BusinessMirror March 08, 2022 by BusinessMirror

Declare state of emergency, Duterte urged ‘Close borders, cut Omicron exposure risk’ By Jovee Marie N. dela Cruz @joveemarie

A C

By Cai U. Ordinario

tHe World »B7

3rd round of talks planned as russia announces ceasefire for evacuations

MID the weekly increases in @caiordinario oil prices, members of the House of Representatives LOSING the country’s borders on Monday recommended to the is one of the most immediate Palace the declaration of a state courses of action the govern- of economic ment must takeemergency to preventarising the lat-from fuel price crisis. est Covid-19 variant, Omicron, from a news conference following reachingInPhilippine shores, accorda special hearing of the Fuel Crisis ing to local economists. Ad Hoc Committee, Albay Rep. T he new var iant is a threat,Joey e s p e Sarte c i a l l ySalceda w it h said t he an holimmediate id ay s presidential declaration is needed coming up and more foreigners because this fuel price crisis being a llowed to travel to theis affecting allDeFilipinos. Philippines, La Sa lle Univer“The fastest [to help the Filisit y economist Marway ia Ella Oplas pino people] is to declare a state of told BusinessMirror. economic emergency arising The holidays usually bring infrom the fuel crisis, therefore enabling Overseas Filipino Workers (OFWs) him [the President] to use the cawho are eager to spend Christmas

lamity fund or for local government units to use calamity fund to relief ones, to affected withprovide their loved whiledrivers, forfarmers and fisherfolks,” he said. eigners living in temperate regions propose the declaration usually“Iwant to relax in tropical of a state of calamity for economic countries like the Philippines. This reasons. This will help local to govyear’s influx of OFWs is expected ernments that are especially be heavier since many of them weredependent fuelfor [such as fishing unable to comeonhome the holidays communities] when oil prices bein December 2020. come unmanageable,” he added. “My recommendation is to protect He recommended tapping the borders. Do not allow people withthe P4.5-billion Fund, a history of travelContingency to countries with which can be used for subsidies positive cases to enter,” Oplas said. in 2022 the President’s “Wethe should be budget, more restrictive. [We P3-billion Socio-Civic have to be] more protective inFund, terms on topmeasures.” of the proposed P1-billion fuel of our voucher promised Oplas saidsubsidy that while this willbybethe Development Budget Coordination a setback to some industries, this Committee. is a fair measure considering that Salceda an estimated this could helpsaid prevent placing P75.2the billion in revenue from value added country in another strict lockdown,

tax (VAT) and oil excise could also be used to alleviate the crisis. proposed option: the which,He she said, theanother economy can no Katas ng TRAIN (KNT) package, longer afford. similar to the Arroyo “It is better that we doadministraprotective tion’s Katas ng VAT preventive measures(KNV) than program. get exP68.8-billion revenue colposedThe again. We have a lot to lose,” lection from the KNT, he said, could Oplas said. “We should do it now so bewe utilized to subsidize electricity, that can open just before Christfertilizer, small fisherfolk somas. If it gets contained, we canand open cial pensions for this year. it again.” Oil companies expected Ateneo Center forare Economic Re-to announce price increases—for search and Development (ACERD) the 10th Director consecutive Associate Serweek—to Percivalbe implemented on Tuesday: K. Peña-Reyes said closing P3.60 the per literborders for gasoline; liter country’s would P4.10 be effecfor kerosene and P5.85 liter for tive but should still adhere to the diesel. The oil company Shell standards set by the World Healthis the first to(WHO). announce the said Organization price adjustments. This is told conWhat is needed, Peña-Reyes sidered to be the largest increase this newspaper, is for travel restricso far this tions to be putyear. in place swiftly and

For his part, DOE Undersecretary Gerardo Erguiza assured the public that government has taken for government to be proactive in steps to address the oil problem, imposing them. such as asking private oilwhen companies Previous instances the to implement P1 to P4 promotional country had the opportunity to imdiscounts. pose travel restrictions did not presaid government ventHe the spread of Covid-19. will That also was provide P2.5 billion worth of fuel mainly because the decision was not vouchers under thehe Pantawid made immediately, said. Pasada“Kung Program and 500 million papatay patay [If worth we’re of fuel subsidy for farmers and fishslow] and we get caught flat-footerfolks. ed, [that’s risky] We were too reactive instead of proactive before. Special session We should learn from that,” PeñaMEANWHILE, Salcedabalancing said the Reyes said. “It’s a delicate House will strongly recommend act. We need to push testing that and President call a special sestracing to Duterte be properly informed sion by March 15 to pass measures of our decisions. Blanket/shotgun reducing excise taxhave on fuel andconsetackle approaches could dire the proposed Oil Deregulation Law as quences on the economy.” See “State of emergency,” A2 See “Omicron,” A2

‘FUELGOVT CRISIS TO SLASH NATL BORROWINGS P330B ECONOMY’ FOR 10 FROM MOS DIP TO P2.75T w w

n Tuesday, March29, 8, 2022 151 Monday, November 2021 Vol. Vol.17 17 No. No.52

Biggest oil priceOmicron hike: ₧5.85 risk revival for diesel; ₧3.60,spurs gasoline, ₧4.10, keroseneofonquarantine Mar 8

By Bernadette D. Nicolas

@BNicolasBM

HE national government’s gross borrowings as of end-October shrank by almost 6 percent year-on-year to P2.75 trillion.

By Lenie Lectura @llectura

Latest data from the Bureau of the Treasury showed that the government’s gross borrowings during the 10-month period fell by 5.99 percent from P2.92 trillion a year ago. With only two months left for this year, the latest figure is already equivalent to 89.6 percent of its P3.07-trillion borrowing program. Broken down, gross domestic borrowings from January to October settled at P2.23 trillion, down by 5.08 percent from P2.35 trillion in 2020. The bulk of the amount was walk past the mural of Gat Bonifacio at ManilaDebates City Hall2022: Underpass. COMMISSION on Elections officials signed on MondayPEOPLE a Memorandum of Agreement forAndres the poll body’s “PiliPinas The Turning Point”featuring presidential and vice presidential candidates sourced from Fixed Rate Treasury country will celebrate the 158th anniversary Filipino revolutionary at the Sofitel Philippine Plaza Manila in Pasay City.The From left, Comelec spokesman Jamesbirth Jimenez, ComelecofCommissioners Aimee Ferolino and Marlon Casquejo, Acting Comelec Chairman Socorro Inting, Bonds (P1.19 trillion), followed by ROY DOMINGO heroand GatLawrence Andres Bonifacio onTechnology Tuesday, November NONIE REYES Impact Hub Manila Founder and CEO Celeste Rondario, Lino-on of Lead Vote30.Pilipinas. short-term borrowings from Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas or BSP (P540 By Cai U. Ordinario @caiordinario billion), Retail Treasury Bonds/Premyo Bonds (P463.3 billion), Retail Onshore Dollar Bonds (P80.84 billion). In the same period, there was By Jasper Emmanuel Y. Arcalas dating its registry following the them. This allows everyone to see also a net redemption of Treasury @jearcalas enactment of the Coconut Farmwho are listed in the registry and if Bills amounting to P43.94 billion. ers and Industry Trust Fund law. farmer doesn’t see his name then he Net debt redemption means By Tyrone Jasper C. Piad in the coordinate country,” she said inPCA a mix ORE than 3 million Rosales explained that about shall with the imthere were more debts repaid com@Tyronepiad of Filipino and English. coconut farmers and 500,000 coconut farmers and mediately,” he explained at a recent pared to the amount borrowed durworkers are now regisworkers were added to the PCA’s dialogue with coconut farmers. ing the period. HE Department of million Trade Salceda: impact now if people tered with the government’s reg2018 list that had about 2.5 “On the otherishand, Meanwhile, gross foreign borand Industry (DTI) counAN economist-lawmaker istry, which serves as the basis coconut farmers and farm workers. would see names on the liston and rowings in the same period also seled calm—for now—as Monday warned, that for the number of people to be The PCA’s next step is to conthey think they however, are not coconut contracted by 9.7 percent to P518.7 In an adlast hocyear’s committee hearimpact on inflation,” Edillon said the price hike on basic necessiFilipino may now feel covered by the utilization of the duct an exclusion-inclusion profarmersfamilies or their details are incorbillion from P574.4 billion. ingThis at the House of Representain the vernacular. ties and prime commodities due the increase in basic commodity P75-billion coconut levy fund. cedure by making the updated rect, they can report it to the PCA was raised through global tives onbillion), Monday, Neda To prevent thisCoconut from happening, to Ukraine-Russia conflict will prices amid the rising fuel Philippine Authority farmers’ registry public, providfor immediate action,” hecosts. added. bonds (HOR) (P146.17 program National Policy and Planning the Neda official said, the governonly be felt after three months. In his presentation at the (PCA) Deputy Administrator Roel ing everyone the opportunity to The PCA official notedspethat loans (P139.98 billion), euro-deStaff Director Cancio ment consider the provision of At athe Laging Handa briefing on cial of theofFuel M.may Rosales said about 3.11 million check veracity of the list, Rothehearing completion theCrisis initialAdlist nominated bondsReynaldo (P121.97 billion), said this represents a reduction of fuelcoconut subsidies and allow minimal Monday, Trade Undersecretary Hoc Committee, House Commitfarmers andafarm worksales added. of coconut farmers registry would a project loan (P86.41 billion), and about 0.3 to 0.9 percentage points increase in fares. Ruth Castelo said that they will tee on Ways and Means Chairers have been registered with the “The list will be posted in public be just in time for the expected yen-denominated samurai bonds from thebillion). country’s GDP growth. The International not yetwhere release an updated sugman JoeyofSarte Salceda said risgovernment since itMonetary started upspaces people can easily see rollout coconut levy-funded (P24.19 He, however, stressed that this Fund (IMF) said over the weekend gested retail price (SRP) bulletin ing fuel costs could drive prices See “Borrowings,” A2 is “subject to discussions” and that the crisis triggered by Russia’s to reflect the impact of the rising higher, affecting basic goods. would have to be “vetted by other invasion of Ukraine will likely hit fuel prices on the manufacturing According to Salceda, the curn the US poor 50.4600 n JAPAN 0.4374spend n UK 67.2329 n HK 6.4722 n CHINA 7.9013 n rent SINGAPORE n AUSTRALIA agencies.” the hardest as they of goods. $110 per 36.8968 barrel level could Neda Undersecretary for Policy a larger share of their income on “We want to assure the public push regular milled rice prices and Planning Rosemarie G. Edillon food and fuel. that the prices of the basic goods by P0.26 per kilo, pork lean meat also said in the same hearing that Prices of oil and oil products have ...whether we like it or not, will by P0.74 per kilo, refined sugar a fare hike could lead to a 0.3-persoared globally, including wheat be affected but the impact is by P0.14 per kilo, galunggong by centage-point increase in inflation, and other grains. Ukraine and not immediate. We are looking P4.03 per kilo, sardines P0.03 should the government decide to Russia are among the top sources at the next three months before per 155 grams can and bread by implement a P1 increase in fares. of these commodities causing the the current situation in Europe P0.16 per 450 grams loaf. See “DTI,” A2 “If the fare hike snowballs into surge in prices. will impact the consumer prices a wage hike, that will have a larger See “Fuel crisis,” A2

P25.00 P25.00 nationwide nationwide || 22 sections sections 20 20 pages pages ||

HE 10th consecutive week of oil price increase, and the biggest yet for the year, will take effect Tuesday, March 8. Oil firms announced Monday a price increase of P5.85 per liter for diesel, P3.60 per liter for gasoline, and P4.10 per liter for kerosene. The new round of oil price hike will be implemented at 6 a.m. for most oil firms such as Petron, Shell, Seaoil, PTT, Phoenix, Caltex, Total, Unioil, among others. For Cleanfuel, the price hike takes effect at 4:01 pm. Since the oil industry is deregulated, the DOE has asked Congress to amend the Oil Deregulation Act and the TRAIN law. It also proposed short and long-term measures to help cushion high oil prices. These include constant coordination with oil companies for promotional programs that extend fuel discounts to the public transport sector; implementation of the Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board of the P2.5-billion “Pantawid Pasada programs as President Duterte Program,” implementation by the is expected to sign the industry Department of Agriculture of the development plan in early 2022.

DTI: FUEL PRICEFOR HIKEP75-B WON’T OVER 3-M FARMERS LISTED COCO LEVY FUND

HE Philippine economy could lose about P330 billion due to the fuel price crisis, according to initial estimates made by the National Economic and Development Authority (Neda).

PESO EXCHANGE RATES

PESO EXCHANGE RATES n US 51.6960

IMPACT GOODS FOR 3 MOS

Rosales said the PCA will not stop updating its list of coconut farmers and enjoined them to register in order to reap the benefits of the decades-long idled coconut levy fund. “We will not stop at 3.1 million. We hope that more individuals will register in our coconut farmers registry,” he said. The updating of the coconut farmers registry is mandated by Republic Act (RA) 11524 or the Coconut Industry Trust Fund Act. See “3-M farmers,” A2

rules in PHL

P500-million fuel discount program By forSamuel farmers and fisherfolk; P. Medenilla strict monitoring activities of the @sam_medenilla DOE to ensure petroleum products’NTER supply sufficiency, quality NATIONA L concerns maintenance, as well as consumer over the possible spread of the welfare moreprotection. infectious Omicron CoMeanwhile, long-term vid-19 variant the prompted theplans govinclude a proposal to amend the ernment to reimpose mandatory Oil Deregulation Law, temporary facility-based quarantine for all suspension of the in excise tax on arriving passengers the country. fuel; establishment of a Strategic Acting Presidential spokesperPetroleum Reserve infrastructure; son Karlo B. Nograles announced unbundling of prices; Minion Sunday that the include Inter-Agency mum Inventory Requirements in Task Force for the Management the law; and a strong campaign on of Emerging Infectious Diseases energy and conservation. (IATF) efficiency suspended the implemen-

tation of its Resolution No. 150Biofuels laweffectively imposing A (s.2021), MEANWHILE, theforIndependent stricter protocols all inbound Philippine Petroleum Companies travelers. Association (IPPCA) proposed the To note, IATF Resolution 150suspension of the biofuels law. A had allowed fully vaccinated “We would also like suggest a non-visa travelers fromtoGreen List review or suspension of the biofuareas to enter the country withels is a large outlaw. theCurrently, need for there facility-based disparity of local and imported quarantine as long as they secure ethanol, per liter disparity for negative P1 Reverse Transcriptiongasoline. The CME [coco methyPolymerase Chain Reaction (RTlester], very significant increase, PCR) test within 72 hours prior affects prices by increasing to theirdiesel departure. to 70-80 cents per liter,”classified said IP“Except for countries PCA President Noel Soriano. as ‘Red,’ the testing and quarantine See “Oil price,” A12 protocols for all inbound international travelers in all ports of entry shall comply with the testing and quarantine protocols for ‘Yellow’ list countries,” Nograles said, citing the provision of IATF Resolution No. 151-A. He noted Hong Kong, which has confirmed a case of the Omicron variant, will also fall under the Yellow list countries. The suspension of the rules for “Green List” countries will be in effect from November 28, 2021 to December 15, 2021. Continued on A2

36.2807 n EU 56.5758 n SAUDI ARABIA 13.4531

Source: BSP (November 26, 2021)

n JAPAN 0.4500 n UK 68.3680 n HK 6.6162 n CHINA 8.1785 n SINGAPORE 38.0062 n AUSTRALIA 38.1103 n EU 56.4624 n SAUDI ARABIA 13.7790

Source: BSP (March 7, 2022)

News

BusinessMirror

A2 Tuesday, March 8, 2022

Mandatory evacuation out of Ukraine ordered by DFA

By Malou Talosig-Bartolome

including 4 Filipino-Ukrainian children and their 4 Ukrainian mothers, arrived in three batches on board Qatar Airways and Emirates Airlines flights. Meanwhile, the Hungarian Embassy in Manila said Hungary remains open to Filipinos and other foreigners in Ukraine who want to evacuate there. In an advisory posted at their website, the Philippine Embassy in Warsaw said they have raised the contingency level to Alert 4—which

requires all Filipinos to evacuate— “due to the rapidly deteriorating security situation in Ukraine.” “Under Crisis Alert Level 4, the Philippine government undertakes mandatory evacuation procedures at government expense,” the Embassy added. The Filipinos in Ukraine will be assisted by the Philippine Embassy in Poland and the Rapid Response Team based in Lviv city in western Ukraine, near the Polish border. Filipinos who wish to evacuate to other countries near Ukraine like Hungary, Moldova and Romania should coordinate with the Philippine Embassy in Hungary. Hungary said they would like to clarify reports that their borders with Ukraine are closed to refugees. “We would like to emphasize that the borders of Hungary remain open to Ukrainian and third-coun-

try nationals, and they are granted entry on humanitarian grounds. We have welcomed and assisted over 130,000 persons as well as provided support to international partners’ evacuation efforts,” the Hungarian Embassy said. The phone numbers that Filipinos in Ukraine can reach: ■ Philippine Embassy in Poland — Emergency hotline +48604357396 (Viber, Whatsapp) ■ A ssistance to nationals +48694491663 (Viber, Whatsapp) ■ Ph i l i p p i ne E m b a s s y i n H u n g a r y — E m e r g e n c y ho t line +36302021760 ■ ATN officer Claro Cabuniag —mobile +36300745656 —Viber +639663404725 ■ Honorary Consul in Moldova Victor Gana—Mobile, Whatsapp +37369870870 ■ email victor.gaina@phconsulate. md, consul@phconsulate.md

meters and tricycle fare by P2.21. “[This increase is temporary as] JPMorgan said crude oil prices may hit $189 per barrel while others say it can reach $200 [per barrel],” said Salceda. Also, Salceda said this fuel crisis could raise inflation rate by 0.6 percent to 1 percent. Last week, the Department of Trade and Industry said no manufacturers have so far asked for an

increase in suggested retail prices (SRP) for basic goods and commodities amid the fuel price hike induced by the Ukraine-Russia conflict. At the same time, Castelo said the country still has enough supply of goods. She explained that the stock inventory of the food manufacturers would last between 30 days to 90 days. This means that the fuel price hike is not yet reflected on

the finished goods. “We have enough supply. Hindi po kailangang magpanic ng mga tao [There is no need for the public to panic],” she said. Should there be a price hike, the DTI official said they are tempering the increase, asking the manufacturers to go slow on requesting higher SRP given the current pandemic as well. Castelo also said earlier that they “validate” the price hike and negotiate if the increase is too much of a burden for the consumers. In January, the DTI released the updated SRP list for basic necessities and prime commodities for 216 shelf keeping units (SKUs), 73 of which saw an increase. The products that saw an SRP hike include canned sardines, processed milk, bread, instant noodles, salt, detergent soap, bottled water, candles, processed canned meat and canned beef, toilet soap and battery. Some 20 of them saw 1-5 percent increase, 43 registered 6-10 percent increase while the remaining 10 SKUs had over 10-percent hike.

WELVE days after Russia invaded Ukraine, the Department of Foreign Affairs has ordered the mandatory evacuation of all remaining Filipinos in the Central European state. There were 181 Filipinos who registered in the latest informal census by the Philippine Embassy in Warsaw, although initially the estimate was around 380. Then, around 200 seafarers were stranded in various ports in southern Ukraine. As of Monday, there are 93 Filipinos, Ukrainian spouses and Filipino-Ukrainian children who left Ukraine; 57 of them were repatriated or are en route to the Philippines. Last Sunday, 17 Filipinos,

DTI...

Continued from A1

Salceda, meanwhile, said it could also stroke electricity prices by P38.81 for consuming 200 KWH considering the current $110 per barrel level. He said jeepney fare may also increase by P1.62 for first 5 kilo-

Foreign biz groups

MEANWHILE, foreign business chambers released a statement on Monday condemning the “military aggression brought upon Ukraine by the Russian President Putin.” “As committed partners of the European Union and the United Nations in upholding the UN Charter and the fundamental principles of international law, we support the calls for the cessation of the use of force against Ukraine, and express our solidarity with the Ukrainian people as they fight for their independence, sovereignty, and territorial integrity,” they said. The foreign business groups said that both the security of the people and the global economy are at risk because of the said conflict. For example, they said the situation can trigger adverse impact on global consumer prices and supply of commodities. “As such, we strongly urge compliance to international law and resort to the peaceful settlement of international disputes, respecting the principle of sovereignty and territorial integrity. We particularly support the utilization of peaceful negotiations as a diplomatic tool to address the Ukraine crisis,” they said. Signatories include the European Chamber of Commerce of the Philippines, British Chamber of Commerce of the Philippines, French Chamber of Commerce and Industry in the Philippines, Dutch Chamber of Commerce of the Philippines, Philippine-Swiss Business School, Nordic Chamber of Commerce of the Philippines and Spanish Chamber of Commerce in the Philippines. With Jovee Marie N. dela Cruz

www.businessmirror.com.ph

State of emergency... Continued from A1

well as the proposed Comprehensive Fuel Crisis Act. Senators have earlier supported a similar call. “If crude oil prices are still at $100 by March 15, President Duterte should call for a special session to consider options for the reduction or suspension of the fuel excise taxes under the TRAIN Law. The most fiscally sensible option is, at the very least, to reduce the oil excise tax at a level that is equivalent to what we will gain in VAT to prevent the government from going further into already elevated deficit levels,” Salceda said. Only the President has the power to convene Congress during its recess. Currently, it is on a three-month election campaign break. For her part, House Committee on Economic Affairs Chairperson Sharon Garin supported the calls for a special session to discuss the bills filed to suspend the excise tax on oil following the soaring prices of crude oil worldwide, further driven by the Ukraine-Russia conflict. She stressed that it is ordinary commuters returning to onsite offices will be burdened by possible fare hikes, given the calls to increase the basic fare for PUJs. “Congress must act quickly to help the concerted efforts to avoid a looming economic crisis because any day now, it will start to reflect on the prices of food and other necessities,” she said. “Another significant and most painful impact of this incessant increase is what we call the ‘sticky price’ phenomenon—retailers do not usually lower their prices even when oil prices eventually go down. We are all consumers and all of us will be affected. We cannot afford to just sit and watch events take their due course. We must act now,” Garin added. According to Garin, the rising prices of domestic petroleum will directly impact the country’s economic stability, “just when we are starting to relax our restrictions due to Alert Level 1.” “I know that the Department of Energy has assured us that t he con f l ic t bet ween Ru ssi a and Ukraine will have no direct impact on our nation’s supply. Nonet heless, t he pur pose of this meeting is to work towards a feasible solution to help cushion the impact of this crisis. Together with our colleagues from various agencies, we are looking into how we could further improve existing government initiatives such as the Pantawid Pasada Program, Direct Cash Subsidy Program under the Bayanihan to Recover as One Act 2, and fuel discounts as possible forms of assistance.” Garin added; “The incessant oil price hike for the past 10 weeks is a result of the ongoing geopolitical tensions that we may be helpless to prevent. But we are not incapable of

Fuel crisis... Wheat, fertilizers too

finding solutions to how it is affecting our country. All industries, especially our transportation sector, will be grossly affected. DOE data have shown that from January to March alone, diesel prices per liter have increased by as much as P12,” said Garin.

Band aid solution

FOR House Deputy Minority Leader and Bayan Muna Rep. Carlos Isagani Zarate “the solutions being offered by the Duterte administration are just band aid solutions, even mere tokens that are clearly not enough amidst the impact caused by the skyrocketing prices of oil products.” The Davao-based solon said, “We maintain our stand that to effectively address the current oil price crisis the best way to go is to again regulate the downstream oil industry in our country. But for immediate relief to our people, we call again on Malacañang to wake up and call for a special session of Congress to pass the law that will suspend the collection of the excise taxes on oil now.” Bayan Muna and other members of t he Ma k abaya n bloc filed House Bill 4711 to regulate the downstream oil industr y, House Bill 244 to renationalize Petron, House Bill 4712 or the centralized procurement of petroleum in the country and House Bill 10386 or the Unbundling Oil Prices Act of 2021. Under the 2022 General Appropriations Act, the fuel subsidy program is funded with a total of P2,453,379,500. T he DOTr said it already requested the Department of Budget and Management (DBM) for funds to cover 377,443 beneficiaries who will receive P6,500 each for fuel subsidies. Pasang Masda President Roberto Martin said his group petitioned for a 5-peso fare increase in January 2022. He said the matter will be discussed on Tuesday (today) with the Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board (LTFRB) alongside the upcoming P3 to P5 fuel price increase. LTFRB Chairman Martin Delgra III said the P2.5 billion fuel subsidy program is already in place and just needs funds to be downloaded from the DBM.

No supply problem

FOR his part, Energy Undersecretary Erguiza insisted there is no problem with supply. “We are covered, we have 40 days in our inventory. Our problem is the price of fuel products but in the quantity, we have no problem.” He added, “We have the assurance from the oil companies that they don’t have any problem with their contracts and that they have sufficient supply.” The DOE’s Oil Management Bureau said the Philippines uses 60 million liters of fuel per day.

Continued from A1

UKR AINE remains one of the Philippines’s top sources of wheat, while Russia is the world’s leading exporter of fertilizer materials, prices of which in recent months have already been soaring. In the Philippines, a CNN report quoted Unioil Petroleum Philippines as saying diesel prices may go up by P5.40 to P5.50 per liter and gasoline price may increase by P3.40 to P3.50 per liter from March 8 to 14. In a Laging Handa briefing, Director Rino Abad of the Department of Energy’s (DOE) Oil Industry Management Bureau said Dubai crude oil prices have increased to $116.19 as of March 3. The Philippine Statistics Authority (PSA) said food and non-alcoholic beverages account for 37.75 of the

basket of goods in the 2018-based Consumer Price Index (CPI). Housing, water, electricity, gas and other fuels had a weight of 21.38 while transport had a weight of 9.03 in the 2018-based CPI. The assignment of weights is based on the expenditure data obtained from the 2018 Family Income and Expenditure Survey (FIES). The weight, PSA said, is the proportion of the expenditure of a commodity or group of commodities to the total expenditure. The weight of food in the basket of goods used for the computation of the inflation experienced by the poorest 30 percent, as previously explained by National Statistician Claire Dennis S. Mapa, is 70 percent against 39 percent for all the households.

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Arta eyes shift to automated complaints system by Q1 By Tyrone Jasper C. Piad @TyronePiad

HE Anti-Red Tape Authority (Arta) seeks to automate its complaints management system within the first quarter amid the accelerated shift to digitalization amid the pandemic. On Monday, the agency introduced the eARTA Complaints Management System, which aims to achieve zero backlog in complaints handling. “[It is] an innovative and inclusive system that allow ordinary citizens to file a complaint to Arta using its webbased application consistent with Arta’s current rule of procedures,” Arta Deputy Director General Eduardo Bringas said in a hybrid event. It will also benefit the agency as the web-based platform shall “provide an electronic dashboard that will serve as a bird’s eye view on the operations and monitoring of cases filed within the authority and give a step-by-step real-time update if tracked, so no complaints will be left unacted,” he added. The system’s key features include electronic ticketing system, paperless filing of complaints, dashboard for real-time updates and monitoring, cloud storage for back-up and SMS (short message service) notification for complainants. Earlier this month, Arta reported that its efforts resulted in automatic approval or renewal of over 8,000 applications and requests lodged before government offices as of February 2022. These applications were submitted with complete requirements and payment but were not processed within the prescribed period, it explained. Arta Director General Jeremiah Belgica stressed the need to adhere to Republic Act No. 11032 or the Ease of Doing Business and Efficient Government Service Delivery Act of 2018, which mandates government offices to finalize simple transactions in three days; complex transactions, seven days; highly technical transactions, 20 days. “We are implementing these policies to help government agencies deliver better services and minimize and avoid accumulating their backlogs,” he said earlier. “These do not necessarily mean that government agencies must approve all the applications and requests being submitted before their offices. It only means that they should immediately act on all of them,” he added.

Comelec chief says ready to defend voter educ’n deal as Calida goes to SC By Samuel P. Medenilla @sam_medenilla

& Joel R. San juan @jrsanjuan1573

HE Commission on Elections (Comelec) on Monday said it is ready to defend before the Supreme Court (SC) its memorandum of agreement (MOA) for voter education with online media firm Rappler, which is now being questioned by the Office of the Solicitor General (OSG). Comelec Acting Chairman Socorro B. Inting said she is confident the MOA is legal, adding it has undergone previous review by the poll body’s law department. She added they are ready to face the case filed by the OSG before the High Court. “If the Court finds the MOA to be infirmed, then we cannot do anything. We have to respect the law,” Inting said at a news conference on Monday for the signing ceremony between Comelec and Vote Pilipinas for the conduct of the Pilipinas Debate. The OSG filed on Monday the petition before the SC, seeking to declare as unconstitutional the memorandum of agreement between

the Comelec and Rappler on providing election-related infor mation, including fact-checking, during the election season. Solicitor Genera l Jose Calida also asked the Court to immediately issue a temporary restraining order to enjoin the implementation of the MOA that was signed last February 24. Calida argued that the MOA is violative of the Constitution and other laws and is onerous to the government. The petition was filed after the Comelec failed to heed its letterdemand sent last February 28 to rescind the MOA until March 4. Calida said the petition “is an unprecedented one,” considering that Comelec is one of its statutory clients being the government’s chief lawyer. He said the petition was filed “in the interest of preserving the integrity” of the national and local elections two months from now. “It is beyond belief that Comelec has allowed a foreign non-registered entity to interfere in the conduct of the country’s elections,” Calida said. He stressed that the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) had

earlier revoked Rappler’s Certificate of Incorporation. On appeal, the Court of Appeals (CA) did not issue any resolution, which stayed or reversed the revocation. Comelec Spokesman James Jimenez, for his part, allayed the concerns raised by Calida. “One key point in MOA is that there won’t be violations of the Data Privacy Law. We do that for all MOA. We did that for this MOA as well,” Jimenez said. As of Monday morning, Jimenez said they have yet to receive an official copy of the complaint from OSG, but he said they are ready to address the issues it raised in the Comelec-Rappler MOA before a “proper forum.” Calida insisted that Rappler is a foreign mass media entity managed by an American citizen and whose operations are funded and/or controlled by foreign entities that include Omidyar Network Fund L.L.C. “It is primarily based on this fact that the MOA violates the constitutiona l and statutor y proscr iption aga inst foreig n interference in the countr y’s elections,” the OSG argued.

Among the provisions in the MOA that the OSG is questioning include Part I, Paragraph 1 (b) wherein Comelec “co-shared” with Rappler its power to decide on all questions affecting elections; Part I, Paragraph 5 of the MOA which allows Rappler to alert Comelec on any election-related posts in social media and with the sole discretion to determine what it deems “false, misleading and harmful information”; and Part II, Paragraph 3 which grants Rappler unqualified access to “data of untransmitted votes to all the canvassing centers due to lowering of threshold, and such other technical issues in the Automated Elections System.” “This is in clear usurpation of its sole power to decide on such questions under Section 2 (3), Article IX-C of the Constitution,” Calida said. “Such power granted by Comelec in favor of Rappler clearly constitutes prior restraint on freedom of speech and of expression,” he added. Li kew ise, Ca l id a sa id t he MOA would lead to violation of individual’s right to privacy, as Rappler was granted access to key information and confidential data of registered voters “absent any proper and narrowly focused

safeguards on the retrieval, use, and storage of such data.” “The endless possibility here is that Rappler may control any election narrative that suits the agenda of Rappler’s foreign owners which will not be for the benefit of the Filipino people. The Comelec has wittingly lent credence to Rappler’s story line about the Philippine elections due to Rappler’s unbridled rights under the MOA,” Calida pointed out. “It is the OSG’s position that the nation’s future is at risk for the Comelec erroneously chose to partner with a foreign controlled media company whose license was duly revoked in 2018, and dangerously allowed this pseudo media company to proactively influence the 2022 election,” he added. Calida also noted that various criminal cases were filed against R appler such as c ybercr ime, violation of the Anti-Dummy Law, violation of the Securities Regulation Code, and several Tax Evasion Cases and Tax Violations. He also reminded the poll body that Rappler’s president and CEO Maria Ressa has been convicted of cybercrime, a crime that involves moral turpitude.

Poll body: National candidates who shun BBM-Sara UniTeam moves debates barred from using e-rally platform for modernization of BFP By Samuel P. Medenilla @sam_medenilla

ATIONAL candidates who will refuse to participate in the Commission on Elections’ (Comelec) upcoming debates will no longer be allowed to make use of the poll body’s erally platform. In a news conference on Monday, Comelec Acting Chairman Socorro B. Inting announced they will impose the sanction to “incentivize” candidates to join the organized debates. Under Comelec’s e-rally initiative, candidates were allowed to air their campaign materials using Comelec's official social media accounts. “Those who will skip the debate will not be allowed to join the e-rallies,” Inting said. Comelec Spokesman James Jimenez explained this was part of the agreement with candidates who made use of their e-rally platform.

He noted those who will snub their debates would be allowed to use their e-rally platform for the duration of the entire campaign period.

Debate schedules

COMELEC is scheduled to hold the first leg of its PiliPinas Debates 2022: The Turning Point on March 19, 2022. The debate, which will feature presidential candidates, will be held at the Sofitel Philippine Plaza Manila in Pasay City. It will be followed by four other debates to be held in the following dates: March 20 (vice presidential candidates); April 3 (presidential candidates); April 23 (presidential town hall debate); and April 24 (vice presidential town hall debate). The first three debates will follow a single-moderator format, wherein the participants will answer pre-determined topics. The last two of the debates will

make use of town hall debate format featuring two moderators. Jimenez said the last two will feature questions to be sourced from selected audiences.

Undecided voters

COMELEC reiterated it will leave a vacant podium for candidates, who will refuse to join debates to emphasize their absence in the said events. The poll body said it has tapped Vote Pilipinas to conceptualize the format and details of the upcoming debates. Jimenez said they hope their debate series will help undecided voters to make an informed choice come election day. “There will still be some segments of society that will wait to hear the facts, opinions of candidates before they make their final choices. And we think that is a large enough segment that this will be a very impactful event,” Jimenez said.

en, which spanned approximately three years, included directions to arrange for the gang rape of young children and to sexually assault several young children in other harmful ways,” the US DOJ said in a statement. The US DOJ added that Walter

which provides equal protection for both girls and boys. The Philippines, a signatory in the Convention on the Rights of the Child and the Convention on the Elimination of Discrimination Against Women, now enforces the

Customs seizes ₧769.67 million worth of illicit goods

HE Bureau of Customs (BOC) seized P769.67 million worth of goods in the first six weeks of this year, comprised mostly of illicit shipments of vehicles, cigarettes and other tobacco products, and illegal drugs. Vehicles and accessories cornered the bulk of the goods seized by the

international standard, Gordon noted. T he senator cited a statesponsored study conducted in 2015 of 3,866 children and young people ranging from 13 to 24 years old, which revealed that

24.9 percent of children reportedly suffered from some form of sexual violence. C h i ld re n were re por te d ly abused in all settings, whether it be at home, at school, or in the community.

BOC from January 1 to February 11, accounting for P420 million or more than half of the total. This was followed by cigarettes and tobacco products worth P221.4 million and illegal drugs estimated at P46 million. According to a report by Customs Commissioner Rey Leonardo

B. Guerrero, the bureau also apprehended P44.8 million worth of currency, personal protective equipment and other medical supplies valued at P30 million and P6 million worth of agricultural products. The other seized items were general merchandise, firearms, wildlife and other products worth P1.5 million.

In the same period, the agency also filed 11 criminal cases with the Department of Justice against 30 respondents suspected of involvement in smuggling. The BOC also filed three administrative cases against erring customs brokers before the Professional Regulation Commission.

sent money to the Philippines for the videos, images, and live transmissions via Moneygram, Western Union, and other money remitters in $25 to $50 increments. Aside from these, the US DOJ said Walter also sent and received emails to which the senders attached

continued from a12

images and videos of young children engaged in sex acts with adult men. “This investigation and prosecution were part of a joint FBI and Homeland Security Investigations operation that targeted the buyers and sellers of these types of webcam shows in the Philippines,” it added.

Law setting age of consent at 16 years in PHL signed continued from a12 The signing of the law now ends the lowest age of sexual consent in Asia, and one of the youngest in the world. One significant provision of the law is that both men and women could be charged with statutory rape,

A RAIN of confetti from supporters of presidential contender Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr. during a recent political rally at the Masbate City Freedom Park.

HE tandem of Partido Federal ng Pilipinas (PFP) standardbearer Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr. and Mayor Inday Sara Duterte see the need for the immediate and full implementation of the law seeking to modernize the Bureau of Fire Protection (BFP) to enhance its efficiency and capability. As the country observes Fire Prevention Month, the ticket said BFP should recruit more firefighters, and provide them with specialized training. The UniTeam added that implementing Republic Act 11589 or the “BFP Modernization Act of 2021” which was enacted into law last year would transform the BFP into a modern and world-class institution within ten years. “Kung kayang gawin ito sa loob ng mas maikling panahon, gagawin natin dahil ang BFP hindi lang sa sunog, rumeresponde. Tumutulong din ito kapag may iba pang kalamidad,” the duo stated. Aside from providing the BFP with modern firefighting tools and life-saving equipment, more employees, and training, the said law also broadens the BFP’s mandate

DOJ hails 160-yr sentence on US child predator It said that based on its documents and evidence presented at the trial, Walter used two web service provider accounts, including messenger and webcam applications, to seek women in the Philippines to sexually abuse their own children and relatives. “Walter’s requests to these wom-

Editor: Vittorio V. Vitug • Tuesday, March 8, 2022 A3

by including fire prevention and suppression in economic zones, disaster risk response, and emergency management. “We are observing Fire Prevention Month this March. It is ironic that, as we have experienced in the past years, parang mas maraming nang yayar ing sunog kapag ganitong buwan. We have to improve the services and capabilities of the Bureau of Fire Protection to make it more responsive,” the UniTeam said. March statistically has the most number of fire incidents during the year mainly because it is during this month that summer or hot weather starts in the country. In a related development, the UniTeam has called on the public to observe proper fire safety practices to prevent setting their houses on fire, which could put the lives of their loved-ones and others around them in peril. “Mag-ingat po tayo, lalo na sa ating mga tahanan para maiwasan po ang sunog dahil hindi lang mga ari-arian ang natutupok, maaari ring kumitil ng buhay,” the duo reminded the public. The agency has also completed the inspection and investigation of Customs warehouses, Guerrero said. From the total of 138 Customs Bonded Warehouses and 245 Members of Customs Common Bonded Warehouses, 75 were issued with Order of Closure as of February 11. Bernadette D. Nicolas

A4 Tuesday, March 8, 2022 • Editor: Vittorio V. Vitug

Economy BusinessMirror

Concepcion wants PHL under AL 1 for entire ’22 By Tyrone Jasper C. Piad

@TyronePiad

RESIDENTIAL Adviser for Entrepreneurship Jose Maria A. Concepcion raised the need to keep the country under Alert Level (AL) 1 for the rest of the year in a bid to cushion the impact of the UkraineRussia conflict on the Philippine economy, which is being threatened by rising prices of fuel and other commodities. In a news statement issued on Monday, the Go Negosyo founder said that allowing more economic activities can aid the country in surviving the current crisis brought about by the escalating tensions in Eastern Europe, in addition to record high debts. “We can’t stop the war in Europe, but we can help the country brace for crisis,” he said. “It’s now become more urgent for the Philippines to maintain its Alert Level 1 status until the end of the year.” With this, Concepcion stressed the im-

portance of continuous rollout of Covid-19 vaccination program for both primary and booster doses. The business leader explained that restrictions have derailed the economy, which was described as “highly dependent on mobility.” In particular, he said micro, small and medium enterprises (MSMEs) are the hardest hit sector, highlighting its impact on the economy given they represent 63.2 percent of the local employment. The looming price hikes will take a toll on the operations of the MSMEs, he said earlier, stressing that having more restrictions was not an option as it would be an additional burden for them. “We are a consumer-led economy. We depend on mobility,” he said. “Giving enough cash flow to our entrepreneurs will cushion the effect, and they will have a better chance of surviving if the situation in the Ukraine becomes worse,”

Concepcion added. Maintaining the current quarantine measure, which permits more businesses to open up, can also augment revenue generation so the government can rake in more funds to pay back its debts, Concepcion said. As of end-January, the Bureau of the Treasury reported that the national government’s outstanding debt rose to a new record high of P12.03 trillion. This showed 16.5 percent from P10.33 trillion in the previous year. “We were able to hit 7.7 GDP [gross domestic product] growth in the fourth quarter, better than most had expected, when we reopened the economy,” he said. The call for sustained economy reopening by Concepcion also includes the resumption of faceto-face classes and on-site work for employees. “Schools and offices have a massive multiplier effect in spurring economic activity, especially with MSMEs like cafeterias, retail shops and transport,” he said.

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DENR, USAID boost tieup for env’tal protection, climate change mitigation By Jonathan L. Mayuga

@jonlmayuga

HE Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) and the United States Agency for International Development (USAID) are exploring ways to enhance the partnership in environmental protection and climate change mitigation. DENR Officer in Charge Secretary Jim O. Sampulna, on Thursday (March 3) met with US Charge d’Affaires Heather Variava, USAID Mission Director to the Philippines Ryan Washburn, and USAID Philippines Environment Office Chief John Edgar who paid him a courtesy visit at the DENR Central Office. “It is our great pleasure to meet you today and have the opportunity to personally thank the US government for always being supportive in our efforts of meeting our agenda in the environment and natural resources,” Sampulna told the US officials. The new DENR chief, who had been a regional director from 2009 to 2018, cited that several USAID projects were implemented during his time on the field and hoped to continue doing so under his leadership. “I came from the field, from the region, and I have implemented many USAID projects,” he said. Among the notable joint projects of the DENR and USAID is the Safe Water project and the ongoing SIBOL Project or Sustainable Interventions for Biodiversity, Oceans and Landscapes. For his part, National Water Resources Board (NWRB) Executive Director Sevillo D. DavidJr.saidtheSafeWaterprojectiscurrently being implemented by NWRB as DENR’s focal agency, among three regional offices in Palawan, Negros Occidental and Mindanao. DENR-Biodiversity Management Bureau (BMB) OIC Director Natividad Y. Bernardi-

no shared that the SIBOL project team has recently worked on the Siargao seascape, which was badly hit by Typhoon “Odette” in December 2021. “The work that USAID does to the country’s resources is so important to the whole world, and the Philippines is one of our priorities for safe and resilient water,” Variava said. USAID provides technical assistance to the projects with the Safe Water initiative aiming to improve the sustainable management of the country’s water resources, and SIBOL on reducing environmental crimes, and improving water security. It was former DENR Secretary Roy A. Cimatu who signed the five-year partnership with USAID for SIBOL and Safe Water programs on May 27, 2021. These projects are under the P7.25-billion USAID-Philippines agreement on enhanced and community resilience were signed by the National Economic and Development Authority and USAID in February 2021. Aside from these projects, DENR and USAID discussed looking into coming up with more activities for the other priority programs of the DENR, including the rehabilitation of Manila Bay, illegal wildlife trade, marine litter, and climate change. “We want to make sure that we are aligned with your priorities so that we could support and know we’re going in the right direction,” Washburn said. He also mentioned the Climate Resilient Cities project, which is the latest USAID project that aims to help the Philippines adapt to, mitigate, and endure the impacts of climate change. Washburn expressed hope that the DENR will continue to support the dissemination of climate information to local communities to increase the resilience of communities to the impact of climate change.

The Kremlin kleptocrat’s war on freedom is very close to us

By Henry J. Schumacher

LADIMIR PUTIN’s TNT terror is a two-hour flight from the center of Europe. Two hours? In reality, the Kremlin kleptocrat’s war on freedom is much closer—it’s in our heads. As I mentioned in my last week’s column, what is happening there in the Ukraine brings back long-lost memories for all over 80-year-olds. They look at women and children in the underground tunnels of Kyiv on TV—and see themselves and their families in the air raid shelter in 1945. They look at the refugees at the border posts—and feel the dirt of the treks from war in Europe to a new home, where no one wanted them. Seniors experience the fear of life again in front of the TV screen. They know what Emmanuel Macron, the President of France, is talking about when he says: “The worst is yet to come.” Sometimes we must switch off to switch on. Don’t we need to talk about it instead of just watching TV? German Chancellor Olaf Scholz openly addressed the fears of the elderly, as well as the children’s questions about war. It is now important to be resolute and level-headed and to take a clear course. The Chancellor responded to accusations of appeasement and softness that nobody could have prevented the war because nobody was in Putin’s head: “That Thursday changed the situation,” that Thursday of the invasion. In the consciousness of the younger generation, Putinism also works like poison. The ruthlessness that is evi-

dent in the occupation of the largest nuclear power plant in Europe as well as in the acceptance of the deaths of many Ukrainians and young Russians, which Putin had to admit the other day. The corona horror graphics are almost gone in the TV news, but there are reports and pictures of the war. The talk shows still have only one topic and that is now Ukraine and no longer the virus. In such extreme situations, one likes to remember a sentence attributed to Martin Luther: “If I knew that the world would end tomorrow, I would still plant an apple tree today.” Anyone who does not use the time that remains is Putin’s victim. Let’s plant a bamboo tree now! Henry Kissinger, doyen of Western foreign policy, explained our age as a persistent, sometimes desperate search for a grand, orderly concept: “Chaos looms, but at the same time there is an unprecedented world order.” But this world order is threatened in the face of weapons of mass destruction, the collapse of states, environmental destruction, genocides, and the spread of new technologies. Kissinger wrote this in 2014, eight years before the maximum chaos that Vladimir Putin is now creating. The Kremlin autocrat is also talking about a new world order, but it is an old one, one with the Soviet Union 2.0 as the superpower, which is currently only indicated by caravans full of war equipment. We also need to explore another “new vulnerability”—and that what matters is not Moscow, but Beijing. Kissinger knew this best, writing about China: “The search for a world order in our time will make it necessary to include the views of societies whose reality is different and self-contained.” Albert Einstein is recommended for those who are too war-oriented: “I’m not sure with what weapons the third world war will be fought, but in the fourth world war they will fight with sticks and stones.” In our heads, the Kremlin kleptocrat’s war on freedom (presently in Ukraine) is much closer. Am I scared? Yes. I would really appreciate your views. Please contact me at hjschumacher59@gmail.com

News BusinessMirror

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Ukraine-Russia conflict hinders tourism growth

Philippines confirms 8 new bird flu outbreaks in Luzon By Jasper Emmanuel Y. Arcalas @jearcalas

T UNWTO Secretary-General Zurab Pololikashvili By Ma. Stella F. Arnaldo @akosistellaBM Special to the BusinessMirror

HE United Nations World Tourism Organization (UNWTO) appealed for diplomacy to resolve the current conflict between Russia and Ukraine, and allow international tourism to flourish. In a news statement, UNWTO Secretary-General Zurab Pololikashvili asserted, “Peace and mutual understanding are essential ingredients for recovery. Now is the time to work together, and for diplomacy, instead of conflict, in all parts of the world. We must not allow political tensions to turn into a man-made crisis that will undermine our collective progress.” He underscored the role of tourism as “the main bridge for building understanding. It has a unique ability to promote peace between and among peoples everywhere.” After two years of the Covid-19 pandemic, he said societies and economies “have suffered enough. We cannot afford for this to continue. We must rebuild and look to the future with hope, not fear.” Pololikashvili was an ambassador and economic development minister of Georgia, which like Ukraine, was a former republic of the Soviet Union. Preliminary data from the UNWTO showed global tourism rose by 4 percent to 415 million in 2021, but this was still 72 percent below the pre-pandemic year of 2019. Already, Japan Airlines and ANA have canceled their flights to Europe in view of Russia’s invasion of Ukraine. Both carriers carry passengers on 60 flights per week, passing through Russian airspace. Earlier, Russia banned overflights of carriers from the European Union and Canada, due to their support for economic sanctions. Even Philippine Airlines recently had to cancel a flight to London due to the Russia’s invasion of Ukraine. (See, “Ukraine-Russia conflict may give PAL reason to drop London route,” in the BusinessMirror, March 7, 2022.) The UN General Assembly recently called on Russia to stop its offensive against Ukraine and to withdraw all its troops.

PHL to forge stronger tourism ties

AS this developed, the Philippines hopes to forge stronger programs and partnerships with other countries as it hosts the World Travel and Tour-

ism Council (WTTC) Global Summit in Manila from April 20 to 22. Tourism Secretary Bernadette Romulo Puyat said foremost in the summit is the goal toward sustained recovery. “By hosting the WTTC summit, we will be able to lift the concerns of the many tourism workers who have lost their jobs during this pandemic to an international platform. It will give these concerns greater focus, so that decision makers can help forge solutions by introducing specific programs and targeted partnerships,” she said in a Viber message to the BusinessMirror. She added, the summit will “showcase what the Philippines can offer to the world. More than the recognition we’ve received over the past years, our goal is to restore jobs and revenue streams for our tourism workers and stakeholders.” The summit will be the first global gathering of tourism leaders in government, the private sector, and civil society that the country will be hosting since Covid-19 wreaked havoc on international tourism. The event is timely as the Philippines is the least restrictive in Asia in terms of protocols in accepting international travelers. Fully vaccinated foreign tourists from 157 countries with visa-free visitor status are now welcome in the Philippines.

Foreign tourists outpace ‘balikbayans’

FROM February 10 to March 4, 2022, there were 60,080 foreign tourists that arrived in the country via international airports in Manila, Cebu, Clark, Subic and Davao. Foreign tourists accounted for some 33,620 or 56 percent of total arrivals, outpacing balikbayans (homecoming Filipinos) which numbered 26,460, according to data from the Department of Tourism (DOT). Arrivals from the US continued to dominate at 12,926; followed by Canada 2,983; the UK 2,348; South Korea 2,297; Australia 1,972; Vietnam 1,589; Germany 1,107; Japan 1,070; Malaysia 610; France 540; and the Netherlands at 493. “We are proud to say our entry requirements are delivered in a simple format, without the need for facilitybased quarantine primarily for fully vaccinated visitors. Tourists are allowed to travel to all reopened tourist destinations in the country as long as they comply with the requirements from the local government units with jurisdiction over these areas,” said Romulo Puyat.

BARMM trains 61 personnel in search, rescue operations

AVAOCITY—TheBangsamoro government’s Ministry of the Interior and Local Government (MILG) graduated 61 personnel in the first water search and rescue (Wasar) training it conducted since the Covid-19 pandemic, raising the number of its emergency responders. The Rapid Emergency Action on Disaster Incidence (READi) conducted the training of participants coming from the region’s mainland provinces of Lanao del Sur and Maguindanao.

Wasar is one of the specialized trainings designed by READi aimed at improving the preparedness of the region in responding to natural calamities and disasters. �� READi said it conducted the training from February 24 to March 2, with rigorous training on basic firefighting techniques, water safety and rescue, basic scuba, use of machine and power tools, and small boat operation. The READi conducted the training with the Army’s 6th Infantry Division Training School. Manuel T. Cayon

Tuesday, March 8, 2022 A5

HE Philippines confirmed eight new bird flu outbreaks in Luzon, half of which were recorded in the southern part of the island region, with over 2,000 quails and ducks dying from highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI) subtype H5N1. In its latest follow-up report to the World Organisation for Animal Health, the Philippines said it has confirmed two new bird flu outbreaks in Pampanga, another two in San Rafael, Bulacan and one in Victoria, Laguna. The Philippines also confirmed three more outbreaks in three different towns of Camarines Sur.

Based on the Philippine report, there were a total of 4,918 susceptible ducks in the eight outbreaks. Of which, 2,145 died while the remaining 2,773 were culled by the government to contain the outbreaks. In the same follow-up report, the Philippines revealed that the earlier four outbreaks in Pampanga and Bulacan that it reported last February 18 were already resolved.

New outbreaks

THE government confirmed two new outbreaks in Barangay Santa Catalina, Minalin, Pampanga and in Barangay San Roque, San Rafael, Bulacan with 1,811 susceptible ducks. The government culled 1,786 ducks to contain the outbreaks in Pampanga

while 25 ducks died due to bird flu. The two new outbreaks in San Rafael, Bulacan (Barangays San Roque and Dagat-Dagatan) had a total susceptible duck population of about 151, of which 20 died due to the disease, while 131 were culled. T he gover nment a lso confirmed a bird flu outbreak in a commercial duck farm in Barangay San Roque, Victoria, Laguna with a susceptible population of 2,666 ducks. Based on the report, 2,000 ducks died due to bird flu, while the remaining 666 were culled to address the outbreak. The Philippines also recorded three outbreaks in three different areas in Camarines Sur: Barangay San Agustin in Bula, Barangay Calagbangan in Sipocot and Barangay San

Isidro in Bula. The three outbreaks recorded 100 deaths of ducks due to bird flu, while 190 ducks were killed and disposed of. With the latest eight outbreaks, the total death count due to bird flu this year has reached 44,390 ducks and quails while the number of ducks and quails culled by the government has reached 38,808 already. The BusinessMirror broke the story last February that the Philippines lost its bird-flu free status after the government reported its first confirmed outbreaks of HPAI H5N1 that killed over 42,000 quails and ducks in four Central Luzon farms. (Related story: https://businessmirror.com.ph/2022/02/22/ phl-reports-new-avian-flu-outbreaks-in-central-luzon-farms/)

Amid oil price hikes, solons prod Study: Closing gender employment gaps Palace to suspend fuel excise tax to hike GDPPC by 22.9 percentage points By Butch Fernandez

@butchfBM

AJORITY and minority Senators prodded President Duterte Monday to consider urgent mitigating measures, including suspension of fuel tax, amid the looming imposition of another round of oil price hikes triggered by the still raging Russia-Ukraine crisis. Administration Sen. Aquilino “Koko” Pimentel III proposed that Malacañang should now promptly decide on the mounting clamor and take the initiative to promptly suspend the fuel excise tax, instead of relying on the Oil Deregulation Law to kick in. Anticipating fuel prices are seen to still rise higher, Pimentel pressed for timely suspension of taxes on petroleum products given the prospect that fuel prices are likely to go higher by an additional P5 per liter due to the Russia-Ukraine crisis. The senator reminded that the country is still under an “emergency situation” due to the Covid 19 pandemic, triggering still rising prices of petroleum products which, Pimentel stressed, require quick action from concerned Executive officials. He added that the Executive is invoking public interest so it can resort to shortcuts, prompting lawmakers to wonder why the officials concerned cannot adjust excise tax on petrol products if this is what is needed to slow down the spike in commodity prices. Responding to President Duterte’s call for Congress to review the Oil Deregulation Law to grant government more leeway to check prices and ensure supply of petroleum products, Pimentel noted Department of Energy officials’ desire to be given authority to suspend excise tax on petroleum products. He, however, noted it might take a long process to review the existing law, likely to take six months to one year to craft the needed enabling legislation, when it is needed now. When the economic team of Malacañang first proposed suspension of the excise tax last year, it was estimated that the government was losing P130 billion in potential revenue. Other lawmakers, however, are also mulling over options for a P6 reduction in the price of diesel fuel and P10 for gasoline, suggesting the reduced revenue could be recovered by adjusting government’s spending priority to urgent needs and cut down on “overpriced pandemic supplies.” In a separate statement, opposition Senator Risa Hontiveros prodded the government to lift the excise tax on oil products to “avert the harsh impact of big time oil price hikes.” Hontiveros aired growing concerns that the anticipated harsh impact of an impending big time oil price hike on consumers this week “can only be mitigated by the lifting

of the excise tax being imposed on oil products under the TRAIN Law.” She conveyed the suggestions that President Duterte can consider to spare the people from undue burden when there are options available. Hontiveros made the call after oil companies during the weekend announced a possible oil price hike this week ranging from P5.30-P5.50 per liter for diesel, P3.60-P3.80 per liter for gasoline, and P4.00-P4.10 for kerosene due to the volatility of oil prices in the world market amid the Russia-Ukraine conflict. The opposition lawmaker lamented that “sobrang mabigat ang magiging epekto nito sa ating mga kababayan—sa ating mga drayber, mga mangingisda, maliliit na negosyante, at maging sa ating konsyumer ng kuryente lalo na sa mga off-grid islands na gumagamit ng diesel para sa mga generation power plants.” Hontiveros noted that oil, being a socially sensitive product, remains one of the major sources of energy in the country especially for transportation, adding that the country consumes some 400,000 barrels of oil every day, according to statistics. She stressed that “the only way to insulate the people from the heavy impact of unrelenting oil price hikes is to lift the imposition of excise tax on these products.” Reminding that the people are long bearing the burden of the imposition of excise tax on petroleum products under the TRAIN Law from P2.50 excise tax per liter for gasoline since 2018, it is now at P10 per liter since last year. She added that other than the domino effect of oil price hikes on other products, one sector hit directly by the imposition of excise tax on oil is the electricity rates, especially in off-grid islands where power comes mainly from dieselrun generators of the National Power Corporation (NPC). “I also learned from Romblon Electric Cooperative and Association of Isolated Electric Cooperatives [AIEC] that since this month, there will be additional electricity charges in the islands that could add up to P2 per kilowatt hour for the next three years based on a decision of the Energy Regulatory Commission [ERC] last January,” the senator said, adding: “Ito raw ay para sa recovery ng excise tax sa langis na i-rerekober o passon ng NPC sa mga konsyumer. Dagdag na pabigat ito sa ating mga kababayan na naninirahan sa off-grid islands.” The senator asserted that lifting the excise tax on oil and suspending the implementation of that ERC order on a rate hike would relieve the people of the burden imposed by oppressive economic policies, including the Oil Deregulation Law which, she said, must be reviewed or repealed to protect the interest of our consumers.

By Cai U. Ordinario @caiordinario

LOSING all gender employment gaps in the Philippines would lead to a 22.9percentage-point increase in GDP per capita (GDPPC) over time, according to a Policy Research Working Paper released by the World Bank. The paper, titled “A Gender Employment Gap Index [GEGI]: A Simple Measure of the Economic Gains from Closing Gender Employment Gaps, with an Application to the Pacific Islands” authored by World Bank Economist Steven Pennings, showed that this estimate based on the end of the simulation period in 2050. The simulation also showed that by increasing female employment immediately would already yield an 11-percentagepoint increase in GDP per capita or about half the maximum increase in GDPPC over time. “In the default calibration for the Philippines, the increase in female employment increases GDPPC immediately by almost 11 percent, or half of the GEGI. This is the direct effect of higher employment on GDP. The size of the direct effect is governed by the labor share of GDP, which is 0.5 in the default calibration for the Philippines,” Pennings said in his paper. “By the end of the simulation period in 2050, GDPPC [longrun GDP] is about 20 percentage points higher, or almost 90 percent of the increase in the GEGI. In other words, it takes around 30 years after the period of the policy change to achieve 90 percent of the GDP gains in the GEGI,” he added. Pennings e x pl a ined t hat the GEGI is a new measure of the effect of closing gender employment gaps on long-run GDP. The impact of the GEGI is equal to the percentage increase in GDPPC, making it “easy to interpret.” “On average across countries, the GEGIs indicate long-run GDP per capita would be around 19 [percentage points] higher if gender gaps could be closed by increasing female employment to that of men, though for individual countries with the largest gaps, GDP could be up to 85 [percentage points] larger. Long-run GDP per capita would be about 22 [percentage points] larger on average across 11 Pacific Islands from closing gender employment gaps,” he explained.

The computation took into consideration employment to population rate between male and female workers. For the Philippines, 73 percent of the male population and 46 percent of the female population are employed. The computation also took i nto con side r at ion “ b et te r employ ment,” which is not about formality or informality but about the organization of work in a team where employees are paid for their work rather than working out of familial obligation. In the Philippines, male Filipinos aged 15 to 64 years old who are in better employment is 43 percent while for females, it is lower at 27 percent. This results in a better employment gap of 23.1 percent. Pennings also took into consideration other employment, which referred to all types of employment other than better employment, and is calculated as the difference between total employment and better employment. In terms of other employment, the rate for males is 30 percent while for females, it was pegged at 19 percent. This results in a gap of 22.1 percent. The paper also took into consider the human capital index score for both genders based on the 2020 Human Capital Update. The value for the Philippines is 0.52. “ The Philippines was chosen because of the other gender work in that country and an existing LTGM [Long Term Grow th Model] ca libration. However, its LTGM calibration is fairly similar to that in other developing countries, and so this exercise is likely informative for other countries,” Pennings explained. Earlier, the World Bank said the Philippines is one of only three countries where female sole proprietors exceeded males. The data showed that Austria, the Philippines, and Jamaica were the only countries, which saw a higher share of sole women entrepreneurs from a list of 62 countries. Based on the data, women in the Philippines accounted for 52.2 percent of sole proprietors in 2015 and 53.1 percent in 2016. This meant the gender gap in terms of sole proprietorship is in favor of women. However, the average share of female sole proprietors in many countr ies only saw a slight increase or two percentage points between 2014 and 2020.

BusinessMirror

Tuesday, March 8, 2022

ESTABLISHMENT / ADDRESS No.

NAME OF FOREIGN NATIONAL , POSITION AND BRIEF DESCRIPTION

ESTABLISHMENT / ADDRESS QUALIFICATION AND SALARY RANGE

AB LEISURE EXPONENT, INC. 5/f Sm Megamall Bldg. D, J Vargas, Wack-wack Greenhills, City Of Mandaluyong ZHAO, HUA CSR - Mandarin Speaking Translator 1.

Brief Job Description: Help customers with complaint and questions, give customers information about products and services, take orders and process returns

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

Brief Job Description: Managing incoming calls and customer service inquiries HOANG CHI PHUNG Chinese Customer Service

Brief Job Description: Managing incoming calls and customer service inquiries LY VI QUOC Chinese Customer Service

Brief Job Description: Managing incoming calls and customer service inquiries NGUYEN THI UT Chinese Customer Service

Brief Job Description: Managing incoming calls and customer service inquiries NINH VAN THANG Chinese Customer Service

Brief Job Description: Managing incoming calls and customer service inquiries TRAN ANH THAO Chinese Customer Service

Brief Job Description: Managing incoming calls and customer service inquiries WONG SIE DING Chinese Customer Service

Brief Job Description: Managing incoming calls and customer service inquiries TENG, YUHUI Chinese Customer Specialist

Brief Job Description: Managing incoming calls and customer service inquiries

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

JULIANTO IT Support Specialist 15.

16.

10.

Brief Job Description: To assist customers regarding their queries, complaints and promotions.

RAJAN S/O KOMARASU Chief Finance And Operating Officer 17.

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

11.

Brief Job Description: Providing high quality services to our gaming customers as front runners of solaire and casino and project a good image and goodwill of the company

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

18.

12.

Brief Job Description: Provides support from Global team regarding IT related concerns

HA THAM AN Customer Service Officer

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

HA VAN VIET Customer Service Officer

19.

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

Brief Job Description: Converse and interact with the customer

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

LUU DINH HUU Customer Service Officer

20.

21.

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

Basic Qualification: Proficient in speaking, reading and writing; relevant experience in this position

22.

23.

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

Basic Qualification: 1-year customer service associate experience, basic to advance MS application skills Salary Range: Php 150,000 - Php 499,999

Brief Job Description: Converse and interact with the customer TANG TRONG NGHIA Customer Service Officer Brief Job Description: Converse and interact with the customer THONG QUOC KIET Customer Service Officer Brief Job Description: Converse and interact with the customer VO VAN HUNG Customer Service Officer Brief Job Description: Converse and interact with the customer

13.

Brief Job Description: Manages, monitors and supervises the execution, according to the contract of a part of the dredging and reclamation project

FISCHER, WILLEM KAREL OSCAR Revetment & Demolition Works Manager 14.

Brief Job Description: The revetment & demolition works manager manages, monitors and supervises the execution according to the contract of a part of the dredging and reclamation project often under the general supervision of the site manager.

Basic Qualification: Superintendent experience in international and land reclamation

TSUNAKI, MAKOTO Senior Manager For Corporate Planning 24.

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

NAME OF FOREIGN NATIONAL , POSITION AND BRIEF DESCRIPTION

LIN, ZHIYUAN Operation Assistant (Chinese Speaking) 27.

Brief Job Description: Assist recruitment and onboarding processes. Provide excellent customer service.

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

Brief Job Description: Support business operation through stable operation of internal infrastructure, including information security.

XIE, DESHU Operation Assistant (Chinese Speaking) 28.

Brief Job Description: Assist recruitment and onboarding processes. Provide excellent customer service.

XIE, XIAOYAN Marketing Consultant (mandarin Speaking Clients) 25.

Brief Job Description: *Studying company profile and operations to understand its marketing needs. * Implementing a marketing strategy according to objectives and budget.

GMS FINANCE PHILIPPINES INC. 2/f 223 Salcedo Bldg., 223 Salcedo Cor. Gamboa And Adelantado Sts. Legaspi Village, San Lorenzo, City Of Makati NARUSAKO, SHINICHI Organizational Development Coordinator 29.

Brief Job Description: Provides expertise in program elements for the organization.

26.

Brief Job Description: Responsible for directing and managing a project from start to finish; accountable for their project outcomes and provide necessary support for project management terms to succeed.

Basic Qualification: College Graduate Salary Range: Php 30,000 - Php 59,999

HAMMERTIME CONSTRUCTION INC. Unit 203-s3 2nd Flr., Fbr Arcade Bldg., Loyola Heights, Quezon City

LI, ZHENGBING Mandarin Project Supervisor 30.

Brief Job Description: Responsible for Coordinating all Labor needs for a given Project

Basic Qualification: Bachelor’s Degree with at least 3-5 years of working experience in the related field, fluent in Mandarin Basic english Salary Range: Php 30,000 - Php 59,999

HUAWEI TECHNOLOGIES PHILS. INC. U-5302, 53/f Pbcom Tower, 6795 Ayala Ave., Cor., V.a. Rufino St., Bel-air, City Of Makati

XIANG, LIANQING Budget Manager 31.

Brief Job Description: 1.Streamline business and finance annual budget according to the annual budget guidance. 2. Effectively support the determination of key business directions.

Basic Qualification: 1. With at least 5 years working experience as financial analyst. 2. With knowledge in Planning, Budgeting and Forecasting Management. 3. Graduated with a Bachelor’s Degree in Accounting or Business Finance or other related courses. 4. Highly proficient in Chinese and English language. Salary Range: Php 150,000 - Php 499,999

Salary Range: Php 30,000 - Php 59,999 Basic Qualification: Fluent in Chinese writing and speaking language

WU, CHAOQIONG Procurement Manager For Fixed Network Frame Projects 32.

Basic Qualification: Fluent in Chinese writing and speaking language

Brief Job Description: 1. Establish effective execution of procurement strategies and have smooth communication with suppliers’ executives. 2. Take the lead in negotiation for general categories/projects and achieve good results.

Basic Qualification: 1. Proficient in using IT systems to carry out services. 2. Have a solid grasp of benchmark, cost composition, and price formation mechanisms of common categories. 3. With bachelor’s Degree in Bachelor Degree of Computer Science and Technology.

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

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

Basic Qualification: Fluent in Chinese writing and speaking language

Basic Qualification: 1. Must 2 years work experience as procurement manager from a telecom or IT company. 2. Must have skills in in procurement contract review and selection. 3. With Bachelor’s Degree International Trade. 4. Highly proficient in Chinese and English language.

ZENG, DICHANG Procurement Manager For Philippines Procurement Qualification Department

Salary Range: Php 30,000 - Php 59,999 33.

Basic Qualification: At least 5-7 years of working experience in Corporate planning.

Brief Job Description: 1. Conduct Procurement contract negotiation and signing. 2. Conduct supplier performance evaluation. 3. To manage internal control and information security in accordance to the policy.

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

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

Basic Qualification: *Preferably 6 months experience with the above position. *Can multi-task and keen to details. *Any nationality who can speak and write Chinese fluently.

REN, YINGJUN Purchasing Manager For Philippine Device Procurement Qualification (consumer Business Group) 34.

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

FOKUSI CONSTRUCTION INC. #5 Carlo Drive Sta. Maria, Industrial Estate, Bagumbayan, City Of Taguig LIU, YU Project Managing Officer

Basic Qualification: Preferably 6 months experience with the above position. Can multi-task and keen to details. Any nationality who can speak and write Chinese fluently. Salary Range: Php 30,000 - Php 59,999

Basic Qualification: Fluent in Chinese writing and speaking language

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

Salary Range: Php 30,000 - Php 59,999 Basic Qualification: Fluent in Chinese writing and speaking language

QUALIFICATION AND SALARY RANGE

GILGAMESH CORPORATION Unit No. U-1a&1b, Flr No. 6/f Eighty One Newport Blvd., Newport City, Vab St., Barangay 183, Pasay City

FLY ASIAN INTERNATIONAL CORPORATION Eighty One Bldg. Newport Blvd., Newport City Vab St., Barangay 183, Pasay City

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

Basic Qualification: Proven successful relevant experience of at least 24 years within in an international project environment

Basic Qualification: Fluent in Chinese writing and speaking language

DENSO TECHNO PHILIPPINES INC. 2/f Sm Jazz Residences, N. Garcia Cor. Jupiter Sts., Bel-air, City Of Makati

BOSKALIS PHILIPPINES INC. Unit 3701, 3801 The Orient Square, F. Ortigas Jr. Road, Ortigas Center, San Antonio, City Of Pasig BLAAUW, BRIAN LEON Dredging & Backfilling Superintendent

Basic Qualification: At least 25-30 years’ experience and accumulated knowledge in Corporate Planning and Structuring, Tax Planning, Private Equities, Valuations, Auditing, Financial Planning, Financial Accounting, Treasury and Financial Planning and Analysis is required

DATACLICK INTERNATIONAL CORP. E. Rodriguez St., Roxas Blvd. St., Barangay 3, Pasay City

Brief Job Description: Converse and interact with the customer

Basic Qualification: 21 years old and above, fluent in Korean language

Basic Qualification: Proven experience as Mandarin site supervisor, familiarity, knowledge and awareness on machinery and heavy equipment use by company. Demonstrable experience in developing strategic business plan.

Salary Range: Php 500,000 and above

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

BOSCH SERVICE SOLUTIONS, INC. 23rd Floor, W Fifth Avenue Building, 32nd Street Corner, 5th Avenue Bonifacio Global City, City Of Taguig

PARK, JIHOON Customer Service Associate

Brief Job Description: Manage and oversee the whole Finance and Operations across CIC.

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

CONCEPCION-CARRIER AIR CONDITIONING COMPANY Km 20 Ssh-way, East Service Road, Buli, City Of Muntinlupa

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

BLOOMBERRY RESORTS AND HOTELS INC. Solaire Resort And Casino, 1 Asean Avenue, Entertainment City, Tambo, City Of Parañaque LIM SENG YIK Host, Premium Services - China/sea

Brief Job Description: The mandarin site supervisor will be a strategist and a leader able to steer the company to the most profitable direction while also implementing its vision, mission and long term goals.

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

No.

Basic Qualification: Must be fluent in Chinese language (Writing and Speaking).

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

ASIAN TECHNOLOGY SERVICES, INC. 11/f Tower 2, Double Dragon, Macapagal Blvd., Barangay 76, Pasay City CHUN, WOONGHEE Customer Service Representative

Brief Job Description: The IT Support Specialist shall answer incoming phone calls from clients and troubleshoot customer technical problems with computer software and hardware.

LU, ZHANGWEN Mandarin Site Supervisor

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

QUALIFICATION AND SALARY RANGE

CHINA WUYI CO., LTD. 4/f Commodore Bldg., 422 Arquiza St., 072, Barangay 667, Ermita, City Of Manila

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

NAME OF FOREIGN NATIONAL , POSITION AND BRIEF DESCRIPTION

ESTABLISHMENT / ADDRESS

CAPSLOCK INC. 7th & 8th Flr. Y Tower Bldg., Coral Way Drive Cor. Macapagal Ave., Barangay 76, Pasay City

Basic Qualification: Fluent in Mandarin

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

No.

www.businessmirror.com.ph

Basic Qualification: College graduate; at least 6 months experience in the said position Salary Range: Php 30,000 - Php 59,999

Brief Job Description: 1. To engage in overseas procurement business, forge a global vision, and improve professional ability of the department. 2. Complete the pilot implementation of new sourcing process for promotion activity.

Basic Qualification: 1. Has extensive experience in procurement management, qualification, selection, and management of e-commerce and warehousing suppliers. 2. With negotiation and presentation capabilities. 3. With background IT and telecommunications processes. 4. Highly proficient in Chinese and English language. Salary Range: Php 150,000 - Php 499,999

IIRMA INTERNATIONAL CONSULTANCY INC. 12 Rhapsody St., 09982083880, Talon Dos, City Of Las Piñas

35.

SHAH, PRAVAKAR BIKRAM International Marketing Director Brief Job Description: To market globally

Basic Qualification: Master in Arts/ Marketing Strategy Salary Range: Php 30,000 - Php 59,999

BusinessMirror

www.businessmirror.com.ph

ESTABLISHMENT / ADDRESS No.

NAME OF FOREIGN NATIONAL , POSITION AND BRIEF DESCRIPTION

ESTABLISHMENT / ADDRESS QUALIFICATION AND SALARY RANGE

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

ZHANG, SHUXIN Chinese Speaking Business Development Associate 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

No.

AR YWIN Chinese Customer Service 50.

51.

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

37.

Brief Job Description: Provide the customers of an organization with guidance and information

Basic Qualification: 18-50 y/o, good organizational skills, proficient in relevant computer applications Salary Range: Php 30,000 - Php 59,999

38.

Brief Job Description: The Chinese IT Support Specialist (CITSS) is an integral member of the company infrastructure, Application Support, and of the IT Division and is responsible for providing quality IT support of enterprise systems throughout the Chinese clientele. CHANDRA IT Support Specialist

39.

Brief Job Description: The IT Support Specialist (CITSS) is an integral member of the company infrastructure, Application Support, and of the IT Division and is responsible for providing quality IT support of enterprise systems throughout the Chinese clientele. CHEAH CHEE YUAN IT Support Specialist

40.

41.

Basic Qualification: A Chinese and fluent in Chinese writing and speaking language Salary Range: Php 30,000 - Php 59,999

Basic Qualification: Can speak and read Cantonese, Mandarin and Fukien language

52.

53.

54.

55.

42.

Brief Job Description: Lead the planning and implementation of project Facilitate the definition of project scope goals and deliverables

56.

ZHANG, XIONG Project Supervisor 43.

Brief Job Description: Lead the planning and implementation of project Facilitate the definition of project scope goals and deliverables

Basic Qualification: Fluent in English Language both in written and Verbal With working knowledge

57.

ATZOR, TAL SIMA Multilingual-product Development Specialist 44.

Brief Job Description: Responsible for producing information, transcribing, formatting, inputting, editing, retrieving and transmitting text data and graphics from English to other language such as Hebrew, Malay, & Mon-Khmer. ROTMAN, ITAY Multilingual-product Development Specialist

45.

Basic Qualification: Proficiency in English, Hebrew, Malay and MonKhmer language.

59.

CHANG, TUNG-YANG Mandarin Customer Service Representative 46.

Brief Job Description: Gather Information Researches and Resolves Requires and Log Customer Calls CHEN, SULEI Mandarin Customer Service Representative

47.

Brief Job Description: Gather Information Researches and Resolves Requires and Log Customer Calls

NGUYEN VU THE HOANG Vietnamese Customer Service Representative 48.

Brief Job Description: Gather Information Researches and Resolves Requires and Log Customer Calls

Basic Qualification: College Graduate at least 1 to 3 year experience in Related field

49.

Brief Job Description: Managing Incoming calls and Customer Service Inquiries

61.

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

Brief Job Description: Managing incoming calls and customer service inquiries HE, BOWEN Chinese Customer Service

62.

Brief Job Description: Managing Incoming calls and Customer Service Inquiries HENDRA SETIAWAN Chinese Customer Service

63.

Brief Job Description: Managing Incoming calls and Customer Service Inquiries HO DUC PHONG Chinese Customer Service

64.

Brief Job Description: Managing incoming calls and customer service inquiries HOANG CONG DIN Chinese Customer Service

65.

Brief Job Description: Managing incoming calls and customer service inquiries HOANG VAN HUY Chinese Customer Service

66.

Brief Job Description: Managing incoming calls and customer service inquiries HOANG VAN TU Chinese Customer Service

67.

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

68.

Brief Job Description: Managing Incoming calls and Customer Service Inquiries KAY KHAING SOE Chinese Customer Service

69.

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

Basic Qualification: Able to Speak, Read and Write Chinese Language

Brief Job Description: Managing incoming calls and customer service inquiries HAN VAN NAM Chinese Customer Service

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

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

60.

Salary Range: Php 30,000 - Php 59,999 Basic Qualification: College Graduate at least 1 to 3 year experience in Related field

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

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

KONGANBUDDIES MARKETING INC. 48/f Lower Ground Pbcom Tower, 6795 Ayala Ave. Cor. V.a. Rufino St., Bel-air, City Of Makati

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

Basic Qualification: Proficiency in English, Hebrew, Malay and MonKhmer language. Salary Range: Php 60,000 - Php 89,999

Brief Job Description: Managing incoming calls and customer service inquiries DUONG VAN CANH Chinese Customer Service

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

JP & L BEAUTY PRODUCTS INC. 22 The Trade And Financial Tower, 7th Ave. Cor. 32nd St., Fort Bonifacio, City Of Taguig

Brief Job Description: Managing incoming calls and customer service inquiries DINH VIET TRUNG Chinese Customer Service

Basic Qualification: Can speak and read Cantonese, Mandarin and Fukien language

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

Brief Job Description: Managing Incoming calls and Customer Service Inquiries DING LUK Chinese Customer Service

JIANGSU DIBANG CONSTRUCTION PHILIPPINES CORPORATION Unit 2106-a West Tower, Psec Exchange Road, Ortigas Center, San Antonio, City Of Pasig CHEN, YAN Project Supervisor

Brief Job Description: Managing incoming calls and customer service inquiries CUI, JUNCHAO Chinese Customer Service

58.

Basic Qualification: Fluent in English Language both in written and Verbal With working knowledge in construction

Brief Job Description: Managing incoming calls and customer service inquiries CHONG MIN HUN Chinese Customer Service

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

Brief Job Description: Managing incoming calls and customer service inquiries CHIN CHOR YEE Chinese Customer Service

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

Basic Qualification: Can speak and read Cantonese, Mandarin and Fukien language

Brief Job Description: Managing incoming calls and customer service inquiries CAO, ZEHUA Chinese Customer Service

ITECHNO SPECIALIST INC. 9/f 100 West Building, Sen. Gil Puyat Ave., Pio Del Pilar, City Of Makati WU, YUNWEI Chinese IT Support Specialist

Brief Job Description: Managing incoming calls and customer service inquiries AUNG KYAW HTWE Chinese Customer Service

INTEGRITY GLOBAL GROUP, INC. 2/f-3/f Ayala Malls Circuit, A.p. Reyes Ave., Carmona, City Of Makati PIAO, LIANHUA Mandarin Speaking Customer Service Representative

NAME OF FOREIGN NATIONAL , POSITION AND BRIEF DESCRIPTION

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

70.

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

71.

Brief Job Description: Managing incoming calls and customer service inquiries

Tuesday, March 8, 2022

ESTABLISHMENT / ADDRESS QUALIFICATION AND SALARY RANGE Basic Qualification: Able to speak, read and write Chinese language

No.

KYEIN KYEIN Chinese Customer Service 72.

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

73.

74.

75.

76.

HUANG, MIN Chinese Speaking Data Entry Clerk 77.

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

LIAO, KAIXUAN Chinese Speaking Data Entry Clerk 78.

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

Brief Job Description: Managing Incoming calls and Customer Service Inquiries

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

LU, YONG Chinese Speaking Data Entry Clerk 79.

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

PHUI DUC THUAN 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

81.

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

82.

83.

Brief Job Description: Assessing project risk and communicating potential delays. Creating charts and graphs that will further illustrate recommendations interfacing with potential clients.

84.

TAYLOR, NEIL CHARLES Long Hole Driller Brief Job Description: Production hole designer

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

DONG GIA NGHIA Multilingual Business Processing Consultant 85.

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

Brief Job Description: to analyze and design business processes in collaboration with stakeholders

HE, MINGHAI Multilingual Business Processing Consultant 86.

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

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

Basic Qualification: 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: Fluent in Mandarin and English language both in written and verbal; Must familiar in expert planning and administrative writing and reporting skills. Salary Range: Php 30,000 - Php 59,999

Basic Qualification: Experience in relevant field and leadership in task execution Salary Range: Php 500,000 and above

OKKDA ASIA TECHNOLOGY INC. Unit 5b 5/f Marvin Plaza, 2153 C. Roces Ave., Pio Del Pilar, City Of Makati

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

OCEANAGOLD (PHILIPPINES), INC. 2/f Cjv Bldg., 108 Aguirre St., Legaspi Village, San Lorenzo, City Of Makati

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

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

MOHAMED MOSAAD ABDOU MOUSTAFA MORAD Senior Commission Consultant

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

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

NEW CHANGE TECHNICAL CONSULTANTS INC. 7/f Glorietta 4, Ayala Center, San Lorenzo, City Of Makati

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

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

ZHANG, DENGGUI Chinese Speaking Data Entry Clerk

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

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

WANG, KANGYU Chinese Speaking Data Entry Clerk

Basic Qualification: Able to Speak, Read and Write Chinese Language

QUALIFICATION AND SALARY RANGE

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

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

Brief Job Description: Managing Incoming calls and Customer Service Inquiries TANG, CHENG Chinese Customer Service

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

Brief Job Description: Managing Incoming calls and Customer Service Inquiries NAING WIN KHAING Chinese Customer Service

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

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

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

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

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

NAME OF FOREIGN NATIONAL , POSITION AND BRIEF DESCRIPTION

Brief Job Description: to analyze and design business processes in collaboration with stakeholders

HUANG, NANRONG Multilingual Business Processing Consultant 87.

Brief Job Description: to analyze and design business processes in collaboration with stakeholders

Basic Qualification: 18-55 y/o, with atleast 6 months experience, with good oral and written Salary Range: Php 30,000 - Php 59,999

BusinessMirror

Tuesday, March 8, 2022

ESTABLISHMENT / ADDRESS No.

NAME OF FOREIGN NATIONAL , POSITION AND BRIEF DESCRIPTION LIN, JINJIE Multilingual Business Processing Consultant

88.

Brief Job Description: to analyze and design business processes in collaboration with stakeholders NADKARNI, ASHWIN SHARAD Multilingual Business Processing Consultant

89.

Brief Job Description: to analyze and design business processes in collaboration with stakeholders NGUYEN LAN HUONG Multilingual Business Processing Consultant

90.

Brief Job Description: to analyze and design business processes in collaboration with stakeholders SU, CHUANG Multilingual Business Processing Consultant

91.

Brief Job Description: To ensure excellent product delivery. They have a wealth of knowledge about a product or range, YU, XIANGYAO Multilingual Business Processing Consultant

92.

Brief Job Description: to analyze and design business processes in collaboration with stakeholders

ESTABLISHMENT / ADDRESS QUALIFICATION AND SALARY RANGE Basic Qualification: 18-55 y/o, with atleast 6 months experience, with good oral and written

Basic Qualification: 18-55 y/o, with atleast 6 months experience, with good oral and written Salary Range: Php 30,000 - Php 59,999 Basic Qualification: 18-55 y/o, with atleast 6 months experience, with good oral and written Salary Range: Php 30,000 - Php 59,999 Basic Qualification: 18-55 y/o, with atleast 6 months experience, with good oral and written Salary Range: Php 30,000 - Php 59,999 Basic Qualification: 18-55 y/o, with atleast 6 months experience, with good oral and written

93.

Brief Job Description: Plans, implements, and execute strategies or functional/operational objectives for OptumRx Voice business of Optum Global Solutions

DANG THI MY HANH Vietnamese Customer Service Representative 94.

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

95.

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

96.

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

97.

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

98.

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

99.

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

100.

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

101.

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

102.

Brief Job Description: Attracts potential customers by answering product and service questions; suggesting information about other products and services. TRAN PHUONG DIEM PHUC Vietnamese Customer Service Representative

103.

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)

104.

Brief Job Description: Strengthening country’s market presence and achieving business targets

106.

107.

Basic Qualification: - ability to speak, write and communicate in Vietnamese

Brief Job Description: Knowledgeable in computer application with good oral and written communication skills. HERRERO DEL BARRIO, JOSE MANUEL Country Project Manager

108.

Brief Job Description: Knowledgeable in computer application with good oral and written communication skills. CABALLERO ARCOS, CESAR ALFONSO Electromechanical Manager

109.

Brief Job Description: Knowledgeable in computer application with good oral and written communication skills. SECO CACERES, AURELIANO Mechanical Superintendent

110.

Brief Job Description: Knowledgeable in computer application with good oral and written communication skills. BRITTO ZACHARIAS Technical Manager

111.

No.

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

SHEN, HUAIYONG Assistant Project Supervisor Brief Job Description: Preparation, supervision and checking the project of the company

120.

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

121.

122.

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

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

123.

113.

Brief Job Description: The asset management plans & policies relating boilers DR. ZIEGLER, ALFRED RUDOLF Generator & Vibration Expert

114.

Brief Job Description: Reviews weekly report looking for anomalies and corrugating results.

Basic Qualification: Performs boiler and plant performance testing

Salary Range: Php 30,000 - Php 59,999 115. Basic Qualification: Fluent in Vietnamese (Verbal and written skills)

Brief Job Description: The Chinese IT Support Specialist is an integral of the company infrastructure, Application Support, and of the IT Division and is responsible for providing quality IT support of enterprise systems throughout the Chinese clientele.

124.

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

116.

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

LIU, WENXIANG Chinese IT Support Specialist 117.

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

Basic Qualification: Graduate and postgraduate degree in Architecture, Project management or another field relevant to this role. Minimum of 15 years of business leadership experience with international experience Salary Range: Php 150,000 - Php 499,999

125.

PENG, YU Chinese IT Support Specialist 118.

ZHA, PENG Chinese IT Support Specialist 119.

Brief Job Description: The IT Support Specialist is an integral of the company infrastructure, Application Support, and of the IT Division and is responsible for providing quality IT support of enterprise systems throughout the Chinese clientele.

Brief Job Description: Create and execute the strategy for APAC in collaboration with the business segment leaders. Ensuring the business achieves the business goals for sales and delivery across engage and digital

126.

Brief Job Description: Provide daily support to users of various computer systems including answering questions, analyzing problems, and quickly forming solutions to return systems to proper operation

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

Basic Qualification: Fluent in Mandarin, Cantonese and Fukien language Salary Range: Php 30,000 - Php 59,999

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

ZIMI TECH, INC. 29th/f Burgundy Corporate Tower, Sen. Gil Puyat Ave., Pio Del Pilar, City Of Makati

IRVAN ALINATA WIRAWAN Bahasa Language Customer Service Representative 127.

Brief Job Description: Responsible for handling calls and providing customer support

DOAN TRONG SANG Vietnamese Language Customer Service Representative Brief Job Description: Responsible for handling calls and providing customer support

Basic Qualification: Proficient in writing, reading and speaking in both English and Korean/Bahasa/Chinese/ Vietnamese/Malaysian/ Cambodian Salary Range: Php 30,000 - Php 59,999 Basic Qualification: Proficient in writing, reading and speaking in both English and Korean/Bahasa/Chinese/ Vietnamese/Malaysian/ Cambodian Salary Range: Php 30,000 - Php 59,999

ZTE PHILIPPINES INC. Unit 1201 & 1202 12th Floor Fort Legend Towers, 3rd Ave. Corner 31st St., Fort Bonifacio, City Of Taguig

129.

130.

Basic Qualification: Fluent in Mandarin, Cantonese and Fukien language

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

Salary Range: Php 500,000 and above

CAO, HAOKUN Chinese Customer Service Representative

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

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

WANFANG TECHNOLOGY MANAGEMENT, INC. 6-9/f Double Dragon Plaza, Edsa Cor. Macapagal Ave., Barangay 76, Pasay City

128.

Basic Qualification: Fluent in Mandarin, Cantonese and Fukien language

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

Basic Qualification: Fluency in English, commercially astute, and familiarity with business process outsourcing and/ or IT outsourcing industry

RAY, ARNAB KUMAR Senior Vice President, Operations

Basic Qualification: Fluent in Mandarin, Cantonese and Fukien language

Salary Range: Php 500,000 and above

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

Salary Range: Php 500,000 and above

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

TTEC CUSTOMER CARE MANAGEMENT PHILIPPINES, INC. Five E-com, 10th Floor, Harbor Drive Corner Palm Coast Avenue, Barangay 76, Pasay City

Salary Range: Php 30,000 - Php 59,999 HAO, SHUAI Chinese IT Support Specialist

Brief Job Description: Creating and developing the complete business plan and strategic vision for the company

LIU, TINGYUAN Mandarin Customer Support Representative

TIANYU TECHNOLOGY INC. 14/f Socialdesk Tower, H.v. Dela Costa St., Bel-air, City Of Makati

GAO, ZHENZHANG Chinese IT Support Specialist

Basic Qualification: Fluent in Mandarin, Cantonese and Fukien language

Basic Qualification: Must have an at least 15 years of experience in leading hospitality industry

Salary Range: Php 500,000 and above Basic Qualification: At least 2 years exp. working for power generator original equipment

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

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

THERMA LUZON INC. 14/f Nac Tower, 32nd Street, Bonifacio Global City, Fort Bonifacio, City Of Taguig FUJII, HIROSHI Boiler Expert

YIP, BYRON KA HO President And Chief Operating Officer

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

Basic Qualification: Able to work on a different components of a given project

Basic Qualification: Fluent in Mandarin, Cantonese and Fukien language

TIGER RESORT, LEISURE AND ENTERTAINMENT, INC. Okada Manila, New Seaside Drive, Entertainment City, Barangay Tambo, City Of Parañaque

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

PHONG SAU VA IT Support Specialist

Basic Qualification: Customer support and data base services Salary Range: Php 60,000 - Php 89,999

QUALIFICATION AND SALARY RANGE

BUDI HARTONO IT Support Specialist

Basic Qualification: At least two(2) years of working experience in the related field; fluent in Mandarin/Chinese language Salary Range: Php 30,000 - Php 59,999

NAME OF FOREIGN NATIONAL , POSITION AND BRIEF DESCRIPTION ZHENG, TAO Chinese IT Support Specialist

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

THEIDI CONSTRUCTION CORP. Unit 503 East Tower, Psec Exchange Road, San Antonio, City Of Pasig

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

Brief Job Description: Develop, create, and modify general computer applications software or specialized utility programs.

PELLICER HUGUET, JAVIER Country Administration And Finance Manager

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

Basic Qualification: - ability to speak, write and communicate in Vietnamese

Basic Qualification: 18 - 50 y/o. good organizational skills, excellent mandarin verbal communication skills

TEDAGUA PHILIPPINES, INC. Penthouse 312 Marajo Tower 26th Street Corner 4th Avenue, Bonifacio Global City, Fort Bonifacio, City Of Taguig

112.

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

Brief Job Description: Maintain and improve the technical systems of a company to ensure all employees have the technology they need to complete their work and the organization’s important and information remain safe and intact

ZENG, HEJIE Software Development Specialist

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

QUALIFICATION AND SALARY RANGE

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

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

SPACEMATRIX DESIGN (PH), INC. 30/f Burgundy Corporate Tower, 252 Sen Gil Puyat Ave., Pio Del Pilar, City Of Makati

NARAYANA RAO, RAGHAVENDRA GURURAJ Country Head - Manila

105.

Salary Range: Php 500,000 and above

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

NAME OF FOREIGN NATIONAL , POSITION AND BRIEF DESCRIPTION

FLORENSIA Mandarin Speaking IT Specialist

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

Basic Qualification: Senior leader with 20+ years of experience with Global Service delivery management and program; Overseas experience

ESTABLISHMENT / ADDRESS

SUNIWAY GROUP OF COMPANIES INC. 17th Flr Sm Aura Office Tower, 26th Cor. Mckinley Parkway, Bonifacio Global City, Fort Bonifacio, City Of Taguig

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

OPTUM GLOBAL SOLUTIONS (PHILIPPINES), INC. 6th To 10th Floors, Science Hub Tower 1, Mckinley Hill, Fort Bonifacio, City Of Taguig

JAIN, AMIT Senior Director - General Management

No.

www.businessmirror.com.ph

131.

132.

SUN, JIE Communication Technical Manager

Basic Qualification: College graduate

Brief Job Description: Responsible for technical management

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

LIANG, YONGQUAN Project Manager

Basic Qualification: Graduate of business course

Brief Job Description: Manages company projects

Salary Range: Php 30,000 - Php 59,999 Basic Qualification: Graduate of business course

XIAO, PENG Project Manager Brief Job Description: Manages projects of the company

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

ZHU, CHAO Project Technology Supervisor

Basic Qualification: College graduate

Brief Job Description: Telecommunication support

Salary Range: Php 30,000 - Php 59,999 *Date Generated: Mar 7, 2022

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

www.businessmirror.com.ph

World Features

Republican ‘unforced errors’ threaten path to Senate control By Steve Peoples & Brian Slodysko The Associated Press

ASHINGTON—As the prospect of a red wave grows, a series of Republican missteps including recruiting stumbles, weak fundraising and intense infighting is threatening the GOP’s path to the Senate majority. Arizona’s Republican Gov. Doug Ducey dealt his party its latest setback late last week by announcing he would not challenge Democratic Sen. Mark Kelly this fall. His decision, which leaves no obvious front-runner in a crowded Republican primary, disappointed Senate Republican leader Mitch McConnell and his allies who had spent months privately encouraging Ducey to run. But the GOP’s shortcomings extend well beyond Arizona. Republican candidates in Arizona, Georgia and Nevada are struggling to keep pace with Democratic fundraising. Recruiting failures have dashed GOP hopes in reach states like Maryland and threaten a prime pickup opportunity in New Hampshire. And a recent plan that would raise taxes on low-income Americans and seniors, released by the Republican Senate midterm chief, Florida Sen. Rick Scott, is putting GOP candidates in a difficult position across states like Wisconsin, Ohio and Florida. The challenges amount to an early warning sign for Republicans less than two months before the opening Senate primaries of the 2022 election season. With Democrats confronting historic headwinds and the weight of an unpopular president, a Republican Senate majority is easily within reach. But, sensing discord within the GOP, Democrats are suddenly optimistic they may have a path to hold—or even expand—their majority. Rep. Val Demings, the leading Democrat in the race to unseat Florida Sen. Marco Rubio, acknowledged that her party has struggled to highlight its accomplishments— including sweeping pandemic relief and a massive infrastructure package—in the face of President Joe Biden’s political woes. But she seized on Scott’s plan as a clear contrast for how Democrats and Republicans would govern differently. “This plan is toxic. It would hurt working families. It would hurt seniors. And Rubio’s going to own it,” Demings said in an interview. Rubio’s campaign declined to say specifically whether he supported Scott’s plan when asked, issuing a statement instead that called Demings “a do-nothing member of Congress who has never even passed a real law, much less a tax cut.” With eight months until Election Day, the political landscape remains in flux. The health of the economy, a Supreme Court decision on abortion and the war in Eastern Europe remain major variables. But history suggests Democrats would be lucky to preserve their fragile Senate majority in November. In a 50-50 Senate, Democrats would lose control of Congress’ upper chamber if they lose a single seat. And without the majority, they lose any hope of enacting Biden’s plans to bolster child care, education, family leave and environmental protection while protecting voting rights. The GOP’s best pickup opportunities rest in Arizona, Georgia and Nevada, according to Steven Law, a McConnell ally who leads the most powerful Republican-aligned Senate super PAC. He said he’s increasingly optimistic about the state viewed as the Democrats’ best pickup opportunity, Pennsylvania, and sees competitive races in Republican-held states like North Carolina, Florida and Missouri trending in the right direction. Given historic trends against the party that occupies the White House, Law predicted that a state like Colorado or Washington State could become more competitive than expected this fall as well. “The fundamentals of this election cycle are still very, very good,” Law said. “I don’t think recent challenges or setbacks or issues are going to define it at all. There are going to be bumps in the road. But at the end of the day, this election is going to be about the historic unpopularity of Joe Biden and his agenda, which virtually all Democrats have blindly supported.” A February AP-NORC poll found that more people disapproved than approved of how Biden is handling his job, 55 percent to 44 percent, while just 29 percent of Americans thought the nation was on the right track. Democratic strategists acknowledge their party’s uphill odds in the months ahead. But on paper, at least, the current Senate landscape gives them an inherent advantage. “Frankly, Democrats just need to hold seats in states Biden won,” said Jessica Floyd, the president of the pro-Democratic super PAC American Bridge, which launched a $5 million paid advertising campaign late last week across four states: Arizona, Georgia, Nevada and Pennsylvania. “The map matters.” While Biden did win all four of American Bridge’s target states, the Democratic president won three of them by 1 percentage point or less and the other by just 2 percentage points. Those margins should give Democrats little comfort. Republican Glenn Youngkin narrowly defeated former Democratic Gov. Terry McAuliffe in Virginia’s high-profile governor’s race last fall, even though Biden had carried the state by 10 percentage points a year earlier. Longer-term historical trends are no less daunting for Democrats: Over the last 40 years, the party that holds the White House has won Senate seats in only two midterm elections. Meanwhile, escalating tensions among Republican leaders at the highest levels threatens to undercut the party’s ambitions. McConnell and former President Donald Trump have long sparred over Republican messaging and candidate endorsements. In some states, Trump favors far-right nominees who struggle in statewide general elections. But for now, a simmering feud between McConnell and Scott has taken center stage. Scott, the leaders of the GOP’s Senate midterm efforts, released an 11-point plan late last month that would impose a modest tax increase for many of the lowest paid Americans, while opening the door for cutting Social Security and Medicare. The Senate Democrats’ political arm released a radio ad within 24 hours declaring, “If Senate Republicans win, we pay the price.” Staffers from Scott’s Senate committee moved into triage mode almost immediately, reaching out to Republican campaigns across the country to gauge their frustration while offering messaging help, according to senior Republican strategists with direct knowledge of the situation. The strategists, who requested anonymity to discuss private deliberations, said many Senate Republicans had been willing to ignore what they viewed as Scott’s presidential ambitions over the last year. But that changed when the Florida senator released his latest proposal, which they considered an “unforced error” that triggered a wave of anger across the party. McConnell could not stay silent as he faced reporters last week on Capitol Hill. The Senate Republican leader forcefully rebuked Scott’s plan during the Republican leadership’s weekly news conference, which Scott was part of. “Let me tell you what would not be a part of our agenda,” McConnell said moments after Scott stepped away from the event. “We will not have as part of our agenda a bill that raises taxes on half of the American people and sunsets Social Security and Medicare within five years.” Scott refused to respond on Sunday when asked about McConnell’s comments during an appearance on Fox News Channel’s “Sunday Morning Futures,” offering instead a defiant defense of his broader plan.

Tuesday, March 8, 2022

Macron keeps open communication line to Putin as war in Ukraine rages By Barbara Surk

The Associated Press

ICE, France—While most of the world is shunning President Vladimir Putin over Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, one of the few leaders keeping an open line of communication is French President Emmanuel Macron.

Macron’s diplomatic efforts to prevent the war failed, but he’s not giving up: the two men have spoken four times since Russian forces attacked Ukraine on February 24, and 11 times over the past month. The French leader, whose country holds the European Union’s rotating presidency, is now one of the few outsiders with a view into Putin’s mindset at the time of the largest military invasion in Europe since World War II. Israeli Prime Minister Naftali Bennett is also becoming a mediator, meeting Putin on a surprise visit to Moscow on Saturday and speaking with him again by phone on Sunday. Macron’s relentless push for dialogue reflects France’s postWorld War II tradition of carving out its own geopolitical path and its refusal to blindly follow the United States. After Russian troops pushed deep into Ukraine, Macron’s resolve to maintain communication channels with Putin is providing Western allies with insight into the Russian leader’s state of mind, his intentions on the battlefield and at home in Russia as the Kremlin cracks down on opponents. “He is keeping a diplomatic channel open for the West in case Putin might want to de-escalate and look for a way out of this crisis,” said Benjamin Haddad, a senior director for Europe at the Atlantic Council in Paris and a member of Macron’s party. Macron has also spoken to Putin on behalf of Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, Haddad said, trying to extract some mercy from Putin: local cea se -f ires, sa fe pa ssage for trapped civilians and access to humanitarian aid. During their most recent call on Sunday that came at Macron’s request, the French leader and Putin

focused for nearly two hours on the safety of Ukraine’s nuclear plants. Putin said he doesn’t intend to attack them and agreed on the principle of “dialogue” between the International Atomic Energy Agency, Ukraine and Russia on the issue, according to a French official who spoke on condition of anonymity in line with the French presidency’s practices. There is “absolutely no illusion at the Elysee that Putin will keep his word on anything he promises,” Haddad said, or that Putin will change his mind about the invasion. But Haddad said that it’s important that Macron keeps trying to engage Putin even as the West punishes Russia and strengthens Ukraine’s defenses. And breaking with the diplomatic norm of keeping such conversations secret, the French presidency has widely shared the content of Macron’s talks with Putin. Macron’s advisers and the president himself detailed the excruciating efforts to prevent the war and then laid bare Putin’s broken promises of peace. That helped Macron galvanize support for the toughest sanctions against Russia, uniting the notoriously divided 27-member EU and revive NATO’s geopolitical role. To the extent that keeping lines of communication open can be useful during a conflict to relay messages, warnings or threats, and hear the response, the Biden administration believes that such contacts can be useful for at least getting some insight into Putin’s mood, demeanor and mindset. Hence, Secretary of State Antony Blinken will go to Paris Tuesday to hear from Macron directly about his latest conversations with Putin. But US officials remain unconvinced that Macron’s efforts—or any other leader’s—have had any

significant impact on Putin’s decision-making process. They note that despite a series of interventions by the French president, Putin has not only gone ahead with the invasion but also intensified the conflict. The French president has been clear from the start: Putin alone is to blame for the death and destruction in Ukraine and the major consequences of the war for France and Europe. But on the other hand if Putin wants to talk, he will listen. Put in ca l led on T hursd ay. The number of refugees fleeing Ukraine had already topped 1 million and several towns in the east were in ruins. Macron picked up and they talked for 90 minutes. An official in the French presidency rushed to brief reporters on the conversation. Putin told Macron the military operation in Ukraine is “going according to plan” and he will continue “until the end,” the official said. Putin claimed that “war crimes” were being committed by Ukrainians. He called them “Nazis,” the official said. There’s no need to negotiate, Putin said. He will achieve the “neutralization and disarmament of Ukraine” with his army. The official couldn’t be named in keeping with Elysee practices. Macron “spoke the truth” to Putin, the official said, and explained how his war on Ukraine is perceived by the West. “I spoke to President Putin. I asked him to stop attacks on Ukraine. At this point, he refuses,” Macron tweeted. He said dialogue will continue. “We must prevent the worst from happening.” Since he was elected president in 2017, Macron has shown a keen interest in forging personal relationships with world leaders, including those who value a degree of pragmatism when discussing democracy and human rights while pursing business opportunities. His business-friendly diplomacy paid off in the Persian Gulf in December when he signed a multi-billion euro weapons contract with Abu Dhabi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Zayed Al Nayhan. Macron drew fierce criticism on that trip for traveling to Saudi Arabia to become the first Western leader to meet with Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman after the 2018 killing of journalist Jamal Khashoggi. “Macron stands out among European Union leaders with his

European currencies crumble with ruble on oil embargo threat

uropean currencies are plunging to new lows as the war in Ukraine escalates, spurring macro traders to sell some of their most liquid assets. The euro fell below parity against the haven Swiss franc in Asia trading on Monday, the first time it’s tumbled to that level since January 2015 amid heightened investor concern over Russia’s invasion of Ukraine. Poland’s zloty dropped to an all-time low against the euro. Every eastern European currency has slid against the dollar in the past week, led by losses in the ruble. “It’s not possible to rationally judge when European currencies will stop falling until we see a clue to the end of Russia’s invasion of Ukraine,” said Daisaku Ueno, chief currency strategist at Mitsubishi UFJ Morgan Stanley Securities Co. in Tokyo. “The currencies of the countries that are the closest to the war zone have been sold given they will be most affected by a backlash against sanctions on Russia.” No European currency has been spared from being sold this month. The euro,

the second-most traded currency in the world and one of the “most liquid shorts” in Europe, slid about 5 percent in the past month. The euro dropped 0.4 percent to $1.0883 in Asia Monday after US Secretary of State Antony Blinken said his country and its European allies are discussing a possible ban of Russian oil imports to tighten the economic squeeze. The common currency traded as low as 0.9972 against the Swiss franc. The ruble was indicated 11 percent lower at 138.50 per dollar in offshore trading. “The war in Ukraine will hit the European economy the hardest given its reliance on Russia’s oil,” said Takuya Kanda, general manager at Gaitame.com Research Institute in Tokyo. “The euro can drop toward $1.06.” Hedge funds had gotten the direction wrong for the euro-franc pair last week, data from the Commodity Futures Trading Commission show. Leveraged funds cut net shorts on the euro to the least since July in the week ended March 1 while boosting those on the franc.

Market interventions

The European Union’s eastern nations are stepping up market interventions to protect their currencies from the selloff. The Czech central bank sold foreign currency on Friday, joining the monetary authority in Poland, which intervened for the third time last week. The Swiss National Bank said it was ready to intervene and address the rapidly strengthening franc, Schweiz am Wochenende reported, citing SNB Governing Board Member Andréa Maechler. The SNB is following the situation in the FX market very closely and is “ready to intervene if necessary,” Maechler said in an interview published Saturday by the Swiss newspaper. The SNB “have clearly been more tolerant of CHF strength in the last year or so, but there will inevitably be limits to how much strength they will continue to tolerate,” said Ray Attrill, strategist at National Australia Bank Ltd. “If this is broad based EUR weakness as it is not just CHF strength, then there are limits to what one central bank can do acting on its own.” Bloomberg News

willingness to be in the spotlight, to drive the foreign policy and push things ahead,” said Silvia Colombo, an expert on EU foreign relations at the International Institute in Rome. There is no other foreign leader that Macron has tried to bring closer to his corner than Putin. Macron, a staunch European, was confident that a mixture of personal charm and the splendor of France’s past would convince Putin to keep Russia within the European security habitat. Macron first hosted Putin in the sumptuous Place of Versailles in 2017. Two years later they discussed stalled Ukraine peace talks in Macron’s summer residence at the Fort de Bregancon on the French Riviera as Macron tried to build on European diplomacy that had helped ease hostilities in the past. It’s become clear over the past several weeks that Putin was on the warpath even as he denied it, sitting across from Macron at a very long table during his last visit to Moscow. Macron wanted to believe him, Foreign Minister Jean-Yves Le Drian said after critics claimed the French president has fallen into the old European trap of appeasing Putin’s Russia. “The president is not naive,” Le Drian said on the eve of Russia’s invasion. “He knows the methods, the character and the cynical nature of Putin.” Sylvie Corbet and Elaine Ganley contributed to this report from Paris.

Russia cracks down on media, protests as Ukraine war rages

EW YORK—Russian authorities on Sunday continued to block independent news outlets and to arrest protesters in an effort to tighten control over what information the domestic audience sees about the invasion of Ukraine. Multiple independent online outlets were blocked on Sunday, on top of dozens of others that were blocked last week. Others decided to halt their operations in Russia because of new repressive laws or refused to cover the invasion at all because of the pressure. Hundreds of protesters have been detained across Russia. The new additions to the list of blocked media included Mediazona, a news site that covers Russia’s police and justice system and has been an indispensable source of information about political arrests and high-profile court cases; the website of Snob magazine; the Agentstvo investigative news outlet; the 7x7 site covering regional news; the Troitsky Variant popular science newspaper that has published an open letter decrying the invasion; and two regional news sites that also spoke out against the attack. US-funded broadcaster Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty announced Sunday it was suspending its operation in Russia after it said the country intensified pressure on its journalists and tax authorities initiated bankruptcy proceedings against it. “[Russian communications and media agency] Roskomnadzor demanded we delete our entire web site. Yes, we received this demand from the agency—to block ourselves. Because we incorrectly cover Russia’s attack on Ukraine and call the war a war,” Mediazona said in a statement. “We were prepared for this. In recent days, military censorship has been effectively introduced in Russia, and there are almost no independent media left in the country. We understand all our risks, but we continue to work— this is our duty to our readers and to ourselves,” the outlet said and listed several ways Russian readers can get around the block. AP

A10 Tuesday, March 8, 2022 • Editor: Angel R. Calso

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How PHL can attain a sustainable future

oday, March 8, is International Women’s Day. It is a global holiday celebrated annually to commemorate the cultural, political, and socioeconomic achievements of women. The day also marks a call to action for accelerating women’s equality. The United Nation’s theme for this year’s observance is “Gender equality today for a sustainable tomorrow” in recognition and celebration of the women and girls who are leading the charge on climate-change adaptation and response and to honor their leadership and contribution towards a sustainable future. The campaign theme of IWD 2022 is #BreakTheBias, which encourages everyone to develop a greater understanding about gender bias and be more aware of its existence. The Philippines has been scoring well on international gender equality measures and indices, but more is needed to overcome the remaining challenges. We are the only Asian country that made it to the top 20 tier in terms of closing the gender gap, according to the Global Gender Gap Report 2020 of the World Economic Forum. The report shows that the Philippines has closed 78 percent of its overall gender gap, garnering a score of 0.781 (down by 1.8 percentage points from .799 in 2019). The Global Gender Gap Report 2020 measured countries on their progress towards gender parity in four dimensions: economic participation and opportunity, educational attainment, health and survival, and political empowerment. The 2020 report shows that the Philippines remained strong in three of the four dimensions. The dip in the country’s ranking is traced to the Political Empowerment gap, which has widened over the past two years. From 41.6 percent in 2019, the political empowerment score is down by 6.3 percentage points to 35.3 percent in 2020. According to the report, the downgrade is due to the lower female representation in the Cabinet, which declined from 25 percent to 10 percent from 2017 to 2019. Female representation in Congress also fell slightly, at 28 percent at the beginning of 2019. “The Philippines has closed 80 percent of the Economic Participation and Opportunity gender gap, with women outnumbering men in senior and leadership roles, as well as in professional and technical professions. It is only one of four countries to achieve this feat. The country ranks fifth on the indicator assessing gender wage equality, with a score of 81.2,” the report said. Philippine Commission on Women Chairperson Dr. Rhodora Bucoy takes this as a challenge to further strengthen the drive for gender equality and women’s empowerment. “The Philippines’s ranking may have dropped but this will not discourage but rather motivate us even more to work on breaking gender-based stereotypes and misogyny so that women are given equal opportunities with men,” Bucoy said, adding that PWC will “reinforce our partnerships with different national government agencies to ensure that educational, health, and economic services are provided to women. We will continue to work for the increased participation and representation of women in government seats, political parties, development councils and planning bodies, as provided in the Magna Carta of Women (Republic Act 9710).” In terms of employment opportunities, more women in the country are left behind. Data obtained by the BusinessMirror from the Philippine Statistics Authority showed that 17.428 million women were not in the labor force as of December 2021. This accounted for 65.9 percent of the total number of Filipinos who chose to stay out of the country’s pool of workers. Experts said the disproportionate impact of the pandemic on women is most evident in job losses. Socioeconomic Planning Secretary Karl Kendrick T. Chua recently quantified the country’s losses as a consequence of the absence of 17 million Filipino women from the labor force. Batting for the reopening of schools nationwide, Chua said: “For every week that schools remain closed, the economy loses P12 billion. That’s because a fourth of parents would not be able to report to work if their children continue studying from home.” (Read, “Neda bares P12billion weekly loss if schools remain closed under AL 1,” in the BusinessMirror, March 1, 2022). The celebration of International Women’s Day should serve as an occasion to highlight the need for all sectors to help empower Filipino women. In the time of the pandemic, when many of them lost their jobs, the best way to help millions of women is to invest in programs and projects that make them economically productive. Gender dividend refers to the increased economic growth that could be realized with investments in women. Reforms that allow women to realize their full potential are needed for the country to attain a more sustainable future.

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he Ukraine-Russia war is spiking the prices of oil and certain commodities, such as wheat and corn, in the world market because of the disruption in the supply chain. The geopolitical conflict fundamentally augments the discourse that a nation must be well prepared and achieve a higher degree of self-reliance on food and other commodities to temper the economic fallout. The higher prices of wheat and corn will eventually make an impact on Philippine agriculture and consumers. Russia is the world’s largest exporter of wheat while Ukraine ranks as the fourth-biggest shipper of the commodity. The two warring nations combined account for almost one-third of wheat’s world trade. Ukraine, meanwhile, is the fourthlargest corn exporter in the world and accounts for about 22 percent of the global trade. The Philippines will feel the impact of rising feed wheat and corn prices on the cost of meat as soon as local feed millers and livestock and poultry growers run out of inventory and start replenishing their stock. The Western blockade against Russian products, including wheat, and the logistical challenges in Ukraine are squeezing the supply of these two

key commodities. The Philippines, from what I heard from an industry official, requires 10 million tons of corn annually. The country only produces 7 million tons, with 2 million of the volume consumed by people in the Visayas. That leaves only 5 million tons for livestock and poultry growers, who must import the balance of 5 million tons against the backdrop of the European war. We must address the shortfall in local agricultural production if we want to survive geopolitical disputes. President Duterte, in his effort to find ways on how to mitigate the impact of the war on the Philippines, last week approved the recommendation of his economic team to bolster the economy and stabilize prices by raising local production to ensure food security.

No meat tonight John Mangun

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A self-reliant economy in the face of war

N the Age of SocMed, people have been made to believe—by design or by chance—that they as individuals and their opinions are important. That is not true.

You and I mean very little if anything. Shakespeare said, “All the world’s a stage, and all the men and women merely players: they have their exits and their entrances; and one man in his time plays many parts.” We are only near the back, put on stage to cheer and applaud the big stars on cue, and if we are “lucky” we get our face on camera as the zombies eat the supermarket cashier. It is not simply that life is unfair, which was probably Abel’s last thought as brother Cain beat him to death. Remember that Abel had the best offering to Jehovah and still came in last place. It is that we are conditioned and manipulated to accept “last place.”

As presidential candidates we have a vice president, three current/ former senators and the mayor of perhaps the most important city in the Philippines. All of them say that they have at the least, a partial solution to some of the most serious problems facing the country. But they could not tell us until their campaign started and, of course, no solution can happen unless they are voted the next national leader. But maybe you can find yourself in the drone rally pictures or get a free facemask. And if you live in a small town, you might even be lucky enough to get an almost-selfie with a candidate. If things continue on the trend

A vibrant and modern agriculture sector is what we need to shield us from disruptive geopolitical conflicts. Food sufficiency will assure our security more than guns and ammunition.

I can only agree with the recommendations of the economic team. Boosting agricultural production to attain food security is one of the advocacies of our family. In our own modest way, my wife Cynthia and I and the rest of my family have been helping to uplift the lives of Filipino farmers by providing them with trainings on modern farm technology to boost their productivity, harvests and income. Through the Villar SIPAG (Social Institute for Poverty Alleviation and Governance), Cynthia has been providing free training sessions on agricultural-related courses to farmer-trainers and other stakeholders in the sector. The Villar SIPAG is sponsoring a training on agricultural crops productions at its Villar SIPAG Farm School at the boundary of Bacoor, Cavite and Las Piñas; San Jose del Monte, Bulacan; San Miguel, Iloilo; and in Davao to cater to farmers in the Visayas and in Mindanao, respectively. The farm schools will facilitate the transfer of agricultural technology to participants, who in turn are expected to teach farmers when they

that we are in the middle of right now, you and the nation are potentially going to be economically devastated. I know you remember I said last year that March 16 was a panic point politically and perhaps economically. With fingers on keyboard and eyes on the screen, Brent oil just touched $130 per barrel. Whatever specific price it trades at today and for the next week is not important. It was trading at $35 at the beginning of 2016 and $81 at the beginning of 2022. It is, of course, Putin’s fault for invading Ukraine. Or maybe Biden’s fault for letting Putin do that. Or Trump’s fault, or Xi Jinping’s fault. Or maybe it is Saudi Arabia’s fault. I only know that it is not your fault or my fault. And I also know I am the one who is going to pay my family’s fuel, electric, and food costs, not any of them. However, my family has a portion of fish, chicken, or pork for every meal. You might be surprised to know that I do not have a fishpond or pigs or chickens in my front yard. But I am not worried about price increases because I make money enough from other sources rather than from raising livestock to afford to continue to buy more expensive food.

return to their respective towns after graduating from the Villar Farm School. Cynthia, chairperson of the Senate committee on Agriculture and Food, has been continuing her projects and programs that benefit our farmers, who belong to the “poorest among the poor.” I also remember my provincial sorties back then when I was campaigning in Northern Luzon provinces, where I had a dialogue with farmers and graced the commencement exercises of some colleges and universities. Agriculture is close to my heart. I personally inspected the agricultural projects I initiated in cooperation with the Department of Agriculture and the National Food Authority, especially the hybrid warehouse and storage facility in Kalinga. I have always believed that the agriculture sector plays a key role in the country’s economic development. And if given more support and funding, the sector will help in alleviating poverty and hunger among the poor, especially in the provinces. A vibrant and modern agriculture sector is what we need to shield us from disruptive geopolitical conflicts. Food sufficiency will assure our security more than guns and ammunition. For comments, send e-mail to mbv_secretariat@vistaland.com.ph or visit www.mannyvillar. com.ph

I have written this idea for more than 10 years. The Philippines does not have any appreciable amounts of commercial oil, but we do not need to. All we need is to be able to pay for our oil no matter how high prices go. “Oil prices near all-time record.” But also “Gold futures hit $2,000 as war boosts haven demand.” “Nickel price tops $30,000 for first time since 2008.” “Copper price hits alltime high.” The Philippines does not have oil, but we do have gold, nickel, and copper. For 12 years, and through two administrations, our national leaders could not figure out a way—as many other nations (Australia, Indonesia, Canada, and Germany, for example) have—to utilize our mineral wealth in an environmentally sound, effective, efficient, and tax revenuegenerating way to genuinely provide a safety net to the public in the face of disastrous oil prices. “Sorry kids, no meat tonight because Daddy can’t raise chickens and pigs.” E-mail me at mangun@gmail.com. Follow me on Twitter @mangunonmarkets. PSE stock-market information and technical analysis provided by AAA Southeast Equities Inc.

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Procedures for the availment of tax treaty benefits: Then and now Atty. Mabel L. Buted

Tax Law for Business

ast year, the Bureau of Internal Revenue issued Revenue Memorandum Order 14-2021, streamlining the procedures for the availment of tax treaty benefits. This RMO updated the guidelines and procedures and supposedly reformat the manner of confirming the entitlement to treaty benefits. With these objectives, the new RMO gave the income payor-withholding agent the option to apply the tax treaty rate/exemption outright, so long as the non-resident foreign payee provides to the payor its Tax Residency Certificate and BIR Form No. 0901 (Application Form) prior to the payment for the first time of the income involved in the transaction. To that extent, the Bureau may have achieved its intention. With the new RMO, the taxpayer is permitted to enjoy the tax treaty benefit even without a prior tax treaty relief application (TTRA). However, there are still many things to be done before a taxpayer could fully enjoy the tax treaty benefits. Taxpayers (both the payor and the income recipient) are still not spared from the requirement of filing a subsequent application. Either the payor-withholding agent or the non-resident foreign payee is required to file a subsequent application in the form of a request for confirmation of tax treaty benefit entitlement or a TTRA. The form of the application and the determination of the proper party to file the application must be the reason why, in the RMO, the withholding tax return and the alphabetical list of payees became part of the filing requirements. These two were not required based on the rules existing prior to RMO 14-2021. Also, bank documents or certificate of deposit and other proofs of payments or remittances of the income are required to be submitted. These were not required before. And in some instances, the invoices duly issued by the income recipient and proofs that the payment of income is not effectively connected with the permanent establishment of the foreign enterprise also need to be submitted. For income constituting business profits, the contract executed by the parties is not even sufficient based on the new rules, as the authorization of the signatories to the contract to sign is also being required. In addition, a Certificate of Completion of the project needs to be executed and submitted. For interests, dividends and royalties, the submission of the simpler Certificate of Residence for Treaty Relief (CORTT) previously mandated under RMO 8-2017 was replaced. Aside from resurrecting the previous requirements of RMO 72-2010, the following need also to be submitted: (a) for interest, proof that the interest rate is at arm’s length, if the debtor and creditor are related parties; and (b) for dividends, certified true copy of the Audited Financial Statements (AFS) as of the last fiscal year, and the General Information Sheet (GIS) for the year immediately preceding the date of declaration. Before, the filing of TTRA is mostly done on a per contract or transaction basis. This was changed. For long-term contracts involving the payment of income where the condition for entitlement to treaty benefits is dependent on time threshold, like service income, an annual updating is mandatory. Apparently, the new guidelines imposed additional requirements, some of which are superfluous or

redundant, if not impractical, in the determination as to whether or not the taxpayer has met the conditions prescribed under the treaty to be entitled to the tax benefits. I’d like to note that at the time of filing for confirmation or TTRA, the income may just have been accrued and not have been paid yet. In these instances, some of the requirements are not applicable. There could therefore be no proof of payment or certificate of completion to be submitted. Yet the application is not accepted in the absence of such requirement. Also, the mandatory submission of the authorization of the representatives to sign the contract does not have anything to do with the determination of the entitlement to treaty benefits. If there is already a transaction, then there is a business between the parties. The authority of the signatory is irrelevant in the applicability of the treaty rules. Likewise, the fact that the interest rate involved is at arm’s length or not is irrelevant, as the value of the interest is not a factor in the enjoyment of tax treaty relief on interest payments. Why is there a need then to show proof that the interest rate between the parties is at arm’s length or not? That arm’s length rate, perhaps, is a subject of an audit but not in the determination of the entitlement to treaty benefits. For dividends, the information sought to be obtained from the AFS or the GIS may already be found in the Board Resolution or the Certification from the Corporate Secretary already submitted as part of the application. The BIR does not accept the application if the documentary requirements are not complete. This is a complete deviation from the procedures before. Prior to RMO 14-2021, applications were accepted and assigned a Control Number upon filing, with Notice to Submit Documents, in case there are lacking documents or there is an additional request of documents noted during the evaluation of the application. Now, when, on its face and based on the checklist, the documents are not complete, the BIR rejects the filing. So, with the issuance of the new guidelines, taxpayers are advised to ensure the completeness of these requirements upon filing, and to explain at the first instance that some of the documentary requirements are not applicable, otherwise, there is a risk that the filing will not be accepted. Almost a year has passed since the implementation of the new RMO. I can only imagine the experiences of taxpayers. Was the Bureau’s objective of streamlining the procedures for treaty availments achieved or was the process made more difficult? The author is a junior partner of Du-Baladad and Associates Law Offices (BDB Law), a memberfirm of WTS Global. The article is for general information only and is not intended, nor should be construed as a substitute for tax, legal or financial advice on any specific matter. Applicability of this article to any actual or particular tax or legal issue should be supported therefore by a professional study or advice. If you have any comments or questions concerning the article, you may e-mail the author at mabel.buted@ bdblaw.com.ph or call 8403-2001 local 160.

Tuesday, March 8, 2022 A11

The bastardization of the party-list system Manny F. Dooc

TELLTALES

ne of the most heralded and lauded provisions embodied in our 1987 Philippine Constitution was the inclusion of the party-list system in our fundamental law. Political scholars who had followed the deliberations of the 1986 Constitutional Commission that drafted the Constitution had touted it as the most significant act that returned power to the people. If the Edsa People Power had demonstrated to the whole world that the sovereign power resides in the people, not with the authoritarian usurper, the institutionalization of the party-list system ensures the marginalized sectors that comprise the majority of our population of representation in the highest lawmaking body of our government. It has given true meaning to our republican form of government where the voices of all sectors of our society—the workingmen, women, youth, farmers, fisherfolk, and the poor and the powerless—have the chance to be heard. The party-list system is a constitutional fiat that the government adopts a mechanism to promote proportional representation in the House of Representatives, which by its bigger membership and district participation from across the country is truly the people’s Congress. While anyone can run for and win an elective office, it’s more of an illusion than a fact. The harsh political reality is that all the odds are stacked against a candidate who quixotically challenges a windmill. The plurality system that determines the winner in our election has its flaws. Sectors or interest groups that have scarce resources and logistics cannot compete with organized and well-funded political parties. Competent and qualified candidates without well-oiled political machinery and without the support of powerful politicians and big businesses are trounced in every election. The members of the 1986 Constitutional Commission were aware of this aberration and decided to remedy it collectively. The deliberation and approval by the body of the party-list system was one of the highlights of the Committee’s work and was well received by the people. As noted by author

Hector S. de Leon in his book, Philippine Constitutional Law Principles and Cases, the framers had agreed that “the basic aim of representative government is to attain the broadest possible representation of all interests in its lawmaking and policy-making body. It becomes necessary to give an opportunity to the various social, economic, cultural, geographical and other sectors of our society, particularly the disadvantaged groups, to have their voices heard. And because they are usually without sufficient funding or political machinery, it becomes incumbent upon the government to extend such opportunities without the need to go through expensive electoral contests…” For his part, as shown on the record of the Senate on the party-list system, Senator Arturo Tolentino said: “Marginalized parties are those which, on their strength as political parties, would not be able to elect congressmen in the different districts because they would have not the number of votes needed in particular districts and if these voters are combined together on a national basis, they may be able to elect even one or two congressmen on the basis of proportional representation.” Thus, instituting the

party-list system was a giant leap to truly democratize representation to the House of Representatives. Legislation is a crucial function of a democratic government. Unless all interest groups are represented in the lawmaking and policy-making process, laws enacted and policies formulated will not truly serve the interests of all. Such laws and policies will mostly benefit the cliques and the elites to which the legislators belong, or beholden. The legislative branch of the government becomes the protector of the vested interests of the rich and the powerful, not the ordinary people. When the marginalized sectors are excluded from the legislative process, their concerns are hardly addressed and their interests are left out. Instead of encouraging them to participate in our democratic processes, we drive them out where they engage in protest actions and vent their ire in the so-called parliament of the streets. When major political parties backed up by their traditional powerful allies continue to dominate and control our legislature, the needs of the poor will not be getting the priority they deserve. Relevant socioeconomic legislation that will uplift the welfare of the disadvantaged will be lost in the legislative mill. Thus, we have every reason to hope that the party-list system will remedy this anomaly in our electoral process and see a limit to power and money politics in electing our representatives to the Lower House. No one doubts the noble objective of the party-list system. Extending political power to the powerless and the dispossessed such as labor, peasant, urban poor, indigenous cultural minorities, women and youth will bring about power-sharing and participatory government. But how do we give flesh and substance to this salutary provision enshrined in our Constitution? As Commissioner Jaime Tadeo had lamented, “our experience has shown that legislation has tended to benefit more the propertied class who constitutes a small minority in our society than the impoverished majority, 70 percent of whom live below the poverty line.

This has come about because the rich have managed to dominate and control the legislature… So, the critical question is, how do we ensure ample representation of basic sectors in the legislature so that the laws reflect their needs and aspirations?” Recently, Kontra Daya, an election watchdog led by Mr. Danilo Arao, has claimed that 70 percent of the party-list groups, or 122 of the 177 registered in this year’s election, are identified with traditional political clans and big business without clear advocacies or causes. Political families directly control 44 of them. Moreover, the backgrounds of their nominees are questionable or totally alien to the group they feign to represent. Some groups are closely connected with the government or the military and incumbent officials have been named as nominees of the groups. These dubious acts make a mockery of an otherwise laudable experiment to attain the broadest participation of our people in government. Greedy political clans resort to party-list mechanisms to further fortify their stranglehold of power in their bailiwicks. The party-list system has become another vehicle to entrench their political dynasties. Unfortunately, RA 7941, which implements the party-list system, has been found wanting in providing clear and unambiguous provisions to achieve the intent of the law. And to further muddle the issue, in 2013, the Supreme Court had reversed its earlier decision by allowing political parties and groups not representing marginalized sectors to join the partylist election. It’s a serious drawback from a previous ruling that provided a haven for the underprivileged sectors safe from the onslaught of elite politics. The Comelec has even refused to answer the challenge hurled by Kontra Daya. Thus far, the novel experiment of the party-list system has failed. It was a highly hailed concept pregnant with great hopes and expectations when it was introduced in our fundamental law, but 35 years since its conception, the promise of a party-list system has not been delivered. It was lost in interpretation and mangled in implementation.

Russian war in world’s ‘breadbasket’ threatens food supply By Joseph Wilson, Samy Magdy, Aya Batrawy And Chinedu Asadu The Associated Press

ARCELONA, Spain—The Russian tanks and missiles besieging Ukraine also are threatening the food supply and livelihoods of people in Europe, Africa and Asia who rely on the vast, fertile farmlands of the Black Sea region—known as the “breadbasket of the world.” Ukrainian farmers have been forced to neglect their fields as millions flee, fight or try to stay alive. Ports are shut down that send wheat and other food staples worldwide to be made into bread, noodles and animal feed. And there are worries Russia, another agricultural powerhouse, could have its grain exports upended by Western sanctions. While there have not yet been global disruptions to wheat supplies, prices have surged 55 percent since a week before the invasion amid concerns about what could happen next. If the war is prolonged, countries that rely on affordable wheat exports from Ukraine could face shortages starting in July, International Grains Council director Petit Arnold told The Associated Press. That could create food insecurity and throw more people into poverty in places like Egypt and Lebanon, where diets are dominated by government-subsidized bread. In Europe, officials are preparing for potential shortages of products from Ukraine and increased prices for livestock feed that could mean more expensive meat and dairy if farmers are forced to pass along costs to customers. Russia and Ukraine combine for nearly a third of the world’s wheat and barley exports. Ukraine also is a major supplier of corn and the global leader in sunflower oil, used in food

processing. The war could reduce food supplies just when prices are at their highest levels since 2011. A prolonged conflict would have a big impact some 1,500 miles (2,400 kilometers) away in Egypt, the world’s largest wheat importer. Millions rely on subsidized bread made from Ukrainian grains to survive, with about a third of people living in poverty. “Wars mean shortages, and shortages mean (price) hikes,” Ahmed Salah, a 47-year-old father of seven, said in Cairo. “Any hikes will be catastrophic not only for me, but for the majority of the people.” Anna Nagurney, a professor of supply chains, logistics and economics at the University of Massachusetts Amherst, said, “Wheat, corn, oils, barley, flour are extremely important to food security...especially in the poorer parts of the globe.” With Ukrainian men being called on to fight, she said, “Who’s going to be doing the harvesting? Who’d be doing the transportation?” Egypt’s state procurer of wheat, which normally buys heavily from Russia and Ukraine, had to cancel two orders in less than a week: one for overpricing, the other because a lack of companies offered to sell their supplies. Sharp spikes in the cost of wheat globally could severely affect Egypt’s ability to keep bread prices at their current subsidized level. “Bread is extremely heavily sub-

sidized in Egypt, and successive governments have found that cuts to those subsidies are the one straw that should be kept off the camel’s back at all costs,” Mirette Mabrouk, a senior fellow at the Middle East Institute, wrote in a recent analysis. War-ravaged Syria recently announced it would cut spending and ration staples. In nearby Lebanon, where a massive explosion at the Beirut port in 2020 destroyed the country’s main grain silos, authorities are scrambling to make up for a predicted wheat shortage, with Ukraine providing 60 percent of its supply. They are in talks with the US, India and Canada to find other sources for a country already in financial meltdown. Even before the war threatened to affect wheat supplies in sub-Saharan Africa, people in Kenya were demanding #lowerfoodprices on social media as inflation eroded their spending power. Now, they’re bracing for worse. African countries imported agricultural products worth $4 billion from Russia in 2020, and about 90 percent was wheat, said Wandile Sihlobo, chief economist for the Agricultural Business Chamber of South Africa. In Nigeria, flour millers believe a shortage of wheat supplies from Russia would affect the price of products like bread, a common food in Africa’s most populous country. “All of us need to look elsewhere” in the future, said Tope Ogun with Honeywell Flour Mills Plc., one of Nigeria’s biggest flour milling companies. “We might not get what we need to, and there is likely going to be an increase in the price.” Nigeria has taken pains to reduce its reliance on Russian grains, with farmers moving to plant more wheat

fields to try to meet 70 percent of the country’s demand in five years, said Gambo Sale, national secretary of the Wheat Farmers Association of Nigeria. “We have the land, we have the people, we have the money, we have whatever we can need in Nigeria” to grow wheat, he said. “All we need now is time.” The disruption can be felt as far away as Indonesia, where wheat is used to make instant noodles, bread, fried foods and snacks. Ukraine was Indonesia’s secondlargest wheat supplier last year, providing 26 percent of wheat consumed. Rising prices for noodles, in turn, would hurt lower-income people, said Kasan Muhri, who heads the trade ministry’s research division. Ukraine and Russia also combine for 75 percent of global sunflower oil exports, accounting for 10 percent of all cooking oils, IHS Markit said. Raad Hebsi, a wholesale retailer in Baghdad, said he and other Iraqis are bracing to pay more for their cooking oil. “Once the items stored are sold, we will see an increase in prices of these items,” he said. “We will likely purchase alternatives from Turkey, and Turkey will no doubt take advantage of the situation in Ukraine and raise its prices.” Farmers in the United States, the world’s leading corn exporter and a major wheat supplier, are watching to see if US wheat exports spike. In the European Union, farmers are concerned about rising costs for livestock feed. Batrawy reported from Dubai, Magdy from Cairo and Asadu from Lagos, Nigeria. AP reporters Paul Wiseman in Washington; Qassim Abdul-Zahra in Baghdad; Cara Anna in Nairobi, Kenya; Niniek Karmini in Jakarta, Indonesia; and Roxana Hegeman in Belle Plaine, Kansas, contributed

A12 Tuesday, March 8, 2022

Tariff cuts on imported raw content of animal feed backed

By Jasper Emmanuel Y. Arcalas

@jearcalas

HE temporary lowering of tariffs on imported raw materials for animal feed products has gained traction, with more agriculture industry players supporting the proposal to mitigate the impact on domestic food prices of the worsening Eastern Europe conflict. Oversea Feeds Corp. Vice President Chris Co said the government should consider lowering the tariffs on imported animal feed materials to ensure that the prices of finished feed products remain stable. This would cushion, Co explained, the increase in meat prices due to compounding global factors, such as tightening feed supply and rising oil prices. “It is really how to temper the problem. One thing the government can do is to review the rules on [tariffs] of our ingredients. There are feed ingredients that do not have [tariffs] anymore but there are some that still have,” he

said in a virtual press briefing on Monday. “They have to review it, take this into consideration to temper the costs of our ingredients. The tariff for imported finished feed products is zero while certain ingredients still have tariffs. It is like the government is favoring the finished products over raw materials that contribute to the local economy due to manufacturing,” he added. Co noted the imported raw materials that still have tariff rates today: corn (5 percent for those originating from Asean; 35 percent for outside Asean in-quota; 50 per-

cent for outside Asean out-quota), feed wheat (7 percent); fish oil (3 percent), distiller’s dried grains with solubles (1 percent). “What we need to do is to temper the cost. The ideal situation is to remove all the tariffs [on these materials]. But if it is not possible, we should consider lowering tariffs for wheat and corn since these are the two major ingredients for aquaculture and livestock feeds,” Co explained. Co also disclosed that importers are facing “unnecessary extra costs” due to domestic port congestion. Oversea Feeds’ Co disclosed that exporters of raw materials have stopped shipping, adopting a “wait-and-see” stance on developments in Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, further putting pressure on prices. “Exporters don’t want to ship raw materials right now. They are waiting to see what will happen. This will lead to feed ingredients getting more expensive, or go out of stock altogether,” he said. “The question now is not to prevent the increase in prices because we cannot do anything about the war in Ukraine, but how to temper the problem,” he added. Tugon Kabuhayan, a food security advocacy group, urged the

government to “act fast” to avert a spike in food prices across numerous commodities. The group argued that lower feed supply would lead to lesser domestic animal protein production from meat to fish products. Tugon Kabuhayan co-convenor Norberto Chingcuanco said they anticipate further supply disruptions in the coming months as farmers in Ukraine have stopped planting grain, and silos in the country were reportedly destroyed by Russia. “If we don’t act fast, we will have a shortage of feeds. Less feeds means less production in the animal and aquaculture industries. Our country will once again resort to importation of fish and meat. We want to cushion the impact of the RussianUkraine war on our industries,” the group said. The BusinessMirror earlier reported that local economists urged the President’s economic team to consider the suspension of taxes on oil and wheat imports to cushion the impact of hostilities in Eastern Europe on consumers. (Related story: https://businessmirror. com.ph/2022/02/25/expertsp u s h-h a lt-to -whe a t- oi l-i mports-tax/)

D.O.J. HAILS 160-YR SENTENCE ON U.S. CHILD PREDATOR By Joel R. San Juan @jrsanjuan1573

HE Department of Justice praised the 160 years’ sentence imposed by a US federal judge on American national Benjamin Walter for producing and attempting to produce and distributing child pornography involving Filipino children as young as five years old. DOJ spokesman Emmeline Aglipay-Villar, who is also the undersecretary in charge of the Inter-Agency Council Against Trafficking (Iacat), said Walter’s conviction “is a triumph not just for his victims but also for other victims of sexual abuse and exploitation.” Villar described online exploitation of children as “one of the vilest of crimes that preys upon the most vulnerable—our innocent children. Most of them are left scarred for life and it is important for their complete recovery and healing that their abusers are held accountable for their crimes.” She noted that the country has the highest incidence of online sexual exploitation of children (OSEC) in the world and the numbers keep growing every year. In 2021, the DOJ-Iacat said

a total of 162 OSEC cases were recorded out of the 1,802 incidents of human trafficking and other forms of exploitations documented by the agency. A total of 132 child-victims of online sexual predators were rescued in 50 operations conducted by authorities from January to August 2021. The operations resulted in the arrest of 16 suspects, according to the DOJ-Iacat report. On the other hand, the council successfully prosecuted 29 cases involving OSEC, but the number was lower compared to the 100 convictions secured in 2020. “Each year our rescues of abused and exploited children, investigations of OSEC, cases filed, and convictions secured are increasing due to our continued efforts to strengthen and scale up our response against OSEC,” Villar noted. The US DOJ announced that Walter, who hails from Decatur, Alabama, was convicted by a federal grand jury for four counts of producing and attempting to produce child pornography and one count each of receiving and distributing child pornography. Continued on A3

Law setting age of consent Oil price... at 16 years in PHL signed Continued from A1

By Samuel P. Medenilla @sam_medenilla

R ESIDEN T Duter te has signed Republic Act 11648 raising the age for determination for rape for minors from 12 to 16 years old, a measure that is hoped to curb the alarming rise of child abuse in the country. The landmark legislation, signed last Friday but released to the media on March 7, ensures more minors will now be protected against sexual exploitation and discrimination. It was quickly hailed by Sen. Richard J. Gordon, a coauthor and sponsor of Senate Bill 2332 and one of those who actively pushed for the measure. RA 11648 penalized people who will engage in sexual intercourse or lascivious conduct with a minor, under 16 years of age, will be prosecuted for rape or lascivious conduct, respectively. If the victim of lascivious conduct is under 16 of age, the erring individual will be sanctioned with reclusion temporal in its medium period (14 to 17 years of imprisonment).

Revised age reference

UNDER the new law, a person entrusted with the education or custody of a minor, who are aged 16 and over, but under 18 years, who will engage in “qualified seduction” will be sanctioned with “prision correccional” in minimum to medium period (six months to four years imprisonment). A higher penalty will be imposed against the perpetrator of the illegal act if the victim is a relative, whether virgin or over 18 years of age. In the case of simple seduction, wherein the minor, 16 and over, but less than 18 years old, the erring individual will be sanctioned with “arresto mayor” (a month to six months of imprisonment). Prior to the signing of the new law, the reference age for the crime was 12 years of age, which appalled lawmakers said was one of the lowest in the region.

No criminal liability will be imposed against a person who engages in consensual sexual intercourse with a 16-year-old if the age difference between parties is not more than three years. However, this exception will not apply if the victim is under 13 years of age.

Child trafficking and pornography

RA 11648 also sanctioned persons, who will be found guilty of child trafficking, with reclusion temporal (12 to 20 years of imprisonment) to reclusion perpetua (20 to 40 years of imprisonment. The maximum period of the penalties will be imposed on the perpetrator if the victim is under 16. The new law also penalizes those who employ minors for obscene publications and indecent shows, including those who sell or distribute such materials with prision mayor in its medium period (eight to 10 years of imprisonment). The Department of Education (DepEd) was tasked to teach the provisions of the 11648 to minors through “age-appropriate subject.” RA 11648 will take effect 15 days after its publication in the Official Gazette or in a newspaper of general circulation. Congress enacted the new law after the United Nations called on the Philippines last year to raise the age for sexual consent in the country, which at 12 year old is the lowest in Asia.

Gordon: Ends stigma of PHL

MEANWHILE, Senator Gordon, chairman of the Justice and Human Rights Committee, called the signing a big step in the development of children’s rights. “We are thankful for the passage of this bill, which ends the stigma of the Philippines having the lowest age of sexual consent in Asia. It fortifies protection of children’s rights, and criminalizes perverted minds,” said Gordon, a coauthor and sponsor of Senate Bill 2332, on Monday. Continued on A3

Republic Act 9367 or the “Biofuels Act of 2006” mandates the blending of one percent (B1) cocobiodiesel or coco methylester (CME) in local diesel. This increased to 2 percent (B2) in 2007. The shift to B5 from B2 was supposed to happen in 2020 but concerns on biodiesel supply has put this on hold. IPPCA also raised concern on the proposal to suspend excise tax, saying this will have an impact on the oil firms’ inventories. Oil firms are required to maintain a minimum inventory equivalent to 15 days’ supply for petroleum products, and seven days’ supply for liquefied petroleum gas (LPG). For oil refiners, the minimum crude and petroleum products inventory should last for 30 days. “The problem is the excise tax is prepaid already. This will cause a delay, oil companies will be forced to sell with excise tax until deplete stocks. There’s a concern, especially the smaller oil companies, to import at a cost significantly higher right now.” Based on the large increase, the whole industry—with the average use computed at 60 million liters—has to cough up P12.5 billion to finance cost of capital, it noted. “Big players have no problem but small players may find difficulty in securing loans to import the same quantity.” Soriano told congressmen at Monday’s committee hearing, “If there will be less competition with big players, we will not have enough check and balance. So, second point is loan facility and freeze interest rates for emergency importation of fuels.” As part of the DOE proposal to Congress, DOE-Oil Management Industry Bureau Director Rino Abad said the Minimum Inventory Requirement (MIR) could be extended to 60 days from 30. Abad, however, said this is still subject to consultations with industry players since this move would entail additional cost. “We can discuss this with the oil firms’ capability. We have to consult them because it involves capex (capital expenditure),” he said. As of February 28, the country’s inventories stood at 2 billion liters. “There is 944 million liters more in transit. So, we have a total of 2.944 billion liters,” said Abad.

Companies

Editor: Jennifer A. Ng

Tuesday, March 8, 2022

Ipolymer to get incentives for face mask project–BOI

By Tyrone Jasper C. Piad

@TyronePiad

he Board of Investments (BoI) has given its nod to Ipolymer Solutions Corp.’s P9.6-million face mask manufacturing project in Caloocan City. The attached agency of the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) said it has greenlighted the application for registration of Ipolymer. The project has an annual capacity of 13.2 million KN95 face masks and 26.4 million surgical masks. “The country has been reeling from the ramifications of the pandemic, exacerbated by the emergence of new variants. With the entry of another domestic player for the

manufacturing of facial masks, it is pivotal for the country’s capacity to cater to the rising demand of the public,” Trade Secretary Ramon M. Lopez said in a statement. The face mask manufacturing project qualified under the 2020 Investment Priorities Plan, covering the Personal Protective Equipment (PPE), based on the Corporate Recovery and Tax Incentives for Enterprises Act.

“Since the outset of the pandemic, the BOI has been at the forefront of harnessing the Philippine manufacturing capacity amid the present global health crisis including through the repurposing project for (PPEs), disinfectants, and ventilators; and industrial coordination to ensure that oxygen is available across all hospitals in the country,” Lopez said. The Trade department noted that demand for face masks has been on the rise across the world it has become part of the minimum health requirements. With the project up and running, the local monthly production of face masks is projected to increase by 3.3 million, the BoI said. The agency clarified, however, that all of the raw materials requirements will be imported. “During these difficult times—be it natural calamities or global health crises—the local capability to sup-

ply critical and strategic products such as medical-grade face masks is crucial and serves as a reminder of the importance of developing our domestic manufacturing industry,” Lopez said. The BoI registered two projects for the production of face masks last year. These include Sunwest Construction and Development Corp. in Bulacan and Nagaland Development Corp. in Naga City with annual capacity of 15.6 million and 2.4 million, respectively. This year, the DTI said it aims to approve P1-trillion worth of investments as several projects are currently in the pipeline and awaiting approval for incentives. BoI approved 235 projects amounting to P655.4 billion last year, which is below its P905-billion target for 2021 and P1.02-trillion worth of investments greenlighted in 2020.

Meralco moves supply bid deadline By Lenie Lectura @llectura

he Manila Electric Co. (Meralco) has moved the deadline for the submission of counter offers for the supply of 850 megawatts (MW) of mid-merit renewable energy that the utility firm would need by 2026. Meralco utility economics head Lawrence Fernandez said the bid submission deadline was moved, initially to March 14, then to April 5. “ The Third-Party Bids and Awards Committee (TPBAC) received a request from a bidder to extend the bid submission deadline,” said Fernandez. Meralco head of Regulatory Management Office Ronaldo Valles said the TPBAC received expres-

MSI kicks off search for content creators

ilipino content creators are invited to submit their works of art as computing device brand MSI announced on Monday the kickoff of its annual global competition. The MSI Creator Awards 2022, themed “Create Your Utopia”, recognizes and encourages the most creative and outstanding creators in graphic design, 3D creation and film. In addition to these three categories, there will be MSI Special Prize and People’s Choice, so that more creations have the opportunity to be favored. The winners will receive MSI’s latest Creator series laptop personal computers (PCs), desktops, graphic cards or monitors, totally valued at over $35,000. One entry from all categories will be chosen for MSI Special Prize that best presents the brand’s spirit. For the People’s Choice award, there will be an online voting for the most popular artwork from June 15 to 30. All netizens who will participate in the poll can win the MSI VIGOR GK30 COMBO Gaming keyboard and mouse set. “We continue to provide creators with a platform to create and show, and are committed to launching cutting-edge products with perfect craftsmanship to fuel more creative energy to creators,” said Sam Chern, vice president of marketing at MSI. Roderick L. Abad

sions of interest from SMC Global Light and Power Corp. and SunAsia Energy Inc. to challenge the unsolicited bid of Terra Solar. Valles said both challengers are building a 2,500-MW solar and 4,000-MWh battery energy storage. They will challenge the bid of Terra Solar, which proposed a P6.0800 per kilowatt-hour (kWh) headline rate and levelized cost of electricity. It proposed a 2,500-MW solar and a 4,000-MWh battery storage. In particular, it proposed to supply Meralco 600 MW which will be made available to the utility firm on February 26, 2026; while the additional 250 MW is expected to be delivered starting February 26, 2027. Terra Solar is the special purpose vehicle of Prime Infrastructure Capital Inc. and Solar Philippines Power Project Holdings Inc. It will source

power from its planned solar power plants with Energy Storage System in Batangas-Cavite, Bulacan, Nueva Ecija, Tarlac, and Zambales. The bid invite stated that these plants are under development. SunAsia Energy earlier said it formed a consortium of solar power developers to challenge Terra Solar’s unsolicited bid. “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,” said SunAsia Energy President Tetchi Capellan in a statement, adding that the latest Competitive Supply Procurement of Meralco is “a very intimidating bid process” since it is the biggest

deal in the region. “What urged us to challenge Terra Solar was not so much our common desire to acquire a power purchase agreement of this magnitude. The driving force behind our collaboration was our 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 [CSP].” Separately, Valles said that the Department of Energy has approved the terms of reference for the 180MW CSP of baseload capacity that will supply the requirements of Meralco from February 26 to July 25. He said this would replace the higher price of fuel of First Gas plants arising from the Malampaya gas supply restriction.

Boracay Water invests ₧4.3B in capex

oracay Water, which recently marked 12 years of providing reliable water supply and wastewater services to the country’s top tourist destination, has invested more than P4.32 billion in various infrastructure facilities. Boracay Water is a public-private partnership between the Tourism Infrastructure and Enterprise Zone Authority and Manila Water’s fully owned subsidiary, Manila Water Philippine Ventures. Immediately after Boracay Water began its operations in 2010, the company developed a 25-year master plan anchored on environmental sustainability, service continuity, service accessibility and water security, to support the economic potential of the Island as a major tourist haven. “Boracay Water made sure that safe and reliable water supply is available in the Island and at the same time, ensured proper wastewater management in the island’s three barangays namely Manocmanoc, Balabag, and Yapak including the white beach’s popular commercial stations 1, 2, and 3.” By 2015, various projects were implemented to improve water supply network from source to distribution which increased water availability in the Island, allowing 100 percent of Boracay Water’s customers to experience 24/7 supply from only 13 hours or less back in 2010. Some of the major projects completed included the rehabilitation of the water treatment plant in Caticlan

Boracay Water continues to implement upgrades and projects to expand proper wastewater management services in the Island. Contributed photo

with a capacity of 25 million liters per day, the one-kilometer submarine water pipeline along the Caticlan-Boracay channel that supplies water to Boracay from mainland Malay town, repairs and replacement of kilometers of old networks along with expansion of piping system, rehabilitation and construction of pumping stations and booster pumps to serve the highest and farthest areas of the Island. Boracay Water also focused on reducing systems losses due to leaking old pipes which was at a high of 37 percent of total production in 2010. To date, the company has brought the level of water losses down to 18 percent. Water recovered from leakages is brought back to the system and distributed to customers. Aside from implementing projects that will ensure the continuous supply of potable water to the Island, Boracay Water began the herculean task of upgrading and expanding its wastewater facilities. The company started to immediately address the deterioration in coastal water qual-

ity by rehabilitating the existing Balabag sewage treatment plant and sewer network which only provided wastewater service to 22 percent of the Island. Rehabilitation of the Balabag sewage facility was completed in 2011— four years ahead of target. Aside from doubling treatment capacity from 2.6 to 6.5 million liters a day (MLD), Boracay Water guaranteed that the facility complies with the Department of Environment and Natural Resources’ discharge standards. Regular desludging services of septic tanks was also provided for unsewered areas through Boracay Water’s fleet of vacuum trucks. Septage collected from septic tanks is also treated in the same Balabag plant. In September 2016, the company inaugurated its second wastewater facility, the Manocmanoc Sewage Treatment Plant that has the capacity to process 5 million liters daily in order to manage the increasing volume of wastewater due to the influx of tourist arrivals in Boracay.

SPNEC shareholders approve stock swap By VG Cabuag @villygc

h areholders of Solar Philippines Nueva Ecija Corp. (SPNEC) approved the increase in the company’s authorized capital stock to 50 billion shares from the previous 10 billion shares and the share swap deal with its parent firm, Solar Philippines Inc. SPNEC would issue 24.37 billion shares at P2.50 per share in exchange for the shares of Solar Philippines in over 20 companies. The company’s shares were last traded at P2.09 apiece. The deal includes solar farms in Batangas, Tarlac and Cavite, with a combined 163 megawatts in operations and 240 MW for expansion, from which Solar Philippines has sold shares at project valuations of over P20 million per MW. Along with additional capacity from these, the rooftop portfolio, and the Nueva Ecija solar farm, SPNEC aims for its developments to reach 1 gigawatts of operational capacity by the end of 2023. These companies have Department of Energy solar energy service contracts with over 10 gigawatts of potential capacity, or over two thirds of the total capacity of the Awarded Solar Projects as of December 2021. “While many of these projects will not materialize, and particular project plans are subject to change,

Solar Philippines has spent years working to progress developments with over 10 GW of potential capacity,” the company said. SPNEC, meanwhile, aims to create P15 million per MW of value from 10 GW of developments by 2025. This, however, would depend on three factors. “First, we would focus on being a project developer and not an IPP [independent power producer]. We believe the greatest challenge for solar in the Philippines is neither a lack of demand nor a surplus of projects, but rather, the challenge of consolidating land and permits that has resulted in a shortage of developed solar sites,” it said. “This calls for us to maximize our attention devoted to the development of sites to create our target P15M per MW of value, while working with other IPP’s on financing and construction once the sites are shovel-ready.” Second, the company said it would prioritize executing projects via partnerships with other IPPs. The largest share is reserved for its joint venture with Enrique Razon Jr.’s Prime Infra, which may use the first 1,000 hectares already being acquired by SPNEC. The company said it would also raise at least P10 billion from the issuance to the public of at least 5.12 billion shares to complete the development of 10 GW of solar projects.

Aboitiz Construction tapped for LIMA Estate’s expansion

Aboitiz Construction completed its design and construction project for The Outlets at Lipa in 2020, the largest outdoor mall in Batangas. Contributed photo

boitiz Construction recently clinched a deal to do the site development works for the second phase of LIMA Estate’s industrial land expansion in LipaMalvar, Batangas. The project aims to expand LIMA Estate’s industrial lot inventory through the construction of the Block 9-2 site. Once completed, LIMA Estate’s 2nd phase of Block 9 expansion and transformation project will accommodate new businesses in the area and generate 22,000 job opportunities. The project is set to be completed in 2023, with Aboitiz Construction responsible for the site development. This includes site grading, slope protection and road construction activities. Also included in the scope are drainage, waterline, and sewer line works. Around 150 manpower will be hired for this project. “We are delighted to be working with our affiliate LIMA Land on this expansion project which will surely boost Batangas’ local economy. This bolsters our capabilities in engineering and design as well as in construction while complementing our commitment to contribute towards economic growth and help other businesses succeed,” said Levi Agoncillo, Aboitiz Construction’s Vice President for Business Development, Tender Planning, and Engineering and Design. Aboitiz Construction has been a trusted partner of LIMA Land in building structures under light industries since 2018. In 2020, it successfully completed the construction of The Outlets at Lipa, a 9-hectare cluster type mixed-use commercial facility which is considered as the largest outdoor mall in Batangas. It consists of 10 units of single storey-

structure, 12 units of two-storey structure, a multi-purpose field and mini parks. “LIMA Estate has always been well-supported by the affiliates of the Aboitiz Group which ensure ease of doing business for our locators. We’ve had successful collaborations in several of our projects within LIMA and we are very happy to once again embark on this new expansion project with Aboitiz Construction, fully showcasing #OneAboitiz at work,” said Clifford Academia, Vice President for Operations of LIMA Estate. “ACI also offers their expertise in mechanical, electrical, and site development works to locators for construction of factories, warehouses, and commercial buildings, much like how our other affiliates LIMA Water and LIMA EnerZone provide complementary services.” In addition, Aboitiz Construction was responsible for the design and construction of LIMA Exchange, a 2.6-hectare commercial development right across The Outlets at Lipa. It consists of four units of mixed-use commercial structure, a sports complex with offices and commercial units, and two transport terminals. To support the ongoing expansion and growth of LIMA Estate, Aboitiz Construction recently completed the design and construction of a 69kV overhead transmission line for LIMA Enerzone. This project will help improve power reliability for the said business zone as it welcomes new business locators. Aboitiz InfraCapital’s LIMA Estate is a 794-hectare Philippine Economic Zone Authority–registered development with over 60,000 employees and considered to be one of the largest privately-owned industrial parks in the Philippines.

Companies BusinessMirror

Tuesday, March 8, 2022

PSE STOCK QUOTATIONS

March 7, 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 IREMIT PHIL STOCK EXCH SUN LIFE VANTAGE

44.15 127.6 98 27 8.99 55.3 9.61 19.82 56.6 20.65 110.4 95.6 2.05 3.98 0.79 205 2,550 0.75

45 130 98.5 27.1 9 55.45 9.73 19.84 57 21.5 110.9 96 2.14 4.03 0.81 206 2,588 0.87

44.1 129.4 98.45 27.4 9.12 58 9.61 19.86 56.9 20.55 113 96.95 2.05 3.99 0.79 213 2,596 0.77

45.15 130 98.5 27.4 9.2 58 9.61 19.86 57 21.95 113 97.1 2.17 4.03 0.79 213 2,596 0.77

44.1 124.1 96.9 27.05 8.93 55.3 9.61 19.8 55.55 20 108 95.05 2.05 3.98 0.79 200 2,590 0.76

45.1 130 98.5 27.1 8.99 55.3 9.61 19.82 57 21.8 110.9 96 2.14 4.03 0.79 205 2,590 0.76

1,100 5,219,300 1,177,790 127,800 156,000 8,371,320 4,900 212,800 950 18,600 444,170 52,170 582,000 88,000 5,000 2,400 15 76,000

49,060 660,796,198 115,176,804.50 3,469,360 1,409,330 467,433,050.50 47,089 4,218,004 53,870 383,135 48,829,740 4,992,123 1,229,250 352,630 3,950 492,398 38,880 58,060

INDUSTRIAL AC ENERGY 8 8.06 8.13 8.13 7.7 8.06 39,831,400 314,226,815 1.06 1.07 1.05 1.06 1.04 1.06 112,000 118,180 ALSONS CONS 34.1 34.15 34.55 35 34 34.1 3,402,700 116,985,780 ABOITIZ POWER 0.51 0.52 0.53 0.54 0.51 0.52 11,099,000 5,800,380 BASIC ENERGY FIRST GEN 26.05 26.55 27.35 27.4 26 26.05 719,200 18,917,515 FIRST PHIL HLDG 70.35 70.45 70.8 70.8 70.35 70.35 12,710 895,586 MERALCO 355 360 364 364 352.4 355 272,650 97,907,166 19.98 20 20.55 20.6 19.88 19.98 1,127,900 22,593,113 MANILA WATER 3.8 3.83 3.72 3.85 3.65 3.8 14,972,000 56,374,340 PETRON 4.91 5.02 4.76 5.1 4.76 5.02 970,000 4,794,840 PETROENERGY 10.5 10.7 10.68 10.7 10.5 10.7 21,400 228,336 PHX PETROLEUM SYNERGY GRID 12.06 12.08 12.18 12.18 12.02 12.06 4,219,200 50,856,020 PILIPINAS SHELL 20 20.05 20.4 21 19.9 20 890,500 18,075,152 SPC POWER 14.34 14.36 14.5 14.5 14.2 14.34 165,700 2,373,352 1.98 1.99 2.15 2.18 1.98 1.99 158,684,000 327,152,510 SOLAR PH 5.57 5.6 5.59 5.61 5.31 5.6 1,416,100 7,833,967 AGRINURTURE 2.54 2.59 2.64 2.69 2.5 2.59 913,000 2,320,350 AXELUM 22.8 23 24.45 24.5 22.75 22.8 1,663,000 38,543,665 CENTURY FOOD DEL MONTE 15.8 15.82 16 16.2 15.7 15.82 59,900 947,890 7.56 7.6 8 8 7.54 7.56 4,502,100 34,667,819 DNL INDUS EMPERADOR 17.5 17.7 18.3 18.3 16.62 17.7 2,901,200 50,314,992 63.8 64.6 65.2 65.2 63.8 64.6 92,020 5,940,528 SMC FOODANDBEV 0.62 0.63 0.66 0.66 0.62 0.62 65,579,000 41,472,490 FIGARO COFFEE 0.59 0.6 0.63 0.63 0.58 0.6 43,000 25,760 ALLIANCE SELECT 1.17 1.18 1.22 1.22 1.18 1.18 3,479,000 4,133,000 FRUITAS HLDG GINEBRA 110 111 110 110 108 110 9,610 1,047,685 JOLLIBEE 235.6 238 241 241 231.2 238 514,950 121,142,506 KEEPERS HLDG 1.21 1.22 1.27 1.27 1.2 1.22 10,994,000 13,391,990 22.3 27.95 22.25 22.25 22.2 22.2 1,000 22,220 LIBERTY FLOUR 5.84 6.5 6.68 6.68 6.67 6.67 900 6,007 MACAY HLDG 6.3 6.35 6.5 6.5 6.23 6.35 27,100 171,091 MAXS GROUP 0.15 0.158 0.15 0.15 0.15 0.15 30,000 4,500 MG HLDG MONDE NISSIN 14.42 14.48 14.74 14.74 14.36 14.48 10,473,100 151,318,938 SHAKEYS PIZZA 8.35 8.38 8.4 8.4 8.31 8.35 634,600 5,319,347 ROXAS AND CO 0.71 0.72 0.7 0.78 0.68 0.72 5,963,000 4,314,690 4.4 4.45 4.45 4.45 4.4 4.4 7,000 30,990 RFM CORP 1.31 1.36 1.25 1.37 1.25 1.35 202,000 267,070 ROXAS HLDG 0.103 0.105 0.106 0.106 0.103 0.103 430,000 44,860 SWIFT FOODS 114.6 114.8 120.2 120.3 114.6 114.6 2,544,620 296,977,729 UNIV ROBINA VITARICH 0.64 0.66 0.66 0.66 0.64 0.64 1,588,000 1,033,640 CONCRETE A 45.35 48.9 45.2 45.2 45.2 45.2 2,000 90,400 46.1 57.9 46.15 46.15 46.15 46.15 200 9,230 CONCRETE B 0.98 0.99 1.03 1.03 0.99 0.99 3,311,000 3,306,230 CEMEX HLDG 13.2 13.38 13.48 13.48 13.26 13.38 109,900 1,465,612 EAGLE CEMENT 5.93 5.99 5.92 5.93 5.92 5.93 60,400 357,837 EEI CORP 5.86 5.9 5.95 5.95 5.85 5.86 319,500 1,875,992 HOLCIM MEGAWIDE 5.16 5.18 5.35 5.35 5.15 5.16 410,300 2,124,695 PHINMA 19.98 20 20.1 20.1 19.62 20 84,900 1,693,721 TKC METALS 0.83 0.84 0.79 0.83 0.79 0.83 73,000 59,550 1.17 1.18 1.14 1.21 1.11 1.18 14,658,000 17,190,030 VULCAN INDL 130.2 188.7 130.3 130.3 130.2 130.2 200 26,050 CHEMPHIL 1.68 1.74 1.71 1.74 1.67 1.68 272,000 461,450 CROWN ASIA 1.26 1.27 1.28 1.28 1.26 1.26 42,000 53,370 EUROMED PRYCE CORP 5.68 5.71 5.76 5.76 5.68 5.68 184,800 1,053,762 CONCEPCION 21.05 22.3 22 22 22 22 2,500 55,000 1.78 1.8 1.85 1.86 1.75 1.8 8,815,000 15,926,850 GREENERGY 8.18 8.25 8.5 8.5 8.17 8.25 830,400 6,821,563 INTEGRATED MICR 0.72 0.74 0.74 0.74 0.74 0.74 6,000 4,440 IONICS 6.11 6.17 6.11 6.18 6.1 6.11 44,100 269,394 PANASONIC 1.11 1.12 1.15 1.2 1.08 1.11 1,038,000 1,152,990 SFA SEMICON CIRTEK HLDG 3.53 3.54 3.68 3.68 3.5 3.53 2,286,000 8,121,740

HOLDING & FRIMS

ABACORE CAPITAL AYALA CORP ABOITIZ EQUITY ALLIANCE GLOBAL ANSCOR ANGLO PHIL HLDG ATN HLDG A ATN HLDG B COSCO CAPITAL DMCI HLDG GT CAPITAL HOUSE OF INV JG SUMMIT LODESTAR LOPEZ HLDG LT GROUP MABUHAY HLDG METRO PAC INV PACIFICA HLDG PRIME MEDIA REPUBLIC GLASS SOLID GROUP SM INVESTMENTS SAN MIGUEL CORP TOP FRONTIER WELLEX INDUS ZEUS HLDG

0.83 830 60.7 12.7 9.19 1.05 0.71 0.71 4.99 9.49 557 3.7 59.5 0.58 2.93 9.45 0.335 3.75 2.83 1.23 2.9 0.94 920 103.3 118 0.3 0.178

0.84 838 61.8 12.8 9.2 1.07 0.73 0.73 5 9.5 557.5 3.84 60 0.59 2.97 9.5 0.395 3.76 3 1.25 3.05 1 929 106.8 120 0.305 0.179

0.84 830 61.5 12.94 9.01 1.01 0.68 0.68 5.1 9.19 576 3.7 61 0.62 2.97 9.62 0.335 3.79 2.99 1.22 3.05 0.99 930 107 120 0.3 0.172

0.84 838 61.8 12.94 10.44 1.07 0.74 0.74 5.1 9.57 576 3.7 61 0.62 2.97 9.62 0.335 3.79 2.99 1.25 3.05 1 931 107 120 0.3 0.178

0.81 815 59.95 12.52 9.01 1.01 0.68 0.68 4.99 8.95 551 3.7 58.7 0.58 2.91 9.4 0.335 3.72 2.99 1.22 3.05 0.93 904 101.8 118 0.3 0.172

0.84 838 61.8 12.8 9.2 1.07 0.71 0.71 5 9.5 557.5 3.7 60 0.59 2.93 9.5 0.335 3.75 2.99 1.23 3.05 1 929 106.8 119.9 0.3 0.178

6,492,000 229,030 688,110 2,421,800 196,400 6,010,000 35,225,000 1,857,000 1,665,200 32,206,000 289,550 115,000 1,038,260 691,000 53,000 2,194,600 200,000 29,845,000 17,000 239,000 2,000 313,000 155,740 396,710 1,400 860,000 330,000

5,348,680 188,533,300 42,031,563.50 30,723,454 1,806,567 6,294,000 25,198,030 1,331,850 8,341,209 303,144,930 161,431,495 425,500 62,189,145.50 408,170 155,880 20,734,515 67,000 111,707,480 50,830 293,980 6,100 305,700 143,786,160 41,481,387 167,791 258,000 58,560

PROPERTY ARTHALAND CORP 0.56 0.58 0.59 0.59 0.55 0.56 3,298,000 1,846,170 37.25 37.8 38 38 36.5 37.8 6,710,300 249,876,195 AYALA LAND 4.6 4.62 4.88 4.88 4.56 4.6 3,093,000 14,340,700 AYALA LAND LOG 1.04 1.08 1.05 1.08 1.04 1.04 76,000 79,570 ARANETA PROP AREIT RT 50.2 50.95 51 51 49.75 50.95 1,362,810 68,414,830 A BROWN 0.91 0.92 0.93 0.94 0.91 0.92 1,171,000 1,083,850 CROWN EQUITIES 0.094 0.098 0.094 0.099 0.094 0.094 250,000 23,550 2.85 2.86 2.91 2.92 2.86 2.86 881,000 2,542,530 CEB LANDMASTERS 0.405 0.41 0.415 0.415 0.405 0.405 1,480,000 613,600 CENTURY PROP 2.61 2.62 2.72 2.72 2.59 2.61 64,169,000 169,494,140 CITICORE RT 11.24 11.36 11.4 11.44 11 11.36 1,705,100 19,110,284 DOUBLEDRAGON DDMP RT 1.76 1.77 1.78 1.78 1.76 1.77 4,482,000 7,902,060 DM WENCESLAO 6.92 7 6.98 7 6.9 7 19,700 136,810 0.241 0.25 0.246 0.246 0.24 0.241 2,040,000 493,740 EMPIRE EAST 0.285 0.29 0.3 0.3 0.28 0.29 3,030,000 871,650 EVER GOTESCO 7.2 7.23 7.36 7.4 7.2 7.2 3,974,300 28,958,669 FILINVEST RT 1.08 1.09 1.08 1.09 1.08 1.08 1,792,000 1,937,000 FILINVEST LAND 0.88 0.91 0.93 0.93 0.88 0.88 321,000 282,630 GLOBAL ESTATE 8990 HLDG 13.7 13.96 13.8 14 13.8 13.96 143,000 1,989,870 617 645 621.5 645 621.5 645 990 631,815 GOLDEN MV 1 1.01 1.01 1.01 1 1 1,074,000 1,076,990 PHIL INFRADEV 0.83 0.85 0.83 0.85 0.83 0.85 27,000 22,550 CITY AND LAND 3.11 3.12 3.15 3.15 3.09 3.12 15,255,000 47,394,310 MEGAWORLD 0.26 0.265 0.27 0.27 0.26 0.265 8,900,000 2,349,900 MRC ALLIED 19.28 19.3 19.64 19.64 19.18 19.3 2,840,600 54,910,490 MREIT RT OMICO CORP 0.345 0.36 0.345 0.35 0.345 0.35 120,000 41,900 0.44 0.445 0.45 0.45 0.43 0.44 4,170,000 1,843,900 PHIL ESTATES 2.22 2.27 2.1 2.28 2.1 2.27 4,310,000 9,386,380 PRIMEX CORP 7.72 7.75 7.93 7.93 7.65 7.75 4,697,200 36,539,317 RL COMM RT 19.8 19.9 19.86 19.9 18.6 19.9 5,407,700 104,433,576 ROBINSONS LAND 0.233 0.24 0.236 0.24 0.233 0.24 1,160,000 272,160 PHIL REALTY 1.4 1.49 1.43 1.43 1.41 1.41 101,000 143,750 ROCKWELL SHANG PROP 2.56 2.6 2.57 2.6 2.57 2.6 140,000 360,520 2.73 2.88 2.73 2.88 2.73 2.88 14,000 38,970 STA LUCIA LAND 38.8 39.5 38.3 39.5 37.6 39.5 10,209,100 396,853,075 SM PRIME HLDG 0.57 0.62 0.59 0.59 0.57 0.57 277,000 158,590 SOC RESOURCES 3.4 3.5 3.49 3.5 3.4 3.42 59,000 201,640 VISTAMALLS 1.03 1.06 1.06 1.06 1 1.06 134,000 136,760 SUNTRUST HOME 3.03 3.04 3.08 3.08 3 3.04 2,049,000 6,192,530 VISTA LAND SERVICES ABS CBN 12.38 12.4 12.56 12.56 12.2 12.38 81,600 1,008,446 15.4 15.46 15.44 15.5 14.92 15.46 2,679,700 40,834,888 GMA NETWORK 0.405 0.42 0.405 0.42 0.405 0.42 90,000 37,050 MANILA BULLETIN 9.38 9.98 9.38 9.38 9.38 9.38 2,300 21,574 MLA BRDCASTING GLOBE TELECOM 2,532 2,540 2,570 2,570 2,482 2,540 107,635 271,564,070 PLDT 1,843 1,849 1,849 1,849 1,803 1,849 111,655 204,671,415 APOLLO GLOBAL 0.07 0.071 0.075 0.077 0.069 0.071 768,310,000 56,150,060 25.45 25.5 26 26.3 25.5 25.5 4,922,200 126,650,485 CONVERGE 2.37 2.45 2.45 2.47 2.34 2.45 263,000 628,720 DFNN INC 5.33 5.34 5.53 5.53 5.26 5.34 9,419,800 50,340,733 DITO CME HLDG 1.22 1.24 1.27 1.27 1.22 1.22 748,000 923,320 NOW CORP TRANSPACIFIC BR 0.34 0.345 0.36 0.36 0.34 0.34 11,690,000 4,084,300 2GO GROUP 7.4 7.45 7.5 7.5 7.3 7.3 6,700 49,680 14.1 14.2 14.2 14.2 14.1 14.1 1,000 14,130 ASIAN TERMINALS 1.63 1.64 1.68 1.68 1.61 1.63 980,000 1,615,360 CHELSEA 44.1 44.5 47.6 47.6 44.1 44.1 1,163,100 52,268,540 CEBU AIR 225 229 226 229 221 229 1,700,310 384,112,556 INTL CONTAINER 23 23.3 23 23.45 23 23.45 37,000 863,100 LBC EXPRESS MACROASIA 5.56 5.57 5.98 5.98 5.4 5.57 4,557,600 25,410,945 METROALLIANCE A 1.03 1.06 1.02 1.06 1 1.06 146,000 148,030 0.77 0.81 0.79 0.79 0.76 0.76 214,000 166,680 HARBOR STAR 1.67 1.74 1.67 1.68 1.67 1.68 193,000 324,110 DISCOVERY WORLD 0.46 0.48 0.465 0.465 0.46 0.46 50,000 23,100 WATERFRONT 0.36 0.365 0.36 0.365 0.355 0.365 430,000 155,150 STI HLDG 1.3 1.31 1.32 1.32 1.29 1.3 2,385,000 3,118,780 BELLE CORP BLOOMBERRY 7.15 7.18 7.5 7.52 7.11 7.15 10,007,700 71,975,536 LEISURE AND RES 1.28 1.3 1.32 1.32 1.28 1.3 762,000 978,570 1.85 1.99 1.85 1.85 1.85 1.85 1,295,000 2,395,750 MANILA JOCKEY 1.34 1.35 1.37 1.4 1.26 1.35 10,634,000 14,205,580 PH RESORTS GRP 0.445 0.455 0.455 0.46 0.44 0.45 12,930,000 5,770,550 PREMIUM LEISURE 2.28 2.29 2.3 2.3 2.26 2.28 63,000 143,730 PHILWEB 0.475 0.48 0.5 0.5 0.47 0.48 38,939,000 18,695,010 ALLDAY BERJAYA 5.67 5.8 5.67 5.67 5.67 5.67 5,200 29,484 8.68 8.75 8.83 8.83 8.67 8.68 362,200 3,159,637 ALLHOME METRO RETAIL 1.42 1.43 1.39 1.43 1.39 1.42 561,000 796,650 34.65 34.9 35.1 35.1 34 34.9 1,181,800 40,539,095 PUREGOLD 56.9 57 59.8 59.8 57 57 732,890 42,070,520 ROBINSONS RTL 69.2 70 73 73 69.5 70 64,270 4,498,545 PHIL SEVEN CORP 1.07 1.08 1.09 1.09 1.06 1.08 2,072,000 2,224,070 SSI GROUP WILCON DEPOT 27.55 28.7 27.65 28.7 27.4 28.7 534,000 14,829,275 APC GROUP 0.241 0.27 0.246 0.265 0.24 0.265 1,630,000 407,800 EASYCALL 4.11 4.46 4.11 4.11 4.11 4.11 46,000 189,060 1 1.01 1.01 1.02 0.99 1.01 4,596,000 4,609,410 MEDILINES 0.64 0.65 0.64 0.66 0.61 0.65 21,914,000 13,908,740 PRMIERE HORIZON 3.68 3.86 3.87 3.87 3.87 3.87 7,000 27,090 SBS PHIL CORP MINING & OIL ATOK 6 6.09 6.1 6.32 6.09 6.09 93,600 571,598 1.9 1.91 1.79 1.97 1.79 1.91 50,794,000 95,869,080 APEX MINING 8.36 8.37 8 8.37 7.83 8.37 9,567,800 77,627,863 ATLAS MINING BENGUET A 5.88 5.98 5.62 5.88 5.62 5.88 137,600 796,063 5.65 5.69 5.58 5.65 5.58 5.65 7,400 41,602 BENGUET B 0.3 0.31 0.305 0.32 0.29 0.3 2,860,000 871,950 COAL ASIA HLDG 2.7 2.74 2.69 2.74 2.69 2.74 50,000 136,430 CENTURY PEAK 5 5.13 5.14 5.14 5 5 6,000 30,140 DIZON MINES 3.08 3.1 2.76 3.12 2.76 3.1 48,743,000 144,597,960 FERRONICKEL 0.211 0.223 0.215 0.228 0.206 0.223 5,100,000 1,110,220 GEOGRACE LEPANTO A 0.186 0.187 0.183 0.186 0.182 0.186 84,890,000 15,667,730 0.183 0.186 0.183 0.186 0.18 0.186 7,530,000 1,382,920 LEPANTO B MANILA MINING A 0.01 0.011 0.01 0.011 0.01 0.011 51,500,000 553,100 0.01 0.011 0.01 0.011 0.01 0.01 39,300,000 415,300 MANILA MINING B 2.15 2.16 1.96 2.16 1.95 2.16 17,956,000 37,478,260 MARCVENTURES 1.19 1.2 1.1 1.2 1.1 1.19 1,010,000 1,173,510 NIHAO 8.75 8.76 8.5 8.78 8.22 8.76 16,710,900 144,256,449 NICKEL ASIA ORNTL PENINSULA 1.13 1.14 1.07 1.15 1.05 1.13 9,756,000 10,872,110 PX MINING 6.64 6.65 6.4 6.65 6.4 6.64 11,131,000 73,092,709 SEMIRARA MINING 34.1 34.2 32.45 34.85 31.4 34.1 16,065,700 539,051,325 0.008 0.0081 0.0079 0.008 0.0077 0.008 95,000,000 750,300 UNITED PARAGON 28.2 28.35 28 28.7 26.95 28.35 810,300 22,792,245 ACE ENEXOR 0.012 0.013 0.013 0.013 0.012 0.013 66,200,000 834,100 ORNTL PETROL A 0.012 0.013 0.012 0.013 0.012 0.013 105,000,000 1,364,200 ORNTL PETROL B PHILODRILL 0.01 0.011 0.011 0.011 0.01 0.011 29,500,000 312,200 6.72 6.73 6.33 6.75 6.33 6.72 2,941,400 19,364,496 PXP ENERGY PREFFERED HOUSE PREF A 100.5 101 101 101 101 101 500 50,500 504 515 504 504 504 504 910 458,640 AC PREF B1 45.75 45.9 46.9 46.9 45.9 45.9 25,600 1,185,410 CEB PREF 101.6 102 102 102 101.6 102 570 58,068 CPG PREF A DD PREF 100.3 101.1 100.6 100.6 100.3 100.4 1,230 123,488 108.8 109 110 110 109 109 6,020 656,200 EEI PREF B 102.5 104 104 104 104 104 20 2,080 FGEN PREF G 1,010 1,015 1,010 1,010 1,010 1,010 2,140 2,161,400 GTCAP PREF A 1,020 1,043 1,020 1,020 1,020 1,020 510 520,200 GTCAP PREF B 1,000 1,002 1,005 1,005 1,000 1,000 210 210,750 JFC PREF A 1,000 1,014 1,000 1,000 1,000 1,000 90 90,000 JFC PREF B MWIDE PREF 4 99.5 100.5 100 100.5 100 100.5 500 50,025 978 988 980 988 980 988 1,390 1,362,840 PNX PREF 4 1,051 1,060 1,051 1,051 1,051 1,051 50 52,550 PCOR PREF 3A 1,080 1,100 1,080 1,100 1,080 1,100 445 485,500 PCOR PREF 3B 77 78.75 78.75 78.75 77 77 14,160 1,090,432 SMC PREF 2F 76.75 77 76.85 76.85 76.5 76.75 54,550 4,183,397.50 SMC PREF 2H 78.2 78.95 78 78.2 78 78.2 44,640 3,486,268 SMC PREF 2I SMC PREF 2J 76.4 77.25 77.25 77.25 76.4 76.4 4,320 330,205 76.05 76.95 76.5 76.95 76 76 25,400 1,941,647 SMC PREF 2K 52.5 54.9 55 55 52 54.95 75,310 3,921,891.50 TECH PREF B2D PHIL. DEPOSITARY RECEIPTS GMA HLDG PDR 14.4 14.6 14.08 14.4 14.08 14.4 182,400 2,581,356 WARRANTS TECH WARRANT 0.76 0.77 0.8 0.8 0.77 0.77 335,000 260,350

18,060 -222,056,373 9,517,614 2,552,870 205,105 -182,911,670 -456,166 4,444 -2,196,059 1,754,684 -4,030 12,280 -31,460 -376,908 9,460 -32,891,935 -19,480 -624,260 140,207.50 776,660 -7,180,564 14,617,320 74,760 -11,171,106 -11,753,839 -389,350 4,204,092 -1,430,230 -31,924,355 -7,393,946 -14,896,264 -484,918.50 -5,707,780 -120,370 487,932 -5,366,868 687,780 2,727,978 -4,542,346 87,380 8,800 -88,405,098 -51,480 235,470 -5,304 -4,736 6,972 80 2,005 189,720.00 -23,940 16,106 -1,838,240 199,245 149,580 35,800 1,955,280 -19,621,860 8,368,673 -5,007,046 930,412 43,060 19,830 -5,529,626 42,479,903 -63,404,420 8,380,596.50 -17,490 2,494,213.00 -1,270,480 29,196,560 2,872,942 21,460 22,000,240 -70,740 25,886,098 -111,600 369,250 5,135,070 -820,974 -454,620 136,800 73,900.00 -4,615,999 -193,110 4,743,690 -15,338,924 -4,568,180 11,434,252 1,581,896 115,665,785 17,420 -2,016,280 -67,904,660 26,456,780 122,130 -11,923,155 -58,080 -7,089,926 27,800 1,650 -1,200,980 77,732,714 234,500 780,287 780 4,600 29,830 31,770,259 -426,050 45,000 139,490 -16,551 -1,695,110.00 3,277,030.50 -599,773.50 2,834,070 5,000 -547,200 376,590 -

-230,050 -50,000 6,850 -

SMALL & MEDIUM ENTERPRISES

ALTUS PROP HAUS TALK ITALPINAS KEPWEALTH MERRYMART XURPAS

16.3 1 1.02 2.78 2.11 0.395

16.6 1.01 1.04 2.99 2.13 0.4

EXHANGE TRADE FUNDS FIRST METRO ETF

110.2

111

16.5 0.98 1.03 2.78 2.24 0.4

16.5 1 1.04 2.78 2.24 0.4

16.5 0.97 1.02 2.78 2.11 0.39

16.5 1 1.04 2.78 2.11 0.395

83,400 2,307,000 376,000 6,000 6,695,000 2,120,000

1,376,100 2,263,700 386,430 16,680 14,403,000 830,650

Megaworld REIT’s income reaches ₧2B in December By VG Cabuag

21,560 -119,950 -

111.5 111.5 109 110.2 15,110 1,662,727 200,863

be payable on March 31 to shareholders on record as of March 18. “We are pleased with the accomplishments of Mreit to date and are thankful for all the support that we have received from our shareholders, as evidenced by the strong performance of Mreit shares in the bourse. We aim to build on this momentum as we embark on our expanded acquisition plan this year,” Kevin Andrew L. Tan, the company’s president and CEO, said. Last December, Mreit acquired four income-generating properties from sponsor, Megaworld, for a total consideration of P9.1 billion. This resulted in a 25-percent increase in its portfolio gross leasable area (GLA) to 280,000 square meters and a 19-percent growth in its portfolio value to P58.5 billion. Mreit recently announced that it is looking to acquire up to P20 billion worth of office assets this year, thus potentially exceeding its earlier target of growing its portfolio GLA to around 324,000 square meters by the end of the year. “We are looking to reach our target portfolio GLA of 500,000 square meter earlier by the end of 2023 and achieve an annual total shareholder return of at least 10 percent via organic growth and new acquisitions. We also want to look at opportunities to expand our portfolio footprint to Megaworld’s other townships. Our enhanced pipeline will help us deliver on these targets,” Tan said.

@villygc

reit Inc., the real estate investment trust (REIT) of Megaworld Corp., on Monday said its income as of December 2021 reached P2.01 billion. The said income was inclusive of a fair value gain of P702 million on Mreit’s investment properties. Revenues came in at P1.5 billion, the company said. Fourth quarter revenues grew by 5 percent quarter-on-quarter to P749.5 million, due to a similar growth in rental income resulting from the implementation of new leases as well as the initial contribution of four properties that the company acquired last December. The company was incorporated in October 2020 and only started operations in June 2021. Mreit’s board declared dividends of P0.24 per share for the fourth quarter of 2021 on March 4. During the previous quarter, it declared dividends of P0.24 per share, which included a bonus dividend equivalent of P0.05 for income generated by the company in June when it started operations. Total dividends paid by Mreit for 2021 now stand at P0.48 per share. As of the close of trading last week, Mreit’s total shareholder return since IPO stood at 25 percent. The dividends shall

mutual funds

March 7, 2022

NAV

One Year Three Year

Five Year

per share Return*

Y-T-D Return

Stock Funds ALFM Growth Fund, Inc. -a

234.79

7.11%

-3.48%

-1.6%

ATRAM Alpha Opportunity Fund, Inc. -a

1.5776

20.69%

-0.15%

2.5%

-5.2%

8.02%

-7.29%

-4.22%

0.58%

ATRAM Philippine Equity Opportunity Fund, Inc. -a 3.2566

0.73%

Climbs Share Capital Equity Investment Fund Corp. -a 0.7605 -1.26%

-6.39% n.a.

0.53%

First Metro Consumer Fund on MSCI Phils. IMI, Inc. -a 0.7292 4.85%

-5.16% n.a.

-5.41%

10.49%

-1.23%

0.34%

1.37%

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

0.7847

11.99%

-3.23%

-3.15%

MBG Equity Investment Fund, Inc. -a

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

92.92

-6.21%

-9.35% n.a.

PAMI Equity Index Fund, Inc. -a

48.0454

6.37%

-2.22%

-0.14%

-0.17%

5.2536

Philam Strategic Growth Fund, Inc. -a

504.07

6.89%

-2.18%

-0.52%

0.68%

1.3939

23.88%

2.38%

2.56%

2.77%

Philequity Fund, Inc. -a

36.8778

9.75%

-1.25%

0.99%

0.77%

Philequity MSCI Philippine Index Fund, Inc. -a

0.9575

9.27%

-2.13% n.a.

1.71%

Philequity PSE Index Fund Inc. -a

4.9741

7.6%

-1.45%

0.55%

0.27%

Philippine Stock Index Fund Corp. -a

827.77

7.02%

-1.54%

0.45%

-0.09%

0.756

8.34%

-5.88%

-2.44%

0.45%

Sun Life Prosperity Philippine Equity Fund, Inc. -a 3.7913

8.53%

-3.87%

-0.78%

0.42%

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

0.9428

6.53%

-1.88%

0.2%

7.82%

-1.6%

1.28%

0.99%

Soldivo Strategic Growth Fund, Inc. -a

United Fund, Inc. -a

3.4715

0.18%

-1.6%

Philequity Dividend Yield Fund, Inc. -a

-0.18%

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

1.2081

Philippine Stock Index Fund Corp. -a

15.7% n.a. n.a.

3.9%

1012.59 n.a. n.a. n.a. n.a.

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

111.5552

7.46%

-1.29%

0.93%

0.07%

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

$1.0536

Sun Life Prosperity World Voyager Fund, Inc. -a $1.6591

-18.63%

1.28%

3.19%

-6.47%

-3.07%

9.89%

8.69%

-10.14%

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

1.67

ATRAM Philippine Balanced Fund, Inc. -a

2.2839

First Metro Save and Learn Balanced Fund Inc. -a 2.7145

1.05%

-0.71%

-0.59%

2.78%

-0.09%

0.08%

0.11%

6.27%

1.21%

1.6%

0.87%

First Metro Save and Learn F.O.C.C.U.S. Dynamic Fund, Inc. -a 0.2134 NCM Mutual Fund of the Phils., Inc. -a

2.0141

-1.3%

11.15% n.a. n.a.

3.69%

1.95%

1.86%

-0.13%

PAMI Horizon Fund, Inc. -a

3.7556

2.32%

1.24%

0.72%

-0.25%

Philam Fund, Inc. -a

16.8418

2.29%

0.95%

0.69%

-0.02%

Solidaritas Fund, Inc. -a

2.1277

3.68%

-0.02%

0.6%

0.3%

Sun Life of Canada Prosperity Balanced Fund, Inc. -a 3.647

4.33%

-1.43%

0.16%

Sun Life Prosperity Dynamic Fund, Inc. -a

10.8%

-0.25%

0.7%

0.64%

0.9603

2.11%

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

0.9711

-1.26%

-0.5% n.a.

Sun Life Prosperity Achiever Fund 2038, Inc. -a

0.9345

3.05%

-1.58% n.a.

-1.89% -1.06%

Sun Life Prosperity Achiever Fund 2048, Inc. -a

0.9256

3.59%

-1.84% n.a.

-0.89%

Primarily invested in foreign currency securities (shares) Cocolife Dollar Fund Builder, Inc. -a $0.03582

-6.16%

0.13%

0.31%

-5.59%

-10.84%

1.92%

2.63%

-2.47%

Sun Life Prosperity Dollar Advantage Fund, Inc. -a $4.4218 -3.79%

6.88%

6.32%

-7.92%

Sun Life Prosperity Dollar Wellspring Fund, Inc. -a,2 $1.1253 -4.61%

3.01%

2.81%

-6.12%

PAMI Asia Balanced Fund, Inc. -b -476,410 6,485,570 -909,011 78,250 -2,690 -1,337,050 7,320 176,100 933,990 93,510 9,035,935 -75,870 8,936,170 105,663,140 16,000 -148,860 12,800

www.businessmirror.com.ph

$1.0407

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

374.18

0.95%

2.64%

2.45%

ATRAM Corporate Bond Fund, Inc. -a

1.8866

-0.97%

0.38%

0.01%

0.1%

Cocolife Fixed Income Fund, Inc. -a

3.2444

0.84%

2.69%

3.72%

0.01%

2.2291

-1.09%

Ekklesia Mutual Fund Inc. -a

1.27%

-0.99%

First Metro Save and Learn Fixed Income Fund,Inc. -a 2.4222 -0.38%

2.71%

1.8%

-0.16%

Philam Bond Fund, Inc. -a

4.3428

-3.51%

3.28%

1.29%

-1.2%

Philam Managed Income Fund, Inc. -a

1.3164

-0.36%

3.45%

2.77%

-0.2%

Philequity Peso Bond Fund, Inc. -a

3.9477

-0.51%

3.2%

2.59%

-0.46%

Soldivo Bond Fund, Inc. -a

1.0242

0.13%

3.99%

2.03%

-0.39%

Sun Life of Canada Prosperity Bond Fund, Inc. -a 3.1722

-0.51%

3.7%

3.12%

-0.48%

Sun Life Prosperity GS Fund, Inc. -a

-1.32%

2.84%

2.41%

-0.7%

1.7184

1.17%

-0.03%

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

$486.61

0.77%

2.5%

2.25%

-0.6%

ALFM Euro Bond Fund, Inc. -a

Є216.83

-1.16%

0.3%

0.67%

-1.45%

ATRAM Total Return Dollar Bond Fund, Inc. -b

$1.1368

-5.46%

-0.51%

0.44%

-5.57%

First Metro Save and Learn Dollar Bond Fund, Inc. -a $0.0252 -2.7%

0.27%

0.24%

-3.08%

PAMI Global Bond Fund, Inc -b

$0.9699

-8.86%

-2.6%

-1.79%

Philam Dollar Bond Fund, Inc. -a

$2.3771

-4.12%

2.31%

1.66%

-5.13%

Philequity Dollar Income Fund Inc. -a

$0.06131

-2%

2.09%

1.52%

-1.58%

-5.17%

Sun Life Prosperity Dollar Abundance Fund, Inc. -a $2.9926 -4.56%

0.71%

0.43%

-6.37%

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

131.48

1.2%

2.54%

2.55%

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

1.0598

1.02%

1.83% n.a.

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

1.51%

2.42%

2.51%

1.3191

0.22% 0.2%

0.27%

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

0.68%

1.32% n.a.

0.1%

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

45.5476 n.a. n.a. n.a. n.a.

Sun Life Prosperity World Equity Index Feeder Fund, Inc. -a 1.2911

9.27% n.a. n.a.

-6.64%

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

$0.9107

-7.07% n.a. n.a.

a - NAVPS as of the previous banking day. b - NAVPS as of two banking days ago.

c - Listed in the PSE.

-6.11%

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."

Banking&Finance

BusinessMirror Five common money mistakes that even professionals can make

www.businessmirror.com.ph

T is said that when 26-year-olds today reach the age of 60, more than 65 percent will be broke, close to 30 percent will still need to work, 4 percent will be financially-independent and only 1 percent will be wealthy. These sad statistics reflect the state of financial planning in the country. Financial planning has been taken for granted even among well educated professionals. The emphasis is more on finding a job, starting a business and building a career and yet very little effort has been made with regards to addressing the need of making a comprehensive financial plan for their lives. Financial planning is pure and simple common sense and it is a wonder why so many people even well educated professionals still get into problems regarding money. People often quip that money is the root of evil but actually the Bible says “the love of money is the root of all evil.” In other words the problem is not about money but the attitude towards money, and truly the Bible hits the nail on this one. As a financial planner and one who wears so many hats professionally let me share to you the top 5 money problems that I believe aptly applies even to well educated professionals. 1. Not having a comprehensive financial plan. Your becoming a professional didn’t just happen by chance. You came up with a plan and then executed such plan that is why you became a professional. It is the same thing in your financial plan. You got to have a financial plan. It all starts from there. When we talk about financial planning people often get this wrong idea that they are suppose to be “kuripot” (parsimonious). You won’t go out on trips or eat in fancy restaurants. You hardly spend any money at all. What good would that do if you are a miser and then one day you go out of your office and you get hit by a truck? On the opposite end of the spectrum is the “live like a king, die like a rat” mentality where you are a “one day millionaire” and find yourself begging from your children when you grow old. The point of financial planning is making sure you enjoy each stage of your life whatever

ity that there are those who stage that might be. are still working because they A comprehensive finanneed to support themselves cial plan is simply based on and their family on a day goals and dreams, deterto day basis. Preparing for mining how much it costs to Atty. Zigfred Diaz retirement should be made fund it; of course, adjusting given emphasis in any comit for inflation. The plan also personal finance prehensive financial plan. requires: 4. Disregarding the n having a look at what importance of health. The adage “health you have through your balance sheet; is wealth” certainly is true and applies to all. n determining how much free cash flow When all late-night drinking spree in the guise you have by looking at your income statement; of client meetings and all of the cholesteroln factoring in all your living expenses and rich and fatty food takes toll on our body, discretionary expenses to enjoy life now; we will soon realize how expenses related to n determining how much of your free cash health and wellness can become a huge part flow gets invested on a monthly or yearly basis of our expenses. to fund your goals and dreams; I am reminded of a conversation I had with n knowing the target rate of return of a law practitioner who thinks a lot of lawyers investment and knowing what vehicle to put die from heart attack. I am not surprised at all. your money into to reach that target; Considering the stress that we all undergo in n preparing for the contingency of dying our professions, we have a tendency to set aside too soon, making sure that your family has things that are not urgent but very important enough left behind; and, and one of this is good health. n preparing for living long, making sure Aside from eating right, exercising and that you have enough to enjoy life later on. knowing how to properly handle stress, pre2. Failing to talk about finances with paring for medical emergencies—the posyour spouse. It is a well-known fact that probsibility of being afflicted through a dreaded lems about money is the number-one cause disease—through a medical health plan or of marital problems, either from the lack of program should be made part of our compreit or too much of it. Often, a financial plan is hensive financial plan. unsuccessfully executed because of an unco5. Not having a comprehensive estate operative spouse. plan. It equally comes as no surprise that a lot Sit down with your spouse and talk about of well-educated professionals who have wellyour financial situation. Behind a successful educated children are left quarrelling and sufinancial plan is always a spouse that coopering each other over his or her estate considerates with each other, especially when it comes ing that they have seen the effects of the lack to money matters. of planning for their estate and considering 3. Failing to prepare for retirement. further that they have the legal knowledge on This is an equally-important point to think how to go about to plan the orderly distribuabout considering that a lot of professionals tion of their estate. are self-employed and do not have somebody setting up a “retirement fund.” Sadly in a lot of Zigfred Diaz is a Cebu-based registered financial planner cases, self-employed professionals still keeps of RFP Philippines. Aside from practicing law, he is a licensed on working even beyond the retirement age. environmental planner, real-estate broker and appraiser. To While there are those who are still working learn more about personal-financial planning, attend the 94th beyond the retirement age not for money but RFP program in March 2022. To inquire, e-mail info@rfp.ph or to keep themselves busy, there is the sad realtext 0917-6248110.

Editor: Dennis D. Estopace • Tuesday, March 8, 2022

Treasury rejects all bids for T-bills as rates increase

By Bernadette D. Nicolas

@BNicolasBM

HE Bureau of the Treasury once again rejected all bids for P15 billion in Treasury bills (T-bills) as the market continued to seek higher rates on the back of escalating Russia-Ukraine war. This is the third time since Monday last week that the Treasury fully rejected bids for its auction of government securities. T-bill auctions are slated on Mondays while T-bonds are offered on Tuesdays. Investors demanded higher rates across all tenors of T-bills. “Full rejection for all tenors as markets continue to ask for higher risk premium with deterioration in market sentiment with escalating tension in Ukraine, weakening of peso and expected surge in inflation,” National Treasurer Rosalia V. De Leon told reporters after the auction. The auction was oversubscribed with total bids reaching P21.2 billion, exceeding the P15-billion offering. Asked whether it would be cheaper for the Treasury to borrow money from the offshore bond market at this time, De Leon said it would still be the same as investors also weigh the potential rate hike from the US Federal Reserve this month along with inflationary pressures from the Russia-Ukraine

armed conflict. Had the Treasury decided to fully award the 91-day T-bills, the average rate would have capped at 1.577 percent, jumping by 67.8 basis points from 0.899 percent in the previous auction. Meanwhile, the 182-day T-bills would have averaged 1.967 percent, an 81-basis-point increase from 1.157 percent. Lastly, the 364-day T-bills’ average rate would have also risen to 1.943 percent, higher by 37.5 basis points from 1.568 percent. For this month, the Treasury aims to borrow a total of P250 billion from the local debt market, slightly higher than the P200 billion programmed in February. The government is also set to borrow this year a total of P2.2 trillion, of which around 75 percent is expected to come from domestic sources. As of end-January this year, the government’s outstanding debt has already hit a new record-high of P12.03 trillion on the back of a widening budget deficit.

Art

BusinessMirror

Tuesday, March 8, 2022 • Editor: Gerard S. Ramos

www.businessmirror.com.ph

Today’s Horoscope By Eugenia Last

CELEBRITIES BORN ON THIS DAY: James Van Der Beek, 45; Freddie Prinze Jr., 46; Camryn Manheim, 61; Aidan Quinn, 63. HAPPY BIRTHDAY: Work alone to avoid frustration. You’ll find solace in following your creative dream and pursuing personal growth and enlightenment. Put your emotions aside. Focus on your needs and what makes you happy, and you’ll find the path that leads to peace of mind. A positive attitude will attract people who share your mantra and desire to do as you please. Your numbers are 9, 15, 19, 27, 32, 36, 42.

❶ ❶ ANTON DEL CASTILLO

❷ TOTI CERDA ❸ CHRISTIAN TAMONDONG

❹ KOBUSHER

❷

❸

ARIES (March 21-April 19): Emotions will play heavy on your mind. Get your facts straight. Making assumptions will bring you down. Focus on the positive, and put your time and effort into personal growth and self-improvement. A little love will go a long way. HHH

❹

A quartet and a constellation for Art Elaan at Art Fair PHL presenting at the Art Fair Philippines 2022 a total of four solo exhibitions featuring established artists, as well as an alignment of bright names in the local art scene in a 17-artist group exhibition.

T’S a full slate of shows for Art Elaan at this year’s Art Fair Philippines, set to run in a hybrid format from March 23 until April 1. The Parañaque-based gallery will be

in the world. Sharply dressed subjects don an allblack ensemble to go with a gas mask, a signature item in del Castillo’s pieces, whether in painting or sculpture. The artist previously stated that he finds the works in his gas mask series to be the “truest form” of his art, as they reflect his personal experiences and struggles. Moreover, it is through the series that he gets to dive into the concept of sins by allegorically portraying its variations.

‘SIMULACRA,’ ANTON DEL CASTILLO ONE of Art Elaan’s soloists for Art Fair Philippines is multi-awarded visual artist Anton del Castillo. A bachelor’s and master’s degree holder in Fine Arts from the University of the Philippines, del Castillo has almost two decades of experience presenting his meticulous art here and abroad to critical acclaim. In his latest one-man show, titled Simulacra, the artist once again explores in gold leaf paintings themes of warfare and religion, which take on deeper meaning amid the current situation raging

‘INSIDE THE MASTERS’ MIND,’ TOTI CERDA A self-TaughT artist from Binangonan, Rizal, Toti Cerda makes no bones about taking his cue from prominent artists.

Continued on B5

TAURUS (April 20-May 20): Do what’s necessary, and don’t look back. Choose to use the element of surprise; keep your plans a secret until you are ready to present and promote what you are doing. Put anger aside; do what pleases you. HHH

GEMINI (May 21-June 20): Don’t get lost in someone else’s dream. Think matters through, and do what works for you. Follow the path that feels most comfortable, and make the adjustments that will secure your position and beliefs. Personal improvements will spice up your life. HHH

CANCER (June 21-July 22): A creative approach to your responsibilities will help you achieve what you set out to do without begrudging the task. The impression you make will encourage others to find a way to make a difference and have an impact on others. HHHH

LEO (July 23-Aug. 22): Stick to your plan. Don’t deviate because someone is waffling or confused. Follow through and tie up any loose ends that might slow down your pursuit. Pay attention to your health and well-being, and do something with someone you love. HHHH

VIRGO (Aug. 23-Sept. 22): Concentrate on perfection. Make physical changes that make you feel good about the way you look. Information you receive or something you learn will encourage you to make a move—or it could change the way you think about someone. HH

LIBRA (Sept. 23-Oct. 22): Research and proceed with a project that adds to your comfort. Express your feelings, and make decisions that will bring you closer to someone you love. You can lower your overhead if you share your expenses with more people. HHHHH

SCORPIO (Oct. 23-Nov. 21): A friend or relative will have an impact on the decisions you make. Take the initiative by putting some muscle behind something you want to achieve. Look for an innovative plan that suits your needs and encourages positive change. HHH

From left: SM Supermalls regional operations manager Engr. Dennis Martel, senior assistant vice president for operations Johanna Rupisan and assistant vice president for marketing Jay Arañas

NOW a full-time artist, Carlos “Totong” Francisco II beside his 2021 painting, titled Inseparable.

ARTIST and mentor Erwin Leaño, a mainstay of Pinto Art Museum, stands beside a page from the My Art book featuring his painting Forest.

National Arts Month observed with exhibition IN celebration of National Arts Month in February, SM recently showcased the life and works of some of most fascinating visual artists from Rizal at the My City, My SM, My Art book exhibits at SM City Masinag and SM City Taytay. The exhibit featured pages from the book, which is a compilation of the “My City, My SM, My Art” campaign highlighting the best of Philippine visual arts—painting, sculpture, printmaking, photography, and filmmaking. During its three-year cultural journey from 2016 to 2019, My City, My SM, My Art featured masters, modernists and millennials in a roadshow around the SM Supermalls as far north as the Cordilleras and as far south as General Santos. Named after our National Hero, Dr. Jose Rizal, the province has been known as the Cradle of Philippine Art for its artist communities and folk festivals. Rizal is also known as the hometown of National Artist Carlos “Botong” Francisco and Master Artist Jose “Pitok” Blanco.

“Totong” Francisco II, a full-time artist and the grandson of Botong Francisco, who is also the estate keeper of the Francisco Family collection and assets. At SM City Taytay, the My Art book exhibit showcased the life and works of Maestro Jose “Pitok” Blanco. Blanco is known for his mural-size paintings depicting the joyous celebrations in Angono that captures the faces of real people in the town. His masterpiece, Pag-ahon ng Pagoda, a depiction of the fluvial parade of the San Clemente fiesta in the 1970s was obtained by the Rockefeller Foundation in New York. Angono Town Fiesta shows more than 100 figures at various states of delight and celebration during the feast of San Clemente, Angono’s Patron Saint. My City, My SM, My Art (bit.ly/3vG286r, bit.ly/3HSnoIx) is the latest edition in the “My City, My SM” series, which celebrates the beauty, culture, traditions and great people in cities around the Philippines where SM has malls.

Today, cultural spaces like the Pinto Art Museum in Antipolo serve as gateways for modern and contemporary art. And a new generation of artists is being nurtured in artoriented schools like the University of Rizal System. During the exhibits, mallgoers had a rare glimpse of the book at the My Art house, which is inspired by Luzon’s Bahay na Bato. At SM City Masinag, the larger-than-life pages from the book showcased the life and works of National Artist for Painting Carlos “Botong “Francisco. Known as the Poet of Angono, Botong single-handedly revived the art of mural painting and was named the most distinguished practitioner of his time. In panels like those of his masterpiece, Filipino Struggles through History at the Bulwagang Katipunan at the Manila City Hall, Botong turned fragments of the historic past into vivid records of the legendary courage of the ancestors of his race. Also highlighted was a capsule collection from Carlos

SAGITTARIUS (Nov. 22-Dec. 21): Keep your eye on the ball. Refuse to let someone beat you at your own game. Slow down, think and do things right the first time. How you handle others and take care of yourself will determine how far you get. HHH CAPRICORN (Dec. 22-Jan. 19): Emotional problems will surface if you make changes at home that someone doesn’t like. Get the goahead before you take the liberty to make decisions that affect others. Let your experience be your guide to a better future and rewarding relationships. HHHHH

AQUARIUS (Jan. 20-Feb. 18): Pay attention to detail, the way you present yourself and your plans, and to any money or health concerns that arise. Leave nothing to chance or up to someone else. Take responsibility to do what’s best for you. HH

PISCES (Feb. 19-March 20): Get your money matters in order. Budget for and initiate your plans. A change will play in your favor and give you hope for better days ahead. Think big, but set boundaries to ensure you don’t lose sight of your destination. HHHH BIRTHDAY BABY: You are friendly, original and enthusiastic. You are sensitive and indomitable.

‘growing pains’ BY CHRISTINA IVERSON The Universal Crossword/Edited by David Steinberg

ACROSS 1 Only Indonesian province with a Hindu majority 5 Help in wrongdoing 9 Trojans’ sch. 12 “Sign me up!” 13 Word that summons a greyhound 14 Small, bumpy candies 17 What you may call on the front seat 18 Hearty meat option 20 Scandalous company in 2001 news 22 Back talk, briefly 23 CT scan relative 24 Not as much 28 ___ chamber 29 Ireland’s Queen of New Age 30 ThirdLove undergarment 33 Nat King ___ 35 Sleep under the stars 39 Eerily perfect 44 Song for one 45 Control, as enthusiasm 46 One of many used in a pound cake 47 Qualified 51 Only places to find South China

tigers, possibly Boast Quad bike, e.g., briefly Skating legend Lipinski New Haven Ivy Leaguer Figure making under-the-pillow exchanges 67 Thousand: Prefix 68 The ___ (home for hobbits) 69 “Mm-hmm” 70 Opposite of odd 71 Racket 72 Exited 73 Maroon and scarlet, e.g. DOWN 1 European bathroom fixture 2 Type of acid in proteins 3 Sign after Virgo 4 Step on it! 5 Test with a perfect score of 36 6 Shortish hairdo 7 Ham it up 8 Goal for an assistant professor 9 Not attractive 10 Complete collection 53 60 61 62 63

11 15 16 19 21 25 26 27 30 31 32 34 36 37 38 40 41 42 43 48 49

___ brulee Fix, as a sock Short, funny performance Idyllic garden Classic candy wafer brand “Go away, fly!” Sign of success in real estate? Diplomat’s skill K-pop septet Kanga’s child E-mail pioneer List ender: Abbr. “Where the Wild Things ___” One might say “World’s Best Boss” Coat-tree part Billy or nanny Anise-flavored liqueur Something to thread or microblade Ivory’s counterpart At that future time Cat ___ (feline position that resembles a bread form) 50 “33 countries, just 1 ticket” company 52 Salt container 53 Body pics

54 55 56 57 58 59 64 65

“And yet,” in an IM Egg-shaped Confident poker player’s action Kalamata, e.g. Worked up Bright colors Prefix for “angle” One might run 12 miles during a soccer game 66 As of now Solution to today’s puzzle:

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Editor: Gerard S. Ramos

• Tuesday, March 8, 2022

Boogie Bugayong takes his first big comeback step

UNHCR Special Envoy, Angelina Jolie arrives in Yemen, March 6, on a visit to help draw attention to the catastrophic consequences of the seven-year conflict on the people of Yemen. AP

UN ENVOY ANGELINA JOLIE IN YEMEN AHEAD OF FUNDRAISING SUMMIT

T has been more than two decades since Boogie Bugayong’s last acting stint on Philippine TV and he is so happy to be back. Bugayong is part of the cast of First Lady, the top-rating GMA prime-time series, and those of us who saw him on our screens agree that it does not seem that he has been absent for that long amount of time. “I am just so thankful for this breakthrough role that GMA entrusted me. I’ve been praying for this, and I am glad to have received this answered prayer.” He plays a personal security officer assigned by the Presidential Security Group to look after the family of the First Lady (played so wonderfully by Sanya Lopez). “Sandy Andolong plays the mother of the First Lady and there will be sparks, some friction and a lot of romantic tension between my character and that of Sandy’s.” He added, “I missed acting in front of the camera. I missed exchanging banter with my coactors. It’s been so long and if my memory serves me right, my last outing on Philippine TV was opposite Snooky [Serna] in a drama anthology, or what we called telesines in the 1990s.” Acting has always been in Bugayong’s colorful life. He was introduced to theater early in his young life. “I enrolled in an acting workshop with PETA during my teens, and I was also mentored by the late Dr. Felicidad Mendoza of the Kudyapi comediateatro company where I got the chance to play Prince Charming in Cinderella, and I also was chosen to play Jesus Christ in another production.” Among the memorable productions Bugayong was part of were roles in Repertory Philippines’s A Midsummer Night’s Dream and the rock musical Jesus Christ Superstar. He said he has also worked with the late great Fr. James Reuter. Then modeling beckoned and Bugayong was a fixture in so many fashion shows and TV commercials. “Modeling opened big doors and introduced me to a different world altogether. I was able to walk the runway for both local and international designers, and I got the chance to fly overseas to do fashion shows. I also spent a few years as a cabin crew for Philippine Airlines.” During his prime, Bugayong appeared in many TVCs. “I bagged the lead for the TVC of Beer na Beer, opposite Joyce Jimenez, and as ‘Tonio’ for Philippine Airlines/ Duty Free. I’m not sure if many still recall those wonderfully produced ads during the 1990s.” We learned that Bugayong was an official escort during the Philippine staging of Miss Universe in 1994 and it was there where he was first approached and offered to be part of the ABS-CBN Talent Center. “In all humility, I politely turned down the offer because I felt, at that time, that I still wanted to

pursue both modeling and theater, and do more commercials.” But life has its unique way of making inevitable cycles unfold, and Bugayong found himself again being offered a slot in ABS-CBN’s first batch of Star Circle. “During my modeling heydays, I was convinced to join the 1996 Mr. World Philippines pageant which was coproduced and presented by the network. Right after the pageant where I made the Top Five and won a handful of special awards, I was again offered and this time I said yes.” In one of his working travels overseas, he fell in love with both Tokyo and a Japanese national, married her and decided to live there for many years. “I tried different jobs but performing was always in my heart and mind, so one day I decided to audition for NHK’s production of Aida, and luckily I made the cut which started my love affair with the Japanese stage.” His exposure in many such productions paved the way for him to be cast in Japanese TV drama programs and documentaries for the NHK channel. “I also starred in quite a number of commercials in Japan for brands, like Suntory, McDonald’s and Meiji,“ he added. When Bugayong’s marriage unfortunately ended, he decided to leave Japan and try out a new life in Thailand. “I decided to move to Thailand where I was offered to manage a chain of successful high-end restaurants. I focused on my new career in the food

and beverage industry and got the chance to be the general manager of a Michelin-starred restaurant until the pandemic happened. The closure of the establishments I was working in for forced me to finally come back to Manila.” During the many lockdowns, he never forgot to exercise. “Those times when I didn’t have any access to gym equipment, I did a lot of basic yoga. I also did push-ups, and abs and core strengthening exercises. I’d usually have a bowl of oatmeal with milk, banana and peanut butter as a snack to give me the benefits of fiber, and also to detoxify.” At home, Bugayong scoped the local showbiz scene once and the stars finally aligned when his new manager, who kept in touch with him all the years that he was overseas, was able to get him a role in First Lady. “I am fortunate with this comeback show on GMA. The actors, the people in production are all pleasant and easy to work with. During our lock-in work, I was always made to feel like I was part of an extended family which was really something that made work much easier and something that I am truly grateful for.” Boogie Bugayong has taken the first big step for a new chapter in his career. He is a good example that the universe gives us all the chances that we need for the major comebacks we need in our lives. n

Gripping GMA legal drama debuts HOW do you move forward and live your life when the ghosts of the past haunt you? Premiering on March 7, GMA unspools its newest afternoon series, a riveting legal drama titled Artikulo 247. A repealed law under the Revised Penal Code, Article 247 states that “any legally married person who having surprised his spouse in the act of committing sexual intercourse with another person, shall kill any of them or both of them in the act or immediately thereafter, or shall inflict upon them any serious physical injury, shall suffer the penalty of destierro [banishment].” The series showcases the emotional journey of a woman who bravely moves on from her past entanglement with her boss and his wife. But soon enough, her past slowly creeps in and catches up with her peaceful life. It is topbilled by Rhian Ramos as Jane Ortega, the aspiring career woman who will get involved with a married man; and Benjamin Alves as Noah Borromeo, a principled man recovering from a lost love like Jane. As their paths cross, they will build a new life together and help each other on the road to healing. Joining them are Kris Bernal as Klaire Almazan/Carmen Villarama, the cunning and manipulative wife who catches her cheating husband and ends up killing him; and Mark Herras as Ellijah Borromeo, the perfect son and brother of Noah who will fall madly in love with Carmen. Says Rhian: “It was a very difficult and challenging

CAIRO—Hollywood actress Angelina Jolie on Sunday visited war-wrecked Yemen to show solidarity with displaced families in hopes of mobilizing support for an incoming fundraising conference, the United Nations said. Jolie, who is special envoy for the UN on refugee issues, landed in the southern coastal city of Aden to meet with families and refugees there. Aden is the seat of the internationally recognized government. The UN refugee agency said it hopes that Jolie’s visit would draw attention to growing humanitarian needs in Yemen, the Arab World’s poorest country, ahead of the annual High Level Pledging Conference for Yemen on March 16. “As we continue to watch the horrors unfolding in Ukraine and call for an immediate end to the conflict and humanitarian access, I am here in Yemen to support people who also desperately need peace. The situation here is one of the worst humanitarian crises in the world,” Jolie said in a post on her Instagram account. Yemen has been convulsed by civil war since 2014, when the Iran-backed Houthi rebels took control of the capital, Sanaa, and much of the country’s north, forcing the government to flee to the south, then to Saudi Arabia. A Saudi-led coalition, backed at the time by the United States, entered the war in 2015 to try to restore Yemen’s government to power. The conflict has since become a regional proxy war that has killed more than 150,000 people, including over 14,500 civilians, according to 2022 data from the Armed Conflict Location & Event Project. It also created the world’s worst humanitarian crisis. According to the UN refugee agency, about 66 percent of Yemen’s 30 million people rely on humanitarian assistance for their daily survival, including over 4.2 million displaced people and 102,000 refugees and asylum-seekers. The head of the World Food Programme, David Beasley, told The Associated Press last month that around 13 million people were heading toward starvation in Yemen due to the protracted conflict and lack of funding. The UN humanitarian office has reported that its 2021 humanitarian plan for Yemen received $2.27 billion out of its $3.85 billion requirement, the lowest funding level since 2015. AP

A quartet and a constellation for Art Elaan at Art Fair PHL Continued from B4 Inside The Masters’ Mind, therefore, showcases Cerda picking the brains of the artists he admires, particularly in the realm of abstractionism, where he feels like an outsider looking in. This very idea is treated with direct visualization as the artist depicts himself gazing at seminal abstract works, as we, the viewers, gaze upon him. Cerda attempts to replicate landmark nonfigurative pieces and depicts himself in the foreground, wearing his studio clothes of paintstained jeans and white shirt. Such is seen in Convo with Picasso, where Cerda is studying the Spanish icon’s most powerful political artwork, titled Guernica. “Nanggaling [ang concept na ito] sa epekto ng pagiging self-taught artist ko,” Cerda said. “Wala akong formal education—nag-base lang ako sa mga art books, pagaaralan, tapos ako ’yung gagawa.” ‘EffErvEsCEnCE,’ Christian tamondong x ‘dozEn,’ KoBushEr THE other two solo exhibitions are back-to-back presentations with Christian Tamondong’s Effervescence and Kobusher’s Dozen. Both artists present their latest works that revolve around colors and characters that jump out of the canvas. Tamondong’s saccharine pieces for Effervescence act out the exhibition title as if it were fizzing flavors. Meanwhile, Kobusher once again disorients the mind by twisting, turning, and turning inward familiar characters just before the point of unrecognition.

KRIS BERNAL

role pero hindi ako nagdalawang-isip na tanggapin ang project na ito dahil dito ako may matututunan. Scriptwise, it was an enjoyable script to get into and to perform.” For her part, Kris says: “I’m grateful to GMA kasi nabigyan ulit ako ng bagong soap.... Ang ganda-ganda ng role na binigay nila sakin, ang ganda-ganda nung show. I’m used to being the ‘goody one’ or ako lagi ’yung bida, ako lagi yung kawawa, so parang lahat bago sa akin. Ako na ngayon ang nananakit.” Also in the series are Mike Tan, Glydel Mercado,

RHIAN RAMOS

Denise Barbacena, Brent Valdez, Victor Silayan, Rain Matienzo and Topper Fabregas. The original drama is under the supervision of the GMA Entertainment Group headed by SVP for Entertainment Group Lilybeth G. Rasonable. Under the helm of director Jorron Lee Monroy and associate director Ralfh Manuel Malabungan, Artikulo 247 airs weekdays after Little Princess on GMA. Viewers abroad can also catch the program via GMA Pinoy TV. More information can be found at www.gmanetwork.com.

‘rEsonanCE,’ multiplE artists ROUNDING out Art Elaan’s showcase for Art Fair Philippines 2022 is a group exhibition. The show, titled Resonance, offers a diverse collection of pieces across different styles and mediums that evoke memories and emotions. Participating artists include Gerry Joquico, Grandier Bella, Ambie Abaño, Dennis Capellan, Reuel Rendon, Joselito Jandayan and Tammy de Roca. Part of the fold as well are Andrei Baldovino, Rene Bituin, Nikko Pelaez, David Requilme, AADA, Reynold de la Cruz, Gino Nagret, Joen Sudlon, Ferdinand Cacnio and Niccolo Jose. More information can be found at www.artelaan.com and www.artfairphilippines.com. n

B6 Tuesday, March 8, 2022

Toyota: One SRP applies to Land Cruiser 300

Safeguard’s SAFE Wash in Schools Program boosts NCR school reopening

P&G Communications Director Anna Legarda-Locsin led the Manila Water Foundation’s Hawak Kamay: Celebrating WASH Partnerships Live Event.

S Metro Manila prepares for the return of face-to-face classes, school heads are left with a problem: how can we meet the Department of Education (DepEd)’s minimum hand hygiene protocols when we lack the handwashing facilities? Procter & Gamble (P&G)’s Safeguard, in partnership with Manila Water Foundation (MWF), addressed this by donating Php 70 million to build handwashing facilities in all 285 schools that do not meet the DepEd Wash in Schools (WinS) hand hygiene ratings. By doing so, these public schools will be meeting DepEd's minimum star rating in WinS Program, enabling the schools to apply for reopening. The DepEd WinS Program is a 3-star rating system developed in 2016 to rate public schools in the areas of Safe Drinking Water, Gender Segregated Toilets, Group Handwashing Facilities with Soap, Daily Group Handwashing Facilities, and Access to Sanitary Pads. Through a pre-

planning session, Safeguard was able to identify that the handwashing areas scored the lowest across the board, with Metro Manila surprisingly as one of the key drivers of the rating. According to P&G Communications Director Anna Legarda-Locsin, this partnership with DepEd and MWF encourages students and teachers to “practice good hygiene habits that will protect them from disease-causing germs and viruses while they are in school.” Meanwhile, the brand’s Communications Leader, Jeune San Juan, expresses that "by safeguarding the everyday health and hygiene of our children and educators as well, we are also safeguarding the future of the nation. By enabling schools to reopen with handwashing facilities, that is only just the first step we are taking in building safe habits for the future of our kids." On top of the donation for building more handwashing facilities and providing water supply, Safeguard will be providing

these schools soaps in all these schools to push the handwashing movement further. Safeguard and MWF have already constructed 82 handwashing facilities in schools to date, and this program will accelerate the number to 332 schools nationwide by the end of the year. Jose Victor Emmanuel de Dios, the CEO of Manila Water Company and founder of Manila Water Foundation, expressed his thanks for this initiative led by P&G. "On behalf of the Board of Trustees of the Manila Water Foundation, we would like to express our deepest gratitude to P&G Philippines, led by their president Mr. Raffy Fajardo for entrusting us with this project." In the coming months, Safeguard and MWF will roll out DepEd-approved educational modules to teach handwashing habits in school and at home. This is an effort to ensure that handwashing is practiced as a habit and is embedded in the learning curriculum.

UTOMOTIVE leader Toyota Motor Philippines (TMP) is reminding its customers eagerly awaiting to buy the recently launched Land Cruiser 300 series that it is not requiring additional premiums for reservations and purchases of this SUV. Production of the new Land Cruiser (LC300) was not spared by the global parts supply shortage in the manufacturing sector brought about by the COVID-19 pandemic. This has further contributed to the imbalance in supply and demand for this highly anticipated model. Since the debut of the LC300 in 2021, global demand for the car continued to grow, causing longer waiting time for fans in the country. “We are thankful for the incredible reception of the Filipino customers to the new Land Cruiser,” said Jose Maria Atienza, Senior Vice President for Marketing, New Mobility, and Vehicle Logistics at TMP. “We appreciate your patience and understand your eagerness to get hold of

Anvil honors Philex sustainability report with gold

Spikes Asia 2022 names BBDO Guerrero as PH Agency of the Year

BDO Guerrero was given the Country Agency of the Year Award at the recently concluded Spikes Asia 2022 Festival of Creativity after bringing home two Silver Spikes and two Bronze Spikes. The accolades were awarded to the agency’s sustainable campaign, The Dissolving Bottle. The campaign aims to reduce ocean pollution through a redesigned shampoo bar with zero plastic packaging. Under the Design category, the campaign bagged a silver for Beauty/Healthcare products and a Bronze for Environmental/Social Impact. It also bagged a Silver for Product innovations at the Healthcare category and a Bronze for packaging design at the Industry Craft category.

Rahul Sachitanand, Associate Editor at Campaign Asia said: “In a time of over-thetop messaging around the environment, it’s often smaller ideas that get swept away in a tsunami of virtual-signal advertising. It’s good to see an agency devise out-ofthe-box solutions, which hopefully get commercialised.” With four Spikes, BBDO Guerrero is also the most awarded agency from the Philippines at this year’s festival. Spikes Asia is one of the most recognized award giving body that celebrates the best of creative advertising excellence and effectiveness in the Asia Pacific region since its inception as the Asian Advertising Awards in 1986.

CSC requires face mask and face shield to examinees

HE Civil Service Commission (CSC) said that examinees of the Career Service ExaminationPen and Paper Test (CSE-PPT) to be held on 13 March 2022 must wear a face mask and face shield or be denied entry to the testing venue. The CSC clarified, though, that examinees may lift or remove the face shield during test proper to maximize good vision and reading of the test materials. But, examinees must strictly wear their face mask for the entire duration of the examination. In its Examination Advisory No. 02, s. 2022, the CSC also said that vaccinated examinees must present the original or a digital copy of their vaccination card/proof of full vaccination, such as the VaxCert; while those unvaccinated or partially vaccinated must present a negative RT-PCR, saliva, or antigen test result. Fully vaccinated individuals coming from local government units requiring RT-PCR, saliva, or antigen testing must also present a negative result. The said requirements are part of the health and safety protocols being imposed by CSC to protect examinees from the risk of COVID-19 infection, as it resumed the nationwide conduct of the CSE-PPT albeit on a limited scale. The CSC also stressed that, as

customarily implemented, the upcoming exams will strictly observe the “No ID, No Exam” policy. Examinees must present a valid ID card on examination day, preferably the same ID card presented during the filing of application. Moreover, examinees must submit a Health Declaration Form pre-accomplished not earlier than one day or within 24 hours prior to exam day. The space for the temperature reading must be left blank as thermal scanning will be done at the main entrance of the school/testing venue on exam day. Examinees’ testing venue or school assignment for the CSE-PPT for Professional and Subprofessional levels may be generated using the Online Notice of School

Assignment or ONSA found in the CSC website at www.csc.gov.ph. The CSC urged examinees to read and fully understand the “Examinee’s Guide in Taking CSE-PPT”, which is also available thru the ONSA to be familiar with the whole examination process. The complete text of Examination Advisory No. 02, s. 2022 may be accessed from the CSC website at www.csc.gov.ph. There will be 75,540 examinees who will troop to 77 testing centers across 16 regions. Most of the examinees at 10,884 will come from Region IV (Southern Tagalog), followed by 10,392 examinees from Region VI (Western Visayas), and 7,924 examinees from Region XI (Davao Region). The CSE-Professional test will be taken by 61,075 examinees or about 81% of the total number of examinees, while the rest will take the Subprofessional level. Passing the CSE will result in the conferment of Civil Service Professional and Subprofessional Eligibilities needed for permanent appointment to corresponding positions in the government career service that do not involve practice of profession and are not covered by the Bar, board, and other special laws.

this global favorite. We are asking for your understanding as we work hard to serve your requirements at the soonest possible time.” Because of the global supply challenge affecting LC300 availability, Filipino customers making reservations at Toyota dealerships across the country would require several months waiting time to get hold of a unit. TMP meanwhile reiterated that under its ‘One Suggested Retail Price Nationwide’ program, customers should expect consistent pricing whether they buy in Luzon, Metro Manila, Visayas, or Mindanao. “We do apologize for the inconvenience, and rest assured we are doing what we can to deliver the vehicles the soonest, to make our customers feel that it’s all worth the wait. We thank you for your continued trust and patronage,” said Atienza. In case of any concerns, Toyota customers may get in touch with TMP’s Customer Assistance Center via email address customerassistance@toyota.com.ph or hotline number (02) 8819 2912.

HILEX Mining was again recognized in the recent 57th Anvil Awards Gabi ng Parangal with a Gold Anvil for its 2020 Annual and Sustainability Report. This is the 8th year that the mining company has received the honor. Themed ‘A Brave New Day,’ “The Report assured stakeholders that Philex Mining remains a viable and sustainable business with the mine life of Padcal Mine extended up to December 2024, with studies under way for additional mineable reserves, and the new Silangan Copper and Gold Project getting ready for development and commercial operations,” according to Philex

President and CEO Eulalio B. Austin Jr. “The report communicated to its investors how the company is gearing up for the development of the Silangan Copper and Gold Project (“Silangan Project’) in Surigao del Norte, which has the potential as one of the big mining projects to propel the Philippines as a major regional copper and gold producer,” he added. The report also highlighted the mining industry’s unique role in the country’s recovery from the pandemic by providing much-needed export revenue, generating employment in the countryside, and extending assistance through its social expenditures. The Anvil is presented annually by the Public Relations Society of the Philippines (PRSP) to outstanding public relations tools and programs implemented in the previous year. Business leaders, communication professionals and academicians in the Philippines comprised this year’s panel of jurors headed by Presidential Spokesperson Karlo Nograles. The Silangan Project will involve the development of a starter mine beginning this year and will go on commercial operation by early 2025. The mine will initially produce 2,000 tons of ore per day (about 700,000 tons a year), and will gradually ramp up to 12,000 tons per year as it invest additional capital for the ramp up of its mining operations. The Silangan Project has an estimated 81 million tons in mineable reserves that contain around 993 million pounds of copper and 2.8 million ounces of gold. Philex Mining Corp. (“Philex”) will infuse fresh capital into Silangan Mindanao Exploration Co. Inc. (“SMECI”), and finally to the project company, Silangan Mindanao Mining Corp. (‘SMMCI”) to support its wholly-owned subsidiary jump start the development of a starter mine in its Silangan Project Phase 1 in Surigao del Norte.

Coins.ph enables Ronin with AXS, SLP deposits

OINS.PH recently announced the integration of the Ronin network in the Philippines’ leading crypto and mobile wallet. Since its launch in February 28, 2022, users now experience lower fees and faster transactions by using Ronin to deposit AXS and SLP into their Coins wallet for iOS, Android, and even Web platforms. Ronin is an Ethereum sidechain, a separate blockchain that runs parallel to Ethereum for full compatibility. It was built by Sky Mavis, the creators of Axie Infinity, to help scale the game due to the challenges of Ethereum Layer 1. Sending assets through Ethereum has become too expensive and slow for managers and scholars to move assets. Coins.ph’s integration with the Ronin network allows users to deposit AXS and SLP to their Coins wallet for minimal fees and faster transaction times. Since adding AXS and SLP last December, including support for Ronin in the Coins platform has been a top priority to service the Axie community and ecosystem. Scholars and managers across the Philippines will now be able to convert their in-game winnings to PHP and cash out faster and at lower cost. This update, along with many other improvements slated for this year, is part of Coins.ph’s continued efforts to build on the foundation of the

Play-to-Earn movement. To begin receiving AXS and SLP through the Ronin Network, customers simply need to update their Coins.ph app to the latest version. The Coins.ph app is available in the Google Play Store and App Store. Customers must be ID and selfie verified in order to receive AXS and SLP through the Ronin network.

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

The World

3rd round of talks planned as Russia announces ceasefire for evacuations By Yuras Karmanau The Associated Press

VIV, Ukraine—Russia announced a ceasefire starting Monday morning and the opening of humanitarian corridors in several areas, a day after hundreds of thousands of Ukrainian civilians attempting to flee to safety were forced to shelter from Russian shelling that pummeled cities in Ukraine’s center, north and south. As Ukraine officials described a “catastrophic” situation during failed evacuation efforts in Kyiv’s suburbs, officials from both sides also planned a third round of talks Monday. A Russian task force said a ceasefire would start Monday morning, the 12th day of the war, for civilians from the capital Kyiv, the southern port city of Mariupol, Kharkiv, Ukraine’s second-largest city, and Sumy. It wasn’t immediately clear if fighting would stop beyond the areas mentioned in the task force’s statement, or when the ceasefire would end. The announcement follows two failed attempts to evacuate civilians from Mariupol, from which the International Committee of the Red Cross estimated 200,000 people were trying to flee. Russia and Ukraine have traded blame for the failure. The Russian task force said Monday’s ceasefire and the opening of the corridors was announced at the request of French President Emmanuel Macron, who spoke to Russian President Vladimir Putin on Sunday. Evacuation routes published by Russia’s RIA Novosti news agency, citing the Defense Ministry, show that civilians will be able to leave to Russia and Belarus. Russian forces will be observing the ceasefire with drones, the task force said. The earlier breakdown of evacuations came as Ukraine officials said that Russian shelling intensified across the country. “Instead of humanitarian corridors, they can only make bloody ones,” Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said Sunday. “Today a family was killed in Irpin. Man, woman and two children. Right on the road. As in a shooting gallery.” Putin said Moscow’s attacks could be halted “only if Kyiv ceases hostilities.” As he has often done, Putin blamed Ukraine for the war, telling Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan on Sunday that Kyiv needed to stop all hostilities and fulfill “the wellknown demands of Russia.” Putin launched his invasion with a string of false accusations against Kyiv, including that it is led by neo-Nazis intent on undermining Russia with the development of nuclear weapons. As Russian attacks worsened, a brief reprieve from fighting in Mariupol collapsed. Heavy artillery hit residential areas in other large cities, local officials reported. “There can be no ‘green corridors’ because only the sick brain of the Russians decides when to start shooting and at whom,” Ukraine Interior Ministry adviser Anton Gerashchenko said on Telegram. On what is known as Forgiveness Sunday in Orthodox Christianity, Zelenskyy said Ukraine will never forgive the shelling of its homes, the killing of unarmed people and the destruction of its infrastructure. “And God will not forgive, either today or tomorrow—never. And instead of a day of forgiveness, there will be a judgment day. Of this I am sure,” he said in a video address. The death toll remains unclear. The UN says it has confirmed just a few hundred civilian deaths but also warned that the number is a vast undercount. Presidential adviser Oleksiy Arestovich described a “catastrophic” situation in the Kyiv suburbs of Bucha, Hostomel and Irpin, where efforts to evacuate residents on Sunday failed. About eight civilians, including a family, were killed by Russian shelling in Irpin, according to Mayor Oleksander Markyshin. Video footage showed a shell slamming into a city street, not far from a bridge used by people fleeing the fighting. A group of fighters could be seen trying to help the family. Arestovich said the government was doing all it could to resume evacuations. “This is likely to represent an effort to break Ukrainian morale,” the UK Ministry of Defense said of Russian tactics as the war entered its 12th day Monday. Fighting has caused 1.5 million people to flee the country, which the head of the UN refugee agency called “the fastest-growing refugee crisis in Europe since World War II.” British military officials compared Russia’s tactics to those Moscow used in Chechnya and Syria, where surrounded cities were pulverized by airstrikes and artillery. Food, water, medicine and almost all other supplies were in desperately short supply in Mariupol, where Russian and Ukrainian forces had agreed to an 11-hour cease-fire that would allow civilians and the wounded to be evacuated. But Russian attacks quickly closed the humanitarian corridor, Ukrainian officials said. The handful of residents who managed to flee the city before the humanitarian corridor closed said the city of 430,000 had been devastated. “We saw everything: houses burning, all the people sitting in basements,” said Yelena Zamay, who fled to one of the self-proclaimed republics in eastern Ukraine held by pro-Russian separatists. “No communication, no water, no gas, no light, no water. There was nothing.” Russia has made significant advances in southern Ukraine as it seeks to block access to the Sea of Azov. Capturing Mariupol could allow Moscow to establish a land corridor to Crimea, which Russia annexed from Ukraine in 2014 in a move that most other countries considered illegal. But much of the Russian advance has become stalled, including an immense military convoy that has been almost motionless for days north of Kyiv. A senior US defense official said Sunday that the US assesses that about 95 percent of the Russian forces that had been arrayed around Ukraine are now inside the country. The official, who spoke on condition of anonymity to discuss military assessments, said Russian forces continue to advance in an attempt to isolate Kyiv, Kharkhiv and Chernihiv, but are being met with strong Ukrainian resistance. Ukraine’s professional and volunteer fighters have fought with great tenacity, though they are greatly outmatched by the Russian army. Volunteers lined up Saturday in Kyiv to join the military. Ukraine is also planning to fill an international legion with 20,000 volunteers from dozens of countries, though it was not clear how many were in Ukraine. “The whole world today is on Ukraine’s side, not only in words but in deeds,” Ukrainian Foreign Minister Dmytro Kuleba said on Ukrainian television Sunday night. The West has broadly backed Ukraine, offering aid and weapon shipments and slapping Russia with vast sanctions. But no Nato troops have been sent to Ukraine. Zelenskyy has also heaped criticism on Western leaders for not responding with more force to Russia. He reiterated a request for foreign protectors to impose a no-fly zone over Ukraine, which Nato so far has ruled out because of concerns such an action would lead to a far wider war. Zelenskyy also asked the United States and Nato countries to send more warplanes to Ukraine. But that idea is complicated by questions about how to provide aircraft to Ukrainian pilots. He later urged the West to tighten its sanctions on Russia, saying that “the audacity of the aggressor is a clear signal” that existing sanctions are not enough. Russia has become increasingly isolated in the days since the invasion began, closing itself off to outside sources of information as sanctions bite deeply into its economy. The ruble has plunged in value, and dozens of multinational companies ended or dramatically scaled back their work in the country. On Sunday, American Express announced it would suspend operations in Russia, as well as in Russian-allied Belarus. Also, two of the so-called Big Four accounting firms, KPMG and PricewaterhouseCoopers, said Sunday they would end their relationships with their Russia-based member firms. TikTok announced Sunday Russian users would not be able to post new videos or see videos shared from elsewhere in the world. The company blamed Moscow’s new “fake news” law, which makes it illegal, among other things, to describe the fighting as an invasion. Netflix also cut its service to Russia but provided no details. Facebook and Twitter have already been blocked in Russia, along with access to the websites of a number of major international media outlets. TikTok is part of the Chinese tech company ByteDance.

BusinessMirror

Tuesday, March 8, 2022

Covid death toll nears 6 million as pandemic enters its 3rd year By David Rising

The Associated Press

ANGKOK—The official global death toll from Covid-19 is on the verge of eclipsing 6 million— underscoring that the pandemic, now entering its third year, is far from over.

The milestone is the latest tragic reminder of the unrelenting nature of the pandemic even as people are shedding masks, travel is resuming and businesses are reopening around the globe. The death toll, compiled by Johns Hopkins University, stood at 5,997,994 as of Sunday afternoon. Remote Pacific islands, whose isolation had protected them for more than two years, are just now grappling with their first outbreaks and deaths, fueled by the highly contagious Omicron variant. Hong Kong, which is seeing deaths soar, is testing its entire population of 7.5 million three times this month as it clings to mainland China’s “zero-Covid” strategy. As death rates remain high in Poland, Hungary, Romania and other Eastern European countries, the region has seen more than 1 million refugees arrive from wartorn Ukraine, a country with poor vaccination coverage and high rates of cases and deaths. And despite its wealth and vaccine availability, the United States is nearing 1 million reported deaths on its own. Death rates worldwide are still highest among people unvaccinated against the virus, said Tikki Pang, a visiting professor at the National University of Singapore’s medical school and co-Chair of the Asia Pacific Immunization Coalition. “This is a disease of the unvaccinated—look what is happening in Hong Kong right now, the health system is being overwhelmed,” said Pang, the former director of research policy and cooperation with the World Health Organization. “The large majority of the deaths and the severe cases are in the unvaccinated, vulnerable segment of the population.” It took the world seven months to record its first million deaths from the virus after the pandemic began in early 2020. Four months later another million people had died, and 1 million have died every three months since, until the death toll hit 5 million at the end of October. Now it has reached 6 million—more than the populations of Berlin and Brussels combined, or the entire state of Maryland. But despite the enormity of the figure, the world undoubtedly hit its 6 millionth death some time

ago. Poor record-keeping and testing in many parts of the world has led to an undercount in coronavirus deaths, in addition to excess deaths related to the pandemic but not from actual Covid-19 infections, like people who died from preventable causes but could not receive treatment because hospitals were full. Edouard Mathieu, head of data for the Our World in Data portal, said that—when countries’ excess mortality figures are studied—as many as nearly four times the reported death toll have likely died because of the pandemic. An analysis of excess deaths by a team at The Economist estimates that the number of Covid-19 deaths is between 14 million and 23.5 million. “Confirmed deaths represent a fraction of the true number of deaths due to Covid, mostly because of limited testing, and challenges in the attribution of the cause of death,” Mathieu told The Associated Press. “In some, mostly rich, countries that fraction is high and the official tally can be considered to be fairly accurate, but in others it is highly underestimated.” The United States has the biggest official death toll in the world, but the numbers have been trending downward over the last month. Lonnie Bailey lost his 17-yearold nephew, Carlos Nunez Jr., who contracted Covid-19 last April— the same month Kentucky opened his age group to vaccinations. The Louisville resident said the family is still suffering, including Carlos’ younger sibling, who had to be hospitalized himself and still has lingering symptoms. The aggressive reopening of the country has been jarring for them to witness. “For us it is hard to let our guard down; it’s going to take a while for us to adjust,” Bailey said. The world has seen more than 445 million confirmed Covid-19 cases, and new weekly cases have been declining recently in all regions except for the Western Pacific, which includes China, Japan and South Korea, among others, the World Health Organization reported this week. Although the overall figures in the Pacific islands seeing their first outbreaks are small compared to larger countries, they are significant among their tiny populations and threaten to overwhelm fragile health care systems.

Nurses perform timed breathing exercises on a Covid-19 patient on a ventilator in the Covid-19 intensive care unit at the La Timone hospital in Marseille, southern France, on December 31, 2021. The official global death toll from Covid-19 is on the verge of eclipsing 6 million— underscoring that the pandemic, now in its third year, is far from over. AP/Daniel Cole

“Given what we know about Covid...it’s likely to hit them for the next year or so at least,” said Katie Greenwood, head of the Red Cross Pacific delegation. Tonga reported its first outbreak after the virus arrived with international aid vessels following the January 15 eruption of a massive volcano, followed by a tsunami. It now has several hundred cases, but—with 66 percent of its population fully vaccinated—it has so far reported people suffering mostly mild symptoms and no deaths. The Solomon Islands saw the first outbreak in January and now has thousands of cases and more than 100 deaths. The actual death toll is likely much higher, with the capital’s hospital overwhelmed and many dying at home, Greenwood said. Only 12 percent of Solomon Islanders are fully vaccinated, though the outbreak has provided new impetus to the country’s vaccination campaign and 29 percent now have at least one shot. Global vaccine disparity continues, with only 6.95 percent of people in low-income countries fully vaccinated, compared to more than 73 percent in high-income nations, according to Our World in Data. In a good sign, at the end of last month Africa surpassed Europe in the number of doses administered daily, but only about 12.5 percent of its population has received two shots. The Africa Centers for Disease Control and Prevention is still pressing for more vaccines, though it has been a challenge. Some shipments arrive with little warning for countries’ health systems and others near the expiration date— forcing doses to be destroyed. Eastern Europe has been particularly hard hit by the Omicron variant, and with the Russian invasion of Ukraine, a new risk has emerged as hundreds of thousands of people flee to places like Poland on crowded trains. Health officials there have been offering free vaccinations to all refugees, but have not been making them test upon arrival or quarantine. “This is really tragic because great stress has a very negative

effect on natural immunity and increases the risk of infections,” said Anna Boron-Kaczmarska, a Polish infectious disease specialist. “They are in very high stress, being afraid for their lives, the lives of their children, their family members.” Mexico has reported 300,000 deaths, but with little testing, a government analysis of death certificates puts the real number closer to 500,000. Still, four weeks of falling infection rates have left health officials optimistic. In India, where the world was shocked by images of open-air pyres of bodies burned as crematoria were overwhelmed, the scars are fading as the number of new cases and deaths has slowed. India has recorded more than 500,000 deaths, but experts believe its true toll is in the millions, primarily from the Delta variant. Migrants from India’s vast hinterland are now returning to its megacities in search of jobs, and the streets are packed with traffic. Shopping malls have customers, albeit still masked, while schools and universities are welcoming students after a months-long gap. In Britain, infections have fallen since an Omicron-driven surge in December, but remain high. England has now lifted all restrictions, including mask mandates and the requirement that all who test positive isolate at home. With about 250,000 reported deaths, the African continent’s smaller death toll is thought to stem from underreporting, as well as a generally younger and less mobile population. “Africa is a big question mark for me, because it has been relatively spared from the worst so far, but it could just be a time bomb,” Pang said, noting its low vaccination rates. In South Africa, Soweto resident Thoko Dube said she received news of the deaths of two family members on the same day in January 2021—a month before the country received its first vaccines. It has been difficult, but “the family is coping,” she said. “We have accepted it because it has been happening to other families.”

Brent crude up $12, shares sink as conflict in Ukraine deepens

OKYO—The price of oil jumped more than $12 a barrel and shares were sharply lower Monday as the conflict in Ukraine deepened amid mounting calls for harsher sanctions against Russia. Brent crude oil surged more than 10 percent, while benchmark US crude was up $10 at more than $125 a barrel. Stock futures in the US and Europe also dropped. The price of gold, which is viewed as an investor safe haven in times of crisis, jumped $26 an ounce to $1,992.90. The latest market turmoil followed a warning from Russian President Vladimir Putin that Ukrainian statehood was imperiled

as Russian forces battered strategic locations. A temporary cease-fire in two Ukrainian cities failed over the weekend—and both sides blamed each other. Oil prices came under additional pressure after Libya’s national oil company said an armed group had shut down two crucial oil fields. The move caused the country’s daily oil output to drop by 330,000. US House of Representatives Speaker Nancy Pelosi said the House was exploring legislation to further isolate Russia from the global economy, including banning the import of its oil and energy products into the US. By mid-afternoon in Tokyo, US crude

had jumped $10.01 to $125.69 a barrel in electronic trading on the New York Mercantile Exchange. The all-time high was marked in July 2008, when the price per barrel of US crude climbed to $145.29. That pushed the average price for gasoline in the US above $4 a gallon, a milestone already reached again. The price of regular gasoline rose almost 41 cents, breaking $4 per gallon (3.8 liters) on average across the US on Sunday for the first time since 2008, according to the AAA motor club. The all-time high for average gasoline prices was set July 17, 2008 at $4.10

per gallon. Brent crude, the international pricing standard, hit $139.13 per barrel before falling back Monday. It was trading up $12.18 at $130.29 a barrel. On Wall Street, US futures fell, with the contract for the benchmark S&P 500 down 1.2 percent and that for the Dow industrials falling 1.0 percent. Stock futures in Europe also declined. Higher fuel costs are devastating for Japan, which imports almost all its energy. Japan’s benchmark Nikkei 225 dipped 3 percent in afternoon trading to 25,222.24. AP

Sports BusinessMirror

| Tuesday, March 8, 2022 mirror_sports@yahoo.com.ph Editor: Jun Lomibao

Patafa stands with Ukraine

LURE OF RUSSIA? AWASH WITH CASH R

USSIA has been a popular destination for Women National Basketball Association (WNBA) players like Brittney Griner over the past two decades because of the money they can make playing there in the winter. With top players earning more than $1 million—nearly quadruple what they can make as a base salary in the WNBA—Griner, Breanna Stewart, Diana Taurasi, Sue Bird and Jonquel Jones have been willing to spend their offseason playing far from home. It’s tough for WNBA players to turn down that kind of money despite safety concerns and politics in some of the countries where they play. The 31-year-old Griner, a seventime All-Star for the Phoenix Mercury, has played in Russia since 2014. She was returning from a break for the FIBA Women’s Basketball World Cup qualifying tournaments when she was arrested at an airport near Moscow last month after Russian authorities said a search of her luggage revealed vape cartridges. On Saturday, the State Department issued a “do not travel” advisory for Russia because of its invasion of Ukraine and urged all US citizens to depart immediately, citing factors including “the potential for harassment against US citizens by Russian government security officials” and “the Embassy’s limited ability to assist” Americans in Russia. Turkey, Australia, China and France also have strong women’s basketball domestic leagues where some of the WNBA’s best play in their offseason.

There are stories owners putting up accommodations and shopping sprees and gifts in addition to paying In 2015, Taurasi’s team, the same one Griner plays for—paid her to skip the WNBA season and rest. “We had to go to a communist country to get paid like capitalists,

of Russian players in luxury taking them on buying them expensive their salaries. UMMC Ekaterinburg—

which is so backward to everything that was in the history books in sixth grade,” Taurasi said a few years ago. The Russian league has a completely different financial structure from the WNBA, where

there is a salary cap, players’ union and collective bargaining agreement (CBA). The WNBA has made strides to increase player salaries and find other ways to compensate players in the last CBA, which was ratified in 2020. The contract, which runs through 2027, pays players an average of $130,000, with the top stars able to earn more than $500,000 through salary, marketing agreements, an in-season tournament and bonuses. The CBA also provides full salaries while players are on maternity leave, enhanced family benefits, travel standards and other health and wellness improvements.

WHO PLAYS THERE?

MORE than a dozen WNBA players were playing in Russia and Ukraine this winter, including league MVP Jones and Courtney Vandersloot and Allie Quigley of the champion Chicago Sky. The WNBA confirmed Saturday that all players besides Griner had left both countries. Almost half of the WNBA’s 144 players were overseas this offseason, although stars Candace Parker, Bird, Chiney Ogwumike and Chelsea Gray opted to stay stateside.

WHY RUSSIAN SALARIES ARE SO HIGH

RUSSIAN sports leagues have been able to pay top players these high salaries because some of the teams are funded by government municipalities while others are owned by oligarchs who care more about winning championships and trophies than being profitable.

WILL THIS LAST?

LPGA SINGAPORE CHAMP World No. 1 Jin Young

Ko birdies the 18th hole on Sunday for a six-under 66 to win the Ladies Professional Golf Association Tour’s HSBC Women’s World Championship in Singapore by two strokes over fellow South Korean Gee Chun and Australian Minjee Lee. Ko has won six times in her last 10 starts and her round set the Tour’s all-time record for most consecutive rounds in the 60s (15) and most consecutive sub-par rounds (30). AP

Caught in the crosshairs IN his opinion piece on CNN.com on Saturday, sports journalist Bruce Berglund writes about Russian athletes, even para athletes or differently-abled athletes both from Russia and Belarus who have been punished for their leadership’s transgression against Ukraine. In last week’s column, I talked about sports diplomacy. This is hardly sports diplomacy. As Berglund says, “A number of world sports organizations have pulled events from the country or severed ties with Russian entities. The European soccer federation, UEFA, moved this year’s Champions League final from St. Petersburg to Paris, while Formula One canceled the Russian Grand Prix scheduled for late September. “Other governing bodies, leagues and clubs followed suit. On Monday, UEFA and the Fédération Internationale de Football Association (FIFA) took the extraordinary step of barring the Russian national soccer team from the qualifying tournament for the 2022 World Cup. “Even the IOC [International Olympic Committee] has changed course and joined the actions against Russia. On the day of the invasion, [IOC President Thomas] Bach condemned Russia’s ‘breach of the Olympic Truce,’ “a consensus resolution adopted by the United Nations General Assembly in December 2021, which started seven days before the Beijing Winter Olympics and lasts until seven days after the Paralympics. “On Monday, the IOC went further, recommending all sports federations ban Russian and Belarusian athletes [because of their country’s crucial enabling of Putin’s aggression] from competing in events.” World sports organizations have their crosshairs on Russian teams and athletes competing or will compete in

various major sporting events in the next few months. F1 has announced that the Russian Grand Prix will not be part of this year’s season. FIFA and UEFA has banned Russia from competing in world football. Berglund writes on the National Hockey League (NHL) banning Russian players, “In hockey as well, Hall of Famers Wayne Gretzky and Dominik Hasek called for Russian players to be excluded from contests in North America. Gretzky said Russia should be banned from the world junior men’s championship, while Hasek, who grew up in Czechoslovakia when the country was occupied by Soviet troops, demanded that the NHL remove Russian players from its rosters. “The NHL must immediately suspend contracts for all Russian players!” he tweeted. As for whether it is fair or unfair, the veteran sports journalist, opines, “The athletes who have spoken out insist a ban against Russian participation in world sports is a necessary step. Having competed on the world stage, they understand that athletes inevitably serve as ambassadors of their nations.” “Every athlete represents not only himself and his club, but also his country and its values and actions,” tweeted Hasek. Allowing Russian athletes to participate in sports can advance the image Vladimir Putin wants to project to the world—all while Russian soldiers are striking Ukrainian civilians. It’s simply not acceptable. Athletes who are calling for bans against Russia argue that we have to view sports in a broader context, one that acknowledges the world’s outrage over events in Ukraine. “It is not an easy decision,” tweeted members of the Polish national team after deciding not to play Russia, “but there are more important things in life than football.” The world must use sports to express its outrage and indignation to Russia for violating the sovereignty and independence of another country. It’s not right and it never will be. When one country invades another and cowardly attacks civilians, it is inexcusable. Russia will reap the whirlwind of isolation and sanctions from economic to financial to, yes, even sports.

FROM purely a basketball stand point, the CBA will make it more difficult for WNBA players to compete overseas in the future. Beginning in 2023, there will be new WNBA prioritization rules that will be enforced by the league. Any player with more than three ROBERT BOLICK is delivering the goods for the Batang Pier.

BRITTNEY GRINER (with ball) is arrested at an airport near Moscow last month after Russian authorities say a search of her luggage revealed vape cartridges. AP years of service who arrives late to training camp will be fined at a rate of 1 percent of base salary per day late. In addition, any player who does not arrive before the first day of the regular season will be ineligible to play at all that season. In 2024 and thereafter, any player who does not arrive before the first day of training camp (or, with respect to unsigned players, finish playing overseas) will be ineligible to play for the entire season. The WNBA typically begins training camp in late April and the regular season starts in early May. Some foreign leagues don’t end before those dates. AP

HE Philippine Athletics Track and Field Association (Patafa) has come to the aid of the Ukrainian Olympic Committee (UOC) headed by legendary pole vaulter Sergey Bubka, who sought for help after his country continued to be invaded by Russia. “My people live in danger,” Bubka, also the vice president of World Athletics, said in his letter to the Patafa. “It is very hard for me—the time of hard work and the time of decisions on how to help my country, my compatriots, athletes, coaches, my colleagues,and friends, who need as ever.” “We are helping people who need to leave the territories that are under war,” he said. “From the sports community side, we are trying as much as we can to channel and reinforce the soft power of our global unity to support people in Ukraine as much as we can in these unprecedented times.” Bubka added: “We are inviting everybody to help thousands of women and children that left their homes without the opportunity to take anything with them.” Bubka and the UOC, have a longstanding history of working with the Patafa, which donated $1,000 to the Ukranian cause. Bubka said the all financial aid they receive will go to “medical materials, hygiene products, clothes for kids and long-lasting food.” The Patafa launched an initiative to support refugees, displaced innocent civilians, athletes and kids called “Waging Peace for Athletes and Kids in Ukraine.” “We call on those who are able to consider joining us to send aid to Ukraine,” the Patafa said in a statement.

Heredia: Ancajas can still be world champion at 115 lbs

By Josef Ramos

ERWIN “THE PRETTY BOY” ANCAJAS can still get his world title back at 115 pounds no doubt, according to renowned strength and conditioning coach Angel Memo Heredia. Heredia, who handled the career of retired Mexican world champion Juan Manuel Marquez, believes that Ancajas can regain his International Boxing Federation (IBF) super flyweight belt because “has a lot of gas still left in his tank” despite his stinging defeat to new champion Fernando Daniel Martinez. “A thousand percent he can still be a champion at any weight [class], he has the skills, he has very good boxing technique, so smart and has a good chin as well,” Heredia told BusinessMirror on Monday. “He’s young and there’s a lot of future for him.” “I trust his ability, his will and discipline,” he added. Ancajas (33-2-2 win-loss-draw

record with 22 knockouts) looked drained starting from the second round in his fight with Martinez that resulted to a unanimous decision that favored the Argentinian. Heredia said that Ancajas will be a “different setup” now that he’s been tapped as the Filipino’s conditioning coach. “He will come back super stronger and there’s no doubt that he can get his title back,” Heredia said. “We will change certain things like checking his nutritional supplementation intake and proper conditioning, so he can fight in whatever weight he wants.” Heredia’s also working on Tokyo Olympian bronze medalist Eumir Felix Marcial, World Boxing Organization international bantamweight Jonas Sultan and Jeo Santisima. He helped Sultan win two consecutive fights last year and also with WBO bantamweight champion Johnriel Casimero.

‘Berto’ rising to occasion for NorthPort

OPES of a streaking NorthPort of catching the last playoffs bus in the Philippine Basketball Association (PBA) Governors Cup gained a timely lift following another pair of victories behind the giant effort of the returning Robert Bolick. Fresh from his stint with Gilas Pilipinas in the Manila qualifiers for the Fiba 2023 World Cup, the slick-shooting guard came back with a bang as the Batang Pier downed Blackwater and Terrafirma one after the other to stretch the team’s winning streak to five games and shore up its post-season drive. The gunner out of San Beda did it all behind an impressive near triple-double average of 25.5 points, 11.5 assists and 9.0 rebounds in guiding NorthPort inside the top eight with an even 5-5 won-lost card entering the homestretch of the eliminations. The performance earned Bolick the Cignal Play-PBA Press Corps Player of the Week citation for the period March 2 to 6. Bolick bested the likes of June Mar Fajardo

of San Miguel beer and Kris Rosales and Kevin Alas of NLEX for the weekly honor being handed out by the men and women covering the PBA beat. “I need to make up for the team,” said Bolick, who missed NorthPort’s massive wins against league-leader Magnolia and fellow playoff hopeful Phoenix Super LPG because of his Gilas stint. “I’m very happy that the team stays alive. If other teams start at 0-5, they’re gone. But not us,” he said. “Our mentality changed when Kuya Arwind [Santos] joined us.” Bolick certainly made up for his brief absence, exploding for 30 points, 11 rebounds, six assists and three steals in the Batang Pier’s 116-103 win over Blackwater last Wednesday. The 26-year-old Batang Pier then turned to a crafty facilitator in the next game where he had 17 assists on top of his 21 points, seven rebounds and three steals in a 124-117 comeback win over Terrafirma after trailing by as many as 19 points. Bolick’s 17 assists is also a career high and the most by any player since Kiefer Ravena achieved the same in NLEX’s 113-111 overtime win over Barangay Ginebra in the 2019 Governors’ Cup in Dubai. Bolick also averaged 3.0 steals during the same playing period.