Businessmirror March 01, 2019 by BusinessMirror

INFLATION IN FEB. MAY REVERT TO TARGET By Bianca Cuaresma

@BcuaresmaBM

HE growth of local consumer prices may have reverted to within-target range in as early as Febuary this year, based on the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas’s (BSP) forecast for the February inflation. As announced by the Central Bank on Thursday afternoon, the BSP Department of Economic Research projects February inflation to settle anywhere between 3.7 and 4.5 percent. “Higher domestic oil prices and the upward adjustment in electricity rates provided upside price pressures to inflation during the month. These may be partly offset by lower prices of rice and other agricultural commodities given the appreciation of the peso and ample supply particularly of rice following the recent

DEPT. OF SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY

PHILIPPINE STATISTICS AUTHORITY

2018 BANTOG DATA MEDIA AWARDS CHAMPION

harvest and arrival of rice imports,” the BSP said in a statement. “Looking ahead, the BSP will continue to be watchful of evolving price trends to ensure that the monetarypolicy stance remains appropriate to maintaining price stability that is conducive to a balanced and sustainable growth of the economy and employment,” it added. Should inflation fall to the floor of the BSP’s forecast range for February, the local price growth will fall to its lowest expansion since January 2018, when it hit 3.4 percent. Meanwhile, if inflation hits the BSP forecast ceiling, it will be an acceleration from the 4.4-percent inflation seen in January this year. In their February meeting, the Monetary Board scaled back their inflation forecast to 3.1 percent on average for this year, down from the 3.2-percent forecast announced by the BSP in their

BusinessMirror A broader look at today’s business

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n Friday, March 1, 2019 Vol. 14 No. 142

DOLE-Ecop accord on contractuals hangs T

By Samuel P. Medenilla

@sam_medenilla

HE Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE) has junked its proposed memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with the Employers Confederation of the Philippines (Ecop), which would have fasttracked the regularization of over 200,000 contractual workers. Labor Secretary Silvestre H. Bello III said he opted to scrap the accord, which was supposed to be signed in February, due to opposition of labor groups. Without the MOU, he said the workers it was supposed to cover

may now have to wait longer before they could be absorbed by their companies. “Since they [labor groups] were the ones who complained against it [MOU], they will be the ones to explain [the delays] to the [affected]

workers,” Bello told reporters in a previous interview.

Still hopeful

DESPITE Bello’s latest pronouncement, Ecop remains optimistic the MOU will still be eventually signed.

“Since they [labor groups] were the ones who complained against it [MOU], they will be the ones to explain [the delays] to the [affected] workers.”—Bello

Ecop President Sergio OrtizLuis told the BusinessMirror in a phone interview he spoke earlier with the labor chief, who conceded they were indeed facing a problem in implementing the MOU due to opposition from labor groups. However, his impression is that DOLE could still implement it later. “It is just postponed and undergoing further study,” Ortiz-Luis said.

By Elijah Felice E. Rosales @alyasjah

HE Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) has vowed to set a suggested retail price for cement next week to prevent local manufacturers from taking advantage of the protectionist regime on the commodity. Trade Secretary Ramon M. Lopez recently told reporters that the SRP is in compliance with his promise to do so. The SRP will be in place for as long as the safeguard duty of P210 per metric ton is imposed on imported cement. The SRP is intended to ensure prices of cement are stable and reasonable under a biased regime against imports. “We knew their [prevailing prices], so those are what we will review in setting the SRP. As I said before, we will peg it from December and base the SRP from that,” Lopez said. Asked about the probable range of the SRP, he said it could be around P220 per bag, as this is the average price of cement before the safeguard measure was placed. “We are not saying that [we will place only one SRP for all brands] because each province has different logistics costs. I think cement is cheaper in Cebu, but not in some

PESO EXCHANGE RATES n US 52.0060

BUSINESS NEWS SOURCE OF THE YEAR

Solar Para sa Bayan franchise a power industry bane Dr. Jesus Lim Arranza

Make Sense

LTHOUGH I had already expressed earlier my apprehensions on the ill effects of granting Solar Para sa Bayan (SPSB) a congressional franchise to operate and provide supposedly cheap renewable electricity to communities unserved or underserved by other power companies, my aversions were strengthened upon hearing the concerns of the other power industry stakeholders and Senate Committee on Energy Chairman Sen. Sherwin Gatchalian himself during the last Senate hearing on the SPSB franchise.

See “Dole-Ecop,” A2

Continued on A11

Govt mulling over cutting exports target

economies. Countries that posted a score of 100 and topped the index were European countries—Belgium, Denmark, France, Latvia, Luxembourg and Sweden. “Change is happening, but not fast enough, and 2.7 billion women are still legally barred from having the same choice of jobs as men.

HE gover nment m ight lower its exports target in response to recent developments on both the domestic and global scale. Senen M. Perlada, director of the Department of Trade and Industry’s Export Marketing Bureau, said the trade conflict between the United States and China is now taking a toll on Philippine exports. He argued this has been evident in the export figures for 2018—a decline of nearly 2 percent—on the back of tempered performance from the semiconductor industry. Merchandise exports for the whole of last year fell 1.8 percent to $67.48 billion, from $68.71 billion in 2017, according to data from the Philippine Statistics Authority. “There has been an idea floating around if we are [going to] change or revise the target,” Perlada said in an interview with reporters. However, Perlada said he is personally against revising the target, as the figures are still way ahead of the objectives under the Philippine Development Plan 2017-2022. The target for exports of goods this year is at $51.2 billion to $52.7 billion; for exports of services it is $42.6 billion to $43.7 billion, according to data from the PDP.

See “Pinays,” A12

See “Exports,” A12

“We are not saying that [we will place only one SRP for all brands] because each province has different logistics costs. I think cement is cheaper in Cebu, but not in some northern parts of Luzon. In Metro Manila P220 is the prevailing price per bag. What we will impose is SRP per brand.”—Lopez

northern parts of Luzon. In Metro Manila P220 is the prevailing price per bag. What we will impose is SRP per brand,” Lopez said. Lopez decided to put an SRP on cement to see how the implementation of a safeguard duty will impact on supply. He said “unreasonable” price increases are indications of supply shortages. The DTI slapped a provisional tax on imported cement after the domestic industry supposedly got injured from the surge in imports from 2013 to 2017. Market share of imports rose to 15 percent in 2017, from 0.02 percent in 2013, according to figures from the DTI. Further, sales of the local industry reportedly fell 12 percent, or P11.1 billion, in 2017, as manufacturers were compelled to reduce prices by almost 10 percent to compete with imports.

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DTI to set suggested retail price for cement to prevent profiteering

December meeting. For 2020, the inflation forecast is broadly unchanged at 3 percent. The reduction in the forecast for this year was hinged on three things: lower oil prices in the global market, base effects and the expectation of lower global nonoil prices. The BSP also said that as inflation conditions turn favorable, the Monetary Board decided in February that current monetary-policy settings are already appropriate, as previous monetary responses continue to work their way through the economy. The BSP in 2018 let out a series of monetary-policy hikes—a total of 175 basis points—to bring inflation back to more normalized levels. The BSP is set to have its next monetary-policy meeting on March 21, under a new Monetary Board chairman following the death of BSP Governor Nestor A. Espenilla Jr.

THIS is the Nlex Harbor Link Segment 10, a 5.65-kilometer elevated expressway traversing Nlex from MacArthur Highway in Karuhatan, Valenzuela City, passing through Malabon City and C-3 Road in Caloocan, which was inaugurated on Thursday (February 28). This road is expected to reduce bottlenecks in Metro Manila by reducing the number of vehicles passing through some secondary roads. It is expected to benefit an initial 30,000 vehicles per day. Story in “Companies,” page B1. PHOTO COURTESY NLEX CORPORATION

Pinays face barriers in business, law–WB By Cai U. Ordinario @caiordinario

HE Philippines may be regarded as one of the best places to be a woman, but Filipinas continue to face barriers in business and law compared to their counterparts in the region and in the world, according to the

latest report from the World Bank. In a report, titled “Women, Business and the Law 2019: A Decade of Reforms,” the World Bank said the Philippines only scored 81.25 out of 100 in the index. This placed the Philippines only fourth in Southeast Asia in terms of the index. Overall, the Philippines and Puerto Rico ranked 21st out of 187

n JAPAN 0.4686 n UK 69.2044 n HK 6.6254 n CHINA 7.7789 n SINGAPORE 38.5773 n AUSTRALIA 37.1167 n EU 59.1412 n SAUDI ARABIA 13.8675

Source: BSP (28 February 2019 )

News

BusinessMirror

A2 Friday, March 1, 2019

www.businessmirror.com.ph

Fund release for Marcos victims till year-end

By Bernadette D. Nicolas

@BNicolasBM

RESIDENT Duterte has signed the joint resolution extending until end-2019 the release of funds intended for human-rights victims during Marcos regime.

T he Joint Resolution 4 signed by the President on February 22 extended the maintenance, availability and release of the funds until December 31, 2019. The resolution also authorized the Bureau of the Treasury and the Land Bank of the Philippines to release the funds, as well as the Commission on Human Rights (CHR) to administer the effective distribution of the funds. Congress passed the resolution last year since the Human Rights Victims Claims Board (HRVCB) has yet to complete its work after the extended effectivity of the law mandating the release of funds ended in May 2018. Republic Act 10368, or the Human Rights Victims Reparation and Recognition Act of 2013 provides for an institutionalized mechanism on how human-rights victims during the Marcos regime will be compensated. More than P10 billion has

₧792.6M

The HRVCB account balance with the Land Bank of the Philippines as of June 28, 2018. If Duterte did not sign the congressional resolution, this can only be maintained as such until August 11, 2018, after which the balance will revert to the Bureau of the Treasury been forfeited and adjudged as Marcos ill-gotten wealth by the Swiss Federal Supreme Court on December 10, 1997, in favor of the Philippine government. However, as of May 11, 2018, the HRVCB had been able to approve and duly recognize only 11,103 claimants out of more than 75,000 applicants. The board was able to completely resolve 6,737 appeals before the deadline. As of June 28, 2018, the HRVCB account with the Land Bank of the Philippines reported a balance of P792.628 million, which can only be main-

tained as such until August 11, 2018, after which the balance will revert to the Bureau of the Treasury. Although the CHR and the HRVCB have created a transition team to assist the claimants in the remaining months, there were still reports from several approved claimants’ relatives that they were not able to encash the checks even with the issuance of a Special Power of Attorney. Many of the claimants are concerned over the time constraint to process matters relating to the distribution of

monetary claims until August 11, 2018. President Duterte said in a speech last Tuesday that until now there is no proof that the Marcoses have indeed amassed ill-gotten wealth. This was despite previous court rulings that forfeited some of the family’s assets in favor of the government. The President made the remark as he defended his controversial decision to allow the burial of the late dictator at the Libingan ng mga Bayani. Prior to the President’s decision, the issue on whether to allow the Marcos burial in the Libingan ng mga Bayani has long been debated by both pro- and anti-Marcos groups. In 2017, Duterte said the Marcoses have expressed readiness to return wealth accumulated during the 20-year reign of the late strongman. However, he said the negotiations for the return of the Marcos wealth would require the approval of Congress.

Govt treads carefully on rollout of rice trade lib law

By Jasper Emmanuel Y. Arcalas @jearcalas

HE government is looking at options to avoid lawsuits if it rolls out the rice trade liberalization law on March 5 without the implementing rules and regulations (IRR), a high-ranking official said on Thursday. National Economic and Development Authority (Neda) Assistant Secretary Mercedita A. Sombilla told the BusinessMirror that the agency is now looking at provisions of Republic Act (RA) 11203 that may be implemented immediately. Sombilla said the government wants to avoid legal challenges if it implements certain provisions of RA 11203 without the IRR. “As much as possible, we

DOLE-Ecop. . .

want to finish the IRR by March 5 so that everything’s going to be okay and we would not face lawsuits,” she said in an interview after the Neda’s monthly press briefing in Pasig City. The Neda wants to immediately remove the National Food Authority’s (NFA) regulatory functions and participation in rice importation once the law takes effect. “We want to know if it would be legal for us to start already the removal of the NFA’s regulatory powers by March 5 or we really have to wait for the IRR. We are determining the provisions that can be implemented immediately,” Sombilla said. “The law provides for the immediate removal of the functions of the NFA. So we want that to happen immediately and we hope to get that clear before March 5,” she added.

Continued from A1

Ecop said it is willing to wait until DOLE addresses the concerns of labor groups. Ortiz-Luis maintained the MOU will be beneficial for both employers and their contractual workers.

Still a priority CONTRARY to the statement of Nagkaisa, Bello pointed out the MOU would have actually speeded up the regularization of contractual workers since it encourages employers to voluntarily comply with their regularization orders. The labor official attributed the long delays in the enforcement of their regularization orders to companies questioning it before the courts. He cited the case of the order to PLDT to regularize its over 7,000 workers, which is soon expected to reach the Supreme Court. As for the SOT bill, Bello said they will continue to push for its approval in the Senate with or without their MOU with Ecop.

stakeholders are “dismayed” over the measure. RA 11203 liberalized the country’s rice trade by removing the quantitative restriction on imports, and transformed the NFA into a buffer-stocking agency.“The law has also been met by strong opposition from some sectors, with legal challenges in the form of lawsuits likely in the near future,” the Gain report, which was published recently, read. Officials of the agriculture department sounded the alarm last week that the government could face lawsuits if it implements the rice trade liberalization law on March 5 even without the IRR. Some groups are looking into the possibility of securing a temporary restraining order against RA 11203 from the Supreme Court.

Consumption, govt spending, FDI rise: 3 legs of growth in ’19 By Rizal Raoul S. Reyes

Unnecessary and illegal LABOR groups welcomed the decision of DOLE not to sign the MOU, which they said is illegal. Trade Union Congress of the Philippines (TUCP) said its leaders personally spoke with Bello to caution him about the consequences of the MOU. “We warned the Secretary that it will set a bad precedent on the rampant problem of precarious contractualization in the country with abusive companies getting scot-free by entering the MOU,” TUCP Spokesman Alan Tanjusay told the B usiness M irror via SMS. Federation of Free Workers (FFW) Vice President Julius Cainglet said the MOU is not necessary if Ecop wants to help DOLE in its campaign against illegal contractualization. “If they really want to voluntarily regularize their workers, they don’t need a MOA for that,” Cainglet said. FFW and TUCP are both members of the Nagkaisa labor coalition. Last month, members of Nagkaisa threatened to file a case against Bello if the MOU is signed since it allows employers to regularize their contractual workers at a given time period in exchange for temporary exemption from labor inspection. They claim it would be disadvantageous for workers since it allows companies to absorb their contractual workers at a staggered pace, and not following the reglamentary period. Furthermore, they also accused DOLE of using the MOU as a ploy to appease workers and employers in order to render irrelevant the pending Security of Tenure bill in the Senate. The SOT bill imposes additional restrictions on companies which will be engaged in contractualization.

Sombilla said, however, that the Neda is still keen on rolling out the IRR within the prescribed 45-day period under the law. The government is currently undertaking a series of public consultations with affected stakeholders on the IRR of RA 11203, which is expected to be done by March 1. The Foreign Agricultural Service in Manila of the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA-FAS) said the Philippine government may face lawsuits over the rice trade liberalization law as opposition against the measure grows. In a Global Agricultural Information Network (Gain) report, USDA-FAS Manila noted that RA 11203 would “likely face legal challenges in the form of lawsuits in the near future” as some rice industry

@brownindio

HE Philippine economy will bank on three legs to sustain the economic growth achieved in 2018 going to 2019. “The Philippine economy will be powered by rise in consumption expenditure, government spending and the rise in foreign direct investment. What happened in 2018 will pave the way for the recovery of the economy in 2019,” Jose Domingo M. Santiago III, executive director and head of equity research, UBS Philippines, said in a press briefing on Wednesday in Makati City. Santiago also pointed out that 2019 will be reversing the market trends as the economy is set to rebound this year. He added that inflation rates are expected to drop this year. “The rise in Interest rates drives less interest in the stock market,” he said. With falling interest rates, the market bounces back, according to Santiago. The September 2018 inflation rate was the highest for the Philippines in the past nine years, registering 6.7 percent, according to the Philippine Statistics Authority. An economist stressed that inflation is caused both by local and global factors such as the rise in the price of crude prices in the global market. Being an importer of crude oil, the Philippines suffers from the volatility of the oil prices in the world market. He said the Duterte administration’s “Build, Build, Build” program is going

to play an important role in the growth of the economy this year. Hailed as the biggest infrastructure development program the country has undertaken, the $180-billion program seeks to transform the country’s archaic infrastructure system to a modern system that seeks to be on a par with, if not better than its neighbors in the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (Asean) region. The government has lined up 75 flagship projects, which include six airports, nine railways, three bus rapid transits, 32 roads and bridges, and four seaports. These all aim to reduce the cost of production, boost rural income, entice investments in the rural areas, increase the efficiency in the movement of goods and services, and generate more jobs. Edward Teather, executive director and senior economist for Asean and India, said inflation rates in the country will now be steadier, allowing for a recovery in consumption. “That is important as it makes the growth in Southeast Asia,” he said. Moreover, he said the Philippines is one of the fastest-growing economies in Asia, posting 6.2-percent GDP growth for 2018, and 6.1 percent in the fourth quarter. However, Teather pointed out that more mature economies like Thailand and Malaysia will decelerate in 2019 because of the economic slowdown in China. He said there will be more pain in the disruption in the early stage as the countries will avoid the tariffs.

BusinessMirror

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Friday, March 1, 2019

Republic of the Philippines

DEPARTMENT OF LABOR AND EMPLOYMENT National Capital Region DOLE-NCR Building 967 Maligaya St., Malate, Manila Tel.: 400-6242 • Fax: (623) 400-6241 • E-mail: ncr@dole.gov.ph

NOTICE OF FILING OF APPLICATION/S FOR ALIEN EMPLOYMENT PERMIT/S (AEP/S)

Notice is hereby given that the following companies/Employers have filed with this Regional Office application/s for Alien Employment Permit/s: Name and Address of Company/Employer

3D ANALYZER INFORMATION TECHNOLOGIES INC. 7-8/F Double Dragon Plaza, EDSA Cor. Macapagal Blvd., Brgy. 076, Pasay, Metro Manila

3D ANALYZER INFORMATION TECHNOLOGIES INC. 7-8/F Double Dragon Plaza, EDSA Cor. Macapagal Blvd., Brgy. 076, Pasay, Metro Manila 3D ANALYZER INFORMATION TECHNOLOGIES INC. 7-8/F Double Dragon Plaza, EDSA Cor. Macapagal Blvd., Brgy. 076, Pasay , Metro Manila 3D ANALYZER INFORMATION TECHNOLOGIES INC. 7-8/F Double Dragon Plaza, EDSA Cor. Macapagal Blvd., Brgy. 076, Pasay , Metro Manila 3D ANALYZER INFORMATION TECHNOLOGIES INC. 7-8/F Double Dragon Plaza, EDSA Cor. Macapagal Blvd., Brgy. 076, Pasay , Metro Manila 3D ANALYZER INFORMATION TECHNOLOGIES INC. 7-8/F Double Dragon Plaza, EDSA Cor. Macapagal Blvd., Brgy. 076, Pasay , Metro Manila 3D ANALYZER INFORMATION TECHNOLOGIES INC. 7-8/F Double Dragon Plaza, EDSA Cor. Macapagal Blvd., Brgy. 076, Pasay , Metro Manila 3D ANALYZER INFORMATION TECHNOLOGIES INC. 7-8/F Double Dragon Plaza, EDSA Cor. Macapagal Blvd., Brgy. 076, Pasay , Metro Manila 3D ANALYZER INFORMATION TECHNOLOGIES INC. 7-8/F Double Dragon Plaza, EDSA Cor. Macapagal Blvd., Brgy. 076, Pasay , Metro Manila

3D ANALYZER INFORMATION TECHNOLOGIES INC. 7-8/F Double Dragon Plaza, EDSA Cor. Macapagal Blvd., Brgy. 076, Pasay , Metro Manila

Name of Foreign National/ Citizenship She, Qingfen Chinese

Ye, Jianjie Chinese

Bao, Liangting Chinese

Lei, Yangcai Chinese

Dong, Qunsen Chinese

Lu, Zhaojin Chinese

Chen, Fangyi Chinese

Tian, Hongqi Chinese

You, Huihuang Chinese

Name and Address of Company/Employer

Position Customer Service Representative Mandarin Speaking

Customer Service Representative Mandarin Speaking

32 Shao, Yong Chinese

Tian, Quan

Customer Service Representative Mandarin Speaking

Chinese

Tang, Yuling Chinese

Li, Qiaomei Chinese

Wan, Guoqiang Chinese

Customer Service Representative Mandarin Speaking

Chen, Zhigen Chinese

Fan, Jinfeng Chinese

Ye, Qiuping Chinese

Wei, Jie Chinese

Dai, Shuhuang Chinese

Customer Service Representative Mandarin Speaking

Chinese Coque Peña, Francisco Javier

Indonesian

ASIANTIME INTERNATIONAL (PHILIPPINES) CORPORATION Unit A, 29/F Rufino Pacific Tower, 6784 Ayala Ave., San Lorenzo, Makati, Metro Manila BIGCAT SOFTWARE SOLUTIONS, INC. 18/F PBCom Tower, 6795 Ayala Ave., Cor. Rufino St., Salcedo Village, Bel-Air, Makati, Metro Manila BIGCAT SOFTWARE SOLUTIONS, INC. 18/F PBCom Tower, 6795 Ayala Ave., Cor. Rufino St., Salcedo Village, Bel-Air, Makati, Metro Manila BIGCAT SOFTWARE SOLUTIONS, INC. 18/F PBCom Tower, 6795 Ayala Ave., Cor. Rufino St., Salcedo Village, Bel-Air, Makati, Metro Manila BIGCAT SOFTWARE SOLUTIONS, INC. 18/F PBCom Tower, 6795 Ayala Ave., Cor. Rufino St., Salcedo Village, Bel-Air, Makati, Metro Manila

Ji, Fulin

Do Thi Thu Tam,

Galih Prati Wanggono, Indonesian Nguyen Ngoc Hoai Thuong,

Sae-Eiw, Pakpoom

BIGCAT SOFTWARE SOLUTIONS, INC. 18/F PBCom Tower, 6795 Ayala Ave., Cor. Rufino St., Salcedo Village, Bel-Air, Makati, Metro Manila

Nguyen Hoang Oanh,

BIGCAT SOFTWARE SOLUTIONS, INC. 18/F PBCom Tower, 6795 Ayala Ave., Cor. Rufino St., Salcedo Village, Bel-Air, Makati, Metro Manila

Grace Natalia Nainggolan,

BIGCAT SOFTWARE SOLUTIONS, INC. 18/F PBCom Tower, 6795 Ayala Ave., Cor. Rufino St., Salcedo Village, Bel-Air, Makati, Metro Manila

Duong Vu Phuong Thao,

BIGCAT SOFTWARE SOLUTIONS, INC. 18/F PBCom Tower, 6795 Ayala Ave., Cor. Rufino St., Salcedo Village, Bel-Air, Makati, Metro Manila

Sri Lestari Sancana,

BOUYGUES TRAVAUX PUBLICS PHILIPPINES, INC. Unit 708, 7/F 3/F Tower One & Exchange Plaza, Ayala Avenue, Makati, Metro Manila CGI IT UK LIMITED INC. 2/F One World Square Bldg., McKinley Hill, Fort Bonifacio, Taguig, Metro Manila CGI IT UK LIMITED INC. 2/F One World Square Bldg., McKinley Hill, Fort Bonifacio, Taguig, Metro Manila

Executive Chef 46

CGI IT UK LIMITED INC. 2/F One World Square Bldg., McKinley Hill, Fort Bonifacio, Taguig, Metro Manila CITIBANK N.A. Citibank Center, 8741 Valero St., Cor. Villar St., Bel-Air, Makati, Metro Manila

Chinese Equipment Supervisor

FIRST GREAT COMPUTER TECHNOLOGIES INC. - Lot 5 Sta. Agueda Cor. Queensway Pagcor Drive, Sto. Nino, Parañaque, Metro Manila

Vietnamese Language Retention Senior Officer

FIRST GREAT COMPUTER TECHNOLOGIES INC. - Lot 5 Sta. Agueda Cor. Queensway Pagcor Drive, Sto. Nino, Parañaque, Metro Manila

Bahasa Indonesian Language-Supervisor Customer Service

FIRST GREAT COMPUTER TECHNOLOGIES INC. - Lot 5 Sta. Agueda Cor. Queensway Pagcor Drive, Sto. Nino, Parañaque, Metro Manila

Vietnamese Language Officer Customer Service

FIRST GREAT COMPUTER TECHNOLOGIES INC. - Lot 5 Sta. Agueda Cor. Queensway Pagcor Drive, Sto. Nino, Parañaque, Metro Manila

Thai Language-Officer Fund Management

FIRST GREAT COMPUTER TECHNOLOGIES INC. - Lot 5 Sta. Agueda Cor. Queensway Pagcor Drive, Sto. Nino, Parañaque, Metro Manila

Thai Language - Officer Customer Service

FIRST GREAT COMPUTER TECHNOLOGIES INC. -, Lot 5 Sta. Agueda Cor. Queensway Pagcor Drive, Sto. Nino, Parañaque, Metro Manila

Vietnamese Language - Officer Customer Service

FIRST GREAT COMPUTER TECHNOLOGIES INC. -, Lot 5 Sta. Agueda Cor. Queensway Pagcor Drive, Sto. Nino, Parañaque, Metro Manila

GOLDENSKY INTERNATIONAL GROUP INC. -, Midas Hotel, 2702 Roxas Blvd., Brgy. 076, Pasay , Metro Manila

GOODYEAR REGIONAL BUSINESS SERVICES INC. 25th Floor, RCBC Savings Bank Corporate Center 26th St. Fort Bonifacio, Taguig, Metro Manila

Vietnamese

BOEHRINGER INGELHEIM BUSINESS SERVICES PHILIPPINES, INC. L-2-3, Blk. 45, Alabang-Zapote Road Cor. North Bridgeway, Filinvest Corporate City, Alabang, Muntinlupa, Metro Manila

FIRST GREAT COMPUTER TECHNOLOGIES INC. - Lot 5 Sta. Agueda Cor. Queensway Pagcor Drive, Sto. Nino, Parañaque, Metro Manila

Thai

Clara Alexander Endge,

FIRST GREAT COMPUTER TECHNOLOGIES INC. - Lot 5 Sta. Agueda Cor. Queensway Pagcor Drive, Sto. Nino, Parañaque, Metro Manila

Thai Ratanawacharasak, Kamollak

BO TONG TECHNOLOGIES INC. C503 Zen Tower, 1111 Natividad A Lopez St., Ermita, 071 Brgy. 659, City of Manila, Metro Manila

ESCRIVA SUPPORT SERVICES INC. Unit 94 Gold Loop Towers Condo, Escriva Dr. San Antonio, Pasig, Metro Manila

Vietnamese

BIGCAT SOFTWARE SOLUTIONS, INC. 18/F PBCom Tower, 6795 Ayala Ave., Cor. Rufino St., Salcedo Village, Bel-Air, Makati, Metro Manila

Chinese Administrative Technician Supervisor

Wei, Jingjing Chinese Sillapaya, Juthathip

Mandarin Language Supervisor Customer Service Thai Language - Officer Customer Service

Thai Ouk, Sothara Cambodian

Khmer Language Officer Customer Service Bahasa Indonesian Language - Officer Fund

Indonesian Bahasa Indonesian Language - Officer Fund

Indonesian Vietnamese Language - Officer Customer Service

Vietnamese

Indonesian Sujadi Kurnady, Indonesian Guo, Xingfei

Bahasa Indonesian Language-Asst. Manager Fund Management Bahasa Indonesian Language - Officer Customer Mandarin Customer Support

Chinese

Kolb, Martin

Transition Manager, APAC

German Gedalof, Franklin Willy

Technical Manager

Multilingual Service Desk Member

Tshiunza, Patrick Mukendi

Multilingual Service Desk Member

Congolese Kim, Donghee Korean

Turnbull, Lou Nick

Project Manager

Operations Consultant

British Peng, Ruimin

Mandarin Customer Service

Chinese

Wang, Nan

Mandarin Customer Service

Chinese

Wu, Yanling

Mandarin Customer Service

Chinese

Chen, Yuhe

Mandarin Customer Service

Chinese

Dai, Feng

Mandarin Customer Service

Chinese

Qiu, Jianlin

Mandarin Customer Service

Chinese

Qu, Shaowei

Mandarin Customer Service

Chinese Wu, Lili

Mandarin Customer Service

Chinese

Zheng, Liusong

Mandarin Customer Service

Chinese Ma, Shenping

Mandarin Customer Service

Chinese

Meng, Xin

Mandarin Customer Service

Chinese

Xia, Hanhan

Call Center Agent Mandarin Speaking

Chinese Chen, Xiaohui

Call Center Agent Mandarin Speaking

Chinese Xu, Jianwen

Call Center Agent Mandarin Speaking

Chinese Wang, Fangfang

Call Center Agent Mandarin Speaking

Chinese Jin, Zhifeng

Call Center Agent Mandarin Speaking

Chinese Tu, Jiahui

Call Center Agent Mandarin Speaking

Chinese Tewari, Lavanya Rao

Financial Analyst/ Language Specialist

Indian

GREAT EMPIRE GAMING AND AMUSEMENT CORP. 2nd Floor, Aseana Hub Bradco Avenue, Aseana City Macapagal Blvd., Baclaran, Parañaque, Metro Manila

GROWSARI INC. L-29, Joy Nostalg Center, ADB Ave., Ortigas Ctr., San Antonio, Pasig, Metro Manila

Kongara, Siddhartha

HKT TELESERVICES (PHILIPPINES) INC. 10/F Unionbank Plaza, Meralco Avenue, Cor. Onyx, Ortigas Center, Pasig, Metro Manila

Huang (a.k.a Hazel Huang), Chun-Te

Project Manager

Position

Indian

GREAT EMPIRE GAMING AND AMUSEMENT CORP. 2nd Floor, Aseana Hub Bradco Avenue, Aseana City Macapagal Blvd., Baclaran, Parañaque, Metro Manila

Multilingual Service Desk Member

Swedish

Azeera Aromal Azeez,

Dutch Daniro, Rami Daniel

Name of Foreign National/ Citizenship

GRACE CHRISTIAN COLLEGE, INC. -, Grace Village, Apolonio Samson, D6, Quezon City, Metro Manila

French Karagöz, Ugur Güney

CITIBANK N.A. Citibank Center, 8741 Valero St., Cor. Villar St., Bel-Air, Makati, Metro Manila

Vietnamese

BIGCAT SOFTWARE SOLUTIONS, INC. 18/F PBCom Tower, 6795 Ayala Ave., Cor. Rufino St., Salcedo Village, Bel-Air, Makati, Metro Manila

Project Consultant

Chinese

BIGCAT SOFTWARE SOLUTIONS, INC. 18/F PBCom Tower, 6795 Ayala Ave., Cor. Rufino St., Salcedo Village, Bel-Air, Makati, Metro Manila

Payment Officer Indonesian Speaking

Chen, Xijin

Chinese Equipment Supervisor

Chinese

BIGCAT SOFTWARE SOLUTIONS, INC. 18/F PBCom Tower, 6795 Ayala Ave., Cor. Rufino St., Salcedo Village, Bel-Air, Makati, Metro Manila

Customer Service Representative Mandarin Speaking

Spanish Kurnia Jayanti,

ASIANTIME INTERNATIONAL (PHILIPPINES) CORPORATION Unit A, 29/F Rufino Pacific Tower, 6784 Ayala Ave., San Lorenzo, Makati, Metro Manila

Geng, Zhipeng

Name and Address of Company/Employer

Position

Chinese

44 Fang, Huiheng

ASIANTIME INTERNATIONAL (PHILIPPINES) CORPORATION Unit A, 29/F Rufino Pacific Tower, 6784 Ayala Ave., San Lorenzo, Makati, Metro Manila

Li, Xianwu

BIGCAT SOFTWARE SOLUTIONS, INC. 18/F PBCom Tower, 6795 Ayala Ave., Cor. Rufino St., Salcedo Village, Bel-Air, Makati, Metro Manila

38 Customer Service Representative Mandarin Speaking

ASIANTIME INTERNATIONAL (PHILIPPINES) CORPORATION Unit A, 29/F Rufino Pacific Tower, 6784 Ayala Ave., San Lorenzo, Makati, Metro Manila

Name of Foreign National/ Citizenship

Li, Dongna

Consultant for Mandarin Education

Chinese Li, Xiaoxiao

IT Technical Support

Chinese

Li, Yuanyuan

IT Technical Support

Chinese Chief Technology Officer

Indian

Taiwanese

Bilingual Speaking Agent - Mandarin/ English

BusinessMirror

A4 Friday, March 1, 2019 Name and Address of Company/Employer

IBM BUSINESS SERVICES INC. 7th, 8th & 9th Floors 1800 Eastwood Ave., Bldg., 116 Eastwood City Cyberpark, E. Rodriguez Jr. Ave., 1110 Libis, Quezon City, Metro Manila

INVECH TREASURE PROCESSING CORPORATION - , Tower A, G/F & 2/F One Campus Place,1080 Campus Drive., McKinley Town Center, Fort Bonifacio, Taguig, Metro Manila

INVECH TREASURE PROCESSING CORPORATION - , Tower A, G/F & 2/F One Campus Place,1080 Campus Drive., McKinley Town Center, Fort Bonifacio, Taguig, Metro Manila INVECH TREASURE PROCESSING CORPORATION - , Tower A, G/F & 2/F One Campus Place,1080 Campus Drive., McKinley Town Center, Fort Bonifacio, Taguig, Metro Manila INVECH TREASURE PROCESSING CORPORATION - , Tower A, G/F & 2/F One Campus Place,1080 Campus Drive., McKinley Town Center, Fort Bonifacio, Taguig, Metro Manila INVECH TREASURE PROCESSING CORPORATION - , Tower A, G/F & 2/F One Campus Place,1080 Campus Drive., McKinley Town Center, Fort Bonifacio, Taguig, Metro Manila

INVECH TREASURE PROCESSING CORPORATION - , Tower A, G/F & 2/F One Campus Place,1080 Campus Drive., McKinley Town Center, Fort Bonifacio, Taguig, Metro Manila

JINSHENGLONG BUSINESS SUPPORT, INC. 3rd, 5th & 7th Flr., Filinvest Cyberzone, Bldg. C, Superblock A, Central Business Park, 1-A Bay City, Pasay , Metro Manila

JINSHENGLONG BUSINESS SUPPORT, INC. 3rd, 5th & 7th Flr., Filinvest Cyberzone, Bldg. C, Superblock A, Central Business Park, 1-A Bay City, Pasay , Metro Manila JINSHENGLONG BUSINESS SUPPORT, INC. 3rd, 5th & 7th Flr., Filinvest Cyberzone, Bldg. C, Superblock A, Central Business Park, 1-A Bay City, Pasay , Metro Manila JINSHENGLONG BUSINESS SUPPORT, INC. 3rd, 5th & 7th Flr., Filinvest Cyberzone, Bldg. C, Superblock A, Central Business Park, 1-A Bay City, Pasay , Metro Manila JINSHENGLONG BUSINESS SUPPORT, INC. 3rd, 5th & 7th Flr., Filinvest Cyberzone, Bldg. C, Superblock A, Central Business Park, 1-A Bay City, Pasay , Metro Manila JINSHENGLONG BUSINESS SUPPORT, INC. 3rd, 5th & 7th Flr., Filinvest Cyberzone, Bldg. C, Superblock A, Central Business Park, 1-A Bay City, Pasay, Metro Manila JINSHENGLONG BUSINESS SUPPORT, INC. 3rd, 5th & 7th Flr., Filinvest Cyberzone, Bldg. C, Superblock A, Central Business Park, 1-A Bay City, Pasay , Metro Manila JINSHENGLONG BUSINESS SUPPORT, INC. 3rd, 5th & 7th Flr., Filinvest Cyberzone, Bldg. C, Superblock A, Central Business Park, 1-A Bay City, Pasay , Metro Manila JINSHENGLONG BUSINESS SUPPORT, INC. 3rd, 5th & 7th Flr., Filinvest Cyberzone, Bldg. C, Superblock A, Central Business Park, 1-A Bay City, Pasay , Metro Manila JINSHENGLONG BUSINESS SUPPORT, INC. 3rd, 5th & 7th Flr., Filinvest Cyberzone, Bldg. C, Superblock A, Central Business Park, 1-A Bay City, Pasay , Metro Manila JINSHENGLONG BUSINESS SUPPORT, INC. 3rd, 5th & 7th Flr., Filinvest Cyberzone, Bldg. C, Superblock A, Central Business Park, 1-A Bay City, Pasay , Metro Manila JINSHENGLONG BUSINESS SUPPORT, INC. 3rd, 5th & 7th Flr., Filinvest Cyberzone, Bldg. C, Superblock A, Central Business Park, 1-A Bay City, Pasay , Metro Manila JINSHENGLONG BUSINESS SUPPORT, INC. 3rd, 5th & 7th Flr., Filinvest Cyberzone, Bldg. C, Superblock A, Central Business Park, 1-A Bay City, Pasay , Metro Manila

Name of Foreign National/ Citizenship Alves Da Silva, Valquiria

Name and Address of Company/Employer

Position Subject Matter Expert (SME) for Hardware North America

100

JINSHENGLONG BUSINESS SUPPORT, INC. 3rd, 5th & 7th Flr., Filinvest Cyberzone, Bldg. C, Superblock A, Central Business Park, 1-A Bay City, Pasay , Metro Manila

101

JINSHENGLONG BUSINESS SUPPORT, INC. 3rd, 5th & 7th Flr., Filinvest Cyberzone, Bldg. C, Superblock A, Central Business Park, 1-A Bay City, Pasay , Metro Manila

102

JINSHENGLONG BUSINESS SUPPORT, INC. 3rd, 5th & 7th Flr., Filinvest Cyberzone, Bldg. C, Superblock A, Central Business Park, 1-A Bay City, Pasay , Metro Manila

103

JINSHENGLONG BUSINESS SUPPORT, INC. 3rd, 5th & 7th Flr., Filinvest Cyberzone, Bldg. C, Superblock A, Central Business Park, 1-A Bay City, Pasay , Metro Manila

Brazilian Ma, Danping

IT Technical Mandarin

Chinese

Chen, Quanquan

IT Technical Mandarin

Chinese

Lin, Weilun

IT Technical Mandarin

Chinese IT Technical Mandarin Chen, Yanlan

104

Chinese

Ou, Xin

IT Technical Mandarin

105

Chinese Sun, Jingsi

IT Technical Mandarin

106

Chinese

Wen, Yunlong

IT Technical Mandarin

107

Chinese

Lin, Zexin

IT Technical Mandarin

108

Chinese

Deng, Lihui

IT Technical Mandarin

Lin, Jianwen

Xu, Mengmeng

Customer Service Representative

Yao, Kaiheng

111

JINSHENGLONG BUSINESS SUPPORT, INC. 3rd, 5th & 7th Flr., Filinvest Cyberzone, Bldg. C, Superblock A, Central Business Park, 1-A Bay City, Pasay , Metro Manila

112

JINSHENGLONG BUSINESS SUPPORT, INC. 3rd, 5th & 7th Flr., Filinvest Cyberzone, Bldg. C, Superblock A, Central Business Park, 1-A Bay City, Pasay , Metro Manila

113

Chinese

Zhang, Yuqiang

Customer Service Representative

114

Chinese

Cong, Xin

Customer Service Representative

116

JINSHENGLONG BUSINESS SUPPORT, INC. 3rd, 5th & 7th Flr., Filinvest Cyberzone, Bldg. C, Superblock A, Central Business Park, 1-A Bay City, Pasay , Metro Manila

117

JINSHENGLONG BUSINESS SUPPORT, INC. 3rd, 5th & 7th Flr., Filinvest Cyberzone, Bldg. C, Superblock A, Central Business Park, 1-A Bay City, Pasay , Metro Manila

Chinese

Wang, Jiayu

Customer Service Representative

118

Chinese

Luo, Yujie

Customer Service Representative

Liu, Xue

JIU ZHOU TECHNOLOGIES INTERNATIONAL, INC. 16th Floor Tower 11, RCBC Plaza, 6819 Ayala Avenue, Makati, Metro Manila

120

JPMORGAN CHASE BANK, N.A. - PHILIPPINE GLOBAL SERVICES CENTER 23/F Net Plaza Bldg., 31st St., Esquare Zone Crescent Park West, Bonifacio Global City, Taguig,

121

KATAHIRA & ENGINEERS INTERNATIONAL Unit 10-C, 10/F JMT Condo. Corporation, ADB Ave., Ortigas Center, San Antonio, Pasig, Metro Manila

122

LOGICALSOURCE 1 CALL CENTER INC. 8/F Cityland Central, Sultan, Highway Hills, Mandaluyong, Metro Manila

123

LUFTHANSA SERVICES PHILIPPINES, INC. -, AEON Center, Northgate Cyberzone, North Bridgeway Cor. Alabang-Zapote Road Filinvest Corporate City, Alabang, Muntinlupa, Metro Manila

Chinese

Mao, Dan

Customer Service Representative

Chinese

Luo, Sen

Customer Service Representative

Chinese

Yang, Wenxuan

Customer Service Representative

Chinese

Li, Zhichao

Customer Service Representative

Chinese

Liu, Tao

Han, Siwei Chinese

124

125 Customer Service Representative

Chinese

JINSHENGLONG BUSINESS SUPPORT, INC. 3rd, 5th & 7th Flr., Filinvest Cyberzone, Bldg. C, Superblock A, Central Business Park, 1-A Bay City, Pasay , Metro Manila

119

Chinese Customer Service Representative

JINSHENGLONG BUSINESS SUPPORT, INC. 3rd, 5th & 7th Flr., Filinvest Cyberzone, Bldg. C, Superblock A, Central Business Park, 1-A Bay City, Pasay , Metro Manila

115

Chinese

Zhang, Yingying

JINSHENGLONG BUSINESS SUPPORT, INC. 3rd, 5th & 7th Flr., Filinvest Cyberzone, Bldg. C, Superblock A, Central Business Park, 1-A Bay City, Pasay , Metro Manila

Chinese

Lin, Jian

JINSHENGLONG BUSINESS SUPPORT, INC. 3rd, 5th & 7th Flr., Filinvest Cyberzone, Bldg. C, Superblock A, Central Business Park, 1-A Bay City, Pasay , Metro Manila

110

Chinese Customer Service Representative

JINSHENGLONG BUSINESS SUPPORT, INC. 3rd, 5th & 7th Flr., Filinvest Cyberzone, Bldg. C, Superblock A, Central Business Park, 1-A Bay City, Pasay , Metro Manila

Chinese

Wu, Chenghong

JINSHENGLONG BUSINESS SUPPORT, INC. 3rd, 5th & 7th Flr., Filinvest Cyberzone, Bldg. C, Superblock A, Central Business Park, 1-A Bay City, Pasay , Metro Manila

109

Chinese Customer Service Representative

JINSHENGLONG BUSINESS SUPPORT, INC. 3rd, 5th & 7th Flr., Filinvest Cyberzone, Bldg. C, Superblock A, Central Business Park, 1-A Bay City, Pasay , Metro Manila

Chinese IT Technical Mandarin

JINSHENGLONG BUSINESS SUPPORT, INC. 3rd, 5th & 7th Flr., Filinvest Cyberzone, Bldg. C, Superblock A, Central Business Park, 1-A Bay City, Pasay , Metro Manila

126 Customer Service Representative 127

Name of Foreign National/ Citizenship Liu, Fangli

www.businessmirror.com.ph

Name and Address of Company/Employer

Position Customer Service Representative

128

129

MONACO1 INTERNATIONAL INC. 27/F Techzone Bldg., 213 Sen. Gil Puyat Ave., San Antonio Village, Makati, Metro Manila

Sun, Guangying

130

NEW ORIENTAL CLUB88 CORPORATION Sky Garage Bldg., Aseana Ave., Entertainment City, Tambo, Parañaque, Metro Manila

131

NEW ORIENTAL CLUB88 CORPORATION Sky Garage Bldg., Aseana Ave., Entertainment City, Tambo, Parañaque, Metro Manila

132

NEW ORIENTAL CLUB88 CORPORATION Unit 602 & 608, 6/F Ecoplaza Bldg., 2305 Chino Roces Ave., Ext. Magallanes, Makati, Metro Manila

133

NEW ORIENTAL CLUB88 CORPORATION Unit 602 & 608, 6/F Ecoplaza Bldg., 2305 Chino Roces Ave., Ext. Magallanes, Makati, Metro Manila

134

NEW ORIENTAL CLUB88 CORPORATION Unit 602 & 608, 6/F Ecoplaza Bldg., 2305 Chino Roces Ave., Ext. Magallanes, Makati, Metro Manila

135

NEW ORIENTAL CLUB88 CORPORATION Unit 602 & 608, 6/F Ecoplaza Bldg., 2305 Chino Roces Ave., Ext. Magallanes, Makati, Metro Manila

136

NEW ORIENTAL CLUB88 CORPORATION Unit 602 & 608, 6/F Ecoplaza Bldg., 2305 Chino Roces Ave., Ext. Magallanes, Makati, Metro Manila

137

NEW ORIENTAL CLUB88 CORPORATION Unit 602 & 608, 6/F Ecoplaza Bldg., 2305 Chino Roces Ave., Ext. Magallanes, Makati, Metro Manila

Hu, Po-Ching

138

NEW ORIENTAL CLUB88 CORPORATION Unit 602 & 608, 6/F Ecoplaza Bldg., 2305 Chino Roces Ave., Ext. Magallanes, Makati, Metro Manila

Chen, Yu-Chiang

139

NEW ORIENTAL CLUB88 CORPORATION Unit 602 & 608, 6/F Ecoplaza Bldg., 2305 Chino Roces Ave., Ext. Magallanes, Makati, Metro Manila

Li, Fucheng

140

NEW ORIENTAL CLUB88 CORPORATION Unit 602 & 608, 6/F Ecoplaza Bldg., 2305 Chino Roces Ave., Ext. Magallanes, Makati, Metro Manila

Huang, Yonghao

141

NEW ORIENTAL CLUB88 CORPORATION Unit 602 & 608, 6/F Ecoplaza Bldg., 2305 Chino Roces Ave., Ext. Magallanes, Makati, Metro Manila

142

NEW ORIENTAL CLUB88 CORPORATION Unit 602 & 608, 6/F Ecoplaza Bldg., 2305 Chino Roces Ave., Ext. Magallanes, Makati, Metro Manila

143

NEW ORIENTAL CLUB88 CORPORATION Unit 602 & 608, 6/F Ecoplaza Bldg., 2305 Chino Roces Ave., Ext. Magallanes, Makati, Metro Manila

144

NEW ORIENTAL CLUB88 CORPORATION Unit 602 & 608, 6/F Ecoplaza Bldg., 2305 Chino Roces Ave., Ext. Magallanes, Makati, Metro Manila

Zeng, Pengyu

145

NEW ORIENTAL CLUB88 CORPORATION Unit 602 & 608, 6/F Ecoplaza Bldg., 2305 Chino Roces Ave., Ext. Magallanes, Makati, Metro Manila

Huang, Shan

146

NEW ORIENTAL CLUB88 CORPORATION Unit 602 & 608, 6/F Ecoplaza Bldg., 2305 Chino Roces Ave., Ext. Magallanes, Makati, Metro Manila

147

NEW ORIENTAL CLUB88 CORPORATION Unit 602 & 608, 6/F Ecoplaza Bldg., 2305 Chino Roces Ave., Ext. Magallanes, Makati, Metro Manila

148

NEW ORIENTAL CLUB88 CORPORATION Unit 602 & 608, 6/F Ecoplaza Bldg., 2305 Chino Roces Ave., Ext. Magallanes, Makati, Metro Manila

Li, Yi-Hui

149

PRIMER RESOURCES CORP. Suite 902, State Centre, 333 Juan Luna St., Binondo, 027, Brgy. 287, City of Manila, Metro Manila

Taiwanese

Consultant for Marketplace Services

150

RAINBOW PROMISE SOLUTIONS INC. Unit A, 14/F B.A. Lepanto Bldg., 8749 Paseo De Roxas, Bel-Air, Makati, Metro Manila

Ker Kok Ping,

Admin Officer (Multilingual)

151

ROLEX CENTRE PHIL. LIMITED Corinthian Plaza, 121 Paseo De Roxas St., San Lorenzo, Makati, Metro Manila

Drissi, Brahim

Customer Service Representative

152

SHELL SHARED SERVICES (ASIA) B.V. 16/F-25/F Solaris One Bldg., 130 Dela Rosa St., Legaspi Village, Makati, Metro Manila

Quality Team Manager - Lean Six Sigma Black Belt

153

SOMI UNLIMITED SOLUTIONS INC. 6/F Filinvest Cyberzone Bldg., CBP1 Bay City, Brgy. 076, Pasay , Metro Manila

Chen, Yanfeng

154

SOMI UNLIMITED SOLUTIONS INC. 6/F Filinvest Cyberzone Bldg., CBP1 Bay City, Brgy. 076, Pasay , Metro Manila

Chen, Zhiqin

155

SOMI UNLIMITED SOLUTIONS INC. 6/F Filinvest Cyberzone Bldg., CBP1 Bay City, Brgy. 076, Pasay , Metro Manila

Guan, Yuzhen

156

SOMI UNLIMITED SOLUTIONS INC. 6/F Filinvest Cyberzone Bldg., CBP1 Bay City, Brgy. 076, Pasay , Metro Manila

He, Xiaoqing

157

SOMI UNLIMITED SOLUTIONS INC. 6/F Filinvest Cyberzone Bldg., CBP1 Bay City, Brgy. 076, Pasay , Metro Manila

Huang, Huidong

158

SOMI UNLIMITED SOLUTIONS INC. 6/F Filinvest Cyberzone Bldg., CBP1 Bay City, Brgy. 076, Pasay , Metro Manila

Huang, Yu-Fang

Customer Service Representative

Chinese

Yew Siew Ching,

Customer Service Representative

Malaysian

Liu, Qitao

Customer Service Representative

Chinese

Shan, Xiaodan

Customer Service Representative

Chinese

Li, Xiaoer

Customer Service Representative

Chinese Jason Loh Wei Kiang,

Customer Service Representative

Malaysian Wang, Chunmei

Customer Service Representative

Chinese

Li, Jianchuan

Customer Service Representative

Chinese

Liu, Zhuo

Customer Service Representative

Chinese

Wang, Dandan

Customer Service Representative

Chinese

Yang, Xiaoping

Customer Service Representative

Chinese

Danny Ng, Malaysian

Guo, Xueting

Customer Service Representative

Chinese

Liu, Youji

Customer Service Representative

Chinese

Nong, Zhenggu

Customer Service Representative

Chinese

Zhou, Jianmei

Customer Service Representative

Chinese

Li, Xiangyan

Customer Service Representative

Chinese Huang, Tai-Wei Taiwanese

Chinese Mandarin Customer Service Representative Vice President

Pandey, Kunal Indian

Kuroda, Iwao

Structural Steel Specialist

Japanese

Che, Guihong Chinese

Rocha, Elita Donna Indian

MELCO RESORTS LEISURE (PHP) CORPORATION -, Asean Avenue Cor. Roxas Boulevard, Entertainment City, Parañaque, Metro Manila

Cho, Guk

MINDRAY MEDICAL INTERNATIONAL PHILIPPINES, INC. 5/F Sycip Law Center, 105 Paseo de Roxas, San Lorenzo, Makati, Metro Manila

Sui, Shaopeng

Sous Chef, Korean

Korean Ultrasound Sales Manager

Chinese

MOA CLOUDZONE CORP. 4th-11th Floor, Nexgen Tower, C4 Rd. EDSA Ext., Brgy. 076, Pasay , Metro Manila

Li, Xingbo

MOA CLOUDZONE CORP. 4th-11th Floor, Nexgen Tower, C4 Rd. EDSA Ext., Brgy. 076, Pasay , Metro Manila

Liu, Wei

Chinese Call Center Agent

Chinese

Chinese Call Center Agent

Liang, Xinpeng

Chinese

Zhou, Qiaohong

Position

MOA CLOUDZONE CORP. 4th-11th Floor, Nexgen Tower, C4 Rd. EDSA Ext., Brgy. 076, Pasay , Metro Manila

Chinese

Cheng, Jianfeng

Name of Foreign National/ Citizenship

Chinese Call Center Agent

Chinese Telesales

Chinese Wang, Yiyuan

Chinese Customer Service

Chinese Xie, Zhiyong

Chinese Customer Service

Chinese Liu, Zhiying

Customer Service Representative

Chinese Wu, Yuanyuan

Customer Service Representative

Chinese Lin, Guan-Ling

Customer Service Representative

Taiwanese Chang, Sheng-Hua

Customer Service Representative

Taiwanese

Duong Tan Phat,

Customer Service Representative

Vietnamese Lin, Songyan

Customer Service Representative

Chinese Customer Service Representative

Taiwanese Customer Service Representative

Chinese Customer Service Representative

Chinese

Nguyen Thi Hue,

Customer Service Representative

Vietnamese Li, Shaoxia

Customer Service Representative

Chinese

Jel Vin, Indonesian

Customer Service Representative

Chinese Customer Service Representative

Chinese

Lau Tu Son,

Customer Service Representative

Vietnamese Le Boi Dinh,

Customer Service Representative

Vietnamese

Malaysian General Manager

French Youzan, Bi Youzan Moise

Customer Operation Specialist - Deals Management

Ivorian

Chinese

Taiwanese

Chinese Speaking Customer Service Representative Chinese Speaking Customer Service Representative Chinese Speaking Customer Service Representative Chinese Speaking Customer Service Representative Chinese Speaking Customer Service Representative Chinese Speaking Customer Service Representative

BusinessMirror

www.businessmirror.com.ph Name and Address of Company/Employer

Name of Foreign National/ Citizenship

159

SOMI UNLIMITED SOLUTIONS INC. 6/F Filinvest Cyberzone Bldg., CBP1 Bay City, Brgy. 076, Pasay , Metro Manila

Huang, Xinsheng

160

SOMI UNLIMITED SOLUTIONS INC. 6/F Filinvest Cyberzone Bldg., CBP1 Bay City, Brgy. 076, Pasay , Metro Manila

Liang, Haiwei

161

162

Chinese

SOMI UNLIMITED SOLUTIONS INC. 6/F Filinvest Cyberzone Bldg., CBP1 Bay City, Brgy. 076, Pasay , Metro Manila

Lin, Jianwei

SOMI UNLIMITED SOLUTIONS INC. 6/F Filinvest Cyberzone Bldg., CBP1 Bay City, Brgy.076, Pasay , Metro Manila

Liu, Jinqi

Chinese

SOMI UNLIMITED SOLUTIONS INC. 6/F Filinvest Cyberzone Bldg., CBP1 Bay City, Brgy. 076, Pasay , Metro Manila

Luo, Lijun

SOMI UNLIMITED SOLUTIONS INC. 6/F Filinvest Cyberzone Bldg., CBP1 Bay City, Brgy. 076, Pasay , Metro Manila

Lyu, Weiwen

165

SOMI UNLIMITED SOLUTIONS INC. 6/F Filinvest Cyberzone Bldg., CBP1 Bay City, Brgy. 076, Pasay , Metro Manila

Ou, Hongyu

166

SOMI UNLIMITED SOLUTIONS INC. 6/F Filinvest Cyberzone Bldg., CBP1 Bay City, Brgy. 076, Pasay , Metro Manila

Peng, Huaping

SOMI UNLIMITED SOLUTIONS INC. 6/F Filinvest Cyberzone Bldg., CBP1 Bay City, Brgy. 076, Pasay , Metro Manila

Tang, Zhennan

163

164

167

168

169

170

171

172

Chinese

TCL.ONLINE SERVICES INCORPORATED Unit 203-204, Plaza B Northgate Cyberzone Filinvest Corp. City, Muntinlupa, Metro Manila

Aramaki, Takaya

Kieras, Andrzej Zdzisław Polish

176

TIANYU TECHNOLOGY INC. 42/F Pbcom Tower, Ayala Ave., Cor. V.A. Rufino St., Bel-Air, Makati, Metro Manila

Zhao, Huange

177

TIANYU TECHNOLOGY INC. 42/F Pbcom Tower, Ayala Ave., Cor. V.A. Rufino St., Bel-Air, Makati, Metro Manila

Wu, Rui

Chinese

178

179

TIANYU TECHNOLOGY INC. 42/F Pbcom Tower, Ayala Ave., Cor. V.A. Rufino St., Bel-Air, Makati, Metro Manila

He, Qiao

188

TIANYU TECHNOLOGY INC. 42/F Pbcom Tower, Ayala Ave., Cor. V.A. Rufino St., Bel-Air, Makati, Metro Manila TIANYU TECHNOLOGY INC. 42/F Pbcom Tower, Ayala Ave., Cor. V.A. Rufino St., Bel-Air, Makati, Metro Manila

Chinese Han, Qiang

Xu, Jianfeng

Polish Technical Support Representative Chinese IT Support Specialist

Chinese IT Support Specialist Chinese IT Support Specialist

Chinese IT Support Specialist

Guo, Haiyan

200

201

VAN GOGH BUSINESS PROCESS OUTSOURCING INC. Vista Mall, Alabang-Zapote Rd., Cor. C.V. Starr Ave., Pamplona Dos, Las Piñas, Metro Manila

202

VAN GOGH BUSINESS PROCESS OUTSOURCING INC. 2/F The Pearl Manila Hotel Gen. Luna St., Ermita, 073, Brgy. 676, City of Manila, Metro Manila

203

VAN GOGH BUSINESS PROCESS OUTSOURCING INC. 2/F The Pearl Manila Hotel Gen. Luna St., Ermita, 073, Brgy. 676, City of Manila, Metro Manila

204

VAN GOGH BUSINESS PROCESS OUTSOURCING INC. Vista Mall, Alabang-Zapote Rd., Cor. C.V. Starr Ave., Pamplona Dos, Las Piñas, Metro Manila

205

VAN GOGH BUSINESS PROCESS OUTSOURCING INC. Vista Mall, Alabang-Zapote Rd., Cor. C.V. Starr Ave., Pamplona Dos, Las Piñas, Metro Manila

206

VAN GOGH BUSINESS PROCESS OUTSOURCING INC. Vista Mall, Alabang-Zapote Rd., Cor. C.V. Starr Ave., Pamplona Dos, Las Piñas, Metro Manila

207

Tang, Hui

208

209

VAN GOGH BUSINESS PROCESS OUTSOURCING INC. Vista Mall, Alabang-Zapote Rd., Cor. C.V. Starr Ave., Pamplona Dos, Las Piñas, Metro Manila

210

VAN GOGH BUSINESS PROCESS OUTSOURCING INC. Vista Mall, Alabang-Zapote Rd., Cor. C.V. Starr Ave., Pamplona Dos, Las Piñas, Metro Manila

211

212 Chinese IT Support Specialist

Chinese Ye, Zhi

Chinese IT Support Specialist

213

Chinese Tang, Chijie

TIANYU TECHNOLOGY INC. 42/F Pbcom Tower, Ayala Ave., Cor. V.A. Rufino St., Bel-Air, Makati, Metro Manila

Zhong, Bingxiong

TIANYU TECHNOLOGY INC. 42/F Pbcom Tower, Ayala Ave., Cor. V.A. Rufino St., Bel-Air, Makati, Metro Manila

You, Weiwu

Chinese IT Support Specialist

Chinese Sugahara, Wataru

215

UNBLOCKTECHNOLOGY CORPORATION 23/F Bonifacio Stop Over, Bonifacio Global City, Fort Bonifacio, Taguig, Metro Manila

Lai, Zhan

191

UNBLOCKTECHNOLOGY CORPORATION 23/F Bonifacio Stop Over, Bonifacio Global City, Fort Bonifacio, Taguig, Metro Manila

Jiang, Wei

192

UNBLOCKTECHNOLOGY CORPORATION 23/F Bonifacio Stop Over, Bonifacio Global City, Fort Bonifacio, Taguig, Metro Manila

Tang, Zhongfu

193

UNIMASTERS CONGLOMERATION, INCORPORATED Unit 3201, Atlanta Centre, 31 Annapolis St., Brgy. Greenhills, San Juan, Pasig, Metro Manila

216

217 Mandarin Speaking Supervisor

Chinese

219

VAN GOGH BUSINESS PROCESS OUTSOURCING INC. Vista Mall, Alabang-Zapote Rd., Cor. C.V. Starr Ave., Pamplona Dos, Las Piñas, Metro Manila

220

VERTEX DIGITAL ENTERTAINMENT TECHNOLOGIES INC. 8/F The Biopolis, CBP 1-A Macapagal Avenue, Brgy. 076, Pasay , Metro Manila

221

VERTEX DIGITAL ENTERTAINMENT TECHNOLOGIES INC. 8/F The Biopolis, CBP 1-A Macapagal Avenue, Brgy. 076, Pasay , Metro Manila

Chinese

Chinese Bi, Hongsheng Chinese

Business Development Officer

VAN GOGH BUSINESS PROCESS OUTSOURCING INC. Vista Mall, Alabang-Zapote Rd., Cor. C.V. Starr Ave., Pamplona Dos, Las Piñas, Metro Manila

218

Chinese

IT Consultant

VAN GOGH BUSINESS PROCESS OUTSOURCING INC. Vista Mall, Alabang-Zapote Rd., Cor. C.V. Starr Ave., Pamplona Dos, Las Piñas, Metro Manila

Chinese Marketing Consultant IT Consultant

VAN GOGH BUSINESS PROCESS OUTSOURCING INC. Vista Mall, Alabang-Zapote Rd., Cor. C.V. Starr Ave., Pamplona Dos, Las Piñas, Metro Manila

Director, Chairman and President

Japanese

VAN GOGH BUSINESS PROCESS OUTSOURCING INC. Vista Mall, Alabang-Zapote Rd., Cor. C.V. Starr Ave., Pamplona Dos, Las Piñas, Metro Manila

214

Chinese Chinese IT Support Specialist

VAN GOGH BUSINESS PROCESS OUTSOURCING INC. Vista Mall, Alabang-Zapote Rd., Cor. C.V. Starr Ave., Pamplona Dos, Las Piñas, Metro Manila

Chinese Chinese IT Support Specialist

VAN GOGH BUSINESS PROCESS OUTSOURCING INC. Vista Mall, Alabang-Zapote Rd., Cor. C.V. Starr Ave., Pamplona Dos, Las Piñas, Metro Manila VAN GOGH BUSINESS PROCESS OUTSOURCING INC. Vista Mall, Alabang-Zapote Rd., Cor. C.V. Starr Ave., Pamplona Dos, Las Piñas, Metro Manila

Chinese IT Support Specialist

Chinese

VAN GOGH BUSINESS PROCESS OUTSOURCING INC. Vista Mall, Alabang-Zapote Rd., Cor. C.V. Starr Ave., Pamplona Dos, Las Piñas, Metro Manila

Chinese IT Support Specialist

VAN GOGH BUSINESS PROCESS OUTSOURCING INC. Vista Mall, Alabang-Zapote Rd., Cor. C.V. Starr Ave., Pamplona Dos, Las Piñas, Metro Manila

199

Chinese IT Support Specialist

VAN GOGH BUSINESS PROCESS OUTSOURCING INC. 2/F The Pearl Manila Hotel Gen. Luna St., Ermita, 073, Brgy. 676, City of Manila, Metro Manila

VAN GOGH BUSINESS PROCESS OUTSOURCING INC. Vista Mall, Alabang-Zapote Rd., Cor. C.V. Starr Ave., Pamplona Dos, Las Piñas, Metro Manila

Chinese IT Support Specialist

Chinese

Ji, Feng

190

General Manager Design Team

Chinese

TIANYU TECHNOLOGY INC. 42/F Pbcom Tower, Ayala Ave., Cor. V.A. Rufino St., Bel-Air, Makati, Metro Manila

TRANSCOSMOS ASIA PHILIPPINES, INC. Unit 3201-3205, 32/F One Corporate Center, Doña J. Vargas Ave., Cor. Meralco Ave., Ortigas Center, Pasig, Metro Manila

198

Chinese

TREASURE CUISINE INCORPORATED 2/F Oceanaire Condo., L7 B Central Business Park, Brgy. 076, Pasay, Metro Manila

189

Chinese Speaking Customer Service Representative

Chinese Han, Yan

TIANYU TECHNOLOGY INC. 42/F Pbcom Tower, Ayala Ave., Cor. V.A. Rufino St., Bel-Air, Makati, Metro Manila

197

Chinese

TIANYU TECHNOLOGY INC. 42/F Pbcom Tower, Ayala Ave., Cor. V.A. Rufino St., Bel-Air, Makati, Metro Manila

196

Japanese

Ye, Jian

TIANYU TECHNOLOGY INC. 42/F Pbcom Tower, Ayala Ave., Cor. V.A. Rufino St., Bel-Air, Makati, Metro Manila

195

VAN GOGH BUSINESS PROCESS OUTSOURCING INC. 2/F The Pearl Manila Hotel Gen. Luna St., Ermita, 073, Brgy. 676, City of Manila, Metro Manila

Chinese

TIANYU TECHNOLOGY INC. 42/F Pbcom Tower, Ayala Ave., Cor. V.A. Rufino St., Bel-Air, Makati, Metro Manila

187

Chinese Speaking Customer Service Representative

Refrigeration Manager

175

186

Chinese Speaking Customer Service Representative

Lin, Cunhua

TAISEI CORPORATION - PHILIPPINE BRANCH U-902, 9/F BDO Equitable Tower, 8751 Paseo De Roxas, Bel-Air, Makati, Metro Manila

194

VAN GOGH BUSINESS PROCESS OUTSOURCING INC. 2/F The Pearl Manila Hotel Gen. Luna St., Ermita, 073, Brgy. 676, City of Manila, Metro Manila

Chinese Speaking Customer Service Representative

SUPER FIVE COLD STORAGE CORP. Lot 1C , Gov. Pascual Ave., Malabon, Metro Manila

174

185

Chinese Speaking Customer Service Representative

Chinese

Zhang, Yurou

184

Chinese Speaking Customer Service Representative

TIANYU TECHNOLOGY INC. 42/F Pbcom Tower, Ayala Ave., Cor. V.A. Rufino St., Bel-Air, Makati, Metro Manila

183

Chinese Speaking Customer Service Representative

Yu, Jiangyang

173

182

Chinese Speaking Customer Service Representative

SOMI UNLIMITED SOLUTIONS INC. 6/F Filinvest Cyberzone Bldg., CBP1 Bay City, Brgy. 076, Pasay , Metro Manila

Yang, Bing

181

Chinese Speaking Customer Service Representative

Xu, Shijie

TIANYU TECHNOLOGY INC. 42/F Pbcom Tower, Ayala Ave., Cor. V.A. Rufino St., Bel-Air, Makati, Metro Manila

180

Chinese Speaking Customer Service Representative

SOMI UNLIMITED SOLUTIONS INC. 6/F Filinvest Cyberzone Bldg., CBP1 Bay City, Brgy. 076, Pasay , Metro Manila

Chinese

Name and Address of Company/Employer

Position

Name of Foreign National/ Citizenship Sun, Weiwei

Friday, March 1, 2019

IT Technical Mandarin

Chinese

Zhu, Bo

Name and Address of Company/Employer

Position

IT Technical Mandarin

222

VERTEX DIGITAL ENTERTAINMENT TECHNOLOGIES INC. 8/F The Biopolis, CBP 1-A Macapagal Avenue, Brgy. 076, Pasay , Metro Manila

223

VERTEX DIGITAL ENTERTAINMENT TECHNOLOGIES INC. 8/F The Biopolis, CBP 1-A Macapagal Avenue, Brgy. 076, Pasay , Metro Manila

224

VERTEX DIGITAL ENTERTAINMENT TECHNOLOGIES INC. 8/F The Biopolis, CBP 1-A Macapagal Avenue, Brgy. 076, Pasay , Metro Manila

225

VERTEX DIGITAL ENTERTAINMENT TECHNOLOGIES INC. 8/F The Biopolis, CBP 1-A Macapagal Avenue, Brgy. 076, Pasay , Metro Manila

226

VERTEX DIGITAL ENTERTAINMENT TECHNOLOGIES INC. 8/F The Biopolis, CBP 1-A Macapagal Avenue, Brgy. 076, Pasay , Metro Manila

227

VERTEX DIGITAL ENTERTAINMENT TECHNOLOGIES INC. 8/F The Biopolis, CBP 1-A Macapagal Avenue, Brgy. 076, Pasay , Metro Manila

Zhu, Haijiao

228

VERTEX DIGITAL ENTERTAINMENT TECHNOLOGIES INC. 8/F The Biopolis, CBP 1-A Macapagal Avenue, Brgy. 076, Pasay , Metro Manila

229

VERTEX DIGITAL ENTERTAINMENT TECHNOLOGIES INC. 8/F The Biopolis, CBP 1-A Macapagal Avenue, Brgy. 076, Pasay , Metro Manila

Cindy Handita Fitri Yani,

Chinese

Peng, Luyao

IT Technical Mandarin

Chinese

Zhang, Zhen

IT Technical Mandarin

Chinese

Zhang, Mengzheng

IT Technical Mandarin

Chinese Wang, Dingshan

IT Technical Mandarin

Chinese

Wang, Minghe

IT Technical Mandarin

Chinese

Liu, Qinghui

IT Technical Mandarin

230

Chinese

Xu, Gengde

VERTEX DIGITAL ENTERTAINMENT TECHNOLOGIES INC. 8/F The Biopolis, CBP 1-A Macapagal Avenue, Brgy. 076, Pasay , Metro Manila

232

VISTA GRANDE TROPICAL HAVEN AND LEISURE PARK RESORT INC. Unit 306, Prestige Tower, Garnet Road, Ortigas Center, San Antonio, Pasig, Metro Manila

233 IT Technical Mandarin

VISTA GRANDE TROPICAL HAVEN AND LEISURE PARK RESORT INC. Unit 306, Prestige Tower, Garnet Road, Ortigas Center, San Antonio, Pasig, Metro Manila

234 IT Technical Mandarin

VISTA GRANDE TROPICAL HAVEN AND LEISURE PARK RESORT INC. Unit 306, Prestige Tower, Garnet Road, Ortigas Center, San Antonio, Pasig, Metro Manila

235

VISTA GRANDE TROPICAL HAVEN AND LEISURE PARK RESORT INC. Unit 306, Prestige Tower, Garnet Road, Ortigas Center, San Antonio, Pasig, Metro Manila

236

VISTA GRANDE TROPICAL HAVEN AND LEISURE PARK RESORT INC. Unit 306, Prestige Tower, Garnet Road, Ortigas Center, San Antonio, Pasig, Metro Manila

237

VISTA GRANDE TROPICAL HAVEN AND LEISURE PARK RESORT INC. Unit 306, Prestige Tower, Garnet Road, Ortigas Center, San Antonio, Pasig, Metro Manila

238

VISTA GRANDE TROPICAL HAVEN AND LEISURE PARK RESORT INC. Unit 306, Prestige Tower, Garnet Road, Ortigas Center, San Antonio, Pasig, Metro Manila

239

WANFANG TECHNOLOGY MANAGEMENT, INC. U-3501/02 35/F Pbcom Tower Cor. , Ayala Ave., & V.A. Rufino St., Makati, Metro Manila

240

WIPRO LIMITED PHILIPPINE BRANCH 18/F Philamlife Tower, 8767 Paseo de Roxas, Bel-Air Village, Makati, Metro Manila

Chinese

Sun, Xiaoxiao

IT Technical Mandarin

Chinese

Zheng, Zhen Chinese Wu, Jiangyou Chinese

Pan, Leilei

IT Technical Mandarin

Chinese

Li, Zhaosheng

IT Technical Mandarin

Chinese

Chen, Youheng

IT Technical Mandarin

Chinese Huang, Zhiwen

IT Technical Mandarin

Chinese

Yang, Huachen

IT Technical Mandarin

Chinese

Li, Zebin

IT Technical Mandarin

Chinese

Fu, Jinhong

Gao, Tianqing

Yan, Peng

IT Technical Mandarin

Chen, Juan

Xiao, Li

Qin, Hongyuan

250

Customer Service Representative

Ding, Hao

Customer Service Representative

Chinese Alnezamy, Samir

Marketing Coordinator

Syrian Hu, Yafei

Project Fund Coordinator

Chinese Qiu, Shengli

Project Fund Coordinator

Chinese Wu, Hongpo

Sales Coordinator

Chinese Zheng, Min

Marketing Coordinator

Chinese Chen, Wenfu

Marketing Coordinator

Chinese Lin, Xingwei

Project Fund Coordinator

Chinese Tsai, Chin-Chih Taiwanese Rajaram, Jeevanandu

Chinese Mandarin Customer Service Representative Domain Consultant

Indian

246

XPOINT TECHNOLOGY PHILS. CORP. 21st Floor IBP Tower, Julia Vargas Ave., Cor. Jade Drive, Ortigas Center, San Antonio, Pasig, Metro Manila

Customer Service Representative

Chinese

WNS GLOBAL SERVICES PHILIPPINES, INC. 9/F 1880 Eastwood City Cyberpark, Bagumbayan, Quezon City, Metro Manila

XIAOLONGKAN RESTAURANT 106-107, East Field Ctr., Macapagal Blvd., 076, Pasay, Metro Manila

Chinese

Wang, Zhen

Chen, Yongshi

249

Customer Service Representative

Indonesian

WME PHILS. CORP. Unit 510, 5/F Alpap II Bldg. MBP Ayala Alabang, Muntinlupa, Metro Manila

IT Technical Mandarin

Chinese

245

WV ENTERTAINMENT INC. Unit 503 5/F National Life Insurance Bldg., 6762 Ayala Ave., San Lorenzo, Makati, Metro Manila

Customer Service Representative

Indonesian

Wu, Huarui

248

Chinese

Iwan,

WME PHILS. CORP. Unit 510, 5/F Alpap II Bldg. MBP Ayala Alabang, Muntinlupa, Metro Manila

247

Customer Service Representative

Indonesian

244

IT Technical Mandarin

Windrilius,

Fang, Yun

WTA ARCHITECTURE AND DESIGN STUDIO Unit 302, 3/F Metrosquare Bldg., #224 Ortigas Ave., Brgy. Greenhills, San Juan, Metro Manila

Customer Service Representative

Indonesian

WME PHILS. CORP. Unit 510, 5/F Alpap II Bldg. MBP Ayala Alabang, Muntinlupa, Metro Manila

Chinese

Zeng, Zhaokeng

Eric Fernandy,

243

Chinese

Ou, Xiadi

Wily, Indonesian

Chen, Lei

Chinese

Customer Service Representative

Chinese

WME PHILS. CORP. Unit 510, 5/F Alpap II Bldg. MBP Ayala Alabang, Muntinlupa, Metro Manila

IT Technical Mandarin

Chinese

Jiang, Xinyun

242

241

Position

Chinese

Rodriguez, Jose Juan

IT Technical Mandarin

Chinese

Tang, Yongheng

WJGLOBAL INC. (ASCOTT) 8F Ascott Bonifacio Global City, Fifth Avenue cor. 28th St. Fort Bonifacio , Taguig, Metro Manila

Chinese

Zhang, Ning

VERTEX DIGITAL ENTERTAINMENT TECHNOLOGIES INC. 8/F The Biopolis, CBP 1-A Macapagal Avenue, Brgy. 076, Pasay , Metro Manila

231

IT Technical Mandarin

Name of Foreign National/ Citizenship

Executive Chef

American

Chinese

Mandarin Customer Service Representative Mandarin Customer Service Representative Mandarin Collection Officer

Chinese

Mandarin Customer Service Representative

Reis, Robin Thomas

Lead AssociateOperations

Indian Meush, Sara Lutfi

Senior Manager

Bulgarian Park, Seonghwa

Team Manager

Korean Wu, Yanling

Chinese Lead Cook

Chinese Wong, Kam Sim

Customer Service Representative

Chinese

If you have any information/objection to the above mentioned application/s, please communicate with the Regional Director thru Employment Promotion and Workers Welfare (EPWW) Division with Telephone No. 400-6011.

Chinese Zuo, Zhe Chinese

Customer Service Representative

ATTY. ANA C. DIONE, CPA REGIONAL DIRECTOR

MUNTINLUPA CELEBRA

ANNIVERSARY, REFLECTS ON

By Leony R. Garcia

N this day in 1995, Muntinlupa became the 65th city of the Philippines by virtue of Republic Act 7926. It is a special nonworking holiday for the city marked by various activities, including street dancing, job fairs, medical missions, flea market and the traditional Parade of Festivals.

At 24, Muntinlupa City is one of the youngest cities in the Philippines. But it has already become one of the frontrunners in its class in terms of competitiveness and quality of life for its residents. Formerly a sleepy farming and fishing community up to 1980s, Muntinlupa City began its gradual, yet steady, rise to urbanization later in the decade. On March 1, 1995, President Fidel V. Ramos signed into law Muntinlupa’s city charter, which converted Muntinlupa City from a municipality to a highly urbanized city. In recent years Muntinlupa City was adjudged the Most BusinessFriendly City in the Philippines by the Philippine Chamber of Commerce and Industry, among the Top 3 Most Competitive Highly Urbanized Cities in Government

Efficiency by the National Competitive Council; and Most Child-Friendly City in the National Capital Region by the Regional Council for the Welfare of Children. Other significant awards received include the Most Innovative LGU, Best in Program Effectiveness, Most Improved Nutrition Program Management, +Jose Rizal Award for Blood-Letting Program and Best in Health Emergency Management in Metro Manila. Muntinlupa City is bounded on the north by Taguig City, on the northwest by Paranaque City, on the west by Las Piñas City, on the southwest by the province of Laguna and on the east by Laguna de Bay. The city was the first urban center in the country to ban the use of plastic bags and styrofoam/styropor with

the passing of City Ordnance 10-109 that took effect on January 18, 2011. Muntinlupa City has been under the helm of soft-spoken lawyer Jaime R. Frenesdi from 1998-2007 and again from 2013 to the present. A businessman-civic leader before he joined politics—he still is an active member of the Kiwanis Club of Muntinlupa, Rizal—Fresnedi traces his roots to Marcelo Fresnedi. Marcelo was one of the moving spirits behind the move in the 1900s to declare Muntinlupa City a separate municipality from Taguig City. This came to fruition in December 19, 1917. Touted to be the “Education Mayor”, Fresnedi has given primary importance to education. Starting on June 2017, the city has provided financial assistance to all primary and secondary public-school students.

The recent opening of Colegio de Muntinlupa offered courses on civil engineering, mechanical engineering, electronics engineering, electrical engineering and computer engineering. Other ongoing projects in the city include the additional building for the Ospital ng Muntinlupa via a P70-million grant from the national government, through Rep. Rufino Rozzano Biazon of the Lone District of Muntilupa City. The women’s resource center has started to operate, which serves as a center for livelihood skills training, and product and business development for micro-enterprises. Loan size for viable small businesses under the Jaime R. Frenesdi program has also been increased up to a maximum of P150,000 per borrower. The citywide CCTV system to

One-of-a-kind cultural space pops up in Metro Manila

NEW museum pops up in Metro Manila with elements, such as an immersive tunnels, a sound map and precolonial history. Located by the shore of Laguna de Bay in Muntinlupa City, the Museo ng Muntinlupa is the first city museum of its kind infusing history, interactivity and communal spaces. A whopping 3,000 square meters, the museum is complete with interactive galleries for kids and kids-at-heart, a research center and meeting spaces, and a state-ofthe-art 200-seater theater. Presenting the history and culture of Muntinlupa from the precolonial era to the present, it does not only showcase heritage, but also provide areas for contemporary artists and temporary exhibitions. Mayor Jaime Fresnedi points out, “This project was envisioned years ago, and now we are able to create this much-needed venue for discovery and

creativity. We want our community to be proud of our history, including the trials and tribulations. Muntinlupa [City] is home to very talented artists and this serves as a platform for them. Our museum, your museum, is an inspirational venue where everyone can learn and enjoy, we call it ‘edutainment’.” The new five-story museum’s exterior resembles to a graphic representation of salakab, an instrument made of bamboo for catching fish in shallow waters. The museum has an indoor cinema theater and an interactive floor with robotics. One of the fastest-growing cities in the country today, the city of Muntinlupa has risen from a small fishing village and agricultural land to a commercial business district, and center of industry and trade. On the banks of the longest shoreline embracing Laguna de Bay, the Museo ng Muntinlupa was

inspired by early traditional fishing contraptions used in the area. City Architect Beaudon Causapin notes, “The museum was inspired by a salakab, a traditional fishing trap used by Muntinlupa fishermen in the shores of Laguna de Bay. We follow green design---our ochre columns and wire netting absorb and deflect the heat, making the building cooler. We also cultivate our own native plants right here in the city, and you will find this all over the museum and outdoor space.” The Museo ng Muntinlupa was envisioned by the local government of Muntinlupa and will have a soft launching today, March 1. A series of activities has been lined up for the opening of the museum. Today Fresnedi will also deliver his State of the City Address bannering multisectoral developments in the city for the recent years. For more information and inquiries, e-mail at info@museongmuntinlupa.com.

Sharp hits 4 millionth TV production

HARP Philippines Corp. marked its 4 millionth TV production on February 27 at the head office in Muntinlupa City. Headed by President and general manager Kazuo Kito, and graced by Muntinlupa City Mayor Jaime R. Fresnedi, the celebration

with employees and the youth in Muntinlupa City proved how far they have come to be the longestrunning TV production house in the Philippines. Sharp employees gathered on the main production area and witnessed of the ongoing 4

millionth TV production. As a part of the Thanksgiving event, Sharp Philippines donated LED TV to the city, Muntinlupa Fire Department, Muntinlupa Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Office, Mintcor Village and Rizal Village in Barangay Cupang, and to Elsie Gatches.

ATES 24TH CITYHOOD

N THE LESSONS OF THE PAST

LANDBANK LAUDS MUNTINLUPA CITY FOR EFFECTIVE FINANCIAL MANAGEMENT Land Bank of the Philippines (LandBank) awards the Gawad Pilak to the city government of Muntinlupa for its outstanding collaborative ties with the organization. LandBank executives, headed by LandBank Vice President for Public Sector Department Esperanza Martinez (in photo, sixth from right), visited Mayor Jaime Fresnedi on February 19, and lauded his financial-management strategy and the 25th-year partnership of the Muntinlupa local government unit and LandBank. Muntinlupa City was declared debt-free as it fully settled all of its loans from LandBank. Also in photo are (from left) city accounting officer Lanie Casanova, city treasurer Al Miñosa, city budget officer Lolet Morales, city administrator Allan Cachuela, LandBank Assistant Vice President Mary Lilian Cruz, LandBank account manager Josephine Cabanela, LandBank Muntinlupa branch head Synpha Malto, and LandBank marketing assistant Florence Guliman.

deter wrongdoers is expected to be on full stream this year, while each barangay have received a donation of an ambulance and a fire truck from the city government. Aside from ongoing socialized housing projects, the city government has commenced the centennial employee housing project Further fine-tuning of the singlewindow transaction, the MBOSS has been pursued toward making Muntinlupa City the “City of OneStop Shops”. The city government has also reported on an impressive list of infrastructure projects completed in the past two years. Completed in 2017 were the Plaza Central, Poblacion; fire station at Susana Heights, Tunasan; multipurpose covered courts at Santo Nino Village at Victoria Homes, Tunasan; day-care center at Bayanan

Baywalk; additional classrooms for Pamantasan ng Lungsod ng Muntinlupa; and multipurpose building at Cupang. While completed in 2018 were Colegio de Muntinlupa in Sucat (Phase 2); Muntinlupa City Museum in Laguerta, Tunasan; Phase 2 of CCTV installation project for the whole city; DRRM command center at the Resiliency Building, Tunasan; new building for Pamantasan ng Lungsod ng Muntinlupa; MCTITesda women’s resource center at Putatan; men and women’s center and site development at Putatan; Laguerta Health Center at Tunasan; and multipurpose community center at Ayala-Alabang. Today, on its 24th cityhood, Muntinlupa City will have a soft opening of its Museo ng Muntinlupeño, with the city mayor hoping that this flagship

project will serve as an effective vehicle for instilling among residents a proper appreciation of Muntinlupa City’s past. “[Few] people know how important a role Muntinlupa [City] has played throughout history, starting from the fledgling First Republic to the restoration of democracy. The once sleepy town was an early line of defense of Gen. Emilio Aguinaldo from the pursuing Spanish forces, as well as the American invaders who followed afterward. It was a bulwark against the Japanese imperialists and a stepping stone toward the liberation at [the] war’s end. Muntinlupa [City] reprised this role decades later, holding the line against armed forces loyal to a dictator desperately holding on to power,” the city mayor stressed. Congratulations, Muntinlupa City!

A4 Friday, March 1, 2019 • Editor: Vittorio V. Vitug A8

Economy BusinessMirror

China investment pledges jumped 2,000%+ to ₧50.69 billion in 2018

By Cai U. Ordinario

@caiordinario

NVESTMENT pledges approved by the government surged 69.3 percent in 2018 on the back of Chinese investments inflow, data released by the Philippine Statistics Authority (PSA) showed on Thursday.

ber to December 2018 period, and 28.3 percent of total foreign pledges in the whole of 2018. For the full year, other countries that accounted for the largest shares in total investment pledges were Singapore, which cornered 11.8 percent and Japan with 11 percent. Pledges from Singapore reached P21.18 billion, while those from Japan reached P19.73 billion. In the fourth quarter, pledges from these two countries also accounted for the highest shares apart from China. Approved pledges from Singapore amounted to P15.28 billion, or 16.7 percent, while those from Japan reached P4.7 billion, or 5.2 percent of the total in 2018. Meanwhile, the PSA said Electricity, Gas, Steam, and Air Conditioning Supply came in second with investment pledges valued at P13.3 billion, or a 14.6-percent share. Administrative and Support Service Activities followed with investment pledges of P6.9 billion, or a 7.6-percent share. By region, the majority of the approved foreign investments in

the fourth quarter of 2018 would be intended to finance projects in Region 10 (Northern Mindanao) amounting to P47.5 billion or 52.1 percent. Region 4A (Calabarzon) would receive the second highest amount at P20.3 billion, representing 22.3 percent. This was followed by the National Capital Region at P13.1 billion, or 14.3 percent. A p pro ve d i nve st me nt s of foreign and Filipino nationals reached P605.1 billion in the last quarter of 2018, up by 114.2 percent compared with P282.5 billion in the same period in the previous year. Filipino nationals continued to dominate the investments approved during the quarter, sharing 84.9 percent, or P513.9 billion worth of pledges. Total projects of foreign and Filipino investors approved by the seven IPAs for the fourth quarter of 2018 are expected to generate 72,630 jobs. Out of the total anticipated jobs for the period, 66.9 percent would come from projects with foreign interest.

The PSA said total foreign investments in 2018 increased to P179 billion from P105.7 billion in 2017. In the last quarter of 2018, foreign investments quadrupled, or a growth of 321.2 percent, to P91.2 billion from P21.6 billion in the previous year. The foreign investments were approved by the country’s seven investment-promotion agencies (IPAs), namely, the Board of Investments (BOI), Clark Development Corp., Philippine Economic Zone Authority and Subic Bay Metropolitan Authority, as well as the

Authority, of the Freeport Area of Bataan, BOI-Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao and the Cagayan Economic Zone Authority. Data showed that investment pledges from China in the whole of 2018 grew over 2,000 percent to P50.69 billion, from P2.33 billion. In the fourth quarter, Chinese investment pledges grew by over 17,000 percent to P47.99 billion in 2018, from P266.8 million in 2017. China accounted for as much as 52.6 percent of total foreign investment pledges approved in the Octo-

DOH chief thanks President for timely signing of expanded maternity leave law

Mixed pay scheme for bus drivers, conductors takes effect this month

By Claudeth Mocon-Ciriaco Correspondent

HE Department of Health (DOH) thanked President Duterte for the passage of Republic Act 11210, also known as the Expanded Maternity Leave (EML) Act, last February 20. Health Secretary Francisco Duque III said the signing of the measure is very timely with the observance of Women’s Health Month in March. “This is another noteworthy addition to the series of legislations that protect, promote, and support the health and nutrition of the Filipino family,” he said. The signing of the law, Duque said, is good news to the working women and “this is our gift to Filipino mothers all over the country.” The EML Act complements the recent passage of Republic Act 11148, or the Kalusugan at Nutrisyon ng Mag-Nanay Act. With the EML Act, women are given additional economic support by ensuring that their 105 days (with additional 15 days for single mothers) of maternity leaves are paid, regardless of economic and social background. Healthy women are happy women, thus pregnancy and motherhood should not be reasons why economic opportunities, such as employment, should be taken away from them, the DOH chief said. The DOH believes that when mothers and their families are allowed to recover physically and mentally from pregnancies and in welcoming newborns as new additions to their lives, they are able to participate in the economy much more effectively as healthy citizens, healthy workers and, more important, as healthy parents. It has been documented that when the first 1,000 days of life of an infant as well as the mother’s well-being are ensured through proper health and nutrition interventions, far-reaching effects occur on children’s ability to grow and learn, giving them a fighting chance at rising out of poverty. These interventions include exclusive breast-feeding for the first six months of life with breast-feeding continued with nutritious and sustainable complementary feeding until 2 years of age and beyond, compliance to vaccination schedules and micronutrient supplementation, and cognitive stimulation to develop language and motor skills from birth.

By Samuel P. Medenilla @sam_medenilla

TARTING this month, bus companies will be mandated to implement the part fixed, and part performance-based compensation scheme, or risk the non-renewal of their franchise. The National Wages Productivity Commission (NWPC) issued its Revised Guidelines 1, Series of 2019, mandating bus firms to start implementing the new pay scheme for bus drivers and conductors. The guidelines will take effect in March, or 15 days after it was published on February 22 in newspapers of general circulation. Under the said scheme, concerned bus employees should get a fixed

wage, which should not be lower than the prevailing minimum wage rate applicable to them. They will also be entitled to a performance-based wage to be determined, which they will have to negotiate with their employers as long as it follows NWPC guidelines. T he per for mance-based pay could be computed using the “business performance” of their employers, or the compliance to safety regulations of the concerned workers. Bus companies are required to submit to their designated Regional Tripartite Wages and Productivity Boards (RTWPB) their proposed required compensation scheme 60 days prior to “confirmation” of a bus unit for approval. Those which will have their com-

pensation scheme disapproved by the RTWPB will have to revise it to conform to the NWPC guidelines before they could resubmit it. If found compliant, the RTWPB will endorse the compensation scheme to the appropriate Department of Labor and Employment regional office so the applying bus firm could qualify for a “Certificate of No Pending Case.” Ultimately, the DOLE regional offices will be the ones to issue the Labor Standards Compliance Certificate needed by bus companies to renew their license at the Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board. NWPC’s revised guidelines is based on the DOLE’s Department Order (DO) 118-12, Series of January 2012.

www.businessmirror.com.ph

DOF highlights benefits of Chico River irrigation project with Beijing By Jovee Marie N. Dela Cruz @joveemarie & Rea Cu @ReaCuBM

PARTY-LIST group on Thursday warned that a P3.6-billion China-funded irrigation project is expected to be cornered by a Chinese contractor as a precondition for the loan. The Bayan Muna party-list, in a news statement, said the condition will push Filipino workers at a more disadvantageous position, amid the reported influx of Chinese workers into the country. Chairman Neri Colmenares said a “leaked” loan contract for the Chico River Pump Irrigation Project identified China CAMC Engineering Co. as the contractor. Colmenares said despite the exorbitant interest rates and fees imposed by China, the contract may still require that the contractor should be a Chinese company. Reacting to Colmenares’s statement, the Department of Finance assured that the loan agreements with China go through a rigorous vetting process, with the agreement going through an interagency committee composed of the Department of Justice (DOJ), Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas (BSP) and the DOF, to ensure that the terms of the loan are within the parameters of the government. DOF Assistant Secretary Antonio Joselito G. Lambino II told the BusinessMirror, “We negotiate to make sure that the arbitration mechanism protects our interests, but it must also be acceptable to each party.” “More than that, it will benefit the livelihood of thousands of farming families in Northern Luzon and improve agricultural productivity,” he added. On April 10 last year, the Philippines and China signed a $62.09- million (or about 430.26 million renminbi) agreement to help fund the construction of the Chico River Pump Irrigation Project in Northern Luzon, with the groundbreaking of the project held on June 8 of the same year. Upon completion, the project is envisioned to provide a stable

supply of water to around 8,700 hectares of agricultural land, benefit 4,350 farmers and their families, and serve 21 barangays in the provinces of Kalinga and Cagayan in Northern Luzon. Colmenares also warned that the Chinese contractor would most likely hire Chinese labor, adding to an even greater influx of Chinese workers and leading to the displacement of Filipino workers. Early this week, the Department of Public Works and Highways disclosed that dozens of Chinese workers were working on at least two China-funded construction projects being built under the Philippine government’s massive infrastructure drive like that in the Binondo bridge. Bayan Muna, citing the Chico River contract, said the deal sets an annual interest rate of 2 percent or a $62.086-million loan (P3.2 billion at the current exchange rates but amounts to P3.6 billion under Section 1.8 of the agreement), plus an annual “Commitment Fee” of .3 percent of the loan and a “Management Fee“ of .3 percent or $ 186,260. The loan agreement was signed between Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotenciary of China Zhaojian Hua, on behalf of the Export-Impot Bank of China, and Finance Secretary Carlos Dominguez III, on behalf of the Philippine government, on April 10, 2018. Colmenares said the loan agreement for the Chico River Pump Irrigation Project is onerous and highly favors China. Colmenares also said that under the agreement, China demands that the loan be “paid in full without counterclaim or retention.” He added the contract also provides that China will not pay any taxes or charges for the entire transaction, including any interest income it earns from the loan. “The 2-percent interest rate is exceedingly high compared to loans offered by other countries, which only charge .25 percent per year. On top of this, there are other fees and charges that make this loan contract really onerous,” he said.

Angara prods Duterte admin No smoking, no drinking policy stays in Boracay to step up support for MSMEs By Jonathan L. Mayuga

By Butch Fernandez @butchfBM

EN. Juan Edgardo Angara on Thursday pressed the Duterte administration to extend “more support” for micro, small and medium enterprises, to enable these to “fulfill a critical role in the country’s economic boom.” Angara, Senate Ways and Means Committee chairman, pointed out that MSMEs comprise over 99 percent of business enterprises operating across the country with close to 5 million people or 63 percent of jobs created in 2017, adding that this makes it “one of the key drivers of economic growth.” In a news statement, Angara asserted the importance of government support for MSMEs during an event organized by Go Negosyo, at Lucky Chinatown in Manila, saying, “It is essential for the government to help MSMEs that comprise a bigger part of the economy nowadays,” he said. The senator was apparently referring to the sizeable contribution of MSMEs to the country’s growth. “This means your sector has contributed a lot to the economic advancement of our nation, which is why the government should give attention and extend support to MSMEs,” saidAngara, who is running for reelection in the 2019 midterm polls. At the same time, Angara acknowledged the Duterte administration’s determination to help small businesses with the enactment of several

pro-MSME laws, some of which the he pushed and supported in the Senate. Angara affirmed that foremost among these laws is Republic Act 11032, or the Ease of Doing Business Act of 2018, aimed at improving the overall business environment in the country by making the process of putting up and running a business easier and more efficient. He added: “We have enacted the Ease of Doing Business Act that ensures the elimination of graft and red tape. This clearly shows of the Duterte administration’s support to MSMEs.” Angara assured the business sector that it would now be easy to secure business permits, pay taxes and transact with government. “It’s now much easier and faster to secure business permits,” he said. The senator earlier pushed for the lowering of the income tax rate to 25 percent, from the high of 32 percent and the exemption of workers whose annual earning is P250,000 or below from income tax payment. The income tax rate reduction and tax exemption resulted in some P103 billion in savings on the part of the workers, data from the Department of Finance covering the first three quarters of 2018 showed. Moreover, Angara also pressed for the adjustment of the value-added tax threshold to P3 million from P1.9 million in order to protect not only poor and low-income Filipinos but also MSMEs, as it effectively exempts the sale of goods and services of marginal establishments from VAT.

@jonlmayuga

ITH the onset of the summer season, local and foreign tourists are expected to flock to some of the country’s famous tourist destinations, particularly beach resorts, including Boracay Island, the country’s top tourist destination in Malay, Aklan. Tourism activities on Boracay Island, however, will be under tight watch to ensure full compliance of various environmental laws by tourism establishments, their employees, as well as tourists. Authorities maintained that the policy banning smoking and drinking in public places, as well as littering, will be strictly enforced to sustain the gains of Boracay’s six-month moratorium on tourism activities that started on April 26. Boracay was officially reopened on October 26 last year. At a news conference in Taguig City on Thursday, Secretary Bernadette Romulo Puyat of the Department of Tourism (DOT) said since Boracay was reopened in October, the Boracay Interagency Task Force (BIATF), together with the concerned local government units (LGUs) in Malay, Aklan, was able to limit the number of tourists visiting the island, strictly within its carrying capacity. As of February 18, there are 319 accommodations with 11,657 rooms that are all compliant with all environmental laws being enforced jointly and individually by the DOT, Departments of Environment and Natural

“We will give them 15 days to self-demolish. This is the directive of Secretary Año. If they fail to comply, we will demolish their establishments.” —Cimatu

Resources and the Interior and Local Government, and concerned LGUs. According to Puyat, Boracay has 6,415 tourists as of February 18. “So far, the average tourist arrival is 5,000 tourists a day and tourist leaving the island is 5,200. It is within the carrying capacity,” she said. According to the DOT chief, they expect tourists to flock Boracay Island but Puyat said the number of people visiting the island will still be limited, allowing only tourists who can be accommodated by compliant tourism establishments. “The number of tourists will be limited within the island’s carrying capacity of Boracay. And there will be no smoking and no drinking in public places in Boracay,” Puyat reiterated. Puyat said “beach parties” will also be restricted unless a special permit is approved by the BIATF. The BIATF said next month marks the start of the second phase of Boracay’s rehabilitation. The rehabilitation is shifting its focus on ensuring full compliance of various environmental laws, including easement rules on beaches and road networks. The Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) has commit-

ted to rehabilitating the remaining roads on the island. Most of the road networks have been widened and cleared of obstruction. The DPWH has so far allocated P50 million for various road repair and road-widening projects. Environment Secretary Roy A. Cimatu gave an update of the ongoing rehabilitation effort in Boracay. Cimatu noted that some establishments have not fully complied with the easement rule and some establishments, despite repeated appeals by the government, have refused to voluntarily demolish their illegal structures that have encroached on the island’s road network. Interior Secretary Eduardo Año, for his part, said the LGU of Malay, Aklan, was asked to issue an ultimatum to these erring business establishments, including several residential units. He maintained that Boracay is now a “Discipline Zone” Law-enforcement agencies, he said, will enforce laws in compliance with the island having been declared as such. There are nine noncompliant establishments as far as the easement rule is concerned, said Cimatu. These business establishments, he said, have been notified of the government’s intention to demolish their property that encroached on nobuild zones at the White Beach. “We will give them 15 days to self-demolish. This is the directive of Secretary Año. If they fail to comply, we will demolish their establishments,” Cimatu said.

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PALACE SAYS SURVEY BIASED VS. COPS’ GOOD DEEDS AND ACCOMPLISHMENTS By Bernadette D. Nicolas @BNicolasBM

OLLOWING the release of survey results that showed the majority of Filipinos believed cops are involved in the illegal drug trade, Malacañang said Filipinos should also be surveyed about policemen’s good deeds. Presidential Spokesman and Chief Presidential Legal Counsel Salvador S. Panelo also said on Thursday that while the Palace is “aware that there are rotten eggs that tend to destroy the integrity of the Philippine National Police,” the PNP has been implementing its own internal cleaning drive. “In the spirit of fairness, however, [the survey] should have also fielded a question regarding the good deeds of our policemen in the war against drugs. After all, a total of 165 police officers were killed, and 575 were wounded in the campaign against …narcotics based on the latest report of the PNP,” Panelo said. “These figures dispel allegations of critics and detractors on legitimate drug operations and show that drug pushers and addicts actually resort to violence when confronted with a threat of apprehension. Indeed, illegal drugs, particularly methamphetamine hydrochloride, or shabu, alter emotions and cause anger and fear on the part of the user, so we are not dumbfounded when violent encounters ensue during police operations,” he added. Sought for clarification on whether he meant that the survey showed any bias, Panelo said, “Let us just say that the survey questions are not complete to get a clearer, truer and

more accurate picture.” The Palace, nonetheless, assured the public that the the administration has “zero tolerance against police misfits,” citing the instance when cop killers of Kian de los Santos were convicted and the entire Caloocan police force was relieved. “As PRRD [President Duterte] himself said, “There will be hell to pay if you become worse than criminals. Such actions show that we in the administration are intolerant to any kind of abuse coming from those whose duty is to serve and protect the Filipino people,” Panelo said. The December 2018 survey results released on Wednesday showed 68 percent of Filipino adults believe that accusations that policemen are involved in the illegal drug trade are “definitely or probably true,” while 26 percent were “undecided” and 5 percent said it is “definitely or probably not true.” When asked if accusations that policemen are involved in the extrajudicial killing of illegal drug trade suspects are true, 66 percent said it is “definitely or probably true,” 28 percent are “undecided” and 5 percent say it is “definitely.” Meanwhile, 58 percent of Filipino adults said that the accusation that policemen often plant evidence against suspects they arrest are “definitely or probably true,” 33 percent are “undecided” and 9 percent say it is “definitely or probably not true.” The survey was conducted from December using face-to-face interviews of 1,440 adults. It has a sampling error margin of ±2.6 percent for national percentages and ±5 percent.

NEA forms task force to ensure power sufficiency during May poll period By Lenie Lectura

@llectura

HE National Electrification Administration (NEA) has created a task force to ensure adequate and reliable power supply before, during and after the May 13, 2019, national and local elections. NEA Administrator Edgardo Masongsong issued issued Office Order 2019-033, establishing the NEA Power Task Force Election 2019. This is in compliance to the Commission on Elections (Comelec) Resolution 10471 deputizing, among others, the NEA in connection with the conduct of the May polls. As provided for in the resolution, the NEA is commissioned to “provide and maintain stable and continuous nationwide electric power requirements from the start

of voting, until the termination or conclusion of the canvassing of votes and the proclamation of the winning candidates.” “The upcoming elections will utilize power-dependent technologies and requires reliable delivery of electricity service. The NEA, as Comelec’s partner agency, will ensure that the conduct of the polls and postelection activities are smooth, unhampered and secure,” Masongsong said. The NEA Power Task Force Election 2019 is composed of the Engineering Department, Disaster Risk Reduction Management Department, Corporate Communications and Social Marketing Office, Information Technology and Communication Services Department, and Human Resources and Administration Department.

Doctor arrested in drug sting a regular DOH unit employee

By Claudeth Mocon-Ciriaco | Correspondent

HE Department of HealthMetro Manila Center for Health Development (DOH-MMCHD) on Thursday confirmed that a doctor who was arrested in a police sting operation in his condominium in Mandaluyong City is a regular employee of the government agency. The DOH-MMCHD, in a news statement, however, said Dr. Vanjoe R. de Guzman, who was nabbed along with six others on Thursday night by a joint Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency ( PDE A) M a nd a luyong pol ice team, has been on absence without leave (AWOL) status from the office since November 26, 2018. “Dr. de Guzman is a regular DOH employee [since] February 2015.

@joveemarie

LAWMAKER on Thursday moved for the amendment of the Cybercrime and Anti-Bullying laws following reported suicide cases of minors due to online games, challenges and accounts that also enable the commission of cybercrimes. House Deputy Minority Leader Neil Abayon stated that suicide games and bullying on social media are not punishable under the Cybercrime law, or Republic Act 10175, and the Anti-Bullying law or RA 10627. Abayon issued the statement after the media reported that the the “Momo” challenge has been targeting children to do dangerous tasks. “There is a need to update the Cybercrime law and the Anti-Bullying law. I noticed that suicide games and bullying on social media are not among the prohibited acts and punishable offenses. When these laws were made, suicide games and bullying on social media were

not yet threats, but now they are,” Abayon said. “Evil is running rampant in cyberspace, and among the worst are the games and groups that promote suicide, bullying, human trafficking and illegal investment schemes,” added Abayon.

Pooling experts

ABAYON said he is convening a consultative group of experts to address emerging threats to the safety and security of children and adults, even as he called on Facebook and Google to take down suicide games and accounts enabling cybercrime. “[What] we can do is appeal to Facebook and Google to take down all of these offensive websites and activities that violate their own community standards because they promote selfharm and suicide, as well as enable criminals to commit cybercrime and harassment,” the lawmaker said. He added the gover nment should also address the addictive facets of internet, social media and

However, despite written directives to report immediately to the office, Dr. de Guzman has failed to comply,” the DOH-MMCHD statement read. The DOH-MMCHD added that it would issue an order of separation and commence disciplinary proceedings, in consultation with the Civil Service Commission, for the doctor’s eventual dismissal from the service, even as the DOH unit reiterated its full support to President Duterte’s

fight against illegal drugs. “All DOH-MMCHD employees, regardless of employment status, are subjected to [the] annual mandatory random drug testing,” the office added. Aside from de Guzman, PDEA Director General Aaron Aquino identified the other suspects as Francis Gerald Pabunan Fajardo, alias Rain, an events organizer; Keanu Andrea Flores, a varsity lawn tennis player; Mohammad Abdullah Duga; Michael Melegrito Tan; Mohammad Arafa Morsy; and Mark Adrianne Reyes Echauz. Aquino said that at around 12: 10 a.m. on Thursday, joint elements of PDEA Special Enforcement Service (PDEA-SES) under Director Levi S. Ortiz and the Mandaluyong City Police office conducted a buy-bust operation in JK Tower III, Burbank California Garden Square Condominium, Barangay Highway Hills, Mandaluyong City. Based on the report, de Guzman, uses his own unit as a drug den. But rather than sniffing the substance with the use of a foil, toother and

burner, suspects dissolve the drug in distilled water and inject the liquid through their veins, probably like heroin. Shabu injection reportedly enhances the effect of the drug to the user. The operating team confiscated one big knot-tied transparent plastic containing suspected shabu, weighing approximately 50 grams, worth P340,000; one transparent plastic sachet containing shabu residue; six transparent plastic sachets; five bottles containing a liquid substance suspected to be ecstasy, with a volume of approximately 200 milliliters, worth P30,000; and assorted drug paraphernalia, including syringes. De Guzman will be facing charges for violation of Section 5 (Sale of Dangerous Drugs), Section 6 (Maintenance of a Drug Den), Section 11 (Possession of Dangerous Drugs) and Section 12 (Possession of Drug Paraphernalia), Article II of Republic Act 9165, or The Comprehensive Dangerous Drugs Act of 2002, while the rest will be charged for violation of Section 7 (Visitors of a Drug Den).

Raps against ‘meddling’ lawyers in Makati narcotics raid junked By Joel R. San Juan @jrsanjuan1573

HE Office of the City Prosecutor in Makati has junked for lack of evidence the obstruction of justice and constructive possession of illegal drugs filed against three lawyers who allegedly interfered in the police operation on their client’s establishment suspected of being a drug den. In a 14-page resolution, Senior Assistant City Prosecutor Romel Odronia stated that the presence of respondent-lawyers Lenie Rocel Elmido Rocha, Jan Vincent Sambrano Soliven and Romulo Bernard Bustamante Alarkon at the Times Bar during the police raid “was legally justified,” considering that they were legal counsels of Burton Joseph Server III, one of the owners of the said establishment. This was contrary to the claim of the complainant, who are members of the Drug Enforcement Unit of the Makati City Police Station, that the three went inside the bar without any client to represent and interfered in the implementation of a search warrant by threatening and questioning them at every stage, which resulted in the obstruction and delay of the implementation of the warrant. The complainants also claimed that the lawyers took pictures and

Amendment of cybercrime, anti-bullying laws pushed By Jovee Marie N. Dela Cruz

Editor: Vittorio V. Vitug • Friday, March 1, 2019 A9

online gaming. Abayon said he is already sending out invitations to experts who can help craft inputs to a set of bills for the legislative agenda of the AANGAT TAYO party-list, which he represents in Congress. “We want to do this the right way, so among the people we will invite are game developers, child and youth welfare advocates, the education agencies, the Securities and Exchange Commission, and the officials of Facebook and Google,” the congressman said. “Cyberspace is an ecological system. Forces of good and evil have made cyberspace their new battleground. We must give the government, civil society and citizens the tools, mechanisms and processes they need to fight the evil in the machine-created universes of cyberspace,” Abayon said. In 2016, Abayon filed House Bill 04494, or an act requiring the teaching of values education on the internet in all public and private elementary and high schools in the Philippines.

video footages, searched, touched and held evidence, which might have contaminated them, thus, holding them liable for violation of Article 151 of the Revised Penal Code (resistance and disobedience), violation of City Ordinance No. 96-298 (unlawful for unauthorized person to cross a police line) and Section 11 Article II of the Dangerous Drugs Act on constructive possession of drugs. The three lawyers were subjected to a warrantless arrest by authorities, drawing criticisms from various legal groups. The Free Legal Assistance Group (FLAG) denounced the warrantless arrest of the three lawyers, saying that it “personifies the government’s arrogance, ignorance and disregard of law” in the pursuit of its war against drugs policy. They were eventually ordered released by the city prosecutor pending further investigation. “It must be remembered that respondents were in Times Bar as legal counsel[s] of server. Thus, it is their duty to do anything and everything to protect and establish the rights of their client so long that it does not constitute a violation of the law,” the resolution read. “Notably, the evidence is barren of any showing that the taking of pictures and video footages interfered, hampered or obstructed in

any way in the proper implementation of the search warrant of that it affected in anyway the integrity of the evidence seized,” it added. The city prosecutor also noted that a review of the video footages of the confrontation between the complainants and the respondents clearly showed that the lawyers informed authorities that they were there as legal counsel of server. “Also we find it illogical and inconsistent with reason and human experience that respondents who are all lawyers would risk their profession and go to Times Bar where a search warrant was being implemented without any client to represent. The claim of complainants that they [the lawyers] might [had] gone to the establishment to retrieve something, being a pure speculation and conjecture, deserves no credence,” the resolution read. Likewise, the city prosecutor pointed out that the complainants failed to substantiate their claim that the three layers interfered in the performance of their duty and compromised the evidence gathered at the bar. In fact, the city prosecutor said the claim of the complainants became more questionable after evidence showed that when the lawyers arrived at the bar, the evidence gathered had already been inventoried

and clearly in the possession and control of the raiding policemen. The city prosecutor also branded as “ludicrous and farcical” the claim of the complainants that the lawyers have constructive possession of the illegal drugs. Odronia explained that in order for the accusations to hold, the complainants should be able to establish that the drugs found in the bar were under the control of the lawyers or that they have right to exercise dominion and control over the place where the drugs were found. “The one-time presence of respondents in the premises of Times Bar hardly qualify as proof of dominion and control over the place and of the drugs recovered therein, especially so considering that it has been sufficiently established by way of evidence that their presence therein was to serve as legal counsel of server who is one of the owners and among the named respondents in the search warrant,” the resolution read. Records showed the police implemented a search warrant issued by Makati Regional Trial Court Executive Judge Elmo Alameda at the Times Bar in Manila Bar on Makati Avenue last August. The raid yielded ecstasy drugs valued at P142,500 and some 18 sachets of cocaine valued at P1.57 million.

Duterte vetoes bill banning corporal punishment for children

RESIDENT Duterte has vetoed a bill that pushes positive and nonviolent methods among children, saying the bill, if enacted, would intrude into the privacy of the family to discipline children. This is the third time that the President has vetoed a bill in its entirety. The consolidated version of Senate Bill 1477, and House Bill 8239 seeks to protect children by banning all forms of physical and mental abuse, injury, maltreatment or exploitation traditionally used by most Filipinos in the context of discipline. In his veto message, Mr. Duterte said the bill would allow government to extend its reach into the privacy of the family by authorizing measures aimed at suppressing corporal punishment, regardless of how carefully it is practiced. “I believe as much as Congress does that every children should be protected from humiliating forms of punishment. To the extent that this bill would enable the State to put a stop to such forms of punishment, it

is a salutary piece of legislation. However, I am gravely concerned that the bill goes much further than this as it would proscribe all forms of corporal punishment, humiliating or not, including those done within the confines of the family home. I do not share such an overly sweeping condemnation of the practice,” he said. Moreover, President Duterte also said he firmly believes that responsible parents can and have administered corporal punishment in a “self-restrained manner,” such that children remember it is not as an act of hate or abuse, but a loving act of discipline that desire only to uphold their welfare. Mr. Duterte also said the cultural trends of other countries are not necessarily healthy to the nation. To uncritically follow the lead of these countries, especially with regards to the family, would be a great disservice to the succeeding generations, he said. “I am aware that there is a growing trend, prevalent in Western nations,

that sees all forms of corporal punishment as an outdated from of disciplining children,” he said. “I strongly believe that we should resist this trend in favor of a more balanced and nuance approach, one that is both protective of the child, as well as cognizant of the prerogatives of devoted parents who believe in the merits of corporal punishment, rightly administered,” the President said. Meanwhile, principal author of the bill Rep. Bernadette Herrera-Dy of Bagong Henerasyon party-list, also chairman of the House Committee on Women and Gender Equality, said that while she was “deeply saddened” by the presidential veto, she will still request for a meeting with the President to convince him to reconsider the measure. “We were so close. We were in the final lap. Then we had this hurdle the bill was powerless to surmount. The Positive Bill passed overwhelmingly in the House and at the Senate,” HerreraDy said in news a statement. Bernadette D. Nicolas

A10 Friday, March 1, 2019 • Editor: Angel R. Calso

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editorial

Save the planet: Kill all humans

LECTIONS serve the purpose of bringing people into government that’s there to decide the future of the nation—or barangay as the case may be—in two broad areas. One is about social concerns and the other, economic. Social concerns are relatively easy. It is generally a matter of “yes” or “no” as in the case, for example, of legalizing divorce. Arguments go back and forth and can often become heated and emotional. There are some logical arguments on both sides of an issue. However, as with divorce, decisions for or against the issue of lowering the age of criminal responsibility are not necessarily logical. If you listen closely, it would appear that politicians really like to run on social issues. No matter which side they are, a moral high ground can be found. Further, it makes it easier to portray your opponent as the “spawn of Satan” because only someone evil would take the opposite view. Emotionally charged issues are always easier to sell to the voters because they can be framed either “good” or “evil” and, of course, this does not require a great deal of intellectual review. Social issues are a potential win for both candidates and the electorate. Economic issues are much more difficult to handle. For example, we all know that the Philippines needs to attract both more local capital investment and foreign direct investment. Bring that topic up during one of our famous candidate roundtables or debates and all of them will nod their heads. Ask the candidates for specifics and it all goes a little fuzzy. Yet, those details are critical to get to solutions. Candidates for elective office are not dumb, regardless of what many people think. They know that voters are not going to the ballot with a list of who said what on economic issues. Therefore, it might come down to voting for the person they believe—hopefully—will come up with the best solutions when the time comes. Further, the foreign and local investment issue involves a large number of factors: taxes, fiscal incentives, long-term objectives, etc. and decisions like that require consensus of opinion to get the necessary laws passed. If the voter must choose the “person” rather than the specific “policy,” then we are back to “personality politics,” which everyone seems to think is a mistake. How do we solve this dilemma? Part of the problem of Philippine politics is that political parties are often more “party” than “policy.” In other countries, the political party runs on specific ideas to meet specific objectives and the candidates of the party are tasked with getting those policies into force. That may or may not be one of the advantages of the strict partisan party politics of a parliamentary system. But do not think that the Philippines is a “worst-case” example of the reality of a representative voting democracy. If you put all the various political proposals together to reduce pollution, to stop “global-whatever,” and avoid killing the bees, “all human beings must be eliminated.” Since 2005

BusinessMirror A broader look at today’s business

High stakes

whatever it is politicians do when they’re not actually doing what they were elected to do; these “winners” will directly influence policies that may spell the difference between life and death for thousands of Filipinos, in too many tragic cases, quite literally; the people chosen by the electorate may give wings to the country or run us into the ground. And yet, despite these stakes, the mainstream national conversation still spends far too much time on such incredibly important issues as what to call the country. We should do better. Now that the youth are mobilized, we must exert every effort to ensure that their participation in the elections be principled and based, at least in equal measure, on altruism as in self-interest. More importantly, in doing so, we must avoid the pitfalls of present-day political discourse: the impulse to airily dismiss disagreeing opinions with pithy comments about grammar or inconsequential details gotten wrong; the temptation to prioritize how badly you burned the other guy over how clearly you have explained your arguments and perhaps fostered a change in opinions; and the all too tender trap of dichotomizing the world around

you, even when those who oppose you insist on doing so. We ought to do better. Voters in general, but the youth most especially, must be weaned from the notion that elected officials are self-contained engines of change. We must underscore that elected officials are only as effective as their peers and—in the case of executive officers—appointees allow them to be. What use is a crusading congressman if everyone else is content to simply be complicit? What use is an honest mayor if he appoints incompetent and corrupt friends and classmates to positions of power? We must see to it that voters understand who they are really voting for—a real person or a carefully crafted image. We must do better. The youth comprise approximately 21 million voters. Whether they will be intelligent voters or 21 million uninformed, thoughtless, and gullible rubes is up to us. Working together we can help bring up a generation of voters who understand and fully appreciate the power in their ballots. And if we don’t, we— as a nation—will have a very long time to contemplate just how badly we failed the country, the youth and ourselves.

What is critical at the moment is how the implementing rules of these laws are being crafted considering that new institutions will be created, others will be downgraded and, in the case of the UHC, a national system needs to be set in place. All told, these laws still require our participation in the crafting of their implementation.

Among the laws are Telecommuting Act; Social Security Act of 2018; Department of Human Settlements and Urban Development; Mobile Number Portability Act; Liberalizing the Importation, Exportation and Trading of Rice; Expanded Maternity Leave Act; New Central Bank Act; Tax Amnesty Act; Universal Health Care Act; and the Revised Corporate Code of the Philippines. If we are to summarize the essence of these key legislations, their common thread is essentially inclusivity or increasing access of everyone to basic services and improving governance. We will not be able to discuss all the merits of these laws, but let us focus on three and their salient features:

The Liberalization of the Importation, Exportation and Trading of Rice, or the Rice Tariffication Act, is intended to address the rice supply gaps that is translated into the broader economy as higher inflation rate. Rice represents roughly 10 percent of the average consumer basket and as such can significantly affect the overall inflation rate if supply is lacking. The experience last year, and as was in 2009, was that tight supply of affordable rice contributed significantly to rising inflation. This law removes quantitative restrictions in the importation of rice and replaces it with tariffs following our commitments in Asean and the World Trade Organization. The National Food Authority is given the task of maintaining a buffer stock of rice but they are to source it from local suppliers. The law also provides protection for the local rice industry through a special safeguard duty in

the event of large fluctuations of the rice prices, provision of a Rice Competitiveness Enhancement Fund amounting to P10 billion from the tariff generated. This Fund will be used to help modernize and improve the local rice industry through technology improvement, credit assistance, extension services, among others. Furthermore, excesses in the P10-billion tariff will be channeled to farmer financial assistance, titling of lands, crop insurance and crop diversification. Finally, the law mandates the drafting of a Rice Industry Road Map to improve competitiveness of the sector. The Universal Health Care (UHC) Act automatically includes every Filipino citizen into the National Health Insurance Program. It mandates the Philippine Health Insurance Corp. to implement within two years a comprehensive outpatient benefit service which is currently not part of the benefits provided by PhilHealth. The Department of Health and local government units are tasked to develop a comprehensive health care delivery system through an affordable primary care provider for every citizen. The national government will finance all population-based health services and these will be provided free of charge for all citizens. These health services have the minimum component of primary care provider See “Eagle Watch,” A11

James Jimenez

SPOX

RE the youth voting as advocates of issues? Or are they simply being mobilized to fulfill the ambitions of others? Are they well informed? Or have they simply been fed a steady diet of algorithm-driven nonsense designed to predispose them to supporting this or that candidate? Are they intelligent members of society exercising their right to determine their fate? Or have they been reduced to shambling hordes of zombies blindly marching to cliff ’s edge? Apathy is no longer as big a problem as we used to think. For as long as most people can remember, the voter turnout percentage in the Philippines has held steady in the mid- to upper-’70s; in 2016, we hit 81 percent. People go out to vote; and since the youth account for roughly 1/3 of the electorate, it’s safe to say that the youth are very clearly voting. The problem, however, is how are they voting. Not to put too fine a point on it: the challenge isn’t getting the youth to participate; the issue is the quality of that participation.

A barrage of laws

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EAGLE WATCH

T. Anthony C. Cabangon Lourdes M. Fernandez

And so, we who have made it our business to educate and inform the public—must ask ourselves, are we doing this generation of voters justice? In less than three months the nation will once again have to vote. Some 18,060 elective positions are going to need filling up, at literally every level of the government, save the presidency. The occupants of these positions will either pass actual legislation—whether good or bad, necessary or frivolous—or spend too much of their time doing

HE last two weeks saw a number of critical bills being signed by the President into law. These laws are to change the economic, political and social landscape of the country as we enter the initial stages of reaping the demographic dividend. As the share of the working age population of the country increases, the need to ensure that everyone can have a chance at accessing the benefits that will come out of the dividend becomes imperative. The Social Security Act of 2018 intends to improve the long term viability of the Social Security System (SSS) by increasing the contribution rate from 12 percent in 2019 to 15 percent in 2025, retaining the employer-employee ratio of 2/3 and 1/3 sharing. There is also a provision for compulsory coverage of self-employed and overseas Filipino workers. Another key addition is the provision of unemployment insurance or involuntary separation benefit for those who lose their jobs, but have contributed at least 12 months in the 18 months preceding the involuntary unemployment. The insurance that will be given will be a maximum of two months at 50 percent of the average monthly salary credit.

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Solar Para sa Bayan franchise a power industry bane Dr. Jesus L. Arranza

MAKE SENSE

Friday, March 1, 2019 A11

Edsa and how these foolish things remind me of you Tito Genova Valiente

ANNOTATIONS

DAY after Marcos the Dictator had left the country, a woman was heard wailing over the radio. Tears of joy, I told myself. I was wrong. The woman was lamenting the departure of the dictator. Thus was born, with the Weeping Women of this Condemned Country, the Loyalists.

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IKE Gatchalian’s regulatory concerns over the SPSB franchise, this being a new kind of technology and there being existing electric cooperatives and other private power distributors already, serving their respective power franchise areas, granting SPSB a congressional franchise would not only lead to industry chaos, but it could also result in the creation of a monopolistic and/or oligopolistic power industry in the country. The SPSB franchise would practically go against the government’s thrust to encourage competition in the Philippine market, the very reason the Philippine Competition Commission was established. While the services of other existing power distributors are confined only to their respective franchise areas, the SPSB franchise, as approved earlier by the House of Representatives, allows the company to operate and provide renewable electricity to areas deemed to have inadequate electricity anywhere in the country. Like a blanket franchise, it practically makes the franchise of existing power distributors inutile and discourage industry growth. Moreover, it also runs in conflict with the Electric Power Industry Reform Act (Epira) where cross ownership is not allowed, if only to prevent monopolistic and/or oligopolistic control of the industry by several companies owned by a common interest group. This is the reason, under the Epira law, the power industry was unbundled. Power generation, transmission and distribution were unbound and cross ownership among the three unbundled sectors is not allowed. And yet, the SPSB franchise allows the company to go into generation, supply and distribution. From the looks of it, the SPSB franchise could easily be a super franchise. Encompassing existing

power franchises, the SPSB franchise could just as well be called a “Solo” Para sa Bayan. After all, if passed into law, this could, perhaps, be for the record, if not the history books. And who would have thought that the Philippines do not have a superhero. But there is one thing certain in the SPSB franchise, if it hurdles the scrutiny of our senators, the Philippines will have a super franchisee. During the Senate hearing I was fortunate to have been allowed to raise a question to the representative of SPSB. “Mr. Leviste, mayroon bang hadlang sa pagpasok niyo sa negosyong kuryente ngayon?” I politely asked the Solar Para sa Bayan president, Leandro Leviste. I never got an answer. The reason why I asked the question was because I know that SPSB is already operating in some areas in the country. And if they don’t have problems in areas they already serve, why should SPSB ask for a super franchise? Is it not because, with the super franchise, SPSB would have undue advantage over the competition? And more important, will it not ease out existing power distributors? Dr. Arranza is the chairman of the Federation of Philippine Industries and Fight Illicit Trade, a broad-based, multisectoral movement intended to protect consumers, safeguard government revenues and shield legitimate industries from the ill effects of smuggling.

Rice tariffication law

current prices. This will be of big help especially to the less-fortunate spending almost 20 percent of their daily budget on rice. How will the rice tariffication law improve the agricultural sector, particularly the livelihood of our farmers? The law will provide what is known as the Rice Competitiveness Enhancement Fund or simply

also failed in aiding farmers to better fulfill the demand of rice in the country and to better compete with the supply and quality of what is in the international market. If the government has fulfilled its promises, we won’t be having a crisis on rice and our status, as well as the farmers’ status would improve. This begs the question, my brothers and sisters: How can we be sure that the rice tariffication law will help in making farmers more competitive and make the Philippines food self-sufficient in the following years? We need to follow the buildup of implementing rules and regulations or IRR for the new law. Many factors must be considered in passing this law, but thankfully we may give this an opportunity to truly become useful for our farmers, as well as the poor.

insurance and the health insurance for all will allow for income protection against unexpected challenges brought about by changes in the economy for the working class and catastrophic health conditions without compromising the need for personal responsibility by the citizen. The Rice Tariffication Act, meanwhile, open to business the responsibility to find cheaper rice abroad. The imposition of tariff ensures that the difference will

not be detrimental to the local rice industry and the tariff itself will be used to help strengthen it. The winner will be all consumers, including the rice farmers themselves, since we would have ensured a steady supply of rice to meet local shortfall at affordable prices. What is critical at the moment is how the implementing rules of these laws are being crafted considering that new institutions will be created, others will be downgraded

and in the case of the UHC, a national system needs to be set in place. All told, these laws still require our participation in the crafting of their implementation. For certain, their impacts will not be immediate and will be subject to reviews and adjustments. Their financing and capacity requirements should make the government carefully think about making them work and not get stuck with the euphoria of their passage.

SERVANT LEADER

Y brothers and sisters, President Duterte has signed Republic Act 11203, or the rice tariffication law that aims to make the prices of rice much more affordable and ensure we have enough supply. This law will also strengthen the rice industry in order to make more competitive farmers in the international market. To achieve this goal, the rice tariffication law will end the implementation of the quantitative import restriction that limits the number of imported rice. The trade-off system from this is implementing the tariff equivalent on imported rice.

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network, epidemiologic surveillance system and health promotions program. These three laws alone can significantly alter the usual way of doing things in the country. The SSS and the UHC ensure better social protection for the citizen. The introduction of the unemployment

photos of the two are, at best, cinematic, but they were not the presences that made me brave and crazy enough to forget my work, stay on in Manila, and, for the first time, fight for what I thought was for this nation, my country. I left the apartment I shared with friends on San Francisco del Monte. I left the cassette tape running, playing a bootleg copy of Sarah Vaughan singing “These Foolish Things Remind Me of You.” I have been wallowing in her song, in a voice that soared and then dived down into the lowest note, from contralto to near basso: Oh! Will you never let me be?/ Oh! Will you never set me free?/The ties that bound us/Are still around us/ There’s no escape that I can see And still those little things remain/ That bring me happiness or pain The intro to the song, seldom sung, was resonating wildly, references stretched to breaking foolish points. Revolutionary fervor inspired by a standard! Sarah Vaughan’s song was fulfilling its function as my Last-SongSyndrome as I rushed to Cubao. Reaching the area where one crossed from Aurora Boulevard to the side of Araneta Center, I saw Edsa blocked by buses that had stopped plying. People were walking and running. I was one of those running until I hit a hole on the ground. I did not mind it but when I reached the part fronting Camp Crame and Camp Aguinaldo, my ankle had swollen. I stopped and sat down. There were medics all over. It felt like Capas in my mind, not the Death March but the March as depicted by those BWar Movies. It was 1986. It was the 22nd of February and I became then one of

known as Rice Fund, from collected taxes and tariffs from the imported rice. This amounts to P10 billion in the next six years and this will be administered by the Department of Agriculture. The Rice Fund is dedicated to supply machinery and equipment to farmers, the seeds for planting of rice, affordable loans and extension services like programs from Tesda on rice production. The spirit and vision of this new law is in line with the societal teachings of the Church in giving notice to the poor, like the farmers. Because until now, they are part of the poorest sector of the country, despite all the programs the government has for the farmers. When the Philippines joined the World Trade Organization or WTO in 1995, it was given permission to limit the amount of rice entering from other countries to protect the local farmers and prepare them for what is known as the trade liberalization of rice. However, the implementation of the promise in passing the tariffication of rice was delayed by the Philippines. The government

Rev. Fr. Antonio Cecilio T. Pascual

With this new law, rice is free to enter from foreign countries as long as importers will pay the appropriate tariffs and the government is serious in collecting them. According to economists, this will result to price reduction of rice in the market. The Department of Finance has estimated a decrease of P2 up to P7 per kilo of rice based on

They would dress not in mourning but in defiant red. Marginalized for a few months, their number would swell until they became a population to contend with. That dictator would die abroad, in sweet exile with his family to their followers each day waiting for their return. And they would return. And they would bury the Dictator Patriarch in the burial ground of heroes. And they would be elected once more. And they would be back, indeed after Edsa and what some historians call People Power Revolution. We all have stories about the Revolution. Or the Revolt. Or the fiesta that materialized on the long stretch of what was known before as Highway 54. I have my own stories. I was on a break from the refugee camp in Bataan when a voice one day in February was summoning everyone to gather around Edsa. It was the voice of Jaime Cardinal Sin. Another voice soon came over the radio: it was the dictator in that recognizable halting cadence of a speech that fans defined as an orator’s gift. That voice regaled the country and the population timid for more than 20 years. That voice, with a lady beside him notorious for her kundiman, fooled the nation into believing in the birth of a New Society. People this time listened to the Cardinal. People became the Church, that amorphous entity priests and the institutional Church used to maneuver our faith into subjugation. People heeded the call and soon filled the street from one end of Cubao to the meadows connecting the highway to the barrios of Pasig. I was sure of this: I did not listen to Ramos nor to Enrile. The intrepid

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the first casualties of the inchoate revolution. I did not stop any tank. I just had this weak ankle and the potholes that one did not see were there for everyone to cross over as the traffic of vehicles on the highway came to a grinding halt. The people gathered on and around Edsa from February 22 to 25. In those days, the “People” became the “Power.” The hyphen lost its power because People became the grand modifier. Statues of saints, mostly Marian images, soon proliferated on the highway. The Lady of Fatima was there. Even the huge image of the “La Naval de Manila” came out to grace the unusual revolution. If “People Power Revolution” was a battle of symbols, those against the dictatorship became the de-facto Good and those defending the Tyrant, the Evil. What a glorious day for binaries and structural oppositions: Images of Saints versus Tanks. People versus the Palace. In that configuration, the Cardinal was an organic component. Ramos and Enrile, well, you still had to rethink how they figured in this mighty battle between Good and Evil. Perhaps, those days were auguries of what were to come—Ramos accommodating the Marcoses and the military, Enrile, of course, oh well, let histories decide. Omens were all over the land. Choppers were all over the skies. On the second day, there were

rumors circulating that the dictator had ordered Edsa to be bombed. There were warnings for people to be careful about drinking water: their sources had been poisoned. As helicopters and planes flew above in the wee hours of the morning, I was one of those holding the hands of strangers as we prayed the “Our Father.” We were calling God because we know the other side had no option but to make a pact with the Devil. It has been so many years already. The Revolution did not really become a real revolution. In place of the dictator and his kin and buddies came the new elite. There was first the refusal to bring in traditional politicians, trapos they were called, those pieces of cloth that one used to clean dirty places and later thrown or disposed. But the country, after those days of euphoria, was dirty the trapos had to come back. Dirt for dirt, they were the appropriate leaders for a dirty republic. It has been more than three decades since those fateful days in February. There are no clear and clean voices to heed. Pathetic is the nation that waits for voices from Heaven so they could move Earth and Heaven, too. That day, as the quiet uprising began, I listened to two voices: the Cardinal whose voice was moral courage and Sarah Vaughan who sang about how foolish things can remind us of love and loss.

E-mail: titovaliente@yahoo.com.

Give Trump’s big stupid trade deal a chance By David Fickling Bloomberg Opinion

OU know that trade breakthrough we were all talking about a few days ago? It’s not looking so close. Just three days after President Donald J. Trump reported “substantial progress” in talks with China, the man doing most of the talking was out pouring cold water. “Much still needs to be done,” US Trade Negotiator Robert Lighthizer told Congress on Wednesday, and it’s still in doubt whether the two sides can come to terms. Lighthizer’s refusal to bend in pursuit of a deal is admirable in its way. As we argued earlier this week, the US companies that have suffered weaker demand and higher costs from the past year’s trade war are unlikely to welcome a final agreement based on no more than commitments to buy more farm produce and hydrocarbons. At the same time, perhaps he has something to learn from the Trump administration’s approach to North Korea. Negotiators from Washington are no longer demanding Pyongyang make a full accounting of its nuclear programs, NBC News reported on Thursday citing current and former senior US officials. That flexibility looks alarming in a nuclear-proliferation context. On trade, however, a big stupid Trumpian deal may be just what the world needs. Consider the previous trade pacts agreed by this administration, with Mexico, Canada and South Korea. In contrast to the ambition of the North

American Free Trade Agreement or Trans-Pacific Partnership, each is essentially a modest adjustment to existing policies. China is a whole different ball game, as Lighthizer told the House of Representatives: What the President wants is an agreement that, No. 1, is enforceable—but that changes the pattern of practice of forced technology transfer, intellectual-property protection, large industrial-policy subsidies; and then a whole variety of specific impediments to trade, and unfair practices in the area of agriculture, in the area of services. What we want is fair trade. That requires structural change, and it has to be enforceable. Removal of forced technology transfers in manufacturing is a possibility that Premier Li Keqiang has raised and intellectual-property reform is a pet project of President Xi Jinping, so movement on those areas ought to be quite achievable with the right combination of carrots and sticks. Even agriculture has potential, given China’s need to feed its growing population as cheaply as possible. The problems come with the other asks: industrial policy, services and enforceability. There’s no sign that China is rushing to reform the state’s role in the economy—quite the opposite. Bailouts of distressed debt seem overwhelmingly directed at state companies in strategic sectors, with local governments taking up the lion’s share of the dwindling supply of cash, according to my colleagues Anjani Trivedi and Shuli Ren.

2nd Front Page BusinessMirror

A12 Friday, March 1, 2019

DOF sees revenue from tax amnesty reduced to ₧27.54B

By Rea Cu

@ReaCuBM

HE Department of Finance (DOF) has pointed out that potential revenues from the implementation of the approved Tax Amnesty Act of 2019 are estimated at P27.54 billion, much lower than the estimated potential revenues of P63.5 billion under the original amnesty proposal. During the Tax Management Association of the Philippines, Inc. (Tmap) General Membership meeting at the Makati Diamond Residences on Thursday, Finance Undersecretar y Mark Dennis Y.C. Joven explained that potential revenues from Republic Act (R A) 11213, or the Tax Amnesty Act of 2019, declined to P27.54 billion due to the exclusion of the general tax amnesty, lifting of the bank secrecy law and the automatic exchange of information (AEOI) provisions. “We can see that the DOF bill provides substantial revenues for the government. With the enrolled bill, basically, because of certain

relaxation of administrative processes and because of that one-time settlement of estate tax amnesty, there was a decrease in estimated tax take to around half of the original estimation, for the approved bill. So when the law was approved, the potential revenues decreased further because of the vetoed general tax amnesty,” Joven said. Under the original tax amnesty proposal of the DOF, which includes the said provisions, estimated revenue collections were seen to reach as high as P63.5 billion. Mea nwhi le, t he bica mera l conference-approved bill—which only removed the provision on the lifting of the bank secrecy law

₧63.5B The government’s projected revenue from the original version of the tax amnesty measure

and AEOI and retained the other provisions proposed by the DOF— was seen to generate an estimated P34.34 billion in revenues. The DOF proposed tax amnesty measure, which is under Package 1B of the Comprehensive Tax Reform Program (CTRP), includes an estate tax amnesty, general tax amnesty, tax amnesty on delinquencies, lifting of the bank secrecy law for criminal cases, as well as the AEOI. Joven said that technical working groups are now drafting the revenue regulations for the amnesties that will be implemented under the law, with the Bureau of Internal Revenue (BIR), Bureau of Customs (BOC) and the DOF having started the planning process on the amnesties even before the passage of the law this year. “The BIR, BOC and DOF have

begun the process of planning the implementation of this amnesty since November 2018, before the law was passed. Technical working groups have been formed to draft the revenue regulations for these amnesties.... So this should set out the procedures and the applicable forms to be used by amnesty availers,” he added. Under the law, implementing agencies are given 90 days to ensure the issuance of the proper regulations for the amnesties, with the government eyeing to create separate revenue regulations for the various amnesties, since there were line vetoes exercised by the President. “So this would mean that implementation will not be at the same time,” he said. He also pointed out that a database on amnesties will be implemented, which will make it easier for government agencies to determine future tax compliance. “We all know that all previous amnesties have provided for a database, which, as of today, hasn’t been implemented. So this time around, we want to make sure that we have the database which can be used as a beginning balance to determine future tax compliance,” he said. Joven said the DOF is confident that the government will pass a general tax amnesty measure with the proper safeguards, namely the lifting of the bank secrecy law as well as the AEOI provisions. “If not in this Congress, then hopefully the next. We shall work with them like we always have, to have it passed immediately. Implementation may still be within the year if enacted within this Congress, so potential revenues from the general tax amnesty can still come in within 2019,” he added. Earlier, President Duterte partially vetoed the general amnesty provision under the Tax Amnesty Act of 2019, which was signed on February 14, retaining only the provisions on estate tax amnesty and the amnesty on delinquency taxes. The President was dismayed that the measure did not include the lifting of the bank secrecy and the AEOI. The signed measure, RA 11213, seeks to enhance revenue administration and collection by granting an amnesty on all unpaid internal revenue taxes imposed by the national government for taxable year 2017 and prior years. This is with respect to estate tax and other internal revenue taxes and tax on delinquencies.

Exports. . .

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“This year, if you base it from last year, we are actually on target. We are still on target as far as the PDP is concerned,” Perlada explained. He admitted, though, that there are rising concerns on the stability of the multilateral trading system brought about by the trade conflict between the United States and China. Exports of services, on the other hand, are performing below expectations, the trade official noted. He said it is still in the positive levels, but did not hit the double-digit growth the government was initially targeting. Final data for export of services has yet to be released by the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas. “What we are seeing now is there is a tightening competition for services exports. In that space, our competition just got bigger. Still, we are on target insofar as total exports are concerned,” Perlada said. The government is aiming to hit $122 billion in export receipts by 2022. Perlada said he is confident the 2022 target can be reached, but said efforts to improve exports still need to be rolled out by the government. Elijah Felice E. Rosales

www.businessmirror.com.ph

EXPANSION OF MONEY SUPPLY, BANK LOANS SLOWED IN JANUARY By Bianca Cuaresma

@BcuaresmaBM

ASH supply circulating in the economy grew to its slowest pace in nearly seven years in January, the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas (BSP) reported on Thursday, as demand for credit eased further during the period. Data from the BSP showed that domestic liquidity—broadly measured as M3—expanded by 7.6 percent in January. The rate of increase is the slowest seen in the Philippines since September 2012. A growing cash supply is often beneficial for an expanding economy, such as the Philippines, as it provides fuel to the productive sectors of the country. However, an excessively strong growth in M3 could further stoke inflationary pressures and pull prices upwards. An imbalanced growth of M3 is also an indicator that the economy is potentially overheating. The growth of cash supply in January was slower than the 9.2-percent expansion recorded in December. In actual terms, cash supply in January hit P11.4 trillion. The BSP said in a statement that it will “continue to closely monitor domestic liquidity dynamics” and “ensure that overall monetary conditions remain in

Pinays. . .

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“It is paramount that we remove the barriers that hold women back, and with this report we aim to demonstrate that reforms are possible, and to accelerate change,” World Bank Group Interim President Kristalina Georgieva said. The World Bank said the index is composed of 35 data points grouped into eight indicators. The data covers a 10-year period not only to understand the current situation but to see how laws affecting women’s equality of oppor tunity have evolved over time. The index assesses economic rights at milestones spanning the arc of a woman’s working life such as the ability to move freely; starting a job; getting paid; legal capacity within marriage; having children; running a business; managing assets; and getting a pension. The Philippines received a score of 100 in starting a job, getting paid, and running a business. The starting a job indicator analyzed laws affecting women’s decisions to enter the labor market; getting paid, laws affecting occupational segregation and the gender wage gap; and running a business, constraints to women starting and running businesses. “[Some] 22 economies reformed to remove restrictions on women’s work, reducing the likelihood that women are kept out of working in certain sectors of the economy. Of these, Bulgaria; Croatia; Kiribati; the Philippines; Poland; and Taiwan, China, removed all job restrictions on women,” the World Bank said.

Lowest scores THE country received its lowest scores of 60 in getting married and having children. Getting married focused on the legal constraints related to marriage, while having children examined laws affecting women’s work after pregnancy. The country scored 80 in managing assets, as well as 75 in the indicators on going places and getting a pension. Managing assets examined gender differences in property and inheritance law while going places measured constraints on women’s freedom of movement, while

line with maintaining price and financial stability.” The BSP also reported that bank lending during the month tracked the slow pace of expansion of cash liquidity. The 15.3-percent growth in bank loans recorded in January was slower than the 15.7-percent posted in December. Data from the BSP showed that loans for production activities still comprise the bulk of the banks’ aggregate loan portfolio at 88.6 percent of total. The growth in this type of loans was driven primarily by increased lending in the wholesale and retail trade sectors, repair of motor vehicles and motorcycles, financial and insurance activities, manufacturing, real estate, electricity, gas, steam and air-conditioning supply, and construction. BSP figures indicated that bank lending declined in the professional, scientific and technical activities by 13.2 percent. Similarly, the growth of loans for household consumption was slower in January at 12.7 percent, from the 13.6-percent expansion recorded in December. The BSP said the decline in credit-card loans and motor vehicles, as well as the contraction in salary-based general-purpose consumption loans offset the expansion in other types of household loans during the month. getting a pension assessed laws affecting the size of a woman’s pension. “Progress over the last 10 years in the areas measured by the index has been significant. During this time, the global average has risen from 70 to 75. 131 economies have made 274 reforms to laws and regulations that improve women’s economic inclusion,” the World Bank said.

Sexual harassment “[SOME] 35 countries implemented legal protections against sexual harassment at work, protecting nearly 2 billion more women than a decade ago. [Around] 22 economies removed restrictions on women’s work, reducing the likelihood that women are kept out of working in certain sectors of the economy. And 13 economies introduced laws mandating equal remuneration for work of equal value,” it added. The World Bank said East Asia and the Pacific had the second-highest increase in the index, rising to 70.73 from 64.80, and second-highest percentage of economies enacting reforms, with 84 percent. This was largely due to the 38 reforms in the region. Around nine economies in the region reformed in the category of getting married by introducing domestic violence legislation. China, Singapore and Vietnam were among eight economies of the region that introduced paid paternity leave. The six economies that had perfect scores of 100 meant they give women and men equal legal rights in the measured areas. The World Bank said that a decade ago, no economy could make that claim. Under this index, economies that conducted reforms experienced bigger increases in the percentage of women working overall, leading to women’s economic empowerment. Despite these efforts, women in many parts of the world still face discriminatory laws and regulations at every point in their working life. Around 56 countries‚spanning all regions and income levels—enacted no reforms at all to improve women’s equality of opportunity over the 10year period. The pace of reform was the slowest in the category of managing assets —examining gender differences in property rights.

Companies BusinessMirror

Editor: Efleda P. Campos

SMIC 2018 net income grows 13% to ₧37.1B

By VG Cabuag

@villygc

M Investments Corp. (SMIC) on Thursday said its income last year grew 13 percent to P37.1 billion from the previous year's P32.9 billion mainly on the good performance of its core businesses of shopping-mall operation, property development and banking. Consolidated revenues rose 13 percent to P449.8 billion, from P397.9 billion the previous year. Property accounted for 41 percent of total earnings, with banks comprising 38 percent and retail 21 percent. “Our very good results in 2018 were driven by all three core businesses—retail, banking and prop-

erty—each of which delivered strong revenue growth and strong earnings growth. We remain optimistic about the economic environment and growth opportunities for the group in 2019,” SM President Frederic C. DyBuncio said. Operations under SM Retail Inc., which consists of nonfood and food stores, reported a 12-percent growth

in revenues to P335.6 billion from P299.2 billion in 2017. Net income grew at a slower pace at 8 percent to P11.3 billion from P10.4 billion the previous year. Its department store opened four branches in new shopping malls in Urdaneta, Telebastagan, Legazpi and Valenzuela. Total gross selling areas of all 63 department stores in 2018 stood at 797,740 square meters (sq m). The food group, which includes SM-branded supermarket, hypermarket and Savemore, Alfamart and WalterMart, added 210 new stores in 2018. By the end of 2018, SM Retail had a total of 2,328 outlets, comprising 63 department stores, 1,383 specialty retail outlets, 56 supermarkets, 53 hypermarkets and 195 Savemore, 52 WalterMart and 526 Alfamart stores. A total of 335 outlets were added in 2018 across the retail- business portfolio. SM Prime Holdings Inc. posted

a consolidated net income growth of 17 percent last year to P32.2 billion from the previous year. SM Prime has 72 malls in the Philippines offering 8.3 million sq m of gross floor area (GFA) and seven malls in China with 1.3 million sq m of GFA as of end 2018. The residential group, led by SM Development Corp., reported a revenue growth of 22 percent to P36.5 billion in 2018. SMDC’s reservation sales grew by 25 percent to P72.3 billion in 2018. The strong sales take-up came from projects such as Shore 3 Residences in the Mall of Asia Complex in Pasay, Fame Residences in Mandaluyong and Bloom Residences in Parañaque. Meanwhile, BDO Unibank Inc. posted a net income of P32.7 billion for the year, up 17 percent from the previous year. China Banking Corp. reported net income growth of 7 percent to P8.1 billion in 2018.

Phoenix Petroleum to raise $300-M perpetual bonds By Lenie Lectura

@llectura

HOENIX Petroleum Philippines Inc. plans to raise $300 million through the issuance of dollar-denominated perpetual bonds mainly to refinance its working capital. The fuel retailer on Thursday said its board approved the planned issuance of up to $300 million, which shall be listed at the Singapore Exchange “for purposes of refinancing the working capital of the company and for general corporate purposes.” Of the amount, $285 million will be utilized as working capital. Separately, Phoenix will hold a series of roadshows here and abroad to attract investors. It will tap Australia New Zealand Ltd. (ANZ) as sole global coordi-

Cirtek to launch buyback program

AGUNA-BASED Cirtek Holdings Philippines Inc. on Thursday launched a share buyback program to improve its share price. “Returns to shareholders is one of Cirtek’s key objectives,” company Vice Chairman and President Roberto Juanchito Dispo said. Dispo said the company will “carefully consider” the timing and method of the repurchases, but aimed to carry them out as soon as possible. “Timing and size of buyback is still being evaluated, assessed and will be subject to board approval,” the company said in a statement. The company’s share price was last traded at P29.80 and its price was down for most of 2018. For the three quarters of 2018, the company said its net income doubled for the three quarters of the year to $5.52 million from last year’s $2.77 million on strong revenue contribution of its US unit. Revenues for the nine months rose 30 percent to $88.47 million, from last year’s $67.91 million, as it saw sales increase across all business units. Revenue contribution from Quintel was $47.5 million, while revenue contribution from its antenna manufacturing business before consolidation was at $39.8 million. “The strong year-to-date operating performance of the group validates the group’s overall strategy. We will continue to invest and focus on high-growth spaces, optimize the group’s strong research and development capabilities to deliver innovative and leading-edge products and solutions to our customers, while at the same time continually implementing cost-improvement measures,” Cirtek Chairman Jerry Liu said in a statement. VG Cabuag

nator, and ING NV Bank and UBS Group AG as joint lead manager and bookrunners to arrange a series of fixed-income investos meetings in Manila, Hong Kong and Singapore starting today. The oil firm recorded its strongest revenue and earnings yet in 2018, with P2.77 billion in net income, up 82 percent from a year ago, and P88.61 billion in revenue, an increase of 99 percent from 2017. The company’s strong performance was driven by record volume from new businesses and sustained strength in its core fuels business. The oil firm also reported that Autoworx Plus, a car-servicing shop, opened its first branch at the Phoenix gas station along West Service Road in Muntinlupa City on Thursday. Aside from being conveniently

located in a Phoenix gas station, Autoworx also offers automotive products, and is even equipped with its own FamilyMart outlet where customers may purchase food and drinks. Clients can also pay their bills, load or credit card through the Posible digital payment device available at the FamilyMart counter. Autoworx Plus was established in partnership with Michelin Tires, Denso, Motolite Battery, Bendix, Tire Asia and Alabang Parts Center to provide new and high-quality car parts, tires and accessories, while service-technician training is provided by Don Bosco Technical Institute in Makati and Canlubang. Phoenix lubricants are also available for purchase at the shop. The car-servicing shop aims to serve motorists as a one-stop auto-

motive facility equipped to handle a whole range of car-care needs. It offers light to medium car repairs and maintenance, such as oil change, engine tune-up, brake servicing, clutch and transmission servicing, under-chassis repair, suspension repair, wheel alignment, wheel balancing, tire rotation, bulb and light checkup, electrical servicing, vulcanizing, air condition repair, auto detailing, car body wash, and under-chassis wash. “We want to provide motorists exceptional service and comfort with our range of outstanding carservicing facilities. For further convenience, customers also enjoy easy access to complementing products and services found in the gas station and convenience store on-site,” Autoworx Plus Business Development Manager Chiqui Bagano said.

Security Bank, China Bank register net incomes of above ₧8 billion in 2018

OCAL financial institutions Security Bank Corp. and China Banking Corp. reported in filings with the Philippine Stock Exchange that their net income both breached the P8-billion mark in 2018. Security Bank posted P8.6 billion in net income in 2018, 16 percent lower than its net income in 2017. The bank blamed the 85 percent decrease in its trading gains and the 47 percent increase in their provision for income taxes as the culprits behind the lower net income during the year. Its interest income from financial investments was also lower by 11 percent, or P1.2 billion, mainly due to a lower level of investment securities at amortized cost. Net interest income, meanwhile, grew

30 percent as customer loans and deposits increased from P3.6 billion in 2017 to P15.7 billion in 2018. “This was driven by the continued expansion of consumer loans and low-cost deposits. Consumer loans grew 47 percent, while low-cost deposits increased 15 percent,” Security Bank said on Thursday. Consumer loans now account for 20 percent of Security Bank’s total loan portfolio versus the 16-percent share a year ago. Service charges, fees and commissions increased by 26 percent to P2.9 billion as driven by credit card, bancassurance, loan fees and deposit charges. China Bank, meanwhile, posted a net income of P8.1 billion for 2018, up 7 percent from its net income

in 2017. China Bank attributed the stronger profit in 2018 to the expansion of its core businesses. Fee-based revenues excluding trading gains grew 16 percent. The growth in revenues from service fees, charges, commissions and the sale of acquired assets was tempered by the expected decline in trading and foreign-exchange gains, the bank said. The bank’s net-interest income grew 17 percent, while both its consumer and corporate loans rose by double digits for the year. “We are gratified that we are able to sustain improvements in our profitability even as our expansion and strategic initiatives remain on track,” China Bank President Willian Whang said. Bianca Cuaresma

Holcim 2018 income falls 7% to P2.5B on sluggish sales, high cost

EMENT manufacturer Holcim Philippines Inc. on Thursday said its income last year fell 7 percent to P2.5 billion from the previous year’s P2.7 billion, but its strong fourth-quarter performance helped narrow the income decline it experienced throughout the year. Holcim said it had higher interest expenses from short-term loans last year to fund its expansion projects. “Our commercial initiatives were key to growing our business and allowed us to take full benefit from the robust construction sector which was one of the economy’s drivers

last year and over the medium-term. In 2018 we faced higher production and financing expenses, but we successfully contained their impact on our financial performance through initiatives that emphasized operational excellence and cost prudence,” said John Stull, the company’s president and CEO. For the fourth quarter alone, the company’s income more than doubled to P804.58 million, from the previous P389.31 million. Sales for the period were slightly higher at P8.35 billion, from the previous year's P8.12 billion. For the full year, it had revenues of P35.6

billion, a mere 3-percent increase from the previous year’s P34.74 billion, driven by strong public and private construction. “[The year] 2018 was an important year for Holcim Philippines in laying the groundwork to strengthen our company in a challenging business environment. We were able to deliver strong results in the fourth quarter and we believe we have created strong ground to perform in 2019. We are motivated to build on our successes in 2018 to better support national development and deliver strong returns to our shareholders,” Stull said. VG Cabuag

Friday, March 1, 2019

MPTC breaks ground for connector road linking north, south expressways By Lorenz S. Marasigan @lorenzmarasigan

UESDAY saw Metro Pacific Tollways Corp. (MPTC) breaking ground for the connector road that will connect both the northern and southern expressways, and inaugurating a segment of the North Luzon Expressway (Nlex). While it is two months ahead of its new target date of construction, the P23.3-billion Connector Road has been delayed for more than half a decade now due to technical and implementation structure issues. The groundbreaking ceremonies marked the official start of construction of the connector road, which will take about two years to finish. The road will essentially connect the South Luzon Expressway (Slex) to Nlex via Skyway Stage 3, spanning 8 kilometers and passing through Segment 10 in C3 Road and Santa Mesa in Manila. Upon completion, this toll road is expected to benefit 35,000 vehicles per day, serving as an alternative route for trucks during truck ban, while providing alternate access to and from the ports of Manila, and airports of the capital and Clark. The Manuel V. Pangilinan-led company also inaugurated the Nlex Harbor Link Segment 10, a 5.65-kilometer elevated expressway traversing Nlex from MacArthur Highway in Karuhatan, Valenzuela City, passing through Malabaon City and C-3 Road in Caloocan. This road is expected to reduce bottlenecks in Metro Manila by reducing the number of vehicles passing through some secondary roads. It is expected to benefit an initial 30,000 vehicles per day. It is also expected to improve accessibility between Metro Manila and Northern Luzon as it con-

nects the ports of the capital to the expressway, facilitating more efficient delivery of cargoes from the ports of Manila and vice-versa. The next phase of this project is the 2.6-km section from C3 Road, Caloocan City to R10, Navotas City. “The Nlex Harbor Link Segment 10 and Nlex Connector are just some of Metro Pacific’s expansion projects geared towards providing further convenience to motorists and bringing more opportunities in nearby cities and provinces,” MPTC President Rodrigo E. Franco said on Thursday. Both projects were adopted into the Duterte administration’s “Build, Build, Build” program, its flagship infrastructure thrust aimed at improving the quality of infrastructure in the Philippines. Manuel V. Pangilinan, who chairs Metro Pacific Investments Corp., noted that the key to completing projects, such as the Nlex Harbor Link Segment 10 is government support, especially in terms of right-of-way acquisition. “Apart from our team’s commitment to support the administration’s Build Build Build program, the government’s help in ramping up the acquisition of right-of-way made us deliver this vital infrastructure which aims to bolster development and ease traffic congestion in the country,” he said. Public Works Secretary Mark A. Villar said his group will continue to deliver more vital infrastructure to “bring real change” in to the lives of the Filipino people. “The inauguration of the Nlex Harbor Link Segment 10 and the groundbreaking of the Nlex Connector show the political will of the government and the solid partnership between the public and private sectors,” Nlex Corp. President Luigi L. Bautista noted.

IC chief lauds Eternal Plans for pushing micro pre-need products

NSUR ANCE Commissioner Dennis B. Funa has commended pre-need industry leader Eternal Plans for taking the initiative to offer micro pre-need products to consumers. In a message for the 38th anniversary of Eternal Plans on March 4, Funa praised the company for being the first to offer the prepaid micro pre-need product known as “Life Plan ni Juan.” “The Insurance Commission [IC] is aware that pre-need companies are looking to explore micro pre-need products to offer along with their traditional memorial life, education and pension plans,” Funa said. Industry players, he added, recognize that offering more affordable pre-need products to the low-income sector will be a boost to the industry’s prospects for growth. “We fully support this inclination and we are pleased to note that Eternal Plans is at the forefront of this endeavor,” Funa said. Pre-need products include memorial life, education and pension plans, with life plan as the most popular. The IC has established a framework that will enable pre-need companies to sell these products to low-income groups at more affordable cost. Eternal Plans, the IC chief said, “ has emerged as one of the most committed pre-need companies in the country today….

DENNIS B. FUNA

Overcoming past difficulties and bouncing back towards positive growth by developing and offering innovative and affordable products that can help Filipinos pave the way to a secure future for their families.” Eternal Plans was established by Ambassador Antonio L. Cabangon Chua in 1981 as a provider of pre-need products that meet the basic needs of Filipinos. Founded initially to offer memorial life plan complementing the memorial lot business of its sister company Eternal Gardens, it is one of only three pre-need companies licensed to offer life, pension and education plans. The theme of its 38th anniversary celebration is “Paramihin. Palawakin. Panalo,” to express its resolve to exert more aggressive efforts to move toward full recovery.

Companies BusinessMirror

Friday, March 1, 2019

MUTUAL FUNDS

February 28, 2019

NAV ONE YEAR THREE YEAR FIVE YEAR Y-T-D PER SHARE RETURN* RETURN STOCK FUNDS ALFM GROWTH FUND, INC. -A 263.39 -9.61% 3.19% 2.26% ATRAM ALPHA OPPORTUNITY FUND, INC. -A 1.594 -0.26% 13.6% 4.46% ATRAM PHILIPPINE EQUITY OPPORTUNITY FUND, INC. -A 4.1136 -10.49% 4.7% 1.19% CLIMBS SHARE CAPITAL EQUITY INVESTMENT FUND CORP. -A 0.94 -5.23% N.A. N.A. FIRST METRO CONSUMER FUND ON MSCI PHILS. IMI, INC. -A 0.8571 N.A. N.A. N.A. FIRST METRO SAVE AND LEARN EQUITY FUND,INC. -A 5.5115 -6.55% 3.38% 1.97% MBG EQUITY INVESTMENT FUND, INC. -A 124.07 6.31% N.A. N.A. ONE WEALTHY NATION FUND, INC. -A 0.874 -10.64% -3.64% N.A. PAMI EQUITY INDEX FUND, INC. -A 51.8565 -7.89% 4.42% N.A. PHILAM STRATEGIC GROWTH FUND, INC. -A 542.47 -7.56% 3.24% 1.92% PHILEQUITY DIVIDEND YIELD FUND, INC. -A 1.306 -6.39% 4.74% 5.09% PHILEQUITY FUND, INC. -A 38.5248 -6.59% 5.73% 4.37% PHILEQUITY MSCI PHILIPPINE INDEX FUND, INC. -A,3 1.0294 N.A. N.A. N.A. PHILEQUITY PSE INDEX FUND INC. -A 5.243 -7.82% 5.33% 4.45% PHILIPPINE STOCK INDEX FUND CORP. -A 875.02 -7.71% 5.1% 4.37% SOLDIVO STRATEGIC GROWTH FUND, INC. -A 0.907 -6.16% 3.08% N.A. SUN LIFE PROSPERITY PHILIPPINE EQUITY FUND, INC. -A 4.2865 -6.48% 5.13% 3.2% SUN LIFE PROSPERITY PHILIPPINE STOCK INDEX FUND, INC. -A 1.0066 -8.1% 5.01% N.A. UNITED FUND, INC. -A 3.672 -4.18% 6.71% 3.97% EXCHANGE TRADED FUND FIRST METRO PHIL. EQUITY EXCHANGE TRADED FUND, INC. -A,C,2 116.9817 -7.46% 6.22% 5.47% ATRAM ASIAPLUS EQUITY FUND, INC. -B $1.018 -11.65% 9.1% 1.76% SUN LIFE PROSPERITY WORLD VOYAGER FUND, INC. -A $1.2503 -4.8% N.A. N.A. BALANCED FUNDS PRIMARILY INVESTED IN PESO SECURITIES ATRAM DYNAMIC ALLOCATION FUND, INC. -A 1.7167 -6.62% 0.55% -0.71% ATRAM PHILIPPINE BALANCED FUND, INC. -A 2.3019 -5.84% 2.81% 1.3% FIRST METRO SAVE AND LEARN BALANCED FUND INC. -A 2.6328 -4.55% 0.74% -0.74% GREPALIFE BALANCED FUND CORPORATION -A 1.3519 -6.99% N.A. N.A. NCM MUTUAL FUND OF THE PHILS., INC. -A 1.9053 -3.95% 2.32% 1.88% PAMI HORIZON FUND, INC. -A 3.6256 -6.61% 0.9% 0.82% PHILAM FUND, INC. -A 16.4061 -5.65% 1.13% 0.94% SOLIDARITAS FUND, INC. -A 2.1334 -4.58% 2.45% 2.65% SUN LIFE OF CANADA PROSPERITY BALANCED FUND, INC. -A 3.8137 -4.75% 2.52% 2.01% SUN LIFE PROSPERITY ACHIEVER FUND 2028, INC. -A,D,4 0.9864 N.A. N.A. N.A. SUN LIFE PROSPERITY ACHIEVER FUND 2038, INC. -A,D,4 0.9824 N.A. N.A. N.A. SUN LIFE PROSPERITY ACHIEVER FUND 2048, INC. -A,D,4 0.9816 N.A. N.A. N.A. SUN LIFE PROSPERITY DYNAMIC FUND, INC. -A 0.9637 -4.89% 2.02% N.A. PRIMARILY INVESTED IN FOREIGN CURRENCY SECURITIES COCOLIFE DOLLAR FUND BUILDER, INC. -A $0.03575 1.53% 0.3% 1.61% PAMI ASIA BALANCED FUND, INC. -A $0.9885 -8.46% 5.5% 0.01% SUN LIFE PROSPERITY DOLLAR ADVANTAGE FUND, INC. -A $3.6218 -3.32% 7.12% 2.2% SUN LIFE PROSPERITY DOLLAR WELLSPRING FUND, INC. -A $1.0717 -4.88% N.A. N.A. BOND FUNDS PRIMARILY INVESTED IN PESO SECURITIES ALFM PESO BOND FUND, INC. -A 345.68 2.5% 2.05% 2.07% ATRAM CORPORATE BOND FUND, INC. -A,1 1.8634 -0.26% -0.52% -0.41% COCOLIFE FIXED INCOME FUND, INC. -A 2.9952 5.43% 5.3% 5.27% EKKLESIA MUTUAL FUND INC. -A 2.1485 2.03% 1.49% 1.83% FIRST METRO SAVE AND LEARN FIXED INCOME FUND,INC. -A 2.2266 0.59% 0.27% 0.83% GREPALIFE FIXED INCOME FUND CORP. -A P 1.5944 -1% -0.43% 0.23% PHILAM BOND FUND, INC. -A 3.9217 -1.47% -1.07% 0.32% PHILEQUITY PESO BOND FUND, INC. -A 3.5809 2.55% 1.23% 1.15% SOLDIVO BOND FUND, INC. -A 0.9098 0.01% -0.79% N.A. SUN LIFE OF CANADA PROSPERITY BOND FUND, INC. -A 2.8336 1.75% 1.39% 1.49% SUN LIFE PROSPERITY GS FUND, INC. -A 1.5729 1.36% 1.03% 0.98% PRIMARILY INVESTED IN FOREIGN CURRENCY SECURITIES ALFM DOLLAR BOND FUND, INC. -A $451.68 2.12% 2.16% 2.97% ALFM EURO BOND FUND, INC. -A Є214.9 0.97% 1.4% 1.56% ATRAM TOTAL RETURN DOLLAR BOND FUND, INC. -B $1.1526 3.08% 1.51% 2.13% FIRST METRO SAVE AND LEARN DOLLAR BOND FUND, INC. -A $0.025 0.81% 0.81% N.A. GREPALIFE DOLLAR BOND FUND CORP. -A $1.7002 -1.74% -0.9% 0.9% MAA PRIVILEGE DOLLAR FIXED INCOME FUND, INC. N.S. N.S. N.S. N.S. MAA PRIVILEGE EURO FIXED INCOME F UND, INC. ЄN.S. N.S. N.S. N.S. PAMI GLOBAL BOND FUND, INC -A $1.0518 0.34% -0.99% -2.32% PHILAM DOLLAR BOND FUND, INC. -A $2.2241 2.01% 0.81% 2.72% PHILEQUITY DOLLAR INCOME FUND INC. -A $0.0575768 1.35% 1.06% 1.77% SUN LIFE PROSPERITY DOLLAR ABUNDANCE FUND, INC. -A $2.9363 - 0.36% 0.22% 1.95% MONEY MARKET FUNDS PRIMARILY INVESTED IN PESO SECURITIES ALFM MONEY MARKET FUND, INC. -A 121.83 3.35% 2.08% 1.71% FIRST METRO SAVE AND LEARN MONEY MARKET FUND, INC. -A,5 1.003 N.A. N.A. N.A. PHILAM MANAGED INCOME FUND, INC. -A 1.1871 2.25% 0.87% 0.61% SUN LIFE PROSPERITY MONEY MARKET FUND, INC. -A 1.2265 2.93% 2.39% 1.73% PRIMARILY INVESTED IN FOREIGN CURRENCY SECURITIES SUN LIFE PROSPERITY DOLLAR STARTER FUND, INC. -A $1.0199 1.99% N.A. N.A. * - NAVPS AS OF THE PREVIOUS BANKING DAY ** - NAVPS AS OF TWO BANKING DAYS AGO *** - LISTED IN THE PSE. **** - RE-CLASSIFIED INTO A BALANCED FUND STARTING JANUARY 1, 2017 (FORMERLY GREPALIFE BOND FUND CORP.). ***** - LAUNCH DATE IS NOVEMBER 6, 2017 ****** - LAUNCH DATE IS JANUARY 08, 2018 ******** - RENAMING OF THE FUND WAS APPROVED BY THE SEC LAST APRIL 13, 2018. ********* - BECAME A MEMBER SINCE APRIL 20, 2018. ******* - ADJUSTED DUE TO CASH DIVIDEND ISSUANCE LAST JANUARY 29, 2018

PayMaya expands in North Luzon

By Lorenz S. Marasigan

@lorenzmarasigan

IGITAL payments solutions provider PayMaya Philippines Inc. has expanded its presence in North Luzon, after bringing its cashless-payments solutions to Baguio City for the Panagbenga Festival 2019. Through a partnership with Baguio Flower Festival Foundation Inc. (BFFFI), PayMaya will equip merchants in Baguio with QRbased payments solutions, making Panagbenga Festival 2019 the “first cashless festival of the Philippines.” “This is part of our overall initiative to accelerate cashless ecosystems nationwide. After this, we hope to attract and encourage more merchants and consumers in Baguio City to be part of the cashless movement,” said Butch Conejos Jr., PayMaya channel head for domestic business. He said this project is part of the company’s initiative of build-

ing cashless communities in the country, noting this is in line with the goal of the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas of increasing the share of noncash transactions in the total transactions base in the Philippines to 20 percent in 2020. “The end goal is to empower both merchants and consumers all over Baguio with digital-payment solutions because going ‘cashless’ is more convenient, secure and fast. Soon, more establishments, micro-merchants, and transportation providers in Baguio will begin accepting payments via PayMaya QR, making it a full-fledged cashless community,” Conejos said.

Meralco to provide electricity to remote Quezon island

HE Manila Electric Co. (Meralco) will soon provide electricity to a remote island in Quezon province after it secured board approval to deploy a microgrid system composed of a solar PV-battery-diesel hybrid. The Energy Regulatory Commission (ERC) defines microgrid as a localized grouping of distributed energy sources, loads and storage mechanism that can operate both as part of the central grid or independently as an island. “We just got approval from the board. We already have a hybrid solution with solar panels, batteries and gensets,” Meralco Senior Vice President Alfredo Panlilio said.

The Meralco official said the plan, subject to the approval of the ERC, is for Meralco to install a total of 2.5 megawatts of solar power capacity, combined with battery-energy storage of up to 4.2 MW and diesel-run generating set of 1.9 MW. The rollout will be done in phases. Initially, 1.4 MW of solar panels will be installed. Meralco will also deploy a 2.1-MW lithium-ion battery for an energy-storage system and a 1-MW power-generating set that runs on diesel. “The commercial operation date is end 2019 for the first phase, which will serve 600 households and 10 resorts then we build it up until 2024. It’s a five-year development because there will be resorts to be built there,” Panlilio said. Meralco is expected to provide electricity to 160,000 households upon completion of the fiveyear rollout. The rates that will be charged to consumers are relatively cheaper by half. “Much cheaper than what they are paying now. Maybe, P20 to P22 per kilowatt-hour. It’s a very good solution to address power in Cagbalete. Power in Cagbalete Island is not 24 hours that’s why we opted for hybrid solution composed of solar, battery and genset. Eventually, a few years down the road, when battery storage is cheaper, you might be able to phase out gensets to provide more storage,” Panlilio said. Meralco would need to seek approval from the ERC to implement the hybrid solution and charge rates accordingly. The utility firm is expected to file its application next week. Meralco utility economics head Lawrence Fernandez said separately the company has a pilot microgrid project in the same island. “Yes, this is different. What we have now is the pilot project. The board discussion is for the planned expansion, but also in Cagbalete Island,” Fernandez said. Under the pilot microgrid project, Meralco will install a 60-kWp solar PV as the main power plant, paired with a 150-kWh lithium-ion battery energy-storage system that will charge during the day and provide electricity at night. Lenie Lectura

Editor: Efleda P. Campos

PSE STOCK QUOTATIONS

February 28, 2019

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

BDO UNIBANK 127.6 130 134 134 127.6 127.6 3342030 430128931 BANK PH ISLANDS 84 84.2 87 87 84 84 2209800 186151466 CHINABANK 27.65 27.7 27.65 28 27.5 27.65 59000 1637095 EAST WEST BANK 12.52 12.6 12.78 12.94 12.52 12.52 591800 7477508 METROBANK 76 76.05 77.95 77.95 75.05 76 8047140 609823630 PB BANK 13.96 14 14 14 13.96 13.96 44700 624912 PHIL NATL BANK 49.9 50 51.3 52 49.9 50 387300 19618617.5 PSBANK 58.8 59.3 59.9 59.9 59.1 59.3 1270 75451.5 PHILTRUST 115.1 121 114.5 121 114.5 121 210 24760 RCBC 26.45 26.75 26.6 26.75 26.5 26.5 190600 5057055 SECURITY BANK 165.8 166 172.2 173 164.8 165.8 784540 131110842 UNION BANK 61.75 62.9 63 63 61.6 61.65 6950 428630.5 BRIGHT KINDLE 1.37 1.39 1.41 1.41 1.39 1.39 191000 267430 BDO LEASING 2.24 2.28 2.29 2.29 2.25 2.25 7000 15940 COL FINANCIAL 18.2 18.24 18.1 18.24 18 18.24 139300 2524540 FIRST ABACUS 0.6 0.65 0.66 0.66 0.6 0.65 103000 62700 FERRONOUX HLDG 4.36 4.48 4.48 4.48 4.36 4.48 14000 62360 IREMIT 1.46 1.52 1.44 1.52 1.44 1.52 116000 175190 MEDCO HLDG 0.46 0.48 0.46 0.465 0.46 0.465 30000 13850 NTL REINSURANCE 1.03 1.04 1.07 1.09 1.04 1.04 2380000 2534440 PHIL STOCK EXCH 185 185.5 185 185 184.2 185 400 73968 SUN LIFE 1810 1830 1820 1820 1810 1810 390 707150 VANTAGE 1.13 1.15 1.13 1.15 1.13 1.13 71000 80250 INDUSTRIAL ALSONS CONS 1.48 1.49 1.52 1.52 1.48 1.49 2697000 4000150 ABOITIZ POWER 34.85 35.75 35.95 36.15 34.85 34.85 2620700 92467885 BASIC ENERGY 0.24 0.245 0.247 0.247 0.237 0.245 1940000 468630 FIRST GEN 21 21.25 21.25 21.3 20.8 21.25 2703700 57019475 FIRST PHIL HLDG 74.75 74.8 74.7 75.1 74.7 74.75 212330 15883153 MERALCO 367.6 368.4 379 380.4 367.6 367.6 614820 229842690 MANILA WATER 27 27.25 27.05 27.3 27 27 1015300 27519555 PETRON 6.67 6.69 6.73 6.73 6.65 6.67 4418100 29475061 PETROENERGY 3.8 3.82 3.8 3.84 3.8 3.8 96000 365720 PHINMA ENERGY 1.29 1.3 1.32 1.32 1.29 1.29 10655000 13863800 PHX PETROLEUM 11.8 11.96 12.1 12.1 11.74 11.8 220200 2617808 PILIPINAS SHELL 47.95 48.95 47.5 48.95 47.5 48.95 448800 21804360 SPC POWER 6.4 6.48 6.4 6.5 6.39 6.4 400200 2561873 AGRINURTURE 16 16.04 16.5 16.5 16 16.04 293200 4719708 BOGO MEDELLIN 91 98 90.15 98.25 90.15 98.25 50 4669.5 CNTRL AZUCARERA 16.52 16.98 16.9 16.9 16.5 16.52 23800 393626 CENTURY FOOD 15.3 15.88 15.68 15.92 15.3 15.3 158000 2430592 DEL MONTE 6.4 6.49 6.4 6.5 6.4 6.4 24300 155740 DNL INDUS 11.64 11.68 11.7 11.74 11.64 11.68 2170700 25354510 EMPERADOR 7.6 7.63 7.56 7.69 7.56 7.6 135600 1030005 SMC FOODANDBEV 98.2 104 100 104 97 104 2790330 288616847 ALLIANCE SELECT 1.02 1.03 1.04 1.04 1.02 1.03 4712000 4836120 GINEBRA 26.3 26.85 26.4 26.4 26.4 26.4 5000 132000 JOLLIBEE 307.8 309 309.8 311 307.8 307.8 653140 201287064 LIBERTY FLOUR 52.5 55 55 55 55 55 20 1100 MACAY HLDG 10.8 10.96 10.68 11.86 10.52 10.96 63000 681862 MAXS GROUP 12.22 12.24 12.28 12.3 12.1 12.22 115700 1415526 MG HLDG 0.199 0.205 0.199 0.199 0.199 0.199 80000 15920 PEPSI COLA 1.4 1.42 1.45 1.46 1.4 1.41 4253000 6067770 SHAKEYS PIZZA 12.44 12.48 12.42 12.46 12.42 12.44 1218400 15156916 ROXAS AND CO 1.89 1.9 1.89 1.9 1.82 1.9 481000 882860 RFM CORP 4.65 4.71 4.71 4.71 4.65 4.65 5069000 23821600 SWIFT FOODS 0.13 0.132 0.13 0.13 0.129 0.13 980000 126840 UNIV ROBINA 136.1 137.1 146.5 148 136.1 136.1 1975430 273485016 VITARICH 1.66 1.67 1.68 1.69 1.66 1.67 1801000 3009220 VICTORIAS 2.71 2.73 2.8 2.8 2.71 2.71 115000 317640 CEMEX HLDG 2.38 2.39 2.46 2.46 2.36 2.38 7875000 18818570 EAGLE CEMENT 15.9 16 16 16 15.84 16 428900 6825272 EEI CORP 8.68 8.74 9.02 9.25 8.65 8.74 3707500 33039213 HOLCIM 9.32 9.36 9.48 9.6 9.3 9.32 1047400 9888200 MEGAWIDE 19.92 20 19.4 20.5 19.4 20 13257300 262700767 PHINMA 8.84 9.2 8.89 8.89 8.88 8.88 1200 10666 TKC METALS 1.05 1.06 1.09 1.09 1.05 1.05 184000 195010 VULCAN INDL 1.3 1.31 1.28 1.33 1.28 1.31 2545000 3337270 CROWN ASIA 1.91 1.92 1.9 2 1.9 1.92 1351000 2657670 LMG CHEMICALS 4.38 4.55 4.39 4.39 4.39 4.39 2000 8780 MABUHAY VINYL 3.63 3.8 3.9 3.9 3.6 3.83 192000 744830 PRYCE CORP 5.99 6 5.97 6.01 5.97 6 30000 179412 GREENERGY 3.49 3.5 3.5 3.55 3.3 3.5 20029000 68849160 INTEGRATED MICR 12.78 13.08 13.06 13.08 12.74 13.08 828700 10775190 IONICS 1.71 1.75 1.7 1.75 1.7 1.75 53000 90350 PANASONIC 5.88 5.92 5.98 5.98 5.92 5.92 41600 246368 SFA SEMICON 1.36 1.37 1.37 1.38 1.36 1.37 77000 105170 CIRTEK HLDG 29.15 29.8 29.9 29.95 29.05 29.8 76900 2292745 HOLDING & FRIMS ABACORE CAPITAL 0.72 0.73 0.71 0.73 0.7 0.72 9985000 7083510 ASIABEST GROUP 21.05 21.3 22 22 21.05 21.05 100300 2121925 AYALA CORP 925 940 940 942 925 925 634450 591094610 ABOITIZ EQUITY 61 61.6 63.4 63.4 61 61 2609410 159845443.5 ALLIANCE GLOBAL 13.7 13.86 14.1 14.2 13.7 13.7 12851600 177133132 ANSCOR 6.53 6.57 6.6 6.61 6.4 6.57 198300 1295558 ANGLO PHIL HLDG 0.78 0.8 0.78 0.81 0.78 0.78 141000 110010 ATN HLDG A 1.42 1.43 1.4 1.45 1.4 1.43 6880000 9839130 ATN HLDG B 1.42 1.43 1.43 1.48 1.43 1.43 4571000 6581600 COSCO CAPITAL 7.83 7.85 7.85 7.88 7.8 7.85 1688000 13227278 DMCI HLDG 11.4 11.46 12.04 12.06 11.4 11.4 13125900 153888414 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9.7 5117500 50253877 EMPIRE EAST 0.51 0.52 0.52 0.52 0.51 0.52 1330000 690950 EVER GOTESCO 0.128 0.137 0.131 0.131 0.127 0.129 8590000 1098240 FILINVEST LAND 1.48 1.5 1.55 1.56 1.48 1.48 19416000 29337920 GLOBAL ESTATE 1.25 1.26 1.26 1.3 1.25 1.26 709000 898230 8990 HLDG 12.16 12.26 12.2 12.3 12.06 12.26 2265600 27696906 PHIL INFRADEV 2.1 2.11 2.1 2.14 2.1 2.11 1841000 3886420 CITY AND LAND 0.83 0.89 0.84 0.89 0.82 0.89 130000 108690 MEGAWORLD 5.17 5.19 5.16 5.2 5.11 5.17 19255500 99533780 MRC ALLIED 0.42 0.425 0.43 0.43 0.425 0.425 8560000 3647400 PRIMEX CORP 2.84 2.9 2.83 2.9 2.83 2.84 83000 237350 ROBINSONS LAND 23.4 23.45 23.4 23.45 22.9 23.4 4562800 106080705 PHIL REALTY 0.47 0.48 0.47 0.47 0.47 0.47 330000 155100 ROCKWELL 1.99 2.01 2.02 2.02 1.99 1.99 40000 80770 SHANG PROP 3.12 3.15 3.12 3.13 3.12 3.13 7000 21860 STA LUCIA LAND 1.45 1.46 1.5 1.5 1.42 1.46 449000 657050 SM PRIME HLDG 38.35 38.4 39 39.35 38 38.35 15471500 593275730 STARMALLS 6.75 6.8 6.9 6.97 6.74 6.8 716100 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1000 3230 PRMIERE HORIZON 1.28 1.29 1.27 1.31 1.25 1.29 24086000 31028080 SBS PHIL CORP 8.35 8.8 8.52 8.53 8.35 8.35 135300 1141699 MINING & OIL ATOK 12.8 13.2 13.6 13.78 13 13.1 15900 210056 APEX MINING 1.54 1.55 1.56 1.56 1.54 1.54 883000 1369510 ABRA MINING 0.002 0.0022 0.0021 0.0021 0.0021 0.0021 694000000 1457400 ATLAS MINING 2.91 2.92 2.96 2.96 2.91 2.92 411000 1208450 BENGUET A 1.31 1.4 1.35 1.35 1.35 1.35 1000 1350 COAL ASIA HLDG 0.3 0.315 0.3 0.3 0.3 0.3 20000 6000 CENTURY PEAK 2.19 2.2 2.2 2.2 2.19 2.19 196000 429860 DIZON MINES 7.8 8.05 8.01 8.04 7.79 7.79 5100 39867 FERRONICKEL 1.47 1.48 1.52 1.52 1.48 1.48 1967000 2950770 GEOGRACE 0.245 0.25 0.245 0.255 0.239 0.245 4580000 1111100 LEPANTO A 0.125 0.128 0.127 0.128 0.126 0.126 1950000 248280 MANILA MINING A 0.0091 0.0095 0.0091 0.0091 0.0091 0.0091 5000000 45500 MANILA MINING B 0.0092 0.0096 0.0093 0.0093 0.0093 0.0093 20000000 186000 MARCVENTURES 1.06 1.1 1.08 1.12 1.06 1.11 75000 82730 NIHAO 1.06 1.1 1.09 1.1 1.05 1.09 21000 22760 NICKEL ASIA 2.75 2.79 2.87 2.87 2.73 2.75 2395000 6656030 OMICO CORP 0.61 0.62 0.65 0.65 0.62 0.62 265000 164340 ORNTL PENINSULA 0.95 0.96 0.97 0.97 0.96 0.96 820000 788890 PX MINING 4.02 4.03 4.13 4.13 3.99 4.02 2664000 10755590 SEMIRARA MINING 22.4 22.5 23 23 22.3 22.5 815300 18387145 UNITED PARAGON 0.0081 0.0084 0.0085 0.0085 0.0085 0.0085 18000000 153000 ORNTL PETROL A 0.012 0.013 0.012 0.013 0.012 0.013 10600000 127700 ORNTL PETROL B 0.012 0.013 0.012 0.012 0.012 0.012 104200000 1250400 PHILODRILL 0.012 0.013 0.012 0.013 0.012 0.013 191000000 2387100 PHINMA PETRO 3.22 3.3 3.21 3.3 3.21 3.22 32000 103080 PXP ENERGY 14.92 14.94 15.1 15.18 14.9 14.94 924900 13861142

PREFFERED HOUSE PREF A AC PREF B2 DD PREF SMC FB PREF 2 FGEN PREF G FPH PREF C GTCAP PREF B LR PREF SMC PREF 2B SMC PREF 2C SMC PREF 2E SMC PREF 2F SMC PREF 2H SMC PREF 2I

94.85 481.6 97 967 102 450 899 0.99 75.1 76.6 73 74.4 72.2 72.8

PHIL. DEPOSITARY RECEIPTS ABS HLDG PDR

20.15 1.91

SMALL & MEDIUM ENTERPRISES ITALPINAS 4.79 XURPAS 1.47

115.5

-834500 -160975295 -66704360 -61315018 -745638 3113950 3201978 -63791380 108584 -36557630 123600 -79319528 -1619294 -5817326 68843520 40880 -1700600 -254115580 5805107 1719999.9997 -141213145 -48000 -243260 24000 -177500 1980310 14103219 -571480 90200 -14367490 8890 -1104508 1680 9240 -6984188 204000 19286200 -21900 -239440875 705378 -133909336\ -29411985 -18141680 72000 38700 -35288 64000 75040 -112500 -4164531.5 616314 281781894 11034695.9996 36630 143980 -29920 177700 -52950 -96010328 29730 -44411 413600 -2830064 1580200 16630140 14843288 1448368 4883610 5670752 9268 160340 3230 703030 169200 210000 644140 36000 -168370 74620 -5555675 -1042768

96 490 97 970 104 450.2 900 0.99 75.45 76.6 73.35 74.5 72.3 72.8

96 490 97 970 104 450.2 900 0.99 75.45 76.7 73.35 74.5 73.45 73

96 490 97 966 104 450 900 0.99 75.45 76.6 73.35 74.5 72.2 72.8

96 490 97 966 104 450 900 0.99 75.45 76.6 73.35 74.5 72.2 73

1500 310 3230 50 80 40 40 30000 120 73360 1000 11660 39870 12500

144000 151900 313310 48340 8320 18004 36000 29700 9054 5619542 73350 868670 2881026.5 912000

-97000 29700 -

20.7

20.15

25000

503750

1.95

1.9

1.95

1.9

1.91

117000

223070

4.82 1.48

4.8 1.46

4.84 1.5

4.77 1.44

4.79 1.48

230000 9990000

1102830 14768900

-847260

EXHANGE TRADE FUNDS FIRST METRO ETF

-75000 -59366140 41307225 -1213112 -34084044 7863080 11241492 30640 -1388390 8400 8141915 6400 -621982 -1742504 12800 13333492 -285936 -2478451.5 133600 -61493920 -95472 -3173710 -4976 27750 -23821600 -45827708 -246860 8130 3142280 3669822 -1404550 -3516654 15978225.9996 -5280 1813760 -101400 10289830 2723966 -364625

96 490 98 980 104 476.8 900 1 75.4 76.65 73.35 74.5 73.5 73.5

WARRANTS LR WARRANT

-107742293 -79586965.5 -27950 -3495458 -49697545 6759823 -15418.5 484970 -27042292 -298887.5 1851630 -259550 181000 -

115.7

117

117.5

115.7

8900

1033412

3501

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

The World

US says India-Pakistan escalation risks become ‘unacceptably high’

HE US has urged India and Pakistan to refrain from further military action as international pressure builds on the long-standing rivals to de-escalate the most serious flare-up in decades that’s seen fighter jets from both nations shot down. “The potential risks associated with further military action by either side are unacceptably high for both countries, their neighbors and the international community,” said a White House National Securit y Council official who spoke on condition of anonymity citing the sensitivity of the matter. President Donald J. Trump was more optimistic, and credited the US with helping to ease tensions between the South Asian rivals. “We have, I think, reasonably attractive news from Pakistan and India,” Trump said on Thursday. “They’ve been going at it, and we’ve been involved in trying to have them stop.” India has demanded the “immediate and safe return” of a fighter pilot captured in Pakistan on Wednesday, while Pakistan Prime Minister Imran Khan called for talks with India. “Better sense should prevail,” Khan said in an address to the nation. “We should sit down and talk.” India’s Prime Minister Narendra Modi broke 24 hours of silence on Thursday to address the crisis with Pakistan, telling workers from his ruling Bharatiya Janata Party: “India will fight as one, India will win as one.” “What we have seen is certainly an escalation, but I thought that Prime Minister Imran Khan’s call for dialogue was something that Prime Minister Modi will find very difficult to ignore,” said Gary Samore, former White House official and arms control negotiator, on Bloomberg TV. “There is a lot of international pressure on both India and Pakistan to avoid further clashes.” Modi is just weeks from a hard-fought election, and with nationalist fervor in India running high, he’s under significant pressure to respond. His party has been at pains to point out the prime minister’s “strong and decisive leadership.” “How much political leverage India gets out of this comes from Pakistan’s re s p o n s e,” s a i d S a n d e e p S h a s t r i , a politic al science professor and pro vice chancellor at Jain University in Bangalore. Referring to India’s air strikes on Tuesday, he said: “I wouldn’t be surprised if this becomes a centerpiece of the BJP’s election campaign.” Pakistan said its fighter jets had shot down two Indian aircraft. One fell

inside Pakistan-controlled Kashmir, and the other crashed on India’s side of the Line of Control, said Military Spokesman Asif Ghafoor. Videos are circulating on social media that claim to show the arrested Indian pilot in Pakistan’s custody. In one, the pilot states his name, service number and religion. India said Pakistan had attempted to target military installations in response to New Delhi’s attack on Tuesday on a Jaish-eMohammed training camp. “The Pakistani aircraft was seen by ground forces falling from the sky on the Pakistan side,” Foreign Ministry Spokesman Ravessh Kumar said at a briefing in New Delhi. Ghafoor, in turn, denied a Pakistani jet had been lost. “This is unprecedented territory—we haven’t had tit-for-tat air strikes between India and Pakistan since the 1971 war,” said Anit Mukherjee, a former Indian Army major and assistant professor at the S. Rajaratnam School of International Studies in Singapore, by phone. “We don’t know what will come from this. But it seems like Pakistan has given a response. And there have been casualties—captures, deaths.”

Diplomatic outreach

EARLIER on Wednesday it appeared the bitter rivals were looking to lower the temperature with renewed diplomatic outreach. Pakistan sought help from the United Nations to de-escalate the situation. India reached out to countries including the US, UK, China, France and Russia, and urged the government in Islamabad to take action against terror groups based in the country. China’s Foreign Minister Wang Yi said there was concern over the growing tensions and urged the two nations to start talks, according to comments posted on the ministry’s web site. “China is willing to play a constructive role.” The last two days of air strikes represent the worst escalation since 2001, when Pakistan and India moved ballistic missiles and troops to their border following an attack on parliament in New Delhi that was also blamed on Jaish-e-Mohammad. India and Pakistan have fought three major wars since partition and independence in 1947. “They will not allow things to go out of control because both countries are facing tremendous pressure from global powers including China and the US,” Rashid Ahmed Khan, head of politics and international relations department at University of Central Punjab, Lahore said by phone. “There will be a controlled and managed escalation.” Bloomberg News

Survey: China factory activity sinks to 3-year low in February

EIJING—Chinese manufacturing activity fell to a three-year low in February amid a tariff battle with Washington and weak global demand, a survey showed on Thursday. The monthly purchasing managers’ index by the government statistics bureau and an industry group fell 0.3 points to 49.2 on a 100-point scale on which numbers below 50 indicate activity contracting. That was the lowest level since February 2016. Chinese manufacturers have been hur t by President Donald J. Trump’s punitive tariffs in a fight over Beijing’s technology plans and cooling consumer demand at home and abroad. Tr u m p s a i d w e e k e n d t a l k s i n Washington made progress but his chief negotiator, Trade Representative Robert Lighthizer, indicated on Wednesday there are significant differences between the two sides. “Much still needs to be done,” Lighthizer said during an appearance before a US House of Representatives panel. He mentioned Washington’s desire for an enforcement mechanism with penalties if Beijing fails to carry out its commitments but gave no other details. Co m p a n i e s a re w a r y o f m a k i n g investments and other long-term decisions without a formal settlement, economists say. “Unless the trade war truly turns into an extended truce, the weakening trend may not end quickly,” Irene Pang of ING

said in a report. Any US-Chinese deal is unlikely until at least the end of March, so “another month or two of bad PMI data” are likely, Pang said. Measures of output and employment declined, according to the National Bureau of Statistics and the Federation of Logistics and Purchasing. The weakness in trade and manufacturing has increased pressure on the ruling Communist Party to resolve its fight with Washington. Last year’s economic growth declined to a three-decade low of 6.6 percent and Thursday’s report adds to signs activity might be weakening further. Trump is pressing Beijing to roll back plans for state-led creation of global competitors in robotics and other technology that Washington, Europe, Japan and other trading partners say violate China’s marketopening obligations. China’s global exports rebounded in January from a contraction but sales to the United States fell 2.4 percent from a year earlier, reflecting the impact of Trump’s tariff hikes. The trade battle has rattled Chinese consumers, some of whom say they are putting off big purchases until the economic outlook is clearer. That sets back B eijing’s campaign to nur ture self-sustaining economic growth based on domestic consumption instead of exports and investment. AP

BusinessMirror

Friday, March 1, 2019

Trump, Kim summit collapses

ANOI, Vietnam—The nuclear summit between President Donald J. Trump and North Korea’s Kim Jong Un collapsed on Thursday after the two sides failed to reach a deal due to a standoff over US sanctions on the reclusive nation, a stunning end to high-stakes meetings meant to disarm a global threat. Trump, in a news conference after the abrupt end to the talks, said the breakdow n occurred over North Korea’s insistence that a l l punishing sanctions

the US had imposed on North Korea be lifted without Pyongyang committing to eliminate its entire nuclear arsenal. “Sometimes you have to walk,”

Trump explained, adding that an agreement was “ready to sign.” “I’d much rather do it right than do it fast,” the president said. “We’re in position to do something ver y special.” Both leaders’ motorcades roared away from the downtown Hanoi summit site within minutes of each other after both a lunch and the signing ceremony were scuttled. Trump’s closing news conference was moved up and he was expected to depart for Washington ahead of schedule. The breakdown came after Trump and Kim had appeared to inch toward normalizing relations between their still technically warring nations as the American leader tamped down expectations that their talks would yield an agreement by North Korea to take

concrete steps toward ending its nuclear program. In something of a role reversal, Trump deliberately ratcheted down some of the pressure on Pyongyang, abandoning his fiery rhetoric and declaring he wanted the “right deal” over a rushed agreement. For his part, Kim, when asked whether he was ready to denuclearize, said, “If I’m not willing to do that I won’t be here right now.” The breakdown denied Trump of a much-needed victory that could have offset some of the growing domestic turmoil back home. But he insisted that relations with Kim remained warm, stressed that progress had been made and said he was still hopeful of eventually reaching a deal to denuclearize North Korea. AP

U.K. LAWMAKERS VOTE TO HOLD PM MAY TO BREXIT PROMISES

ONDON—Prime Minister Theresa May insisted on Wednesday that Britain will leave the European Union on schedule next month, amid signs that her promise to give Parliament a vote on delaying Brexit was boosting support for her unpopular EU divorce deal. May has bowed to pressure from within her Conservative government and given Parliament the chance to delay Britain’s scheduled March 29 departure if lawmakers fail to approve her divorce agreement with the bloc. The change of course was welcomed by pro-EU members of Britain’s divided Parliament, who sought further guarantees the government would not try to renege on May’s commitment. Lawmakers in the House of Commons voted 502-20 in favor of a symbolic motion underscoring May’s promise. Some pro-Brexit lawmakers, who fear delaying Brexit day could be used to try to stop Britain’s withdrawal altogether, abstained from the vote. On Tuesday, May gave Parliament a greater say over Brexit to forestall a rebellion by pro-EU members of her government, who threatened to quit and vote with the opposition in order to rule out a disruptive “no-deal” Brexit. She said Parliament will get to vote again on her deal with the EU by March 12. If it is rejected, lawmakers will then vote on whether to leave the EU without an agreement or seek to postpone Brexit by up to three months. May stressed that she personally

Saudi Arabia’s crude supply to US Gulf falling fast and hard

A U D I A R A B I A s l i ce d i t s c r u d e supply to plants on the US Gulf Coast, the world’s largest refining center, by more than half from a year ago. And shipments may grind to a complete halt soon. The Middle East’s largest producer is making good on its pledge to reduce d e l i ve r i e s to i t s b i g g e s t A m e r i c a n customers in an effort to comply with Opec’s deal to cut output. Saudi Aramco shipped just 1.6 million barrels of its oil to US Gulf Coast buyers this month compared with 5.75 million a year ago, according to US Customs data compiled by Bloomberg. In January, shipments were at 2.69 million. “We could see Saudi oil impor ts declining to zero into the US Gulf Coast,” said Andy Lipow, president of Lipow Oil Associates in Houston. US President Donald J. Trump’s recent comment via Twitter that oil prices are too high won’t stem the current declining trend, as “Opec and non-Opec members feel prices are too low, and they will do what it takes to put the market back in balance.” Government data showed on We d n e s d ay t h at t o t a l S a u d i c r u d e imports to the US dropped to 346,000 barrels a day last week, the lowest in data going back to 2010. Bloomberg News

opposes extending the Brexit deadline, and said “the United Kingdom remains on course to leave the European Union with a deal” if lawmakers “hold their nerve.” Writing in the Daily Mail, May said talks with the EU about securing changes to the divorce deal to make it more palatable to Parliament have “begun to bear fruit.” The House of Commons rejected May’s deal with the EU by a huge margin last month—largely over concerns about a provision to guarantee an open border

between the UK’s Northern Ireland and EU member Ireland—and sent May back to Brussels to get changes. The EU is adamant that the legally binding withdrawal agreement can’t be changed, though the bloc’s negotiators are holding talks with UK Attorney General Geoffrey Cox about potential tweaks or additions to reassure pro-Brexit British lawmakers that the border “backstop” is only a temporary measure. May is calculating that the prospect of a delay may persuade pro -Brexit

lawmakers to support her deal despite their reservations. Many Brexiteers feel the Irish backstop portion of the deal keeps the UK bound closely to EU trade rules, unable to strike new agreements around the world. Brexit-backing Conservative lawmaker Edward Leigh said on Wednesday that colleagues should back the agreement because “the choice is no longer perhaps between an imperfect deal and no deal— it is between an imperfect deal and no Brexit.” AP

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Editor: Jennifer A. Ng • Friday, March 1, 2019

DA gets half of ₧10B fund for rice sector

By Cai U. Ordinario @caiordinario & Jasper Emmanuel Y. Arcalas @jearcalas

CONOMIC managers made an assurance that the national government will beef up the Rice Competitiveness Enhancement Fund (RCEF) amid the continuous decline in the farm-gate price of palay. Budget Secretary Benjamin E. Diokno said P5 billion has been released to the Department of Agriculture (DA), which represents half of the P10-billion RCEF that the government has established as a safety net for farmers. “The government is listening very carefully to the concerns of our farmers. Some are worried that the RCEF is an unprogrammed fund, which can only be released once there is excess revenue,” Diokno said in a statement. “We will make sure that a minimum of P10 billion is made available for the RCEF per year in farmer support programs even if tariff collections are less than expected,” he added. Socioeconomic Planning Secretary Ernesto M. Pernia said another P10 billion will be released through the RCEF once excess revenue collection is realized from the tariffs on rice imports. RCEF will be used to provide farmers tools and equipment, assistance in the production, promotion and distribution of certified rice seeds, upgrading of postharvest storage facilities, credit assistance, irrigation support, and research and development support. “We will make certain that affected farmers will receive proper and adequate support as they transition to a new regime. We will

also establish transparency and grievance mechanisms for this purpose,” said Pernia. The establishment of the RCEF is part of the rice trade liberalization law signed and approved by President Duterte on February 14. The implementation of the law, which converted the quantitative restrictions on rice into tariffs, is expected to cut the retail prices of rice and lower inflation by 0.5 to 0.7 percentage points this year. “On economic impact, liberalizing the rice sector could also translate into upgrades from credit rating agencies, thus lower borrowing costs for the country, besides making it more attractive to investors,” said Finance Secretary Carlos G. Dominguez III.

Cheaper rice

THE average farm-gate price of palay fell for the sixth consecutive week to P19.63 per kilogram (kg) as traders anticipate the influx of cheap rice from abroad due to the implementation of Republic Act 11203. The latest data from the Philippine Statistics Authority (PSA) showed that the price of dry palay as of mid-February dropped by 0.51 percent from the previous week’s level of P19.73 per kg. “However, this week’s price level was the same with its previous

year’s level,” the PSA said in its report titled, “Updates on Palay and Corn Prices,” published recently. Farmers’ groups and rice industry stakeholders earlier said the farm-gate price of palay started to decline in January due to anticipation that the rice trade liberalization bill will be enacted. According to some groups, traders are currently buying palay at P14 to P15 per kg after the law was signed by the President. From February 6 to 12, the PSA noted that the lowest farm-gate price was recorded in the Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (ARMM) at P17 per kg, while the highest price was seen in Eastern Visayas at P26 per kg. Rice farmers’ groups have expressed apprehension that the farm-gate price of palay could decline further once the harvest season peaks in March. Agriculture Secretary Emmanuel F. Piñol earlier said the decline in the farm-gate prices is due to speculation by traders who expect that the law will allow the entry of cheap rice from abroad. In the same report, the PSA also observed declines in the wholesale prices of both regular-milled rice and well-milled rice. “The average wholesale price of well-milled rice at P41.40 per kg posted a decrease of 0.07 percent, from the previous week’s level of P41.43 per kg,” the report read. “The average wholesale price of regular-milled rice at P38.09 per kg continued to move downward as it posted a 0.16-percent drop from its previous week’s quotation of P38.15 per kg,” it added. The retail price of well-milled rice also declined slightly to P44.75 per kg from P44.83 per kg. However, the retail price of regularmilled rice was higher at P41.09 per kg than the previous week’s P41.07 per kg.

Scientists in Dubai grow super crops that thrive in salty deserts

CIENTISTS in Dubai are developing crops like quinoa that can thrive in the salty soils intruding into the world’s croplands. Winning over enough people to eat them is proving a greater challenge. At an experimental farm within sight of the world’s tallest skyscraper, researchers at the International Center for Biosaline Agriculture (ICBA) are trying to help farmers in the Middle East and beyond earn a living from unlikely plants known as halophytes. These plants, from trendy quinoa to obscure salicornia, flourish in salty and arid environments where staple crops like wheat or rice would wither. Concerns about climate change, population growth, and the degradation of fertile farmlands add urgency to the work of ICBA, which runs on a shoestring budget of $15 million a year. The United Nations estimates that food production must increase 60 percent in 30 years to meet demand, while gains in crop yields are slowing. “You can see the disaster coming. I can’t understand why more people aren’t acting to prevent it,” says Ismahane Elouafi, ICBA’s director general. Governments are reluctant to invest in new foods and remain tethered to staple crops that “are just too demanding on water.” Through selective breeding, the nonprofit research institute developed five varieties of quinoa—a protein-rich, gluten-free grain that tastes like nutty rice—that grow

A WORKER examines seeds from quinoa plant that were harvested in Challapata, Bolivia, on May 12, 2010. LISA WILTSE/BLOOMBERG

especially well in salty soil. The center is introducing them in Egypt and Morocco. Agronomists at ICBA cultivate a patchwork of sandy plots on the fringe of Dubai’s desert interior. A vault where the temperature is kept at 2 degrees Celsius (36 degrees Fahrenheit) safeguards the fruits of their efforts: 14,000 types of seeds from more than 250 plant species. These seeds are enough for trial use, but a breakthrough to largescale halophyte production requires government or business support. Planting a new crop is only the first step for ICBA, which operates projects in 28 countries from Senegal to Bangladesh, and counts the United States, Sweden and the United Arab Emirates among its top donors. The center has to transform laboratory wins into commercial successes. “The marketing aspect is vital,”

said Dionyssia Lyra, a halophyte agronomist at ICBA. “We need advertising. We need chefs.” Quinoa is often more expensive than wheat, and many people are unfamiliar with products made from it. To make headway in rural Egypt, ICBA organized cooking workshops for 120 women to train them to prepare food from salt-tolerant crops. Changing palates has proven difficult in other markets. Wajih Syed, cofounder of Kinwa Foods Pvt Ltd., spent more than two years persuading farmers in Pakistan to plant ICBA-supplied quinoa seeds in salty soils. The grain can earn these farmers up to 20 percent more profit than wheat, and some growers have started to cultivate it on land no longer fertile enough for traditional crops, he said. Yet, the grain remains a niche product. Bloomberg News

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Sports BusinessMirror

| Friday, March 1, 2019 mirror_sports@yahoo.com.ph Editor: Jun Lomibao

MAKE MINE WADE! M IAMI—Dwyane Wade jumped onto a courtside table and thumped himself on the chest three times. He took a victory lap, waving a towel. He got mobbed by teammates. He’s been part of games that meant more. But bigger moments—there haven’t been many, if any, than this one. Wade’s one-legged, off-the-glass, straightaway three-point heave as time expired lifted the Miami Heat to a 126-125 victory over the Golden State Warriors on Wednesday night, a game where the Heat wasted every bit of a 24-point lead and had to rally from four points down in the final minute. “I’ve been in this position so many times and so many times you don’t make the shot,” Wade said. “And the one I make is a one-legged flick from my chest. It’s crazy. Great to do it in front of fans.” Kevin Durant made one of two free throws with 14 seconds left, putting Golden State up by two. The Heat had no time-outs, no way to set up a play, and there was no way anyone could have drawn up what happened. Wade brought the ball up, drove into the lane, stutterstepped and lost the ball for a brief moment. He gathered it and shoveled it to Dion Waiters, who was double-teamed and couldn’t get off a shot. Waiters tossed it back to Wade, who shot-faked Durant in the air and then had his first try blocked by Jordan Bell. Wade caught the rebound with about a second left. Off the glass, for the win. From there, bedlam. The fans erupted in cheers. Some of the Warriors watched the replay on the overhead screens with a look of disbelief, and after a moment Warriors star Stephen Curry came over to offer congratulations after presumably their last head-to-head meeting before Wade retires after this season. “I told Steph, ‘I needed this one on my way out. Y’all get enough,’” Wade said. “But it was cool. I think the one thing cool for me was I’ve got younger teammates that heard about some of the things you do but don’t always get an opportunity to see it.” Wade scored 25 points to help Miami snap a six-game home losing streak. “Sometimes you just need to be lucky,” Heat Coach Erik Spoelstra said after giving Wade a long bear-hug in a jubilant postgame locker room. “We’ve had so many of these breaks go against us.” Goran Dragic led the Heat with 27 points. Josh Richardson added 21, and Miami made 18 three-pointers. Klay Thompson scored 36 points for the Warriors. Durant added 29 and Curry scored 24 for the Warriors, whose lead over Denver atop the Western Conference dropped to a halfgame. Golden State rallied from 19 down to win 120-118 at home on February 10, and dug its way out of an even bigger hole this time—but couldn’t finish it off. Wade’s three-pointer with 15 seconds left got Miami to 124-123, and he came up with one more when the Heat needed it most. “Dwyane just hit an unbelievable shot,” Warriors Coach Steve Kerr said. “It was going in as soon as it left his hand.” Dragic had 25 points by halftime,

getting 20 of those in the second quarter alone—setting Heat single-quarter and any-half records for a reserve. He had 11 points in a span of 69 seconds in the second quarter, and a pair of free throws with 2:59 left in the half put Miami up 69-45. Against most teams, even in the first half, a 24-point lead might have been enough. The Warriors, of course, are not most teams. Back-to-back three-pointers by Durant and Thompson helped Golden State get the lead down to 74-59 by halftime. The Warriors cut the lead to seven on two separate occasions in the third quarter, and kept whittling away in the fourth—getting within six when Draymond Green rattled in a three-pointer from the right corner with 8:20 left, then 106-103 when Curry connected from deep on the next possession. The Warriors led for all of 1:14 in the second half. Wade didn’t let them leave with the lead. LEBRON LIFTS LAKERS VS. PELICANS LEBRON JAMES scored 33 points, Brandon Ingram added 23 and the Los Angeles Lakers weathered strong performances by Anthony Davis and Julius Randle for a 125-119 victory over the New Orleans Pelicans on Wednesday night in Los Angeles. Davis had 22 points and eight rebounds in the first three quarters after getting a warm pregame reception from Lakers fans who eagerly followed Los Angeles’s fruitless pursuit of a trade for the superstar forward earlier this season. Randle scored 35 points against his former team, but couldn’t finish a comeback against James and the Lakers’ new core during New Orleans’s fifth loss in seven games. The Lakers had a 12-point lead early in the fourth quarter before the Pelicans trimmed it to 118-117 on Darius Miller’s three-pointer with 1:38 to play. After Ingram hit a lay-up, Reggie Bullock forced a turnover by Jrue Holiday before James drilled a one-footed threepointer from the corner with 31 seconds left.

NBA RESULTS Houston 118, Charlotte 113 Atlanta 131, Minnesota 123, OT

DWYANE WADE makes the three-pointer that sends the Heat fans into a frenzy. AP

Kyle Kuzma scored 22 points and Rajon Rondo had 16 assists for the Lakers, who avenged a loss in New Orleans four days earlier with just their third win in nine games overall. Davis sat out the fourth quarter again under his minutes restriction, but the Staples Center crowd gave a loud ovation during player introductions to the perennial All-Star who nearly ended up playing for the home team in this matchup—and still could someday soon. The Lakers spent several weeks attempting to make a deal for Davis, whose trade request last month threw both of these teams into upheaval. While the Pelicans were forced into a future that won’t include the best player in franchise history, practically everyone on the Lakers’ roster outside of James spent the next few weeks reading daily speculation about their possible departure for New Orleans in a trade. The Pelicans elected to hold onto Davis at the deadline despite the Lakers’ strenuous efforts to pry him away, but the saga is likely to continue this summer. Until then, the Lakers will continue their pursuit of a playoff berth without Davis, who doesn’t seem bothered on the court by his unclear future. The Pelicans elected to sit Davis for the entire game last week during the Lakers’ visit to New Orleans, which won anyway. Davis got only 21 minutes at Staples. AP

Miami 126, Golden State 125 Washington 125, Brooklyn 116 Chicago 109, Memphis 107 Portland 97, Boston 92 Dallas 110, Indiana 101 San Antonio 105, Detroit 93 Utah 111, LA Clippers 105 Milwaukee 141, Sacramento 140, OT LA Lakers 125, New Orleans 119

ROGER FEDERER (above) reaches the Dubai Championships quarterfinals while Rafael Nadal is out of the Mexican Open in Acapulco. AP

FEDERER ADVANCES, NADAL CRASHES OUT D

UBAI, United Arab Emirates— Roger Federer maintained his perfect record against Fernando Verdasco to reach the Dubai Championships quarterfinals on Wednesday, while top-seeded Kei Nishikori was eliminated. Federer converted his first match point when Verdasco sent a forehand wide, finishing off a 6-3, 3-6, 6-3 win that improved his record against the Spaniard to 7-0. Nishikori, though, lost 7-5, 5-7, 6-2 against Hubert Hurkacz of Poland. This was win No. 50 for Federer in Dubai, having won the tournament seven times. “It’s a big number,” the 37-year-old Federer said when told it was his 50th win. “I’m not sure if I’m going to get to 100. Let’s put it that way.” He’s only three matches away from a 100th tournament title, though, and will next face Marton Fucsovics of Hungary, who beat Jan-Lennard Struff of Germany, 6-4, 6-2.

Federer has only played Fucsovics once, at last year’s Australian Open, but has trained with him in Zurich and said he’s been impressed with the Hungarian’s game. “I know Marton quite well actually,” Federer said. “He’s improved. He likes the fast surfaces. He likes to play up in the court. He has the power when required. I think it’s going to be definitely a match that’s going to test me tomorrow.” The second-seeded Federer is now an even bigger favorite for the title with Nishikori out. It was Hurkacz’s first win against a top-10 ranked player and earned him a place in his first Association of Tennis Professionals tour quarterfinal. “It’s a huge win for me,” Hurkacz said. “It gives me huge confidence. I’m going to try to keep going forward.”

NADAL TUMBLES OUT IN MEXICAN OPEN

RAFAEL NADAL tumbled out of the Mexican Open on Wednesday night in Acapulco, squandering three match points in a 3-6, 7-6 (2), 7-6 (6) loss to Australia’s Nick Kyrgios. Playing his first event since losing to Novak Djokovic in late January in the Australian Open final, the top-seeded Nadal dropped the first two match points on Kyrgios’s serve and the last one on his own first serve. Nadal won in Acapulco in 2005 and 2013. On Tuesday night, the second-ranked Spanish star opened play with a 6-3, 6-3 victory over Mischa Zverev. Kyrgios set up a quarterfinal match against Stan Wawrinka, a 7-6 (5), 6-4 winner over seventh-seeded Steve Johnson in the hard-court event at The Princess Mundo Imperial.

The top seed also fell in the women’s event, with Brazilian qualifier Beatriz Haddad Maia beating Sloane Stephens, 6-3, 6-3, for her first victory in seven career matches against players ranked in the top 10. The fourth-ranked Stephens, the 2017 US Open, was making her first appearance in the event since winning the 2016 title. “It was just a tough match, obviously she played well,” Stephens said. “A tough day. But I’m not too sad about it. I’m just going to go back and work some more, practice some more and get ready for Indian Wells.” Haddad Maia will face Wang Yafan in the quarterfinals. Wang led Monica Puig, 4-1, when Puig retired because of an injury. In men’s play, secondseeded Alexander Zverev faced David Ferrer in the late match. The winner will play

fifth-seeded Alex de Minaur, a winner over Feliciano Lopez in a walkover. Third-seeded John Isner beat fellow American Sam Querrey, 6-4, 6-4, to set up a quarterfinal match against eighth-seeded John Millman. Millman beat Peter Gojowczyk, 6-0, 6-2. Cameron Norrie beat fourth-seeded Diego Schwartzman, 7-6 (5), 4-6, 6-3. Norrie will face Mackenzie McDonald, a 6-7 (7), 7-5, 6-3 winner over sixth-seeded Frances Tiafoe. Defending champion Juan Martin del Potro is sidelined by a knee injury.

SHARAPOVA PULLS OUT OF MIAMI OPEN

MARIA SHARAPOVA said she has undergone a “small procedure” on her right shoulder that will need a few weeks to heal, requiring her to pull out of next month’s Miami Open. Sharapova said she’s struggled since last summer with shoulder pain caused by a fraying tendon and small labrum tear. She tried unsuccessfully to solve the problem with exercise. “Although this has been a very long process, I am incredibly committed to getting back strong, and more importantly without the pain I was playing with at the beginning of this year,” she wrote on Wednesday on Instagram. The five-time Grand Slam champion hasn’t played since pulling out of a tournament in St. Petersburg, Russia, in late January after winning her first-round match. She won three matches at the Australian Open and is ranked 29th. AP

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UPBEAT ABOUT WORLDS By Ramon Rafael Bonilla

HE Philippine brand of basketball gets to share the global spotlight once again in the Fiba World Cup, and the mood in the hoops community has transformed anew from upbeat and inspiring to nationalistic. And no less than Manuel V. Pangilinan, the country’s top basketball patron, has savored the fruits of the Samahang Basketbol ng Pilipinas’s (SBP) labor to grab a ticket to the worlds for the second straight occasion. “We should not be afraid. We should not feel insecure,” Pangilinan told the players and coaches during the SBP press conference that honored the Yeng Guiao-coached team that survived the Asia Qualifiers on Thursday in Ortigas. “At this point, we are No. 31 [in the world]. We should not stop at No. 31,” added Pangilinan, SBP’s chairman emeritus, who was joined in the press conference by Guiao and SBP president Al Panlilio.

The competition in the Fiba World Cup—which China is hosting in eight cities from August 31 to September 15—remains tough, but Pangilinan stressed the journey should not stop this year. “If we will not win this year, success [is never final]. There will be the Fiba World Cup in 2023, and so on. If we lose, it’s not fatal. What counts is the courage to continue. That is important in Philippine basketball,” he said. The SBP is banking on naturalized player Andray Blatche to be in top form as he was in the two crucial Asia Qualifiers against Qatar and Kazakhstan—plus a long shot goal of convincing the Fiba to allow Cleveland Cavalier Jordan Clarkson to play for Gilas Pilipinas. Clarkson saw action for also the Yeng Guiao-coached team in the Jakarta 18th Asian Games last year. “We have to understand the Fiba culture. We will certainly do our best to persuade them on Jordan’s case. We’re committed in doing our best to get Jordan to join the team in China,”

Fuel Masters take on Aces

P BASKETBALL patron Manuel V. Pangilinan (center) addresses a press conference on Thursday with Head Coach Yeng Guiao (left) and Samahang Basketbol ng Pilipinas President Al Panlilio. NONOY LACZA

Pangilinan said. “But there’s no assurance that will happen. It’s really up to Fiba’s decision.” Pangilinan praised Guiao and the players for their resiliency in the continental qualifiers. “This is for the country. At the end of the day, it took a lot of individuals to make things happen,” Pangilinan. The Philippine Basketball Association (PBA) would again play a big role in the World Cup campaign, and league Chairman Ricky Vargas vowed full cooperation. The Fiba World Cup runs conflict with the PBA’s Commissioner’s Cup, including June’s William Jones Cup, which Guiao said would provide an ideal tune-up for his team. “We will talk about it. They want to join the Jones Cup, and they’re asking for longer preparation,” Vargas said. “The PBA calendar for the year is already fixed, so we’re going to review that once the SBP finalizes its schedule.” Vargas expressed his confidence that the league will give its utmost support to the program.

“We’re willing [to help] of course. You’ve seen it in the past. There’s a track record already,” he said. The PBA will tackle the Gilas Pilipinas program during a board meeting on Friday at its offices in Libis, Quezon City. Also advancing to the World Cup from Asia are Australia, Iran, Japan, Jordan, Korea and New

Zealand. China, as host, gets an automatic slot. The other qualifiers are: Africa-Angola, Ivory Coast, Nigeria, Senegal and Tunisia; AmericasArgentina, Brazil, Canada, Dominican Republic, Puerto Rico, United States and Venezuela; and Europe-Czech Republic, France, Germany, Greece, Italy, Lithuania, Montenegro, Poland, Russia, Serbia, Spain and Turkey.

Age-group tennis tilt goes to Digos

A. ANGELICA NOVIS and Reyman Saldivar Jr. shoot for two titles each as they lead the chase for top honors in the Palawan Pawnshop-Palawan Express Pera Padala (PPS-PEPP) Digos City national age-group tennis tournament, which reels off on Friday at the Digos City Tennis Club in Davao del Sur. Novis hopes to live up to her top seeding in the girls’ 16- and 18-and-under singles with the Malita, Davao, bet upbeat but wary of her chances against the likes of Coleen Carvajal, Juliana Carvajal, Mae Torrecareon and Zkyla Cervantes in the Group 2 tournament presented by Dunlop. Saldivar, on the other hand, also faces an uphill battle in the boys’ 14- and 16-U sides with the rising Kabacan, North Cotabato, star going up against Charles Jumawan, Yassan Al Anazi and Ben Flores along with Kurt Haro and Herald Aton in the

five-day event serving as the penultimate stop of the six-leg Mindanao swing of the circuit put up by PPS-PEPP. “While we expect the local bets to shine, we also see a number of players from other towns and cities to emerge from this tournament as we continue to help discover future stars, especially from the countryside,” said Palawan Pawnshop President/CEO Bobby Castro. Brent Magno, Justin Ito, Haro and Aton, meanwhile, are tipped to dispute the boys’ 18-under crown in the tournament sanctioned by the Unified Tennis Philippines made up of PPSPEPP, Cebuana Lhuillier, Wilson, Toby’s, Dunlop, Slazenger and B-Meg. Other titles to be disputed are the 12-under and 10-under unisex with five more up for grabs in the doubles 10-, 14- and 18-under sides.

HOENIX tries to seal its place in the playoffs when the Fuel Masters face the Alaska Aces in the Philippine Basketball Association Philippine Cup on Friday at the Mall of Asia Arena in Pasay City. Action starts at 7 p.m. with the Fuel Masters (6-1 won-lost) hoping to join leaders Rain or Shine Elasto Painters in the knockout round when they battle the streaking Aces (2-1). Columbian (3-4), meanwhile, targets its second straight victory when it meets Blackwater (1-6) at 4:30 p.m. Phoenix scored a 98-96 escape from NorthPort on Wednesday to bounce back from its only loss so far in the conference to Rain or Shine before the league took a break for the Fiba Asia Qualifiers. Head Coach Louie Alas is putting premium on defense when they take on Alaska. “We preach defense. That was our fourth win due to stops in the dying seconds, so we hope to continue it against Alaska,” Alas said after dealing with two overtimes in the conference. But it’s easier said than done as they face a well-rested Alaska. The Aces beat Blackwater on February 13, 103-101, for their second consecutive victory after losing their conference opener against the Elasto Painters. “I’m hoping we’re not tired against Alaska. It will be tough defense because Alaska also had a long break, when we’re just coming off a hard-earned win against NorthPort,” Alas said. The PBA Technical Group, meanwhile, admitted h that the offensive foul called by one of the referees against Northport’s Sean Anthony in the last 47.8 seconds of the fourth quarter of Wednesday’s game was a wrong call. “It was an unfortunate mistake by the referee in calling the offensive foul, and we regret the wrong call made,” the PBA said in a statement. “Accordingly, the erring referee shall be meted the appropriate sanction.”

Ramon Rafael Bonilla

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Macalalad leads winners’roster in Subic triathlon

LUISITA GRABS LEAD

BENJIE SUMULONG leads Luisita’s charge with 52 points, while Abe Rosal paces Canlubang with 48 points. STEPHANIE TUMAMPOS

Dumaguete archer Tagle collects 7th gold medal

RDER was restored at the 33rd Philippine Airlines Seniors Interclub golf team championships on Thursday with Luisita taking a seven-point lead over longtime rival Canlubang following an impressive outing at the Club Filipino de Cebu in Cebu City. The Tarlac-based squad collected 147 points, a huge improvement from its opening day 138 to reach the halfway mark with 285 points. Benjie Sumulong carded three birdies against three bogeys and a double bogey to lead Luisita with 52 points. Reigning national seniors champion Rodel Mangulabnan added 50 and former pro Demy Saclot rounded out scoring with 45. Rafael Garcia did not count with 43.

Defending champion Canlubang struggled for the second straight day, scoring 140 behind a pair of 48s from Abe Rosal and Damasus Wong and a 44 from Zaldy Villa. “We played better today and fortunate that we are leading by seven,” said Luisita nonplaying captain Jeric Hechanova. “The course was just playing tough.” Abe Rosal, last year’s individual champion in Bacolod City, failed to break 50 following a round of one birdie against seven bogeys. No Canlubang player has scored more than 48 points after two rounds. A day after taking the lead on opening day, Cebu Country Club (CCC) unravelled with 131 points and fell 12 points behind Luisita. Newcomer Jufil Sato was CCC’s top scorer

AINA DOMINIQUE TAGLE of Dumaguete City beat Dencil Shane Dinopol of Cebu City, 7-1, in the Olympic round finals on Thursday to emerge with seven gold medals and become the most decorated athlete so far in the Visayas Leg of the 2019 Philippine National Youth Games-Batang Pinoy at the West Visayas State University field in Iloilo City. Playing as a 10-year-old in the event for 13-15 years old, the eagle-eyed Tagle outshone everyone as she capped an exceptional feat that saw him sweeping all seven golds staked in archery including the 20m, 30m, 40m, 50m, single fita and mixed team alongside Matt Charid Bajado. “It was nerve-wracking because I don’t know how good the opponents are and I’m younger than them,” said Tagle, a Grade 5 Silliman University student. Prisa Helen Lofranco smashed close buddy and teammate Kristanna Carmela Quisumbing, 6-0, in the girls’ cadet finale to wind up with six golds. It also helped Dumaguete rule the sport closest to its heart being the archery capital of the Philippines as it went home with 13 golds in all. Cebu City’s Aldrener Igot dumped Bajado, 6-0,

NAINA DOMINIQUE TAGLE is the most decorated athlete so far in the Visayas Leg.

in boys’ cub event, while Godwell Maloloyon of Mandaue downed Shann Michael Sumagaysay, 6-2, in the boys’ cadet to each finish with six golds. Over at the pool, Alexi Kouzenye Cabayaran of Negros Occidental splashed her way to a couple of golden efforts to end up with the most golds in swimming with six. Cabayaran, 12, ruled the girls’ 200-m freestyle in two minutes and 17.65 seconds, rested for half an hour before plunging back into action

TRINIDAD SPARKLES IN WORLDS RAPHAEL TRINIDAD wins the country’s first-ever medal in the world wakeboarding championships. COURTESY OF DAVID CROWDER

Bigger, tougher Ironman Davao up

NSPIRED by its successful inaugural staging last year, the Alveo Ironman 70.3 Davao presented by Petron braces for a bigger, tougher edition next month, kicking off another busy season for the intrepid triathletes in a duel of power, endurance and mental toughness. The roster has swelled to close to 2,200 as of last week, underscoring the event’s tremendous pull both from the local and international campaigners gearing up for another explosive finish the way it was when Mexican Mauricio Mendez and Czech Radka Kahlefeldt capped the day of the underdogs when they ruled the

and reigned supreme in the 50-m free where she clocked 28.92 to end up with six mints. The sixth-grader from Mambukal Elementary School in Silai also won in the 50-m and 100-m backstroke, 100-m free and the 200-m medley relay with Mareanne Apdo, Ela Reign Buelos and Rianna Montelibano. “It’s my first time in the Batang Pinoy and I’m really happy I won six golds,” said Cabayaran, who qualified in five events in the Palarong Pambansa in April in Davao City.

premier elite division at the scenic Azuela Cove. The organizing Sunrise Events Inc. (SEI) and the country’s durian capital have guaranteed another thrilling, enjoyable race through the city’s mix of nature and urban infrastructure when the 1.9-km swim, 90-km bike and 21-km run event powered by Petron is fired off on March 24. SEI founder Wilfred Uytengsu has acknowledged Davao as the new triathlon destination following its successful hosting last year and it’s just fitting to stage another top-notch triathlon event in Davao through the all-out support of the city officials.

EBU’S Raphael Trinidad gave the Philippines its first-ever medal finish—a silver—at the International Water Ski and Wakeboarding Federation World Wakeboard Championships held recently in Buenos Aires, Argentina. The 17-year-old Trinidad scored 78.0 points to finish just 2.67 points behind gold-medal winner and three-time world champion Lior Sofer of Israel. Trinidad shook off a disappointing fifth-place finish in the junior men under 19 category in the same tournament but went on to fight gallantly for a podium spot in the senior category. Trinidad, riding under the banner of Team Republ1c, also gained a confidence off his stint in the Philippine Cable Wake Nationals on February 2 and 3 at the Deca Wake Cable Park in Clark where he pulled off the first-ever double half cab roll in Philippine wakeboarding. He’s been a dominant force in the national championships since he was 13, competing in the pro men wakeboard division. The feat established Trinidad as a favorite to win a gold medal in the 30th Southeast Asian Games later this year. It also put Trinidad and the sport on the radar for the country’s quest for the elusive gold medal in the Olympics—potentially in the 2024 Paris Games.

with 46 and Nelson Yuvallos adding 43. The 42 of either Montito Garcia or Lorenzo Alaan rounded out scoring. Del Monte Golf Club brought up the rear in the championship bracket with 129 and 267 total. Arsenio Mondilla led Del Monte with 44 followed by Erning Apas 43 and Antonio Arancon 42. In the second-tier Founders division also played at the Club Filipino de Cebu, Orchard hung on to a five-point lead over Negros Occidental. Orchard, led by Dong Jin Tak’s 48 points, finished the day with 125 points to boost its total to 266. Negros Occidental got a big lift from Francis Gaston’s 50 points to tally 136 and 261 overall. Valley took third spot with 255 following a 123.

The partial results after two rounds: Championships—Luisita 285 (138-147), Canlubang 278 (138-140), Cebu Country Club 273 (142-131) and Del Monte 267 (138-129). Founders—Orchard 266 (141-125), Negros Occidental 261 (125-136), Valley 255 (132-123), Manila Southwoods 252 (129-123), Riviera 251 (133-118), Manila Golf 251 (133-118), Wack Wack 249 (129-120), Villamor 245 (133-112), Eagle Ridge 243 (142-101), Sherwood Hills 241 (128-113), Southern California Redhawk 236 (116-120), Pueblo de Oro 234 (125-109), Metgot 219 (116-103), Apo Golf 219 (112-107), Alabang 218 (110-108), American Pacific Association 184 (94-90), Tri-City Golf 165 (93-72), Toronto Canada Golfers Club 140, Moffet Field Golf Team II 133 (79-54) and Western Social 104 (63-41).

LITE athletes Edward Vince Jared Macalalad and Karen Manayon lived up to their billing as they ruled the My Daily Collagen Triathlon held at the Subic Bay Freeport Zone over the weekend. Tri Gear’s Macalalad topped the male 18 to 24 division by completing 1.5-km swim/40-km bike/10-km standard race in two hours, 13 minutes and six seconds. Fellow elite triathletes Banjo Norte crossed 22 seconds after Macalalad to top the male 25-29 age group, followed by Julius Constantino in 2:17:08. Manayon did her team Cebu City Rider Omega Tri Team proud by ruling the female 18-24 category in 2:38:59. Joining Manayon in the winners’ circle were Ines Santiago (35-39, 2:41:22) and Petro Kuiper (50-54, 2:48:33). Other standard distance age-group champions were Cianyl Gonzales (25-29), Lyllian Grace Banzon and Lorin-Pedro Balandreau (30-34), Ronald Molit (35-39), Nylah Bautista and Jeff Valdez (40-44), Bic Ferreria and Romeo Marquez (45-49), Peter Gonzalez (50-54), Rune Stroem (55-59) and Josef Guetta (60-above). “The large turnout of seasoned triathletes from the different parts of the country made a major difference. Previously we expected mostly beginners or newcomers among triathletes to join in. We are more than happy with the reception of this race,” My Daily Collagen Chief Sales Officer Oliver Salas said. The champions in the sprint distance (750-meter swim, 18-km bike and 5-km run) were Marielle Estreba and Josh Angelo Averion (15-19), Austine Morfe (20-29), Princess Que and Melvin Benzon (30-39), Ana Cristina Abanico and Ranvel Eriko Rufino (40-49), Margaret Koa Cheng (Female 50-above) and Ruben Ercilla (Male 50-59). Cebu City Rider Omega Tri Team topped the team category, followed by Team Sante Barley and Herbalife Team. Team Salada (Family), Cebu City Rider Omega Tri Team (Mixed), Prito Fam (All-Female) and Team Balon Dagupan (All-Male) ruled the relay division.

L NORTH KOREA ‘COMMITS’

TO ANTI-DOPING ISSUES

Sports

RUSSIA’S Yelena Sokolova competes in the women’s long jump event at the Golden Gala in Rome’s Olympic stadium in June 2013. AP

BusinessMirror

| Friday, March 1, 2019 mirror_sports@yahoo.com.ph Editor: Jun Lomibao

IAAF allows 21 more Russians to compete as neutrals

OSCOW—Russia’s officially neutral track and field team swelled in size as the International Alliance of Athletics Federations (IAAF) approved 21 more athletes on Thursday to compete internationally— but Russia says it’s too late for next week’s European indoor championships. The IAAF ruled Yelena Sokolova, the 2012 Olympic silver medalist in long jump, can return to international

competition for the first time since Russia’s team was banned in 2015 over widespread doping. Triple jumper Irina Gumenyuk has her approval extended from last season. However, with just eight days before the European indoors start in Glasgow, Russia says they won’t have time to get British visas. “They’re all obviously happy to get neutral status and the theoretical chance to compete at

the European championships, but for objective reasons, our athletes have to turn it down,” Head Coach Yuri Borzakovsky said in a statement. “They just physically can’t manage to sort out all the organizational issues in such a short time.” The federation said this affects six athletes, including Sokolova and decathlete Artyom Makarenko, who meet the qualifying standards. Another 11 Russians who already had approval will compete, led by two-time world high jump champion Maria Lasitskene. The IAAF said it had not been told of any visa issues before deciding

the athletes’ cases and that Russian officials told its staff they wanted to send Makarenko to the championships as recently as Tuesday. To get neutral status, Russian athletes have had to show they’re clean by providing information about their drug-testing history to an IAAF panel. The approvals are the first granted since the World AntiDoping Agency started analyzing data from the Moscow laboratory last month. The IAAF said it has yet to receive any of the data. A total of 64 Russians have neutral status for 2019, of which 45 had the same status last year. A large number of cases have yet to be heard ahead of the world championships in Doha, which runs from September 28 through October 6. Seventy-three Russians had the status at some stage last season, according to Russian officials, who said they sent 192 applications for this season. AP

AUSANNE, Switzerland—The International Olympic Committee (IOC) received commitments from North Korea that it will work to “remedy” its anti-doping controls that led to the country’s testing agency being suspended this week. IOC President Thomas Bach met with sports and government officials from North and South Korea on Friday, and they talked about creating combined teams in four sports to try to qualify for the 2020 Tokyo Olympics. The four do not include the marquee South Korean sports of soccer and baseball. Bach hosted Korean officials one day after the World AntiDoping Agency (WADA) announced North Korea’s testing program was noncompliant for failing to meet international standards, raising questions about how its athletes are tested. Doping control tests in North Korea will now be supervised by China’s anti-doping agency at North Korea’s expense. Bach said the senior North Korean delegate in Lausanne, Sports Minister Kim Il Guk, “expressed the full commitment of the government of the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea to remedy this situation as soon as possible.” Kim stood next to Bach but did not speak to reporters. The IOC said it was studying requests by the two countries’ Olympic committees to set up combined Korean teams for 2020 qualification in women’s basketball, women’s field hockey, the mixed team event in judo, and men’s and women’s rowing. Earlier, Bach also said the two countries expressed “the intention and the will” to bid to organize the Summer Games in 2032. Five elite skiers and a doctor, meanwhile, were among nine people arrested on Wednesday in doping raids in Austria and Germany amid the Nordic skiing world championships, and police say they’re on the trail of dopers in other sports too. Austria’s Federal Police Office said the raids targeted “a doping network operating worldwide” and focused on Seefeld, where the championships are taking place. Police said two Austrian athletes were arrested, along with one competitor from Kazakhstan and two from Estonia. One athlete was caught “in the act,” the FPO’s Dieter Csefan alleged. “He was picked up with a blood transfusion in his arm,” Csefan said. “Because of the information provided by the investigation, it was clear that this network has been at work for years, and globally, too. Certainly other sports will be affected, too.” The athletes arrested weren’t named, but two of those arrested were described as cadets in the Austrian police and part of the country’s national cross-country ski team. They could now face disciplinary action from the International Ski Federation too. The Austrian authorities said they worked with German counterparts who searched nine properties and arrested two people described as a “sports doctor” and an “accomplice.” The group was apparently in the German city of Erfurt. “The Erfurt-based criminal group is strongly suspected of having carried out blood doping on elite athletes for years to increase their performance in national and international competitions and thereby to gain illegal income,” the FPO said. Anne Leiding, a spokeswoman for the Munich prosecutors’ office handling the German side of the case, said the investigations were sparked by an interview given last month by Austrian skier Johannes Duerr to German broadcaster ARD. Duerr said he had used transfusions and the banned substance EPO to boost his stamina, with regular treatments in Germany. AP

God of the living

EAR God, You bless Your people with peace, endurance and faith. In confidence we pray: Favor us with Your Wisdom, oh God. Lead all the baptized to know You more, love You most and serve You endlessly. Inspire the faithful to know and live their priestly and prophetic role in the Church. Enlighten us to address the causes and consequences of racism and militarism. Help us to reach out to the lonely, the needy and those who are sad. May God favor and bless us, shepherd us in love and care for us forever. Amen. GIVE US THIS DAY SHARED BY LUISA LACSON, HFL Word&Life Publications • teacherlouie1965@yahoo.com

Editor: Gerard S. Ramos • lifestylebusinessmirror@gmail.com

Life BusinessMirror

Jude Law gets all

‘Marvel’-ous

CADEMY Award-nominee Jude Law joins the Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU) in Marvel Studios’s Captain Marvel, as the Kree Starforce Commander, whose alien race has been warring for centuries with the Skrulls. For Law, it was a part he had been secretly waiting for. “Before this film, it kind of felt like a party you’ve heard about for years, and you know and admire all the people who go, and then you suddenly realize that you haven’t had an invitation, yet,” says Law. “So to get an invitation is a good feeling, and I’d been a fan for a long time and being able to step into and be part of the things that I admire and love is a thrill.” Set in the 1990s, Captain Marvel is an all-new adventure from a previously unseen period in the history of the MCU that follows the journey of Carol Danvers as she becomes one of the universe’s most powerful heroes. While a galactic war between two alien races reaches Earth, Danvers finds herself and a small cadre of allies at the center of the maelstrom. The film stars Brie Larson, Samuel L. Jackson, Ben Mendelsohn, Djimon Hounsou, Lee Pace, Lashana Lynch, Gemma Chan, Rune Temte, Algenis Perez Soto, Mckenna Grace, with Annette Bening, with Clark Gregg and Jude Law. Marvel Studios’s Captain Marvel is produced by Kevin Feige and directed by Anna Boden and Ryan Fleck. It opens on March 6, 2019, in Philippine theaters. How risky was it to go back in time for Marvel? First of all, it’s just smart storytelling that you create a world. Then you can kind of go into it and pick apart in detail certain storylines and characters. You obviously then want to go back in time and retell. That’s just clever storytelling. But they wouldn’t have been able to achieve that had they not set up the initial universe as it were with such solidity and roots. So, to me, it’s like reaping their rewards of good storytelling, really. But what’s also been interesting is how there’s never been a sense that they just churn out the same style, following the same equation. Instead, they bring in people like Taika to direct Ragnarok, Anna Boden and Ryan Fleck on this one. They’ve been really smart about bringing fresh, new, often more independent directors who are bringing their sense of humor, and a sense of banter and insight. It keeps the thing alive. It keeps it youthful. There is still a uniformity to the films, but there’s a freshness and an originality in each one.

SOMETHING LIKE LIFE: HOW DOES PAL LOVE THEE? LET IT COUNT THE WAYS D3

Friday, March 1, 2019

It’s like remastering an old tune. It keeps it alive. What do Anna Boden and Ryan Fleck bring as directors? What I think they’ve seen in Anna and Ryan is a team that bring a kind of humanity, a morality and a sense of humor. There’s a quick wit and smartness to the storytelling because it’s quite a complex story. They’ve got a great sense of storytelling and rhythm, which has been forensically reworked so that it reveals its secrets in just the right order at just the right time. Within these epic battles and the foreign and alien races, you have a very heartfelt and human story, which I think ultimately is what will reel you in, while being entertained vastly. Did you do any research? Yes. I wanted a quick education in the characters. So, they sent me some stuff, which I read. Then I relied on the script and treated it just as I would any other piece of writing. Here’s an interesting story. Captain Marvel was my father’s favorite character when he was young. So, he could tell me all about it, from the male iteration into the female iteration. And he knew exactly who my character was. I’m here for him. Tell us about your character. My character is the commander of Starforce, which is an elite special-forces division of the Kree army. He is also a mentor to Carol Danvers. She has been a sort of pet project for him. He feels responsible for guiding and containing her skill sets, honing her abilities, and trying to keep her mind from drifting into the more human, emotional places, and becoming therefore more focused and driven and slightly less emotional, which is rather more Kree. What are the Kree trying to accomplish? The Kree are a very dominant and very aggressive race and are a warring nation, in particular with the Skrulls, who they see as their greatest threat. Do you feel that Marvel tackles social issues? The themes of the stories and conflicts that are laid there in the comic books are timely and social. They feel relevant. They feel political in ways. They’re stories of empowerment, of introspection, of learning to confront your ills and your dark sides. It’s why they’re so popular, I think.

COnTinUeD On D4

Society BusinessMirror

Friday, March 1, 2019

www.businessmirror.com.ph

Today’s Horoscope By Eugenia Last

CELEBRITIES BORN ON THIS DAY: Justin Bieber, 25; Kesha, 32; Lupita Nyong’o, 36; Ron Howard, 65. HAPPY BIRTHDAY: Step things up a bit this year, and you won’t be disappointed. You’ll get the help you need and the resources necessary to put your plans into motion. High energy coupled with solid ideas will determine how far you get. Know when to pare down financially in order to stay on budget. Managing money and relationships responsibly will make a difference. Your numbers are 5, 8, 14, 27, 35, 38, 45.

ARIES (March 21-April 19): Don’t rely on others to do a job for you. Take charge, get things done to your specifications and keep the ball rolling. Not everyone will like what you do, but it will have more to do with jealousy or feeling threatened. HH

FROM left: Roy Chua, Dawn Dacanay, Manuel Dacanay, Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of Italy to the Philippines Giorgio Guglielmino, Regional Sales Director for Asia Pacific Martina Zonta, Dino Dacanay and Lucerne Group Fashion and Sport Head of Marketing Judith Staples

FROM left: Gabb Rosario, Victor Basa, Staples and Rey Talosig

The next big thing in fashion watches

By Maxine Mamba

OPHISTICATED and luxurious, D1 Milano’s exciting brand of premium fashion watches makes a splash in the Philippines. A native of one of the world’s fashion capitals, D1 Milano is an Italian watch manufacturer of premium fashion watches. Headed by a young Italian visionary, the brand is set to grow its reach this side of the world. Putting a premium on offering clients sophistication and luxury at accessible price points, D1 Milano comes out with a great selection of timepieces that appeal to both men and women. Headed by CEO Dario Spallone, a 26-year-old entrepreneur, D1 Milano started as a concept he came up with while he was studying in Bocconi University

in Milan. He tested his business idea at the Bocconi University Business Incubator in 2014, where it gained tremendous traction. In just a year, Dario had his company’s headquarters set up in the Dubai Design District in 2015 to turn what was originally his school project into a thriving global brand. While the brand is his original concept, Dario shares the praise with his team in growing D1 Milano into what it is today. “It is not a brand that draws its inspiration from my view or from any one individual view in particular, but it takes its inspirations from the synergy of all the team members involved.” Currently, the brand already has offices in Milan, Dubai and Hong Kong, proving its appeal and impressive growth. D1 Milano is currently available in over 500 sales points with a strong presence in monobrand stores, such as Luisa Via

TAURUS (April 20-May 20): You’ve got everything going for you, so don’t stop now. Forge into the future with optimism, confidence and a goal in mind. Your efforts will make a lasting impression on someone who wants to get to know you better. HHHHH

GEMINI (May 21-June 20): Be careful what you share with others. Someone will misinterpret your words or back you into a corner, putting you in a vulnerable position. If you want to make a change, do so secretively and avoid interference. A partnership will lack honesty. HHH

Roma, La Rinascente, Selfridges, Harvey Nichols GCC and Lane Crawford, to name a few. D1 Milano’s aesthetics are reminiscent of 1970s Italian fashion, which has become popular today. Featuring simple and clear lines, each D1 Milano watch is able to put better focus on the smaller details to make each piece more impactful and unique. From selecting the best materials to the finishes of the watches, the pieces exude pure Italian design that is admired by clients worldwide. There are four collections under the brand that caters to a wide variety of customers: The Polycarbon, Ultra Thin, P701, and The Super Slim. D1 Milano timepieces in the Philippines can be found at Swissgear Greenbelt 1, Wristpod Uptown Mall, Robinsons Ermita, SM Megamall, Swissgear SM North, Shangri-La Plaza and SM City North Edsa. n

CANCER (June 21-July 22): A call for help will be well-received. Don’t hesitate to invite others to take part in your plans. You’ll accomplish your goals and still get credit where credit is due. Make plans with someone you love, and celebrate what you’ve accomplished. HHH

LEO (July 23-Aug. 22): Assess situations carefully. Emotions will control you if someone tries to take over. Don’t trust a sales pitch regarding the cost of something. Get a quote in writing before you decide to go ahead with your plans. HHH

VIRGO (Aug. 23-Sept. 22): Participation is the name of the game if you want to reach your destination. Map out your plans, and go over every detail personally. You’ll get good results. A trade show or reunion you attend will encourage you to make personal changes. HHHHH

LIBRA (Sept. 23-Oct. 22): Monitor unstable domestic situations. Listen, observe and look for solutions without drawing attention to the way you feel or what you plan to do. Get your thoughts in place and your plans in order before taking action. HH

SCORPIO (Oct. 23-Nov. 21): A change of pace or more variety in your life will spark your imagination and creative ability. Consider your options and how best to turn your dreams into a reality. Get the ball rolling. HHHH

SAGITTARIUS (Nov. 22-Dec. 21): Take pride in what you do, or someone will complain or make you look bad. Personal improvements and focusing on inner growth will help you get a better idea of what you really want to do next. Don’t rely on others. HHH

HENANN Resort Alona Beach Bohol Front Office Manager April Talledo (from left), Philippine Ambassador to Turkey, Georgia and Azerbaijan Raul Hernandez and wife Maria Ana with Henann Resort Alona Beach Bohol Personnel Manager Ed Aniceto.

CAPRICORN (Dec. 22-Jan. 19): Make choices based on what and who you know. A change at home may not suit everyone, but with a friendly nudge, you will persuade others to pitch in and help you achieve your goals. Romance is encouraged. HHH

Always a holiday PREMIER resort Henann Resort Alona Beach Bohol (www. henann.com/bohol/henannalonabeach) continues to be the perfect choice for an unforgettable getaway. Managed by Henann Group of Resorts under the leadership of Chairman Dr. Henry Chusuey, President Alfonso Chusuey and Vice President for Marketing Karl Chusuey, the award-winning resort is of a lush 6.5-hectare property on the pristine shores of Alona Beach and boasts of top-notch facilities, including 400 luxurious rooms, convention center, luxury spa, three massive swimming pools and a wide range of dining outlets. Several diplomats, government officials, businessmen and celebrities have enjoyed an exceptional vacation at Henann Bohol, indulging in much-needed rest and relaxation.

AQUARIUS (Jan. 20-Feb. 18): Take a moment to consider what others want and how best to fit your needs and the needs of those you love into your plans. A change will lead to opportunity, new beginnings and less stress. HHH

PISCES (Feb. 19-March 20): Get involved in a group effort to make interesting connections that can help you achieve your personal goals. Taking better care of your health and physical well-being will be necessary if you want to avoid losing valuable time. HHHH HENANN Group of Resorts President Alfonso Chusuey

MISS Earth 2015 Angelia Ong and Henann Group of Resorts Vice President for Marketing Karl Chusuey

BIRTHDAY BABY: You are resourceful, innovative and energetic. You are impulsive and outgoing.

‘reprogramming’ BY RICH PROULX The Universal Crossword/Edited by David Steinberg

ACROSS 1 “Green Eggs and ___” 4 Black currant liqueur 10 Any entree 14 Cold and slippery 15 Nobody in particular 16 La Scala highlight 17 San Francisco’s ___ Hill 18 TV reboot about treating zombie apocalypse victims? 20 Hang loosely 22 Kennedy children’s stepfather 23 ...about Baltimore sewers? 27 Spoke like a lover 28 The “T” in ATM 32 Feel euphoric 36 Fill completely 37 Tint 38 Like life, some say 41 Lanka lead-in 42 ___-Eaters 44 Question of indignant surprise 46 Dr. Evil’s little clone 49 Bring out

50 ...about plane crash survivors in heaven? 55 Respects 58 Pound inhabitant 59 ...about drinking with friends in an NYC borough? 63 Trophy shape 64 ___ heads (clash) 65 Corona competitor 66 Point of no return? 67 Texter’s “Just sayin” 68 Noisy z’s 69 Neptune’s domain DOWN 1 Gandhi, religiously 2 Oak’s beginning 3 “Whoops!” 4 Its capital is Yaounde 5 Rioja bottle datum 6 Antonym’s opposite: Abbr. 7 ...---..., in Morse code 8 Following behind 9 Movie suggestion veto 10 Dated women?

1 Popular tax shelters, for short 1 12 “Sure thing, Joaquin!” 13 Derisive cries 19 Like some coins and stamps 21 Not just air-kiss 24 ___ avail 25 Warms 26 Enlightened 29 Batted hair, informally 30 To exist, to Sartre 31 Guiding strap 32 To ___ it may concern 33 German car brand 34 Trinity author Uris 35 Paranormal skeptic James 39 Post-op places 40 Congression-al breaks 43 Start tearing 45 Paintball mark 47 Das Kapital author 48 Constructs 51 Wan 52 SeaWorld stopped breeding them 53 Alfredo or marinara

4 Go-getter sort 5 55 Jacobson of Broad City 56 Tom-tom, e.g. 57 Insect drawn to light 60 “System” prefix 61 Corn unit 62 Waze way, briefly

Solution to yesterday’s puzzle:

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Relationships BusinessMirror

Friday, March 1, 2019

THAILAND AMBASSADOR JOINS TOURISM AUTHORITY OF THAILAND IN PROMOTING ‘LAND OF SMILES’ TO FILIPINOS

OFFERING Filipino travelers a little taste of the “Land of Smiles” in Manila, the Tourism Authority of Thailand (TAT, www.tourismthailand.org) made waves at the recently concluded Travel Tour Expo in Pasay City, where it was recognized as one of the best booth winners for the international category. In an event attended by media representatives and trade partners, the newly appointed Thailand Ambassador, Vasin Raungprateepsaeng, opened the Thailand pavilion which featured the colors of Thailand and its banner campaign— “Open to the New Shades,” a campaign that promotes the special offerings of Thailand for the LGBTQ community. “Thailand is a country that fully embraces its ‘Land of Smiles’ label, and we reflect this in our warm hospitality and reception to our visitors. In fact, this was the inspiration to our campaign: Open to the New Shades. We want to send the message that whoever you are, no matter where you come from, you will always find a reason to smile in Thailand,” said Kajorndet Apichartrakul, director for Singapore and the Philippines of the Tourism Authority of Thailand. Also present during the event was TV host Robi Domingo, who shared his Amazing Thailand stories during the program’s talk-show segment, talking about the country’s cultural offerings, natural beauty and wildlife. A destination known for its culinary, cultural and shopping offerings, Thailand also boasts of festivals that combine the best of Thailand’s arts, music, cuisine and hospitality— something that every traveler should experience all-year round. These include: the Pattaya International Music Festival in March, Songkran Festival in April, Ubon Ratchathani Candle Festival in July, Loy Krathong (Lantern Festival) in November and the Wonderfruit Music and Arts Festival in December, among others. While these festivals can be your top choices for a Thai getaway this year, there are still a lot more choice of months and places to go to. Whether you’re on a solo trip, an adventure with friends, or a family holiday, there’s a festival to provide the setting for your amazing story.

LAW PROTECTING CHILD SOLDIERS A VICTORY FOR THE PHILIPPINES—UNICEF

UNITED Nations children’s agency Unicef celebrates the passage of Republic Act 11188, or the Special Protection of Children in Situations of Armed Conflict Act, signed on January 10. The new law declares children as “zones of peace,” aimed at protecting children in situations of armed conflict from all forms of abuse and violence, and prosecute persons or groups violating the measure. A report published by the Office of the Special Representative of the UN Secretary-General for Children and Armed Conflict in 2018 revealed that there was a significant increase in the number of grave violations against children in situations of armed conflict in 2017, including 30 cases of recruitment and use of children by armed groups (a large number of which were linked to the Maute group), the detention of 12 children for their alleged association with armed groups, 33 verified cases of killing and maiming, three cases of rape in the context of the Marawi siege, 60 attacks on schools and hospitals (a substantial increase from 12 recorded cases in 2016), and five incidents of abduction. In 2017 Unicef and the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) completed the UN-MILF Action Plan to end recruitment and use of children, with 1,869 children disengaged from the MILF’s armed forces. The disengagement of these children facilitated their rights to health, education and protection. Unicef continues to follow the situation of these children, as well as their siblings, making family visits and facilitating their access to essential services. “The passage of this law is timely especially since we are celebrating the 30th anniversary of the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child [CRC], the most widely ratified treaty in the world. Children are innocent, they should not be in any way used as combatants and helpers, or become collateral damage,” Unicef Philippines Representative Lotta Sylwander says. The new law is part of the Philippines’s compliance with international obligations including the UN CRC, particularly the Optional Protocol on the Involvement of Children in Armed Conflict, the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights, the Convention Against Torture and other Cruel, Inhuman or Degrading Treatment or Punishment, and various UN Security Council resolutions related to children affected by armed conflict. Among the prohibited acts in the new law include killing, torture, intentional maiming, rape, abduction, recruitment of children into government armed forces and other armed groups, hamletting, food blockade, arbitrary detention and denial of humanitarian access. The age of protection from these enumerated grave child rights violations under the new law, including recruitment into armed groups and government forces, covers all minors or those below 18 years of age. Penalties go up to life imprisonment and a fine amounting to P5 million. The new law is also celebrated for its progressive and gender-sensitive provisions which includes guarantees of access to education of girls even in situations of armed conflict, as well as access to reproductive health services.

PERSONNEL at Ninoy Aquino International Airport’s Terminal 2 give a “hearty” welcome to the 5th Airbus A350-900 of Philippine Airlines after its arrival from Toulouse on February 20. The once familiar kissmark logo on the brand-new A350 Love Bus celebrates the PAL-Airbus partnership spanning 40 years. The first PAL Love Bus—an Airbus A300B4 aircraft that started flying in December 1979—was then a revolutionary wide-body jet with just two engines.

How does PAL love thee? Let it count the ways SOMETHING LIKE LIFE

MA. STELLA F. ARNALDO

@akosistellaBM

IONEERING flag carrier Philippine Airlines (PAL) is bringing love back at 30,000 feet, as it received the fifth of its Airbus 350 (A350) plane, sporting a familiar kiss mark to celebrate 40 years of “strong partnership” with the Toulouse-based aircraft manufacturer. The new plane, dubbed the Love Bus, harks back to an era of grand romance aboard the very first twin-engine, twin-aisle airplane, the Airbus A300B4 that PAL first flew in 1979. Back then, narrated PAL President Jaime J. Bautista at a press conference on Wednesday, the Love Bus “had a unique row of two seats located in a private corner of the cabin that we called the ‘Love Seats’ and offered to honeymooners and lovestruck couples. True story. We called it ‘Love at First Flight.’” For its 2019 iteration, the Love Bus will feature a 1-2-1 configuration in the business class with the Love Seats right smack in the middle, which still assures couples of the privacy they deserve. About 72 percent of PAL’s fleet is composed of Airbus planes. LARGEST SEAT SALE PAL is all about rekindling its love affair with its customers as well, as the carrier celebrates its 78th anniversary. So loyal patrons better brace for its largest seat sale ever come March 1. With over 2 million seats available, flights to a domestic destination can be had for just P78 (one way), and to international destinations for as low as $78 (one way). “PAL, the Philippines’s only four-star full-service airline, encourages Filipinos to fly the way they deserve and discover all the perks of flying with a world-class legacy carrier at surprisingly affordable fees,” said Vice President for Marketing Sylvia Ria C. Domingo at the same presscon. Ryan Uy, PAL’s VP for sales, added that of the 2 million seats up for grabs, roughly 40 percent, or 800,000 seats, are allocated for international destinations. He emphasized there would be no closeout periods for the flights as passengers will be able to fly even during holidays. Booking period for this seat sale is from March 1 to 16, and customers can fly from March 16 until December 31, 2019. IT UPGRADE PAL is also promising no more web site crashes and error messages when customers make bookings as it upgrades to a more advanced passenger service system, the Altea PSS Suite by Amadeus, as part of its

transformation toward becoming a five-star airline. The new computer system will allow PAL to offer a smoother experience when booking flights, getting our tickets, checking in, and boarding planes. “We may be Asia’s first and oldest airline, but we feel young, fresh and brand-new again, carrying out our mission as a full-fledged global carrier. We will harness the best of technology and an innovative spirit,” Bautista stressed. Some of the immediate benefits to passengers, he said, include easier booking and automated recognition of customer preferences; faster checkin process; improved online check-in experience; smoother transfers to connecting flights on partner airlines; real-time, personalized alerts for flight changes; online cash plus miles redemption for Mabuhay Miles members (in addition to redemption at ticket offices and PAL hotline); year-round redemption of Mabuhay Miles for any seat and any fare; and convenient purchase of tickets along with ancillary services in one transaction. The upgrade to the new system will take place in the third week of March. “We are looking forward to launching a more reliable and passengerfriendly system that is designed for the needs of our customers,” Bautista said. NEW PREMIUM ECONOMY SERVICE ANOTHER expression of PAL’s love for loyal customers, even as it entices new would-be passengers, is the introduction of a new Premium Economy section that enables smart, practical travelers to avail of a high-value in-flight alternative to full business class or mainstream economy class service. The section features a complete international travel experience from priority check-in to extracomfortable premium seats and an enhanced meal service in a private cabin onboard Airbus A350 and select A330 aircraft. Domestic passengers may also avail of upgraded service and extra-legroom seats on flights operated by A330, A321 Classic and Bombardier

Q400 Next Generation aircraft. “With the new Premium Economy experience, we are inviting our customers to enjoy an elevated level of comfort and convenience. This service innovation will build on the foundation of our solid network of international and domestic routes, which in turn are made possible by a fleet of versatile, advanced and customer-friendly airplanes,” Bautista announced. For her part, Domingo said, “PAL’s new Premium Economy Class is a smart choice that provides the best value for passengers looking for a more comfortable flight, whether they’re traveling for business or leisure. Our goal is to address the needs of all sectors of the aviation market, and this product offers the best of both worlds—a leveled-up experience from economy class with a touch of comfort and convenience from business class.” On international Premium Economy flights, passengers will enjoy extra spacious seats with a 38inch seat pitch, 8-inch recline, built-in legrests and footrests, and multiple stowage areas. The section also features an intimate and exclusive cabin; 13.3-inch myPAL eSuite personal screens with over 300 hours worth of in-flight entertainment—movies, TV and music; inflight Wi-Fi; premium in-flight service and amenities, such as welcome drinks and refreshing hot towels upon boarding, as well as an overnight amenity kit; premium meal service crafted by world-class chefs; plus priority check-in, boarding, and baggage handling services at the airport. The new Premium Economy will be available on flights to and from New York, London and Toronto via the Airbus A350, and to and from Honolulu, Auckland, Melbourne, Tokyo (Haneda), Tokyo (Narita), Osaka, Singapore, Bangkok and Hong Kong via the A330 TriClass aircraft. The Premium Economy class will also be available on certain domestic destinations, which use the Bombardier Q400NG, Airbus A321 Classic and A330 Bi-Class aircraft. As PAL comes a-courting with all these new products and innovations, there’s no doubt many of us will be giving it our sweetest “Yes!” n

FROM left: Eric Carl Tan, special assistant commercial group, Philippine Airlines; Ryan Uy, PAL vice president for sales; Dr. Jaime Bautista, PAL president and COO; Ria Domingo, PAL vice president for marketing and Jose Enrique Perez de Tagle, PAL vice president for corporate communication holds a miniature of a PAL A350 during the Philippine flag carrier’s 78th year. The press conference was held in Century Park Manila. NONIE REYES

Show BusinessMirror

Friday, March 1, 2019

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Jude Law gets all ‘Marvel’-ous COnTinUeD FROM D1

NADINE LUSTRE as Maya in Ulan

NADINE ON THE SOLO TRAIL IN ‘ULAN’

NADINE LUSTRE takes on the demanding role of Maya, the young woman alternately fascinated and fearful of rainfall in the latest film offering from Viva Films, Ulan. Written and directed by Irene Villamor, who earlier achieved critical and commercial success with Sid and Aya: Not A Love Story and Meet Me in St. Gallen, Ulan marks Nadine’s first acting venture without her usual screen partner James Reid. Nadine is a popular singer (“No Erase,” “Me and You,” “Bahala Na,” “Hanap-hanap”) and actress (Diary ng Panget, Never Not Love You, On The Wings of Love) who has also ventured into directing music videos (The Life, Summer). She puts her successful box-office reputation on the line and essays her most demanding role to date in Ulan. Maya grew up believing that the rain, in its various forms, has a massive effect on her life. She remains fearful that rainstorms can result in tragedy and, yet, is eagerly expectant of the romantic emotions that can come with a sweet kiss under the raindrops. How fate brings these about is the story told in Ulan. Ulan also stars Carlo Aquino, Marco Gumabao, AJ Muhlach, Joseph Elizalde, Ella Illano and Perla Bautista. The movie opens on March 13 nationwide.

Talk about the cast. Actors want to be in things that people see. They want to be in things that are popular. They want to be in safe hands, so that they know that their work is being well-treated and that they look great. That’s how you get the best out of them, so, of course, it’s going draw the top end. With this one, there’s no difference. Starting with Brie Larson, and obviously Sam Jackson, as soon as you hear that those two are at the center of the piece, you know it’s somewhere you want to be. You know you’re in good company. How’s it been like working with Brie Larson? It’s a good combination of fun. On the odd day that you get to play “tennis,” which the metaphor I use for acting, you want to play against someone who can raise your game. And Brie really led from the front. She arrives with a great spirit and really well prepared and is fun to be around, which is important. How did you build the chemistry for the Starforce? We were fortunate in that, we had quite a bit of time at the front where we had no scenes, but we were in each other’s lives rehearsing and so on. So there was an opportunity there to get to know each other. There was a very natural dynamic where, which I put down to really good casting, basically, but each person brought a different quality to the group as a whole. It helps when everyone’s incredibly approachable and friendly and fun, and that happens to be the case. We all sorted very quickly into our roles that we play as Starforce. When you act out the dynamics of a group that sort of permeates off-camera, as well. You become a unit. They’re the people you’re working with most. So, you happen to be that team that are always together whether it’s at five in the morning coming in to work or sharing our grievances about suits getting too hot. There’s nothing like that to bond a group of people. Do you find that putting on the costume transforms you? Absolutely. Yeah, costume always does that anyway. I’m always astounded at the power of seeing yourself for the first time in the costume that’s been decided on in its final stages. It gives you such assistance in finding a character and performing a character. I had several fittings, but the day it was finished, and I got to really sort of step back and look, it was so exciting. The attention to detail and the quality of the suits they make are just extraordinary.

Patricia Tumulak and her many roles TV host-actress Patricia Tumulak remains resolute in pursuing her love for acting and being an advocate of reading. The GMA Artist Center star plays Queenie in the newest GMA afternoon musical drama series, Inagaw na Bituin, which has been receiving praise and high ratings ever since it premiered. “Hard work definitely pays off. I’m happy that the viewers like and appreciate the show. I get more motivated to work. I’m extremely grateful and honored to be part of this stellar cast. I’m elated because it’s a good training ground for me to hone my skills in acting, plus I get to work with my idols in the industry,” she said. Patricia feels ecstatic as she challenges herself to do both of what she’s passionate about—acting and hosting. The immense support she’s surrounded with inspires her to explore her talent as she continues to hone her craft as an artist. “I’m so grateful sa GMA kasi they trust me when it comes to hosting and acting. So kahit anong ibigay na opportunity, I’ll do my best. Nakakataba rin ng puso ’yung love from my family, friends and viewers na hindi nagsasawang sumuporta.” Besides this, she makes sure to stay committed to her aspirations outside the entertainment scene. The enthusiasm she has for teaching, which she refers to as her first love, never goes away; it only continues to bloom and unravel new and exciting things for her. A graduate of Early Childhood Education, the GMA star aspires to put up her own preschool someday. She gets a big head start in putting her dreams into action as she carries out her passion project, “Push to Read.” “With my line of work now, I can’t do full time so I thought of making my own initiative wherein I can squeeze time in between work or during my free time to be with kids and educate them,” shared Patricia. Last year, she conducted her project in Bacolod, which motivated her to make Push to Read a nationwide project. “I gather kids from different barangays to conduct a storytelling. Aside from sharing my blessings, my mission is to instill the love of reading to kids by helping develop their imagination and creativity.” She hopes to share and pass down this advocacy to future generations as she plans to publish her own storybook in the coming years.

“BRIE [LARSON] really led from the front. She arrives with a great spirit and really well prepared and is fun to be around, which is important,” says Law about working with the Oscar-winning actress who stars as the title role in Captain Marvel. PHOTO COURTESY OF MARVEL STUDIOS

They look fantastic, and there’s a scale to everything that helps fill in certain areas. It also gives you the sense of formidable presence that Starforce has. Did you find that with Brie Larson as Captain Marvel? Yes, indeed. But what’s always wonderful is how they take what you remember from the comics and what probably appears if you look it up online and they just tweak it. They just add a kind of reality to it. And the colors they’ve chosen are obviously spoton. They’re the red, gold and blue of Captain Marvel, but they’ve just tweaked them a little and she looks fantastic in it.

What do you hope Captain Marvel brings to the Marvel Cinematic Universe? I think the origin of S.H.I.E.L.D. and how they start out and seeing them as sort of bright-eyed ingénues not really knowing that this super other world or worlds even exist is going to be wonderfully satisfying. I think having a character as powerful as Captain Marvel suddenly on the good side is wonderfully exciting. And I think the fact that since it’s a woman, there’s a fantastic sense of female strength and intelligence that’s really unique to this character and particularly to this film. I think it’s going to add a whole other string to their bow, if you like. n

Maja’s can-do spirit GAB FAB JET VALLE

@jetvalle

AJA SALVADOR is the first one to admit that she is not comfortable using the English language. In fact, during her stint in the defunct show Wild�lower, the actress took online courses to improve her diction since her character Lily Cruz had to say a handful of English lines. Now that she’s a judge in the dance reality program World of Dance (aired prime-time weekends on ABSCBN), she often jokes na “napapalaban na naman ako sa Inglisan dito” since her costars in the program (hosts Luis Manzano and Pia Wurtzbach, and co-judges Billy Crawford and Gary Valenciano) are very articulate when it comes to the English language. And more often than not, they would encounter a contestant who hails from another country trying his or her luck here in the Philippines. People have doubted Maja’s capacity as a judge, that while she is a capable dancer, many cited that she might not be able to express herself well when giving critiques. In social media, one even called this her weakness. Despite this “weakness,” I think Maja is a very good judge. Case in point was when a group of dancer kids came to audition. They were very good but one kid stumbled during the routine. Gary and Billy were very technical, citing the mistake, but Maja took it further and even encouraged the kids with a life lesson saying, “OK lang ’yun na nagkamali ka. Ang importante dun ay tinuloy mo ang pagsasayaw mo. Parang sa buhay lang ’yan. At tandaan mo yan paglaki mo na pag magkamali ka, ang importante ay ituloy mo lang ang laban at gawin mong tama.” That was such a touching moment and it made me realize that no matter what language you speak, it is very important to always be sincere and inspiring.

nnn GINA LOPEZ’S award-winning travel show G Diaries on ABS-CBN is going global with a partnership with the National Geographic Society (NatGeo) for its third season. Kicking-off on March 3 at 10 am, the new season of G Diaries will feature the eight communities

of I. L.O.V.E. (Investments in Loving Organizations for Village Economies) that won last year’s Quest for Love and will be getting technical and financial support for their proposed business and livelihood projects. In fulfilling its dream of “Creating a Planet in Balance,” NatGeo—known as a world leader in geography, cartography and exploration—has agreed to take part in transforming marginalized communities into successful and sustainable agroforestry, fisheries and ecotourism sites, by showcasing the beautiful I. L.O.V.E. sites through their identified media platforms and digital assets. These I. L.O.V.E. sites are in Tublay, Benguet; Bulusan, Sorsogon; Santa Cruz Island, Zamboanga; Polomolok, South Cotabato; Lake Sebu, South Cotabato; Simunul Island and Bongao, Tawi Tawi; Upi, Maguindanao; and Maramag, Bukidnon. “What we want to do in the program is create a model. We want to show that when the people care, when there’s someone who stands for integrity and love, you end up making more money, there will be peace and order, there will be good health,” Lopez said. FOX Networks Group Asia Senior Vice President and General Manager Jude Turcuato shared that Nat Geo and Lopez’s I. L.O.V.E. Foundation are the same in looking for change agents in the world, and he believes that by showing the stories of the eight communities, they can prove that change is possible. “Because our mandate is to really inspire people to care about the planet globally, we are now going to tell the story [of the communities in G Diaries] to not only the Philippines but we’re going to do our best to tell the story elsewhere so that people can see the model, especially if it works, and the whole world can know the great things that are happening in the Philippines,” he said. Lopez founded I. L.O.V.E. in 2017 to bring together private institutions, local government units, government agencies and ABS-CBN Lingkod Kapamilya’s Bantay Kalikasan to address the reality that although the Philippines boasts of a 6.7 percent gross domestic product growth and is seen to be one of the top 3 fastest-growing economies in Asia, the robust growth has not trickled down to the remotest areas of the country—fishermen, farmers, indigenous people and people in conflict areas.

MAJA SALVADOR

Motoring BusinessMirror

Henry Ford Awards Best Motoring Section 2007, 2008, 2009, 2010 2011 Hall of Fame

Editor: Tet Andolong

Friday, March 1, 2019 E1

TOYOTA UNVEILS

THE ALL-NEW HIACE Story & photos by Randy S. Peregrino

VER the past several years, we’ve seen Toyota introduce new generations of its respective models, but one particular model that has always been a part of our daily commuting and jaunts finally received the much-awaited transformation.

THE Commuter Deluxe variant

COMPLETELY redesigned dashboard (GL Grandia)

Recently, Toyota Motor Corp. and the country’s automotive industry leader Toyota Motor Philippines jointly unveiled the latest generation of the prime people mover—the all-new Hiace. In the vehicles’ 25-year stint, it has sold more than 135,650 units locally. In fact, in 2018 alone, the Hiace model topped the utility-van segment with an impressive 55.6-percent total market share. Interestingly, these outstanding figures made TMP as currently the leading distributor of the Hiace model outside Japan, out of 150 countries where it’s being sold. “We, at Toyota Motor Philippines, are honored to host the World Premiere of the All-New Toyota Hiace. For the first time, the world’s eyes are on the Philippines, to witness the unveiling of the Full Model Change Hiace, never before exhibited elsewhere,” said TMP President Satoru Suzuki. With the new Commuter Deluxe and GL Grandia, plus the bigger GL Grandia Tourer edition, Toyota is leveling up the mobility experience of every Filipino. Completely redesigned inside and out, the fresh look definitely possesses a European-inspired design approach. One prominent modification is the new semi-bonnet design. Different from all of its predecessor’s cab-over-engine layout, this new generation is the first to adapt this particular configuration. Both driver and front passenger can now experience improved ergonomics. This configuration also eliminates the heat and vibration emanating underneath the seats. More important, it offers better engine serviceability. Matching the fresh front end are the pronounced multilayered grille and bumper. Differentiat-

ing the GL Grandia variants are the vertical LED Daytime Running Lights and fog lamps in the bumper complementing the new broader headlights. Its highly rigid frame still hails the brand’s known commercial vehicle heritage with bold but clean character lines sweeping through horizontally, fashioning a strong and stable image. The rear end, meantime, has chamfered rear combination lamps supplementing its three-dimensional presence. Overall, both the Commuter Deluxe and GL Grandia are significantly longer and wider than its respective predecessors. As for the GL Grandia Tourer, it boasts over 400 millimeters of extra length and is almost 300 mm taller, with a 650 mm longer wheelbase. That’s about an extra row of seats. Interior-wise, another major change is the dashboard layout. With the engine now mounted at the front, the new two-toned dashboard is now levelled higher and with the steering wheel facing the driver. Noteworthy is the more prominent center panel fitted with two-din audio head units (touchoperated infotainment for the higher variants). The shift lever is also fitted in the panel’s lower portion and closer to the driver. Obviously, leg rooms for both driver and front passenger were greatly improved. Even the front doors and side sliding gate now both have wider door steps for easier ingress and egress. Moreover, there are strategically positioned assist grips and an illuminated entry system. The expanded cabin space can now comfortably seat passengers even better thanks to the additional width and headroom. Fifteen people will no longer feel cramped occupying the Commuter Deluxe’s

THE massive GL Grandia Tourer variant

THE GL Grandia variant

2.8-LITER 1GD-FTV turbodiesel engine series

MORE spacious with comfier seats (GL Grandia Tourer)

passenger section with large overhead and console trays. As for the GL Grandia, 12 occupants can enjoy the new two-toned and wellpadded seats with plush headrests. With the GL Grandia Tourer, having an extra row of seats, 14 occupants will definitely enjoy the comfy seats and tall headroom. All these are matched with a comfier ride thanks to the improved overall suspension to totally eliminate the commuting burden of drivers and passengers. With new design also comes a new powertrain. The all-new Hiace is powered by the same potent 2.8-liter 1GD-FTV turbodiesel engine series utilized in the new-generation Hilux, Fortuner and Innova. But just like with the

diesel-powered Innova, the motor output has been lowered to match the application. Further, the output for the three variants also differs. Spec sheet-wise, both the GL Grandia and Commuter Deluxe share an output of 176 hp with 450 N-m and 420 N-m of maximum torque, respectively. As for the bigger GL Grandia Tourer, its motor’s output is at 163 hp and 420 N-m of maximum torque. Both the higher variants are being offered with a six-speed automatic and manual transmission options, while the Commuter Deluxe is available only with six-speed manual gearbox. As for safety, the all-new Hiace is equipped with advanced safety features such as the first-in-the-

class center-seat airbag for front center passengers. That’s a total of three Supplemental Restraint System airbags for the Commuter Deluxe, while the GL Grandia and GL Grandia Tourer variants have two. Likewise, both higher variants are equipped with Vehicle Stability Control, Hill Start Assist, AntiLock Brake System and Emergency Brake Signals. The Commuter Deluxe, on the other hand, also has Anti-Lock Brake System and Emergency Brake Signals. Available colors for each variant and its respective price points are as follows: GL Grandia Tourer A/T with Luxury Pearl Toning (P2.235 million), Silver Mica Metallic and Light

Blue Metallic (P2.220 million), GL Grandia Tourer M/T with Luxury Pearl Toning (P2.160 million), Silver Mica Metallic and Light Blue Metallic (P2.145 million); GL Grandia A/T with Luxury Pearl Toning (P2.063 million), Silver Mica Metallic and Light Blue Metallic (P2.048 million), GL Grandia M/T with Luxury Pearl Toning (P1.988 million), Silver Mica Metallic and Light Blue Metallic (P1.973 million) and Commuter Deluxe Silver Mica Metallic and White (P1.590 million). Both the Commuter Deluxe and the GL Grandia will be available in all Toyota dealerships nationwide starting on March 5, 2019, while the GL Grandia Tourer will be available on the following month.

Moto

Business

E2 Friday, March 1, 2019

THE newly opened Foton Bacoor

AADI (Foton Bacoor) President Paul Angelo Tionson (left), FMPI President Rommel Sytin, Dealer Principal Juanito Tionson and Estelito Mendoza during the signing of dealership agreement

FMPI VP for Dealer Development Alvin Lu (left), Bacoor City Board Member Aba Gawaran, AADI (Foton Bacoor) President Paul Angelo Tionson, FMPI President Rommel Sytin, Cavite Vice Gov. Jolo Revilla, Dealer Principal Juanito Tionson, Dorothy Tionson, Councilor Venus de Castro and Estelito Mendoza during the ribbon-cutting ceremony

THE newly opened 5.7-kilometer Segment 10 promises to decongest traffic in Valenzuela

oring

sMirror

Friday, March 1, 2019

THE display area for trucks

THE state-of-the-art service area with available 10 bays

SHELL Helix Service Centre head mechanic Benigno â&#x20AC;&#x153;Kuya Bennyâ&#x20AC;? Cruz

Motoring BusinessMirror

E4 Friday, March 1, 2019

Toyota marks history with the All-New Hiace launch

RAFFIC snarls have also started to bedevil Davao City, according to my good friend Ken Angeles, the jolly, humble and proud owner of Yellow Fin Tuna Restaurant near Eco Land not far from Matina. “But it is not as worse as the traffic jams in your Edsa in Metro Manila,” said the Alphard-driven Ken, whose famous restaurant has expanded tremendously (it now has three branches located strategically in Duterte country). Another one will soon rise in Buhangin resort going toward Toril near the enchanting Apo Golf Club. Ah, Apo Golf Club, the famed Mindanao layout that has produced golf legends like many-time national players and multi-winners of major events like Cassius Casas and Antonio “Onyot” Lascuña. Include Bong Lopez, the many-time coach of national golf teams. And what brought me again to that bustling city also known as the City of Durian last weekend? I attended the wake and inurnment on Saturday of my dearest friend, Atty. Domeng Duerme, the

former PAL vice president who succumbed to liver cancer. When his illness was diagnosed, he was given six months to live. Grisly. In less than a month after receiving the gruesome news, Domeng expired, leaving one and all in shock. In my 30-plus years of friendship with Domeng, he has my irreversible vote as the most humble person that ever roamed this earth. Please say a little prayer for Domeng, whose cool demeanor was without equal.

Hiace world premier

TOYOTA Motor Philippines (TMP) made motoring history again last week when its All-New Hiace had its world premier at the Grand Hyatt Manila in Bonifacio Global City, Taguig. The occasion marked the first time globally that a major Toyota model was unveiled in the Phil-

ALFRED TY, TMP vice chairman, framed by a photog’s arms during the Hiace launch

ippines—a screaming proof of how our country has made an impact on the automotive industry worldwide. The next Hiace launch is in South Africa and the third in Thailand. Read the speech of TMP President Satoru Suzuki to learn more about the sixth-generation Hiace: “To our esteemed guests from the media, Mr. Satoshi Ogiso, operating officer, Toyota Motor Corp.; Mr. Takuo Ishikawa, chief engineer, Toyota Motor Corp.; Mr. Alfred V. Ty, vice chairman, Toyota Motor Philippines; “Fellow Toyota officers and team members, good afternoon. “Thank you very much for joining us on this special occasion. The first quarter of Toyota’s 2019 is indeed full of surprises, and as

you may already have guessed, this event is more than just a regular media launch. Today, we are making history. “We, at Toyota Motor Philippines, are honored to host the world premier of the All-New Toyota Hiace. For the first time, the world’s eyes are on the Philippines, to witness the unveiling of the Full Model Change Hiace, never before exhibited elsewhere. And yes, this also means that you, our media friends who are here with us today, are among the first to personally see this latest product innovation from Toyota. “Allow me to take this opportunity to thank our colleagues from Toyota Motor Corp. for handing us the privilege to host this momentous event. “The debut of the All-New Hiace comes at an opportune time

for TMP—right when we are celebrating our 17th consecutive Triple Crown victory. This model has proven to be the most popular utility van in the country, achieving a total market share of 56 percent in the utility van segment last 2018. Toyota Motor Philippines is proud to be the No. 1 distributor of the Hiace outside Japan, out of 150 other countries in the world where the model is present. “The Hiace model has a long and meaningful history with the Filipino. Since its introduction in 1994, the Hiace has been bringing people closer together by taking them to adventures and experiences, leading to wonderful memories that last a lifetime. Countless smiles and laugher are shared among family and friends inside the Toyota Hiace—road trips and

VESPA NOTTE IS NOW AVAILABLE

vacations are all made more special. We also recognize the Hiace’s role in nation-building, and how it helps the public and private sectors improve their daily operations to bring more satisfaction to everyone. “It is our goal to continue this legacy with an even better Hiace. Owing it to our loyal customers, the All-New Hiace is redesigned and reengineered to provide more comfort and convenience, not only to its passengers but also to its drivers. The All-New Hiace comes with advanced safety features, and offers better efficiency and reliability. It has always been part of Toyota’s vision to improve mobility through innovative products that give the most value. “The story of the Hiace and the Filipino people continues today. We hope that the All-New Hiace brings more smiles, support more livelihood, connects more communities, and empowers more citizens. We, at Toyota, are very happy that the Hiace is a big part of Filipino culture and society. To return the favor, with today’s event, we humbly give the Philippines a rightful place in the Toyota Hiace history. “In closing, I thank everyone once again, and welcome you all to the new age of the Toyota Hiace.” PEE STOP My good friend Charlie “The Rock Star” Erojo of Davao City had a traffic-free drive aboard his Vios from the Davao International Airport, where he is a top gun at MacroAsia, to the Cosmopolitan to attend the wake of Atty. Domeng Duerme last weekend. “First time it happened to me in my almost 36 years of being an airport man,” said Charlie. “I’m sure my former boss, Atty. Duerme, had cleared the road of traffic for me.” Amen.

Fits like a glove

W T

HE Vespa Notte special series is dedicated to those who love attention to detail and meticulous finish of high-quality products that are a pleasure to own and show off. Vespa Notte is the special series available for Vespa Sprint (150 cc versions) and for Vespa GTS Super (300 cc versions), and is therefore based on the technical and mechanical foundation of the most recent large frame Vespa scooters. The name selected for this series is a fitting introduction to its décor, characterized by total black graphics. The “nighttime” style pairs the beautiful new opaque black of the chassis with numerous glossy black details, including the mirrors, the ornaments of the classic “tie” on the front shield, the handlebar ends, the passenger handle and the extractable footpegs of the GTS Super Notte. Refined details include a saddle dedicated to each model and a plate with the logo placed on the rear shield. The rims and muffler guard are also glossy black.

Different engines

VESPA Sprint Notte is available with 150

cc engine, which is part of the cutting-edge family of Piaggio i-get engines. The 150 cc is the head of the i-get engine family: it is a single-cylinder, air-cooled, four-stroke engine equipped with electronic injection and 3-valve distribution. Each detail from the exhaust to the inner structure of the transmission casing was designed to provide a smooth, quiet and comfortable ride. A remarkably environment-friendly engine capable of performance at the top of its category: the power and maximum torque are 9.5 kW at 7750 rpm and 12.8 N-m at 6,500 rpm. These figures work with the proverbially light weight of all Vespa scooters to give the Vespa Sprint Notte a particularly lively acceleration. The Vespa GTS 300 Super Notte has a modern, high-tech, single-cylinder, 4-stroke, 4-valve, liquid-cooled, electronic injection engine capable of putting out 15.6 kW (21.2 hp) at 7,750 rpm and a maximum torque of 22 N-m at just 5,000 rpm. Such figures ensure prompt acceleration and particularly brilliant performance, making the large frame special version Vespa the perfect vehicle to move about comfortably both in city traffic and for outdoor travel.

ITH countless hours spent on research and development in Thailand, Hippo Industries 3D digital mapped techmats are the most affordable and best designed in comparison to its nearest competitor, which is double the price. It is also the techmats of choice of automotive dealers due to its competitive pricing and innovative material Thermo Plasti Vulcanisil B, which is weatherand scratch-proof. Hippo techmats are designed to precisely fit specific vehicles, providing edgeto-edge coverage of the foot wells. Aside from being the most affordable 3D digital mapped floormats in the market today, Hippo also have raised edges around their perimeters to trap and contain liquid. All of this better protects your car’s carpets from water, dirt, mud and other messy things that can get trapped into the vehicle’s carpets or spilled onto the floor. Hippo Floormats have precise fitments for the Mitsubishi Montero, Toyota Fortuner, Ford Everest, Honda Civic, Mobilio, BRV, new CRV, Chevrolet variants, and pickups such as the Toyota Hi-Lux, Mitsubishi Strada, Ford Ranger, the new Nissan Terra SUV and GTR, and even the Honda Civic Type R. Check out a full range of luggage, offroad accessories and floormats at the GW2 Trading Corp. showroom at 16B Kabignayan Street, Barangay Doña Josefa, Quezon City.