MB sees PHL economy shrinking in 1st qtr By Bianca Cuaresma
B
@BcuaresmaBM
ANGKO Sentral ng Pilipinas (BSP) Monetary Board bel ieves t he Phi l ippine economy is bound to have another quarter of gross domestic product (GDP) contraction early this year before bouncing back to growth territory. I n it s re c e nt l y p u b l i s he d h i g h l i g ht s of t he mone t a r y polic y stance board meeting, the BSP said they project the e c o no m y t o “c o nt r a c t u nt i l 2021” stil l due to the measures imposed to restr ict movement as a means for curbing Covid-19 cases. “Domestic economic activity is projected to contract at
a slower pace in the first quarter of 2021 before recovering in the second quarter of 2021 onwards. The decline in GDP is seen to be driven primarily by further deterioration in the services sectors, which remained heavily affected by the pandemic despite the easing in quarantine measures,” the BSP said. The Philippine economy contracted by 9.5 percent in 2020, the worst in more than half a century. In particular, the BSP said the services sector is likely to continue to contract due to the slowdown in transport, tourism, and other service activities. T he a g r ic u lt u re se c tor, meanwhile, is projected by the
BSP to ex pand slight ly due to improved weather conditions dur ing the quar ter. T he BSP a lso said the industr y sector cou ld beg in to gradua l ly ex pand as manufacturing activ it y picks up based on ev idence from high-frequenc y indicators. In February, the Philippines’s Purchasing Managers Index (PMI) remained at 52.5, keeping its pace unchanged from the previous month. A country’s PMI is meant to gauge the health of its manufacturing sector. It is calculated as a weighted average of five individual subcomponents. Readings below 50 show deterioration in the industry while readings above the 50
threshold signal a growth in the manufacturing sector. This is the first time that the Philippines’s PMI hit two consecutive months of being in growth territory since the beginning of pandemic-induced lockdowns and restrictions. The BSP also said consumer and business sentiment have been aided by expectations of vaccine rollout. “Greater fiscal support could also help minimize possible economic scarring and sustain the country’s nascent recovery,” the BSP said. In its February 11 meeting, the BSP decided to keep all monetary policy levers unchanged. The BSP will have its next monetary policy meeting on March 25.
SOLONS BACK MAV HIKE BUT NIX PORK TARIFF CUT w
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Tuesday, March 9, 2021 Vol. 16 No. 149
P25.00 nationwide | 2 sections 18 pages |
STUDY: MORE WOMEN LOST, FORCED TO QUIT JOBS IN THE PANDEMIC By Cai U. Ordinario
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Manila Mayor Isko Moreno joins Global Electric Transport (GET) Philippines CEO and former Taguig Mayor Freddie Tinga at the ceremonial launching on Monday of the BEST Bus electric minibus at the Kartilya ng Katipunan in Manila.The electric buses will ply the route from Manila to North Edsa in Quezon City starting this month, to serve an expected rise in the number of commuters. The buses can run 100kph and can be recharged in only 30 minutes. It is also a PWD-friendly bus. With its GET PASS App, BEST bus enables easy contact tracing of passengers, thus ensuring safety protocols. ROY DOMINGO
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By Jovee Marie N. dela Cruz @joveemarie & Butch Fernandez @butchfBM
KEY House panel and two senators on Monday weighed in against a pending proposal sent to the President to slash tariffs on imported pork, saying it will have little impact on putting a brake on inflation while gravely damaging the domestic hog production sector.
They also have a consensus that the right move, if inflation were a concern, is to allow more pork importation, but keep the tariff rates
as they are. Citing its oversight powers over tariff-related matters, the House Committee on Ways and Means
on Monday recommended to the Committee on Tariff and Related Matters (CTRM), through the Department of Agriculture (DA), the reversal of its proposal lowering tariffs on pork. During a hearing, House Ways and Means Chairman Joey Sarte Salceda told the DA the committee is against a reduction of tariffs on pork. “Reverse the policy—that’s the consensus of this committee. We are recommending to you to keep the tariff and increase MAV [minimum access volume] because if you reduce the tariff you will just pad up the profit of meat processors,” Salceda told Agriculture
Secretary William Dar. “We’ve run the numbers, and our findings are that, at the levels the DA is trying to propose for importation, the tariff reduction will only impact average consumer pork prices by 50 centavos. This is not worth the pain it will cause farmers, and it is certainly not worth the trouble of more inspections,” Salceda said. In a separate development, Senators Imee Marcos and Cynthia Villar, taking up the cudgels for the local hog industry, asked Malacañang to junk plans to cut tariff on imported pork. Continued on A4
No more Covid tests for visitors at Puerto Galera By Ma. Stella F. Arnaldo
@akosistellaBM Special to the BusinessMirror
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HE white-sand beaches and rich marine resources of Puerto Galera are more accessible now to holidaymakers as the provincial government of Oriental
Mindoro fully reopens its borders. Following this and the decision of the Inter-Agency Task Force for the Management of Emerging Infectious Diseases to ease travel restrictions in the country by way of uniform health and safety protocols, Puerto Galera Mayor Rocky D. Ilagan has issued Executive
PESO exchange rates n US 48.5990
Order 21-2021, scrapping RT-PCR and antigen test requirements for travelers starting March 10. He told the BusinessMirror in an interview that tourists only need to log-on to their Tourist Registration app and submit their health declaration form and pre-approved booking in a Department of Tour-
ism-accredited hotel and resort. The tourist registration app may be downloaded via the municipality web site or Google Play. “Our economy relies fully on tourism, and I’ve been seen how the pandemic has impacted our residents’ lives. Continued on A2
@caiordinario
S unpaid care and domest ic work increased, more women in the Philippines lost or were prompted to quit their jobs during the pandemic, according to a study authored by a team from the United Nations Women (UN Women). This was part of the findings of the study, titled “Gendered Impacts of Covid-19 in Asia and the Pacific: Early Evidence on Deepening Socioeconomic Inequalities in Paid and Unpaid Work.” The study, authored by UN Women Research and Data Section Chief Papa A. Seck, Inter-Regional Advisor on Gender Statistics Jessamyn O. Encarnacion, Statistician Cecilia Tinonin and Regional Advisor on Gender Statistics Sara Duerto-Valero, was published in the Feminist Economics journal of the Inter national A ssociation For Feminist Economics last week. “Results show that women are disproportionately shouldering the burden of unpaid care and domestic work triggered by the lockdowns, and they are losing their livelihoods faster than men,” the authors said. “Worsening mental health also emerges as a critical area affecting women disproportionately.” T he re s u lt s i nd i c at e d around 69 percent of women saw an increase in unpaid care work and 66 percent of women saw an increase in domestic work for at least one activity. For at least three activities, around 19 percent of women saw an increase in the time they allocated for unpaid care work, while 40 percent saw an increase for time spent for unpaid domestic work.
However, the authors said men are helping more with household chores and providing unpaid care work in the pandemic. For those in the Philippines, 67 percent of men saw increased unpaid care work for at least one activity, but only 16 percent for three activities. In terms of unpaid domestic work, 81 percent of men in the Philippines saw an increase in their chores for at least one activity and 32 percent for three activities. “Overall, women in employment are receiving less support with household tasks in comparison to men in employment. This is particularly concerning, as the increased workload may lead some working mothers to abandon paid jobs or older women to leave the labor market before retirement age,” the authors said.
Stress, anxiety
Meanwhile, the study also showed that the emotional and mental health impact of the pandemic has also fallen on women’s shoulders. The authors said women surveyed in the study showed higher rates of stress and anxiety. As many as 70 percent of women—and only 50 percent of men—said their mental health was affected by the pandemic. The data also showed that more women (24 percent) saw their physical health affected by the pandemic. This is higher than the 19 percent of men. “In Maldives and the Philippines, where women’s labor force participation is relatively higher, there appears to be an association between women who reported a decrease in working time and those whose mental and emotional health were affected,” the study stated. Continued on A2
n japan 0.4485 n UK 67.1492 n HK 6.2596 n CHINA 7.4808 n singapore 36.2166 n australia 37.3678 n EU 57.9349 n SAUDI arabia 12.9552
Source: BSP (March 8, 2021)
News
BusinessMirror
A2 Tuesday, March 9, 2021
AFTER 5 PRICE HIKES, OIL FIRMS CUT PUMP PRICES By Lenie Lectura @llectura
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FTER five consecutive oil price increases, oil firms will slash pump pr ices e f fe c t ive Tuesd ay morning. Gasoline prices will be slashed by P0.10 per liter, kerosene by P0.55 per liter and diesel by P0.35 per liter. The price adjustments of Pilipinas Shell, PTT Philippines, Petro Gazz, and Seaoil Philippines will take effect at 6 a.m. of March 9. Cleanfuel will also implement the same price reduction at 8 a.m. Other oil firms are expected to follow suit. Oil firms adjust their pump prices every week to reflect movements in the international oil market. From February 2, gasoline prices have gone up to P4.05 per liter.
The price of diesel and kerosene went up by P4.15 and P3.8 per liter, respectively from February 9. All oil firms now import their requirements to supply the country’s needs. This after the Pilipinas Shell and Petron Corp. ceased their refinery operations. Petron Cor p. ended its 180,000-barrel-per-day (bpd) refinery operations in Bataan last February 10. Petron informed the Department of Energy (DOE) that the shutdown would last for four months. During the shutdown, maintenance activities on key process units would be conducted. Shell, meanwhile, permanently ceased its 110,000-bpd refinery operations in Tabangao, Batangas, in August last year. The site has been converted into an import-receiving terminal.
Govt take from fuel marking hits nearly ₧200B–DOF chief
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HE Department of Information and Communications Technology (DICT) has activated new free Wi-Fi hotspots in remote islands in Mindanao. DICT Secretary Gregorio B. Honasan II said the activation of the free Wi-Fi hotspots in Sulu and Tawi-Tawi brings the government closer to its goal of providing connectivity to underserved and unserved areas. “Now, we are glad to announce that with this recent deployment, all 81 provinces of the Philippines are now connected to Free Wi-Fi,” he added. This is the first time that locations in Sulu were connected to the program. The free Wi-Fi hotspots were de-
ployed in the following: Parang District Hospital and Mindanao State University in Sulu; while Bongao Municipal Town Hall, Tawi-Tawi Provincial Capitol, and Mindanao State University (Tawi-Tawi College of Technology and Oceanography) were connected for Tawi-Tawi. “Through Free Wi-Fi, we want to reach places where there is minimal to no fiber and tower. Thus, we are currently carrying out Free Wi-Fi installation to target more geographically isolated and disadvantaged sites through the use of very small aperture terminal or VSAT satellite,” Honasan said. As of end-March, a total of 8,145 Free Wi-Fi sites are operational in various national government agencies, hospitals, public schools, state universities and colleges, airports and terminals, and other public places nationwide.
STUDY: MORE WOMEN LOST, FORCED TO QUIT JOBS IN THE PANDEMIC Continued from A1
The data was based on the Rapid Gender Assessment Surveys (RGAs) conducted by the UN Women, designed to generate evidence on the consequences of Covid-19 on the lives of women and men. In Asia-Pacific, UN Women partnered with mobile network operators of 11 countries to invite
a random sample of cellphone users to participate in an online survey. Sample sizes range between 1,164 and 8,198, excluding countries in the Pacific. The data was collected between March and July 2020. This the authors said, may limit data comparability across countries because this period marked varying stages of the pandemic.
@BNicolasBM
The government already marked 20.55 billion liters of fuel since the program started in September 2019 until March 4 this year, according to an infographic shared by Finance Secretary Carlos G. Dominguez III with reporters. Of the P199.61 billion total du-
ties and taxes, the bulk or P172.47 billion was collected by the Bureau of Customs while the remaining P27.14 billion was collected by the Bureau of Internal Revenue. By fuel type, diesel comprised 60.89 percent of fuel marked, followed by gasoline (38.57 percent)
By Rene Acosta
@reneacostaBM
EVENTEEN villages in Central and Northern Luzon “liberated” from the clutches and influence of the communist-led New People’s Army (NPA) will be the initial beneficiaries of multimillion-peso development projects from the government’s Barangay Development Program (BDP). The military’s Northern Luzon Command (Nolcom) said the villages are located in Bulacan, Abra, Ilocos Sur, Kalinga and Mountain Province, which have earlier been freed of rebel presence.
Nolcom commander Lt. Gen. Arnulfo Marcelo Burgos Jr. said each of the 17 barangays will receive P20 million worth of assistance, which would be given in the form of development projects as the villages recover from economic and development stagnation. The development projects are in the form of farm-to-market roads, classrooms, electrification, communal irrigation, health centers, water systems and other community-benefiting projects. The government’s assistance is separate from the programs and projects already programmed by other govern-
with our stakeholders associations, and they tell me it’s better to die with their bellies full,
diesel and kerosene—thereby enabling authorities to test, identify and distinguish petroleum products with paid excise taxes. Under Republic Act 10963 or the Tax Reform for Acceleration and Inclusion Act (TRAIN), petroleum products that are refined, manufactured or imported to the Philippines such as, but not limited to, unleaded premium gasoline, kerosene, and diesel, shall be marked by an official marking agent after payment of taxes and duties. The fuel-marking program was launched with the aim of halting illegal importation, manufacturing and other fraudulent activities relating to the use and sale of petroleum products in the country.
ment agencies in the 17 barangays. Burgos said that of the 17 recipient barangays, six are in Cagayan, six in Abra, two in Ilocos Sur, one in Kalinga, one in Mountain Province and a village in Bulacan. The Nolcom earlier announced the dismantling of three guerilla fronts in its area of operations, and the 17 barangays are located within the areas where the three rebel fronts used to operate. Burgos said the assistance should address the issues which the rebels used to exploit in their recruitment of members and in justifying their presence in the villages.
“The government is being true to its promise of addressing the issues exploited by the communist terrorist group by providing support to these communities for them to uplift their living conditions,” he said. The Nolcom commander called on the recipient barangays to sustain their efforts and continue supporting the government’s peace initiatives in order to prevent the resurgence of the NPA in their areas. Burgos also encouraged other barangays to “replicate the efforts of the 17 barangays to pave the way for development in their communities.”
22 Palawan towns get Comelec plebiscite materials
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TOTAL of 22 municipalities have already received their election paraphernalia for the upcoming plebiscite in Palawan. In an online press briefing Monday, the Commission on Elections (Comelec) said it started deploying paraphernalia ahead of the scheduled plebiscite on March 13, 2021. Mimaropa Regional Election Director (RED) Atty. Gloria RamosPetallo said they wanted to ensure
the materials will arrive on time in designated polling places. Among the reasons cited by the concerned municipalities which applied for the early delivery are the considerable distance between the Office of the Municipal Treasurer and the location of the polling place, and the lack of or difficulty of means of transportation in the area. Petallo explained the early delivery is allowed under Comelec Resolution No. 10687.
Phi lippine Nationa l Police (PNP) Provincial Operations and Management Unit chief June R. Rian said they started the delivery last week and as of Monday, they delivered election paraphernalia to 22 of the 23 municipalities in Palawan. He said they will be delivering the paraphernalia to the last municipality in Palawan on Tuesday. Over 490,000 people from Palawan, except those from Puerto Princesa City, are expected to par-
ticipate in the plebiscite. Petallo noted that, while they hope all of the eligible voters will participate in the plebiscite, historically, such exercises have a low turnout. “Records show that the highest turnout during plebiscites is only at 47 percent,” she said. The plebiscite aims to determine if Republic Act (RA) 11259 or the Act Dividing the Province of Palawan into three provinces will be ratified or not. Samuel P. Medenilla
Few issues seen in compliance with workplace ventilation rules
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OST companies are expected to easily comply with the Department of Labor and Employment’s (DOLE) new ventilation guidelines to prevent the spread of Covid-19 in workplaces. In an online press briefing on Monday, Labor Assistant Secretary Teresita S. Cucueco pointed out that most of the provisions of Department Order (DO) No. 224, series of 2021, such as having exhaust fans, are already contained in the Building Code. "So this is nothing new. This already part and parcel of what [systems] they already have in place," Cucueco said.
Minor adjustments
Chance to comply
High compliance
She also noted companies without air conditioning can easily comply with the new guidelines by just opening their windows and doors to allow the flow of fresh air in enclosed working areas. The compliance by establishments which have air conditioning units, will more complicated since they would have to ensure they install the necessary air filters and that there will be 6 to 12 air change per hour in their working spaces, according to Cucueco said. The labor official made the clarification amid concerns that compliance with the new guidelines will be too costly for establishments.
DOLE issued DO 224 last week to help minimize the spread of Covid-19 in workplaces through proper ventilation. Cucueco noted they have received reports that Covid-19 positive workers did not infect their co-workers since the necessary ventilation system were installed in their offices. Employers which violate the guidelines will be given time to comply with its provisions. However, once DOLE is able to prove any "willful" violation from the company, Cucueco said they can be fined with P40,000 per day for non-compliance with Safety and Health programs.
As early as last year, when the Covid-19 cases became widespread, DOLE started inspecting companies to check with the government's Covid-related workplace protocols, including ventilation measures. "However, at that time our guidelines [for ventilation] were not as detailed as what we have right now," Cucueco explained. Of the 71,000 inspected firms in 2020, only 76 percent were found compliant with government regulations. This increased to 92 percent after DOLE called out the attention of the erring establishments. Samuel P. Medenilla
No more Covid tests for visitors at Puerto Galera They have nothing to eat, because we don’t have an agriculture sector. We’ve had consultations
and kerosene (0.54 percent). Most of the fuel marked was in Luzon (73.63 percent), then Mindanao (21.06 percent) and Visayas (5.3 percent). Topping the list of 22 companies that participated in the fuel marking program is Petron with a 22.57 percent share or 4.64 billion liters of fuel marked. Next to Petron is Shell with 19.93 percent or 4.097 billion liters, followed by Unioil with 10.34 percent or 2.12 billion liters, Seaoil with 8.22 percent or 1.69 billion liters and Phoenix with 7.4 percent or 1.52 billion liters. Fuel marking makes use of a unique chemical marker that can be embedded at a molecular level in petroleum products—gasoline,
17 ‘liberated’ Luzon villages to get P20M worth of BDP projects each
@lorenzmarasigan
By Bernadette D. Nicolas
OTAL duties and taxes collected by the government through its fuel marking program have so far reached nearly P200 billion.
DICT activates free Wi-Fi connectivity S in two ‘volatile’ Mindanao provinces By Lorenz S. Marasigan
www.businessmirror.com.ph
instead of dying in hunger,” said Ilagan in Filipino. Also, as per the mayor’s EO, tourists below 15 years old “will be allowed to enter Puerto Galera provided they will travel together with their parents/guardian.” When they arrive at the Muelle Port/Balatero Port and Villaflor Border, tourists “must proceed to the travel management desk for health and exposure assessment and QR code scanning and payment of an environmental users fee of P120.” Data from the municipality showed in 2019, tourist arrivals
Continued from A1
grew by 12 percent to 313,618, with receipts at P1.57 billion, estimated at a P5,000-spend per person. Prior to the pandemic, arrivals were recorded at 60,259 and receipts at P500 million. From August 16, 2020, when the municipality partially reopened to point-to-point tourists from Manila, to March 8, 2021, visitor arrivals reached 3,682, of which more than 63 percent were from outside Mindoro. Tourism receipts generated during the same period amounted to P28.83 million, 77 percent of which came
from tourists outside Mindoro. “I’d be a fool to say if I’m not apprehensive of the opening of the border, but what’s important to me now is that our people are able to find jobs,” Ilagan underscored. “For almost a year, our residents didn’t have any livelihood. We’re fortunate that the national government, DOT, and DOLE (Department of Labor) were able to extend financial assistance to our tourism workers but then again, its not enough. It’s better for our residents to find jobs.” He assured tourists the some 600 hotels and resorts in the mu-
nicipality are strictly monitored in their implementation of health and safety protocols. Since Puerto Galera slightly opened to tourists in August, until Monday, there have “only been five recorded Covid-19 cases.” The bulk came in December, he said, when the border was opened for returning travelers and visiting relatives for Christmas. “We’re the only area in the province which has a QR code, so we know where exactly our locals and tourists have gone,” he said, stressing the municipality’s efficient contact-tracing system.
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Senate panel tackles bill creating department of overseas Filipinos By Butch Fernandez @butchfBM
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ENATOR S tac k led Monday a pending bill creating a separate Department of Overseas Filipinos (DOF), inching closer to wrapping up a panel report endorsing the proposal for plenary approval. Sen. Joel Villanueva, chairman of the Senate Committee on Labor, resumed public hearing on the DOF bill, allowing overseas workers to participate and provide inputs despite different time zones. “Nasa iba’t ibang time zones man po ang ating mga kababayang overseas, ’yung pangungumusta mula sa Pilipinas, wala pong pinipiling oras para makaramdam sila ng ginhawa sa pakiramdam,” said Villanueva, even as he acknowledged female overseas Filipino workers (OFW) marking observance of the “Happy International Women’s Day.” Noting that women OFWs outnumber their male counterparts employed abroad, he cited a 2019 survey on overseas Filipinos: 56 percent or 1,233,120 are female compared to 44 percent male OFWs. “Sila po ang ating mga nanay, ate, ditse at sanse na kalimitang nag-aalaga ng mga anak ng dayuhan, imbes na magaruga ng kani-kanilang pamilya dito sa Pilipinas,” he said. Villanueva indicated this was why the panel, in hearing the DOF bill, was “inclined to address the
needs of our female OFWs,” adding that the proposed legislation should include the “touch of women” affirming the importance of including “views and sentiments of women OFWs.” At the outset, Villanueva noted that having heard from government agencies, the panel was keen to hear from OFWs who risked their lives and limbs to work abroad and to provide for their families back home.” The senator recalled to the committee that just last Friday, March 6, he received “sad news” that some OFWs were victimized in Saudi by armed men and were “hurt, robbed and abused.” “Nakakalungkot din pong malaman na sa ganitong pagkakataon, hindi rin agad makakasaklolo ang ating mga kawani ng pamahalaan dahil sa layo ng kinororoonan ng mga nabiktimang OFW sa Abha, Saudi Arabia na halos 8-oras ang byahe mula sa Jeddah,” he added. At the same time, Villanueva acknowledged the advice to the victims provided by Consul General Edgar Badajos to seek the assistance of the local police and always remember not to open doors to strangers and install additional safety locks in their rented apartments. The lawmaker lamented that in cases of emergency, there is no local counterpart of “911” or life-saving mechanism that can be relied on by “OFWs in distress situations.”
Editor: Vittorio V. Vitug • Tuesday, March 9, 2021 A3
PNP vows to pursue ‘mission’ as groups assail ‘mayhem and killing’ of activists By Rene Acosta @reneacostaBM
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ARIOUS groups and individuals have called on the government to investigate and end the “mayhem and killing” of activists and rights defenders following the death of nine people during operations carried out jointly by the police and the military in Southern Tagalog over the weekend. “We must end this wanton disregard for the rule of law and due process. Ngayon, aktibista ang hinuhuli at pinapatay. [It is activists who are now being arrested and killed]. Maaaring bukas, ikaw na ang target [Probably tomorrow, you would be the next target]. Hihintayin pa ba nating mangyari yon? [Are we just going to let that happen?]” former Vice President Jejomar Binay said in a news statement. Binay, also a founding official of the political party United Nationalist Alliance, scored the government over the operations which resulted in the killing of nine activists and the arrest of four others in Rodriguez, Rizal and in the provinces of Cavite, Batangas and Laguna during the joint operations of policemen and soldiers on Sunday, which has been dubbed as “Bloody Sunday.” “There are set procedures for serving warrants, but according to eyewitnesses, these were not followed by the
police. There are rules of engagement, but like many other instances, these were reportedly not observed by the police. And I am almost certain that the police would justify the killings by insisting that the victims fought back. Lumang tugtugin na ang excuse na nanlaban ang biktima,” he said. The Philippine National Police (PNP), through its spokesman Brig. Gen. Ildebrandi Usana, dismissed criticisms over the operations, although he said that the national headquarters “will let the regional director handle this concern and submit update to the Chief, PNP.” “In the meantime, the PNP leadership encourages our policemen on the ground to intensify the drive against violators of law, more so on the strength of either arrest or search warrants. That’s the mission of the PNP, and we don’t mind those criticizing the efforts of our police officers who are just doing their job to serve and protect the people,” he said. Karapatan identified five of those who died during the government operations as Melvin Dasigao, Mark Lee Bacasno, Emmanuel Asuncion and couple Ariel and Chai Lamita Evangelista, who were reportedly killed inside their residence in Nasugbu, Batangas as their 10-year-old son hid under the bed. The group also said that four others were arrested during raids in the cities
In the meantime, the PNP leadership encourages our policemen on the ground to intensify the drive against violators of law, more so on the strength of either arrest or search warrants. That’s the mission of the PNP, and we don’t mind those criticizing the efforts of our police officers who are just doing their job to serve and protect the people.
BM
PNP spokesman Brig. Gen. Ildebrandi Usana of Cabuyao and Laguna. It identified them as labor leader Esteban Mendoza, Elizabeth Camoral of Bagong Alyansang Makabayan (Bayan), Karapatan paralegal Nimfa Lanzanas and Eugene Eugenio of the Confederation for the Recognition and Advancement of Government Employees (Courage)-Rizal. “We should all be alarmed and concerned by yesterday’s [Sunday] series of arrests conducted by the PNP…,” Binay continued. US-based rights group Human Rights Watch (HRW) urged the government to investigate the use of lethal force and end the “mayhem and killings” that accompanies the practice of red tagging. HRW’s Deputy Asia Director Phil Robertson declared that Sunday’s operations “appear to be part of a co-
ordinated plan by authorities to raid, arrest, and even kill activists in their homes and offices.” He noted that the deadly raids were carried out just two days after President Duterte “ordered” state forces to “kill all” communists and not be bothered by human rights. “These incidents are clearly part of the government’s increasingly brutal counter-insurgency campaign aimed at eliminating the 52-year-old Communist insurgency,” Robertson said. He said the campaign no longer makes a distinction between armed rebels and non-combatant activists, labor leaders and rights defenders. Binay observed that each passing day, legitimate dissent, which is allowed under a democracy, is being equated to armed insurgency.
A4 Tuesday, March 9, 2021 • Editor: Vittorio V. Vitug
Economy BusinessMirror
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DA chief: Pork price cap stays until April 8, 2021 By Jasper Emmanuel Y. Arcalas @jearcalas
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GRICULTURE Secretary William D. Dar on Monday said the price ceiling on pork and chicken in Metro Manila will remain until the expiration of Duterte’s Executive Order (EO) 124, pointing out that lifting the measure would “undeniably” result in price spikes. “We will maintain it in the remaining days until April 8, 2021 as prescribed under EO 124,” the agriculture chief said in a news statement.
“Lifting it will undeniably result in a dramatic rise in prices of pork and chicken, given that the African swine fever [ASF] crisis is still raging and thus continues to impact on local production of hogs nationwide,” he added. Dar issued the statement after the country’s inflation rate accelerated further in February to 4.7 percent from 4.2 percent in January. Duterte’s EO 124 expires on April 8. “It is incumbent upon the Duterte government to take all necessary measures to check inflationary pres-
sure to protect low-income households, particularly the poor, who are hurt most—because high inflation further fritters away the value of their already small income,” he said. Dar added that maintaining the current price ceiling sends a “strong signal to Filipino consumers” that the government “cares about their welfare.” Dar noted that Filipino consumers are “suffering from lower incomes due to the adverse impact of the Covid-19 pandemic on our economy.” “Hog producers, wholesalers, and
retailers are no less expected to do their share in helping the country’s economic recovery effort,” he added. Dar is also lukewarm to hog raisers’ proposal to raise the price ceiling, arguing that doing so would “a redundant measure given that the actual average pork and chicken prices are higher than the ceiling imposed by EO 124.” Some hog industry players are proposing to increase the current price ceiling for pork kasim and liempo, which is currently at P270 per kg and P300 per kg, respectively, to P330 per kg
MAV increase proposed
IN February, to stabilize pork prices, the DA recommended to President Duterte the increase in the minimum access volume (MAV) of pork to 404,210 metric tons (MT). The government had raised its proposed volume of imported pork this year to address the expected local demand for the food item. The current MAV is only at 54,000 MT.
According to Salceda, an unnecessary tariff reduction could hurt the domestic swine industry, of which 71 percent is backyard production. “In a crisis like this, hurting a major source of revenues for household farms is unconscionable. We are drafting an official manifestation of the committee’s position to the DA. I would also like to remind the DA that this committee has oversight powers over tariff-related matters. That’s our original power, and the President only gets to exercise the power of flexible tariffs during Congressional recess,” Salceda added. “Even with the current pork tariffs of 40 percent, the imported price will be around P187 per kilo. Considering that pork has reached up to P400 per kilo in some markets, there is no logic for a tariff reduction. Even at a tariff rate of 100 percent, there would still be an incentive to import,” Salceda argued. Dar earlier said the Tariff Commission is finalizing its report and recommendations to the CTRM on DA’s proposal to further slash pork tariff for one year.
Neda’s move
AS inflation was reported last Friday to have accelerated to 4.7 percent in February, the National Economic and Development Authority (Neda) said the CTRM will submit its recommendation to temporarily lower pork tariffs. In a statement, acting Socioeconomic Planning Secretary Karl Kendrick T. Chua said the CTRM proposes to immediately lower pork tariffs to 5 percent within the MAV and 15 percent outside the MAV for 3 months, with a slight increase to 10 percent within the MAV and 20 percent outside the MAV for 9 months. The Neda said these rates are significantly lower than the current 30 percent within the MAV and 40 percent outside the MAV.
High tariffs favor smugglers?
WAYS and Means Senior Vice Chairman Sharon Garin has rejected cutting tariffs on pork products. “Plus, more than half of the imports are for processors, so the processed meat manufacturers will get most of the benefit...meaning Purefoods, etc....not the Filipinos buying pork in the wet market,” Garin added. For his part, Dar said the government will design a mechanism for how the imported meat products will reach the wet market. “There are discussions [on] up to what level of inflation can be significantly reduced if we go to those [tariff] levels. But at the end of the day [it’s about] inflation and maintaining affordable prices,” Dar said. He said the DA and the whole Economic Development Team of the government are both monitoring the food supply situation.
‘Fix SPSIC system’
TO Salceda, however, the more sensible approach is to fix the government’s Sanitary and Phytosani-
tary Import Clearance (SPSIC) system. There’s need to improve “our imports inspection and quarantine system, and to streamline imports processing,” Salceda said. “That’s why I am asking the DA and the Bureau of Customs to submit a flowchart of their processes, so we can study and make recommendations.” Salceda also warned that a tariff reduction, when global prices are already much lower than domestic prices, merely “pads the profits of big businessmen.” “My proposal is this: Let’s allow more importation at current tariff rates. Whatever is in excess of what we usually import, let’s use the tariff revenues as an RCEF for the swine industry. That could reach P14 billion more in tariff revenues if we import all of our shortfall,” Salceda proposed. RCEF stands for rice competitive enhancement fund. “That addresses the heart of the matter, which is domestic pork supply,” he said.
RCEF for swine industry
SALCEDA is also pushing for a dedicated agricultural program from tariff revenues from pork. “I’d prefer an RCEF for pork. The free hybrid seeds from rice worked to reduce our import dependence on rice. Let’s do the same for the pork value chain. Because the problem is domestic,” Salceda added. “Let’s see how pork imports increase. Let’s deduct the tariff revenues from the baseline, and use it to develop the domestic industry. I am convinced it will work better than an outright lowering of tariffs,” he said.
By Lorenz S. Marasigan @lorenzmarasigan
D
EPARTMENT of Transportation (DOTr) Secretary Arthur P. Tugade has ordered the immediate completion of the first two segments of the massive North-South Commuter Railway (NSCR) project. So far, he said, the Philippine National Railways (PNR) Clark Phases 1 and 2 are “on track.” “We have a lot of catching up to do with so little time left. I want people to benefit from this project immediately—that’s why I have been pushing, and pressuring the railway sector really hard to fast-track the construction works in the best way possible,” he said. According to PNR General Manager Junn B. Magno, the PNR Clark Phase 1, which runs from Tutuban, Manila to Malolos, Bulacan, has an overall progress rate of 43 percent and a construction phase rate of 11.78 percent as of end-January.
This should be partially operable by the fourth quarter of 2021 and full operations will be in the second quarter of 2024. PNR General Manager Junn B. Magno
“This should be partially operable by the fourth quarter of 2021 and full operations will be in the second quarter of 2024,” he said. PNR Clark Phase 1 aims to cut travel time between Tutuban and Malolos from 1 hour and 30 minutes to just 35 minutes and increase railway capacity to 330,000 passengers per day. Magno noted that PNR Clark Phase 2, which will run between Malolos, Bulacan and Clark, Pampanga, has an
BM overall progress rate of 27.79 percent as of end January. Once finished, this segment will cut travel time between Bulacan and Pampanga to 35 minutes from an hour and a half. Based on the government’s indicative timelines, the 54-kilometer segment of the NSCR will be partially operable by the second quarter of 2023, and its full operations is slated for the third quarter of 2024. It can accommodate 150,000 passengers per day.
Digitalization and innovation needed? That will not work without training our people
Mix of policy moves
FOR her part, economist-lawmaker Stella Luz Quimbo of Marikina reiterated that the solution to food inflation is a mix of policy responses, including reducing tariffs. “I am not ready to reject the [lower tariff] proposal. When tariffs are very high that could cost smuggling and we know smuggling will bring more problems like ASF. Also, very high tariff would lead high prices for consumers and right now that’s a big problem,” said Quimbo. Quimbo asked the DA to submit the “technical basis” of the proposal lowering tariffs on pork products to the committee. “We have to be science-based. What are the basis of this 5-percent tariff proposal? I need to know from the DA. Let’s look at what the economic considerations are,” she said. Earlier, Quimbo said if the government rationalizes tariff rates at lower levels, “this is tantamount to hitting two birds with one stone.” “Prices will fall and at the same time, importers will legitimately pay the tax,” she added. Smuggling is rampant partly because “tariffs are high and enforcement is weak. Due to the high tariff at 40 percent, importers prefer to just smuggle. With rampant smuggling, imported meat will be too cheap and our local producers will not be able to compete, and government loses out on tariff revenues,” she said.
interests,” he added. Citing latest reports gathered by the Department of Agriculture Field Operation Service, Dar said total hog and carcass deliveries from various regions to Metro Manila, from February 8 to March 7, 2021, have reached 127,868 heads, and 823,673 kilograms (kg) of carcass. Dar added that hog and carcass deliveries averaged 4,567 heads and 28,417 kg daily, respectively, during the reference period. “These surpass Metro Manila’s average daily requirement of 4,000 heads,” he said.
DOTr chief orders immediate completion of North-South commuter railway project
Solons back MAV hike but nix pork tariff cut continued from a1 The proposal was reiterated by economic managers as inflation accelerated in February to 4.7 percent, with the pork shortfall cited as a key factor. The managers said slashing tariffs—on top of increasing the volume allowed for importation—would allow the entry of cheap pork imports and stabilize prices, but the lawmakers disagree. Senators Marcos and Villar, who chair the Economic affairs and Agriculture committees, respectively, conveyed in a letter their appeal for Duterte to reject the move to bring down tariffs on pork importers. Marcos said she and Villar cautioned Malacañang that slashing tariffs would not help check inflation so much but instead put out of business the local hog industry, now already reeling from the onslaught of African swine fever (ASF). The DA had petitioned to lower the tariffs for in-quota pork imports from 30 percent to 5 percent for the first six months; and to raise it afterward to 10 percent for the succeeding six months. The DA also sought to lower the out-quota tariff for pork to 15 percent for the first six months and increase it to 20 percent for the next six months. Out-quota pork imports are slapped with a 40-percent tariff. According to Marcos, they saw no need to further cut the tariff given the very low price of imported pork which, she said, would mean “the importers would earn so much more while government earns nothing.” Marcos reminded policy-makers that the government needs the additional revenue now in order to have adequate funds for buying vaccines, “to fight the Covid-19 contagion.” Villar earlier cited estimates that at least P16 billion in revenue would be lost if goverment lowers the tariff on pork and at the same time allows a 7-fold increase in importation of meat from the 54,000 metric ton limit. Apart from that, she projected the market would be flooded with cheap imported meat that is seen to kill the local industry. This, even as hog raisers from Visayas and Mindanao conveyed assurances they can supply enough pork to fill the shortfall, particularly in Metro Manila.
and P360 per kg, respectively. Dar pointed out that if the price ceiling is raised then industry players would hike their prices anew with Filipino consumers at the losing end. “It is not far-fetched that if the price ceiling is raised to a new level, industry players will hike their prices once again, emboldened by the knowledge that they are capable of pressuring the government to change its mind,” he said. “In the meantime, consumers will be fretting that the government is not really serious in protecting their
By Henry J. Schumacher
W
HAT are we supposed to be involved in these days? Digitalization and innovation? To get there, we are asking ourselves how we can improve planning, forecasting, budgeting, run simulations, run plans and analytics in a very visual and intuitive manner. What tools are available? Are we making those tools available to the organization? And more importantly: are we training our important asset, our people, adequately? Companies are already familiar with many tools supporting “work from anywhere,” such as videoconferencing, productivity bundles and file sharing tools. They helped support operations for companies the world over. But there are tools missing from the tech stack that could help companies make hybrid work sustainable long term. Gaps in company’s technology tool set include: Virtual collaboration: These tools emulate the physical elements that helped co-located workers brainstorm or visually collaborate on problems. Think whiteboards, sticky notes or flip charts. Virtual office: While chat apps denote when a worker is available, organizations lack serendipitous hallway encounters or unstructured
meetings. Some solutions rehash the office experience through VR (virtual reality) or AR (augmented reality) technology. This is really something to look at! Virtual events: As the possibility of in-person events, tools designed for recreating the event experience allows businesses to hold training and other kinds of events, the production quality of those kinds of activities really matters. Adoption of these tool sets adds new tasks to the IT support team, which spent the past year dealing with a combination of increased stress on networks, a shift to digital wherever possible and procuring hardware to keep businesses running. Let’s be clear: Under pressure, IT workers brace for more complexity: Eight in 10 technologists say their job became more complex during 2020, a consequence of quick innovation and a sprawling technology stack. The increase in complexity took a toll on IT pros; 89 percent of technologists say they feel “immense” pressure at work. Upholding IT through a pandemic, 84 percent of technologists found difficulty switching off from work. In 2021, after most organizations increased their reliance on digital platforms to operate, threequarters of technologists say IT became more complex as a result of their response to the pandemic. Companies anticipate sustaining a hybrid work model long term and are turning to technologists for the tech stack that supports it, from remote conferencing software to expanded collaboration platforms. But organizations couldn’t pause ongoing digital transformation. Leaders accelerated the timeline for major strategic transformation projects in 2020. Innovation initiatives that would typically have
taken 21 months prior to the pandemic were delivered within seven months last year. Managing the complexities of bigger, more intricate IT systems starts with having visibility across all components of the tech stack. Technologists say they lack strategies and tools to effectively measure how technology decisions impact business outcomes. The CIO can serve as a bridge, helping provide business and technology context wherever necessary and informing business leaders as modernization advances. The executive holds a privileged position to steer change from a technical and managerial perspective. Leaders should help their companies create a culture of change resilience that helps their organizations respond more adaptively to this continuously fluid state of change. In conclusion: What do I want to achieve in companies through training? I want that the following can be positively answered by management: We can: Monitor and manage busi-
ness value drivers and simulate how key drivers impact financial outcomes;
Analyze performance variances and identify influencers that impact business outcomes; Define, measure and optimize sales performance by line of business, product offerings, geographies and sales reps; Reduce budgeting cycles and run quick re-forecasts by effectively capturing business/ market fluctuations; and Perform demand and supply planning, inventory planning, procurement planning, work force planning and more. If you can’t, technical training support is available. Feedback is welcome; contact me at hjschumacher59@gmail.com
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ESTABLISHMENT / ADDRESS
ESTABLISHMENT / ADDRESS NO.
FOREIGN NATIONAL / NATIONALITY
POSITION
24/7 BUSINESS PROCESSING INC. 11/f Capella Bldg. L-3&4 B2, Asean Drive Filinvest Alabang Muntinlupa City 1.
FENG, SHUAI Chinese
MANDARIN SPEAKING CUSTOMER SERVICE REPRESENTATIVE
2.
LI, QINGYANG Chinese
MANDARIN SPEAKING CUSTOMER SERVICE REPRESENTATIVE
3.
LI, JINCHUN Chinese
MANDARIN SPEAKING CUSTOMER SERVICE REPRESENTATIVE
REN, LEI Chinese
MANDARIN SPEAKING CUSTOMER SERVICE REPRESENTATIVE
4.
5.
WANG, ZILONG Chinese
MANDARIN SPEAKING CUSTOMER SERVICE REPRESENTATIVE
6.
WEI, LINZHEN Chinese
MANDARIN SPEAKING CUSTOMER SERVICE REPRESENTATIVE
7.
8.
9.
10.
XIE, JIUGANG Chinese
MANDARIN SPEAKING CUSTOMER SERVICE REPRESENTATIVE
YANG, RUI Chinese
MANDARIN SPEAKING CUSTOMER SERVICE REPRESENTATIVE
ZHANG, QINLIN Chinese
MANDARIN SPEAKING CUSTOMER SERVICE REPRESENTATIVE
ZHANG, YIQING Chinese
MANDARIN SPEAKING CUSTOMER SERVICE REPRESENTATIVE
8 STONE BUSINESS OUTSOURCING OPC 5/f To 10/f, Tower 4 Pitx #01 Kennedy Road Tambo Parañaque City
NO.
Tuesday, March 9, 2021 A5
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FOREIGN NATIONAL / NATIONALITY
POSITION
NO.
44.
XIE, LIANGBO Chinese
CHINESE SPEAKING DATA ENTRY CLERK
45.
XIN, XIN Chinese
CHINESE SPEAKING DATA ENTRY CLERK
46.
XU, JINHAI Chinese
CHINESE SPEAKING DATA ENTRY CLERK
47.
XU, KUAIYI Chinese
CHINESE SPEAKING DATA ENTRY CLERK
48.
XU, LIANG Chinese
CHINESE SPEAKING DATA ENTRY CLERK
49.
XU, TENGFEI Chinese
CHINESE SPEAKING DATA ENTRY CLERK
50.
XU, HUAXIANG Chinese
CHINESE SPEAKING DATA ENTRY CLERK
51.
XUE, ZHENGRUI Chinese
CHINESE SPEAKING GRAPHIC DESIGNER
52.
ZHANG, MINGMIN Chinese
CHINESE SPEAKING GRAPHIC DESIGNER
53.
ZHANG, YUFEN Chinese
CHINESE SPEAKING PROGRAM DESIGNER
54.
ZHANG, YUZHONG Chinese
CHINESE SPEAKING PROGRAM DESIGNER
55.
ZHANG, WEIYOU Chinese
CHINESE SPEAKING PROGRAM DESIGNER
56.
ZHANG, YANAN Chinese
CHINESE SPEAKING PROGRAM DESIGNER
57.
ZHANG, YANJIANG Chinese
CHINESE SPEAKING PROGRAM DESIGNER
58.
ZHAO, XINYU Chinese
CHINESE SPEAKING PROGRAM DESIGNER
59.
ZHAO, QIANG Chinese
ESTABLISHMENT / ADDRESS
FOREIGN NATIONAL / NATIONALITY
POSITION
NO.
95.
WANG, YONG Chinese
MARKETING STAFF MANDARIN SPEAKING
96.
WANG, XUAN Chinese
MARKETING STAFF MANDARIN SPEAKING
ALTECH INNOVATIONS BUSINESS OUTSOURCING 8th Floor Aseana One Building Aseana Business Park Bradco Avenue Baclaran Parañaque City 97.
CHEN, XUAN Chinese
MARKETING STAFF
98.
GU, XINGXING Chinese
MARKETING STAFF
99.
GUO, HENG Chinese
MARKETING STAFF
100.
JIANG, YU Chinese
MARKETING STAFF
101.
LI, GUANYU Chinese
MARKETING STAFF
102.
LIAO, QIANQIAN Chinese
MARKETING STAFF
103.
MIN, ENBO Chinese
MARKETING STAFF
104.
QIN, MIMI Chinese
MARKETING STAFF
105.
SUN, YUANKUN Chinese
MARKETING STAFF
106.
WANG, KAI Chinese
MARKETING STAFF
107.
WU, CHAO-YI a.k.a. ANGELIQUE WU Taiwanese
MARKETING STAFF
CHINESE SPEAKING PROGRAM DESIGNER
108.
XIAO, XIU Chinese
MARKETING STAFF
11.
QI, WENJUAN Chinese
CHINESE SPEAKING BUSINESS DEVELOPMENT ASSOCIATE
60.
ZHENG, JINCAI Chinese
CHINESE SPEAKING PROGRAM DESIGNER
109.
YANG, BING Chinese
MARKETING STAFF
12.
QIAN, HAIFENG Chinese
CHINESE SPEAKING BUSINESS DEVELOPMENT ASSOCIATE
61.
ZHENG, XIZHONG Chinese
CHINESE SPEAKING PROGRAM DESIGNER
110.
ZHANG, PENGPENG Chinese
MARKETING STAFF
13.
SHI, JIE Chinese
CHINESE SPEAKING BUSINESS DEVELOPMENT ASSOCIATE
62.
ZHENG, KAI Chinese
CHINESE SPEAKING PROGRAM DESIGNER
111.
ZHENG, CHUANGWEI Chinese
MARKETING STAFF
14.
SHUAI, YANGHENG Chinese
CHINESE SPEAKING BUSINESS DEVELOPMENT ASSOCIATE
63.
ZHENG, SHENGLAN Chinese
CHINESE SPEAKING PROGRAM DESIGNER
15.
SU, HAOLIN Chinese
CHINESE SPEAKING BUSINESS DEVELOPMENT ASSOCIATE
64.
ZHENG, XIAOPING Chinese
CHINESE SPEAKING PROGRAM DESIGNER
ZHAO, GANG Chinese
CHINESE SPEAKING BUSINESS DEVELOPMENT ASSOCIATE
65.
ZHENG, ZHANBO Chinese
CHINESE SPEAKING PROGRAM DESIGNER
SUN, XIAOMEI Chinese
CHINESE SPEAKING CUSTOMER SERVICE REPRESENTATIVE
66.
ZHONG, JUNFENG Chinese
CHINESE SPEAKING PROGRAM DESIGNER
18.
SUN, YONGZHUANG Chinese
CHINESE SPEAKING CUSTOMER SERVICE REPRESENTATIVE
19.
TAN, JUNMING Chinese
CHINESE SPEAKING CUSTOMER SERVICE REPRESENTATIVE
TAN, YUAN Chinese
CHINESE SPEAKING CUSTOMER SERVICE REPRESENTATIVE
TANG, WEILUN Chinese
CHINESE SPEAKING CUSTOMER SERVICE REPRESENTATIVE
TAO, LIUYU Chinese
CHINESE SPEAKING CUSTOMER SERVICE REPRESENTATIVE
23.
TENG, YAO Chinese
CHINESE SPEAKING CUSTOMER SERVICE REPRESENTATIVE
24.
TIAN, WENTAO Chinese
CHINESE SPEAKING CUSTOMER SERVICE REPRESENTATIVE
16. 17.
AMAZON OPERATION SERVICES PHILIPPINES, INC. B21 Three E-com Moa Complex Harbour Drive Cor. Bay Shore Brgy. 076 Pasay City 112.
NILSRI, KHWANJAI Thai
SELLER SUPPORT ASSOCIATE
AMUSETECH BUSINESS OUTSOURCING 2/f Rivergreen Residences 2217 Pedro Gil St. 096, Bgy 880 Santa Ana Manila ZHOU, MENGKE Chinese
CUSTOMER SERVICE REPRESENTATIVE MANDARIN SPEAKING
67.
ZHONG, ZIHAO Chinese
CHINESE SPEAKING PROGRAM DESIGNER
113.
68.
ZHOU, DIE Chinese
CHINESE SPEAKING PROGRAM DESIGNER
69.
ZHOU, KE Chinese
CHINESE SPEAKING PROGRAM DESIGNER
ANOC99 CORPORATION 5/f Ayala Malls Manila Bay Building D. Macapagal Blvd. Cor. Aseana Street Tambo Parañaque City
70.
ZHU, GUANGLOU Chinese
CHINESE SPEAKING PROGRAM DESIGNER
71.
ZHU, HONGLI Chinese
CHINESE SPEAKING PROGRAM DESIGNER
72.
ZHU, XUHUI Chinese
CHINESE SPEAKING PROGRAM DESIGNER
73.
DENG, YUANCHENG Chinese
CUSTOMER SERVICE REPRESENTATIVE MANDARIN SPEAKING
74.
HUANG, HAO Chinese
CUSTOMER SERVICE REPRESENTATIVE MANDARIN SPEAKING
75.
LIU, CHANGQUAN Chinese
CUSTOMER SERVICE REPRESENTATIVE MANDARIN SPEAKING
25.
WAN, MENGBO Chinese
CHINESE SPEAKING CUSTOMER SERVICE REPRESENTATIVE
76.
PHILIPPE, AMIR BRAHIM Chadian
CUSTOMER SERVICE REPRESENTATIVE MANDARIN SPEAKING
26.
WANG, DAIMIN Chinese
CHINESE SPEAKING CUSTOMER SERVICE REPRESENTATIVE
77.
QIN, XU Chinese
CUSTOMER SERVICE REPRESENTATIVE MANDARIN SPEAKING
WANG, FENG Chinese
CHINESE SPEAKING CUSTOMER SERVICE REPRESENTATIVE
78.
SHI, SHUO Chinese
CUSTOMER SERVICE REPRESENTATIVE MANDARIN SPEAKING
28.
WANG, CONG Chinese
CHINESE SPEAKING CUSTOMER SERVICE REPRESENTATIVE
79.
TIAN, ZHIZHONG Chinese
CUSTOMER SERVICE REPRESENTATIVE MANDARIN SPEAKING
29.
WANG, JUE Chinese
CHINESE SPEAKING CUSTOMER SERVICE REPRESENTATIVE
80.
CAO, JINZHONG Chinese
MANDARIN CUSTOMER SERVICE REPRESENTATIVE
81.
WEI, QIN Chinese
CHINESE SPEAKING CUSTOMER SERVICE REPRESENTATIVE
JIN, HUI Chinese
MANDARIN CUSTOMER SERVICE REPRESENTATIVE
82.
LI, JIARUI Chinese
MANDARIN CUSTOMER SERVICE REPRESENTATIVE
31.
WEI, YANGJIE Chinese
CHINESE SPEAKING DATA ENTRY CLERK
83.
LIU, LI Chinese
MANDARIN CUSTOMER SERVICE REPRESENTATIVE
32.
WEN, GUODONG Chinese
CHINESE SPEAKING DATA ENTRY CLERK
84.
SONG, FEI Chinese
MANDARIN CUSTOMER SERVICE REPRESENTATIVE
33.
WEN, LEI Chinese
CHINESE SPEAKING DATA ENTRY CLERK
85.
XIE, QIANG Chinese
MANDARIN CUSTOMER SERVICE REPRESENTATIVE
34.
WEN, TIANLONG Chinese
CHINESE SPEAKING DATA ENTRY CLERK
86.
YANG, SHENBING Chinese
MANDARIN CUSTOMER SERVICE REPRESENTATIVE
35.
WENG, ZHANGYING Chinese
CHINESE SPEAKING DATA ENTRY CLERK
87.
YUE, WENQIAN Chinese
MANDARIN CUSTOMER SERVICE REPRESENTATIVE
128.
XIE, CHANG Chinese
36.
WU, HU Chinese
CHINESE SPEAKING DATA ENTRY CLERK
88.
ZHANG, YU Chinese
MANDARIN CUSTOMER SERVICE REPRESENTATIVE
129.
37.
WU, LINA Chinese
CHINESE SPEAKING DATA ENTRY CLERK
89.
CHEN, SHUANG Chinese
MARKETING STAFF MANDARIN SPEAKING
38.
WU, WENJUE Chinese
CHINESE SPEAKING DATA ENTRY CLERK
CHEN, JIANGLING Chinese
39.
WU, ZEWEI Chinese
CHINESE SPEAKING DATA ENTRY CLERK
40.
WU, ZHENWEI Chinese
CHINESE SPEAKING DATA ENTRY CLERK
41.
XIE, BOYU Chinese
CHINESE SPEAKING DATA ENTRY CLERK
42.
XIE, RONGGUO Chinese
CHINESE SPEAKING DATA ENTRY CLERK
43.
XIE, WEN Chinese
CHINESE SPEAKING DATA ENTRY CLERK
20.
21.
22.
27.
30.
90.
114.
DO GIA HUY Vietnamese
CHINESE CUSTOMER SERVICE
115.
PHAN THI NHI Vietnamese
CHINESE CUSTOMER SERVICE
ASIAN TECHNOLOGY SERVICES, INC. 11/f Tower 2 Double Dragon, Macapagal Blvd. Brgy. 076 Pasay City 116.
OH, JINYOUNG South Korean
CUSTOMER SERVICE REPRESENTATIVE
ASIAPEOPLEWORKS! INC. 5/f The Athenaeum Bldg. 160 L.p. Leviste St. Bel-air Makati City 117.
OMUNDSEN, DEANE ANDREW New Zealander
CONSULTANT
AVANTICE CORPORATION 19/f Pbcom Tower Ayala Ave. Bel-air Makati City
FOREIGN NATIONAL / NATIONALITY
POSITION
137.
YANG, HONG Chinese
MANDARIN CUSTOMER SERVICE
138.
CHEN, QIANG Chinese
MANDARIN LANGUAGE SPECIALIST
139.
KE, CANLIN Chinese
MANDARIN LANGUAGE SPECIALIST
140.
LI, ZUGUANG Chinese
MANDARIN LANGUAGE SPECIALIST
141.
LI, LIANG Chinese
MANDARIN LANGUAGE SPECIALIST
142.
LIAO, QIUYONG Chinese
MANDARIN LANGUAGE SPECIALIST
143.
LIN, LIZHEN Chinese
MANDARIN LANGUAGE SPECIALIST
144.
QI, LONG Chinese
MANDARIN LANGUAGE SPECIALIST
145.
RAO, JUNTAO Chinese
MANDARIN LANGUAGE SPECIALIST
146.
REN, CONG Chinese
MANDARIN LANGUAGE SPECIALIST
147.
TIAN, DONG Chinese
MANDARIN LANGUAGE SPECIALIST
148.
WANG, LANGBO Chinese
MANDARIN LANGUAGE SPECIALIST
149.
WANG, HAO Chinese
MANDARIN LANGUAGE SPECIALIST
150.
XIE, SHUIJIANG Chinese
MANDARIN LANGUAGE SPECIALIST
151.
YAN, DANDAN Chinese
MANDARIN LANGUAGE SPECIALIST
152.
YAN, ZHIBO Chinese
MANDARIN LANGUAGE SPECIALIST
153.
ZHANG, YULIN Chinese
MANDARIN LANGUAGE SPECIALIST
BILLION DRAGON OUTSOURCE PHILS., INC. One Townsquare Place Bpo Bldg. Alabang Zapote Rd. Almanza Uno Las Piñas City 154.
FENG, JUNHAO Chinese
CUSTOMER SERVICE REPRESENTATIVE (CSR)
155.
LIANG, FUCHENG Chinese
CUSTOMER SERVICE REPRESENTATIVE (CSR)
156.
OU, FUJIAN Chinese
CUSTOMER SERVICE REPRESENTATIVE (CSR)
157.
TAN, ZHENYE Chinese
CUSTOMER SERVICE REPRESENTATIVE (CSR)
158.
ZHU, WENKANG Chinese
CUSTOMER SERVICE REPRESENTATIVE (CSR)
BOSCH SERVICE SOLUTIONS, INC. 23rd Floor, W Fifth Avenue Building 32nd Street Corner 5th Avenue Bonifacio Global City Taguig City 159.
BAE, SOOIN South Korean
CUSTOMER SERVICE REPRESENTATIVE
CANTIER SYSTEMS, INC. 4/f Nol Tower Commerce Ave., Madrigal Business Park Alabang Muntinlupa City 160.
SAVARIMUTHU, ARULWILLIAM Indian
MES/AUTOMATION MANAGER
CAPSLOCK INC. 7th & 8th Flr. Y Tower Bldg. Coral Way Drive Cor. Macapagal Brgy. 076 Pasay City 161.
CHEN, BODA Chinese
CHINESE IT SUPPORT SPECIALIST
162.
HU, XUECHENG Chinese
CHINESE IT SUPPORT SPECIALIST
163.
LI, ZEPENG Chinese
CHINESE IT SUPPORT SPECIALIST
118.
LIM TUCK YEE Malaysian
FINANCE MANAGER
119.
LIN, TING-YU Taiwanese
MARKETING EXECUTIVE
120.
PHAM VAN DINH Vietnamese
MARKETING EXECUTIVE
164.
121.
BURAM, NANTHIDA Thai
MARKETING SENIOR EXECUTIVE
CHINA COMMUNICATIONS SERVICES PHILIPPINES CORPORATION 12/f One/neo Bldg 26th St. Cor 3rd Ave., Bgc Fort Bonifacio Taguig City
122.
PARK, JUYOUNG South Korean
OPERATIONS EXECUTIVE
165.
FENG, QINCHUN Chinese
IT SPECIALIST
123.
TRAN VI HUNG Vietnamese
OPERATIONS SENIOR EXECUTIVE
166.
JIANG, SHUYONG Chinese
IT SPECIALIST
124.
ERY TAN Indonesian
PAYMENT SENIOR SUPERVISOR
167.
BAI, KAIYUN Chinese
MARKETING MANAGER
168.
XU, JIAMING Chinese
PROJECT ASSISTANT
BETCONSULT INTERNATIONAL CONSULTING, INC. Office #01 20a/b Rufino Pacific Tower 6784 Ayala Ave. San Lorenzo Makati City
CATHAY UNITED BANK CO., LTD. MANILA BRANCH U/1 15/f Tower 6789 Ayala Ave. Bel-air Makati City LI, HSIN-YING Taiwanese
ASSISTANT VICE-PRESIDENT AND HEAD OF OPERATIONS
CIPEC CONSTRUCTION INC. U-1202 Global Tower Condo Gen. Mascardo Cor. Capt. M. Reyes Sts. Bangkal Makati City
125.
DENG, CHANGHAI Chinese
OPERATIONS SUPERVISOR (MANDARIN SPEAKING)
126.
LUO, YUANDONG Chinese
RECRUITMENT SPECIALIST (MANDARIN SPEAKING)
169.
127.
YANG, MIN Chinese
RECRUITMENT SPECIALIST (MANDARIN SPEAKING)
CXLOYALTY PHILIPPINES, INC. 10f W Fifth Building 32nd St. Cor. 5th Avenue Bonifacio Global City, Fort Bonifacio Taguig City
BIG EMPEROR TECHNOLOGY CORP. 5f-13f, Jiaxing Tower Building Aseana Avenue, Aseana Business Park Tambo Parañaque City
LEE, KUAN-HSIEN Taiwanese
ELECTRICAL SUPERVISOR
170.
BAKEM, MURIELLE Cameroonian
FRENCH CUSTOMER CARE SPECIALIST
MANDARIN CUSTOMER SERVICE
171.
FRENCH CUSTOMER CARE SPECIALIST
BAN, JIANZHANG Chinese
MANDARIN CUSTOMER SERVICE
BRAFFO, N’GUESSAN MARCHAL Ivorian
172.
MANDARIN CUSTOMER SERVICE
SPANISH CUSTOMER CARE SPECIALIST
130.
CHEN, SHIYING Chinese
ALTIERI, AGUSTIN Italian
MARKETING STAFF MANDARIN SPEAKING
131.
DUAN, LIRONG Chinese
MANDARIN CUSTOMER SERVICE
173.
CAMACHO CAMACHO, SONIA PATRICIA Colombian
SPANISH CUSTOMER CARE SPECIALIST
132.
FENG, XIAOLING Chinese
MANDARIN CUSTOMER SERVICE
DA SUCCESS BUSINESS TRADING INCORPORATED 2503 The Finance Centre 26th Street Corner 9th Avenue Fort Bonifacio Taguig City
133.
GAN, XIAOQING Chinese
MANDARIN CUSTOMER SERVICE
174.
BI, ZHEN Chinese
MANDARIN SPEAKING MARKETING SPECIALIST
134.
LI, YUXUAN Chinese
MANDARIN CUSTOMER SERVICE
175.
GAO, MING Chinese
MANDARIN SPEAKING MARKETING SPECIALIST
91.
CONG, ZHENG Chinese
MARKETING STAFF MANDARIN SPEAKING
92.
HUANG, DEJIE Chinese
MARKETING STAFF MANDARIN SPEAKING
93.
LIN, RONGXIN Chinese
MARKETING STAFF MANDARIN SPEAKING
135.
PING, RUI Chinese
MANDARIN CUSTOMER SERVICE
176.
MAI, DAIXI Chinese
MANDARIN SPEAKING MARKETING SPECIALIST
94.
QIN, QUYI Chinese
MARKETING STAFF MANDARIN SPEAKING
136.
YAN, LIRONG Chinese
MANDARIN CUSTOMER SERVICE
177.
ZHOU, YUZHEN Chinese
MANDARIN SPEAKING MARKETING SPECIALIST
A6
ESTABLISHMENT / ADDRESS NO.
BusinessMirror
Tuesday, March 9, 2021
FOREIGN NATIONAL / NATIONALITY
ESTABLISHMENT / ADDRESS POSITION
EASTERN GOLD CORPORATION 503 Nueva St Binondo Manila
NO.
ESTABLISHMENT / ADDRESS
FOREIGN NATIONAL / NATIONALITY
POSITION
NO.
237.
QI, JIEWEI Chinese
CHINESE CUSTOMER SERVICE REPRESENTATIVE
178.
NI, JINGLUN Chinese
MARKETING AND SALES AGENT
238.
REN, HANG Chinese
CHINESE CUSTOMER SERVICE REPRESENTATIVE
179.
OUYANG, MIAORONG Chinese
MARKETING AND SALES AGENT
239.
SONG, XINPEI Chinese
CHINESE CUSTOMER SERVICE REPRESENTATIVE
180.
TIAN, BO Chinese
MARKETING AND SALES AGENT
240.
SU, QINGHUI Chinese
CHINESE CUSTOMER SERVICE REPRESENTATIVE
181.
YE, MEILIAN Chinese
MARKETING AND SALES AGENT
241.
SUN, XINGQING Chinese
CHINESE CUSTOMER SERVICE REPRESENTATIVE
242.
TANG, YUNLONG Chinese
CHINESE CUSTOMER SERVICE REPRESENTATIVE
243.
TANG, SHOUPING Chinese
CHINESE CUSTOMER SERVICE REPRESENTATIVE
244.
WAN, JIA Chinese
CHINESE CUSTOMER SERVICE REPRESENTATIVE
ELEMATEC PHILIPPINES, INC. 18/f Oledan Square 6788 Ayala Ave. San Lorenzo Makati City 182.
NAKAMURA, KANA Japanese
GENERAL MANAGER
FAREAST OUTSOURCE PROCESSING INC. 7th, 8th, 9th Flr. Nu Tower Moa Coral Way Brgy. 076 Pasay City
www.businessmirror.com.ph ESTABLISHMENT / ADDRESS
FOREIGN NATIONAL / NATIONALITY
POSITION
NO.
296.
AUNG KYAW LIN Myanmari
MYANMAR CUSTOMER SERVICE
339.
297.
PYAE SONE AUNG Myanmari
MYANMAR CUSTOMER SERVICE
MOA CLOUDZONE CORP. 4th-11th Flr. Nexgen Tower C4 Rd. Edsa Ext. Brgy. 076 Pasay City
GLOBALLGA BUSINESS PROCESS OUTSOURCING 2nd, 3rd & 6th Flr. Ortigas Technopoint 2 Ortigas Home Depot Complex #1 Doña Julia Vargas Ave. Pasig City CHEN, SHAOCONG Chinese
CUSTOMER SERVICE REPRESENTATIVE MANDARIN SPEAKING
299.
LIAO, CHUNBAO Chinese
CUSTOMER SERVICE REPRESENTATIVE MANDARIN SPEAKING
300.
WANG, SEN Chinese
CUSTOMER SERVICE REPRESENTATIVE MANDARIN SPEAKING
301.
ZHANG, GUOQIANG Chinese
MARKETING STAFF MANDARIN SPEAKING
298.
FOREIGN NATIONAL / NATIONALITY IMAMURA, YASUNOBU Japanese
POSITION HEAD OF PHILIPPINES BRANCH
340.
GU, SHANSHAN Chinese
CHINESE CUSTOMER SERVICE
341.
GUO, JIANFENG Chinese
CHINESE CUSTOMER SERVICE
342.
LAN, LEI Chinese
CHINESE CUSTOMER SERVICE
343.
LI, CHAO Chinese
CHINESE CUSTOMER SERVICE
344.
LIU, PENG Chinese
CHINESE CUSTOMER SERVICE
345.
LIU, LIANBO Chinese
CHINESE CUSTOMER SERVICE
346.
QIN, XIANGYING Chinese
CHINESE CUSTOMER SERVICE
347.
HUANG, CHAO Chinese
CHINESE CUSTOMER SERVICE REPRESENTATIVE
183.
LIAO, RONGLIN Chinese
CUSTOMER SERVICE REPRESENTATIVE (CSR)
245.
WANG, AO Chinese
CHINESE CUSTOMER SERVICE REPRESENTATIVE
184.
REN, JUNSHENG Chinese
CUSTOMER SERVICE REPRESENTATIVE (CSR)
246.
WANG, YONGHUA Chinese
CHINESE CUSTOMER SERVICE REPRESENTATIVE
185.
XIONG, JIAN Chinese
CUSTOMER SERVICE REPRESENTATIVE (CSR)
247.
WANG, ZEXU Chinese
CHINESE CUSTOMER SERVICE REPRESENTATIVE
302.
JIANG, QIN Chinese
CUSTOMER SERVICE REPRESENTATIVE (CSR)
348.
LI, ZHENXING Chinese
CHINESE CUSTOMER SERVICE REPRESENTATIVE
248.
WANG, XIAOJING Chinese
CHINESE CUSTOMER SERVICE REPRESENTATIVE
303.
LI, QINGCHUN Chinese
CUSTOMER SERVICE REPRESENTATIVE (CSR)
349.
LIU, JIAWEN Chinese
CHINESE CUSTOMER SERVICE REPRESENTATIVE
249.
WEI, KEQING Chinese
CHINESE CUSTOMER SERVICE REPRESENTATIVE
HA LONG PILIPINAS INC. San Luis St. Barangay 011 Pasay City
350.
LIU, SIYUAN Chinese
CHINESE CUSTOMER SERVICE REPRESENTATIVE
250.
WEI, XUEWEN Chinese
CHINESE CUSTOMER SERVICE REPRESENTATIVE
304.
351.
WEI, LINXIN Chinese
CHINESE CUSTOMER SERVICE REPRESENTATIVE
251.
WU, YONGZHI Chinese
CHINESE CUSTOMER SERVICE REPRESENTATIVE
352.
XIAO, GANZHOU Chinese
CHINESE CUSTOMER SERVICE REPRESENTATIVE
252.
WU, WENJIE Chinese
CHINESE CUSTOMER SERVICE REPRESENTATIVE
HECTECHURE CORP. Units A&b 20/f Rufino Pacific Tower 6784 Ayala Ave. Cor. V.a. Rufino St. San Lorenzo Makati City
353.
ZHANG, SHUANGLONG Chinese
CHINESE CUSTOMER SERVICE REPRESENTATIVE
253.
XIE, XIANGQIAN Chinese
CHINESE CUSTOMER SERVICE REPRESENTATIVE
354.
ZHANG, BO Chinese
CHINESE CUSTOMER SERVICE REPRESENTATIVE
254.
XING, LINGLING Chinese
CHINESE CUSTOMER SERVICE REPRESENTATIVE
355.
HUANG, YUZHEN Chinese
CHINESE CUSTOMER SPECIALIST
255.
XU, LIANG Chinese
CHINESE CUSTOMER SERVICE REPRESENTATIVE
356.
STEVEN Indonesian
CHINESE CUSTOMER SPECIALIST
256.
YAN, YUHAO Chinese
CHINESE CUSTOMER SERVICE REPRESENTATIVE
357.
DONG VAN BANG Vietnamese
VIETNAMESE CUSTOMER SERVICE REPRESENTATIVE
257.
YANG, CHENGHUAN Chinese
CHINESE CUSTOMER SERVICE REPRESENTATIVE
358.
HO LANH DIN Vietnamese
VIETNAMESE CUSTOMER SERVICE REPRESENTATIVE
258.
YE, SHANSHAN Chinese
359.
VIETNAMESE CUSTOMER SERVICE REPRESENTATIVE
259.
NGUYEN THI HUYEN TRANG Vietnamese
FLYING DRAGON NETWORK PHILIPPINES INC. Malate Bayview Mansion 1781 M. Adriatico Street 076, Brgy. 699 Malate Manila 186.
HAN, DONG Chinese
CHINESE CUSTOMER SERVICE
187.
JIANG, YUNCHUAN Chinese
CHINESE CUSTOMER SERVICE
188.
LI, JINQU Chinese
CHINESE CUSTOMER SERVICE
189.
LI, NING Chinese
CHINESE CUSTOMER SERVICE
190.
QIAN, ZHILEI Chinese
CHINESE CUSTOMER SERVICE
191.
TIAN, BING Chinese
CHINESE CUSTOMER SERVICE
192.
WANG, YU Chinese
CHINESE CUSTOMER SERVICE
193.
WU, RONG Chinese
CHINESE CUSTOMER SERVICE
194.
SHANG, TINGZHUANG Chinese
CHINESE CUSTOMER SERVICE REPRESENTATIVE
195.
TIAN, ZHANGFEI Chinese
CHINESE CUSTOMER SERVICE REPRESENTATIVE
196.
WANG, XUEDONG Chinese
CHINESE CUSTOMER SERVICE REPRESENTATIVE
197.
AI, JIA Chinese
CHINESE CUSTOMER SERVICE REPRESENTATIVE
198.
AN, BAIWEN Chinese
CHINESE CUSTOMER SERVICE REPRESENTATIVE
199.
CAO, JIE Chinese
CHINESE CUSTOMER SERVICE REPRESENTATIVE
200.
CAO, WENGANG Chinese
CHINESE CUSTOMER SERVICE REPRESENTATIVE
201.
CHEN, LIZHI Chinese
CHINESE CUSTOMER SERVICE REPRESENTATIVE
202.
CHEN, BINRU Chinese
CHINESE CUSTOMER SERVICE REPRESENTATIVE
203.
CHEN, LIN Chinese
CHINESE CUSTOMER SERVICE REPRESENTATIVE
204.
CHEN, ZUNYAO Chinese
CHINESE CUSTOMER SERVICE REPRESENTATIVE
205.
CHEN, GUODONG Chinese
CHINESE CUSTOMER SERVICE REPRESENTATIVE
CHEN, JIONGJIAN Chinese
CHINESE CUSTOMER SERVICE REPRESENTATIVE
DAI, LONGYI Chinese
CHINESE CUSTOMER SERVICE REPRESENTATIVE
208.
DUAN, FANG Chinese
CHINESE CUSTOMER SERVICE REPRESENTATIVE
209.
FAN, YUJUAN Chinese
CHINESE CUSTOMER SERVICE REPRESENTATIVE
210.
FAN, FEIXIANG Chinese
CHINESE CUSTOMER SERVICE REPRESENTATIVE
211.
FENG, XIAOBIN Chinese
CHINESE CUSTOMER SERVICE REPRESENTATIVE
212.
FU, YI Chinese
CHINESE CUSTOMER SERVICE REPRESENTATIVE
213.
GONG, ZHAOYANG Chinese
CHINESE CUSTOMER SERVICE REPRESENTATIVE
214.
GUO, WANLI Chinese
CHINESE CUSTOMER SERVICE REPRESENTATIVE
215.
HU, YUNFENG Chinese
CHINESE CUSTOMER SERVICE REPRESENTATIVE
HUAI, YANPING Chinese
CHINESE CUSTOMER SERVICE REPRESENTATIVE
217.
HUANG, FANG Chinese
CHINESE CUSTOMER SERVICE REPRESENTATIVE
218.
HUANG, BOXIN Chinese
CHINESE CUSTOMER SERVICE REPRESENTATIVE
JIANG, DAI Chinese
CHINESE CUSTOMER SERVICE REPRESENTATIVE
220.
JIANG, JINGHUA Chinese
221.
206. 207.
GOLDEN BIG BULL TECHNOLOGY LIMITED INC. 20 Flr Unit A-b Citybank Square Bldg. Eastwood Cyberpark Bagumbayan 3 Quezon City
305.
CHEN, ZHANGMEI Chinese
WANG, JINGANG Chinese
FINANCIAL ASSISTANT
MANDARIN NETWORK AND SYSTEM MANAGER
HUAWEI TECHNOLOGIES PHILS. INC. U-5302, 53/f Pbcom Tower 6795 Ayala Ave., Cor., V.a. Rufino St. Bel-air Makati City 306.
LIN, LANLAN Chinese
ADMINISTRATIVE MANAGER
HWA LUN CORPORATION Unit 1606 B Sunjoy Bldg. 525 Lavezares St. Tondo I/ii Manila 307.
ZHANG, YUANSHAN Chinese
CHINESE PROJECT SUPERVISOR
CHINESE CUSTOMER SERVICE REPRESENTATIVE
308.
JIANG, XIUCHUN Chinese
CHINESE SECRETARY
YI, YANG Chinese
CHINESE CUSTOMER SERVICE REPRESENTATIVE
309.
SUN, LIANG Chinese
GLASS AND ALUMINUM SUPERVISOR
260.
YU, JIAGE Chinese
CHINESE CUSTOMER SERVICE REPRESENTATIVE
310.
XIA, XIANGUI Chinese
GLASS AND ALUMINUM SUPERVISOR
261.
YU, XIMENG Chinese
CHINESE CUSTOMER SERVICE REPRESENTATIVE
ITECHNO SPECIALIST INC. 7/f Aseana I Bldg. Bradco Avenue Aseana Business Park Tambo Parañaque City
262.
YUAN, ZHENBIN Chinese
CHINESE CUSTOMER SERVICE REPRESENTATIVE
311.
263.
ZENG, ZHENG Chinese
CHINESE CUSTOMER SERVICE REPRESENTATIVE
JINDINGYUAN BUSINESS SUPPORT, INC. 3-9/f Filinvest Cyberzone Bldg. A, Bay City Brgy. 076 Pasay City
264.
ZHANG, XIN Chinese
CHINESE CUSTOMER SERVICE REPRESENTATIVE
312.
XIE, HUI Chinese
265.
ZHANG, JIANGUO Chinese
CHINESE CUSTOMER SERVICE REPRESENTATIVE
313.
YE, WEIDONG Chinese
266.
ZHANG, QIANWEN Chinese
CHINESE CUSTOMER SERVICE REPRESENTATIVE
JINSHENGLONG BUSINESS SUPPORT, INC. 3rd, 4th, 5th, 7th, 8th, 9th Flr. Filinvest Bay City Brgy. 076 Pasay City
267.
ZHANG, SHUAI Chinese
CHINESE CUSTOMER SERVICE REPRESENTATIVE
314.
268.
ZHANG, QIAN Chinese
CHINESE CUSTOMER SERVICE REPRESENTATIVE
269.
ZHANG, ZHE Chinese
CHINESE CUSTOMER SERVICE REPRESENTATIVE
270.
ZHANG, ZIPENG Chinese
CHINESE CUSTOMER SERVICE REPRESENTATIVE
271.
ZHAO, YANGLONG Chinese
CHINESE CUSTOMER SERVICE REPRESENTATIVE
272.
ZHAO, JINMIN Chinese
CHINESE CUSTOMER SERVICE REPRESENTATIVE
273.
ZHOU, WENWEN Chinese
CHINESE CUSTOMER SERVICE REPRESENTATIVE
274.
ZHOU, DAWEI Chinese
CHINESE CUSTOMER SERVICE REPRESENTATIVE
275.
ZHOU, JIANYANG Chinese
CHINESE CUSTOMER SERVICE REPRESENTATIVE
276.
ZHU, XIANGYI Chinese
277.
SY A SY Vietnamese
FANG, HAI Chinese
360.
CAI, ZHENHAO Chinese
CHINESE CUSTOMER SERVICE
361.
CAO, BO Chinese
CHINESE CUSTOMER SERVICE
362.
CHENG, YONGTAO Chinese
CHINESE CUSTOMER SERVICE
CUSTOMER SERVICE REPRESENTATIVE
363.
GAO, JINHAI Chinese
CHINESE CUSTOMER SERVICE
CUSTOMER SERVICE REPRESENTATIVE
364.
GU, YUTONG Chinese
CHINESE CUSTOMER SERVICE
365.
HU, KUNYU Chinese
CHINESE CUSTOMER SERVICE
366.
HU, PENGLE Chinese
CHINESE CUSTOMER SERVICE
367.
JIANG, ZHENG Chinese
CHINESE CUSTOMER SERVICE
368.
LIN, HAIBIN Chinese
CHINESE CUSTOMER SERVICE
369.
LIU, LIFENG Chinese
CHINESE CUSTOMER SERVICE
370.
PAN, ZHIQUAN Chinese
CHINESE CUSTOMER SERVICE
371.
PENG, GUOJUN Chinese
CHINESE CUSTOMER SERVICE
372.
SHAO, JIASONG Chinese
CHINESE CUSTOMER SERVICE
373.
SHI, JUNLIU Chinese
CHINESE CUSTOMER SERVICE
374.
WANG, JINSONG Chinese
CHINESE CUSTOMER SERVICE
375.
WEI, QIUXUE Chinese
CHINESE CUSTOMER SERVICE
376.
XIE, HAIJUN Chinese
CHINESE CUSTOMER SERVICE
377.
ZENG, QINGWU Chinese
CHINESE CUSTOMER SERVICE
378.
ZHAI, MINGHU Chinese
CHINESE CUSTOMER SERVICE
IT SUPPORT SPECIALIST
CUSTOMER SERVICE REPRESENTATIVE
KORGUSTOFIL CORP. Pb-g015 Ortigas Technopoint Bldg. Ortigas Home Depot, Julia Vargas Ave. Ugong Pasig City 315.
KIM, SEUNG MAN South Korean
SALES MANAGER
LAUGHING BUDDHA FOOD CORP. Unit No.f & B 2 Flr, No.2/f Resort World Bldg. Newport City St. Barangay 183 Pasay City 316.
ZHENG, FANG Chinese
NEW ORIENTAL CLUB88 CORPORATION 3rd, 5th, 6th, 7th, 8th, 9th & 10th/f Pearl Marina Building Pacific Drive Don Galo Parañaque City
RESTAURANT ASSISTANT MANAGER
MARKETROLE ASIA PACIFIC SERVICES, INC. 26/f, 27/f, 28/f The Enterprise Center Tower 1 6766 Ayala Ave. Cor. Paseo De Roxas San Lorenzo Makati City 317.
CHEN, ZHIJIE Chinese
CHINESE SPEAKING CUSTOMER SERVICE STAFF
318.
CHINESE CUSTOMER SERVICE REPRESENTATIVE
DENG, MIN Chinese
CHINESE SPEAKING CUSTOMER SERVICE STAFF
319.
ZHU, LIN Chinese
CHINESE CUSTOMER SERVICE REPRESENTATIVE
GAO, YUNFEI Chinese
CHINESE SPEAKING CUSTOMER SERVICE STAFF
320.
CHINESE CUSTOMER SERVICE REPRESENTATIVE
CHINESE SPEAKING CUSTOMER SERVICE STAFF
278.
ZOU, JUN Chinese
HUANG, CAIQIAN Chinese
279.
SHWE ZIN NWE Myanmari
MALAYSIAN CUSTOMER SERVICE REPRESENTATIVE
321.
HUANG, ROU-TING a.k.a. NONGTI HUANG Taiwanese
CHINESE SPEAKING CUSTOMER SERVICE STAFF
280.
AIN GYI Myanmari
MYANMARI CUSTOMER SERVICE REPRESENTATIVE
322.
LI, LULU Chinese
CHINESE SPEAKING CUSTOMER SERVICE STAFF
379.
CHINESE CUSTOMER SERVICE
281.
NGUYEN HUU DINH Vietnamese
VIETNAMESE CUSTOMER SERVICE REPRESENTATIVE
323.
LIAO, YINGGUI Chinese
CHINESE SPEAKING CUSTOMER SERVICE STAFF
ZHANG, CHENG Chinese
380.
CHINESE CUSTOMER SERVICE
282.
NGUYEN THI GIANG Vietnamese
VIETNAMESE CUSTOMER SERVICE REPRESENTATIVE
324.
LIN, YU-LING Taiwanese
CHINESE SPEAKING CUSTOMER SERVICE STAFF
ZHONG, JUNWEI Chinese
283.
VIETNAMESE CUSTOMER SERVICE REPRESENTATIVE
325.
CHINESE CUSTOMER SERVICE REPRESENTATIVE
TRAN NGUYEN PHUONG DUNG Vietnamese
LIU, XIBING Chinese
CHINESE SPEAKING CUSTOMER SERVICE STAFF
326.
KONG, XIANGAN Chinese
CHINESE CUSTOMER SERVICE REPRESENTATIVE
CHINESE SPEAKING CUSTOMER SERVICE STAFF
327.
CHINESE CUSTOMER SERVICE REPRESENTATIVE
VONG MY LIEN Vietnamese
CHINESE SPEAKING CUSTOMER SERVICE STAFF
222.
LI, TAO Chinese
FORMUNIA CORPORATION Units A&b 20/f Rufino Pacific Tower 6784 Ayala Ave. Cor. V.a. Rufino St. San Lorenzo Makati City
MENG, XUHUI Chinese
328.
CHINESE CUSTOMER SERVICE REPRESENTATIVE
CHINESE SPEAKING CUSTOMER SERVICE STAFF
223.
LI, XIN Chinese
VY PHUONG TRINH Vietnamese
329.
CHINESE CUSTOMER SERVICE REPRESENTATIVE
CHINESE SPEAKING CUSTOMER SERVICE STAFF
224.
LI, JINLEI Chinese
WANG, WEIYANG Chinese
LI, YUCHAO Chinese
CHINESE CUSTOMER SERVICE REPRESENTATIVE
285.
SOFTWARE DOCUMENT CONTROLLER SPECIALIST
WANG, ZHIMIN Chinese
CHINESE SPEAKING CUSTOMER SERVICE STAFF
225.
WU, MINGTONG Chinese
330.
LI, LONG Chinese
CHINESE CUSTOMER SERVICE REPRESENTATIVE
286.
SOFTWARE DOCUMENT CONTROLLER SPECIALIST
WANG, YEZHOU Chinese
CHINESE SPEAKING CUSTOMER SERVICE STAFF
226.
YUAN, LANFANG Chinese
331. 332.
CHINESE CUSTOMER SERVICE REPRESENTATIVE
CHINESE SPEAKING CUSTOMER SERVICE STAFF
227.
LI, ZHIHUI Chinese
YAO, YINFEI Chinese
333.
CHINESE CUSTOMER SERVICE REPRESENTATIVE
CHINESE SPEAKING CUSTOMER SERVICE STAFF
228.
LIN, QIAOHONG Chinese
YEH, CHIA-LUN Taiwanese
334.
CHINESE SPEAKING CUSTOMER SERVICE STAFF
229.
LIU, JINGRU Chinese
ZHANG, YUAN Chinese
CHINESE SPEAKING CUSTOMER SERVICE STAFF CHINESE SPEAKING CUSTOMER SERVICE STAFF
216.
219.
284.
LI, LIURONG Chinese
MANDARIN INFORMATION SYSTEM ANALYST
FULL CHARGE SERVICES, INC. U 801 State Center Bldg. 333 Juan Luna St. 027, Brgy. 287 Binondo Manila
FUXINGYING CAIYUN HENTONG, CORP. 7th, 8th, 9th, 10th Floor Eton Ewestpod Chino Roces Avenue Cor. Yakal & Malugay Streets San Antonio Makati City 287.
CHINESE CUSTOMER SERVICE REPRESENTATIVE
CHEN, KUNYU Chinese
288.
CHINESE CUSTOMER SERVICE
335.
CHINESE CUSTOMER SERVICE REPRESENTATIVE
ZHOU, SHUNYI Chinese
230.
LIU, CHAO Chinese
CHEN, XIANGLIN Chinese
289.
CHINESE CUSTOMER SERVICE
336.
CHINESE CUSTOMER SERVICE REPRESENTATIVE
ZHU, MINGYAN Chinese
231.
LIU, BOWEN Chinese
DENG, LI Chinese
290.
CHINESE CUSTOMER SERVICE
CHINESE CUSTOMER SERVICE REPRESENTATIVE
MEDTRONIC PHILIPPINES, INC. 2901 One World Place 32nd St. Fort Bonifacio Taguig City
232.
LIU, XINCHAO Chinese
HUANG, LONGGANG Chinese
291.
CHINESE CUSTOMER SERVICE
337.
233.
LIU, TINGJUN Chinese
CHINESE CUSTOMER SERVICE REPRESENTATIVE
LI, RONG Chinese
292.
CHINESE CUSTOMER SERVICE
CHINESE CUSTOMER SERVICE REPRESENTATIVE
MELCO RESORTS LEISURE (PHP) CORPORATION City Of Dreams Aseana Ave. Cor. Roxas Blvd. Tambo Parañaque City
234.
MA, FAN Chinese
LIN, RUISHENG Chinese
293.
CHINESE CUSTOMER SERVICE
235.
PAN, YUNJIE Chinese
CHINESE CUSTOMER SERVICE REPRESENTATIVE
LUO, ZHONGWEI Chinese
294.
CHINESE CUSTOMER SERVICE
236.
PI, ZHENYU Chinese
CHINESE CUSTOMER SERVICE REPRESENTATIVE
XU, YAJUAN Chinese
295.
HERIYANTO Indonesian
INDONESIAN CUSTOMER SERVICE
CHINESE CUSTOMER SERVICE
338.
KANG, YOUNG JOO South Korean
SMITH, RUSSELL IAN Canadian
DIABETES CUSTOMER SERVICE KOREAN SPEAKER SPECIALIST
DIRECTOR, INTERNAL AUDIT & INTERNAL CONTROL COMPLIANCE
MITSUBISHI HITACHI POWER SYSTEMS ASIA PACIFIC PTE. LTD. PHILIPPINES BRANCH 21f Tower 1 Insular Life Corp. Center,fcc Alabang Muntinlupa City
NOCMAKATI, INC. 8,9,10,11,12,14,15,16,17,18 & 19 Floors Century Diamond Center Kalayaan Ave. Cor. Salamanca St. Poblacion Makati City 381.
CAI, XIANGDONG Chinese
CHINESE CUSTOMER SERVICE REPRESENTATIVE
382.
CHEN, LIANGSHENG Chinese
CHINESE CUSTOMER SERVICE REPRESENTATIVE
383.
CHEN, QIUJUN Chinese
CHINESE CUSTOMER SERVICE REPRESENTATIVE
384.
CHEN, YALING Chinese
CHINESE CUSTOMER SERVICE REPRESENTATIVE
385.
CHEN, SUHUA Chinese
CHINESE CUSTOMER SERVICE REPRESENTATIVE
386.
CHENG, JUNHONG Chinese
CHINESE CUSTOMER SERVICE REPRESENTATIVE
387.
CONG, JIAYU Chinese
CHINESE CUSTOMER SERVICE REPRESENTATIVE
388.
DAN, FEIFEI Chinese
CHINESE CUSTOMER SERVICE REPRESENTATIVE
389.
DENG, XIN Chinese
CHINESE CUSTOMER SERVICE REPRESENTATIVE
390.
EKO SUSANTO Indonesian
CHINESE CUSTOMER SERVICE REPRESENTATIVE
391.
ESTI Indonesian
CHINESE CUSTOMER SERVICE REPRESENTATIVE
392.
FAN, ZHIYING Chinese
CHINESE CUSTOMER SERVICE REPRESENTATIVE
393.
GAN WEI LEE Malaysian
CHINESE CUSTOMER SERVICE REPRESENTATIVE
394.
GONG, XIANGXIANG Chinese
CHINESE CUSTOMER SERVICE REPRESENTATIVE
395.
GUO, ZHENGGE Chinese
CHINESE CUSTOMER SERVICE REPRESENTATIVE
396.
GUO, DONG Chinese
CHINESE CUSTOMER SERVICE REPRESENTATIVE
397.
HE, WEI Chinese
CHINESE CUSTOMER SERVICE REPRESENTATIVE
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News
BusinessMirror
Tuesday, March 9, 2021 A7
Editor: Vittorio V. Vitug
Amid rise in Metro Covid cases, DOH tells public anew to comply with health protocols By Claudeth Mocon-Ciriaco Correspondent
T
HE Department of Health (DOH) on Monday blamed the surge in Covid-19 cases on the public's non-compliance with the minimum public health standards (MPHS), saying it is not “solely” due to the B1351 (South Africa) variant or the B117 (UK) variant detected in the country. “We would like to clarify because there has been this issue na kaya tumataas ang kaso ay [the cases are rising] because of the variants. We would just like to inform the public na tumataas ang kaso—totoo pero hindi natin pwede sabihin na ’yung variants ang naging cause solely, na siya lang talaga. Kaya tayo tumaas ay dumating ang variants—hindi po [The cases are increasing—yes that is true, but we could not say that this surge in cases is because of the variants—no]!” Health Undersecretary Maria Rosario Vergeire said in an online media forum. “We just like that clear, kasi ayaw din namin na tinatakot ang tao na kaya tumaas ang kaso dahil pumasok ang variants, nakikita na natin ang trends natin [We don’t want the people to be scared that the cases are rising because of the variants, we saw the trends and with that observation, there has been a lapse in the compliance to the minimum health protocol],” she pointed out. The health official also said that they welcome the latest projections of the Octa Research team that by
the end of March, there would be as many as 6,000 new Covid-19 infections a day. Octa also said the daily cases in the National Capital Region could reach 2,000, and could further increase to 3,000 before April. “We are open to this estimations... we make that as our guide but look at also the data of the DOH [Department of Health] with our epidemiology [bureau],” she stressed.
Health protocols
THE “underlying cause,” Vergeire reiterated, is the non-compliance to the MPHS and that the variants merely “aggravated” the increase in the cases. “Marami tayong nakikita na nakamask pero nasa baba, naka face shield pero nasa ulo na nila [We saw many persons wearing face mask below the chin, face shield covering their head not their face],” Vergeire added. Data from the DOH earlier showed “very sharp” two-week increases of more than 40-percent increase per week. These were observed in Quezon City, Makati, Taguig, Parañaque, Caloocan and Mandaluyong. With the surge in cases, Vergeire urged the public to strictly adhere to the MPHS, especially in the face of threats from UK and South Africa variants. “Variant na ang nakuha, variant na ang ipapasa mo sa iba. Eh ang variant ay higher ang transmission. Mas nakapapamanghawa, so mas bumibilis ang kaso. [If you have the variant, then the same variant could be con-
tracted by others. The variant has a higher transmission rate. It can infect easily so our cases would predictably increase also],” the DOH official stressed. The best intervention, she emphasized, is still the compliance of the health protocols in place. “As long as our public would not be able to comply with the minimum health protocols that are there...and then nandiyan ang posibilidad na dadami ang kaso ngayon dumating ang variants [then there is the possibility that the cases will increase now that we have the variants],” she added.
‘Alarming’
SEN. Panfilo Lacson, meanwhile, lamented Monday the resurgence of Covid-19 cases. “It is alarming and it should concern our health authorities,” Lacson said. In a statement, the senator suggested that “aside from the existing health protocols which Filipinos have already grown accustomed to, contact tracing is key: first, to determine the specific areas where the surges occur or are evident, so that extra control measures and closer supervision can be instituted immediately.” Lacson, likewise, noted that “this is where the role of the local government units becomes indispensable since they are the closest to the potential spreaders—not to mention their familiarity with the people in their localities.” With Butch Fernandez
Lawmakers recognize women’s pivotal role in nation-building amid pandemic As we continue to face the worst public health crisis in a generation, let us pause for a moment to pay tribute to all the women of this country for their resilience and invaluable contributions to society and nation.
BM
House Speaker Lord Allan Velasco
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N observance of National Women’s Month and International Women’s Day, the House of Representatives has recognized women’s pivotal role in nation-building amid the Covid-19 pandemic as lawmakers also called for the passage of measures that would bring about change and equality for the benefit of Filipinas. “In the past year, Covid-19 has changed the world and affected us all, but the impact of the crisis has been particularly significant for women,” Speaker Lord Allan Velasco said. “As we continue to face the worst public health crisis in a generation, let us pause for a moment to pay tribute to all the women of this country for their resilience and invaluable contributions to society and nation,” the House leader added. In the Senate, meanwhile, Senator Risa Hontiveros has filed Senate Bill 2088, otherwise known as the Gender Responsive and Inclusive Pandemic Management Act of 2021, on International Women’s Day to create programs and protocols that address the unique needs of women during disasters and public health emergencies. Hontiveros, who chairs the Senate Committee on Women, thanked her fellow women Senators Nancy Binay, Pia Cayetano, Leila de Lima,
Imee Marcos, Grace Poe and Cynthia Villar for coming together as fellow authors of the bill. She said this is a perfect example of “how important it is for women to look out for each other.” “I am grateful to my fellow women colleagues who, by supporting this bill, make the voice for women louder in government. Ito ay pakikiisa at pakikibaka para sa mga kapwa Pilipina namin. We are a proud united front in the fight for women,” she said. The Gender Responsive and Inclusive Pandemic Management Act of 2021 aims to enforce access to social protections and safety nets, involve women in the formulation of guidelines in the national management of the pandemic, ensure access to and the continuous functioning of gender desks and health services, and appropriate funds to secure these programs, among others. For her part, House Committee on Women and Gender Equality Chairman Maria Lourdes AcostaAlba, said women must take on more leadership roles in society as she encouraged them to speak out boldly wherever they are. “We, women, should lead not only at the top levels of government, but also in communities and in our own homes. These are
where a lot of decisions are made. It is through making decisions that we can effect positive change. We should never be afraid to speak out. Huwag tayong mananahimik. We have our own voices. We should never lose them,” she said. Acosta-Alba then urged her fellow women leaders in communities and in the government to work together toward making a difference in the country by helping women, especially those who have gravely suffered due to the pandemic. “Despite all of the challenges we face, huwag tayong panghihinaan ng loob. We, women, are naturally strong and resilient. Kakayanin natin ang mga problemang ating haharapin. The first step is for us to know our worth. We are very capable. Hindi tayo babae lang. Babae tayo,” added Acosta-Alba. Meanwhile, Deputy Speaker Bernadette Herrera-Dy called for the commitment of the House members and work force to expedite the passage of measures ensuring equality of men and women. Moreover, at present, women make up 48 percent of the House work force. Records from the chamber’s Human Resource Management Service show that out of the 4,037 members and employees of the House, 1,941 are women. The women representation in the House is broken down as follows: 85 legislators, 649 Secretariat employees, 940 congressional staff members, and 267 co-terminus and contractual workers. The House currently has eight female deputy speakers. Spea ker Velasco said “the strength, fortitude and resilience of the House as an institution is truly a reflection of the many women that make it strong, while giving it a heart.” Jovee Marie N. Dela Cruz and Butch Fernandez
A8 Tuesday, March 9, 2021 • Editor: Angel R. Calso
Opinion BusinessMirror
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editorial
Finding a way back
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dapting to distance learning has posed tremendous challenges for schools, teachers, students and their families. This is true for all levels of education, as well as all socioeconomic levels.
With the impending start of a new school year, some lawmakers and schools are now demanding more aggressively that at least some schools in virus-free zones be allowed to reopen. The government faces a serious dilemma on how to get students and teachers back into schools while also keeping them safe, especially since the spread of the new highly infectious Covid variants seem to be overtaking its vaccination program. President Duterte had approved the start of face-to-face classes in certain areas in January but withdrew approval over concerns on the emergence of these Covid variants. He, however, still approved the holding of limited face-to-face classes in schools offering courses on medicine and allied health sciences located in areas under general community quarantine and MGCQ. The Senate recently adopted a resolution recommending the resumption of face-to-face classes and the pilot testing of localized limited physical classes. The Department of Education has identified several schools that may be viable for face-to-face classes, although it did not name the exact locations of these schools. Based on DepEd’s presentation during a recent Senate hearing, a maximum of 50 schools per region would be allowed to participate in the pilot run. Indeed, even if these schools in low-risk areas and communities can serve only a fraction of the nation’s student population, reopening them, even on a trial basis, may be well worth the effort. The Coordinating Council of Private Educational Associations (Cocopea) was recently quoted in news reports as saying a return to face-to-face classes will improve students’ access to education and address the social and mental problems brought about by over a year of Covid restrictions. School closures, Cocopea noted, have disrupted students’ mental and social health and overall learning gains, citing data indicating a student retains only around 70 percent of what had been learned online. Indeed, never before have so many of our children been learning from home and out of their physical schools. The pandemic-forced home schooling has certainly disrupted and upended their lives. Even those who can well afford to have gadgets and good Internet access know all about the travails of being glued to computers and smartphone screens as teachers went all-virtual on lectures, tests, tutorials and other schoolwork. Sitting through Zoom meetings and webinars repeatedly is already exhausting for most adults, what more for young and not-so-young kids who have to go through it for several classes every day—and even after their classes, to confer with classmates and complete their requirements. As the year went by, for many of our students, mild headaches have turned into migraines from too much screen staring. And in the end, lectures, no matter how interactive, still pale in comparison to education earned through face-to-face classes and inside campuses. More harried, of course, are the teachers and students who have had to cope with online learning while in difficult living situations: Some because of sick family members, from Covid or other diseases; some because of family members who lost jobs and livelihoods; some because they worry about household members who are essential workers, hence constantly exposed to the virus. The socioeconomic divisions certainly came to the forefront. Coping with distance learning is particularly difficult for poorer households whose kids have to deal with the lack of Internet access, smartphones, tablets, laptops and other financial hindrances. These kids even struggle to find spaces in their homes to learn. The stories of students climbing trees and travelling outside their homes just to get a cell signal strong enough to complete their assignments are no exaggeration. Many of their parents, who may have only an elementary school education themselves, are also unprepared for the home tutoring that the DepEd modules require. Online education was something borne out of necessity. It was certainly better than stopping school altogether. Being somewhat still connected to their schools and campus lives surely could well have been a welcome distraction from the pandemic for many students. But it has been well over a year. It is time for both the private and public sector to seriously consider how to make face-to-face classes viable again even amid this pandemic, for the mental, emotional and academic well-being of our children.
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PHL must now craft a lockdown exit plan Manny B. Villar
THE Entrepreneur
O
ne year into the virus lockdown, it may be wise now for the Philippines to prepare an exit plan that is both backed by our scientists and economic planners. The entire nation cannot be forever under a lockdown regime, especially with the arrival of vaccines in our shores. We can learn from the experience of other countries that are slowly coming out of the Covid-19 bubble. The exit plan should be a calculated one to ensure that we don’t face third or fourth waves of virus infections. Yet, the economy cannot afford further episodes of lockdowns. Granular or selective lockdowns are the preferred routes in curbing the virus infection. I am monitoring the Covid-19 situation in the United Kingdom, one of the nations severely hit by the pandemic. The UK recorded 4.2 million cases as of March 5, 2021 and over 124,000 deaths on a population of 68.1 million, or roughly half the Philippine population. Currently, the UK is heading to the lockdown exit through the un-
winding of Covid-19 restrictions. Northern Ireland was the last to agree on loosening lockdown measures after noting a drop in case numbers, per the report in foreign wires and cable channels. The exit plan, however, has a caveat. Northern Ireland is adopting a careful and cautious plan in easing the restrictions. Northern Ireland’s exit strategy will be a deliberate one. As Deputy First Minister Michelle O’Neill puts it, leisure, travel, sports and church restrictions in Northern Ireland are being eased in phases from lockdown to “cautious first steps, gradual easing, further easing, and preparing for the future.” Scotland First Minister Nicola Sturgeon, meanwhile, is thinking of speeding up the exit process. All
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e have been fed the myth that “economists” are unbiased number crunchers who develop theories based on the data. “An economist is an expert who studies the relationship between a society’s resources and its production or output, in order to predict future trends.” The reality is that people—both individually and collectively—in this field are more inclined to push rather than predict trends. Behind the veil of impartial analysis usually lies a rabid “social engineer.” “The Father of Economics,” Adam Smith, in his book Wealth of Nations, offered descriptions of what builds nations’ wealth. His thesis was that “a general plenty diffuses itself through all the different ranks of society.” Smith advocated a government that was active in sectors other than the economy, such as education and insuring a fair and equitable judicial system. He repeatedly attacks groups of politically aligned individuals who
use their influence to manipulate the government. Smith advocated a progressive tax, levying a higher tax rate on the wealthy, particularly large landowners. Smith also argues against government subsidies for any sector. Competition leads to prosperity. Now to Karl Marx, Joseph Schumpeter, and Werner Sombart, economists who all firmly embraced the “Creative Destruction” concept. Schumpeter said the “gale of creative destruction” describes the “process of capitalism destroying previous economic orders in order to clear the ground for the creation of new wealth.” The cassette tape replaced the
students, according to her, would return to school partly or full-time basis from March 15, or a week after schools reopen in England. Israel is another nation that is moving toward lockdown exit after an aggressive vaccination launch. This Middle East nation also suffered a lot, with total cases of close to 800,000 and 5,832 deaths on a relatively small population of 9.2 million. But an aggressive vaccination program has allowed Israel to lift certain restrictions. Over 3.4 million Israelis have received vaccine jabs since December last year. Israel, though, is not lowering its guard against Covid-19. Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has warned his people against complacency. Relaxing the lockdown, he says, does not mean that the rise in morbidity is behind Israel. In the Philippines, the exit lockdown plan should be time-bound. This means policy-makers must agree to a definite date of the full exit after the lifting of restrictions in phases, or regions by regions as the situation warrants, and depending on the vaccination rate. The Philippines can plan the exit strategy, with local government units and their health-care workers serving as a sort of a gatekeeper to detect the transmission rate in their locality. The LGUs, down to the barangay
Capital flows and Gross Fixed Capital Formation is exploding in the Philippines, reported at $21 billion in December 2020, after collapsing earlier. “Success 2021” will be found in the motto “Fortune favors the bold and the smart.” 8-track, which was replaced by the compact disc, which was undercut by the MP3 player, which is now being usurped by streaming services. Online ad-supported news sites are leading to the creative destruction of the traditional newspaper. Last year, through design or coincidence, was a year of “creative destruction.” Preparing for it required accumulating cash and altering your allocation of personal resources. Schumpeter said this is an evolutionary process that rewards improvements and innovations and punishes less efficient ways of organizing and deploying resources. We saw companies expand home delivery. Big and small firms reduced losing and marginal locations to come into 2021 “leaner and meaner.” Instead of trying to save a destroyed business, people shifted into other ventures. If you rode the
level, should be held more accountable to the rise and drop of the virus infection. They should constantly monitor and detect Covid-19 cases in their jurisdictions. In Germany, for example, the country is allowing further re-openings in retail and other areas of public life in areas with fewer than 50 new infections per 100,000 residents over a seven-day period. Achieving herd immunity in the Philippines may take a longer time, depending on the availability and the volume of vaccines being shipped into the country. But I think we can further reopen the economy without waiting for the establishment of herd immunity as long as Filipinos stick to the basic health protocols of social distancing, wearing of facemask and washing of hands. These protocols have protected majority of the Filipinos and prevented a real spike in virus infections. In the meantime, we should encourage high-profile personalities to receive the initial doses of vaccines being distributed across the country to remove the initial doubts cast on China’s Sinovac. We need all the help we can get to make the vaccination drive a success.
For comments, e-mail mbv.secretariat@gmail. com or visit www.mannyvillar.com.ph.
storm hiding in your closet, it’s time to come out. After destruction comes a new normal rebuilding and strategies change. Sitting out 2020 was fine. Sitting out 2021 is not going to be fine because of lost opportunities but also you will not be prepared for 2022. Along with increased and serious global inflation, there is a strong potential of a banking/bond liquidity crisis—think 2008/2009. From “Cash is King” we may go to “Who wants cash?” for both local business and the stock market. Twenty-twenty one is the year of being razor sharp and laser focused. And also having steel determination and steel “body parts.” Do your homework for both business and the stock market and then put all your eggs in one basket. Go all in and hold the basket very closely. If you stayed within your comfort zone in 2020, it is time to step out and trust your intuition, and that does not mean “trust your fear.” It means “use your fear.” Yes, things are scary right now with the Covid situation in the Philippines and all the other things happening. Feeling scared will be your strongest ally. The West is looking at a crash and burn into 2022. See “Mangun,” A9
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90-day rule on income tax refund
Jose P. Laurel: No one’s puppet Manny F. Dooc
TELLTALES
Atty. Irwin C. Nidea Jr.
Tax law for business
H
istory repeats itself. This is particularly true in claims for refund. Taxpayers suffer from poor legislation where doubts are always tilted against them.
If the 90-day period is carried in CREATE, a plethora of judicial controversy will arise. Is inaction of the CIR within the 90-day period can be considered a denial of the claim? Should the taxpayer file an appeal to the CTA within 30 days from the lapse of the 90day period or should the taxpayer wait for the decision of the CIR before it can initiate an appeal to the CTA?
Tuesday, March 9, 2021 A9
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oday, March 9, marks the 130th birthday anniversary of Jose Paciano Laurel, the President of the Puppet Government during the Japanese occupation of the Philippines. That statement may be factual but Laurel was nobody’s pawn. Certainly not by the Japanese invaders nor the American colonizers who both held the fiercely independent Laurel in grudging respect. A true Batangueño, he was fearless and a fiery nationalist. He possessed a sharp mind like its famous blade, the balisong, and a volcanic temper like the erupting Taal. He was gifted with political courage, which led him to resign from Governor General Leonard Wood’s Cabinet when the Governor had reinstated into office an American Secret Service, Ray Conley, who was accused of taking bribes over Laurel’s objection.
teachers. Laurel also alleviated the poor economic conditions of the Filipinos. Since there was food scarcity, he encouraged the Filipinos to grow rice, vegetables and foodstuff. Food production was intensified and the Bigasang Bayan was set up to procure and distribute rice and other cereals. Laurel worked hard to mitigate our people’s ordeal during the Japanese occupation. Laurel excelled in his studies. He earned his Bachelor of Laws degree from UP and completed his Master of Laws degree in UST. He finished his doctorate in civil law at Yale University. It is said that the young Laurel got interested in law when he was accused of frustrated murder. As a youth, he was wild and a prankster. On December 6, 1901, he stole a kiss from a pretty lass he was courting in his hometown, which another suitor had strongly resented. A couple of nights later, Laurel and the suitor had a serious confrontation and the latter was stabbed by Laurel with a balisong. Laurel was convicted by the lower court but was acquitted by the Supreme Court upon appeal. (US v. Laurel, et al., GR L-7037, March 15, 1912) His appeal was handled by the famous lawyer at that time—Clyde de Witt. The lawyer’s fees were so enormous that the family had to sell all the properties they owned in Tagaytay, which comprised almost a third of the entire area of the present city. Laurel lamented that it was the “most expensive kiss of all.” Since then, the law had been Laurel’s mistress and their love affair never waned. He was an outstanding student of law, and one of its foremost practitioners. And he had few equals as a lawmaker. He was appointed as an Associate Justice of the Supreme Court in 1936 and served as the Acting Chief Justice in 1941. When the war broke out, Laurel was the Secretary of Justice under President Manuel L. Quezon. He was so enam-
ored with the law that he sent all his six sons to the law school, and all of them became successful lawyers in various legal disciplines. After the war when the issue of collaboration was still fresh and just a year after President Manuel Roxas had declared the general amnesty for all those who had allegedly collaborated with the enemy, Laurel ran for president against President Elpidio Quirino. In an election considered to be the dirtiest and most fraudulent ever held in our county, Laurel lost to Quirino. His disillusioned followers were ready to stage a rebellion, but Laurel quelled them by saying: “We will fight them again in future elections. And we will win.” In 1951, Laurel was vindicated when he topped the senatorial polls by garnering 48 percent of the total votes cast. On his inauguration as the President of the Japanese-sponsored government, Laurel delivered his address which was replete with his trademark audacity even in the face of the enemy. In front of the Japanese hierarchy, he declared: “Every drop, every trickle of individual effort shall be grooved into a single channel of common endeavor until they grow into a flowing stream, a rushing cataract, a roaring torrent, a raging flood, hurdling all difficulties and demolishing all barriers in the way of our single purpose and common determination to make our independence stable, lasting and real.” The Japanese did not get the meaning of Laurel’s courageous statement to achieve “a stable, lasting and real” freedom from the enemy. Maybe it was lost in translation but those who knew him never doubted Laurel’s patriotism. It’s absurd that Laurel was accused of collaboration since he is first and foremost a Filipino. In his own words, Laurel had said: “No one can love the Filipinos more than the Filipinos themselves.”
The story of the value added tax-refund confusion started with the reversal of the Atlas Case (GR 141104 & 148763, June 8, 2007) by the Mirant Case (GR 172129, September 12, 2008), where the Supreme Court clarified that VAT refund must be filed within two years from the close of the taxable quarter and not two years from the end of filing of the VAT return. As a result, claims for refund that were filed based on the prescriptive period laid down in the Atlas case were all dismissed for having been filed late. The 120-30 day rule of the Aichi Case has its share of victims as well. It started as a strong, lone dissent until it became a doctrine. After several SC rulings, it has been ruled that the Commissioner of Internal Revenue has 120 days from the date of submission of complete documents in support of the administrative claim, within which, to decide whether to grant a refund or issue a tax-credit certificate. If the 120-day period expires without any decision from the CIR, then the administrative claim may be considered as denied by inaction. Thus, a judicial claim must be filed with the CTA within 30 days from the expiration of the 120-day period without any action from the CIR. Again, many taxpayers have lost their input VAT for having filed their claims beyond the 12030 day period. In 2018, Tax Reform for Acceleration and Inclusion (TRAIN) Law was enacted. The Bureau of Internal Revenue issued Revenue Regulation 13-2018. Under the said regulation, the period for the BIR to process a claim for VAT refund is 90 days, from the previous 120 days. This was followed by another regulation, RR 26-2018. It clarified that the 90-day period is counted from the filing of the application for VAT refund to the release of the payment. It notably removed the option of the taxpayer to elevate the case to the Court of Tax Appeals (CTA) if the BIR fails to release the refund within 90 days. In other words, the doctrine in Aichi Case where the BIR’s inaction is considered a denial, appears to have been abandoned by legislation. So, there are now varying opinions on the jurisdiction of the CTA in VAT refunds. Some say that a taxpayer may appeal to the CTA after the lapse of the 90-day period without any action on the part of the CIR. The mandatory character of the 90-day period is important because the taxpayer chooses to appeal the “inaction” of the CIR. Another school of thought is saying that the taxpayer must wait for the decision of the CIR if it wants to appeal a claim for VAT refund. Failure by the BIR to act within 90 days is not considered inaction.
The author is a senior partner of Du-Baladad and Associates Law Offices, a member-firm 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 irwin.c.nideajr@bdblaw.com.ph or call 84032001 local 330.
Mangun. . .
World Bank says pregnancy can get women fired in 38 nations
Continued from A8
Capital flows and Gross Fixed Capital Formation is exploding in the Philippines, reported at $21 billion in December 2020, after collapsing earlier. “Success 2021” will be found in the motto “Fortune favors the bold and the smart.” 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.
TRAIN Law has created this confusion. Taxpayers are now in quandary whether to appeal a VAT refund to the CTA after the lapse of the 90-day period or wait for the denial of the CIR. But if the taxpayer chooses the latter, what happens if the CIR does not issue a formal decision, at all? Unfortunately, this 90-day rule on VAT refund will be carried in claims for income tax refund. The impending CREATE law has included a similar provision. The BIR must process a claim for income tax refund within 90 days. But it is silent on the proper remedy of the taxpayer in the event the BIR fails to act on the claim within the given period. As it stands now, taxpayers may file a claim for income tax refund within two years from payment of the tax. It can elevate the inaction or decision of the CIR, within that two-year period. There is no 90-day period for the BIR to act. If the 90-day period is carried in CREATE, a plethora of judicial controversy will arise. Is inaction of the CIR within the 90-day period can be considered a denial of the claim? Should the taxpayer file an appeal to the CTA within 30 days from the lapse of the 90-day period or should the taxpayer wait for the decision of the CIR before it can initiate an appeal to the CTA? TRAIN and CREATE should have been categorical in laying down taxpayer’s remedies in claims for VAT and Income tax refunds to avoid judicial controversy. I anticipate a long drawn legal battle on a totally avoidable issue. We are back to square one because of a poorly crafted law—again at the expense of taxpayers.
By Kathleen Hays & Michael Heath Bloomberg Opinion
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here are still almost 40 countries where women can be fired from their jobs simply for getting pregnant, World Bank Chief Economist Carmen Reinhart said in a discussion on how the pandemic is making it even harder for women to escape poverty. Speaking on Bloomberg Televi-
Laurel’s move precipitated the mass resignations of practically all Filipino members of the Wood’s cabinet. This became known as the Cabinet Crisis of 1923. But his greatest act of courage was when he accepted the position as President of the Japanese Puppet government on October 14, 1943, just when the tides of war were turning against Japan. While other leaders went on exile abroad, Laurel stayed home despite the risks he faced and served the Japanese-sponsored government to shield his beloved countrymen from further sufferings. He was a logical choice because of his independent stance during the American colonization period. He also sent one of his sons to study at the Japanese Imperial Military Academy before the war. And he personally believed that he could interact effectively with the Japanese authorities for the protection of his fellow Filipinos. But this made Laurel a most misunderstood man by many of his countrymen. An assassin tried to kill Laurel while he
was playing golf in Wack Wack. He pardoned his would be-assassin who later became his most ardent follower. When the war ended, Laurel was indicted for treason and he was interned in Japan by the Americans under General Douglas MacArthur. In his book, War Memoirs, Laurel argued that it was a forced collaboration with the enemy. It was resorted to as a means of national survival and to tide over our people to better times. His love for his country never faltered. Our noted historian Teodoro A. Agoncillo had written that while Laurel was the President of the Japanese-sponsored government, he propagated strong nationalism. He encouraged the wide use of Tagalog as the national language. Furthermore, the teaching of Philippine History and character education was solely reserved for Filipino teachers. Laurel likewise required that the majority members of the board of any school should be made up of Filipino citizens. He required a rigid licensing examination for
It doesn’t have to be this stressful Lyca Balita
Onwards
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he Oxford dictionary defines empathy as the ability to understand and share the feelings of another. It’s basically putting yourself in the other person’s shoes, and it’s a game-changer: It reminds us that other people are humans, too, and not just a faceless student, employee, or statistic. Working from home is weird. Home is no longer refuge, plus many higher ups seem to believe that working from home means more free time, so e-mails after work hours become normalized and more Zoom meetings are held on a daily basis. For students, the scenario is similar: extended hours, makeup classes, and more assessments. To add, there are no workmates or schoolmates to recharge with during breaks. Then we open social media and see our friends showing off the sheer volume of paperwork, readings, or meetings they endure, and we tend to react with a mix of well-wishing for them and relief for ourselves since we don’t have to go through all that. But relating to these scenarios just shows one important thing: we all agree that stress isn’t fun. So why is it being romanticized? There’s a joke saying you can determine that a law student is a freshman if
sion in a conversation with Ceyla Pazarbasioglu, director of strategy and policy at the International Monetary Fund, Reinhart said the economic fallout from Covid-19 had been “very regressive,” hitting the most vulnerable hardest, including women and girls. “We are seeing big setbacks on schooling, girls are taken out that will not return,” said Reinhart, speaking on International Women’s Day. She cited a report late last year that found
their social media frequently shows off the piles of readings they have to finish for just one class. I used to do that, too, as did many of my batchmates. Maybe it also applies to other fields and new employees. Maybe it’s an unspoken rite of passage in high-stress environments, who knows? But it gets to the dangerous point where we talk about caffeine addictions and sleep deprivation as if these were trophies, and this influences others into thinking that this is how it should be. We hear, “man, I only got four hours of sleep last night,” in a tone of exhaustion and a strange hint of pride from people fuelled by iced coffee and no breakfast, as if all is perfectly normal. So, stressful and heavy workloads become something to attain because when we suffer and are eternally busy, we are on the same level as the productive and successful. But is it not a truer sign of success to have time
extreme poverty was expected to rise for the first time in more than two decades with a disproportionately high share of women among the world’s new poor. The pandemic has contributed to an increase in violence against women and is reinforcing gender inequality in many countries, with women on average having roughly three-quarters of the legal rights of men, according to the World Bank. While laws have improved in some
to rest and enjoy the fruits of what we’ve worked for? Busyness and productivity are not the same thing. A reasonable level of work may be beneficial to some: there’s a sense of accomplishment after fulfilling responsibilities, and procrastinators sometimes need some pressure to finally begin working. But too much can seriously damage our health physically and mentally, worsening work performance along the way. This is backed up by science and known to all. So, for the sake of our health and careers, maybe we should start glamorizing rest instead of stress and heavy workloads. Rest once in a while. According to Matthew Walker, a 20-minute nap is enough to boost one’s mood and energy, so sneak them in when needed. We are humans before we are our occupations. Of course, not everyone has the privilege of extra time. Many of us work multiple jobs, are working students, or have family troubles and responsibilities. Some have physical or mental health issues or illnesses that can make rest difficult. We all know this, so why aren’t we more empathetic? We’re still in a pandemic. Again, we are still in a pandemic. Sure, we’ve experienced the pandemic for a year, but prior to 2020, we never experienced it in the many decades we have lived. It may feel normal now, but pandemics are not normal in the grand scheme of things. This pandemic has killed and affected people we know, so what is normal is wanting to rest once in a while. People are dying, it’s
countries, women in many nations still face legal limits on economic opportunities, including restrictions on travel without a male guardian, the lender said. Pazarbasioglu of the IMF said it’s very important to have “a women’s lens in policies.” “That’s what we are pushing in our surveillance, in our lending, in our analytical work and in our capacity development,” she said. “Making sure that in our budgets,
still dangerous to leave the house, and the virus is mutating, with the vaccine still inaccessible to most. The situation is still getting worse especially in our country; the numbers prove this. So, shouldn’t we be trying to create a less stressful environment, all things considered? Many employers and professors admit feeling more exhausted due to the pandemic. Many workers and students share the same sentiments. It’s interesting how, despite this, not much has changed. Ironically, more work is being given, since somehow we all are supposed to have adapted perfectly to this pandemic already. Yes, the economy has to keep going, students have to keep studying to retain information, and at some point we have to resume our lives. But surely, we can achieve these with reasonable empathy. We can patiently simplify concepts and systems and allow more time for others to rest and recharge, then we give our best when it’s our time to work. We’re all tired of the pandemic and conversations about it, but ignoring the pandemic-induced changes and insisting on old ways for the current days is counterproductive. What’s the point of complete output when no one enjoys it anymore? Once in a while, rest and let others rest. At the end of the day, we are all better off happy and well rested anyway. We are all humans stuck in this pandemic, so a little empathy from each one of us will go a long way.
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that it’s gender friendly, that the informal sector which is housing many of the women employees, the policies are targeted at these important activities that women carry the largest burden in,” Pazarbasioglu said. Pazarbasioglu and Reinhart wrote an opinion piece published by Bloomberg on Monday arguing for greater transparency in finance to help address growing inequality within countries and across borders.
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ASEAN FOREIGN CHIEFS PROD MYANMAR JUNTA: FREE AUNG SAN SUU KYI By Recto Mercene
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@rectomercene
HE Philippines led an Asean members’ consensus to push the Myanmar junta to release Aung San Suu Kyi and initiate full dialogue among all parties, amid the deepening crisis and violence in that country. Foreign Affairs Secretary Teodoro L. Locsin Jr. made the call as he stated the Philippine position during an informal meeting among Foreign Ministers of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (Asean). He expressed “deep concern” about the rise of violence in Myanmar against those protesting and calling for the release of the iconic Asian leader. The junta’s foreign minister designate received a flood of what were described as anti-junta statements at the recent Informal Asean Ministerial Meeting. For weeks following Suu Kyi’s detention, protesters have demanded the release of democratically elected officials—including the country’s leader, Aung San Suu Kyi. The United Nations said the total death toll since the February 1 coup had risen to 50, though activists put that total as higher. Soldiers and police have opened fire on civilians who gathered in the thousands to call for the restoration of democracy.
Code for SCS
Meanwhile, the Philippines is winding up its role as country coordinator in the regional bloc, and Locsin said it hopes to end this by completing the second reading of the Single Draft Negotiating Text for the Code of Conduct in the South China Sea. “We have produced an 8-page draft entirely taken from the first Single Negotiating Text but shorn of repetition and motherhood statements on which, finally, we can sit down in all sincerity to complete the second reading. We count on your sincere cooperation and support, crucial to realize this goal.” On Myanmar, while affirming
fealty to Asean centrality and respect for each member country’s sovereignty, the Philippines nonetheless stressed the non-compromisable goal of always moving “for the welfare, and not to the hurt of its people,” in apparent reference to the rising number of those killed, arrested, and detained among civilians protesting the coup. “The first step should be for the immediate release of Daw Aung San Suu Kyi and subsequent dialogue among the parties involved in their country’s destiny,” Locsin said. “As part of Asean, we are deeply concerned about the recent developments in Myanmar,” the Foreign Affairs chief said. “We are cognizant of the Army’s role in preserving Myanmar’s territorial integrity and national security, just as we recognize the unifying role of Daw Aung San Suu Kyi in its history and destiny,” Locsin said. The Philippines, he recalled, has always been by Myanmar’s side as it tried to fix its ethnic challenges, which he described as “legacies” of reckless Western imperialism. “We have stood by Daw Aung San Suu Kyi, defended her, hit back at her critics, and worked to give her the respect due a responsible member of the community of nations moving with all the challenges towards a fuller democracy.” Locsin said the momentum should not stop now. “Our appeal is not from an outsider but from within what we claim is one family, a family of peoples not of governments, feeling the hurt of its members.” He cited a Philippine saying: “the hurt of the small finger is felt by the whole body.” “Myanmar is not a small finger but a big part of the Asean family,” the country’s highest Envoy said, adding “Our call is for the complete return to the previously existing state of affairs.” Locsin believes a return to the status quo is needed to realize Myanmar’s democratic process and will be good for the people of Myanmar.
Despite Covid spike, hospitals not in crisis mode yet, says DOH
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MID reports of increased hospital admissions of patients with Covid-19, particularly in the National Capital Region (NCR), the Department of Health (DOH) on Monday denied that hospitals are already overwhelmed. Health Undersecretary Maria Rosario Vergeire said that after reports reached the DOH, they immediately called a virtual meeting over the weekend, attended by public and private hospital officials, DOH regional directors, local evecutives, and the Metropolitan Manila Development Authority. She said that the St. Lukes Medical Center, for one, denied that their hospitals are overwhelmed. “In St. Lukes, they still have hospitals beds [for Covid patients], masyado na heighten eh ‘yung balita [the news was just heightened]. When we checked and went around, we saw an increase in the Covid patients admitted in the ER. Those who are considered suspects, and those with symptoms, [but ] to say that the system is overwhelmed —no!” she stressed.
Likewise, University of the Philippines-Philippine General Hospital (UP-PGH) director Dr. Gerardo “Gap” Legaspi denied that their hospital is currently overwhelmed. “It’s that we’re overrun by nonCovid patients these past months,” Legaspi said in a television interview, speaking partly in Filipino. Vergeire said that based on the DOH healthcare utilization record, “we are still at the manageable level.” “We still have at least 50 percent occupancy that can accomodate Covid patients. Although we can’t deny that the patients are increasing,” Vergeire added. Vergeire stressed that it is still better for hospitals to be prepared. She also said that the government is also monitoring the situation to determine if another “timeout” is needed. In August last year, the healthcare workers called for a “timeout” after the country’s healthcare system was overwhelmed. Authorities responded with tighter mobility restrictions and strict enforcement of health protocols. Claudeth Mocon-Ciriaco
DOJ-led task force to meet anew amid killings, attacks
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By Joel R. San Juan
@jrsanjuan1573
HE Department of Justice (DOJ) said on Monday it would convene the Administrative Order 35 Task Force within the month to discuss the growing number of killings and attacks involving activists, human rights lawyers and advocates.
The AO 35, headed by the DOJ, is an interagency committee (IAC) on Extra-Judicial Killings (EJK) that investigates summary killings, enforced disappearances, torture and other grave violations to the rights to life, liberty and security of persons. Among the member-agencies of the task force are the Presidential Human Rights Committee (PHRC), Philippine National Police (PNP), Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA), Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) and the Commission on Human Rights (CHR), Justice Secretary Menardo Guevarra announced the meeting of the task force within month as he admitted his disappointment over recent police operations that elicited criticisms due to alleged violation
of protocols and human rights. “I was really hoping that with that statement I made before the UN [United Nations], our law enforcers would be more careful in their operations, but these things continue to happen so we really need to sit down—PNP [Philippine National Police], with the PDEA [Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency], and with other law enforcement [agencies] to make sure that we can prevent these things from happening; [so these] could be avoided, [so] we could do something about it,” Guevarra said. Speaking before the United Nations Human Rights Council last month, Guevarra admitted that more than half of the police operations conducted under the govern-
ment’s all-out war on illegal drugs failed to comply with standard protocols on coordination and processing of the crime scene. He said the interagency review panel on deaths related to antiillegal drug war will make sure sanctions are imposed on erring policemen. “I am quite disappointed because it remains unabated notwithstanding my report before the international body. I don’t want to prejudge our law enforcement agencies if they had to do what they needed to. We don’t know the exact circumstance pertaining to each and every case that has happened but nonetheless, when they are deaths we have to do something about it,” Guevarra said. Included in the agenda of the AO 35 Task Force, according to Guevarra, were the recent killings of nine activists and the arrest of several others in the simultaneous police and military operations conducted in the provinces of Cavite, Laguna, Batangas and Rizal on Sunday as well as several other alleged EJK incidents perpetrated by law enforcers. See related story on page A3. “I have to take a look at these incidents yesterday. But, basically since there are many agencies that will be involved, so we would rather discuss it first in the interagency task force on extrajudicial killings and torture and other gave
violation of human rights. “We will take that up on the agenda around 3rd or 4th week of March. We are setting up the agenda for that meeting,” the DOJ chief sad. Guevarra said the task force would determine if it has jurisdiction to investigate these incidents. He also stressed that if the killings involved “certain advocacies, whether it be trade unionism, or peasant associations or organizations or indigenous peoples, they would definitely be investigated by the task as it is within its jurisdiction.” Guevarra doubts that President Duterte’s recent “shoot-to-kill” remark against alleged communist rebels prompted the PNP operation last March 7. “I really cannot speculate if there is a connection with the President’s statement. The President has always been vocal about fighting...these communist terrorist groups.... That has been the President’s policy, to fight against communist and terrorist groups, ever since. So let’s see what really are the facts because right now we cannot tell yet that it was because of what the President said. We don’t really know the facts as yet, so the best thing to do really is to conduct a fact-finding investigation of what happened so that’s only the time we can probably make a conclusion,” he added.
As part of the International Women’s Month’s celebration, Araneta City has lined up several events at the Gateway Mall activity center. On Monday, an exhibit of artworks depicting fallen and surviving Covid-19 female frontliners was opened by, from left: Diane Romero, the J. Amado Araneta Foundation Executive Director; artists Tessa Punzalan Brodeth and Aurelio Castro III; and Marjorie Go, AVP for Marketing. ROY DOMINGO
‘Easing tariffs, NTBs not right cure to inflation’
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OOD security advocacy group Tugon Kabuhayan is opposing the government’s recent pronouncement to relax import measures by easing tariff and nontariff barriers, noting that these may discourage local production. In a virtual press briefing, the group said the proposal is “problematic” as it would discourage food producers like fisherfolk and aquaculture farmers, from increasing their output. The fisheries sector, for example, produces more than enough for the country’s requirement but was challenged by problems caused by the Covid-19 pandemic as well as the movement restrictions imposed by the government. “The problem of our producers is not availability but logistical problems that were results of the
pandemic,” the group said. “If they plan to ease import restrictions so everybody can come in, that will be dangerous to the producers since a lot of them have lost their markets today. It would be counterproductive to the sector,” it added. The Department of Finance recently threw its support behind the easing of both tariff and nontariff barriers (NTBs) to bring down the country’s inflation rate as it warned of “elevated year-onyear inflation rate in the coming months if supply side-issues are not addressed.” Finance Undersecretary and Chief Economist Gil Beltran told the BusinessMirror that some of the NTBs that should be eased include the certificate of necessity, a document required to import fish products to be sold in
the domestic wet markets. (Related story: https://businessmirror.com.ph/2021/03/08/ dof-for-easing-tariffs-ntbs-oninflation-worry/) Beltran also told the BusinessMirror the Department of Agriculture (DA) is “now conducting studies on all these NTBs and see which ones are not needed anymore.”
Tilapia case
Jon G. Juico, president of the Philippine Tilapia Stakeholders Association, recalled that in 2018, the farm-gate prices of tilapia declined as the government allowed the importation of at least 17,000 metric tons (MT) of galunggong to boost domestic supplies. Juico pointed out that some of their Metro Manila markets have closed due to losses from
the pandemic. Tugon Kabuhayan argued that the certificate of necessity is a requirement under existing laws of the country; thus, if the government wants to remove or ease it, then it should amend relevant laws. Nonetheless, the group said it is in dialogue with the DA when it comes to issues surrounding the fisheries and aquaculture sector, including discussions on proposals and measures regarding importation. “We are closely watching this, very closely coordinating with the DA,” it said. “We don’t want our country to be dumping grounds of imported products that would put prices down which may force producers to stop producing,” it added. Jasper Emmanuel Y. Arcalas
www.businessmirror.com.ph
Companies BusinessMirror
Tuesday, March 9, 2021
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Dito sets sights on cornering a third of PHL telco market
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By Lorenz S. Marasigan
@lorenzmarasigan
ito Telecommunity Corp. plans to meet its commitments ahead of schedule, as this will allow the company to capture a third of the telco market, which, according to a ranking official, is sufficient to make the third telco profitable. Rodolfo Santiago, the company’s chief technology officer, said Dito is taking a more aggressive stance in its network rollout program, and is aiming to deliver its commitment of covering 84 percent of the population with 55 Mbps of average minimum speed “very, very early on.” This, he said, will enable Dito to corner 30 percent of the telco market, as it expects Filipino mobile sub-
scribers to migrate to Dito. Santiago said Dito is banking on its service offerings at lower costs to see this shift happening. “Our target is to get 30 percent of the market as soon as possible. The easiest way to achieve this is when population coverage is at 84 percent or higher. We will be fighting toe to toe for market share,” he said. When asked if a 30-percent mar-
ket share is enough to allow Dito to be profitable, Santiago replied, “more than enough.” Dito has committed to deliver a network that will have a minimum average speed of 27 Mbps that covers 37 percent of the population in its maiden year; double the speed and add another 13.99 percent coverage by the its second year; and end its fifth year with at least 55 Mbps of speed with a network coverage of 84 percent. “We will achieve our commitments very, very early on,” Santiago said. Dito Chief Administrative Officer Adel Tamano added that his group is also banking on the mobile number portability initiative to attract existing Globe and Smart subscribers to Dito. Mobile number portability allows subscribers to shift from one operator to another without changing their phone numbers. “Im very confident that we will get a significant market share once
things equalize in terms of our coverage, and once the fight becomes service versus service, because pretty soon we will have mobile number portability,” he said. Dito on Monday officially started selling its sim cards in 15 cities and municipalities in the Visayas and Mindanao. Its launch was marked by the donation of 3,000 sim cards to frontline workers in those areas. Subscribers in Metro Manila may avail of its services “in the next few weeks.” With the entry of Dito, service levels are expected to rise, while bringing prices down. For its launch, Dito is offering subscribers with unlimited data, unlimited on-net calls and texts, for a month for only P199. Dito has also provided a list of phones that its network is compatible with, mainly bannered by Huawei, Oppo, Vivo, Cherry Mobile, MyPhone, and a few units from TCL and Samsung. The listed phones are capable of voice-over-LTE and 5G services.
Bloomberry incurs loss of ₧8.3B By VG Cabuag @villygc
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loomberry Resorts Corp., the operator of Solaire Resort and Casino, said it incurred a loss of P8.3 billion for 2020, a reversal of the previous year’s profit of P9.9 billion. The outbreak of the Covid-19 pandemic shuttered the company’s operations for nearly a year. Its facilities remained closed to the public. Net revenues fell 62 percent to P17.8 billion from the previous year’s P46.6 billion, as Solaire’s casino has been operating at a limited capacity since June 15 last year, as allowed by regulator Philippine Amusement and Gaming Corp. PAGCOR suspended all gaming operations under its purview since
AirAsia offers seats for as low as ₧0.25
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irAsia said it is celebrating the opening of more domestic destinations for leisure travel by offering tickets for only P0.25 (25 centavos) to all destinations, the lowest fares for the year. The promo is available via the airasia super app or airasia.com for a limited time: 3 days beginning Monday, March 8. AirAsia Spokesperson Steve Dailisan said, “At AirAsia, we will remain committed to giving our guests world-class service at affordable rates. As the demand for travel is increasing ahead of the summer months, AirAsia wishes to keep the momentum by providing low fares beyond the season.” He said this big sale is a “perfect opportunity” for passengers to catch up on their missed-out travels from last year, “and plan out new, fun, and safe adventures for this year.” He said AirAsia continues to work closely with the Department of Tourism to promote safe tourism in the country. “As more destinations open up to leisure travelers, we will remain vigilant in implementing our enhanced safety measures throughout their journeys.” Flyers can travel to all the domestic destinations with fares for as low as P0.25 for BIG Members to leisure destinations, such as Caticlan, Puerto Princesa, Bohol, Iloilo, Cebu and Bacolod, or to Iloilo, Davao, Tacloban, Zamboanga, General Santos and more. Seats on sale are limited for booking between March 8 to 10 and for travel between June 1 to December 15. Recto L. Mercene
March 16 to align with the government’s community quarantine initiative. Solaire’s operations involve only long-stay and select invited guests. It is currently not open to the public and maintains an invite-only policy. “I am encouraged by our performance in the final quarter of 2020, particularly as we saw domestic mass gaming revenues increase by 75 percent compared to the previous quarter and EBITDA [earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation and amortization] hitting positive territory. Our recovery is well underway. We look forward to a more meaningful improvement in 2021 should we see further easing of domestic quarantine restrictions and the eventual resumption of travel and tourism across our key
markets,” Enrique K. Razon Jr., the company’s chairman and CEO, said. “Our pre-eminent priority as our recovery progresses remains to be the wellbeing of our guests and team members. This concern has manifested in the form of sanitation and safety investments at Solaire valued at over P400 million for the year, ensuring our position as the leader in excellence, safety and health security among our peers in the Philippines and the region.” For the fourth quarter alone, the company’s net loss was at P2.5 billion as against a net income of P1.4 billion in the previous year. Net revenues fell 61 percent for the period to P4.2 billion. Gross gaming revenues, meanwhile, was at P5.3 billion, a 63-percent drop from the previ-
ous P14.5 billion. For the entire year, gaming revenues fell at the same rate at 62 percent to P22.6 billion, from P59.8 billion in 2019. Revenues from VIP, mass table and electronic gaming machines declined by at least half from yearago figures. “We stay true to our intrinsic obligation to help our countrymen as we assist the Philippine government in procuring Oxford-AstraZeneca and Moderna Covid-19 vaccines. Outside of vaccines, the Bloomberry Cultural Foundation Inc., has donated over P850 million worth of medical supplies, relief goods, and health infrastructure funding. We are eager to see a healthy post-pandemic world emerge through our continuing CSR efforts,” Razon said.
AC Energy to sell ownership interest in GNPower Kauswagan to partner By Lenie Lectura @llectura
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s part of its plan to get out of coal by 2030, AC Energy and Infrastructure Corp. (AC Energy) has agreed to sell 100 percent of its ownership interest in GNPower Kauswagan (GNPK) to Power Partners Ltd. Co. The power arm of Ayala Corp. said Monday that it signed with Power Partners and other affiliated companies a divestment agreement for the transfer of its indirect ownership interest in the power facility located in Kauswagan, Lanao del Norte. Power Partners is its existing partner in the coal-fired power project. The sale to Power Partners will be in tranches, with the purchase price to be paid on a deferred basis. The amount has yet to be finalized, but the company cited $453,242,959.15 as the base selling price which is subject to adjustment. “The transfer of AC Energy’s interest in the GNPK Project is part of AC Energy’s plan to rebalance its generation portfolio as it aims to grow its renewable energy assets with a target of achieving at least five gigawatts (GW) of attributable renewable energy capacity by 2025,” the company reported to the stock exchange. The transaction also involves the
Photo from www.acenergy.com.ph
sale of the project site for the GNPK project to PMR Group Retirement Plan, Inc., the retirement company affiliated with the GNPower companies, for $15.90 million. AC Energy earlier divested a 60-percent stake of its thermal power unit, AA Thermal, which holds interests in the 2x316MW GNPower Mariveles Coal Plant Ltd. Co. and the 2x668MW supercritical coal-fired power plant under GN Power Dinginin Ltd. Co. in Bataan. Meanwhile, AC Energy Corp. (ACEN) is subscribing to P2.2 billion worth of shares of its subsidiary Giga Ace 4 Inc. ACEN signed a subscription agreement with Giga Ace 4 for the subscription by ACEN of 43,975,374 Common A Shares at the Subscrip-
tion Price of P219,876,870.00; and 395,958,366 Redeemable Preferred A Shares at the Subscription Price of P1,979,791,830.00; or a total Subscription Price of P2,199,668,700.00 to be issued out of the increase in authorized capital stock of Giga Ace 4. The subscription will be used by Giga Ace 4 to fund the requirements of its 2x20 MW Alaminos Battery Energy Storage System (BESS) Project. AC Energy and Infrastructure Corp. is the parent of ACEN. AC Energy Inc.’s international business and assets are being consolidated into ACEN, which aims to hit 5,000 megawatts capacity by 2025 in line with the country’s ambitious national target to reach 35 percent share of renewables by 2030.
SMC to start cleanup of Pasig River in April By Jonathan L. Mayuga @jonlmayuga
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an Miguel Corp. (SMC) said it is now gearing up to clean and to widen the Pasig River, a heavily-silted and polluted water body but is still considered an economically and ecologically important river in Metro Manila. The 25.2-kilometer river connects Manila Bay and Laguna de Bay. It once served as an important passenger and commercial route in and out of Manila, the country’s capital city. Over the years, the degradation of the Pasig River, including its siltation, reduced its capacity to absorb and channel water during heavy and excessive rains, causing flooding in low-lying areas. The government, through the Pasig River Rehabilitation Commission (PRRC) claims to have significantly improved the physical condition of the river since serious rehabilitation work started in the early 1990s. In a statement, SMC said with the arrival of 2 dredging equipment which is capable of pulling 600,000 tons of silt and solid waste out of Pasig River per year, the company targets to begin rehabilitation work next month, and will go on for the next 5 years. “Through the years, Pasig River has become narrower and shallower because of accumulated silt and waste. By cleaning and widening it, we will be able to increase its capacity to keep water flowing within its banks especially during heavy rains,” SMC President Ramon S. Ang said. SMC, together with the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR), the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) and other concerned government units, is targeting to extract 50,000 tons of waste per month from the river. Proponents of the project said they have identified sections where the depth of water has been reduced to as little as one meter which will be the priority of the dredging and widening operation. “After a thorough assessment of Pasig River, we identified sections where the depth of water has been reduced to as little as one meter. These are the most critical portions of the river that cause widespread
flooding,” Ang said. For the Pasig River to effectively serve its purpose of channeling flood waters out to the Manila Bay, its depth should at least be 10 meters. “But garbage and silt over the many decades have reduced this to just one meter in these areas, clogging the river and causing water to overflow everywhere.” Currently, SMC is already undertaking a major river cleanup—its 5-year, P1 billion corporate social responsibility (CSR) initiative to dredge and clean up the 27-kilometer Tullahan-Tinajeros River System, which benefits other floodprone areas, such as Malabon and Navotas. Launched in early 2020, with work only fully commencing following the lifting of the enhanced community quarantine (ECQ), the project is seen to help solve flooding in Malabon, Navotas, Valenzuela, Caloocan, Quezon City, as well as Bulacan province, for the longterm. At the end of 2020, SMC reported it extracted a total of 83,600 metric tons of garbage and silt from the section of the river located in Malabon and Navotas. SMC has since committed to put in more resources and acquire more heavy machinery for the effort. During the series of typhoons that hit Luzon and Metro Manila towards the end 2020, both f lood-prone cities reported no major flooding incidents despite increased water volume. This is largely seen as the combined result of having effective pumping stations and the ongoing Tullahan cleanup by SMC. “We have had considerable experience in cleaning up rivers, primarily because of Tullahan, and also our successful initiatives to clean up rivers below Skyway 3. [We] are even putting in more resources and buying more equipment for the Tullahan initiative. We are also looking to do this for rivers in Bulacan. Naturally, cleaning up the Pasig River is a big goal that we do not take lightly,” Ang said. “There have been many noteworthy efforts that have been initiated in the past, in order to rehabilitate the Pasig River. Unfortunately, it has always been a very costly undertaking. Now that San Miguel has a chance to help, we will give it our all.”
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Companies BusinessMirror
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PSE STOCK QUOTATIONS
March 8, 2021
Net Foreign Bid Ask Open High Low Close Volume Value Trade (Peso) Stocks Buy (Sell) FINANCIALs
BDO UNIBANK BANK PH ISLANDS CHINABANK CITYSTATE BANK EAST WEST BANK METROBANK PB BANK PBCOM PHIL NATL BANK PSBANK PHILTRUST RCBC SECURITY BANK UNION BANK BRIGHT KINDLE COL FINANCIAL FIRST ABACUS FERRONOUX HLDG FILIPINO FUND IREMIT MEDCO HLDG MANULIFE NTL REINSURANCE PHIL STOCK EXCH SUN LIFE
106 82.1 24 8.49 9.93 48.7 10.1 22.15 24.6 54.55 96.45 17.22 125.8 74 1.62 3.81 0.59 3.26 7.48 1.44 0.405 900 0.76 150.6 2,200
106.4 82.2 24.2 8.5 9.94 49 11 23.4 24.8 55 114.9 17.28 125.9 74.1 1.63 3.94 0.61 3.27 8.7 1.5 0.425 945 0.79 151 2,240
110.3 86.5 24.3 8.49 10.02 48.6 10.4 22.15 25.4 55.2 96.45 17.5 128.1 73.65 1.99 3.97 0.69 3.31 7.48 1.47 0.41 900 0.8 151.3 2,240
110.3 86.5 24.3 8.49 10.08 49.2 10.4 22.2 25.4 55.2 96.45 17.5 128.1 74.2 1.99 3.97 0.69 3.31 7.48 1.52 0.425 900 0.8 153 2,240
105.5 82 24 8.49 9.92 48.25 10.1 22.1 24.6 54.5 96.45 17.28 125.9 73.65 1.43 3.77 0.59 3.26 7.48 1.44 0.405 900 0.75 150.5 2,240
106 82.1 24 8.49 9.93 48.7 10.1 22.1 24.6 54.55 96.45 17.28 125.9 74 1.62 3.95 0.59 3.27 7.48 1.5 0.425 900 0.76 150.5 2,240
2,395,970 2,016,600 39,200 700 492,300 8,394,900 23,000 3,100 292,800 1,670 150 41,700 556,460 26,030 5,667,000 181,000 827,000 254,000 100 69,000 870,000 50 194,000 43,130 15
257,884,604 167,208,754 947,665 5,943 4,908,525 409,161,020 232,614 68,635 7,254,325 91,100 14,467.50 725,214 70,464,096 1,925,814 9,662,940 696,410 504,010 835,410 748 100,320 357,900 45,000 146,650 6,530,454 33,600
INDUSTRIAL
AC ENERGY ALSONS CONS ABOITIZ POWER BASIC ENERGY FIRST GEN FIRST PHIL HLDG MERALCO MANILA WATER PETRON PETROENERGY PHX PETROLEUM PILIPINAS SHELL SPC POWER AGRINURTURE AXELUM CNTRL AZUCARERA CENTURY FOOD DEL MONTE DNL INDUS EMPERADOR SMC FOODANDBEV ALLIANCE SELECT FRUITAS HLDG GINEBRA JOLLIBEE LIBERTY FLOUR MACAY HLDG MAXS GROUP MG HLDG SHAKEYS PIZZA ROXAS AND CO ROXAS HLDG SWIFT FOODS UNIV ROBINA VITARICH VICTORIAS CONCRETE B CEMEX HLDG DAVINCI CAPITAL EAGLE CEMENT EEI CORP HOLCIM MEGAWIDE PHINMA TKC METALS VULCAN INDL CROWN ASIA EUROMED LMG CORP MABUHAY VINYL PRYCE CORP CONCEPCION GREENERGY INTEGRATED MICR IONICS PANASONIC SFA SEMICON CIRTEK HLDG
6.76 1.26 25 0.98 30.05 73 275.2 14.98 3.5 3.72 12.12 21.7 10.08 7.03 3.42 13 17.62 8.73 7.3 10.2 64.1 0.62 1.41 51.9 181.2 32 7.41 6.38 0.345 7.17 1.11 1.56 0.136 127.1 0.83 2.19 55.3 1.24 3.58 12.5 7.82 5.89 6.75 12.1 1.2 2.3 2.01 2.05 4.56 4.25 5.4 21.35 4 10.7 1.12 5.82 1.36 5.81
6.77 1.27 25.05 0.99 30.1 73.05 276 15 3.51 3.86 12.32 22 10.1 7.15 3.47 13.1 17.7 8.74 7.44 10.22 65 0.63 1.44 52.2 181.9 32.2 8.17 6.4 0.35 7.18 1.12 1.57 0.138 127.3 0.84 2.24 57.9 1.25 3.64 12.54 7.9 5.9 6.77 12.2 1.21 2.32 2.02 2.1 4.79 4.46 5.6 21.4 4.05 10.9 1.14 5.83 1.4 5.98
7.14 1.29 25 1.1 30.05 73 279 15.32 3.53 3.67 12.4 22.7 10.16 7.26 3.52 13.2 17.8 8.8 7.59 10.18 66.5 0.63 1.47 52.8 186 32.1 7.51 6.53 0.375 7.4 1.15 1.64 0.141 131.9 0.87 2.2 55.3 1.35 4.97 12.42 8.32 6.17 7.1 12.2 1.35 2.69 2.02 2.18 4.79 4.31 5.48 21.7 4.3 12.98 1.24 5.99 1.46 6.52
7.23 1.29 25.2 1.1 30.3 73.3 280 15.42 3.53 3.71 12.4 22.7 10.3 7.29 3.52 13.2 17.8 8.8 7.63 10.26 66.5 0.65 1.48 53.05 186 32.2 8.18 6.53 0.375 7.4 1.15 1.64 0.146 131.9 0.87 2.2 57.9 1.35 4.97 12.98 8.32 6.17 7.1 12.4 1.35 2.74 2.09 2.18 4.79 4.46 5.65 21.7 4.3 13.3 1.24 6.15 1.46 6.52
6.6 1.26 24.9 0.95 29.65 72.95 271 14.8 3.5 3.66 12.1 21.65 10.08 7.03 3.3 13 17.58 8.46 7.25 9.99 65 0.63 1.4 51.95 180.3 32.1 7.41 6.3 0.34 7.12 1.12 1.56 0.136 127 0.83 2.19 55.25 1.23 3.48 12 7.82 5.85 6.71 12 1.2 2.12 2.01 2.05 4.79 4.25 5.4 21.2 3.75 10.9 1.12 5.83 1.38 5.76
6.76 1.26 25.05 0.99 30.1 73 275.2 15 3.51 3.71 12.38 22 10.08 7.15 3.47 13 17.7 8.8 7.44 10.22 65 0.63 1.44 52.2 181.9 32.1 8.18 6.4 0.345 7.17 1.12 1.57 0.136 127.1 0.84 2.19 55.35 1.24 3.58 12.5 7.82 5.9 6.75 12.2 1.2 2.3 2.02 2.1 4.79 4.46 5.64 21.4 4.05 10.9 1.12 5.83 1.4 5.81
70,877,600 3,321,000 843,100 153,039,000 788,700 14,270 251,990 1,879,900 859,000 163,000 6,200 589,800 199,300 1,573,000 8,665,000 13,700 1,003,300 239,200 2,547,200 1,605,000 179,930 334,000 12,269,000 152,930 473,960 2,200 6,300 306,000 21,600,000 82,500 3,832,000 487,000 18,380,000 774,130 7,270,000 10,000 1,620 8,094,000 59,359,000 129,000 805,100 838,200 3,474,200 152,000 2,213,000 27,254,000 535,000 585,000 4,000 47,000 92,700 100,700 34,584,000 3,777,800 1,388,000 41,700 2,473,000 6,618,500
-73,148,826 -98,911,205.50 -82,195 -1,121,523 236,565,270 -1,843,355 5,455 -4,505,451 -156,795.50 6,170 200 -748 45,000 365,620 11,200
486,119,726 4,200,930 21,119,685 157,911,410 23,627,410 1,041,962.50 69,632,868 28,269,922 3,012,480 597,220 75,334 13,096,820 2,017,228 11,215,089 30,147,220 179,472 17,740,370 2,064,800 19,066,263 16,230,515 11,781,755.50 211,040 17,491,610 8,041,788.50 86,009,374 70,790 48,117 1,960,507 7,644,250 591,384 4,330,200 765,380 2,572,740 99,701,432 6,224,060 21,970 89,624.50 10,333,960 232,622,590 1,626,220 6,480,094 4,974,035 23,991,994 1,852,200 2,726,180 67,682,330 1,084,630 1,223,140 19,160 200,560 504,343 2,160,840 140,251,010 44,322,456 1,616,980 245,607 3,500,760 40,393,169
45,120,121 -307,760 -3,150,965 -10,205,970 -2,022,030 714,650.50 -27,320,400 -3,875,234 -138,230 32,940 16,940 643,965 423,080 -2,929,160 -1,443,220 -164,710 262,070 4,700,281 -1,401,087 -706,192 680,980 5,259,160.50 -14,573,777 -127,019 1,308,100 -79,329 -157,130.00 -30,274,677 -5,100 6,570 -2,236,150 3,113,920 -20,264 3,526,374 -1,233,875 -9,031,816 -373,040 129,920 51,500 -370,125 -1,572,290.00 -1,887,366 -33,800.00 -7,240 2,467,161
HOLDING & FRIMS ABACORE CAPITAL 1.03 1.04 1.14 1.14 1.03 1.03 53,732,000 58,057,910 ASIABEST GROUP 6.89 6.9 7.49 7.49 6.89 6.9 33,700 237,785 AYALA CORP 760.5 761 775 779 758.5 761 112,590 85,982,705 ABOITIZ EQUITY 42 42.2 42.75 42.75 41.2 42 657,500 27,504,735 10.14 10.2 10.52 10.56 10.12 10.2 5,958,300 61,384,298 ALLIANCE GLOBAL 2.92 2.93 3 3 2.9 2.93 2,692,000 7,913,660 AYALA LAND LOG 7.35 7.45 7.3 7.45 7.3 7.35 148,900 1,101,041 ANSCOR 0.7 0.72 0.8 0.8 0.68 0.72 19,794,000 14,757,890 ANGLO PHIL HLDG 0.89 0.9 0.93 0.94 0.88 0.89 11,630,000 10,465,020 ATN HLDG A ATN HLDG B 0.87 0.94 0.9 0.9 0.89 0.89 490,000 440,200 COSCO CAPITAL 5.36 5.4 5.65 5.65 5.35 5.4 1,006,000 5,461,585 DMCI HLDG 5.26 5.28 5.46 5.47 5.22 5.26 4,311,200 22,999,371 FILINVEST DEV 8.71 8.93 8.8 8.8 8.8 8.8 90,200 793,760 3.58 4.18 4.21 4.21 3.55 3.55 2,000 7,760 FJ PRINCE B FORUM PACIFIC 0.238 0.25 0.239 0.239 0.238 0.238 390,000 93,010 GT CAPITAL 545.5 549 564.5 565 545.5 545.5 83,290 45,966,940 3.6 3.75 3.64 3.75 3.6 3.6 38,000 137,130 HOUSE OF INV JG SUMMIT 63 63.05 65 65 63 63 1,254,610 79,431,403.50 JOLLIVILLE HLDG 4.69 6.14 4.72 4.72 4.72 4.72 2,000 9,440 LODESTAR 1.56 1.57 1.63 1.66 1.56 1.57 34,879,000 55,686,770 LOPEZ HLDG 3.76 3.79 3.83 3.85 3.76 3.76 143,000 542,990 13.24 13.5 13.9 13.9 13.1 13.5 2,684,200 35,936,070 LT GROUP 0.52 0.55 0.54 0.56 0.53 0.56 849,000 461,060 MABUHAY HLDG METRO PAC INV 3.99 4 4.1 4.1 3.98 4 17,593,000 70,956,240 3.93 3.94 3.88 4.19 3.88 3.94 483,000 1,931,860 PACIFICA HLDG PRIME MEDIA 3.06 3.07 3.5 3.65 2.9 3.06 19,901,000 65,251,560 REPUBLIC GLASS 2.7 2.75 2.75 2.8 2.7 2.7 106,000 291,160 SOLID GROUP 1.28 1.29 1.29 1.33 1.29 1.29 127,000 164,540 SYNERGY GRID 315 330 314 335 314 320 3,280 1,075,220 1,032 1,039 1,040 1,041 1,023 1,039 270,250 279,861,800 SM INVESTMENTS 123.6 125 125 125 123.4 125 77,080 9,594,481 SAN MIGUEL CORP 0.72 0.79 0.77 0.79 0.72 0.72 494,000 370,600 SOC RESOURCES TOP FRONTIER 136.1 140 140 140 140 140 810 113,400 WELLEX INDUS 0.233 0.24 0.255 0.255 0.232 0.233 6,480,000 1,549,590 ZEUS HLDG 0.23 0.233 0.239 0.239 0.23 0.23 3,280,000 760,880
1,327,880.00 6,680 -13,651,550 -22,362,390 1,375,272 2,615,430 -45,880 1,004,660 -53,400 -1,534,622 -6,717,688 -432,080 -9,463,990 -43,200 -42,400,791 -161,950 548,382 -21,753,950 -3,340 -304,430 17,868,775 -2,224,958 -86,800 -20,400 -69,380
PROPERTY ARTHALAND CORP 0.63 0.64 0.64 0.64 0.63 0.63 1,397,000 887,390 ANCHOR LAND 7.51 7.94 7.94 7.94 7.51 7.51 200 1,545 AYALA LAND 37.6 37.75 38.4 38.4 37.6 37.75 7,317,900 277,506,485 ARANETA PROP 1.29 1.3 1.35 1.35 1.29 1.29 96,000 125,520 AREIT RT 33.55 33.6 33.95 34 33.45 33.55 779,000 26,234,435 1.59 1.6 1.61 1.61 1.59 1.59 322,000 515,340 BELLE CORP 0.88 0.89 0.93 0.93 0.88 0.88 2,165,000 1,931,140 A BROWN 0.81 0.83 0.78 0.89 0.78 0.83 4,503,000 3,819,960 CITYLAND DEVT 0.142 0.143 0.141 0.142 0.141 0.142 2,340,000 330,300 CROWN EQUITIES CEBU HLDG 6.98 7 7.02 7.02 6.98 7 129,400 905,787 CEB LANDMASTERS 5.26 5.28 5.6 5.75 5.23 5.26 2,561,100 13,802,439 CENTURY PROP 0.395 0.4 0.4 0.405 0.395 0.4 5,640,000 2,260,600 CYBER BAY 0.33 0.335 0.34 0.34 0.335 0.335 1,410,000 474,300 14.4 14.5 15.26 16 14.36 14.4 4,413,700 65,863,926 DOUBLEDRAGON 6.66 6.96 6.96 6.96 6.65 6.96 324,200 2,217,286 DM WENCESLAO 0.3 0.305 0.315 0.315 0.3 0.305 1,510,000 462,150 EMPIRE EAST 0.086 0.09 0.093 0.093 0.086 0.09 2,440,000 221,090 EVER GOTESCO FILINVEST LAND 1.14 1.15 1.17 1.17 1.13 1.14 8,596,000 9,839,430 GLOBAL ESTATE 0.9 0.91 0.9 0.9 0.9 0.9 166,000 149,400 8990 HLDG 7.2 7.38 7.3 7.4 7.21 7.21 37,200 270,512 PHIL INFRADEV 1.41 1.43 1.54 1.55 1.4 1.41 7,925,000 11,566,220 3 3.28 3 3 3 3 1,000 3,000 KEPPEL PROP CITY AND LAND 1.24 - 0.91 1.24 0.9 1.24 25,375,000 28,998,510 3.58 3.59 3.7 3.73 3.51 3.59 35,527,000 127,628,730 MEGAWORLD 0.425 0.43 0.48 0.48 0.415 0.43 133,020,000 58,673,500 MRC ALLIED PHIL ESTATES 0.4 0.405 0.46 0.46 0.385 0.4 19,840,000 8,535,150 PRIMEX CORP 1.43 1.44 1.54 1.54 1.43 1.43 574,000 843,660 ROBINSONS LAND 19 19.12 19.52 19.52 18.9 19 3,904,700 74,632,344 PHIL REALTY 0.285 0.3 0.3 0.3 0.285 0.285 1,380,000 401,100 1.41 1.42 1.43 1.43 1.4 1.41 565,000 797,280 ROCKWELL 2.72 2.79 2.76 2.8 2.73 2.79 577,000 1,609,930 SHANG PROP 2.22 2.23 2.19 2.37 2.19 2.23 1,066,000 2,439,830 STA LUCIA LAND SM PRIME HLDG 35.9 35.95 36.8 36.8 35.8 35.9 3,951,700 142,214,470 VISTAMALLS 3.91 3.98 3.93 3.96 3.91 3.91 66,000 259,690 SUNTRUST HOME 1.62 1.65 1.73 1.74 1.61 1.62 3,008,000 5,049,250 VISTA LAND 4.25 4.26 4.31 4.31 4.2 4.25 1,581,000 6,710,010
-167,728,415 -19,350 -8,898,820.00 -7,950 -56,280 -125,850 141,000 13,960 148,679 48,000 26,800 -16,721,114 -20,880 9,450 2,625,840.00 607,730 -504,120 -88,342,830 610,800 4,000 147,000 -6,184,162.00 -208,170 1,248,340.00 -337,580 -54,962,765 -190,620 -759,140
SERVICES ABS CBN 11.84 11.9 12.26 12.26 11.8 11.9 285,200 3,416,680 GMA NETWORK 6.9 6.98 7.3 7.3 6.81 6.98 1,967,300 13,883,715 MANILA BULLETIN 0.45 0.48 0.465 0.465 0.465 0.465 80,000 37,200 GLOBE TELECOM 1,991 1,992 1,992 2,000 1,985 1,991 43,485 86,552,890 1,296 1,297 1,300 1,320 1,295 1,297 88,400 114,911,730 PLDT 0.222 0.223 0.25 0.25 0.211 0.223 2,530,590,000 589,251,340 APOLLO GLOBAL 17.12 17.14 17.18 17.54 17.12 17.12 3,495,600 60,286,764 CONVERGE 3.91 3.98 4.13 4.18 3.9 3.98 2,191,000 8,913,070 DFNN INC DITO CME HLDG 13.88 13.9 15.24 15.44 12.72 13.9 106,663,600 1,505,840,012 IMPERIAL 1.55 1.69 1.78 1.78 1.65 1.69 107,000 178,370 ISLAND INFO 0.155 0.159 0.175 0.175 0.155 0.159 31,450,000 5,126,470 JACKSTONES 2.03 2.11 2.08 2.08 2.02 2.03 90,000 183,730 NOW CORP 2.91 2.93 3.26 3.27 2.85 2.91 10,580,000 32,203,370 0.47 0.475 0.51 0.52 0.46 0.47 58,747,000 28,515,680 TRANSPACIFIC BR 2.63 2.7 2.8 2.8 2.6 2.7 804,000 2,164,040 PHILWEB 2GO GROUP 8.5 8.75 9 9 8.4 8.5 159,300 1,370,325 ASIAN TERMINALS 15 15.6 15.6 15.6 15.6 15.6 10,000 156,000 CHELSEA 3.78 3.91 3.97 4.02 3.6 3.91 4,181,000 16,284,280 CEBU AIR 45.5 45.9 45.2 48.1 45 45.9 666,000 30,988,610 INTL CONTAINER 125.3 125.4 125 125.5 124.5 125.3 924,610 115,755,849 LBC EXPRESS 17.06 17.14 17.18 17.18 17.06 17.06 4,000 68,492 1.08 1.1 1.17 1.2 1.08 1.08 3,142,000 3,489,580 LORENZO SHIPPNG 5.4 5.49 5.9 5.9 5.4 5.4 2,721,100 15,112,127 MACROASIA 2.62 2.64 2.94 3.05 2.62 2.64 3,806,000 10,611,280 METROALLIANCE A METROALLIANCE B 2.76 3.12 2.78 2.78 2.78 2.78 1,000 2,780 PAL HLDG 6 6.45 6.6 6.6 6 6 119,600 752,616 HARBOR STAR 1.3 1.31 1.38 1.38 1.3 1.3 1,178,000 1,554,050 ACESITE HOTEL 1.46 1.5 1.51 1.51 1.46 1.5 72,000 108,370 BOULEVARD HLDG 0.073 0.074 0.086 0.09 0.072 0.073 1,798,300,000 143,028,310 5.1 5.2 5.6 5.79 4.25 5.1 1,855,100 9,818,399 DISCOVERY WORLD 0.51 0.52 0.55 0.56 0.51 0.51 15,117,000 8,034,290 WATERFRONT 0.385 0.39 0.39 0.395 0.385 0.39 4,200,000 1,642,200 STI HLDG BERJAYA 4.41 4.6 4.4 4.41 4.4 4.41 3,000 13,220 BLOOMBERRY 7.67 7.8 7.8 7.85 7.55 7.8 1,219,900 9,435,123 PACIFIC ONLINE 2.07 2.17 2.07 2.2 2.06 2.17 65,000 137,860 LEISURE AND RES 1.76 1.78 1.85 1.85 1.76 1.78 1,159,000 2,084,770 MANILA JOCKEY 2.1 2.14 2.14 2.14 2.11 2.11 106,000 224,990 2.3 2.31 2.52 2.55 2.2 2.31 14,546,000 34,339,790 PH RESORTS GRP 0.435 0.44 0.45 0.455 0.43 0.44 19,760,000 8,704,800 PREMIUM LEISURE 6.24 6.5 6.5 6.5 6.26 6.26 400 2,528 PHIL RACING ALLHOME 8.18 8.29 8.29 8.29 8.16 8.29 419,400 3,443,892 METRO RETAIL 1.27 1.28 1.33 1.33 1.28 1.28 4,111,000 5,366,500 PUREGOLD 36.9 37.2 36.8 37.5 36.8 37.2 870,600 32,331,285 ROBINSONS RTL 52.05 52.1 54 54.7 51 52.05 1,311,020 68,956,401.50 98.55 98.6 98.65 100 98.6 98.6 5,730 565,354 PHIL SEVEN CORP 1.3 1.31 1.35 1.35 1.25 1.3 8,807,000 11,401,130 SSI GROUP 17.34 17.4 17.7 17.7 17.12 17.34 1,013,300 17,612,574 WILCON DEPOT 0.395 0.41 0.42 0.42 0.395 0.395 17,180,000 6,902,400 APC GROUP EASYCALL 7.03 7.19 7.25 7.25 7.03 7.19 88,700 640,691 IPM HLDG 4.9 5.3 4.9 4.9 4.9 4.9 800 3,920 PRMIERE HORIZON 2.39 2.4 2.87 2.88 2.3 2.4 233,438,000 612,627,640 SBS PHIL CORP 4.6 4.85 4.49 4.6 4.49 4.6 42,000 190,180
-24,089,245 -39,190,475 -71,393,220 3,636,680 -4,388,850 -12,012,756 121,150 -1,017,950 322,680 10,200 39,160 7,637,175 59,220,759 1,160 27,612 51,731 -100,850 2,083,640.00 -93,130 -25,120 469,015 -13,090 18,000 -161,770 251,900 1,490,655.00 -1,497,110 -14,280,505.00 -25,860,382 27,628 -110,070 -3,994,154 456,600 -12,737,380 -
MINING & OIL ATOK 8.64 8.65 8.09 9.34 8 8.64 12,849,500 110,602,528 890,925 APEX MINING 1.48 1.49 1.52 1.53 1.48 1.48 5,458,000 8,196,810 -772,490 ATLAS MINING 6.28 6.48 6.52 6.7 6.27 6.28 889,600 5,765,579 -162,715 BENGUET A 2.71 2.97 2.73 2.98 2.73 2.98 105,000 287,790 2.72 3.03 2.73 3.02 2.73 3.02 2,000 5,750 BENGUET B COAL ASIA HLDG 0.3 0.31 0.315 0.315 0.3 0.3 2,140,000 647,950 CENTURY PEAK 2.71 2.75 2.8 2.8 2.8 2.8 5,000 14,000 DIZON MINES 11.64 11.72 11.88 12.18 11.5 11.72 141,000 1,658,786 11,880 FERRONICKEL 2.35 2.4 2.55 2.6 2.34 2.35 14,808,000 36,230,770 529,700 GEOGRACE 0.415 0.42 0.445 0.46 0.405 0.42 7,460,000 3,139,000 LEPANTO A 0.144 0.145 0.148 0.152 0.142 0.144 23,840,000 3,468,230 LEPANTO B 0.147 0.15 0.15 0.151 0.146 0.15 1,780,000 267,140 0.0099 0.01 0.01 0.01 0.0099 0.0099 97,000,000 961,500 MANILA MINING A MANILA MINING B 0.0099 0.01 0.0099 0.011 0.0099 0.01 9,000,000 93,900 MARCVENTURES 1.25 1.26 1.39 1.42 1.2 1.25 3,571,000 4,690,510 -118,800 NIHAO 2.28 2.36 2.38 2.4 2.26 2.36 488,000 1,119,290 NICKEL ASIA 5.1 5.13 5.25 5.37 5.03 5.1 7,250,000 37,319,999 -534,042 OMICO CORP 0.43 0.455 0.495 0.51 0.43 0.43 2,510,000 1,190,750 -253,750 ORNTL PENINSULA 0.94 0.95 1.03 1.04 0.95 0.95 8,825,000 8,708,680 77,820 PX MINING 4.53 4.59 5.12 5.12 4.5 4.53 2,524,900 12,106,532 -43,677 12.7 12.74 12.88 12.88 12.62 12.74 1,514,500 19,257,532 -4,111,020 SEMIRARA MINING 0.0089 0.0094 0.0095 0.0098 0.0087 0.0094 200,000,000 1,827,700 UNITED PARAGON ACE ENEXOR 23.65 24 26.9 26.9 23.5 24 972,600 24,163,405 -269,025 ORNTL PETROL A 0.012 0.013 0.013 0.013 0.012 0.012 423,300,000 5,095,200 ORNTL PETROL B 0.012 0.013 0.013 0.013 0.012 0.013 25,500,000 329,800 PHILODRILL 0.012 0.013 0.014 0.014 0.012 0.012 345,400,000 4,235,700 PXP ENERGY 9.31 9.32 9.83 9.97 9.32 9.32 733,600 7,103,777 643,389 PREFFERED HOUSE PREF B 100.2 101 100.2 100.2 100.2 100.2 500 50,100 HOUSE PREF A 100 100.4 100.4 100.4 100 100.4 610 61,044 AC PREF B2R 520 525 520 520 520 520 3,580 1,861,600 CPG PREF A 102 103.4 103.2 103.2 102 102 130 13,272 DD PREF 101.5 101.7 102 102 101.7 101.7 1,040 105,780 505.5 515 515 515 515 515 10 5,150 GLO PREF P GTCAP PREF A 1,004 1,020 1,010 1,020 1,003 1,020 525 526,730 GTCAP PREF B 1,029 1,035 1,035 1,035 1,035 1,035 5 5,175 MWIDE PREF 100.5 101.8 101 101 100.5 101 3,140 315,800 MWIDE PREF 2A 100 101 100 100 100 100 710 71,000 21,000 MWIDE PREF 2B 100.5 101.1 101.1 101.1 101.1 101.1 19,750 1,996,725 PNX PREF 3B 103 106.7 103.5 106.7 103 106.7 2,590 267,735 PNX PREF 4 1,007 1,008 1,004 1,007 1,004 1,007 2,565 2,582,805 1,053 1,119 1,052 1,119 1,052 1,119 100 105,535 PCOR PREF 3A PCOR PREF 3B 1,124 1,140 1,124 1,124 1,124 1,124 1,150 1,292,600 SFI PREF 1.9 2.12 2 2.4 1.9 1.9 47,000 98,400 SMC PREF 2C 78.5 78.8 78.75 78.75 78.5 78.7 16,170 1,272,678.50 SMC PREF 2E 76.3 78.4 78 78 78 78 97,260 7,586,280 SMC PREF 2F 78 79.5 78 79.5 78 79.5 851,000 67,653,000 SMC PREF 2G 76.2 77 76.2 76.5 76.2 76.5 1,450 110,895 SMC PREF 2H 76.85 78.9 78.9 78.9 78.9 78.9 750,000 59,175,000 77.8 78.95 77.8 77.8 77.8 77.8 13,000 1,011,400 SMC PREF 2I SMC PREF 2J 76.2 76.4 76.25 77 76.2 76.2 5,710 435,302 -38,125 76.2 76.8 76.2 76.2 76.2 76.2 8,210 625,602 SMC PREF 2K PHIL. DEPOSITARY RECEIPTS ABS HLDG PDR 11.78 12 11.86 11.86 11.74 11.78 48,600 573,312 -152,860 GMA HLDG PDR 6.75 6.85 7.04 7.04 6.75 6.75 85,600 592,304 233,830 WARRANTS LR WARRANT 1.71 1.74 1.95 2.1 1.62 1.71 7,502,000 13,869,440 214,540 SMALL & MEDIUM ENTERPRISES ALTUS PROP 21 21.8 23 23 20 21.8 924,800 19,491,115 833,500 ITALPINAS 2.58 2.59 2.9 2.9 2.55 2.58 3,000,000 8,052,710 26,550 KEPWEALTH 5.51 5.6 5.8 5.8 5.5 5.6 64,900 368,475 44,660 MAKATI FINANCE 2.65 2.7 2.75 2.75 2.62 2.7 57,000 150,050 MERRYMART 5.18 5.19 5.9 6 4.81 5.19 124,973,000 680,274,483 -26,708,746 EXHANGE TRADE FUNDS FIRST METRO ETF 102 103.5 104 104.5 102 102 94,970 9,847,012 332,096
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DoubleDragon pegs price of REIT IPO at ₧2.25/share
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By VG Cabuag
@villygc
DMP REIT Inc., the real estate investment trust (REIT) of Double Dragon Properties Corp., on Monday set P2.25 per share as its final offer price for its initial public offering (IPO), the higher end of its price range. The company said in a statement that the price was due to “strong” demand for its shares during its book building process. “The DDMP basket is seen to be a compelling REIT offering since it will include the land, a premier corner lot located along the main thoroughfares of Macapagal Avenue, EDSA Ex-
tension and Roxas Boulevard, where the first six completed buildings sit on,” Double Dragon chairman Edgar Sia II said. “This feature is expected to be a game changer since the value of the prime double corner 4.75 hectare block of land with titled land ownership to be held in perpetuity
should keep on appreciating decade after decade, a very important inclusion for both domestic and foreign investors.” The projected dividend yield of the company is at 5.07 percent for this year and 5.45 percent for next year. “When there is underlying titled land ownership included in the REIT shares, even a hundred years from now it should keep its hard value intact. We see DDMP shares as a ‘Pamana Stock’ that even our future grandchildren will be happy to inherit,” Sia said. The Securities and Exchange Commission approved the initial public offering (IPO) of the real estate investment trust (REIT) mainly sponsored by DoubleDragon Properties Corp. last month. In its en banc meeting, the agency approved the registration statement of DDMP REIT Inc. for the listing of
17.82 billion common shares on the main board of the Philippine Stock Exchange (PSE). The company placed a maximum offer price at P2.25 per share, or a total of P14.7 billion in fresh funds. DDMP intends to conduct the IPO from March 5 to 11 and list at the PSE on March 19, based on the latest timetable submitted to the SEC. Credit Suisse (Singapore) Ltd., DBS Bank Ltd., Nomura Singapore Limited and PNB Capital and Investment Corp. will act as joint global coordinators for the REIT offering. The global coordinators will concurrently serve as joint bookrunners, along with CIMB Investment Bank Bhd., Investment and Capital Corp, of the Philippines, Macquarie Capital Securities (Singapore) Pte. Ltd., Maybank Kim Eng Securities Pte. Ltd. and RCBC Capital Corp.
AEV income dropped by 30% in 2020 A boitiz Equity Ventures Inc. (AEV) said its net income fell 30 percent to P15.4 billion laset year from P22 billion, as most of its units reported a drop in earnings. The company recognized non-recurring losses of P477 million for the period versus the P516 million in non-recurring gains recorded in 2019. For the fourth quarter alone, its income fell 13 percent to P7.1 billion from P6.3 billion in the previous year. The company did not provide its revenues. Power accounted for 52 percent of the total income contributions of the company’s units, financial services accounted at 32 percent, food at 12 percent, while infrastructure and real estate each had 2 percent contributions. “Through the many uncertainties, our business units stayed focused on ensuring we deliver uninterrupted vital services to our customers and communities. Careful consideration of our future growth led us to significantly reduce our capital expenditure budgets and prioritize essential projects supported by our strong balance sheet,” Sabin M. Aboitiz, the company’s president and CEO said. “Early adoption of digital transformation allowed us to seamlessly transition work processes from the physical environment to virtual platforms. These initiatives form important elements in improving our ESG performance through our sustainability programs.” Aboitiz Power Corp.’s net income contribution to AEV was at P9.7 billion, 27 percent lower compared to the P13.3 billion in the previous year. On a stand-alone basis, Aboitiz Power’s core net income for 2020 was P12.5 billion, 25 percent
lower than in 2019. Union Bank of the Philippines contributed P5.9 billion to the company last year, 18 percent lower than the P7.2 billion recorded in the previous year. On a stand-alone basis, Union Bank recorded net income of P11.6 billion in 2020, 18 percent lower than the P14 billion recorded in 2019, mainly due to higher provisions for loan losses for 2020. The company’s non-listed food units income contribution amounted to P2.2 billion for 2020, 38 percent higher than the P1.6 billion recorded in 2019. The domestic companies reported net income amounting to P1.2 billion last year. Companies in the food business include Pilmico Foods Corp., Pilmico Animal Nutrition Corporation, and Pilmico International Pte. Ltd., which includes Gold Coin Management Holdings Pte. Ltd. The feeds business segment recorded net income of P999 million, more than double from the previous year due to higher volume and lower raw material costs. The flour business segment recorded P716 million in net income, flat from the previous year on improved per unit gross profit and volume were offset by higher interest expenses and unrealized foreign exchange losses on money market placements. The farms business segment, meanwhile, recorded a net loss of P552 million due to decreased margins resulting from higher production costs and lower selling prices caused by the industry-wide effect of the African Swine Fever. This was compounded by lower sales volume due to transport restrictions on pork and pigs imposed in several provinces in Luzon. VG Cabuag
AC Health, Qualimed host ceremonial vaccination
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yala Healthcare Holdings, Inc. (AC Health) launched a vaccination drive for its doctors and healthcare workers at QualiMed Hospital Sta. Rosa, the first hospital outside of Metro Manila to receive doses of the AstraZeneca vaccines. A total of 600 AstraZeneca and Sinovac vaccines were provided by the Inter-Agency Task Force and the Department of Health, in collaboration with the local government of Laguna. All 600 doses have been allocated to volunteer recipients. The ceremonial vaccination led by Fernando Zobel de Ayala, President and COO of Ayala Corp., and Paolo Borromeo, President and CEO of AC Health, is a precursor to COVIDShield – AC Health’s largescale Covid-19 vaccination initiative in support of the Philippine National Vaccine Deployment Program. The QualiMed Health Network was represented by Dr. Edwin Mercado, Vice-Chairman of QualiMed’s founding group Mercado General Hospital, Inc. (MGHI), and Jimmy Ysmael, President and CEO of the QualiMed Health Network. Also in attendance were Sec. Carlito Galvez, Jr., Chief Implementer of the National Taskforce Against COVID-19, Sec. Vince Dizon, Deputy Chief Implementer, Sta. Rosa Mayor Arlene Arcillas, Dr. Aleli Sudiacal, DOH Director III for Field Implementation and Coordination, and Dr. Noel Pasion, DOH Region IV Local Health Support Division Chief.
“The Ayala Group and AC Health have always been strong supporters of the National Vaccine Deployment Program. I am delighted to see all the efforts of the government and private sector come to fruition with the launching of the National Vaccine Program. Moreover, it has been encouraging to see other healthcare institutions support the IATF’s and DOH’s efforts. This gives me hope that in addition to providing muchneeded protection for individuals, the vaccines will eventually reduce the burden to our healthcare system, stem disease transmission, and accelerate the path to recovery for our country,” said Fernando Zobel de Ayala, President and COO of Ayala Corp. “We are honored and privileged to have been included by the DOH and IATF as first recipients outside of Metro Manila for the AstraZeneca vaccines, as well as some doses of the Sinovac vaccines. Our healthcare workers are extremely grateful to be given this additional layer of protection, and we hope this will also encourage more Filipinos to be vaccinated too. For our part, we look forward to contributing to the country’s vaccination efforts as we gear up for large-scale administration. We have identified and are setting up nearly 20 mega-sites nationwide with a goal to administer 1,000,000 doses by 2021,” said Paolo Borromeo, President and CEO of AC Health.
mutual funds
March 8, 2021
NAV One Year Three Year Five Year Y-T-D per share Return* Return Stock Funds ALFM Growth Fund, Inc. -a 219.39 -1.81% -8.46% -1.99% -3.45% ATRAM Alpha Opportunity Fund, Inc. - 1.2994 16.98% -6.56% 2.87% -1.04% ATRAM Philippine Equity Opportunity Fund, Inc. -a 3.0154 -3.23% -12.63% -3.89% -3.75% Climbs Share Capital Equity Investment Fund Corp. -a 0.7686 -0.95% -7.91% n.a. -4.39% First Metro Consumer Fund on MSCI Phils. IMI, Inc. -a 0.6891 -9.48% n.a. n.a. -7.08% First Metro Save and Learn Equity Fund,Inc. -a 4.7566 0.26% -6.57% -1.32% -3.74% First Metro Save and Learn Philippine Index Fund, Inc. -a,4 0.6987 -6.6% -9.99% -6.48% -8.04% MBG Equity Investment Fund, Inc. -a 100.1 10.64% -5.02% n.a. -1.8% PAMI Equity Index Fund, Inc. -a 45.1739 0.14% -6.43% -0.49% -3.57% Philam Strategic Growth Fund, Inc. -a 471.96 -0.54% -6.38% -1.22% -3.48% Philequity Alpha One Fund, Inc. -a,d, 5 1.0457 9.55% n.a. n.a. -4.7% Philequity Dividend Yield Fund, Inc. -a 1.1268 -1.58% -6.4% -0.35% -3.54% Philequity Fund, Inc. -a 33.6073 -0.07% -6.08% 0.27% -3.34% Philequity MSCI Philippine Index Fund, Inc. -a 0.8777 -3.29% n.a. n.a. -3.87% Philequity PSE Index Fund Inc. -a 4.6233 0.53% -6.01% 0.27% -3.5% Philippine Stock Index Fund Corp. -a 773.57 0.75% -5.9% 0.17% -3.5% Soldivo Strategic Growth Fund, Inc. -a 0.6981 -3.44% -9.76% -3.71% -2.89% Sun Life Prosperity Philippine Equity Fund, Inc. -a 3.4921 -5.09% -8.14% -1.38% -3.63% Sun Life Prosperity Philippine Stock Index Fund, Inc. -a 0.885 0.44% -6.2% 0.03% -3.56% United Fund, Inc. -a 3.225 -1.34% -5.2% 1.06% -2.83% Exchange Traded Fund First Metro Phil. Equity Exchange Traded Fund, Inc. -a,c 103.8215 0.75% -5.69% 0.89% -3.47% Primarily invested in foreign currency securities ATRAM AsiaPlus Equity Fund, Inc. -b $1.2696 30.77% 4.3% 9.18% 5.54% Sun Life Prosperity World Voyager Fund, Inc. -a $1.6748 26.28% 9% n.a. 0.12% Balanced Funds Primarily invested in Peso securities ATRAM Dynamic Allocation Fund, Inc. -a 1.6494 10.16% -3.08% -0.53% -1.15% ATRAM Philippine Balanced Fund, Inc. -a 2.2221 8.16% -2.82% 0.65% -2.77% First Metro Save and Learn Balanced Fund Inc. -a 2.5545 2.95% -2.25% -0.45% -2.76% First Metro Save and Learn F.O.C.C.U.S. Dynamic Fund, Inc. -a,1 0.1919 -6.48% n.a. n.a. -3.37% NCM Mutual Fund of the Phils., Inc. -a 1.9424 3.04% -0.34% 1.64% -1.1% PAMI Horizon Fund, Inc. -a 3.671 2.66% -1.39% 0.62% -3.09% Philam Fund, Inc. -a 16.4685 3.01% -1.33% 0.57% -2.76% Solidaritas Fund, Inc. -a 2.053 2.59% -2.44% 0.64% -1.96% Sun Life of Canada Prosperity Balanced Fund, Inc. -a 3.4939 -1.95% -4.02% -0.42% -2.22% Sun Life Prosperity Achiever Fund 2028, Inc. -a,d 0.9834 2.42% n.a. n.a. -3.83% Sun Life Prosperity Achiever Fund 2038, Inc. -a,d 0.9063 -0.06% n.a. n.a. -4.52% Sun Life Prosperity Achiever Fund 2048, Inc. -a,d 0.8932 -0.33% n.a. n.a. -4.28% Sun Life Prosperity Dynamic Fund, Inc. -a 0.866 -1.85% -4.87% -1.08% -2.44% Primarily invested in foreign currency securities Cocolife Dollar Fund Builder, Inc. -a $0.03811 -3% 2.65% 1.43% -2.58% PAMI Asia Balanced Fund, Inc. -b $1.15 14.2% 2.56% 5.8% -0.02% Sun Life Prosperity Dollar Advantage Fund, Inc. -a $4.5218 17.94% 6.83% 8.43% 0.2% Sun Life Prosperity Dollar Wellspring Fund, Inc. -a,3 $1.1871 7.18% 3.43% n.a. -1.25% Bond Funds Primarily invested in Peso securities ALFM Peso Bond Fund, Inc. -a 370.48 2.87% 3.19% 2.62% -0.16% ATRAM Corporate Bond Fund, Inc. -a 1.905 -0.34% 0.64% 0.22% 0.25% Cocolife Fixed Income Fund, Inc. -a 3.2175 2.29% 4.2% 4.6% 0.09% Ekklesia Mutual Fund Inc. -a 2.2523 0.2% 2.31% 1.91% -1.9% First Metro Save and Learn Fixed Income Fund,Inc. -a 2.431 2.28% 3.2% 1.93% -0.9% Philam Bond Fund, Inc. -a 4.4955 1.46% 4.19% 2.16% -3% Philam Managed Income Fund, Inc. -a,6 1.3211 4.47% 4.39% 2.69% -0.01% Philequity Peso Bond Fund, Inc. -a 3.966 4.05% 4.34% 2.81% -0.88% Soldivo Bond Fund, Inc. -a 1.0217 3.86% 4.01% 1.98% -1.95% Sun Life of Canada Prosperity Bond Fund, Inc. -a 3.1857 2.28% 4.64% 3.23% -0.63% Sun Life Prosperity GS Fund, Inc. -a 1.7403 1.47% 3.96% 2.65% -0.84% Primarily invested in foreign currency securities ALFM Dollar Bond Fund, Inc. -a $482.31 1.98% 2.94% 2.55% -0.32% ALFM Euro Bond Fund, Inc. -a Є219.3 -0.8% 1.05% 1.22% 0.05% ATRAM Total Return Dollar Bond Fund, Inc. -b $1.199 -1.78% 2.37% 1.66% -6.36% First Metro Save and Learn Dollar Bond Fund, Inc. -a $0.0258 -1.15% 1.33% 1.04% -3.01% PAMI Global Bond Fund, Inc -b $1.0624 -5.63% 0.49% -0.38% -2.77% Philam Dollar Bond Fund, Inc. -a $2.4669 -0.33% 4.31% 2.45% -2.71% Philequity Dollar Income Fund Inc. -a $0.0625084 2.56% 3.23% 2.26% 0.31% Sun Life Prosperity Dollar Abundance Fund, Inc. -a $3.1103 -5.69% 1.86% 1.18% -3.51% Money Market Funds Primarily invested in Peso securities ALFM Money Market Fund, Inc. -a 129.93 2.58% 3.27% 2.55% 0.09% First Metro Save and Learn Money Market Fund, Inc. -a 1.0492 1.6% n.a. n.a. 0.1% Sun Life Prosperity Money Market Fund, Inc. -a 1.2996 2.19% 2.92% 2.59% 0.23% Primarily invested in foreign currency securities Sun Life Prosperity Dollar Starter Fund, Inc. -a $1.0545 1.31% 1.77% n.a. 0.2% Feeder Funds Primarily invested in Peso securities Sun Life Prosperity World Equity Index Feeder Fund, Inc. -a,d,7 1.1688 n.a. n.a. n.a. 3.47% Primarily invested in foreign currency securities ALFM Global Multi-Asset Income Fund Inc. -b,d,2 $0.98 1.03% n.a. n.a. 0% a - NAVPS as of the previous banking day. b - NAVPS as of two banking days ago. c - Listed in the PSE. d - in Net Asset Value per Unit (NAVPU). 1 - Launch date is September 28, 2019. 2 - Launch date is November 15, 2019. 3 - Adjusted due to stock dividend issuance last October 9, 2019. 4 - Renaming was approved by the SEC last October 12, 2018 (formerly, One Wealthy Nation Fund, Inc.). 5 - Launch date is December 09, 2019. 6 - Re-classified into a Bond Fund starting February 21, 2020 (Formerly a Money Market Fund). 7 - Launch date is July 6, 2020. "While we endeavor to keep the information accurate, the Philippine Investment Funds Association (PIFA) and its members make no warranties as to the correctness of the newspaper’s publication and assume no liability or responsibility for any error or omissions. You may visit http://www. pifa.com.ph to see the latest NAVPS/NAVPU."
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Banking&Finance BusinessMirror
EXCLUSIVE
Singapore fintech firm eyes more PHL partners By Tyrone Jasper C. Piad @Tyronepiad
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Singapore-based financial technology (fintech) player is eyeing to onboard more partners in the Philippines to facilitate more digital money transfers. Thunes Group, which includes TTMFS Singapore Pte Ltd. and its subsidiaries, said it is taking the opportunity amid the accelerated digital adoption to expand its financial services. “We’re looking to expand our partnerships in the Philippines and to enable more outbound flows via our business partners,” Thunes Senior Vice President Sylvia Koh told the BusinessMirror in an interview. The fintech player, Koh said, is currently working with some local banks and mobile wallet service providers in the Philippines. Currently, Koh noted that the country is a very cash-based economy given that over 60 percent of transactions are generally cash-related. She said that the ongoing shift to digital will prompt “less reliance on cash and remittance can be done in a cheaper and more efficient manner.” But the lockdown protocols im-
posed due to the coronavirus pandemic have accelerated growth of digitalization, especially in emerging markets, she observed. “When borders closed and travel was halted, the need for cross-border transactions increased, and users became more discerning when it came to costs, efficiencies, and reliabilities,” Koh explained. “This gave Thunes the opportunity to shine and allow users to safely make transactions across borders.” Thunes completed in September last year its Series B funding round amounting to $60 million. Proceeds are allocated to beef up the company’s global network and accelerate expansion in developing markets in Africa, Asia and Latin America. “We will also put in more resources to develop and support business payments cross-borders,” Koh said. “There will be systems and product enhancements to improve the quality of service for our partners too.” The company, founded in 2016, has set up its headquarter in Singapore, but it also has offices in Shanghai, London and New York. Its network comprises over 100 channels in Asia-Pacific, Africa and Middle East, Europe and Americas.
How I planned for my future
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O you remember my previous article talk about the importance of having a solid foundation on personal finance? It is important to prepare ourselves for unexpected events that might happen along the way. Knowing your life goals is not different from planning your personal finance. When we say personal finance, it includes your behavioral character not just your money but also your being. Your goals, your character, your finances, your abilities, your vision and your purpose are all connected. Why is it important to plan for your future? Planning is about doing what it takes to get to where you want to go. You set a goal and figure out what you need to do to accomplish it. Picturing your goals can motivate you and help you get focused. Planning how to reach your goals will help you set priorities and stay organized. Get to know yourself better check out the activities that can help you with that. Discover your interests, abilities, values, skills and traits. Choose a suitable career and find out what steps to achieve it. Find out about career paths, work choices and how to get needed skills. Today I will share how I started to plan for my future. Again, my way of planning may not be suited for you. It is always better to consult financial planners to determine what fits and best for you. God blessed me so much that I was able to start a plan at my early age. I started to invest in learning, attending seminars of Randell Tiongson and Marvin Germo. I was a college student that time when I started to open an account for stock trading. After I graduated from college, I got a job and a few years later, I started to invest in learning. I enrolled at RFP Institute to become a Registered Financial Planner. I started to get an insurance plan called VUL plan knowing that this is what I most needed that time. Few months after, I joined an insurance company. Getting affiliated with the insurance company gave me a deeper knowledge about the importance of insurance. My plan after getting VUL plan is to focus more on investing money into the stock market but it changes a lot when I joined in the insurance company knowing that being a Registered Financial Planner will enable me to help other people, ensuring that my family first had a solid foundation.
Rodora Mendoza
personal finance I decided to invest more on an insurance plan for myself and for my family before anything else. Building a solid foundation is not easy as it takes a lot of sacrifices yet it’s fulfilling and it gives you a peace of mind. After getting them a plan, now it was then time for me to focus on investing on stock market and cryptocurrency. Investing on the said platforms were not just easy as you think because it took a lot of learning and knowing what risk it may take. Knowing your risk profile will determine which investment is suited for you. Now I am into it and enjoying to do so. My next plan to invest is real estate. I want to build a solid passive income first before I own a house and own a car. “Being able to delay pleasure for a greater result is a sign of maturity”, Dave Ramsey, say. Again, my plan be different for you. It depends on your personality, status and goal. Make sure to have a clear goal and purpose in your life so that everything may in place. In your journey, there will always up and downs. Once your vision is clear and already prayed for, it shall come to pass. You can do your plan and work hard for it by practicing self-discipline. It’s not all about how much money you earned, it’s about the discipline how you save, invest and spend wisely. We’re all human living on earth and the difference is how we discipline ourselves. Dave Ramsey says, that “Personal Finance is 80-percent behavior and only 20- percent head knowledge. It’s what you do, not what you know. We buy things we don’t need with money we don’t have to impress people we don’t like.” Remember that being a good steward is not to impress people how you can afford what they can’t afford. It’s time for you to change your behavioral thinking about personal finance. Personal Finance is not for selected few but indeed, it is for everyone. Rodora Mendoza is a registered financial planner of RFP Philippines. To learn more about personal-financial planning, attend the 88th RFP program this March 2021. To inquire, e-mail info@rfp.ph or text at 0917-6248110.
Tuesday, March 9, 2021 B3
Inflation spike fails to stifle investments in Treasuries
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By Bernadette D. Nicolas
@BNicolasBM
CCELERATED inflation concerns pushed up rates on Monday but the Bureau of the Treasury still ended up fully awarding P20 billion in Treasury Bills (T-bills) as the auction was oversubscribed with total bids reaching P44 billion, more than twice the P20-billion offer.
National Treasurer Rosalia V. De Leon attributed the continued uptick in the T-bill yields to a “hangover from elevated inflation.” De Leon noted the rates also tracked the upward movement of
US Treasuries. The 91-day T-bills capped at an average rate of 1.139 percent, 9.9 basis points higher than 1.04 percent in the previous auction. Total tenders for the security reached
P14.467 billion, nearly thrice the P5-billion offer. Meanwhile, the average rate for the 182-day T-bills rose by 9 basis points to reach 1.316 percent from 1.226 percent previously. Bids for the tenor hit P10.915 billion, more than twice the P5 billion offer. The 364-day T-bills fetched an average rate of 1.852 percent, a 17.2 basis point hike from 1.68 percent in last week’s auction. Bids amounted to P18.62 billion, exceeding the P10billion offer. The country’s inflation rate continued its climb from 4.6 percent in January to 4.7 percent in February, government data last Friday revealed. The February figure is the highest since the 5.1 percent recorded in December 2018 and the 2.6 percent in February last year. In the first two months of the year, inflation averaged 4.5 per-
RCBC bullish on REITs market By VG Cabuag
@villygc
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UCHENGCO-led lender Rizal Commercial Banking Corp. (RCBC) is maintaining its bullish outlook on the local real estate investment trust (REIT) market, mainly due to low interest rates and a steady return of dividends. The bank said that over the years, appreciation of the REIT as an asset class will increase. RCBC Chief Investment Officer Helen Go-Oleta said as an investment asset class, the REIT is professionally managed, being listed in the Philippine Stock Exchange, and less price-volatile. Furthermore, REIT investments expose investors to a portfolio of real estate properties without going through the nitty-gritty of owning one. “And 90 percent of the distributable income of the REIT company will be converted to dividends and distributed to investors as earnings,” the executive said. “For those investors who like the steadiness of a return through dividends and limited outlets as to investment alternatives at this point, focus is now into REIT,” Oleta said. The REIT also enables investors to
participate in lucrative property portfolio investments that provide a steady stream of dividends investment returns and prospects for capital appreciation, she added. Still, RCBC Chief Economist Michael L. Ricafort has said investment in REITS is relative to how government addresses the pandemic and the pace of inoculation against Covid-19. “Any continued recovery in the economy especially if new Covid-19 cases ease amid the expected vaccine rollouts in the coming weeks would help justify additional measures to re-open the economy, thereby would also fundamentally improve the recovery prospects for the property/real estate industry, including REITs,” Ricafort said. At the moment, only the Ayala Land Inc.-led REIT company is listed at the Philippine Stock Exchange. Double Dragon Properties Inc., meanwhile, has already priced its initial public offering of its own Reit, which would be listed sometime this month. Other property companies have already expressed their plans to create their own REIT. To invest in REIT, one can open an account with a bank or a securities broker, RCBC said.
Investment platforms rolled out
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HE subsidiary of Pru Life Insurance Corp. of UK announced recently the roll out of its two new peso-denominated investment platforms: PRUInvest PHP Intermediate Term Bond Fund (ITBF) and the PRUInvest PHP Balanced Allocation Fund (BAF). Rodrigo Albert D. Maddatu, head of Fixed Income at Pru Life UK Asset Management and Trust Corp. (PAMTC), said during an online forum last Monday that the ITBF is an investmen in money market placements, high yield deposits and fixed income instruments. According to Maddatu, this fund is for moderate investors looking for medium-term investment. He further explained the fund manager for the ITBF “can also proactively adjust the portfolio to capitalize on any interest rate environment.”
The PRUInvest PHP BAF allows clients to invest in fixed income securities and shares of stocks listed in the Philippine Stock Exchange. PAMTC Vice President Charm B. Balingit said this fund fits “aggressive investors looking for long-term investment and those who are aiming to maximize returns but at the same time are willing to accept substantial risk.” The ITBF and BAF each requires a minimum initial investment of P10,000. The former charges a trust fee of 0.75 percent per annum except for institutional investors who are charged with a trust fee of 0.375 percent per annum. Also managed by a fund manager, the BAF charges a trust fee of 1.25 percent per annum is charged except for institutional investors who are charged with 0.625 percent per annum. Bernadette D. Nicolas
cent. For this year, the government’s target range for inflation is 2 to 4 percent. Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas Governor Benjamin E. Diokno last Friday allayed investor worries on the spike, saying the acceleration of prices in February are still supplyside in nature and will likely taper off in the coming months. (See, “BSP won’t act on inflation till there’s evidence of second-round effects,” in the BusinessMirror, March 6, 2021). Some economists, like Ben Broadbent, Deputy Governor, Monetary Policy of the Bank of England, has demurred in September last year that higher inflation may ease fiscal constraints. Broadbent mused that government spending as the source of inflation and funded through debt, but debt that is not onerous, may help the economy.
Central credit registry gets ISO nod for QMS
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ollowing the establishment of a quality management system (QMS), the country’s central credit registry earned a certification from the International Organization for Standardization (ISO). The Credit Information Corp. (CIC) said in a recent statement that the BSI (British Standards Institution) Group Philippines Inc. issued its ISO 9001:2015. The BSI Group is a founding member of ISO. To acquire the certification, CIC passed the 2-stage audit, which verified how its QMS meets applicable statutory, regulatory and contractual requirements. CIC Senior Vice President for Business Development Communications Aileen L. AmorBautista said they “persistently worked” on the ISO-QMS certification in 2020. “This is a testament to the commitment of our workforce to strengthen and improve our products and services and to go beyond our stakeholders’ expectations,” Amor-Bautista said. The ISO certification covers the QMS of credit information services such as the operational processes of credit data management, special accessing entity accreditation, online dispute resolution and capacity building. In addition, risk management system, operational planning and control, administration and facilities, performance evaluation and internal audit procedures were also evaluated. The BSI Group also “commended the coverage of CIC’s QMS which includes identified applications and horizontals, as well as the internally-developed systems supporting its operations. The certifying body also
cited how the credit registry’s employees and process owners were “highly aware” of the need to be on the same page with the QMS manual. In developing CIC’s QMS, Amor-Bautista said that the Development Academy of the Philippines (DAP) took part by providing technical assistance, noting that the institution helped the credit registry in securing the ISO certification. “The journey of learning and implementing the requirements for ISO certification has been very challenging for us as we have to do most of the tasks remotely due to Covid-19, but DAP has been encouraging and helpful every step of the way,” Amor-Bautista said. DAP President and CEO Engelbert C. Caronan said that CIC was among the 12 beneficiary agencies of the DAP Government Quality Management Program. “We are very elated because in less than a year after we had the meeting with the agency—that was March 2020—CIC has already received its ISO certification,” he added. Last year, the credit registry also established a QMS task force and attended online training courses on QMS requirements and documentation and process streamlining, among others. CIC is subject to surveillance audits in the next two years as part of the three-year validity of the certification. “From here forward, our stakeholders can expect an even more reliable and comprehensive credit information system,” the CIC official said. As of end-2020, the CIC database contains 85 million contract data from 557 financial institutions. Tyrone Jasper C. Piad
CIMB Bank PHL notes uptick in insurance purchase
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IMB Bank Philippines Inc. said it saw an uptick in insurance penetration among its customers, which the bank said is parallel with its financial inclusion initiatives. The digital bank reported that clients who are eligible for free life insurance surged by 1,200 percent over the last three months, attributing this to “attainable mechanics.” To avail of free insurance, depositors must maintain P5,000 in average daily balance. The amount of insurance is equal to the said balance of
up to P250,000, the bank said. “This is our response to our ever-changing customer’s needs after learning that more than half of our customers are looking for insurance coverage,” CIMB Bank Philippines CEO Vijay Manoharan said. “And since insurance awareness is relatively new in the Philippines even when compared to other neighboring countries, we want to raise the awareness and have more Filipinos protected with basic insurance which is an important part of their financial planning,” Manoharan added.
For this year, the bank told the BusinessMirror in an earlier interview that it was eyeing to increase its loan portfolio by at least three times as clients seek additional sources of funding during this pandemic. Personal loan applications in 2020 grew by 160 percent while loan disbursement was up by sixfold. “As you can imagine, with the current economic stress, consumers need banks to help them up for that extra credit facility to get them to cross over the hurdle,” the bank official said adding that they “found a
space where we can still lend.” CIMB is targeting to grow its deposit books by at least 1.5 to two times this year after recording 800-percent growth in 2020. The digital bank eyes to onboard 5 million customers in 2021. To recall, its customer base doubled to over 3 million in the past year. CIMB is also set to launch upgrades in services this year, with its mobile application having more features and functionalities to make transactions easier and quicker. Tyrone Jasper C. Piad
B4
Tuesday, March 9, 2021 • Editor: Gerard S. Ramos
Art
BusinessMirror
www.businessmirror.com.ph
Today’s Horoscope
❶ Burying Soil
2, Don Bryan Bunag, 2021, cyanotype, charcoal, thread, ink and acrylic on natural-dyed bamboo fiber paper, 7.5”x8”
By Eugenia Last
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CELEBRITIES BORN ON THIS DAY: Bow Wow, 34; Brittany Snow, 35; Matthew Gray Gubler, 41; Juliette Binoche, 57.
❷ Burying Soil
Happy Birthday: Refuse to let change throw you off guard this year. Accept the inevitable, and keep moving forward. Use your ingenuity, and you’ll find new ways to use your talents to fit whatever is trending. Keeping up, staying informed and projecting a positive attitude will attract attention. Surround yourself with projects that promote personal growth and like-minded people. Romance is favored. Your numbers are 9, 14, 22, 28, 35, 41, 44.
4, Don Bryan Bunag, 2021, cyanotype, charcoal, thread, ink and acrylic on natural-dyed bamboo fiber paper, 11.75”x8”
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ARIES (March 21-April 19): Adapt and go about your business. Embrace new beginnings with enthusiasm. How you use your energy to get things done will help you gain support and the respect you desire. HHHH
b
TAURUS (April 20-May 20): Keep your life simple and the promises you make doable. Refuse to let your emotions get in the way of common sense. Focus on self-improvement instead of trying to change others. HH
c ❶
GEMINI (May 21-June 20): Don’t let down your guard, even if someone is complimentary or seductive. Recognize manipulation when someone turns on the charm or uses emotional tactics to take advantage of you. HHHHH
❷
‘Sun Gazing’ presents perils of unbridled ambition
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HERE is no shortage of literature about characters having some and wanting it all. Icarus, for instance, was specifically told by his father, Daedalus, to maintain a midlevel height during their escape from Crete to prevent their makeshift wings of feather and wax from being dampened by the seawater below or getting melted by the sun above. But upon feeling the rush of perceived superiority from gliding in the air, Icarus craved for more. He wanted to go higher. Hubris took over and Icarus darted skyward, ultimately turning his father’s warning into prophecy. Another such tale is the Tower of Babel, where a united human race speaking the same tongue decided to build a mighty city that featured a tower tall enough “with its top in the heavens.” God knew of that plan and confounded the people’s speech, foiling the scheme and creating the multi-lingual society of today. Bulacan artist Don Bryan Bunag collated these stories and other related materials to ponder on their shared cautionary tale against letting the dream take over the dreamer. Bunag presents his musings in his latest solo exhibition, titled Sun Gazing. The show opened over the weekend and is on view at Eskinita Art Gallery until March 24. “Maganda na maging ambitious, pero ’pag sumobra ay napapasama,” the artist said during the gallery’s recent Instagram Live feature of the new show. “Tulad sa practice ng sun gazing: ’pag sumobra tayo sa pagtitig sa araw, nakakabulag. Nawawalan tayo ng paningin,
hindi lang literally, kung hindi pati na rin spiritually at philosophically.” Bunag relates to the problem of mistaking zeal for greed on a personal level. The artist grew up in Bulakan, Bulacan, and has witnessed his hometown be consumed by the pursuits of urbanization and modernization. In the show, Bunag presents Burying Soil, a sevenpiece series of photographs that capture his stomping grounds just as how he wants to remember them. The artist presented scenes of rice fields and rivers that feel as though are both about celebration and longing for what once was. The theme of duality between past and present is carried over in the chosen medium as well. Bunag took the shots using a digital camera but processed the images using cyanotype, a chemical developed in the early 1840s to record biological artifacts. The artist then polluted the images with overlapping layers of drawing, paints and stitches as if they were tattered memories. Bunag also presents a couple of installations in the show. One is titled Reverberations, which play on light, acrylic, aluminum and sawdust-reinforced epoxy. The artist reflected on the affected mangroves by the airport project in Bulacan. He wondered that if only his hometown could speak, if it can express how it feels about being the price to mankind’s concept of progress, what would it say? “Isang beses, biglang nag-echo sa ’kin ’yung composition ni Julian Felipe, ang nagsulat ng ‘Lupang Hinirang,’” said Bunag, explaining why his figures of dead trees spell out the final line of the national anthem: “Ang mamatay ng dahil sa ’yo.” In the piece, the artist infused the epoxy base with sawdust from reclaimed wood as extender. “Pati ’yung medium, ginagamit ko ’yun as part of the message. Naglalaban pa rin ’yung pagiging organic and modern.” At the end of his presentation, Bunag reflected on the role of the artist in today’s world. “Sa start ng pandemic, na-label tayo as nonessential. Pero para sa ’kin, essential [tayong mga artist] sa bawat kaluluwa ng mga indibidwal,” he said. “Bilang
d
CANCER (June 21-July 22): Educate yourself before sharing your opinion. Change can be helpful if it saves you money, improves your health or helps you make a difference. Nurture a meaningful relationship, and it will lead to a positive change at home. HHH
e
artist, may responsibilidad tayong maghatid ng mensahe sa bawa’t isa. Para makatulong tayo hindi man sa [pisical na aspeto], pero para sa ispiritual.” n
LEO (July 23-Aug. 22): Look for the right opportunity. Don’t let someone talk you into something that will benefit them, not you. Carefully pick and choose who you associate with. A partnership will require equality on all fronts if it’s going to bring good results. HHH
f
VIRGO (Aug. 23-Sept. 22): Learn through observation, and make adjustments that will help you navigate your way to a better position. An older or established individual will offer insight into possibilities. HHH
g
LIBRA (Sept. 23-Oct. 22): Be receptive to suggestions. Focus on education, communication and expanding your interests and circle of friends. Let your curiosity mount and your desire for mental stimulation open up doors that will encourage you to use your skills diversely. HHHHH
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SCORPIO (Oct. 23-Nov. 21): Pace yourself, think matters through and look at all sides of a situation. Focus on what’s possible, and you’ll find unique ways to navigate your way through situations that are likely to lead to a dead end. HH
i ‘ENDPOINTS’ Solo Exhibition of Leo Bisquera
Virtual ArtistSpace presents Endpoints, a solo exhibition of Filipino visual artist Leo Bisquera. Inspired by lines, movement and impulsivity, Bisquera’s works seek to explore the vibrant, connected and awe-inspiring patterns that exist in our world through an abstract lens. Bisquera combines unique process-driven techniques. All his works are acrylic on canvas which are structured, calculated, impulsive and unmeasured achieved, without using a paintbrush, and based on movement study. By comparing and contrasting various approaches to abstraction, movement and impulsivity, his works allow for a deep consideration of the aesthetic result from various levels of impetuousness. From the hard-lined and geometric approach, to the unfettered and hyper-painterly manner, we are able to understand and explore several structures, formations and realizations of the abstract pursuit. Endpoints is on view until March 25. More information is available at the ArtistSpace socialmedia pages (@artistspacegallery), or via hello@artistspace. org.ph.
SAGITTARIUS (Nov. 22-Dec. 21): Put more time and energy into how you earn your living or manage your money or shared expenses and less time into relationships with people taking advantage of you or not being honest about long-term plans. HHH
j
CAPRICORN (Dec. 22-Jan. 19): Take care of yourself physically. Start a fitness routine that encourages you to pay close attention to diet and lifestyle, and it will lift your spirits and confidence. Personal improvements will promote better work habits and result in overall success. HHH
k
AQUARIUS (Jan. 20-Feb. 18): Discipline, hard work and persistence will play roles in how well you do today. Getting along and keeping the peace will make your life easier. Consider what’s important to you, and work quietly by yourself to ward off unwanted interference. HHHHH
l
PISCES (Feb. 19-March 20): Take the initiative to address issues that are slowing you down. Focus on efficiency and productivity so you can accomplish what you set out to do. A change of heart will give you a new perspective on life, love and happiness. HHH Birthday Baby: You are spontaneous, aggressive and emotional. You are original and possessive.
‘mixed breeds’ by michael lieberman The Universal Crossword/Edited by David Steinberg
ACROSS 1 Lively dance 4 Evade 9 Fruit-filled pastries 14 Hullabaloo 15 “Raining cats and dogs,” for one 16 Hawaiian greeting 17 ___ C, aka Sporty Spice 18 Seedy breakfast option (unscramble letters 6 to 11 in this answer) 20 Negative press, informally 22 Buy time 23 Important stretch 24 Not worth arguing about 26 Started disliking, with “on” 28 The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel actress (3 to 7) 33 Physique, briefly 34 Erotic poetry muse 35 Does some housecleaning 39 Supportive garments 41 Whitney Houston’s “I’m ___ Woman” 43 Conceal, as an odor 44 Speak off the cuff 46 Made more bearable 48 “Woo-hoo!”
49 “The show that made country music famous” (5 to 10) 52 French fashion house 55 Women’s rights icon Alice 56 Juice box brand 57 White House No. 2s 61 Drizzle with ranch, say 64 Community with a shared cultural background (5 to 9) 67 Schumer or Poehler 68 Get a move on 69 “Haters ___ hate” 70 Space heater? 71 Ostentatious 72 Watch stealthily 73 Abbreviated list ender DOWN 1 Doorframe part 2 Metaphorical lightbulb 3 One of four won by Simone Biles in Rio 4 Lose the threads? 5 Poem of tribute 6 Insult 7 Animal that has kids 8 Jane Austen heroine
9 One might cover an alien abduction 10 In the style of 11 “I read you,” on a radio 12 In that place 13 Healthy side dish 19 Otherwise 21 Old-timey curse 25 Pulled apart 27 E pluribus ___ 28 “Dancing Queen” band 29 British noble 30 “Nevermore” speaker 31 Lieu 32 Body’s trunk 36 Politeness reminder 37 Alexander I, for one 38 Vodka in a blue bottle 40 Aries or Gemini 42 Website with many bad reviews 45 “The soul of wit” 47 Like an emotionless comic delivery 50 Match Game host Baldwin 51 Couple’s possessive 52 “The Queen’s Gambit” game 53 Unforeseen snag 54 Sound preceding “Bless you”
8 Some are soft-boiled 5 59 The handkerchief in “Othello,” e.g. 60 PlayStation maker 62 Dirty literature 63 Align 65 At this moment 66 Card game similar to Crazy Eights
Solution to Friday’s puzzle:
Show BusinessMirror
www.businessmirror.com.ph
Editor: Gerard S. Ramos
• Tuesday, March 9, 2021
GTV’s ‘The Lost Recipe’ continues to win over competition THE Lost Recipe (TLR) is proving it is the new taste of Pinoy drama viewers are craving for as it continues its strong showing since its launch on January 18. The Mikee Quintos-Kelvin Miranda starrer posted solid numbers week-on-week with an average Nutam people audience share of 8.6 percent based on Nielsen Philippines TAM’s January 18 to February 26 data. This was more than double the rating performance of its TV5 counterpart. Mikee admits she is overwhelmed by the viewers’ warm reception toward the show, especially her love team with Kelvin. “Nakakataba po ng puso makitang kinikilig ang viewers. I enjoy watching their reactions while they watch our show. Pati ako kinikilig dahil sa kilig nila,” she shares. Kelvin, likewise, appreciates the feedback they’ve been getting since day one. “Masaya po ako at talagang nakakagulat ang suporta ng mga tao sa materyal na inihain namin para sa kanila. [Ako ay] lubos na nagpapasalamat at sana’y patuloy na suportahan [nila] kami hanggang sa dulo.” Its official Facebook page (@TheLostRecipeGTV) recently hit more than 100,000 followers, with the number continuing to increase. From the stunning visuals that help highlight the elements of time-travel and culinary arts, to the chemistry between the leads and the various conflicts among the rest of the characters, The Lost Recipe provides a fresh offering in today’s local TV landscape. The show also stars Thea Tolentino, Paul Salas, Almira Muhlach, Kim Rodriguez and Ahron Villena. Featured as well are Lucho Ayala, Maureen Larrazabal, Sue Prado, Topper Fabregas and Ariella Arida. Also joining Kelvin and Mikee in their kitchen adventure are Phytos Ramirez, Prince Clemente, Anton Amoncio, Faye Lorenzo, and Crystal Paras. The Lost Recipe airs weeknights at 8 pm on GTV. Viewers abroad can also watch it via GMA Pinoy TV while netizens can catch some of its previous episodes on www.gmanetwork.com.
Prince Harry (left) and Meghan, Duchess of Sussex, in conversation with Oprah Winfrey. Oprah with Meghan and Harry: A CBS Primetime Special aired in the US last March 7. AP
Harry, Meghan delve into tough royal split with Oprah By Jonathan Landrum Jr. The Associated Press
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OS ANGELES—The time has finally come for audiences to hear Meghan and Harry describe the backstory and effects of their tumultuous split from royal life. Sunday night’s airing of a two-hour special hosted by Oprah Winfrey provided the first, and unprecedented, peek into the couple’s departure from royal duties and the strains it has placed on them. How it’s received is likely to depend on which side of the Atlantic Ocean viewers are on. The show, which includes Winfrey’s interviews with Meghan and Harry, aired first in the United States—Meghan’s home country—at 8 pm Eastern. Hours earlier, Harry’s grandmother, Queen Elizabeth II, delivered a royal address before Commonwealth Day. British audiences woke up Monday to headlines and social media posts about Winfrey’s special, but wer able to see the full interview only Monday night when it aired on ITV. Royal interviews that aren’t tied to a specific topic are rare, and prior televised sessions have often proved problematic. Prince Andrew’s 2019 BBC interview about his links with convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein led to his own departure from royal duties after he failed to show empathy for Epstein’s victims. Harry and Meghan’s departure from royal duties began in March 2020 over what they described as the intrusions and racist attitudes of the British media toward the duchess, who is biracial. Clips released ahead of the airings suggested that Meghan had some pointed criticisms of royal life. In one she describes the royal family as “the firm,” a
nickname that is sometimes used affectionately and sometimes critically. At one point, Winfrey asked Meghan how she felt about Buckingham Palace “hearing you speak your truth today?” “I don’t know how they could expect that after all of this time, we would still just be silent if there was an active role that the firm is playing in perpetuating falsehoods about us,” she said. “And if that comes with risk of losing things, I mean, there’s been a lot that’s been lost already.” In another clip, Harry invoked the memory of his late mother, Princess Diana, who had to find her way alone after her divorce from Prince Charles. “I’m just really relieved and happy to be sitting here talking to you with my wife by my side, because I can’t begin to imagine what it must have been like for her going through this process by herself all those years ago,” Harry said, adding, “because it’s been unbelievably tough for the two of us.” In Britain, the interview is seen as poorly timed. It aired while Harry’s 99-year-old grandfather Prince Philip remains hospitalized in London after undergoing a heart procedure. Meghan is shown in a clip released on Friday contrasting the conversation the two women were able to have now versus in 2018 ahead of her wedding. Meghan described not being able to talk to Winfrey, who was seeking an interview, without royal minders present. “As an adult who lived a really independent life to then go into this construct that is um.. different than I think what people imagine it to be, it’s really liberating to be able to have the right and the privilege in some ways to be able to say yes,” Meghan told Winfrey. It is unclear what public reaction, if any, the
queen and other royal family members will have to Sunday’s interview. The UK’s Sunday Times newspaper, citing an anonymous source, reported that the queen would not watch it. On Wednesday, the palace said it was launching a human resources investigation after a London newspaper reported that a former aide had accused Meghan of bullying staff in 2018. A spokesman for the duchess said she was “saddened by the latest attack on her character, particularly as someone who has been the target of bullying herself.” The snippets already released provided some details about the interview, which includes Winfrey speaking one-on-one with Meghan and a joint session with the couple. Holding hands, Harry and Meghan sat opposite Winfrey while she questioned them in a lush garden setting. The couple lives in Montecito, California, where they are Winfrey’s neighbors. Meghan, who recently announced she is pregnant with the couple’s second child, wore an empire-style black dress with embroidery. Harry wore a light gray suit and white dress shirt, minus a tie. As Meghan Markle, the actor starred in the TV legal drama Suits. She married Harry at Windsor Castle in May 2018, and their son, Archie, was born a year later. Harry and Meghan’s departure from royal life was supposed to be reviewed after a year. On February 19, Buckingham Palace confirmed that the couple would not return to royal duties, and Harry would relinquish his honorary military titles—a decision that made formal, and final, the couple’s split from the royal family. n Kelvin Chan in London contributed to this report.
Many firsts for Rex Lantano
Young actor Rex Lantano’s foray into acting for the online platform comes with many firsts. “It is my first time to be a lead actor. It is my first BL [Boy Love] series. It is my first-ever kissing scene on-screen. It is my first experience kissing a same sex actor passionately. I must admit that I had mixed emotions going into the actual shoot—I was excited, nervous, anxious, eager, every feeling rolled into one. They say the first is always memorable—and I must agree,” he volunteered. Lantano is thankful for the guidance of his director Monti Parungao throughout the entire project. “From the time I was informed I was cast, direk Monti was there to help me focus, get into my character, answer my questions, explain to me why my character is who he is, and he made me feel at ease while shooting, especially during those few times that I doubted myself.” The online series is titled Daddy Love, and Lantano plays the younger of two very different lovers who were brought together by both need and destiny. The older guy is played by Victor Sy. “Our producer
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Beau Agana made sure that this series will not only touch on the intricacies of a May-December same sex romance, but also underscore HIV awareness, an advocacy he feels so strongly for, which seems to have been put on the sidelines because of the ongoing pandemic,” he shared. Even while Lantano was still a teenager, he said he was was already bent on pursuing acting as a profession. “I’d watch a lot of movies and TV shows, and I’d visualize myself among the actors. I would insert myself in a scene and imagine acting with the stars. Almost 10 years ago, I was watching Maalaala Mo Kaya [MMK], and from out of the blue, I started jotting down the names of the production people in the end credits. I searched for them on Facebook and sent them friend requests and messages, not expecting anyone to treat a total stranger seriously. But guess what, someone responded and asked if I was OK to be an extra, and if I was available the following morning. I said yes,” he recalled. Lantano traveled to the location before dawn and recounted that he was just seated under a tree for countless hours, waiting for his turn. “When you are a bit player, you wait wherever you can find a place. Tents and comfortable waiting areas are reserved only for named actors,” he volunteered, then continued, “After more hours of waiting, a staff approached me from nowhere and asked if I can deliver lines. I said yes, and that was the beginning of my romance with acting. I guess everything that happened that first day was meant to be.” That initial experience working for MMK was just the start of many episodes wherein Lantano would be
requested by director Dado Lomibao and his team, to play small characters that fit him. From TV, Lantano spread his wings and acted for movies, too. “I am just happy every time I get the chance to be an actor. I have tried small businesses and even did corporate work, but it is acting that gives me the satisfaction and the joy that make me truly happy.” The twentysomething actor, whose dream has always been supported by his mom, is aware that the competition in the acting world is intense and ferocious. “There are so many actors, and so many want to become actors, but there are not many roles available especially during this pandemic. I’m glad that when the vaccinations are finally administered, the acting industry might get back the verve and enthusiasm that we used to know,” he assessed. Lantano hopes that Daddy Love, which is available on Lex Bonife’s Hey Pogi online channel, will open more doors for him as an actor. “I wish to be part of the main cast of a TV series one day. I also hope to get the chance to work with some of the respected names in the film industry like directors Jerrold Tarog, Antoinette Jadaone, Nuel Naval, producers Rex Tiri, Alemberg Ang, Bianca Liew, the hotshots from TBA Studios, and actors like Carlo Aquino.” While waiting for his next assignment, Lantano watches a lot of stuff on Netflix while helping run the new family venture, Lola Mame Restaurant in Taguig City. “I love The Crown. I like watching good actors take on their roles—how they give life to their roles, their nuances, their delivery, their stance. I like learning from the best!” Let’s give Rex Lantano some love on his first big role.
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NGCP’s Green Spark program ignites eco-tourism in San Lorenzo, Guimaras
‘Ito ang Araw Mo’: Sun Life Phils. rallies millennials to take action on their goals
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UN Life Philippines will rally millennials to hit the restart button on their dreams with a new digital campaign that prompts them to claim a new beginning in their journey towards a brighter future. Entitled “Ito ang Araw Mo,” the campaign launches on March 8 with a digital video highlighting the unique experiences of today’s generation, such as graduating in a virtual ceremony, exploring gaming as a career, pursuing online entrepreneurship, and starting a new family in extraordinary times. It will be posted on Sun Life’s social media assets, @SunLifePH on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram to ignite the Millennials’ motivation to chase after their personal pursuits. The campaign takes inspiration from the pursuits of the millennials who are keen on building their career, growing their wealth, and finding self-enrichment amid the pandemic. “The times we are in may have pushed millennials to put their goals on hold, but it also brought out their creativity, resourcefulness, and undeniable spirit. They are well equipped to fulfill all their dreams, even as they navigate their way in a new environment,” Sun Life Chief Marketing and Client Experience Officer Gilbert Simpao said. “It all begins with recognizing the start of this new chapter in their lives, taking control of what they can accomplish today, while working on their bigger goals in the future with Sun Life as their partner.” To inspire and enable them with specific actionable to-dos, Sun Life will hold an interactive workshop entitled
“Build Bright Habits to Reach Your Goals” on March 20, 10am, featuring international author, speaker, and life coach Dr. Christine Carter and AHA! Behavioral Design Managing Director TJ Agulto. These bright habits on self-improvement, relationships, and personal finance will be reinforced through a Facebook community where they can avail mini mentorship programs, weekly challenges, and exclusive promos in the company of their fellow goal-achievers. Those ready to craft their financial plans and be experts in handling their money are encouraged to seek the help of a Sun Life advisor, who can help them create a financial roadmap that matches their needs and will put them in a better position to make their plans a reality. “Ito Ang Araw Mo” updates and other relevant information will be posted on Sun Life’s various online platforms for those who wish to take part in the activities and for those looking for added inspiration. “There may have been a tremendous shift in our lives, but millennials have the power to realize their goals and aspirations. It can start today,” Simpao said. “Ito ang araw nila, and it would be Sun Life’s honor to be their partner for life in this journey.”
REPRESENTATIVES from NGCP and the provincial and local governments of Guimaras formally launch the Green Spark Project to promote a new eco-tourism milestone in the province.
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HE provincial and local governments of Guimaras, in cooperation with the National Grid Corporation of the Philippines (NGCP) launched its Green Spark program as part of the company’s corporate social responsibility initiatives. The Green Spark Program stimulates positive change with the introduction of green and sustainable alternative lifestyle component to NGCP’s host communities. For the project in San Lorenzo, Guimaras, NGCP partnered with Bambike Revolution Cycles, an organization supporting local tourism using bicycles made with locally sourced bamboo. “Our efforts will usher in a new ecotourism milestone in Guimaras which will be centered on biking to explore the
island’s tourist destinations. Bicycling is strongly encouraged as a sustainable and ecofriendly mode of tourism. There is minimal environmental damage. The activity produces no carbon emissions, promotes health through physical movement, and requires little to no public infrastructure to support. In addition, bamboo bicycles from Bambike use the ubiquitous, locally-sourced, and sustainable bamboo in making the bicycles, making this project uniquely Filipino,” stated the company. In 2019, NGCP also launched the Green Spark program in the agricultural community of Brgy. Macabud, Rodriguez, Rizal, where e-vehicles complete with charging stations were
provided to the community. “NGCP’s Green Spark Program embodies what the company envisions for its communities – equipped with sustainable and eco-friendly options to drive development. Similarly, that is also what we target for transmission operations – responsive to the anticipated increase in power consumption and prepared with smart solutions to growing energy dependency,” NGCP added. NGCP is a Filipino-led, privately owned company in charge of operating, maintaining, and developing the country’s power grid, led by majority shareholders and Vice Chairman of the Board Henry Sy, Jr. and Co-Vice Chairman Robert Coyiuto, Jr.
Amid initial vaccine rollout, QC Councilor continues to distribute Covid-19 safety kits
QUEZON City Coun. Candy Medina (center) personally distributes hygiene kits to the residents of Barangay Holy Spirit.
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HILE the country bears witness to the initial rollout of vaccines, the threat of Covid-19 is still very real." This was the firm reminder of Quezon City Councilor Candy Medina, following the continuous rise in the number of locals acquiring the disease, with a total of 584,667 cases nationwide, as of this writing. With this in mind, the local government legislator handed out numerous supply kits to the residents of barangays in the country’s most populous city, including Barangay Holy Spirit, Batasan Hills, Payatas, Barangay Silangan, and Barangay Commonwealth—a timely distribution to curb possible transmission of the virus.
The three-term councilor, in office since 2007, joined her team to personally give out hygiene kits to the Oriole Neighborhood Association and Youth Organization, as well as the residents of Barangay Holy Spirit. The kits contain items such as alcohol, toothpaste, toothbrush, soap, face towels, nail cutter, comb, face masks, and face shields. The “Care Para sa Masa” program aims to provide essential hygiene supplies to QC citizens to reinforce the importance of maintaining personal cleanliness and protecting themselves against the coronavirus. The five Barangays are situated in the second district that covers the northern part of Quezon City. The areas
are considered as the most denselypopulated in the city, with a total of nearly 2 million people living. “We are now into the homestretch of getting the proper medication and protection against the deadly disease so let us not be too complacent. Laban lang, Quezon City!” Medina added. Back in December, the seasoned Quezon City lawmaker handed out Christmas goodies to make sure that her constituents will have something to partake in the season of Christmas as well as give them renewed hope amidst all the struggles. Further, she continuously advised her District 2 residents to avoid going out to avoid contracting the dreaded virus. “Konting tiis na lang muna po para sa ating mga kababayan at kadistrito. Tulong-tulong po tayo dito sa pag sugpo sa krisis ng ating bansa upang mapabilis ang pagbaba ng bilang ng Covid-19. Magtulungan po tayong lahat at sumunod sa lahat ng safety protocols para labanan ang pandemyang ating kinahaharap,” Medina explained. Recently, the Chairman of the Committee on Tourism, Cultural Affairs and Heritage of the 21st City Council passed an ordinance declaring 3rd week of March as “Hygiene and Sanitation” Week. “Indeed this measure is not just to commemorate a year that challenged our Health Care System but also on how we find ways to adopt and prevent its impact to Quezon City citizens in teaching every individuals a lesson that each of us can be a victim of the dreaded virus regardless of our age, race, religious belief and social stature,” Medina concluded.
SM FOUNDATION RECEIVES PLAQUE OF RECOGNITION FROM PHILIPPINE MARINE CORPS. SM Foundation (SMFI) recently received a plaque of recognition from the Philippine Marine Corps (PMC) for its invaluable support to the PMC during the pandemic. Through its Operation Tulong Express: COVID-19 response, SMFI provided the PMC officers and personnel with personal protective equipment and other safety gear which protected them from the virus while doing their regular operations.
Nickel Asia companies are environmental champions for 2020, wins PMIEA trophy
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HE awarding of the prestigious Presidential Mineral Industry Environmental Award (PMIEA) to two mining companies under the umbrella of Nickel Asia Corp. (NAC), is regarded as doubly special as it was conferred during the pandemic year. Cagdianao Mining Corp. (CMC), based in Valencia, in Dinagat Islands, and Rio Tuba Nickel Mining Corp. (RTNMC), based in Bataraza in Palawan, are this year’s proud PMIEA honorees presented with the “Presidential trophy” for outstanding initiatives in the pursuit of excellence in environmental management. CMC and RTNMC are subsidiaries of NAC, the country’s largest nickel supplier. According to the Mines and Geoscience Bureau (MGB), an agency of the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR), the award is given to operating mines that have shown exemplary performance in the area of environmental enhancement and protection; safety and health; social development; and corporate social responsibility. This is a back-to-back win for the Dinagatbased mining company which also collected the Presidential Award last year. Cagdinao Mining’s commitment is to the tune of P55.5 Million pesos worth of Annual Environmental Protection and Enhancement Program (AEPEP) and P47.3 Million pesos for the development of CMC’s host and neighboring communities through the company’s Social Development Management Programs (SDMP) for 2020 alone. “The improved living conditions in the mining areas are proof of our commitment to the communities. One outstanding CMC project for example is the 19.2-kilometer farm-to-market road worth P12 Million pesos, connecting 5 barangays from 2 municipalities to the main provincial road, effectively providing the residents access to basic services like the hospital, and, most importantly, efficient access to trade and commerce,” says
THE PMIEA recognizes outstanding levels of dedication, initiative, and innovation in various aspects of operations in the country’s minerals sector Engr. Aloysius C. Diaz, NAC VP for Operations. Rio Tuba Nickel, which has won this most-coveted “Presidential Award” for four times – 2002, 2015, 2018, and 2020 – never stopped operations and continuously implemented essential programs on environment protection, community development, and safety and health, despite the pandemic and expended a whopping P66.5 Million pesos for AEPEP and P36.2 Million pesos for SDMP in 2020. According to Environmental Planner, Janice M. Tupas, Manager of the Mines Environmental Protection and Enhancement Dept. (MEPED) of RTN, the PMIEA scoring is 50% environmental management; 20% safety and health; 20% implementation of SDMP; and 10% for information and education campaign or IEC.
www.businessmirror.com.ph • Editor: Angel R. Calso
The World
Where IS ruled, Pope Francis calls on Christians to forgive and rebuild
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ARAQOSH, Iraq—Pope Francis urged Iraq’s Christians on Sunday to forgive the injustices against them by Muslim ex tremists and to rebuild as he visited the wrecked shells of churches and met ecstatic crowds in the community’s historic hear tland, which was nearly erased by the Islamic State group’s horrific reign. “Fraternity is more durable than fratricide, hope is more powerful than hatred, peace more powerful than war,” the pontiff said during prayers for the dead in the city of Mosul, with the call for tolerance that has been the central message of his four-day visit to Iraq. At each stop in northern Iraq, the remnants of its Christian population turned out, jubilant, ululating and decked out in colorful dress. Heavy security prevented Francis from plunging into the crowd as he would normally. Nonetheless, they simply seemed overjoyed that he had come and that they had not been forgotten. It was a sign of the desperation for support among an ancient community uncertain whether it can hold on. The traditionally Christian towns dotting the Nineveh Plains of the north emptied out in 2014 as Christians—as well as many Muslims—fled the Islamic State group’s onslaught. Only a few have returned to their homes since the defeat of IS in Iraq was declared four years ago, and the rest remain scattered elsewhere in Iraq or abroad. Bells rang out for the pope’s arrival in the town of Qaraqosh. “The road to a full recovery may still be long, but I ask you, please, not to grow discouraged,” Francis told a packed Church of the Immaculate Conception. “What is needed is the ability to forgive, but also the courage not to give up.” The Qaraqosh church has been extensively renovated after being vandalized by IS militants during their takeover of the town, making it a symbol of recovery efforts. Iraq’s Christian population, which has existed here since the time of Christ, has dwindled from around 1.5 million before the 2003 US-led invasion that plunged the country into chaos to just a few hundred thousand today. Francis’s visit, on its last day Sunday, aimed to encourage them to stay, rebuild and restore what he called Iraq’s “intricately designed carpet” of faiths and ethnic groups. Dressed in white, Francis took to a red carpeted stage in Mosul on his first stop of the day, surrounded by the grey hollowed-out shells of four churches—Syriac Catholic, Armenian Or thodox, Syriac Or thodox and Chaldean— nearly destroyed in the war to oust IS fighters from the city. It was a scene that would have been unimaginable years earlier. Mosul, Iraq’s second largest city, was at the heart of the IS so-called “caliphate” and witnessed the worst of the group’s rule inflicted on Muslims, Christians and others, including beheadings and mass killings. He deviated from his prepared speech to emphasize the plight of Iraq’s Yazidi minority, which was subjected to mass killings, abductions and sexual slavery at the hands of IS. “How cruel it is that this country, the cradle of civilization, should have been afflicted by so barbarous a blow,” Francis said, “with ancient places of worship destroyed and many thousands of people—Muslims, Christians, Yazidis—who were cruelly annihilated by terrorism and others forcibly displaced or killed.” IS inflicted atrocities against all communities, including Muslims, during its three-year rule across much of northern and western Iraq. But the Christian minority was hit especially hard. The militants forced them to choose among conversion, death or the payment of a special tax for non-Muslims. Thousands fled, leaving homes and
churches that were destroyed or commandeered by the extremists. Mosul, Iraq’s second largest city, became IS’s bureaucratic and financial backbone. It took a ferocious nine-month battle to finally free the city in July 2017. Between 9,000 and 11,000 civilians were killed, according to an AP investigation at the time, and the war left a swath of destruction. Many Iraqis have had to rebuild on their own amid a years-long financial crisis. The Rev. Raed Kallo was among the few Christians who returned to Mosul after IS was defeated. “My Muslim brothers received me after the liberation of the city with great hospitality and love,” he said on stage before the pontiff. Before IS, he had a parish of 500 Christian families. Now only 70 families remain, he said. “But today I live among 2 million Muslims who call me their Father Raed,” he said. Gutayba Aagha, the Muslim head of the Independent Social and Cultural Council for the Families of Mosul, invited “all our Christian brothers to return to this, their city, their properties and their businesses.” Throughout his four-day visit, Francis has delivered a message of interreligious tolerance to Muslim leaders, including in a historic meeting Saturday with Iraq’s top Shiite cleric, Grand Ayatollah Ali al-Sistani. But Christians say it will take real changes on the ground for them to be able to return and stay, saying they face discrimination and intimidation from Shiite militias on top of the economic hardships suffered by all Iraqis. Qaraqosh resident Martin Auffee said he was overjoyed by the pope’s visit and appreciated that he showed he was with Christians as he urged them to endure. But the 27-year-old said many of the young in his area have grown weary of lack of opportunity. “We don’t know for how long they can cling onto hope and continue to stay in Iraq because there’s a lot of pain, unemployment and uncertainty,” he said. “My whole life has been filled with pain, misery, war, persecution and displacement. Things are difficult for those living here.” At Qaraqosh, Francis urged its residents to continue to dream, and forgive. “Forgiveness is necessary to remain in love, to remain Christian,” he said. One resident, Doha Sabah Abdallah, told him how her son and two other young people were killed in a mortar strike Aug. 6, 2014 as IS neared the town. “The martyrdom of these three angels” alerted the other residents to flee, she said. “The deaths of three saved the entire city.” She said now it was for the survivors to “try to forgive the aggressor.” Francis wrapped up the day—and his visit—with a Mass at the stadium in Irbil, in the semi-autonomous northern Kurdish region. An estimated 10,000 people erupted in ululating cheers when he arrived and did a lap around the track in his open-sided popemobile, the first and only time he has used it on this trip due to security concerns. On the makeshift altar for the Mass was a statue of the Virgin Mary from the Mar Adday Church in the town of Keramlis, which was restored after IS militants chopped off its head and hands. Few in the crowd wore facemasks, as was the case during all of Francis’ visits Sunday in northern Iraq. The pope heads back to Rome early Monday morning. Public health experts had expressed concerns ahead of the trip that large gatherings could serve as superspreader events for the coronavirus in a country suffering from a worsening outbreak where few have been vaccinated. The pope and members of his delegation have been vaccinated but most Iraqis have not. AP
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wants a more civil relationship with Beijing but has shown no sign of softening Trump’s confrontational measures on trade, technology and human rights. Surveys show American public attitudes turning more negative toward China, which is seen as an economic and strategic competitor. Wang gave no indication how Beijing might react if Biden doesn’t change course, but the ruling Communist Party has threatened to invade if Taiwan declares formal independence or delays talks on uniting with the mainland. The State Department later reiterated that the Biden administration’s support for Taiwan was rock-solid and that the US stood with its regional friends and allies, including “deepening our unofficial ties with democratic Taiwan.” “We urge Beijing to cease its military, diplomatic, and economic pressure against Taiwan and instead engage in meaningful dialogue with Taiwan’s democratically elected representatives,” said the statement issued late Sunday in Washington.
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Police raids, call for strike aggravate Myanmar crisis
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ANGON, Myanmar—Myanmar careened deeper into crisis, as police occupied hospitals and universities and reportedly arrested hundreds of people involved in protesting last month’s military seizure of power, while a coalition of labor unions called a strike for Monday. Tension was high Sunday in the country’s biggest city, Yangon, where for a second night running gunshots from heavy weapons rang out randomly in the streets of several neighborhoods after the start of an 8 p.m. curfew. The sounds of what apparently were stun grenades could also be heard on videos posted on social media. T he pu r p o s e for s e c u r it y forces using such weapons when protesters had left the streets appeared to be part of a strategy to strike fear in anyone who might think about defying the authorities. In a similar vein, there were many filmed incidents of police and soldiers in plain view savagely beating protesters they had taken into custody. Some of the shooting was heard near hospitals, where reports said neighborhood residents sought to block the entry of police and soldiers. Secur it y forces have often targeted medical personnel and facilities, attacking ambulances and their crews. Members of the medical profession launched the Civil Disobedience Movement, which is the nominal coordinator of the protests, frequently hailed on demonstrators’ signs by its CDM initials. Taking over hospitals would allow the authorities to easily arrest wounded people presumed to be protesters. Large protests have occurred daily across many cities and towns in Myanmar, and security forces have responded with ever greater use of lethal force and mass arrests. At least 18 protesters were shot and killed on February 28 and 38 on Wednesday, according to the UN Human
Rights Office. More than 1,500 have been arrested, the independent Assistance Association for Political Prisoners said. Protests in various cities and towns were again met Sunday by police firing warning shots, and employing tear gas, rubber bullets and stun grenades. In a single Yangon neighborhood, Shwepyitha, at least 100 students were reported arrested, and many protesters were also said to have been detained in other cities, especially at universities. Myanmar labor unions, meanwhile, issued a joint call for a nationwide work stoppage beginning Monday, with the goal of a “full, extended shutdown of the Myanmar economy.” “To continue the economic and business activities as usual, and to delay a general work-stoppage, will only benefit the military as they repress the energy of the Myanmar people,” said the appeal, issued Sunday night. The statement called for the strike to continue “until we receive our democracy back.” Workers in several industries have joined the protest movement, most notably from the state railway and the banking sector. Factor y workers, mostly in the Yangon area, are largely i nvolved i n t he ga r ment i ndustr y, which generates major export earnings for Myanmar. The workers have participated occasionally in the campaign against the junta, but are unable to do so on a daily basis for fear of losing their modest incomes. Advocates of sanctions against the junta have purposely avoided calling for comprehensive trade sanctions for fear they would
China warns Biden to reverse ‘dangerous practice’ on Taiwan EIJING—China’s foreign minister warned the Biden administration on Sunday to roll back former President Donald Trump’s “dangerous practice” of showing support for Taiwan, the island democracy claimed by Beijing as its own territory. The claim to Taiwan, which split with the mainland in 1949, is an “insurmountable red line,” Wang Yi said at a news conference during the annual meeting of China’s ceremonial legislature. The United States has no official relations with Taiwan but extensive informal ties. Trump irked Beijing by sending Cabinet officials to visit Taiwan in a show of support. “ T he C h i nese gover n ment has no room for compromise,” Wang said. “We urge the new US administration to fully understand the high sensitivity of the Taiwan issue” and “completely change the previous administration’s dangerous practices of ‘crossing the line’ and ‘playing with fire,’” he said. President Joe Biden says he
Tuesday, March 9, 2021
Wang’s comments in a wideranging, two-hour news conference reflected Beijing’s increasing assertiveness abroad and rejection of criticism over Hong Kong, the northwestern region of Xinjiang and other sensitive topics. Wa n g d e fe nd e d pro p o s e d changes in Hong Kong that will tighten Beijing’s control by reducing the role of its public in government. He dismissed complaints that erode the autonomy promised to the former British colony when it returned to China in 1997. The changes announced Friday follow the arrest of 47 pro-democracy figures in Hong Kong under a national security law imposed last year following months of antigovernment protests. Beijing needs to protect Hong Kong’s “transition from chaos to governance,” Wang said. The proposal would give a proBeijing committee a bigger role in picking Hong Kong legislators. That would be a marked reduction of democracy and Westernstyle civil liberties in Hong Kong. Mainland officials say they want
to make sure the territory is controlled by people deemed patriots. “No one cares more about the development of democracy in Hong Kong than the central government,” Wang said. He said the changes will protect the “rights of Hong Kong residents and the legitimate interests of foreign investors.” Also Sunday, Wang rejected complaints Beijing’s treatment of predominantly Muslim ethnic minorities in Xinjiang amounts to genocide. Human rights researchers say more than 1 million people, many of them members of the Uyghur minority, have been sent to detention camps. Chinese officials say they are trying to prevent extremism. “ The so-called existence of genocide in Xinjiang is absurd. It is a complete lie fabricated with ulterior motives,” Wang said. He blamed “anti-China forces” that he said want to “undermine the security and stability of Xinjiang and hinder China’s development and growth.” AP
Anti-coup protesters discharge fire extinguishers to counter the impact of the tear gas fired by police during a demonstration in Mandalay, Myanmar on March 7. The escalation of violence in Myanmar as authorities crack down on protests against the February 1 coup is raising pressure for more sanctions against the junta, even as countries struggle over how to best sway military leaders inured to global condemnation. AP Photo
hurt the general populace. Instead they have called for, and e n ac te d , t a rgete d s a nc t ion s aimed at hurting the military’s leadership and military-linked companies. Earlier Sunday, police in Myanmar’s ancient former capital, Bagan, opened fire on demonstrators protesting the February 1 coup, wounding several people, according to witness accounts and videos on social media. At least five people were reported hurt as police sought to break up the Bagan protest, and photos showed one young man with bloody wounds on his chin and neck, believed to have been caused by a rubber bullet. Bullet casings collected at the scene indicated that live rounds were also fired. The city, located in the central Mandalay region, is a UNESCO World Heritage Site in recognition of the more than 2,000 pagodas or their remnants situated there, dating from the ninth to 13th centuries, when it was the capital of a kingdom that later became known as Burma and is now Myanmar. Bagan is best known for being one of the country’s top tourist attractions, but it has also been the scene of large protest marches against the junta. Multiple reports from Yangon said there had been police raids Saturday night seeking to seize organizers and supporters of the
protest movement. A ward chairman from Aung San Suu Kyi’s National League for Democracy party, which was ousted from power in the coup, was found dead in a military hospital Sunday morning by fellow residents of his Pabedan neighborhood, according to a post on Facebook by NLD lawmaker Sithu Maung. Suspicion was rampant on social media that K hin Maung Latt, 58, died due to a beating in custody after being taken from his residence, but no official cause of death was immediately announced. In Yangon and elsewhere, raids are carried out nightly after the 8 p.m. curfew by police and soldiers. The arrests are often carried out at gunpoint, without warrants. The escalation of violence has put pressure on the global community to act to restrain the junta. The coup reversed years of slow progress toward democracy in Myanmar, which for five decades had languished under strict military rule that led to international isolation and sanctions. Suu Kyi ’s party led a return to civ ilian r u le w ith a landslide election victor y in 2015, and with an even greater margin of votes last year. It would have been installed for a second five-year term last month, but instead Suu Kyi and President Win Myint and other members of the government were placed in militar y detention. AP
Oil jumps above $71 after key Saudi crude terminal attacked
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rent oil surged above $71 a barrel after Saudi Arabia said the world’s largest crude terminal was attacked, although output appeared to be unaffected after the missiles and drones were intercepted. Futures in London jumped as much as 2.9 percent after rising 4.9 percent last week. The kingdom said a storage tank at Ras Tanura in the country’s Gulf coast was targeted on Sunday by a drone from the sea. The terminal is capable of exporting roughly 6.5 million barrels a day—nearly 7 percent of oil demand— and, as such, is one of the world’s most protected installations. The assault follows a recent escalation of hostilities in the Middle East region after Yemen’s Houthi rebels launched a series of attacks on Saudi Arabia. The new US administration has also carried out airstrikes in Syria last month on sites it said were connected with Iran-backed groups. Oil’s rally accelerated last week after Saudi Arabia and Opec+ made a surprise pledge to keep output steady in April. The move prompted a raft of investment banks to raise their price forecasts, with Goldman Sachs Group Inc. estimating global benchmark Brent will top $80 a barrel in the third quarter.
The broader market is also being suppor ted by bullish Chinese expor t data and the outlook for US stimulus. President Joe Biden is on the cusp of his first legislative win with the House ready to pass his $1.9 trillion Covid-19 relief plan, the second-biggest economic stimulus in American histor y. “It’s a per fect mix of bullish news at the moment,” said Warren Patterson, head of commodities strategy at ING Bank NV in Singapore. “It does seem that these attacks are picking up in frequency, so the market may need to price in some risk premium.” Brent’s prompt timespread at 70 cents a barrel in backwardation, a bullish market structure where the front-month contract trades higher than later shipments. It averaged 58 cents in backwardation last week. The Sunday attack is the most serious against Saudi oil installations since a key processing facilit y and t wo oil fields came under fire in September 2019, cutting oil produc tion for several days and exposing the vulnerabilit y of the Saudi petroleum industr y. That assault was claimed by the Houthi rebels, although R iyadh pointed the finger at Iran. Bloomberg News
Sports BusinessMirror
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| Tuesday, March 9, 2021 mirror_sports@yahoo.com.ph Editor: Jun Lomibao
FIGHT OF THE CENTURY
Joe Frazier (left) mix it up with Muhammad Ali during their heavyweight title bout in New York in Marc 8, 1971. It wasn’t just a fight, but a political and sociological event. Ali was loved by many but despised by many more for his mouth, his refusal to be inducted in the Army and his Muslim religion. Frazier was his foil, a working man’s heavyweight labeled an “Uncle Tom” by Ali because a lot of white Americans were cheering for him to win. AP
NEDA SUPPORTS BIKE PROGRAM By Cai U. Ordinario
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HE National Economic and Development Authority (Neda) believes it may be time for employers to consider providing incentives and subsidies to employees who bike to work to encourage more Filipinos to consider alternative transport. In a statement, Acting Socioeconomic Planning Secretary Karl Kendrick T. Chua said if companies provide car plans or shuttle services, they can also consider providing incentives for employees who use alternative transportation such as bicycles. Chua said promoting sustainable and
inclusive mobility is in line with the National Transport Policy that encourages local government units and national agencies to give priority to development of proper sidewalks and networks of bicycle lanes. “We are also inviting the private sector to contribute to this alternative transport movement by providing Chua end-of-trip facilities such as bike parking spaces and showers areas for employees who bike or walk to work,” Chua said. Chua said promoting cycling and building protected bike lanes can augment public transportation and help people safely get to
work during the Covid-19 pandemic. Quoting 2020 data from Social Weather Stations and Department of Health (DOH), Neda said 87 percent of Filipinos agree that roads in cities will be better if public transportation, bikes and pedestrians are prioritized. Proof of this, Neda said, is the increase in bicycle imports to 2.1 million units or by 112 percent in 2020 from 1 million in 2019. “Neda supports the initiatives of the Department of Health, Department of Transportation, Department of Public Works and Highways, and Department of the Interior and Local Government
to work together to build protected bike lanes around the National Capital Region,” Chua said. “We are one with the various national agencies and local government units in their concerted efforts to increase mobility of people as we carefully reopen the economy. The current bike lane design provides significant protection to the growing number of cyclists, myself included,” he added. Data from the Philippine Statistics Authority (PSA) indicate that the land transport sector contracted 30.7 percent in 2020, more than three times worse than overall GDP.
VACCINES BOOST TO PHL ATHLETES T
By Josef Ramos
HE inoculation of medical frontliners that has been going on since last week is a confidence booster for the country’s athletes and coaches who will vie in two major competitions later this year, according to Philippine Olympic Committee (POC) President Rep. Abraham “Bambol” Tolentino. “As we see the steady arrival of the vaccines one after the other, we expect the rest of the vaccines to follow,” Tolentino told BusinessMirror on Monday. “Although the priority is the country’s frontliners, it’s also good naturally for
the morale of our people, including our national athletes.” As of Monday, Presidential Spokesman Atty. Harry Roque Jr. said that a total of 4,128 frontliners—doctors, nurses, police and soldiers, among others—have been vaccinated in 186 vaccine sites. Tolentino said athletes bound for the Tokyo Olympics are expected to be inoculated courtesy of business tycoon Enrique Razon who helped acquired 20 million doses of Moderna vaccines by June. “It’s already in the bag, so probably by June our athletes will receive the vaccines,” he added.
The congressman from Cavite’s eighth district said he is willing to get the vaccine. “Yes of course,” he said. Tolentino, meanwhile, will be submitting the Philippine delegation’s entry by numbers for the Vietnam 31st Southeast Asian Games to Philippine Sports Commission (PSC) Chairman William Ramirez on Tuesday. “Once we submit the list, the PSC can already allocate the budget,” he said. PSC Commissioner Ramon Fernandez, chef de mission to the Vietnam SEA Games, said is is hoping athletes and coaches bound for the SEA Games will be vaccinated in May or June to
allow a smooth flow in their training and preparation. “I am hoping our Olympic-bound athletes will be prioritized first then our SEA Games athletes by May or June for them to have at least six months of
Chua said due to large economic linkages, a sharp contraction in transportation can significantly bring down the rest of the economy. He added that reduced vehicle capacities have also led to a land transport shortage, leading to a spike in passenger road transport inflation, to 9.6 percent in 2020 from 2.6 percent in 2019. “The Covid-19 pandemic has hurt the economy, especially the transport sector. The community quarantines and physical distancing regulations that help protect lives inadvertently reduced transport supply and resulted in public transport shortages,” Chua said. preparation and training,” Fernandez said. Fernandez also said that once they got an approval from the Inter-Agency Task Force for the Management of Emerging Infectious Diseases, the training for SEA Games-bound athletes and coaches will commence on April 15 in the New Clark City, Rizal Memorial Sports Complex and the PhilSports Arena The Tokyo Olympics are set from July 23 to August 8, while the SEA Games are scheduled from November 21 to December 2.
Cone shares coaching honors with Fuel Masters’ Robinson
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ARANGAY Ginebra San Miguel Head Coach Tim Cone was gracious to share the Outstanding Philippine Basketball Association (PBA) Coach of the Bubble trophy to a counterpart he thought was just as deserving. The most accomplished coach in league history acknowledged Phoenix’s Topex Robinson for the way he whipped the Fuel Masters into a competitive team in so short a time during the Philippine Cup bubble in Clark late last year. Phoenix was the second seeded team going into the playoffs behind Barangay Ginebra and fell just short of making the Finals for the first time in franchise history when it lost to TnT Tropang Giga in a do-ordie Game 5 of their semifinals. “He did such a tremendous job in the bubble coaching. So I just want to acknowledge him and share this award with him and that’s Topex Robinson,” said Cone in his acceptance speech during the virtual PBA Press Corps Awards Night on
Sunday at the TV5 Media Center. “Topex did a tremendous job with his team as well, so Topex this one is for you as well,” Cone said. “All the best.” The Kings beat the Tropang Giga in five games to win the league’s unique bubble championship. But despite his team’s success, Cone thought Robinson would win the special award given out by the group which covers the PBA beat. “I thought he was going to win the award. I’m quite surprised to win [the award] because Topex took on a team, integrated [Calvin] Abueva, and did so many good things and went all the way to the end. They just lost out in the last few mins of that TnT series,” Cone told the ceremony presented by Cignal TV. Cone was among the few honorees who personally received their awards, along with 2019 Virgilio “Baby” Dalupan Coach of the Year Leo Austria of San Miguel Beer, 2019 Danny Floro Executive of the Year PBA Board Chairman Ricky Vargas and Mr. Executive Commissioner Willie Marcial.
GINEBRA Coach Tim Cone (left) shares centerstage with Commissioner Willie Marcial, Chairman Ricky Vargas and San Miguel Beer Coach Leo Austria.
Rain or Shine clears Gavina, Garcia roles
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HE Rain or Shine management clarified that Chris Gavina will draw the shots for the Elasto Painters after erstwhile head Coach Caloy Garcia took the opportunity to be part of the national men’s basketball training team program. In an effort to paint a clearer picture of their respective roles, RoS Alternate Governor Edison Oribiana said Gavina will take care of the “micro” management of the team while Garcia, who was named active consultant, will do the “macro” task because he will also be spending time in the training and competition of the national team. Garcia is part of the national team coaching staff that is preparing Gilas Pilipinas for the Tokyo Olympic qualifiers in Serbia, 2021 Fiba Asia Cup Qualifiers in Clark, Pampanga, in June and the 2022 Asian Games in Zhejiang China. On top of those tournaments, the Samahang Basketbol ng Pilipinas (SBP) is also preparing for the country’s co-hosting of the 2023 Fiba World Cup. “It means he will have less time to personally supervise the training and development of his mother team and with the unpredictable schedule of the tournaments, there will be conflicts even with actual games of the PBA [Philippine Basketball Association],” Oribiana said. “We can’t tell him to just politely beg off because we are also an ardent supporter of our national team ever since,” Oribiana added. Under the new set up, Garcia can only advise and the “real decision-making” rests on Gavino. “Being the Head of Basketball Operations and an Active Consultant does not mean he reports to himself. He reports to the Team Governor and the Team Owners,” RoS management said in a statement. The RoS franchise is owned by the families of Raymund Yu and Terry Que.
Duremdes in forum
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aharlika Pilipinas Basketball League (MPBL) Commissioner Kenneth Duremdes graces the online Philippine Sportswriters Association (PSA) Forum on Tuesday straight from Subic Bay where the league resumes the unplayed Lakan Cup division and national finals. Defending champion San Juan Knights and Makati Super Crunch will dispute the North Division crown, while the South title is up for grabs between Davao Occidental Tigers and the Basilan Steel. MPBL games were halted in March 10, 2020, because of the pandemic. The session presented by San Miguel Corp., Go For Gold, Milo, Amelie Hotel Manila, Braska Restaurant and the Philippine Amusement and Gaming Corp. will start at 11 a.m. Powered by Smart and with Upstream Media as webcast partner, the public sports program is livestreamed via the PSA Facebook page fb.com/ PhilippineSportswritersAssociation and also shared by Radyo Pilipinas 2 Facebook page.
TOUR UNWRAPS AT EAGLE RIDGE T
HE men and women of the tour set out for the International Container Terminal Services Inc. (ICTSI) Eagle Ridge Challenge beginning on Tuesday at the Aoki course, are hopeful to shrug off any trickledown effect on their rhythm coming off a long layoff for a stab at glory in Philippine Golf Tour’s (PGT) return to the mainstream. But nobody comes into the PGT event with as much confidence and poise as the young Ira Alido, who broke at least a couple of failed bids by dominating the elite field by nine for his breakthrough victory at Riviera last December. “I think my advantage is I’m playing with a high level of confidence,” said Alido, who nevertheless remains wary of the field beefed up by the presence of three Del Monte aces, who missed the Tour’s return after an eightmonth hiatus due to pandemic at Riviera due to quarantine restrictions. Clyde Mondilla and Frankie Miñoza, both former Philippine Open champions, and Reymon Jaraula, who annexed his first PGT win at Pueblo de Oro in 2019, join the chase for
top honors in the P2 million event which also features the likes of Angelo Que and Miguel Tabuena, also both former Phl Open titlists, and multi-titled Tony Lascuña, Jhonnel Ababa, Jobim Carlos, Jay Bayron and Elmer Salvador along with young guns Justin Quiban, James Ryan Lam, Fidel Concepcion and Keanu Jahns. Focus will also be on the LPGT title chase with Princess Superal and Pauline del Rosario bracing for another face-off and the likes of debuting pro Harmie Constantino, Daniella Uy, Chanelle Avaricio, Marvi Monsalve, Gretchen Villacencio, Pamela Mariano, Sunshine Baraquiel and former three-time Order of Merit winner Cyna Rodriguez raring to fuel their respective bids in the 54-hole championship coming off a three-month break. “We’re all a bit rusty but it’s nice to be playing at home again,” said Tabuena, who tied for seventh and 11th in the two Riviera events. “It will be hard because we have not played tournament golf for quite sometime but it’s the same for everyone. So I guess that if I just play my best at the end of the week, I’ll have a chance.”
Alido faces an early test as he drew Que in the 7:50 a.m. flight on No. 1 with Rupert Zaragosa behind Lascuña’s group composed of Bayron and Quiban while Tabuena takes on Jaraula and Jahns in next group at 8 a.m. Mondilla, who snatched the PGT Asia Pradera crown in early 2020 before the pandemic, launches his drive at the back at 7:30 a.m. with Albin Engino and Jed Dy, one of the amateurs earning spots in the event along with Jolo Magcalayo and Laurea Duque in the LPGT side. Superal, meanwhile, gets to test Constantino and Avaricio at 7:10 a.m. on No. 10 behind Del Rosario, who is paired with Uy and Mariano. The organizing Pilipinas Golf Tournaments Inc. put up a couple of bubble tournaments at Riviera late last year to mark the circuit’s restart with Lascuña and Alido along with Superal and del Rosario splitting top honors in their respective sides. The ICTSI Eagle Ridge Championship, which will also feature the PGT and LPGT, will be held from March 23 to 26 at the Norman course.