BusinessMirror March 02, 2022 by BusinessMirror

Growth won’t slow after polls–think tank By Cai U. Ordinario

@caiordinario

HILIPPINE economic growth is not expected to slow—unless inflation breaches 4 percent—even after the elections this year because of the momentum provided by the substantial jobs creation in December, according to First Metro Investment Corp.-University of Asia and the Pacific (FMIC-UA&P) Capital Markets Research. In its latest Market Call report, the local think tank said even with the expected slowdown of consumption after the elections, the economy is still poised to register a growth of 6 to 7 percent this year, faster than the 5.6 percent posted last year. However, FMIC-UA&P Capital Markets Research said inflation of above 4

percent fueled by high oil prices could prevent the government from attaining its growth targets this year. “Should crude oil prices remain longer at elevated levels, as the Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries [OPEC] maintained their monthly output reduction of 400,000 barrels/day levels, these may challenge our safe 3.7-percent full-year inflation forecast,” the think tank said. “A return to above-4 percent inflation, however, could keep growth below government target.” The primary driver of the economy, especially in the first quarter of the year, are the 797,000 jobs in December which brought the total fourth-quarter gain in jobs to 2.7 million. The jobs created in the last quarter of the year, the think tank said, was the main factor behind the

7.7-percent growth in GDP. This has also helped increase total employment to 46.3 million. This is the reason FMIC-UA&P Capital Markets Research said the Omicron variant of Covid-19 will not be able to dampen the country’s growth prospects. The think tank said growth will still be robust even if there was a surge in Covid-19 cases in January. “We do not think that the spike in Covid-19 Omicron variant cases, and corresponding stricter lockdown for three weeks in January would prove sufficient to retard the growth momentum established in the second half of 2021,” the think tank said. “We have observed lax enforcement of the lockdowns after a few days, and firms seemed less fazed by the renewed restrictions. Besides, the scientific evidence appears that the

Omicron variant, while more contagious, appears much less lethal, and less demanding on hospital services,” it added. FMIC-UA&P Capital Markets Research also believes the elections will not be a factor in slowing the government’s big-ticket projects. In fact, the think tank believed construction will re-emerge as a key growth driver for the economy. It also said the manufacturing sector will likely continue to grow in the first semester of the year, despite the usual slowdown in January after the Christmas holidays. Further, the think tank said, the passage of the amendments to the definition of public utilities and the lowering of the investment required for retail firms could increase foreign investments in the country this year.

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Wednesday, March 2, 2022 Vol. 17 No. 145

P25.00 nationwide | 2 sections 22 pages | 7 days a week

PHL’S FEB PMI UP TO 52.8 ON EASED COVID CURBS

HE easing of mobility restrictions paved the way for higher manufacturing output growth last month, the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) said. The latest IHS Markit report noted that the country’s purchasing manager’s index (PMI) soared to a high of 52.8 in February, an improvement from 50 the previous month, and also the highest since December 2018. A country’s PMI determ ines t he hea lt h of its manufacturing sector and is calculated as a weighted average of five individual subcomponents. Readings below 50 show deterioration

SAN Juan City Mayor Francis Zamora leads the inspection of a tricycle terminal in Bagong Plaza as the government lowers the Covid alert status to Level 1 in Metro Manila and 38 areas starting March 1. Tricycles are now allowed to ferry three passengers at a time, as opposed to a single passenger in the past one and a half year, severely limiting drivers’ income in order to enforce health protocols. BERNARD TESTA By Bernadette D. Nicolas

@BNicolasBM

HE national government capped 2021 with a new recordhigh budget deficit of P1.67 trillion, as the government continued to spend more for its Covid-19 initiatives, including vaccine procurement and support for the lending assistance programs of government financial institutions. See “Budget,” A2

in the industry while readings above the 50 threshold signal growth in the manufacturing sector. “The climb in the country’s PMI in February is a result of the consistent and sustained efforts, together with the continued cooperation of our countrymen, in working towards the recovery of our economy. Last month’s performance is an indication of the sector’s solid growth in output, new orders, and exports, thanks to easing of mobility curbs as the Omicron surge fades,” Trade Secretary Ramon Lopez said. See “PMI,” A2

BSP seen to keep key rates at 2% in first half By Tyrone Jasper C. Piad @Tyronepiad

HE Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas (BSP) is likely to keep policy rates at 2 percent in the first half given the current domestic liquidity level, according to First Metro Investment Corp. (FMIC) and University of Asia and the Pacific (UA&P). In their “The Market Call: Capital Markets Research” February issue, the think tanks are expecting the same overnight reverse repurchase facility in the near term. “With M3 [domestic liquidity]

growth still at a single-digit pace and a bit stuck around 8 percent year-on-year, and the economy just showing more signs of a robust recovery, we think BSP will keep policy rates in H1 [first half] despite a likely 50 bps [basis points] uptick in US Fed’s benchmark rate for the same period,” they explained. Latest data from BSP showed that domestic liquidity rose by 9.8 percent year-on-year to P15.3 trillion in January. Month-on-month growth settled at 2.8 percent. In a policy meeting last month, the Monetary Board (MB) kept the interest rate on the BSP’s

overnight reverse repurchase facility at 2 percent. The interest rates on the overnight deposit and lending facilities were likewise maintained at 1.5 percent and 2.5 percent, respectively. BSP Governor Benjamin Diokno earlier said the MB observed that the domestic economic recovery may have gained traction, but uncertainty still lingers due to the potential emergence of new Covid-19 variants. “Elevated global commodity prices, heightened geopolitical tensions, and the uneven pace

of vaccinations across countries could dampen the outlook for global economic recovery,” he said. “On balance, the Monetary Board deems it prudent to maintain the BSP’s accommodative policy stance given a manageable inflation environment and emerging uncertainty surrounding domestic and global growth prospects,” Diokno continued. Meanwhi le, t he FMIC and UA&P study said that inflation may be manageable for most of this year.

PESO exchange rates n US 51.3850 n japan 0.4468 n UK 68.9741 n HK 6.5761 n CHINA 8.1434 n singapore 37.9337 n australia 37.3158 n EU 57.6694 n SAUDI arabia 13.6968

See “BSP,” A2

Source: BSP (1 March 2022)

Wednesday, March 2, 2022

BusinessMirror

More Ukraine OFWs due in Mla; PHL slams Russian invasion

By Malou Talosig-Bartolome

WELVE Filipino workers and a Filipino-Ukrainian toddler, who fled while Ukraine was being attacked by Russian forces last week, were expected to arrive in Manila Tuesday night, the Department of Foreign Affairs announced, as the Philippine government voted “yes” to a UN resolution condemning the invasion of the Eastern European nation.

“The Philippines votes Yes to the UNGA [UN General Assembly] resolution and expresses explicit condemnation of the invasion of Ukraine,” the DFA statement read hours before the emergency session of the world body. The OFWs due Tuesday night, meanwhile, are part of the 40 evacuees who left capital Kyiv for the western city of Lviv Saturday. They arrived in Poland Sunday

and were welcomed by Foreign Affairs Secretary Teodoro Locsin Jr. himself at the Poland-Ukraine border. They were expected to arrive in Manila around 9:35 pm Tuesday via Emirates flight EK2023. This is the second batch of Pinoy repatriates from Ukraine. The first batch left Ukraine a few days before Russia announced the invasion.

The Philippine Embassy in Warsaw facilitated their travel and flight documents, as well as their stay in a hotel in Warsaw. The DFA, meanwhile, shouldered the cost for their repatriation, including transport expenses from Kyiv to Warsaw, food and accommodation in both Lviv and Warsaw cities, RT-PCR tests, and the airfare to Manila. The 27 others evacuees who stayed in Lviv are still hesitant to return to the Philippines. It is believed more than 100 Filipinos are still trapped in Ukraine. The DFA statement shared with media late on Monday neither mentioned Russia nor Putin, whom President Duterte had earlier described as his “friend.” Still, the Philippines alluded to the European superpower for using the anti-Kyiv and separatist sentiments in the Donetsk and Luhansk oblasts as a pretext to invade Ukraine. “We especially condemn the use of separatism and secession as a weapon of diplomacy for inviting and inflicting terrible cruelties and indiscriminate killings far in excess of that of any other kind of conflict. We saw this in the Balkans and in Africa,” the DFA said.

“We appeal for the protection of civilians and civilian infrastructure. We strongly urge the cessation of hostilities; but while an offense can be stopped at will the defense cannot rest until the offense stops,” it said. Manila also asked the international community to provide “massive assistance commensurate with the growing humanitarian crisis.” It called for “respect of humanitarian principles to protect civilians and civilian infrastructures in Ukraine,” echoing the UN Secretary General’s appeal. “Safe access to humanitarian assistance must be assured by the most effective means,” the statement added.

PMI. . . Continued from A1

He said the manufacturing and export activities have been allowed to have 100-percent operating capacity even before the shift to Alert Level 2. “Thus, with the recent de-escalation of Metro Manila and other provinces to Alert Level 1, we expect March PMI to remain above 50 on sustained manufacturing growth recovery, underpinned by economic reopening and greater mobility,” he added. According to the DTI, the latest report “showed a resumption of improvement in the Philippines manufacturing sector and indicated the strongest improvement in the health of the sector since December 2018.” The growth in manufacturing activities, in addition, were also driven by both output and new orders. IHS Markit obser ved that the increase in new orders and buying activity of the manufacturers took cues from recovering domestic demand. This, after the country was hit by the Typhoon Odette and struggled with the recent surge of Covid-19 cases due to the Omicron variant. “We look forward to a full economic recovery this year as we recently deescalated to Alert Level 1. Barring other issues, we project to surpass the 2019 GDP levels this year and we remain committed to strengthening our efforts and in adapting our responses to ensure the safety of our countrymen as we reopen more sectors,” Lopez said. Metro Manila and other areas are under Alert Level 1 from March 1 to March 15. Tyrone Jasper C. Piad

BSP. . . Continued from A1

“Based on 2012 base year [old base], we expected inflation to ease most of 2022 and average 3.7 percent in 2022 after allowing for elevated crude oil prices that spill over into other consumer goods and services. The change in the base year to 2018, but without detailed CPI [consumer price index] data prior to 2020, and should crude oil prices remain above $85/barrel could challenge our forecast,” the report said. In February, the BSP forecast inflation to average 3.7 percent this year, higher than the previous 3.4-percent outlook, due to higher global commodity prices, oil products in particular.

www.businessmirror.com.ph

Budget. . . Continued from A1

With government spending outpacing its revenue collection, budget deficit as a share of the economy last year also soared to an unprecedented level of 8.61 percent of GDP, based on data from the Bureau of the Treasury. While these levels are below the government’s deficit ceiling for the year pegged at P1.86 trillion or 9.5 percent of GDP, the figures have eclipsed the previous record-high deficit of P1.37 trillion, or 7.6 percent of GDP, in 2020. Government expenditures in the second year of the Covid-19 pandemic soared by 10.6 percent to P4.68 trillion from P4.23 trillion a year ago, but this is slightly below the P4.74 trillion full-year program. Apart from continued spending for various recovery measures, infrastructure and other capital expenditures, as well as higher internal revenue allotment shares of local government units following the implementation of the Supreme Court’s Mandanas ruling contributed to the growth in disbursements for the year. Meanwhile, revenues collected by the government rose by 5.24 percent to P3 trillion from P2.86 trillion in 2020. Bulk of the revenues or P2.078 trillion came from the Bureau of Internal Revenue (BIR), but the agency narrowly missed its fullyear target of P2.081 trillion. However, this is 6.51 percent higher than its P1.95-trillion collection last year. The Bureau of Customs (BOC) raked in P643.6 billion, exceeding its P616.7-billion target for the year and also up from its actual collection of P537.7 billion last year. For December alone, the budget shortfall widened to P338 billion from P302.6 billion in the same month last year as

expenditures grew while revenues dropped. In its December 2021 meeting, the government’s economic team projected the budget deficit for this year to reach P1.65 trillion or 7.7 percent of GDP. Economists also said they expect a narrower budget deficitto-GDP ratio this year as the economy recovers. UnionBank Chief Econonist Carlo Asuncion said the deficit ratio this year will ease to 8.1 percent of GDP, lower than last year’s 8.61 percent. “It’s better than the 2021 actual. We think spending pressures are still there but the economic recovery can easily offset revenue shortfa ll. However, careful consideration should still be applied as the country navigates through another external supply shock, that is, Ukraine invasion,” Asuncion told the BusinessMirror. ING Bank economist Nicholas Mapa said he expects both the deficit and debt ratios to improve as revenue collections normalize and the economy grows faster. “[The] incoming administration, however, must balance the need to address these fiscal concerns with the need to carry out crucial spending to still support the growth momentum. Failure to reign in or rationalize spending may lead to these ratios increasing or not falling fast enough to escape possible downgrades from credit ratings agencies.” Ateneo de Manila University John Gokongwei School of Management Dean Luis F. Dumlao said the reopening of the economy would pave the way for the narrowing of the debt and deficit ratios. He expects the deficit ratio to go back to pre-pandemic levels or to 3 percent as soon as 2023. As for the debt-to-GDP ratio, Dumlao said it may take more than a decade to bring this down to prepandemic levels or to 40 percent.

Three Panabo City drivers cited for honesty By Manuel T. Cayon

@awimailbox Mindanao Bureau Chief

AVAO CITY—Three drivers were honored in Panabo City for honesty. One drives a pedicab, another one a truck and the third one drives a multicab. Junifel B. Toledo, a pedicab driver, found a mobile phone along the highway on February near where his passenger just alighted in front of the Somoso Hospital. He picked it up phone which moments later began to ring. He said he did not answer it because he did not know how to use a mobile phone. The phone owner, Princess Amor Devera, said she did not know the phone had slipped through her pocket while she was about to go inside her car. Toledo went to a phone technician who helped him contact Devera. Earlier, truck driver Mario Pernites Jr. found a sling bag that contained a passport, SSS ID, vaccination card and a wallet with P300 cash. The city government report did not say where and when Pernites found the bag but it said the driver had returned the bag on February 5 to its owner identified as Jennifer Quintero, an online seller. And also much earlier, on January 30, multicab driver Bonifacio Mahinay was traversing a street to ferry his passengers when he saw a mobile phone dropped from a female passenger at the back of a tricycle. He said he stopped and picked up the phone and went back to his passenger jeep to follow the tricycle but lost sight of it when he got stuck in traffic and the tricycle was nowhere to be seen. He proceeded to his destination toward Dapco Terminal to drop his passengers. His daughter helped him contacted the owner of the phone, identified as Hazel L. Teves, a maestra of Cagangohan Elementary School, who said she was going to the Water District that time. It took some more days to meet due to conflict of schedule. When they met, he ask for apology for returning it late to the teacher and admitted he was afraid of getting arrested for the delay. On February 14, Executive Secretary Josie Mary Relampagos awarded Pernites, a resident of Villarosa, and Mahinay, of Purok 1, Barangay Dalisay with kilos of rice, token, plaque of appreciation and personalized mug. Mahinay was also given cash by the owner of the phone. Toledo was also recognized by the city government a day later.

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Eisma resigns as SBMA chair, administrator

Biggest revamp: Carlos reshuffles key PNP positions ahead of May 9 elections By Rene Acosta @reneacostaBM

HILIPPINE National Police (PNP) chief General Dionardo Carlos has implemented his biggest revamp of the police organization by reassigning or even designating senior officials to key positions in the PNP. The PNP however maintained that the reorganization was prompt-

RESIGNED SBMA chief Wilma T. Eisma By Henry Empeño Correspondent

UBIC BAY FREEPORT—Lawyer Wilma T. Eisma, the first woman to head the Subic Bay Metropolitan Authority (SBMA), resigned her position as SBMA chief on Monday, citing health and family reasons. In a news statement released by her office on Monday afternoon, Eisma said she was stepping down as chairman and administrator of the Subic agency effective March 1. She said President Duterte has accepted her resignation, which she said has been submitted to Malacañang last October. “Unbeknown to most of you, I have given my notice of resignation as SBMA chief as early as October 2021 to President Duterte to focus on my health and family,” Eisma said. “At that time, President Duterte did not acquiesce to my decision, but at this time, thankfully, he favored my renewed request,” she added. Duterte first appointed Eisma as SBMA administrator and chief executive officer in December 2016, along with now Local Government Undersecretary Martin B. Diño, who was signed in as chairman. In September 2017, however, Diño was moved to the Department of the Interior and Local Government, and Eisma took over as chairman and administrator. Eisma will leave the SBMA after steering the Subic agency during two years of the Covid-19 pandemic, wherein she initiated proactive measures to ensure both community safety and business sustainability. The outgoing SBMA chief was replaced by former Olongapo City mayor Rolen Paulino Sr., who took his oath of office as SBMA chairman and administrator also on Monday afternoon. Eisma on Tuesday posted on social media a picture of her and Paulino at the Malacañang grounds. She also informed the SBMA management staff on Monday that Malacañang “just swore in your new CHAD [chairman and administrator], former Mayor Rolen Paulino Sr.” “I expect that you will give him all the support as you have given me,” she told SBMA managers. In her public statement, Eisma also thanked Subic stakeholders for their “support and pride in what we have done in the five years that we worked together.” “I now leave the Subic Bay Freeport with a happy heart, knowing that together we have set realistic goals and achieved them. Without a doubt, we have made our mark well,” Eisma said. “It will always be my honor not only to be the first woman appointed to this job, but also to be one leader who proved that together, the stakeholders of Subic Bay will always be stronger, and will always overcome,” she added.

Editor: Vittorio V. Vitug • Wednesday, March 2, 2022 A3

ed by the impending retirement of Gen. Joselito Vera Cruz, the number two man of the PNP, who will bow out of service on March 8. Based on the order of Carlos that became effective on Tuesday, Major Gen. Vicente Danao, chief of the National Capital Region Police Office (NCRPO) has been designated as chief of the directorial staff, which is the fourth highest position in the PNP. Danao’s assumption of his new

position was a result of the elevation of Major Gen. Rhodel Sermonia as the deputy chief for operations or the number three man in the organization following the designation of Lt. Gen Ephraim Israel Dickson as the deputy chief for administration. Dickson’s post, which is the second highest in the PNP, was vacated by Vera Cruz who had been put on a non-duty status leading to his upcoming retirement.

Major Gen. Felipe Natividad, who is the commander of the Special Action Force, and whose post was assumed by Brig. Gen. Patrick Villacorte, replaced Danao at the NCRPO. On the other hand, Carlos reassigned to his office Major Gen. Albert Ignatius Ferro, whose office, the Criminal Investigation and Detection Group (CIDG), is investigating the kidnapping and disappearance of 31 “sabungeros.”

Brig. Gen. Eliseo Cruz, who came from the Area Police Command-Visayas, replaced Ferro. Others who have been named to new posts were Major Gen. Joseph Ulysses Goel and Brig. Generals Remus Zacharias Canieso, Filmore Escobal, Benjamin Silo Jr., Harris Fama, Prexy Tanggawohn, Westrimundo Obinque and Emmanuel Peralta; and Colonels Jonathan Cabal and Jonathan Bernaldez Abella.

250 more cases involving SC asked to stop Comelec from tearing down drug ops to be endorsed to poll materials posted in private properties NBI for probe–Guevarra S By Joel R. San Juan @jrsanjuan1573

USTICE Secretary Menardo Guevarra disclosed before the United Nations Human Rights Council (UNHRC) on Tuesday that the Department of Justice (DOJ) review panel is set to endorse to the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) 250 cases involving deaths during anti-illegal drug operations conducted by law enforcers in Luzon. Speaking before the High level Segment of the 49th session of the UNHRC, Guevarra said the 250 cases are on top of the 52 cases that the inter-agency review panel led by the DOJ earlier referred to the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) for further investigation and case build-up. Guevarra said the review of antiillegal drug operations where deaths occurred and the eventual filing of cases against those responsible were an offshoot of the “constructive engagement” between the government and the UNHRC. “Our recent experience confirms how constructive engagement can yield valuable dividends towards the protection and promotion of human rights,” Guevarra told the participants. “This experience likewise demonstrates how constructive engagement creates opportunities for the integration of human rights ideals into policies and measures designed to promote the security of our nation, the peace of our communities, and the safety of our people,” he added. The justice chief said government’s actions with regard to incidents of human rights violations in the country were motivated by UNHRC Resolution No. 45/33 which was adopted on October 7, 2020 identifying six key areas for the provision of UN expertise in a manner of consultative partnership. These areas include strengthening domestic investigation and accountability mechanisms; improved data-gathering on alleged human rights violations by police personnel; expanding civil space and engagement with civil society and national human rights institutions; strengthening the country’s national mechanism for reporting and follow-up vis-a-vis human rights; implementing a human rights-based approach towards drug control; and implementing a human rights-based approach towards counterterrorism. “Energized by this support, our national institutions have since then proceeded to discharge our human rights commitments, in accordance with international law principles, and consistent with our national interest,” Guevarra said. Thus, out of the 52 case earlier referred to the NBI for case buildup, four have reached actual prosecution in courts while the agency is currently preparing five more complaints to initiate the prosecution of

law enforcers involved. Guevarra also noted that the work of the inter-agency review panel has been complemented by investigations conducted by the Philippine Inter-Agency Committee on Extra-Legal Killings, Enforced Disappearances, Torture and Other Grave Violations of the Right to Life, Liberty and Security of Persons, otherwise known as the AO35 mechanism. This inter-agency committee, according to the justice chief, created 15 special investigation teams (SITs) in the past year alone. These SITs have looked into allegations of extralegal killings and other incidents involving gross violations of human rights. “The committee has recently completed its investigation and will shortly initiate the process to prosecute a number of law enforcement officers involved in the service of judicial warrants which resulted in the death of known activists in Southern Luzon,” Guevarra said. He was apparently referring to the so-called Bloody Sunday operations of the police against suspected communist insurgents in the Calabarzon region, particularly Rizal, Batangas and Cavite that resulted in the death of nine activists last year. “The progress we have thus far achieved rests on the collective effort of the Philippine National Police, the DOJ, and other relevant institutions committed to instill respect for human rights and exact accountability for those who violate them,” he said while noting that these efforts stand to benefit even more from the government’s Joint Program with the United Nations (UNJP). The UNJP was signed on July 22, 2021 to cover technical cooperation and capacity building for the promotion and protection of human rights in the country. Guevarra also reported during the event that the government has invited two Special Rapporteurs to undertake official visits to the country between now and next year. “We look forward to working with the Special Rapporteur on the Sale of Children late this year, and the Special Rapporteur on Freedom of Expression in 2023,” he said. While the country is facing a change of administration after this coming May elections, Guevarra assured the UNHRC that the government’s commitment to address human rights issues will not be affected by the change of leadership. “The Philippines will remain positively engaged with the international community and all human rights mechanisms on all issues concerning rule of law and accountability institutions in the country,” Guevarra said. “But we will draw the line between parties that engage in good faith, and those that abuse and exploit these mechanisms to make demands of accountability with little or no factual basis,” he added.

EVERAL supporters of Vice President and presidential candidate Ma. Leonor “Leni” Robredo on Tuesday petitioned the Supreme Court (SC) to stop the Commission on Elections (Comelec) from dismantling or confiscating election materials that are privately owned and funded and installed within private properties under its” Oplan Baklas.” In a 52-page petition filed through their lawyer Ray Paolo Santiago, the petitioners also asked the Court to declare as unconstitutional the acts of the Comelec based on its wrongful interpretation and implementation of Sections 21 (o), 24 and 26 of Comelec Resolution No. 10730. The petitioners insisted that the poll body has no legal basis to regulate their political views considering that they are private citizens and these were manifested within their private properties. The dismantling of election materials such as tarpaulins and posters, according to the petitioners, violate their constitutional right to freedom of speech and expression. Likewise, they insisted that these acts of the Comelec were done in violation of their right not to be deprived of property without due process of law. Section 21 (o) bars the installation of election propaganda material outside the common poster areas except on private property with the consent of the owner and must comply with the allowable 2 feet x 3 feet requirements for posters. Section 24 of the Comelec Resolution provides that only one signboard, not exceeding 3 feet by 8 feet in size, identifying the place as the headquarters of the party of candidates is allowed to be displaced. On the other hand, Section 26 states that “any prohibited form of election propaganda shall be stopped, confiscated, removed, destroyed or torn down by Comelec representatives at the expense of the candidate or political party for whose apparent benefit the prohibited election propaganda materials have been produced, displayed and disseminated.” The petitioners asserted that

Comelec Resolution 10730 applies only to candidates and political parties, and not to private individuals. “The Comelec Resolution No. 10730 was promulgated to implement the Fair Election Act in connection with the 2022 Elections. A review of this law, however, would reveal that the Comelec’s regulatory powers on the posting of election propaganda only apply to political parties, party-list groups, and bona fide candidates,” the petitioners said. The petitioners noted that its position is consistent with the Court’s ruling in Diocese of Bacolod vs. Comelec where it held that the regulation of the posting of campaign materials and the definition of lawful election propaganda under Section 9 and E, respectively of RA 9006, only apply to candidates, political parties and party-list groups. In the same ruling issued in 2015, the Court declared that the poll body “has no power to regulate the free expression of private citizens, who are neither candidates nor members of political parties” and that its action “violated the rights of free speech and expression of the petitioner.” “There is nothing in the Fair Election Act which says that they could be applied to non-candidates,” they argued. Hence, it is not within the power of the Comelec to include non-candidates under its regulatory powers, when said non-candidates were not referred to in the said law. “The Comelec cannot prescribe and implement what the law does not provide,” the petitioners said. The petitioners said the Comelec exceeded its authority and violated their constitutional right to freedom of speech and expressions when they interpreted and implemented Comelec Resolution No. 10730 to apply to private persons voicing out their political opinions and advocacies. “The ‘oversized’ tarpaulins and posters that were ordered and caused to be taken down by Public Respondents were not paid for by any candidate or political party.” They are private properties of petitioners,” they said. “By imposing size restrictions on these tarpaulins and posters and by

taking them down and confiscating them, Public Respondents are not only unlawfully encroaching on one’s private property but also infringing on the fundamental freedom of expression of the Petitioners,” they added. Furthermore, petitioners argued that posting of election materials in their private property is an act of ownership. “The wrong interpretation and implementation of Comelec Resolution No. 10730 cannot override and supersede constitutionally guaranteed rights; more so if it is expressed within the confine of ones’ private property,” the petitioners stressed. The petitioners noted that there is no requirement under existing laws for non-candidates to comply with any size requirement of election paraphernalia when expressing their choice or endorsement of candidates via posters, tarps, signboards or murals. Thus, the petitioners said to impose such size restriction would violate petitioners’ constitutional right to free speech. Among the petitioners are Dr. Pilita de Jesus Liceralde, one of the convenors of Isabela for Leni; Dr. Anton Mari Hao Lim, one of the convenors of Zamboangueños for Leni; and St. Anthony College of Roxas City. They filed the petition in their capacity as owners or co-owners of the tarpaulins, posters, murals and other election materials displayed in their respective properties and were forcefully dismantled by the Comelec under Oplan Baklas. Named respondents were the Comelec and its spokesperson, Director James Jimenez. The petitioners are also seeking to permanently prohibit the respondents from implementing Sections 21 (o), Section 23, and Section 26 of the Comelec Resolution No. 10730 in pursuant to the Comelec’s interpretation that these also cover private individuals and properties. They are also seeking the return and/or restoration of all tarpaulins, posters, billboards, murals and other election materials that have been dismantled from private properties by the Comelec. Joel R. San Juan

Duterte appoints Leonardo as new Napolcom commissioner

RESIDENT Duterte has recently appointed former Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) Undersecretary Edilberto Dela Cruz Leonardo as commissioner of the National Police Commission (Napolcom). Leonardo, who represents the law enforcement sector, shall serve a six-year fixed term. Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) Secretary and Napolcom Chairman Eduardo M. Año said that the appointment was issued to replace former Commissioner Felizardo M. Serapio Jr. whose term of office ended on February 11, 2022. Napolcom Vice Chairman and Executive Officer (VCEO) Vitaliano

N. Aguirre II said that prior to his appointment to Napolcom, Commissioner Leonardo was the Undersecretary for Protected Areas and Special Concerns of the DENR while serving as the concurrent Executive Director of the Anti-Illegal Logging Task Force. Leonardo also served as the former Regional Chief of the Criminal Investigation and Detection Group Regional Field Unit of Police Regional Office 11 until his retirement from the police service in September 2020. In the course of working full-time in the Philippine National Police (PNP), he took up classes at Rizal Memorial Colleges in Davao City where he completed his Master of Arts in Educational Management

in 2009 and consequently obtained his Executive Doctorate degree in Leadership-Public Management at the University of Makati in 2019. During his oath taking, Leonardo expressed a mixed feeling of enthusiasm and eagerness to take on the challenge as the newly appointed Napolcom commissioner. “All I can say is I will do my best at least to approximate the gold standard set by Napolcom under the good leadership of Secretary Año and able stewardship of Vice Chairman Aguirre II. From this day onwards, I will work vigorously with the same zeal and dedication I have done in my previous professional engagements despite of the demanding and challenging tasks ahead of me,” Leonardo said.

A4 Wednesday, March 2, 2022 • Editor: Vittorio V. Vitug

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Court halts SRA’s sugar importation plan By Jasper Emmanuel Y. Arcalas @jearcalas

UGAR Regulatory Administration (SRA) chief Hermenegildo R. Serafica told the BusinessMirror on Tuesday that they have yet to officially receive any decision from a Regional Trial Court in Sagay City “as to whether a writ of preliminary injunction had been issued on Sugar Order 3.” “This legal matter shall be seasonably endorsed to the Office of the Government Corporate Counsel for appropriate action,” Serafica said via SMS. Serafica reiterated that the SRA is “precluded from discussing the merits of the pending case.” Nonetheless, Serafica emphasized that SO 3 is “within the mandate of the SRA,” as it provided “valid” grounds for the importation program, such as tightening supply and spike in retail prices. “The SRA shall endeavor to avail of legal remedies to ensure that it

adheres to its legal mandates, all for the sake of the sugarcane industry,” he said. The SRA has been told to temporarily stop the implementation of its 200,000-metric ton (MT) refined sugar importation after a regional trial court (RTC) issued a writ of preliminary injunction against the import program. Executive Judge Reginald M. Fuentebella of the Regional Trial Court Branch 73 in Sagay City, Negros Occidental issued six-page decision dated February 24 regarding the case filed by a sugar industry group against the SRA’s SO 3, which authorized the refined sugar import program. Fuentebella explained that the plaintiff, Rural Sugar Planters Association Inc. (RSPA), was able to show “satisfaction” that they are entitled to the relief they demanded, which is to prevent the implementation of SO 3. “A Writ of Preliminary Injunction is hereby issued enjoining the

defendant Sugar Regulatory Administration to cease and desist from implementing Sugar Order No. 3, Series of 2021-2022 and to maintain the status quo to be effective until the termination of this case unless earlier lifted,” Fuentebella said in his ruling, which was made public on Monday night. The United Sugar Producers Federation (UNIFED), wherein RSPA is a member, lauded the court’s decision against SO 3, pointing out that it was a “triumph” for Filipino sugar farmers. “This decision just affirms that the industry was right and SRA was wrong,” UNIFED President Manuel Lamata said. “We are not against importation per se but we have been pushing for proper consultation and a calibrated importation program, which is beneficial to all and not just for a particular sector,” UNIFED Director Joseph Edgar Sarrosa, who filed the case against SRA in behalf of RSPA, said.

The BusinessMirror sought SRA Administrator Serafica’s further comment regarding the court’s order but he has not responded as of publication. Earlier, the Philippine Chamber of Food Manufacturers Inc. (PCFMI) threw its support behind SRA’s refined sugar importation program, “some” of its membercompanies may run out of refined sugar supply “as early as March.” “Due to the current local shortage of refined sugar that conforms with the quality requirements of food manufacturers, particularly premium and bottler’s grade refined sugar, we join the SRA in its assessment that there is an urgent need for such importation,” the PCFMI said. Under SO 3, half of the total import volume would be standard grade refined sugar, while the remaining 100,000 MT shall be bottlers’ grade refined sugar. Only industrial users could import refined sugar under the approved importation program.

SRA board member Roland Beltran, who represents the milling sector, earlier pointed out that the importation program may not be able to temper the spike in the price of the sweetener since only industrial users and bottlers are eligible to import. He said limiting the program to industrial users and bottlers was “discriminatory, not beneficial to the consumers and may violate the equal protection clause.” “The import program will not be beneficial to end-users particularly consumers since it is focused on the industrial users. They really want to address the high prices [of sugar in the domestic market] but apparently SO 3 zeroed-in in favor of the industrials,” Beltran told the BusinessMirror in an interview. “If we wanted to address the high prices in the market, particularly in places where ordinary people get their sugar, logic dictates that the importation program should have been open to all.”

Group presses urgent govt action on climate shock after IPCC report By Jonathan L. Mayuga

@jonlmayuga

REENPEACE Philippines on Tuesday renewed the call for urgent climate action following the recent release of the latest report from the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC). At an online news conference, Greenpeace Philippines Country Director Lea Guerrero said the report paints a bad picture of what is to happen in the future with the government’s inaction. “It doesn’t paint a good picture of what climate impacts are going to be in the future. It’s bad. It talks about how far into the climate crisis we have already plunged and how much worse it can get,” Guerrero said, referring to the report’s projected impacts to people, environment, and biodiversity. She said the summary for policymakers said there should be no delay on the action both on adaptation and mitigation, and it needs to happen now, to have a livable planet. The IPCC report, compared to their assessment a few years back, she said, only proves that things are happening faster than expected. The good news is that keeping global temperature increase below the 1.5 degrees centigrade threshold will keep the world more adaptable, she said. The Working Group II report of the IPCC is the most comprehensive assessment to date regarding climate impacts, adaptation, and vulnerability. The report lays out the severity of the impacts of climate change causing widespread losses and damages to people and ecosystems around the world, which is projected to escalate with every bit of further warming. According to Greenpeace Philippines, since the previous assessment, climate risks are appearing faster and will get more severe sooner. The report finds that mortality from floods, drought, and storms was a staggering 15 times higher in highly vulnerable regions during the last decade, compared to regions with very low vulnerability. The report also acknowledges the crucial importance of fighting the interconnected climate and nature crisis together. For her part, Greenpeace Campaigner Virginia Benosa-Llorin said inaction, or even halfhearted action by governments, is no longer an option for the next president of the Philippines. “The report says that the risks are far greater than originally thought. And the reality is that, even as we have tried to cope, we are still not prepared,” she said in a statement released to the media after the online news conference. “We need to start asking our future leaders what they plan to do during the six years allotted to them at this crucial juncture when the climate crisis urgently needs to be addressed. Without urgency, and without a bold, coherent plan of action, Filipinos stand to lose more loved ones, homes, and livelihoods,” she added. In Asia, IPCC identified key risks as: Urban infrastructure damage and impacts on human well-being and health due to f looding, especially in coastal cities and settlements Biodiversity loss and habitat shifts as well as associated disruptions in dependent human systems across freshwater, land, and ocean ecosystems

Govt launches 1st IP housing projects in N. Ecija, Aurora By Cai U. Ordinario @caiordinario

VER 300 Dumagat families stand to benefit from the government’s first dedicated housing project for Indigenous Peoples (IP), according to the Department of Human Settlements and Urban Development (DHSUD). DHSUD Secretary Eduardo Del Rosario said a total of 340 Dumagat families would receive housing units to be built by the government in the provinces of Aurora and Nueva Ecija. A total of 245 Dumagat families will receive housing units to be built by the government in Barangay Matawe, DingalantowninAurorawhile95families from the same IP tribe will receive housing units in Barangay Malinao in the town of Gabaldon, Nueva Ecija. “Nung inilapit ng inyong Mayor ang proyektong ito, agad kong sinabi na ‘approved without thinking.’ Hindi na ito kailangang pag-isipan pa. Dapat ibigay ang tulong sa mga nangangailangan,” del Rosario said. Del Rosario said the subdivisionlike housing projects will be equipped with a drainage system, power and water facilities and road networks. Apart from these, del Rosario also recently spearheaded activities for land development of a covered court and an evacuation center for the Dumagat tribes people. He also graced the groundbreaking for land development and construction of a permanent evacuation center and multi-purpose covered court in Barangay Ligaya also in Gabaldon, Nueva Ecija. The DHSUD chief underlined the government’s efforts in reaching out to the grassroots, stressing that it is President Duterte’s directive to make the provision of evacuation centers in disaster-risk areas in the eastern seaboards a priority. “Dinoble ang standard nito [evacuation center]. Sa briefing kanina, kumpleto. Doble ang tibay niya that can withstand kahit gaano kalakas na earthquake at bagyo, itong ating evacuation center ay makakasiguro tayo na ito ay talagang makakapagprovide ng safety sa mga evacuees,” del Rosario said.

‘Operation Timbang’ cuts malnutrition among children in Ilocos region

EGIONAL Nutrition chairperson and Department of Health (DOH) Ilocos Region Regional Director Paula Paz M. Sydiongco on Tuesday bared the results of the 2021 “Operation Timbang Plus” (OPT+), which showed a significant decrease in theregionalprevalenceofmalnutrition on children 0-5 years old, particularly on underweight, stunting and wasting among under-5 children in the region. The study showed a 2.51 percent or 3 out of 100 preschool children are underweight and severely underweight; 3 percent or 3 out of 100 preschool children are overweight and obese; 4.21 percent or 5 out of 100 preschool children are stunted and severely stunted; and 1.60 percent or 2 out of 100 preschool children are wasted and severely wasted. The data also revealed a decrease of .17 percent in the prevalence of underweight and severely underweight children from 2.68 percent in 2020 to 2.51 percent in 2021; prevalence rate for stunted and severely stunted preschool children decreased by 0.65 percentage points from 4.86 percent in 2020 to 4.21 percent in 2021; prevalence of wasted and severely wasted preschool children decreased by 0.33 percentage points from 1.92 percent in 2020 to 1.59 percent in 2021; and the prevalence of overweight and obese (weight for height) preschool children remained the same having 3.0 percent in 2020 and 2021.

News BusinessMirror

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DENR chief vows NG support on outcome of S. Cotabato hearing on open-pit mining

EPARTMENT of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) Officer-in-Charge Secretary Jim O. Sampulna said the National Government (NG) would respect the outcome of the public hearing called by the Provincial Government of South Cotabato on the proposed amendments to the province’s Environment Code. Spec if ica l ly, t he proposed amendment aims to alter the policy banning open-pit mining in the town of Tampakan, the site of the multibillion-dollar Tampakan Copper-Gold Project. South Cotabato is the first local government unit (LGU) that imposed a ban on open-pit mining to protect its watershed. The late and former DENR Secretary Regina Paz L. Lopez, in 2017, put in place a policy that bans openpit mining methods for copper, gold, silver, and complex ores when she signed DENR Administrative Order No. 2017-10. This was however reversed by former DENR Secretary Roy A. Cimatu four years later when he signed DENR Administrative Order No. 2021-40. Sampulna has been invited by South Cotabato Vice Gov. Vicente De Jesus to the multi-sectoral consultation forum in Koronadal City on February 24 to provide techni-

cal information that will help the Sangguniang Panlalawigan (SP) members decide on to lift the ban on open-pit mining. Sampulna said before the audience-packed auditorium that includes LGU officials in the province, as well as former board members who framed the ordinance that the NG will respect their rights. He also assured the stakeholders that the general welfare of the people of South Cotabato is of utmost importance to the provincial government. “We are here to shed light upon the invitation of Vice Governor Vicente De Jesus. We respect your rights,” the DENR chief said. On the legality of the provincial ordinance, Sampulna explained, “it is well settled that ordinances enacted by virtue of the general welfare clause are valid.” He expressed optimism that the DENR could contribute to a better appreciation of the advantages and disadvantages of the project, which promises to boost local economic development and provide much-needed jobs and livelihood opportunities to the people, as well as help the SP members reach an informed decision when they cast their respective votes. Jonathan L. Mayuga

Wednesday, March 2, 2022 A5

Neda bares P12-billion weekly loss if schools remain closed under AL 1 By Cai U. Ordinario @caiordinario

HE benefits of placing almost the entire country under Alert Level (AL) 1 will not be maximized if schools remain closed, according to the National Economic and Development Authority (Neda). In a briefing on Tuesday, Socioeconomic Planning Secretary Karl Kendrick T. Chua said this is because a fourth of parents would not be able to report to work if their children continue studying from home. Chua said for every week that schools remain closed, the economy loses P12 billion. This means that if schools remain closed this month and the entire second quarter of the year, the BusinessMirror estimates that this would lead to losses of around P192 billion for 16 weeks. “Parents, schools and the government must work together to open schools for the sake of their children’s future. No other country closed schools for almost two years,” Chua told BusinessMirror on Tuesday. “[We found out]…that 1/4 of par-

ents can’t do full time work if they have to help their children at home. We are losing P12 billion per week as we speak due to school closure, which we hope to gain if we fully open schools,” he added. Chua said the estimate of P12 billion per week takes into consideration the return of services around schools such as transport, dormitories, food stalls, and school supplies stores, among others. If schools reopen, this will be able to avert around P11 trillion in productivity losses and improve learning outcomes by around 50 percent. “Even if we shift to Alert Level 1, if schools remain closed, one-fourth of parents will not be able to work full time because they are watching over their children during classes,” Chua said in a news statement. Chua said shifting to AL 1 would benefit 62 percent of the economy and 20.3 million workers or 48 percent of workers. Neda estimates that the country will generate an around P9.4 billion per week of economic activity in gross value-added terms. Chua said the benefits would increase to P16.5 billion of economic

activity in gross value-added terms and translate to P5.2 billion more in salaries per week if the whole country shifts to AL 1. This would also result in 297,000 less unemployed workers over the next quarter. If not for the pandemic, Chua said the size of the Philippine economy would have reached P25.3 trillion in 2022. With the shift to AL 1, the economy is expected to recover to pre-pandemic level faster. The Neda chief added that the shift would further improve the performance of key sectors like tourism. “We bounced back in 2021 with a 5.6 percent growth. We now have to recover the losses we experienced in the last two years amounting to P3.8 trillion. The shift to Alert Level 1 will help close this gap faster,” Chua said. “The contribution of domestic tourism to the economy fell by P1.5 trillion or 7.4 percent of the GDP in 2020. We can recover at least half of that or P750 billion by shifting to Alert Level 1,” he said. In an earlier presentation at the #PILIpiLUNAS2022 webinar, University of the Philippines School of Economics (UPSE) Associate Profes-

sor Renato Reside Jr. said the Philippines needs to post a GDP growth of 7 percent to 8 percent or higher annually in the next six years in order to regain what the economy lost during the pandemic. Reside said higher growth is needed because the next administration must allocate 2 percent to 3 percent of GDP annually in the next six years as fiscal stimulus to regain the jobs lost during the pandemic. He said the next administration would have to face primary risks for the Philippines, which include low GDP growth; fiscal risks from adverse interest rates, exchange rate or off-balance sheet shocks; and external risks such as foreign interest rates and recessions abroad. The biggest risk for the Philippines, however, Reside said, is protracted, uneven and slow economic growth. In order to address this, he said the country needs to grow the economy more consistently. While the country can still afford to borrow to finance “productive expenditures,” Reside cited the need to monitor interest rates that could further increase the cost of borrowing for the Philippines.

Campaign season marks rise on attacks vs environmental defenders–group By Jonathan L. Mayuga @jonlmayuga

HE number of environmental defenders experiencing human rights violations has increased tremendously after the start of the campaign season in February, the Kalikasan-People’s Network for the Environment said. Leon Dulce, national coordinator of Kalikasan-PNE also raised the concern that election-related violence may have been deliberate aimed at environment defenders. The group has been monitoring attacks against environment defenders in the Philippines and noted that the attacks have quadrupled or increased four fold in the first month of the election season. “There is a 483 percent spike in the number of environmental defenders under attack and a 350 per-

cent increase in incidents after the formal electoral campaign season started. We urge the Filipino public to demand both current and future government leaders to address the plight of our heroic defenders obscured by the election’s fog of war,” Dulce said. The recent arrest of community health practitioner, Dr. Naty Castro and the massacre of five Lumad advocates Chad Booc, and the rest of another group of human rights violation victims dubbed “New Bataan Five” were among the incidents monitored by the group. The victims of these attacks worked against large-scale mining projects in the Caraga region, the country’s so-called “mining capital region” because of the numerous mining projects in the area. The attack against forest rangers of the Masungi Georeserve on Feb-

ruary 18, wherein suspected land grabbers intruding into the worldrenowned conservation area physically assaulted seven of the environmental defenders, were also recorded by the group. Meanwhile, on February 23, the protest camp of 236 agrarian reform beneficiaries in a 200-hectare agricultural land area in Concepcion, Tarlac was burned down in an arson attack. The group noted that standing to gain from the attack is the land cooperative disputing the area affiliated to the local Villanueva political clan. On February 27, a gun attack seriously injured outgoing Infanta municipality mayor Filipino Grace America, a staunch opponent of the controversial Kaliwa Dam Project. Environmental groups and Indigenous Peoples in the area to be affected by the project oppose the

multibillion-peso project believing it will submerge thousands of hectares of forestlands and the thousands of indigenous Dumagat families residing in them. The group said the latest incident happened on February 28 involving Agnes Mesina, a church lay worker and political activist who was arrested by authorities allegedly for no apparent reason. Mesina has long been involved in anti-mining campaigns in the Cagayan Valley region, the group noted. International watchdog group Global Witness recently noted the growing trend across “Global South” countries holding national elections this 2022 like the Philippines, Brazil, and Colombia where environment and climate issues are urgent electoral concerns, but where land and environmental defenders working to resolve these crises are suffer-

ing the worst human rights abuses, Dulce said. “We hope the current electoral hopefuls walk their talk of environmental and climate concern by

DAR turns over farm truck, mobile rice mill to Surigao del Norte ARBOs

O boost rice production and help farmers increase their income in Surigao del Norte, the Department of Agrarian Reform (DAR) recently turned over a farm truck and a mobile rice mill plus farm inputs to two agrarian reform beneficiaries organizations (ARBOs) in the province. The portable rice mill worth P998,000 and farm implements were

provided by DAR as part of the Enhanced Partnership Against Hunger and Poverty Program (EPAHP) while the hauling truck worth P598,000 was made possible by the project Linking Smallholder Farmers to Market with Microfinance (LINKSFARMM). The truck and the mobile rice mill will service more than 200 farmers. Surigao del Norte is still reeling from the devastating impact

of Typhoon “Odette.” DAR Secretary Bernie Cruz personally turned over the farm truck to the members of the Alipao Multi-Purpose Cooperative and the rice mill to San Pedro Agrarian Reform Beneficiaries Organization, both from Alegria, Surigao del Norte. “The farmers desperately need help from the national government. After [typhoon] Odette, all crops were

devastated, and their agri-businesses suffered major losses. We gave these support services to provide farmerbeneficiaries the means to bounce back from agricultural losses caused by the typhoon,” Cruz said in a news statement. Cruz added that most members of the two ARBOs are agrarian reform beneficiaries, therefore, most of them own the land they till. Jonathan L. Mayuga

Senate probe on abductions goes on amid e-sabong halt continued from a14 The issuance of the resolution was initially approved last February 24 by the Senate Committee on Public Order and Dangerous Drugs headed by Dela Rosa during the first public hearing con-

ducted by his panel on the abductions. During the hearing, members of the committee arrived at a consensus “that the operation of ‘e-sabong’ should be momentarily halted pend-

ing investigation.” It was Senate President Vicente Sotto III who proposed that a Senate resolution be issued to urge Pagcor to suspend the licenses issued to the sev-

en “e-sabong” operators “until there is an acceptable conclusion to what happened to the missing personalities involved in the online cockfighting.” Butch Fernandez

PHL stuck for 10 yrs in same place in index on women, biz and law continued from a14 The areas where the country received a perfect score of 100 were workplace, pay, and entrepreneurship. These indicators take into consideration legal and implementation gaps in financial inclusion; guarantee protection and privacy for women who have made a complaint of violence; gender-sensitive occupational health and safety; and wage transparency, among others. Among Asean countries, Vietnam and Cambodia implemented reforms

which were taken into consideration in the 2022 WBL Index, improving their scores in the index to 85 and 81.3 out of 100, respectively. The World Bank said Cambodia introduced an old-age pension system that sets equal ages at which women and men can retire with full pension benefits, while Vietnam eliminated all restrictions on women’s employment. “The East Asia and the Pacific region continues to reform its legislation

towards gender equality, but at a slow pace,” the World Bank said. Despite the disproportionate effect on women’s lives and livelihood from the global pandemic, the World Bank said 23 countries reformed their laws in 2021 to take much-needed steps towards advancing women’s economic inclusion. The World Bank said the edition explores the operation of Women, Business and the Law indicators in practice

in 25 economies. An analysis of the laws’ implementation schemes reveals a substantial gap between legislation on the books and legal operation. Laws alone are not enough to improve gender equality; factors at play include not only their implementation and enforcement, but also social, cultural, and religious norms. These gaps will be further explored in future cycles of Women, Business and the Law reports.

standing with our embattled defenders. We should call out the worsening violence they face and demand accountability from the outgoing public authorities,” Dulce said.

BusinessMirror

Wednesday, March 2, 2022

ESTABLISHMENT / ADDRESS No.

NAME OF FOREIGN NATIONAL , POSITION AND BRIEF DESCRIPTION

ESTABLISHMENT / ADDRESS QUALIFICATION AND SALARY RANGE

No.

ACOM CONSUMER FINANCE CORPORATION 10/f Unit A, 45 San Miguel Bldg., No. 45 San Miguel Ave., Ortigas Center, San Antonio, City Of Pasig

IKEDA, KAZUKI General Manager Brief Job Description: Plan and prepare for meetings on behalf of the CEO.

Basic Qualification: Native-level Japanese skills (speaking and writing).

BRUUN, MIKA JUHANI President And Country Manager 2.

Brief Job Description: Developing the business within the budget and a top line sales growth strategy

Basic Qualification: Management of technical personnel, import/ export management

Brief Job Description: Communicate with buyers, merchants and internal customers and take appropriate action to identify and help minimize the risk posed by fraud patterns and trends SUN, YUE Investigation Specialist I

Brief Job Description: Communicates effectively via email and/or telephone in both Mandarin and English language, with our customer base - buyers, merchants and internal customers. WANG, BIN Investigation Specialist I

Brief Job Description: Communicate effectively via video call with our customer base - third party sellers who want to sell on Amazon in its various marketplaces

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

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

Brief Job Description: Managing incoming calls and customer service inquires LAU NAM CU Chinese Customer Service

Brief Job Description: Managing incoming calls and customer service inquiries SUN, YING Chinese Customer Service

10.

Brief Job Description: Managing incoming calls and customer service inquiries WANG, JINCAN Chinese Customer Service

11.

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

12.

Brief Job Description: Managing incoming calls and customer service inquiries

ANGGRAINI PUTRI JUWITA Bahasa Indonesian Language-marketing Officer 16.

17.

18.

19.

Basic Qualification: Proficiency in Vietnamese language Salary Range: Php 30,000 - Php 59,999 20.

Salary Range: Php 30,000 - Php 59,999 21.

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

22.

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

13.

Brief Job Description: To manage software that streamlines processes, automates manual workflows and sets up measurement tools that generate actionable insight

23.

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

Basic Qualification: Degree in business management or a master’s in business administration

14.

Brief Job Description: Handles enquiries regarding cross-border RMB fund cleating and return remittance operations including enquiries regarding local RMB fund clearing and return remittance operations between local and overseas PBS

RIZKY SUCI NUGRAHANI Bahasa Indonesian Language-officer Customer Service Brief Job Description: Initiate conversation to uncover needs, promote business and product

24.

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

WENDI PALANGKO TANUWIJAYA Bahasa Indonesian Language-supervisor Customer Service

WINA Bahasa Indonesian Language-supervisor Customer Service Brief Job Description: Initiate conversation to uncover needs, promote business and product

Brief Job Description: Create specific promotions for affiliates, promote business and product

Brief Job Description: Initiate conversation to uncover needs, promote business and product

MAC CHOI VINH Vietnamese Language-officer Risk Management 25.

Brief Job Description: communicate risk policies and processes for an organization

Basic Qualification: Degree holder, must fluently speak and write Bahasa Indonesian, Vietnamese, Thai to cater foreign market

No.

SIX, JONKHEER MICHIEL PIETER Project Coordinator 26.

Brief Job Description: Manages and supervises the safe and correct execution according to the contract of a part of the dredging and reclamation project, often under the general supervision of the works manager.

NAME OF FOREIGN NATIONAL , POSITION AND BRIEF DESCRIPTION BELHACHE, THOMAS PAUL MARIE Survey Specialist

27.

Brief Job Description: Self-reliant technical professional and is expected to initiate, carry out, and report on all survey works for projects

Basic Qualification: degree holder, must fluently speak and write Bahasa Indonesian language, Vietnamese, Thai to cater foreign market Salary Range: Php 30,000 - Php 59,999 Basic Qualification: degree holder, must fluently speak and write Bahasa Indonesian, Vietnamese and Thai language to cater foreign market Salary Range: Php 30,000 - Php 59,999 Basic Qualification: Degree holder, must fluently speak and write Bahasa Indonesian, Vietnamese, Thai to cater foreign market, at least 24 months of relevant experience

WU, ZULONG Chinese Speaking IT Specialist 28.

Brief Job Description: Resolving coworkers have with their IT systems and software

WU, JIALI Mandarin Speaking Project Supervisor 29.

Brief Job Description: Act as communication liaison between low-level employees and senior management

YU, HAOYANG Mandarin Speaking Project Supervisor 30.

Brief Job Description: Act as communication liaison between low-level employees and senior management

SYARIPAH NUR SULIANA BINTI SYED RIJENO Hr Generalist Intermediate 31.

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

Basic Qualification: Degree holder, must fluently speak and write Vietnamese language, Thai to cater foreign market

Brief Job Description: The Human Resources (HR) Generalist Intermediate is an intermediate level position responsible for the delivery of day-to-day HR support in coordination with the Human Resources team. The overall objective of this role is to provide a broad range of HR services to client groups within Citi

CHE DOAN ANH Chinese Speaking Data Entry Clerk 32.

Brief Job Description: Maintain database by entering new and updated customer and account information

JIANG, XINHAI Chinese Speaking Program Designer 33.

Brief Job Description: Assist/help customers, give customers information about product and services

WANG, ZHANJUN Chinese Speaking Program Designer 34.

Brief Job Description: assist/help customers, give customers information about product and services

ZHANG, MEIYAN Chinese Speaking Program Designer 35.

Brief Job Description: assist/help customers, give customers information about product and services

Basic Qualification: bachelor’s degree in business, marketing and other relevant courses

ZHANG, WEIGUO Chinese Speaking Program Designer

Basic Qualification: Professional education in civil construction, superintendent experience in working with excavators and dry earth movement in international Dredging, Land reclamation and Rock works projects Salary Range: Php 90,000 - Php 149,999

Basic Qualification: Fluent in mandarin and English, with good communication skills and preferably 2 years of experience Salary Range: Php 30,000 - Php 59,999 Basic Qualification: College graduate outstanding leadership skills, fluent in mandarin and English preferably with 5 years of experience as project supervisor Salary Range: Php 30,000 - Php 59,999 Basic Qualification: College graduate outstanding leadership skills, fluent in mandarin and English preferably with 5 years of experience as project supervisor Salary Range: Php 30,000 - Php 59,999

Basic Qualification: 1. 2-5 years of relevant experience in various Human Resources functions 2. Intermediate – advanced proficiency in Microsoft Excel, Word, PowerPoint, PeopleSoft and Human Resources Management Systems Salary Range: Php 90,000 - Php 149,999

Basic Qualification: Assist/help customers, give customers information about product and services With atleast 6 months customer service experience / Good in oral communication and written Salary Range: Php 30,000 - Php 59,999

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

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

CRONYX INC. No. 4th-10th Flr. Yinhope Bldg., Dela Rama Cor. Zoili Hilario St., Seascape Village, Ccp Complex Subd. Zone 10, Barangay 76, Pasay City

Basic Qualification: Degree holder, must fluently speak and write mandarin language to cater foreign market

Basic Qualification: Degree holder, must fluently speak and write Bahasa Indonesian, Vietnamese, Thai to cater foreign market

Basic Qualification: At least 3-10 years extensive relevant work experience in dredging and land development environment

CITIBANK N.A. 16th Floor, Citi Plaza, 34th St. Bgc, Fort Bonifacio, City Of Taguig

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

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

QUALIFICATION AND SALARY RANGE

CHINA COMMUNICATIONS SERVICES PHILIPPINES CORPORATION 21st Floor Menarco Tower, 32nd Street, Bonifacio Global City, Fort Bonifacio, City Of Taguig

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

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

Basic Qualification: At least 10 years operations experience in China’s banking industry Salary Range: Php 90,000 - Php 149,999

RONALD TUWAIDAN Bahasa Indonesian Language-officer Customer Service

NGUYEN HA TU UYEN Vietnamese Language-officer Customer Service

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

BANK OF CHINA (HONG KONG) LIMITED - MANILA BRANCH G/f, 2/f, 28/f, West Retail The Finance Centreblock 55 Lot 1 & 2, 26th St. Cor 9th Ave. Bonifacio Global City, Fort Bonifacio, City Of Taguig LI, JIALIN Operations Officer - Operations Department

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

PHOSRI, SALINPICH Thai Language-officer Customer Service

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

Basic Qualification: Degree holder, must fluently speak and write Bahasa Indonesian, Vietnamese, Thai to cater foreign market, at least 5 years of relevant experience

Brief Job Description: Bahasa Indonesian language-officer customer service

LAI, YU-CHOU a.k.a. JERRY LAI Mandarin Language-marketing Officer

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

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

Basic Qualification: initiate conversation to uncover customer needs

Brief Job Description: initiate conversation to uncover customer needs

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

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

Basic Qualification: Bachelor’s degree in related business admin and management a minimum of 5 years managerial experience reliable and selfmotivated; Hebrew English speaker

EVALINE TANIA Bahasa Indonesian Language-officer Customer Service

Brief Job Description: initiate conversation to uncover customer needs

AZBIL PHILIPPINES CORPORATION 4/f Republic Glass Bldg., 196 Salcedo St., San Lorenzo, City Of Makati KIMURA, AKIRA General Manager, Advanced Automation (AA) Division

Brief Job Description: Create specific promotions for affiliates, promote business and product

Basic Qualification: Proficiency in mandarin language Salary Range: Php 30,000 - Php 59,999

QUALIFICATION AND SALARY RANGE

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

Basic Qualification: Proficiency in Mandarin language Salary Range: Php 30,000 - Php 59,999

Brief Job Description: Coordinate maintain, and direct the administration of city human resources policies, practices and procedures advise employees supervisors and manager in their interpretation

ESTABLISHMENT / ADDRESS

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

Basic Qualification: Fluency in both English and Mandarin

ANOC99 CORPORATION 5/f To 10/f Ayala Malls Manila Bay Building D., Macapagal Blvd. Cor. Aseana Street, Tambo, City Of Parañaque BUI VAN QUOC Chinese Customer Service

15.

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

AMAZON OPERATION SERVICES PHILIPPINES, INC. B21 Three E-com Moa Complex, Harbour Drive Cor. Bay Shore, Brgy. 076, Pasay City LU, TIN CHOI Investigation Specialist I

KAKOON, MOR Administrative Services Director

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

AGS FOUR WINDS INTERNATIONAL MOVERS, INCORPORATED Compound 17 Phivedec Industrial Estate, Veterans Road, Western Bicutan, City Of Taguig

NAME OF FOREIGN NATIONAL , POSITION AND BRIEF DESCRIPTION

www.businessmirror.com.ph

36.

Brief Job Description: assist/help customers, give customers information about product and services

Basic Qualification: With atleast 6 months customer service experience / Good in oral communication and written Salary Range: Php 30,000 - Php 59,999 Basic Qualification: with at least 6 months customer service experience/good in oral communication and written Salary Range: Php 30,000 - Php 59,999 Basic Qualification: with atleast 6 months customer service experience/good in oral communication and written Salary Range: Php 30,000 - Php 59,999 Basic Qualification: with at least 6 months customer service experience/good in oral communication and written Salary Range: Php 30,000 - Php 59,999

DA PROSPERITAS HOLDING INC. 16/f Tower 6789, 6789 Ayala Ave., Bel-air, City Of Makati

NGUYEN THANH GIA BAO Chinese Speaking Business Financial Officer 37.

Brief Job Description: Assist/help customers, give customers information about product and services

DAIKIN AIRCONDITIONING PHILIPPINES, INC. Exxa Tower Bridgetown, C-5 Road, Ugong Norte, Quezon City

Basic Qualification: With atleast 6 months customer service experience/good in oral communication and written Salary Range: Php 30,000 - Php 59,999

BusinessMirror

www.businessmirror.com.ph

ESTABLISHMENT / ADDRESS No.

NAME OF FOREIGN NATIONAL , POSITION AND BRIEF DESCRIPTION MATSUMOTO, MARIN Domestic Sales Division

38.

ESTABLISHMENT / ADDRESS

Brief Job Description: Handles the marketing department in the company and the sales division

QUALIFICATION AND SALARY RANGE

No.

Basic Qualification: Fluent in Japanese and 5 years related working experience Salary Range: Php 90,000 - Php 149,999

WONG WEI MING Malaysian Technical Support Representative 52.

DIGICHROM INC. Unit 2602 & 2603 26/f Pbcom Tower, 6795 Ayala Ave., Bel-air, City Of Makati

39.

HUANG, YEN-CHIEH Mandarin Customer Service Representative Brief Job Description: Responsible for handling service support calls

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

GAO, HONGWANG Marketing And Sales Agent 40.

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

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

TENG, HUA Marketing And Sales Agent 41.

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

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

EVERSON VISA CONSULTANCY INC. 37/f Lkg Tower, 6801 Ayala Ave., Bel-air, City Of Makati

BAI, JIA Chinese Speaking Technical Consultant 42.

Brief Job Description: Assist/help customers, give customers information about product and services.

SHI, WUXING Chinese Speaking Technical Consultant 43.

Brief Job Description: Assist/help customers, give customers information about product and services.

Basic Qualification: With at least 6 months customer service experience/good in oral communication and written. Salary Range: Php 30,000 - Php 59,999 Basic Qualification: With at least 6 months customer service experience/good in oral communication and written

45.

LAW WAN YUAN IT Support Specialist (Malaysian Speaking) 55.

MAN CHUNG HONG IT Support Specialist (Malaysian Speaking) 56.

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

Brief Job Description: Assist/help customers, give customer information about product and services

ZHAO, HONGXIA System Analyst

VANG THI NGOC IT Support Specialist (Vietnamese Speaking) 57.

Basic Qualification: Can speak mandarin

Brief Job Description: Installing and Configuring Computer Hardware , Software , System and Networks

CHICYLLIA ELSYE Chinese Customer Service 58.

Brief Job Description: Managing incoming calls and customer service inquiries DINH THI BICH Chinese Customer Service

59.

Brief Job Description: Liaising with other IT staff such as programmers to produce new systems.

60.

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

Salary Range: Php 30,000 - Php 59,999 Basic Qualification: With atleast 6 months customer service experience / Good in oral communication and written

62.

CHEN, QIXIANG Chinese Speaking Business Development Associate

63.

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

64.

KIM, JUN Korean Customer Service Representative Brief Job Description: track main industry trends in Korean through blogs, micro blogs and forums

65.

JIU ZHOU TECHNOLOGIES INTERNATIONAL, INC. 31/f Tower 6789, 6789 Ayala Avenue, San Lorenzo, City Of Makati

Brief Job Description: Managing incoming calls and customer service inquiries MALVIN HUANG Chinese Customer Service

66.

Brief Job Description: Managing incoming calls and customer service inquiries NGUYEN PHUONG THAO Chinese Customer Service

67.

Brief Job Description: Managing incoming calls and customer service inquiries NONG VAN QUYNH Chinese Customer Service

68.

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

69.

Basic Qualification: college graduate, speaks and write fluently (Korean and English) Salary Range: Php 30,000 - Php 59,999

Brief Job Description: Managing incoming calls and customer service inquires LI, YANG Chinese Customer Service

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

J-NA ALLOUT TECHNOLOGY SOLUTIONS CORP. 3/f Lipams Bldg., #48 President Avenue, B. F. Homes, City Of Parañaque

Brief Job Description: Managing incoming calls and customer service inquiries LI, MIAO Chinese Customer Service

Basic Qualification: Implementing new system.

Basic Qualification: With at least 6 months customer service experience/good in oral communication and written

Brief Job Description: Managing incoming calls and customer service inquiries LEI, FEI Chinese Customer Service

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

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

Salary Range: Php 30,000 - Php 59,999 Basic Qualification: With atleast 6 months customer service experience / Good in oral communication and written

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

61.

Basic Qualification: With atleast 6 months customer service experience / Good in oral communication and written

Basic Qualification: Proficient in speaking, reading and writing in English and their respective native language for the position applied for, fluent in Chinese Mandarin is an advantage Salary Range: Php 30,000 - Php 59,999

No.

Basic Qualification: With at least 6 months customer service experience/Good in oral communication and written Salary Range: Php 30,000 - Php 59,999

Basic Qualification: Can Speak Malaysian Language and Knowledge in Information Technology

VO DINH LOC Chinese Customer Service 71.

Brief Job Description: Managing incoming calls and customer service inquiries YEN, CHIA-HUNG Chinese Customer Service

72.

Brief Job Description: Managing incoming calls and customer service inquiries YU, YUEE Chinese Customer Service

73.

Brief Job Description: Managing incoming calls and customer service inquiries ZENG, YAN Chinese Customer Service

74.

Brief Job Description: Managing incoming calls and customer service inquiries

HE, CHANGSONG Chinese Speaking Business Analyst 75.

Brief Job Description: Assist/help customers, give customer information about product and services

Salary Range: Php 30,000 - Php 59,999 Basic Qualification: Can Speak Malaysian Language and Knowledge in Information Technology

CHEN, LIQIANG Chinese Speaking Data Entry Clerk 76.

Salary Range: Php 30,000 - Php 59,999 Basic Qualification: Can Speak Malaysian Language and Knowledge in Information Technology Salary Range: Php 30,000 - Php 59,999

Brief Job Description: Managing incoming calls and customer service inquiries

PAN, RUJIANG Chinese Customer Service 70.

Brief Job Description: Managing incoming calls and customer service inquires

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

Brief Job Description: Assist/help customers, give customers information about product and services

HE, YINGLONG Chinese Speaking Data Entry Clerk 77.

Brief Job Description: Assist/help customers, give customer information about product and services

HONG, SHAOXIONG Chinese Speaking Data Entry Clerk 78.

Brief Job Description: Assist/help customers, give customers information about product and services

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

KOH ZHI HAO Chinese Speaking Data Entry Clerk 79.

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

Brief Job Description: Assist/help customers, give customer information about product and services

Salary Range: Php 30,000 - Php 59,999 Basic Qualification: Able to speak, Read, and Write chinese language

LI, JUNJIE Chinese Speaking Data Entry Clerk 80.

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

Brief Job Description: Assist/help customers, give customer information about product and services

LIU, XINGCHUANG Chinese Speaking Data Entry Clerk 81.

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

Brief Job Description: Assist/help customers, give customer information about product and services

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

LIU, YANGYANG Chinese Speaking Data Entry Clerk 82.

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

Brief Job Description: Assist/help customers, give customer information about product and services

LOO ZHENG HWANG Chinese Speaking Data Entry Clerk 83.

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

Brief Job Description: Assist/help customers, give customers information about product and services

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

LU, BAOHE Chinese Speaking Data Entry Clerk 84.

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

Brief Job Description: Assist/help customers, give customer information about product and services

LUO, YONGTONG Chinese Speaking Data Entry Clerk 85.

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

Brief Job Description: Assist/help customers, give customers information about product and services

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

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

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

NEO INCORPORATED North Tower Centrum Bldg., Aseana Avenue, Entertainment City, Baclaran, City Of Parañaque

Salary Range: Php 30,000 - Php 59,999 Basic Qualification: Can Speak Malaysian Language and Knowledge in Information Technology

NAME OF FOREIGN NATIONAL , POSITION AND BRIEF DESCRIPTION

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

INFOVINE INC. 8th, 9th, 10th/f Aspire Corporate Plaza Bldg., Macapagal Blvd. St., Zone 10, Barangay 76, Pasay City

51.

Brief Job Description: Installing and Configuring Computer Hardware , Software , System and Networks

DO DAI DUONG Chinese Customer Service

HJ WEB SOFTWARE DEVELOPER INCORPORATED Unit 207, Heritage Condominium, 1851 Antonio Vasquez St., 076, Barangay 697, Malate, City Of Manila

50.

Brief Job Description: Installing and Configuring Computer Hardware , Software , System and Networks

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

XIANG, MEILING Chinese Speaking Admin Financial Officer

49.

Brief Job Description: Installing and Configuring Computer Hardware , Software , System and Networks

Brief Job Description: Maintains customer record by updating account info.

LING, XINQIANG Chinese Speaking Admin Financial Officer

48.

54.

Basic Qualification: Can speak Mandarin

JENINAVIA Chinese Speaking Admin Financial Officer

47.

HOU, ZHIJUN IT Support Specialist (Chinese Speaking)

MI, SHI Mandarin Customer Service

GRAND PREMIUM CREST HOLDING INC. 16/f Tower 6789, 6789 Ayala Ave., Bel-air, City Of Makati

46.

Brief Job Description: Assist/help customers, give customer information about product and services

Brief Job Description: Managing incoming calls and customer service inquiries

ZHOU, YUMIN Mandarin Operations Specialist

QUALIFICATION AND SALARY RANGE

LOGICDOSE INC. 36f Robinsons Summit Center, 6783 Ayala Ave., Bel-air, City Of Makati

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

FLYING FUTURE SERVICES INC. 3/f Salcedo One Center, 170 Salcedo St., San Lorenzo, City Of Makati

44.

LYU, YUYING Chinese Speaking Business Analyst 53.

Basic Qualification: Can contributes information, ideas, and research to help develop marketing strategies; can help to detail, design, and implement marketing plans for each product or service being offered.

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

ESTABLISHMENT / ADDRESS

KAISER DYNASTY TRADING CORP. Unit 25d 2/f Zeta Ii Bldg., 191 Salcedo St., San Lorenzo, City Of Makati

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

EASTERN GOLD CORPORATION 503, Nueva St., Barangay 289, Binondo, City Of Manila

NAME OF FOREIGN NATIONAL , POSITION AND BRIEF DESCRIPTION

Wednesday, March 2, 2022

LYU, HAIWEI Chinese Speaking Data Entry Clerk 86.

Brief Job Description: Assist/help customers, give customer information about product and services

Basic Qualification: With at least 6 months customer service experience/Good in oral communication and written Salary Range: Php 30,000 - Php 59,999 Basic Qualification: With at least 6 months customer service experience/good in oral communication and written Salary Range: Php 30,000 - Php 59,999 Basic Qualification: With at least 6 months customer service experience/Good in oral communication and written Salary Range: Php 30,000 - Php 59,999 Basic Qualification: With at least 6 months customer service experience/good in oral communication and written Salary Range: Php 30,000 - Php 59,999 Basic Qualification: With at least 6 months customer service experience/Good in oral communication and written Salary Range: Php 30,000 - Php 59,999 Basic Qualification: With at least 6 months customer service experience/Good in oral communication and written Salary Range: Php 30,000 - Php 59,999 Basic Qualification: With at least 6 months customer service experience/Good in oral communication and written Salary Range: Php 30,000 - Php 59,999 Basic Qualification: With at least 6 months customer service experience/Good in oral communication and written Salary Range: Php 30,000 - Php 59,999 Basic Qualification: With at least 6 months customer service experience/good in oral communication and written Salary Range: Php 30,000 - Php 59,999

Basic Qualification: With at least 6 months customer service experience/Good in oral communication and written Salary Range: Php 30,000 - Php 59,999

Basic Qualification: With at least 6 months customer service experience/good in oral communication and written Salary Range: Php 30,000 - Php 59,999

Basic Qualification: With at least 6 months customer service experience/Good in oral communication and written Salary Range: Php 30,000 - Php 59,999

BusinessMirror

Wednesday, March 2, 2022

ESTABLISHMENT / ADDRESS No.

NAME OF FOREIGN NATIONAL , POSITION AND BRIEF DESCRIPTION SU, LING Chinese Speaking Data Entry Clerk

87.

Brief Job Description: Assist/help customers, give customer information about product and services

SUN, QUNZHI Chinese Speaking Data Entry Clerk 88.

Brief Job Description: Assist/help customers, give customer information about product and services

WU, CHONGYUAN Chinese Speaking Data Entry Clerk 89.

Brief Job Description: Assist/help customers, give customers information about product and services

YE, YONGCHENG Chinese Speaking Data Entry Clerk 90.

Brief Job Description: Assist/help customers, give customer information about product and services

ZENG, QIQI Chinese Speaking Data Entry Clerk 91.

Brief Job Description: Assist/help customers, give customer information about product and services

ESTABLISHMENT / ADDRESS QUALIFICATION AND SALARY RANGE Basic Qualification: With at least 6 months customer service experience/Good in oral communication and written

No.

LAO, TEK LON Chinese Speaking Admin Associate 101.

Salary Range: Php 30,000 - Php 59,999 Basic Qualification: With at least 6 months customer service experience/Good in oral communication and written

102.

103.

104.

105.

NOCMAKATI, INC. 8,9,10,11,12,14,15,16,17,18 & 19 Floors, Century Diamond Center, Poblacion, City Of Makati

92.

93.

94.

LYU, JIAJIA Chinese Customer Service Representative Brief Job Description: Managing calls and customer services DINH THI BICH VAN Vietnamese Customer Service Representative Brief Job Description: Managing calls and customer services NGUYEN HOANG PHUC Vietnamese Customer Service Representative Brief Job Description: Managing calls and customer services

95.

Brief Job Description: Fixing network project management on technical matters

TRAN THI GIA LINH Admin Officer 107.

108.

BANGERA, PRACHI ASHLEY Manager - Training 96.

Brief Job Description: Serve as learning and development consultant BU Heads; Partner with Engagement managers to understand their learning and development requirements

109.

SU, ZHENG Chinese Speaking Customer Service Representative 97.

Brief Job Description: assist/help customers, give customers information about products or services

XU, RUIQI Chinese Speaking Customer Service Representative 98.

Brief Job Description: assist/help customers, give customers information about products or services

Basic Qualification: proficiency in handling customers question about services or products/ excellent mandarin communication skills

99.

Brief Job Description: To support the Project Director in the management of the various Contracts on reclamation, land development and coastal engineering related works.

112.

LOH CHIH KANG Technical Consultant 100.

Brief Job Description: Design and review of the 15m depth pier in Bauan, Batangas and review the methodology of Baseco Reclamation of SMCSL Piers.

Basic Qualification: Civil engineering graduate, has experience in coastal engineering projects, experience in designing and planning dredging and reclamation and land development.

113.

Brief Job Description: Attracts potential customers by answering product and service questions; suggesting information about other products and services. NGUYEN MINH THANH Vietnamese Customer Service Representative

114.

Brief Job Description: Attracts potential customers by answering product and service questions; suggesting information about other products and services. NGUYEN THI HOAI THANH Vietnamese Customer Service Representative

115.

Brief Job Description: Attracts potential customers by answering product and service questions; suggesting information about other products and services. PHAM NGOC NAM Vietnamese Customer Service Representative

116.

Brief Job Description: Attracts potential customers by answering product and service questions; suggesting information about other products and services. PHAN THI MANH HUONG Vietnamese Customer Service Representative

117.

Salary Range: Php 500,000 and above

SOCIALATEMYIND INC. Unit No. Unit 2c Flr. No. No. 4/f, One E-com Center Bldg., Lot No. 4/f Mall Of Asia Complex Ocean Drive St. District 1, District 4, Barangay 76, Pasay City

Brief Job Description: Attracts potential customers by answering product and service questions; suggesting information about other products and services. NGUYEN DANG LAI Vietnamese Customer Service Representative

Salary Range: Php 150,000 - Php 499,999 SMC SHIPPING AND LIGHTERAGE CORPORATION Blk 9 Lot 4-6 Manila Harbour Centre, Fernando Cor. Francisco Siero Sts., 010, Barangay 128, Tondo I/ii, City Of Manila

Brief Job Description: Attracts potential customers by answering product and service questions; suggesting information about other products and services. NGO THI BE MAN Vietnamese Customer Service Representative

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

Basic Qualification: Civil Engineer from any universities recognized by professional Engineering institution to qualify for chartered Engineer or similar recognition, international engineering qualification

Brief Job Description: Attracts potential customers by answering product and service questions; suggesting information about other products and services LAM VIET TUAN Vietnamese Customer Service Representative

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

SAN MIGUEL AEROCITY INC. (MANILA INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT) 40 San Miguel Corporation, Head Office Complex San Miguel, Wack-wack Greenhills, City Of Mandaluyong

LI, JIALU Project Engineer - Reclamation

110.

111.

Basic Qualification: proficiency in handling customers question about services or products/ excellent mandarin communication skills

Brief Job Description: Attracts potential customers by answering product and service questions; suggesting information about other products and services. KA THI THANH TUYEN Vietnamese Customer Service Representative

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

PERFECTGUIDE INC. 23/f Tower 6789, 6789 Ayala Ave., Bel-air, City Of Makati

Brief Job Description: Attracts potential customers by answering product and service questions; suggesting information about other products and services. HOANG DUC TUNG Vietnamese Customer Service Representative

OPTUM GLOBAL SOLUTIONS (PHILIPPINES), INC. 6th To 10th Floors, Science Hub Tower 1, Mckinley Hill, Fort Bonifacio, City Of Taguig Basic Qualification: Total work experience of 6-7 years; With at least 4-5 years in core Business Processe(s)/ Product and Communication Training

Brief Job Description: Ensuring the confidentiality and security of files and filing systems DANG THI HONG NHUNG Vietnamese Customer Service Representative

Basic Qualification: Bachelor’s Degree, Excellent Communication Skills, Technical Experience Salary Range: Php 150,000 - Php 499,999

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

ESTABLISHMENT / ADDRESS QUALIFICATION AND SALARY RANGE Basic Qualification: Proficiency in handling customer questions about services or products / Excellent Mandarin communication skills

No.

119.

Salary Range: Php 30,000 - Php 59,999 Basic Qualification: Proficiency in handling customer questions about services or products / Excellent Mandarin communication skills Salary Range: Php 30,000 - Php 59,999 Basic Qualification: Proficiency in handling customer questions about services or products / Excellent Mandarin communication skills

120.

Salary Range: Php 30,000 - Php 59,999 Basic Qualification: Proficiency in handling customer questions about services or products / Excellent Mandarin communication skills

121.

122.

Brief Job Description: Attracts potential customers by answering product and service questions; suggesting information about other products and services. PHAN TIEN DUNG Vietnamese Customer Service Representative

118.

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

Salary Range: Php 30,000 - Php 59,999 Basic Qualification: Fluent in Vietnamese (Verbal and written skills) Salary Range: Php 30,000 - Php 59,999 Basic Qualification: Fluent in Vietnamese (Verbal and written skills)

123.

124.

Basic Qualification: Fluent in Vietnamese (Verbal and written skills) Salary Range: Php 30,000 - Php 59,999 Basic Qualification: Fluent in Vietnamese (Verbal and written skills) Salary Range: Php 30,000 - Php 59,999

Basic Qualification: Fluent in Vietnamese (verbal and written skills) Salary Range: Php 30,000 - Php 59,999

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

Brief Job Description: Supports customers by providing helpful information, answering questions, and responding to complaints. ZHANG, YUE Mandarin Customer Support Representative

125.

Brief Job Description: Supports customers by providing helpful information, answering questions, and responding to complaints. ZHU, YUANQING Mandarin Customer Support Representative

126.

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

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

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

UNOBANK INC. 2f Baic Building, 2232 Don Chino Roces Avenue, Bangkal, City Of Makati Basic Qualification: Graduate and/or master’s degree in the finance or business administration

GHAI, RAUSHINI Collections Policy Head 127.

Brief Job Description: Development of collections segmentation to establish strategy matrix for the different portfolios

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

VESTAS SHARED SERVICES A/S - PHILIPPINE ROHQ 12/f Five E-com Center Bldg., Bayshore Ave., Barangay 76, Pasay City SARMIENTO CARRILLO, JULIETH STEPHANY Purchaser (Spanish Speaker) 128.

Basic Qualification: With MBA degree; with at least 5 years work experience as purchaser and related field; Fluent in Spanish and English Languages.

Brief Job Description: Accountable in the execution of the end-to-end purchasing process, or some parts thereof, which covers requirement definition, supplier section, negotiation, and contracting as well as all other relevant steps within the full process. Responsible for the category and/or spend.

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

VPC CORPORATE SOLUTIONS INCORPORATED 11/f 100 West, Sen Gil Puyat Ave. Cor., Washington St., Pio Del Pilar, City Of Makati PHAM VAN DUY Vietnam-speaking Customer Service Officer 129.

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

Brief Job Description: Responsible for the conceptualization and development of projects based on the mandate of the foundation and the needs of the client system

WENG, ZEMIN Mandarin Customer Support Representative

Basic Qualification: Fluent in Vietnamese (Verbal and written skills)

Basic Qualification: At least two (2) years of working experience in the related field; fluent in mandarin/Chinese language

Basic Qualification: Educational background on any social science courses; possesses innate interest and passion in helping uplift the life of the poor; experience working with corporate/ social development organizations or similar private institutions (local or international)

LIAN, GUANGKUO Mandarin Customer Support Representative

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

TRIVES TECHNOLOGY CORPORATION Tower 4 Bayport West, Naia Garden Residence, Naia Road, Tambo, City Of Parañaque

Salary Range: Php 30,000 - Php 59,999 Basic Qualification: Fluent in Vietnamese (Verbal and written skills)

Basic Qualification: Fluent in Vietnamese (verbal and written skills)

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

Salary Range: Php 30,000 - Php 59,999 Basic Qualification: Fluent in Vietnamese (verbal and written skills)

Brief Job Description: Provide support to managers, other employees, and office visitors by handling a variety of task in order to ensure that all interactions between the organization and others are positive and productive.

O’KEEFE, HOLLY ALEXANDRA Project Development And Resource Mobilization Manager

Salary Range: Php 30,000 - Php 59,999 Basic Qualification: Fluent in Vietnamese (Verbal and written skills)

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

THE ANDRES SORIANO FOUNDATION, INC. A. Soriano Aviation Hangar Bldg., Andrews Ave. St., Barangay 191, Pasay City

Salary Range: Php 30,000 - Php 59,999 Basic Qualification: Fluent in Vietnamese (Verbal and written skills)

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

GUO, SHAOPING Mandarin Administrative Specialist

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

Basic Qualification: Fluent in Vietnamese (verbal and written skills)

Brief Job Description: Attracts potential customers by answering product and service questions; suggesting information about other products and services.

Basic Qualification: Fluent in Vietnamese (Verbal and written skills)

SUPREME CHENGHAO MANAGEMENT OPC Level 26-a Rufino Pacific Tower, 6784 Ayala Ave., San Lorenzo, City Of Makati

Salary Range: Php 30,000 - Php 59,999 Basic Qualification: Proficiency in handling customer questions about services or products / Excellent Mandarin communication skills

QUALIFICATION AND SALARY RANGE

VU DUC TUNG Vietnamese Customer Service Representative

Salary Range: Php 30,000 - Php 59,999 Basic Qualification: Proficiency in handling customer questions about services or products / Excellent Mandarin communication skills

NAME OF FOREIGN NATIONAL , POSITION AND BRIEF DESCRIPTION TRAN VAN HUYNH Vietnamese Customer Service Representative

SOMI UNLIMITED SOLUTIONS, INC. 10/f Tower 2 Double Dragon Plaza Bldg., Edsa Corner Macapagal Ave. St. Zone 10, District 1, Barangay 76, Pasay City

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

NOKIA SHANGHAI BELL PHILIPPINES, INC. Penthouse W Fifth Bldg., 5th Ave. Bonifacio Global City, Fort Bonifacio, City Of Taguig QIU, MING Technical Project Manager

106.

Salary Range: Php 30,000 - Php 59,999 Basic Qualification: Fluent in Vietnamese and English

Brief Job Description: Developing, implementing sales strategies, client service, plan and analyzing sales data.

LIU, CONGMIN Chinese Speaking Customer Service Representative

Salary Range: Php 30,000 - Php 59,999 Basic Qualification: Fluent in Vietnamese and English

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

GOH SEE YEE Chinese Speaking Business Development Associate

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

Basic Qualification: Fluent in Mandarin and English

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

ZHANG, YIXI Chinese Speaking Admin Associate

Salary Range: Php 30,000 - Php 59,999 Basic Qualification: With at least 6 months customer service experience/Good in oral communication and written

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

TAN YONG HOOI Chinese Speaking Admin Associate

Salary Range: Php 30,000 - Php 59,999 Basic Qualification: With at least 6 months customer service experience/Good in oral communication and written

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

MA, BEIBEI Chinese Speaking Admin Associate

Salary Range: Php 30,000 - Php 59,999 Basic Qualification: With at least 6 months customer service experience/good in oral communication and written

NAME OF FOREIGN NATIONAL , POSITION AND BRIEF DESCRIPTION

www.businessmirror.com.ph

Basic Qualification: Foreign language speaking

Brief Job Description: Prepares product or service reports by collecting and analyzing customer information

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

WIKITECH SERVICES INC. Unit 25d 2/f Zeta Ii Bldg., 191 Salcedo St., San Lorenzo, City Of Makati LI, JIANJUN Mandarin Team Leader 130.

Brief Job Description: Maintain and drive program knowledge for self and team

Basic Qualification: Proficient language skills and skills match to job Salary Range: Php 30,000 - Php 59,999 *Date Generated: Mar 1, 2022

In the ad material of Notice of Filing of Application for Alien Employment Permits published on February 19, 2022, the name of WU, MING-ZHE under YOUBIN CONSULTANCY INC., should have been read as WU, MING-ZHE a.k.a. LARRY WU and not as published. In the ad material of Notice of Filing of Application for Alien Employment Permits published on February 22, 2022, the name of ZHENG, CHUNWEI under MARKETROLE ASIA PACIFIC SERVICES, INC., should have been read as ZHENG, CHUNMEI and not as published. Any person in the Philippines who is competent, able and willing to perform the services for which the foreign national is desired may file an objection at DOLE National Capital Region located at DOLE-NCR Building, 967 Maligaya St., Malate Manila, within 30 days after this publication. Please inform DOLE National Capital Region if you have any information on criminal offense committed by the foreign nationals.

ATTY. SARAH BUENA S. MIRASOL REGIONAL DIRECTOR

BusinessMirror

www.businessmirror.com.ph Republic of the Philippines

Wednesday, March 2, 2022

Name and Address of Employer: CAC PHILIPPINES INC. CTEPI Building 1, 16 Ring Road St., LISP 2, SEZ, Calamba City, Laguna

DEPARTMENT OF LABOR AND EMPLOYMENT Regional Office No. IV-A 4th Flr. Andenson Bldg. II, Brgy. Parian, Calamba City Telefax No.: (049) 545-7362

Name and Citizenship of Foreign National

March 2, 2022

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

14.

JOZSEF HRUBI Hungarian

Notice is hereby given that the following employers have filed with this Regional Office application/s for Alien Employment Permit/s.

Position and Job Description CHIEF OPERATING OFFICER Oversee day to day operational functions of the business

CARLO PULLINI Italian

SENIOR DIRECTOR-MANUFACTURING QUALITY ASSURANCE Lead the quality teams in the Philippines including Malaysia

THORSTEN JUCHEM German

Php90,000.00 – Php149,999.00

Monthly Salary Range

Position and Job Description SALES AND PRODUCTION PLANNING MANAGER Manage all aspects of sales

ANNSHIK SHIN Korean

Position and Job Description SALES MANAGER Over-all in-charge in sales department, customer satisfaction

TAKUYA OUCHI Japanese

DIVISION REPRESENTATIVE Oversee the production process and manage the division smoothly

Monthly Salary Range

Position and Job Description

17.

Monthly Salary Range

Monthly Salary Range Php150,000.00 – Php499,999.00

YUTA SUGIMURA Japanese

ASSISTANT TO THE DIRECTOR Assist the Director of the company

Php90,000.00 – Php149,999.00

Name and Address of Employer: LOGIBA CORPORATION Lima Technology Center-SEZ, Malvar, Batangas

CHONG-MIN LIU aka BENITO A. BUITIZON Taiwanese

TECHNICIAN HEAD Ensure that the materials are available for production manufacturing

Monthly Salary Range

Name and Citizenship of Foreign National 9.

YONGJIN JU Korean

Position and Job Description SENIOR DIRECTOR / HRD Overall direction and control of all human resources services in the site or plant assigned.

Monthly Salary Range

10.

KEISUKE WAKAKUSA Japanese

Position and Job Description ENGINEERING ASSISTANT MANAGER Promote company improvement in terms of development of skills and system improvement and develop engineering advancement in terms of product quality

11.

MASAAKI UMEDA Japanese

Position and Job Description QUALITY & TECHNOLOGY MANAGER Quality management and product development

12.

TAKERU KUWABARA Japanese

Position and Job Description DEPUTY GENERAL MANAGER Ensure all accounting policies & procedures are at phase with the current needs of the company

13.

JONGHEE LIM Korean

Position and Job Description

GENERAL MANAGER Manage and supervise the company as a whole

KEIZO YAMAGUCHI Japanese

Name and Citizenship of Foreign National

Php150,000.00 – Php499,999.00

Position and Job Description DEPUTY SECTION CHIEF OF MACHINE TECHNICIAN Replace, fix or realign machine parts and accessories in line with production specification

Monthly Salary Range Php60,000.00 – Php89,999.00

Position and Job Description SENIOR MANAGER PRODUCTION Supervise, manage and support all production operations

Monthly Salary Range Php150,000.00 – Php499,999.00

Position and Job Description VICE PRESIDENT Support the President of the company

Monthly Salary Range Php60,000.00 – Php89,999.00

Position and Job Description ASSOCIATE DIRECTOR Review the current system, procedures, strategies of the production lines and recommend improvement/changes if necessary

Monthly Salary Range Php90,000.00 – Ph149,999.00

Position and Job Description VICE PRESIDENT – LOGISTICS Facilities management, procurement activities, project management office and strategic initiatives of the company

MARISA CERNICCHI Canadian

Monthly Salary Range Php150,000.00 – Php499,999.00

Name and Address of Employer: JAE PHILIPPINES INC. GBP, Brgy. Javalera, General Trias, Cavite Name and Citizenship of Foreign National SHIGEHIRO NAGAYA Japanese

Position and Job Description

Monthly Salary Range

GENERAL MANAGER FOR FINISHED GOODS PRODUCTION & PRODUCTION ENGINEERING Develop, oversee & provide direction to Php500,000.00 above engineering programs of Finished Goods (Assembly) Production Department.

Name and Address of Employer: SEPUNG NPLA INC. L4 B21 Ph 3, CEZ, Rosario, Cavite Name and Citizenship of Foreign National

Position and Job Description VICE PRESIDENT Assist the president and oversee internal operations and company’s performances to ensure the president’s vision is carried out

HYE SOOK KIM Korean

Monthly Salary Range Php30,000.00 – Php59,999.00

Name and Address of Employer: BRICKHARTZ TECHNOLOGY INC. Lot 4044 Molino Blvd., Niog III, Bacoor, Cavite Name and Citizenship of Foreign National

Php30,000.00 – Php59,999.00 24.

Position and Job Description

Monthly Salary Range

LIQI QIU Chinese

MANDARIN CUSTOMER RELATIONS OFFICER Handle the concerns of the people who buy their company’s products or services.

Php30,000.00 – Php59,999.00

Monthly Salary Range

25.

GUIKUN HU Chinese

MANDARIN CUSTOMER SERVICE Offer full range of customer service to employer and clients.

Php30,000.00 – Php59,999.00

Php60,000.00 – Php89,999.00

26.

QIANG LIU Chinese

MANDARIN CUSTOMER SERVICE Offer full range of customer service to employer and clients.

Php30,000.00 – Php59,999.00

Any person in the Philippines who is competent, able and willing to perform the services for which the foreign national is desired may file an objection at the DOLE Regional Office within 30 days from the date of publication. Please inform the DOLE Regional Office if you have an information of any criminal offense committed by the foreign nationals.

Name and Address of Employer: HITEC RCD PHILIPPINES INC. L6&8 B24 Ph4, PEZA, Rosario, Cavite Name and Citizenship of Foreign National

Monthly Salary Range

Name and Address of Employer: QUANTRICS ENTERPRISES INC. Brgy. Dolores, Taytay, Rizal

23.

Name and Address of Employer: ISUZU AUTOPARTS MANUFACTURING CORPORATION 114 North Main Ave. Ph. 3, Special Economic Zone, Laguna Technopark, Biñan, Laguna Name and Citizenship of Foreign National

20.

Php150,000.00 – Php499,999.00

Monthly Salary Range

GENERAL MANAGER Develop and implement growth strategies

MAKI UMEZU Japanese

Name and Citizenship of Foreign National

22.

Name and Address of Employer: ASIA SCOPRO OPTICS CO., INC. CIP 1, Canlubang, Calamba City Laguna Name and Citizenship of Foreign National

Position and Job Description

Name and Address of Employer: USHIO PHILIPPINES, INC. FCIE, Langkaan II, Dasmarinas, Cavite

Php60,000.00 – Php89,999.00

Monthly Salary Range

TAKUMA MIYAKE Japanese

Name and Citizenship of Foreign National

21.

Name and Address of Employer: BROTHER INDUSTRIES (PHILIPPINES), INC. FPIP, Brgy. Ulango, Tanauan City, Batangas Name and Citizenship of Foreign National

Php60,000.00 – Php89,999.00

Name and Address of Employer: SUMITRONICS PHILS., INC. 20 Ring Road, Light Industry & Science Park II, SEZ, Brgy. La Mesa, Calamba City, Laguna

Php30,000.00 – Php59,999.00

Name and Address of Employer: AMKOR TECHNOLOGY PHILIPPINES, INC. Laguna Technopark-SEZ, Biñan City, Laguna

XIAOHUA XIONG Chinese

Name and Citizenship of Foreign National

19.

DIRECTOR Actively participate in the decision making of the board

Position and Job Description

Monthly Salary Range

Name and Address of Employer: NIPPON MICROMETAL CORPORATION PHILIPPINES FPIP, Barangay Sta. Anastacia, City of Sto. Tomas, Batangas

Php150,000.00 – Php499,999.00

MASAO NAEMURA Japanese

Name and Citizenship of Foreign National

MOBILITY SOLUTIONS CONSULTANT Manage foreign employee populations, handle various immigration-related aspects of their movements, and help them to navigate the unfamiliar legislative environments in which they work

SHINICHI YAMANE Japanese

Name and Citizenship of Foreign National

Php90,000.00 – Php149,999.00

Name and Address of Employer: MD DISTRPARK MANILA INC./MD LAGUNA CORPORATION 121 East Science Avenue, LTI, Binan, Laguna Name and Citizenship of Foreign National

WERNER OLIVIER South African

Position and Job Description

Name and Address of Employer: BOJIE MANUFACTURING CORPORATION Lots 1-8 Blk 4 Phase 3, Golden Gate Business Park, Buenavista II, General Trias, Cavite

18.

YUICHI NAKATA Japanese

Php150,000.00 – Php499,999.00

Name and Address of Employer: SIIX LOGISTICS PHILS., INC. CIP1-SEZ, Canlubang, Calamba City, Laguna

16.

Name and Address of Employer: MINEBEA PHILIPPINES, INC. FPIP, Sta. Anastacia, Sto. Tomas, Batangas Name and Citizenship of Foreign Position and Job Description National

FOCUS FACTORY MANAGER Manage given resources to have optimized and cost-efficient availability according to global standards & management principles as a Head of Focus Factory SAS

Monthly Salary Range

Php500,000.00 above

Name and Address of Employer: SAMPO MOLDING AND ASSEMBLY INDUSTRY CORPORATION B1 L6&7, Ph II, CPIP, Batino, Calamba City, Laguna Name and Citizenship of Foreign National

15.

Name and Citizenship of Foreign National

Name and Address of Employer: JU-YOUNG ELECTRONICS PHILS., INC. CEZ, Rosario, Cavite Name and Citizenship of Foreign National

Name and Citizenship of Foreign National

Monthly Salary Range

Name and Address of Employer: SUNPOWER PHILIPPINES MANUFACTURING LIMITED Laguna Technopark-SEZ, Biñan City, Laguna Name and Citizenship of Foreign Position and Job Description National

Position and Job Description

Name and Address of Employer: PELIKAN MOBILITY SOLUTIONS INC. Brgy. Mangahan, Rodriguez, Rizal

Name and Address of Employer: TRIDENT FOOD HOLDINGS INC. 168 DII Compound San Vicente Road, Brgy San Vicente, San Pedro, Laguna Name and Citizenship of Foreign National

Monthly Salary Range

Php30,000.00 – Php59,999.00

To avail of free job referral, placement, and employment guidance services, visit the nearest Public Employment Service Offices (PESO) or log on at http://www.philjobnet.gov.ph

A10 Wednesday, March 2, 2022

The World BusinessMirror

Russian forces shell Ukraine’s 2nd-largest city, threatens Kyiv U

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

US and 10 other countries condemn North Korea ballistic missile launch

By Yuras Karmanau, Jim Heintz, Vladimir Isachenkov & Dasha Litvinova

The Associated Press

YIV, Ukraine—Russian forces shelled Ukraine’s second-largest city on Monday, rocking a residential neighborhood, and closed in on the capital, Kyiv, in a 40-mile convoy of hundreds of tanks and other vehicles, as talks aimed at stopping the fighting yielded only an agreement to keep talking.

The country’s embattled president said the stepped-up shelling was aimed at forcing him into concessions. “I believe Russia is trying to put pressure [on Ukraine] with this simple method,” Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said late Monday in a video address. He did not offer details of the hourslong talks that took place earlier, but said that Kyiv was not prepared to make concessions “when one side is hitting each other with rocket artillery.” Amid ever-growing internat iona l condemnat ion, Russia found itself increasingly isolated five days into its invasion, while also facing unexpectedly fierce resistance on the ground in Ukraine and economic havoc at home. For the second day in a row, the Kremlin raised the specter of nuclear war, announcing that its nuclear-capable intercontinental ballistic missiles, submarines and long-range bombers had all been put on high alert, following President Vladimir Putin’s orders over the weekend. Stepping up his rhetoric, Putin denounced the US and its allies as an “empire of lies.” Mea nwh i le, a n embat t led Ukraine moved to solidify its ties to the West by applying to join the European Union—a largely symbolic move for now, but one that is unlikely to sit well with Putin, who has long accused the US of trying to pull Ukraine out of Moscow’s orbit. A top Putin aide and head of the Russian delegation, Vladimir Medinsky, said that the first talks held between the two sides since the invasion lasted nearly five hours and that the envoys “found certain points on which common positions could be foreseen.” He said they agreed to continue the discussions in the coming days. As the talks along the Belarusian border wrapped up, several

blasts could be heard in Kyiv, and Russian troops advanced on the city of nearly 3 million. The vast convoy of armored vehicles, tanks, artillery and support vehicles was 17 miles (25 kilometers) from the center of the city and stretched for about 40 miles, according to satellite imagery from Maxar Technologies. The Maxar photos also showed deployments of ground forces and ground attack helicopter units in southern Belarus. People in Kyiv lined up for groceries after the end of a weekend curfew, standing beneath a building with a gaping hole blown in its side. Kyiv remained “a key goal” for the Russians, Zelenskyy said, noting that it was hit by three missile strikes on Monday and that hundreds of saboteurs were roaming the city. “They want to break our nationhood, that’s why the capital is constantly under threat,” Zelenskyy said. Messages aimed at the advancing Russian soldiers popped up on billboards, bus stops and electronic traffic signs across the capital. Some used profanity to encourage Russians to leave. Others appealed to their humanity. “Russian soldier—Stop! Remember your family. Go home with a clean conscience,” one read. Video from Kharkiv, Ukraine’s second-biggest city, with a population of about 1.5 million, showed residential areas being shelled, with apartment buildings shaken by repeated, powerful blasts. Flashes of fire and gray plumes of smoke could be seen. Footage released by the government from Kharkiv depicted what appeared to be a home with water gushing from a pierced ceiling. What looked like an undetonated projectile was on the floor. Authorities in Kharkiv said at least seven people had been killed and dozens injured. They warned

People sit and lie on the floor in the improvised bomb shelter in a sports center, which can accommodate up to 2,000 people, in Mariupol, Ukraine, on February 27. Explosions and gunfire that have disrupted life since the invasion began last week appeared to subside around Kyiv overnight, as Ukrainian and Russian delegations prepared to meet on February 28 on Ukraine’s border with Belarus. It’s unclear what, if anything, those talks would yield. Terrified Ukrainian families huddled in shelters, basements or corridors, waiting to find out. AP/Evgeniy Maloletka

that casualties could be far higher. “They wanted to have a blitzkrieg, but it failed, so they act this way,” said 83-year-old Valentin Petrovich, who watched the shelling from his downtown apartment and gave just his first name and his patronymic, a middle name derived from his father’s name, out of fear for his safety. The Russian military has denied targeting residential areas despite abundant evidence of shelling of homes, schools and hospitals. Fighting raged in other towns and cities across the country. The strategic port city of Mariupol, on the Sea of Azov, is “hanging on,” said Zelenskyy adviser Oleksiy Arestovich. An oil depot was reported bombed in the eastern city of Sumy. D es pite it s v a st m i l it a r y strength, Russia still lacked control of Ukrainian airspace, a surprise that may help explain how Ukraine has so far prevented a rout. In the seaside resort town of Berdyansk, dozens of protesters chanted angrily in the main square against Russian occupiers, yelling at them to go home and singing the Ukrainian national anthem. They described the soldiers as exhausted young conscripts. “Frightened kids, frightened looks. They want to eat,” Konstantin Maloletka, who runs a small shop, said by telephone. He said the soldiers went into a supermarket and grabbed canned meat, vodka and cigarettes. “They ate right in the store,” he said. “It looked like they haven’t been fed in recent days.” Across Ukraine, terrified families huddled overnight in shelters, basements or corridors. “I sit and pray for these negotiations to end successfully, so

that they reach an agreement to end the slaughter,” said Alexandra Mikhailova, weeping as she clutched her cat in a shelter in Mariupol. Around her, parents tried to console children and keep them warm. For many, Russia’s announcement of a nuclear high alert stirred fears that the West could be drawn into direct conflict with Russia. But a senior US defense official, speaking on condition of anonymity, said the United States had yet to see any appreciable change in Russia’s nuclear posture. As far-reaching Western sanctions on Russian banks and other institutions took hold, the ruble plummeted, and Russia’s Central Bank scrambled to shore it up, as did Putin, signing a decree restricting foreign currency. But that did little to calm Russian fears. In Moscow, people lined up to withdraw cash as the sanctions threatened to drive up prices and reduce the standard of living for millions of ordinary Russians. In yet another blow to Russia’s economy, oil giant Shell said it is pulling out of the country because of the invasion. It announced it will withdraw from its joint ventures with state-owned gas company Gazprom and other entities and end its involvement in the Nord Stream 2 pipeline project between Russia and Europe. The economic sanctions, ordered by the US and other allies, were just one contributor to Russia’s growing status as a pariah country. Russian airliners are banned from European airspace, Russian media is restricted in some countries, and some high-tech products can no longer be exported to the country. On Monday, in a major blow to a soccer-mad nation, Russian teams were suspended from all international soccer.

Myanmar’s Suu Kyi pleads not guilty as graft trial continues

ANGKOK—Ousted Myanmar leader Aung San Suu Kyi pleaded not guilty Monday to a corruption charge that alleged she had accepted $600,000 and seven gold bars from a former political ally, a legal official said. The case is one of 10 in which she is being prosecuted under the anti-corruption law. She is accused of receiving the money and gold bars in 2017-18 from Phyo Min Thein, the former chief minister of Yangon, the country’s biggest city. He was also a senior member of her National League for Democracy party. Suu Kyi has been detained since

the army toppled her elected government in February last year, and has not been seen or allowed to speak in public since then. All of her court hearings have been closed to the media and public. Her lawyers, before they were served with gag orders late last year, said she rejected all the corruption allegations against her as “absurd.” Suu Kyi has also faced a series of other criminal charges since her arrest. She has already been sentenced to six years’ imprisonment after being convicted of illegally importing and possessing walkie-talkies, violating coronavirus restrictions and sedition.

Her supporters and human rights groups say the cases against her are an attempt to discredit her and keep her from returning to politics and participating in a new election the army has promised by 2023. Her party won a landslide victory in the 2020 general election. The army said it seized power because there was massive voting fraud, an allegation that independent poll watchers do not support. A court in the capital, Naypyitaw, is hearing the 10 corruption cases against Suu Kyi. The maximum penalty for each offense is 15 years in prison and a fine.

The nine other corruption cases include several related to the purchase and rental of a helicopter. She is also charged with diverting money meant as charitable donations to build a residence, and with misusing her position to obtain rental properties at lower-thanmarket prices for a foundation named after her mother. T he state A nti- Cor r uption Commission has declared that several of the actions deprived the state of revenue it would otherwise have earned. An 11th corruption charge, alleging that she accepted another bribe, has not yet gone to trial. AP

NITED NATIONS—The United States and 10 other countries condemned North Korea’s latest ballistic missile launch as “unlawful and destabilizing” and urged the UN Security Council to condemn it as well because it violates multiple council resolutions. In a joint statement, the 11 nations urged the 193 UN member nations to implement all Security Council resolutions that obligate North Korea to abandon its weapons of mass destruction and ballistic missile programs and implement all UN sanctions. North Korea’s neighbors detected a launch Sunday of a missile that flew 300 kilometers (190 miles) and reached 600 kilometers (370 miles) in altitude before landing off North Korea’s eastern coast. North Korean state media, without confirming the launch, said the country had recently tested cameras for a reconnaissance satellite that could photograph Earth from space. The joint statement from the 11 UN members said North Korea has launched several ballistic missile this year in violation of UN resolutions. The Security Council initially imposed sanctions on North Korea after its first nuclear test in 2006 and toughened them after further nuclear tests and launches from its increasingly sophisticated ballistic missile program. Former US ambassador to the United Nations Nikki Haley said in 2018 that the sanctions had cut off all North Korean exports and 90 percent of its trade and disbanded the pool of workers which North Korea sent abroad to earn hard currency. In November, the North’s most important allies, China and Russia

revived their 2019 effort to ease sanctions against North Korea. They circulated a draft resolution to Security Council members that would end a host of sanctions against North Korea including a ban on exports of seafood and textiles, a cap on imports of refined petroleum products and a prohibition on its citizens working overseas and sending home their earnings. It stresses the economic difficulties in the North and says these and other sanctions should be lifted “with the intent of enhancing the livelihood of the civilian population.” The Security Council has repeatedly stated it would modify, suspend or lift sanctions if North Korea complied with its demands, but Pyongyang has ignored them and advanced its nuclear and ballistic missile programs. The Russia-China draft resolution to lift some key sanctions has never been put to a vote because of opposition from many council members. US deputy ambassador Jeffrey DeLaurentis read the statement surrounded by diplomats from six other council nations—Albania, Brazil, France, Ireland, Norway and United Kingdom—as well as Australia, Japan, New Zealand and South Korea. “We remain committed to seeking serious and sustained diplomacy and urge Pyongyang to respond positively to outreach from the United States and others,” the statement said. The 11 countries urged North Korea “to choose the path of diplomacy to ease regional tensions and promote international peace and security,” and affirmed their readiness for dialogue, stressing that “we will not waver in our pursuit of peace and stability.” AP

Former US defense officials to visit Taiwan amid tension

AIPEI, Taiwan—A delegation of former US defense officials is visiting Taiwan this week in a sign of stepped-up communication between the sides amid the looming threat from China. Former Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff Michael Mullen is leading the five-person delegation that is due to arrive later Tuesday and is scheduled to meet with President Tsai Ing-wen and other top officials during the two-day visit. Separately, former Secretary of State Mike Pompeo was due to arrive in Taiwan on Wednesday. Pompeo, who also formerly led the Central Intelligence Agency, will also meet with Tsai and address a forum prior to his departure Saturday, according to the Foreign Ministry. “Former secretary of state Pompeo’s visit displays fully US bipartisan backing for its ‘rock solid’ support” for Taiwan, the ministry said. Russia’s invasion of Ukraine has drawn fresh attention to China’s threat to use force to annex self-governing democratic Taiwan, which it claims as its own territory. Circumstances are very different, however: Taiwan lies 160 kilometers (100 miles) across the turbulent Taiwan Strait from mainland China and enjoys strong support from the US, which is legally bound to ensure the island can defend itself and treat all threats to it as matters of “grave concern.” China has been sending military aircraft into Taiwan’s air defense identification zone on a near-daily basis, and on Saturday, its Defense Ministry protested as provocative the passage of the guided-missile destroyer USS Ralph Johnson through the Taiwan Strait. The Strait is in international waters and the US Navy said the ship’s passage “demonstrates the United States’ commitment to a free and open Indo-Pacific.” China routinely protests US contacts with Taiwan’s government and in November, announced that its military conducted air and naval readiness patrols in the direction of the Taiwan Strait after five US lawmakers met with Tsai on a surprise one-day visit. President Joe Biden has followed his predecessors in stepping up contacts between Taiwan and both serving and retired administration officials, along with selling defensive military equipment. The other members of Mullen’s delegation are former Under Secretary of Defense for Policy Michele Flournoy, former White House Deputy National Security Adviser Meghan O’Sullivan, former Senior Director for Asia at the White House National Security Council Michael Green, and Evan Medeiros, former senior director of Asian affairs at the White House National Security Council. AP

www.businessmirror.com.ph

The World BusinessMirror

US to expel 12 Russian diplomats for espionage

NITED NATIONS—The United States announced Monday it is expelling 12 members of the Russian Mission at the United Nations, accusing them of being “intelligence operatives” engaged in espionage. The Biden administration’s action came on the fifth day of Russia’s invasion of neighboring Ukraine, which has sparked condemnation from the United States and dozens of other countries. The US Mission to the United Nations said in a statement that the Russian diplomats “ have abused their privileges of residency in the United States by engaging in espionage activities that are adverse to our national security.” The mission said the expulsions have been “in development for several months” and are in accordance with the United States’ agreement with the United Nations as host of the 193-member world body. Russian Ambassador Vassily Nebenzia told The Associated Press, when asked his reaction to the US saying the Russians were engaged in espionage: “They always do. That’s the pretext all the time when they announce somebody persona non grata. That is the only explanation they give.” Did he expect Russia to reciprocate? “That’s not for me to decide but in the diplomatic practice, that’s a normal thing,” he said. The expulsions were first confirmed by US deputy ambassador Richard Mills after Nebenzia told

the UN Security Council on Monday afternoon that he had just been informed of “yet another hostile step undertaken by the host country step against the Russian Mission.” Nebenzia, who was presiding as this month’s council president at a session to discuss the dire humanitarian consequences of Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, called the US expulsions a “gross violation” of the UN agreement with the United States and of the Vienna Convention governing diplomatic relations. “We’ll see how events develop within the context of this decision,” he said. Mills then confirmed the expulsions, saying the Russian diplomats “were engaged in activities that were not in accordance with their responsibilities and obligations as diplomats.” He said they are also in accord with the US-UN agreement. Nebenzia countered that this was “not satisfactory.” White Hose press secretary Jen Psaki responded to the Russian ambassador’s characterization of the expulsions as a “hostile act” by saying: “I think the hostile act is committing espionage activities on our own soil.” According to the UN diplomatic directory, Russia has 79 diplomats accredited to the United Nations. The US Mission did not name those who are being expelled or state how long they are being given to leave the country. AP

Russia slow to win Ukraine’s airspace, limiting war gains

ASHINGTON—In war, winning quick control of airspace is crucial. Russia’s failure to do so in Ukraine, despite its vast military strength, has been a surprise and may help explain how Ukraine has so far prevented a rout. The standoff in the sky is among the Russian battle shortcomings, including logistical breakdowns, that have thrown Moscow off stride in its invasion. Typically, an invading force would seek at the outset to destroy or at least paralyze the target country’s air and missile defenses because dominance of the skies allows ground forces to operate more effectively and with fewer losses. US military officials had assumed that Russia would use its electronic warfare and cyber capabilities to blind and paralyze Ukraine’s air defenses and military communications. A possible explanation for Russia’s failure to do so is that President Vladimir Putin built his war strategy on an assumption that Ukrainian defenses would easily fold, allowing Russian forces to quickly capture Kyiv, the capital, and crush Ukrainian forces in the east and south without having to achieve air superiority. If that was the plan, it failed, although at this stage the conflict’s overall trajectory still seems to favor the larger, better equipped invading force. The invasion is less than a week old, and Russia still hasn’t committed to the battle the full force it had assembled on the border. A senior US official said Monday that about one-quarter of the force hasn’t crossed into Ukraine. The official, who spoke on condition of anonymity to discuss internal military assessments, said Ukraine has retained a majority of its surface-to-air missile systems—used to shoot down aircraft—and a majority of its he-

licopters and airplanes. One reason they have yet to be destroyed, the official said, may be because Ukraine’s air defenses were not centrally located and may have been moved around the country. It appears that Russian commanders have become frustrated by the pace of their battlefield gains and failure to win full air dominance, the official said. In response they may consider more aggressive, larger-scale attacks against Kyiv and to reduce the significant remaining Ukrainian air defenses. When he announced his decision to attack on Feb. 24, Putin gave no timetable for completing what he called not a war but a “special military operation.” By US estimates he had assembled more than 150,000 troops on Ukraine’s borders. “We think that they’re a few days behind where they expected to be” at this stage, Pentagon press secretary John Kirby said Monday, five days into a war that is the largest in Europe since World War II. “It’s clear, yes, the Russians have had their own challenges and they have met resistance we don’t believe they fully expected.” Philip Breedlove, a retired Air Force general who commanded NATO forces in Europe from 2013 to 2016, said Russia did unleash substantial missile attacks on Ukrainian air defense sites and airfields in the first few days. And yet the Ukrainians have found creative ways to preserve their air and missile defenses. “I am pleasantly sur prised that the air defense capability of Ukraine, even though diminished, has carried on as long as it has,” Breedlove said. He added that Russia may yet bring more fighters and bombers into the conflict, even as Ukraine acquires Stinger missiles and other air defense weaponry from Western nations. AP

Wednesday, March 2, 2022 A11

Single Putin move and behold: West’s unity tightens overnight By Raf Casert

The Associated Press

RUSSELS—Within days, Russian President Vladimir Putin has achieved what remained out of the grasp of the European Union for many decades—to jointly buy and send weapons to a war zone—and restored something that was broken for years— trans-Atlantic unity.

For years, Putin could sit back and relish in unseemly scenes of Western disunity—ranging from the Britain’s Brexit move out of the EU in 2016, Hungary’s longstanding antipathy towards its EU headquarters and, equally, the rift created by former President Donald Trump that has far from fully healed under Joe Biden. For Putin, the timing seemed perfect for his invasion of Ukraine since it had the potential of opening the cracks of division even further, with a war on the continent forcing everyone far outside their diplomatic comfort zone. “And just as Vladimir Putin thought that he would destroy European unity, exactly the opposite thing has happened,” European Council President Charles Michel said in an interview with a small group of reporters on Monday. “Cooperation is solid as a rock,” he said. “This is demanded by the circumstances of history. Demanded by circumstances that none of us could have imagined,” Michel added. Washington could not agree more. “President Putin has been one of the greatest unifiers of Nato in modern history, so I guess that is one thing we can thank him for,” said White House press secretary Jen Psaki. Richard Haass, president of the New York-based think tank Council on Foreign Relations, said it was “stunning” how European politics have been transformed in recent days. “Putin has done what no one in the West could do, which is revive the concept of the West,” Haass said. On Monday, Biden was leading another videoconference with EU,

Britain and other Western leaders to solidify a common package of sanctions that are unprecedented in scope and unity. Over the weekend, Brussels and Washington announced financial sanctions within minutes of each other, all targeting the central bank and cutting Russia out of much of the SWIFT international financial transaction system. The Europeans also closed their airspace to Russian planes, and they all agreed on a list of Russian oligarchs to hit. Seeing the West gel together instead of break apart, Putin on Monday went to the old lingo that the West loved to use itself in the Cold War days of the Soviet Union and the Warsaw Pact. Centering his wrath on Washington, he described Western allies as US “satellites which humbly fawn on it, kowtow to it, copy its conduct and joyfully accept the rules it offers to follow.” “So it’s fair to say that the entire Western bloc formed by the US to its liking represents an empire of lies,” Putin said. Western powers will take such unity as a compliment these days, and it was unheard of before Putin started massing troops on Ukraine’s border. Especially, the stance within the 27-nation EU is a sea change that was achieved within a few ebbs and flows. “This is a watershed moment,” European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen said in the wake of Sunday’s decision for the EU “to finance the purchase and delivery of weapons and other equipment to a country that is under attack.” This is the same European Union based on a post-World War II

Lawmakers applaud during German Chancellor Olaf Scholz’ speech on the Russian invasion of the Ukraine during a meeting of the German federal parliament, Bundestag, at the Reichstag building in Berlin, Germany, on February 27. Nowhere has the change been more pronounced than in Germany, the European Union’s leading economic power but also a country that has been reluctant to invest heavily in military power, in large part because of its militaristic past which resulted in the horror of World War II. AP/Michael Sohn

peace project that would only turn swords into plowshares to recreate a welfare continent of unprecedented riches. It was that same European Union that received the Nobel Peace Prize 10 years ago for what it could achieve without the use of weapons. It was also the same bloc that for years has vaunted the value of what it calls soft power—diplomacy, aid, cultural exchanges—instead of the raw power that comes through the barrel of a gun. All this change in barely a week. Now, Michel says: “There is no space for weakness and we need to show a firmness.” Nowhere has the change been more pronounced than in Germany, the EU’s leading economic power but also a country that has been reluctant to invest heavily in military power, in large part because of its militaristic past which resulted in the horror of World War II. Germany has faced persistent criticism over recent years for failing to meet a Nato target of spending 2 percent of gross domestic product on defense. On Sunday, though, Chancellor Olaf Scholz announced that Germany would commit 100 billion euros ($113 billion) to a special fund for its armed forces and raise defense spending above 2 percent “from now on, year for year.” Scholz also has done an aboutface on Germany’s refusal to export weapons to conflict zones, pledging to send anti-tank weapons and surface-to-air missiles to Ukraine.

“If our world is different, then our policy must be different as well,” Foreign Minister Annalena Baerbock said. The policy U-turn was executed by a government led by center-left Social Democrats sometimes criticized as being soft on Russia and a Green party that has a pacifist heritage. That world changed as well for Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban—often seen as the EU’s version of an autocrat leader much like Putin is. For years, he has been railing against the EU as meddlesome, was friends with Putin and was seen as someone who could break the bloc from within. Especially since EU sanctions against Russia require unanimity among all 27, the moment beckoned. Still Hungary, fell in line as much as the others when it came to sanctions—within days. “I spoke immediately w ith Viktor Orban when we faced this new situation and I can tell you, it was less difficult than expected to have the support of Hungary,” Michel said. It might still be early days in the war though and tougher moments might lie ahead with even bigger decisions to make, especially since Putin and his circle have had time for many years to prepare for any eventuality. “They do have the ability to keep going for some time despite the pain,” said Amanda Paul of the European Policy Center think tank. “So it means that the West will need to be very committed and very determined to keep pushing and pushing.”

Hungary’s Orban faces pressure to terminate close ties with Putin

UDAPEST, Hungary—Hungary’s right-wing nationalist prime minister, Viktor Orban, has for more than a decade nurtured close political and economic ties with Russia, giving him the reputation as the Kremlin’s closest European Union ally. For weeks, as Russian President V ladimir Putin amassed tens of thousands of troops along the borders of Ukraine, Hungary’s neighbor to the east, Orban avoided condemning the buildup and spoke emphatically against applying sanctions. As tensions escalated, Orban even traveled to Moscow, where he met with Putin in the Kremlin, their 12th official visit in as many years, and lobbied for larger shipments of Russian gas. But when Russia’s large-scale invasion commenced last week, Orban for the first time laid responsibility for the tensions and violence on Moscow in what could

be a turning point in his more than decade-long, pro-Russia approach. “Russia attacked Ukraine this morning with military force,” Orban said hours after the invasion began Thursday. “Together with our European Union and Nato allies, we condemn Russia’s military action.” Though Orban neglected to mention Putin by name, or to call the “military action” an invasion, his apparent about-face was long awaited by his critics both in the EU and in Hungary. It could also be a sign that he realizes his posture toward Moscow is “not rooted on stable fundaments,” said Daniel Hegedus, a fellow for Central Europe at the German Marshall Fund. “What we see is practically the collapse of Orban’s 12-year-long Russia policy,” Hegedus told the Associated Press. “I think [Orban] realized that Russia is a security threat in the region.” A formerly communist country

that was dominated by the Soviet Union for more than 40 years, Hungary has historically deeply distrusted Moscow, which ordered the brutal repression of an antiSoviet uprising in 1956 that led to thousands of civilian deaths and some 200,000 refugees fleeing the country. As the communist system in Eastern Europe neared its end in 1989, Orban, then a 26-year-old anti-communist leading a movement of young liberal democrats, demanded the immediate withdrawal of Soviet troops from Hungary in a speech to several hundred thousand people on Budapest’s Heroes’ Square. But in recent years, Orban— whom critics accuse of increasingly authoritarian tactics since entering power in 2010—has pursued a diplomatic and economic strategy he calls “Eastern Opening,” a policy which advances closer ties with autocratic countries to Hungary’s

east amid what his government sees as Western decline. As part of that strategy, Orban has initiated a 12 billion-euro ($13.6 billion) Russian-backed project to add two nuclear reactors to Hungary’s only nuclear power plant, financed primarily by a Russian state bank. His government has also increased Hungary’s dependence on Russian natural gas, and in 2019 provided a headquarters in Budapest for the Moscow-based International Investment Bank (IIB), an institution with Soviet roots that critics say could be a conduit for Russian spying. As the conflict between Russia and Ukraine escalates, Orban faces greater pressure than ever to choose between Moscow and Hungary’s Western partners in the EU and Nato military alliance—but is showing increasing signs that he may continue to straddle the line between the two. AP

A12 Wednesday, March 2, 2022 • Editor: Angel R. Calso

Opinion BusinessMirror

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editorial

How govt can boost farmers’ productivity

he hostilities in Eastern Europe may not directly affect the Philippines, but it would certainly have an impact on consumer prices. After Russia invaded Ukraine, analysts and experts warned that the conflict could worsen supply chain disruptions and push oil prices up, which will hurt consumers in Asia (See, “Oil’s war spike likely to hurt PHL, Thailand, India the worst in Asia,” in the BusinessMirror, February 26, 2022). The war zone in Eastern Europe may be thousands of miles away from the Philippines, but the fighting there is threatening to upend markets that are just starting to recover from the devastation caused by Covid-19. The rebound in consumer spending coupled with the escalating Russia-Ukraine tensions are putting immense pressure on prices of key commodities. Right after Russia attacked Ukraine, the price of benchmark Brent crude jumped to more than $100 a barrel. The surge in wheat prices due to the disruption caused by the hostilities could make a number of basic food items, such as bread and meat products, more expensive (See, “Farm sector tracks Ukraine fallout,” in the BusinessMirror, February 28, 2022). Even before Russia attacked its neighbor, the reopening of rich countries and the decline in Covid-19 cases have sent oil prices soaring due to strong demand. Because the Philippines imports its oil requirements, the rise in pump prices and the increase in fertilizer prices have become a twofold blow to local farmers and food producers. Sugar planters have warned that they might stay away from planting sugarcane due to skyrocketing production costs. Aside from fertilizer, the crops that the Philippines does not produce, such as wheat and soybean, have also become costlier. Wheat, which is processed into flour, is grown in temperate countries like the United States, Ukraine, and Russia. Soybeans cannot be cultivated in the Philippines because it is a suitable crop in temperate regions. Feed wheat and soybeans are two of the key ingredients used in manufacturing feeds for animals, like pigs and chicken. Russia and Ukraine are the world’s top sources of wheat; while Russia is a major exporter of ammonia, a basic building block for ammonium nitrate fertilizer. If the hostilities drag on, prices of fertilizer and animal feed materials could rise and eventually put pressure on the prices of basic commodities like pork and poultry. This development does not bode well for the livestock and poultry subsector, which continues to grapple with diseases, such as African swine fever and avian influenza. In particular, rising production costs would deal a blow to the hog sector, which has yet to fully recover from the devastation caused by ASF. If they will not get any government help, hog raisers would be left with no other choice but to immediately pass on the increase in cost to consumers. While the government can do nothing about the commodities affected by the war in Europe, it can provide assistance to planters of other feed materials like corn and coconut to ensure the stability of local feed supply. Apart from giving subsidies to farmers, government should also craft strategies that will enable them to reduce their production cost and improve their farms’ productivity. The stable supply of affordable raw materials produced in the Philippines will mitigate the risks posed by global events, such as wars and pandemics. Since 2005

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SSS’ response to calamity victims of Typhoon Odette Aurora C. Ignacio

All About Social Security

he 2020 World Risk Index concludes that the Philippines ranked 9th as one of the most disaster-prone countries in the world. Situated along the typhoon belt, the Philippines is visited by an average of 20 typhoons every year. Situated along the Pacific Ring of Fire, the country also regularly experience earthquakes and volcanic eruptions, among others. Through the enactment of the National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Act in 2010, the Philippine government is putting significant efforts in developing disaster management structures and resources. Managing disasters include disaster mitigation, preparedness, prevention, and response. Our vulnerability to various natural hazards has actually helped us to develop strategies and mitigation mechanisms at the national level. In December 2021, while everyone was busy preparing for Christmas, we have been struck by a powerful and catastrophic typhoon, which hit provinces in MIMAROPA Region in Luzon, Central, Eastern, and Western Visayas, and CARAGA and Region X in Mindanao. Typhoon Odette has left thousands of families homeless, paralyzed major electricity lines, and interrupted communication networks, caused damages to infrastructure, and wasted millions of livelihoods. People were left hungry and jobless, a number of deaths were also recorded, all of which has brought about a negative impact on

the economy. It was truly a sad fate for those who were just regaining back their financial resources amid the pandemic. As a commitment of the Social Security System to provide much needed assistance to its members and pensioners even during times of calamities, the agency launched the SSS Calamity Assistance Program (CAP) on January 14, 2022, providing three programs under it: The Calamity Loan Assistance Program, Three-Month Advance Pension for SS and EC Pensioners, and Direct House Repair and Improvement Loan for those residing in the calamity-stricken areas and declared by the National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council (NDRRMC) under a state of calamity, which include Region IV-B (MIMAROPA), Region VI (Western Visayas), Region VII (Central Visayas), Region VIII (Eastern Visayas), Region X (Northern Mindanao) and Region XIII (CARAGA). The CLAP and ThreeMonth Advance pension programs are open to receive applications until April 13, 2022, while the Direct

House Repair and Improvement Loan will run for a year until January 13, 2023. 1. Calamity Loan Qualified members may apply for a one-month loan equivalent to the average of his/her latest 12 posted monthly salary credit or the amount applied for, whichever is lower, provided that they have fulfilled the following requirements: n With 36 monthly contributions, six of which should be posted within the last 12 months prior to the month of filing of application; n Have not been granted any final benefit claim such as Permanent Total Disability Claim or Retirement Claim; n Have no outstanding loan balance in the Loan Restructuring Program (LRP) and in the previous CLAP; and n With active UMID-ATM or enrolled PESONet accredited bank account or UBP Quick Card in the Disbursement Account Enrollment Module (DAEM) since the loan proceeds will be credited to such account. To apply, members should log in to their account with the My.SSS portal. Under the e-Services tab, the member-borrower should select the Apply for Calamity Loan tab. 2. Advance three-month pension For SS retirement, disability, and survivor pensioners, as well as EC disability and survivor pensioners, the CAP offers the availment of threemonth advance pension. To apply, a pensioner should submit the following documents: n A properly accomplished Application for Assistance due to Calamity/Disaster Form and a certification issued by the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD)

or the National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council (NDRRMC), if the Application Form was not signed by the Barangay Chairman. n 3. Direct House Repair and Improvement Loan This program aims to provide financial assistance to SSS members whose houses were damaged or destroyed due to Ty phoon Odette. Qualified SSS members may apply for the Direct House Repair and/or Improvement Loan. Under this program, they can borrow a maximum loanable amount of P1 million. To qualify, affected members must meet the following requirements: n Have a total of at least 24 monthly contributions, three of which should be posted within the last 12-month period prior to the month of filing of application; n Not more than 60 years old at the time of filing of application; n Have not been previously granted a House Repair and/or Improvement Loan by the SSS; n Have not been granted any final SSS benefit nor was refunded SSS contributions; and n The member and his/her spouse (if applicable) must be upto-date in the payment of all other existing loans with the SSS. Application may be filed in the Housing and Acquired Asset Management Sections located in SSS San Pablo for those in Southern Luzon, SSS Cebu for those in Central Visayas, SSS Bacolod for those in Western Visayas, SSS Davao for those in Southern Mindanao, SSS Cagayan De Oro for those in Northern Mindanao, and SSS Zamboanga for those in Western See “SSS,” A13

State of the Union: Amid disputes, common cause for Ukraine

By Lisa Mascaro | AP Congressional Correspondent

ASHINGTON—They have argued viciously in Congress over just about everything: Whether the Capitol insurrection should be investigated or brushed aside. If the president’s choice for the Supreme Court should be the first Black woman. Even over whether or not to wear masks under the dome. But as lawmakers gather for President Joe Biden’s first State of the Union address amid the gravity of Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, they have mustered a rare and remarkable bipartisan resolve, determined to hold the US and its allies together in the defense of a Western-oriented democracy. When Biden stands in the House chamber Tuesday evening, trying to make good on what until now has been a faltering attempt to resolve the nation’s bitter divisions, he may find that the threat from Russian President Vladimir Putin abroad has become the unexpected force pulling

the US political parties toward common purpose. “I think you will see in the State of the Union, a strong bipartisan support for our president,” predicts Sen. Chris Coons, D-Del., a Biden ally. The turn of events is both stunning and fragile. Foreign policy has not been the kind of bipartisan draw it was during the past century, when Congress and the White House worked together as the US dominated the global stage. Factions on the right and left have broken off, most definitively over the long wars in Iraq and Afghanistan, creating oddball politi-

cal alliances in the US and chiseling away at a shared mission. The revival of a robust majority that’s largely supportive of Biden’s strategy toward Russia is even more striking because it is shaping up as one of the most significant rejections of Donald Trump’s embrace of Putin and the former president’s praise of Putin’s tactics as Russia invaded Ukraine. “We’re all together at this point and we need to be together about what should be done,” said Senate Republican leader Mitch McConnell of Kentucky. Still, the State of the Union address may not be free of partisan antics, unfolding against the backdrop of a Congress deeply divided over many issues: a prime-time address to the nation, too tempting for lawmakers looking for attention. This year is particularly fraught amid ongoing Covid restrictions

and a Capitol still largely shuttered to the public in part because of the security concerns in the aftermath of the deadly January 6, 2021, assault by Trump supporters trying to stop Congress from certifying Biden’s election. “It’s a big worry of mine,” said Rep. Adam Kinzinger, R-Ill., who said he hoped his side of the aisle is respectful and doesn’t yell out “stupid” things. Tuesday’s gathering in the House chamber will be the first time all members are invited since the pandemic outbreak in 2020 and last year’s Capitol attack. Masks will no longer be required, removing one source of friction for those lawmakers who had flouted the guidelines and risked being booted from the session for failing to comply — though Covid tests and social distancing measures will still See “State,” A13

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At rare UN session, Russia is pressed to stop war in Ukraine

By Jennifer Peltz & Edith M. Lederer | The Associated Press

NITED NATIONS—Ambassadors from dozens of countries on Monday backed a proposal demanding that Russia halt its attack on Ukraine, as the UN General Assembly held a rare emergency session during a day of frenzied and sometimes fractious diplomacy surrounding the five-day-old war. “If Ukraine does not survive... international peace will not survive,” Ukrainian Ambassador Sergiy Kyslytsya said at the assembly’s first emergency meeting since 1997. “Have no illusions. If Ukraine does not survive, we cannot be surprised if democracy fails next.” Reflecting escalating global alarm, both of the UN’s major bodies—the 193-nation assembly and the smaller, more powerful Security Council—took the unusual step of holding simultaneous, hastily scheduled meetings on the war. In Geneva, the UN Human Rights Council voted to hold its own urgent session. Tension permeated the diplomatic discourse: The Security Council meeting opened with the news that the United States was kicking out 12 Russian UN diplomats whom Washington accused of spying. Meanwhile, Russian and Ukrainian officials held talks on the Belarus border, agreeing only to keep talking. “The guns are talking now, but the path of dialogue must always remain open,” UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres told the assembly. “We need peace now.” Russian Ambassador Vasily Nebenzya reiterated his country’s assertions that what it calls a “special military operation” in defense of two breakaway areas in eastern Ukraine was being misrepresented. “Russian actions are being distorted and thwarted,” he complained. Russia has repeatedly sought to blame Ukraine for what Moscow claims are abuses of Russian speakers in the eastern enclaves. “The Russian Federation did not begin these hostilities that were unleashed by Ukraine against its own residents,” he said. “Russia is seeking to end this war.” The assembly session came three days after an attempt to condemn and stop Russia’s attack ran into a Russian veto in the Security Council. The assembly will give all UN members an opportunity to speak about the war. More than 110 signed up to do so, with speeches to continue Tuesday. The assembly, which allows no vetoes, is expected to vote later in the week on a resolution coordinated by European Union envoys, working with Ukraine. The draft resolution, obtained by The Associated Press, demands that Russia immediately stop using force against Ukraine and withdraw all troops. It urges an “immediate peaceful resolution” through dialogue and negotiations, and it deplores what it calls Russia’s “aggression” and the “involvement” of Belarus, which is siding with Moscow. Assembly President Abdulla Shahid opened Monday’s session by asking all envoys to stand for a moment of silence.

SSS. . .

continued from A12

Mindanao. Aside from CAP, the SSS has also extended the contribution payment deadline for selected months in 2021 in ‘Odette’-hit areas. Contributions of business and household employers for November and December 2021 can be paid until February 28, 2022. The same deadline applies to the contribution payment of coverage and collection partners, self-employed, voluntary, and non-working spouse members, and land-based overseas Filipino worker members for the applicable period of October to December 2021. Aiming to address the gaps in disaster management capacities across the different regions in the country, the SSS has invested on disaster re-

In hours of speeches afterward, dozens exhorted their colleagues to vote yes. “With the Security Council having failed to deliver against its responsibilities, we, the General Assembly, must now stand up to play our part,” said New Zealand’s ambassador, Carolyn Schwalger. Austrian Ambassador Alexander Marschik appealed to those who have good relations with Russia, saying that “a good friend, an honest friend, will speak up and say what needs to be said and what needs to be done when a friend commits an illegal and evil act.” But Russian ally Syria accused the West of a “politics of hypocrisy,” noting that various other conflicts over the years haven’t gotten such special attention. “This historic emergency session on the situation in Ukraine completes the anti-Russian campaign that finds its origins in the provocative and hostile rhetoric towards Russia, propagated by the West to stoke tensions in Ukraine” and compromise Russia’s security, Syrian Ambassador Bassam Sabbagh said. China, another Russian ally, called for respecting all countries’ sovereignty and internationally recognized borders but didn’t directly address the resolution. Instead, Ambassador Zhang Jun encouraged fostering a conducive atmosphere for Russian-Ukrainian talks and frowned on “any approach that may exacerbate tensions.” “Nothing can be gained from stirring up a new Cold War, but everyone will stand to lose,” he said. The Security Council meeting later Monday was focused on the humanitarian impact of Russia’s invasion, but the session began with a prickly exchange about the Russian diplomats’ expulsion from the US. Nebenzya bristled to the council that the expulsions were “yet another hostile step” by Washington. US Deputy Ambassador Richard Mills said the dozen diplomats were engaged in undiplomatic activities. Olivia Dalton, a spokesperson for the United States’ UN mission, later said in a statement that the 12 were “intelligence operatives” who were “engaging in espionage activities that are adverse to our national security.” Nebenzya, in remarks to The Associated Press, dismissed the assertion as a pretext. With the UN saying the war is creating an already alarming and potentially massive humanitarian and refugee crisis, France and Mexico planned to propose a humanitarian-focused Security Council resolution. French Ambassador Nicolas de Riviere said Sunday it would “demand the end of hostilities, protection of civilians, and safe and unhindered humanitarian access to meet the urgent needs of the population.”

sponse capacity by offering programs to its members and pensioners who were greatly affected by natural calamities, most especially typhoons. As in the past, SSS is a lending arm to help its members in whatever contingencies that may arise, including calamities. Have a healthy and productive week! For more information on the SSS Calamity Assistance Package, members may refer to the SSS Circular No. 2021-020 https://bit.ly/3LSACZk and to Circular 2022-004 https:// bit.ly/3sQ9AZD for the extension of contribution payment deadline for Typhoon Odette-hit areas. Aurora C. Ignacio is SSS president and chief executive officer. We welcome your questions and insights on the topics that we discuss. E-mail mediaaffairs@sss. gov.ph for topics that you might want us to discuss.

Wednesday, March 2, 2022 A13

520,000 refugees have fled Ukraine since Russia attacked By Justin Spike | The Associated Press

EREGSURANY, Hungary—The mass exodus of refugees from Ukraine to the eastern edge of the European Union showed no signs of stopping Monday, with the UN estimating more than 520,000 people have already escaped Russia’s burgeoning war against Ukraine. Long lines of cars and buses were backed up at checkpoints at the borders of Poland, Hungary, Slovakia, Romania and non-EU member Moldova. Others crossed the borders on foot, dragging their possessions behind them. Several hundred refugees were gathered at a temporary reception center in the Hungarian border village of Beregsurany awaiting transport to transit hubs, where they would be taken further into Hungary and beyond. Maria Pavlushko, 24, an information technology project manager from Zhytomyr, 100 kilometers (60 miles) west of the Ukrainian capital, Kyiv, said she was on a skiing holiday in the Carpathian mountains when she got word from home that Russia’s invasion had begun. “My granny called me saying there is war in the city,” she said. Pavlushko plans to travel from Hungary to Poland, where her mother lives. But her grandmother is still in Zhytomyr, she said, and her father stayed behind to join the fight against the invading Russian forces sent in by Vladimir Putin. “I am proud about him,” she said. “A lot of my friends, a lot of young boys are going...to kill [the Russian soldiers].” Many of the refugees in Beregsurany, as in other border areas in Eastern Europe, are from India, Nigeria and other African countries, and were working or studying in Ukraine when the war broke out. Masroor Ahmed, a 22-year-old Indian medical student studying in Ternopil in western Ukraine, came

with 18 other Indian students to the Hungarian border. He said they hoped to reach the capital of Budapest, where India’s government has organized an evacuation flight for its citizens. While Ternopil had not yet experienced violence when they left: “It might be that there is bombing next hour, next month or next year. We are not sure, that’s why we left that city.” Hungary, in a turnaround from its long-standing opposition to immigration and refusal to accept refugees from the Middle East, Africa and Asia, has opened its borders to all refugees fleeing Ukraine, including third-country nationals that can prove Ukrainian residency. As part of an agreement with some foreign governments, Hungary has set up a “humanitarian corridor” to escort non-Ukrainian nationals from the border to airports in the city of Debrecen and the capital, Budapest. Priscillia Vawa Zira, a Nigerian medical student in the eastern Ukrainian city of Kharkiv, said she fled toward Hungary as the Russian military commenced an assault. “The situation was very terrible. You had to run because explosions here and there every minute,” she said. UN High Commissioner for Refugees Filippo Grandi, speaking by video to the UN Security Council, said more than 520,000 refugees had fled Ukraine, a number he said “has been rising exponentially, hour after hour.” The UN expects the total to reach

4 million in the coming weeks, Grandi said. In Poland, which has reported the most arrivals at more than 280,000, trains continued to bring refugees into the border town of Przemysl on Monday. In winter coats to protect them against near-freezing temperatures, many carried small suitcases as they exited the station. Polish UN Ambassador Krzysztof Szczerski, speaking at the General Assembly, said that in addition to Ukrainians, those coming in Monday included people of some 125 nationalities, including Uzbeks, Nigerians, Indians, Moroccans, Pakistanis, Afghans, Iranians, Iraqis, Turks and Algerians. Otoman Adel Abid, a student from Iraq, fled to Poland from the western Ukrainian city of Lviv after he said panic broke out among many in the city. “Everyone ran to buy some food and we heard bombs everywhere,” he told The Associated Press. “After that we directly packed our bag and clothes and some documents and we ran to the train station.” Natalia Pivniuk, a young Ukrainian woman from Lviv, described people crowding and pushing to get on the train, which she said was “very scary, and dangerous physically and dangerous mentally.” “People are under stress...and when people are scared they become egoist and forget about everything,” she said. “People are traumatized because they were on that train.” Maxime Guselnikov was leaving Poland to return to Ukraine to take up arms against Russia, he said, adding that his wife and daughter are still in Kyiv along with friends and colleagues. “I return to Kyiv to fight,” he said. “The Russians came to kill our brothers, soldiers, our children, mothers, sons. I go to take revenge for it. I should react.” Many of those fleeing Ukraine

were traveling on to countries further west. Aksieniia Shtimmerman, 41, arrived with her four children in Berlin Monday morning after a three-day journey from Kyiv. Sitting on a bench inside the German capital’s main train station, she attempted to decipher a leaflet with instructions and maps on how to reach a shelter for new arrivals. As she tried to comfort her crying 3-year-old twin boys, Shtimmerman said she had worked in telecommunications at a Kyiv university but was now only seeking a place where she and her children could eat, sleep and rest. “I grabbed my kids on Friday morning at 7 a.m. to run away from the war,” Shtimmerman said. “I can’t even count anymore how many different trains we took until we arrived here.” Germany’s interior ministry said 1,800 refugees from Ukraine had arrived by early Monday, but that the number was constantly growing as more trains from Poland arrived. In the Romanian town of Siret, the EU commissioner for home affairs, Ylva Johansson, visited a border crossing where thousands of refugees were entering from neighboring Ukraine. Johansson, who visited some of the humanitarian stations at the border, commended the “heartwarming” cooperation between volunteers and the authorities, and said the EU is united “in a way we have never seen before.” She said it was a “very difficult time where we see war in Europe again, where we see aggression, invasion from Putin towards a sovereign, neighboring country.” Europe is “showing that we are based on other values than Putin,” she said. AP writers Monika Scislowska in Warsaw, Poland; Stephen McGrath in Siret, Romania; Kirsten Grieshaber in Berlin and Jamey Keaten in Geneva contributed to this report.

From banking to sports to vodka, Russia’s isolation grows By Ted Anthony AP National Writer

t’s a globalized world—a planet stitched together by intricate supply chains, banking, sports and countless other threads of deep connection. Until it isn’t. Exhibit A: Russia this week, abruptly cut off from the larger world on multiple fronts. Its ability to bank internationally has been curtailed. Its participation in major international sports is crumbling. Its planes are restricted over Europe. Its vodka may no longer be welcome in multiple US states. Even Switzerland, whose very name is shorthand for neutrality, is carefully turning its back on Vladimir Putin. In barely three days, Russia has become an international outcast because of its invasion of Ukraine, and its leader is finding himself with fewer and fewer foreign friends. What’s more, the actions against Moscow are happening in diverse, far-reaching ways that are remarkable for—and in some cases helped along by—the extremely connected world in which we live. “Something has happened here. It has cascaded in ways no one could have envisioned three or four days ago,” said Andrew Latham, a professor of international relations at Macalester College and a geopolitics expert. “It’s really a strange,

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be required. But the heavy metal security fence is back up around the Capitol complex, a bow to the “new normal” of threats from within America’s own electorate. At least one Republican, Sen. Marco Rubio of Florida, will sit it out rather than participate in what he calls Covid “theater,” even as he is deeply involved in monitoring the war in Ukraine. “I’m just not taking any more Covid tests unless I’m sick,” Rubio said Monday. It can’t be said that Republicans

strange thing to be watching.” In just the past three days, a flurry of major moves has happened in rapid fire—both sanctions from governments and actions from the alliances, organizations and people that surround them. Together, in many ways they outdo some of the world’s most recent sanctions packages, including those against Iran and North Korea. European nations, notably united on the issue, have closed their airspace to Russian planes. The SWIFT international financial system, which enables billions of dollars in transactions for more than 11,000 banks and other institutions around the world, restricted key Russian banks from its network over the weekend—a potential body blow to Russian finances. On Monday, world and European bodies suspended Russian teams from all international soccer, including qualifying matches for the 2022 World Cup. This came after the International Olympic Committee called on sports organizations to exclude Russian athletes and officials from international events. When the International Ice Hockey Federation and the National Hockey League announced their own measures against Russia, it was clear that a movement was underway that was more widespread than anything seen in the sports world in decades. Germany, in an extraordinary move,

broke with its post-World War II foreign policy and said it would help send weapons to Ukraine — an action that its chancellor, Olaf Scholz, called “a new reality.” Finland and Sweden, countries that are hardly rash about jumping into the fray, seem to be road-testing positions potentially adversarial to Russia. Switzerland, a nation renowned for its secure banking, is “taking a tougher line with regard to Russia,” the head of its economic affairs department, Guy Parmelin, said Sunday. Less directly impactful but no less resolute were efforts by several US states—Pennsylvania, North Carolina, Vermont, West Virginia and Maine among them—to purge liquor outlets of Russian vodka and other products. Some states, like Pennsylvania, also took steps Monday toward divesting any Russiarelated holdings. “We must wield our economic power to ensure that Russia faces grave consequences for their flagrant violations of international law and human cooperation,” wrote state Sen. Sharif Street, DPhiladelphia. The list goes on. “To begin with, they’re symbolic. But then you see the sheer number of them. They might seem trivial on their own, but the totality of them suggests that the system has swung with this,” said William Muck, a political science professor at North Central College in Illinois and a specialist in international security.

That kind of rapid-fire coalescence won praise Monday from the White House. “President Putin has been one of the greatest unifiers of Nato in modern history. So I guess that is one thing we can thank him for,” press secretary Jen Psaki said Monday. “I think what we’ve seen over the last few days is a commitment to remain united, and to send a strong message to President Putin that this action—these actions, this rhetoric—is unacceptable and the world is building a wall against it,” Psaki said. It has all happened with a sweep that dwarfed even post-9/11 sanctions, but also with startling dispatch—which is one of the things that have made it so extraordinary. A key ingredient: It took place against the backdrop of an instantaneous social media landscape that gave faraway observers a direct and informal pipeline to what was happening both in Ukraine and elsewhere. That’s something that can act as a force multiplier far away when, say, the governor of Maine decides to take vodka-related actions. “A generation ago, this would have all taken place through ministries of foreign affairs and the 6 o’clock news, but nothing like the speed and interconnectedness of today. I think that’s having an accelerating effect,” Latham said. Reporter Aamer Madhani in Washington

are fully pleased with Biden’s handling of the Ukraine war. McConnell has been highly critical of the president’s runup to the crisis, calling the White House’s disastrous exit from Afghanistan last summer a sign of US weakness that opened the door to Putin’s invasion. Leading Republican lawmakers have derided what defense hawks view as Biden’s initial reluctance to impose sanctions to deter Putin’s advance on Ukraine. Others have criticized the White House climatechange agenda as creating an energy policy that boosts Russian exports, including via the Nord Stream 2 pipeline to Germany, now scrapped over the war.

“We all know what Putin wants, and he said so publicly: He wants to reconstitute the USSR and pull back in his orbit all the countries that were in it before,” said Sen. Jim Risch of Idaho, the top Republican on the Foreign Relations Committee. “This is a seminal moment.” But even some of the Trump’s staunch supporters are parting ways with the former president after he called Putin’s invasion tactics “genius.” Republican Rep. Mo Brooks, who rallied with Trump supporters ahead of last year’s assault on the Capitol and has won Trump’s endorsement in the Alabama Senate primary, lambasted Putin’s invasion as “barbaric and evil.” But in a nod to the non-

interventionist strain that runs deep in both left and right flanks, Brooks added, “While Putin’s Ukrainian invasion and murders are heinous, this is first and foremost a problem for Western Europe to resolve.” Congress will face tests ahead, starting with Biden’s request for at least $6.4 billion in supplemental funding to help Ukraine, which will require cooperation from both parties. Sen. Chris Van Hollen, D-Md., said the Trump voices remain “a big part of the Republican Party nationally, but at least so far on Capitol Hill, especially in the Senate, I think you’ve got an overall bipartisan consensus. I hope it stays that way.”

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Fintech groups warn vs digital vote-buying, vote-selling in polls

By Tyrone Jasper C. Piad @Tyronepiad

INANCIAL technology (fintech) groups called on digital wallet and account owners to be responsible users during the election season, advising them to not “misuse” their platforms for vote-buying and vote-selling. In a joint statement on Tuesday, Fintech Alliance.ph and eMoney Association of the Philippines threw their support behind the recent advisories by the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas (BSP) and the Anti-Money Laundering Council (AMLC) on such illegal practices during campaign period. In its Memorandum M-2021- 074, BSP flagged the possible proliferation of digital-buying or vote-selling schemes, calling for heightened surveillance to prevent such activities. AMLC, meanwhile, reminded financial institutions to conduct due diligence in addressing suspicious transactions. “We recognize the fintech industry’s critical role in upholding clean, honest, and credible elections by ensuring that the

digital products, platforms, and services offered are not misused for vote-buying, vote-selling, and other illegal political partisan activities,” both parties said. “We call on all digital wallet and account owners to use these digital finance channels responsibly and to be vigilant by proactively reporting unfair practices that could compromise our bid for fair and free elections,” they added. For their part, Fintech Alliance.ph and eMoney Association assured the regulators they have systems in place to “mitigate attempts to abuse digital fund transfer services.” The groups said they have “stringent” onboarding processes, including a one-toone account registration and creation, elec-

tronic Know-Your-Customer system and account verification that helps in tracking the identity of the users and the traceability of the digital transactions. In addition, they are incorporating compliance measures and risk management systems with their operations. These are supported by advanced algorithms and security controls that can detect unusual or suspicious transactions, they explained. While the groups have preventive measures, they stressed such come hand-inhand with promotion of financial education and consumer protection programs. “We remain steadfast, as industry leaders, in our commitment to promote the responsible use of digital payment platforms, especially in the days leading up to the May elections,” the group said. “More than just a public information campaign, it is our civic duty to safeguard the credibility and integrity of digital services and channels, primarily created to better the lives of all Filipinos.” In January, the Central Bank urged the financial institutions to “adjust their fraud management systems (FMS) and transaction monitoring parameters to foil the possible misuse of online financial channels.” BSP said they are working with the Commission on Elections and the Philippine National Police to address the issues involving the vote-buying or vote-selling activities.

BOC, TARGET OF MOST PRESIDENTIAL BETS, ‘A LOT BETTER NOW’ By Bernadette D. Nicolas @BNicolasBM

LMOST all presidential candidates listed the Bureau of Customs (BOC) as the first agency they will investigate for alleged corruption, if elected, but Finance Secretary Carlos G. Dominguez III said the agency is “a lot better now” than before the Duterte administration came in 2016. While Dominguez acknowledged the “need for continuing improvements” in the agency, he expressed satisfaction with what the bureau has achieved under this administration. “Obviously I think it’s a lot better now than in 2016, and I welcome any inquiry or investigation to either verify my observations or to point out areas for further improvement,” Dominguez told reporters. Dominguez also revealed that he has asked Customs Commissioner Rey Leonardo B. Guerrero to invite all candidates for a briefing in the bureau’s offices. Eight of the nine presidential candidates who showed up at the CNN Philippines debate on Sunday named the BOC as the first agency their administration would investigate for corruption allegations. Only Senator Manny Pacquiao listed as his top choice the Department of Health, while former senator Bongbong Marcos did not attend the debate. Corruption allegations have hounded the BOC for years, and even President Duterte earlier identified it as one of the “most corrupt” government agencies. In 2019, Duterte said he would relieve 64 Customs employees over corruption allegations. According to Dominguez, the bureau has consistently met or exceeded its collection targets, digitized

most of its processes, and installed a Customer Service Center which reduces importers’ or their agents’ contact with the BOC personnel. Apart from these, the bureau installed video cameras to monitor the activities of BOC staff in all major ports, embedded officers of the National Bureau of Investigation and Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency in their offices to improve coordination, conducted raids together with the Bureau of Internal Revenue on suspected illicit cigarette operations and warehouses, and worked with the Philippine Coast Guard to patrol areas close to suspected smuggling to prevent unloading of illicit goods into smaller sea craft.

BOC welcomes probe

CUSTOMS Assistant Commissioner and spokesman Vincent Philip Maronilla earlier said they welcome and will cooperate in any investigation, adding that several government agencies, including the Commission on Audit and the Presidential Anti-Corruption Commission, and the Anti-Red Tape Authority are already embedded in the bureau to investigate any complaint against BOC. “We also welcome the assignment of a resident ombudsman in BOC,” Maronilla said. Meanwhile, the BOC also reported on Tuesday that it collected P59.036 billion in February, exceeding a P50.3-billion collection target for the month. Citing preliminary data, the BOC reported that 14 of the 17 collection districts exceeded their target for February. To date, the BOC collected P117.524 billion since January this year, equivalent to 17.3 percent of its P679-billion full-year target.

PHL stuck for 10 yrs in same place in index on women, biz and law By Cai U. Ordinario @caiordinario

HE lack of reforms to advance women’s rights when it comes to assets, parenthood and marriage has kept the country’s rating the same in the World Bank’s Women, Business and the Law Index for the past 10 years. In the Women, Business and the Law Index 2022, the Philippines’s average score was at 78.8 out of 100, the same rating it has had since 2013. The country’s rating, however, remained above the global average of 76.5 out of 100. Globally, the World Bank said, women still have only three quarters of the legal rights afforded to men—an aggregate score of 76.5 out of a possible 100, which denotes complete legal parity. “While progress has been made, the gap between men’s and women’s expected lifetime earnings globally is US$172 trillion—nearly two times the world’s annual GDP,” said Mari Pangestu, World Bank Managing Director of Development Policy and Partnerships. “As we move forward to achieve green, resilient and inclusive development, governments need to accelerate the pace of legal reforms so that women can realize their full potential and benefit fully and equally,” Pangestu also said. Women, Business and the Law 2022 measures laws and regulations across 190 countries in eight areas impacting women’s economic participation—mobility, workplace, pay, marriage, parenthood, entrepreneurship, assets, and pensions. In the Philippines, the country’s average rating for marriage, parenthood, and assets received the lowest rating of 60 out of 100. The data from the World Bank showed the country’s mobility score has been dragged down because women still cannot apply for a passport in the same way as a man.

Senate probe on abductions goes on amid e-sabong halt

In terms of marriage, the Philippines is one of only two countries in the world that does not allow divorce so women could not obtain divorce in the country and woman do not have the same rights to remarry as a man. In 2015, BusinessMir ror published a three-part story on obsolete laws which included a 301-day rule that needed to be observed by widows before they could marry again. These stories can be found t h r o u g h t h e s e l i n k s: Pa r t 1: https://businessmirror. com.ph/2015/09/21/marrying-arapist-the-301-day-rule-for-widows-and-other-obsolete-laws/ | Part 2: https://businessmirror. com.ph/2015/09/22/marryinga-rapist-the-301-day-rule-forwidows-and-other-obsoletelaws-2/|Part 3: https://businessmirror.com.ph/2015/09/23/ marrying-a-rapist-the-301-dayrule-for-widows-and-other-obsolete-laws-3/. In terms of parenthood, the World Bank data showed the government does not administer 100 percent of maternity leave benefits; and there are no paid parental leaves. “Women cannot achieve equality in the workplace if they are on an unequal footing at home,” said Carmen Reinhart, Senior Vice President and Chief Economist of the World Bank Group. “That means leveling the playing field and ensuring that having children doesn’t mean women are excluded from full participation in the economy and realizing their hopes and ambitions.” Meanwhile, the country’s score was at 75 out of 100 in terms of mobility and pension. In terms of mobility, a woman still cannot apply for a passport in the same way as a man in the country while in terms of pension, periods of absence due to childcare are not accounted for in pension benefits.

ENATORS conducting a separate inquiry into the case of the 31 missing E-sabong (online cockfight) aficionados and workers will pursue their ongoing probe even as President Duterte has green-lighted the suspension of operations of seven companies licensed by the state gaming agency. The Senate leader disclosed their options in dealing with the controversy in a public forum early this week in the presence of local officials of Quezon province, who echoed concerns on the social and economic toll of s-sabong on the people. The Senate on Monday formally filed a resolution urging the Philippine Amusement and Gaming Corporation (Pagcor) to suspend the operation of the popular “Esabong” or online cockfight until the cases of 31 missing cockfight aficionados are resolved. Proposed Resolution No. 996, which expresses the sense of the Senate to strongly urge Pagcor to suspend the license to operate of “E-sabong” operators and to immediately stop all activities related to “E-sabong” until the cases of the missing sabungeros are resolved, was introduced by Ronald Dela Rosa and signed by 22 other senators. The current holders of Pagcor license to operate “E-sabong” are Belvedere Vista Corporation, Lucky 8 Star Quest, Inc., Visayas Cockers Club, Inc., Jade Entertainment and Gaming Technologies, Inc., Newin Cockers Alliance Gaming Corporation, Philippine Cockfighting International Inc., and Golden Buzzer, Inc. Dela Rosa said that President Duterte gave the impression that he supports the resolution. “Per my short conversation with the President at the wedding of his grandson in Davao City yesterday, I got the impression that he supports the Senate resolution urging Pagcor to suspend the license to operate of “E-Sabong operators,” Dela Rosa said.

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Companies

Editor: Jennifer A. Ng

Wednesday, March 2, 2022

Strong performance in Q4 boosts Ayala Land income By VG Cabuag

@villygc

roperty developer Ayala Land Inc. said its income last year rose 40 percent to P12.22 billion from the previous year’s P8.72 billion mainly on its strong performance in the fourth quarter of 2021. Revenues rose 10 percent to P106.1 billion from the previous year’s P96.27 billion. Compared with the 2019 figures, however, both its income and revenues were still down. The company recorded profits of P33.18 billion and revenues of P168.79 billion in 2019. For the fourth quarter alone, its

income reached P3.6 billion, a growth of 54 percent from the previous year, and revenues at P33.5 billion, almost flat from the previous year. “Our focus in 2021 was to ensure we provided the right environment in our communities for our residents, businesses and institutional locators to adapt and function better while ex-

ecuting our business recovery plans,” Bernard Vincent O. Dy, Ayala Land president and CEO said. “As the economy moves to full reopening in 2022, we look forward to the acceleration of our business activity backed by our landbank, diversified portfolio, and marketleading estate developments.” Property development revenues grew 14 percent to P75.9 billion from construction progress and higher project bookings. Most of the revenue buildup commenced in the fourth quarter, the company said. Sales reservations for the year reached P92.2 billion, a 13-percent growth from last year, mainly from demand for lots in Southern Luzon by its high end brands, Ayala Land Premier and Alveo Land. Sales reservations from lots alone jumped 36 percent to P41.5 billion

during the year. In the fourth quarter, sales grew 5 percent to P22.1 billion from the same period in 2020. The company launched 22 projects worth P75.3 billion during the year, seven times more than in 2020. Meanwhile, commercial leasing revenues amounted to P20.6 billion, a 5-percent decline from a year ago as malls, hotels and resort operations remained limited for most of the year. Shopping center revenues declined 13 percent to P7.9 billion, and hotel and resorts revenues fell by 12 percent to P2.8 billion. Ayala Land said it saw commercial revenues improve in the fourth quarter. Office leasing revenues rose 5 percent to P9.9 billion as business process outsourcing and corporate operations remained stable throughout the period.

Solar firms eye Meralco supply deal By Lenie Lectura @llectura

unAsi a Energ y Inc. has formed a consortium of solar power developers to challenge Terra Solar’s unsolicited bid to supply 850 megawatts (MW) of mid-merit renewable energy to the Manila Electric Co. (Meralco). “For the first time, a community of solar developers and independent power producers broke free from their traditional mindset and decided to pool their resources and share talents to offer the largest utility company a green solution for 2026,” SunAsia Energy President Tetchi Capellan said in a statement.

‘Mobile data use to rise this year’

Terra Solar is the special purpose vehicle of Prime Infrastructure Capital Inc. and Solar Philippines Power Project Holdings Inc. It proposed a P6.0800 per kilowatt-hour headline rate and levelized cost of electricity. The offer includes 600 MW to be made available for Meralco by February 26, 2026; while the additional 250 MW is expected to be delivered starting February 26, 2027. Terra Solar said it will source power from its planned solar power plants with energy storage system in Batangas-Cavite, Bulacan, Nueva Ecija, Tarlac, and Zambales. These plants are under development. As part of the competitive selection process, Meralco invited

interested firms to challenge Terra Solar’s offer. “This challenge proposed by Meralco, with DOE [Department of Energy] approval, is a very intimidating bid process. It is the biggest deal in the region. When we were reviewing the published bidding rules, we were told by our colleagues that only a fool will dare contest a giant company with deep pockets and a wide network,” Capellan said. She said the driving force behind the collaboration was the collective commitment “to dismantle the old notion of how power supply is acquired. We cannot afford not to submit a counter offer in this tender as it will shape future competitive selection process.”

SunAsia Energy is confident that Meralco will recognize the potential of distributed power in avoiding system losses and consider this radical approach to power procurement. “The combined expertise of multiple developers can match the proposal of a giant company. Of course, the success of this experiment rests in the hands of the DOE. (The) DOE is the guardian on how the competitive selection process is structured and their support will spell if the energy sector is ready to adopt a more radical way of procurement,” said Capellan. Meralco utility economics head Lawrence Fernandez said two power firms are keen on challenging Terra Solar’s offer. The deadline for the submission of bids is on March 7.

AirAsia banks on ‘revenge travel’

lobe Telecom Inc. expects to boost its mobile revenues, particularly prepaid, this year, given the easing of pandemic restrictions and the expected reopening of the economy. Mobility, according to Globe Head for Consumer Mobile Business Darius Delgado, will be a “huge factor” in the consumption of prepaid mobile data packs and promos. With lighter pandemic-related measures, Globe expects more Filipino consumers to go about and use their mobile data when they travel, socialize, go out for entertainment, or go to school or place of work. “During the lockdowns, we see our prepaid top-ups decline. It’s because those who have broadband connections at home offload their usage to broadband, while those whose incomes are affected by the lockdowns control their spending. But then we see recovery as soon as restrictions are lifted. So we expect improvements in the take-up of our prepaid data packs,” he said. Delgado noted however that “it might take time for the mobile business to return to pre-pandemic levels due to customer behavior changes.” Over the last two years, Filipino households found it critical to have a broadband connection at home. “We expect our mobile business to grow in step with total industry growth, which is now a low single-digit growth,” Delgado noted. Lorenz S. Marasigan

By Lorenz S. Marasigan @lorenzmarasigan

udget carrier AirAsia Philippines expects a “stronger travel demand” this hot dry season, banking on the “revenge travel” phenomenon, as the government eased pandemic restrictions this month. With Metro Manila and 38 provinces being placed under Alert Level 1, AirAsia can now start operating at 100 percent capacity. With the relaxed restrictions, AirAsia expects more people to travel via air. AirAsia Philippines Spokesperson Steve Dailisan said this will further boost the carrier’s already “remarkable performance” even before the lowering of the Covid-19 alert level. He cited that the carrier

recorded a 131-percent year-onyear increase in seats sold in March. “AirAsia Philippines attributes this significant increase to revenge traveling with relaxed travel protocols being implemented in most of its destinations. In fact, we are looking forward to sustaining full capacity in time for the various festivities in the different provinces we fly to. Our contribution to our LGU destinations moving forward is to bring as many guests as much as we can with strict adherence to standard health and safety protocols.” To meet its forecasted demand, AirAsia Philippines increased its flight frequencies for March. It raised its frequencies to Caticlan from 18x weekly to 34x weekly; Kalibo from 7x weekly to 11x weekly;

Cebu from 14x weekly to 21x weekly; Tagbilaran from 7x weekly to 14x weekly; and Puerto Princesa from 7x weekly to 14x weekly. The airline also added more frequencies to Bacolod from 7x weekly to 14x weekly; Iloilo from 7x weekly to 14x weekly; Tacloban from 21x weekly to 23x weekly; and Cagayan from 7x weekly to 9x weekly. “We are confident that summer 2022 is really the onset of recovery not only for AirAsia Philippines, but also to all other airlines in the country. We expect travel to flourish especially with different festive seasons we have from April to May. We are also expecting a sustained demand until May due to voters coming home to the provinces in preparation for the May 2022 election,” Dailisan said.

Eternal Plans marks 41st year P

re-need company Eternal Plans Inc. will mark its 41st Foundation Anniversary on March 4, 2022 with a thanksgiving mass at its head office in Pasig City, to be attended by its officers, employees, and sales associates. In a statement, Eternal Plans President and Chief Operating Officer Elmer Lorica said this simple gathering is also a way of celebrating the company’s resilience amidst the challenges of the pandemic. “We are marking our 41st year in the industry with grateful hearts and renewed sense of strong commitment to the company, and more importantly to the clients that we continue to serve despite the pandemic,” Lorica said. He added that they will con-

tinue to uphold their promises to their stakeholders, “in keeping with our longstanding commitment that your future is our concern.” Since the pandemic started in early 2020, Eternal Plans has undertaken drastic measures in order to cope with the challenges brought about by the government mandated lockdowns. Nearly two years later, the company remains striving, thanks to its resilient sales force, proving its capability to remain a key player in the industry. Eternal Plans is a member of the ALC Group of Companies established by Ambassador Antonio L. Cabangon Chua. Founded in 1981, it aims to provide the Filipino family with quality life, pension, and education plans.

Companies BusinessMirror

Wednesday, March 2, 2022

Robinsons Retail income leaps on easing of curbs

By VG Cabuag

@villygc

obinsons Retail Holdings Inc. on Tuesday said its attributable net income last year rose 39 percent to P4.47 billion from the previous P3.21 billion, despite flat sales.

“The positive performance in the last quarter of 2021 shows how we came together as a company with unwavering dedication, amid the continued challenges of Covid-19 throughout the year,” Robina Gokongwei Pe, the company’s president and CEO, said. Revenues came in flat at P153.32

billion from the previous P151.07 billion. For the fourth quarter alone, when it made more than half of the year’s income, the company’s profits were doubled at P1.76 billion from the previous year’s P825 million. Revenues, meanwhile, grew 7 percent to P44.4 billion from the previous P41.49 billion.

The company said positive sales performance was also aided by the easing of restrictions to Alert Level 2 in the National Capital Region starting November, which provided greater mobility to the public, including children and senior citizens. Same store sales growth was at 2.3 percent, coming from the strong performance of the drugstore, department store, convenience store and specialty store segments. E-commerce grew three times compared with the previous year and accounted for 3.9 percent of total sales. “We entered 2022 driven by our constant goal to remain focused on our customers’ needs. We look forward to reinvigorated business activity as alert levels fall due to

better responses to the pandemic, while the nation forges ahead with a clearer path towards a more open economy,” Gokongwei-Pe said. In September 2021, RRHI announced that it will expand its drugstore business in the country after it opened its 870th drugstore in Cebu. The company opened a Rose Pharmacy branch in Lapu-Lapu City, Cebu, which it regards as a milestone for RRHI’s drugstore business. The company also owns TGP or The Generics Pharmacy, which has over 2,000 franchised stores nationwide. RRHI acquired Rose Pharmacy Inc. in 2020 from Mulgrave Corp. B.V, a wholly-owned subsidiary of Dairy Farm International Holdings Ltd.

AGI to infuse ₧7.8B into Travellers A

lliance Global Group Inc. (AGI), the holding firm of businessman Andrew Tan, on Tuesday said it will infuse some P7.8 billion into its hotel and gambling arm, Travellers International Hotel Group Inc. “The infusion of fresh capital to augment the working capital of Travellers will afford AGI’s entertainment and hotel business the opportunity to keep current with its obligations and catch the window of business recovery with the easing of Covid-19 restrictions,” AGI said in its disclosure. Travellers, which operates Resorts World Manila in Pasay along with its partner Genting Hong Kong

Ltd., is increasing its paid-up capital. Genting HK was reportedly planning to file for provisional insolvency after its negotiations for funding for its German unit collapsed. Genting said cross defaults may soon follow and the company may sell its assets, including its stake in Travellers. In November 2021, AGI reported that the delisted Travellers has a current interest-bearing loans of P2.5 billion. Travellers reported core revenues of P9.9 billion in January to September 2021, up 16 percent from P8.6 billion a year ago. Profit was at P2.1 billion, up 139 percent from 2020. VG Cabuag

mutual funds

March 1, 2022

NAV

anila Water Company Inc. on Tuesday reported consolidated earnings of P3.7 billion for 2021. This is 18 percent lower than the previous year’s consolidated earnings, which company officials attributed to the effect of the Covid-19 pandemic. The company said, however, that domestic and international operations outside its East Zone Concession showed improved performance. Manila Water said despite the challenges, including an ongoing tariff freeze, the company pushed through with its projects to ensure prudent compliance to regulatory and service commitments, with group capital expenditures (capex) at nearly P17 billion for the year. “On a group level, revenues declined 4 percent to P20.3 billion due to lower billed volume across all segments in the East Zone Concession and in several domestic subsidiaries, with the full-year impact of Covid-19 restrictions significantly affecting customer consumption,” the com-

pany said in a statement. The cost and expenses for the period stood at P9.2 billion in 2021, up 7 percent from last year, as business and operating activities ramped up coming from restrictions imposed under the enhanced community quarantines (ECQ) in 2020. This increase was partially offset by lower power and chemical costs in line with lower production during the period. For its operations in the East Zone Concession, 2021 saw revenues decline by 6 percent to P9.2 billion, mainly driven by the 4-percent decline in billed volume. Meanwhile, cost and expenses rose by 11 percent to P5.5 billion for the period, driven by the resumption of repairs and maintenance, collection, connection, and sanitation activities with the relative easing of ECQ restrictions from the previous year. These activities are in compliance with increasing service obligations in the East Zone Concession, even as it continues to operate under a tariff freeze on implementing approved adjustments. Manila Water said the East Zone Concession continued with its capex program, consequently posting nearly P14 billion worth of projects for the year. The projects focused on water supply, network reliability, and wastewater expansion in line with the fulfillment of service obligations under its service improvement plan. Jonathan L. Mayuga

Y-T-D Return

Stock Funds ALFM Growth Fund, Inc. -a

233.4

7.93%

-3.32%

-1.45%

0.13%

ATRAM Alpha Opportunity Fund, Inc. -a

1.5796

20.41%

0.09%

2.63%

-5.08%

ATRAM Philippine Equity Opportunity Fund, Inc. -a 3.24

8.68%

-7.05%

-4.14%

0.07%

Climbs Share Capital Equity Investment Fund Corp. -a 0.7593 -0.55%

-6.25% n.a.

0.37%

First Metro Consumer Fund on MSCI Phils. IMI, Inc. -a 0.7477 7.99%

-3.82% n.a.

-3.01%

11.14%

-1.11%

0.41%

0.79%

First Metro Save and Learn Philippine Index Fund, Inc. -a

First Metro Save and Learn Equity Fund,Inc. -a

0.7817

12.51%

-2.89%

-3.03%

MBG Equity Investment Fund, Inc. -a

92.36

-6.52%

-9.2% n.a.

-2.19%

5.2238

PAMI Equity Index Fund, Inc. -a

47.8529

7.53%

-1.88%

0.06%

-0.57%

Philam Strategic Growth Fund, Inc. -a

501.05

7.69%

-1.99%

-0.37%

0.07%

Philequity Dividend Yield Fund, Inc. -a

1.3727

23.01%

2.33%

2.43%

1.21%

Philequity Fund, Inc. -a

36.5312

10.11%

-1.11%

1.01%

-0.17%

Philequity MSCI Philippine Index Fund, Inc. -a

0.9544

10.57%

-1.75% n.a.

Philequity PSE Index Fund Inc. -a

4.9489

8.67%

-1.14%

-0.24% -0.49%

Philippine Stock Index Fund Corp. -a

824.4

8.21%

-1.19%

0.67%

0.7529

8.93%

-5.69%

-2.25%

0.04%

Sun Life Prosperity Philippine Equity Fund, Inc. -a 3.773

9.3%

-3.57%

-0.62%

-0.07%

0.939

7.71%

-1.53%

0.41%

8.77%

-1.49%

1.44%

0.5%

Sun Life Prosperity Philippine Stock Index Fund, Inc. -a 3.4544

-0.2%

1.38%

0.73%

Soldivo Strategic Growth Fund, Inc. -a

United Fund, Inc. -a

Manila Water’s profit hits ₧3.7B in 2021

One Year Three Year Five Year

per share Return*

-0.58%

Primarily invested in Peso securities (units) Philequity Alpha One Fund, Inc. -a

1.188

Philippine Stock Index Fund Corp. -a

13.99% n.a. n.a.

2.18%

1009.25 n.a. n.a. n.a. n.a.

Exchange Traded Fund (shares) First Metro Phil. Equity Exchange Traded Fund, Inc. -a,c

111.0966

8.66%

-0.94%

1.15%

-0.34%

Primarily invested in foreign currency securities (shares) ATRAM AsiaPlus Equity Fund, Inc. -b $1.0677

-19.08%

Sun Life Prosperity World Voyager Fund, Inc. -a $1.6627

1.86%

3.29%

-5.22%

-4.45%

10%

8.78%

-9.95%

Balanced Funds Primarily invested in Peso securities (shares) ATRAM Dynamic Allocation Fund, Inc. -a

1.6555

0.3%

-0.82%

-0.66%

-2.16%

ATRAM Philippine Balanced Fund, Inc. -a

2.2694

2.93%

-0.03%

0.02%

-0.53%

1.35%

1.66%

0.48%

First Metro Save and Learn Balanced Fund Inc. -a 2.7038

6.65%

First Metro Save and Learn F.O.C.C.U.S. Dynamic Fund, Inc. -a 0.2111 NCM Mutual Fund of the Phils., Inc. -a

2.009

4.14%

10.58% n.a. n.a. 2.09%

1.9%

PAMI Horizon Fund, Inc. -a

3.74

2.66%

1.4%

0.71%

-0.67%

Philam Fund, Inc. -a

16.7636

2.53%

1.07%

0.69%

-0.49%

Solidaritas Fund, Inc. -a

2.1201

4.1%

0.15%

0.67%

-0.06%

Sun Life of Canada Prosperity Balanced Fund, Inc. -a 3.6325 4.76%

-1.22%

0.21%

-0.4%

0.18%

0.79%

0.59%

Sun Life Prosperity Dynamic Fund, Inc. -a

0.9598

11.98%

-0.38%

Primarily invested in Peso securities (units) Sun Life Prosperity Achiever Fund 2028, Inc. -a

0.9678

-0.97%

-0.14% n.a.

-2.22%

Sun Life Prosperity Achiever Fund 2038, Inc. -a

0.93

3.83%

-1.18% n.a.

-1.54%

Sun Life Prosperity Achiever Fund 2048, Inc. -a

0.9208

4.25%

-1.46% n.a.

-1.4%

Primarily invested in foreign currency securities (shares) Cocolife Dollar Fund Builder, Inc. -a $0.03597 PAMI Asia Balanced Fund, Inc. -b

$1.0357

-5.79%

0.24%

0.35%

-5.19%

-11.82%

1.6%

2.3%

-2.94%

Sun Life Prosperity Dollar Advantage Fund, Inc. -a $4.4352 -4.76%

7.01%

6.38%

-7.64%

Sun Life Prosperity Dollar Wellspring Fund, Inc. -a,2 $1.1301 -4.95%

3.13%

2.88%

-5.72%

Bond Funds Primarily invested in Peso securities (shares) ALFM Peso Bond Fund, Inc. -a

373.72

0.73%

2.63%

2.42%

ATRAM Corporate Bond Fund, Inc. -a

1.8859

-0.98%

0.39%

0.04%

0.06%

Cocolife Fixed Income Fund, Inc. -a

3.2433

0.83%

2.7%

3.73%

-0.02%

Ekklesia Mutual Fund Inc. -a

2.2253

-1.26%

1.18%

1.22%

-1.16%

First Metro Save and Learn Fixed Income Fund,Inc. -a 2.4188 -0.4%

2.82%

1.77%

-0.3%

Philam Bond Fund, Inc. -a

4.3232

-4.36%

3.28%

1.05%

-1.65%

Philam Managed Income Fund, Inc. -a

1.3175

-0.14%

3.51%

2.79%

-0.12%

Philequity Peso Bond Fund, Inc. -a

3.9297

-0.86%

3.14%

2.47%

-0.91%

Soldivo Bond Fund, Inc. -a

1.0208

-0.22%

3.91%

1.8%

-0.72%

Sun Life of Canada Prosperity Bond Fund, Inc. -a 3.1636

-0.62%

3.73%

3.02%

-0.75%

-1.4%

2.89%

2.31%

-0.96%

Sun Life Prosperity GS Fund, Inc. -a

1.7139

-0.15%

Primarily invested in foreign currency securities (shares) ALFM Dollar Bond Fund, Inc. -a

$486.72

0.83%

2.52%

2.23%

ALFM Euro Bond Fund, Inc. -a

Є217.25

-0.95%

0.36%

0.63%

-1.25%

ATRAM Total Return Dollar Bond Fund, Inc. -b

$1.1312

-7.12%

-0.63%

0.36%

-6.04% -3.46%

First Metro Save and Learn Dollar Bond Fund, Inc. -a $0.0251 -2.71%

-0.58%

0.13%

0.16%

PAMI Global Bond Fund, Inc -b

$0.9684

-9.68%

-2.69%

-1.93%

-5.32%

Philam Dollar Bond Fund, Inc. -a

$2.3643

-4.29%

2.05%

1.44%

-5.64%

$0.0613868

-1.74%

2.15%

1.55%

-1.45%

Sun Life Prosperity Dollar Abundance Fund, Inc. -a $2.9614 -4.94%

0.33%

0.13%

-7.35%

Philequity Dollar Income Fund Inc. -a

Money Market Funds Primarily invested in Peso securities (shares) ALFM Money Market Fund, Inc. -a

131.42

1.07%

2.55%

2.54%

First Metro Save and Learn Money Market Fund, Inc. -a

1.0597

1.02%

1.84% n.a.

0.18%

Sun Life Prosperity Peso Starter Fund, Inc. -a,1 1.3189

1.52%

2.44%

2.52%

0.19%

0.25%

Primarily invested in foreign currency securities (shares) Sun Life Prosperity Dollar Starter Fund, Inc. -a $1.0617

0.71%

1.34% n.a.

0.1%

Feeder Funds Primarily invested in Peso securities (units) ALFM Global Multi-Asset Income Fund Inc. -a

45.3166 n.a. n.a. n.a. n.a.

Sun Life Prosperity World Equity Index Feeder Fund, Inc. -a 1.2962

8.95% n.a. n.a.

-6.27%

Primarily invested in foreign currency securities (units) ALFM Global Multi-Asset Income Fund Inc. -a

$0.9144

-6.69% n.a. n.a.

-5.73%

a - NAVPS as of the previous banking day. b - NAVPS as of two banking days ago. c - Listed in the PSE. d - in Net Asset Value per Unit (NAVPU). 1 - Renaming was approved by the SEC last July 8, 2021 (formerly, Sun Life Prosperity Money Market Fund, Inc.). 2 - Adjusted due to stock dividend issuance last November 25, 2021.

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

www.businessmirror.com.ph

PSE STOCK QUOTATIONS

March 1, 2022

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

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

141,500 371,848,567 229,659,983 19,550,500 5,821,556 308,499,633.50 56,822 1,078,825 39,311 2,857,810 30,885,235 1,527,612.50 194,630 24,110 11,850 3,950 29,800 13,220 337,574 104,000

-26,550 -129,262,656 -67,963,791 3,765,820 -84,826 -1,647,403 16,758 -121,242 1,931,130.00 -3,455,098 -19,878.50 -4,000.00 -9,900 12,600 9,800 -

INDUSTRIAL AC ENERGY 8.41 8.43 8.49 8.51 8.41 8.41 13,762,400 116,461,162 ALSONS CONS 1.01 1.03 1.02 1.03 1.01 1.01 222,000 226,270 35.35 35.45 35.75 35.9 35.35 35.45 2,093,200 74,279,780 ABOITIZ POWER 0.51 0.52 0.52 0.53 0.51 0.52 6,418,000 3,338,800 BASIC ENERGY FIRST GEN 27.4 27.45 27.8 27.85 27.35 27.45 244,400 6,717,175 FIRST PHIL HLDG 70.55 70.75 70.6 70.75 70.5 70.75 26,920 1,900,640 366.4 368 369 375 365.4 368 429,180 158,499,358 MERALCO 20.1 20.15 20.5 20.6 19.9 20.1 1,358,600 27,338,310 MANILA WATER PETRON 3.37 3.38 3.46 3.5 3.36 3.38 1,313,000 4,482,680 PETROENERGY 4.33 4.45 4.4 4.45 4.21 4.45 54,000 237,720 12.38 12.4 12.24 12.5 12.2 12.4 2,460,900 30,331,708 SYNERGY GRID 18.44 18.46 18.04 18.5 18.04 18.46 579,100 10,674,472 PILIPINAS SHELL SPC POWER 13.98 14 14 14 13.98 14 335,600 4,697,208 VIVANT 15.02 16 15.98 16 15.98 16 8,200 131,118 5.42 5.43 5.17 5.45 5.16 5.43 2,253,400 11,928,436 AGRINURTURE 2.7 2.79 2.72 2.79 2.7 2.79 779,000 2,135,650 AXELUM CNTRL AZUCARERA 13 13.58 13.02 13.02 13 13 1,300 16,922 CENTURY FOOD 25.55 25.7 26 26 25.5 25.55 1,154,600 29,527,875 15.88 15.94 15.44 15.88 15.44 15.88 29,300 454,444 DEL MONTE DNL INDUS 8.1 8.15 8.03 8.16 8.03 8.1 769,100 6,227,041 EMPERADOR 19.34 19.4 19.48 19.48 19.26 19.34 567,500 10,978,626 SMC FOODANDBEV 65.3 67.45 68 68 65 65.3 271,500 17,754,179 0.68 0.69 0.69 0.71 0.68 0.69 22,629,000 15,714,200 FIGARO COFFEE 0.58 0.63 0.63 0.63 0.63 0.63 19,000 11,970 ALLIANCE SELECT FRUITAS HLDG 1.18 1.19 1.19 1.21 1.17 1.19 7,653,000 9,110,630 GINEBRA 115 115.2 111.4 115.3 107 115 294,540 33,820,066 240 244 241.4 245 240 240 331,970 80,263,388 JOLLIBEE 1.28 1.29 1.26 1.29 1.25 1.28 6,343,000 8,051,460 KEEPERS HLDG LIBERTY FLOUR 25 26.2 20.5 25.8 20.5 25.8 2,400 55,690 MAXS GROUP 6.39 6.5 6.45 6.6 6.22 6.5 150,600 966,240 0.15 0.159 0.157 0.159 0.157 0.158 450,000 70,990 MG HLDG MONDE NISSIN 15.68 15.7 15.74 15.88 15.6 15.7 15,667,300 246,065,484 SHAKEYS PIZZA 8.3 8.4 8.23 8.5 8.18 8.3 656,700 5,436,966 ROXAS AND CO 0.64 0.66 0.64 0.66 0.62 0.64 1,918,000 1,202,760 4.52 4.6 4.63 4.63 4.6 4.6 195,000 901,410 RFM CORP 0.103 0.104 0.102 0.103 0.102 0.103 550,000 56,200 SWIFT FOODS UNIV ROBINA 121.1 121.2 120.7 122.9 120.6 121.2 1,050,190 127,602,803 VITARICH 0.64 0.67 0.67 0.67 0.64 0.67 485,000 316,910 45.25 48.95 46.95 47 46.95 47 2,200 103,390 CONCRETE A CEMEX HLDG 1.03 1.05 1 1.05 0.99 1.03 3,800,000 3,914,670 EAGLE CEMENT 13.6 13.9 13.66 13.9 13.58 13.9 413,400 5,663,652 EEI CORP 5.96 6.19 6 6.19 5.93 6.19 11,700 71,203 6.2 6.25 6.28 6.28 6.2 6.25 75,200 469,758 HOLCIM 5.35 5.43 5.28 5.44 5.25 5.41 591,700 3,149,422 MEGAWIDE PHINMA 20.6 20.9 20.5 20.9 20.4 20.9 30,600 629,340 TKC METALS 0.78 0.79 0.78 0.78 0.78 0.78 8,000 6,240 1.02 1.03 1.03 1.07 1 1.02 7,644,000 7,931,000 VULCAN INDL 1.71 1.74 1.72 1.75 1.7 1.71 212,000 362,910 CROWN ASIA EUROMED 1.38 1.39 1.35 1.38 1.31 1.38 44,000 59,890 MABUHAY VINYL 4.3 4.43 4.43 4.43 4.43 4.43 10,000 44,300 5.72 5.8 5.99 5.99 5.68 5.81 231,000 1,316,644 PRYCE CORP 22.1 22.65 22.5 22.7 22.5 22.7 5,000 112,740 CONCEPCION GREENERGY 1.82 1.83 1.78 1.86 1.78 1.83 7,863,000 14,320,230 INTEGRATED MICR 8.46 8.55 8.63 8.63 8.31 8.55 501,900 4,268,105 6.12 6.18 6.11 6.18 6.1 6.18 13,600 83,183 PANASONIC SFA SEMICON 1.16 1.18 1.18 1.19 1.15 1.18 241,000 280,650 CIRTEK HLDG 3.61 3.62 3.6 3.72 3.55 3.61 2,311,000 8,361,340

-8,750,891 45,922,985 -8,320 -257,155 19,840 41,109,402 -10,468,231.00 -417,990 -770,070 -7,118,828 898,370 -65,600 -2,592,884 -1,282,180 4,958,525 -2,776,947 -949,052 -12,770,502.50 694,470 -3,630 32,243,076 15,133,570 1,200,250 7,740 -33,196,666 -2,988,036 350,920 -9,211,600 3,012,470 -3,734,462 -188,781 1,503,441 -4,100 7,060 8,500 41,340 -581 5,597,800 3,039,971 18,060

ABACORE CAPITAL ASIABEST GROUP AYALA CORP ABOITIZ EQUITY ALLIANCE GLOBAL ANSCOR ANGLO PHIL HLDG ATN HLDG A ATN HLDG B COSCO CAPITAL DMCI HLDG FILINVEST DEV FORUM PACIFIC GT CAPITAL JG SUMMIT LODESTAR LOPEZ HLDG LT GROUP METRO PAC INV PRIME MEDIA SOLID GROUP SM INVESTMENTS SAN MIGUEL CORP SEAFRONT RES

9,200 9,310,530 12,608,975.50 13,089,220 -35,435 50,100 366,519 -17,568,142.00 4,303,310 33,662,207 -14,800 6,598,185 7,089,380 206,343,655 -184,061 -

HOLDING & FRIMS

44.25 132.5 98.5 27.5 9.09 58 9.31 19.9 56.05 20.6 116 98.8 1.89 4.01 2.4 0.79 990 0.63 220 2,480

0.87 5.02 857 61 13.12 8.6 1 0.7 0.72 5.12 8.72 7.4 0.26 586 61 0.58 2.96 9.5 3.87 1.22 1 940 106.7 2.4

44.5 132.6 98.55 27.6 9.1 58.35 9.88 20.25 57.8 21.4 116.1 99.6 1.99 4.02 2.7 0.83 995 0.7 224 2,600

0.88 5.3 859 62 13.24 8.68 1.03 0.71 0.73 5.14 8.75 7.59 0.27 587 61.2 0.59 3 9.7 3.88 1.25 1.01 947 107.9 2.55

44 130.4 99 26.6 9 58.2 9.31 19.8 57 21.4 116 99 1.87 4.02 2.37 0.79 995 0.62 224.2 2,600

0.89 5.02 859 60.5 12.82 8.5 1 0.7 0.74 5.08 8.61 7.55 0.25 580 60.3 0.59 2.96 9.65 3.86 1.23 1.02 900 107 2.4

44.5 132.9 99.9 27.95 9.19 59.15 9.34 20.35 57 21.5 116.7 100 2 4.05 2.37 0.79 995 0.63 224.2 2,600

0.91 5.02 860.5 62 13.24 8.68 1.04 0.74 0.76 5.14 8.86 7.59 0.25 587 61.4 0.6 2.96 9.75 3.89 1.25 1.02 947 108.5 2.4

44 130.4 98.25 26.6 9 57.8 9.31 19.8 56.05 20.4 115 98.5 1.86 4.01 2.37 0.79 990 0.62 220 2,600

0.86 5.02 850.5 59.35 12.82 8.5 1 0.7 0.7 5.03 8.61 7.55 0.25 570 60.3 0.59 2.96 9.5 3.84 1.22 1.02 898 106 2.4

44.25 132.6 98.5 27.6 9.1 58 9.31 19.9 56.05 21 116 99.6 2 4.05 2.37 0.79 990 0.63 224 2,600

0.88 5.02 859 62 13.18 8.68 1.03 0.71 0.73 5.12 8.72 7.59 0.25 586 61 0.6 2.96 9.5 3.87 1.25 1.02 947 107.9 2.4

3,200 2,822,340 2,327,610 711,300 639,700 5,297,130 6,100 54,200 690 134,200 265,590 15,360 104,000 6,000 5,000 5,000 30 21,000 1,520 40

16,768,000 1,400 482,760 729,510 4,018,300 56,800 2,505,000 24,770,000 1,218,000 358,500 19,324,900 3,500 10,000 95,350 2,373,740 24,000 20,000 2,142,800 11,734,000 108,000 8,000 893,810 87,040 2,000

14,741,730 7,028 413,471,830 44,612,546.50 52,818,292 490,939 2,555,400 17,832,020 875,310 1,820,001 169,455,733 26,545 2,500 55,383,885 145,070,126.50 14,170 59,200 20,512,639 45,293,410 133,520 8,160 834,272,005 9,319,963 4,800

PROPERTY ARTHALAND CORP 0.59 0.6 0.6 0.6 0.59 0.6 498,000 298,650 AYALA LAND 38.85 39 38.7 39.35 38.7 39 16,712,300 651,655,820 4.97 4.98 5.04 5.04 4.91 4.98 2,041,500 10,191,544 AYALA LAND LOG 0.98 1.03 1 1.03 1 1.03 118,000 118,070 ARANETA PROP AREIT RT 51 51.9 51 52 50.8 51 912,500 47,032,970 A BROWN 0.86 0.88 0.86 0.89 0.86 0.89 27,000 23,250 0.72 0.73 0.71 0.71 0.71 0.71 69,000 48,990 CITYLAND DEVT CROWN EQUITIES 0.096 0.098 0.099 0.1 0.099 0.1 100,000 9,910 CEB LANDMASTERS 2.95 2.96 2.93 2.96 2.93 2.95 197,000 579,940 CENTURY PROP 0.41 0.42 0.415 0.42 0.41 0.42 1,840,000 766,800 2.79 2.8 2.72 2.85 2.71 2.8 36,656,000 102,988,380 CITICORE RT 10.8 10.86 10.3 10.86 10.2 10.86 3,100,600 32,896,456 DOUBLEDRAGON DDMP RT 1.78 1.79 1.78 1.79 1.77 1.78 2,396,000 4,256,910 DM WENCESLAO 6.7 6.8 6.98 7 6.37 6.7 185,400 1,239,554 0.25 0.26 0.255 0.26 0.25 0.26 200,000 50,900 EMPIRE EAST EVER GOTESCO 0.29 0.295 0.28 0.295 0.28 0.295 2,130,000 611,550 FILINVEST RT 7.5 7.51 7.55 7.55 7.45 7.51 8,965,900 67,044,816 FILINVEST LAND 1.09 1.1 1.08 1.1 1.08 1.1 1,670,000 1,816,800 0.94 0.95 0.93 0.94 0.93 0.94 35,000 32,560 GLOBAL ESTATE 8990 HLDG 13.36 13.58 13.98 14 13.36 13.58 159,400 2,169,406 PHIL INFRADEV 1.02 1.03 1.01 1.02 1.01 1.02 130,000 131,460 CITY AND LAND 0.83 0.85 0.83 0.83 0.82 0.82 86,000 70,840 3.25 3.26 3.18 3.29 3.18 3.26 18,489,000 60,192,390 MEGAWORLD 0.28 0.285 0.28 0.285 0.275 0.28 7,330,000 2,044,400 MRC ALLIED MREIT RT 19.96 20 19.92 20.1 19.7 20 2,755,300 55,045,587 OMICO CORP 0.34 0.36 0.34 0.34 0.34 0.34 70,000 23,800 0.465 0.47 0.455 0.465 0.455 0.465 370,000 170,250 PHIL ESTATES PRIMEX CORP 2.06 2.08 2.06 2.08 1.99 2.08 1,579,000 3,238,590 RL COMM RT 7.81 8 8 8.09 7.81 7.81 5,809,700 46,486,142 ROBINSONS LAND 19.5 19.88 19.22 19.88 19.22 19.88 5,969,500 118,055,142 0.242 0.249 0.249 0.25 0.242 0.249 820,000 201,810 PHIL REALTY ROCKWELL 1.43 1.49 1.44 1.49 1.43 1.43 58,000 84,260 SHANG PROP 2.57 2.6 2.6 2.6 2.57 2.6 39,000 101,370 STA LUCIA LAND 2.83 2.91 2.92 2.93 2.92 2.92 18,000 52,600 39.25 39.4 39.55 39.55 38.95 39.4 9,810,900 385,679,950 SM PRIME HLDG 0.6 0.63 0.6 0.63 0.6 0.63 2,000 1,230 SOC RESOURCES VISTAMALLS 3.44 3.5 3.45 3.46 3.4 3.4 32,000 110,320 SUNTRUST HOME 1.07 1.12 1.05 1.13 1.03 1.12 196,000 213,160 3.11 3.17 3.07 3.19 3.06 3.17 2,234,000 6,963,520 VISTA LAND SERVICES ABS CBN 12.56 12.8 12.9 13 12.52 12.8 82,200 1,035,856 GMA NETWORK 15 15.1 14.6 15.16 14.4 15.1 3,220,000 47,735,298 0.405 0.425 0.42 0.425 0.405 0.425 100,000 41,900 MANILA BULLETIN GLOBE TELECOM 2,586 2,588 2,578 2,622 2,562 2,586 82,560 213,248,800 PLDT 1,775 1,784 1,790 1,798 1,765 1,775 79,885 142,028,310 APOLLO GLOBAL 0.071 0.072 0.068 0.072 0.068 0.071 266,180,000 18,803,100 26.4 26.6 26.3 27 26.25 26.6 4,043,600 107,854,415 CONVERGE 2.3 2.39 2.27 2.4 2.27 2.4 315,000 737,130 DFNN INC DITO CME HLDG 5.95 5.96 6.15 6.15 5.87 5.95 25,773,100 153,809,792 JACKSTONES 1.6 1.64 1.64 1.64 1.64 1.64 2,000 3,280 1.21 1.22 1.22 1.25 1.21 1.21 1,385,000 1,693,180 NOW CORP TRANSPACIFIC BR 0.345 0.35 0.335 0.355 0.335 0.35 5,500,000 1,913,300 2GO GROUP 7.33 7.5 7.34 7.45 7.32 7.33 105,200 771,403 ASIAN TERMINALS 14.3 14.4 14.4 14.4 14.4 14.4 4,100 59,040 1.71 1.73 1.71 1.75 1.7 1.71 469,000 799,290 CHELSEA CEBU AIR 47.4 47.5 46.3 48 46.3 47.5 303,300 14,295,400 INTL CONTAINER 217 218 213 219 210.2 218 1,497,960 322,772,992 LBC EXPRESS 22.95 23 22.95 22.95 22.95 22.95 8,400 192,780 5.9 5.93 5.8 6.04 5.74 5.9 3,849,100 22,679,384 MACROASIA 1.05 1.09 1 1.1 1 1.09 364,000 387,020 METROALLIANCE A METROALLIANCE B 1.09 1.08 1.09 1.08 1.09 22,000 23,900 HARBOR STAR 0.8 0.81 0.8 0.82 0.79 0.8 197,000 158,380 1.47 1.54 1.5 1.5 1.5 1.5 2,000 3,000 ACESITE HOTEL DISCOVERY WORLD 1.74 1.78 1.77 1.77 1.74 1.74 208,000 364,160 WATERFRONT 0.46 0.485 0.465 0.465 0.46 0.46 380,000 175,200 IPEOPLE 6.81 7.24 6.81 7.24 6.81 7.24 300 2,129 0.365 0.37 0.37 0.375 0.365 0.37 4,020,000 1,485,050 STI HLDG BELLE CORP 1.34 1.35 1.32 1.34 1.32 1.34 187,000 248,580 BLOOMBERRY 7.76 7.8 7.31 7.85 7.31 7.8 14,544,000 112,392,024 PACIFIC ONLINE 1.75 1.84 1.78 1.78 1.75 1.75 5,000 8,810 1.34 1.35 1.34 1.35 1.3 1.34 848,000 1,124,380 LEISURE AND RES MANILA JOCKEY 1.85 2.09 1.85 1.85 1.85 1.85 24,000 44,400 PH RESORTS GRP 1.22 1.23 1.16 1.24 1.16 1.22 3,961,000 4,801,040 PREMIUM LEISURE 0.45 0.455 0.44 0.455 0.44 0.455 5,140,000 2,297,200 2.27 2.34 2.3 2.36 2.25 2.27 456,000 1,060,820 PHILWEB 0.51 0.52 0.51 0.52 0.5 0.52 14,806,000 7,536,510 ALLDAY BERJAYA 5.66 5.86 5.65 5.65 5.65 5.65 4,800 27,120 ALLHOME 8.8 8.89 8.86 8.95 8.72 8.8 935,000 8,273,099 1.42 1.43 1.43 1.43 1.42 1.42 523,000 743,100 METRO RETAIL PUREGOLD 36.1 36.3 35.6 36.55 35.25 36.3 1,005,200 36,152,650 ROBINSONS RTL 60.7 61.1 61.45 61.45 58.6 61.1 721,620 43,875,525.50 PHIL SEVEN CORP 74.8 75 78 79 75 75 67,200 5,061,450 1.12 1.13 1.12 1.13 1.1 1.13 1,578,000 1,754,700 SSI GROUP 28.95 29 29.25 29.3 28.75 29 1,235,600 35,891,295 WILCON DEPOT APC GROUP 0.242 0.255 0.241 0.242 0.241 0.242 220,000 53,130 EASYCALL 4.02 4.47 4.11 4.11 4.11 4.11 31,000 127,410 6.9 7 6.6 6.75 6.55 6.65 7,200 47,842 IPM HLDG MEDILINES 1.06 1.07 1.04 1.09 1.04 1.07 1,756,000 1,882,000 PRMIERE HORIZON 0.75 0.76 0.72 0.77 0.72 0.76 34,039,000 25,559,330 SBS PHIL CORP 3.8 3.9 3.74 3.9 3.7 3.9 34,000 126,770 MINING & OIL ATOK 6.25 6.38 6.25 6.38 6.25 6.38 15,300 96,488 1.72 1.74 1.78 1.82 1.72 1.72 10,572,000 18,675,160 APEX MINING 7.04 7.1 6.94 7.2 6.94 7.1 2,660,900 18,948,651 ATLAS MINING BENGUET A 5.26 5.45 5.3 5.3 5.26 5.26 60,000 315,680 BENGUET B 4.75 5.1 4.75 4.75 4.75 4.75 2,000 9,500 0.26 0.27 0.26 0.26 0.26 0.26 200,000 52,000 COAL ASIA HLDG CENTURY PEAK 2.7 2.72 2.63 2.72 2.58 2.72 180,000 467,850 DIZON MINES 4.62 5.42 4.53 5.42 4.53 5.42 3,300 17,174 FERRONICKEL 2.65 2.66 2.59 2.68 2.55 2.66 9,037,000 23,790,580 0.159 0.16 0.169 0.169 0.158 0.159 51,450,000 8,337,220 LEPANTO A LEPANTO B 0.162 0.164 0.168 0.168 0.162 0.162 860,000 141,680 MANILA MINING A 0.01 0.011 0.01 0.01 0.01 0.01 39,600,000 396,000 MANILA MINING B 0.01 0.011 0.01 0.01 0.01 0.01 5,000,000 50,000 1.89 1.9 1.74 1.9 1.74 1.9 15,234,000 28,027,390 MARCVENTURES 1.04 1.07 1 1.11 1 1.03 55,000 57,710 NIHAO NICKEL ASIA 7.99 8 7.55 8.04 7.54 8 29,418,000 233,833,698 ORNTL PENINSULA 1.01 1.04 0.95 1.04 0.95 1.04 13,498,000 13,488,610 6.04 6.05 6.04 6.22 6 6.05 3,094,500 18,785,195 PX MINING 28.35 28.4 28 28.8 28 28.35 4,078,000 115,696,995 SEMIRARA MINING UNITED PARAGON 0.0074 0.0076 0.0076 0.0076 0.0076 0.0076 7,000,000 53,200 ACE ENEXOR 25.5 25.75 25 25.95 25 25.75 70,100 1,810,095 0.012 0.013 0.012 0.013 0.012 0.013 6,200,000 78,100 ORNTL PETROL A ORNTL PETROL B 0.012 0.013 0.012 0.012 0.012 0.012 100,000 1,200 PHILODRILL 0.0094 0.0095 0.0094 0.0094 0.0094 0.0094 28,000,000 263,200 PXP ENERGY 6.51 6.58 6.3 6.59 6.24 6.58 1,359,000 8,695,745 PREFFERED AC PREF B1 503.5 515 515 515 515 515 10 5,150 BRN PREF A 104 105 105 105 105 105 2,000 210,000 46.2 48 45.4 48 45.4 48 6,000 286,555 CEB PREF 101.1 102 102 102 102 102 390 39,780 CPG PREF A DD PREF 100.2 101 100 101 99.9 100.2 5,870 587,440 EEI PREF B 108 110.2 109 110.2 109 110.2 5,230 570,106 103.7 104.4 104.4 104.4 104.4 104.4 10 1,044 FGEN PREF G JFC PREF B 999 1,000 1,001 1,001 1,000 1,000 1,330 1,330,300 PNX PREF 3B 102 103 103 103 103 103 2,630 270,890 PNX PREF 4 980 989 990 990 980 989 11,250 11,073,930 1,050 1,060 1,050 1,060 1,050 1,060 1,790 1,897,200 PCOR PREF 3A PCOR PREF 3B 1,079 1,130 1,078 1,080 1,078 1,079 1,065 1,149,590 SFI PREF 1.45 1.97 1.45 1.45 1.45 1.45 5,000 7,250 SMC PREF 2F 77 78.7 78.8 78.8 78.7 78.7 10,060 791,726 76 76.7 76.6 76.6 76 76.6 7,210 551,687 SMC PREF 2H 76.4 77.25 76.4 76.4 76.4 76.4 2,200 168,080 SMC PREF 2J TECH PREF B2C 50.7 53 50.7 50.7 50.7 50.7 1,000 50,700 TECH PREF B2D 53 55 55 55 55 55 1,400 77,000 PHIL. DEPOSITARY RECEIPTS ABS HLDG PDR 11.92 12.48 11.92 11.92 11.92 11.92 39,200 467,264 GMA HLDG PDR 13.72 14.4 13.8 14 13.68 13.72 2,090,000 28,683,266 WARRANTS TECH WARRANT 0.78 0.8 0.8 0.82 0.77 0.8 441,000 348,640

48,402,250 -309,388 27,448,725 -11,890 -4,250 -8,493,930 -754,232 -23,130 6,030 -131,100 -53,036,003 219,076 4,920 -22,439,620 275,000 -14,262,796.00 -2,266,000 -2,050,282 -22,006,114.00 -5,840 -52,962,405 20,760 -2,100 -1,135,540 -16,382,650 -31,504,585 -108,710 -1,488,170 2,360 -49,045,863 280,450.00 -467,340 -23,122,030 -67,183 27,600 24,237,847 3,560 -398,790 -9,000 -220,010.00 7,300 5,155,657 2,708,975 6,445,309.50 -4,179,500 -171,630 4,487,700 -453,790 878,970 213,350 8,863,386 363,750 -3,910,040 8,210 300,630 -10,200 5,624,169 7,940 228,153 7,597,040 285,100 843,204 239,885 -38,300 -11,920 -27,396,616

SMALL & MEDIUM ENTERPRISES ALTUS PROP HAUS TALK ITALPINAS MERRYMART XURPAS

16.78 1 1.03 2.21 0.41

17.36 1.01 1.05 2.24 0.42

EXHANGE TRADE FUNDS

FIRST METRO ETF

112.5

112.8

16.6 0.97 1.05 2.14 0.41

17.44 1.01 1.05 2.25 0.42

16.6 0.97 1.03 2.12 0.4

16.74 1.01 1.05 2.21 0.41

10,000 1,453,000 145,000 5,229,000 1,890,000

167,900 1,448,730 150,880 11,495,600 768,300

24,000 127,224 -97,000 590,860 40,000

111.3 112.5 111.3 112.5 15,070 1,694,217 309,232

www.businessmirror.com.ph

Entrepreneur

Muntinlupa biz permit renewal extended to March 31 anew

HE City Government of Muntinlupa has announced another extension of the period of renewal of permit of businesses until March 31. Muntinlupa Business Permits and Licensing Office (BPLO) has posted on its Facebook page the prolonged deadline of the assessment and payment of the documentation per City Ordinance No. 2022-318. “Renew your business permits now to avoid penalties,” BPLO advised the registered businesses. The extension has been green lighted by Mayor Jaime Fresnedi and the City Council following the request of BPLO. The licensing office noted that the initiative aims to help taxpayers, especially the owners of micro, small and medium enterprises or MSMEs, who “may not be able to immediately comply with the mandatory documents which are the basis for the prudent and correct imposable taxes” due to the Covid-19 pandemic. The extended period covers payment of all local taxes, fees and other charges without penalty. All transactions are now back at the City Hall. Business owners may also renew their business permit online via the Business E-payment System (BESt), which can be accessed via the Muntinlupa City official website (www.muntinlupacity.gov.ph). With the online platform, taxpayers can accomplish transactions including application for New Business Permit, Renewal of Business Permit, Application Status Inquiry, Billing and Payment, and Payment History. Another option for business locators is the Business Permit Application Self-Service kiosks located across the city’s major malls. Business permits may also be delivered by the city government’s official courier service partner, Keridelivery Inc. to the doorstep of business owners. Mayor Fresnedi thanked the business taxpayers for their continued support in doing their part for the recovery of the city and the local economy amid the health crisis.

BusinessMirror

Editor: Vittorio V. Vitug • Wednesday, March 2, 2022 B3

Let’s do the shake: Frotea keeps on bubbling up amid contagion By Roderick L. Abad

“Now we are really happy to have begun during the first milk tea craze,” Malijan stated.

noted: “Our secret is location. We really study where to put our stores. How’s the foot traffic? Is it accessible to our market?” Apart from placing the stores in strategic locations, another important thing that really helped grow the business is “brand positioning.” “We always listen to our market, and this informs us how we can better respond to our market and be distinguished from the rest,” Malijan said. While it’s easy to open a milk tea shop with so many packages available for those wanting to enter the market as a seller, she reminded them of the other ingredients of success” to make it through this kind of business. These include having “the background, a system in place, a standard operating procedure, and a strong brand.”

Twist and turn

Overcoming the crisis

@rodrik_28

Contributor

OLLOWING the sensational pearl milkshake, milk tea and bubble tea that originated from Taiwan, Filipinos have continuously craved for these phenomenal beverages, thus making the Philippines ranked second in Southeast Asia with the most number of drinkers.

Over a decade since these drinks with merely a handful of dairy flavor or added with chewy, sweetened tapioca balls and other toppings hit the local market, they have become a regular fixture in the food and beverage (F&B) scene. Apparently, there’s no stopping their store formats, either new concept or franchised, from constantly bubbling up almost everywhere in the country even until today when there is an ongoing health crisis. One of the erstwhile riders on this growing business trend, with an estimated global value of $4.3 billion by 2027, is Engineer Ana LustreMalijan, owner of Frotea. “There is a huge market for milk tea,” she told the BusinessMirror in an e-mail interview. While the milk tea industry remains to be at its momentum, the entrepreneur conceded that it’s “a tough and competitive place to be at.” “Having been in this business for almost 10 years, [I] indeed have seen a lot of small shops that have tried and also failed,” she said of her personal experience.

Going with the craze

UNLIKE some of her colleagues who have chosen to stay in their field up to retirement, Malijan has thrown her hat into the enterprise world shortly after getting employed.

“I’d been working my day job for about two years, but I really wanted to build something of my own,” she recalled. Putting up a dessert business had popped up in her mind at first, yet her intuition sought for more to complete her endeavor. “Initially, we really wanted a frozen yogurt shop at the time we were starting out. However, we felt that it couldn’t stand on just selling yogurt alone—we needed a complementing product to go along with it,” she shared. Observing the market back then, Malijan finally picked the milk tea given that it was really booming during the time. So there came the “Frotea,” her first foray. As a head start, the businesswoman remembered that there were times when she had to file leaves every time she saw an opportunity like a bazaar to ply her trade. “Then eventually, I opened my first store with a P250,000 capital, which covered the renovations and machines,” she said of her milk teashop based in Puerto Princesa, Palawan. Starting small in 2012, Frotea has expanded up to 22 branches, with two in Metro Manila—specifically in Mercedes Avenue, Pasig City and Malabon City Square Branch—and the rest outside the capital region in the span of eight years.

ENGINEER Ana Lustre-Malijan, owner of Frotea. Contributed photo

FOR nearly 10 years being in the milk tea business, the engineer-cum-entrepreneur has proven that it’s “more than just a fad.” Oblivious of the fact that the market is always changing, it has challenged her to always innovate, particularly when it comes to the taste of the stores’ offerings. According to the Frotea owner, she and her team infused their products with their own twist by coming up with new flavors that are unique but still suit the local palette. Last year, they launched the Frotea Pinoy Espesyal Series—three drinks inspired by all-time favorite homegrown desserts such as mais con yelo, ube macapuno, and halo-halo. “I knew these flavors from my younger years and I enjoyed them a lot, but I also realized that it’s quite difficult to find them nowadays,” Malijan said. “I am glad that with this series, we are giving the younger generation a chance to try these Filipino delicacies, while also giving those who miss these flavors a new way to enjoy them,” she added. Turning Frotea a success does not solely depend on its product. She

AKIN to others in the F&B sector, the businesswoman also has felt the impact of the ensuing Covid-19 pandemic on their outlets. “We are definitely affected,” she admitted. “Most of our stores are located near schools since we have always tried to reach out to the younger market ever since. So, imagine the foot traffic that we have lost for two years.” Like most establishments, she waited during the first month of the pandemic, hoping that it would be over in just a few months. “But then I realized I should be taking advantage of it. Since we are in the food industry and classified as a necessity, we were allowed to operate our business. And that was what I did,” she cited. Slowly, Frotea opened its stores for deliveries, partnered with the local aggregators such as FoodPanda, Happ App, and many more. “We were able to slowly bounce back this way. We also cut down on our operating costs and haggled our rents. We even trained our staff to cross-function for more sustainable business operations,” she said. Reflecting on their ordeal, Malijan was thankful that her business has already survived the first

two years of Covid-19. She believes that with the easing of restrictions, “things will get better not just for us but for other businesses as well.” For her, there are a lot of things she has learned from the inception of her business up to the pandemic: “When I started doing business 10 years ago, I was always looking for margins and profit. It made me realize that being a business is not just all about that. I have valued my people more than ever. I saw that if we do not help each other, nobody among us would survive this pandemic. “My goal during the start of Covid was to make sure that my employees would still earn a living. I have seen how dedicated and flexible they have become just to help the company stay afloat. At the end of the day, it was a win-win situation for us. We were able to overcome the worst two years of our operations,” she added.

Moving forward

SEEING the improving situation nowadays, with the easing of restrictions and continuous expansion of the national vaccination coverage, Malijan is upbeat on her business and outlook for the milk tea industry. “I certainly believe that things will be better this year,” she said, while pointing out their cautious move as regards their business strategies or plans in the pipeline. “We want to make sure that we grow with our franchisees. We do our best to make their success easy because if they fail, we fail.” To ensure the continuity of Frotea’s business operations while protecting the investment of investors, Malijan and her team make sure that they regularly do site visits, train their franchisees in the operations, work with them on how to operate efficiently, and most of all, get their input on how they can improve the brand constantly. “Our growth as a brand is all about continuously building a strong network and making sure that we always track the progress of our shareholders,” she stressed.

Shaping the future: 14 Filipino start-ups showcase innovations in IdeaSpace’s Cohort 9 Demo Day

‘T

he Future, Our Way.” 14 start-ups out of 200 were chosen for IdeaSpace’s Accelerator Cohort 9 Demo Day. 14 of the Philippines’s most promising start-ups were showcased for this year’s IdeaSpace Accelerator Program Demo Day with the theme, “The Future, Our Way,” featuring innovative technology solutions for a diverse range of industries such as health care, finance, environmental sustainability, human resources, fitness, real estate, education, e-commerce, and more. The Demo Day marked the culmination of the ninth cohort of IdeaSpace’s flagship Accelerator Program, which was created for Filipino startup founders looking to refine and scale their business ventures. The six-month program helps start-ups strengthen their team and culture, business model, product or service, and financial fundamentals, through learning sessions and mentoring; and connect with a community of founders, partners, and investors. Participating start-ups also receive cash grants as well as a potential opportunity for investment.

Underscoring the role of PHL Start-ups

Katrina Rausa Chan, Executive Director of IdeaSpace, emphasized the need to put Filipino founders in the driver’s seat, highlighting their ability to shape the future through innovation, and to positively impact individuals, communities and businesses. “Our ninth cohort demonstrates the exceptional capabilities and re-

silience of Filipino founders, who are building digital tools and services making life easier and better for more people, especially in the face of this unprecedented global crisis. At IdeaSpace, we believe that start-ups play an important role in defining the future of our economy and nation, and we continue to be committed to helping them achieve their full potential.” Chan said. During the six months spent in the Accelerator Program, the startups of Cohort 9 collectively raised P6.1 million, achieved 650 percent revenue growth amounting to a total of P11.7 million, and opened up 86 job opportunities and counting. “Already, this cohort is attracting a lot of interest from local and regional investors and impact partners, which I see as part of a larger trend that saw the Philippine startup ecosystem achieve record numbers in 2021. The disruption brought about by the pandemic actually presented an opportunity for start-ups to show what they can do, and we’re excited to build on this momentum,” Chan adds.

Changing the game

Out of over 150 applications, 14 start-ups stood out and were chosen to form Cohort 9 of the IdeaSpace Accelerator Program. These start-ups were coached and mentored by the IdeaSpace team, established technopreneurs from the Philippine startup ecosystem, representatives from major industry partners, and some of the program’s alumni founders throughout their six months in the program.

“After going through all of those mentorships and workshops, we realized that we’re actually not targeting the right people,” shared Bo Discarga, CEO of Betterteem, a unified all-inone employee experience software platform that offers employee experience analytics, simplified employee rewards and recognition, and on-demand mental health support. “The CEO interaction, that small circle within the cohort really helped us out. The program is certainly one for the books.” “Through the accelerator programs, we were able to overcome the challenges with identifying and defining our initial target segment of the market,” Jeffrey Reyes, CEO of Twala, a blockchain technology powered document management and digital signature platform for drafting, signing, verifying, and storing digital contracts and documents with individual digital certificates and self-sovereign digital IDs. “We expected exposure, and some support in terms of financing and mentorship, but what we didn’t expect was a tight-knit community that we became a part of,” said Jaime Siy, CEO of Instahomes. During Demo Day, the start-ups got to present their innovative solutions to the IdeaSpace network of investors, trustees, and media partners. These start-ups will also get a chance to pitch to IdeaSpace’s Investment Committee to secure equity funding. “The program is really for Filipino start-ups, so regardless of where you are in your start-up journey, IdeaSpace is here to offer our guidance and

support,” said Alwyn Rosel, Head of Startup Development Program at IdeaSpace.

Pushing for a more inclusive start-up ecosystem

This year’s batch is also one of the most diverse to date, with 6 of the 14 start-ups based outside Metro Manila, specifically in Visayas and Mindanao. Moreover, half of the teams have female founders. Among the female founders of the ninth cohort are Uma Roa, CEO of Pic-A-Talk, an augmentative and alternative communication tool for children with complex communication needs. The tool uses images to help users easily identify words through visuals, emulating a natural conversation to create a learning experience for the user; Ana Mich Kesner, COO of Oh My Genie, a fast, AI-enabled last-mile fulfillment solution that’s making it possible for businesses to get their products to customers through same-day delivery, in as fast as 30 minutes. “Pic-A-Talk was inspired my nonverbal autistic sister who would communicate with us by using Google to search for images of the food that she wants to buy. Our team aims to share this innovation with other kids like my sister and give them a voice to be heard and understood. As someone who’s been wanting to join the program before, but couldn’t because it’s held in Manila, it’s one of the proudest moments of my life,” said Roa who is from Iligan City. “Now that it’s being opened to everyone, including us here in Visayas and Mindanao, we’re very thankful and happy.”

“In Visayas and Mindanao, if we’re lucky, we get online orders in 5 to 7 business days. Sometimes, the wait is up to 14 days or even more. As such, retailers lose out on P875 billion each year because of abandoned carts and canceled orders. This is because 70 percent of online buyers expect free and fast shipping. Our vision is to create 30-minute cities where people can get what they need and want in 30 minutes or less by building smart supply chains. This way, cities can become self-sufficient—not only will the products and services be easily accessible to customers, but they can even be produced and sourced hyper-locally,” added Kesner. The remote set-up has given more start-ups the opportunity to join the program which this year, was held entirely online. “With more teams joining from beyond Manila, and many womenfounded companies making the cut as well, it’s clear that we are at a very thrilling stage in the expansion of the local start-up ecosystem,” added Rosel. “Being a Mindanaoan, particularly a Cagayanon, it’s really a pride to represent your city and be part of the IdeaSpace program.” Richard Ebdalin, CEO of Dirt Bag, an online laundry founded in Mindanao that can be booked in just one swipe through its mobile app. Dirt Bag has seen an increase of 222 percent in sales from 2020 and has grown its clients by 26percent month-on-month. Among the other start-ups representing Visayas and Mindanao are Peddlr from Samar, which offers a

free smart point-of-sale app that helps Philippine sari-sari stores earn more and manage their businesses better at the same time through an inventory management system that automatically reorders their products with low stocks, utilizes data from users’ store performance to grant credit approval for inventory/capital expense financing and buy-now-pay-later plans for inventory purchases. Peddlr has raised over P25 million in capital in its last fundraising round. “The online program gave us an advantage, because wherever we are, we’re still able to join a program like IdeaSpace. If it were face-to-face, it would have been impossible for us,” Orly Palompon, CEO of Cebu-based, Xalmeds, a health inclusion online pharmacy that makes maintenance medication affordable and accessible for the financially and mobility challenged population through a plantto-patient online platform offering maintenance medicines subscription and on-demand delivery of affordable medicines. “Building a start-up in the midst of the pandemic is something none of us had experienced before, but as we know, being able to adapt and pivot quickly in the face of challenges are the keys to start-up success. The start-ups really outdid themselves and we are excited for how all of them will turn out after today,” Rosel adds. If you wish to invest in the Philippines’s fastest growing start-ups, or participate in the next IdeaSpace Accelerator Program, visit the IdeaSpace web site or check out @ideaspaceph on Facebook.

Banking&Finance BusinessMirror

Wednesday, March 2, 2022 • Editor: Dennis D. Estopace

www.businessmirror.com.ph

Govt raises ₧457.8B from sale of retail bonds

By Bernadette D. Nicolas

@BNicolasBM

HE Bureau of the Treasury borrowed a total of P457.8 billion from small investors through offering 5-year Retail Treasury Bonds (RTBs). The 2-week offer period for the RTBs generated nearly half-a-trillion pesos in new money on top of the P259.5 million that was raised through the bond exchange program, according to National Treasurer Rosalia V. De Leon.

The new money includes the P120.8 billion awarded during the rate-setting auction last February 15 while P337 billion was added throughout the offer period that ended last February 28. With a coupon rate of 4.875 per-

Our Socioeconomic Disparities

RE-election speculations on who will win in the upcoming polls keep referring to the “ABCDE” classes in our population. Those in the “AB” class are the rich, the well-educated holding well-paying jobs, the elite. They are in the minority as voters. Those in the CD and E classes are the very poor or struggling poor, the underprivileged and disadvantaged. They are in the majority and will determine the outcome of the elections. The Tagalog term laylayan has become a common word, meaning, the marginalized and referring to the “CDEs.” In Viber messages I read, there is an implied reference to the “CDE” as the gullible who are easily influenced by fake news, misinformation and disinformation through social media. There is even the presumptuous air of despair that considers the “CDE” as largely “uneducated voters” who should know better. This observation has led me to check on our poverty statistics again since I have been prone to gloss over the interminable figures, tables and charts they usually present. This time I did not just read or “see” the statistics; I started to “feel” the statistics. The socioeconomic classification made me realize much more how very uneven income levels are in the country, how lopsided the economic opportunities available to the various classes, how inequitable the distribution of wealth, how extremely differentiated Filipinos are in the enjoyment of even the most basic of necessities. The state of socioeconomic inequalities in the country borders on being shamefully immoral. (There, I said it and got it off my chest.) But let’s move on. The basic reference point for the socioeconomic classification in use by the Philippine Statistics Authority (PSA) is the poverty threshold, which is the minimum income/expenditure for a family of five to meet their basic food and non-food requirements. This family poverty threshold on average, per month, is recently estimated at P12,082 by PSA. Parenthetically, this estimated amount appears grossly unrealistic and unbelievable, most certainly for Mero Manila. How this estimate was arrived at I do not know. But let us just accept the figure for our discussion. They have their methodology and reasons. In the first semester of 2021, the PSA reports that among families, poverty incidence was estimated at 18.0 percent, i.e. below the poverty threshold, which translates to 4.74 million poor families. (NEDA Report. December 17, 2021) If it were subsistence incidence (covering basic food only) to be calculated, the estimate is 7.1 percent, translating to 1.87 million food-poor families. There were an estimated 21.0 million Filipino families in 2021. The Philippine Institute for Development Studies (PIDS) has a classification that parallels the “ABCDE” classification: n Poor: Below poverty threshold n Low Income (but not poor): Between poverty line and poverty line times 2 n Lower Middle Income: Between 2x and 4x poverty line n Middle Middle Income: Between 4x and 7x poverty line n Upper Middle: Between 7x and 12x poverty line n Upper Income (but not rich):

cent, the RTBs are set to be settled on March 4. “By our funding activities in the domestic space, we are shielding our debt portfolio from volatility in the global financial markets; all the while taking advantage of the commitment of the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas for supporting the country’s economic recovery,” De Leon said in a separate statement on Tuesday. RTB offerings have accounted for 35.2 percent of government’s outstanding debt securities in 2021. Generally considered low-risk investment instruments, RTBs allow investors to earn a fixed interest based on prevailing market rates that are paid quarterly during the term

@Tyronepiad

Santiago F. Dumlao Jr. Between 12 and 20x poverty line n Rich: At least 20x poverty line (Retrieved from moneymax.ph/ personal finance/articles/social. class.philippines. Updated January 12, 2022) The situation of inequality is exacerbated by events beyond our control, e.g. the price of imported oil now threatening to accelerate the inflation rate, which in turn will make the income differentials more painful to the “CDEs.” Climate change-related adversities as occurrences that are already impacting on the low-income population. And, of course the pandemic wreaked havoc on businesses, employment availabilities, household income and levels of family welfare and standards of living. Our government is admittedly doing its part to alleviate the inequalities but those are largely policies with good intentions but short in effective implementation. I have in mind the rampant corruption in government agencies which all but reverse any good intentions of policymakers. So what else is new? This is the wrong question to ask. The better question is, What can we, as individuals, do? If you are reading this column, you are most probably in the “AB” class occupying some position of leadership. You are living a fairly comfortable life. The SWS poverty report for May 2021 perhaps expresses more starkly the painful reality of poverty in the Philippines. On a self-rated basis, 50 percent of families said they felt poor, 33 percent said they were borderline poor, 16 percent said they were not poor. Based on the estimated number of 21 million families, 83 percent felt they were poor or borderline poor! The self-rated poverty threshold used was: P20,000 in NCR; P15,000 in rest of Luzon; P10,000 in Visayas; and, P12,000 in Mindanao. (http:// www.sws.org.ph/swsmain/artcldisppag e/?artcsyscode=ART-20210725144428) These statistics define our divided society, characterized by wide inequalities in incomes which translate to severe disparities in opportunities not just in a material sense but in personal human development. This festering condition breeds deep feelings of envy, resentment and unfairness that can ignite social unrest. It is a scenario of felt social injustice that can only stir up unwelcome rivalries within our society. But what can one person do to reverse this seemingly entrenched condition of economic disparities, however pressing this problem might be? I have no ready answer nor will I pretend I will have. But next time you sit down with your family around your dinner table, as you pray for the Lord’s blessings “upon the food we are about to receive from your bounty,” pray also for those who have no food, and be grateful, be very very grateful to the Lord. Santiago F. Dumlao Jr., past president of the Financial Executives Institute of the Philippines, is the current Secretary-General of the Association of Credit Rating Agencies in Asia.

tions of possible returns based on the recommended portfolio.

T-bonds auction

THE Treasury also rejected all bids for P35-billion in new 3-year Treasury Bonds (T-bonds) it offered on Tuesday as investors continue to demand higher rates on the back of expectations of higher inflation and a looming rate hike from the US Federal Reserve. High bids pushed the coupon for the new T-bonds to 4.375 percent, even higher than the secondary market benchmark. The auction was oversubscribed with total bids reaching P46.26 billion, exceeding the offering. “Full rejection of 3-year coupon

setting auction,” De Leon told reporters shortly after the auction. “Market demanding large premium to part with cash over expectation of higher inflation from spillover effects following escalating tension in Ukraine and forthcoming Fed rate hike with 50 [basis points] still on the table.” This is the second day in a row this week that the Treasury fully rejected bids for government securities up for auction. On Monday, the Treasury also rejected all bids for P15 billion in T-bills. For this month, the Treasury was hoping to borrow a total of P250 billion from the local debt market, slightly higher than the P200 billion programmed in February.

Fiscal incentives eyed to make PHL global filmmaking hub By Tyrone Jasper C. Piad

Finex free enterprise

of the bond. To widen the reach of RTBs to small investors, De Leon said the Treasury maximized the use of digital platforms and conducted financial literacy seminars for overseas Filipinos. On top of launching its own mobile app last year to serve as the digital information hub of the bureau and its issuances, the Treasury is also in the final phase of developing the “FiLi” app that aims to promote financial literacy and investor education among Filipinos. The said application is web-based and will allow retail investors to identify their risk appetite, recommend a portfolio in accordance with their risk appetite as well as run simula-

HE government needs to continuously provide financial incentives and secure additional private investments as it seeks to become a global film production hub. This is according to Film Development Council of the Philippines (FDCP) Chairperson Mary Liza B. Diño, who shared key pointers in bolstering the local film production industry during an event hosted by the American Chamber of Commerce of the Philippines Inc. (ACCP). “Financial incentive is now key. This is like the discussion of every international production,” Diño said last Tuesday. “We want to position the Philippines in this arena.” Incentives include rebates and tax credits for the service and content creation aspects available in the country, Diño enumerated. Under the agency’s Film Location

Incentive program, for example, she said they have granted P250 million in support to international productions. Another incentive program by the FDCP is the International CoProduction Fund, which is a selective fund for international co-production with the country that has up to P10 million budget and a minimum projected spending of P5 million in the Philippines. “For 2020 to 2021, the FDCP awarded financial grants of P73.4 million to 50 international co-production [links] with the Philippines,” she added. Diño also raised the need to secure private investments, which can be in the form of film financing services, venture capital investments and financial bonds. “We need funding. Investment is really key for us to really upgrade and really elevate the projects for the Philippines. We have great stories but

Loan take-up via UBX’s online platform to rise By Rizal Raoul S. Reyes @brownindio

BX Philippines Corp. expects a four-fold increase in loans processed via its online lending platform this year as the lender expects partnerships to pull through. UBX Managing Director for Lending Marcy Pilar-Inajada said their bullishness emanates on the back of the platform’s “remarkable” growth in 2021, when it processed over P6 billion in loans by more than 40,000 micro-scale, small and mediumscale enterprises (MSMEs). This year, Pilar-Inajada said, the fintech subsidiary of UnionBank of the Philippines Inc. aims to process roughly P33.5 billion in loans, 6-fold higher than the volume last year. Pilar-Inajada told the BusinessMirror they developed the platform called “SeekCap” to reach MSMEs “who traditionally have no access to financing to grow their businesses due to the hefty requirements of business banking.” “We believe that by democratizing access to loans, we will be able to help more growing businesses expand their operations and help in the recovery of the overall economy this year,” she said. Pilar-Inajada said SeekCap capitalizes on its partners’ wide user base to offer loans to businesses. This year, too, UBX plans to link the platform with other MSME ecosystems, as well as e-commerce, franchising and wholesale players to further ex-

pand its reach. “The opportunity for SeekCap is huge, given that 99.51 percent of all businesses in the Philippines are MSMEs,” Inajada told the BusinessMirror. “Our goal is to reach 100,000 new customers this year or about 10 percent of the total growing businesses in the country.” According to information supplied by UBX, the platform “simplifies the processing of business loans.” “Business loans may be processed in as fast as 24 hours, which is significantly faster than the minimum 30-day approval time for most banks,” the digital bank said. UBX also plans to bring local governments into the platform’s “end-to-end” digital lending ecosystem to encourage their citizens to grow their businesses through financing. According to Pilar-Inajada, UBX has been working on this goal as early as 2020. UBX, to note, linked “SeekCap” with the local government of Pasig to introduce the city’s business loan program. The program brings lenders and borrowers closer via the UBX platform, streamlining the process of getting a business loan while making financing more accessible for small businesses in the city, according to the UBX executive. “Our strategy is to activate as many channels as we can,” PilarInajada told the BusinessMirror. “With the partnerships with the government, we hope to activate more channels within the different cities and provinces, especially in the far-flung areas where the unserved and underserved are.”

we need to be globally competitive by investing more in our projects,” the FDCP official said. “The FDCP is exploring possible public-private funding schemes that will invest on slates of films to ensure the timely completion in the context of commercially sustainable industry,” she added. Other factors that can boost the local film production scene are developing and implementing film-related policies and enabling laws; producing skilled workers in the industry; and ensuring access to infrastructure, such as sound stages, equipment and special facilities, according to Diño. Meanwhile, she said that the agency is currently working on a collaboration with the Korean government to establish a film training center. It is envisioned to offer film courses to young and professional filmmakers for further talent development. The FDCP also seeks to launch the film and audio-visual industry’s

creative hub called “Pugad Sining.” In a related development, Cinema Exhibitor Association of the Philippines (CEAP) President Charmaine N. Bauzon said that the local cinema industry has incurred about P21 billion in losses last year since the lockdown measures were placed in 2020. Bauzon said that the sector has been reeling from the impact of the pandemic as mobility restrictions and lockdown measures have stopped the operations of the theaters and slowed down the film productions. Some 336,000 workers are affected by the pandemic, she said, noting that half of these comprise those in the film production, including the directors, actors and production crew. Others include the following: 136,000 employees in the film distribution segment; 43,000 suppliers; and, 7,000 ticket sellers, ushers, projectionists, housekeepers and security personnel.

SEC puts cap on interest rates by financing firms By VG Cabuag

@villygc

HE Securities and Exchange Commission has issued a memorandum circular implementing the cap on interest rates and other fees imposed by lending and financing companies and their online lending platforms (OLPs). SEC Memorandum Circular 3 (series of 2022) provides the guidelines on the implementation of Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas Circular 1133 (series of 2021) on the “Ceiling/s of Interest Rates and Other Fees charged by Lending Companies, Financing Companies and their Online Lending Platforms.” The BSP circular prescribes the maximum interest rates and other fees charged by lending and financing companies and their OLPs. The central bank fixed the maximum nominal interest rate at 6 percent per month, or about 0.2 percent per day and the effective interest rate (EIR) at 15 percent per month, or about 0.5 percent per day for covered loans, which are unsecured, general-purpose loans that do not exceed the amount of P10,000 and with a loan tenor of up to four months. The EIR is expressed as the rate that exactly discounts estimated future cash flows throughout the life of the loan to the net amount of loan proceeds. It includes the nominal interest rate along with other applicable fees and charges, such as processing fees, service fees, notarial fees, handling fees and verification fees, among others. It excludes fees and penalties for late payment and non-payment. Meanwhile, lending and financing companies may only charge penalties up to 5 percent per month for late payment or non-

payment on outstanding scheduled amounts due. A total cost cap of 100 percent of the total amount borrowed, applying to all interest, other fees and charges and penalties, regardless of time the loan has been outstanding, will likewise be imposed. The cap on interest rates and other fees will apply to covered loans which lending and financing companies will offer once the rules take effect on March 3. Lending companies, which fail to comply with the rate limits, will be subject to penalties worth P25,000 and P50,000 for the first and second offense, respectively, while financing companies will be penalized with P50,000 for the first offense and P100,000 for the second offense. The penalty for the third offense for both lending and financing companies will amount to twice the amount imposed for the second offense up to P1 million; the suspension of their financing and lending activities for 60 days; or the revocation of their “Certificates of Authority to Operate as a Financing/Lending Company.” All lending and financing companies must submit an impact evaluation report on or before January 15 of each year starting 2023. Noncompliance will entail a penalty of P10,000 plus P200 daily for financing companies and P10,000 plus P100 daily for lending companies. The second and third offenses will lead to the suspension and revocation of their certificates of authority, respectively. Several lending and financing companies have imposed exorbitant interest rates, fees and charges on their unsecured, shortterm, small-value and high-cost consumer credit, causing Filipinos to fall into debt traps.

Image BusinessMirror

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What is walking meditation?

Editor: Gerard S. Ramos

• Wednesday, March 2, 2022

Ripe for the picking

By Brooke Schedneck Rhodes College FOR Thich Nhat Hanh, the late Vietnamese monk who popularized mindfulness in the West, walking was not simply a way to get from one place to another, or an activity to be reserved for a perfect forest path. It could be a profound contemplative practice putting people in touch with their breath, their bodies, the Earth—and an awareness of what he called “interbeing.” Thich Nhat Hanh, who was one of the most influential Buddhist leaders in the world when he died on January 22, created the term to describe “our deep interconnection with everything else.” “Everything relies on everything else in the cosmos in order to manifest—whether a star, a cloud, a flower, a tree, or you and me,” he explained. As a scholar of contemporary Buddhism, I have studied how the monk’s teachings combine personal practices like mindfulness with social change—a movement called which Thich Nhat Hanh developed through his peaceful activism against the Vietnam War. But one of his best-loved teachings is walking meditation, a key part of every visit to the 11 Plum Village monasteries he founded around the world. Thich Nhat Hanh believed that the Earth is sacred, so wherever someone walks, they can be reminded of this spiritual connection while also uniting their mind with their body. He taught that people’s true homes are located in the present moment, through awareness of their steps on the Earth, their bodies, and their minds. Walking meditation brings practitioners back to this solid grounding. Here are the steps of walking meditation as it is done in the Plum Village tradition: n Take a moment to breathe and center your body in the space you are about to walk. At Plum Village practice centers, monks and nuns lead participants in singing a few mindfulness songs before starting. In “We’re All Moving,” for example, the group sings, “We’re all moving on a journey to nowhere, taking it easy, taking it slow. No more worries, no need to hurry, nothing to carry, let it all go.” n While walking, be mindful of your breath and your footsteps. Walk in a slow, relaxed way, preferably with a light smile. Think about the miracle of being alive and being able to step on Mother Earth, repeating these phrases:”Breathing in, I know Mother Earth is in me. Breathing out, I know I am in Mother Earth.” n Take one breath per step, focusing on your foot touching the Earth. You can also notice how many steps you take while breathing in and then breathing out, naturally. The point is to find a connection between your breathing and your steps. Instead of sitting meditation, Thich Nhat Hanh’s practices emphasize adding mindfulness to daily life anytime, anywhere. By incorporating walking meditation into a daily or weekly schedule, every step can be part of a deeper practice of interbeing. THE CONVERSATION

TOYM HEROES UNMASKED RAISES OVER P2 MILLION FOR PGH

AFTER four months of running the Heroes Unmasked initiative, TOYM’s fund-raising campaign has raised over P2 million for the benefit of the Philippine General Hospital (PGH) and its “Panatag na Kanlungan Project,” which provides necessary assistance for its medical frontliners and volunteers. With the help of generous individual and corporate donations, Heroes Unmasked has been able to provide support in the form of food, medicine, disinfection and sanitation, and basic appliances for the medical volunteers who are tirelessly assisting PGH on the pandemic cases. “Thank you for being a hero for our heroes,” says Donnie V. Tantoco, chairman of TOYM. “We were truly gratified to witness the campaign receiving such wonderful support from everyone—from our collaborators to the general public. As our frontliners remain steadfast and at the forefront of the battle against Covid-19, we should continue to keep them in our minds and hearts, and do what we can to help.” TOYM Heroes Unmasked (toymheroescampaign.org) was highlighted by an original song composition and music video created through the collaborative efforts of iconic musical artists Ryan Cayabyab, Lea Salonga and Gary Valenciano, who have given their time and effort to work together on “Heroes,” the song inspired by and dedicated to the medical frontliners who put their lives on the line daily to heal, care for, and alleviate the sufferings of fellow Filipinos. From the individuals who have contributed through personal donations and streaming the song on YouTube (bit. ly/3tifumF) to drive awareness for the cause, to the staunch support provided by major corporate donors such as Universal Robina Corp., Golden ABC Inc., J. Amado Araneta Foundation, NVT Corp., CMG Retail Inc., Wilcon Depot Inc., Milky Way Group, Zambales Diversified Metals Corp., Berong Nickel Corp., and Metro Pacific Investments Corp., many took up the call to be a hero for the heroes of this pandemic.

FORMER colleague used to complain that he was never considered for a promotion even though he worked as hard, if not more, than his peers. During promotion deliberations, he kept getting glossed over or ignored completely. When he asked me why he was not promoted despite his hard work, I realized he was banking on his tenure and doing what was required of his position. I had to explain to him that promotion is not based on tenure but on the skills for the higher position, among other things. So, I asked him the following questions: n DO YOU DO SOME TASKS THAT ARE REQUIRED FOR THE HIGHER POSITION ALREADY? One of the things managers look for when they promote someone is their team member’s readiness for the position. If you aim to be promoted, you should already be doing some tasks which are required of the higher position. You need to be proactive in asking your manager for stretch assignments that provide you opportunities to develop skills needed for the higher position. n DO YOU VOLUNTEER FOR MORE RESPONSIBILITIES? This tells your manager that you are willing to grow in your professional career and that you are ready for bigger responsibilities. Of course, this means that you are consistently delivering quality work even in your present capacity, but because you have developed mastery over your tasks, you are now able to take on more assignments. Engagement in office work and how you volunteer for tasks show that you are ready for more responsibilities. n DO YOU GET THE WORK DONE ON TIME WITH GOOD RESULTS? Excellent and consistent work shows that you can be reliable in your present capacity, and that you can work independently. One of the indicators for a manager to promote someone is when they outperform their peers. This tells them that you have exceeded expectations in terms of your deliverables, and you can do more. Managers promote team members not just for their skills but also for their potential. When you get things done faster and better than your peers, it tells them you have the potential to improve processes which will help the entire team in the long run. n DO YOU WORK WELL WITH OTHERS? Whether you like it or not, people who get along with others have a better chance of being promoted. A higher position means more interactions with other departments in the organization and more dependencies on others to get the results that the team needs. So, it is necessary for someone to have good interpersonal skills because a higher position means increased visibility in the organization. Managers promote team members who can relate well with others because as you climb up the corporate ladder, you will have to interact with more people within and outside the organization. n HOW DO MANAGERS KNOW WHO HAS GOOD

INTERPERSONAL SKILLS? One of the ways they know more about how you work with others is through their peers. They ask feedback from others on how you performed and interacted with them so that they can understand how you influence others. They also observe which team member is often consulted when other departments need help and who are willing to extend their help when asked. Managers also ask other managers for their feedback and observation on their team members to have a better understanding of how their team has performed. These tell your manager if you are dependable not just within your team, but also for people in other departments. n DO YOU WORK WELL WITH YOUR MANAGER? While performance indicators and performance scorecards delineate what you need to do within the year and serve as objective evaluation tools, you cannot escape the fact that your manager plays a pivotal role in your promotion. You need to manage your manager by understanding how you can best support them through your work by carefully observing and discovering their needs. Or you can do the direct approach and manifest that you want to be promoted. You can then both sit down and talk about what you need to do to be promoted. Whether you use the direct or indirect approach, you need to find out what your manager needs to see from you so they can consider you for promotion because in the end, they will be the one to decide whether to promote you or not.

n DO YOU TAKE THE TIME TO LOOK FOR OPPORTUNITIES TO DEVELOP YOURSELF PROFESSIONALLY? Someone who consistently upskills themselves indicates that they are always looking for ways to do things better and improve the way they deal with others. In one of the management training programs I have coordinated, candidates could not graduate unless they had implemented a process improvement project in their respective fields. They needed to pass the management training program before they could be promoted to become people managers. If you want to be promoted, take the time to learn the skills needed for the higher role and train or expose yourself to others who are already in the position. This will help you understand if you are ready for the role. n DO YOU MENTOR OTHERS? One of the best indicators if you are ready for a promotion is when you are teaching others, especially the new members of the team. Teaching others shows that you have mastered the skills in your current role, and you are ready to learn new ones. Mentoring others shows your people skills and proficiency in the team’s processes and tools, and how these benefitted not just you but the entire team. Being promoted is validation of what you have learned in your current position and what your manager expects from you in a higher role. They are not just telling you that you have the requisite skills for the higher position, but they also believe that you will do well. n

PHOTO BY PROXYCLICK VISITOR MANAGEMENT SYSTEM ON UNSPLASH

How to continue to survive the pandemic MASKS on. Stay 2 meters apart. Wash your hands often. Even if we are already two years into a pandemic, we still cringe when we hear someone sneeze or cough in public, more so when it’s someone near us. We have never been this cautious about our health, or as interested in knowing the latest updates on cases and variants. We even know the ideal daily dosage of Vitamin C. But before you stock up on those fruit juices, hear this out. In the season-ender of the popular “Superhuman” podcast on Spotify, host Wil Dasovich and his finale guest, Dr. Dex Macalintal, a registered nutritionist and lifestyle medicine physician, talk about the nuances of our immunity and how to best double down on our health. Here are the best takeaways from the episode, to help you stay in the best of health during the pandemic. n NUTRITION IS KEY. The best time to address sickness is before you get sick. The risks related to the top noncommunicable diseases in the Philippines, such as coronary heart disease, stroke, and diabetes, can be greatly reduced by reducing salt, sugar and unhealthy fats from our diets. Keep it simple. Read the labels when choosing what food to buy for your weekly grocery run. The shorter the ingredient list, the better; if you can go for the non-processed food item, even better. If you are unsure about the ideal mix of food on your plate, you can ask your doctor or a nutritionist. n JUST MOVE. Begin the day with exercise. Raising your heart rate releases endorphins. Moreover, it improves your metabolism, which allows your body to burn more calories in its resting state and process

nutrients better. If you can’t get your sweat on earlier in the day, exercise at a time most sustainable for you. What matters is not the time of day, but the long-term viability of your lifestyle change.

n COMMUNITY HELPS YOU STAY HEALTHY. The mental stress and anguish caused by long periods of isolation can impact your immunity. The pandemic limited many of our in-person interactions. However, physical distancing does not have to mean social distancing. Community and meaningful interactions with other people are crucial to our mental and physical health. Connect with your loved ones as much as you can (while still following minimum health safety protocols, of course). n A MEDICAL CONSULT IS JUST A BUTTON AWAY. Given the constraints of mobility and the recommendation to avoid risky areas, people have been visiting the doctor’s office online. Telemedicine and the applications that enable it are now available to many. With more health-care professionals joining networks, the medical expert you need can easily be recommended by the one you initially consulted. For example, AIA Philippines (aia.com.ph), one of the country’s premier life insurance companies, recently introduced Total Health Solution, an ecosystem accessible through a single touchpoint platform that can help you live better so you are able to maintain a healthy lifestyle, protect yourself better so you have peace of mind that you are prepared for life’s uncertainties, and get better by giving you access to health-care needs should you find yourself unwell. For the full season finale and more podcast episodes on ordinary people doing extraordinary things, tune in to Superhuman with Wil Dasovich on Spotify. You can also visit the YouTube page of Dr. Dex Macalintal to get your weekly dose of nutrition information.

“SUPERHUMAN” podcast host Wil Dasovich

B6 Wednesday, March 2, 2022

Security Bank Foundation repairs 16 damaged classrooms in Koronadal

SECURITY Bank Foundation school building in KCES withstood three local earthquakes in South Cotabato area but still sustained damages.

ECURITY Bank Foundation, Inc. (SBFI), the Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) arm of Security Bank, repaired 16 classrooms in Koronadal City, South Cotabato which were damaged by the October 2019 earthquakes in the area. The classrooms were donated by SBFI in 2018. The repair of the two-story, eightclassroom buildings in Koronadal Central Elementary School (KCES) and Koronadal National Comprehensive High School (KNCHS) included the patching of wall

cracks, replacement of damaged doors and windows, reconnection of detached railings, and restoration of damaged gutters. The repair also included an overall general check-up of the buildings’ electrical and plumbing systems. With the current distance-learning setup, SBFI proceeded with the repair of the buildings to prevent further deterioration and prepare for the possible resumption of face-to-face classes. “Despite the challenges of the COVID-19

pandemic, we commend Security Bank Foundation’s sustained commitment to support our school and sponsor the major repair of their donated school building post-earthquake damages,” said Alver Lajera, KCES Principal. “The repair support is an act of kindness that ensures a safe and welcoming environment for our teachers and students during and post-pandemic,” added Valentin Dignadice, Jr., KNCHS Principal. Security Bank Koronadal Branch Channel Manager, Ma. Elizabeth Barroso-Famenia, also commended the Foundation’s commitment and said she was “inspired to be part of a Bank that is willing to help address the needs of students despite being in the middle of a pandemic.” The continued repair and maintenance of previously donated classrooms is a component of SBFI’s Build a School, Build a Nation Program which aims to address infrastructure facility needs of schools in areas where there are Security Bank branches while providing complementary initiatives such as teachers training and videos production and distribution to improve learning outcomes. To know more about Security Bank Foundation and its CSR and sustainability initiatives, visit www.securitybank.com/ sustainability or Security Bank’s Facebook page at www.facebook.com/SecurityBank.

TELUS International Philippines takes home six Anvil Awards for outstanding brand and employee communication programs

ELUS International Philippines (TIP) was recognized for its exceptional 2021 employeedirected public relations and communication campaigns at the virtual Gabi ng Parangal Awards Ceremonies held by the Public Relations Society of the Philippines (PRSP). TIP received six Anvil Awards and a nomination for Company of the Year Award. The Anvil Awards are presented annually by the Public Relations Society of the Philippines to outstanding PR programs, tools and practitioners as discerned by a multi-sectoral board of jurors and symbolizes excellence in public relations. As a leading Philippines-based provider of digitally enabled customer experience and business process solutions, TELUS International Philippines’ caring and diverse company culture has been cited as a key reason that employees stay with the company and deliver above and beyond when it comes to customer service. “The six Anvil Awards we won today are feathers of pride in our cap, and a testament to the effectiveness of our creative and innovative team memberdirected campaigns that build and

represent our strong corporate culture. We thank the PRSP organization and its Board of Judges for continuing to celebrate our work through the Anvil Awards,” said Pia Gajasan, Communications Senior Manager for Asia-Pacific at TELUS International. Three of the six Anvils were awarded for the company’s celebrated #VaxxedandHappyHere campaign which drastically reduced vaccine hesitancy and vaccine misinformation, while increasing vaccination rates among TIP employees across all seven of its sites (six in Metro Manila, one in Iloilo). The company purchased 80,000 doses of COVID-19 vaccines last year to provide free vaccination for all team members, their families and loved ones and their communities as part of a trilateral agreement with the government and AstraZeneca. The 2021 #HappyHere PR and communications campaign was awarded a Gold Anvil Award under the Public Relations Program on a Sustained Basis - Internal Communications category for employee engagement programs that encouraged and celebrated employee involvement and passions. The #HappyHere

campaign is a sustained program in TIP that has received recognition from Anvil and other award-giving organizations for the fourth year in a row. TELUS was also awarded a Silver Anvil under the category Public Relations Program Directed at Specific Stakeholders -Employees in celebration of the TIP Care PR and communication campaign, the company’s flagship support program for team members who were directly affected by COVID-19, whether needing medical consultations, in self-quarantine or through recovery from COVID-19. Finally, a Silver Anvil under the category Specialized Public Relations Program on Corporate/Organizational Identity was awarded to TIP for the TELUS Days of Giving #GiveWhereWeLive PR and communication campaign. TELUS International Philippines invested over PhP 22 million in funding and in-kind donations to communities in 2021, helping 44,000+ Filipino children, youth and their families. Together, they were able to dedicate over 16,000 volunteer hours through various virtual and onsite TELUS Days of Giving activities, engaging 4,656 of our team members.

MERALCO EXPANDS ITS CAINTA SUBSTATION. Meralco personnel do the commissioning of a new 83-MVA power transformer bank no. 3 located in its Cainta Substation situated along Ortigas Avenue Extension, Barangay Sto. Domingo, Cainta, Rizal. This project was implemented to provide additional capacity, switching flexibility, and reliability during contingencies to the areas of Cainta and the nearby cities of Pasig and Marikina. This project will also address the additional load required by new large load customers in the area such as SmithKline Beecham Research Limited (SBRL), Urban Deca Ortigas Mall, SM Charm Residence, and Pharmaserv, a COVID-19 vaccine storage facility located in Marikina. Despite the continued implementation of community quarantine measures or the new alert level system throughout the country due to the COVID-19 pandemic, Meralco and its subsidiaries are continuously working hard to improve its distribution system in order to provide safe, adequate, and reliable electric service to its customers.

Starbucks Philippines enhances customer experience with new digital services

EW Starbucks eGifts, Starbucks Rewards on Lazada and more Mobile Order and Pay pickup options. Starbucks Philippines recently launched three new services that bridge both physical and digital experiences. With customer convenience and safety in mind, Starbucks Philippines makes ordering easy, contactless and rewarding. Partnering with leading e-wallet platform, GCash, the first of these services include gifting of digital Starbucks gift certificates through GLife. In addition, the company now allows Starbucks Rewards members to collect Stars with purchases from the official Starbucks LazMall Flagship Store on Lazada, and expanded their Mobile Order and Pay features with new pickup options. Customers can order and send Starbucks eGifts starting at Php 300 through GLife on GCash. Customers can choose to share Starbucks eGifts through messaging apps and redeem by showing the eGift QR code to pay for drinks, food or merchandise in any Starbucks store in the Philippines. Starbucks Rewards members can now collect merchandise from the comfort of their own homes. Members who link their accounts to Lazada will earn 1 Star for every P25 spent on purchases from the Starbucks LazMall Flagship Store.To link a Starbucks Rewards account, customers can simply click the 'Member' tab found in the Starbucks LazMall Flagship Store, and sign-in using a registered Starbucks Rewards email and password. Mobile Order and Pay allows Starbucks

Rewards members to place orders ahead of their visit and pick up at their chosen Starbucks store, all within the Starbucks app. The app estimates wait time. When their order is ready, the customer can simply breeze in and get their order from the handoff. For more information, visit https://starbuckscard. “We’re very proud of how our partners (employees) consistently deliver an unparalleled store experience. With the pandemic and customer’s shift to digital channels, our goal is to continuously transform the Starbucks Experience and provide innovative ways whether a customer chooses to connect with us at a store or through an app,” said Jamie Silva, Senior Manager for Marketing, Digital Customer Experience and Loyalty at Starbucks Philippines.

Sun Life Grepa, A.Y. Foundation donate tablets to the to school in General Trias

UN Life Grepa Financial, Inc. (Sun Life Grepa), a major life insurance company in the country, together with the A.Y. Foundation, the corporate social responsibility arm of the Yuchengco Group of Companies, recently donated tablets to the Department of Education - Division of General Trias. These tablets will be distributed to four different schools, namely Tropical Village Elementary School, Governor Ferrer Main National High School, Pasong Kawayan II Elementary School and Luis Y. Ferrer Jr. National High School as part of Sun Life Grepa’s Share the Passion corporate social responsibility program.

“This kind of donation is important to schools especially now when virtual learning is needed and gadgets like these can support the learning of students,” said Doris Estalilla, Department of Education General Trias Schools Division Superintendent. “Education is an important cornerstone of Sun Life Grepa and the AY Foundation's advocacy,” said Bessie Arciga, Head of Corporate Brand for Sun Life Grepa. “Through donations like this, we continue our commitment to being part of the evolving learning landscape as schools strive strengthen their learning infrastructure in the new normal.”

AT TURNOVER rites, from left: Education Program Specialist II Jofit Dayoc; Dr. Ines Inocencio, Education Program Supervisor; and Dr. Estalilla, Schools Division Superintendent, who received the tablet donation from A.Y. Foundation Scholarship Coordinator Lyka Luzuriaga (2nd from right) and Sun Life Grepa Head of Corporate Branding and Communications Bessie Arciga (far right).

BusinessMirror

Editor: Tet Andolong

Wednesday, March 2, 2022 B7

Damosa Land rolls out mixed-use development project

By Rizal Raoul S. Reyes

offers plenty of green areas for parks and playgrounds. In line with its landscape design philosophy “Harmony with Nature,” Damosa Land keeps up with the natural slopes of its location to create forest park and hiking trails that will allow for the best outdoor experience. Lagdameo said DLI is wellpositioned to implement the project, and at the same time is bullish on Bridgeport as there has been a high demand for open spaces in Davao. “We benefited from the boom for open spaces,” Lagdameo said. On the business side, Bridgeport will provide opportunities to local entrepreneurs to thrive as the property can bring in investors at its very own commercial and events space. Sales value of Bridgeport is worth P3 billion. DLI will be on a roll entering with the launching of their other developments with real estate, agri-business, tourism, and manufacturing remaining as key sectors driving diversified investment in the Davao region. This includes Damosa Diamond Tower, Damosa Land’s 17-story tower that showcases sustainable green architecture designs; the agritourism component of Agriya, Naturetainment, which is an attraction that will allow children and adults to

By Roderick L. Abad

avao-based property developer Damosa Land Inc. (DLI), the property development unit of the ANFLOCOR Group, recently launched Bridgeport, the newest mixed-use development inspired by the US East Coast community, featuring low-density condominium buildings, premium open lots, a condotel, commercial area and events place, and an exclusive marina.

A 13-hectare low density marine development, Bridgeport will be developed into a premium township and positioned as a secondary leisure home where families can experience the luxury and comfort of seaside life. Strategically located in Caliclic, Island Garden City of Samal, Bridgeport is only five minutes away from Davao City by an exclusive power boat. “Kicking off 2022 with the launch of Bridgeport exemplifies the capabilities and opportunities Damosa Land has to offer in the evolving real-estate landscape,” Ricardo F. Lagdameo, President of Damosa Land Inc. told the press in a recent online briefing. “Bridgeport does not only offer a scenic waterfront location where accomplished individuals can call their home but also brings in investment opportunities given its strategic location and distinct lifestyle experience. Those aspiring to live a quality life without compromising work and business can look to Bridgeport to grow their business or family.” The youthful chief executive of DLI pointed out that the company always tries to be on top of the game by giving importance to the need for open spaces in response to the pandemic. In Bridgeport, Lagdameo said it

Govt hails new partner to address housing backlog

Bridgeport main entrance rendering

Bridgeport Marina rendering

experience nature and the farm life; and, the commercial center of Anflo Industrial Estate, the 63-hectare Special Economic Zone registered under the Philippine Economic Zone Authority which hopes to attract both local and foreign investors to diversify and enrich the economy in the region. The company will also continue to roll-out its expansion

of Regus Centers in Mindanao, tapping into the market of other key cities in the region such as General Santos and Cagayan de Oro. Its partnership with the University of the Philippines is also seen to yield fruition with the construction of the UP Professional School of Agriculture and the Environment in Panabo City. “Damosa Land Inc. remains committed to supporting the

recovery of the Philippine economy through providing growth opportunities in Davao Region,” said Lagdameo. The sustainable and innovative solution present in our various projects is a testament to our belief in the potential of the local Davao community that we hope to contribute to its progress. Initial turnover will be in 2025.

IVEN the lack of players from the private sector to affordable housing market, the National Home Mortgage Finance Corp. (NHMFC) has welcomed Aquira Land Development Corp. (ALDC) as they formalized a new partnership via a memorandum of agreement (MOA). Under the MOA, ALDC will be covered by its Housing Loan Receivables Purchase Program, wherein it will buy future receivables from individuals or groups that purchase homes from the developer. Thereafter, these customers will pay NHMFC for their homes monthly, at low interest rates, over long periods of time. This will allow ALDC to remain liquid and to continue to build as well as start more projects, and NHMFC to fulfill its thrust of providing affordable financing for housing for low-income Filipinos. Hence, it will end the perennial shortage of affordable housing nationwide. “We know that the government’s housing agencies cannot claim to fully solve the growing housing backlog in the country. We need to help and support our private industry partners like Aquira Land, in accomplishing our mission of providing decent homes for our fellow Filipinos,” said Carlo Luis Rabat, president of NHMFC. Already a self-made entrepreneur in the wellness and beauty industry when he put up ALDC, Aquira Land President Erick Armigos shared that he became aware of the need for low cost housing while he was studying means to reward loyal employees. “I was thinking of providing low cost housing assistance as an incentive for employees who stay with the company for 10 years, but also for every employee to have better access to housing loans. It was while I was studying the feasibility that I learned of the housing backlog,” he said. The top executive also cited how the Covid-19 pandemic firmed his resolved to become a low-cost housing developer: “Because of the pandemic, the home has become much more important, it is now also a classroom, a warehouse for small businesses, and it’s also an office for those working from home,” he said. Just recently, Aquira Land broke the ground for its pilot project on a 16-hectare property in Barangay Sampaloc, Tanay Rizal. ALDC aims to build 2,600 units in three years.

Torre Lorenzo Malate premium residences and Ascott-managed serviced residences now move-in ready in Manila’s historic and cultural capital

orre Lorenzo Development Cor p. (TLDC) announced recently that its signature premium residential units designed for the Filipinos’ modern, evolving lifestyle are now ready for occupancy in the bustling district of Malate. The 45-story Torre Lorenzo Malate premium residences located on Malvar Street in Malate, Manila, is one of the latest in TLDC’s portfolio of developments offering secure, quality, and wellthought-out spaces that are accessible to daily necessities and conveniences. Torre Lorenzo Malate stands in the midst of Manila’s historic and cultural capital—within walking distance of commercial establishments and lifestyle options. It is close to top universities (UP School of Medicine, St. Paul ’s University, Philippine Christian University, Philippine Women’s University), hospitals (Philippine General Hospital, Manila Doctors Hospital, Medical Center Manila), transportation hubs, and cultural landmarks. The neighborhood is itself quiet and safe, making it an

ideal residence for those looking for a fully-accessible and secure home.

Three distinct living experiences

Designed to accommodate the evolving needs of the modern Filipino, Torre Lorenzo Malate offers its clients three distinct experiences that set it apart from other premium residences in the TLDC portfolio: signature premium residential condominium units under the Residences at TLM, stylish serviced residences at The Suites, and lyf at TLM managed by international lodging operator The Ascott Ltd. Offering an environment for elegant living as well as stunning views of Manila Bay from the tower’s higher levels, the The Residences at TLM is truly a place you would want to come home to. Ser viced residences at The Suites and lyf at TLM offer sophisticated living options for transients and guests in partnership with a respected international hospitality brand, Ascott, which

underscores the shared commitment to quality and prestige.

study lounge, meeting room, and a discussion room.

Exquisite interiors display charm and beauty of Old Manila

Safe and secure living at Torre Lorenzo Malate

Says TLDC design partner Cynthia Almario of Atelier Almario: “We designed Torre Lorenzo Malate to bring in the nostalgia, romance, charm, and beauty of Old Manila to the property. The interior architecture evokes a regional colonial appeal infused with a modern take on the selection of furniture and finishes. Each multi-purpose space was designed with both the younger and older generations in mind—both in function and design style. It is hip yet nostalgic, traditional yet contemporary.”

Respite from life in the city

At Torre Lorenzo Malate, residents will have access to premium amenities perfect for relaxation after a busy day. Residents can retreat to the Sky Lounge and the Sky Garden for a breather. They can also stay fit using the fully-equipped gym and swimming pool. TLM also features a

Proactive property management and strict adherence to safety protocols ensure the peace of mind of residents at Torre Lorenzo Malate. Security and safety are the hallmarks of every TLDC development. Strategically-placed CCTV cameras, 24/7 security, and a 24hour emergency hotline will allow residents to have peace of mind while in the building. Electronic access cards ensure that only unit owners can enter the private and residential areas of the building. There will also be a shuttle service available for residents—a first for Torre Lorenzo developments. Anticipating the needs of professionals and students in the area, the shuttle will be a 24-hour service offered for the safety of residents. Says TLDC President & CEO Tomas P. Lorenzo: “Over the years, we have earned a reputation for offering quality residential devel-

opments that respond to the needs of our evolving residents who understand what quality living is all about. We have worked to revolutionize the living environment that we offer and have built smarter to offer units and conveniences that support our residents’ changing needs. Buyers and investors will be proud to call Torre Malate home.” For more information on TLDC and TLDC’s developments, visit www.torrelorenzo.com

Go for Gold riders target modest goal

YOUNG Go for Gold squad seeks to challenge the cream of the crop in the 10-stage LBC Ronda Pilipinas 2022 that starts in Sorsogon on March 11 and ends in Baguio City on March 20. “Same with others, we want to win, but we are more excited because we know the competition will be stiff this year,” Go for Gold coach Ednalyn Hualda said. Hualda said the team desperately wants to perform well this year because three of their best riders— Daniel Carino, Ismael Grospe and Jericho Jay Lucero—are graduating from the team built for promising young riders aged 23 or younger. The other members of the Jeremy Go-managed squad are Dominic Perez, Boots Ryan Cayubit, Jonel Carcueva and Ronnilan Quita. “We really want to win this year because most of my riders are on their last year with us,” she said. Go for Gold fared well in the 10th Anniversary Race two years ago after Carino, Carcueva and Grospe wound up in the top 10. They could fare better this year. “I think we have a chance of getting one of our rider to finish in the top three,” Hualda said. Go for Gold will contend against a strong field headed by the mighty Philippine Navy Standard Insurance, which will be led by George Oconer and Ronald Oranza, the last two Ronda kings. Also seeing action are Excellent Noodles, which will be led by former Ronda winners Jan Paul Morales and Santy Barnachea, Philippine Army, Team Nueva Ecija, Dreyna, Eagle Cement, Champ Café, Bike Kings Laguna, Vantage Ilocos Norte, VPharma, Team Quezon Province and Team Ilocos Sur. A total of P3.5 million will be given away as cash prizes with P1 million going to the overall individual champion, P400,000 to the runner-up and P200,000 to the second runner-up. The team champion gets P200,000 in the race presented by LBC Express Inc. and supported by MVP Sports Foundation, Quad X, Twin Cycle Gear, Standard Insurance, Print2Go, Elves Bicycles, Elitewheels, Orome, Maynilad and Garmin.

Sports BusinessMirror

FIGHT OF THEIR LIVES Former heavyweight world champions Vitali Klitschko (left) and his brother Wladimir Klitschko look at a smart phone in Kyiv’s City Hall in Ukraine. The brothers are in the thick of a fight of their lives, not on the boxing ring but in their home country amid Russia’s invasion. Vitali Klitschko is Kyiv’s mayor. AP

HE two federations responsible for flying the country’s flag high and mighty at the Tokyo Olympics won’t be missed out in the San Miguel Corp.Philippine Sportswriters Association (SMC-PSA) Annual Awards Night on March 14 at the Diamond Hotel. Samahang Weightlifting ng Pilipinas (SWP) and the Association of Boxing Alliances in the Philippines (Abap) will be honored with the National Sports Association (NSA) of the Year Award for playing crucial roles in assuring the Philippines’ most glorious Olympic campaign ever. Weightlifter Hidilyn Diaz delivered the historic first-ever Olympic gold medal for the country, while boxers Carlo Paalam, Nesthy Petecio and Eumir Marcial accounted for three other medals to cap the Philippine delegation’s most productive stint in Olympic history. Monico Puentevella and Ricky Vargas, presidents of the SWP and

| Wednesday, March 2, 2022 mirror_sports@yahoo.com.ph Editor: Jun Lomibao

TOP PERFORMING NSAS HONORED VARGAS

PUENTEVELLA

Abap, respectively, are expected to receive the award on behalf of their associations during the special event presented by the Philippine Sports Commission, Philippine Olympic

Committee and Cignal TV. Vargas had since been succeeded by former executive director Ed Picson as head of the country’s governing body for boxing. This marks the first time that the weightlifting association will receive the recognition by the country’s oldest media organization, while Abap will be feted with the same award for the third straight year. As expected, the 31-year-old Diaz was the hands down choice as the 2021 Athlete of the Year by the country’s oldest media organization during the gala night backed

RUSSIA’S MEDVEDEV NO. 1 IN ATP RANKINGS

ANIIL MEDVEDEV officially moved up to No. 1 in the Association of Tennis Professionals (ATP) rankings on Monday, overtaking Novak Djokovic to become the 27th man to hold the top spot since computerized rankings began in 1973. Medvedev, a 26-year-old from Russia who won last year’s US Open and was the runner-up at this year’s

Australian Open, rose from No. 2. Djokovic slid down one place after having participated in only one tournament in 2022 because he has not been vaccinated against Covid-19. He was deported from Australia and not allowed to try to

Astrolabio wants Donaire next

FTER winning the World Boxing Council (WBC) international bantamweight crown, Vincent Astrolabio wants a big fish—WBC bantamweight king Nonito “The Filipino Flash” Donaire Jr. “Any world champion, including [Nonito] Donaire, I am willing to face next for the world title,” Astrolabio said. “I don’t like to fight in a tune up anymore. I’m ready for the big time.” Astrolabio beat ageing former Cuban world champion Guillermo Rigondeaux via unanimous decision in Dubai four days ago to hike his record to 17 (12 knockouts) wins and three losses. The 24-year-old from General Santos City said he’s prime for Donaire (42-6 win-loss with 28 knockouts) in his next fight.

Donaire lost via unanimous decision to Rigondeaux in 2013 while World Boxing Organization bantamweight world champion John Riel Casimero escaped with a split decision over the 41-year-old Cuban in August last year. Astrolabio, a father of two kids—Loveceant Bear, 5, and Zach Nathan, 2—said he’s motivated to become a world champion after beating Rigondeaux, whom he knocked down early in their fight. “He thought he could endure and avoid my punches, but he’s wrong,” said Astrolabio, who vowed to marry his long-time live-in partner Lovely once he becomes a world champion. “That’s my dream, to marry her, but I need to accomplish my goal first, that’s why I am very motivated.” Astrolabio is trained and managed by Nonoy Neri. Josef Ramos

Unfair to Chot THE barber shop talk hasn’t died down: Why must Gilas suffer that 88-63 rout at the hands of New Zealand? The Tall Blacks from Kiwi land were just six notches higher than us in the world basketball rankings, you know. Just last year, Gilas lost by only seven points to World

sure everyone can understand it comes with mixed emotions that it happens this week,” Medvedev tweeted Monday, an apparent reference to his country’s invasion of Ukraine. “Thank you to my wife, team, sponsors, friends, & everyone that has helped along the way. It’s a long journey and I look forward to the years ahead.” Djokovic’s most recent stay atop the rankings started in February 3, 2020, and his total of

defend his title at Melbourne Park because he is not inoculated—

and has said he won’t get the shots, even if he needs them to be able to play elsewhere, such as the French Open or Wimbledon. Medvedev is the first player other than Djokovic, Roger Federer, Rafael Nadal or Andy Murray to get to No. 1 since February 2004, when Andy Roddick was there. Medvedev is also the first new No. 1 since Murray in November 2016 and the third Russian man to lead the rankings, following Yevgeny Kafelnikov and Marat Safin. “It’s a huge honor to take over this spot. I’m

DANIIL MEDVEDEV becomes the 27th man to hold the top spot since computerized rankings began in 1973. AP

Subic sailors champions in Bicol

HE tandem of Fernan Sarmiento and Miguel Jose Magsaysay of Subic Sailing bested 33 other teams in the Exciting Bicol Oz Goose National Championships held recently in Legazpi City. The event was organized by the Albay Yacht Club (AYC) and the Philippine Home Boatbuilders Yacht Club (PHBYC) and supported by the Department of Tourism Region 5 and

No. 5 in the Olympic qualifiers in Belgrade. Chot Reyes had coached both Gilas teams. And note that in Belgrade, Reyes had the luxury of having the country’s best of the best at his disposal. Alas, against New Zealand on Sunday, Reyes had nothing but a ragtag bunch fit for an inter-color tournament. OK, he was obliquely booed for the debacle. But if you ask me, that crowd chant “We want Baldwin!” was not only misplaced but downright unfair to Chot. I can understand the fans’ frustration. We are rabid basketball buffs. But that’s no reason to vilify Chot Reyes, who was stuffed pronto into the Gilas camp as a result of Baldwin’s chickening out to save his own hide. Sorry, but Baldwin left Gilas for convenience. We should be clear on that. He couldn’t stand putting up with a team decimated by departures of some of its stars for high-paying jobs in Japan and elsewhere. Reyes was, in fact, a hero for accepting a job that is almost doomed to being a lost cause. For now, at least.

by Milo (official chocolate milk), 1Pacman, Philippine Basketball Association, Philippine Racing Commission, Rain or Shine, ICTSI, Chooks To Go, MVP Sports Foundation and Smart. Paalam and Petecio, meanwhile, provided a silver medal each and Marcial a bronze to join Diaz in the Olympic podium. For their feat, the three boxers will be honored with a Major Award each. The three medals won by Abap is also the most by the federation in its long history of competing in the Olympics.

the City Government of Legazpi. Nicko Boyano and Sorlano Boyano and Zoren Boyano and Rhenalyn Boyano, all members of the Philippine Sailing Association, finished second and third place, respectively. Twins Jonalyn and Jonabel Parocha, also of the PSA, topped the women’s category, while Cherrie Pinpin and Joshua Barcelon ruled the Sailability division for persons with disability. Job Ferranco

Magnolia eyes playoff bonus; Cruz officially joins Beermen By Josef Ramos

AGNOLIA eyes a win over Meralco on Wednesday hoping to nail a twice-tobeat advantage in the playoff in the Philippine Basketball Association Governors’ Cup at the Smart Araneta Coliseum. The Hotshots are 8-1 won-lost entering their 6 p.m. match against the No. 2 Bolts (6-2) at the Big Dome that is now fully open to fans following the lowering of safety protocols in the metro to Alert Level 1 on Tuesday. “Big game for us, our opponent is No. 2, and it’s also our chance to secure the twice-to-beat advantage,” Magnolia coach Chito Victolero told BusinessMirror. “This is also a test of character for us heading into the playoffs and we want to have a positive momentum.” Calvin Abueva, however, won’t still be on Victolero’s bench because of a calf injury. “But we’re going to prepare Calvin [Abueva] for the playoffs,” said Victolero, who will be relying on import Mike Harris who is averaging 29.6 points and 12.8 rebounds in eight games. The No. 1 Hotshots spoiled National Basketball Association veteran Shabazz Muhammad’s debut for San Miguel Beer with a 104-87 win last Sunday behind Paul Lee’s 26 points. Meralco, however, is also eyeing a twice-to-beat edge in the quarterfinal round. “It’s an important game for us against the top team in the elimination,” Meralco coach Norman Black said. “We need [that] win if we want to get a twice-to-beat advantage. We must slow down their fast pace offense, and do a good job against their full court pressure.” NorthPort, meanwhile, shoots for a fourth consecutive victory when it faces winless Blackwater in the first game at 3 p.m. The Batang Pier are in ninth place with a 3-5 card and are hoping to keep the streak with still three games left on their schedule in the eliminations. Blackwater is 0-8 in the conference and are 0-27 since the 2020 Philippine Cup in Clark.

CRUZ REUNITES WITH COACH LEO

361 weeks there are the most for any man since the tour’s computerized rankings began in 1973. He called Medvedev “very deserving” in a Twitter message last week. AP

JERICHO CRUZ formally joined the San Miguel Beermen on Tuesday after signing a three-year contract, the details of which were not revealed. “It’s bigger than anything else, it’s my dream to reunite with my college coach and play for my favorite team San Miguel Beer,” said Cruz, who attended his first practice with the Beermen at the Acropolis Gym on Tuesday. Cruz played for Leo Austria’s Adamson University team in the University Athletic Association of the Philippines in 2013. “He will provide us with energy and intensity. I am very happy he’s with us now,” Austria said. A 6-foot-1 slasher, Cruz averaged 10.2 points, 2.9 rebounds and 2.6 assists in 10 games for NLEX in the Governors’ Cup.

dominated the B-Fleet. The two-day event was the fourth national championships and the first outside its home base at the Taal Lake Yacht Club. It also launched Bicol Tegion as the archipelago’s newest sailing haven. The Oz Goose is a 12foot long wind-powered sailboat with a 14-foot mast and a crew of two. It is cheap and easy to assemble and has a huge potential for recreational sailing and is an inclusive sport for women, youth, children and PWDs. “Bicol has been gaining in popu-

larity with watersports enthusiasts, wakeboarders, surfers, paddlers, scuba divers and now, sailors,” DOT regional director Herbie Aguas said. “It’s natural beauty is its main appeal, and the people’s warm hospitality in embracing watersports enhances compound its natural charm.” He said that the sailing event is a part of the DOT’s Exciting Restart program which will reboot the region’s tourism industr y, along w ith the search for other potential sailing spots in the nearby prov inces.

Who would want to coach a squad severely lacking in depth and cohesion? But a patriot that Reyes has always been, he took on the challenge. As he did in 2013, when he whipped Gilas into a world-class quintet by piloting it to Seville, Spain, to snap a 36-year absence for the Philippines in World Cup play. He could have easily quit for good and rest on his laurels. But no, he unretired—basketball blood being in his veins the very day he was born. “After a game, especially after a loss, we always feel we could have done a little bit better,” said Reyes in the loss to New Zealand. “Preparing certainly was very, very crucial.” How could he fully prepare when Baldwin departed with the Fiba qualifiers just a breadth away from the starting blocks? “We still have a lot of things to work on. The players are not yet familiar with each other,” Reyes said. Just being honest. His crew were assembled barely days before tournament blast-off. And you expect him to defeat a New Zealand team that’s been formed long before the

pandemic hit the world in March 2020? Even if Baldwin was at the saddle in that fateful battle against the Tall Blacks, he couldn’t have possibly bailed Gilas out of trouble. C’mon, don’t be a jerk. Give me a break. But amid the gloom, there’s hope. “I think we will only get better as time goes by,” said Reyes. “Certainly a lot of bright spots…to build on. We just have to put in the work.” For Chot, the war has just begun. THAT’S IT We are sending 656 athletes to compete in 39 sports in the Hanoi SEA Games—a far cry from the 1,115 bets we dispatched for the Manila SEA Games. We won the biennial meet’s overall championship in 2019 with a haul of 149 gold medals, 117 silvers and 121 bronzes from 56 disciplines. But will world No. 5 pole vault ace EJ Obiena be able to defend his SEA Games crown on May 12-25? Olympic chief Bambol Tolentino said yes, unmindful of the fact that Obiena was not in the track and field delegation submitted by athletics president Philip Ella Juico. Suspense.