BusinessMirror March 25, 2019 by BusinessMirror

‘PRAGMATIC’ PHL-CHINA COOPERATION CITED

FINANCE Secretary Carlos Dominguez III and China’s Commerce Minister Zhong Shan seal with a handshake their commitment to continue discussions on Beijing-funded flagship projects at the fifth Philippines-China high-level meeting on infrastructure and economic development cooperation on March 19 at the Diaoyutai State Guesthouse.

By Rea Cu

@ReaCuBM

& Bianca Cuaresma

OTH the Philippines and China have expressed optimism the “pragmatic cooperation” between the two countries would further strengthen in the coming years, underscoring the progress made in enhancing bilateral relations between Manila and Beijing under the Duterte administration. In a statement issued on Sunday, the Department of Finance (DOF) said Finance Secretary Carlos G. Dominguez III and Chinese Commerce Min-

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DEPT. OF SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY

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@BcuaresmaBM

ister Zhong Shan underscored the remarkable progress made in enhancing bilateral relations between the Asian neighbors, despite their differences over Beijing’s aggressive moves in the West Philippine Sea. In Beijing, Philippine economic managers had tried to woo over 500 investors in China, fronting the Philippines’s ability to generate high growth and sustain its solid infrastructure ramp-up in the next few days. The country’s economic and infrastructure officials went to Beijing to talk about the country’s growth prospects and economic potential in the Philippine Economic Briefing recently. The Philippine delegation, led by

Dominguez, addressed an estimated 500 investors based in Beijing and nearby areas during the Philippine Economic Briefing (PEB) held on March 20.

Closer and closer

MEANWHILE, in his statement on Sunday, Dominguez pointed out that over the past two years under the leadership of President Duterte, the Philippines has seen its relationship with China growing “closer and more comprehensive.” “We look forward to implementing more strategic infrastructure projects supported by highly concessional financing from China,” Dominguez said Continued on A2

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Monday, March 25, 2019 Vol. 14 No. 166

DOF bares loan pacts as Senate sets review T

By Butch Fernandez @butchfBM & Bernadette D. Nicolas @BNicolasBM

WO Senate committees are expected to open next week a review of the foreign loan agreements forged by the Duterte administration for dozens of projects, and the head of the Economic Affairs panel said on Sunday they will be looking for provisions that could partake of a “debt trap” as feared by critics, especially of China loans. Sen. Sherwin T. Gatchalian said he expected the review, however, to be expedited by the move of the Department of Finance (DOF) to upload online two days ago all accords covering the Duterte administration’s flagship projects,

including controversial ones like the Chico River Dam and the Kaliwa Dam. Gatc h a l i a n con f i r med t he review starts next week even as “we are still internally vetting the documents uploaded

by the DOF.” He praised the latter for boosting transparency and allowing independent analysts to do a “realtime” review of the fine print that could lead to problems later. The Economic Affairs Commit-

“[We’re] doing [an] internal review of the loan documents.... We’re doing our own internal due diligence.” —Gatchalian

tee chairman indicated that the Senate review is meant to avoid what was feared to be a China debt trap. “If borrowers don’t pay, what happens?” he asked aloud, alluding to cases of other debtor nations that were stuck with unconscionable terms that resulted in “surrendering” a part of their “assets or sovereignty.” See “Loan,” A8

Bad play: Changing pivot in mid-game Dr. Jesus Lim Arranza

Make Sense

MONG the more popular legislations passed under the administration of President Duterte is Republic Act 11223, or the Universal Health Care Law.

To be funded mostly by the additional taxes on cigarette and liquor, the law will automatically enroll every Filipino in the National Health Insurance Program. Thus, even as cigarette and liquor products have already been slapped with additional taxes based on the first tax-reform package of the Tax Reform for Acceleration and Inclusion or the TRAIN law that would raise tobacco tax to P60 per pack from P30, and the annual excise tax to 9 percent from 4 percent, while alcohol would be raised to P40 per liter, other bills raising tobacco and alcohol taxes have been pending in the Senate since 2017. Continued on A11

Reservoirs bill pitched as 30-yr-old law unenforced

“The administration’s intent to borrow as much as $14.4 billion from China, disadvantageous loan agreements, and established overaggressiveness by China to assert its self-interest combine to create a Chinese debt trap for us.”—Africa

paying for the loan with government property and the confidentiality clause. Despite the repeated assurances from the DOF that there is nothing to worry about these loan agreements, Africa said they are still worried that loan agreements do not do enough to prevent the creditor from demanding to be repaid with public property. “The Kaliwa Dam loan does have such a provision in Section 8.1 where the PH govt explicitly ‘waives any immunity on the grounds of sovereignty or otherwise for itself or its property in connection with any arbitration proceeding,’ albeit except when prohibited by PH law. This is a different formulation from t he C hico R iver ag reement,” he said. He also argued China’s track record when it comes to loan agreements with other countries also See “China loan,” A2

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Modify or cancel China loan accords–IBON

HE Duterte administration should modify or terminate the loan agreements it signed with China to avoid falling into the Chinese debt trap, an independent think tank said. According to Jose Enrique A. Africa, executive director of research group IBON Foundation Inc., the loan agreements signed between the Philippines and China as released publicly by the Department of Finance (DOF) were “disadvantageous” and pose a risk to the country’s economic growth. “We remain concerned that the administration’s intent to borrow as much as $14.4 billion from China, disadvantageous loan ag reements, and estab lished over-aggressiveness by China to assert its self-interest combine to create a Chinese debt trap for us. The risk also becomes greater as the country’s hyped economic growth starts to falter,” Africa said in a message to the BusinessMirror. He also expressed concern that the Kaliwa Dam loan agreement has also “similarly objectionable” provisions as the Chico River Pump Irrigation Project deal although these were stated differently. These provisions include those which are governed by Chinese law, provisions on the dispute settlement in a Hong Kong/Chinabased tribunal, the possibility of

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Sentral ng Pilipinas (BSP) reported that the current-account deficit widened to 2.4 percent or $7.9 billion in 2018 from 0.7 percent of GDP or $2.1 billion in 2017, attributing the rise to the increase in imports of capital goods. “However, the deficit is financeable given the surplus in services trade and income balances and the upsurge in foreign investment,” the DOF added.

GRICULTURE Secretary Emmanuel F. Piñol is pushing for the passage of a law that allows the Department of Agriculture (DA) to build small reservoirs nationwide to improve the country’s water system to avert future water crises. The measure was among the recommendations made by the DA at the Cabinet-level meeting on water last week, according to Piñol. The meeting was presided by Defense Secretary Delfin N. Lorenzana. In a separate development, however, a lawmaker noted there is a 30-year-old law mandating the setting up by barangays of rainwater collectors, which has not been implemented. Surigao del Sur Rep. Johnny Pimentel said Congress should probe the “lifeless performance” of Rainwater Collector and Springs Development Law, or Republic Act 6715 as Metro Manila and 71 provinces reel from “waterless conditions.” Piñol said they support the bill filed by Sen. Loren B. Legarda, who chairs the Senate Committee on Climate Change, that seeks to promote sustainable land management (SLM) programs, including the creation of a national soil and water conservation program.

See “Current account,” A8

See “Reservoirs,” A8

MARIKINA public schools like H. Bautista Elementary School use a rainwater-harvesting system to collect water for watering plants, cleaning rooms and flushing toilets. A 30-year-old law mandating local governments to set up rainwater collectors has been largely unimplemented, but is now being revived as the country reels from a dry spell. CLIMATE CHANGE COMMISSION PH

Current account still financeable, says DOF

HE country’s current account will remain to be financeable as long as the government maintains the economy’s good fundamentals, the Department of Finance (DOF) has said. In an economic bulletin issued on Sunday, the DOF said that the country’s current account remains financeable even as the deficit rose to 2.4 percent of gross domestic product (GDP) in 2018, as foreign investors still deem

the country an attractive investment destination. “Maintaining good fundamentals by keeping the twin deficits—budget and current account—manageable through maintaining interest rates at the level that raises both the volume of savings and investments will enable the country to sustain rapid economic growth in the medium term,” the DOF said. Earlier in the month, the Bangko

n JAPAN 0.4765 n UK 69.2274 n HK 6.7286 n CHINA 7.8810 n SINGAPORE 39.1438 n AUSTRALIA 37.5468 n EU 60.0717 n SAUDI ARABIA 14.0807

Source: BSP (22 March 2019 )

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A2 Monday, March 25, 2019

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Telecommuting IRR stresses data privacy

By Bernadette D. Nicolas

@BNicolasBM

HE Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE) has already drafted the implementing rules and regulations (IRR) of Republic Act 11165 or the Telecommuting Act. Signed into law by the President on December 2018, the Telecommuting Act stipulates that employers are encouraged to adopt telecommuting—a work arrangement that allows an employee to work from an alternative workplace with the use of telecommunication and or computer technologies.

Businesses that will implement work-from-home arrangements must also commit to data protection, according to the draft IRR released to reporters. The draft IRR has also yet to be signed. According to Section 5 of the IRR on data protection, the employer and employee shall agree

on minimum standards that will protect personal information, and shall utilize available technologies that promote security and privacy. “The employer shall be responsible for strictly taking the appropriate measures to ensure the protection of data used and processed by the telecommuting employee for professional purposes,” read a portion of the IRR. “The employee shall commit to the company’s data privacy policy and ensure that confidential and proprietary information are protected at all times and utilized only in accordance with the requirements of the employer.” The provisions of the Data Pivacy Act of 2012 shall also have suppletory effect for this purpose. Employees shall also notify the DOLE of the adoption of a telecommuting work arrangement by

accomplishing a report form and submitting the same in hard or digital copy, to the nearest DOLE Field or Provincial Office with jurisdiction over the area where the principal office is located. The terms of any similar voluntary agreement between an employee and employer allowing work-from-home or similar arrangements entered before the effectivity of the law shall also not be impaired. The labor department earlier said it already picked the Information Technology (IT) sector to pilottest the implementation of the law. The IT sector currently has many companies already engaged in telecommuting. The DOLE is mandated under the law to select industries for its pilot program, which should not take more than three years to complete. The pilot program aims to come

out with the baseline for the standards which should apply to companies making use of telecommuting scheme. The IRR is also subjected to a mandatory review after three years from its effectivity. Under the Telecommuting Act, an employer in the private sector may offer a telecommuting program to its employees on a voluntary basis, and upon such terms and conditions as they may mutually agree upon, provided that it shall not be

less than the minimum labor standards set by law. It shall also include compensable work hours, minimum number of work hours, overtime, rest days and entitlement to leave benefits. The employer shall also ensure fair treatment for the telecommuting employees. Aside from promoting work-life balance, the law is also intended to help workers deal with traffic congestion and its tremendous effects on the economy.

The employer shall be responsible for strictly taking the appropriate measures to ensure the protection of data used and processed by the telecommuting employee for professional purposes.” —IRR for Telecommuting Act

‘Pragmatic’ PHL-China cooperation cited Arroyo: End budget impasse ASAP Continued from A1

during a dinner meeting between officials of the two countries— discussing the status of the Philippines’s priority projects being rolled out with funding assistance from China—held on Tuesday at the Diaoyutai State Guesthouse in Beijing. Zhong saw “enormous room for future cooperation between our two countries” and reported that China is “more than happy to enhance [its] pragmatic cooperation with the Philippines in a broader area and at a high level.” Following the consensus reached between Duterte and Chinese President Xi Jinping, China and the Philippines have seen “huge progress” in their bilateral relations and their “political mutual trust continuously increasing,” along with frequent people-to-people exchanges, according to Zhong. “It’s fair to say our pragmatic trade and economic cooperation has embarked on a new stage. We have huge development either in terms of trade or in terms of investments.... I can see enormous potential for our cooperation moving forward as long as we work together,” Zhong said. For his part, Dominguez said in his keynote speech at the PEB, “Like China, the Philippines is well positioned for growth. The Philippines, with a fast-growing economy and business-friendly tax reforms, is perfect for investment.” The country’s “strong fiscal position” has paved the way for the government to invest in an ambitious infrastructure program that works in concert with China’s Belt and Road Initiative, he said. “We look forward to a seamless network for the flow of goods, the exchange of best practices, and boundless cooperation in the coming years,” Dominguez told the investors, highlighting the Philippines’s young, educated and skilled work force as the country’s greatest asset that can power the economy forward over the long term. China is among the Philippines’s biggest sources of imports, among its biggest export markets, among the major sources of official development assistance—including for

Motorbike. . . Continued from A12

He also took issue with the new plates or decal requirement. “And why should the government be issuing new plates or decals when motorcycle owners have been waiting for their new plates since the last administration? These are plates that they have paid for but have not received until now,” Atienza added. President Duterte recently

big-ticket infrastructure projects under the “Build, Build, Build” (BBB) program—and among major sources foreign direct investments. Closer ties with the Asian economic powerhouse has been established under the Duterte administration. Joining Secretary Dominguez were Executive Secretary Salvador C. Medialdea who also gave the opening remarks, Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas (BSP) Deputy Governor Diwa C. Guinigundo, Public Works Secretary Mark Villar, Budget and Management OICSecretary Janet Abuel, National Treasurer Rosalia V. de Leon, National Economic and Development Authority (Neda) Undersecretary Jonathan Uy and Assistant Secretary Carlos Abad Santos. Transportation Secretary Arthur P. Tugade, Energy Secretary Alfonso G. Cusi, and Bases Conversion and Development Authority (BCDA) President and CEO Vivencio Dizon were also in the event. Inviting the audience to invest in Clark and the new metropolis envisioned by Duterte, BCDA’s Dizon said: “Our partnership with China has never been stronger, and it can only be strengthened if the Chinese companies—both state-owned and private—come to the Philippines and invest.”

Caktiong, Ty weigh in

TONY TAN CAKTIONG, chairman and founder of Jollibee Foods Corp., supported the economic officials in inviting more foreign investors: “I invite all businesses to look at investing in the Philippines. The Philippines is growing fast, and you should not miss out.” Citing the benefits of the government’s infrastructure initiative, GT Capital’s Alfred Ty said during the infrastructure panel: “Definitely, this golden age we are experiencing a big transformation for the different fields of business—from banking and automotive, real estate, hotel business and infrastructure.” Tan Caktiong and Ty were among a high-level business delegation that attended the event. Also present were Vista Land’s Manuel Villar, Double Dragon Properties’s Edgar “Injap” Sia, the LT Group’s signed a law referring to the so-called doble plaka law or the Motorcycle Crime Prevention Act or RA 11235, requiring the Land Transportation Office (LTO) to issue bigger color-coded number plates for motorcycle. According to Atienza, the law’s intention is to curb the activities of riding-in-tandem criminals. But the genuine solution lies in efficient police action so as not to endanger the lives of motorcyclists and their passengers. Under the law, the LTO will be

Michael Tan, OceanaGoldPhilippines’s Joey Leviste, Udenna Corp.’s Dennis Uy, Steel Asia’s Benjamin Yao, Solar Transport’s Mark Andrew Tieng and Philippine Chamber of Commerce and Industry’s George Barcelon. According to Bank of China Chairman Cao Yaunzhengwho, Chinese investors seek high-quality service and investment for the BBB initiative.

Duterte to Beijing

MEANWHILE, Commerce Minister Zhong welcomed Duterte’s decision to attend the second Belt and Road Forum for International Cooperation set in April in Beijing, saying that a future meeting with President Xi “is going to help us reach more consensus and help elevate our cooperation to another high level.” Dominguez said the Philippines is “earnestly looking forward” to actively participating in the Belt and Road Forum, which “will be a major catalyst for more comprehensive international collaboration” aimed at creating a better future for economies across the globe. “We appreciate China’s Belt and Road Infrastructure Program that will more closely link the economies of Asia and Europe. This program will shape the future of this century and the next century,” Dominguez added. Also discussed at the meeting was Zhong’s willingness to increase the imports of Philippine goods to China, assuring the Philippine delegation that the Chinese market remains open to Filipino entrepreneurs; pledging to encourage more Chinese companies to invest in the Philippines; and ensuring the continuous help and assistance of China to the Philippines on the economic front. In a courtesy call on China Vice President Wang Qishan earlier on the same day, Medialdea noted that the regular meetings to discuss economic cooperation between the two countries have “produced significant milestones.” The Philippines-China highlevel meeting in line with discussing economic cooperation between the two countries was the fifth to be held since it was first convened in 2017. tasked to issue readable license plates for every motorcycle. The readable plates must be displayed in both the front and back sides of a motorcycle. The LTO has been given until December 31, 2019, to produce, release and issue the number plates as required by the act. Those who are driving sans a license plate or a readable one shall be also be punished six months and one day to six years imprisonment, or a fine not less than P50,000 but not more than P100,000. Butch Fernandez and Jovee Marie N. Dela Cruz

PEAKER Gloria MacapagalA rroyo has directed the three-man team from the House of Representatives, who will meet with their Senate counterparts, to break the budget impasse as soon as possible. Arroyo said she instructed the budget negotiators to imm e d i a t e l y a d d r e s s “c o nt e n tious” issues in the 2019 General Appropriations Act. “We’ll end the impasse as soon as possible that’s my instruction,” Arroyo said in a recent interview. The lower chamber already

Xi. . .

Continued from A12

They clearly underscored the difference that can be made by standing up against foreign aggression instead of pursuing President Duterte’s hollow and treacherous foreign policy.” Del Rosario said the great consequences of their actions justify the court’s involvement as it affirms the principles of the Rome Statute. He described the destruction of the undersea features, which China has converted into military installations, as “the most serious crimes of concern to the national community as a whole,”adding, this“must not go unpunished.” Del Rosario said it is only the ICC that can exact accountability in behalf of Filipinos and the international community respecting the rule of law. By submitting their “communication” on March 15, del Rosario said, “the court retains its jurisdiction over crimes committed on Philippine territory by Chinese nationals during the period the Philippine remains a state party to the Rome Statute from November 2011, to March 17, 2019. ”If the ICC fails to exact accountability from the Chinese leaders, del Rosario said it would mean the “continued food and livelihood degradation of Filipino fishermen and other groups of vulnerable fishermen along the SCS [WPS].” He said the continuing denial by Chinese authorities of access to Filipinos and other nationalities so they can fish in their traditional fishing grounds in the WPS “creates impunity and the license for the perpetrators to continue in the SCS and possibly elsewhere in the world.”

China loan. . . Continued from A1

proves otherwise. “We are also not assured when the DOF argues that such are anyway standard in loan agreements because China is unfortunately not just any lender. It has already been implicated in a few controversial debts gone bad where government’s gave up control over strategic assets like ports,” he said. Moreover, the Kaliwa Dam loan agreement also confirms their suspicions that it was done in “undue haste.” “Is the loan agreement already effective? And are management and commitment fees

retrieved the budget books it sent to the Senate for signature. It created a three-man team, which includes House Committee on Appropriations Chairman Rolando Andaya Jr., Albay Rep. Edcel Lagman and San Juan Rep. Ronaldo Zamora. Andaya said the lower chamber will explain its side to the Senate during their five-day meeting, which is expected to start on Monday at the Senate. Last week, Andaya expressed hope that the Senate will agree with the lower chamber on its position that there is nothing

illegal in post-bicameral itemization of lump-sum funds. Since 1986, the lawmaker said the process of crafting the budget has been the same. He also believed that the contingents from the Senate and the House can agree to a common venue to finally transmit the 2019 budget for President Duterte’s signature. Andaya, however, said he would not hesitate to recommend to the President a reenacted budget should the two chambers fail to break the budget impasse during their meeting.

Asked how their complaint could prosper since China is not a member of the ICC, del Rosario had a hypothetical answer: “if enough credible witnesses h ave reached the point of a formal investigation, this could lead to a warrant of arrest for [Chinese President] Xi.” He said the warrant of arrest can be served by any one of 123 state parties to the ICC, and they can compel Xi Jinping to go back to The Hague to be able to face the charges that have been brought against him. “If he does not wish to do this and he remains outside of the country, there are 123 countries he cannot visit for the rest of his life, he has to stay close to home; that would probably be the worst that could happen to him.” Noting that Foreign Minister Wang Yi and Ambassador Zhao Jian Hua are included on their list, the former DFA chief said, “can you imagine a Foreign Minister who cannot travel or an Ambassador who cannot be posted because of the same restrictions?” He conceded these were hypothetical assertions “I wanted to share with you and, of course, it’s difficult, but there are enough countries in the ICC to be able to encourage that enforcement.” Told that sovereign heads of state are protected by immunity from arrest, CarpioMorales said: “The one who committed the crime does not have to belong to a country who is a state member or party to the ICC.” “In other words, since we filed the communications at the time that the Philippines was still a state party to the ICC to the Rome Statue, then we have jurisdiction over Mr. Xi because he committed a crime within sovereign territory.”

She added:“The whole foundation of the ICC is a principle of ‘irrelevance of official capacity’ so that heads of states do not have immunity.” Secretary del Rosario said a small group of like-minded citizens like him gathered over breakfast one day and decided to take China to the ICC “because the Arbitral Tribunal outcome has not moved.” It was during del Rosario’s term in 2013 that the Philippines brought China before the Permanent Court of Arbitration in The Hague, to limit China’s excessive claim to the whole of the South China Sea. At that time, the area claimed by China was delineated by the nine-dash line, which loops like a cow’s tongue all the way from China and through the boundaries of some countries, including the Philippines. The Tribunal ruled in favor of the Philippines, saying the nine-dash line is illegal, and junked China’s claims based on historical grounds. China ignored the Tribunal’s ruling, saying it is not a signatory to the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (Unclos). Del Rosario advised China to take their accusations seriously: “If I were China, I would take this seriously because this is not our first encounter with them, it’s our second encounter and we’re serious about winning this encounter, as well.” Carpio-Morales lamented that despite the friendliness shown by the Filipinos, China did not reciprocate our gesture.“We expected reciprocity but it seems there’s no reciprocity,” she said. Del Rosario said, “we’re delivering the message that we’re not happy with the way we’ve been treated. We want to be treated better and we’ll look for every possible resource to receive the treatment that we deserve.”

already starting to be paid? The management fee alone is already some P33.4 million [$633,645]. But the Kaliwa project does not yet have a feasibility study nor obtained the free, prior and informed consent [FPIC] of the affected community,” he said. Nonetheless, Africa also said the government may just be so accustomed to privileging foreigners that it forgets that it has infinitely greater responsibility toward its citizens. “Mere loan agreements do not and cannot alter the intrinsic sovereignty of the Philippine state to act in the interests of the nation. The Duterte administration made a big show of supposedly independent foreign policy at the start of its term—it can

start by taking measures to modify or terminate these disadvantageous agreements,” he said.

Option to annul

LAWYER Michael Henry Ll. Yusingco, nonresident research fellow at the Ateneo School of Government, said the administration may still opt to have the signed loan agreements annulled or nullified if it proves that the terms were onerous. However, Yusingco said the government can be the subject of a suit for breach of contract. “Nonetheless, under general contract law, one party, i.e., the Philippines, can have the contract annulled or nullified if it can satisfactorily prove the terms are onerous,” he said. Bernadette D. Nicolas

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Improved Sarangani hospital to save ₧9M in referral system By Manuel T. Cayon @awimailbox

AVAO CITY—A full operation of the Sarangani’s provincial hospital to at least as a secondary-level referral hospital would save not less than P9 million annually for the province, according to the provincial government. The amount was expected in the referral system alone of its indigent patients to private hospitals in General Santos City. Only recently did the province announce was finally operating the provincial hospital at the Capitol Complex in Alabel town “as a 24-hour forward triage facility,” but the hospital would be temporarily known as Sarangani Health Care Facility. For the meantime that the facility was still complying with some legal building requirement such as firesafety permit, the hospital would only be providing “initial management of clients,” then forward them to the province’s referral hospitals in General Santos City, according to Provincial Health Officer Arvin Alejandro. “No admissions yet,” said Alejandro, a medical doctor, “until a fire-safety certificate is secured as prerequisite to the issuance of the occupancy permit.” He added his office would already process the license of the hospital to operate as infirmary facility pending the completion of the operating room by the end of June. The operating room is funded by the Department of Health (DOH). “And if we would have the equipment as required of an operating room, then we proceed to the operationalization of the provincial hospital as a Level-1 facility,” Alejandro said. The provincial hospital was constructed at a cost of P185 million, with P170 million as counterpart from the DOH and P15 million from the provincial government. The provincial government allocated P13 million for personal services requirement of the hospital since it opened in August 29 last year. This was aside from the P6 million for the maintenance and other

operating expenditures and P15 million for the capital outlay for the purchase of equipment required of a Level-1 facility. Initial mobilization of funds for putting up the hospital started in 2011, and construction began early 2013. The provincial hospital would complete the loop of five other hospitals ran by the provincial government in the municipalities of Maitum, Kiamba, Maasim, Malungon and Glan. As the core referral, “it means provision of other services that cannot be provided by our five municipal hospitals,” Alejandro said. The provincial government wanted to operate this provincial hospital into either a Level-2 or Level-3 facility while the municipal hospitals, particularly in Kiamba, Malungon and Glan, would continue providing Level 1, or infirmary, services. “All other services on top of it, however, shall be referred to the provincial hospital,” he added. Municipal hospitals in Maitum and Maasim would remain as infirmary facilities for the meantime, Alejandro said, “but they would be subject to rationalization again depending on the bulk of patients that are coming in.” Sarangani has an agreement with three private hospitals in General Santos City: Diagan Cooperative Hospital, Soccsksargen County Hospital and Dr. George Royeca Hospital “to cater to its indigent patients, which costs the provincial government some P18 million annually.” Once the provincial hospital starts operating as Level 1, Alejandro said, the province would terminate its agreement with these hospitals, “which would generate annual savings for the province up to P9 million.” Every year, Sarangani is allocating P10 million for the enrollment of its 4,600 indigent constituents, with “96-percent average rate of the province’s no billing policy or no out of pocket” of PhilHealth patients in 2017.” The 4,600 enrollment in Sarangani comprises 90 percent of the total admitted patients in its municipal hospitals.

Activists call on voters to elect leaders who will champion women’s rights

OMEN’S-RIGHTS groups are calling on Filipino voters to vote for future leaders who are “ready and willing” to champion solutions to pressing issues affecting women. The call was made during the launch and presentation of a five-point feminist policy agenda that must be addressed by political aspirants and future government leaders in celebration of the National Women’s Month. The agenda was presented during an event in Quezon City on Sunday. “Women’s rights are human rights. It is important to have leaders who are ready and willing to champion the rights of women and girls,” Oxfam in the Philippines Country Director Maria Rosario Felizco said. Felizco and other activists also asked the leaders to “challenge unjust structures that perpetuate violence against women and girls.” These include conditions that

increase unpaid care work burdens, threaten sexual and reproductive health and rights, and allows a child, early and forced marriages. “We have yet to see the full implementation of the Responsible Parenthood and Reproductive Law despite its enactment six years ago,” Pambansang Koalisyon ng Kababaihan sa Kanayunan Secretary-General Amparo Miciano said. “The truth is that a lot of women from far-flung communities still have no access to reproductive health services and information.” Data from the 2017 National Demographic and Health Survey showed that 9.7 million girls aged 10 to 19 in the Philippines will most likely be mothers by age 19. The same survey also showed that the teenage pregnancy rate in the country is considered the highest in Southeast Asia, contributing to a higher mortality rate at 114 deaths per 100,000 live births. Jonathan L. Mayuga

Editor: Vittorio V. Vitug • Monday, March 25, 2019 A3

Defense chief asks Misuari to work with Bangsamoro ARMM, for peace

By Rene Acosta

@reneacostaBM

ATHER than waging a conflict with the government, Moro National Liberation Front (MNLF) founding Chairman Nur Misuari should work with the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (BARMM) and help ensure peace and the development of Mindanao, Defense Secretary Delfin N. Lorenzana said over the weekend. The defense chief was reacting to Misuari’s threat, as disclosed by President Duterte, to return to war. The Moro leader allegedly said he would go to war if the Federal form government, which Misuari sees as an alternative to the BARMM, will not be initiated and passed by the Duterte administration. Misuari, who sees the BARMM and even the Bangsamoro Transition Authority (BTA) as only favoring the rival Moro group Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF), met with Duterte and security of-

ficials in Malacañang last week. “He is missing a great chance to be really relevant,” Lorenzana said. “He should accept the BARMM, work within it and lend his leadership, stature and experience to make it succeed.” The defense secretary believed that Misuari was just bluffing when he threatened to go into war, as he no longer has enough manpower. Lorenzana, however, admitted that the Moro leader and his group “can still create trouble” like the attack of several villages

of Zamboanga City in 2013. “They are still capable of creating trouble like what they did in the Zamboanga City siege. But war? Not anymore. He no longer has the manpower, as most of his men have gravitated to the BARMM,” he said. “Misuari’s threat is just sound-bites in an attempt to make himself be noticed.” Misuari’s war threat was the second one coming from the former Moro secessionist group in less than a month following the threat of lawyer and Lanao Sultan Firdausi Abbas to break away with the Yusop Jikiri faction of the MNLF and continue the secessionist struggle of the Moro group. Jikiri was not satisfied with the composition of the BTA, which he said was dominated by the MILF and was not a representation of groups in Mindanao that will be affected and covered by the BARMM. Meanwhile, Muslimin Sema, former chairman of the MNLF and who led another faction of the group, said he and the group’s Central Committee are fully supportive of Duterte’s effort to bring peace in Mindanao, although they still see the 1996 Final Peace Agreement (FPA) as the best course toward this effort. “Upon consultation with the

MNLF Central Committee, we, the members of the MNLF Central Committee, and its entire hierarchy and membership, hereby commit ourselves to pursue the path of lasting peace by standing behind the duly constituted authority of our country led by Duterte, as a means of achieving our aspiration for the best quality of life for our people,” he said. Sema issued the statement in order to clarify the position of the MNLF leadership following what he said were threats by “a certain individual misleading our people regarding the true intentions and aspirations of the MNLF.” He said the MNLF still adheres to the provisions of the 1996 Peace Agreement, which it signed with the government and witnessed by the Republic of Indonesia and the Organization of Islamic Conference Secretary-General. “While federalism may be a solution to the Bangsamoro issue, the [peace agreement] does not provide for it but merely for meaningful autonomy and the integration of our fighters to the AFP,” Sema said. Sema added he believes their “quest for meaningful autonomy” can be realized through fully implemented peace agreements such as the 1996 FPA and the 2014 Comprehensive Agreement on the Bangsamoro.

Coordination, reclamation projects key to Manila Bay rehab–Cimatu, Oceana

HE government should stop any reclamation projects in the Manila Bay and instead preserve the area’s rich ecosystem, as the body of water is home to the country’s sardine species, according to a nongovernment organization. Meanwhile, Environment Secretary Roy A. Cimatu believes strengthening coordination is also important. Oceana Philippines (Oceana) urged President Duterte “to review and assess the projects submitted to the Philippine Reclamation Authority that will result in irreversible damage to our marine habitats.” “We appeal to Duterte to stop all reclamation projects lined up in Manila Bay. This can be the legacy of your administration—that you were able to save the rich ecosystem of Manila Bay that carries national and natural heritage significance, especially with the discovery of this new sardine species in the Philippine waters,” Oceana Vice President Gloria Estenzo-Ramos said in a statement over the weekend. Oceana said Manila Bay has been identified by the Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources (BFAR) as a spawning area of sardines and remains to be one of the main fishing grounds of artisanal fishermen.

New species

CITING a recent peer-reviewed journal article by Japanese taxonomists, Oceana added that a new sardine species has been discovered in Manila Bay: Sardinella pacifica.

This could also be found in the waters of Quezon, Sorsogon and Samar, which has been found out to be endemic to the Philippines. “Instead of dumping and filling our seas that bury and destroy mangroves, sea-grass beds, corals and other fisheries habitats, let’s collectively save and protect these from destruction because of so-called ‘development’ projects,” Ramos said. “More importantly, let’s help our artisanal fishermen earn decent livelihood to feed their families from our rich marine resources that are known all over the world,” she added. Ramos said reclamation projects in Manila Bay would displace artisanal fishermen and leave them without any income. “ These projects violate our Constitutional right to balanced and healthful ecology, as well as our fisheries and environmental laws. We are hoping that our government will listen to the people,” she said. “They will be facing even more harm and danger than they are experiencing now as consequences of flooding, subsidence of our coastal communities and the climate crisis,” she added.

Cimatu’s call

CIMATU urged barangay leaders on Sunday to exercise political will and help clean up esteros and rivers that lead out to Manila Bay. Cimatu said in a statement that “it is the leaders of every barangay who can solve the problem of heav-

ily polluted Manila Bay.” He recently met with leaders of barangay within the Manila Bay area as part of the ongoing Manila Bay rehabilitation effort. Tasked to lead the Manila Bay Task Force, Cimatu has ordered the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) to plan the simultaneous river and esteros cleanup activity next week and is enjoining barangay leaders to take the lead. “The cleanup of the bay rests on them. That is how much I trust them,” Cimatu said. Leaders of more than 200 barangays surrounding the river systems of Pasig-Marikina-San Juan, Muntinlupa-Parañaque-Las PiñasZapote and Malabon-TullahanTinajeros were present during the dialogue held at Bayview Park Hotel in Manila recently. Aside from Cimatu, the meeting was also attended by other officials of the DENR and the Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG). During the dialogue, Cimatu reminded the barangay officials of their duty to enforce environmental laws, particularly the Ecological Solid Waste Management Act of 2000 and the Philippine Clean Water Act of 2004. “It is the responsibility of the local government units and the barangay captains to implement t he env ironmenta l l aws correctly,” the former Armed Forces chief said.

Coordination needed

CIMATU also offered assistance to the barangay officials in fulfilling their mandates, including the relocation of illegal settlers along esteros and rivers. He told the officials of the need to coordinate with the Department of Human Settlements and Urban Development in ensuring the relocation of affected informal settler families (ISFs) before their houses are demolished. “We will give them a chance to self-demolish or move to an appropriate relocation site,” Cimatu said. There are some 230,000 ISFs in the Manila Bay region, around 56,000 of them live along its coast. Cimatu urged barangay leaders to exercise political will in guarding against ISFs who would return to riverbanks and esteros despite being given relocation. “If they file a complaint against you, include me,” he said. The DENR chief also enjoined them to take part in the simultaneous cleanup of esteros and rivers around Manila Bay scheduled on March 31. “Once and for all, we will clear the waterways of garbage,” Cimatu said. “If barangay captains can harness the power of the people to do it, then there will be a show of force to clean up. Cleaning Manila Bay will be your most important mission as barangay captains,” he added. Jasper Emmanuel Y. Arcalas and Jonathan L. Mayuga

A4 Monday, March 25, 2019 • Editor: Vittorio V. Vitug

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PHL milk imports hit record high in 2018 By Jasper Emmanuel Y. Arcalas @jearcalas

The country’s milk import bill in

2018 rose by 9.4 percent to an alltime high of nearly $1 billion as traders were encouraged to buy dairy products from abroad due

to low prices. The latest data from the National Dairy Authority (NDA) showed that the total value of imported dairy

products last year reached $987.88 million, $84.78 million over the $807.72 million recorded in 2017. Also, the total volume of milk im-

ports in 2018 surged to a record 2.939 MMT, 18.23 percent higher than the 2.486 MMT in 2017, NDA data showed. NDA data indicated that this volume was a turnaround from the 10.33-percent decline recorded in 2016-2017. “In terms of [import value], it went up by 9 percent, indicating a decrease in unit import cost of 14 percent and 10 percent in dollar terms and in pesos, respectively,” the NDA said in a series of reports published recently. The average import cost of milk products during the reference period was pegged at $0.34 per liter (P17.9 per liter), from $0.36 per liter quotation (P18.31 per liter) in 2016, NDA data showed. “In terms of sources and value share, New Zealand

remained to be the leading source of imported dairy products, accounting for 38 percent to total dairy import bill,” the NDA said. “The United States ranked as second supplier, followed by Malaysia and Australia with 21 percent,6 percent and 6 percent, respectively,” it added. New Zealand’s milk exports to the Philippines last year expanded by 3.85 percent to $373.97 million from $360.10 million in 2017. The volume of shipment grew by 2.75 percent to 726.73 MMT liquid milk equivalent from 707.23 MMT-LME. In its Dairy Market Review report, the United Nations’s Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) said world dairy prices in 2018 declined as more milk products were produced globally. FAO said its Dairy Price Index in 2018 fell by 4.6 percent year-on-year, “reflecting declines in prices of all dairy products represented in the Index.”

Meralco to supply 10 MW of power to New Clark City By Lenie Lectura

@llectura

HE Manila Electric Co. (Meralco) will provide 10 to 14 megawatts (MW) of power services to New Clark City by June or July this year. “We’re looking at 10 to 14 megawatts. This is greenfield,” said Rogelio Singson, president of MeralcoPowerGen Corp., the power-generation arm of Meralco. Meralco received on January 18 the notice of award from the Bases Conversion and Development Authority (BCDA) for power distribution in New Clark City. “As far as June or July, the commitment of Meralco will be ready. But how that is connected, that’s the responsibility of BCDA. We’re helping them out in terms of specifications so when it is eventually turned over to Meralco, it is acceptable,” said Singson. The 9,450-hectare New Clark City, located within the Clark special economic zone that spans Angeles City in Pampanga and the towns of Capas and Bamban in Tarlac, is the country’s first smart, disasterresilient and sustainable city. The first phase of the development covering 60 hectares features the National Government Administrative Center that will house backup offices of various government agencies and a world-class sports complex now being constructed in time for the 2019 Southeast Asian Games. The new metropolis will also have mixed-use residential, commercial, agro-industrial, educational institutions and information-technology developments. Meralco is awaiting from the BCDA the forecast load in New Clark City. “They want it to be similar like in Fort Bonifacio that was underground from the beginning. That can be done, as long as it’s scalable. The plan is underground, smart city but not immediately until you have the consumption,” said Singson. He also said the 10 to 14-MW capacity will be able to serve the demand during the SEA games. “There won’t be any movements yet in offices. It’s all focused in the athlete’s village. The opening ceremonies will not even be there,” said Singson. For now, Meralco continues to dialog with BCDA “to help them out, give them suggestions on how they can formulate the plan,” added the official. The Meralco-Marubeni Consortium composed of Meralco, Marubeni, The Kansai Electric Power Co. Inc. and Chubu Electric Power Co. Inc., submitted the lower tariff bid of P0.6188 per kilowatt-hour, besting the P0.9888-per-kwh proposal by the Aboitiz-Kepco Consortium of the Olongapo Energy Corp. and Kepco Philippines Holdings Inc.

PSA: More Pinoys now live in urban areas

By Cai U. Ordinario

@caiordinario

ore than half of the country’s population is now living in urban areas nationwide, according to the latest report by the Philippine Statistics Authority (PSA). Based on the 2015 Census of Population, the PSA said 51.2 percent of the population in the Philippines is now living in urban areas. The rate of urbanization in the country also increased to 4.6 percent between 2010 and 2015 from 4.4 percent between 2007 and 2010. “This means that a total of 51.73 million persons resided in barangays classified as urban. There were 7,437 barangays classified as urban and 34,599 as rural. The level of urbanization in 2010 was only 45.3 percent,” the PSA said. In the National Capital Region (NCR), the primary urban area in the Philippines, the population increased by 8.61 percent to 12.88 million, from 11.86 million in 2010. However, across regions, four other regions posted a level of urbanization higher than that of the national level. These were Region 4A or Calabarzon at 66.4 percent; Region 11 or Davao region at 63.5 percent; Region 3 or Central Luzon, 61.6 percent; and Region 12 or Soccsksargen, 51.6 percent. In 2010, the PSA said the same five regions also posted the highest levels of urbanization. Based on the data, the regions that posted the fastest growth in urbanization rate were led by Central Luzon which posted a 10-percentage-point (ppt) increase to 61.6 percent in 2015, from 51.6 percent in 2010. Other regions included the Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao with a 9.5-ppt increase to 23.2 percent in 2015, from 13.7 percent in 2010; Mimaropa, 8.3 ppt to 30.6 percent, from 22.3 percent; Bicol at 7.9 ppt to 23.2 percent, from 15.3 percent; Cordillera Administrative Region at 7.8 ppt to 30.5 percent, from 26.3 percent; and Cagayan Valley, 7.6 ppt to 19.2 percent, from 11.6 percent. Excluding NCR, there were 75 component cities all over the country that had at least 50 percent of their total population residing in urban barangays in 2015. “Three of these component cities were classified as entirely urban, namely, Cabuyao City and Santa Rosa City in Laguna and Antipolo City in Rizal. Excluding Pateros in NCR, the five municipalities that were classified as entirely urban were: Marilao in Bulacan, Kalayaan in Laguna, Taytay in Rizal, Talaingod in Davao del Norte and Jolo in Sulu,” the PSA said.

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China officials tap lower tariffs, debt sales to aid economic growth

HINA’S top officials pledged to lower tariffs and expedite debt sales in 2019 as they seek to manage an economic slowdown while tackling the trade standoff with the US. The country will continue to cut import taxes and create a firstrate environment for foreign businesses as it opens up the economy, Vice Premier Han Zheng said at the China Development Forum in Beijing on Sunday, without offering details on tariff reduction. Han reaffirmed policies to better protect intellectual-property rights, forbid forced technology transfers and reduce restricted areas for foreign investment toward the level of access in free-trade zones. Meanwhile, the government will speed up bond sales and the use of the funding to boost domestic demand, Finance Minister Liu Kun said at the same event. The commitments foreshadow another round of trade talks between China and the US this week, offering a new hint of optimism on a cease-fire between the world’s two largest economies. China’s reiteration of stronger fiscal support implies Beijing is increasingly looking to its domestic market when grappling with a decelera-

tion amid global weakness. “Fiscal policy will play a bigger role in supporting the real economy” in spite of slowing revenue growth, Liu said, repeating a plan to reduce taxes and fees by at least 2 trillion yuan ($298 billion) this year. About 70 percent of the planned cuts will come from taxes, while the rest from lower social security premiums and other fee reductions, he said. The government will have to make better use of its resources and prioritize expenditure on projects such as key infrastructure and improving people’s livelihood, he added. Authorities will work to complete the issuance of 3.08 trillion yuan of local government debt by September to stabilize investment, while keeping an eye on off-balance-sheet debt that local officials raised via financing vehicles, especially in high-risk areas, Liu said.

Better than expected

A SOFTENING economy, muted inflation and measures to contain property bubbles have weighed on

ZHENG

revenue growth, as well as alternative funding sources such as land sales, prompting Nobel laureate Joseph Stiglitz to urge the government to consider increasing some taxes as it restructures the economy. That could include those on land and capital gains, he said at the forum. Stiglitz also said more regional banks and a better equity market are needed to reduce the reliance on state lenders. China lowered the goal for economic growth to a range of 6 percent to 6.5 percent for 2019 while pledging a massive package of tax cuts amid other “targeted” mea-

sures to address the weakness. The deepening slowdown has pushed unemployment higher, intensifying pressure on that calibrated stimulus strategy. Economic indicators in the first two months “have come in better than expected,” although the momentum for growth globally is lacking, Ning Jizhe, vice chairman of the National Development and Reform Commission, said at the forum. T he gover nment w i l l ta ke steps to raise people’s potential for consumption and nurture a strong domestic market, including increasing farmers’ income, he said. Bloomberg News

Editor: Angel R. Calso • Monday, March 25, 2019 A5

US treasury market flashes recession warning before another round of auctions

NVESTORS are about to absorb $131 billion of Treasury note auctions at the lowest yields in months, after they piled into US debt following a dovish Federal Reserve decision and fresh signs that global growth is weakening. The week kicks off with a closely watched segment of the US yield curve foreshadowing a recession: The gap between three-month and 10-year rates is now negative. In the lead-up to the economic downturn that began late in 2007, this part of the curve initially flipped to inverted in early 2006. The curve’s latest collapse came amid reports showing weakness in France and Germany, while an index of American manufacturing slowed. The days ahead bring readings on the US housing market and consumer confidence, which may help investors gauge the Fed’s next step after policy-makers unexpectedly scaled back projected rate hikes this year to zero. There will also be an array of Fed speakers to weigh in on the developments, not to mention a planned Brexit vote in the UK Parliament. “The Fed’s actions and commentary have given investors the impression that they know something that the rest of the market doesn’t know about the future of the economy,” said Kevin Giddis, head of fixed income at Raymond James in Memphis, Tennessee. “This is a classic momentum trade now that

favors risk-off that is leading us toward the conversation about a recession.”

Leading focus

HE’S focusing on the data this week that are leading indicators, like housing starts, to see if the economy is actually faltering. Bond investors seem to be leaning in that direction, even as the labor market is the tightest in decades. The benchmark 10-year note yields 2.44 percent, close to its lowest since January 2018. Giddis sees it ending the year at 2.25 percent. Money market traders are also ramping up bets that a rate cut is coming, even as policy-makers still have their next move penciled in as a hike in 2020. Fed funds futures show traders see about an 80 percent chance of a quarter-point easing this year, up from about 30 percent early last week. While the San Francisco Fed calls the three-month to 10-year spread the most useful for forecasting recessions, some investors aren’t convinced by this latest market signal. Michael Kushma, chief investment officer for global fixed income at Morgan Stanley Investment Management, says this part of the curve “is distorted” by global forces fueling demand in the long end. And increased bill supply is elevating short-end rates, he said. Bloomberg News

A4 Monday, March 25, 2019 A6

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Italy, China sign accord deepening economic ties R

OME—Italy signed a memorandum of understanding with China on Saturday supporting Beijing’s “Belt and Road” initiative, which aims to weave a network of ports, bridges and power plants linking China with Africa, Europe and beyond. With the move, Italy becomes the first member of the Group of Seven major economies, which includes the United States, to join the Belt and Road program, following Portugal’s embrace of the initiative in December. Italian Premier Giuseppe Conte and Chinese

President Xi Jinping attended a ceremony in Rome where 29 separate protocols of the memorandum were signed by both governments in front of the flags of China, Italy and the European Union. Luigi di Maio, the Italian minister of economic development, told reporters afterward that his country’s goal is to increase exports to China in order to correct trade imbalances, and boost Italian businesses and the country’s troubled economy. He said the value of the individual deals signed on Saturday amounts to €2.5 billion ($2.8 billion), with the potential to grow to €20 billion ($22.6 billion)

“Our goal with these accords is to start to rebalance an imbalance for which there is a lot of ‘Made in China’ coming to Italy and too little ‘Made in Italy’ that goes to China,” Di Maio said. He added that Italy now expects “a substantial and gradual increase of exports, and we hope that in the next years we can balance out the trade imbalances.” Italy’s move appears to also be driven by hopes that Chinese investment in Italy’s ports might help revive the country’s traditional role as a key link in trade between the East and West. The signed accords are wide-ranging and include

CHINA’S Commerce Minister Zhong Shan (left) and Italian Labor Minister Luigi Di Maio sign a memorandum of understanding at Rome’s Villa Madama on Saturday, March 23, 2019. Italy signed a memorandum of understanding with China in support of Beijing’s “Belt and Road” initiative, which aims to weave a network of ports, bridges and power plants linking China with Africa, Europe and beyond. AP PHOTO/ANDREW MEDICHINI

cooperation between banks, between a Chinese construction company and Italian ports, and the export of Italian fruit to China. The deals also foresee cooperation in the spheres of science and technology and between media outlets, as well as the return by Italy of hundreds of Chinese cultural treasures. The signing ceremony took place at the Villa Madama, a Renaissance villa designed by Raphael, where Xi was greeted with full honors on the second day of his two-day visit to Italy. He then traveled to Sicily, where officials hope to attract more Chinese tourism. Italy’s involvement in the Belt and Road program gives China a crucial inroad into Western Europe and a symbolic boost in its economic tugof-war with Washington, where President Donald Trump is challenging China over trade and other issues. The EU, however, is worried about unfair competition from Chinese companies, which are controlled by the Chinese government and benefit from the state’s financial backing. EU leaders in Brussels are preparing a strategy to counter the growing influence of China, which they describe as a “systemic rival.” Some Italian government officials were critical of the deals, worried that Italy might be ceding national sovereignty in key strategic areas to Beijing. In a sign of opposition, Matteo Salvini, the deputy prime minister and interior minister, stayed away from the official ceremonies with the Chinese delegation. Di Maio stressed that Italy remains firmly rooted in its alliance with the United States, Nato and its European partners, but said Italy must also look out for its own economic interests. “Like someone in the United States said ‘America first,’ I continue to repeat: ‘Italy first’ in commercial relations,” Di Maio said. In response to concerns that the memorandum could open the way to colonization by China, Di Maio countered it would instead help goods manufactured in Italy “to colonize the world.” “That is a good colonialization,” he said. The Belt and Road project has so far seen investments totaling more than a trillion dollars since its launch more than five years ago, and China says some 150 countries have signed agreements related to the project. Beijing has marketed the initiative as a way to give some of the world’s neediest countries a leg up, helping them gain access to more trade and investment. But it also helps Chinese companies tap new markets for their products while helping Beijing amass greater global influence. Some governments including the US, Japan and India worry that Beijing is trying to build a China-centered sphere of influence that undermines their own sway, pulling developing nations into infrastructure “debt traps” that would give China ever-more control over their territories and economies. Some say the proposed improvements are too expensive for the impoverished countries. China’s official position is that Belt and Road is solely an economic initiative with no political motives. Xi said last year that even as China moves closer to the center of the world stage, it will never seek hegemony. AP

‘Sunday Times:’ May’s Cabinet wants her out in open revolt

HERESA MAY’S Cabinet is in open revolt against the prime minister and wants an interim leader to complete the Brexit process. According to the Sunday Times, at least six senior ministers want her deputy, David Lidington, to take the job until there’s a formal leadership election. They’ll confront her at a Cabinet meeting on Monday, and threaten a mass resignation if she doesn’t step down, the report said. Michael Gove, a leading Brexiteer in the 2016 referendum, and Foreign Minister Jeremy Hunt also have some support. Senior Cabinet ministers won’t support immediate attempts to replace May, as their priority is to get Brexit policy back on track, ITV journalist Robert Peston said in tweets. He added that they need to first make sure whether there will be a no-deal Brexit, amended deal or referendum, and only then replace the prime minister. May has grown increasingly isolated in recent months, at home and in Brussels. She has twice tried and failed to steer her European Unionapproved deal through Parliament, last week’s televised address irked colleagues by pinning the blame for the deadlock on the House of Commons, and her dramatic shift in tone toward embracing a no-deal Brexit has angered the bulk of her Conservative Party lawmakers. The report comes hours after hundreds of thousands of Britons poured into the streets of London demanding a second public vote. Most of the attendees favor Britain staying in the bloc. If May were removed, it wouldn’t necessarily trigger a general election. Under the country’s Fixed-Term Parliament Act, the next election is scheduled for May 2022. Bloomberg News

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Extremists attack Somalia govt office, 5 dead

OGADISHU, Somalia —Gunmen set off a suicide car bombing and then stormed a government building in Somalia’s capital on Saturday, killing at least five people, including the country’s deputy labor minister, police said. It was the latest attack by Islamic extremists in the troubled Horn of Africa nation. After an hours-long gunbattle, Somalia’s security forces took back control of the building in Mogadishu on Saturday afternoon from at least five attackers who forced their way into the government building that houses the ministries of labor and public works, police Capt. Mohamed Hussein told The Associated Press. Saqar Ibrahim Abdalla, Somalia’s deputy minister of labor and social affairs, was killed in his ground-floor office shortly after gunmen entered the building, he said. Hussein said at least 10 other people were wounded in the attack, which the al-Qaida-linked al-Shabab extremist group has claimed responsibility for.

A POLICE vehicle drives past wreckage after a suicide car-bomb attack on a government building in the capital Mogadishu, Somalia, on Saturday, March 23. Al-Shabab gunmen stormed the government building after a suicide car bombing, killing at least five people, including the country’s deputy labor minister, police said, in the latest attack by Islamic extremist fighters in the Horn of Africa nation. AP

Tens of thousands in South Africa need help after cyclone

EIRA, Mozambique—A second week has begun of efforts to find and help tens of thousands of people after Cyclone Idai devastated a large swath of Mozambique. Members of the Indian and South African militaries are joining aid groups in flying over stretches of central Mozambique as they look for signs of life and people in need. No one knows how many people are missing. More than 600 people are confirmed dead in Mozambique, Zimbabwe and Malawi. Aid workers say that number is certain to rise as flood waters recede. The shattered Mozambican city of Beira and other communities are now home to crowded displacement camps, both organized and informal. With communications badly affected by the cyclone and some families separated in the chaos, a program aimed at reunification is now underway. “Every day we discover that the destruction left by Cyclone Idai is worse than we imagined,” Hicham Mandoudi, the International Committee of the Red Cross’s head of subdelegation in Beira, said in a statement. “We are deeply concerned about remote communities that are cut off by flooding and landslides and are yet to receive any humanitarian assistance. More rain is expected to come, which will compound the suffering of people who have already lost everything.” Mozambique’s government has formally requested assistance from the international community, the UN humanitarian office said, opening the door to further aid efforts. UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres on Thursday appealed for stepped up support for victims of Idai, saying the UN and its humanitarian partners are scaling up the response, but “far greater international support is needed.” The UN chief said in a statement that “with crops destroyed in the breadbasket of Mozambique, more people are at risk of food insecurity in all three countries.” Beira, the city at the center of aid efforts for Mozambique, still can only be reached by land or sea. Local fishermen have joined the rescue efforts, ferrying stranded people about 50 or so at a time to the city’s beach or port. With mobile phone communications struggling to return, some residents have lined an overpass known for having a better chance of receiving a signal. Prices of food and other basic items are doubling, even tripling. People wait in line outside stores, let in one by one in an effort to prevent looting. Throughout the region, emergency air efforts focus on spotting stranded people and communities in the hope of dropping aid or plucking those in dire need to safety. AP

Dozens of people were inside the building at the time since Saturday is a working day in Somalia. The building is not far from the headquarters of the Somali intelligence agency. As the attack unfolded, gunfire could be heard from inside the building. White smoke billowed from the

scene, according to witnesses. A similar attack targeting a busy area in Mogadishu at the end of February killed at least 24 people. Al-Shabab, Africa’s most active Islamic extremist group, has been fighting for years to take power and create an Islamic state in Somalia. It frequently carries

out suicide bombings targeting public places, hotels and government offices despite being pushed out of Mogadishu. It mostly operates from rural areas in the country’s south. African Union peacekeepers stationed in Mogadishu and elsewhere in the country have helped Somali forces

to keep al-Shabab fighters at bay. The extremist group has also carried out many deadly attacks in neighboring Kenya in retaliation over the country’s deployment in 2011 of peacekeepers in Somalia. The US military has carried out a number of deadly air strikes in recent months against al-Shabab. AP

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PHL bent on remaining on maritime white list

By Lorenz S. Marasigan

@lorenzmarasigan

HE government has vowed to take steps to improve the state of the local maritime education, training, examination and assessment system, as it gears up to “solidify” its position as a whitelisted nation in the International Maritime Organization (IMO). Transportation Secretary Arthur P. Tugade said he has instructed the Maritime Industry Authority (Marina) to ensure that

Reservoirs. . . Continued from A1

Under the bill, according to Piñol, the DA would receive “funding to build small reservoirs, impounding and water catchments all over the country.” The other measures proposed by the DA include the dredging of major river systems nationwide “to increase water holding capacity and prevent flooding during rainy season.” The DA also pushed for stricter enforcement of forest protection laws and the creation of a national program to locate and identify headwaters to be declared as protected areas. Piñol said he also recommended the funding of alternative irrigation systems, particularly the DA’s banner program of solarpowered irrigation. “Unless these measures are implemented, the Philippines could face a major water crisis in the next few years,” he said in a Facebook post on Sunday.

Loan. . .

the country’s status in the specialized agency of the United Nations remains. “Our mariners invest blood, At the meeting, Piñol said he made a presentation on the threat of a “looming water crisis” to the agriculture sector. Piñol said the country’s water supply for agriculture has been declining over the past decades due to major reasons, including continued deforestation and absence of water conservation programs. The delay in the implementation of irrigation systems and reliance of the farm sector on traditional irrigation systems are also factors in the looming water crisis. Piñol said the frequency of El Niño—now occurring every two years—drains the country’s water supply.

Rainwater collectors

AMID the water shortage, a lawmaker on Sunday asked Congress to look into the implementation of a 30-year-old law that requires the installation of rainwater collectors in all barangays. “We actually have a 1989 statute that calls for the construction of rainwater harvesters in all baran-

Continued from A1

This, even as Gatchalian said the “Philippines is quite mature in public finance” mainly because of three things: Congress reviews loan agreements even though its prior consent is not required; There is an independent Monetary Board that also reviews

400,000

sweat and tears in their work, and the government should repay that by ensuring that we remain in the IMO white list. We need to protect the livelihood and welfare of our seafarers,” he added. He did not elaborate on what actions will be taken to ensure the

Philippines remains on the list. Being included on the white list implies that the Philippines is compliant with the International Convention on Standards of Training, Certification and Watchkeeping (STCW). Being on the list gives Filipino seafarers a huge advantage, as this reflects that they underwent strict training and education. A panel of international maritime experts will conduct an independent evaluation in April as part of the Philippines’s continuing compliance with the pertinent provisions of the STCW of 1978. Particularly, they will be check-

ing if the country’s maritime sector is compliant with Regulation I/8, which requires countries to periodically undertake independent assessments of “the effectiveness of the quality standard arrangements at all levels.” The forthcoming assessment, according to Marina Administrator Narciso Vingson Jr., will “solidify the Philippines inclusion in the white list of the IMO.” “Our engagement with the professional services of independent evaluators shows our full efforts in maintaining our seafarer’s reputation worldwide as a dependable maritime work force. We will continue to comply with

gays. But it seems that the execution of the law has been wanting,” Surigao del Sur’s Pimentel said in a statement. However, members of the House are asking large water users, such as malls, office buildings and golf courses, to install their own rainwater collectors. “Congress has to ascertain the factors holding up the law’s aggressive operation, and fix the problem right away—whether it is simply due to lack of funding or other issues,” Pimentel added. Section 2 of the law states: “The Department of Public Works and Highways shall, within 30 days after the approval of this Act, undertake the construction of water wells, rainwater collectors, development of springs and rehabilitation of existing water wells in all barangays in the Philippines in such number as may be needed and feasible, taking into consideration the population, hydrologic conditions, costs of project development and operations, financial and economic factors and institu-

tional arrangements.” At present, Pimentel, citing Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (Pagasa), said Metro Manila and 40 provinces are reeling from a “dry spell.” Areas are under a dry spell have had “three consecutive months of below normal rainfall, or two consecutive months of way below normal rainfall.” In Luzon, the 24 provinces under a dry spell are: Abra, Benguet, Kalinga, Apayao, Mountain Province, Pangasinan, Cagayan, Bataan, Nueva Ecija, Pampanga, Tarlac, Zambales, Batangas, Cavite, Laguna, Quezon, Marinduque, Romblon, Albay, Camarines Norte, Camarines Sur, Catanduanes, Masbate and Sorsogon. In the Visayas, the 11 provinces under a dry spell are: Aklan, Antique, Capiz, Iloilo, Negros Occidental, Negros Oriental, Biliran, Eastern Samar, Leyte, Northern Samar and Samar (Western Samar). In Mindanao, the five provinces under a dry spell are: Zamboanga

del Norte, Misamis Occidental, Dinagat Islands, Surigao del Norte and Tawi-Tawi. According to a Pagasa assessment, 31 other provinces are experiencing either “drought” or a “dry condition.” Drought means “three consecutive months of way below normal rainfall, or five consecutive months of below normal rainfall.” The 10 provinces reeling from drought are: Ilocos Norte, Ilocos Sur, La Union, Occidental Mindoro, Oriental Mindoro, Palawan, Zamboanga del Sur, Zamboanga Sibugay, Maguindanao and Sulu. The 21 provinces experiencing dry condition, or two consecutive months of below normal rainfall, are: Ifugao, Isabela, Nueva Vizcaya, Quirino, Bulacan, Aurora, Rizal, Guimaras, Bohol, Cebu, Siquijor, Southern Leyte, Bukidnon, Camiguin, Lanao del Norte, Misamis Oriental, Compostela Valley, Agusan del Norte, Agusan del Sur, Basilan and Lanao del Sur. Jovee Marie N. Dela Cruz and Jasper

The number of Filipino seafarers deployed in different parts of the world to date, remitting about $5.8 billion annually

loan agreements; and macroeconomic data is also open to the public, which allows analysts to review data in real time. These things may account for the credit report rendered in late 2018 by research firm Nomura, describing the Philippines as “one of the more healthy countries in debt contracting,” according to Gatchalian. He hailed the DOF for uploading the loan documents that are now open for public scrutiny.

Gatchalian disclosed over the weekend that the Economic Affairs Committee is “doing [an] internal review of the loan documents” prior to the opening of the Senate hearing, which he expected to be joined by the Ways and Means panel, chaired by Sen. Juan Edgardo Angara. “We’re doing our own internal due diligence,” Gatchalian added. “We are [also] reviewing the terms in other loans where there are arbitration proceedings...We need to review if there are unfair terms,” the senator added. Pressed for an example, he said there may be provisions “related to sovereignty and arbitration that may require tying up the West Philippine Sea.” “There should be none of that,” added Gatchalian. The Philippines has closely studied the cases of countries that went into a so-called debt trap over Chinese loans, and should learn to avoid tricky loan provisions, the senator said. Those countries, Gatchalian said, were either caught in “unsustainable borrowing” activities—meaning, their economy cannot sustain their level of borrowing—or they consented to an unfair “collateralization or surrender of their

Emmanuel Y. Arcalas

assets or sovereignty.”

Debt service data healthy

RELATEDLY, Action for Economic Reforms Coordinator Filomeno Sta. Ana III believes there is no cause for alarm that the country will face a debt crisis. “Philippine debt service ratios indicate creditworthiness,” Sta. Ana said.“Fiscal situation has greatly improved, bolstered by the tax reforms that have generated sustainable revenues. That’s why we have maintained a positive investment grade from credit-rating agencies.” Loan conditions also feature low interest rate in comparison to the country’s rate and other rates of most creditor countries, he said. While Japan offers lower interest rate, he said it is difficult to compare it with that of China as it would be like comparing apples and oranges unless there is sufficient information that Japan offered the loan for the project with the same specifications. “Moreover, we have to study other documents regarding the technical analysis, including cost-benefit to determine whether project is sound in economic/development as well as financial terms,” he said.

DOF knows its job– Neri

FOR former Socioeconomic Planning Secretary Romulo Neri, the terms on the loan agreements are “not onerous.” “I’m sure DOF knows what it’s doing. What matters is we maximize the economic return on the project so the benefits exceed the costs, including loan repayments. Neda’s [National Economic and Development Authority] job is to ensure that so that we don’t end up with white elephant projects,” Neri said in a message to the BusinessMirror. The government must also make sure that only first-rate Chinese contractors will be allowed. He added the implementing agency such as the Department of Public Works and Highways is also responsible for implementing expeditiously the projects and making sure that these will be done as planned.

IMO standards for the benefit of our seafarers,” he said. The results of next month’s evaluation will form part of the regular Communication of Information of the Philippines to the IMO as required under Regulation I/7 of the convention. The government has been intensifying its efforts to remain on the white list, as removal from the list could have serious implications on Filipino seafarers abroad. There are as many as 400,000 Filipino seafarers deployed in different parts of the world to date, remitting about $5.8 billion annually.

PAJ. . .

Continued from A12

The PAJ will also honor five of its colleagues for their respective lifetime achievements and excellence in agricultural journalism, namely: Rodolfo “Rudy”Fernandez (posthumous), of The Philippine Star and University of the Philippines Los Baños; Dr. Anselmo “Ka Elmo” Roque, of The Philippine Daily Inquirer and Central Luzon State University; Ramon Magsaysay Awardee Zac Sarian, Manila Bulletin agriculture section and Agriculture Magazine editor; former National Press Club president, Balita editor, former press undersecretary, and first Binhi awardee as agricultural journalist in Filipino Marcelo Lagmay; and former Philippine News Agency managing editor and PAJ founding director Joaquin “Jake” Espino. Special awards will also be conferred on Henry Lim Bon Liong, president and CEO of SL Agritech Corp., and PAJ past President Roman Floresca. Winners in the 12 minor categories of the 2018 PAJ-SMC Binhi Awards will receive P20,000 cash prize and a Binhi trophy, said Reyes. These are the best agri story, feature story, environment story, climate change story, and water sustainability story, best photo journalist, agri section of a national newspaper, magazine, newsletter, radio program, and agri information and advocacy campaign. All the contestants submitted their bodies of work and stories, published from November 1, 2017, to October 31, 2018, to a five-person board of judges, headed by Bacani, and whose members include: Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas Monetary Board member Bruce Tolentino; veteran journalist and educator Dr. Crispin Maslog; SMC AVP for corporate and media affairs Mary Jane Llanes Oconer; and broadcast journalist and former Agham Party-list Rep. Angelo Palmones.

Current account. . .

Continued from A1

The DOF pointed out that a rising currentaccount deficit implies that the country is using more foreign savings, namely investments and borrowings, to finance local investments, which also shows that the interest of foreign investors and lenders in the local economy is growing. The deficit in the trade in goods balance widened to 18.4 percent of GDP or $41.4 billion in 2018 from 12.4 percent of GDP or $27.4 billion in 2017, as imports of goods rose faster than exports of goods on account of rising machinery and equipment purchased from abroad to bolster productive capacity. “Investment growth enabled the economy to grow by 6.2 percent during the period as the country sustained its position as one of the fastest-growing countries in Asia,” the DOF said. The deficit was financed partially by the surplus in the trade in services and income balances which rose to 24.6 percent of GDP or $77.1 billion for 2018, from 23.7 percent of GDP or $72.3 billion in 2017, on the back of earnings from business-process outsourcing (BPOs), remittances inflows and earnings from investments abroad by Filipino citizens. The rest of the deficit was financed by foreign investment which rose to $11.5 billion, foreign borrowing which rose to $11.6 billion, and drawdowns from gross international reserves amounting to $2.4 billion, according to the DOF. The current account is the balance of exports and imports of goods and services and income balances of the country. If the current account is at a deficit, then the country is considered to be a net borrower while if it is at a surplus then the country is considered to be a net lender to other countries. Rea Cu

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Editor: Jennifer A. Ng • Monday, March 25, 2019

‘Sin’ tax forces farmers to give up tobacco By Elijah Felice E. Rosales

@alyasjah

ANDON CITY, Ilocos Sur— Tobacco farmers can no longer endure tax increases on “sin” products, as these will further pull down the farm-gate prices of tobacco leaves, and force them to shift to lower-value crops, a lawmaker said over the weekend. In an interview with reporters here, Rep. Eric D. Singson of the Second District of Ilocos Sur said farmers are reeling from the effects of tax hikes on sin products. He claimed the proposed tax increase of P60 per pack on cigarettes in the Senate will cut the production of farmers. “When you increase the taxes, cigarettes become pricey. With that, you also reduce the number of consumers. In the process, manufacturers will produce less and hurt the farmers in the process,” Singson argued. Data prov ided by industr y players reported the number of tobacco farmers in the Ilocos region fell 25.93 percent to 34,465 in 2017 from 46,531 in 2015. Fur-

ther, the land used for tobacco farming declined 30.69 percent to 22,704 hectares in 2017 from 32,761 hectares in 2015. Of the over 12,000 farmers that abandoned tobacco farming, about 2,300 left the agriculture sector for good, while the rest shifted to agricultural crops that are valued less than the main component of cigarette. “We have to teach them to plant other agricultural products. Since this is the Ilocos area, the land here is dry, so what can be planted aside from tobacco is really corn,” Singson said. However, according to the Ilocos Sur representative, farm-gate prices of corn are about 84 percent lower than those of tobacco.

A FARMER in Balawan, La Union, rests under tobacco leaves. Farmers in the Ilocos region are now earning less from planting tobacco as the increase in “sin” taxes caused cigarette manufacturers to slash their purchases of tobacco leaves. NONIE REYES

High g rade tobacco, when sold to the trading center here, is bought by traders at P90 per k i log ra m, w it h lowest g rade quality priced at P45 per kg. Corn is sold at P14 per kg at the maximum. “ T he ma rg in in fa r m-gate prices is wide. However, we have to instruct farmers to start shift-

ing to other crops. We don’t want them planting too many tobacco because what if the demand for cigarette goes down? Where will we sell the remaining tobacco leaves? We have to ba lance,” Singson said. The BusinessMirror also interviewed tobacco farmers, who are set to harvest their crops on

Monday, and found out farm-gate prices are down 50 percent at present. Tobacco leaves are bought P45 per kilo in the Candon City trading center, farmers reported. Farmers said this is due to the proposed hikes on sin taxes, resulting in lower purchases of tobacco by cigarette firms. Singson said he understands

where the government is coming from in pushing for the increase in sin taxes, but proposed it should be done gradually, as approved by the House of Representatives. The House passed a tax hike of P37.50 per pack, while the Senate is pushing for P60 per pack, as proposed by Sen. Emmanuel D. Pacquiao, to as high as P90 per pack, as laid out by Sen. Joseph Victor G. Ejercito. He said the government was able to “injure” the tobacco industry over the years, as shown in the decline on the number of farmers and land area for tobacco farming. Moreover, about three decades ago, Ilocos Sur is host to 10 trading centers for tobacco, but is now down to one. Singson appealed to senators to be more considerate to the more than 34,000 remaining tobacco farmers of the country. He warned those running for reelections, particularly Ejercito, that their candidacies will be met with strong opposition in Ilocos Sur if they persist in pushing for higher excise taxes on tobacco. Data from the Commission on Elections showed that in the 2016 polls, there were 451,951 registered voters in Ilocos Sur, with a voter turnout of 86.85 percent. La Union, another tobaccofarming province, had 454,778 registered voters.

A10 Monday, March 25, 2019 • Editor: Angel R. Calso

Opinion BusinessMirror

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editorial

Political opinion polls are necessary

NE of the most iconic moments in American politics occurred on November 3, 1948, the day after Harry S. Truman was reelected president. Truman was photographed holding a copy of that day’s Chicago Daily Tribune with the banner headline “Dewey Defeats Truman”. New York Governor Thomas Dewey was defeated in an election that was not close (49.6 percent to 45.1 percent), although virtually every prediction indicated that Truman would lose. On the morning of the 2016 US presidential elections, the New York Times headlined that “Hillary Clinton has an 85 percent chance to win.” Opinion pollsters would like us to believe that decades of experience means that these polls are valid based on the statistical sampling science. You only need to survey a limited number of people to accurately reflect what the total population is thinking. Reality tells a different story. “Shy Tory factor” is a name given to a phenomenon first observed by British opinion polling companies in the early 1990s. It was found that the share of the vote won by the Conservative Party (known as the “Tories”) was significantly higher than the share in opinion polls. The accepted explanation was that socalled shy Tories were voting Conservative after telling pollsters they would not. The general elections held in 1992 and 2015 also demonstrated this. Tom Bradley, Los Angeles mayor for 20 years, was an AfricanAmerican who lost the 1982 California governor’s race despite being ahead in polls. The “Bradley effect” is a theory concerning observed discrepancies between opinion polls and election outcomes where a white candidate and a nonwhite candidate run against each other. Some white voters give inaccurate polling responses for fear that they will be criticized of racial motivation. The current opinion polls on the upcoming Senate race has led some to say that the Commission on Elections (Comelec) should stop survey companies from releasing preelection survey results. Another comment is that these opinion polls are conditioning the mind of the electorate to accept a particular outcome. There is a huge amount of hypocrisy for a candidate to bash opinion polls. A critical job of a campaign manager is to use polls to discover where the candidate has weak numbers. If a Senate hopeful is losing the votes of jeepney drivers or performing poorly in a vote-rich province, within a few days there will be a campaign stop to talk to the jeepney drivers in that province. Campaign managers also fear that their candidate who has a strong lead may lose some voters who go for their “second choice,” since their “first choice” is “guaranteed” to win. Despite criticizing the opinion polls, candidates are quick to “thank the voters” when he or she moves up in the poll rankings. These surveys are sometimes flawed, can be used to push a political agenda and may or may not sway public opinion. However, they do offer a necessary insight into how the election process is proceeding. Since candidates use this information, the public also has a right to know the results. Since 2005

BusinessMirror A broader look at today’s business

Do you work hard? Atty. Jose Ferdinand M. Rojas II

RISING SUN

ARD work, in our society, is recognized and rewarded. In many industries and organizations, the hard worker who stays behind when everyone else has left and he or she who is first before the rest arrives is seen as more dedicated or more hardworking. We’ve read reports about office employees dropping dead from exhaustion or falling sick and then eventually dying because of overwork. I remember reading a couple of news items about workers in advertising agencies who did far too many hours of overtime even when they were already feeling ill. There have been reports of the same thing happening to call-center agents, known for unnatural work schedules that often lead to fatigue and

Atty. Lorna Patajo-Kapunan

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T. Anthony C. Cabangon Lourdes M. Fernandez Jennifer A. Ng Vittorio V. Vitug Lorenzo M. Lomibao Jr., Gerard S. Ramos Lyn B. Resurreccion, Efleda P. Campos Dennis D. Estopace

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in certain organizations who raise their eyebrows at people who try to finish the day’s work on time so he or she can go home to the family on the dot. Those who shirk overtime are criticized when, in fact, studies have shown that many of those who are able to finish the day’s work at the end of a work day are actually more efficient and better at time management. Some sources go on to suggest that some of those who do overtime are actually the inefficient workers. The wisdom of traditional Chinese medicine dictates that human beings need to be in deep sleep for a

‘The legal basis for saving Manila Bay’

✝ Ambassador Antonio L. Cabangon Chua Publisher

sleep deprivation. Japan is also known for its long work hours, and here at home, the phenomenon is not unheard of. More recently, the entertainer Chokoleit died after a live show. It was obvious in the video that circulated online that he was already feeling unwell while he was onstage. This work culture is also seen in the US, China, Korea and other countries. There are employees and bosses

As a society, the way we view overtime, stress and workaholics must change. Overall health, work-life balance and the general well-being of workers must be given more value in our fast-paced work environment. In the end, healthy workers are more effective and more productive.

N December 18, 2008, the Supreme Court in a landmark decision issued a mandamus ordering 13 government agencies “to clean up, rehabilitate and preserve Manila Bay, and restore and maintain its waters to SB level [Class B sea waters per Water Classification Tables under DENR Administrative Order 34 (1990)] to make them fit for swimming, skin-diving and other forms of contact recreation.” The case started when, on January 29, 1999, concerned residents of Manila Bay filed a complaint before the Regional Trial Court (RTC) in Imus, Cavite, against several government agencies, among them, the Metropolitan Manila Development Authority, Department of Environment and Natural Resources, Education, Health, Agriculture, Public Works and Highways, Budget and Management, Philippine Coast Guard, PNP Maritime Group, and Department of the Interior and Local Government, for the cleanup, rehabilitation and protection of Manila Bay. The complaint alleged that the quality of the Manila Bay had fallen way below the allowable standards set by law, specifically Presidential Decree 1152 of the Philippine Environment Code. The complainants alleged the continuing neglect of these

government agencies in abating the pollution of Manila Bay. On September 13, 2002, the RTC rendered a decision in favor of the complainants and ordered the government agencies concerned, jointly and severally, to clean up and rehabilitate Manila Bay and directed the DENR as the lead agency, within six months to act and perform their respective duties by devising a consolidated, coordinated and concerted scheme of action for the rehabilitation and restoration of Manila Bay. On appeal by the government agencies concerned, the Court of Appeals by a decision on September 28, 2005, denied the appeal and affirmed the decision of the RTC in toto, stressing that the RTC’s decision did not require these government agencies to do tasks outside of their usual basic functions under existing laws. The

It took the Philippine government 10 long years to heed the decision of the Supreme Court. With the confidence gained during the Boracay cleanup, President Duterte on January 8, 2019, mandated a major cleanup of the Manila Bay, warning hotels and other establishments in the area to refrain from dumping their waste into Manila Bay or else they face closure. decision of the Court of Appeals was elevated to the Supreme Court (GR 171947-48) on the ground, among others, that the cleaning or rehabilitation of the Manila Bay is not a ministerial act that can be compelled by mandamus. In upholding the decision of the Court of Appeals, the Supreme Court said: “This case turns on government agencies and their officers who by nature of their respective offices on by direct statutory command, are tasked to protect and preserve, at the first instance, our internal waters, rivers, shores and seas polluted by human activities. To most of these agencies and their official compliment, the pollution menace does not seem to carry the high national priority it deserves, if their track records are to be norm. Their cavalier attitude towards solving, if not mitigating, the environmental pollution problem, is a sad

certain period of time each night so that the body’s organs can regenerate or be reenergized. Some doctors advise that bedtime should be at 10 p.m. so that we can reach deep sleep status by around midnight. The body needs to be at rest from this time until about 3 in the morning, for optimum health. Experts have suggested a cutdown on the number of working days and/or working hours. This is something that our lawmakers and even the private and public institutions and organizations must look at. Definitely, there is a need to increase efforts to make more people aware of the dangers of stress and overwork. Work-life balance and the welfare of workers must be prioritized. As a society, the way we view overtime, stress and workaholics must change. Overall health, work-life balance and the general well-being of workers must be given more value in our fast-paced work environment. In the end, healthy workers are more effective and more productive.

commentary on bureaucratic efficiency and commitment. At the core of this case is the Manila Bay, a place with a proud historic past, once brimming with marine life and, for so many decades in the past, a spot for different contact recreation activities, but now a dirty and slowly dying expanse mainly because of the object official indifference of people and institutions that could otherwise have made a difference.” It took the Philippine government 10 long years to heed the decision of the Supreme Court. With the confidence gained during the Boracay cleanup, President Rodrigo Duterte on January 8, 2019, mandated a major cleanup of the Manila Bay, warning hotels and other establishments in the area to refrain from dumping their waste into Manila Bay or else they face closure. In a speech before local officials during the Barangay Summit on Peace and Order, President Duterte announced that he had ordered the environment secretary to start cleaning up Manila Bay. As early as 1975, Architect Felino Palafox Jr. and his colleague from the Planning and Project Development Office of the DPW, published the Manila Bay Metropolitan Region (MBMR) Strategic Plan. With the President’s strong political will, DENR’s clean directive and Arch. Palafox’s Strategic Plan, the Supreme Court’s 2008 mandamus hopefully will be respected. That’s what the Rule of Law is all about!

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Bad play: Changing pivot in mid-game

Project Sinag Siegfred Bueno Mison, Esq.

THE PATRIOT

Dr. Jesus Lim Arranza Continued from A1

EANWHILE, the House of Representatives passed a bill raising cigarette tax and a separate bill increasing tax on alcohol in 2018.

Driven by the goal to raise around P257 billion to fund the first-year implementation of the Universal Health Care Law, increasing tobacco tax to P90 per pack, which would be three times more than its current level, is seen by our legislators as a rich source of funds for the country’s universal health-care program. Based on the new schedule for “sin” taxes, duty on tobacco products will be raised further to P37.50 from January 2020 to December 31, 2021, and to P40 from January 1, 2022, to December 31, 2023. From January 1, 2024, the levy will be raised by 4 percent annually. I am concerned though on how easy it is for our legislators to amend certain provisions of the sin tax law, even if the full impact of such original provisions have yet to be attained. If we liken the legislative exercise to a basketball game, it is like changing pivot during mid-game. This is definitely not a good play for affected industry stakeholders. It is bad in the sense that, while affected industry stakehokders are still coping with the additional taxes imposed under the orignal version of the sin tax law, they would have to readjust their focus again, if only to meet the amended tax provisions of the TRAIN law. As the famous American surgeon William Frederick Brook once said, “Learn to adjust yourself to the conditions you have to endure, but make a point of trying to alter or correct conditions so that they are most favorable to you.” While industry stakeholders affected by the second tranche of the TRAIN law cannot do anything but comply with the new taxes provided by the law, some of them may, however, be extending the tax absorpotion limit to the max. But nonetheless, they would have to make certain adjustments to their operations, if only to keep their company operationally viable. After all, there is such a thing as “tipping point” where a series of small changes or incidents become significant enough to cause a larger, more important change. I support the Universal Health

I am concerned though on how easy it is for our legislators to amend certain provisions of the sin tax law, even if the full impact of such original provisions have yet to be attained. If we liken the legislative exercise to a basketball game, it is like changing pivot during mid-game. Care Law. But at least, what our legislators could have done was to spread the source of funds for its implementation to other dutiable products, as well. Distilled spirits are not entirely bad, when taken with moderation. It is when taken excessivley that makes distilled spirits bad. I hope that with the implementation of the second tranche of the TRAIN law over the next four years already defined, Congress would no longer dabble with the law and amend it further to suit evolving developments in the country’s economy. As the famous African-American sprinter Wilma Rudolph also once said, “Winning is great, sure, but if you are really going to do something in life, the secret is learning how to lose. Nobody goes undefeated all the time. If you can pick up after a crushing defeat, and go on to win again, you are going to be a champion someday.” Stakeholders in the country’s cigarette and distilled spirits industry, with their contributions to the nation’s economy, the jobs for workers and the products they offer to consumers are definitely champions in their own respective ways. And sticking to the original play on the sin tax law would be most beneficial to the government, industry stakeholders and the Filipinos. Meanwhile, let me reiterate my statement about sin tax during the Senate hearing when I said: “If people would benefit from the revenues generated by the sin tax on tobacco and alcohol, will it not also make them sinners?”

Y the time this article is published, Philippine Airlines will be using a different Passenger Service System, which is responsible for managing several customer transactions with airlines. Considered as the heart of any airline’s informationtechnology infrastructure, this new PSS offers full reservation, inventory, departure control and flight notification capabilities. However, as in any transition from one system to another, PAL expected some rectifiable errors that may impact its ability to deliver the desired customer experience—from booking to check-in to departure. During a reasonable yet time-bound system upgrade period, PAL customers will likely experience difficulty in booking, rebooking, rerouting and refunds. Given this gargantuan task of managing the entire migration from one system to another is Dina May Flores, PAL’s vice president for Revenue Management. She and her team spent long hours tirelessly checking, validating and reviewing internal processes that may affect information integrity and, more importantly, anticipating possible systems glitches along the way. As part of its preparation, the team even had to undergo several Business Rehearsals to test the full capability of

the Amadeus Altea, the new PSS, all throughout the entire duration of a passenger’s airline travel. Dina May also had to oversee both the system and the persons who will be handling the system after the migration. She is very hopeful that the project will have manageable hitches and that the new PSS will be “all systems go” as scheduled. Dina May chose to adopt “Sinag” as its project name for two reasons. First, the migration to a new and expectedly better PSS coincided

BLOOMBERG VIEW

SMUG, entitled business class driven by greed and hubris, but sorely lacking in resources to legitimize their control. I could be describing the India Inc. of today—or 1959. Nothing much has changed. Jet Airways Ltd., India’s oldest surviving private-sector airline, is about to crash land. Founder Naresh Goyal neither brought in enough new equity of his own to rescue the debt-laden carrier, nor did he allow a timely sale to suitors who wanted the business, albeit without him. Jet may yet survive, but it’s touch-and-go. Or take the country’s second-largest hospital chain, put into the trauma room by its founders’ 4-billion-rupee ($56 million) fraud. Fortis Healthcare Ltd. wants brothers Malvinder and Shivinder Singh arrested.

Complicating matters, Malvinder has accused Shivinder of siphoning funds from the family holding company and diverting them to a spiritual guru. The whole thing is an unholy mess. For at least six decades, scholars and policy-makers have been aware of the strain placed by India’s feudal system of corporate governance on capital formation, job creation and growth. Yet the last major reform was in 1969, which ironically was also when India was nationalizing banks and lurching toward a more

with the third anniversary of PAL’s adoption of a Philippine eagle, aptly named Sinag. Second, Sinag is a Filipino word that means rays or light from the sun, moon or the stars. In her words, Dina May says: “Just like Sinag, we are determined to continue to be the ray of hope in this new endeavor. We shall continuously improve the company’s system to ensure efficiency and eventually achieve the fifth star in the near future!” While the big story is the fact that PAL has invested and will continue to invest in technologies to improve customer experience, such as the new PSS, the bigger story, I think, is the fact that Dina May and the rest of Project Sinag managed to mobilize volunteers over the weekend to help soften the impact of the system migration to passengers during the actual cutover period. Project Sinag understood the significance of organizational leadership, similar to the Bible in book of Numbers, where the recurring theme is the fact that each person matters and that each person has to be accounted for. Contemplating some IT-related issues that will likely affect passenger service, Project Sinag generated a tremendous amount of internal support from PAL employees. There were more than sufficient number of employees who willingly

signed up to be physically assigned in ticket offices, airport counters and command center in different duty shifts. This concerted effort is a developing testament as to how current servant leaders in PAL have exhibited leadership by example. I truly admire and respect those who gave their precious weekend hours to help Project Sinag succeed. While the hours they spent are not compensable, I am confident that they will be appropriately rewarded in due time. After all, in the Bible, 2 Corinthians 9:7 tells us, “Each of you should give what you have decided in your heart to give, not reluctantly or under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver.” In her many years in PAL, Dina May has given so much in terms of time and talent. Her passion to serve and help others is visibly seen in her output and presentations. In offering a more robust and top-of-theline PSS, PAL offers to give a better service to its more than 14 million passengers every year. Living up to its name, the team effort behind Project Sinag serves to remind all PAL employees that the Heart of the Filipino is not just a slogan. It is and should be about heartily giving much to customers. For questions and comments, please e-mail me at sbmison@gmail.com.

The world’s wealth rests on a paper-thin illusion

By Satyajit Das | Bloomberg Opinion

HE world is wealthier now than it’s ever been—but only on paper. Much of this prosperity may prove illusory as a global shift toward less liquid investments undermines the basis of valuation. Private equity, infrastructure and private credit have become a bigger share of investment portfolios, making mark-to-market values increasingly uncertain. The standard method of valuing assets assumes prices are available and that there is adequate trading liquidity to be able to sell at those levels. This may hold for traditional investments such as stocks and bonds. But assets such as private equity are rarely traded or not tradable at all, necessitating the use of models or proxies instead. Even for publicly traded assets, mark-to-market values may be less reliable than in the past. Over recent years, trading volumes have declined for most asset classes due to a reduction in dealer numbers, regulations that make it more expensive to hold trading inventory, and central bank intervention. Meanwhile, prices for smaller-cap shares, as well as many corporate and structured bonds, emerging- and frontier-market securities, and distressed debt may not be consistently available. These factors, combined with the growth of large

funds and the size of holdings, mean that the ability to sell at quoted prices is questionable. Model-based valuations are unsurprisingly sensitive to assumptions about key inputs that may not be easily verifiable. For example, values of private credit may be highly sensitive to presumed default rates and correlation between defaults. For private equity and infrastructure, the models rely on discounting future cash flows. These may be distorted by low rates and decreased risk premiums. The models typically require a residual value to be assigned to the asset at the end of the chosen projection period. Changes in assumptions about termination values can significantly influence model outputs, especially at the abnormally low interest rates that have prevailed since the global financial crisis—the result of central bank efforts to maintain asset prices and boost spending through the wealth effect. Sometimes, known sales are used as proxies to establish or calibrate model values. These suffer from the problem of small sample sizes and a lack of exact

India’s crony capitalist edifice is creaking Andy Mukherjee

Monday, March 25, 2019 A11

virulent socialism. Subsequently, globalization caught up with India, the economy opened up and attracted hundreds of billion dollars in foreign capital, but the foundations of corporate structure stayed weak. It’s only now, when the edifice is showing cracks, that it’s becoming clear a fresh coat of paint alone won’t suffice. Back in the 1960s, “managing agencies” dominated India’s industrial landscape. The 70 companies in the Tata Group were run by nine agencies, while 49 firms in the Birla Group were managed by 13. Such was the sway of the “boxwallahs,” as the agents were pejoratively referred to, that State Bank of India wouldn’t lend to an operating company without its managing agency’s guarantee. Never mind that a majority of these proxy controllers didn’t even have 1 million rupees in capital of their own. They were vehicles for business families to extract commissions and control empires in the garb of providing managerial expertise. Andrew Yule, Martin Burn, W.H. Brady and MacNeill & Barry. As the names suggest, the managing

agencies started out as part of the British colonial project, but about a hundred years ago ownership started to pass into Indian hands. The world wars and India’s 1947 independence hastened the switch. India eventually outlawed managing agencies in 1969, but entrenched families lost no time in gaming the corporate boards that were now in charge. Explicit recognition of some shareholders as “promoters” has perpetuated their exorbitant privilege, and infected even firms of a newer vintage. The cofounders of Mindtree Ltd., a mid-bracket software services company, didn’t show any urgency when a large investor warned them of his intention to cash out. Now that the investor has sold to engineering firm Larsen & Toubro Ltd., the insiders are shocked; shocked that L&T is out to “decimate” Mindtree with a $1.6-billion hostile takeover. Mindtree founders are firstgeneration entrepreneurs. You can imagine the sense of entitlement that may be felt by the more pedigreed families that control 60 percent of the assets of publicly traded companies.

correspondence to the asset being valued. Adjustments are necessarily subjective. Proxies are sometimes based on sales between funds that are related to each other. This increases the risk of manipulation or error. All mark-to-market valuations assume the investor or fund can sell the underlying asset. Managers have considerable discretion and, as was the case in 2008, can impose “gate” provisions to prevent fund withdrawals. In a major downturn or under volatile conditions, investors in funds holding private assets are likely to face restrictions on redemption where the managers cannot liquidate holdings. In such conditions, the mark-to-market value won’t be realizable. It may change between the decision to sell and receipt of proceeds. Where the investment is overseas, the ability to repatriate funds can no longer be assumed in an era where globalization and the free movement of capital are under threat. In addition to misstating wealth, valuation problems create several systemic issues. First, market-to-market values are asymmetric in nature. Unrealized gains that produce no cash require borrowing against the investment to finance consumption. This has been a factor in rising debt levels. If the mark-to-market value then falls, wealth is reduced but the borrowing must still be repaid. Where the asset value secures borrowings, unrealized

losses may trigger margin calls, creating a liquidity squeeze and forced sales that further depress prices. Second, incentive structures are skewed. Performance-based compensation encourages aggressive valuations that increase assets under management and generate higher fees for managers. This may not be fraudulent as there is ambiguity about the value of non-traded assets. As history shows, independent audits and assurance processes are no guarantee of accurate valuations. Third, where assets are incorrectly valued, fund managers and administrators may misstate exit and entry prices. This creates potential transfers of wealth between investors. Where fund values are overstated, selling investors gain at the expense of new ones; and vice versa when they are understated. True value lies in the ability to turn investments into cash. The problem of mark-to-market, especially of private investment assets, is another known unknown of modern markets and finance. The risks frequently aren’t revealed until it’s too late. Unfortunately, as investors may discover in the next downturn, one of the uses of financial crises is to expose what financiers overlooked, deliberately or accidentally, and what those responsible for oversight failed to find.

In the 1970s, William Meckling and Michael Jensen studied the friction between managers and a diffuse USstyle shareholder base, whereas in Asia, the main issue is concentrated ownership and expropriation by insiders whose political connections get them bank loans. A bank-dominated financial system hasn’t just saddled India with more than $200 billion in bad loans; it’s also been the bane of governance. Recently, Indian banks did an out-of-court settlement in Sterling Biotech Ltd., taking a 65-percent haircut while handing back control to the same promoters who’ve left India and are facing charges of money laundering. It’s good the capital-market regulator wants listed firms to tap the bond market more often, and cut their reliance on banks. Starting next month, India also aims to empower independent-minded boards to check self-dealing by promoters. I’m less enthusiastic than when the board reforms were first proposed in 2017. Wimpy directors couldn’t even stand up to professional CEOs like ICICI Bank Ltd.’s Chanda Ko-

chhar, who’s now facing charges in a conflict-of-interest case, and kowtowed before Ravi Parthasarathy, the founder of now-insolvent infrastructure financier IL&FS Group. How can they take on powerful insiders with real money and connections? For fundamental change, business families must stop playing a shadowy role in campaign finance. But the opposite is happening. Bloomberg News recently chronicled the system of anonymous electoral bonds, introduced by Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s government. These bonds contributed 31 percent of the money political parties raised last financial year from unknown sources. Their role in next month’s $7-billion general election may be even bigger. Foreign investors believe they can navigate around India’s governance fault lines. Still, South Korea’s chaebol discount could also become a millstone for India if the grip of a handful of private interests on state institutions and economic opportunities tightens. The new boxwallahs will be much harder to shake off than the old cronies.

2nd Front Page BusinessMirror

A12 Monday, March 25, 2019

ICC case vs Xi meant to get compensation for PHL fishers

By Recto Mercene

@rectomercene

ORMER Foreign Affairs Secretary Albert del Rosario said the least they could expect, as a result of bringing President Xi Jinping before the International Criminal Court (ICC), is for China to compensate thousands of affected Filipino fishermen because of the destruction of reefs in the South China Sea. China, he said, has caused the “permanent and devastating destruction of the environment,” a move that adversely affected and injured not just 326,000 fishermen but also present and f uture generations of people across the nation,” he said at

a joint press conference with Ombudsman Conchita CarpioMorales at the Manila Polo Club in Makati. Del Rosario and Carpio-Morales, along with some fishermen, submitted their complaint or communication to the ICC on March 15,

123

The number of state parties to the ICC that can serve the warrant of arrest on Xi Jinping, whom they can compel to go back to The Hague to face the charges against him two days before the Philippines’s withdrawal from the ICC takes effect on March 17. They accused Chinese President Xi of being behind the widespread destruction of the seven contested reefs and shoals in the West Philippine Sea (WPS). Included in their complaint are Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi and Ambassador Zhao Jian Hua.

THOUSANDS of motorcycle riders trooped to the People Power Monument on Edsa on Sunday morning to hold a National Unity Ride to oppose the law seeking to prevent the use of motorcycles in crimes by mandating bigger plates and other identification marks. ROY DOMINGO

NORTHEAST MONSOON AFFECTING extreme NORTHERN LUZON, as of 4:00 am - March 24, 2019

CMMA HOLDS SOUP KITCHEN FOR POOR WITH MANILA PARISH

‘Powerful template’

RELATEDLY, Sen. Risa Hontiveros hailed del Rosaro and CarpioMorales for filing the complaint, saying they are “accomplishing what President Rodrigo Duterte is unwilling and unable to undertake: his job to safeguard and protect Philippine sovereignty and us Filipinos against China.” In a statement on Sunday, the senator said: “In filing a case against Chinese President X i Jinping before the International Criminal Court [ICC] regarding China’s incursions in the West Philippine Sea, the complainants provided us with a powerful template of courage as we continue to assert our sovereignty in the West Philippine Sea.” See “Xi,” A2

Gordon offers to help craft motorbike law’s IRR; Atienza cites ‘defects’ EN. Richard Gordon reminded the Land Transportation Office (LTO) over the weekend to stick to the spirit of the recently enacted Motorcycle Crime Prevention Law in writing its implementing rules and regulations (IRR), as motorbike rider groups mounted a protest caravan on Edsa in a bid to pressure authorities to delay its enforcement. Gordon, principal author of the awaited remedial legislation embodied in Republic Act 11235, stressed that implementing authorities “should not digress from the purpose of the law,” which is principally to protect the citizenry from crimes committed involving use of motorcycles. However, a party-list represen-

www.businessmirror.com.ph

tative on Sunday urged Congress to reconsider amending the said law to prevent permanent damage and even lives lost on the part of the motorcyclists. Senior Deputy Minority Leader Lito Atienza of Buhay said the Republic Act 11235 has fundamental defects, and the sooner it is adjusted to international norms and standards on safety, the better for motorcyclists. In a statement, Gordon indicated he expects enforcement authorities under the Duterte administration to start “taking action against riding-in-tandem crimes with the enactment of this law.” Gordon added: “We should not let this law die because of poor implementation; that is why the LTO should do the IRR properly.” In issuing the reminder, the author of the new law stressed that writing the implementing rules is “not lawmaking; it is just an explanation of how the law will be implemented.” Gordon, concurrent chairman of the Committee on Justice and Human Rights, intends to sit down with the LTO in writing the implementing rules “so they will get the purpose of the law correctly.” He recalled holding talks with LTO officials even in the early days before he filed the bill that is now known as the Motorcyle Crime Prevention Law. “However, laws die in the implementation. Therefore, the LTO must be careful in writing the IRR. As the principal author and sponsor, I would like to help the Committee, which will draft the IRR, to make sure that it reflects the genuine spirit of the law,” the senator said. As a former mayor of Olongapo City, Gordon recalled his experience in implementing a public transport color-coding scheme in Olongapo, expressing hope this could contribute greatly in the crafting of the IRR. “Olongapo City has been implementing a public transport color-coding scheme since 1985, when I was mayor of the city. The scheme has been an effective tool in deterring crimes and is still implemented up to this day. My experience in implementing such scheme in Olongapo would greatly contribute to the crafting of the IRR,” said Gordon. In flagging “defects” of the law, Buhay’s Rep. Atienza said, “Motorcycles are designed for speed and maneuverability. These cumbersome plates or decals will hamper the movement of and are even dangerous to legitimate motorcycleriding citizens.” See “Motorbike,” A2

ETERNAL Gardens volunteers and the CMMA Secretariat help Fr. Joselito Buenafe (in white t-shirt, standing third from right) distribute the bags of goodies. NONOY LACZA

WO Catholic church institutions fed and gave away bags of basic goods to more than 300 people in Manila last Saturday (March 23) in joint celebration of their respective anniversaries. Medicines donated by drug laboratories and pharmacies were also distributed. Th e Cat h o l i c M a s s M e d i a Awards (CMMA), as part of its yearlong celebration of its 40th anniversary last year, mounted a Soup Kitchen for the Poor jointly with the Santisima Trinidad Parish Church, itself celebrating its 25th anniversary. The CMMA was established by Jaime L. Cardinal Sin, then-archbishop of Manila, in 1978 as the means by which the archdiocese of Manila pays tribute to those “who serve God through the mass media.” Thousands of communication professionals and students, through the Student CMMA, have received the award over the years. The Santisima Trinidad parish was established on March 25, 1994, with Fr. Domingo Baybay as its first parish priest. Fr. Joselito Buenafe has been its parish priest for almost six years, with Fr. Agot Abril as auxiliary parish priest. The church is located on Estrada corner Dian Streets in Malate, Manila. In his brief message to parishioners, Buenafe said the celebration was fitting and timely, “particularly in this season of Lent, which is a time for prayers, fasting and abstinence, and sharing with our fellow men.” The church is unique among Catholic churches honoring the Holy Trinity. Besides the images of God the Father, God the Son and

God the Holy Spirit, an altar on the right side of the church displays an image of the Blessed Virgin Mary on her coronation. Asked why this is so, Buenafe said the Catholic church “inherited the image from the Aglipayan church” that formerly owned and managed the structure. Novaliches Bishop Emeritus Teodoro Bacani is credited with helping establish the Catholic parish 25 years ago, celebrating a street mass on Estrada street to gain the community’s support for the move. Cory Estrella, a lay worker, said the image is known as La Virgen de las Santisima Trinidad. The CMMA Secretariat led by Sasa Tobias and volunteers from Eternal Gardens served hot bowls of rice porridge with roast pork known as“lugaw with lechon kawali.” Church lay organizations also distributed bowls of noodle soup to parishioners. CMMA trustee Benjamin V. Ramos was also on hand and helped distribute the bags of goodies. Along with the Soup Kitchen, lay organizations also organized a medical mission that provided health checkups for vital signs of the mostly elderly residents of the community who took part in the project. Volunteer doctors were also present for consultations and further examinations of the parishioners. On Sunday (March 24), Gaudencio B. Cardinal Rosales, archbishop emeritus of Manila, celebrated the third of a Triduum Mass, and today (Monday) the parish caps its silver anniversary celebration with a Holy Mass to be celebrated by Bishop Emeritus Bacani.

PAJ, SMC to honor top agri, environment writers

HE country’s best agriculture and environment journalists will be honored at the 2018 PAJ-SMC Binhi Awards for excellence in agricultural journalism, on March 28, 2019, 7 p.m., at the Makati Diamond Residences, Makati City. Agriculture Secretary Emmanuel “Manny” F. Piñol will be the main guest of honor and keynote speaker of the annual contest sponsored by San Miguel Corp. (SMC), attracting more than 100 contestants, according to newly elected Performing Arts Journal (PAJ) President Alfredo G. Gabot. Piñol will be joined at the presidential table by SMC President and Chief Operating Officer Ramon S. Ang, who will share an inspirational message, and former Agriculture Secretary Senen C. Bacani, who will speak as chairman of the five-member board of judges. This year’s Binhi awardees will be led by the top three winners in the three major categories—agricultural journalist, environment journalist and agribeat reporter of the year—who will each receive cash prizes ranging from P50,000 to P20,000, and respective tro-

phies, said Gabot, who also previously served as president of the PAJ and the National Press Club of the Philippines. The PAJ has been conducting the Binhi Awards since 1978 to recognize the efforts of media persons covering the agriculture, environment and agrarian-reform beats, including writers, editors and broadcast journalists for their reportage, agricultural publications, radio and television programs, and information campaign, said Noel Reyes, PAJ vice president for external affairs and chairman of the 2018 PAJSMC Binhi Awards committee. Before the awarding ceremonies, Piñol will induct the 2019-2020 PAJ officers and board of directors, led by Gabot, who will then lead the launch of the inaugural issue of the PAJ Binhi Magazine and new design of the PAJ membership ID, and announce the group’s reactivation as member of the International Federation of Agriculture Journalists, (IFAJ) established in 1956, with a current membership of 5,000 communicators in 50 countries. See “PAJ,” A8

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Editor: Efleda P. Campos

Monday, March 25, 2019

Razon: Wawa Dam is long-term solution to water shortage in Metro By Lorenz S. Marasigan @lorenzmarasigan

& VG Cabuag

@villygc

EVELOPING the Wawa Dam in Rizal is a long-term solution for the water-shortage problem in Metro Manila, and not just another band-aid fix, billionaire Enrique K. Razon said. Razon said his group’s proposal to develop the Wawa Dam as a water-supply facility that can produce over 500 million liters per day (MLD) is not just quick,but is also highly sustainable. It is his first venture into the watersupply business. “This is not an immediate fix, but rather a medium- to long-term solution. Our project is one of the fastest and most sustainable ways to solve this current water crisis,” he said. Prime Metroline Infrastruc-

ture Holdings Inc., through a partnership with San Lorenzo Ruiz Builders and Developers Group (SLRBD), has proposed to convert the Wawa Dam into a water-supply facility to help solve the water-shortage problem in Metro Manila. The proposal involves the construction of the water facility to serve the expansion areas of eastzone concessionaire Manila Water Co. by 2022. “If we don’t act now, this will be a recurring problem,” Razon said.

Wawa Dam, an abandoned dam built during the American era in the early 1900s in the eastern part of Metro Manila, has long been seen as a better option for the water supply in the metropolis, as it does not require an expensive treatment technology like reverse osmosis. Specifically, the Wawa Dam catchment area traverses the municipality of Rodriguez (Montalban) and Antipolo, both in Rizal province. Through its proposed 500 MLD capacity, the future facility can serve more than 500,000 households in the Metropolitan Waterworks and Sewerage System (MWSS) franchise area. Prime Infra President Guillaume Lucci said the government’s support to fast-track this needed new water source for Metro Manila will help jump-start the project. “ The proximity and watersource quality of the Wawa catchment area will allow us to deliver water no later than 2022. Because of the scale and life-cycle cost of large dams, the public can be assured we will deliver it in a cost-

SteelAsia exports rebars to Canada By Elijah Felice E. Rosales @alyasjah

EADING steelmaker SteelAsia Manufacturing Corp. has shipped 10,000 metric tons (MT) of rebars to Canada to put the Philippines back on the map of steel exporting. SteelAsia Senior Vice President and Head of Sales Yvette C. Sy said the firm exported the reinforcing steel bars amounting to P300 million to Canada, the first time after several decades a Philippine company shipped steel for export. Rebars are used to provide tensile strength for infrastructure, buildings, housing and other structures. “We are excited to see Philippine-made rebars being used in buildings and infrastructure in Canada. This shows that our

steel products are competitive and world-class, having passed the stringent standards on steel set by Canadian authorities,” Sy said. SteelAsia is the first steel-bar manufacturer in the Philippines to obtain an Integrated Management System certification when its Environment (ISO 14001) and Health and Safety (OHSAS 18001) Management Systems were integrated with its Quality Management System (ISO 9001). Its ISO 9001 has also been certified to conform to United Kingdom standards for rebars, the only local firm to achieve such certification at this time. “We hope to do our part in raising the reputation of Philippine manufacturing by ensuring that our steel products are on a par with the best in the world,” Sy added.

Sy vowed SteelAsia will not lose its sight over domestic requirements. This is particularly crucial at a time when the government is embarking on a massive infrastructure program aimed at decongesting Metro Manila and spurring economic growth and employment to the countryside. SteelAsia is the country’s flagship steel firm with six rebar rolling mills across the archipelago: three in Luzon, one in the Visayas and two in Mindanao. The six mills have a combined output of over 2 million MT annually. “We are proud to contribute to the country’s development, not only through the manufacture of quality steel locally but also by earning precious foreign exchange for the country through exports,” Sy said.

Lazada offers new solutions to create ‘Super eBusinesses’ in Southeast Asia

INGA POR E — Sout heast Asian e-commerce leader Lazada unveiled on Thursday an array of products and services that will further empower its brand- and seller-partners to become major players in the buyand-sell business across the region. Launched during the inaugural LazMall Brands Future Forum (BFF) held last week at the JW Marriott Hotel in this city state, these offerings called “super-solutions” seek to address the three “pain” points they face—branding, marketing and sales—and aim to position them well to ride the booming regional e-commerce industry, which, according to Google-Temasek report, is expected to reach $240 billion by 2025. “It’s about empowering our brands and sellers, small and big, to ensure they become the ‘Super eBusinesses,’” Lazada Group told the BusinessMirror through a messaging app. “The solutions will help us achieve the aim of firing up their growth.” Among the latest products and

services is a series of “Super” campaigns LazMall brands and sellers can participate in to bolster their brand image and better engage with customers. Also included is the new and improved Marketing Solutions Package and Business Advisor Dashboard that can deliver more traffic to the storefronts of brands and sellers and equip them with near real-time information to help them make faster and better decisions to sell more effectively and efficiently. What’s more, new tech tools like Store Builder are catered for brands and sellers to customize their storefronts to differentiate themselves on Lazada. There are also news feed, in-app live streaming and consumer games that can capture the interest of consumers with higher consumer engagement. “No seller is too small to aspire, and no brand is too big to be a Super eBusiness. That is why we are thrilled to roll out super-solutions to help our brands and sellers become more nimble in digitizing their businesses and better reach

customers,” said Pierre Poignant, CEO of Lazada Group. Opening up stores on LazMall is now easier for brands and sellers—thanks to these all-encompassing series of offerings rolled out in conjunction with the eCommerce platform provider’s seventh birthday celebration on March 27. Qualified merchants can now use the self-sign up feature, a simplified registration process that can be done in just a few minutes. This is in line with Lazada’s goal of enabling small and medium enterprises (SMEs) to become globally competitive. “Since the launch of LazMall in 2018, we have seen tremendous growth among our key pioneer brand partners,” Lazada Group President Jing Yin said. To date, around 1,500 merchants have already signed up to this virtual marketplace within the Lazada app that features curated selection of leading foreign and local brands, top-rated online brands and authorized brand distributors. Roderick L. Abad

effective manner,” he said. Already, the group has signed a memorandum of understanding with Manila Water to cooperate in the possible development of the Wawa Bulk Water Supply Project. The agreement formalizes the formation of a technical team that will conduct a technical study, which shall be reviewed and approved by the MWSS. Negotiations to start the project are also ongoing, as the group would like to start building the facility at the soonest possible time. M WSS Administrator Reynaldo Velasco has expressed his support for the project. “This is an important step towards resolving the legal impediment preventing the development of one of the most strategic water supply sources for Metro Manila,” said Anthony Violago, SLRBD president. Metro Manila is bracing itself for a looming water crisis, particularly for areas in the east, as the concessionaire for the area has marked low water supply due to extremely hot weather as well as low allocations.

J&T EXPRESS, GENCARS SIGN SALES DEAL Executives of Gencars Inc.

and J&T Express recently signed a sales agreement. Present were (from left): Elenita Go, sales executive, Gencars Inc.; Lerma O. Nacnac, Gencars Inc. EVP; Dean Ding, J&T Express CEO; D. Edgard A. Cabangon, president and CEO, Gencars Inc.; Arron Wang, procurement director, J&T Express; Albert Zata, Gencars Inc. Sales and Marketing VP; and Jerryme Garcia, chief finance officer, Centro Manufacturing Corp.

Companies BusinessMirror

Monday, March 25, 2019

mutual funds

March 22, 2019

NAV ONE YEAR THREE YEAR FIVE YEAR Y-T-D PER SHARE RETURN* RETURN STOCK FUNDS ALFM GROWTH FUND, INC. -A 266.42 -1.19% 1.17% 2.42% 5.63% ATRAM ALPHA OPPORTUNITY FUND, INC. -A 1.6275 3.52% 11.35% 4.57% 12.96% ATRAM PHILIPPINE EQUITY OPPORTUNITY FUND, INC. -A 4.144 -2.91% 1.56% 1.07% 6.17% CLIMBS SHARE CAPITAL EQUITY INVESTMENT FUND CORP. -A 0.9451 0.25% N.A. N.A. 6.13% FIRST METRO CONSUMER FUND ON MSCI PHILS. IMI, INC. -A 0.872 N.A. N.A. N.A. 6.25% FIRST METRO SAVE AND LEARN EQUITY FUND,INC. -A 5.5378 0.13% 1.82% 1.87% 5.06% MBG EQUITY INVESTMENT FUND, INC. -A 127.97 12.01% N.A. N.A. 9.88% ONE WEALTHY NATION FUND, INC. -A 0.8825 -2.37% -3.58% N.A. 6.02% PAMI EQUITY INDEX FUND, INC. -A 52.3736 0.39% 1.82% N.A. 6.44% PHILAM STRATEGIC GROWTH FUND, INC. -A 547.8 0.53% 0.98% 1.86% 6.42% PHILEQUITY DIVIDEND YIELD FUND, INC. -A 1.3196 1.19% 2.73% 4.93% 5.23% PHILEQUITY FUND, INC. -A 38.9223 0.98% 3.43% 4.28% 6.25% PHILEQUITY MSCI PHILIPPINE INDEX FUND, INC. -A,3 1.0428 N.A. N.A. N.A. N.A. PHILEQUITY PSE INDEX FUND INC. -A 5.3001 0.99% 2.74% 4.29% 6.88% PHILIPPINE STOCK INDEX FUND CORP. -A 884.66 1.11% 2.43% 4.25% 6.78% SOLDIVO STRATEGIC GROWTH FUND, INC. -A 0.9272 2.19% 1.28% N.A. 7.66% SUN LIFE PROSPERITY PHILIPPINE EQUITY FUND, INC. -A 4.3464 2.34% 2.85% 3.23% 7.08% SUN LIFE PROSPERITY PHILIPPINE STOCK INDEX FUND, INC. -A 1.0174 0.59% 2.43% N.A. 6.61% UNITED FUND, INC. -A 3.7218 2.61% 4.49% 4.17% 6.31% EXCHANGE TRADED FUND FIRST METRO PHIL. EQUITY EXCHANGE TRADED FUND, INC. -A,C,2 118.3206 1.49% 3.49% 5.33% 6.84% ATRAM ASIAPLUS EQUITY FUND, INC. -B $1.0235 -10.5% 7.02% 1.94% 10.16% SUN LIFE PROSPERITY WORLD VOYAGER FUND, INC. -A $1.2657 -2.49% N.A. N.A. 14.53% BALANCED FUNDS PRIMARILY INVESTED IN PESO SECURITIES ATRAM DYNAMIC ALLOCATION FUND, INC. -A 1.7221 -1.84% -0.32% -0.85% 4.29% ATRAM PHILIPPINE BALANCED FUND, INC. -A 2.3148 -1.22% 1.34% 1.23% 4.78% FIRST METRO SAVE AND LEARN BALANCED FUND INC. -A 2.6559 0.9% -0.28% -0.81% 4.41% GREPALIFE BALANCED FUND CORPORATION -A 1.3552 -1.84% N.A. N.A. 3.9% NCM MUTUAL FUND OF THE PHILS., INC. -A 1.9177 1.47% 1.25% 1.78% 4.05% PAMI HORIZON FUND, INC. -A 3.6719 -0.55% -0.06% 0.83% 4.04% PHILAM FUND, INC. -A 16.5995 0.48% 0.21% 0.94% 4.35% SOLIDARITAS FUND, INC. -A 2.1543 0.79% 1.49% 2.72% 3.96% SUN LIFE OF CANADA PROSPERITY BALANCED FUND, INC. -A 3.8628 2.07% 1.44% 2.1% 5.79% SUN LIFE PROSPERITY ACHIEVER FUND 2028, INC. -A,D,4 1.001 N.A. N.A. N.A. N.A. SUN LIFE PROSPERITY ACHIEVER FUND 2038, INC. -A,D,4 1.0021 N.A. N.A. N.A. N.A. SUN LIFE PROSPERITY ACHIEVER FUND 2048, INC. -A,D,4 1.0002 N.A. N.A. N.A. N.A. SUN LIFE PROSPERITY DYNAMIC FUND, INC. -A 0.9838 2.23% 1.38% N.A. 6.74% PRIMARILY INVESTED IN FOREIGN CURRENCY SECURITIES COCOLIFE DOLLAR FUND BUILDER, INC. -A $0.03587 1.67% 0.3% 1.59% 1.76% PAMI ASIA BALANCED FUND, INC. -A $0.987 -8.62% 3.38% -0.08% 5.43% SUN LIFE PROSPERITY DOLLAR ADVANTAGE FUND, INC. -A $3.6573 -1.51% 6.11% 2.55% 10.55% SUN LIFE PROSPERITY DOLLAR WELLSPRING FUND, INC. -A $1.0802 -1.54% N.A. N.A. 6.95% BOND FUNDS PRIMARILY INVESTED IN PESO SECURITIES ALFM PESO BOND FUND, INC. -A 346.62 2.7% 2.12% 2.03% 0.94% ATRAM CORPORATE BOND FUND, INC. -A, 1 1.8792 0.66% -0.04% -0.3% 1.08% COCOLIFE FIXED INCOME FUND, INC. -A 3.0006 5.29% 5.24% 5.26% 1% EKKLESIA MUTUAL FUND INC. -A 2.1568 2.45% 1.62% 1.78% 1.23% FIRST METRO SAVE AND LEARN FIXED INCOME FUND,INC. -A 2.2537 1.99% 0.44% 0.87% 2.01% GREPALIFE FIXED INCOME FUND CORP. -A P 1.5985 0.06% -0.31% 0.28% 2.18% PHILAM BOND FUND, INC. -A 3.9844 0.57% -0.13% 0.57% 1.65% PHILEQUITY PESO BOND FUND, INC. -A 3.5874 2.76% 1.33% 1.1% 2% SOLDIVO BOND FUND, INC. -A 0.9147 1.14% -0.42% N.A. 2.48% SUN LIFE OF CANADA PROSPERITY BOND FUND, INC. -A 2.8603 3.4% 1.64% 1.66% 3.41% SUN LIFE PROSPERITY GS FUND, INC. -A 1.5884 3.04% 0.91% 1.2% 3.15% PRIMARILY INVESTED IN FOREIGN CURRENCY SECURITIES ALFM DOLLAR BOND FUND, INC. -A $452.88 2.44% 1.96% 2.92% 1.03% ALFM EURO BOND FUND, INC. -A Є215.78 1.6% 1.45% 1.63% 1.47% ATRAM TOTAL RETURN DOLLAR BOND FUND, INC. -B $1.1602 3.81% 1.53% 2.19% 3.06% FIRST METRO SAVE AND LEARN DOLLAR BOND FUND, INC. -A $0.0251 1.21% 0.67% N.A. 1.21% GREPALIFE DOLLAR BOND FUND CORP. -A $1.7067 -1.16% -1.22% 0.84% 0.98% MAA PRIVILEGE DOLLAR FIXED INCOME FUND, INC. N.S. N.S. N.S. N.S. N.S. MAA PRIVILEGE EURO FIXED INCOME FUND, INC. ЄN.S. N.S. N.S. N.S. N.S. PAMI GLOBAL BOND FUND, INC -A $1.0586 1.36% -0.71% -2.35% 2.02% PHILAM DOLLAR BOND FUND, INC. -A $2.2405 2.76% 0.52% 2.78% 3.19% PHILEQUITY DOLLAR INCOME FUND INC. -A $0.0578643 1.83% 1.1% 1.72% 1.55% SUN LIFE PROSPERITY DOLLAR ABUNDANCE FUND, INC. -A $2.9517 0.58% -0.09% 2.02% 2.77% MONEY MARKET FUNDS PRIMARILY INVESTED IN PESO SECURITIES ALFM MONEY MARKET FUND, INC. -A 122.07 3.39% 2.12% 1.73% 1.02% FIRST METRO SAVE AND LEARN MONEY MARKET FUND, INC. -A,5 1.0054 N.A. N.A. N.A. N.A. PHILAM MANAGED INCOME FUND, INC. -A 1.1912 2.5% 0.97% 0.68% 0.79% SUN LIFE PROSPERITY MONEY MARKET FUND, INC. -A 1.2301 3.1% 2.43% 1.79% 0.91% PRIMARILY INVESTED IN FOREIGN CURRENCY SECURITIES SUN LIFE PROSPERITY DOLLAR STARTER FUND, INC. -A $1.0215 2.04% N.A. N.A. 0.55% * - NAVPS AS OF THE PREVIOUS BANKING DAY ** - NAVPS AS OF TWO BANKING DAYS AGO *** - LISTED IN THE PSE. **** - RE-CLASSIFIED INTO A BALANCED FUND STARTING JANUARY 1, 2017 (FORMERLY GREPALIFE BOND FUND CORP.). ***** - LAUNCH DATE IS NOVEMBER 6, 2017 ****** - LAUNCH DATE IS JANUARY 08, 2018 ******** - RENAMING OF THE FUND WAS APPROVED BY THE SEC LAST APRIL 13, 2018. ********* - BECAME A MEMBER SINCE APRIL 20, 2018. ******* - ADJUSTED DUE TO CASH DIVIDEND ISSUANCE LAST JANUARY 29, 2018

Editor: Efleda P. Campos

GBP, WVSU launch Iloilo reforestation T

By Jonathan L. Mayuga

@jonlmayuga

HE Global Business Power (GBP) Corp. and West Visayas State University (WVSU) have partnered to launch the Handumanan Reforestation and Carbon Sink Project in a 150-hectare tract of land in the province of Iloilo. The reforestation program aims to mitigate climate change and promote environmental awareness by planting trees that will serve as a carbon sink. Handumanan is a Hiligaynon term that means “legacy.” GBP, through subsidiaries Panay

Energy Development Corp. (PEDC) and Panay Power Corp. (PPC), has adopted a property owned by WVSUCAF in barangays Jayubo and Sagcup in the municipality of Lambunao. “The 150-hectare carbon sink area inside the WVSU-CAF campus highlights the shared commitment

PHL firms still favor men over women for study, training perks

OCAL corporations are more likely to provide development opportunities, such as financing postgraduate studies and offering trainings, to men than to women, a study by the Makati Business Club (MBC) showed. Titled “Women in the Philippine C-Suite,” the MBC study reported female workers in executive positions were given fewer opportunities than their male counterparts. For one, 38 percent of male executives with graduate diplomas received company scholarships as opposed to 33 percent of women. Most female leaders with postgraduate credentials had to finance their studies on their own (27 percent) or obtain support from their family (13 percent). The study also said executives find it important that firms look after the welfare of its workers in order to retain talent. However, not all companies offer equal leadership training opportunities to men and women. “Fewer women, 68 percent versus 80.6 percent of men, said they could access the leadership trainings of their respective companies. This finding simply means that few women attend the train-

ings offered by companies,” the MBC study read. “It also conforms with the information shared by the respondents that men are in a better position than women to pursue postgraduate courses and trainings sponsored by their companies.” The study concluded these findings indicate that there is an imbalanced access between men and women, and that leadership roles in local firms are biased toward male employees even in modern-day corporate practice. Also, although women and men respondents have nearly equal optimism on their skills, education and leadership potential, female workers are less confident to rise to top positions. The study claimed 70.4 percent of women have confidence to take on a leadership role immediately, as compared to 87.1 percent of men. Further, 93.5 percent of men will willingly take on projects that will prepare them for executive titles, higher than the 86.4 percent recorded on women. The MBC study obtained the inputs of 180 respondents, of which 103 are women and 77 are men, who were either middle managers or an executive of a local firm. The respondents came from different industries, such as financial and insurance; professional, scientific and technical services; wholesale and retail; human, health and social work; and hospitality and food services. The MBC conducted the study in partnership with the Philippine Business Coalition for Women Empowerment and the Philippine Women’s Economic Network. Elijah Felice E. Rosales

of GBP and WVSU to help conserve the environment and combat climate change,” GBP President Jaime T. Azurin said in a statement. “This partnership between GBPC and WVSU is one big step toward ensuring the survival of our future generation. Our joint effort to plant trees and preserve our forestland is a legacy of love for humanity and Mother Earth,” said Dr. Luis M. Sorolla Jr., WVSU president. WVSU considers the project its first PPP or public-private partnership. The seven-year project will have the first four years devoted to planting and establishment of the reforestation areas, while the remaining three years will be for the maintenance of the planted trees. Under the memorandum of agreement, a minimum of 67,000 seedlings must be planted per year. Prior

to coordination and preliminary work on the reforestation project, GBP had been conducting planting activities in the area since 2015. It is estimated that 1,666 trees can be planted in 1 hectare, with provision for 2x3 meters of spacing in between trees. In support of the project’s agroforestry component, two types of trees will be planted—forest trees that are native to the area like narra, and fruit-bearing trees like jackfruit. Tall forest trees provide canopy while shorter fruit-bearing trees provide a livelihood. “The project is envisioned to be sustainable and to go beyond compliance of the Environmental Compliance Certificate by incorporating community organizing and development,” GBP Panay Operations Head Petronilo R. Madrid said.

STOCK-MARKET OUTLOOK LAST WEEK

SHARE prices rose last week with the main index returning to the 8,000-point level after the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas, with its new governor, kept its rates steady during its policy meeting. The benchmark Philippine Stock Exchange index gained 215.14 points, or 2.7 percent, to close the week at 8,013.42 points. Average trading for the week was low at only P5.46 billion, while foreign transactions were net buys at P1.56 billion. “Lower trading volumes tells us that the investor sentiment remains cautious,” said Christopher Mangun, research head at Eagle Equities Inc. All of the other subindices ended on the green. The All Shares index gained 100.28 to 4,813.31; the Financials index was up 18.66 to 1,789.47; the Industrial index rose 181.05 to 11,737.38; the Holding Firms index surged 270.58 to 7,944.05; the Property index soared 141.61 to 4,111.5; the Services index expanded 29.63 to 1,608.71; and the Mining and Oil index climbed 203.84 to 8,339.61. Gainers led losers 130 to 88, and 29 shares were unchanged. Top gainers were Century Properties Group Inc., Pacific Online Systems Inc., Zeus Holdings Inc., Metro Retail Stores Group Inc., Oriental Petroleum and Minerals Corp. B and LT Group Inc. Top losers were Abacore Capital Holdings Inc., Metro Alliance Holdings and Equities Corp. B, City and Land Developers Inc., Greenergy Holdings Inc., PTFC Redevelopment Corp. and Metro Alliance Holdings and Equities Corp.

THIS WEEK

SHARE prices may continue to rise this week as funds are expected to flow back into the equities market with the recent moves of the central banks here and in the US of keeping their rates steady. “With little changes seen for yields on fixed-income instruments, several are anticipating funds to flow back into equities, especially those that provide consistent and high dividend yields,” broker 2TradeAsia said. Gabriel Jose F. Perez of Papa Securities Inc. said with the main index at the 8,000 level, the next resistance to look to now should be the area of its recent highs at 8,200. “Further net foreign buying in the coming days, as well as more surges from the major US indices could fuel this added optimism,” he said.

STOCK PICKS

BROKER Regina Capital and Development Corp. gave a sell recommendation on the stock of Andrew Tan property arm Megaworld Corp. after the stock soared in Thursday's trading, tapping a fresh 52-week high of P5.76, but ended just P0.02 lower at P5.74. “MEG has been able to sustain its position above its moving averages for several weeks and strengthen the indicators‘ bullish momentum,” it said, giving a weekly target on the stock at P5.70 per share. Megaworld shares closed on Friday at P5.81 apiece. The broker advised investors to buy the shares of Universal Robina Corp. (URC) if its support price of P145 per share holds. “The stock slid more than 2 percent in Thursday’s trading and has allowed a new support level to form at P145. Despite closing lower, the stock is still trading above its moving averages, but the momentum has waned,” it said. URC shares closed last week at P149.20. VG Cabuag

Transco revises application to collect FiT this year

HE National Transmission Corp. (Transco) has revised its earlier application to collect from consumers a feed-in-tariff allowance (FiT-All) for 2019. “We filed a manifestation with the ERC [Energy Regulatory Commission]. It’s cheaper by about 3 centavos from our earlier filing,” Transco President Melvin Matibag said. Last July, the state firm filed for approval of the FiT-All for 2019 at the rate of P0.2780 per kilowatt-hour (kWh). FiT-All is billed to all on-grid electricity consumers, which appears as a separate line item in power distributors’ bills. The amount

is meant to cover payments to renewable-energy (RE) developers who are assured of a fixed rate per kWh for electricity generated by their projects over a period of 20 years. In its five-page manifestation, received by the ERC on March 7, Transco recomputed the FiT-All rate to P0.2471 per kWh. Transco said the revision was necessary since all data became available after its July 2018 filing. “Since the actual application was filed in July 2018, only the eligible RE plants’ actual billing data invoiced to the FiT-All fund up to May 2018 and forecasts were used to compute the said FiT-All rate. Lenie Lectura

www.businessmirror.com.ph

Banking&Finance BusinessMirror

Govt subsidies to GOCCs in Jan decrease by 13.77% By Rea Cu

@ReaCuBM

HE subsidy given in January by the national government to companies it owns or controls was lower by 13.77 percent compared to the subsidies disbursed in January last year. Based on data from the Bureau of the Treasury (BTr), the subsidy provided by the government to government-owned and -controlled corporations (GOCCs) amounted to P795 million compared to the P922 million recorded in January 2018. The National Irrigation Administration received the highest subsidy for the month with P435 million, higher by 2.11 percent from the P426 million that the government disbursed to NIA in the same month last year. The second-highest recipient of subsidies for the month was the Philippine Heart Center (PHC) with P74 million from P72 million last

year, followed by the Philippine Children’s Medical Center (PCMC) with P67 million, lower than the P78 million it received in the same month last year. Other GOCCs that were provided subsidies for January include: the National Kidney and Transplant Institute with P50 million, the Philippine Rice Research Institute with P49 million, the Cultural Center of the Philippines with P24 million, the Lung Center of the Philippines (LCP) with P17 million, the Philippine Coconut Authority with P14 million, and the Center for International Trade Expositions and Missions and the Philippine Institute for Development Studies with P11 million. Furthermore, the National Dairy Authority received P9 million worth of subsidy, the Philippine Institute of Traditional and Alternative Health Care and the People’s Television Network Inc.

Perspectives Data changers

ITH ever-more genomic data emanating from an increasingly wide range of sources, and multiple parties collecting, storing, processing and analyzing the data, how can life sciences companies ensure that they keep control over information? The key concerns center around genomic data privacy, reliability and security.

Privacy

PRIVACY laws and regulations governing the processing of personal data for research purposes are a complex area requiring careful navigation. Of all the new pieces of regulation on privacy across the world, the one with potentially the greatest impact is the EU’s General Data Protection Regulation. By covering the processing of personal data belonging to European citizens, regardless of whether the processing takes place in the EU or not, the GDPR applies to Life Sciences and technology companies developing Internet of Things (IoT) solutions and other third parties handling data on the data controllers’ behalf. The main considerations with regards to genomics relate to: 1. Transparency. Individuals using IoT devices through which personal data is collected and fed into clinical trials, should be aware of the organizations collecting their data, as well as the purposes for which the data is used. They also need to be informed of their privacy rights, such as the right of access, rectification and deletion of the data. It is understandably difficult to provide such comprehensive information when the data is collected through wearable or ingestible devices—technologies which often leave very little scope for presenting transparent privacy notices. 2. Legal basis for processing. Another significant challenge faced by organizations collecting genomic data is finding a suitable legal basis to justify the data processing activity. Given the sensitive nature of such data, the justification could involve explicit consent from the individual, or—for entities falling under the scope of the GDPR—it could be argued that the data processing is in the interest of public health. While capturing informed consent shows respect for personal autonomy, and is an important ethical requirement in research, it may also present serious hurdles. Under the GDPR, consent must be specific, informed and unambiguous. Meeting these specificity requirements can be tough, due to the difficulty in identifying research purposes in advance. This is especially true for big data, where data mining techniques search for correlations within data sets without the baseline of a specific test hypothesis. And while the GDPR allows individuals to give their consent only to certain areas of research, it is extremely difficult to manage a full audit trail of consent for each area of research and for each individual taking part. By contrast, processing data for reasons of public interest—such as ensuring high standards of medicinal products or medical devices—may be less onerous. Overall, Life Sciences companies need to balance ethical considerations against the practicalities of privacy management, to identify the most suitable basis for processing personal data relating to medical research.

Governance

GENOMIC data is just one example of how life sciences is becoming one of the most data-intensive industries, and consequently highly susceptible to privacy risks. To leverage personal information as an asset, Life Sci-

with P6 million each, the Light Rail Transit Authority and the Credit Information Corp. (CIC) with P5 million each, and the Aurora Pacific Economic Zone and Freeport Authority, Southern Philippines Development Authority and the Zamboanga City Special Economic Zone Authority with P4 million each. A subsidy given by the government to GOCCs aims to help agencies reduce its costs and support the growth of different sectors, among others. It was reported earlier that the Duterte administration aims to complete its 10-point socioeconomic agenda which aims to alleviate poverty in the country and improve the social welfare of the Filipinos, including strengthening efforts toward human capital development, health and education systems, and improving social protection programs, among others.

ences organizations should develop a robust privacy and data governance framework, supported through clear ownership and accountability for privacy across the organization.

Cyber security

NOT surprisingly, cyber security looms large in the Life Sciences sector, especially for patient data generated from clinical trials. Genomic data, sensitive health data, or the formula for a complex molecule drug is worth far more on the black market than, for instance, credit-card data. To mitigate privacy and cyber-security risks, more and more organizations are trying to de-identify personal data. However, as a recent article in Wired magazine puts it: “To completely eliminate the risk of outing an individual based on their DNA records, you’d have to strip it of the same identifying details that make it scientifically useful.” The theft of trade secrets by hackers and company insiders is deemed to be an even larger problem. The UK government identified pharmaceutical companies as the primary target for cyber theft of intellectual property (IP). Since the beginning of this decennium there has been an estimated $12 billion of damages in the UK alone, of which $2.4 billion was attributed to theft of pharmaceutical, biotechnology, and health-care trade secrets. Overall the cost of cyber attacks continues to rise exponentially each year. In the US, the Life Sciences sector is a primary target for cyber theft of IP. Prominent pharmaceutical companies like Abbott Laboratories, Boston Scientific and Pfizer have already experienced major attacks. The hack of the Food and Drug Administration’s computer center in Maryland exposed sensitive data including drug trial information, chemical formulas and other data for almost every important drug sold in the US. In past years, Life Sciences organizations have been on an acquisition spree, expanding their footprints, defining and realizing synergies, moving into emerging markets, and trying to personalize products and services to get as close to the patient as possible. A merger and acquisition of this scale, along with the tidal wave of new technology and data capabilities, means unprecedented exposure to even more nefarious cyber threats and privacy risks. These risks originate most often from competitors and nation-states scheming to capitalize on organizations’ research and development, and IP data assets—and even from disgruntled or displaced workers. Companies naturally want to protect their IP and trade secrets and could suffer serious commercial and reputational damage if such information were to be hacked or go public. With a growing number of players holding genomic data, it becomes harder to enforce strict data protection policies, which increases the chance of breaches arising from insufficient security measures. Life Science executives need to help their organizations maintain a keen cyber-security focus, instilling cyber-risk awareness and instigating action throughout the organization. In short: they should check the risks and not just check the box. The excerpt was taken from the publication, entitled “Driving value from Genomics in Life Sciences.” R.G. Manabat & Co., a Philippine partnership and a member-firm of the KPMG network of independent member-firms affiliated with KPMG International Cooperative (“KPMG International”), a Swiss entity. For more information on KPMG in the Philippines, you may visit www.kpmg.com.ph.

Monday, March 25, 2019

SC upholds dropping graft case vs ex-DBP, Pioneer Glass execs

By Joel R. San Juan

@jrsanjuan1573

HE Supreme Court has denied the bid of the Presidential Commission on Good Government (PCGG) to prosecute former officials of the Development Bank of the Philippines (DBP) and executives of Pioneer Glass Manufacturing Corp. (Pioneer Glass) for their involvement in a multimillion behest loans during the Marcos years. In a 22-page decision penned by Associate Justice Marvic F. Leonen, the SC’s Third Division affirmed the decision of the Office of the Ombudsman’s issued on May 16, 2008, which dismissed the graft complaint filed against former DBP officials and Pioneer Glass, a company engaged in the business of mining silica and producing glass products from silica. The PCGG, in its complaint, alleged that “the undue and underserved accommodation as shown by DBP’s grant and approval of loan was grossly disadvantageous,” thus, warrants the filing of graft charges against them. However, the Ombudsman found nothing questionable with DBP’s approval of Pioneer Glass’s loan applications or its guarantees in favor of the company because the loans and guarantees were backed by numerous properties as collateral.

It also noted that the guarantees and transactions between Pioneer Glass and DBP were audited by then Central Bank of the Philippines, now Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas, which found them to be aboveboard. Furthermore, the Ombudsman held that the PCGG petitioner failed to prove the existence of bad faith on the part of respondent bank officials when they approved the loans and guarantees in favor of Pioneer Glass and that the government suffered undue injury due to the transactions. Cleared were Luis S. Hofilefia Sr., Alberto A. Yaptinchay, Jose G. Cuaycong, Simplicio Ciocon, Carolina Yaptinchay-Hofilefia, Luis Hofilefia Jr., Eva Yaptinchay-Lichauco, Lerry Padlan, Thelmo Solivan, Alfonso Casas Quirino Apacible, Horacio Yaptinchay Col. Cesar Pio de Roda, G.S. Licaros, Alicia LL Reyes, Julio V. Macuja, Leoni-

des S. Virata, Rafael A. Sison, Placido Mapa Jr., Jose Tengco Jr., Alejandro A. Melchor, Leon O. Ty, Vicente Paterno and Ruben Ancheta. Reyes was the department manager of the DBP’s Industrial Projects Department, while Tengco served as part-time governor of the DBP Board of governors from February 7, 1967, until he retired in February 1987. Mapa and Paterno were former members of DBP’s Board of Governors. In upholding the Ombudsman’s dismissal of the case, the SC agreed that the PCGG erred in its findings that the loan was under-collateralized or that a grossly disadvantageous contract to the government. It noted that the DBP’s total exposure of P63,202,884.44 was secured by personal and real properties amounting to P46,822,362; assignment to DBP of sales contracts worth P13,413,000; personal undertakings by members of the Hofilefia and Yaptinchay families and other Pioneer Glass stockholders; and the assignment to DBP of Luis’s mining claims. “The records corroborate the assertions of respondent bank officials and support the findings of public respondent that the release of loans to  Pioneer Glass was preceded by a careful study and evaluation of the loan application,” the Court said. “Clearly, the loans were suitably secured when they were taken out,” it added. Concurring with the ruling were Associate Justices Mariano del Castillo, Francis Jardeleza, Jose Reyes Jr. and Ramon Paul Hernando.

Customs reiterates need for coordination

HE Bureau of Customs (BOC) has reemphasized the importance of strengthened linkages, proper coordination, and continued intelligence-sharing among agencies who are mandated to secure the country’s borders after the recent apprehension of a shipment containing illegal drugs at the Manila International Container Port (MICP). The BOC-MICP together with the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency (PDEA) foiled a shipment containing 276 packs of methamphetamine (local slang is shabu) weighing a total of 276 kilos and estimated to be worth around P1.8 billion on Friday night. The drugs were found inside a 40-

foot container that arrived at the MICP on March 17. The shipment, declared to contain plastic resins, was consigned to Wealth Lotus Empire Corp., a company registered at the Food and Drugs Authority as food importer, exporter and wholesaler. “[The] PDEA received information from our international counterparts [in] Vietnam that the container aboard a ship [named] Callao Bridge V145E from Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam arrived in Manila,” PDEA Director General Aaron N. Aquino was quoted in a statement. “The said ship contained huge amounts of illegal drugs.” Upon receiving the report, MICP District Collector Erastus Sandino

B. Austria immediately ordered x-ray examination followed with the full physical examination of the container of the suspected shipment with the presence of representatives from the PDEA and the Philippine Coast Guard (PCG). After the inspection, the shipment was found to contain 12 sacks with items wrapped in clear cellophane and sealed in foil packaging designed to look like tea products, which were found to be shabu upon testing of the subject substance sample by authorities. The shipment of drugs was processed by customs broker Jane A. Castillo, with business address at Santa Lucia Street, Intramuros, Manila. Rea Cu

Women A BusinessMirror Special Feature

Monday, March 25, 2018 | www.businessmirror.com.ph

EMPOWER A WOMAN, By Leony R. Garcia

A ‘

s women, we have superpowers. We are sisters. We are healers. We are mothers. We are goddess warriors.”

American actress Merle Dandridge was right when she said this. Considering how many families, husbands and children have succeeded with the help of their nurturing hands, women truly have the innate power to change the world. Unfortunately, 70 percent of the world’s poor are women and girls. This is according to several studies and estimates done on a worldwide basis. In many countries around the globe, women are also deemed as less hireable

than males—a clear indication of the existing gender inequality. Locally, 11.2 million women are impoverished, according to the data from the National Statistical Coordination Board in 2009. Traditional gender roles are also affecting the future of young Filipinas in the country. Based on the 2017 survey on out-of-school youth conducted by the Philippine Statistics Authority, almost 60 percent of female students dropped out of school due to marriage or family matters. Luckily, many groups and individuals are working hand in hand to help elevate the lives of all women around the world. But are these enough to make a difference? Talk about women empowerment, or the action of raising the status of women through education, awareness, literacy and training. Women’s empowerment is equipping and allowing them to make lifedetermining decisions in society.

Taking control of reproductive

and sexual health

DESPITE being influenced by the western culture, premarital sex is still considered a taboo in the country. That being said, many people, including women, aren’t well-educated on reproductive and sexual health. In 2015 the Department of Health reported 24,936 cumulative cases of HIV in the country. Alarmingly, the number of cases diagnosed per year increased 37 times, from 174 in 2001 to 6,552 new cases within the first 10 months of 2015 alone. How can these numbers affect the female population in the country? Women who engage in sexual acts with infected partners can get sick, as well as those who administer intravenous drugs with infected needles. It’s also worth mentioning that an HIVpositive mother can transmit the virus to her child during pregnancy or even in the course of breastfeeding. For obstetrician-gynecologist Dr. Amity Casurao-Trono, women should take a more active stance in taking control of their reproductive and

sexual health. “Women should be able to normalize these discussions without the fear of being shamed or embarrassed,” she said in a pillow-talk session in Makati City to shed light on the myths and misconceptions of modern contraceptives. As the baby carrier, women should know themselves, and be empowered with knowledge and make informed choices. So much more has to be done to educate Filipinos on the importance of reproductive health and correct misconceptions of modern contraceptives, despite its availability and accessibility. The government is also intensifying its family program nationwide targeting 11.3 million in the next four years, which is meant to prevent unintended pregnancies, as well as fetal and maternal deaths. “Reproductive health should be no longer a taboo, especially among women, for them to live a more productive life,” Trono said.

On loving oneself and looking beautiful

INTERNATIONAL licensed aesthetician Antoinette Nisce-Ngo debunks myths that pregnant women should avoid skin-care regimen and other beauty treatments. Gone are the days when an expectant mother should endure being losyang, getting breakouts, darker pits and neck, stretch marks and more. According to Ngo, who herself is is heavy with a child, it’s okay to be beautiful and feel good at this stage of a woman’s life. In a baby bump forum held at the Nisce Skin Medispa, grooming, styling, and other beauty and bathing rituals are perfectly fine for pregrant women. Manicures and pedicures are also okay as long as the polish used are safe, like Zoya and nail-service shot thet entails massage for feet and hands. Hair highlights are fine as long as the chemicals don’t come in contact with your scalp. Massage is alright for the pregnant mother, too. It’s the perfect way to

take away those aches and pains, and help them relax and forget the stresses of impending motherhood. However, if you’re in your first trimester, it’s better to hold off and make sure that your masseuse is a certified prenatal therapist, Ngo advised. Getting a facial while pregnant is also safe as long as you avoid harsh treatments, like microdermabrasion and certain kinds of chemical peels. Try to get an all-natural facial if possible. Likewise, nonsurgical postpregnancy treatments for fat reduction on the abdomen and abdominal-skin tightening are good for women to boost their confidence. Do it six months after delivery and get as close to your prepregnancy weight as possible. Laser treatments for stretch marks could be started as early as three months after giving birth, while skin rejuvenation, stretch marks treatment, acne scars and pigmentation, and permanent hair removal should be done six months after delivery.

n’s Month

www.businessmirror.com.ph | Monday, March 25, 2019

CHANGE THE WORLD But always, Ngo said, the rule of thumb is to ask or consult your doctor first.

Empowered women

“MAID to Made” author Rebecca Bustamante was recently in the country to deliver an inspirational talk to some 150 women who were gathered by Duty Free Philippines (DFP) in honor of the country’s women OFWs. Starting out in extreme poverty at a young age, Bustamante would work in homes wherever she would be fed. She left her family while still a teenager to work as a domestic helper in Singapore, with only one day off per month. With her determination and given the opportunity to come to Canada, she began her professional sales career in Toronto. Learning the ropes of the business and becoming the senior director for a large multinational cosmetic company, she earned awards for herself, including the Top Rookie Sales Director for North America, Top 10 Unit Sales Award and Top 10 Personal Sales Award.

As part of her responsibilities, Rebecca regularly provides sales- and management-training presentations for up to 500 people at national company functions. Now, Rebecca is considered one of the most accomplished female entrepreneurs currently active in the Southeast Asia region, being the president and cofounder of Asia CEO Events, the largest and only national business-event series in the Philippines. Senior business leaders come from across Asia for events in Manila, Cebu, Davao, Clark, Iloilo and other locations. She helps organizations inspire their employees to become worldclass individual contributors and leaders. She speaks across Philippines, Singapore, Hong Kong, Malaysia, Japan, Macau, Canada, etc., for group sizes of up to 5,000. In his speech, Duty Free Philippines Chief Operating Officer Vicente P. Angala acknowledged the role of the women in his agency, which has about 380 women. Some of them have stayed for the past 32 years.

“For working moms, juggling work responsibilities and the numerous additional obligations that come with raising a family is never easy. Our women OFWs truly sacrificed a lot, being away from their family and children. Kudos also goes to single mothers who bravely raise their children alone,” Angala said. “Women’s month is an opportunity to recognize women for their achievements and contribution to our society dahil alam naman nating lahat na kayang baguhin ng mga babae ang mundo.” Women have gone so far in their roles in society. In recent years women have proven to have level equality among men. In the executive branch of the government, two women became \ president of the Philippines. Aside from government service, women have also great contributions in the private sector, such as the arts, academe, business, media and other fields. “Sa lawak ng inyong kuntribusyon, we could proudly say na kayo ay ‘babae’ at hindi ‘babae lang,’” Angala concluded.

OVERCOMING THE ODDS THROUGH

WOMEN EMPOWERMENT By: Trisha Jean V. De Leon

OMEN, for most of history, had been perceived as inferior. While men conquered the world, they were left running the household, trapped in the four corners of their abode. Fortunately, times have changed, and women now have the same rights, privileges and opportunities as men do. Gone are the days when women only stayed on the sidelines; they now have altered the social landscape and have ventured in fields that were, once upon a time, dominated by men. Lawyer Pilar Nenuca P. Almira, president and chief executive officer of Cardinal Santos Medical Center

and Our Lady of Lourdes Hospital, is a prime example of a woman who has excelled in her chosen career. As the president and CEO of Cardinal Santos Medical Center and Our Lady of Lourdes Hospital, Almira has proven that women can be at the top of the food chain. Her most significant contributions include strengthening medical training programs for doctors with different specializations to boost their competency. She also spearheaded the establishment of the very first minimally invasivesurgery training center in the Philippines, which can be found at the Cardinal Santos Medical Center. Despite all of these achievements, Almira still recognizes how other

women are being discriminated and how many sectors in society still favors men. “Women are still considered, in many instances, by the male sector as inferior to them, resulting to undermining their worth and value.” Due to these inequalities, Almira emphasized that women always have to exert more effort to prove their worth. For instance, they do further studies and attend training programs to level up their competencies. These allow them to gain more respect and rise in the organizational ladder. “In the course of time, if women are able to demonstrate that they can deliver good outcome—or even better than men can—[the] society will start to evenly recognize women for any functional field. The secret is education and continuing the quest to deliver great results in every understanding.” Nonetheless, the rise of women leaders in society has become inevitable. Many career women have made their marks in the field of their expertise, according to Almira. She pointed out that people nowadays are seeing more female surgeons, architects and engineers— professions that were once exclusive for their male counterparts. For Almira, access to premium health-care services can also help empower women. Educating them about breast cancer, sex-related diseases and pregnancy-related problems can save their lives and help them excel in any endeavor they wish to pursue. “Learning the basics of early detection and having checkups in the nearest center or barangay clinics will help significantly. Visiting the nearest government hospital for a checkup is also suggested. The private sectors hold medical missions in the countryside periodically.” Looking back, the best advice Almira has received from another woman is to work hard and always go the extra mile. “Nothing can be said against productive results delivered to benefit others and the organization. I was also advised to be honest all the time, as truth will always prevail. An honest person is always trusted.”

Redefining and reshaping the workplace landscape By: Trisha Jean V. De Leon

OUND by the long-lived patriarchal society, women in the old days had limited rights and access to education, which hindered them to climb the social ladder. But when the world transformed into a more liberal and gender-equal society, things started to get better. More and more women are now stepping up their game to chase their dreams and goals, which would have been impossible a few centuries or decades ago. For Rose Bosch-Ong, senior executive vice president of Wilcon and president of the Philippine Retailers Association, seeing women taking on leadership roles in different organizations is empowering. She even emphasized how being a woman has helped her excel in her field. “Women are naturally nurturing. In our homes, we are expected to be skilled at multitasking and managing the household. Our good management at home will reflect the level of our ability to manage our work and address all the needs of the company we are working at. ” Apart from being detail-oriented and organized, Ong pointed out that women leaders are innovative and a good communicator. They think creatively, which pushes organizations to elevate and continue to move forward.

Nonetheless, Ong mentioned how many women are being discriminated, most especially in their workplace. Stereotyping women leader has also been a fatal poison that continues to threaten and weaken their spirit. To overcome these problems, Ong suggested that women should strive to be the best version of themselves and recognize their strengths. For instance, women traditionally represent the perspective of the customers, since they are the ones who buy whatever is needed in their household. Women can then use this to their advantage in the retailing industry. Their ability to sense what the consumers need and want will help them succeed. Ong is also grateful to have succeeded in an industry that was

traditionally run by men. “It was such a great opportunity to be working in a construction industry, which is usually dominated by men. It was challenging, yet an advantage, for me to showcase my skills and capabilities, with different tasks given to me in the company. With the support and respect given by men around us, we are propelled to accomplish much.” In her opinion, men and women have their strengths and weaknesses. If a woman seeks gender equality, it should also go the same way, if a man works in a female-dominated industry, as long as one is driven and passionate about their dreams. As we celebrate the International Women’s Month, Ong believes that our society should take bold actions to eliminate the existing stereotypes, which discriminate women. “Providing more benefits, good and fair opportunities for women—and even raising awareness of women's rights—would go far to inspire them to step up. Upon knowing that there's more for them as women would mean a lot and definitely would make them feel valued.”

Green Monday BusinessMirror

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www.businessmirror.com.ph • Editor: Lyn Resurreccion

Metro Manila water-supply scarcity

Mismanagement at various levels

By Jonathan L. Mayuga @jonlmayuga

he water-supply crisis being experienced in the east zone of Metro Manila is expected throughout summer, or at least until the onset of the rainy season in June, according to the country’s weather bureau. While the Metropolitan Waterworks and Sewerage System (MWSS), along with its water concessionaires, the Ayala-led Manila Water Co. Inc., the Pangilinan-led Maynilad Water Services Inc. and Ramon Ang-led Bulacan Bulk Water are now working together promising better days ahead, the country’s climate outlook is not as promising. Incidentally, the water-supply shortage happened as the country observed the World Water Day on March 22. The World Water Day is an annual United Nations event that highlights the importance of freshwater.

climate outlook

BASeD on the Climate Outlook released by the Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Authority (Pagasa) for March to August 2019, below normal rainfall conditions are expected in Luzon in the next three months, and the situation will only improve as it begins to receive above-normal rainfall in July. The Philippines, a country of 7,641 islands and islets, is blessed with abundant water supply. It has 142 critical watersheds, 18 major river basins and 421 principal river basins. On top of these potential surface freshwater sources, the country also has an abundant supply of groundwater, which, however, needs replenishment during the rainy season. Without rain, many of these water sources are depleted as they are also used for irrigation.

Demand and supply

The MWSS, led by Administrator Reynaldo V. Velasco, and Manila Water through its President Ferdinand de la Cruz, explained the reasons behind the severe service interruptions to the public. They were quick to blame the source of supply shortage to a combination factors. These include the increase in population and unusually huge demand for water from its growing number of customers. They added that it is aggravated by the weak el Niño, the depleted water supply in the La Mesa Water Reservoir and the limited supply and allocation from Angat Dam, the single major water source for Metro Manila’s more than 12 million population, and other water consumers in nearby provinces. The 4,000-million-liters-per day (MLD) water-supply allocations for Maynilad and Manila Water for their customers in Metro Manila and nearby provinces is the maximum capacity of the installed aqueducts and conveyance pipes from Angat to Ipo to La Mesa dams. Receiving 1,600 MLD, or 40 percent of the total raw water supply allocated for Metro Manila, Manila Water said it has been drawing water from La Mesa Dam since 2016, to cover for the supply shortage of at least 140 MLD as total demand by its approximately 6.8 million customers continues to increase over the years. In February, the demand peaked to 1,740 MLD. Unfortunately, it happened during a time when water in La Mesa Dam has reached a critical

level because of rainless days since December last year.

project delays

The water-supply shortage would have been cushioned by the on time commissioning of Manila Water’s Cardona Water Treatment Plant Project. It was supposed to be completed and working as early as December last year.Once fully operated, the treatment plant could produce at least an additional 100 MLD, with the supply coming from Laguna de Bay. Maynilad, which already has the Putatan Treatment Facility in Muntinlupa, has been producing 150 MLD of water from Laguna de Bay. This augments the company’s water allocation of 2,400 MLD, or 60 percent, of total water allocation coming from Angat Dam. however, due to engineering design flaws, the project’s implementation was delayed, hence, the facility’s commissioning did not materialize as planned.

el niño, climate change

AS residents in areas of Metro Manila grapple with water scarcity for several days now, the Manila-based Institute for Climate and Sustainable Cities (ICSC), a climate and energy policy group, believes that climate change would only exacerbate existing risks and development issues. Renato Redentor Constantino, executive director of ICSC said in a recent statement that climate change would only intensify existing challenges in securing water supply, particularly in urban and agricultural areas. “Pagasa has already projected large variabilities in rainfall and dry seasons, which would be amplified by climate impacts,” he said.

a perennial problem

ACCORDING to Constantino, water scarcity is an annual concern, especially during the summer season, which is why it is alarming that residents in areas of Metro Manila have not had water for several days. The predicament of Manila Water customers started on March 6, when the company finally had very little water both from Angat and La Mesa dams to distribute to its customers. “It is high time that the government takes a deeper look into how salinization, land and forest degradation, and other creeping impacts of climate change are baked into the government plans and budgets. More coordination and foresight is required among government, suppliers and regulators, but there is still time to address the challenges we face and stave off a full-blown water crisis,” he said.

not too fast…

OTheR environmental groups, however, were quick to point out that while el Niño and climate change may have something to do with the water-supply scarcity in general, in this particular episode, mismanagement of the water service provisioning is the culprit. Sought for comment, they said it is unfair to blame el Niño and climate

AngAt Dam

Bernard TesTa

change for the current predicament of Manila Water’s customers. Paolo B. Pagaduan, focal point person for water of World Wide Fund for Nature (WWF)-Philippines, said the weak el Niño has just started and the Angat and Ipo dams are still practically full. “The problem is with the rate of consumption or demand from Metro Manila,” Pagaduan said via messenger on March 15. he said if the demand exceeds the maximum capacity of the conveyance of raw water from Angat to Ipo and eventually to La Mesa Dam, which is 4,000 MLD, Manila Water will naturally start to eat up the reserves at La Mesa. “I think this is more of an issue on the demand side and not on the supply side,” Pagaduan said. According to Pagaduan, it is likely that the current predicament of Manila Water customers will continue until the onset of the rainy season because we are not expecting rain until then because of el Niño unless the demand side of the problem is addressed. “Similar to what they did in Capetown, South Africa, last year... because their reservoir dried up due to a three-year drought, they had to set limits to the use of water to 105 liters per capita per day [l/c/d]. Metro Manila middle-class families use about 200 l/c/d. Industry and commercial sectors use a lot of water, too, but Metro Manila is mainly domestic. If we can reduce our demand, then maybe the water will be enough,” he said. According to Pagaduan, MWSS focuses on the supply or distribution side of the equation as it is “part of their mandate.” “What they don’t discuss is how we can make do with the waters that we do have now because selling water

is also their business. Reducing sales is not in their interest. We will need new water sources to accommodate increased demand from population growth and/or decrease the demand side,” he pointed out. This is why the twin goals of WWF as an environmental solution provider, he added, is to increase biodiversity, which will cover the supply side, and decrease our footprint, which covers the demand side. WWF has long been coming up with ways to reduce the consumption of clean water. Practical tips on water recycling, if observed, could go a long way in boosting water security, he said. “Water-resources management should cover both the supply and demand side,” he said.

overconsumption, lack of water source

RODNe GALIChA, country director of the Climate Reality ProjectPhilippines agreed with Pagaduan’s observation. “Right now, I don’t think climate change has had a significant impact on the water crisis in Metro Manila. Only the La Mesa Dam has approached critical water levels, while the Angat and Ipo dams have not. Given that a weak el Niño has only begun, it is unlikely the ‘crisis’ is due to climate change,” he said. According to Galicha, overconsumption, lack of other water sources for the dam, and poor planning are the primary reasons for the current situation. “I would like to emphasize that we are in danger of using climate change as an excuse for our problems when a closer look tells a different story,” he pointed out.

Dams: a false solution?

GALIChA said building large dams

The Kaliwa Dam is a false solution, in my opinion. Overconsumption is not fixed by giving us another potential water source because it won’t change our behavior regarding our environment. And it needs to change this time.”—Galicha

would not address the water-security problems facing the Philippines. “The Kaliwa Dam is a false solution, in my opinion. Overconsumption is not fixed by giving us another potential water source because it won’t change our behavior regarding our environment. And it needs to change this time,” he said. he added that the Kaliwa Dam would also displace indigenous peoples and endanger our biodiversity. “history keeps repeating itself. We, as a nation, never seem to learn. It is our very neglect of our environment and even our fellow Filipinos that keep leading us to messes like this. And yet we end up resorting to these same moves that we think improve the life of everyone, but in truth only benefits a select few and make it worse for the many,” he lamented.

efficient water use

SO how do we ensure water security without large dams? Through “efficient water use, proper planning for routing water sources,” he quipped. Galicha said if there is one important lesson that can be drawn from the current episode of the water-supply crisis, it is the need for more environmental awareness, as always, especially about just how big the impacts of climate change can be at specific cases, and the need for better integrated water resource management (IWRM), the need for behavioral change.

Mismanagement

LeON DULCe, national coordinator of Kalikasan-People’s Network for the environment, said the Philippines is objectively facing drier conditions from an el Niño cycle that scientists have ascertained is amplified by climate change compared to 50 years ago. “In normal conditions, we should still have sufficient water supply to cover the increasing demand. But the recent problem with Manila Water’s water supply is more of a mismanagement problem, where the private water utility overextended its coverage without making the necessary infrastructure upgrades,” he said. According to Dulce, water utilities in the hands of private companies have been proven to be a bad deal once again.

“A public utility must be run by the State as a public service, not as a profit-driven scheme that is constantly prone to market failures. The management of our water resources should also have long-term climate projections in full consideration,” he said. Moreover, Dulce said the country’s forests must be protected and enhanced to improve the water-retention capacity of our watersheds. he also believes that building dams like the Kaliwa Dam, or any other dam for that matter, is yet another quick-fix solution that will do more harm than good. The Kaliwa Dam, he said, will have adverse long-term consequences on our water supply. “The dam will destroy over 2,300 hectares of protected forest areas, thereby, eroding the capacity of our watersheds to sustain water and prevent siltation. Mega-dams also have other consequences, such as the disruption of forest and river biodiversity, contribute to climate change through the degradation of biomass that it will submerge in its water reservoirs, and its subsequent release of greenhouse-gas emissions, and heightening of flood risks,” he said.

water security sans dams

ACCORDING to Dulce, there are other ways of improving water supply other than dams. “We can develop alternative technologies, such as rainwater catchments and wastewater-recycling systems. Water utilities also have a long way to go insofar as improving water-efficiency rates through the repair of leaks is concerned,” he said. he insisted that protecting and enhancing the country’s forests is a key long-term alternative to dams, as it will improve the watershed’s capacities over time. “We do not need new dams to divert more water from other rivers if our watersheds supplying water to the existing dam facilities are buffered and enhanced. Rain catchments placed across the Metro Manila basin can also complement the existing water infrastructure,” he added. According to Dulce, a healthy mix of alternative water technologies means that the country is more resilient to climate shocks that may affect one or two major sources.

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US survey finds lack of awareness on global warming

By Yash Bhandari Inter Press Service

ISCONSIN—The UN’s World Water Day was celebrated three days ago as the state of the world’s consumable water supply remains dismal. Billions of people face at least the very real risk of scarcity, if they’re not facing scarcity already; and about a third of the world’s groundwater systems are in danger of becoming depleted. With the Trump administration’s withdrawal from the Paris Agreement in 2017, things are looking grimmer still. Several state governors, republicans and Democrats both, and Puerto rico have even ignored the federal withdrawal and pledged to uphold the agreement on a state level. So far, 17 US states have committed to upholding it. Furthermore, in October of 2018, the UN Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change released a report claiming that only 12 years are left to keep global temperatures to about 1.5 degrees celsius—if there is even a half a degree increase, it would likely e x acerbate f lood s, d roughts, extreme heat and poverty, all of which will affect millions of people all around the world. The Paris Agreement, in theory, would prevent this from happening. But Dr. Isaac hankes—a meteorologist and a Weather research Analyst at refinitiv—has a different view. he claims that “the Paris climate agreement is as political as it is scientific, and even if fully embraced, it will not offset much more than about 0.1°C of warming. This underscores the importance of personal action by anyone concerned about the effects of warming to make a difference by making energy-saving decisions. Such opportunity now exists in nearly all facets of a home, and actions as simple as installing LED light bulbs or smart power strips could easily supersede any slowermoving government action in offsetting emissions-based warming. This points to the necessity for individual action in the face of institutional opposition, as well as institutional inefficacy. The problem is that in order for there to be individual action, there must be an impetus; in order for there to be an impetus, there must be, at base, awareness. A recent survey conducted by rockay—an eco-conscious manufacturer of running apparel—reveals that awareness is exactly what more than half of Americans lack on the issue of climate change. Conducted online via 3GEM research and Insights, the survey polled 1,500 American adults, ranging from ages 18 to 55 plus. The findings were surprising.

For example, when the responders were asked if global warming will have deleterious effects in their own lifetime, the results were split. Thirty-four percent answered they did indeed believe that there will be a global-warming-induced impact in their own lifetime; about the same percentage answered the opposite, with 7 percent claiming that global warming was a “hoax” outright. Additionally, 32 percent seemed to be more ambivalent about the issue, answering “kind of,” pointing to an acknowledgment of a fundamental lack of awareness. This same lack of awareness manifests itself in what is perhaps a more pernicious way. When asked the question, “Are you aware of the Paris Agreement and what it entails?” a whopping 56 percent of respondents answered “no.” remember, the Paris Agreement is designed to, in theory, mitigate or even prevent entirely floods and droughts, and extreme heat that are set to upend the lives of millions of people worldwide. remember too, that politically, the Agreement is a hot topic, creating rifts between politicians, government agencies and even among nations on how to proceed. Given this, it’s probably fair to say that climate change, and perhaps even foreign affairs, just isn’t on the mind of most Americans. At least not in any potent sort of way. In fact, when the respondents were asked about how often they actually spoke about global warming with their friends and family—effectively gauging their level of concern—a tepid 14 percent said they “often” do. By contrast, 50 percent responded that they “rarely” or “never” do. T he sig n i f ic a nce of t hese findings is potentiated by two assumptions. The first is that the Paris Agreement alone may not be as effective as would be ideal. The second is that the true solution lies in effectuating a change in the habits of individuals, rather than of entities. rockay’s survey indicates that actually succeeding in effectuating this habitual change in individuals is difficult due in part to the fact that these individuals generally have no awareness that there is actually a problem to solve and, thus, they have no impetus to change. To combat this, rockay urges people to start small, with something easy that has potential to not just combat climate change, but water wastage, as well: laundry. The hope is to raise awareness of the facts and trust that the collective consciousness will evolve to reflect them. Because only then would the earth and its inhabitants stand a chance.

B7 B5

UN: Environment is deadly, worsening, but not hopeless

ASHINGTON—Earth is sick with multiple and worsening environmental ills killing millions of people yearly, a new United Nations report said.

Climate change, a global major extinction of animals and plants, a human population soaring toward 10 billion, degraded land, polluted air, and plastics, pesticides and hormone-changing chemicals in the water are making the planet an increasing unhealthy place for people, says the scientific report issued once every few years. But it may not be too late. “There is every reason to be hopeful,” report coeditors Joyeeta Gupta and Paul Ekins told The Associated Press in an e-mail. “There is still time but the window is closing fast.” T he si xth Globa l Env ironment O ut look , re lea sed l a st week at a U N conference in Nairobi, Kenya, painted a dire picture of a planet where environmenta l problems interact with each other to make things even more dangerous for people. It uses the word “risk ” 561 times in a 740-page report. The report concludes “unsustainable human activities globally have degraded the Earth’s ecosystems, endangering the ecological foundations of society.” But the same document says changes in the way the world eats, buys things, gets its energy and handles its waste could help fix the problems. The report is “a dramatic warning and a high-level road map for what must be done to prevent widespread disruption and even

irreversible destruction of planetary life-support systems,” said University of Michigan environment dean Jonathan Overpeck, who wasn’t part of the report. Several other scientists also praised the report, which draws on existing science, data and maps. “This report clearly shows the connections between the environment and human health and wellbeing,” said Stuart Pimm, a Duke University ecologist. Gupta and Ekins, environmental scientists in Amsterdam and London, said air pollution annually kills 7 million people worldwide and costs society about $5 trillion. Water pollution, with associated diseases, kills another 1.4 million. The scientists said the most important and pressing problems facing humankind are global warming and loss of biodiversity because they are permanent and affect so many people in so many different ways.

Climate change

“TIME is running out to prevent the irreversible and dangerous impacts of climate change,” the report says, noting that unless something changes, global temperatures will exceed the threshold of warming— another 1.8 degrees Fahrenheit (1 degree Celsius) above current temperatures—that international agreements call dangerous. The report details climatechange impacts on human health,

Pyres of ivory are set on fire in Nairobi National Park, Kenya, in this september 4, 2017, photo. Kenya’s president recently set fire to 105 tons of elephant ivory and more than 1 ton of rhino horn, believed to be the largest stockpile ever destroyed, in a dramatic statement against the trade in ivory and products from endangered species. AP/Ben Curtis

air, water, land and biodiversity. Almost all coastal cities and small island nations are increasingly vulnerable to flooding from rising seas and extreme weather.

Biodiversity

“A MA JOr species extinction event, compromising planetary integrity and Earth’s capacity to meet human needs, is unfolding,” the report says, listing threats to ecosystems, fisheries and other major systems. It notes conservationists are divided on whether Earth is in a sixth mass extinction.

Air pollution

NOT only are millions of people dying each year, but unhealthy air especially hurts “the elderly, very young, ill and poor,” the report says.

Water pollution

WhILE 1.5 billion people now get clean drinking water they lacked in 2000, water quality in many regions has worsened, the report says.

Plastics and other litter have invaded every ocean at all depths, the report says.

Antibiotic resistance

PEOPLE getting sick from diseases caused by antimicrobial-resistant bacteria in water supplies could become a major cause of death worldwide by 2050, unless something can be done about it, the report says.

Land degradation

LAND is getting less fertile and useful. The report says degradation “hot spots,” where it’s difficult to grow crops, now cover 29 percent of all land areas. The rate of deforestation has slowed but continues. “The report provides a road map to move beyond ‘doom and gloom’ and rally together to face the challenges and take the future in our hands,” said former US National Oceanic and Atmospher ic Administration chief Ja ne Lubc henco, who wasn’t part of the report. “This is an all-hands-on-deck moment.” AP

‘Providing WAter for ALL: LeAving no one Behind’

‘H

Aving freshwater is a right of every human being.” this statement was said by Dr. theresa Mundita s. Lim, executive director of Asean Centre for Biodiversity, on the occasion of World Water Day on March 22. the World Water Day focuses attention on the importance of freshwater and advocates for the sustainable management of freshwater resources. this year’s World Water Day theme is “Leaving no one behind”—the main thrust of the 2030 Agenda for sustainable Development, specifically sDg 6, which aims to ensure availability and sustainable management of water for all by 2030. this means providing benefits for all, leaving no one behind. Lim cited statistics from the un Water, the united nation’s interagency collaboration mechanism for all freshwater related issues. there are 2.1 billion people still living without safe water at their homes. More than 700 children under five years old die every day from diarrhea linked to unsafe water and poor sanitation. the un Water added that 80 percent of the people who have to use unsafe and unprotected water sources live in rural areas; and around 4 billion people—nearly two-thirds of the world’s population— experience severe water scarcity during at least one month of the year. Lim said the Asean region is not exempted from the global water challenge. “A s one of the fastest- growing economies, major cities of the 10 Asean member-states continue to expand in terms of population. the region’s growing urban population puts a strain to freshwater resources due to increasing demand for drinking water and supply for businesses

Photo by Kyaw Kyaw Winn of Myanmar, Zooming in on Biodiversity 2018 3rd placer

and industries. Lack of freshwater in the urban areas also have health and sanitation implication,” she said. Lim said biodiversity loss affects water resources. “Dealing with the challenge of providing sufficient water to urban areas means conserving our forest ecosystems, mangroves, wetlands, rivers and oceans, which all contribute to sustainable sources of water.” “A s i d e f ro m b i o d i ve r s i t y l o s s, pollution is an environmental concern

that threatens our water resources. urban areas produce industrial and domestic waste that are usually dumped into water resources,” Lim added. she reported that climate change is another threat to the water sector, as it results in floods and droughts, leading to the disruption of water services. “Clearly, the issue of water is connected w i t h b i o d i ve r s i t y a n d e c o s y s t e m s conservation. it is, therefore, necessary to mainstream biodiversity conservation

into the water sector. this requires cooperation between government sector, which regulates the water industry, and the private sector, which provides water services to ensure the sustainable supply of water for all. “Citizens also need to act and do their share in conserving and wisely using water, and in helping protect our watersheds. Mainstreaming and cooperation will ensure that we are leaving no one behind,” Lim explained.

B8 Monday, March 25, 2019

PAG-IBIG FUND POSTS P33-B NET INCOME, P28-B DIVIDENDS IN 2018 LAZADA HOLDS BIGGEST ONLINE-SHOPPING PARTY YET ON ITS 7TH YEAR

AZADA is celebrating its seventh year on March 27, and it’s one birthday party you don’t want to miss! Shop and come join the party, as they will be offering jaw dropping discounts up to 90 percent off. Don’t miss out on the amazing deals from our brand partners up for grabs: Maybelline SuperStay matte ink un-nude liquid lipstick at P193; Ensure Gold vanilla 1,200 grams (bundle of six) at P9,702.

Kamiliant Waikiki 3P raspberry red at P8,299; Honor Play smar t phone at P13,290; and Pampers Baby Dry new born taped diapers (4 packs, 40 pieces each) at P594 Aside from millions of items on sale, major partners are also joining the shopping party. Shop with your BDO Visa card and get up to P5,000 off on LazMall gadgets; Pay with GCash and PayMaya for

instant discounts on quick purchases; Be the f irst in the countr y t o pu rc h a s e re a l e s t at e on l i ne! Revolution Precrafted and Robinsons Land will be giving their reservation fees at 50 percent off on March 27 only; Get a c hance to w in travel packages care of Sunlife; Win yourself a discount voucher when you play Lazada’s ver y own Facebook game called “Over Easy: Laz Edition”; and Get a free Shakey’s pizza when you shop on March 27 Lazada is also blending shopping and entertainment, ushering in a new era of “shoppertainment”. The Lazada app will introduce new experiences for customers! Tune in, as well, on March 26 and witness the in-app live streaming of the Super Party concert, as Grammy and Brit Awards winner and British pop star Dua Lipa shares the stage with some of Southeast Asia’s brightest stars, including Nadine Lustre, Sam Concepcion and Miss Universe 2015 Pia Wurtzbach. With all these celebration and perks, it’s really going to feel like it’s your birthday instead! Don’t forget to dow n load the L a zad a seventh birthday-sticker pack on Viber.

HE Home Development Mutual Fund (Pag-IBIG Fund) achieved another banner year in 2018 as robust loanpayment collections and enhanced operational efficiencies pushed profits to a record high. Members will directly benefit from the fund’s strong financial standing as dividends are derived from the fund’s net income, its top executives said. “We previously said that [the year] 2017 was our best year ever. But the year 2018 was even better. Pag-IBIG Fund earned P33.17 billion in net income, which is the highest net income in the history of the fund. Pag-IBIG continues to heed the call of President Duterte for government to provide social benefits to more Filipinos, which is why 86 percent of the net income, amounting to P28.23 billion, will be given back to members in the form of dividends and credited to their respective accounts. This is the highest dividend amount we have ever declared,” said Secretary Eduardo D. del Rosario, chairman of the Housing and Urban Development Coordinating Council and Pag-IBIG Fund board of trustees. The fund declared dividend rates at 6.91 percent for regular Pag-IBIG savings and 7.41 percent for the modified Pag-IBIG 2 (MP2) savings program, meaning that members’ savings grow faster. Pag-IBIG Fund’s net income grew 10 percent from 2017, sustaining its double-digit growth in the last five years. The

fund’s exemplary financial performance is further illustrated by the doubling of its net income over a short four-year period. Total assets, meanwhile, have grown 9 percent to P533.72 billion by the end of 2018. Pag-IBIG Fund Chief Executive Officer Acmad Rizaldy P. Moti said that high collections of loan amortizations and operational efficiencies pushed income to record-breaking levels. In 2018 home-loan payments reached P55.73 billion, growing 9 percent from 2017, breaking the record for the highest home loan collected in a year. This feat can be attributed to the fund’s high-performing loans ratio of 90.26 percent— nine out of 10 borrowers are rigorously paying their housingloan obligations. Also, cash-loan payments totaled P53.21 billion, or 4 percent higher than in 2017. “[The] Pag-IBIG Fund’s success story in 2018 is built on the trust and support of its members. Because of our members’ trust, they continuously avail [themselves] of Pag-IBIG programs and ensure timely payment of their loans, which result to PagIBIG Fund’s strong and stable financial position. Pag-IBIG Fund prides itself on being a government institution that serves and takes care of its members, kaya makakaasa po kayo sa inyong ‘Lingkod Pag-IBIG’ na magbibigay ng tapat na serbisyo, mula sa puso,” Moti said.

SUN LIFE ENCOURAGES HEALTHY LIVING FOR A BRIGHTER FUTURE

T has been said time and again that the choices one makes today affects his future. Be it concerning one’s health or financial preparedness, this very simple principle holds true. Yet, no matter how simple this idea may be, people not only seem to either forget or neglect this fact—a good number even think health and finances are two unrelated issues. As a company that helps enable Filipino families to shape their future and achieve financial freedom, Sun Life Grepa Financial Inc. (Sun Life Grepa) believes that people need to achieve both financial and physical well-being in order for them to make this happen. In its new health campaign “Fit to be Financially Independent Tomorrow” (Fit to be FIT), a person needs to work on both their good health through illness prevention, treatment and life protection, as well as on finding ways to optimize their financial resources through investments, in order to achieve a financially secure future. Through Sun Life Grepa’s life insurance and investment-linked products,

Filipinos have the opportunity to prepare for health emergencies by having safety nets through the potential benefits they will receive from their policies. These benefits not only address an individual’s medical care needs, but also effectively protect their hard-earned savings. “No matter how much financial resources one gets to build, a person [and their loved ones] will never really derive its full benefits should someone develop a lingering/serious illness,” says Richard S. Lim, president of Sun Life Grepa. “With this Fit to be FIT campaign and financial-literacy advocacy, Sun Life Grepa encourages people to be mindful of both their physical well-being, as well as their financialprotection needs because these two are vitally linked. And, in order for them to realize their dreams of achieving a financially secure future, we hope to provide them with expert advice on how to best accomplish these objectives.” For inquiries, contact 849-9633, drop by any RCBC, RCBC Savings Bank or CTBC Bank, e-mail at marketing@ sunlifegrepa.com or visit www.sunlifegrepa.com.

SITEL EYES 3RD SITE IN TARLAC

ITEL, one of the world’s largest customer experience-management companies, sustains its growth trajectory in the Philippines, breaking ground on its third site in Tarlac, bringing to 16 of the total number of full-service customer contact-service centers in the country. Since it set up shop in the Philippines in 2000, Sitel has enjoyed steady growth in the local market due to the country’s business-friendly climate, and rich pool of highly skilled talent with strong customer service orientation and an aptitude for complex outsourcing processes. Sitel currently employs over 22,000 passionate and talented associates across centers in Metro Manila, Baguio, Tarlac and Palawan. “Tarlac has been a phenomenal location for Sitel over the past three years and still exhibits tremendous growth potential,” says Craig Reines, Sitel chief operating officer for Asia Pacific.

The Sitel Tarlac 3 facility will boast a modern Filipiñana theme and highlight latest innovations in workspace technology, design aesthetic and amenities. Breaking ground on the new facility reinforces Sitel’s commitment to increase its footprint in the country, particularly in rural areas, to create more jobs for Filipinos outside of the Metro. This new site offers even more of the region’s talent a chance to belong to a leading global brand and strengthens Sitel’s partnerships with the community. In photo are (from left) Ricardo Bertucci, Sitel director of facilities and real estate; Marky Salvador, Sitel Tarlac site director; Haidee Enriquez, Sitel countryside general manager; Reines; Faraday D. Go, Robinsons Land Corp. officer, executive vice president for the buildings division and general manager; Honor S. Mendoza, SPES construction president; and Cher Retirado, Sitel project management office director for Asia Pacific.

Sports BusinessMirror

| Monday, March 25, 2019 mirror_sports@yahoo.com.ph Editor: Jun Lomibao

STARS FALL IN MIAMI

Serena Williams withdrew on Saturday, blaming a previously undisclosed left-knee injury. Less than two hours later, topranked Naomi Osaka lost in the third round to tour veteran Hsieh Su-Wei of Taiwan, 4-6, 7-6 (4), 6-3.

By Steven Wine The Associated Press

IAMI GARDENS, Florida—The new site for the Miami Open suddenly is missing a lot of star power. Serena Williams withdrew on Saturday, blaming a previously undisclosed left-knee injury. Less than two hours later, top-ranked Naomi Osaka lost in the third round to tour veteran Hsieh Su-Wei of Taiwan, 4-6, 7-6 (4), 6-3. Osaka’s departure matched the earliest ever in the tournament by a top-seeded woman and jeopardized her No. 1 ranking, depending on results next week. “I feel like I’ve dealt with the stress of people asking me do I have pressure because I have the No. 1 next to my name,” Osaka said. “I thought I was doing fine with that, but I guess I’m not.” Roger Federer briefly seemed headed for the exit but instead advanced to the third round by rallying past qualifier Radu

AKLAND, California—Dirk Nowitzki added one more memorable game in his final visit to Oracle Arena, scoring a season-high 21 points and insisting he couldn’t remember whether it was a chair or a trash can that he threw into a wall opposite the visitors’ locker room at one of his favorite arenas. Luka Doncic had a triple-double and the Dallas Mavericks capitalized on Stephen Curry’s absence to beat the Golden State Warriors, 126-91, on Saturday night. Nowitzki, 40, who is in his 21st and perhaps final season with the Mavericks, got a rare start and a rousing ovation from the Oracle crowd. He came out and torched the Warriors with 10 points in the game’s first four minutes, and the Mavs jumped out to a 22-7 lead. They never trailed in the game. “The last few games I didn’t have a good shooting rhythm,” Nowitzki said. “Today, I had it early and often.” Golden State dropped out of the top seed in the Western Conference to a half-game behind Denver. With Curry resting, Kevin Durant had 25 points, and DeMarcus Cousins scored 19. But the Warriors were 4 for 30 from three-point range, while the Mavs went 21 of 49 from behind the arc. “We just couldn’t pull together after that slow start and we never could get any traction in the game,” Warriors Coach Steve Kerr said. “So we just kind of flush this one down the toilet and move on to tomorrow, not much else to do.” Doncic had 23 points, 11 rebounds and 10 assists, and Dallas ended a 12-game losing streak in Oakland, where it last won in April 2012. The Mavs built their lead to 43 early in the final quarter. Nowitzki scored his first National Basketball Association (NBA) basket at Oracle Arena, which is closing after this season, and some of his career highs and lows also came in Oakland. In 2007, the Warriors shocked the 67-win Mavericks in the first round of the playoffs—prompting Nowitzki to throw something through the wall. The hole has never been repaired. “Great memories, bad memories here,” he said. “This has always been a fun building, a fun atmosphere to play. I’ll always remember this building.” In Atlanta, Trae Young scored 32 points, including a lastsecond, go-ahead floater, as Atlanta ended Philadelphia’s six-game winning streak, 129-127. With 3.5 seconds remaining, Young took the inbound pass from Kevin Huerter and dribbled past Jimmy Butler

Albot, 4-6, 7-5, 6-3. “Radu put me through the ringer,” Federer said. No. 2-seeded Alexander Zverev doublefaulted 12 times and lost to wild card David Ferrer, 2-6, 7-5, 6-3. Williams’s withdrawal was unexpected because she showed no signs of injury a day earlier while winning her opening match against Rebecca Peterson, 6-3, 1-6, 6-1. Williams didn’t mention any health issues during a news conference after the match, and the Women’s Tennis Association had no information regarding when she was hurt. Williams’s victory on Friday was her first at Hard Rock Stadium, the Miami Dolphins’ home and the Miami Open’s new center court. The tournament moved this year from Key Biscayne, where Williams won eight titles. “I am disappointed to withdraw,” she said in a statement. “It was an amazing experience to play at Hard Rock Stadium this year, and I would like to thank the Miami Open for putting on an amazing event. I hope to be

back next year to play at this one-of-a-kind tournament in front of the incredible fans here in Miami.” Federer, a three-time champion, lost serve only once—in the first game—but was on the ropes until he swept the final three games, to the relief of an enthusiastic stadium crowd. “It was a great atmosphere,” Federer said. “It was electric. I think that’s why I played so well at the end.” While attendance in the stadium continued to be spotty, outer courts were jammed, and the day session drew a tournament-record 32,831 spectators. Seeded losers on the men’s side included No. 10 Karen Khachanov, No. 21 Diego Schwartzman, No. 26 Guido Pella, No. 30 Stan Wawrinka and No. 31 Steve Johnson. In a game of inches, the 5-foot-6 Schwartzman lost to 6-foot-11 Reilly Opelka 6-4, 3-6, 6-4. Williams was next scheduled to play No. 18-seeded Qiang Wang, who advanced to the fourth round. Also reaching the women’s round of 16 was the 33-year-old Hsieh, who turned

NAOMI OSAKA’S (right) departure matches the earliest ever in the tournament by a top-seeded woman and jeopardizes her No. 1 ranking, while Serena Williams’s withdrawal is unexpected because she showed no signs of injury a day earlier while winning her opening match. AP

pro in 2001 but has achieved the two biggest victories of her career in the past nine months. Her only other win over a No. 1 player came against Simona Halep at Wimbledon last year. With two-handed groundstrokes from both sides, Hsieh was the steadier player from the baseline against Osaka. When Hsieh closed out match point with a forehand volley winner, she began to cry as the crowd applauded her performance. Osaka smiled when reminded it was the first time in 64 matches she lost after winning the first set. “I know—it’s depressing,” she said. “I was thinking about it right after I lost.” Osaka, 21, has won the past two Grand Slam tournaments. Williams, 37, still hasn’t won a tournament since the 2017 Australian Open, before she took a break of more than a year to become a mom. She has played only eight matches this year. Williams’s stay at the Miami Open was also brief last year, when she lost in the first round to Osaka. Friday’s match was Williams’s first

Doncic, Nowitzki lift Mavs over Warriors NBA RESULTS Charlotte 124, Boston 117 Miami 113, Washington 108 Atlanta 129, Philadelphia 127 Minnesota 112, Memphis 99 Utah 114, Chicago 83 Dallas 126, Golden State 91 Portland 117, Detroit 112 Sacramento 112, Phoenix 103

THE Mavericks’ Luka Doncic dribbles against the tight guarding of the Warriors’ Quinn Cook. AP

since she retired from Indian Wells two weeks ago because of a viral illness. Rafael Nadal, meanwhile, is expected to make his return from a knee injury at the Monte Carlo Masters, after being included in the official list of players on Thursday. Tournament organizers announced the lineup for the clay-court tournament in Paris. Nadal has won it a record 11 times and held a 46-match winning streak at Monte Carlo from 2005-13—the most consecutive wins at a tournament by any man or woman. Last Saturday, the second-ranked Nadal withdrew from his semifinal at Indian Wells against longtime rival Federer after feeling pain in his troublesome right knee during the quarterfinal against Karen Khachanov. Nadal skipped the hard-court Miami Open, which began this week, to prepare for his season on clay. The 32-year-old Spaniard is aiming for a record-extending 12th French Open title at Roland Garros, and an 18th major, from May 26 to June 9.

before sinking the short, soft jumper for the lead with 0.1 seconds remaining. Butler missed a long attempt as the final buzzer sounded. Taurean Prince had 23 points for Atlanta. Joel Embiid had 27 points and 12 rebounds, and Butler had 25 points for Philadelphia. The 76ers began the night with a solid hold on third place in the Eastern Conference, 3 1/2 games ahead of Indiana and four games ahead of Boston. Rudy Gobert had 21 points and 14 rebounds, and Utah rolled to one of its most lopsided wins of the season—114-83 over Chicago. The 31-point margin of victory was just three shy of Utah’s season high. The Jazz raced out to a 70-36 halftime lead and never looked back in winning for the sixth time in seven games. Donovan Mitchell added 16 points and eight rebounds. Derrick Favors scored 13. Lauri Markkanen led Chicago with 18 points and 10 rebounds. He made just 6 of 20 shots, and the Bulls delivered one of their worst performances in a rough season. Karl-Anthony Towns had 33 points and 23 rebounds, and Minnesota ended a five-game slide with a 112-99 win over Memphis. Andrew Wiggins added 22 points and rookie Josh Okogie had 17 as Minnesota, eliminated from the playoffs on Friday night, ended its longest losing streak of the season. All five Minnesota starters reached double figures in scoring. Mike Conley led Memphis with 23 points, and Jonas Valanciunas had 20 points and 14 rebounds. Dwyane Wade scored 11 of his 20 points in the fourth quarter, helping Miami remain alone in eighth place in the Eastern Conference with the Heat’s 113-108 victory over the Washington Wizards. Wade also had nine rebounds while scoring in double digits for a ninth consecutive game. Dion Waiters added 19 points and Josh Richardson had 18 for Miami, which remained a game ahead of Orlando in the race for the East’s last playoff spot. Bam Adebayo had 16 points and 11 rebounds. Jeff Green scored 25 points for Washington, which has lost four straight. Thomas Bryant had 17 points, Bobby Portis Jr. added 14 and both grabbed 11 rebounds. The 11th-place Wizards fell 6 1/2 games behind Miami with eight to play. AP

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C2 Monday, March 25, 2019

GERMAN, CZECH RULE DAVAO IRONMAN 70.3 G

ERMAN Markus Rolli dominated the bike stage and coasted to victory, while Czech Radka Kahlefeldt outdueled Swiss Caroline Steffen in the closing run stage to keep her crown in the Alveo Ironman Davao 70.3 presented by Petron at the Azuela Cove in Davao on Sunday. Rolli flaunted his superb riding skills and timed 2:00:50 to build a big lead over veteran Craig Alexander then bucked pain in his sore legs in the closing run part to secure the victory in 3:49:29 over the 1.9-kilometer/90-km/21-km race. He also topped the opening swim leg in 23:22 then timed 1:22.19 in the run. Alexander, a former five-time world champion from Australia, fell short of his rally and settled for second in 3:52:21 while Tim Reed, also from Down Under, placed third in 3:57:18. “It feels great. The people here are amazing. They were cheering on every meter of the course. It was a great experience. They just pushed me through pain. I suffered big-time in the run,” said Rolli, who joined the pros only in 2017 and won his first 70.3 in Thailand, where he also based his camp in his buildup for the second Mindanao staging

of the event organized and conducted by Sunrise Events Inc. “I wasn’t actually feeling well but I got a big gap when I started the run, around eight minutes, so I just gave my best and brought it to him [Alexander],” added Rolli. Kahlefeldt and Steffen, meanwhile, slugged it out in the swim and bike stages but the former outlasted the latter in the run event to retain the crown in 4:16:52. “I’m very happy that I could come back and win again,” said Kahlefeldt. “It was tough and the whole race was hard since I had to fight it out with Steffen. It’s never easy to beat her.” Steffen, winner of past races in the country, failed to match Kahlefeldt’s strides midway in the run part and finished in 4:19:28. The Czech timed 26:55 in the swim against Steffen’s 26:58 with the former posting a 2:21:49 clocking in the bike against the latter’s 2:21:48. But Kahlefeldt built a one-minute lead after the 9.6-km mark in the run then doubled it with a 52:39 clocking in the 13.2km mark against Steffen’s 54:16. Aussie Kirralee Seidel came in third in 4:28:37 followed by Dimity Lee Duke (4:32:41)

and last year’s fourth player Lisa Tyack, also of Australia, (4:39:19). Seidel kept the leaders in sight with a 27:07 swim start but fell behind after the bike stage where she clocked 2:26:53 and ended with a 1:31:23 effort in the run. Mauricio Mendez, who rallied to edge Reed in last year’s inaugurals of the event in Davao, suffered a technical problem with his bike and didn’t finish the race. A fast 14:22 effort in the first 10kms followed by 28:02 and 41:39 clockings in the next 20 km of the bike stage gave Rolli a huge cushion as Alexander and Reed could only churn out times of 15:05-29:38-44:05 and 15:05-29:38-44:05, respectively, in the first 30 kms. Ahead by almost eight minutes heading to the run part, Rolli slowed down, enabling the five-time world champion Alexander to close the gap at the finish and snatch runner-up honors with times of 25:19 (swim), 2:07.00 (bike) and 1:17:14 (run). Reed clocked 24:02 in the swim leg but struggled with a 2:08.28 clocking in the bike part before closing out with a 1:21.58 for third in the 13-man men’s pro side of the event which drew over 2,200 triathletes from 38 countries.

Belonguil, Estreba share IronKids honors in Davao

AROL BELONGUIL charged back in the closing run stage to repeat as the boys’ champion, while Marielle Estreba reigned in her very first try in the girls’ division of the side event of the second Alveo Ironman 70.3 Davao presented by Petron at Azuela Cove in Davao on Saturday. Belonguil clocked 15:29 to rule the swim (400-meter) run (3k) event, edging teammate Justine Hermosa and James Borja for the coveted crown in the premier 13-14 division of the event held to promote a well-balanced lifestyle for kids and help them develop the values of discipline,

hard work, integrity and determination through a series of races. “My training paid off,” said Belonguil, a 13-year-old student at Cebu Normal University. His strength is actually in the bike stage of the junior version of triathlon, which he ruled in Davao last year. But with organizers reducing it to a swim-run race to draw more participants, Belonguil had to put up a strong finishing kick to emerge on top on a 5:37 (swim)-9:23 (run) effort. Borja paced the swim leg in 5:28 but slowed down in the run (9:46), ending up third in 15:44

behind Hermosa’s 15:30 (5:45-9:15). “Earol is quite new in the sport so hopefully, we get to see him in Vermosa, Subic and Cebu to compete with other IronKids campaigners,” said Alaska Associate Brand Manager Diane Guerta. “The IronKids is not all about nutrition and healthy lifestyle but more teaching the values to the kids, and our pro athletes serve as good influence and inspiration to these kids.” Like Belonguil, Estreba rallied in the run part to snare the crown in their side of the event on a 17:20 clocking, submitting 5:44 in the swim stage and 11:03 in the run. Mariel Canete placed

GERMAN Markus Rolli kicks his way to victory in the men’s race as Czech Radka Kahlefeldt retains the women’s crown. STEPHANIE TUMAMPOS

second in 17:24 (5:58-10:56), while Arianna Lim failed to sustain a strong 5:38 start in swim as she struggled with 12:04 in the run to drop to third in 18:12. “I’m very happy to win. This event helped me use my disciplinary skills and I managed my time very well,” said the 14-year-old Estreba, who trained for six

weeks following her stint in the Central Visayas Regional Athletic Association. Other category winners were Eleora Avanzado (11:07) and Bruce Bragat (12:00) in the 9-10 division (200-m swim-1.5-km run); and Francesca Caballero (15:31) and Alessandro Suarez (13:42) in 11-12 section (300 m-2 km).

Revellers target back-to-back wins

EAROL BELONGUIL (left) and Marielle Estreba pose with their medals. STEPHANIE TUMAMPOS

LAGUNA TOPS LUZON LEG

AGUNA province showed that it owned Luzon when it dethroned Baguio City in the third and final leg of the 2019 Batang Pinoy qualifiers which ended on Saturday in the City of Ilagan, Isabela. The athletes from Laguna scooped 38 gold, 35 silver and 35 bronze medals after six days of competition in the premier grassroots tournament of the Philippine Sports Commission. The dizzying hot weather never bothered the 160 strong delegation of Laguna as they dislodged the last year’s Luzon Leg champion and reigning National Finals titlist Baguio City which settled for second place with a harvest of 36 golds, 47 silvers and 60 bronzes. Quezon City (24-19-11) placed third, while Pangasinan (23-24-26) and Pasig City (22–24-27) rounded up the top 5 places. Laguna got most of its medals from swimming where they won 13 golds. The team also dominated pencak silat, badminton and athletics. Baguio City, meanwhile, displayed its mastery in its pet sports boxing and taekwondo. Dance sports proved to be a bright spot

for Quezon City which hauled seven gold medals from the sport. The medalists from the Luzon, Visayas and Mindanao legs will gather in the National Finals in Bacolod City in October when 11 other sports will be played. These are billiards, cycling, gymnastics, judo, muay thai, rugby football, soft tennis, triathlon, weightlifting, wrestling and wushu. Antipolo City went undefeated in girls volleyball to snatch the gold medal on Saturday. Represented by California Academy and coached by school owner Dr. Obet Vital, Antipolo downed Caloocan, 25-17, 25-20, for its first gold medal in the weeklong competition for in-school and out-of-school children aged

HE’LU Bar and Grill seek back-to-back wins when it springs back to action on Monday against lowly McDavid in the Philippine Basketball Association Developmental League at JCSGO Gym in Cubao. The Revellers are fresh off their 89-63 victory over Batangas-EAC and Coach Stevenson Tiu is reminding his wards that no matter how strong they are on paper, the on-court product will always be the more important matter. “Not because we have the talent that we are guaranteed to win. We have to work every game,” Tiu said. Sean Manganti and Rey Suerte have had success in its past games, giving Jeff Viernes a capable support group as Che’Lu wants to move upward from its 2-1 card in the tough Aspirants Group. Game time is at 4 p.m., following the collision between struggling teams Marinerong Pilipino and The Masterpiece Clothing-Trinity University of Asia at 2 p.m. McDavid, meanwhile, is desperate for answers after another defeat last Monday, an 89-64 loss to Petron-Letran. Dahrell Caranguian has been a spark for the newcomers, but more contributions are needed to help the side of Coach Allen Ricardo to score their first win after dropping its first three games. 15 and below. In beach volleyball, Jenaila de Guzman and Keith Leanne Arceo powered Angeles City to a 21-18, 21-17 win over Mandaluyong City to win the gold medal. Pangasinan province, represented by Milson Janry Galzote and Jayvee Perlasan, beat Olongapo City, 21-15, 22-20, in the gold medal match of boys beach volleyball. Mandaluyong took the bronze. Brylle Ballester took the gold in the boys 800 m for Laguna, while Magvrylle Chrause Matchino anchored the province’s 4x400-m boys relay team. It was Matchino’s third gold. Lheslie de Lima of Camarines Sur also bagged his second gold in athletics after ruling the girls 800 m with 2:19.2, beating Matchino (2:21.7) and Ilagan City’s Rebecca Vinuya (2:23.8). De Lima also won the 1500-m event. The mixed 4x100-m relay team of San Fernando, Pampanga, timed in 49.0 to win the gold over Muntinlupa City (50.4) and Baguio City (51.2). San Fernando also ruled the 4x400-m relay team. Naga City bagged three golds in futsal, topping the boys 12-under, girls 12-under and girls 13-15 categories, while Pasig City prevailed in the boys 13-15.

Ramon Rafael Bonilla

orts

sMirror

Monday, March 25, 2019 C3

CARLOS EYES TITLE REPEAT

JOBIM CARLOS is a marked man at Riviera.

OBIM CARLOS hopes to mark his return to Philippine Golf Tour Asia (PGTA) in triumphant fashion as he shoots for a title repeat in the International Container Terminal Services Inc. (ICTSI) Riviera Golf Challenge, which reels off on Wednesday at the Langer layout in Silang, Cavite. The former national champion edged veteran Tony Lascuña by two at Riviera last year to score his breakthrough win in three years as pro, a victory that sparked his surge in the PGT where he won two tournaments at Apo and in

Cebu while turning in five top five finishes to emerge the Order of Merit (OOM) champion. “I couldn’t have done it without hard work,” said Carlos of his OOM feat. “It says a lot about my improvement as a player, and I think I am more competitive than ever.” He aims to put on display that fiery form again when he mixes it with his fellow local top guns and a host of foreign bidders also out to make an impact in the second-to-last tournament of the 2018-19 PGTA season. Carlos vied in the Singapore Open and when Jhonnel Ababa retained his PGTA crown at Pradera Verde in January with the Meycauayan, Bulacan, find raring to get another crack at the crown in the $100,000 championship put up by ICTSI and organized by Pilipinas Golf Tournaments Inc. But he will be up against a fired-up field priming up for the 101st Philippine Open from April 3 to 6, including top players from Singapore, Thailand, England, Taiwan, the US, Japan, Korea, Australia, New Zealand, Venezuela, Macedonia,

the Netherlands and Spain. PGTA leg winners Damien Jordan and David Gleeson of Australia head the foreign challenge along with PGT titlist Nicolas Paez of the US, Thai stalwarts Pasavee Lertvilai, Wisut Artjanawat and Nirun Sae-ueng, PGT winner Guido van der Valk of the Netherlands and Americans Brett Munson and Joshua Salah. The other local aces will be as much tested as Carlos and their foreign counterparts, including Tony Lascuña, who is out to break a long title spell, along with PGTA Southwoods winner Jay Bayron, PHL Masters champion Jerson Balasabas, PGTA CAT Open titlist James Ryan Lam and PGTA Summit Point victory Joenard Rates. The 50 plus ties after 36 holes will advance to the last two rounds of the event. The leading pros will team up with guests and officials of the event’s chief backers ICTSI, Custom Clubmakers, Meralco, K&G Golf Apparel, BDO, Sharp, KZG, PLDT, Empire Golf and Sports and MY Shokai Technology Inc. in Tuesday’s traditional pro-am tournament.

LADY TAMS DOWN LADY FALCONS

By Ramon Rafael Bonilla

AR Eastern University (FEU) slipped past Adamson University in a five-set thriller, 30-32, 25-20, 23-25, 25-20, 15-13, in the University Athletics Association of the Philippines Season 81 women’s volleyball on Sunday at the Ynares Center in Antipolo City. The Lady Tamaraws kept pushing to notch their fourth victory in their last five matches to hike their record to five wins against three losses and tie the University of Santo Tomas Golden Tigresses in third place. The Morayta-based squad showed its

emotional strength and managed to hold fort despite seeing its rookie Lycha Ebon and middle blocker Jeanette Villareal succumbing to injuries. “’Good thing we handled the situation properly despite losing key players,” said FEU Head Coach George Pascua, who briefed his wards of the tough games they will hurdle in the second round. “I told my players that it’s different in the second round. All teams want to win,” he added. With Villareal already out with a right ankle

sprain in the first set, the Lady Tamaraws suffered another blow when Ebon landed awkwardly as she held her right knee in pain in the fifth set. Ebon had to be stretchered out of the court but her contribution, a team-high 19 points, was enough to give FEU the triumph. Heather Guino-o added 14 points, 14 excellent receptions and 10 digs for the Lady Tamaraws. FEU got off to a 7-3 start in the fifth set, but Adamson University fought back to tie the

score at 11. Inspired to take the match after the departure of their key players, Jerrili Malabanan and Celine Domingo worked hand in hand to seal the game. Eli Soyud had 17 points for the Lady Falcons, while Joy Dacoron and Chiara Permentila added 15 points each. Adamson University fell to its seventh loss in eight games to stay at the bottom of the standings.

Vietnam and Indonesia. “Chess is one sport where Filipinos can excel. It is a test of mental strength,’’ Go For Gold godfather Jeremy Go said. “I think Marvin is one of our brightest young athletes who deserve our support.” Go, whose program supports eight other sports, has put his faith on the journey of Miciano, who led Far Eastern University to the University Athletic Association of the Philippines title. The Fide-rated event in Mongolia will open a door of opportunity for the 18-yearold Miciano to showcase his skills against the

best and possibly gain a GM norm and rating points. Aside from Miciano, Go For Gold already has a stable of champions in skateboarder Margielyn Didal, the Philippine dragonboat team from the Philippine Canoe-Kayak Dragonboat Federation, cycling hero Rex Luis Krog and reigning Southeast Asian Games men’s triathlon champion Nikko Huelgas. Go For Gold is also backing the national athletes from wrestling, sepak takraw, the Philippine Air Force volleyball squad and has a team in the Maharlika Pilipinas Basketball League.

ST. AUGUSTINE CAGERS TRIUMPH

All but one player are involved in the Chooks-toGo National Basketball Training Center League Division 2 National Finals presented by SM between high-school teams St. Augustine Institute-Pampanga and Lyceum-Cavite on Sunday at the SM Mall of Asia Arena. St. Augustine Institute won, 91-90, thanks to the heroics of seldom-used guard Brianne Angeles, who was inserted in the game for the first time at crunch time and buried the title-clinching short jumper.

MICIANO TARGETS GM TITLE

A JOHN MARVIN MICIANO has joined the Go For Gold sports program.

SIAN Youth 18-under chess champion John Marvin Miciano will begin the arduous journey under the Go For Gold program to become the next Filipino grandmaster (GM). To achieve his dream, the country’s youngest international master (IM) from Davao City should secure the required three GM norms by playing in more overseas tournaments against the world’s highly

rated players. “We all know how difficult it is to become a GM. But with the support of my family and sponsors such as Go For Gold, it will help me reach my dream,’’ Miciano said. First stop for Miciano is the Fide Asian Zone 3.3 championships scheduled April 6 to 16 in Ulaanbaatar, Mongolia. The tournament will feature the region’s leading players, including top-rated players from

De La Salle regains streetdance crown

E La Salle University’s La Salle Dance Company (LSDC) topped the eighth University Athletic Association of the Philippines Streetdance Competition on Saturday at the Smart-Araneta Coliseum, relegating last year’s champions Far Eastern University Dance Company Street Alliance to second place. It was the Taft-based school’s fourth streetdance title, making the school the most successful team in the seniors division of the UAAP Streetdance Competition. The LSDC crew finished second to FEU last year, but came out firing with a rock-and-roll themed performance inspired by the English band Queen that won the crowd’s favor and the judges’ nod. FEU had its military commando-themed number down pat, but De La Salle outscored its rival in the final tally, 86.5 points to 85. The National University Underdawgz, who also banked on Queen’s Bohemian Rhapsody and a Freddie Mercury look to wow the crowd, finished third with 83.25. “We used last year’s defeat to find new things and ways to win the championship back. Our graduating seniors served as our main

inspiration,” LSDC captain Diego Aviles said. “We used them as motivation so that we can come up with new, exciting elements that have not been done before. We wanted something fresh.” Head Coach Mycs Villoso said “the call for excellence every time” has helped make De La Salle a powerhouse in streetdance as she thanked the De La Salle Culture and Arts office and the Office of Sports Development for their all-out support. The De La Salle senior streetdancers won P50,000, while FEU and NU took home P30,000 and P20,000, respectively. In juniors action, the University of Santo Tomas Galvanize repeated as champions, beating University of the East Street Varsity Team and Far Eastern University Baby Tamaraws Dance Company, respectively. UST scored 80.10, followed by UE’s 74.50 and FEU’s 74.45. “We only had three weeks to prepare and we felt the pressure to get the back-to-back. But I reminded the kids that I don’t want that to be our focus. I told them to just focus and have fun,” UST Head Coach Jan Matthew Almadovar said. DLSU capped off a triumphant afternoon with LSDC’s Zion Hansen Wuxinyi winning the first JBL Freestyle Showdown.

AMBASSADOR Hjayceelyn M. Quintana is joined by the Philippine delegation to the Special Olympics World Games Abu Dhabi. Also in photo are Second Secretary and Consul Rowena Pangilinan-Daquipil, Cultural Officer Delza Lourdes Bayabao and Bayanihan Executive Board Chairman Engr. Elmer Casao.

PHL team bags 2 golds in UAE special games

HEILA GALVEZ won a gold medal in bocce’s female singles, and so did Aivie Dungca in a gymnastics all-around event and Janice Trinidad in 100 meters of athletics in the recent Special Olympics World Games in Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates (UAE). The Philippine delegation also clinched four silver medals courtesy of Ryan Jay Hasim (bocce), Alden Jimenez and James del Rosario (athletics 200 meters), Patricia Ildesa (bowling) and

Lemuel Batiloy (badminton). Marlon Tindoc (powerlifting), Perlita Teves (athletics 200 meters) and Mizzel Dawa (bowling) clinched a bronze medal each. Members of Team PHL Ambassador to UAE Hjayceelyn Quintana warmly welcomed the athletes and officials at the Abu Dhabi National Exhibition Center. Special Olympics World Games Chief Executive Officer Peter Wheeler also congratulated the team members during the press conference.

The World Games gathered 7,500 athletes from 190 countries. Sheikh Mohammed Bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi and Deputy Supreme Commander of the Armed Forces of the UAE, opened the games in a stunning and colorful opening ceremony at the Zayed Sports City Stadium. The Philippines sent 39 athletes who competed in aquatics, athletics, badminton, bocce, bowling, 7-a-side traditional football, futsal, rhythmic gymnastics and powerlifting.

RICK OLIVARES bleachersbrew@gmail.com

BLEACHERS’ BREW

Books from Kobe and Ronnie ABOUT more than a month or so ago, Fully Booked gave me a preview book of The Wizenard Series Book One: Training Camp that was created by National Basketball Association (NBA) superstar Kobe Bryant and written by Wesley King. It was an uncorrected draft for review by a variety of sources—myself included—pending print. It is an honor to receive something from Fully Booked considering I am a regular customer, and for me to provide feedback about the book that could make changes depending on the comments. In fact, the book only went up for sale last March 19. Nevertheless, reading through it and seeing as to how it is littered with “Wizenard Proverbs,” I couldn’t help but think of Bryant’s time under the tutelage of Phil Jackson. Jackson was known to hand out books and even espouse proverbs and teachings of American Indians (of which he was fascinated by) to his players on both the Chicago Bulls and the Los Angeles Lakers. My guess is that it did have some effect on Bryant who in his later years eschewed the early petulance that he was known for to become a more model basketball player. In fact, in the recent Fiba World Cup draw in China, to hear the crowd chant his name—and not of Chinese superstar Yao Ming—shows how he has become adored and deified. Going through the first chapters of The Wizenard Series Book One: Training Camp, I thought that this was like an amalgam of JK Rowling’s Harry Potter series meets the film, Coach Carter, staring the great Samuel Jackson. It does appeal to a younger audience. And young-adult literature or not, I do like the fact that the book does have its learnings and teachings. Until one gets—and this isn’t a shameless plug, but perhaps, a description more apt, that Mamba Mentality. Incredible, isn’t it? Bryant, the servant, has become the master (sage). Basketball isn’t only learned on the hardcourt. Even a book like this is something good for kids and older folk like me. And that brings me to the posthumous release of Ronnie Nathanielsz’s My Reflections on 50 Years in the Philippines that will launched this coming March 30 at 4 p.m. at National Bookstore Glorietta (with the book being released nationwide in the days after). During the announcement of the Philippines’s bid to host the 2023 Fiba World Cup two years ago at the Manila Peninsula, I sat down next to Tito Ronnie, as I fondly called him, and we chatted some. We had struck up a friendship that began back in 2008. Before we went our separate ways that day, I asked him if he would be preparing any book. “Will anyone read it?” he asked me. “Of course,” I said in disbelief, and I remembered his article and interview with the late great Muhammad Ali that was my intro to Tito Ronnie’s work all those years ago. “You’ve pretty much interviewed and written about everyone. Think of the stories you can tell.” He laughed and, in a self-deprecating manner, offered a riposte, “You think too highly of me while others would lynch me.” I told him that we didn’t agree or see eye to eye on the political spectrum, but that doesn’t mean he didn’t write good articles and got sports scoops. Besides, I remember how he gave me a lot of help in producing my first television documentary for Solar Sports ages ago, titled “Glory Road: The History of Philippine Boxing.” Memories and reprinted essays and articles, this is a welcome tome to the sparse landscape that is Philippine sports journalism. If you like reading sports literature, be sure you pick up these two books—The Wizenard Series from Kobe Bryant and Wesley King, and Ronnie Nathanielsz’s My Reflections on 50 Years in the Philippines.

ASTER SEMENYA is “optimistic” of victory in her appeal against International Alliance of Athletics Federations (IAAF) rules designed to control naturally high levels of testosterone in female athletes, the two-time Olympic 800-meter champion’s lawyers said on Friday. The rules proposed by track and field’s governing body, which haven’t yet come into effect, would require female athletes with naturally high levels of testosterone to lower those levels either by medication or surgery in order to be eligible to compete at top track meets. The regulations would apply to distances ranging from 400 meters to 1 mile. South African Semenya is also a three-time world champion. She’s the most famous of a number of female athletes who have high levels of naturally occurring testosterone. The IAAF argues that gives them an unfair advantage over other female athletes. Semenya has challenged the IAAF’s proposed rules at the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS). “Caster Semenya remains optimistic the CAS will declare the IAAF’s regulations unlawful, invalid and of no effect,” her lawyers said in a statement. “This outcome would prevent women athletes from ever having to undergo medical interventions in an attempt to comply with these regulations.” The statement came a day after the CAS, sport’s highest court, said a decision in the pivotal case would be delayed until the end of April to allow for more legal debate. The delay, which is down to extra evidence being submitted by both sides, raised a possible complication for Semenya and other athletes with what the IAAF refers to as “differences of sexual development.” The proposed testosterone regulations require athletes to suppress their high levels for at least six months prior to competing at world-class events like the Diamond League, world championships or the Olympics. But the CAS decision will now come five months before this year’s world championships in Doha, Qatar. The IAAF said if it wins the CAS case, and its regulations are upheld, Semenya and other affected athletes would be given a “special transition provision” to comply with the new testosterone limits. They will have one week from the date that the CAS decision is released to comply, the IAAF said, and if they do they will be eligible to compete at the worlds. One of the ways for athletes to reduce their testosterone levels is by taking daily medication similar to a birth control pill. Semenya’s lawyers confirmed she had submitted extra evidence “in response to post-hearing communications from the IAAF.” Details of the case are confidential. AP

SEMENYA OPTIMISTIC OF VICTORY

THE decision in Caster Semenya’s pivotal case would be delayed until the end of April to allow for more legal debate. AP

Sports BusinessMirror

| Monday, March 25, 2019 mirror_sports@yahoo.com.ph Editor: Jun Lomibao

YU OUTSHINES WORLD NO. 1 PARK P

HOENIX—Yu Liu got through a stressful finalgroup pairing on Saturday to take the Founders Cup lead, outplaying top-ranked Sung-hyun Park. She’ll have do it again on Sunday, this time alongside Carlota Ciganda, to win her first Ladies Professional Golf Association (LPGA) Tour title. Liu shot a seven-under 65 to take a one-stroke lead over Ciganda into the final round at low-scoring Desert Ridge, while Park struggled with bogeys and missed birdie chances to drop four shots behind, “I’m not very comfortable and not very used to playing in the last group,” said Liu, the 23-year-old Chinese player in her second year on the tour, “I’ve had two experiences before and I didn’t do very well. Today was definitely a turnaround.” Liu played the final four holes in four under, making an eagle on the par-five 15th and birdieing the last two to reach 19-under 197 in the event that honors the 13 women who founded the LPGA Tour. She broke a tie with Ciganda with a 15-foot birdie putt on the par-four 18th with Founders Marlene Bauer Hagge, Marilynn Smith and Shirley Spork looking on from a stage on the edge of the green. “Playing golf for a living is definitely not something that I take for granted,” Liu said. “I really appreciate what the founders have done for us.” The former Duke player rebounded from a bogey on the par-three 14th with the eagle on 15—hitting a 5-iron from 190 yards to 20 feet—and made a five-footer on the parthree 17th. Ciganda shot a 63 to match the best score of the week, playing the final five in five under with an eagle and three birdies. She’s trying to become the second former Arizona State player to win the event, following 2017 champion Anna Nordqvist. “When you make putts, it’s great,” Ciganda said. “I’ve been playing great, hitting lots of green, so it was a

matter of making putts.” She set up the eagle on the 479-yard 15th with a 7-iron to 12 feet. “They put the tee up today,” Ciganda said. “I knew if I hit a good driver it was going to be a short iron.” The Spaniard also made a 15-footer on 18. She won her two LPGA Tour titles in 2016 in South Korea and Mexico. Angel Yin was 16 under after a 66. “I’m going to try to do the same I’ve been doing the past three days and just play my game,” the long-hitting American said. “If it works, it works.” Park, the winner three weeks ago in Singapore in the last tour event, had three bogeys in a 69. The South Korean star began the round tied for the lead with upstart playing partner Liu. “I was just trying to get myself mentally prepared for the round and just play my own game,” Liu said. “She’s just a player that I’ve been looking up to a lot. I had a couple experiences playing with her, but I did really bad the previous few. Today I was just controlling my emotions and staying in my own game.” Hyo-joo Kim (64), Jin-young Ko (64), Women’s Australian Open champion Nelly Korda (66) and Lydia Ko (67) matched Park at 15 under. Lydia Ko saved par on 18 with a close shot from the deep left bunker. “To make an up-and-down from a place where it could have been a lot worse, I’ll take it,” Ko said. “I don’t even want to talk about the second shot. It was probably the worst shot of my whole time here in Phoenix. Shanshan Feng, the only Chinese winner in tour history, had a 64 to join 2016 champion Sei-young Kim (67), Bronte Law (65), Jessica Korda (67), Charlotte Thomas (67) and Mi Jung Hur (69) at 13 under. Azahara Munoz, Ciganda’s teammate at Arizona State, matched her fellow Spaniard with a 63 to reach 12 under. AP

YU LIU (right) goes through a stressful final group pairing while Sung-hyun Park struggled with bogeys and missed birdie chances. AP

Casey holds 1-stroke lead over Johnson at Innisbrook

ALM HARBOR, Florida—The final hour changed the dynamics of the Valspar Championship, just not the lead. That still belongs to defending champion Paul Casey, and he saw only the upside of having his three-shot margin shrink to one, and going from a final round pairing with a player who is zero for 195 on the Professional Golfers Association (PGA) Tour to playing alongside the No. 1 player in the world. On a Saturday at Innisbrook that began with all 70 players who made the cut still very much in the mix, Casey surged to a three-shot lead until a bogey on the 18th hole for a three-under 68 that left him one shot ahead of Dustin Johnson. At stake for Casey is a chance to become the first back-to-back winner of the Valspar Championship since this PGA Tour event began in 2000. Behind him is Johnson, who is going for his second

victory in three starts. “Of the guys on the leaderboard, he’s the one I would want to be paired with, so it doesn’t bother me,” Casey said. “Obviously, two shots would have been nicer than one, but one is better than level, or one behind.” Johnson had some say in that final margin with one of his best shots of the day, a 9-iron from a bunker a few paces in front of a steep lip to the front shelf of the 18th green, 10 feet behind the hole. He made that for a 67 to get into the final group. And that was good news for Casey? “He’s the best player in the world. That’s why I work and I do what I do, because I want to play against the best in the world,” Casey said. He also pointed to Johnson being the favorite, at least in the eyes of thousands of fans on a warm, sun-filled day at Innisbrook, the kind of buzz it had last year when Tiger Woods played for the first time.

“I actually feel very little pressure,” Casey said. “You look at my results versus Dustin’s. He’s the better player, so it’s pretty simple. If I go out tomorrow and beat him, I actually might win, plain and simple. Great scenario.” Only it’s not that simple, and no one knows better than Casey. A year ago, he rallied from five shots behind with a 65, and wound up winning by one shot over Woods and Patrick Reed. That’s a tribute to Innisbrook, which players regard as one of the purest tests of the year, certainly in Florida. Casey was at nine-under 204. Eight players had a share of the lead in the third round, and 10 players finished within four shots of the lead. That starts with Jason Kokrak, winless in his 195 starts as a pro over the better part of eight years. He showed how quickly fortunes can change when he made three birdies in five holes to start the back nine,

and then smashed an 8-iron with a breeze at his back that rolled across the 15th green and into the cup for a hole-in-one. “You can be three, four, five shots out at this golf course and really make some noise if you get it going early,” Kokrak said. Kokrak shot 30 on the back for a 66 and was poised to play in the final group until Johnson made his birdie on the 18th. Luke Donald, a past winner at Innisbrook playing for only the second time this year—and first since January—grinded his way to a 70 and joined Scott Stallings (70) three shots behind. Louis Oosthuizen, who had a 66 despite two bogeys on the last three holes, and Jim Furyk were among those four behind. Casey seized control with three birdies in a fivehole stretch to start the back nine. But on the final hole, after Johnson made his birdie, Casey went into the first of a series of miniature church-pew bunkers on the 18th, couldn’t get to the green and missed his 15-foot par putt. Johnson looked to be giving up plenty of

opportunities, especially on the par 5s. He had an iron into the green on Nos. 1 and 11, just missed and chipped to short range before twice missing birdie chances. And then he picked up a birdie on the par-5 14th in the most unlikely way. From light rough with trees partially in his way, he tried to hammer a 5-wood 290 yards. But it came out with too much wind and floated into the wind, hit a tree well short of the green and nearly went into water that isn’t typically in play. Still, he had a tree between his ball and the green. Johnson hit a hard pitch from 73 yards to the right of the tree and let the hill bring it back to the green. And then he made a 35-foot birdie putt. “Makes up for the other two,” he said, walking to the 15th tee. But the big shot was on the 18th, and the birdie got him into the final group in his first trip to Innisbrook since 2010. “I’m in a good position...because this golf course, it’s tough,” Johnson said. “If I can go out and shoot a good score, then I’ve got a chance.” AP

Life

Good and gracious God

EAR God, Your love endures forever. We find refuge in You and pray: Guard us in peace and solitude, oh God. You are our help; put a word of encouragement and love on our lips. You are our strength; give health and wholeness to those who suffer from cancer and other painful physical and emotional illnesses. You are our savior; accompany those who are lost, confused, neglected and faltering in faith. May God bless us with every gift of the Spirit and lead us to rejoice always in Jesus, our hope for eternal life. Amen. GIVE US THIS DAY SHARED BY LUISA LACSON, HFL Word&Life Publications • teacherlouie1965@yahoo.com

ALL ACCESS: ANGELI BAYANI SOARS IN HER NEW PLAY D3

BusinessMirror

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

Monday, March 25, 2019

A summer garden of sensations I

CONTINUED ON D2

MAISON Lourdes snakeskin envelope bags with floral appliqués made by a local community of artisans.

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THE exquisite Maison Lourdes clutch with snakeskin and indigenous Philippine handwoven fabric details.

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T is the season of sun, sand and sensations, and Kultura (www. kultura�ilipino.com) celebrated the arrival of the season with the recent launch of Summer Hardin, a resort pop-up store at SM Makati. A curated selling event, Summer Hardin showcased Kultura’s latest resortwear and accessories, personal-care products, as well as Pinoy delicacies and juices in a tropical garden setting styled using lush greens by Tierra Plants and furniture from SM Home. Summer Hardin sparkles with Micki Olaguer’s fine silver Emblem Jewelry dipped in gold and adorned with genuine gemstones and freshwater pearls; and Marilu Batchelor’s Maison Lourdes Handbags, a bespoke and limited-edition handbag line specializing in snakeskin and leather clutch bags and totes. Go natural with Island Girl’s handwoven and handcrafted bags made from indigenous materials found in the Philippines. And you’re on holiday

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ECO-CHIC handwoven tote bag by Island Girl made from indigenous Pandan leaves material.

Style

BusinessMirror

Monday, March 25, 2019

www.businessmirror.com.ph

A summer garden of sensations

Today’s Horoscope By Eugenia Last

CELEBRITIES BORN ON THIS DAY: Jenny Slate, 37; Sarah Jessica Parker, 54; Marcia Cross, 57; Elton John, 72. HAPPY BIRTHDAY: Travel about this year. Expand your mind and interests. Get a handle on your finances, and discover how to gain power through knowledge and adapting to the changes that come your way. Personal improvements mentally, physically and emotionally will encourage greater insight into life, love and happiness. Set reasonable goals, and make responsible decisions. Choose a peaceful path. Your lucky numbers are 4, 10, 19, 24, 30, 34, 42.

CONTINUED FROM D1 with Kultura’s Resort Wear that’s both stylish and beach perfect. Pamper yourself with all-natural personal care from Forest Magic, the first and original hair formulation made from gugo and blended with natural plant extracts for healthier hair; and be beach-ready with Bare Body, the first and original all-natural no strip cold sugar wax in the Philippines. Tropical Shop converts all the fruit and herb extracts that would otherwise be disposed in manufacturing food and beverage into personal-care products like Tanning Oil, Body Butter, Balm, Essential oils and Eau De Toilette. CocoBody, on the other hand, creates natural earth-friendly handmade natural cosmetics from virgin coconut oil which soothe, moisturize, cleanse and heal from head to toe. The Kultura’s latest summer collection showcased during the recent #SummerHardin resort pop-up store at Kultura in SM Makati and other Kultura branches. ■

ARIES (March 21-April 19): An energetic approach to earning a living and taking care of matters that can influence your standard of living will bring high returns. Reward your efforts by taking time to relax and rejuvenate. You’ll be able to keep the momentum flowing. ★★★★★

TAURUS (April 20-May 20): Stir the pot to bring about positive change. A unique but reliable option will give you an idea that is sure to please someone you want in your life personally or professionally. Think big, but don’t go over your budget. ★★★

GEMINI (May 21-June 20): Don’t take a chance when it comes to physical encounters. Stick to what you know, and know enough to walk away from anyone using persuasive devices to get you to do or try something that is risky or could lead to injury. ★★★ JOSE LLAMAS of Tropical Shop and Healthy Pinoy. Jose’s advocacy includes converting all the fruit and herb extracts that would otherwise be disposed in manufacturing food and beverage into personal-care products to practice zero-waste management.

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KULTURA’S Summer Hardin blooms with Emblem Jewelry’s exquisite collection of 24K gold dipped sterling jewelry.

Just how Sarah G likes her dough fresh every day in stores,” assured Umali. But don’t most Pinoys still regard bread as more of a snack than a meal? “That was before, But now, because of the lifestyle of the Pinoys, they don’t have time to cook rice anymore for breakfast. They’re in a hurry. They have to go to work. So they prefer to eat bread. But when they eat pan de sal, sometimes it has hardened from the previous day and they don’t enjoy eating it anymore. So, they buy now loaf bread because it can stay softer for a few more days,” Umali explained.

TOTA PULCHRA MISS CHARLIZE

@misscharlize

ASIANS still consider rice as their staple food, Filipinos even more so. But in recent years, bread has steadily become a more essential part of our eating habits, especially those who want to be more slender, and consequently feel more beautiful in their own way. Eating bread, some may argue, can be an option to have a healthier lifestyle and a well-balanced diet. The trailblazing bread brand Gardenia makes a bid for this changing preference of Filipinos, as “bread is not a high-calorie food. An average slice of bread contains 80 calories but the calories really start to add up when bread is topped with lots of butter, margarine, peanut butter or mayonnaise. If you want to control your weight, stick to jam, low-fat spreads, cottage cheese, plain yoghurt, or eat bread on its own.” BAKE TO THE FUTURE “WHEN Gardenia started [in the Philippines in 1997], the [Filipinos’] consumption of rice for breakfast was 70 percent,” said Simplicio Umali Jr., the president and general manager of Gardenia Bakeries Philippines Inc. “The rest [30 percent] was pan de sal. Then the market of bread gradually increased, becoming 60 percent pan de sal, 40 percent loaf bread. Now it’s the reverse, it’s 60 percent loaf bread and 40 percent pan de sal.” Already an industry leader in the packaged-bread market, the company aims to be more dominant, especially in the south. Umali led the inauguration of

the company’s new bread-manufacturing facility in Mindanao, located in Tagoloan, Misamis Oriental, a few kilometers from bustling Cagayan de Oro City. “The plant is a completely new breadline that feature robotics, automation and the latest available technologies in modern baking sourced from the best bakery equipment suppliers from all over the world. It is capable of producing 130,000 loaves and buns a day which will be distributed with an expanded fleet of trucks all over Mindanao,” Umali shared. This plant has four production lines—first, a 4,000 loaves per hour loaf line; second, a flavored loaf line; third, a bun and pan de sal line; and fourth, a snack toast line. “The fusion of sophisticated technology and automated facility are operated using a proprietary Gardenia production process, and the use of premium and finest ingredients in baking breads are key pillars to producing consistent quality, great-tasting, soft and nutritious Gardenia bread products that are delivered

CANCER (June 21-July 22): You’ll have some good ideas, but before you proceed, check all the facts and details before you make a commitment. You are overdue for a change, so don’t hesitate when you should be taking action. ★★★

#BREADYTOFALLINLOVEAGAIN AS the Pop Star Princess, Sarah Geronimo is one of the most commanding and in-demand endorsers in the land. “Napapapikit rin ba kayo sa bango, lambot at sarap ng Gardenia? Excited na po akong i-share and #GardeniaPikitSarap Moments ko sa inyo,” Sarah posted on her Instagram for her 846k followers. “So, let’s all get #BreadytoFallinLoveAgain and again and again. Oh, Gardenia na!” Why the need for an endorser if you’re enjoy brisk sales, I asked Umali. “Gardenia has so much to still say as of now because of the brand and the quality. So, when the commercial was presented to us, when the idea was presented, the best way to communicate ‘Pikit-Sarap,’ kailangan may ipapakita kang maganda ang pikit n’ya. Hindi pwedeng kahit sinong talent lang kukunin mo na pipikit. So, naghanap kami ng maganda ang pikit n’ya. Maamo ang mukha. ’Yung kapag ngumiti siya, talagang it will deliver the message na masarap at mapapapikit ka sa sarap,” Umali said. The company did a survey and 30-year-old Sarah, multi-awarded singer, wholesome entertainer and box-office queen, emerged the big winner. “Ang galing n’ya. And then even sa song for the commercial, ang galing! Pero when she sings it pa, ay talagang panalo. It had to be a celebrity who had to sing it so we do justice to the message,” Umali concluded. “Sarah is really a perfect endorser.”

LEO (July 23-Aug. 22): Observe before you jump into something you are not fully familiar with. Negotiations will help you gain ground if you use your skills, experience and attributes to barter for a better deal. Romance is highlighted. ★★★★★

VIRGO (Aug. 23-Sept. 22): You’ll accomplish the most if you take the path of least resistance. There is no point in arguing or getting all worked up over something you cannot change. Focus on what’s doable to gain insight as well as headway. ★★

LIBRA (Sept. 23-Oct. 22): An opportunity will unfold through a friend or relative. Attend an event that offers meeting people who share your interests. Take action and fix any issue that is disrupting your personal or domestic life. Personal improvement is encouraged. ★★★★

SCORPIO (Oct. 23-Nov. 21): Take better care of your health and well-being. Arguments will not bring the results you want. Focus on the ideas you want to flesh out and the information you need to get things done. ★★★

SAGITTARIUS (Nov. 22-Dec. 21): You’ll need to drum up all the charm and charisma you can to avoid being taken for granted. Don’t say yes to someone who exaggerates or isn’t truthful about what he or she wants from you. ★★★

CAPRICORN (Dec. 22-Jan. 19): Take a greater interest in what’s happening in your personal life. Engage in the changes that need to be made at home in order to make your surroundings peaceful and more equipped to fit your needs and your lifestyle. ★★★

AQUARIUS (Jan. 20-Feb. 18): Use your intelligence and take your time when dealing with situations that are unstable. It’s best to be certain and to observe what’s happening before you do or say something you’ll regret. ★★★★

PISCES (Feb. 19-March 20): Secret matters should be brought out into the open before you move forward. Question anything or anyone that is vague or appears to be covering up what’s actually happening. ★★ BIRTHDAY BABY: You are energetic, outgoing and sensitive. You are adaptable and persistent.

‘doctor’s orders’ BY STEPHANIE KIM AND ZHOUQIN BURNIKEL The Universal Crossword/Edited by David Steinberg

ACROSS 1 Pine (for) 5 Sore throat soother 11 The Walking Dead network 14 Shrinking Asian sea 15 Take into custody 16 Road goo 17 Peacock courtship ritual (note the starred answers’ vowel progression) 19 Weed whacker 20 Apple music source 21 Org chart topper 22 Et ___ (and others) 23 Prepares for laundry day 24 It has a finger on a city’s pulse 26 Gershwin or Glass 27 Alphabetic man’s nickname 29 Caribbean island near Nevis 30 Country star Lovett 32 Amtrak stop, briefly 34 Poetic dedications 35 “Iron” Bears coach 39 Skunk’s giveaway 41 Beats by ___

42 Unlikely, as chances 46 M, L or K, for MLK 49 Pop-ups, e.g. 51 Hartford-to-Boston dir. 52 Goes from No. 1 to No. 2, say 54 Extra-prim sort 56 White pinot option 57 Stimulating cuppa 58 Wipes clean 59 Uneven? 60 Red-faced fowl 62 Born as 63 Squeaky wheel’s need 64 Intro drawing course 65 Speech pauses 66 Jeremy of Tag 67 Take a break DOWN 1 Antifungal brand 2 Art of public speaking 3 Artificial’s opposite 4 Flicker of light 5 Witches and crones 6 BOS : Logan :: ___ : O’Hare

7 8 9 10 11 12 13 18 22 24 25 28 31 33 36 37 38 39 40 43 44

Slightest quantity Core beliefs Chaperone Dined, but didn’t wine Olympics contestant Some Chinese revolutionaries Flight complaints? Noted loch Three-striped sneaker maker Commercial break button “Enough already!” “Shame!” syllable Overacts Sum Blue or hazel ring Country west of Afghanistan Nonprofit with Talks Not in stock yet Computes 6/2 = 3, say Casual 1970s suit type Locusts and termites and beetles, oh my! 45 Military cookware 46 “See ya!”

47 48 50 53 55 58 60 61

Earnestly advise Make less tight Nimble “Yes ___!”: Bob the Builder Weather-tracking tool Always Supervisor: Abbr. Sugary suffix

Solution to Friday’s puzzle:

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Monday, March 25, 2019

Angeli Bayani soars in her new play Adele and Jennifer Lawrence whoop it up at NYC gay bar NEW YORK—Bar patrons in New York’s Greenwich Village were in the right place at the right time when Adele and Jennifer Lawrence showed up. The Daily News reports Grammy-winning singer Adele and her Oscar-winning actress pal hit the gay bar Pieces on Friday night, to the delight of the crowd. They drank and danced and schmoozed, hugging shirtless men and taking selfies while the crowd applauded. They danced to Kylie Minogue and played a drinking game. And Adele participated in a game show hosted by a drag queen and introduced herself as a married, stay-athome mom. Adele has long been a favorite in the LGBTQ community. She told Time magazine in 2015 that she couldn’t wait to find out who her young son’s “girlfriend or his boyfriend is going to be.... Whatever my kid wants to do or be I will always support him no matter what.” AP

Streisand apologizes for remarks on Michael Jackson accusers NEW YORK—Barbra Streisand apologized on Saturday for her remarks about Michael Jackson and two men who have accused him of sexual abuse, saying that she should have chosen her words more carefully and that she admires the accusers for “speaking their truth.” Streisand had received bitter criticism online after she was quoted in The Times of London as saying that Jackson’s accusers were “thrilled to be there” during the alleged abuse, which “didn’t kill them.” After an initial statement on Saturday to The Associated Press (AP) in which she sought to clarify her remarks, the superstar of song, stage and screen posted an apology online that went further. “I am profoundly sorry for any pain or misunderstanding I caused by not choosing my words more carefully about Michael Jackson and his victims,” she wrote. “I didn’t mean to dismiss the trauma these boys experienced in any way,” she wrote. “Like all survivors of sexual assault, they will have to carry this for the rest of their lives. I feel deep remorse and I hope that James and Wade know that I truly respect and admire them for speaking their truth.” The apology went far beyond the earlier statement to the AP, in which she elaborated on her published remarks, saying she felt “nothing but sympathy” for the men, Wade Robson and James Safechuck, who accuse the late star of molesting them as children. She wrote in that earlier statement: “To be crystal clear, there is no situation or circumstance where it is OK for the innocence of children to be taken advantage of by anyone.” The remarks in question came deep into a wide-ranging interview with The Times. Asked about Jackson, Streisand was quoted as saying she “absolutely” believed Robson and Safechuck, who make their allegations in the recent HBO documentary Leaving Neverland. Jackson’s estate has condemned the HBO documentary. Jackson, who died in 2009, was found not guilty in 2005 of charges that he molested a 13-year-old boy. Streisand was asked about the documentary, which she called “too painful.” She then said that Jackson, when she met him, was “very sweet, very childlike.” Asked how she reconciled that man with the one portrayed in the documentary, she replied: “His sexual needs were his sexual needs, coming from whatever childhood he has or whatever DNA he has. You can say ‘molested,’ but those children, as you heard say, they were thrilled to be there. They both married and they both have children, so it didn’t kill them.” Among those firing back on social media was the director of Leaving Neverland, Dan Reed, who wrote of that last quote: “Did you really say that?!” Asked by The Times whether she was angry at Jackson, Streisand said: “It’s a combination of feelings. I feel bad for the children. I feel bad for him. I blame, I guess, the parents, who would allow their children to sleep with him.” Also attracting attention on Saturday for remarks about Jackson was his close friend and mentor Diana Ross. “This is what’s on my heart this morning,” Ross wrote on Twitter. “I believe and trust that Michael Jackson was and is a magnificent incredible force to me and to many others.” AP

ALL ACCESS RICKY GALLARDO

rickygallardoTFI@gmail.com

CTRESS Angeli Bayani is having a grand time in her career. For many weeks now, she has been enjoying the rehearsals for the Philippine staging of Angels in America: Millennium Approaches, her first for Atlantis Theatrical Productions. Bayani is breathing life to the character of Harper Pitt, the unhappy Mormon wife of a closeted gay lawyer. “My husband is caught in a Web of an illicit same-sex affair and gets entangled in many ways, affecting me and our relationship. So I resort to popping Valium to somehow calm my nerves and help me escape the harsh realities of living and loving.” She added, “Harper is both familiar and unfamiliar to me as an actor. She seems to be logically simple enough to understand the many sides of her being, specifically her subconscious, which is as complex as complex can be.” Bayani is elated that her director Bobby Garcia offered her the part. “I have always wanted to work with Bobby and Atlantis Productions. I am just privileged to be part of Angels in America, working with A-listers, from actors to the technical and artistic members of the production. You just have to level up every time you go into rehearsals. With this experience, I am just so thrilled and fulfilled as an actor.” She revealed she gets excited every time there’s an opportunity for her to do theater work. “I breathe acting, and when a good role comes along, be it in theater, on film or television, I always try to find time and make time to accept these projects. I’m always thirsty to work with the best and most professional people, because I continue to learn from them as an actor. I am just grateful to Bobby Garcia and his team for the chance to be part of Angels in America!” Garcia directed the first Manila production of Angels in America at the Music Museum in 1995, and he comes full circle with this new staging. “I was 25 when I directed Angels in America for New Voice Co. I was very young and, somehow, not mature enough to fully understand the complexities of the play. Death and despair have taken a whole new meaning for someone who’d turn 50 very soon, who is looking and dealing with mortality in a more

vivid way,” he said, adding, “Having taken on the show before, I knew I needed a cast as fearless, as unexpected, as complex, and as artistically brilliant as Tony Kushner’s material. I am thrilled that Angels in America circa 2019 Manila features every single actor I had originally envisioned for this retelling of Kushner’s gleaming modern classic.” “The cast consists of some of the most acclaimed, most awarded and most respected actors in the country. To say that I am excited for this particular staging is an understatement,” he shared. Garcia is

proud of Bayani and his entire ensemble of actors. “Angeli is a thinking actor and she works hard at her character. She goes deep down and unravels the layers that makes Harper both interesting and real.” Bayani pits acting skills with the likes of Art Acuña, Topper Fabregas, Markki Stroem, Nelsito Gomez, Pinky Amador, Andrew Ranay and the inimitable Cherie Gil. Angels in America opened last weekend at the Carlos Romulo Auditorium of the RCBC Plaza in Makati City, and will run until April 7. ■

MICHAEL V. and Carol Bunagan with GMA executives

GMA Pictures, Mic Test Entertainment team up for ‘Family History’ COMEDY genius Michael V. and wife Carol Bunagan of Mic Test Entertainment Inc. seal their partnership with GMA Pictures for the coproduction of the upcoming film Family History in a contract signing held on March 15. The award-winning comedian and TV host has been in the industry for many years but this is the first time that he’ll be wearing different hats for a project. He will not be only one of the main actors for the much-awaited film but also the director, writer and producer, as well. Bitoy, as Michael V. is fondly called, is happy and excited with his latest collaboration with the media giant. “As with the past contracts and projects that we did, walang problema. It’s good na parang feeling ko deserve namin ang isa’t isa. Ang Mic Test Entertainment Inc. and GMA Pictures deserve nila ang isa’t isa kasi very compatible. Marami kang bagay na natutunan before na maaari mong i-apply dito sa partnership na ito. I think hindi lang ito magtatagal ng isang project lang, hindi lang dalawa, it will spawn multiple projects.” His wife/manager Carol, who is the executive producer from Mic Test Entertainment for Family History, shares it is a breeze working with GMA for this film. “Everything is going as planned. We are very happy kasi we are partnering with GMA. We are being taken care of. Happy set nga kami. The artists are enjoying. Bitoy is parang

naglalaro lang siya. At the same time, ’yung mga artista naman they are really having fun doing the film. Good vibes and good people talaga.” GMA President and COO Gilberto R. Duavit Jr. revealed the management was quick to green light Family History, and they fully trust and support Bitoy on his latest endeavor where he has full creative control. “Hindi naman kaila sa ating lahat ang kahusayan ni Bitoy sa lahat ng aspeto ng kanyang craft so nung huling contract signing ni Bitoy, hindi namin siya tinigilan na pag-isipan na gumawa ng pelikula. Sa kagandahang palad sa unang pagbasa pa lang ng kwento, sabi ko, ‘This is one story that has to be made into a movie. This is one of those very, very rare instances. Nasisiyahan tayong lahat na si Bitoy, bukod sa gaganap at magdi-direk, ay siya ang sumulat at magpoproduce ng pelikula. It is very rare na I see a story, na isang basa pa lamang ay kailangan na maisa-pelikula ang kwentong ito. This is one of those.’” GMA Executive Vice President and CFO Felipe S. Yalong, in turn, is looking forward to the tie-up that will excite the moviegoers, “We are excited kasi it will be coproduced by Bitoy and GMA, and this will be a full project under the control of Bitoy. So everything talaga will be controlled by Bitoy as a coproducer of GMA. And we are so excited that after several years ngayon lang ata babalik si Bitoy sa big screen, and this

is a project na we co-owned. Nasa kanya lahat ang bagay para maging very successful ang movie. It was written straight from the heart of Bitoy. That’s something the viewers will watch. It’s a different kind of Bitoy that they will see, even the lineup of artists that we have. So we are excited about the comeback movie of Bitoy as producer and as an actor.” Family History is a heart-warming movie which celebrates the value of life, family and marriage. Joining Michael V. are John Estrada, Paolo Contis, Bianca Umali, Miguel Tanfelix, Nonie Buencamino, Ina Feleo, Kakai Bautista, Mikoy Morales, Nikki Co, Vince Gamad, Jemwell Ventinilla and Dawn Zulueta. Award-winning actor Dingdong Dantes, and multiawarded comedienne and TV host Eugene Domingo play special cameo roles. Present during the contract signing were Duavit, Yalong, GMA Senior Vice President for Entertainment Group Lilybeth G. Rasonable, GMA Chief Risk Officer and First Vice President for Corporate Strategic Planning and Program Support Department Regie C. Bautista, GMA Vice President for Drama Productions Redgie A. Magno, GMA Vice President for BDD2 Janine Piad-Nacar, GMA Vice President for Corporate Affairs and Communications Angel Javier Cruz, GMA Assistant Vice President for BDD2 Bang Arespacochaga, GMA Senior Program Managers Nini Matilac, Cecille de Guzman, Mildred Natividad and Enri Calaycay.

D4 Monday, March 25, 2019

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Park Ji-hoon looks forward to debut and interactions with fans AND THEN SOME DINNA CHAN VASQUEZ @dinnachanvasquez luckydinna@gmail.com

ARK JI-HOON is best known for being part of Wanna One, a group formed via survival competition show Produce 101. Since Wanna One disbanded, the members, including Park Ji-hoon, have either embarked on solo careers or gone back to their former groups. Park Ji-hoon is making his solo debut with the album O’Clock, which is scheduled for release tomorrow, March 26. During the press conference for his 2019 Asia Fan Meeting in Manila, “First Edition,” at the Araneta Coliseum, he was asked to give a clue as to the concept of his album. “I went to Prague for my music video [‘L.O.V.E.’]. I hope you can watch and support my music video because it’s really beautiful like the places where we shot it,” he said, asking everyone to wait for the release. But aside from that, Park Ji-hoon was game in answering questions, both during the press conference and the fan meeting. He revealed that he and the Wanna One members support each others’ careers, and that they have a Kakao Talk group chat. By the way, you might be wondering why we’re talking about a male K-pop star in a space that usually deals about beauty and style. That’s because I look at Park Ji-hoon and see someone whose aesthetic is top-notch. He is attractive, yes, but he and his stylists really know how

he should look and don’t mess up. His hair and makeup are always on point. For example, during the press conference, Park Ji-hoon was in a beige suit with brown leather shoes. The beige went well with his skin tone and made him look young but very polished. “The staff helps me with fashion. It’s thanks to them that I have good fashion,” said the 19-year-old. If he were a fragrance, Park Ji-hoon said he’d be a “musky scent” because he has a “cool personality.” As for his style, Park Ji-hoon says he always goes for comfort. In fact, during the fan meeting, he said his favorite fashion item is slippers. “You can wear slippers anywhere. They’re very comfortable.” Airport fashion is very big in the K-pop scene. Many idols are actually styled when they go to the airport. Park Ji-hoon’s favorite airport fashion item is, not surprisingly, AirPods. “I like listening to music when I sleep so AirPods are important.” During the fan meet, Park Ji-hoon performed songs such as “Hide And Seek,” “Press Your Number,” “I Wanna Have,” “11” and “Young 20,” a track produced by fellow Wanna One member Lee Dae-hwi with lyrics cowritten by Park Ji-hoon. Park Ji-hoon was a child actor who appeared in dramas, such as Jumong and Kimchi Cheese Smile. He said watching idols perform inspired him to be a singer. He asked his fans, the Mays, to continue their support for him. “I’m glad we were able to make new memories together. I will try my best so that we can meet more often so please look forward to it. Mahal ko kayo, Filipino Mays. You guys are really my flowers. ’Till the day we meet again, please wait for it.” The 2019 Park Ji-hoon Asia Fan Meeting in Manila First Edition was presented by Maroo Entertainment, YJ Partners and PULP Live World. ■

Maris Racal ups her makeup game MARIS RACAL achieves a fresh and natural look with Careline products.

ARE you ready to level up your makeup game and have more fun using different makeup products and colors? Most teen girl agree they reach a point when they feel they’re ready to explore and expand their makeup repertoire. Often, this is a sign they’re ready for bigger challenges and opportunities. This is especially true for 21-year-old actress and singer Maris Racal, dubbed as the “Singing Sunshine of Davao” from Pinoy Big Brother. Maris shares she’s at that point when she’s ready to shift from being a strictly-lip-and-cheek-tint girl to a young lady who’s more adventurous when it comes to colors and cosmetics. These days, Maris, who’s the newest face of Careline Cosmetics (www.careline.com.ph), the trendy and edgy cosmetics line of Ever Bilena for the Filipina youth, says she never leaves home without her essentials: Careline Oil Control Face Powder, Careline Oil Control Blush On, Careline Jelly Tint and her go-to Careline Graphic-Ink Liner. Often opting for natural-looking makeup, Racal describes her usual look to be fresh and natural to highlight her morena skin tone. She adds, “I want to embrace my skin color so I usually go for darker shades of foundation and then contour. Parang nasa beach ka. They should be a little darker pero dapat mukhang natural.” On days when the young actress feels a little more playful or mature, she goes for more adventurous colors like Careline Matte Liquid Lipstick In Bloom shade, or on special occasions she prefers looks that are “no effort at all” as she calls it—“but really, it depends on my mood most of the time.”

Being more adventurous in her makeup, wardrobe and overall look is part of Maris’s decision to expand her horizons and be open to more opportunities. Her contract with Careline is simply the beginning. “I’m ready for more challenges and bigger roles this year, and I’m grateful for all the blessings that have come my way.”

BusinessMirror

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Monday, March 25, 2019 E1

WHY BUSINESSES ARE BECOMING MORE VOCAL IN SUPPORT OF LGBTQ RIGHTS

By Jessica Shortall

OR many years, businesses have been working to improve their brands and their internal practices on LGBTQ issues, investing in culture, benefits and marketing to welcome LGBTQ workers and customers and to telegraph inclusion and openness.

Political activism has been slower in coming. In recent years, however, something has shifted: More companies are speaking up on public policy affecting the LGBTQ community, putting their brands and political relationships on the line. This increased public activity is largely the result of rapid opinion shifts, and millennials and generation Z are often at the leading edge. Sixty-seven percent of young adults in the US do not believe that smallbusiness owners should be allowed to refuse service to LGBT people for religious reasons, compared with 60 percent of Americans overall and 53

percent of older citizens. LGBTQ inclusion is good for the economy, and as more and more businesses make this connection, they are stepping forward to make the economic case for nondiscrimination protections and against discriminatory laws. And they are not doing it alone. They are turning to coalitions to ensure they have strength in numbers, resources and messaging alignment. These coalitions serve more than a convening role. First, they reduce political risk by building critical mass. If a business is joined by its peers, the risk

of being an isolated target drops significantly. Second, coalitions centralize resources and expertise, such as political intel and data on the economic effects of discrimination. On their own, businesses are less likely to have the expertise to recognize and thoroughly analyze these bills and connect them back to their economic and business risks. Coalitions provide outsourced expertise and give businesses the chance to partner with state and national equality organizations that can bring their own resources to bear. Last, coalitions help their mem-

bers develop a clear and unified message that, in turn, makes their case for nondiscrimination more powerful to lawmakers and the public. Nationally, and in individual states where pro- or anti-LGBTQ legislation is proposed, businesses have a real opportunity to make a difference. When nondiscrimination legislation passes, businesses can be vocal in their praise and celebration of these efforts as vital to investing in a forward-looking, inclusive economy. Jessica Shortall leads the newly launched America Competes coalition.

A big step toward giving patients control over their health-care data HOW BOEING SHOULD HAVE RESPONDED TO THE 737 MAX SAFETY CRISIS T By David Blumenthal

By Sandra J. Sucher

S all of us watch, shocked by the human consequences of two crashes of Boeing 737 Max jets in just five months, it’s hard not to wonder: Why did Boeing resist efforts to ground the jets? The second jet, an Ethiopian Airlines flight, crashed on March 10. Politicians weighed in, and Dennis Muilenburg, CEO of Boeing, called President Donald J. Trump to reassure him about the safety of the company’s planes following Trump’s tweet complaining that airplanes were becoming too complex. By March 13, more than 40 countries had grounded the jets. We could have avoided much of the turmoil had the company’s leaders done a better job of framing the situation. Frames shape the way we think about problems (and also opportunities). They tell us what category of problem we are dealing with, and because they identify a type of problem, they also contain the seeds of action and response. Boeing CEO Muilenburg is reported to have insisted that the aircraft are safe. We heard about the training that is designed to help pilots identify and override the automatic controls on the plane if those controls are mistakenly guiding its nose down. So Muilenburg’s frame

appears to be: “This is a technical problem that we can correct with pilot training.” It’s a common enough frame for a product malfunction, but we still don’t know if the similarity in the two crashes is a coincidence or the sign of a systematic problem that needs to be corrected. Moreover, the frame seems to miss the point that hundreds of human lives have been lost, that more may be at risk and that regulators in many countries have grounded the planes. So what could Boeing have said? A better frame would be: “This is a technical problem that we do not fully understand. In light of that uncertainty, we recommend grounding the 737 Max 8s and 9s until we can be sure we know what is causing these crashes, and can satisfy ourselves and all the global regulators that the plane is safe to fly again.” Framing is a tool to be used consciously. Done well, it can make an enormous difference in inspiring responsible action and trust in the judgment and values of the company, even if the problem turns out to not be totally solved, and needs to be addressed again. Sandra J. Sucher is a faculty fellow and a professor of management practice at Harvard Business School.

HE seeds of a consumerdriven health-care revolution, one that could turn the US health-care system on its head, were sown in early March. This potential disruption comes from an unlikely source: two proposed rules from the Department of Health and Human Services that could have consumers and America’s biggest tech firms joining forces. The rules, from the Office of the National Coordinator for Health IT (ONC) and the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) are both focused on allowing consumers free and easy access to their health data and letting them opt

to share that data with big tech or whomever else they choose. The ONC rule would require that health-care providers and electronic health record (EHR) vendors make patients’ health data easily and cheaply available to them electronically. The CMS rule aims to liberate patients’ data from another critical source: insurers. How can all this technical mumbo jumbo revolutionize health care? Because it has the potential to open up the healthcare marketplace to consumerdriven competition in ways never seen before. One reason that health-care markets are so flawed and inefficient is that consumers and patients lack the knowledge to make

good choices. In particular, they lack data about their own health and about the health and economic consequences of their decisions. The EHR and these new federal rules could change that fundamentally, by giving patients unprecedented access to the information they need to be wise consumers of health care. Even with data liberation, however, there is a substantial gap between theory and practice. Many consumers are ill-equipped to make sense of the reams of detailed information that populate their EHRs and their claims repositories. They need help organizing those data and interpreting them in light of their own histories, the scientific literature and the

health-care resources available to them in their own communities. The solution: Consumers could rely on informationcompanies to collect, manage and refine the data on their behalf. Other obstacles to a consumerdriven health-care revolution remain. Threats to patient privacy and security abound when third parties are authorized to access patients’ data. Nevertheless, with the publication of these rules, and likely further public and private actions to come, doors are opening to a health-care system that may look dramatically different from the status quo. David Blumenthal is president of the Commonwealth Fund.

Why AI underperforms and what companies can do about it By Mihnea C. Moldoveanu

HY is the gap between companies’ artificialintelligence ambition and their actual adoption so large? The answer is not primarily technical. It is organizational and cultural. A massive skills-and-language gap has emerged between key organizational decision-makers and their AI teams. The problem is that most executives are selected for their ability to talk to other people. Those who develop machine-learning solutions to business problems are selected for their ability to talk to

machines. These two groups cannot, do not and will not speak to each other in productive ways. We need to bridge this gap. Organizations need people who can talk to both people and machines, and they need people in their upper echelons who specialize in talking to machines. The current lingua franca of business is part of the problem. The proliferation of economists in business school faculties since the 1960s has contributed to the production of a common language system that executives use to plan their actions and justify their decisions. In an age where competi-

tion depends on algorithms and massive, distributed data sets, this language is inadequate. To catch up, companies need to change how they communicate and how they frame problems. They need to offer their nontechnical executives training in computational and algorithmic thinking. Equally important, organizations must develop the relational and communicative skill base of their technical team members. Functioning competently in a top management team or board meeting is about much more than accurate reporting, valid reasoning,

critical thinking or decision-making. It is about finding successful modes and means of expression. These so-called soft skills are among the hardest to develop and wield. But they are as important for technical employees as for anyone else. AI strategies fail because AI is a means, not an end. But for companies to get past the hype and focus on the real potential that AI offers, they’ll have to start with how they communicate. Mihnea C. Moldoveanu is an assistant professor at the Rotman School.

E2 Monday, March 25, 2019 • Editor: Efleda P. Campos

Education BusinessMirror

Intl accreditation body cites advances in PHL education via the K-12 program

By Claudeth Mocon-Ciriaco | Correspondent

HE overall Philippine education structure is now comparable to systems around the world in preparing students to immerse in the world beyond school, said an official of the Association to Advance Collegiate Schools of Business (AACSB), the hallmark of excellence in business education around the world. “With the full implementation of the K to 12 reform in place, Filipino students receive an equivalent amount of schooling [12 years] prior to entering college. This makes for a smoother transition to the collegiate level, providing students with better international mobility through exchange programs, and allows Philippine business schools to offer more advance courses earlier in the academic cycle,” Tom Robinson, president and CEO of AACSB International, told the BusinessMirror in an e-mail interview. AACSB International is a recognized accreditation body certifying the excellence of a business school according to standards accepted throughout the world. In the Philippines, only the Asian Institute of Management is AACSB accredited. Robinson said that within Filipino colleges or universities, “I have noticed a strong partnership with business, where schools bring experts in from the business community to teach and provide an immediate professional experience.” Globally, he added, AACSB has rec-

ognized the need for business schools and business to work as collaborators in developing research, solving realworld problems, and establishing curriculum that provides students with the knowledge, skills and abilities that employers need today. “It is very encouraging to see schools strongly embrace this concept,” he said. AACSB aims to empower educators to meet the changing needs of business as it seeks to “help business schools accelerate their curriculum and program innovation, foster stronger connections between business and academia, and amplify the positive impact that business schools have on the world today.” Established in 1916 as a US-based nonprofit, with the purpose of advancing quality business education, Robinson said AACSB serves as the world’s largest business education alliance, connecting educators, students and business. AACSB has offices in the United States, the Netherlands, and Singapore, and leads the business education industry globally through accreditation and quality assurance, the

sharing of best practices and research globally and professional development services, Robinson said. He underscored that the AACSB’s accreditation is considered the “highest of standards.” “Only 5 percent of business schools around the world have earned this distinction. Globally, schools recognize our quality framework and want to be part of this landscape,” he said. Records showed that as of January 2019, only 831 universities from 54 countries or territories around the world have earned accreditation from AACSB. As for the students and the public, AACSB accreditation provides an internationally renowned external validation. AACSB’s accreditation quality management system has achieved ISO 9001:2015 certification for all of its offices globally. “Our schools are recognized by top employers—and peer universities—as among those that teach the best skills, giving graduates a distinct advantage in the real world. Faculty at AACSB-accredited schools are the best in their field and discipline, and are committed to creating innovative learning environments,” he noted. For schools, AACSB’s accreditation process allows schools to further enhance their internal operations, from their mission to the everyday management of programs. Schools are validated in key areas, such as curriculum, strategic planning and mission development. Additionally, accredited schools are part of a network that provides faculty with a broader range of collaboration and professional development opportunities. “Across the Asia-Pacific region, we have nearly 100 schools in process, so I hope to see other Philippine schools accredited in the next five to seven years,” he said.

Asked about the future of business education, Robinson said that globally, they see two core concepts influencing both business and higher education: technology and the concept of lifelong learning. “Within business, rapid changes of automation and artificial intelligence will soon revamp the tasks and skills required of and by people. To adjust will require both the older and younger generations to revisit their training,” he said as he recalled that years ago, students and society viewed schooling as one and done, but today’s workers must reskill themselves on a continuous, lifelong learning basis. “Jobs are changing, technology is changing and workers must keep pace. To the positive, business schools are aware and are trying to retool and reposition offerings to meet new needs. Higher education is moving away from the traditional lecture and learn format, to one that emphasizes experiential learning,” he noted. Technology, he said, is enabling professors to share lectures in advance so they can focus class-time on helping students with real company projects, and solve problems in current working-world scenarios. In addition to traditional format, students can now learn through a blended learning environment and a variety of sources. Each offers degrees, certifications, badges and the like. AACSB views each of these options as complimentary pursuits. “Depending on where you are in your career or academic cycle, there are different components to education that students can combine to demonstrate knowledge and relevance of skills. In the end, it will be the lifelong learning mentality and willingness to skill and reskill that will separate leaders within the business environment,” he said.

DLSU School of Economics launches 4th Industrial Revolution Economics Series

E LA Salle University’s School of Economics has launched its fourth industrial revolution (Industry 4.0) research and dialogue series that seeks to address challenges and opportunities in what the World Economic Forum calls a transformative era of our time that fuses “technologies across the physical, digital and biological worlds.” Kicking off its “Industry 4.0 Economics Series” with a workshop, “Industry 4.0 and the Inclusive Innovation Industrial Strategy (i3S): Transforming the Philippine Economy in the Fourth Industrial Revolution,” led by Dr. Rafaelita Aldaba, undersecretary for Competitiveness and Innovation of the Department of Trade and Industry. Aldaba shared the government’s plans on addressing the challenges and opportunities in the new technological revolution anchored on five major pillars, namely building new industries and industry clusters, capacity building and human resource development, reinforcing the country’s innovation and entrepreneurship ecosystem, driving micro, small and medium enterprise (MSME) growth and development, and enhancing ease of doing business in the country. The national innovation framework relies strongly on a government-academe-industry collabora-

tion with the government acting as a facilitator and coordinator in “addressing the most binding constraints to the growth of industries,” Aldaba noted during the workshop. Reinforcing the need for a stronger government-academe-industry partnership, the School of Economics together with the Economics Organization held the First CEO Forum on Industry 4.0 headlined by seven industry top executives on a variety of topics in economics, business and society. These top industry leaders included Nestor V. Tan (president, BDO Unibank), Margot B. Torres (managing director, McDonald’s Philippines), Raul M. Castro (chairman and CEO, McCann Worldgroup), Anthony Oundjian (partner and managing director, Boston Consulting Group Manila), Yu Ming Chin (executive director, Viventis Asia), Jojo Uligan (president, Contact Center Association of the Philippines) and Shahab Shabibi (cofounder and CEO, Machine Ventures). They took center stage and delivered thought leadership pieces on the role of strategy in creating value in the fourth industrial revolution. Oundjian set the context of the event identifying new forms of competition that arise from the fusion of physical, digital and biological worlds

essential considerations for strategy in the fourth industrial revolution. He maintains that companies secure their license to operate by “contributing to collective action on global issues.” “Technology has disrupted the very core of business in the last 10 years. Customers expect more from their bank like greater convenience and security. The CEO Forum brings all these all-important issues to the fore which every professional must seek to understand better if real value-adding solutions are to be created for the good of the society,” says Tan whose topic was on the role of innovation in shaping the future of banking. Disruption and innovation have led wellloved brands like McDonald’s to “create new and meaningful experiences guided by a strong sense of purpose—itself a source of competitive advantage for a brand that is about people,” says Torres on the topic of the experience economy. She added that “customer experience would overtake product and price as the key brand differentiation” in the fourth industrial revolution. A prominent creative leader, Castro highlighted that in an era of technological advancement, “connectivity is not the connection” that people seek, reinforcing the need for empathy,

humanity and advocating the “truth that jolts [people] into action.” With as many as 900,000 jobs in the businessprocess outsourcing sector, “there is now a practical need for the industry to provide avenues for talents to upskill and retool, and prepare to take on new roles in the advent of automation, artificial intelligence and adaptive algorithms. Aggressive human capital development strategies need to be in place to ensure that the industry remains competitive in this global business,” comments Uligan who leads an industry association of BPO companies in the Philippines. Yu Ming Chin highlighted the need for selfmastery which “leads to autonomy and a greater sense of purpose” amid disruptive changes in the environment. He posits that “Industry 4.0 has heralded the new renaissance of the profession.” “We designed the First CEO Forum to be a melting pot of perspectives on the real implications of a technological revolution for strategy in the enterprise setting. The Forum exposed over 500 students to high impact thought leadership pieces by respected industry leaders who face the challenges of a rapidly changing landscape each day,” said Pao Peña, lead organizer and a professor of Corporate Planning at the School of Economics.

Seminar on how to use LCs in trade and business

ETTERS of Credit (LC) are among the safest and most reliable commercial payment instruments, and most commonly used in international trade transactions. With the Asean integration and expected increase in global trade, many businesses want to learn how to use this mode of payment. To help businesses effectively use LCs, the Center for Global Best Practices, in collaboration with the International Chamber of Commerce, will host a two-day training entitled “Mastering the Use of LC for Import and Export” to be held on Thursday and Friday, April 25 and 26, 2019, at the Manila Marriott Hotel, Pasay City. This program will guide you on everything you need to know about LC transactions and operations. Attendees will learn practical steps and valuable tips in issuing proper LCs and how

they work, what to do to avoid pitfalls, and actions to take in cases of discrepancies. Discussion will also cover revised regulations and applications of UCP 600 involving letters of credit. Most important, you will learn how to handle the pitfalls and traps in the use of the various types of LCs in international trade transactions. This program is highly recommended for importers, exporters, traders, manufacturers, entrepreneurs, bankers, insurers, transporters of goods, CFOs, company treasurers, lawyers (in case of trade disputes) and those interested in fully understanding how LCs work. We are flying in the expert. This training will feature Singapore-based expert Victor Tan, an authority in the field of International Trade. He has 15 years of banking experience in Europe covering areas of international trade

finance, remittances, guarantees, and import and export. He has worked with various international banks, such as Standard Chartered Bank, Amsterdam-Rotterdam Bank, Bangkok Bank, Royal Trust Merchant Bank and Barclays Bank, where he served as deputy head of the trade finance department. He conducts highly specialized training programs for clients in Jakarta, Bangkok and Singapore. He will teach attendees all the best practices applications of LCs for one’s advantage. This program is open to general public. CGBP is accredited by the Civil Service Commission. Attendees from the government can earn points for their career advancement, and are exempted from the P2,000 limit when attending training conducted by the private sectors based on DBM Circular 563 dated April 22, 2016.

Interested participants are encouraged to avail themselves of the early registration savings and group discounts for three or more registrants. Preregistration is required. Don’t leave the success of your import and export transactions to chance! Check www.cgbp. org for details, and a complete list of international trade training programs including the Revised ISBP on LC Transactions, ICC Model International Sales Contracts, Incoterms 2010, 2019 Revised Corporation Code of the Philippines, Write Right for Positive Results, Best Practices in Managing Cost and Profit, Understanding Trade Finance Practices and Compliance Issues for Auditors and many more. You may also call landlines in Manila (+63 2) 842-7148/ 59 and (+63 2) 556-8968/ 69, in Baguio (+63 74) 423-2914, in Cebu (+63 32) 512-3106 or 07, or Legazpi City (+63 52) 736-0148.

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22 PUBLIC, PRIVATE LEARNERS ADVANCE TO METROBANK-MTAP-DEPED MATH CHALLENGE

TOTAL of 22 students representing 16 public and private schools successfully advanced to the final leg of the 2019 Metrobank-MTAP-DepEd Math Challenge (MMC) to be held on March 30 at the Metrobank Plaza Auditorium in Makati City. The finalists came from a roster of 403,707 students from 27,089 elementary and junior high schools who competed in the nationwide elimination rounds. Now on its 18th year, the MMC is carried out by the Metrobank Foundation Inc. (MBFI), the Department of Education (DepEd), and the Mathematics Teachers Association of the Philippines (MTAP), and is the most widely participated math competition in the country among elementary pupils and high-school students. It aims to awaken greater interest in Math among students, challenge them to strive for mathematical excellence, and empower mathematically talented learners with awards and recognitions for them to serve as models to the youth. The following are the schools competing for the Grade 6-Individual Competition: La Marea Academy (Dagupan City); Tuguegarao West Central School (Tuguegarao City); Saint Michael Academy of Meycauayan (Bulacan); Stonyhurst South-

ville International School–Malarayat (Batangas City); Hua Siong College of Iloilo (Iloilo City); Lanao Chung Hua School (Iligan City); Ateneo de Davao University (Davao City); My Precious Child Learning Center (Marawi City); Silangan Elementary School (Caloocan City); and Saint Jude Catholic School (City of Manila). Competing schools for the Grade 6-Team Competition are Silangan Elementary School (Caloocan City) and Saint Jude Catholic School (City of Manila). Meanwhile, qualifiers for the Grade 10-Individual Competition are Grace Christian College (Quezon City); Bataan National High School (Balanga City); Zamboanga Chung Hua High School (Zamboanga City); and Quezon Science High School (Tayabas City). Competing for the Grade 10-Team Competition are Lagro High School (Quezon City); Makati Science High School (Makati City); Quezon Science High School (Tayabas City); and Zamboanga Chung Hua High School (Zamboanga City). Over the years, MMC has produced national winners who get to compete and eventually win in international competitions, like the 57th International Mathematical Olympiad held in Hong Kong where the Philippines garnered its first gold medals.

SCHOLARS RECOGNIZED The University of the Philippines Baguio has honored its scholars and awarded them their respective “Katibayan ng Kagalingan” on March 11, 2019. One of them is Suzanne June G. Perante ( fourth from left), the BusinessMirror contributing writer and photographer.

Caltex, Northern Star, DepEd team up to boost STEM learning in Cagayan Valley, Cordilleras

AVING modern school equipment is an exception rather than the rule in most public schools in agricultural communities like Cagayan Valley and the Cordilleras. Sadly, prospective donors also come few and far in between mainly due to the remoteness of the locations and possibly, the lack of media presence. Chevron Philippines Inc. (CPI), marketer of Caltex fuels and lubricants—in partnership with the Department of Education (DepEd) and Northern Star Energy Corp. (Northern Star), branded marketer of Caltex—are bringing Caltex Fuel Your School to Northeast Luzon to give high-need public high schools in the area the tools and equipment to boost the science, technology, engineering and math (STEM) study stream. This was announced last week during a memorandum of agreement signing ceremony between the partners held at CPI boardroom in 6750 Building, Ayala Avenue, Makati. Since 2015, Caltex Fuel Your School has helped more than a million high-school students in Metro Manila, and the Davao, Bicol and Ilocos regions better learn STEM by enabling the conduct of projects that harness renewable energy, improve agritech, and promote robotics programming, among others. Last year, Northern Star tapped its Northwest Luzon network of Caltex service stations to raise awareness and financial assistance for the most successful Fuel Your School edition to date. For 2019 Northern Star will apply the same formula to promote the program in its Northeast Luzon territory. “We saw the impact that Caltex

Fuel Your School made across all of our stakeholders in 2018. Our retailers, customers and host communities came together to help nearby public high schools. We want to bring the same synergy and more impact to our public high schools in the Cagayan Valley and Cordilleras,” stated Juan Miguel Delgado, chief operating officer of Northern Star Energy Corp. Caltex Fuel Your School aims to raise P3 million for the 30 highestneed public high schools in the region selected by the DepEd. Northern Star is leveraging their 22 stations in North Eastern Luzon and donating P1.5 million directly to the project. American Chamber Foundation will screen the projects and purchase equipment based on the schools’ project proposals. “Caltex is a brand that values education and relies on STEM professionals. We hope that Caltex can interest our high-school students to take on careers in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics. This will help the economy, businesses and the country become more competitive in the future,” said Louie Zhang, CPI country chairman. Caltex will donate P1 for every liter of fuel purchased in the 22 participating Caltex stations in the Northeast Luzon from June 1 to July 31, 2019. This is the fifth edition of Caltex Fuel Your School, after successful runs in Metro Manila, Davao, Bicol and Northwestern Luzon where a total of P14 million was raised and used to buy digital microscopes, multimedia projectors, laptops, calculators, telescopes, laboratory equipment and other learning equipment.

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Editor: Efleda P. Campos • Monday, March 25, 2019 E3

Am I addicted to social media? D

By Millie F. Dizon

Sincerely, Sheila S. Dear Sheila, Thank you for your letter. Technology indeed is a two-edged sword. While many of us enjoy its amazing benefits, there is also a downside. That includes being hooked on social media, and becoming an addict. In an episode of Nicole Richie’s reality show, it depicted how her niece went over to visit, but then practically was focused on her phone. When Nicole would start a conversation, she answered in monosyllables. Nicole then asked her why she even bothered to visit when the niece practically ignored her. The niece answered: “Because I want to charge my phone.” Nicole then shared this sad observation of people always being on their phones when she went out with some friends. They made a pact that when they have dinner, they would put all their phones in one part of the table, so they could bond together. The first one to answer the phone would pay for the dinner. I think that would be a good practice for us to follow when we are out with family and friends. This is also a good way to detox from social media. But back to your question. Is there such a thing as social-media addicn Media Agency of the Year was awarded to InHype, Dubai n Advertiser of the Year was presented to The ALS Association.

Lotus Grande for Humanity ADFEST 2019: LOTUS AWARDS WRAPS UP WITH DENTSU AS NETWORK AND AGENCY OF THE YEAR, JUREEPORN THAIDUMRONG AS 2019 LOTUS LEGEND, AND MORE SPECIAL RECOGNITIONS UNVEILED

PATTAYA, Thailand—Adfest is delighted to announce this year’s Special Awards winners, which won the highest number of awards at the Adfest 2019 Lotus Awards. Congratulations to this year’s Special Award winners: n Dentsu Inc. was elected Agency of the Year 2019 n CJ WORX, Bangkok won Independent Agency of the Year n Dentsu was named Network of the Year. The group of 10 offices that entered the Adfest Lotus Awards includes Denstu Inc., Tokyo; Dentsu Digital Inc., Tokyo; Dentsu East Japan Inc., Tokyo; Dentsu Public Relations Inc., Tokyo; BWM Dentsu, Sydney; Taproot Dentsu, Mumbai; Dentsu Singapore Pte. Ltd., Singapore; Que Corporation, Tokyo; Frontage Inc., Tokyo; X-Line Co. Ltd., Taipei. n Digital Agency of the Year was awarded to BWM Dentsu, Sydney n Production Company of the Year was awarded to Hub Ho Hin Bangkok/Shots Post Production Bangkok

THE Lotus Grande for Humanity recognizes creative excellence in the Public Services & Cause Appeals categories. Gold Lotus winners in other Lotus categories are eligible to win the Lotus Grande for Humanity. This year’s winner is BWM Dentsu, Sydney for The ALS Association “Project REVOICE”—the world’s first voice changing program for people with ALS. Project REVOICE uses a deep learning algorithm to analyze the DNA of a person’s voice and create a complete digital voice clone. “Enabling people who lose the ability to talk, to continue to speak in their authentic and personal voice is breakthrough. This is a voice cloning revolution. The days of machine-sounding voices may be over. REVOICE, powered by advanced voice changing technology, is groundbreaking, and creates remarkable human value. Going forward it will be absolutely life changing for people living with motor neuron disease worldwide,” said Mark Tutssel, Adfest 2019’s Grand Jury president, and executive chairman and global chief creative officer at Leo Burnett Worldwide, Chicago. Interactive and Mobile Jury President Natalie Lam, international executive creative director, New York, said: “This is not only an impressive piece of technology but it serves

n Do you use social media so much that it has had a negative impact on your job, relationship or studies? Griffiths and Kuss added that the above behaviors are “indicative of a societal problem. Steps need to be taken now while the number of social-media addicts is still small. We shouldn’t wait to see if it has become a full-blown epidemic.” As such, “if you’ve become a social-media addict at work and it’s interfering with your efficiency and effectiveness and getting in the way of your working relationships, then a digital detox is in order.” Economy suggested taking “small steps, such as locking your phone in your desk an hour or two at a time or turning it off during meetings. And of course, nothing beats really listening to and engaging fully with your colleagues. We will discuss more ways of achieving that digital detox in next week’s column.

WWW.FREEPIK.COM

PR Matters

EAR PR Matters, I am one of those so-called digital natives who grew up with technology and is very comfortable with gadgets and navigating through the digital world. One of the things I very much enjoy doing is engaging in social media through Facebook, Twitter and Instagram. I love posting, but also looking through the posts of others. I begin and end my day by checking my phone. My attention has been called by my parents because they say I am constantly on my phone even during dinnertime and my friends and I communicate through social media even if we are together. My work in the office has slackened a bit, and while I do not post during office hours because of our company’s social-media policy, I constantly check my phone for updates, which are sometimes useless. My family and colleagues often tease me, saying I am a social-media addict. Is there such a thing as social-media addiction? How can this be cured? Will appreciate your guidance on this.

tion? And if so, is there a cure for this? Peter Economy tackled the subject in “Addicted to Social Media? Science Says These 6 Behaviors Are a Sure Sign You’ve Got a Problem” in an article in Inc.com. He began by saying that digital incentives from smartphones—text messages, photos, videos, socialmedia sites—have replaced the water cooler as the main distraction at work. Economy said that, while “these distractions create inefficiencies on the job and add costs to the bottom line, the widespread and growing use of smartphones is creating a more serious problem: the breakdown of social relationships at work.” That is why “instead of paying attention to what their coworkers say in one-on-one conversations and in team and group meetings, employees are often engrossed in their smartphones...earning the ire of their coworkers, vendors and customers.” But how do you know you are a social-media addict? In the article, psychologists Mark Griffiths and Daria Kuss, answering “yes” to a few of these six questions, probably means you are: a human purpose. Voice assistant technology isn’t new, but this idea shows us its possibilities—we really could see the magic and power of using technology to affect lives by giving back someone’s voice.”

Lotus legend: Jureeporn Thaidumrong

ONE of Thailand’s most influential creatives, Jureeporn Thaidumrong, has been named the 2019 Lotus Legend at Adfest 2019. Thaidumrong—or “Judee,” as she is affectionately known—is GREYnJ United’s chief creative officer. In a career spanning 30 years, she has consistently ranked among the world’s most-awarded creatives. “Judee is super smart, brilliant and brave, and despite it all...very down to earth and humble, which I really admire. I’m lucky to have had the chance to work closely with her over the years. She has helped put Thailand on the world map of advertising and inspires many Thai creatives. Congratulations to Judee. So well deserved!” said Suthisak Sucharittanonta, creative chairman of BBDO Bangkok, who announced this year’s Lotus Legend at tonight’s Lotus Awards. “Judee is larger than life, a trailblazer at heart and the brains behind some of Thailand’s most famous, beloved campaigns. She has played a major role in raising the profile of Thai creativity, and has won countless Lotus Awards over the course of her career—she joins some of the industry’s true greats as our 2019 Lotus Legend,” said Jimmy Lam, president of Adfest.

n Do you spend a lot of time, when you are not online, thinking about social media or planning to use social media? n Do you feel urges to use social media more and more over time? n Do you use social media to for-

get about personal problems? n Do you often try to reduce your use of social media, without success? n Do you become restless and troubled if you are unable to use social media?

PR Matters is a roundtable column by members of the local chapter of the United Kingdom-based International Public Relations Association (Ipra), the premier association for senior professionals around the world. Millie Dizon, the senior vice president for Marketing and Communications of SM, is the former local chairman. We are devoting a special column each month to answer the reader’s questions about public relations. Please send your comments and questions to askipraphil@gmail.com.

Perspective BusinessMirror

Monday, March 25, 2019

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DLSMHSI commemorates #300LaSalle with campus activities

By Leony R. Garcia

HE year 2019 marks the tercentenary celebration of the death of Saint John Baptist de La Salle, founder of the Institute of the Brothers of the Christian Schools and the Lasallian Family, which shall culminate in April.

DLSMHSI’s faculty and staff at the 2nd Why Shy Series and the 3rd Legal Updates themed “I am Bigger and Stronger than my Bullies” (Anti- Bullying Seminar) with the guest speakers.

A pioneer of Catholic schools throughout the world, including South Africa, Saint La Salle’s mission to provide a human and Christian education, especially for the poor, remains strong with the brothers and Lasallian partners serving more than 1 million young people in 1,000 ministries in 80 countries. To this date Lasallian education centers on Catholic values and personal relationships, emphasizing academic excellence, faith formation, inclusion, respect for the individual, service and social justice. The institute has designated 2019 as the Year of Lasallian Vocations in honor of the patron saint of teachers. Throughout the world, events and celebrations have been planned for the common heritage of providing a human and Christian education and promoting the vocation of the educational ministry. From February 14 to 17, the De La Salle Medical and Health Sciences Institute (DLSMHSI) started its own celebration with various campus activities participated in mostly by its students. The BusinessMirror team was privileged to have been invited to witness such an important event in this Dasmariñas campus, which, in recent years, has become the home of champions—having many students joining the top 10 ranks in the licensure exams in the fields of nursing, radiology, rehabilitation sciences and medicine. Accordingly, it’s the time of the year that the campus observes a festive holiday; there are no classes but every student group actively participates in various programs and even contests. When our group arrived on the first day, the De La Salle Animo Center was filled to the rafters with cheers and fellow students were rooting for their candidates to Ms. and Mr. DLSMHSI Campus King and Queen. And while the beauty contest-conscious students enjoyed the Q&A and talent portions of the program, a more serious discussion was going on at the other side of the campus.

Antibullying forum

THE antibullying forum is being held in the campus for the first time, for the DLSMHSI students to grow and develop more respect for others, as well as to spread awareness among them—of what to do in cases of bullying and how to overcome those situations.

This is according to Mae Ann Bobadilla, chairman of the multicultural and minority department and Roberto L. Cruz III, RN, MAN, chairman of the student discipline and security department, who spearheaded the second Why Shy Series and the third Legal Updates, themed: “I am bigger and stronger than my bullies”, by the Students Affairs Office to empower students against bullying. “Though there have been no reported cases of bullying in our school, we are taking the initiative to prepare our community, so we are all aware that bullying has many forms and faces. In the past we had cyber-bullying forums because a lot of our students are into social media. We want to protect our students. Bullying is actually included in the student handbook, or Magna Carta of students. We want our students to be informed about it,” said Mr. Cruz. “Actually, our program is more on the preventive and intervention side. We are focused on assisting them in case bullying occurs— that’s why there are ready programs both for the bully and the bullied. We have guidance counseling and values formation. Punitive actions, such as suspension, are last resorts and coupled with productive service programs such as sending the bully to our Bahay Pag-asa, for service and formation. Fortunately, we only had minor disagreement cases where we had meetings and dialogues for the students and their parents in order to address the issue,” Bobadilla explained.

International cultural presentation and food festival

THE DLSMHSI is an international school with some 130 students composed of Japanese, Korean, Chinese, Indian, Melanesian, African and American. Every year the school gathers these students together for a program to showcase their culture and talents, as well as to promote friendship and camaraderie among them and their Filipino counterparts. On Day One students presented their traditional song and dance numbers reflecting their love for their countries. The Africans, mostly from Kenya, gave the most touching performance as they belted out the song “I will live and die for Africa.” The Koreans, on the other hand, ended their performance on a happy note by one of the students belting out a hit Korean song. The second day was a feast of

traditional food by the students presenting their gustatory delights. “All the food were prepared by the international students. Basically, the objective of this activity is for them to showcase their culture, [and] their identity in order for us to understand them and to have better harmony as “One People, One La Salle” here at DLSMHSI. Actually, this is our third year of doing this kind of activity. Yearly, there are changes as some graduate and go home to their respective countries,” said Anna Lyn Ferma, chairman of International students relations department. The youngest participant was a Grade 11 student from South Korea, Gi Hea Liah Kim, who said she is enjoying her stay in the Philippines because the people here are very approachable. “The food we prepared is ‘putong,’ our traditional rice cake. In Korea, of course, we have kimchi. It’s very healthy. It’s full of lactic acid so it keeps one healthy and young-looking. For ulam, we have pork belly and chicken. Among Filipino food, I like sisig. I will stay here for long because my mom is here and my father right now stays in Vietnam for training, and my sister is taking entrepreneurship also here in La Salle,” she said. Among the African beauties, we interviewed Camilla Odhiambo who has been in the Philippines for five years now, after hurdling her undergraduate studies at the Dasmariñas campus. “I love the Philippines. It’s amazing!” she said. “It’s my second time joining this event. Our food is inspired

by my country Kenya. It's called medazi. It’s basically made of flour and water, milk, egg and sugar. It’s like bread. We also have bugali, made from brown corn. Then we make it like cake but it’s not sweet,” Odhiambo said.

One-man exhibit by Dr. Charles Yu

GIVEN a prominent space in the DLSMHSI festive holiday is the one-man exhibit for Dr. Charles Y. Yu, vice chancellor for research. A professor of DLSMHSI College of Medicine, Yu was the Vice chancellor of the Lasallian mission and Linkages at the time of our first interview for BusinessMirror in August 2016. The amiable and talented chest physician is an internationally recognized expert on tuberculosis. His professional career spans as a clinician, researcher, clinical epidemiologist, and advocate focused on public-private partnerships for TB control, and has held positions in various associations including the presidency for the Philippine College of Chest Physician. He speaks and participates in international conferences while being currently involved with a research collaboration between the De La Salle Center for Tuberculosis Research and Liverpool School of Tropical Medicine, as project leader of the “Impact Assessment of Diagnostic Algorithm and Tool for MDR-TB and drug-sensitive TB in the Philippines.” Despite his hectic schedule, Dr. Yu has successfully squeezed in some precious time to learn painting at 57. “I taught myself how to

paint by watching YouTube videos. My Koi painting was my first lesson, and I moved quickly from there to develop my own style,” he said. All his paintings—in acrylic, watercolor and oil—from the rude start to the most polished and best and current works of art were exhibited, except those who have gone abroad as gifts to family members and friends. In celebration of his 60th birthday last Novembe, Yu finished more than 60 paintings and gave them away as gifts. Today he continues to paint—still learning by doing and working with the best tools (meaning expensive brushes and paints, this time around) and discovering secrets to good painting. His current favorite is creating relaxing landscapes. According to Yu, he has learned the best lessons in his current endeavor: “One is never too old to learn a trade or develop a hobby. It is from them I have taken inspiration and have learned to keep busy and be happy with what I do. It is in keeping busy that is the secret elixir to live longer and happier.” All the paintings by Dr. Yu that were on exhibit were available for bidding for the benefit of the Two Heart of Jesus and Mary Chapel, which is up for expansion and renovation.

Free consultation and physical, occupational therapy

MANY of the country’s patients with physical disabilities due to sickness and injury are in need of physical therapy. Not all communities have access to this, which is also quite expensive. The DLSMHSI

is aware of this. Yearly the medical institute does its share with their therapists and staff going out of the hospital to see patients and treat them for free in their satellite facilities. For the first time, the DLSMHSI Physical therapy department held its medical mission right at the hospital. “So this is our first time to hold this here at the clinic: Medical evaluation and assessment, physical therapy and occupational therapy. As you can see, we also give the services that are readily available, like splinting. We do the splints right here so the patients can bring them home right away,” said Physical therapy (PT) program director Dr. Reynaldo Cruz. PT, or physiotherapy, attempts to address the illnesses or injuries that limit the persons’ abilities to move and perform functional activities in their daily lives. PT management commonly includes the prescription of or assistance with specific exercises, manual therapy, and manipulation and mechanical devices such as traction, physical agents including heat, cold, electricity, sound waves, radiation, assistive devices, prostheses, orthoses and other interventions. In addition, physical therapists work with individuals to prevent the loss of mobility before it occurs by developing fitness and wellness-oriented programs. This also includes providing therapeutic treatment in circumstances where movement and function are threatened by aging, injury, disease or environmental factors. “It’s my 13th year in the hospital. Every year we do the outreach program. There are two of us here, doctor of physical therapy and doctors of different specialties mostly pediatrics. We are 50 doctors here more or less, and we go to different places to reach out to patients for physical and occupational therapies, speech-language pathology. For those seeking treatment, we encourage them for continuous program and care. There are a lot of patients actually, but are undocumented, mostly those who are confined at home,” he explained. Dr. Cruz believes that PT patients, mostly young children, should be given the proper treatment for them to be able to go out, study, participate in social activities and live a normal life by becoming part of the community. “That’s why right now we have 10 satellite facilities all over Dasmariñas to treat these kids and encourage their guardians for continuing treatment,” he concluded.

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EDUCATION IN THE DIGITAL WORLD

A BusinessMirror Special Feature

Project Manager: Karinna “Bim” Mauricio

Monday, March 25, 2019

Innovating digital learning W

By Cedrix S. Hay

Discussions are now virtually posted, replacing chalk and boards with smart screens vital to students’ learning. Broadsuite Media Group Chief Executive Officer Daniel Newman says these trends in digital education have drastic impact in reshaping a fast-paced learning environment: n Augmented /v ir tual /mixed reality. Discussions are immersed in a virtual classroom complementing modes of instruction, engaging students to stay focused in a light manner;

nClassroom set of device. Federal funding is integral in managing computer use in recent years. Educational institutions benefited from more than 3 million Chromebooks devised in 2014, and the demand to teach “digital citizenship” is on the rise; nRedesigned learning spaces. Electronic classrooms comprise a redesigned learning space, where students apply their computer and technology skills to understand content. Colleges and universities are more likely to adapt informal learning spaces that address 24/7 collaboration be-

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E now live in an era where learning is no longer obsolete. Keeping up on today’s digital education, information is delivered across the globe and shared over by millions of users in seconds, settling aside differences in area and region.

tween mentors and learners; nArtificial intelligence. The human language is digitally structured to derive “natural speaking patterns”, as evident on Siri for example, creating a simulated dialogue between users and software-generated programs; nPersonalized learning. It’s either

students are moving through their workload on certain period of time (blended learning technology) or adjusting to the learning experience by determining their academic behavior (adaptive learning technology); and nGamification. Real-life situa-

tions are interactively presented, and learners must provide relevant solutions using life skills.

Higher-education forecast

THE Georgetown University Center on Education and the Workforce predicts that, by the year 2020,

Americans need to earn their postsecondary degrees to land for a career. However, American Council on Education Vice President for Attainment and Innovation Cathy Sandeen, PhD, says only 43 percent of the total population—those aged between 25 and 34—have earned their respective honorary titles, while 25 percent of college and university people are enrolled full-time. To fill in the huge gap, software programs are readily made for students completing online courses, based on their availability and academic records. Dropout rates are low and degree completions come high, and students gain higher averages as institutions put the system in place. On the contrary, i4 Solutions founder Linda Baer, PhD, immediately identifies mismatches respective to the learners’ class schedule as causal to soaring dropout rates. Online schools offering odd time slots make it impossible for parents to fetch up kids in school or adults work on a double shift. As on how people discontinue their online education, “…the gateway course was offered at a time that wasn’t easy for Continued on F2

GLOBE TELECOM JOINS PLAN INTERNATIONAL IN ENHANCING CYBER SAFETY SKILLS OF THE YOUTH AND THEIR PARENTS

LOBE Telecom has joined Plan International in enhancing the cyber-safety skills of children, the youth and their parents to become informed, responsive and responsible digital citizens who act in ways that protect their individual well-being and are respectful toward other people. At the recent two-day Cyber Talino youth summit and digital parenting conference 2019, Globe

imparted lessons on digital safety based on its Digital thumbprint program (DTP), which is being

GLOBE Citizenship Head Miguel Bermundo (left) discusses cyber safety at Plan International’s Cyber Talino youth summit and digital parenting conference 2019. With him is Ysrael Diloy, Senior Advocacy officer of Stairway Foundation Inc.

offered for free in private and public high schools nationwide. “Being an information and communications technology company, Globe sees the importance of educating the Filipino youth on the responsible use of technology— be it through gadgets, web-site browsing and interacting with social-media platforms. Thus, we are glad to be given an opportunity by Plan International to reach as many people as we can, in order to ensure their safety online,” said Miguel Bermundo, Globe head for citizenship. Globe shared an overview of the DTP, which was designed to increase students’ knowledge of

digital citizenship and cyber safety by taking a critical look at their online behavior, and helping them develop insights on the influence of the online world and the choices they are making. The DTP has four components: (1) digital insight provides activities that help discern proper online behavior, (2) digital impact tackles issues on technology’s effect on social activities, (3) Digital discernment encourages critical thinking when using the Internet, and (4) digital ambition teaches the participants of skills on how to use technology to achieve life goals. The DTP has been proven to increase levels of digital-

citizenship awareness among the youth as reflected in a 2017 assessment conducted by Nielsen among 275 Grade 7 to Grade 12 students who studied the modules except for digital discernment. The study showed an increase in the number of students practicing at least one security measure to protect their information online; a large reduction in the number of students who have random interaction with strangers online; a significant increase in the number of students who are aware of how their online information is used by web-sites and apps; and a reduction in the number of students who visit Internet cafés to go online.

The Cyber Talino youth summit, with the theme “Launching a Generation of Cyber Safe Youth”, brought together student leaders, social innovators, community developers and technology enthusiasts to encourage them to work together in enhancing the digital safety of the youth and to push for responsible use of social media and other platforms. The cyber parenting conference, on the other hand, themed “Cyber Parenting Tips You Should KNOW!”, gathered stakeholders, partners, parents and community leaders to raise awareness among parents on how to guide and protect their children in the digital age.

INVESTING IN

EDUCATION IN THE DIGITAL WORLD

A BusinessMirror Special Feature

Monday, March 25, 2019

www.businessmirror.com.ph

Forging education system in the digital age

By Trisha Jean V. De Leon

VEN before the alarm clock on your bedside table started ringing, you were already wide awake thinking of how you’ll finish your thesis on time. Being an eager beaver, you took a bath, ate your breakfast, and packed your yellow pad paper and some colorful pens inside your good old backpack. You convinced yourself that you’re ready to visit the library but, as you walked your way out of your room and kissed your mama on the cheek, she asked quite perplexed, “It’s Sunday. Where are you going?” And that word, Sunday, stung like a thousand pinpricks. Libraries aren’t open on Sunday. Put yourself into this situation and imagine how stressful it could be having a deadline to beat with no access to books and other research materials that you need. Before the advent of modern technology, students spend countless hours in the library browsing topic cards to get the necessary information. Learning was also downright traditional, with teachers giving conventional lectures and writing some important points on the green, striped blackboards. The beginning of the 21st Century, however, opened up the gates for better learning opportunities. With technology taking over every aspect of our lives, it should be no surprise that schools, colleges and universities are going digital. The big question: are we ready for this big change?

Philippine education system through the years

SIMILAR to its history, the Philip-

pine education system had a rocky start. Prior to the Spanish colonization in the archipelago, parents and tribal tutors provided more vocational training than academics, which were mostly informal and unstructured. Gender roles were also a huge aspect of what a child is taught. For instance, men were trained to hunt and find other sources of livelihood. Women, on the other hand, were taught to do household chores, even at a young age. Nonetheless, early Filipino ancestors used a native alphabet called Baybayin, which was once erroneously called alibata. Baybayin came from the word baybay, which means “to spell.” The term for this pre-Hispanic script first appeared in Vocabulario de Lengua Tagala, one of the first Philippine language dictionaries in the country. When the Spanish colonizers took over the country, religion became the primary baseline of all the teachings. Schools, however, were pricey and only the elites were able to pursue a formal education. For the most part, the education system was suppressed and controlled by the church. Subsequently, the Americans came and occupied the country. Upon the recommendation of the Schurman Commission, a secularized and free public-school

system, was introduced. English, however, became the popular medium of instruction. A few years later the Philippines became a colony of Japan. Under this regime, the learning system shifted to Tagalog, and focused on Philippine history and character education. After the war, people have had access to education, regardless of their social status or gender.

Overcoming the barriers through digitalization

THE liberation of the Philippines from foreign invaders created new hopes. Many people saw education as a means to elevate their social status. But even nowadays, the education system has a lot of weaknesses. In an attempt to improve the quality of education, the K-12 program was launched. This new course of studies covers Kindergarten and 12 years of basic education. This introduced the concept of junior and senior high school, adding two more years from the previous curriculum. Ideally, this program helps prepare graduates to reach their goals, whether to pursue tertiary education, find a job or become entrepreneurs. During senior high school, students can choose a specialization or track based on aptitude, interests and school capacity. This includes three tracks: Academic, technical-vocational-livelihood, and Sports and Arts. Under the academic track, senior high school students may join their preferred strand Business, accountancy, management (BAM); Humanities, education, social sciences (HESS); and science, technology, engineering, mathematics (STEM). With this new curriculum, graduates will be more confident with whatever path they will choose. Plus, they will be equipped with information, media and technology skills. Considering how fast digitalization is taking over society, these will help them cope with the ever-changing world. The Department of Education

(DepEd) is also working on a roadmap to fast-track the digital transformation of the Philippine public school system. At the national information and Communications technology summit, an ICT plan for schools was unveiled. This master plan will help classrooms lean toward digitalization and make learning more fun and convenient for students. Education Secretary Leonor Briones, students may eventually bid farewell to traditional textbooks and welcome innovative gizmos, such as e-readers, as an alternative. Experts also suggest that technology can make learning collaborative and interactive by utilizing augmented, virtual and mixed reality. Apart from these, DepEd wants to incorporate innovative gaming technologies to the learning system in the country. Gamification is a revolutionary trend, which is an effective instructional tool for different subject matters.

the Internet. The DepEd then will have to work double to integrate ICT across the nation. This year the target is to con-

nect all schools to the DepEd WAN. If everything goes well, all schools should be connected to the Internet by 2022.

IN HER KEYNOTE SPEECH

Education chief highlights 21st-Century skills among learners

E-learning and digital education around the world

FOR other countries around the world, digitalization is already rampant in schools, colleges and universities. This is especially true for developed countries. For instance, the United States explores online learning opportunities and other technologies to accelerate the rate of learning and minimize costs associated with instructional materials or program delivery. Full-time online education also exists, allowing students to skip a bricks-andmortar school. Furthermore, schools in different states can use digital resources to support teaching learning. These include electronic grade books, digital portfolios, learning games, and real-time feedback on teacher and student performance.

High hopes for the philippine education system

THE road to digitalization won’t be a walk in the park, since only 27-percent of schools are connected to

DUCATION Secretary Leonor Magtolis Briones underscored the importance of instilling 21st-Century skills among learners at the third annual EduTECH Philippines conference and exhibit held from February 20 to 21 at the SMX Convention Center. In her keynote speech, Briones explained the key deliverables of the department, with emphasis on making education relevant to the urgent needs of and opportunities for the nation. This is in line with the event’s theme “21st Century Quality Education for All in the Philippines.” “What we teach and encourage our learners to learn from school has to be relevant to the 21st century [and] to our needs, and has to be responsive to the challenges that our country faces at this time,” the secretary said. She further explained that there is something new and exciting happening in and out of the Philippines every day, to which the basic

education system has to respond. Thus, it has resulted in massive outputs, like the provisioning of school buildings with improved design and facilities, and setting up of 21st-Century classrooms with various innovative features and equipment. Briones also noted that the department recognizes and supports the digital rise in the Philippine education system. She shared that, as early as 2010, the Department already started efforts in raising ICT literacy of learners, teachers, school heads and other personnel through the department’s computerization program. “Even as we focus on science, technology, engineering, and mathematics, we must not forget that we are Filipinos, and we have a history and multivaried culture all over the country. This is why it is equally important to focus, as well, on the social sciences or the so-called soft sciences. I believe this is possible. We don't have to neglect one for the other,” Briones added.

Continued from F1

them to get [in] to.” Limiting class size encourages greater student-professor interaction in a thriving online community, says Ladonna Lewis, PhD, psychology professor at the Glendale Community College in Arizona. Handling a handful of students in scheduled virtual classes gives instructors the advantage to carefully evaluate their academic performance, monitor their attendance on-screen and push them to finish school gradually.

Digital literacy

LITERACY nowadays isn’t only limited in reading and writing. E-reading apps and tools are helpful to children’s early literacy, but not with comprehension and vocabulary, says Diane Barone, professor at the University of Nevada. Children familiarize themselves to words and sounds—here comes the concept of “decoding”, or associating newfound ideas to reallife objects—with the aid of e-reading apps and tools. Nonetheless, these are designed only to introduce them to the world of reading. According to literacy experts, both verbal and digital skills are essential to their language formation.

Incorporating books on their reading, compared when reading through tablets alone, improves their understanding of the gained language. But that’s not the point to Pearson South Africa mobile learning head Steve Vosloo, as he authored a study on common text abbreviations used by British students when turning into their homework. The study suggests that technology has a minimum impact on the students’ literacy, since they have first acquired the English language before adapting to “text speak”. In Cape Town, for instance, classes are held in English, though children write in their native language. They learn to text speak first using mobile phones and correct themselves later on, when they could fully communicate in English. In a sense, Vosloo indicates that blending both languages is literacy in itself

Technological advancements

WITH wider Internet coverage and vast web connectivity in the Philippines, students may no longer come to class anytime soon and, instead, schools come closer to their homes. Massive online open courses, or MOOCs, now offer free learning opportunities to students of various demo-

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Innovating digital learning

graphics. Beyond antiquated classroom setups, alternative learning providers create curriculum that suits for a homeschooled kid on the distance. But here also comes the challenge of addressing poor computer literacy and lack of access to devices in teaching digital education. The widening economic gap between the rich and the poor is a danger to the prosper-

ing information and communications technology (ICT) sector. Educators and policy stakeholders must meet halfway to provide solutions for the following: nIn-house campus training. Advanced technical-vocational education and training (TVET) in public schools, and state university and col-

leges completely amplifies learning of new technologies; nHigh-tech learning spaces. Transforming a minimal classroom into a high-tech learning space gives students the desired skills through traditional and nontraditional teaching structures and processes; nDigital divide. To properly execute digital learning, those with poor technology skills must be given immediate attention to fully narrow the gap; and nTech To-do list. This includes learning to use ICT tools, assessing approaches to digital teaching, producing computer-based learning content and setting up additional technology infrastructures within the vicinity. For now, developing countries are on a slow momentum toward accelerating from manual to digital education and generating better labor competencies. TVET has gained traction in the Philippines, meanwhile, through the Technology for Economic Development (Tech4Ed) program, which provides access to nonformal education through ICT centers, and skills training, government and health-care services, employment opportunities and industry information, in partnership with local government units (LGUs), departments of science and technology (DOST) and education

(DepEd), and the Technical Education Skills Development Authority (Tesda). The Tech4Ed platform has six segments, namely, on-demand online education, mobile agriculture, mobile marketing, access to and automation of government services, industry partnerships for job applicants and eAssist, which contains discussions on digital and financial literacy, entrepreneurship, and skills training for individuals shifting careers and marginalized members of the society. The LGUs will provide for the physical facilities, computers and office spaces in every barangay across the country, while the DOST Information and Communications Technology Office (DOST-ICTO) is tasked to provide content and institutional support. In order to gauge the candidates’ proficiency in the English language, upon admission to the IT-BPO sector and other professions, digitized modules and resources are given to out-ofschool youth and adults for an accreditation and equivalency test prepared by the DepEd, while the Tesda handles the national-certification exam. The DOST-ICTO now works hand in hand with Tesda for a low-cost online-certification exam available at Tech4Ed centers, to the benefit of rural learners.

INVESTING IN

EDUCATION IN THE DIGITAL WORLD

A BusinessMirror Special Feature

Monday, March 25, 2019

Education Technology brings 21st-Century quality education

VER 9,000 people, mostly Philippine educators, registered and gathered together to the annual EduTech Philippines 2019, and discussed and exchange ideas on new strategies and innovations to bring 21st-century quality education to the country. The third edition was held on February 20 and 21 at the SMX Convention Center, along with Education Secretary Leonor Briones sharing how the government agency is working to bring quality education to all in the Philippines. With P1.71-trillion budget al-

located to the education sector, the Department of Education (DepEd), in partnership with private groups and individuals, has been launching various initiatives to improve education access and create more opportunities for the Filipinos; and has also entered into partnerships with international industry players in integrating ICT in the classroom and workplace. For the past three years EduTech Philippines has been a venue of opportunities for both public and private school teachers, to hear inspirational keynotes from across the world, and

meet pioneering educators and technology leaders from education and innovative technology companies. “Our mission is to support educators and their partners in the Philippines to deliver a high standard of education for all students. Over 5,000 attendees showed up on the first day alone. It was incredibly busy two days with more companies showing great interest to bring technology into education,” Sharon Roessen, managing director of the business media company and event organizer Terrapin Asia, shared to the BusinessMirror. Roessen and her team at Terrapin have been doing the Edutech forum for nine years now in three countries—nine years in Australia, five years in Singapore and three years in the Philippines. “We were doing this in Singapore, and we noticed many Filipinos are coming over to the show and requesting [to] bring it to the Philippines. So we started talking to the Department of Education, Tesda [Technical Education Skills and Development Authority] and CHED [Commission on Human Education]. And so here we are....”

Over 150 inspirational speakers from the international community and across the Philippines addressed key issues, including flipped learning, digital storytelling, integrated science, technology, engineering and mathematics education, education 4.0, design thinking in education, organizational excellence, partnership- and stakeholder-management education, tech innovation, EduBuild, the business of education and more. “... Now we see education being taken seriously. We [also] have big supporters like Lenovo and Microsoft, which is starting [to] show commitment to the education industry in the Philippines,” Roessen explained. Aside from the conference, the event’s exhibition features a showcase of the latest education technologies by over 50 industry players and upcoming start-ups, and a maker space with hands-on activities by The Mind Museum and Makerspace Filipinas. Aside from Lenovo and Microsoft, some of the exhibiting companies also include Telecom, Intel, Akamai Technologies, PLDT, Canvas, Panopto, Moodle, Furnware, Abiva and more. Leony R. Garcia

DLSU School of Economics launches Fourth Industrial Revolution economics series

NESTOR V. Tan, BDO Unibank president, delivers a talk on the future of banking

HE De La Salle University School of Economics launches its Fourth Industrial Revolution (Industry 4.0) research and dialogue series that seeks to address challenges and opportunities in what the World Economic Forum calls a transformative era of our time a fusion of “technologies across the physical, digital and biological worlds.” Kicking off its Industry 4.0 economics series with a workshop, themed “Industry 4.0 and the Inclusive Innovation Industrial Strategy (i3S): Transforming the Philippine Economy in the Fourth Industrial Revolution,” is Dr. Rafaelita Aldaba, undersecretary for competitiveness and innovation of the Department of Trade and Industry. Usec. Aldaba shared the government’s plans of addressing challenges and opportunities in the new technological revolution anchored on five major pillars, namely, building new industries and industry clusters, capacity-building and humanresource development, reinforcing the country’s innovation and entrepreneurship ecosystem, driving micro, small and medium enterprise (MSME) growth and development, and enhancing ease of doing business in the country. The national innovation framework relies strongly on a government-academe-industry collaboration, with the government acting as a facilitator and coordinator in “addressing the most binding

RAUL M. Castro, McCann Worldgroup chairman and chief executive officer, focuses on the role of empathy and humanity in the Tourth Industrial Revolution

constraints to the growth of industries,” Aldaba noted at the workshop. Reinforcing the need for a stronger government-academe-industry partnership, the School of Economics, together with the Economics Organization, held the first CEO Forum on Industry 4.0 headlined by seven industry top executives on a variety of topics in economics, business and society. Industry top honchos Nestor V. Tan (president, BDO Unibank), Margot B. Torres (managing director, McDonald’s Philippines), Raul M. Castro (chairman and chief executive officer, McCann Worldgroup), Anthony Oundjian (partner and managing director, Boston Consulting Group Manila), Yu Ming Chin (executive director, Viventis Asia), Jojo Uligan (President, Contact Center Association of the Philippines), and Shahab Shabibi (cofounder and CEO, Machine Ventures) took the center stage and delivered thought leadership pieces on the role of strategy in creating value in the Fourth Industrial Revolution. Oundjian set the context of the event identifying new forms of competition that arise from the fusion of physical, digital and biological worlds that are essential considerations for strategy in the Fourth Industrial Revolution. He maintains that companies secure their license to operate by “contributing to collective action on global issues.” “Technology has disrupted the

Dr. Rafaelita Aldaba, undersecretary for competitiveness and innovation of the Department of Trade and Industry, kicks off the school’s Industry 4.0 economics series with a workshop on innovation strategy

very core of business in the last ten years. Customers expect more from their bank, like greater convenience and security. The CEO Forum brings all these all-important issues to the fore front which every professional must seek to understand better if real value-adding solutions are to be created for the good of the society,” says Tan, whose topic was on the role of innovation in shaping the future of banking. Disruption and innovation have led well-loved brands like McDonald’s to “create new and meaningful experiences guided by a strong sense of purpose—itself a source of competitive advantage for a brand that is about people,” says Torres on the topic of the experience economy. She adds that, “Customer experience would overtake product and price as the key brand differentiation” in the Fourth Industrial Revolution. A prominent creative leader, Castro highlighted that in an era of technological advancement, “connectivity is not the connection” that people seek, reinforcing the need for empathy, humanity and advocating the “truth that jolts [people] into action.” With as many as 900,000 jobs in the business-process outsourcing sector, “There is now a practical need for the industry to provide avenues for talents to upskill and retool, and prepare to take on new roles in the advent of automation, artificial intelligence and adaptive algorithms. Ag-

gressive human capital-development strategies need to be in place to ensure that the industry remains competitive in this global business,” comments Uligan who leads an industry association of BPO companies in the Philippines. Yu Ming Chin highlighted the need for self-mastery which “leads to autonomy and a greater sense of purpose” amid disruptive changes in the environment. He posits that “Industry 4.0 has heralded the new renaissance of the profession.” “We designed the First CEO Forum to be a melting pot of perspectives on the real implications of a technological revolution for strategy in the enterprise setting. The Forum exposed over 500 students to high impact thought leadership pieces by respected industry leaders who face the challenges of a rapidly changing landscape each day,” says Pao Peña, lead organizer and a professor of Corporate Planning at the School of Economics. With a new industrial revolution underway, business leaders face new sources of challenges as well as opportunities that are “intertwined with continued innovation bringing about an era of unprecedented changes and uncertainty a rapidly evolving competitive business landscape inevitably creates,” says Dr. Marites Tiongco, Dean of the university’s School of Economics. “The fourth industrial revolution and its multifaceted implica-

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GLOBE TELECOM GUIDES SCHOOLS ON HOW TO THRIVE IN A DIGITAL ENVIRONMENT AT EDUTECH 2019

ITH the goal of helping Filipinos build a better life through learning opportunities, Globe Telecom joined the biggest education conference of the year where company experts shared knowledge on how schools can thrive and remain safe in a digital environment. In her talk about 21st Century Learning at “Edutech 2019,” Grace Anduiza, Globe myBusiness head for business development and service delivery, underscored the need for institutions, teachers, and students to embrace digitalization in order to be future-ready. “Schools need to harmonize the learning environment with the digital world and create a more interactive experience for the current generation of students who prefer to do everything on mobile devices. At the same time, Information and Communications Technology [ICT] is not only a powerful tool, which helps students develop a global mindset and make them globally competitive, but it also allows school administrators to manage resources more efficiently, as well as streamline operations to reduce cost,” she said. For instance, through centralized information that are kept securely online, administrators may access the school’s data whenever they need to, create reports and forms on the go, and speed up manual and time-consuming processes. To promote digital learning and encourage collaboration among techsavvy students, schools may also provide fast and reliable Internet connection campuswide, affordable devices, and

tions for society, in general, may no longer be ignored. There is a need for the key actors in society to find the best possible solutions that engender the promotion of inclusive participation in a rapidly transforming economic reality. The first CEO Forum brought thought leadership closer to students who, in the future, will lead the charge in creating a sustainable future for the country and the world. Our keynote speakers, equipped with the wisdom, experience, vision and leadership, definitely sparked new ideas, inspired the hearts and minds of students as the economy enters a new phase of tremendous opportunity going forward,” says Dr. Tereso Tullao Jr., executive director of the Angelo King Institute for

productivity tools that will allow students to create, share and edit files in real time. Teachers, on the other hand, may innovate learning methods to improve student’s learning experience, customize their own teaching content by branding their courses and personalizing interface and lessons, and even allow students to submit homework and projects online. Meanwhile, Miguel Bermundo, head for Globe Citizenship, said that the company continues to promote 21st-Century learning through the Global Filipino schools program, which empowers public schools with ICT-trained teachers, new gadgets, and critical infrastructure to uplift the state of the country’s education and brighten the future of Filipino students. As of end 2018 the program has expanded to all 17 Philippine regions, reaching 218 public schools and benefiting 331,241 students and 11,666 teachers. Bermundo also imparted lessons on responsible digital citizenship which is necessary to ensure the online safety of students. “With digitalization, Globe also sees the importance to educate the Filipino youth on the responsible use of technology, be it through gadgets, web-site browsing and interacting with social-media platforms,” he said. Also at the EduTech event, Globe put up booths for participants to experience how various Globe myBusiness products and solutions can address the different needs of the schools. To learn more about digital solutions for education, visit: https:// mybusiness.globe.com.ph/ education/

Economic and Business Studies and a copresenter of the forum. “More initiatives on the fourth Industrial Revolution are underway which would reinforce our commitment in ensuring that the gains from continued technological advancement are inclusive and sustainable,” says Dr. Tiongco on the School of Economics’ plans to addressing the need for strengthening the government-academe-industry partnership to support the government’s adoption of a national innovation industrial strategy. She adds, “the Fourth Industrial Revolution dynamics creates opportunities for further scientific investigation that research needs to address, as well as how we reimagine economics education at DLSU.”