democratic Sens. Chris Murphy of Connecticut and Kyrsten Sinema of Arizona, and Republican Sens. John Cornyn of Texas and Thom Tillis of North Carolina, led negotiators in talks that lasted four weeks. Their accord is Congress’ most important gun violence measure since the nowexpired assault weapons ban enacted in 1993. For almost 30 years, “both parties sat in their respective corners, decided it was politically safer to do nothing than to take chances,” Murphy told reporters. He said Democrats needed to show “we were willing to put on the table some things that brought us out of our comfort zone.” Associated Press writer Susan Haigh in Hartford, Connecticut, contributed to this report

reading. This must be the new intellectualism, to find the right book that matches one’s hair color and attitude, to pose with just the right amount of je ne sais quoi, a snooty whatever, to accompany the color of the cover and the author emblazoned on it for everyone to contemplate and praise: She must know Brecht. She must love Baldwin. He fancies Foucault. He is seduced by Mishima. Attitude is big in Savage Mind, and Innova is a ball of attitude and a bed of psychosis, whenever he stays immobile on a rug, under a table, or beneath T-shirts with slogans about childhood and the obscenities of growing up. He is the perfect cat for literature and all it stands for—irrelevance, truth, worlding, weirding, beauty, ugliness, lies, pretentions. Then one day came another cat. It was a dark phantasm. Again, the

name abruptly (for we were never consulted) was invented for it— Kaiju. It is a name that refers to a giant, a monster in the universe of manga and anime. Which was not a surprise; nowadays, either you are an otaku, a fan obsessed to the point of lovely madness, or something else. That something else could mean you are an angry young man or a spacedout young woman admiring those obscure singers on YouTube whose squeaky voices are interpreted as new angst. Kaiju had a big tummy when he was introduced to us, rather, when he was shoved to us. With colors that were a fusion of volcanic ash and nightfall shadow, Kaiju was never the pretty kitten that would elicit ohs and ahs. In fact, sometimes, he is called Paniki, for his face resembles that of a bat. This time, we had a cat whose origin was not danger but home. Love, security, kinship, as we want homes to be, are the framework

for Kaiju’s persona. Kaiju introduced to the household created a discomfort for Innova who, it seemed, found the small one opinionated. While during these times, Innova had settled already for chicken as his diet, Kaiju had not shown any interest in food. He was addicted to the artists who cuddled him. These gestures convinced Kaiju that he was not only the beloved but he was also amidst humans who were loving. He didn’t know that the beings in the bookstore were using him to prop up their own imagined identities. These humans believe cats are closer to writers and artists. This is the wrong assumption: cats are no more lovers of writers than writers are lovers of other people’s writings. But cats can pretend to like our writings and we thank them for that. Selfishness is the dogma by which the faith of cats is enshrined in the literature of animal compan-

ionship. Cats are selfish, narcissistic creatures. These are the same qualities that define artists. The only thing that saves cats from perdition is their utter lack of hypocrisy, which is the domain of dogs —they who have mastered the art of touchy-feely slogans. You know, words like Love means never having to say you’re sorry. As I am a public anthropologist, I cannot leave out the social nexus in which we can understand cats in the order of things, meaning in the stratification of relationships. There are other cats outside the realm of books and arts, where Innova and Kaiju, to borrow the words of Satre, are condemned to be free. These cats are Carla and Radius. Carla is a female cat who is always pregnant. She is Sisa of the cat underworld because a few weeks back, I saw her moving around in lamentation as she searched for her kittens. I believe they were stolen, which, following some data I got from an animal lover, then made Carla’s reproductive organs quicken again. Radius takes his name from Karel Capek’s RUR. With that name, he has nowhere to go but to struggle with his identity. Resilient with hunger, a description that we love to append to us as a nation of beings, Radius could live longer if his name could be changed to that of a hero of the Revolution. Then, we could imagine him to be brave and to have a strong sense of the nation, and dream of becoming a National Artist. E-mail: titovaliente@yahoo.com

Goodbye to the SSS champions at the Senate Manny F. Dooc

TELLTALES

he graduating senators, Senators Franklin Drilon and Ralph Recto, and one re-electionist senator who failed to win another term at the Senate, Sen. Richard Gordon, will no longer be members of the Upper Chamber when the 19th Congress of the Philippines convene on July 25, 2022, but they will be surely missed by the million members of the Social Security System (SSS). No members of the present Senate had worked harder than these three gentlemen to enact Republic Act 11199, otherwise known as the Social Security Act of 2018. The new law that repealed the 21-year-old Social Security Law, RA 1161, as amended by RA 8282, aimed to rationalize and expand the powers and duties of the Social Security Commission and secure the long-term viability of SSS. It was signed into law by President Rodrigo R. Duterte on February 7, 2019 and took effect on March 5, 2019, 15 days following its publication in the Official Gazette. Its enactment was hailed as one of the landmark social legislations approved during the Duterte administration. Senate Bill 1753, which became the proposed law, was principally authored and sponsored by Senator Richard Gordon, the chairman of the Senate Committee on Government Corporations and Public Enterprises. It received bipartisan support both from the majority and minority members of the Senate. In the committee meetings and in the plenary deliberations, Senators Franklin Drilon and Ralph Recto worked hard to improve the features of the bill and to include pertinent provisions that redounded to the best interests of the workers in the private sector. SSS and its members found no better advocates and champions in pushing for better reforms of our social security system. The unqualified support of the Senate leadership, primarily that of Senate President Tito Sotto and Majority Leader Migz Zubiri who had given priority to the bill, had ensured its smooth passage. The bill was also co-authored by Sotto, Zubiri, Loren Legarda, Francis Escudero, Cynthia Villar, Antonio Trillanes, Joel Vil-

lanueva, JV Ejercito, Win Gatchalian and Nancy Binay. It was unanimously passed by the plenary with zero opposition and no abstention on its third and final reading. During the Bicameral Committee Conference, the Senate panel was represented by Senators Gordon, Recto, Drilon and Win Gatchalian. The Lower House contingent led by Congressmen Prospero Pichay and Mark Go adopted the Senate version. And the President wasted no time in signing it into law after a thorough review by Malacañang. With the most brilliant minds in the Senate working together to obtain optimum benefits for our SSS members, significant provisions were added to the bill and incorporated in the law. Among its salient features was the rationalization of the powers of the Social Security Commission, the policy-making body of SSS, allowing it to expand the investing capacity of the pension fund to generate better income for SSS for the benefit of its members and pensioners. The minimum and maximum salary credits, which determine the death, retirement and disability benefits, were increased from P1,000 to P2,000 and P16,000 to P20,000, respectively. The minimum and maximum MSCs were further increased by P1,000 and P5,000 every other year, respectively, until the minimum hits P5,000 and the maximum, P35,000. Implementation of the additional monthly benefit of P1,000 for retirement, death and disability pensions retroactive to January 2017 was included in the law. Inclusion for the first time of an SSS unemployment insurance program for members under age 60 with at least 36 monthly contribu-

The new SSS law reflects the wisdom and the vision of Senators Gordon, Drilon and Recto who worked hard to produce a new version of a social security act that responds to the needs of our ordinary workingmen outside the government.

tions who become involuntarily unemployed was another major enhancement. The benefit consists of 50 percent of the member’s average MSC payable for two months. This was designed to help the unemployed member financially during the time that he or she is looking for a new job. At no time has the benefit of this unemployment insurance been greatly felt by hundreds of thousands of qualified SSS members who lost their jobs during this pandemic. Finance Secretary Carlos Dominguez reported last year that P2.35 billion or 90 percent of the cash grants under the SSS unemployment insurance benefit were released during the pandemic period from March 2020 to June 2021. About 200,000 members of the pension fund had received the benefit by June 2021. Another salutary provision included in the law was the compulsory SSS coverage for Overseas Filipino Workers under age 60. Before this new law, SSS coverage of OFWs was purely voluntary. There are about 2.5 million OFWs but just about 1/5 of them are covered members. When they lose their jobs overseas, the former OFWs may opt to continue their membership voluntarily to enjoy full benefits. Our lawmakers addressed the long-term viability of the system and the sustainability of its fund life by increasing the employer and employee contribution rates from 11 percent to 12 percent effective January 1, 2019. The employer contributes 8 percent and the employee 4 percent, which is the same ratio as applied before. The combined contribution rate will increase by 1 percent every other year until it reaches 15 percent in 2025. After the initial increase of contribution to 12 percent, further increase was deferred due to the financial crisis brought by the pandemic. Likewise, compulsory membership of OFWs was also postponed upon appeal of some interest groups. I trust that these setbacks

will be temporary and that the full provisions of the law will be strictly implemented for the benefit of all the covered members. National interest should prevail over political expediency. The new SSS law reflects the wisdom and the vision of Senators Gordon, Drilon and Recto who worked hard to produce a new version of a social security act that responds to the needs of our ordinary workingmen outside the government. Their collective experience as outstanding public servants and their individual expertise as a dedicated relief worker, an eminent labor lawyer and a trained economist translated into a social legislation that will hugely benefit the SSS members and their immediate families. As the principal author and sponsor of the law, Senator Gordon introduced the measure by claiming that “the bill is an enhancement of the previous laws; it ensures hope that the people would not be a burden to the country, that they are partners of the government not by way of exaction of taxes but by their contributions that their welfare is assured. The bill does not promise an abundance of wealth but to secure people in case they encounter unwanted situations in their lives through a lifeline that they themselves created through their contribution.” After their illustrious service in the Senate, Senators Gordon, Recto and Drilon will be pursuing their separate lives—Gordon will be immersed in his relief and humanitarian work at the Philippine Red Cross, Recto will have his hands full as a returning member of the House of Representatives, and Drilon will be occupied as an elderly statesman serving as a conscience of the nation. They will be absent in the halls of the Senate. Gordon may no longer fascinate us with his probing questions as he investigates crooks in the government; Recto may no longer dazzle us with his well researched data and statistics as he argues his case; and Drilon may no longer mesmerize us with his mastery of parliamentary rules and legal issues as he mentored his colleagues. Media and visitors at the gallery will miss them in action at the plenary floor, but the over 40 million SSS members and their immediate families will not forget what they have done to secure their future.

A16 Friday, June 24, 2022

DOST-Science for Change Program Nations told: Invest in innovation wins 2022 UN Public Service Awards to fight hunger amid climate crisis T

By Cai U. Ordinario

@caiordinario

BILLION people are facing the possibility of going hungry due to climate change by 2050, according to the latest report of the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) and European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD). In the report, FAO and the EBRD said climate change is characterized by rising temperatures, changing rainfall patterns and supply chain disruptions which impact food production, undermining global efforts to end hunger. One of the culprits of worsening climate change are anthropogenic greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions, of which 21 to 37 percent is accounted for by agrifood systems emissions. “Agriculture is both a cause and a victim of climate change, and it must be part of the climate solution,” FAO Investment Centre

Director Mohamed Manssouri added, pointing to the potential to engage food and land-use systems to reduce emissions and act as a carbon sink. FAO encouraged countries to adopt improvements in farming such as the adoption of natural vegetative strips which could be set up in the Philippines at $84 per hectare and maintained at $36 per hectare per year. Natural vegetative strips are part of the options proposed by the FAO and EBRD which includes soil and water conservation tech-

nologies being adopted by some countries. These soil and water conservation efforts also include improved agronomic practices, conservation agriculture (CA) and integrated nutrient management. Natural vegetative strips in the Philippines, Grassed Fanya juu terraces in Kenya, and Konso bench terraces in Ethiopia are among the improved agronomic practices mentioned in the report. “We need to double down and mobilize greater investment, knowledge and innovations to make our agrifood systems greener, more resilient, more productive and more efficient at providing healthy and nutritious diets, good jobs and biodiversity,” Manssouri said. The report argued that the private sector has much to gain by decarbonizing agrifood systems— including reducing costs, mitigating risks, protecting brand value, ensuring long-term supply chain viability, and gaining competitive advantages. FAO and EBRD said that while some companies have committed to ambitious emissions reduction targets, efforts have been “uneven.” They noted that for one, achieving carbon neutrality is still voluntary. “Decarbonizing the agrifood sector is possible and not some uto-

pian ideal or box-ticking exercise. There are low-carbon pathways, as we highlight in the report, but they call for strong political and corporate commitment, concerted action, including sound policies and good governance, and dedicated investment and human resources to see results,” Gianpiero Nacci, EBRD Director, Green Economy and Climate Action, said. Further, they said it can be significantly more expensive for a smaller company to become carbon neutral than for a larger one. And it can vary from sector to sector. One of the challenges, FAO and EBRD said, is that consumers are often not willing to pay a premium for carbon-neutral products, which combined with a low implicit price of emitting means that not all carbon reduction approaches pay off for agrifood system actors. In addition, FAO and EBRD said offsetting costs—at current carbon prices—can be much lower than reduction costs across emissionsintensive sectors. The report identifies five action areas that different stakeholders — policymakers, agribusinesses, farmers, international organizations— can do to accelerate the transition to greener agrifood systems. These areas are strategically target carbon neutrality; improve and standardize tools and methods; promote sound governance mechanisms; directly support companies and farmers to decarbonize; and educate and communicate on carbon neutrality.

he Science for Change Program (S4CP) of the Department of Science and Technology (DOST) won in the 2022 United Nations Public Service Awards (UNPSA). During the UN Public Service Day on June 22, the United Nations recognized the contribution of the Science for Change Program in “Enhancing the effectiveness of public institutions to reach the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs),” the DOST said in a news release. The UN said: “Your institution’s outstanding achievement has demonstrated excellence in serving the public interest and it has made a significant contribution to the improvement of public administration in your country. Indeed, it will serve as an inspiration and encouragement for others working for public service.” The S4CP endeavors to significantly accelerate science, tec h nolog y a nd i n nov at ion (STI), in the country through massive increase in investment in science and technology (S&T), human resource development (HRD) and research and development (R&D). “This is a milestone for DOST. We are grateful and honored to the UNPSA for giving this prestigious recognition to the Science for Change Program,” said Science Secretary Fortunato T. de la Peña. “The S4CP has embarked on a journey to capitalize on the importance of R&D in achieving socio economic development through research collaboration and cooperation between and among industry, academe, and

research institutions to improve productivity and global competitiveness,” de la Peña added. Implemented under the DOSTOffice of the Undersecretary for Research and Development, in cooperation with the DOST Regional Offices and four councils, the S4CP focuses on an accelerated R&D program for capacity building of R&D institutions and industrial competitiveness. Its sub-programs—the Niche Centers in the Regions for R&D; R&D Leadership; Collaborative Research and Development to Leverage Philippine Economy; and Business Innovation Through S&T for Industry—let R&D contribute to making positive change happen in the country. “ The S4CP enables an inclusive innovation ecosystem through creating R&D opportunities for stakeholders and key industry players, which address societal problems that translate to community transformation and regional and national socioeconomic development,” said DOST Undersecretary for Research and Development Dr. Rowena Cristina L. Guevara, who created the concepts of S4CP’s four sub-programs. Continued on A2

Companies BusinessMirror

Editor: Jennifer A. Ng

Friday, June 24, 2022

Luxembourg firm to roll-out satellite-based Internet ops By Lenie Lectura

@llectura

UXEMBOURGISH satellite and terrestrial telecommunications network provider SES S.A. will introduce satellite-based internet services to the Philippines next year as technocrats push for digital inclusion. During a virtual news briefing, SES Business Development Director Rob Marabut said their satellites, called “O3b mPOWER,” are scheduled to be launched in the third quarter of next year. According to Marabut, these

satellites would be able to support “massive increase” in the 4G and 5G mobile deployments in remote areas, with “fiber-like” speeds at 1 gigabyte per second that can be experienced even in underserved and remote areas in the country. SES, he said, is

already considering partnering with local service providers. “When its services become available in early 2023, O3b mPOWER’s connectivity will play a key role in driving commercial and economic developments throughout the Philippines,” the company said in a statement. SES said the O3b mPOWER is based on an existing constellation, which wholly-owned subsidiary O3b Networks Ltd. was building and operating. The O3b system is the world’s first and only commercia l ly-successf u l non-geostationary satellite system and delivers low-latency, high-per for mance connectivity worldwide. O3b mPOWER’s fibre-like speeds will enable the

delivery of cloud computing applications and services to power digital inclusion, while connecting communities and industries regardless of the remoteness of their location. “Despite having the highest Internet usage rates in the Asia-Pacific region with more than 10 hours spent daily online, only 73 percent of the Filipino population has access to the internet,” the Betzdorf, Luxembourg company said. “The introduction of newer satellite technologies such as SES’s O3b mPOWER’s reliable highperfomance, low-latency connectivity solutions are coming at a time where the country is currently undergoing an extensive digital transformation for closer participation in the global digital economy.”

FLI to use bond proceeds for capex By VG Cabuag @villygc

ILINVEST Land Inc., the Gotianun-led property developer, listed P11.9 billion in 3-year and 5-year fixed rate bonds at the Philippine Dealing and Exchange Corp. last Thursday. The company told the Philippine Stock Exchange that it would use the proceeds from the bond float to partially finance its capital expenditure program and refinance maturing debt. The proceeds of this bond issuance will add to its internally generated funds in support of its continued expansion in the affordable and middle-income residential development. The paper was almost 10 times oversubscribed on its base offer of P8 billion, the company said. FLI President and Chief Strateg y Officer Tristaneil D. Las Marias said in a statement the

Spectrum to power Toyota

PECTRUM Inc., the renewable energy firm of the Manila Electric Co. (Meralco), has put up a 460 kilowatt-peak (kWp) solar rooftop at the manufacturing plant of Toyota Motor Philippines Corp. (TMP) in Santa Rosa, Laguna. The solar project is an expansion of the existing 1-megawatt (MW) facility, which Spectrum also installed in December 2018. The new solar project, which was energized last June 22, is expected to generate approximately 625,700 kilowatt-hour (kWh) of clean energy per year, translating to an estimated annual savings in energy costs amounting to P3.5 million. It is expected to result in an estimated 446 metric tons (MT) of carbon emission reduction, equivalent to more than 45,000 trees planted or 1,775,148 kilometers less in vehicle travel per year. Spectrum also said that the new facility further drives TMP’s sustainability journey as it supplements its earlier solar project which has generated some 4,753,561.58 kWh of clean energy since it started commercial operations. It also allowed the company to save about P31.6 million in energy costs and lessen its carbon footprint by 3,385 MT. Lenie Lectura

company has “a strong lineup of over P30 billion new residential projects to be rolled out in the coming year in new territories.”

Stable rate

LAS Marias added there are also expansions in 32 existing medium-rise building townships nationwide. “We target to launch in new areas like Bataan, Santa Maria in Bulacan, Naga in Camarines Sur and in General Santos, South Cotabato,” the executive said. “Housing continues to grow at a stable rate despite the pandemic. We expect this to further grow as we transition out of the pandemic.” The company said it introduced new recurring business products such as co-living, co-working and logistics and innovation parks w ith ready-built warehouses. Its first co-living development, which FLI have branded as “The Crib,” is located at Clark Mimosa

in Pampanga, with the first two buildings “set to be operational soon.” “There are also two more ‘The Crib’ buildings under construction,” company CEO Lourdes Josephine Gotianun-Yap said. “On the other hand, we envision our Innovation Park in New Clark City in Tarlac and Filinvest Technopark in Calamba, Laguna to be the preferred location of logistics, data centers, e-commerce, light manufacturing, and storage business operators,” GotianunYap was quoted in a statement as saying. “This will add to our portfolio of recurring income projects which we aim to infuse into Filinvest REIT [real estate investment trust] at the right time.”

Residential revenues

THE firm’s latest bond issuance was the third and final tranche out of the P30-billion bonds that FLI registered in 2020 under the shelf registration program of the

Securities and Exchange Commission. The company issued the first tranche in November 18, 2020 at P8.1 billion and the second tranche in December 21, 2021 at P10 billion. BDO Capital and Investment Corp., BPI Capital Corp., China Bank Capital Corp., East West Banking Corp., First Metro Investment Corp., RCBC Capital Corp. and SB Capital Investment Corp. were picked as the deal’s joint lead underwriters and bookrunners. Last May the company reported P4.31 billion in revenues and other income for the first quarter of 2022. FLI said it posted P2.69 billion of residential revenues, which is a 9-percent growth compared to the same period last year. FLI said last month that the “growth in residential revenues was due to continued construction progress and high reservation sales.”

DFNN backs PSE’s all-digital trading

FNN Inc. said on June 23 it launched a platform for stock brokers expected to support the Philippine Stock Exchange’s move to shut down its physical trading floor and move to all-digital trading. The company said its unit, iWave Inc., has introduced the “Next Wave Interactive Broker Platforms and Systems.” DFNN describes this as a “comprehensive digital stock trading platform with complete back office, customer relationship, digital marketing and secure identity solutions.” The company added the platform allows trading participants and retail investors alike to maximize stock trading activities via an “end-to-end” integrated system that will expand and make inclusive market participation thereby accelerating the growth of the capital market. “Currently, some of these technologies are already used by top online brokers,” the company said. The said system was developed in collaboration with longtime technology partner Direct International Financial Network Pvt. Ltd. “With the cooperation of the PSE, ‘Next-Wave’ was presented to its trading participants, receiving very

positive feedback,” the company said. Its platforms and systems serves all broker and retail investor requirements from a digital standpoint for trading, settlement and back office processes such as accounting, billing and includes multiple newer fintech and payment solutions designed to quickly execute trades. Processing is done real time, improving payment velocity and reducing friction, the company said. According to DFNN, “Next Wave” is available on a subscription basis, allowing trading participants to manage use and cost, depending on certain custom and growing requirements. “The retail channel of the trading platform is designed to leverage the untapped market consisting of young professionals and first-time investors who are starting to learn and navigate the intricacies of the stock market,” it said. The company said iWave built the Philippines’s first automated trading platform, which was implemented at the trading floor of the PSE in 1993. Even today, iWave’s technology components are used by the Philippines’s largest online stock brokerage firms by daily volume transactions. VGCabuag

BlackRock plans expansion in SG

LACKROCK Inc. is poised for a major expansion in Singapore as it follows other international firms looking to tap capital flows into Southeast Asia. The world’s largest asset manager is in discussions to double its floorspace at an office block in the city-state’s central business district, according to people familiar with the matter. The US firm is expecting to add dozens of staff from local hiring and some relocations from Hong Kong, said one of the people, who asked not to be identi-

fied as the matter is confidential. Plans are still at an early stage, the people said. BlackRock’s move adds to a trend of global firms considering building up a presence in the country, which is seen as a gateway to Southeast Asia. Singapore is benefiting from capital flowing in amid global geopolitical tensions and a regulatory crackdown in China. Ray Dalio’s family office is also recruiting investment professionals in the country as it seeks to expand operations in Asia. Bloomberg News

Companies BusinessMirror

Friday, June 24, 2022

Merrymart signs long-term lease deal with Ayala Land

By VG Cabuag

@villygc

ERRYMART Consumer Corp., an upcoming grocery chain led by businessman Edgar J. Sia II, has signed a 15-year long-term lease contract with property developer Ayala Land Inc. to build stand-alone full-sized supermarkets in its properties in Laguna and in Tarlac. The company said its grocery in Nuvali in Santa Rosa in Laguna will have 2,261.21 square meters in size while its branch in Cresendo in Tarlac will have about 2,076.90 square

meters of retail space and will be surrounded by parking areas. T he new stand-a lone f u l lsized supermarket design of Merrymart Grocery will be the format

intended for locations in sprawling horizontal communities, the company said. It is intended to be an ecofriendly supermarket with roof solar panels, LED-lighting fixtures and use of power efficient equipment with bicycle slots and electric car charging provisions. The format will carry the full line of grocery, pharmacy, personal care and other basic essential products, the company said. “ T he Mer r y m a r t Group is glad to have the opportunity to soon serve and delight consumers around the vast community developments of Ayala Land in Nuvali in Laguna and Cresendo in Tarlac,” Sia said. Merrymart has recently formed a new subsidiary MM Consumer Technologies Corp. with MBOX Smart Lockers as the first in its consumer technology portfolio. MM Consumer Technologies’s portfolio is expected to complement the consumer centric ecosystem of the Merrymart group, according to the company. The company’s organic branch

expansion and recent acquisitions totals to 105 branches nationwide. Merrymart has set its vision 2030 with the goal of a total of 1,200 branches nationwide aims to generate P120 billion in systemwide recurring consumer sales revenue. The company said its income for the first quarter of the year through March rose 31 percent to P12.4 million from last year’s P9.45 million. Revenues for the period reached P1.19 billion 30 percent higher than last year’s P915.85 million. Sia said with the consolidation of the latest acquisitions and Merrymart’s organic growth in stores, it expects to exceed the P5 billion revenue mark this year to more than double its revenue two years ago in 2019. “The next very important goal will be to reach P12 billion revenue mark as soon as possible, then from that point onwards we expect a far higher velocity of revenue growth velocity towards the P120 billion revenue goal that we have set for 2030,” he said.

Aboitiz, GET to launch e-bus fleet in Cebu A

BOITIZ Group announced it has partnered with GET Philippines Inc. to introduce new routes of GET Cebu’s “Comet” bus fleet, a low-emission, air-conditioned and pollution-free buses developed by electric vehicle manufacturer GET Philippines. The buses will ply the Cebu North route (SM City Consolacion- Cebu IT Park), Cebu South route (Minglanilla- Cebu IT Park), Cebu Mactan route (Gaisano Grand Mall- Cebu IT Park) and Cebu City Route (Shopwise Mambaling- Cebu- IT Park). GET Philippines President Freddie R. Tinga said the Comet buses will address the need for safe and sustainable transport with a positive impact to the environment. “We’re seeing two things that are happening in the world today that could be ideal if we could bring them to the Philippines,” Tinga said. “One is the rise of the electric vehicle to replace internal combustion engines and the other is the app as a transport solution.” Tinga added: “Here, we felt that here was the opportunity to put those two things together and create a holistic transport solution for developing markets.” In line with the continuous transformation of the Mactan Economic Zone 2 (MEZ2) Estate, Aboitiz InfraCapital’s (AIC) Economic Estates Head Rafael Fernandez de Mesa said the push for a sustainable and eco-friendly transportation network is key to futureproof the estate and laying the foundation for nextgeneration smart cities. “We want to create resilient spaces where we can also ensure the overall health and wellness of our community and the environment. Strategic land use, a good, flexible development plan and a transport network that addresses traffic and congestion with minimal environmental impact essentially prepare us for the future needs of the communities we serve,” de Mesa said. AIC’s Economic Estates business unit operates and develops industrial estates with complementary commercial, institutional and residential components. AIC Economic Estates include the 794-hectare LIMA Estate in Lipa-Malvar, Batangas, the 63-hectare Mactan Economic Zone 2 Estate and the 540- hectare West Cebu Estate in Cebu. Spanning over 1,000 hectares in total, these are well-supported by a complete ecosystem of infrastructure facilities and services, run by Aboitiz affiliates including Aboitiz Equity Ventures, Aboitiz Power and Aboitiz Construction. Lenie Lectura

www.businessmirror.com.ph

Synergy Grid board OKs ₧1.35B dividend payout

YNERGY Grid and Development Philippines Inc. (SGP) has declared dividend payout of P1.35 billion, to be settled next month. In a disclosure to the stock exchange Thursday, SGP said its board approved its second quarterly cash dividend at P0.26 per share, P0.04 higher than the P 0.22 per share dividend previously distributed and paid out on last April 26. The cash dividends will be payable on July 22 to stockholders on record as of July 6. The declaration of a higher dividend per share is a result of the recent investment of SGP in preferred shares issued by the National Grid Corp. of the Philippines (NGCP) using the proceeds of the SGP follow-on offering (FOO) last November 2021, the company said. The SEC approved the issuance of the preferred shares of NGCP early this month, which entitled SGP to direct dividends from NGCP on the preferred shares, according to SGP Chairman Henry T. Sy Jr. This resulted in a higher dividend yield of 8.66 percent per annum at SGP level, Sy added.

SGP, the listed holding company of Sy and Roberto G. Coyiuto Jr., indirectly controls 60 percent of the outstanding common shares of NGCP, with an effective common share interest of 40.2 percent. SGP likewise owns 203,200,000 non-voting preferred shares of NGCP. “The distribution of dividends is a testament of SGP’s commitment to its partner investors,” SGP Vice Chairman Coyiuto Jr. said. “We thank the investing public for their trust and confidence in SGP which contribute to the development of the nation’s sole transmission network operated and maintained by NGCP.” NGCP, SGP’s sole operating asset, holds the sole and exclusive concession and franchise for the operation of the Philippines’ transmission network, linking power generators and distribution utilities to deliver electricity to power distributors and cooperatives nationwide. In the next 13 years, NGCP is committed to invest approximately P440 billion across 211 projects which are aimed to support the growing electricity demand in the country and to make the country’s power backbone continuously reliable. Lenie Lectura

mutual funds

June 23, 2022

NAV One Year Three Year Five Year Y-T-D per share Return* Return Stock Funds ALFM Growth Fund, Inc. -a 199.35 -9.79% -9.28% -6.14% -14.48% ATRAM Alpha Opportunity Fund, Inc. -a 1.3027 -6.76% -7.31% -4.08% -21.72% ATRAM Philippine Equity Opportunity Fund, Inc. -a 2.7335 -10.1% -12.87% -8.72% -15.58% Climbs Share Capital Equity Investment Fund Corp. -a 0.6914 -10.83% -10.13% n.a. -8.61% First Metro Consumer Fund on MSCI Phils. IMI, Inc. -a 0.64 -12.12% -10.28% n.a. -16.98% First Metro Save and Learn Equity Fund,Inc. -a 4.5078 -7.06% -6.54% -4.05% -13.02% First Metro Save and Learn Philippine Index Fund, Inc. -a 0.6654 -6.02% -9.21% -6.91% -15.05% MBG Equity Investment Fund, Inc. -a 75.94 -23.66% -14.46% n.a. -19.58% PAMI Equity Index Fund, Inc. -a 40.7679 -9.88% -8.33% -4.77% -15.29% Philam Strategic Growth Fund, Inc. -a 427.71 -10.01% -8.1% -4.68% -14.58% Philequity Dividend Yield Fund, Inc. -a 1.2318 7.99% -2.77% -1.11% -9.18% Philequity Fund, Inc. -a 31.2537 -7.76% -7.38% -3.7% -14.6% Philequity MSCI Philippine Index Fund, Inc. -a 0.8054 -8.74% -8.78% n.a. -14.45% Philequity PSE Index Fund Inc. -a 4.2196 -8.97% -7.71% -4.15% -14.94% Philippine Stock Index Fund Corp. -a 703.01 -9.43% -7.78% -4.22% -15.15% Soldivo Strategic Growth Fund, Inc. -a 0.6312 -10.7% -12.26% -6.87% -16.13% Sun Life Prosperity Philippine Equity Fund, Inc. -a 3.1615 -10.04% -10.33% -5.54% -16.26% Sun Life Prosperity Philippine Stock Index Fund, Inc. -a 0.8003 -9.73% -8.07% -4.47% -15.27% United Fund, Inc. -a 2.9572 -8.56% -7.89% -3.43% -13.97% Primarily invested in Peso securities (units) Philequity Alpha One Fund, Inc. -a 1.0137 -5.7% n.a. n.a. -12.81% Philippine Stock Index Fund Corp. -a 856.64 n.a. n.a. n.a. n.a. Exchange Traded Fund (shares) First Metro Phil. Equity Exchange Traded Fund, Inc. -a,c 94.7564 -9.06% -7.57% -3.83% -15% Primarily invested in foreign currency securities (shares) ATRAM AsiaPlus Equity Fund, Inc. -b $0.9395 -25.2% -1.56% -0.87% -16.6% Sun Life Prosperity World Voyager Fund, Inc. -a $1.4407 -18.64% 3.65% 4.44% -21.97% Balanced Funds Primarily invested in Peso securities (shares) ATRAM Dynamic Allocation Fund, Inc. -a 1.5373 -8.13% -4.26% -2.89% -9.14% ATRAM Philippine Balanced Fund, Inc. -a 2.0776 -7.24% -3.78% -2.57% -8.94% First Metro Save and Learn Balanced Fund Inc. -a 2.4685 -4.79% -2.63% -1.24% -8.27% First Metro Save and Learn F.O.C.C.U.S. Dynamic Fund, Inc. -a 0.1913 -1.54% n.a. n.a. -8.47% NCM Mutual Fund of the Phils., Inc. -a 1.8492 -5.21% -1.7% -0.59% -8.31% PAMI Horizon Fund, Inc. -a 3.3801 -8.1% -3.59% -1.95% -10.23% Philam Fund, Inc. -a 15.1385 -8.23% -3.72% -2.02% -10.13% Solidaritas Fund, Inc. -a 1.9367 -5.83% -3.59% -2.02% -8.71% Sun Life of Canada Prosperity Balanced Fund, Inc. -a 3.2338 -7.83% -6.11% -3.06% -11.33% Sun Life Prosperity Dynamic Fund, Inc. -a 0.8379 -5.04% -5.82% -2.71% -12.19% Primarily invested in Peso securities (units) Sun Life Prosperity Achiever Fund 2028, Inc. -a 0.8838 -10.26% -4.81% n.a. -10.71% Sun Life Prosperity Achiever Fund 2038, Inc. -a 0.8041 -11.09% -7.72% n.a. -14.87% Sun Life Prosperity Achiever Fund 2048, Inc. -a 0.7906 -11.36% -8.14% n.a. -15.34% Primarily invested in foreign currency securities (shares) Cocolife Dollar Fund Builder, Inc. -a $0.03311 -13.62% -4.07% -1.61% -12.73% PAMI Asia Balanced Fund, Inc. -b $0.9285 -17.71% -1.8% -0.81% -12.99% Sun Life Prosperity Dollar Advantage Fund, Inc. -a $3.9167 -16.32% 1.58% 2.74% -18.44% Sun Life Prosperity Dollar Wellspring Fund, Inc. -a,2 $1.0077 -15.33% -1.73% -0.06% -15.93% Bond Funds Primarily invested in Peso securities (shares) ALFM Peso Bond Fund, Inc. -a 372.32 0.03% 2.1% 2.23% -0.53% ATRAM Corporate Bond Fund, Inc. -a 1.8897 -1.98% -0.05% 0.01% 0.27% Cocolife Fixed Income Fund, Inc. -a 3.2256 -0.07% 1.92% 3.28% -0.57% Ekklesia Mutual Fund Inc. -a 2.1682 -4.16% -0.23% 0.57% -3.7% First Metro Save and Learn Fixed Income Fund,Inc. -a 2.3958 -1.89% 1.23% 1.57% -1.24% Philam Bond Fund, Inc. -a 4.1844 -6.89% 0.15% 0.51% -4.8% Philam Managed Income Fund, Inc. -a 1.305 -1.36% 2.48% 2.57% -1.07% Philequity Peso Bond Fund, Inc. -a 3.8683 -2.7% 1.68% 2.11% -2.46% Soldivo Bond Fund, Inc. -a 1.0067 -3.01% 2.3% 1.63% -2.09% Sun Life of Canada Prosperity Bond Fund, Inc. -a 3.1282 -2.6% 1.95% 2.51% -1.86% Sun Life Prosperity GS Fund, Inc. -a 1.6915 -3.23% 1.02% 1.81% -2.26% Primarily invested in foreign currency securities (shares) ALFM Dollar Bond Fund, Inc. -a $481.29 -0.96% 1.66% 1.79% -1.69% ALFM Euro Bond Fund, Inc. -a Є210.85 -4.19% -0.99% -0.09% -4.16% ATRAM Total Return Dollar Bond Fund, Inc. -b $1.0693 -10.28% -3.26% -0.93% -11.18% First Metro Save and Learn Dollar Bond Fund, Inc. -a $0.0243 -6.9% -1.85% -0.49% -6.54% PAMI Global Bond Fund, Inc -b $0.896 -15.37% -6.21% -3.67% -12.4% Philam Dollar Bond Fund, Inc. -a $2.2103 -12.06% -2.03% -0.19% -11.79% 1.22% Philequity Dollar Income Fund Inc. -a $0.0607482 -3.55% 1.03% -2.48% Sun Life Prosperity Dollar Abundance Fund, Inc. -a $2.7456 -13.67% -3.81% -1.82% -14.1% Money Market Funds Primarily invested in Peso securities (shares) ALFM Money Market Fund, Inc. -a 132.06 1.37% 2.3% 2.53% 0.66% First Metro Save and Learn Money Market Fund, Inc. -a 1.0634 1.02% 1.59% n.a. 0.54% Sun Life Prosperity Peso Starter Fund, Inc. -a,1 1.3254 1.56% 2.16% 2.48% 0.74% Primarily invested in foreign currency securities (shares) Sun Life Prosperity Dollar Starter Fund, Inc. -a $1.0637 0.59% 1.16% n.a. 0.29% Feeder Funds Primarily invested in Peso securities (units) ALFM Global Multi-Asset Income Fund Inc. -a 43.0554 n.a. n.a. n.a. n.a. Sun Life Prosperity World Equity Index Feeder Fund, Inc. -a 1.19 -5.56% n.a. n.a. -13.95% Primarily invested in foreign currency securities (units) -16.18% ALFM Global Multi-Asset Income Fund Inc. -a $0.8131 -17.87% n.a. n.a. a - NAVPS as of the previous banking day. b - NAVPS as of two banking days ago.

c - Listed in the PSE.

d - in Net Asset Value per Unit

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

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

www.businessmirror.com.ph

Banking&Finance BusinessMirror

Editor: Dennis D. Estopace • Friday, June 24, 2022

BSP: Home prices continued climb in Q1 Members on your side

Association World Octavio Peralta

HE pandemic has changed the way customers engage with businesses. The new customer has different wants and needs, and businesses that succeed understand the new customer journey and solve customer problems that really matter. Covid-19 and other major trends over the last five years have also changed our goals and priorities. Regardless of whether your business was badly affected or not, keep in mind your customers have already reassessed what matters most to them. This was the premise of a recent webinar conducted by Perth, Australiabased futurist Gihan Perera entitled “Customers on Your Side” where he presented five key post-pandemic customer trends I thought would be relevant to associations. In fact, if you change the word “customers” to “members,” you will appreciate the similarity in context. Here are the five trends which customers gravitate to: 1. Social. They engage more with each other, using social media and other online platforms. Associations always speak about being “where their members are.” So two questions to ask yourself as an association leader are: “Do you know where your members ‘hang around’?—in online or in offline communities?” and “Do you host a community of active members who connect with and help each other?” 2. Personal. They expect a more personalized experience and want to be more involved in the products and services they buy. Association leaders areaware that membershipengagement has changed dramatically in more ways than one. But do you engage with your members in ways that suit them and not always in ways that suit you? Do you personalize your after-member recruitment touchpoints to build loyalty? 3. Environmental. They care about climate change, sustainability, and your organization’s green credentials. More than ever, association leaders have put sustainability on top of their associations’ agenda. But do you genuinely care about your sustainability pronouncements and actuations? Do you promote your sustainability goals and activities to your members? 4. Ethical. They also care about the other impacts of your organization on society and the world, including diversity, social justice, global equity, governance, integrity, and more. Questions to association leaders: Do you have diversity (age, gender, ethnicity, etc.) at all levels of your leadership structure, matching the diversity of your members? Are all your marketing and engagement efforts appropriately reflect the diversity of your members? 5. Digital. They have become more digital (QR codes, cashless payments, online shopping, etc.) partly because of the pandemic and also as digital infrastructure enables other trends. As an association leader, do you give your members as many digital engagement options as possible? Do you use AI to personalize and tailor your marketing, products and services? The challenge for associations is that they sometimes tend to get too far removed from their members’ expectations of them. Associations usually start with a strong member focus and clear about catering to their members’ needs and solving problems. But over time, as associations grow and mature, it’s easy to get stuck with traditional products, services, systems, processes, and solutions and forget about what matters most to members. Hopefully, by accepting and acting on the above-mentioned five trends, associations can have their members on their side. Octavio Peralta is currently the executive director of the Global Compact Network Philippines and founder and volunteer CEO of the Philippine Council of Associations and Association Executives, the “association of associations.” E-mail: bobby@pcaae.org.

By Bianca Cuaresma

@BcuaresmaBM

ESIDENTIAL property prices continued to increase in the first quarter of the year, the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas (BSP) reported on June 23.

The central bank said the country’s Residential Real Estate Price Index, or RREPI—updated quarterly by the BSP—jumped 5.6 percent in the first three months of the year

from its level a year ago. “The year-on-year (YoY) increase in the RREPI is consistent with the outcome of the first quarter 2022 Consumer Expectations Survey (CES),

which showed a higher percentage of consumers preferring to buy real estate property in the first quarter of 2022,” the BSP said in a statement. Broken down by area, residential property prices in the National Capital Region (NCR) increased by 9.5 percent. The rise, according to the central bank, is primarily driven by the increase in the prices of condominium units and townhouses, which more than offset the decrease in the prices of duplex housing units and single-detached/ attached houses. Similarly, property prices in the areas outside the NCR climbed by 5 percent as all types of housing units

registered an upturn, except for single-detached/attached houses, which posted a decline. By type of housing units, the prices of townhouses, duplex housing units, and condominium units rose during the period. Townhouses, in particular, registered the highest increase at 25.6 percent, followed by duplex housing units at 20.9 percent and condominium units by 14.7 percent. Conversely, prices of single-detached and/or attached houses contracted by 2.5 percent. Amid higher property prices, fewer people took out housing loans during the period.

The number of residential real estate loans (RRELs) granted for all types of new housing units in the Philippines contracted by 9.2 percent, due mainly to the 39.3-percent decrease in the number of NCR RRELs. During the quarter, almost threefourths (74.3 percent) of residential property loans were used to purchase new housing units. Meanwhile, by type of housing unit, most of the residential property loans were used for the acquisition of single-detached and/or attached houses (47 percent), followed by condominium units (38 percent) and townhouses (14.4 percent).

CIC, BSP to hold public webinar on savings, creditworthiness

HE Credit Information Corp. (CIC) and the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas (BSP) have opened to the public a webinar series on the basics of savings and building wealth to be held on June 29 and July 21. The CIC, the country’s sole public credit registry and repository of credit information, said the session will tackle practical financial skills such as the importance of savings, different ways to save, as well as building and maintaining a good credit standing. This webinar series is in line with

this year’s celebration of “Savings Consciousness Week,” pursuant to Presidential Proclamation 380 (series of 1994). “The CIC continues to promote to our fellow Filipinos the importance and value of the CIC Credit Report in their journey towards achieving their financial goals,” CIC President and CEO Ben Joshua A. Baltazar was quoted in a statement as saying. “Through this webinar, we aim to share how having savings contributes to maintaining a good credit standing.” The CIC said that the webinar,

titled “#AdvanceMagisip: The CIC Credit Report and the basics of savings and building your wealth,” is under the agency’s educational flagship program. The agency added the webinar will feature CIC Chief Marketing Specialist Romeo H. Ofrin and BSP Bank Officer V lawyer Clarence Joseph C. Zosa as resource speakers.

Need to save

ACCORDING to Baltazar, the CIC Credit Report “is the equivalent of a regular health record, except this is for your credit health.” “Through it, you will be able to

monitor how your past credit behavior has affected your current financial health and status,” he added. “This ‘Savings Consciousness Week,’ the CIC aims to emphasize how having savings is a need, and not an option, for one to have good financial health and good credit standing.” Baltazar said the CIC is encouraging Filipinos to check their CIC Credit Reports, “and use this as a basis to start maintaining or building their creditworthiness, all while taking into account the importance of having savings as well.”

World Bank approves $178.1M-loan to PHL By Cai U. Ordinario

@caiordinario

HE World Bank Group announced it has approved a new loan to finance the Philippine government’s programs to combat malnutrition nationwide. The country received a $178.1 million worth loan from the Washington-based lender to finance the “Philippines Multisectoral Nutrition” project that aims to reduce stunting. The World Bank said stunting is a prolonged nutritional deficiency among infants and young children and has been prevalent in 235 municipalities nationwide. A third of Filipino children are stunted. “The persistence of high levels of childhood under-nutrition in the Philippines, exacerbated by the Covid-19 pandemic, could lead to a significant increase in inequality of opportunities in the country,” Ndiamé Diop, World Bank Country Director for Brunei, Malaysia, Philippines and Thailand, said. The loan will finance a package of nutrition-specific and nutritionsensitive interventions across the various local government (LGU) platforms together with a social behavior change and communications interventions.

Nutrition interventions

THE World Bank said households with pregnant women and children under two years will benefit from high-impact nutrition interventions including infant and young feeding, regular growth monitoring and multiple micronutrient supplements for children 6–23 months. Through the project, the government will be able to provide iron-folic acid supplementation for pregnant women, vitamin A supplementation for children, dietary supplementation for nutritionally-at-risk pregnant women and treatment of moderate and severe acute malnutrition. “Where healthy children can do well in school and look forward to a prosperous future, stunted children tend to be sickly, learn less, more likely to drop out of school and their economic productivity as adults can be clipped by more than 10 percent in their lifetime,” Diop said. “Hence, improving the nutritional status of children is key to the country’s goals of boosting human capital while strengthening the country’s economic recovery and prospects for

long-term growth.” Anchored in the Department of Health’s Universal Health Coverage initiative, the project will also provide performance-based grants to local government units, linked to delivery of pre-defined nutrition and maternal and child services. The World Bank said improvements in local level planning and budgeting for nutrition projects to encourage implementation of these nutrition interventions through the country’s primary health care system.

First 1,000 days

INFORMED by a wealth of evidence and experiences across the world, the East Asia region and the Philippines, these interventions focus on the first 1,000 days of life—from conception through pregnancy and birth, the newborn period, infancy and transition to primary school—a critical period of children’s development, according to Nkosinathi Mbuya, World Bank Senior Nutrition Specialist, East Asia and Pacific Region. “Undernutrition and exposure to risks and adversities during the first 1,000 days of the child’s life can disrupt cognitive, emotional and physical development and hold children back from reaching their full potential, thus affecting the formation of the country’s human capital,” Mbuya said. “Therefore, interventions to improve nutritional outcomes must focus on this age group and women of child-bearing age.” Such adversities and risks include poverty; malnutrition; lack of access to clean water and sanitation facilities; lack of nurturing care and stimulation; high levels of family stress; exposure to conflict, violence, child abuse, or neglect; and lack of access to quality health, nutrition and education services. The ongoing Russia-Ukraine conflict is likely to exacerbate the food and nutrition security of vulnerable Filipino households. Globally, food prices, already on the rise since the second half of 2020, have reached an all-time high in February 2022, leading to food security problems around the world. These events indicate that unless immediate action is taken, millions of Filipino children will face the increased risk of under-nutrition and likely suffer the consequences of poor school performance and low adult productivity.

To further help Filipino borrowers in monitoring their credit health and establishing their creditworthiness, the CIC launched its “Direct to Consumer” program last April. The CIC said the program provides individuals with ready and immediate access to their CIC Credit Reports through select “accessing entities” such as banks and lending companies. This program is also set to be launched through digital channels and mobile applications of participating lenders starting Q3 of this year for added convenience to their borrowing clients.

CONVENIENCE BANKING

This Wednesday, June 8, 2022, photo courtesy of the Land Bank of the Philippines Inc. shows President and CEO Cecilia C. Borromeo in the process of withdrawing cash from an automated teller machine at a 7-Eleven store in Seascape Village, Pasay City. Borromeo led the inauguration of the state-run bank’s partnership with Pito Axm Platform Inc. and Philippine Seven Corp. Joining her are Papi President Masanori Sakaguchi (second from left), PSC Finance Head Lawrence M. De Leon (leftmost) and LandBank Senior Vice President Randolph L. Montesa (rightmost). Photo courtesy of the Land Bank of the Philippines Inc.

RCBC, DepEd go into financial literacy

HE Department of Education (DepEd) announced last June 23 it has partnered with the Rizal Commercial Banking Corp. (RCBC) to launch a financial literacy program targeting teachers and students in Senior High School. The program, titled “DiskarTechAralin sa Madiskarteng Pananalapi,” (lessons in strategic finance), was launched last May 26, 2022, at the Rizal High School in Caniogan, Pasig City, the DepEd said. According to the agency, the program is in support of DepEd Order 22 (series 2021) titled “Financial Education Policy and the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas (BSP) National Strategy for Financial Inclusion.” This, the DepEd said aligned with its programs to include financial lessons in the K to 12 Basic Education Curriculum. “Financial literacy is very important not just for our teachers, but to the learners as well. We all have crucial financial decisions that can result in important consequences in

our lives,” Education Secretary Leonor Magtolis Briones was quoted in a statement as saying. “As our children grow along with their responsibilities, they should possess the knowledge to make sound financial decisions.”

Digitalized concepts

THE DepEd said the program launch is in support of RCBC’s own “DiskarTech” program and a neighborhood handheld ATM device, which allows withdrawals from all ATM/ prepaid/debit cards. The DepEd said the lender’s program digitalizes the concepts of “alkansya” (piggy bank), “paluwagan” (loans), “seguro” (insurance) and “bayad” (payments). It aims to promote financial stewardship practices with the teachers and parents by allowing the learners to experience building financial education milestones through the program. “Whatever you do, whatever you

want to study just make sure that your digital skills are developed. You can become a digital lawyer, a digital doctor, you can become anything. One of the best things to prepare for that is through this mobile app,” RCBC President and CEO Eugene Acevedo said through the statement. The DepEd said it and RCBC also turned over of a coffee table book and other classroom materials to external partnership focal persons from various division offices of DepEd National Capital Region and Region IV-A. “With partnership programs like the DiskarTech of RCBC, we expect that these programs will provide Filipinos with relevant, responsive, and inclusive digital financial services,” Undersecretary for External Partnerships Tonisito MC. Umali said. “This would also let us experience how the technology works in securing our finances and save for the most important and unanticipated events in our lives.”

State-owned lender renews deal with Singaporean firm

TATE-owned Development Bank of the Philippines (DBP) has renewed its agreement with Infrastructure Asia Ltd. (InfraAsia) as both agencies map out strategies to implement sustainable solutions aimed at improving the country’s infrastructure landscape and fast-track economic growth and recovery, a top official said. DBP President and CEO Emmanuel G. Herbosa said in a statement that the bank signed a memorandum of understanding with InfraAsia to expand the scope of its current collaboration to include key areas of the economy such as renewable energy, transportation, waste management, and water

supply and sanitation. “DBP and InfraAsia have broadened the scope of its partnership to include the provision of technical assistance in the development, finance and implementation of infrastructure initiatives of the private sector,’’ Herbosa said. “The identification of emerging infrastructure solutions such as solar energy merchant market and green buildings is also now within the scope of our expanded cooperation with InfraAsia.’’ DBP is the fifth-largest bank in the country in terms of assets and has a branch network of 131 branches and 14 branch-lite units. It provides credit support to four strategic sectors of the

economy: infrastructure and logistics; micro, small and medium enterprises; environment; and, social services and community development. InfraAsia was set up by Enterprise Singapore and the Monetary Authority of Singapore in 2018 to enable good-fit solutions from companies and institutions in addressable infrastructure sub-segments in Asia, catalysing project development, financing and execution opportunities to meet the region’s growing needs. It links up organizations that are domain experts in their respective fields with governments, firms, and multilateral institutions.

Friday, June 24, 2022 • Editor: Gerard S. Ramos

Relationships BusinessMirror

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Today’s Horoscope By Eugenia Last

CELEBRITIES BORN ON THIS DAY: Minka Kelly, 42; Mindy Kaling, 43; Sherry Stringfield, 55; Jeff Beck, 78.

PHOTO BY ERYKA ROSE RATON ON UNSPLASH

HAPPY BIRTHDAY: Discipline will pay off this year. Allocate your time and energy wisely. Concentrate on your schedule, and finish what you start. Joint endeavors will take their toll if equality isn’t maintained. Invest in yourself, not someone else or something unfamiliar to you. Don’t overload your plate or let temptation take over. Change only what’s necessary. Your numbers are 9, 17, 22, 24, 35, 38, 44.

ARIES (March 21-April 19): Don’t do too much too fast. Slow down, live in the moment and be mindful of what’s happening. Don’t feel you have to upgrade or overspend to impress someone impossible to please. Put your needs first and be patient. Self-improvement is encouraged. HHH

ET’S get real. Yesterday, I purchased some grocery items and it wasn’t pretty. For a half kilo of chicken wings, not even from the popular brands, I paid P113. Two years ago, at the height of the pandemic lockdowns, that same price would have bought me close to a kilo of wings. Even if there was a poultry shortage then. The Bureau of Animal Industry, which is under the Department of Agriculture (DA), has so far denied a chicken shortage this year, and merely pointed out the high cost of feed ingredients and fuel affecting poultry retail prices. A source from a leading F&B company shared that the higher chicken prices at retail is a combination of factors: “Changeable weather causing slow growth; despite tunnel ventilation, its hard to maintain steady temperature and humidity in poultry houses. I guess some feed mills are also using lower quality ingredients because of the surge in prices of materials.” The source added, “The surge in foodservice demand, with eating out almost back to normal,” has also contributed to the apparent chicken shortfall and, thus, increased prices. A recent piece in Bloomberg spoke about the continuing sugar shortage, due to a “missed production target,” bad weather, high fertilizer costs, and delayed imports. Earlier, news stories also circulated about the rise in the cost of flour, which expectedly will lead to higher prices of the ubiquitous “Tasty.” Ollie Isidro of the popular Ollie’s Kitchen, which sells wildly delicious crepes samurai, cookies, cheesecakes, and other delightful breads and pastries, told me he has had to raise “some prices” of his baked goods because of the higher flour and sugar prices, coupled with increased fuel costs. “I’m now paying P78 per kilo of white sugar and flour is P42 a kilo,” he said. At the end of 2020, refined white sugar was just P50 to 60 a kilo, while flour prices averaged about P30 a kilo last year. This is unfortunate news for many pastry and bread makers, as well as its customers. I haven’t bought pork in many months because its prices haven’t come down from two years ago. Swine flu swept through the local hog population and raisers are still trying to recover. Liempo is now about P600 a kilo, while pork adobo cuts average P440 a kilo. Despite a recent craving, I have had to put off making my favorite Adobong Puti. Meanwhile, beef caldereta cuts are some P630 a kilo, and beef sirloin, used to make the beloved breakfast tapa, is P640 a kilo. The only reason we haven’t rioted in the streets yet is because government has wisely managed to keep rice prices stable. A food staple in most Filipino homes, rice imports have been allowed to temper any rise in local palay (paddy rice) prices. DA reports that well-milled rice is about P41 a kilo, basically unchanged from last year. However, this also means rice farmers are earning very little from their produce. The Philippines is likely the only country in the world where rice farmers are among the poorest of citizens. They can barely afford to consume their own crop because they have to sell it to be able to pay for their family essentials. That’s an entirely whole set of problems right there that we hope to address in another piece.

TAURUS (April 20-May 20): You’ll meet with resistance if you try to make a spontaneous move. Rethink your plans, then pursue what’s feasible. Don’t follow imprudent people or those making suggestions that can lead to financial loss. HHH

GEMINI (May 21-June 20): You’ll make valuable connections once you find out where you can be of help or do some good. Expand your circle of friends or nurture a meaningful relationship. Opportunities to improve your life will develop. Selfimprovements will boost your morale. HHH

CANCER (June 21-July 22): Don’t take on more than you can handle. Avoid overspending or partaking in things that aren’t good for you. Put health, fitness and financial matters first. Check into gathering information that helps you make positive lifestyle changes. HHHH

LEO (July 23-Aug. 22): Don’t settle for something that doesn’t meet your expectations. Put in the thought, time and energy to get what you want so you can feel good about how you live. Your generous spirit will encourage others to think positively. HH

VIRGO (Aug. 23-Sept. 22): Go somewhere new, clear your head and strategize your next move. Discuss your intentions with someone who can shed light on what you want to pursue. Refuse to let someone looking out for their interests mislead you. HHHHH

LIBRA (Sept. 23-Oct. 22): Be bold but mindful of what others need and want. Share your thoughts and follow through. Channel your energy into partnerships and opportunities that can improve your life and relationships. Self-improvement will boost your confidence. HHH

assistance to the poorest of the poor, they will not receive this immediately, because of the mere fact that government bureaucracy always gets in the way of urgent relief. For instance, to this day many jeepney drivers have yet to receive their government fuel subsidy. To this day, many jeepney drivers have yet to receive their government ayuda promised two years ago. Suspending the collection of these taxes temporarily, however, will be immediately felt by all. It will cut gasoline and diesel prices, ease food and transport costs, and ensure that the majority will have enough money in their wallets to go to work and put food on the tables for their families. To Marcos Jr.’s economic managers, it will not be a wise move. However, it is the common-sense solution. It won’t solve all our problems, but it’s a start. Filipinos are desperate for relief. Many families have already more than tightened their belts; there is not even a waist for their pants to hang on. Incomes haven’t risen in general, even though the minimum wage has inched up, but not enough to cope with the 5.4-percent inflation rate. We’ve sacrificed buying certain food items or put off paying some bills for now as our debts continue to pile up. Any personal savings, if at all, have already been exhausted to address pressing needs during the long Covid lockdown. We wait with baited breath what the new administration will do to address these problems. n

Everywhere, transport drivers have been complaining about the continued rise in fuel costs. A Facebook post by ABS-CBN which went viral recently quoted one jeepney driver, Artemio Singko, that he had spent 18 hours plying his route, and at the end of the day his take-home pay was just P300. He had paid P2,500 on fuel that day (diesel is about P88 per liter). Because of the projected P3 per liter increase in fuel products this week, he will likely stop driving his jeepney. His debts have increased, he said, and he can no longer afford to pay the installments on his jeepney. Less jeepneys on the road mean commuters again will have difficulty in getting to work. Free rides have ended—a stop-gap measure earlier implemented by the Duterte administration—so commuters will have to pinch pesos every which way to pay for the cost of going to their offices. (Free rides on the MRT are also slated to end on June 30.) President-elect Ferdinand Marcos Jr. has appointed himself as Agriculture Secretary to impress on all how important the job is of feeding 100 million Filipinos with affordable food. He has, understandably, thumbed down the idea of temporarily suspending the collection of excise tax and value-added tax on fuel products, which contributes P500 million to government coffers. But even if he directs these particular tax collections to fund ayuda and other financial

SCORPIO (Oct. 23-Nov. 21): You can be unique and entertaining without overspending. If you use your creative imagination, you’ll find a way to express yourself and your ideas with enthusiasm. The way you approach people, projects and your lifestyle will change the dynamics of your relationships. HHH

SAGITTARIUS (Nov. 22-Dec. 21): Hold on to what you’ve got, and utilize your strengths to turn something you enjoy doing into a constructive pursuit. Focus on mental and physical improvements and building a healthy and productive lifestyle. Don’t let what others do interrupt your plans. HHH

CAPRICORN (Dec. 22-Jan. 19): Domestic adjustments will pay off. Take a unique approach to how you use your money to construct an environment that is sure to please the ones you love and ease your stress. Listen to your heart, and change what bothers you. HHHHH

AQUARIUS (Jan. 20-Feb. 18): An unnecessary change will disappoint you. You’ll make better decisions if you are responsible and reasonable. Stick close to home. Use your money, ideas and energy to turn your place into a convenient and comfortable space to spend with loved ones. HH

PISCES (Feb. 19-March 20): Moderation is encouraged. Keep the peace, live within your means and don’t take a risk with your health or money. Consider the best way to make improvements that will lower your overhead. HHHH BIRTHDAY BABY: You are flexible, outgoing and pioneering. You are unpredictable and entertaining.

‘let out’ BY PAUL STEINBERG AND KAREN STEINBERG The Universal Crossword/Edited by David Steinberg

ACROSS 1 Kids’ summer spot 5 Taxi 8 Lambs’ mothers 12 Bit the dust 14 Bemoan 15 Tinker’s receiver in baseball 16 Spewing fumes, say --> Moping 18 Michael of Monty Python --> Nuisance 19 Word before “group” or “rate” 20 Moves like a crab --> Slaw and fries, for two 21 Golf ball stand 22 Get 40 winks 23 Diamond side 24 “Same for me” 26 Six, in Italy 27 Send, as a package 30 Modernized 33 Actress Longoria 34 Biblical wise men 37 Skating jumps...or, read as two parts, a theme hint --> Graph lines 38 Gem that may be black 39 In the past

40 42 44 45 49 51 53 54 56 58 59

Alerts in advance Hit with snowballs --> Ferret, e.g. Cleaning pad brand Soviet first lady Gorbacheva Statistic Letter before omega Go-to M.D. Paris or Kathy --> Discover suddenly Military muckety-muck “My intent is...” It really sucks --> It does the heavy lifting 60 Dishonor 61 Argument, to a Brit 62 Smooths in woodworking 63 ___ Stadium (LA Rams’ home) 64 Accept responsibility for 65 W, directionally DOWN 1 Per ___ income 2 Makes amends 3 Got soupy, maybe --> Handed (out) 4 Heap --> It can be savory or sweet 5 Like a good apple 6 Relative who might be great 7 Implore

8 Dodges 9 “Anyhoo...” --> Barnyard symbol of anger 10 Noted canal or lake 11 Sensitive IDs 13 Radish relative 15 Amazing 17 Gossip to “spill” 20 Declared with authority 23 Intuits --> Charges 25 Paris accord? 26 Parts of instructions 28 It creeps up 29 Peace, in Latin 31 Longtime Nissan brand 32 Universal truth 34 GPS forerunner 35 Number that keeps rising 36 Fancy foil --> Lose one’s hearing 38 Birds-feather connector 41 Pats down 43 Judo mat 46 Apple product with a notch 47 Nearly boils --> Oodles 48 Source of college credit, in brief 50 It’s not what you say but how you

say it Large shrimp Anatomical pouch Angry cat’s sound Texter’s POV lead-in Spread a dandelion --> Curtsy counterpart 57 Fiona of Killing Eve 59 Sis’ sib, say 51 52 54 55 56

Solution to today’s puzzle:

Show BusinessMirror

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ORSON WELLES

GEORGE CUKOR

JOHN HUSTON

JOHN FORD

The Golden Boys I

N the golden years of Hollywood from the 1930s to the 1950s, the golden boys were not really the actors but the directors. John Ford said he would want to be remembered as the man who made Westerns. That plea is convincing but in her book, Great American Film Directors, author Dian G. Smith has this to say about Ford: “Yet some of the best of the more than 135 films Ford directed during his half-century in Hollywood are not Westerns, and his Westerns are not simple shoot-’em-ups.” For Smith, Ford’s films tend to revolve around the themes of community, family, traditional values, sacrifice and defeat. Ford is known for How Green Was My Valley and The Quiet Man. With the name Frank Capra comes funny films about men and women who did not look odd but glamorous. In her book, Smith quotes Capra as having described his style as “comedy in all things.” Capra labored for so many years, in and out of Hollywood, before hitting the formula. It was in 1934 with his film It Happened One Night, a story about a journalist and a heiress meeting on a bus ride, that the “screwball comedy” is said to have been born. The film would win all the major Oscars and would leave the director anxious about not being able to do the same excellent job again. We can never be sure if Howard Hawks suffered the same anxiety but he would never win Oscars for his films though most of them were box-office hits. He would only get his honorary Academy Award in 1975, when he was hailed as “a giant of the American

cinema whose pictures, taken as a whole, represent one of the most consistent, vivid and varied bodies of work in world cinema.” Hawks was the man behind the tandem of Humphrey Bogart and Lauren Bacall. Noted for such films as To Have and Have Not and Bringing Up Baby, Hawks had several technical tips on how to achieve a fast pace in his film. He allowed the overlapping of dialogues by letting actors jump on lines, adding “a few unnecessary words at the beginning of each line—‘Well,’ or ‘I think’—so that the sense would not not be lost when the lines overlapped.” Who does not know Alfred Hitchcock? Asked to direct two films in Germany, Hitchcock would have the chance to view F. W. Murnau’s film. According to the book by Smith, that exposure would influence the young filmmaker with “the use of light and shadow and strange camera angles to create atmosphere, and the presentation of ideas in visual terms.” The lessons we learn from Hitchcock are all captured in this book. One is the use of dialogue in cinema: “We should resort to dialogue only when it’s impossible to do otherwise.” The director would always break down the script into shots and have them done on a storyboard by an illustrator. The result, according to Smith, was a “precut picture.” Hitchcock indicated camera angles and set design and colors. Some of his films are: Murder!, Rebecca and Psycho, the last made more famous by a 1998 remake by Gus Van Sant, doing a shot-to-shot remake and copying Hitchcock’s camera movements and editing. A shift from silent to talkie created a space for George Cukor to be a dialogue coach to actors expected to talk in movies. Smith talks of Cukor’s achievements in “being able to get good performances from talented but temperamental women.” George Cukor was known for being a women’s director in films that starred Joan Crawford (The Women, A Woman’s Face), Ingrid Bergman (Gaslight), Katharine Hepburn (The Philadelphia Story), Judy Garland (A Star is Born), just to name a few great faces and, perhaps, temperamental actresses. For all his identification

HOWARD HAWKS

as a woman’s director, Smith notes how three male actors won Academy Awards for their roles in Cukor’s films. These were James Stewart (A Philadelphia Story), Ronald Coleman (A Double Life) and Rex Harrison (My Fair Lady). Through the quotes made by Smith, George Cukor has words about the camera: “Unless moving the camera is going to contribute to something to the scene in question, let it remain at rest. In Smith’s book are two directors who became doubly famous as actors. They are Orson Welles and John Huston. Welles was known for his partnership with John Houseman in Mercury Company, their repertory theater. In 1938, Time Magazine honored him as “the brightest moon that has risen over Broadway in years.” It was, however, not until his film Citizen Kane that Orson Welles’s name shone the brightest. The book mentions the many contributions of Welles to cinema. One of these is the filmmaker’s “use of deep focus, which keeps in focus everything from 2 feet to 70 yards.” Welles pays tribute to montage in Smith’s book when he says: “Montage is not an aspect, it is the aspect...the images themselves are not sufficient; they are very important but they are only images. The essential is the duration of each image, and what follows each image.” Fans remember John Huston for his role as the corrupt millionaire father of Faye Dunaway’s character in Roman Polanski’s timeless masterpiece Chinatown. John Huston, however, is quoted in the book as saying that he did not take acting seriously, and that he did it for the money and because it was much easier than directing. And yet this is the man who was nominated for Best Supporting Actor in Otto Preminger’s The Cardinal, and who would direct classics, like The Maltese Falcon and The Treasure of the Sierra Madre. In the last film, he would win the Academy Awards for Best Director and the Best Supporting Actor for his father, Walter Huston. In 1985, he directed Prizzi’s Honor, where his daughter Anjelica Huston received the Oscar for Best Supporting Actress. n

New ABS-CBN, Viu partnership heats up THERE’S much ado about ABS-CBN’s upcoming weekend program Flower of Evil. Well, besides it being the first project of actress Lovi Poe with ABS-CBN—she was a GMA talent for a long time—this adaptation of the hit K-drama suspense thriller will also be seen in 16 markets across Asia, the Middle East and South Africa via the OTT video streaming service Viu 48 hours before its domestic television broadcast. ABS-CBN Entertainment chief operating officer for Broadcast Cory Vidanes and Viu Philippines country manager Arianne Kader-Cu shared their excitement for the series, which will also mark Piolo Pascual’s first drama series after four years. Arianne said, “Testament to our commitment to bringing the best premium Asian entertainment to Viu-ers, we are happy to work with ABS-CBN once again to bring the Philippine adaptation of Flower of Evil to all of Viu’s 16 markets. This latest offering puts Filipino talent front and center in the way we do storytelling, supported by a powerhouse cast and a world-class production team.” Cory said, “Our partnership with Viu on the local adaptation of Flower of Evil is a major milestone for ABS-CBN Entertainment. This is an opportunity for us to showcase excellent Filipino content and talent to the global audience in the 16 markets of Viu.”

She added, “Our local adaptation of the Korean hit love story—a compelling and powerful narrative on love for family, search for truth and justice—is the unanimous choice to open our regional partnership with Viu.” Flower of Evil is scheduled to premiere this month. It follows the thrilling story of a man who successfully changes his identity in order to hide his scandalous past. He then marries a police detective, who will later on be tasked with investigating an unsolved serial murder case that will lead her back to him. The show also stars Agot Isidro, Edu Manzano, Denise Laurel, Joross Gamboa, Joem Bascon, Epy Quizon, Rita Avila, Jett Pangan, Pinky Amador, Joko Diaz, and JC de Vera.

ABS-CBN and Viu’s collaboration strengthens their vision and commitment to bringing premium Asian entertainment to more viewers worldwide. The partnership kicked off early this year, with the streaming of ABS-CBN’s hit drama series The Broken Marriage Vow on Viu. nnn PINOY pop girl group BINI makes history anew as music and pop culture magazine Rolling Stone named it one of the rising international artists under the Spotify RADAR 2022 program. Dubbed by their followers as the Nation’s Girl Group, they are included in the list of emerging artists who bring “a little something for everyone, whether you need hope or healing” through its latest song “Pit A Pat.” Rolling Stone describes the eight-member group— composed of Aiah, Colet, Maloi, Gwen, Stacey, Mikha, Jhoanna and Sheena—as having “a loud, vibrant, sugar-coated vibe that is only second to their commanding, ear-grabbing style.” It also hailed BINI’s “Pit A Pat” as “a summer anthem brimming with attitude and optimism that sees the group confidently singing about empowerment, respect, and ambition.” Tara Aquino of Rolling Stone writes. “They’re here, and they won’t let you forget it.”

Editor: Gerard S. Ramos

FRANK CAPRA

• Friday, June 24, 2022

ALFRED HITCHCOCK

NOBEL SOLD FOR UKRAINIAN KIDS SHATTERS RECORD AT $103.5M NEW YORK—The Nobel Peace Prize auctioned off by Russian journalist Dmitry Muratov to raise money for Ukrainian child refugees sold Monday night for $103.5 million, shattering the old record for a Nobel. A spokesperson for Heritage Auctions, which handled the sale, could not confirm the identity of the buyer but said the winning bid was made by proxy. The $103.5 million sale translates to $100 million Swiss francs, hinting that the buyer is from overseas. “I was hoping that there was going to be an enormous amount of solidarity, but I was not expecting this to be such a huge amount,” Muratov said in an interview after bidding in the nearly 3-week auction ended on World Refugee Day. Previously, the most ever paid for a Nobel Prize medal was $4.76 million in 2014, when James Watson, whose codiscovery of the structure of DNA earned him a Nobel Prize in 1962, sold his. In 2013, the family of his co-recipient, Francis Crick, received $2.27 million in bidding also run by Heritage Auctions. Muratov, who was awarded the gold medal in October 2021, helped found the independent Russian newspaper Novaya Gazeta and was the publication’s editor-in-chief when it shut down in March amid the Kremlin’s clampdown on journalists and public dissent in the wake of Russia’s invasion of Ukraine. It was Muratov’s idea to auction off his prize, having already announced he was donating the accompanying $500,000 cash award to charity. Muratov has said the proceeds will go directly to Unicef in its efforts to help children displaced by the war in Ukraine. Just minutes after bidding ended, Unicef told the auction house it had already received the funds. AP

NEW TALENT SHOW ‘BATTLE OF THE JUDGES’ REVEALED; ‘THE CLASH’ RETURNS FOR FIFTH SEASON

TOP media company GMA continues to offer all-out entertainment to viewers with the return of the all-original Filipino singing competition The Clash, plus the newest and equally exciting program set to premiere to Filipino homes with Battle of the Judges. The search for the best Clashers is back with the fifth season of The Clash. If the last four seasons thrilled Clash Nation with unpredictable surprises, expect bigger twists, more intense performances and touching stories from the Clashers in the upcoming season. The formidable trio of Lani Misalucha, Christian Bautista and Ai-Ai de las Alas is back as The Clash Panel together with Clash Masters Julie Anne San Jose and Rayver Cruz. The fun and excitement continues as viewers are about to witness another fascinating and action-packed show via Battle of the Judges. In this program, celebrity judges take the spotlight in a contest that pits judge against judge and talent against talent. The judges’ acts face off against each other in knock-out duels, but only one winner will be chosen. This game involves strategy as much as performance, with the judges needing to decide who is best in their team to compete against their rival judge and talent. Catch The Clash Season 5 and Battle of the Judges soon on GMA.

B6 Friday, June 24, 2022

Sun Life upskills advisors to serve business owner clients

Marcos Jr., Concepcion discuss health, economy and MSMEs

RESIDENT-elect Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr. met with Presidential Adviser for Entrepreneurship and Go Negosyo founder Joey Concepcion last June 15 to discuss pressing issues affecting the country’s micro, small and medium enterprises (MSMEs), specifically the country’s health and economy, and the impact of the ongoing Russia-Ukraine crisis on large and small businesses. At the courtesy call to the incoming President at his campaign headquarters in Mandaluyong City, Concepcion and Marcos agreed that MSMEs will be crucial in the country’s path to prosperity. The sector, which comprises 99.5 percent of all business establishments in the Philippines, generates 62.6 percent of jobs for Filipinos. At the meeting, Marcos assured that his administration will focus on the MSME sector. He also sought Concepcion’s suggestions on what the sector needs most as the country recovers from the pandemic. “Our MSMEs need access to money, market and mentorship opportunities,” said Concepcion, as he outlined the three elements that underpin the programs of the non-profit Go Negosyo, which he founded in 2005. The ‘money’ element, said Concepcion, will be especially crucial as the Russia-Ukraine crisis and the resulting inflation continue to exert pressure on the country’s entrepreneurs. Concepcion shared with the President-elect how large corporations can support MSMEs by including them in their value chain, allowing them to move up the ladder and help propel forward the country’s economic progress. Marcos welcomed the continuation of initiatives to help ease MSMEs into the digital economy, including those pioneered by Go Negosyo at the height of the lockdowns. Concepcion shared with the incoming President how Go Negosyo was able to shift online its in-

PRESIDENT-ELECT Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr. and Presidential Adviser for Entrepreneurship Joey Concepcion, together with incoming Executive Secretary Vic Rodriguez discuss the status of MSMEs amidst the ongoing Russia-Ukraine crisis and post-pandemic exit plans. person mentoring programs, specifically those it conducts in cooperation with the Department of Trade and Industry, the Department of Agriculture, and the Department of Tourism. The shift also allowed Go Negosyo to explore more alliances and expand its reach across the archipelago using digital technology. Concepcion also shared with the incoming President the organization’s health initiatives during the pandemic. President-elect Marcos said his administration recognizes the need to always consider the people’s health and the economy as inter-related issues. “I suggested to the President-elect that we should eventually have to plan how we can move out of a pandemic mindset to ensure our country’s economic growth,” said Concepcion. He also reiterated to the President-elect his call to lift the public health emergency status and the eventual removal of alert levels, while at the same time continuing with vaccinations. Concepcion also suggested the granting of Certificates of Product Registration for Covid vaccines to allow their commercial availability to

citizens who wish to be vaccinated. Concepcion described the meeting as “meaningful and promising,” and that the President-elect was open and welcoming to suggestions. “It was a productive discussion between two people who have heard of each other but never had the chance to meet in person,” he said. Also present were incoming Executive Secretary Vic Rodriguez and Go Negosyo Lead Adviser Josephine Romero. “We both agree that MSMEs should be supported if we are to realize inclusive growth for the Philippines,” he said of the meeting. The Go Negosyo founder committed to consolidate and bring together the private sector in its common goals with the Marcos administration, and to work with incoming Trade Secretary Alfredo Pascual to ensure continuity of its programs to provide access to money, market and mentorship to MSMEs. “I am confident that under the Marcos presidency, and with united efforts from the private sector, we have a chance at realizing inclusive growth and prosperity for all,” Concepcion said.

MPIC CFO Cabal-Revilla hailed as 2022 Sustainability Leader sole PH winner in Campaign’s WLC Awards Asia-Pacific

CHERYL “Chaye” A. Cabal-Revilla

UNE Cheryl “Chaye” A. CabalRevilla, Metro Pacific Investments Corporation’s (MPIC) Chief Finance, Risk, and Sustainability Officer, was named as the 2022 Sustainability Leader of Campaign’s Women Leading Change Awards Asia-Pacific. Recognized among the outstanding women who lead, inspire, and motivate greatness in their respective fields, she rose above nominees from all AsiaPacific countries, likewise heralded as the only winner from the Philippines. As the first Chief Sustainability Officer of the country’s leading infrastructure investment company, she has transformed the business beyond being purely profitdriven, futureproofing its operations and its advocacies for generations to come. “Sustainability and the passion for inspiring positive change have always been the backbone of the work that

we do, allowing us to do good while doing well,” said Cabal-Revilla. “I gratefully share this recognition with my MPIC Family, the entire MPIC Group and the wider MVP Group. This is a testament that our collective efforts are bearing fruit as we live out our commitment to creating better lives for our countrymen.” Cabal-Revilla wears three vital hats as CFO, CRO, and CSO, giving her a distinct advantage of being at the center of all business matters and driving change within the company. She fully integrates finance and sustainability by operationalizing and quantifying impacts that people can understand. With this reinforced strategy, the company ranked first among multi-sector holdings companies in the Philippines. It was recognized as an “ESG industry top rated” company by Sustainalytics after receiving an ESG risk rating score of 12.8 as of May 2021. This score places MPIC in the “low risk” category of experiencing material financial impacts from ESG factors. MPIC also achieved the highest-level A rating in the Global Listed Infrastructure Organization/Global Real Estate Sustainability Benchmark (GLIO/GRESB) ESG Index for Infrastructure, being one of the 19 out of 160 to accomplish this feat. In the same month, the company was recognized at the 11th Asian Excellence Awards. Revilla was named Asia’s Best CFO (Investor Relations), while the company won Best Investor Relations Company (Philippines), Best Environmental Responsibility, and Asia’s Best CSR. “Bolstering our sustainability agenda to benefit our people and our planet is instilled

in Chaye’s core as a leader, a mother, and a Filipina,” said MPIC Chairman, President & CEO Manuel V. Pangilinan. “Our group’s sustainability efforts reached the heights they did because of her progressive vision and tireless commitment to making our world a better place.” MPIC’s sustainability playbook serves as the company’s blueprint, with focus areas and pillars mapped to the 17 Sustainable Development Goals. The group’s sustainability agenda is furthered by the Board Governance and Sustainability Committee, as well as the creation of the MPIC Group Sustainability Council, which aims to harmonize and bring together the Group’s sustainability initiatives aimed to create a collective positive impact for all stakeholders. MPIC continues to form long-term partnerships with other private sector companies and government agencies to protect the country’s flourishing biodiversity. Notable collaborations include the partnership for the protection of Laguna Lake, the largest lake in the Philippines and one of the significant sources of freshwater; with ASEAN Centre for Biodiversity to address biodiversity loss in the region; and with one of the country’s waste recyclers to implement an effective and cost-efficient solid waste management program that aims to help minimize waste pollution through the promotion of proper segregation at source and recycling that supports a circular economy. MPIC also became the first private sector partner of the country’s Department of Environment and Natural Resources in promoting urban biodiversity.

UN Life of Canada (Philippines), Inc. is empowering its advisors to serve the unique needs of Filipino business owners by beefing up its Family Business and Wealth Advisory Program (FBWA). A pioneering initiative in the life insurance industry, the program was launched in 2019 and had Wong + Bernstein Family Advisory Group Family Business Coach and Strategic Adviser Prof. Enrique Soriano as trainer. The program shifted to virtual classes as the lockdowns began and recently held the graduation for its third batch of advisors. “Sun Life is committed to serving the unique needs of Filipinos entrepreneurs, especially at this crucial time as they strive to rise above the pandemic and secure their businesses for the future,” Sun Life Chief Client Experience and Marketing Officer Carla Gonzalez-Chong said. “FBWA stands for our determination to be their partner for life through every stage of their business.” Sun Life is set to roll out FBWA to more of its advisors to enable the company to reach as many business owners as possible. Complementing FBWA is Sun Future Proof, a program designed with a business owner’s journey in mind, bringing together financial education and financial solutions to help them achieve both business and personal goals.

SUN Life Chief Client Experience & Marketing Officer Carla Gonzalez-Chong “Filipino entrepreneurs are the lifeblood of our economy. With the right financial products and sound financial advice, they can achieve more and help our country recover from the pandemic,” GonzalezChong said. “Sun Life is here to help them make it happen.” Those interested to know more about the Sun Future Proof program are encouraged to talk to their Sun Life advisor or connect with one via http://www.sunlife.co/ TalkToAnAdvisor.

Rakuten Viber and Mineski Global boost the fun with the launch of the mgames chatbot on Viber

AT THE MEDIA LAUNCH, FROM LEFT: event host and gaming content creator BurgerKim, Mineski’s Chief Executive Officer Ronald Robins, Rakuten Viber’s APAC PR Lead Lana Macapagal and Senior Director David Tse.

TARTING June 2022, Viber users across the Asia Pacific will have free and easy access to up to 70 hypercasual games via the mgames chatbot on Viber, with new games to be introduced every month. mgames is a casual gaming platform created by Mineski Global, offering an extensive library of games that are easy to play, and are lightweight in terms of game mechanics and design. “We are excited about our collaboration with Mineski Global in integrating mobile games into our platform for different segments of users,” says David Tse, Senior Director at Rakuten Viber.

With a wide variety of options, there’s definitely a game for all kinds and ages of Viber users – from incredible word masters and thrill-seeking adrenaline junkies to fantastic puzzle solvers and competitive racers, or even just happy-go-lucky screen tappers. These interactive hypercasual games allow Viber users to compete for rewards and leaderboards and play with their Viber network. Users can also create their own private lobbies and have a fun time with their friends and family on Viber. “The social aspect of gaming is often overlooked, but we believe that it creates one of the strongest reward loops that incentivize consumer behavior. For instance, mgames on Viber has private lobbies so users can host friendly competitions with their family and friends. This and other features are novelties that will make your messaging app experience more dynamic,” says Ronald Robins, Mineski's Chief Executive Officer. During the mgames chatbot on Viber media launch held on June 8 in Mandaluyong City, members of the media and some content creators experienced the fun of community gaming as they competed for exciting prizes. To know more about mgames on Viber, visit www.viber.com and www.mineskiglobal. com/mgames or follow Rakuten Viber and Mineski Global on social media.

FATHER’S DAY CELEBRATION AT CAFÉ LUPE ANTIPOLO. Actor-director Cesar Montano recently visited the famed Café Lupe in Antipolo to celebrate Father’s Day with his children, namely: actor Diego Loyzaga, Angelina, Samantha, Cheska, Liam, Sam, and Kristen. Cafe Lupe Antipolo is a restaurant, events place, KTV, and hotel complete with an infinity pool and other amenities which is known to have the best overlooking spot to create memories with family and friends. Call Telephone Number 4703201 for function rooms and other event reservations.

Alcatel-Lucent Enterprise commends business partners’ success in Southeast Asia

LCATEL-LUCENT Enterprise, a leading provider of communications, networking and cloud solutions tailored to customers’ industries, has unveiled the “Partner of the Year” winners during the Connex22 Southeast Asia Partner Evento held in Bangkok, Thailand, on May 26. Themed ‘Go Future’, Connex22 aims to recognize that the future is built upon experience and learning as well as ambition and goals. The winners include: Unified Communications Partner of the Year 2021, SEA: Radiant Communication Sdn Bhd. Radiant Communication tripled its revenues year on year, including a significant project win in the public sector covering 20,000 users. Network Partner of the Year 2021, SEA: First One Systems Co., Ltd First One Systems

Co., Ltd managed to grow their revenue with ALE by 80% year on year, delivering significant progress for ALE in Thailand. Growth Partner of the Year 2021, SEA: Nokia Enterprise Philippines. The partnership between ALE and Nokia Enterprise Philippines has been smooth and seamless, paving the way for prospects with notable project wins in the service provider industry. “We’re proud that Alcatel-Lucent Enterprise partners continued to deliver above and beyond to our customers. Connex22 was an opportunity to acknowledge their hard work and successes despite the challenges and volatile circumstances brought on by the global health crisis,” said Damien Delard, Vice President of APAC Channels, Head of Sales in South-East Asia, Hong-Kong, Taiwan, Japan.

Sports BusinessMirror

mirror_sports@yahoo.com.ph • Editor: Jun Lomibao

San Miguel Beer stakes unbeaten record against dangerous Ginebra

AN MIGUEL Beer goes for a commanding 4-0 won-lost start when it takes on red-hot Barangay Ginebra San Miguel on Friday in the Philippine Basketball Association Philippine Cup at the Mall of Asia Arena in Pasay City. The Beermen will try to sustain the momentum of their victories over Phoenix Super LPG, 108100, NLEX, 100-92, and Magnolia, 87-81, when they play the Gin Kings in the 6 p.m. duel. Those wins were built around six-time Season Most Valuable Player June Mar Fajardo who’s been averaging 15.6 points, 11.6 rebounds and 1.6 blocks early in the conference. Count CJ Perez in for the Beermen’s unbeaten run on his 17.6 points, 8.0 rebounds and 4.3 assists contribution in three games. But the Beermen will miss the services of veteran Chris Ross (right knee), Vic Manuel (calf) and Terrence Romeo (back spasm) when they take on the Gin Kings. “We’re hoping to sustain our games despite missing some players due to injuries so I’m expecting some players to step up,” San Miguel Beer coach Leo Austria said. “We have to play accurately and keep our executions perfect aside from playing defense.” The Gin Kings are coming off an 83-75 comefrom-behind victory over NLEX last Wednesday to stay in solo second place with a 3-1 record. Ginebra coach Tim Cone said they don’t have enough time to prepare against San Miguel Beer just 48 hours after beating the Road Warriors. “I thought the guys did a great job of turning around mentally and staying in the game until we can get a little run going, a momentum going, and the momentum just caught with the crowd, carrying us to the very end,” Cone said. Ginebra will play minus Stanley Pringle who’s nursing a hamstring injury. Phoenix Super LPG (2-2) tries to extend its winning streak to three games when it battles Magnolia (2-3) at 3 p.m. Josef Ramos

NIETES AGAIN MEETS IOKA IN WORLD TITLE FIGHT IN TOKYO

ONGEST-REIGNING Filipino world boxing champion Donnie “Ahas” Nietes finally get to challenge reigning World Boxing Organization (WBO) super flyweight Kazuto Ioka of Japan on July 13 at the Ota-City Gymnasium in Tokyo. Nietes, the 40-year-old boxer pride of Murcia, Negros Occidental, told BUSINESSMIRRO� on Thursday that he is the mandatory challenger to Ioka’s belt that he vacated four years ago to pursue bigger fights but later on regretted his decision. “At last after three years I get a world title fight. My patience has finally paid off,” Nietes. Nietes vacated his WBO super flyweight belt in March 2019 to give way to compatriot Aston Palicte. He only had two fights since, none a world title bout. Palicte, however, suffered a 10th-round technical knockout loss in June 2019 to Ioka, who Nietes beat in December 31, 2018, via split decision in Macau to snatch the same belt. “I know I’ll be a mandatory challenger because of my high ranking. There’re so many offers to fight, but I waited for this one and it’s happening now,” said Nietes, who packs a 431-6 win-loss-draw record with 23 knockouts. “I regretted vacating the belt after Palicte lost. If I knew he would lose, I would just have fought Ioka instead so a Filipino will keep the title.” After that New Year’s eve world title bout in 2018, Nietes only fought in March 3, 2021, beating Pablo Carrillo of Colombia via unanimous decision in Dubai to secure the WBO international super flyweight belt. Last December, Nietes’s fought again but settled for a split draw against Norbelto Jimenez of Dominican Republic in Dubai. Now, Nietes and Ioka’s paths cross again. “All those were tailor-fitted to him. So I think he’s still the same fighter he was before. He never fought a fighter like me,” Nietes said. Besides Palicte, Ioka defended his crown against Puerto Rican Jeyvier Cintron, Japanese Kosei Tanaka, Mexican Francisco Rodriguez Jr. and another Japanese Ryoji Fukunaga last December. Josef Ramos

Friday, June 24, 2022

ATHLETICS

TO FOLLOW? B

ANS on transgender women in international swimming and rugby this week opened the door for track and field to consider following suit in what could turn into a wave of policy changes in Olympic sports. The announcement Sunday by swimming’s governing body, FINA, was followed quickly by a show of support from World Athletics President Sebastian Coe, who was in Hungary for the swimming world championships. Coe said FINA’s decision was in the best interest of swimming and that his own federation, which oversees track and field and other running sports, would review its policies on transgender athletes and intersex athletes at the end of the year. “If we ever get pushed into a corner to that point where we’re making a judgment about fairness or inclusion, I will always fall down on the side of fairness,” Coe said. Experts viewed that as a signal that World Athletics officials could use the FINA precedent to block all transgender and intersex athletes—the latter referred to by clinical terminology as having differences in sex development—from competing in women’s events. FINA’s new policy bans all transgender women from elite competitions if they didn’t begin medical treatment to suppress testosterone production before either the onset of puberty or by age 12, whichever comes later. USA Swimming put its own policy in place earlier this year, with the idea that it would eventually follow FINA’s lead, but this week said it would need time to see how FINA’s policy affects its own. Should track and field adopt a similar rule to FINA, Caster Semenya, an athlete with differences in sex development, still would be kept out of races at her chosen distance, 800 meters. It also could bar 200-meter silver medalist Christine Mboma of Namibia, who also is an athlete with differences in sex development and expected to contend for the title at world championships in Oregon next month. Currently, World Athletics rules governing such athletes don’t apply to the 200-meter race. “By later this year, I think (World Athletics) will have announced a policy that is very similar to swimming,” said Ross Tucker, a science and research consultant for World Rugby. “And they will say that if ever a person has gone through male puberty and has obtained the advantages associated with testosterone, they can’t compete in women’s sports.” The International Rugby League also barred transgender women from women’s matches until more studies allow for the sport’s regulators to come up with a cohesive inclusion policy. And the International

THE winners of the criterium races on Tuesday—Jermyn Prado, Mathilda Krog, Jan Paul Morales, Rench Michael Bondoc, Pepito Khalil, Guill Aisaiah Farin and Kim Bonill— proudly wear their national champions jerseys.

GALEDO, PRADO UNBEATABLE

WORLD Athletics President Sebastian Coe supports FINA’s policy. AP

Cycling Union last week updated its eligibility rules for transgender athletes; it increased the period during which transgender athletes on women’s teams must lower their testosterone level to two years rather than one. FIFA, which runs soccer, said it is “currently reviewing its gender eligibility regulations in consultation with expert stakeholders.” Individual sports are taking the lead because of the International Olympic Committee (IOC) framework that was introduced last November and went into effect in March placed all sports in charge of their own rules regarding testosterone. It replaced an IOC policy that had allowed transgender women who had been on hormone replacement therapy for at least 12 months to compete in the Olympics against other women. The new guidance, which is not binding, recommends that testosterone levels should not determine whether someone is eligible to compete—a stance that

World Athletics has not adopted. Tucker said he expected maybe the “big four or five” international sports federations to follow FINA’s suit, but not all the others—in part because many are smaller operations that don’t have science and legal teams to do the research for thorough policies. FINA had assigned three groups, athletes, science and medicine and legal and human rights, to work on its policy. FINA’s decisions and those of other organizations are likely to be challenged either in court or at the Court of Arbitration for Sport, meaning federations that adopt a rule will need scientific studies and legal funding to back up the policy. “What swimming did was not easy, and it certainly wasn’t cheap,” Tucker said. Coe said FINA “spent $1,000,000 (on legal fees). We’re not FIFA but we’re not bereft. But there are other sports that are genuinely fearful that, if they go down thatroad,they’llbankruptthemselvesdefendingthis.” AP

PBA’S BEST FOR ‘22

Virgilio “Baby” Dalupan Coach of the Year Chot Reyes (center) and Danny Floro Executive of the Year Alfrancis Chua (center) lead the awardees in the 2022 Philippine Basketball Association Press Corps Awards Night at the Novotel Manila Araneta Center on Tuesday night. Also in photo are (from left) Arwind Santos, league governors Robert Non (San Miguel Beer) and Eric Arejola (NorthPort), Robert Bolick, guest of honor Bulakan Mayor Vergel Meneses, Allein Maliksi, Ian Sangalang, Jamie Malonzo and Mikey Williams.

AGAYTAY City—Mark John Galedo and, again, Jermyn Prado were a class act in the individual time trial (UTT) races in Day 2 of the PhilCycling National Championships for Road 2022 on Wednesday. Galedo, the most veteran in the field, clocked 52 minutes and 43.10 seconds to win gold in men’s ITT raced over 30 kms from Nasugbu to the Praying Hands Monument here, reiterating that at 37, he still packs the legs that made him a former Southeast Asian Games winner and many time domestic tour champion. “I prepared hard because these are the national championships,” Galedo, riding for 7-Eleven Roadbike Philippines said. “I still feel them in my legs and I’ll go on riding.” His opponents were also the who’s who in Philippine cycling in the championships co-presented by Standard Insurance, MVP Sports Foundation and Smart and backed by Chooks-to-Go, San Miguel Corp., Petron, Le Tour de Filipinas-Air21-One LGC, Tagaytay City, Go For Gold, Cavite’s First District, Batangas First District, Batangas and the Philippine National Police. Philippine Navy-Standard Insurance’s Ronald Oranza and Jhon Mark Camingao finished 2-3 behind Galedo at 31 seconds and 2:22 behind. Nichol Pareja (7-Eleven Roadbike Philippines) topped the Men’s Under-23 also raced over 30 kms in 55:49.20, followed by Macryan Lago (Go For Gold) 14 seconds behind and Arvin Duanne Digap close to six minutes behind. Former SEA Games queen Prado? After ruling the criterium with impunity—she gained a lap on her opponents—on Tuesday, she came back smoking anew the day after to dominate the 20-km women’s ITT in 39 minutes and 14.20 seconds. Two Philippine Navy-Standard Insurance riders completed the podium—Marianne Grace Dacumos (2:30 behind) and Avegail Rombaon (2:39 behind) in the championships that went down in Philippine cycling history as the most attended with close to 600 riders registering across two genders and four categories. Phoebe Salazar (7-Eleven Roadbike Philippines) clocked 41:56.10 to win gold in Women’s Under 23, followed by Philippine Navy-Standard Insurance’s Kate Yasmin Velasco (42.34 behind) and Mary Joy Zamora 1:53.80). The other Men’s category podium finishers in the event organized by the PhilCycling headed by Rep. Abraham “Bambol” Tolentino, also the Philippine Olympic Committee president, were Lance Andrew Lumanlan (34.26), Zack Reyes (1:09 behind) and RR King Roque of Go For Gold (1:28) in Juniors and Samstill Mamites (15:24.40), Justhene Navaluna (15.73) and Mark Kairos Amban (26.20) in Youth. Raven Joy Valdez (18:53.80), Althea Mae Campana (2:30 behind) and Angelica Altamirano (13:54) were 1-23 in Junior and Kym Syrell Bonilla (13:33.00), Rosalie de la Cruz (1:34.80) and Ems Krog (1:36.40) occupied the podium in Women’s Youth. The road races were scheduled for Thursday and Friday.

Olympic champion France beats The Netherlands in men’s VNL F

B J R

RANCE flashed its Olympic gold medal-winning form in beating The Netherlands, 25-14, 25-23, 25-13, for its fifth victory in the Volleyball Nations League on Thursday at the Smart Araneta Coliseum. It was only in the second set when the Dutch showed a semblance of a tough challenge against the world No. 3 French juggernaut, which rallied to reach the set point, 24-21, stepped back one bit to let their foes to come within 23-24 before Barthelemy Chinenyeze delivered the set-clinching kill. “In the second set, we just found a way to come back,” said Stephen Boyer, who led France with 11 kills and four service aces for 15 point. “It’s always good to win. We played good volleyball today.” Chinenyeze added 12 points, including the set-clinching kill that gave the Tokyo Olympics gold medalists a 2-0 set lead. Trevor Clevenot fired two service aces to finish with 11 points while Nicolas Le Goff imposed his will in the middle with six points for a 10-point outing for France.

Counting Tuesday’s forfeit win against China, France improved to 5-1 in the standings. “It’s always good to win. We played good volleyball,” said Boyer. Earvin N’ Gapeth, the Most Valuable Player at last year’s Tokyo Olympics, thanked Filipino fans and hoped to play two more impressive games in the VNL’s Quezon City leg. “I received a lot of messages from the Filipino people. It’s so cool to be here to play volleyball here,” said N’ Gapeth, who had eight points, five receptions and four digs. “I hope we will make two good games for the fans. This is for the fans here in the Philippines.” France’s lone setback came at the hands of world No. 1 Poland in Week 1 in Ottawa, Canada, last June 12. France will play Japan on Saturday and Germany on Sunday. Bennie Tuinstra and captain Nimir Abdel-Aziz each had 11 points for the Dutch, who suffered their third setback in six matches. The event is supported by Mikasa, Ganten, Gerflor and Senoh as global sponsors and global suppliers, PLDT Home as presenting partner, Rebisco, MG Philippines, TOP Speed Insurance, Asics and Maynilad as official sponsors,

INTERNATIONAL Volleyball Federation (FIVB) President Ary Graca (center) of Brazil, Asian Volleyball Confederation head Rita Subowo (left) of Indonesia and Philippine National Volleyball Federation chief Ramon “Tats” Suzara preside over an FIVB meeting at the Hyatt Grand Hotel in Taguig City on Thursday. NONIE REYES

Havas Ortega, The Look Company, Summit Outdoor Media, Marketing Media Ventures, Strong Media Advertising Solutions. 91.5 Win Radio, Philippine Olympic Committee, Philippine Sports Commission, City of Taguig, Quezon City and F2 Logistics as official suppliers.

The China-Germany game set at 3 p.m. also on Thursday was canceled after the Germans refused to play the Chinese despite having been cleared by local health authorities after testing positive for Covid-19. The Chinese now has a 3-0 record after the forfeiture.

Motoring BusinessMirror

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Friday, June 24, 2022

Editor: Tet Andolong • www.businessmirror.com.ph

FULL RECOVERY SEEN; LEXUS TRIO T

HE industry is on a blazing rally, recording a 20-percent increase in vehicle sales in May.

Interestingly, the commercial car segment took the lion’s share of 34.2 percent to 19,406 units, which is more than half of the total cars sold last month. Light commercial vehicles finished a strong second at 15,385

units, up by 33.4 percent as the May sales totalled a whopping 26,370 units sold for a 19.5 percent leap from the 22,062 units sold in the same period a year ago. “The ripple effects of the pandemic and the robust domestic

demand triggered the continued improvement of the automotive sales performance recorded in May,” said Toyota’s Rommel Gutierrez, president of Campi (Chamber of Automotive Manufacturers of the Philippines, Inc.). The double-digit percentage growths during the three straight months on a year-over-year basis, said Gutierrez, is indicative of a full economic recovery. Vehicle total sales rose to 14.6 percent through 126,273 units sold thus far for the year, including data from the TMA (Truck Manufacturers Association). As usual, Toyota collared the biggest sales chunk of 52 percent, recording 65,668 vehicles sold since January. Mitsubishi was second with 12.84 percent at 16,209 cars sold, and Nissan third with 7.58 percent at 9,571 units.

Lexus big hit at Rockwell

LEXUS was a recent hit during the exhibition of its Omotenashi platform, featuring its trio of Lexus IS sport sedan, Lexus RX crossover, and the flagship Lexus LS at Makati’s Rockwell Powerplant. Visitors had a field day gawking at the creations of Takumi master craftsmen, who are famous for their most subtle and finely tuned human senses to the vehicle production process: sight that can see marks invisible to the untrained eye, hearing that can tune an engine with surgical precision, and touch that can detect imperfections to a fraction of a millimeter. The pinnacle of Takumi craftsmanship is the Lexus LS flagship sed a n, whose c ra f tsm a nsh ip starts from the vehicle's powertrain and suspension all the way down to the stitch points of the seats.

Since its debut in 1999, the Lexus IS has gained its reputation for its high-level driving performance and sporty styling. The R X fits right into an active lifestyle, asserting its presence on a variety of roads and diverse driving conditions through its 3.5-liter V6 direct-injection engine mated to an eight-speed automatic transmission. “There is no luxury SUV crossover as likable as the Lexus RX,” said Jade B. Sison, the super-energetic front liner of Lexus chieftain Raymond T. Rodriguez. Orders weren’t in trickles, I was told.

PEE STOP The MTRCB (Movie and Television Review and Classification Board) will hold its monthly Board meeting today (Friday, June 24) in Davao City, with the diminutive, brand-new Chair Ogie

Jaro presiding. As a proud Board member since 2016, I will not miss it as this will mark the first time that the MTRCB will hold its first ever Board meeting in Davao City. I will also take the opportunity to rekindle ties with the Alpharddriving, and big bike enthusiast Ken Angeles, my long-time buddy and a dear friend of Sen. Bong Go. Pareng Ken owns Davao’s famous Yellow Fin Tuna restaurant, which happens to be President Duterte’s favorite eatery for decades now. The joint’s next door neighbour was the now-extinct— sadly—After Dark, a sleek piano bar where Tatay Digong loved to spend the night in his halcyon days, saying goodbye to his “glass mates” usually at the crack of dawn but only after having belted his favorite song, “McArthur’s Park,” delivered a la Richard Harris. Ah, those were the days, indeed.