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Saturday, March 26, 2022 Vol. 17 No. 169

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Windfall earnings from spot market spikes go to a blessed few, while the public chafes under rising electric bills

By Atty. Pedro H. Maniego Jr.

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Even prior to the invasion of Ukraine by Russia, fossil fuel prices had continually escalated since last year. Experts are predicting extraordinary price increases because of the conflict. Newcastle coal has already reached an all-time high of US$435 per metric ton, while Brent Crude was at US$118 per barrel. Higher electricity prices are inevitable. The Philippine Independent Power Producers warned that the high coal price will have a P9 per kWh effect on the electricity price.

In a recent media briefing, Meralco Vice President Lawrence S. Fernandez announced that coal prices have gone more than US$440 per ton and that increasing oil prices will also affect Malampaya gas-repricing. This is what our reliance on baseload coal plants utilizing mainly imported fuels has brought us—unreliable power at overwhelming costs. Thus, our regulators should act with dispatch to ensure no entity would unduly profit from the twin crises of the pandemic and war. Our people must be protected and spared from rising electricity costs brought about by excessive power outages.

Special to the BusinessMirror

OOR Filipinos. On top of their suffering from the pandemic, they have to cope with ever-increasing electricity prices.

Lower economic activity during the lockdowns resulted in lower power demand. But why did electricity costs remain high during this period? The higher rates are mainly traceable to higher spot market prices. Theoretically, available base load supply is more than enough to meet current demand.

But the grid experienced a high number of yellow and red alerts, which generated spot market cost spikes. The culprit: extended and frequent power outages of several coal power plants as well as the derating of fossil gas power stations.

While the lower output of fossil gas plants is unavoidable due to lower Malampaya gas supply, failure to resolve the long-term and frequent outages of coal plants is almost criminal given the steadily heavier burden borne by Filipino families and businesses.

Recently, the Energy Regulatory Commission (ERC) penalized power plants that exceeded prescribed maximum outage limits.

However, the penalties amounting to mere millions of pesos on the culpable plants are dwarfed by the billions of pesos in spot market rate increases passed on to consumers. For example, a P1-billion increase in Wholesale Electricity Spot Market (WESM) transactions was registered in just two days of yellow and red alerts from May 31 to June 1, 2021. Economic losses were estimated at P116 million by the cochairman of the Joint Congressional Energy Committee, Senator Sherwin Gatchalian. Since the power system was plagued by prolonged thin power reserves, spot market prices exceeded P4.00 per kilowatt hour (kWh) 65 percent of the time in 2021. Every time reserve levels drop below minimum limits, end-users are subject to billions of additional charges in their electricity bills.

Once more, we must ask: who is

profiting from the power outages?

Let’s look at the WESM data from May 31 to June 1 last year. The average spot market price in April 2021 was P4.42 per kWh, which was already on the high side. The spot market price more than doubled to P9.64 per kWh within the two-day period. Despite the imposition of secondary price cap to temper the rate, the estimated value of spot market transactions increased by around P1 billion. Notably, the main suppliers to WESM were coal power plants. They provided 97,891 megawatt hours (MWh), equivalent to 54 percent of supply to the spot market. How ironic and unjust that large coal plants, which were supposed to provide reliable base load power, ended up benefiting from the forced outages.

In 2021, many plants were on extended downtimes and exceeded their combined outage limits. The top five plants and their respective outage periods were: Calaca Unit 2 (coal) of SEM-Calaca Power Corporation with 304 days, GN Power Unit 1 (coal) of GNPower Mariveles Energy Center with 301 days, Sual Unit 2 (coal) of San Miguel Energy Corporation with 165 days, SLPGC Unit 1 (coal) of Southwest Luzon Power Generation Corporation with 124 days, and San Gabriel Plant (fossil gas) of First Natgas Power Corporation with 109 days.

ERC’s allowable limits for the total planned and unplanned outages are 44.7 days for coal plants and 20.2 days of combined cycle fossil gas plants. The outages of these plants ranged from three to seven times of the maximum limits.

Which power plants benefited most from the higher WESM rates due to plant outages and thin power reserves? Last year, all of the top five WESM suppliers were coal power plants: Therma Luzon with 14.73 percent, Masinloc Power Partners with 13.91 percent, Pag-

PESO EXCHANGE RATES n US 52.3640

Atty. Pedro H. Maniego Jr. is the senior policy advisor of the Institute for Climate and Sustainable Cities and former chairman of the National Renewable Energy Board. bilao Energy with 13.08 percent, San Buenaventura with 9.07 percent, and Quezon Power with 6.36 percent share of spot trades. Aren’t coal plants supposed to provide reliable base load supply, instead of functioning as peaking plants that supply more than 50 percent of spot market demand?

Most power producers reported record profits in 2021, with one company registering an increase of 176 percent and another 270 percent over 2020. The better performance was attributed to improved market conditions and higher WESM sales.

The Philippine electricity market was privatized under the Electric Power Industry Reform Act. However, the power sector is still dominated by a few large conglomerates.

These large firms own power plants with bilateral contracts, while participating in WESM spot transactions at the same time. The regulators should investigate whether any of these dominant players who own

or operate the coal plants with extended and frequent outages, benefited from the higher WESM rates.

If these conglomerates contributed to the outages, the earnings of their affiliated companies from the spot market must be reviewed. It is but prudent to determine whether the outages caused by plants operated by subsidiaries of these large power firms had resulted in an inordinate increase in total portfolio revenues.

Power sector regulators should look at the total generation capacities of these power producers and not just generation on a per plant basis.

These conglomerates should first be directed to augment the lost power capacities caused by the forced outages of any of their power stations from the capacities of their other operating power plants. Only excess capacities of these firms after covering forced outages should be allowed to participate in WESM. This would prevent possible gaming of the spot market by power sector players.

n JAPAN 0.4280 n UK 69.0472 n HK 6.6930 n CHINA 8.2237 n SINGAPORE 38.5824 n AUSTRALIA 39.3254 n EU 57.6056 n SAUDI ARABIA 13.9600

Source: BSP (March 25, 2022)

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A2 Saturday, March 26, 2022

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US, Nato prepare for Russian nuclear incident in Ukraine war

By Michael Nienaber, Daryna Krasnolutska & Josh Wingrove

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Bloomberg News

BRITAIN’S Prime Minister Boris Johnson (second from right) looks at US President Joe Biden (third from right) while posing for a family photograph with Nato Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg (center), Turkey’s President Recep Tayyip Erdogan (right) and other leaders ahead of an extraordinary summit at Nato Headquarters in Brussels on March 24, 2022. BRENDAN SMIALOWSKI/AFP/GETTY IMAGES

HE US is working with Nato to prepare for possible biological or nuclear incidents by Russia as the world’s leading developed nations plan to warn President Vladimir Putin against deploying such weapons.

As Russia’s invasion remains stalled one month into the conflict, a senior US official said Thursday that Washington is working with allies on preparation and deterrence postures over Russian weapons of mass destruction, as well as on potential medical and other countermeasures to help Ukraine. The official spoke as US President Joe Biden met with Nato leaders in Brussels, one day after US National Security Adviser Jake Sullivan downplayed the risks of a nuclear attack.

Group of Seven leaders plan to say that they will continue to impose “severe consequences” on Russia by fully implementing the sanctions that countries have al-

ready imposed and stand ready to apply additional measures.

“We task the relevant ministers in a focused initiative to monitor the full implementation of sanctions and to coordinate responses related to evasive measures, including regarding gold transactions by the Central Bank of Russia,” according to a draft of a joint statement obtained by Bloomberg that the leaders plan to issue Thursday.

Biden is in Brussels for a trio of summits with Nato, the G-7 and the European Union as world leaders display their unity in countering Russia’s invasion and try to come up with measures to cope with the economic fallout.

RESCUERS work at the site of the National Academy of State Administration building damaged by shelling in Kharkiv, Ukraine, March 18, 2022. AP/ANDREW MARIENKO

Losses

RUSSIA has suffered punishing losses in the opening weeks of the conflict, with Nato estimates suggesting that at least 7,000 troops have died and noting the actual death toll could be as high as 15,000. The UK defense ministry said Thursday that Russia is likely looking to mobilize its reservist and conscript manpower, as well as private military companies and foreign mercenaries.

Ukraine, meanwhile, showed an unexpected unity and strength over the past month despite severe attacks against civilian targets and as millions of people fled their homes.

President Volodymyr Zelenskiy has said Russian soldiers have killed more Ukrainian civilians than soldiers. The images of Moscow’s siege of cities like Mariupol have only galvanized Ukrainians to stage protests against Russian troops.

“We still have a very difficult period ahead of us,” Ukrainian Defense Minister Oleksii Reznikov said in a Facebook post marking the first month of the war. “The Russian war machine will not stop until it is drowned in the blood of its own soldiers. The Russian society is already experiencing some of the consequences but is intimidated and passive.”

Ukraine will fight on as it will “not let anyone take our state away from us,” he added. “The state

which generations of Ukrainians dreamed of, fought and died for.”

Full steam ahead for Putin

DESPITE the heavy losses, Putin has shown no sign of reversing of course, even as the flurry of economic sanctions imposed by the US, the EU and the UK takes an increasing toll. There’s growing evidence of shortages of goods in Russia as consumers start to feel the impact of sweeping sanctions.

The US warnings on chemical and nuclear incidents suggest growing concern that Putin will lash out with his military suffering heavy losses. Biden, speaking at the White House Wednesday, said there’s “a real threat” that Russia will use chemical weapons.

But Sullivan suggested Wednesday the US doesn’t have specifics on whether Putin’s planning has changed.

“We haven’t seen anything that’s made us adjust our posture— our nuclear posture, but it’s, of course, something that we will have to continue to stay in close consultation with allies and partners on, as well as communicate directly to the Russians on,” Sullivan said.

On Thursday, G-7 nations also plan to call on other countries to enforce sanctions and refrain from providing support to Russia.

“Moreover, we urge all countries not to give military or other

assistance to Russia to help continue its aggression in Ukraine,” the draft statement says.

Biden was all smiles when he arrived at the Nato summit Thursday, chatting and shaking hands with his counterparts during a premeeting photo-op.

Test for Biden

BUT the niceties belie a challenge for the US President: The summit meetings are a test of Biden’s ability to project power in the face of Russian aggression and rally allies around tougher sanctions to punish Moscow for invading Ukraine. The President is facing pressure to quickly ratchet up penalties on Moscow, as the Ukraine war enters its second month.

A day earlier, Biden warned that he saw a “real threat” that Putin will deploy chemical weapons in Ukraine.

The G-7 leaders also plan to pledge help for nations as they try to wean themselves off their dependence on Russian oil.

“We will ensure secure alternative and sustainable supplies, and act in solidarity and close coordination in the case of possible supply disruptions,” the draft says. The leaders also call on oil- and gas-producing nations to increase deliveries.

The US and EU are expected to announce a deal on Friday aimed at slashing Europe’s dependence on Russian energy.

www.businessmirror.com.ph • Editor: Vittorio V. Vitug

News

‘Broken political system’ nurtures leaders who can’t even be dog catchers–Prof. Carlos

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HE next Philippine administration must reckon with three huge “deficits” in national life, starting with a “broken political system” where there are no real political parties that groom and vet political leaders, and help define policy and programs, a noted political scientist said Friday.

Guesting as resource person at the maiden Experts’ Forum organized by the ALC Media Group, University of the Philippines Prof.

Clarita Carlos said this farcical setup makes it possible for both parties and individual aspirants to public office to switch loyalties. She spoke a day after Partido Reporma standard bearer, Senator Panfilo Lacson, resigned his chairmanship and membership as party brass opted to support his rival, Vice President Leni Robredo. Lacson said he will continue in the race as an “independent” candidate.

This situation, of “top honchos of a party suddenly [deciding] to let go” of their standard bearer just a few weeks before elections, is “both absurd and unacceptable,” Carlos said, underscores why so many undeserving aspirants for public service are running. The political party system is “so compromised that anyone can just register a political party,” and there is no real party that “vets” aspiring leaders, many of whom, she said, “can’t even win as dog catchers in their barangay.”

The result of having no real political parties to serve as “interlocutor” between aspiring leaders and the people is a “huge democratic deficit,” Carlos added.

No national strategy

Besides the broken party system, the veteran political analyst and former president of the National Defense College of the Philippines also deplored the absence of a real “national strategy” that seamlessly “crochets together” the different

chapters of the usual development plans trotted out by one administration after another.

The National Economic and Development Authority (Neda) is the main agency tasked to put this together, but often, Carlos said, “what they usually have is a list.” A true national strategy is “really something that will stitch together” human resources, natural resources and identified goals, Carlos pointed out.

The Mandanas Ruling now in effect, which guarantees local government units a bigger, fairer share in national revenue collections, will end up misusing funds by some LGUs in the absence of a national strategy that also guides the local governments, she said.

Meanwhile, she strongly urged leaders to restore government’s role solely as regulator, “not command and control,” and leave the private sector largely free in growing business for national wealth.

Given all the country’s problems and the challenges and risk factors from external developments, the next leader must be able to quickly lay down a national strategy, with the right people, and make key decisions quickly.

The country cannot afford an “intellectually vacuous” leader, Carlos said: “’Di puedeng bobo ang Chief Executive ng Pilipinas.”

A third challenge that must be reckoned with quickly, Carlos said, is the “very disturbing, concerning high level of corruption.” She traced this to the fact that there is no certainty of sanctions for wrongdoing.

In her stint as NDCP head, Carlos recalled she vowed to keep behaving like a UP professor with a modest income so she can shun temptation.

The ALC Media Group Chairman, D. Edgard A. Cabangon, was joined by forum moderators, the DWIZ hosts Jonathan dela Cruz and Conrad Banal, and reactors and panelists from the ALC media companies.

BusinessMirror

Saturday, March 26, 2022

BSP chief: Ukraine-Russia fighting has little impact on PHL remittances T

he Ukraine-Russia conflict is not expected to put a big dent on remittances to the Philippines, but it may be another story if the war would include some members of the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (Nato).

In a virtual briefing on Friday, Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas (BSP) Governor Benjamin Diokno said remittance inflows from Ukraine in 2020 amounted to $120,000 or about 0.0004 percent of the total, while inflows from Russia reached $2.3 million or about 0.007 percent.

“However, should the war escalate further and include Natomember countries, this could have

significant implication[s] for the Philippines,” he said.

Diokno said the United States and European Union are part of Nato and are two of the Philippines’ major trading partners.

“The BSP will continue to monitor closely emerging external sector developments and risks and how this may impact on the BSP’s forecast, including that of overseas Filipino remittances,” he added.

Philippine monetary authorities forecast a 4-percent growth for remittances this year.

Amid the latest developments, Diokno said overseas Filipino workers’ remittances have proven its resilience despite several crises

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and times of calamities. It could a lso potent ia l ly suppor t t he socio-economic development of households and businesses in Bubusawin. The small farming community primarily used diesel-powered generators to light up their homes that could only supply energy for 3 to 4 hours a day. From spending as much as P1,500 per month on diesel, each household beneficiary will now only pay around P350 monthly with the newly installed solar PV systems.

The solar PV-powered irrigation system that will be provided to the community will help the local farmers’ association to irrigate rain-fed areas, harvest palay twice a year rice, and plant shortterm crops like vegetables during dry months.

T he initiative was funded through the Development for Renewable Energy Applications Mainstreaming and Market Sustainability (DREAMS) Project jointly implemented by DOE and the UNDP with funding from the Global Environment Facility.

DREAMS supports the thrust of the national government in promoting green energy, Productive Use of Renewable Energy (PURE) and achieve the 100 percent electrification target for all households in the country .

DOE Undersecretary Felix William B. Fuentebella underscored the importance of the initiative, “If there is no electricity, the community will lag behind. Here, we used clean sources of energy to makes our communities more competitive and our partner LGU, Palawan, will be given the opportunity to attract more investments, more tourists, more economic activities and more development.”

D r. Se lv a R a m ac h a nd r a n , UNDP Philippines Resident Representative, for her part, said, “We

in the past.

He said it even posted a new record-high level of $34.1 billion in 2021, up 5.1 percent year-on-year.

Remittances have been among the major drivers of the domestic economy for several decades now since it helps fuel consumption.

“These inflows generated much needed FX [foreign exchange] resources that helped meet the requirements of the economy even as external demand was weighed down by the global health crisis,” he added.

Diokno said having enough foreign exchange “ensures a healthy balance of payments position and an adequate level of GIR [gross international reserves] in the face of

mounting challenges to the external sector.”

He said remittances accounted for around 36 percent of exports of goods and services, and about 29 percent of the country’s GIR in 2021.

Diokno further said the ongoing pandemic, along with several external factors, are a risk to the expansion of remittances to the country.

“Yet, there are stronger reasons to support the view that inflows of overseas Filipino remittances in the near term will continue to grow,” Diokno said, as he encouraged OFWs and their families to put their funds in savings and investments. PNA

No new specialty hospitals built since 1985, and BBM vows to change that

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RESIDENTIAL frontrunner Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr. will push for the construction of more specialty hospitals in the provinces and in highly urbanized cities as part of their plan to improve the healthcare system in the country if he wins the May 9 elections.

Marcos said at a recent town hall meeting that he wants to emulate his father, the late President Ferdinand Marcos Sr. who was behind the creation of specialty hospitals in the country like the National Kidney and Transplant Institute, Philippine Heart Center, Lung Center of the Philippines, Philippine Children’s Medical Center and the likes.

“We really need to add to the specialty hospitals. We have seen how these hospitals—Kidney Center, Heart Center, Lung Center, Children’s hospital—were all of great benefit to many people,” he pointed out.

“If they weren’t there, imagine where our patients who needed treatment wou ld have gone,” Marcos replied in Filipino, when asked by a physician, Dr. George Quimzon, if the advocacy of his father to build more specialty hospitals, will continue if he wins the presidency “I was surprised that no administration built any new big hospital since 1985, and as you can see, the existing ones are really not

Solar energy electrifies off-grid sitio in Palawan borlan, Palawan—Sitio Bubusawin, an off-thegrid farming community in Palawan, now has access to a 24/7 renewable source of electricity through a partnership between the Palawan Electric Cooperative (Paleco) and the municipal government of Aborlan with the support of the Department of Energy (DOE) and the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP).

Witnessed by the Provincial Government of Palawan, and UNDP, the official signing of a memorandum of undertaking among DOE, Paleco and Aborlan signified the fruition of a multi-stakeholder collaboration for off-grid electrification and productive use of renewable energy (RE) in local communities.

The partnership enabled the design and installation of Solar PV DC Smart Grid systems for the electrification of 120 households and the provision of a Solar Irrigation System to help lessen the community’s dependence on expensive diesel-powered generators. The solar power coverage for the rest of the 295 households in the sitio will be continued by the municipal government as RE integration will be part of the local development plan.

“This is the light at the end of a very long and dark tunnel for the people of Bubusawin. More families can now enjoy the comfort of a lighted home and benefit from more business opportunities powered by electricity. This provides us a steadier supply of power and, perhaps more importantly, the promise of the future growth of a community like Bubusawin,” said Aborlan Mayor Ceisa Adler in her message at the signing ceremony held in Bubusawin Elementary School.

T he sol a r P V- powered DC Smart Grid system can provide cheaper electricity individual households and even access to a power source during outages

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are grateful for all the partners’ support in this endeavor, and I am very much looking forward to see the positive impact of this partnership in Aborlan, so that we may further scale it in the whole province. Together with the DOE, UNDP remains committed to supporting the acceleration of renewable energy development in the Philippines through our DREAMS Project and our other initiatives.”

Eric Villar, Acting General Manager of PALECO, which coleads the maintenance of the solar system and the coordination with the LGU, stressed the importance of the partnership as “electricity is the driver of the economy.”

Also present to witness the MOU signing were Congressman Gil A. Acosta of the 3rd district of the Province of Palawan, Provincial Board Member and Chair of the Palawan Energy Committee Hon. Albert Rama, and Atty. Jefrie Sahagun, Assistant to the Palawan Provincial Governor and representative to the DREAMS Project Steering Committee.

The activation in Sitio Bu-

busawin is part of the Support Facility for Renewable Energy (SF4RE) of the DREAMS project.

SF4RE is a P52 million facility that supports eligible partners in implementing renewable energy endeavors. The overall goal of SF4RE is to enhance local RE investment by accelerating the deployment of RE systems, and enhancing local capabilities to innovate, create, operate, and maintain these systems.

Consistent with UNDP’s mandate to reach the farthest first, the SF4RE is designed to facilitate the access of at least 20,000 households in far-flung areas to stable sources of RE and generate RE investments or financial support to implement RE applications. The initiative is also envisioned to demonstrate the contribution of RE to economic productivity and climate resilience in the country.

More renewable energy installations under SF4RE are being planned for rollout in Antique Bohol, Capiz, Cagayan Valley, Camarines Sur, Ilocos Norte, Iloilo, Apayao, Oriental Mindoro, Palawan, Quezon, Eastern Samar throughout 2022.

enough,” he pointed out.

“The Philippines now has a population of 106 million and of course their needs have grown, so we need those specialty hospitals not just in Metro Manila but in other places,” Marcos added.

Apart from specialty hospitals, Marcos said he will also push for the construction of more tertiary hospitals around the country to avoid congestion of patients, especially in a pandemic like Covid-19.

“We begin with the tertiary level hospital because there are places that have no tertiary hospital until now; their Covid patients have to be rushed to regional hospitals that are so far away,” he also said.

Many of these facilities are of-

ten bursting at the seams as well, Marcos added.

The presidential frontrunner said he will push for the health insurance of the people and the improvement in the services of Philippine Health Insurance Corp.

(PhilHealth).

Besides the hospitals, the former senator said he will promote and improve the Regional Health Unit (RHU) system in the country by adding more clinics in all barangays.

“I like the concept of the RHU, and there should be one per clustered barangay. Every barangay must have a clinic that is visited by a doctor, nurse and midwife twice or thrice a week,” Marcos said.

Davao City streets bereft of usual noise, fanfare as election campaign kicks off

By Manuel T. Cayon

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AVAO CITY—The streets were conspicuously absent of the usual colors, noise and fanfare at the start of the campaign for local elections following issuance of an executive order by Mayor Sara Duterte-Carpio that banned the conduct of motorcades and political caravans.

There were even fewer posters of local candidates that could be seen along many streets here.

Supporters of local candidates could be seen loitering the streets and entering the shopping malls but only later in the afternoon, apparently at the close of the starting campaign of candidates who chose to start their campaign with a bang at the main centers of the three political districts here.

Some public gymnasiums in the downtown area were busy with individual or group campaigning for those in the first district, while Calinan, some 29 kilometers northwest of downtown, was the staging area in the third district. Sasa, 12 kilometers northeast of downtown, was where the noise of the fanfare was in the second district.

It would be the first time for the youngest of the Dutertes, Sebastian, to hit

the campaign trail for the mayoral post, which he is assuming now as his elder sister, Sara, has been stuck in the heat of her vice presidential bid and had to take a leave of absence.

Sebastian is the vice mayor of this city.

However, there would also be some firsts here.

Sebastian would square off with Ruy Elias Lopez, the son of a former mayor here.

It would also be the first time that Rep. Paolo Duterte would face a serious contender for the congressional post in the first district when Ma. Victoria Maglana, a development worker and whose father and relatives have some stint in local politics in their hometown in Davao Oriental.

There was hardly any opposition running against the local administration party, Hugpong sa Tawong Lungsod. Rather, many from the same party have filed their candidacies. This was the common setup in previous elections where party mates become rivals for eight seats of the City Council per district.

When President Duterte was then mayor here for several terms, he has allowed this setup rather than endorsing any one of them.

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Saturday, March 26, 2022

The World BusinessMirror

Greenback’s dominance is being stealthily eroded in past 20 years’

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he dollar’s share of global reserve currencies has been in steady decline over the past 20 years as central banks turn to nontraditional currencies, including the renminbi, to diversify their holdings.

Reserve managers have moved out of dollars in two directions, with one quarter headed into the renminbi and three quarters into currencies of smaller countries that have traditionally played a limited role as reserve assets.

The findings are in a new paper issued by the International Monetary Fund (IMF) titled: “The Stealth Erosion

of Dollar Dominance: Active Diversifiers and the Rise of Nontraditional Reserve Currencies.”

It was co-authored by Serkan Arslanalp of the IMF, Barry Eichengreen of the University of California Berkeley and Chima Simpson-Bell also of the IMF. “A characterization of the evolution

of the international reserve system in the last 20 years is thus as gradual movement away from the dollar, a recent if still modest rise in the role of the renminbi, and changes in market liquidity, relative returns and reserve management enhancing the attractions ofnontraditionalreservecurrencies,”the co-authors wrote. “These observations provide hints of how the international system may evolve going forward.”

While China’s currency is gaining some ground, there’s also a notable shift into currencies including the Australian dollar, Canadian dollar, Singapore dollar, Korean won and Swedish Krona, according to the IMF paper.

“This shift is broad based: we identify 46 active diversifiers that have shifted their portfolios in this direction, such that they now hold at least

5 percent of their reserves in nontraditional currencies,” the paper found.

The findings come as global sanctions against Russia in response to its invasion of Ukraine have triggered fresh debate about the dollar’s dominance of global finance and trade and whether the conflict will accelerate the use of rival currencies, such as the renminbi.

Still, China’s currency has struggled to gain market share in global transactions as the government enforces strict controls on the flow of money into and out of the country. The latest data from the Society for Worldwide Interbank Financial Telecommunication shows the renminbi remains ranked as fifth most widely used currency for global transactions, the same as last year.

Bloomberg News

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

EU officials agree on rules to rein in Big Tech’s might B

RUSSELS—European Union officials agreed Thursday on a landmark provisional agreement aimed at clamping down on the biggest online companies, dubbed digital “gatekeepers,” by laying out a list of dos and don’ts.

With those rules, the bloc is seeking to prevent tech giants like Google, Meta and Apple from dominating digital markets, a change from its previous practice of issuing big fines for past antitrust violations.

After several months of talks, negotiators from the European Parliament and the Council, which represents the 27 EU member countries, reached a deal on the so-called Digital Markets Act. The provisional agreement now needs to be endorsed by the Council and the European Parliament.

“The European Union has had to impose record fines over the past 10 years for certain harmful business practices by very large digital players,” said Cédric O, the French minister with responsibility for Digital, whose country currently holds

the rotating presidency of the Council.

“The DMA will directly ban these practices and create a fairer and more competitive economic space for new players and European businesses,” he said.

The new rules prevent gatekeepers from ranking their own products or services higher than those of others or reusing data collected from different services. There are also tighter restrictions on targeted online ads and stronger requirements for different messaging services or social media platforms to be able to work with each other—an effort to avoid the domination of a few companies because they have already established big networks of users.

The Digital Markets Act’s criteria for defining a gatekeeper have been tweaked to include companies earning at least 7.5 billion euros in annual revenue in Europe in the past three years, have a market value of 75 billion euros, provide services in at least three EU countries, and have 45 million users and 10,000 business users established in the EU. AP

The World BusinessMirror

www.businessmirror.com.ph

Shanghai’s cases hit a record as Covid curbs led to death

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hanghai’s Covid cases jumped more than 60 percent in a single day, hitting a record 1,609 on Friday, even as authorities widened restrictions that have limited access to food and medical care with devastating consequences.

Zhou Shengni died of asthma Wednesday night after being turned away from Shanghai East Hospital, where she worked as a nurse, according to a statement from the medical center in the city’s Pudong district. The emergency department was closed for disinfection under Covid control rules and she subsequently died in another hospital, it said.

Scores of buildings and apartment blocks remained locked down in the Chinese financial hub amid the growing outbreak, part of a wave that’s challenging China’s zero-tolerance approach as the rest of the world abolishes pandemic restrictions. Frustrated residents are struggling to secure fresh food as some compounds refuse to let them leave, while accessing medical care gets harder as select hospitals prioritize Covid patients and close out-patient services.

“We deeply mourn for the unfortunate death,” Wu Jinglei, director of the Shanghai Heath Commission, said at a press conference on Friday. “Hospitals need Covid testing and disinfection, but also need to reduce the impact on normal services and secure the emergency needs of patients.”

Get tested

Health authorities on Friday asked anyone in Shanghai who has not yet been tested for Covid to do so before 6 p.m. local time or they will face movement restrictions. The city will continue to conduct testing on a rolling basis to curb the spread of the virus, and officials reiterated the importance of wearing a facemask even as masks face limitations in stopping Omicron.

China reported another 4,790 new cases on Friday, in-

cluding 3,489 people without symptoms, state television reported. New infections in Jilin continued to exceed 2,000. In Shanghai, 1,580 of the infections among the city’s 25 million residents were asymptomatic, the health commission said.

The situation underscores the hurdles officials face in implementing President Xi Jinping’s dual goals of eliminating the virus and minimizing the economic and social impacts of the Covid Zero strategy. While the country is still deploying measures like hardcore lockdowns in some areas—residents in the entire province of Jilin, in China’s northeast, are confined to their homes—the spread of the highly transmissible omicron strain to China’s most economically significant hubs has prompted a pivot to more targeted approaches.

Shanghai officials have ruled out fully isolating the city, though parts of it will be sealed off and further tested in a move some fear will plunge the financial hub into a de facto lockdown. The city plans to use stadiums and exhibition centers to quarantine people with mild and asymptomatic infections, with facilities in Jiading and Minhang districts already revamped for that purpose. Pudong Shangri-La, a luxury hotel located in the heart of the financial district, started serving as a quarantine hotel this week, according to hotel staff.

Shanghai’s top doctor signaled a silver lining, though warned restrictions aren’t likely to be eased soon.

Fewer than 10 percent of new cases are coming from non-restricted areas, indicating community spread is gradually being brought under control, said Zhang Wenhong, the city’s chief Covid adviser and an infectious disease doctor. It signals the turning point is drawing near, but the city needs to continue to test, he said at a press briefing in Shanghai on Friday.

Bloomberg News

Saturday, March 26, 2022

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Biden offers show of Europe unity in drawing line vs Putin

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resident Joe Biden called on the Group of 20 to eject Russia and warned again that Vladimir Putin may resort to weapons of mass destruction in the Ukraine war during a string of summits Thursday with US allies in Brussels intended to shore up support for Kyiv.

The President said he and European leaders are also developing strategies to stave off a global hunger crisis stemming from the invasion and its agricultural disruptions, and Biden said the US and its allies planned a new organization to crack down on violations of Russian sanctions, including any Chinese efforts to keep its diplomatic ally’s economy afloat.

On Friday, Biden will announce a highly anticipated initiative with European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen to boost Europe’s energy supply with American natural gas, though it may not go far toward weaning the continent off Russian fuels in the short term. Biden and European Union leaders on Thursday “discussed EU-US cooperation to reduce dependence on Russian fossil fuels,” according to a White House statement.

Biden said the whirlwind day of meetings illustrated the Western world’s unity against Putin’s aggression, and crowed that the Russian leader had failed to fracture Nato, which is backing Ukraine with weaponry and humanitarian aid.

“The very thing that Putin has tried to do from the beginning, and I’ve been saying this since my days as Vice President of the United States, is to break up Nato,” Biden told reporters at a meeting with the president of the European Council, Charles Michel. “The whole idea

of the unity of Europe as a whole, not just Nato, the G-7 and this organization, really matters. It’s the single most important thing that we can do to stop this guy.”

Yet the day’s events also made clear the US and its allies are not ready to go beyond self-imposed limits on the scope of military support for Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy, who came away without assurances after appealing directly to Nato for more assistance, including tanks.

In a closed-door speech to Nato members, the Ukrainian leader lamented that his calls for the alliance to “close the sky” over his country went unheeded.

“The worst thing during the war is not having clear answers to requests for help,” Zelenskiy said, according to a translation of his remarks posted on the Ukrainian presidency’s website.

Chemical weapons warning

The US president downplayed the notion he had emboldened Putin by swiftly ruling out some of Zelenskiy’s requests, including more direct US military intervention such as a no-fly zone.

“No and no,” Biden said during an evening news conference in Brussels.

The summits in Brussels tested Biden’s ability to project power in the face of Russian aggression and rally allies around tougher sanc-

tions to punish Moscow for invading Ukraine. The sense of urgency is growing. While Russian forces have faltered in toppling the Kyiv government, they have occupied territory in the south and east of Ukraine and inflicted massive civilian casualties.

Biden warned that if the military stalemate continues, Putin could resort to increasingly desperate measures, including using chemical or biological weapons or launching cyber attacks. Biden and his Nato counterparts discussed contingency plans in the event of an unconventional attack, including providing medical equipment and training for Ukraine.

“We will respond if he uses it,” Biden said, referring to Putin’s potential deployment of chemical or biological weapons. “The nature of the response depends on the nature of the use.”

Nato Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg offered a similar warning on behalf of the alliance.

“Any use of chemical weapons will totally change the nature of the conflict,” he said. “It will be a blatant violation of international law and it will have widespread consequences and of course be extremely dangerous.”

Biden received a warm welcome from European leaders in Brussels, showing how views of the US leadership have improved on the continent following Donald Trump’s presidency. Biden was seen smiling while speaking to UK Prime Minister Boris Johnson and French President Emmanuel Macron after a group photo in which the US president stood front row, center.

Trump’s echo

Biden brought up Trump during a closed-door Nato meeting when the discussion turned to defense spending, remark ing that the former president hadn’t treated other Nato members very well, according to two officials with knowledge of the exchange.

Trump regularly berated Nato countries that failed to meet the alliance’s target for defense spending.

“The next election, I’d be very fortunate if I had that same man running against me,” Biden said of Trump during his news conference.

The US earlier Thursday announced another round of sanctions on Russia’s lower house of parliament, several business elites and defense companies. They include steps designed to prevent Moscow from evading existing penalties, including closing a potential loophole to prevent Russia’s central bank from using gold reserves to defend the ruble.

Biden announced the US would welcome 100,000 Ukrainian refugees over the next several years, arrange for anti-ship missiles to be delivered to Ukraine’s military, provide an additional $1 billion in humanitarian aid to the country and coordinate with other major economies on preventing China from coming to Russia’s aid.

Kicking Russia out of the G-20 would be a symbolic move meant to underscore its status as a pariah state. But it’s unlikely to happen because doing so requires the unanimous support of all members.

Russia confirmed Putin’s plan to attend the group’s summit later this year in Indonesia, while China has signaled it stands by Russia remaining in the bloc. If that happens, Biden said, Ukraine should be allowed to attend the gathering as well.

Biden on Friday will travel to Poland for what is expected to be an emotionally charged visit focused on refugees. Poland is hosting the largest number of displaced Ukrainians in what has become the most severe refugee crisis since World War II. More than 3.1 million Ukrainians have fled the country, according to the United Nations, and roughly 10 million have been forced to leave their homes. Bloomberg News

North Korea says it test-fired biggest yet ICBM, US adds more sanctions S

EOUL, South Korea—North Korea said Friday it test-fired its biggestyet intercontinental ballistic missile under the orders of leader Kim Jong Un, who vowed to expand the North’s “nuclear war deterrent” while preparing for a “long-standing confrontation” with the United States.

The report by North Korean state media came a day after the militaries of South Korea and Japan said they detected the North launching an ICBM in its first long-range test since 2017.

The launch extended a barrage of weapons demonstrations this year that analysts say are aimed at forcing the United States to accept the idea of North Korea as a nuclear power and remove crippling

sanctions against its broken economy that has been further damaged by pandemicrelated difficulties.

The Hwasong-17, which was fired at a high angle to avoid the territorial waters of neighbors, reached a maximum altitude of 6,248 kilometers (3,880 miles) and traveled 1,090 kilometers (680 miles) during a 67-minute flight before landing in waters between North Korea and Japan, Pyongyang’s official Korean Central News Agency (KCNA) said.

KCNA claimed the launch met its technical objectives and proved the ICBM could be operated quickly during wartime conditions.

The South Korean and Japanese militaries had announced similar flight

details, which analysts say suggested that the missile could reach targets 15,000 kilometers (9,320 miles) away when fired on normal trajectory with a warhead weighing less than a ton. That would place the entire US mainland within striking distance.

Believed to be about 25 meters (82 feet) long, the Hwasong-17 is the North’s longest-range weapon and, by some estimates, the world’s biggest road-mobile ballistic missile system. North Korea revealed the missile in a military parade in October 2020 and Thursday’s launch was its first full-range test.

KCNA paraphrased Kim as saying that his new weapon would make the “whole world clearly aware” of the North’s

bolstered nuclear forces. He vowed for his military to acquire “formidable military and technical capabilities unperturbed by any military threat and blackmail and keep themselves fully ready for long-standing confrontation with the US imperialists.”

The agency published photos of the missile leaving a trail of orange flames as it soared from a launcher truck on an airport runway near the capital, Pyongyang, and Kim smiling and clapping as he celebrated with military officials from an observation deck. Other images showed Kim penning a memo ordering the Hwasong-17 test flight and approving the launch.

Kim has issued handwritten orders

for some of the most significant weapons demonstrations of his rule over North Korea, including its previous most recent ICBM test-flight in November 2017, which capped a highly provocative run in nuclear and missile tests that triggered a verbal exchange of war threats with thenPresident Donald Trump.

South Korea’s military responded to Thursday’s launch with live-fire drills of its own missiles launched from land, a fighter jet and a ship, underscoring a revival of tensions as diplomacy remains frozen. It said it confirmed readiness to

execute precision strikes against North Korea’s missile launch points as well as command and support facilities.

Japanese Foreign Minister Yoshimasa Hayashi said he talked with South Korean counterpart Chung Eui-yong over the phone and agreed to strengthen bilateral cooperation against the North Korean threat and seek further UN Security Council actions against Pyongyang. Seoul’s Unification Ministr y, which handles inter-Korean affairs, criticized the North for breaking its self-imposed moratorium on ICBM tests. AP

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News BusinessMirror

Saturday, March 26, 2022

PHL vote campaign starts amid violence, virus fears

By Jim Gomez & Aaron Favila

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The Associated Press

andidates for Philippine congressional seats and thousands of smaller races started campaigning Friday with police watching closely due to past violence and to enforce a pandemic ban on handshakes, hugging and tightly packed crowds that are a hallmark of the country’s often circus-like campaigns.

Campaigning for the presidency and other high-profile races began last month. Nearly 66 million Filipinos in the country and more than 1.6 million abroad have registered to vote in the May 9 elections for more than 18,000 local government and congressional posts.

Social media has become a key battleground for votes after two years of lockdowns and home quarantine restrictions in a Southeast Asian country that was hit hard by coronavirus outbreaks. The last alarming spike occurred in January before easing with an intensified vaccination campaign.

Many fear election disinformation could worsen in a country regarded as one of the world’s top Internet users.

In the capital Manila, a mayoral candidate launched her candidacy by waving and dancing from a pickup truck that weaved through a crowded public market area and blared her campaign jingle as crowds cheered from the sidewalks and snapped

Senator to NTC: Take action vs. spam, fake news

By Butch Fernandez

S

enator Risa Hontiveros prodded the National Telecommunications Commission (NTC) Thursday to take action against fake, election-related text messages.

In a news statement, Hontiveros said she alerted the NTC soon after receiving reports about a text message going round, claiming that opposition Senators Franklin Drilon, Kiko Pangilinan, and herself are moving to boycott 7/11 and other companies that allegedly support the Marcos-Duterte tandem.

“Let me just categorically deny that text message. Walang katotohanan ang anumang panawagan namin ng boycott dahil lang iba diumano ang ikinakampanya nila.

Napakarami nang fake news sa social media, ngayon pati mga text messages sinakop narin,” said Hontiveros.

She suggested that NTC can order telecommunication companies to strictly monitor and block numbers that spam the public with false information.

The senator recalled that back in 2021, Globe Telecom Inc. blocked 71 million spam messages and deactivated 5,670 mobile numbers, amid complaints from the public about suspicious job-offer messages.

“May kapangyarihan ang NTC at ang mga telecommunication companies na mapigilan na ang spam and fake messages,” she stressed, adding: “Kailangang magtulungan tayong maihinto ang anumang pagkakalat ng fake news, lalo pa sa gitna ng kampanya. We must allow the public to choose our leaders wisely, based on factual information.”

The senator also advised vigilant against “fake news.”

“Maging mapanuri tayo sa mga natatanggap na text messages. Kung mula sa numerong di niyo naman kilala at hindi rin nagpapakilala, kailangan niyo na magduda.

Kung hindi nanggagaling sa lehitimong sources, huwag niyo na pansinin. We must all be vigilant. Fake news chips away at our democracy. Let’s do all that we can to stop this,” the senator added.

photos with their cellphones. Her mascot waved to the crowd from another truck in a scene shown live on Facebook.

In suburban Marikina city, a mayoral candidate walked from house to house under the intense summer heat and talked to residents as followers trailed him, including one who banged a snare drum to draw attention. Such fiesta-like scenes were replicated in most of the country.

Some candidates openly flouted elections coronavirus regulations, campaigning in public without the required facemasks, shaking hands and huddling close to supporters seeking selfies.

Elections Commissioner George Garcia warned candidates not to violate coronavirus restrictions. “While we have eased restrictions, it doesn’t mean there can be super-spreader events,” he said in a news conference on Thursday.

Wit h l im ited st a f f, t he commission has strug gled to enforce

Supporters greet Quezon City Mayor Joy Belmonte, left, as she starts her re-election campaign in Quezon City, Philippines, on Friday, March 25, 2022. Candidates for thousands of provincial, town and congressional posts started campaigning across the Philippines Friday under tight police watch due to a history of violent rivalries and to enforce a lingering pandemic ban on handshakes, hugging and tightly packed crowds that are a hallmark of often circus-like campaigns. AP its campaign regulations, such as putting campaign posters in unauthorized areas. “Don’t waste your posters in public places. They w ill just be taken dow n,” Garcia said.

A more serious concern has been elections violence. Local elections have been marred in the past by bloody feuds and accusations of cheating, especially in rural regions with weak law enforcement and a proliferation of unlicensed firearms and private armies.

Last December, motorcycle-riding gunmen killed a town mayor and wounded another in a brazen attack in southern Zamboanga City, where they alighted after traveling by speedboat from a nearby island. The attackers escaped. The victims reportedly were planning to run for reelection in the May elections and investigators said at the time that they were checking if it was linked to political rivalry.

In 2009, heav ily armed men de-

ployed by the family of southern Maguindanao province’s then-governor massacred 58 people, including journalists, in an open attack on a convoy of a rival political clan that shocked the world.

O ut goi n g P re s ide nt R o d r i go Duterte has repeatedly warned he would deploy the military if candidates resort to violence and fraud.

“Nobody wants trouble, nobody wants cheating,” he said in a speech in September in south Mindanao region, where many elections security hotspots have been identified by the police.

“The military is the guardian of our country and I could call them anytime to see to it that people are protected and election’s freely, orderly exercised,” said Duterte, who has long been condemned himself for the thousands of killings of mostly petty suspects in his bloody crackdown against illegal drugs.

Is hybrid engagement ‘new normal’ for PR practice as Covid cases ease?

By Lorenz S. Marasigan

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HE practice of public relations has evolved during the pandemic with digital initiatives becoming the core of how organizations reach their target public, but with the easing of restrictions, are we seeing a return to the old ways?

Managing communication projects shifted very quickly from on-premise to online in 2020 and it persisted until the tail end of 2021.

But with pandemic restrictions now lowered thanks to the decline in the number of Covid-19 cases over the last few weeks, the PR practitioners are now melding together old and fairly new practices to engage their audience.

They adopted what is termed as hybrid engagement, a mix of on-site and online initiatives for particular projects.

Will this be the new normal moving forward?

PLDT, Meralco For Cathy Yang, the FVP for Corporate Communication at PLDT Inc., what needs to be understood first is the definition of what the “new normal” is, noting that the group “took a stab at it” when it mounted its first hybrid briefing.

“We’re at a stage of pivoting and refining a little bit more because we still can’t define what the new normal is,” she said during the BusinessMirror’s Coffee Club on

Friday.

Manila Electric Co. (Meralco) Spokesperson Joe Zaldarriaga, meanwhile, noted that the pandemic forced Meralco to “rethink” its strategy of communicating to its target audience and adapt to the demands of the time.

“It’s really changed the way we do things traditionally,” he said.

“We had to find a unique way to come up with a solution.”

Despite the easing of pandemic restrictions, Zaldarriaga believes that a hybrid setup will continue to persist—even beyond the global health crisis.

“If you try and benchmark with other organizations, I do not think what we are doing now with technology will change. But to go back on how we do things traditionally, I don’t think that we’ll do that anymore. Times have changed, we have adjusted to the

constraints of the pandemic and we will continue to do so,” he said.

Meralco plans to mount its first hybrid conference in April.

“Filipinos are adjustable—we will always find a solution and in our case, as communicators, we have to continue to adapt, we have to continue to evolve, we have to continue to go out of that box to find a way to make things work,” Zaldarriaga said.

Crucial to a hybrid setup for public relations, Yang said, are power and connectivity. She added the Public Relations Society of the Philippines (PRSP) is mounting its first hybrid event to spell out best practices on communication in the new normal.

“It’s really a call to action for [defining] together ‘what is the new normal?’ We have to figure it out but we do know that one of the items in there has to be power, of course, and connectivity,” she said.

www.businessmirror.com.ph

Climate change—it’s not just about the gasses

By Rory Visco

W

ITH the country’s population growing dangerously every year, the amount of garbage likewise grows, but even more lamentably, not too many know how to dispose of it.

The National Capital Region (NCR), with an estimated population of 12 million, which worldpopulationreview.com said expands to about 15 million during the daytime (most likely because of people coming from the nearby provinces whose work is in the NCR), tops the waste production category among all regions, and some studies say the region spews about 10,000 tons of waste per day.

So, what does solid waste have to do with climate change?

According to Crispian Lao, Vice Chairman of the National Solid Waste Management Commission under the Office of the President and also the private sector representative for the recycling industry, solid waste is an integral component of climate change.

“When we speak of climate change, we look into methane or greenhouse gas and emissions, and from the perspective of solid waste, we normally look at methane and emissions in our landfills, black carbon from the transport of waste to the disposal facility as well as open burning of waste so it’s very important for us that when we deal with climate change, we have to focus also on how our waste will contribute to climate change,” Lao explained during the recent “Do Good for the Earth” webinar by Watsons Philippines.

Currently, the Philippines has enacted Republic Act 9003 or the Ecological Solid Waste Management Act of 2000 that provides the spectrum to address solid waste management problems.

Lao said the law defines the roles of barangays, the local government unit (LGU) with the job of setting up MRFs (Material Recoveries Facilities) to deal with biodegradable and recyclable waste and to properly dispose of the residual as well as hazardous ones.

With regard to compliance of LGUs, only 35 percent of barangays have MRFs as mandated by law.

“Only 31 percent of our local governments have access to solid waste or sanitary landfill disposal facilities. So, it’s very important for everyone as well as corporate partners to deal with the waste that we generate so that it doesn’t end up in an open environment.”

So, what can be done? The National Solid Waste Management Commission is advocating for a food waste management program, he said.

“We need to compost as much as possible our biodegradables, follow the hierarchy of waste avoidance, or avoid generating waste in the first place, bring our own bag when going to the groceries, participate in different programs that aim to reduce generated waste, then reuse and recycle. For the recyclables, it is important, if we cannot avoid generation of wastes, to choose recyclables such as paper, plastic, glass, and metals.”

For paper, white paper is highly recyclable, including carbon boxes.

Newspaper because the junk shop will still accept it and the junk shops will send it to recycling facilities, Lao said.

But some papers like thermal paper, carbon paper, wax-coated papers, photo papers, scented papers, are not recyclable, same with those that came in contact with food, grease, and oil, the paper used in toilets, tissue paper because of the potential risk of pathogen contamination, Lao explained.

As for plastics, Lao said, it is

categorized as rigids and flexible.

For rigids, they are the beverage containers, containers for shampoo, cleaning materials in the form of polyethylene and polypropylene.

Then the flexibles, which Lao said are a bit challenging to recycle. There are recycling infrastructures for flexibles as well and even sachets.

But it’s important to participate in programs that recover and recycle flexible plastic materials. Of course, glass is highly recyclable, but don’t include in the recycling stream like light bulbs and ovenware, which contains boric acid.

Of course, tin cans are highly recyclable, aluminum cans, and all metals including copper. “We can participate in alternative residual technologies such as conversion to building materials, school chairs, and other different projects done by many social enterprise groups.

“There are drop-off centers in some of the biggest malls for recyclable materials,” Lao pointed out.

But for David Katz, founder and CEO of Vancouver, Canada-based Plastic Bank, has a different story when it comes to plastic wastes. He believes there is a solution to ending poverty through plastics using a circular economy model.

“The plastic that others considered waste or garbage, we consider as worth. It is about the opportunity to collect and exchange plastic for school tuition, or medical insurance or Wi-Fi, or cellphone minutes, or in other parts of the world, clean water or diversified food source,” Katz said.

The Plastic Bank is powerfully tackling this very opportunity, staring off with Haiti, then the Philippines, Indonesia, Brazil, Egypt, and then moving into Thailand and Cameroon.

“We won’t end hunger, we won’t get to gender inequality, we won’t touch on education if we don’t end poverty. Recycling is a way of being and the way of thinking in the world.

And that’s what the world needs more of,” Katz said.

Katz said their partnership with Watsons is an opportunity for the world to be witness of great change, to witness great organizations that are truly standing on the right side of history.

“You see, it takes the bold and the authentic to do something that hasn’t been done before. And we know with our partnership with Watsons, the world is powerfully going to not just witness the change of the communities and the lives of our collectors, but they are going to see a new way of thinking and new way of doing business,” Katz said.

For Viki Herrera-Encarnacion, Watsons Philippines Public Relations and Sustainability Director, they are proud of their partnership with Plastic Bank, where they recycled 833,000 plastic bottles, including providing customers with almost 1,200 sustainable products with better packaging and ingredients and help them switch to more sustainable options.

Encarnacion said that the world relies on fossil fuels that give gas, heat and oil, daily essentials that also cause greenhouse gas emissions.

Same with animals that emit methane when they digest their food and pass gas contribute to global warming, while deforestation reduce trees that can absorb carbon dioxide from the atmosphere.

But while it may be impossible to totally prevent global warming, there are some things that can be done to lessen the earth’s greenhouse effect, Encarnacion pointed out. “Walk more or bike or carpool. Turn off the lights or use alternative energy and grow a tree.

Consume less. And if you really need to buy something, consider more sustainable products.”

OurTime BusinessMirror

www.businessmirror.com.ph

Camarines Norte centenarians get ₧100,000 each from DSWD

By Connie Calipay

Ruiz town; Eugenia Maravilla of Sta. Elena; Maura Dominguez and Pantaleona Padua of Daet; Anastacia San Lorenzo of Mercedes; Cerefana Ramos of Vinzons; and Rosela Palma of Paracale.

Personnel of DSWD-5 visited the residences of the elderlies to award the cashincentivesandletteroffelicitation.

The DSWD program for citizens who have reached a hundred years of age is pursuant to Republic Act 10868, known as the Centenarians Act of 2016, honoring and granting additional benefits and privileges to Filipino centenarians. PNA

L

EGAZPI CITY—The Department of Social Welfare and Development-Bicol (DSWD-5) on Tuesday said seven 100-year-old residents of Camarines Norte were recently awarded P100,000 each by the agency.

“The said program is a way to give respect and recognize the senior citizens who reached the age of 100 and above,” DSWD-5 said in a socialmedia post.

The beneficiaries were identified as Marciano Placides of San Lorenzo

Pfizer asks US to allow fourth Covid vaccine dose for seniors

By Zeke Miller & Lauran Neergaard

getting from the third, it is good enough, actually quite good for hospitalizations and deaths. It’s not that good against infections,” he said. “But we are just submitting those data to the FDA and then we will see what the experts also will say outside Pfizer.”

The US booster campaign was based on evidence that the shots’ effectiveness, particularly against milder infections, was waning about six months after the last dose. Calls for a third shot grew once it became clear the vaccines weren’t as strong against the Omicron mutant as they were against earlier versions of the virus.

Many scientists say the ultimate goal of vaccination is to prevent severe illness, not mild infections, and early CDC data show the shots still are doing a good job at that. During the Omicron wave, effectiveness against hospitalization was 91 percent in people who had gotten their booster two months earlier, and 78 percent by the fourth month after that booster.

Pfizer based its new application on data from Israel, which already was offering a second booster to people age 60 and older and health care workers.

While some early data left unclear just how much benefit another shot offered—or for how long—Pfizer said that an analysis of health records of more than 1.1 million Israeli seniors showed confirmed infections were two times lower and rates of severe illness were four times lower among those who got two boosters instead of just one.

The Associated Press

W

A SHINGTON—Pf izer and its partner BioNTech last week asked US regulators to authorize an additional booster dose of their Covid-19 vaccine for seniors, saying data from Israel suggests older adults would benefit.

Currently the US urges two primary shots followed months later by a booster dose for everyone age 12 and older. The new application seeks to add a fourth shot only for the over-65 population that has been hit hardest by the pandemic.

The Food and Drug Administration and the Centers for Disease Control would have to approve the request. If so, a key question would be how soon seniors would be advised to roll up their sleeves.

While authorities say the vaccinations continue to offer strong protection against severe illness, they haven’t held up as well against milder infections especially those due to the Omicron mutant. With Covid-19 cases finally plummeting after the intense Omicron surge, public health experts are starting to look ahead to what next steps might be needed—if a new variant crops up or, barring that, whether to try shoring up coronavirus protection in the fall at the same time people get flu vaccinations.

Speaking to CBS’ “Face the Nation” on Sunday, Pfizer CEO Albert Bourla signaled the company’s plans.

“The protection that you are

By Annabel Consuelo Petinglay

S

AN JOSE DE BUENAVISTA, Antique—Barangay (village) captains in the province of Antique will assist in the house-tohouse campaign to encourage the elderly to avail themselves of the Covid-19 vaccine and complete the vaccination of Antique’s 95,035 target senior citizens.

Antique Governor Rhodora J. Cadiao, in an interview Wednesday, said she had requested the help of Liga ng Barangay (LnB) President Pamela Socorro Azucena and the other barangay captains in the province to conduct house-to-house campaign for more seniors to get vaccinated.

“The barangay captains know better the senior citizens in their barangays,” she said.

She said that through their help, the elders might be convinced to avail of the vaccination because of their trust and confidence on them.

The Integrated Provincial Health Office (IPHO) and Municipal Health Office (MHO) vaccination teams have difficulty in encouraging the seniors to have the Covid-19 vaccination because of health reasons, she added.

“I was told by the vaccination teams that there were seniors who would hide or if not scold them if they try to encourage them to get vaccinated,” she said.

The low turnout in the vaccination for the elderly is preventing the province from being classified under Alert Level 1, the governor added.

Data from the IPHO showed that as of March 20, of the 95,035 target senior citizens in Antique, only 59 percent or 30,954 elderly have availed themselves of their first dose and 29,524 or 57 percent submitted

A SENIOR citizen avails herself of the Covid-19 vaccination at the Binirayan Gymnasium in San Jose de Buenavista on January 27. Gov. Rhodora J. Cadiao said in an interview on Wednesday (March 23, 2022) that she has requested the 590 barangay captains in the province to help in the campaign for Covid-19 vaccination so Antique could be classified under Alert Level 1. PNA PHOTO COURTESY OF ANTIQUE IPHO

to second dose.

“With the help of the barangay captains, we hope that within the next two weeks we could increase the Covid-19 vaccination among the elderlies so that we could go down to Alert Level 1,” she said.

She said there could be no full economic recovery in the province if it remains under its current Alert Level 2 classification.

Meanwhile, local government units (LGUs) in Antique were urged on Tuesday to strengthen their advocacy on Covid-19 vaccination focusing on senior citizens due to the sector’s low turnout during the National Vaccination Days (NVD) Part 4.

For the March 10-12 NVD, only 64 senior citizens got the vaccine out of the 4,620 recipients, said Irene Dulduco, IPHO information officer.

“Many seniors still are hesitant to undergo the Covid-19 vaccination because of their comorbidity,” she said, plus they tend to believe wrong information that the vaccines will worsen their condition.

These 64 seniors were from 13 out of the 18 towns of Antique, namely, Barbaza, Tobias Fornier, Patnongon, Sibalom, Valderrama, Laua-an, Hamtic, Bugasong, Anini-y, Tibiao, San Jose de Buenavista, Culasi, and San Remigio.

“ The seniors, who were attended to by the IPHO deployed teams, were also given options on what Covid-19 vaccines they would like to have such as Pfizer, Moderna, and many others that were then available for them,” Dulduco said.

She added that as of March 14, a total of 30,792 seniors are already vaccinated while 21,933 are unprotected.

Dulduco said that if only local health authorities could reach out to them and explain the benefit of being inoculated, then more seniors would be encouraged to be vaccinated. PNA

Germany honors survivor of Nazi camps, 96, killed in Ukraine

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ERLIN—Germany’s parliament on Tuesday paid tribute to Boris Romanchenko, who survived several Nazi concentration camps during World War II but was killed last week during an attack in the Ukrainian city of Kharkiv. He was 96.

The Buchenwald concentration camp memorial said on Monday that

Romanchenko, who survived Buchenwald as well as camps at Peenemuende, Dora and Bergen-Belsen, was killed on Friday. It said that, according to his granddaughter, the multistory building where he lived was hit by a projectile.

Romanchenko was dedicated to keeping alive the memory of Nazi crimes and was vice president of

Portrait of a senior as an artist

By Nick Tayag

MY SIXTY-ZEN’S WORTH

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Antique seeks village chiefs’ help to vaccinate 95,035 senior citizens

EL GARCIA is an artist and a good friend of mine. He is supposedly in retirement but for more than a decade now, he has been painting unceasingly against the dying of the light, so to speak. His eyesight may be weakening but not his passion.

His mind is an overflowing fount of subjects and ideas that find an outlet in his paintings. Give him a flat surface, be it a cardboard or a cloth canvas, and he will paint something on it.

He can’t seem to help it. It is his ergo sum: he paints therefore he exists. He embodies what the writer and poet Dorothy Sayers defines as a calling: “the thing one lives to do…the full expression of the worker’s faculties, the thing in which he finds spiritual, mental and bodily satisfaction, and the medium in which he offers himself to God.” Sometimes I ask myself why is this man so spirited and prolific at his age?

Editor: Angel R. Calso • Saturday, March 26, 2022

I’ve always known he was a painting major in college but he was never this ardent about his art when we were still working together as an artist and writer team in an ad agency a lifetime ago.

Most probably, retirement has been good for his artist’s soul, for it has given it time and space in which to grow and uncover hidden springs of his artistry.

It’s probably what Albert Camus meant when he wrote: “Within me there lay an invincible summer.”

It appears that dreams are renewable in his case, for he is living a dream that he had previously given up when we were both trapped in a 9 to 6 daily routine of making a living. It’s as if Del in old age has picked up an old violin or harmonica he had put in a shelf for a long while and is now playing sweet tunes inexhaustibly with it. Indeed, even in ripe old age, as one pastor once said, there are still untapped possibilities within us and new

beauty waiting to be born.

His mind is a welcoming place for valuable thoughts that will just drop in. He does not paint to impress like many successful painters I know. He just paints what’s on his mind at the moment. When I once visited him at his place in the old Paco district,

he had several canvases in various stages of being completed, in addition to the canvas he was presently working on. He would go back to the unfinished ones later on.

Don’t over read his paintings.

Don’t even look for perfection.

Don’t look for profundities. If there’s no deeper meaning that you

the International Buchenwald-Dora Committee, the memorial said.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy noted the sad irony of Romanchenko’s death.

“Just imagine how much he went through!” Zelenskyy said in a video address late Monday. “He survived Buchenwald, Dora, Peenemuende and Bergen-Belson, the conveyors of

can sense or discern, that’s alright.

That’s not the point. Just look. All his painting asks is for you to have a casual dialogue with it. Complete it if you can with your mind and heart. There is no final say because every time you look at his painting there may be something more in it that you didn’t see before. See them through the eyes of imagination.

It could be liberating for the mind, which is often attached to the usual and the conventional.

Like all artistic pieces, his paintings are a form of storytelling, visual parables “whereby God speaks to us, and the art of life is to get the message” in the words of British writer Malcolm Muggeridge. Or perhaps they serve as a mirror of you?

What I wrote a decade ago about his paintings when he had his first exhibit is true even now: “He works to convey a unique honest expression, lyrical and at the same time with a simple directness that is beguiling.” One admirer puts it best: “Hindi maarte.”

His favorite subjects are trees and water, whether it’s falling or flowing. His affinity for these elements is a reflection of his passion for life and living. That to me is his constant and consistent message: a reverence for creation. Nature is life and beauty, displaying God’s grace at work in this life, “implic-

death created by the Nazis. And he was killed by a Russian shell that hit an ordinary Kharkiv high-rise. With every day of this war, it becomes more and more obvious what they [Russians] mean by ‘de-Nazification.’”

Opening a session of Germany’s parliament on Tuesday, deputy speaker Katrin Goering-Eckardt paid tribute to Romanchenko. AP

itly affirming that beauty is essentially the presence of God,” to use the words of Wendy Beckett, a British religious sister, hermit, and art historian.

His thematics are like a call to renewal of our sensual relationship with nature, like an invitation to take off your shoes and walk barefoot in the grass, put your feet into a flowing stream, rejoice in the air that you breath. And often, the scenes are bathed in light. Although there are contrasting shadows lurking too.

What is moving Del’s hand to create one piece after another with unending enthusiasm? I suspect there is an “unknown guest” who sits beside him. I’ve always believed that the great Creator of the old book did not stop on the seventh day. He continues to design and create even today, and artists like Del are His co-creators.

Let’s keep in mind what Thomas Aquinas once wrote: “The same spirit who hovered over the waters at the beginning of creation hovers over the mind of the artist at work.”

Not even advancing age can stop the synchronous motion of his eye and hand. His well of creativity seems to never run dry. As long as the “unknown guest” is sitting beside him, Del will keep drawing on his artist’s ardor to ward off the dying of the light.

Education BusinessMirror

A8 Saturday, March 26, 2022

PRRD OKs inclusive education for learners with disabilities

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RESIDENT Duterte has signed a law mandating all schools nationwide to ensure inclusive education for learners with disabilities.

Republic Act (RA) 11560, formalized by the Chief Executive on March 11, provides that “no learner shall be denied admission based on their disability.”

The new law provides that all schools must ensure equitable access to quality education for every learner with special needs.

“The policy of inclusion is hereby instituted in all early- and basic-education schools, both public and private,” the law read.

The implementing rules and regulations of RA 11560 must be included in the admission systems and policies of all schools. The IRR, according to the law, shall include the provision of assistive devices, facilities and infrastructure in the admission process, and other forms of reasonable accommodation.

Under RA 11560, all learners with disabilities enrolled in public or private schools shall be accorded services and reasonable accommodation based on the Individualized Education Plan (IEP), and shall have the right to avail of the appropriate support and related services.

Center for learners with disabilities

THE law also directs the creation of an Inclusive Learning Resource Center (ILRC) of learners with disabilities, which will be a “physical or virtual center” that will serve as a one-stop shop for the delivery of free support services to learners with disabilities and the implementation of inclusive education programs.

T he De pa r t ment of E duc at ion (DepEd), in collaboration with local

government units (LGUs), shall initially establish and maintain at least one ILRC in all cities and municipalities.

ILRCs may also be established in every school’s district based on the multiyear road map of cities and municipalities and the availability of resources.

“All existing SPED [Special Education] Centers shall be converted to and renamed as ‘Inclusive Learning Resource Center,’” RA 11560 read.

“LGUs may establish satellite ILRCs in schools, the operations and maintenance of which shall be included in the School Improvement Plan [SIP],” it added.

The SIP will serve as a road map that lays down the school’s specific interventions and solutions to corresponding identified priority improvement areas, as it aims to improve access, quality, and governance in basic education.

“Private early- or basic-education schools may likewise establish additional facilities needed for the education of learners with disabilities, in coordination with ILRCs within their cities or municipalities,” the law said.

All public and private basic-educational institutions, as well as ILRCs, are given a period not exceeding five years from the passage of RA 11560 to comply with the provisions and requirements of the law.

ILRCs’ mandate

ILRCs are directed to implement the “Child Find” system, which will ensure all learners with disabilities who

are not receiving early and basic education services are identified, located and evaluated.

They are also instructed to form a multidisciplinary team that will conduct education assessments and diagnosis of learners with disabilities, identify specific development areas of concern, as well as determine appropriate services and placement options for the preparation of their IEPs. The multidisciplinary team shall be composed of an educational psychologist, guidance counselor, psychometrician, developmental pediatrician, neurological psychiatrist, physical therapist, occupational therapist, speech and language therapist and pathologist, reading specialist, specialist for Braille, Filipino sign language specialist and interpreter, visual specialist, special needs teacher, and ILRC supervisor.

ILRCs must also provide and facilitate consultative mechanisms, counseling, technical assistance and training to general basic-education teachers, administrators, CDC child-development workers and teachers, nonteaching staff, parents, care providers, guardians, or other family members on the education of learners with disabilities.

Advisory committee

RA 11560 also decrees the creation of an Advisory Committee for Education of Learners with Disabilities. It shall be composed of representatives from various disability sectors, plus a representative from the academe.

The committee will formulate policies, plans and strategies for the education of learners with disabilities, conduct research and policy studies on inclusive education, plus monitor the delivery of services for learners with disabilities.

Converted schools

ME A N W HILE, Duter te a lso inked

severa l laws renaming and conver ting schools in some par ts of t he countr y.

R A 11651 repurposed the Balbalan Agricultural and Industrial SchoolBalbalan Proper Extension in Kalinga into an independent national high school, renaming it as Eastern Balbalan National High School.

According to the republic act, the Roberta de Jesus Elementary SchoolDisiplina Village Elementary School E x ten sion ( Va len z ue l a C it y) w a s turned into an independent elementary school, now known as Disiplina Village Elementary School.

RA 11653 renamed Lydia D. Martinez Memorial High School-Sugod Senior High School Extension at Bacon District in Sorsogon City as Sugod Senior High School after being converted into an independent senior high school.

Under RA 11654, Arcelo Memorial National High School-Liloan National High School Annex in Liloan, Cebu was converted into an independent national high school and renamed as Liloan National High School.

RA 11655 changed the names of the Arena Blanco National High School- Tigtabon Annex in Zamboanga City into Tigtabon National High School after it was converted into an independent national high school.

Converted into an independent national high school, Manicahan National High School-Lamisahan Annex in Zamboanga City will now be called Lamisahan National High School, according to RA 11656.

RA 11657 changed the name of Libudon National High School-Sanghay Extension in Mati City, Davao Oriental to Sanghay National High School.

The president inked R As 11651, 11652, 11653, 11654, 11655, 11656, and 11657 on March 11. Malacañang released a copy of the laws the following Tuesday. Ruth Abbey Gita-Carlos/PNA

UST ‘Arki’ students trumpet ‘bayanihan’ in intl jamboree

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nological Institute of the Philippines), and Zuyuska Yvanna A. Bennett (National University).

The team was mentored by USTCA alumnus Ar. Adrian U. Tampolino. Fifteen countries from the region participated in the ARCASIA Student Jamboree 2021. With the theme, “Reconnecting Our Community,” the student jamboree held a series of workshops and talks that led to the culmination project developed and presented by each participating country.

The Philippine delegation presented their project: “Hapag: Connecting through Indi-genius Approach,” geared to aid families impacted by the pandemic by transcending the bayanihan spirit through architecture and design.

The project was developed to “connect the disconnected,” provide universal access to proper recreational facilities, and promote the coexistence of man and his environment through the amplification of natural on-site features.

NIVERSITY of Santo Tomas’ fourth-year College of Architecture students Zion Enrico R. Licup and Schneider S. Arbas were handpicked to participate in the gathering of talented Asian architecture students who aim to initiate knowledge exchange and build fellowship among the Asean countries.

The two were part of a team that represented the Philippines in the 2021 Architects’ Regional Council Asia (ARCASIA) Student Jamboree held via Zoom from October 29 to 31, 2021.

The country’s delegation was composed of Licup, who is also the national president of United Architects of the Philippines Student Auxiliary; Arbas; and their fellow architecture students: Quiou Nikolai M. Malabao (Adamson University), Adon M. Dela Rosa (Don Honorio Ventura State University), Maxine Andrea N. Lumbera (Ateneo de Davao University), Bryan Steven E. Borja (University of the PhilippinesMindanao), Marlo S. Maraña Jr. (Tech-

Security Bank repairs Bacolod school bldgs ahead of face-to-face classes resumption

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ACOLOD CITY—In preparation for the resumption of the physical conduct of classes, Security Bank Foundation Inc. (SBFI) spearheaded the repairs of its donated two school buildings in Bacolod City, which are equivalent to 12 classrooms.

The initiative is part of SBFI’s “Build a School, Build a Nation Classrooms Project.”

As a standard, SBFI evaluates its donated school buildings every five years to assess structural integrity and conduciveness for learning. Those heavily damaged by disasters such as

earthquakes and typhoons are prioritized for major repairs to ensure safety of students and avoid class disruption.

Upon evaluation, SBFI prioritized the repair of the two-storey, six-classroom school buildings in Emiliano Lizares National High School (ELNHS) and in Antonio L. Jayme Elementary School (ALJES). Both were damaged by the earthquakes that struck the Negros Occidental capital city in December 2019 and June 2020.

“We appreciate the continuing support of SBFI [through the major repairs] of school facilities. They have

ensured that the students and teachers of ELNHS and ALJES have access to adequate and structurally safe buildings that play an important role in quality learning for our young learners,” says Department of Education-Bacolod City Schools Division Superintendent Dr. Gladys Amylaine Sales.

“School repairs are necessary in creating a quality learning environment, [sustaining] the teaching-learning process and motivation for learning,” added Principal Zenith Avila of ELNHS. Launched in 2011, the Classrooms

Project is focused on ensuring that Security Bank ’s mission to enrich lives through education is upheld.

“We focused our advocacy on education, because we believe [it is the greatest equalizer in life, as it will give every person the opportunity to succeed, no matter the students’ socioeconomic status] may be,” said Chairman Rafael F. Simpao of SBFI. The foundation has already repaired 215 of its previously-donated classrooms to address earthquake, typhoon, and volcanic activity damages, as well as major wear-and-tear concerns.

Editor: Mike Policarpio

DepEd, US launch third webinar series on language learning, literacy, numeracy

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HE United States Embassy in the Philippines and the Department of Education (DepEd) launched on March 21 a new six-week virtual webinar training series on “Integrated Language Learning in Early Childhood: Focus on Literacy and Numeracy” to further support teachers and school heads amid the pandemic.

About 3,000 DepEd teachers and supervisors nationwide are expected to participate in the series, which will run through the week of April 25.

The US Embassy, US Department of State’s Office of English Language Programs, DepEd’s Teaching and Learning Division, and Bureau of Learning Delivery co-developed the course curriculum to meet the specific needs of K-3 teachers and learners in the Philippines during the ongoing pandemic. The course will provide guidance, methodology, as well as instructional materials and resources to English teachers via a team of three American English-language specialists who will lead the virtual sessions.

“I would like to extend my gratitude…to our program partners from DepEd, led by Undersecretary for Curriculum and Instruction Diosdado San Antonio,” said US Embassy Public Affairs Counselor John Groch.

San Antonio lauded the webinar series for its role in preparing Philippine educators for the future: “We are glad to collaborate with the English Language Office of the US Embassy in undertaking a very significant and noble initiative relative to our efforts in creating 21st-Century learners who possess 21st-Century skills.”

Once the course is completed, teachers and school heads will share what they learned with their counterparts in their local areas for implementation with K-3 learners. As part of this webinar series, educators will have access to an ondemand resource library that includes a viewing guide, activities, and discussion questions for local learning communities.

The first six-week webinar series for DepEd teachers and administrators, “Bridging the Distance Together,” took place from September 14 to October 21, 2020, and provided training on flexible learning to more than 1,600 teachers, which reached 3.7 million viewers on Facebook. Approximately 3,000 teachers and supervisors attended the second six-week series on “Teaching Grammar Communicatively in the Philippines” from March 22 to May 6, 2021, which had a Facebook reach of over 1.5 million.

Asean University Network lauds Benilde’s programs

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HE Asean University Network-Quality Assurance (AUN-QA) has recognized and granted certifications to the standards of three degree programs of the De La Salle-College of Saint Benilde (DLS-CSB).

Established in 1995, the AUN aims to develop regional identity and solidarity, as well as foster collaboration among member colleges and universities to upgrade the capacity of Asean human resources, advance curricula and learning approaches, assure quality in higher education, develop students’ skills through cross-border exposure, and also cultivate academic and research cooperation across the region.

The AUN granted international accreditation to the Bachelor of Science in Hotel, Restaurant and Institution Management under the School of Hotel, Restaurant, and Institution Management; plus the Bachelor of Science in Business Administration-Major in Computer Applications and Bachelor of Science in Business AdministrationMajor in Export Management under the School of Management and Information Technology.

The certification acknowledged that the college’s degree programs have attained high-quality standards of international institutions, as it recognized the continuous and holistic improvement of its quality system and management.

Br. Edmundo Fernandez FSC, DLS-CSB president, shared the good news with the Benildean community: “The AUN-QA assessment certification for the three programs is a testament of everyone’s hard work, dedication, and collaborative efforts in ensuring that we provide quality Benildean education…[at] par with our neighboring Asean institutions.”

“Together, let us congratulate and thank our administrators, faculty and personnel, and the Center for Academic Accreditation,” he added. “As one community, let us continue to work together and aspire to make our mark as an extraordinary institution of excellence, both in the national and international levels. Animo Benilde!”

For more information on DLS-CSB and its program offerings, visit www.benilde.edu.ph.

Tourism&Entertainment BusinessMirror

Editor: Carla Mortel-Baricaua

Saturday, March 26, 2022 A9

Breaking free at Pico de Loro

Indulge in the gorgeous view straight from Pico de Loro corner room.

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A romantic dinner under the stars awaits guests.

This is Santelmo Cove from the view deck

Story & photos by Ardee P. de los Angeles

s the saying goes, an ocean breeze keeps one’s mind at ease. I remembered that as I stared at my laptop hoping that Zoom meetings would just go away and everything would go back to normal. We needed to get away again, somewhere isolated and yet safe and easily accessible from Manila. For us, a visit to Pico Sands Hotel is the moment we were waiting for; time to head for the beach and enjoy some fun under the sun.

All is well with the new normal, at least for a few days.

The drive to Pico de Loro is about two hours from Manila.

The route that we took brought us via Cavitex to Kaybiang tunnel and the views along the winding roads are pretty as a picture. From Kaybiang, the trip took about 20 minutes. We then found ourselves ready to explore Hamilo coast, with its 13 majestic coves situated along the coastline.

We were provided an itinerary for our stay for three days and it was delightful. I have no doubt in my mind that what looks good on paper, will be much more pleasurable once we experience it in real-time.

Pico Sands Hotel

The drive was easy and we got there without having to doublecheck the directions. The check-in was a breeze and we were already in our corner deluxe room in just

a few minutes. The wraparound balcony provided stunning views of the lagoon and the whole property. The place was peaceful and quiet.

Lunch was served for us in a cabana fronting Pico beach. The food was good and the views were even better. I felt that this would be a great start to our scheduled escape from the burnout of everyday pandemic life. There was even a slight ocean breeze that made the meals taste even better.

Afternoon delight

Our late afternoon schedule brought us back to the beach.

This time, we’re aboard a speedboat with a front-row view of the stunning sunset on a cruise with cocktails. This experience brings you to different nearby coves while you sip red wine and enjoy the party snacks from the char-

Enjoy a charcuterie board during the sunset cruise.

Spoil yourself with fantastic views at Pico de Loro Beach and Country Club.

cuterie board.

The day culminated with a private dinner at the beach, under the stars. The full-course meal is delightful and really fancy. What follows after dinner is our Awaken the Senses massage at The Rain, the spa at Pico Sands. Truly, it’s a perfect first day for this summer getaway. Tomorrow will be another fun-filled day of adventure and excitement.

Picnic lunch at Santelmo Cove

The next day was spent at a private beach at Santelmo cove. Hotel guests like us took the resort’s speedboat to get there. The trip only took about five minutes.

Another way to get there is by hiking for an hour from Pico de Loro’s beach.

Santelmo Cove is a marine sanctuary and a no-fishing zone.

It was named after the weather phenomenon, St. Elmo’s Fire. The locals avouch that a “ball of fire” was seen in the surrounding areas of the cove. Our experience, however, was entirely pleasant.

We were assisted by the hotel staff along the way who prepared a picnic lunch for us. They were there to attend to our needs every step of the way. For lunch, we had grilled chicken, shrimps, pansit, and fruits for dessert. We even got the chance to hike up Santelmo’s view deck which only took a few minutes. We saw plenty of juvenile black-tip reef sharks along with the rock formations on the beach. Behind us is a jungle where we also noticed several

Have a sip of wine as the sun sets.

monkeys moving around. There were no other guests around and we had the beach all to ourselves, a rare experience to be cherished.

How can a place so natural, provide the comforts of home at the same time?

Water activities included paddleboarding, kayaking, and of course, swimming. You can also go bird watching everywhere at the resort. Guests can also just lounge around the white-sand beach with a cold drink in hand.

Private dinner by the lagoon

The evening festivities included a private dinner that was set up for us at Pico Sands Hotel’s Spanish steps. Meals were served under a dome close to the lagoon. We had seafood Paella, Gambas and Sal-

Savor a seaside lunch at Pico Beach Cabana.

picao. A culinary and visual treat of the lagoon views, background bossa nova music, and friendly banter makes this a night to remember.

Tourism and the community

It is great to see businesses opening up and the economy starting to recover. I got the chance to talk to the staff of the hotel and many of them are from the surrounding towns of Batangas. Pico Sands Hotel and other businesses are providing work to these individuals and their families. Again, it is the community providing support and collaboration to the tourism industry.

Businesses, the people, and the tourism industry are making it happen in the new normal.

Landco Boosts Support to Fisherfolks in Batangas

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isherfolks gain access road to C a l at aga n sea s through a portion of the land of CaSoBe Landco, known for pioneering landscapes for more than 30 years and for its strong thrust on sustainability allotted a portion of the BeachTowns CaSoBe (Calatagan South Beach) in Batangas to provide a safe, convenient, and round the clock access road for fisherfolks to easily reach the Calatagan seas from the public road and vice versa.

“Landco works closely with the community, the local government of Calatagan, Batangas, and our landowners for inclusive socio-

economic development of different sectors in the vicinity of our BeachTowns developments, particularly the fisherfolks. Ensuring their source of livelihood and stimulating the growth of their microenterprise are our prime concerns. Our team undertakes measures for community involvement because it’s the right thing to do and sustainability is deeply rooted in Landco’s DNA,” said Erickson Y. Manzano, President and CEO, Landco Pacific Corporation.

Complementing this support for fisherfolks, Landco provides jobs to the local community: 69 out of the 104 or 66 percent of

Millennial Resorts staff are residents of Calatagan.

The access road for fisherfolks along with various community and environmental initiatives is part of Landco’s long-term sustainability program which is aligned with Metro Pacific Investment Corporation’s commitment to helping achieve the United Nation’s Sustainable Development Goals to make cities and human settlements inclusive, safe, resilient, and sustainable, and strengthen the means of implementation and revitalize the global partnership for sustainable development.

A10 Saturday, March 26, 2022 • Editor: Gerard S. Ramos

BusinessMirror

www.businessmirror.com.ph

GOTO EXPANDS INTO SOUTHEAST ASIA WITH NEW OFFERINGS

How to navigate the ‘messy middle’ A

CCORDING to Google, 80 percent of consumers today are having difficulty making decisions because of the deluge of information or options available to them. This has had a tremendous effect on the path to purchase and created what is called the “messy middle.” The messy middle is a noisy space between triggers and purchase, and this is where consumers are either won or lost.

“This complex and emotional journey begins when consumers look for more details about a product or service, which can be overwhelming given the abundance of available information. This is where people lean on Google Search to decode their decisionmaking process,” said the tech giant in a statement.

Seventy-three percent of people say Google Search is their No. 1 most preferred touchpoint when looking for relevant information across all categories.

During the recent Decoding Decisions event, Google invited individuals to discuss insights and best practices that can inspire brands to use Search in order to win customers.

Rachel Tan, Head of Digital and E-Commerce Luxe at L’Oréal, talked about how the pandemic has changed people’s buying habits. For skincare, they would do research before committing to making a purchase.

At Kiehl’s, Tan and her team partnered with Google and their own agency to create keywords across eight weeks so the brand would appear in searches.

In what they call “Experiment 1,” the brand used

keywords like “Kiehl’s avocado mask” and “Kiehl’s serum.”

In “Experiment 2,” they added popular and broad search terms that often have a high reach with the product keywords in their campaigns. These included phrases like “best anti aging for men” and “skincare for oily skin.”

The results were amazing.

The Kiehl’s web site saw a 20-percent increase in traffic. Of these, 80 percent were new visitors using generic keywords. There was also a 27 percent uplift in sales and an 18-percent increase in overall revenues “This experiment really helped us see how generic search keywords can help expand reach and capture potential consumers,” said Tan. In 2020, Nestlé’s Maggi, which is known for its seasonings, launched a project to improve the functionality, recipe service and total user experience of its web site.

“Search was at the heart of our plan because it’s an integral part of our consumers’ cooking journey as they plan their meals. We used cross-platform audience lists to drive video viewers of the Maggi Philippines YouTube channel to the web site,” said Seaneen Arcilla, Service Pillar Lead, Food and Dairy Culinary Business Unit at Nestlé.

The campaign was effective in driving results.

Metrics showed that the cross platform approach of re-engaging video viewers on Search resulted in seven times higher click-through rate and 3.5 times higher conversion rate. In addition, 40 percent of web site traffic came from remarketing lists.

“Getting real-time consumer insights from our web site and turning consumer actions to marketing initiatives to drive business growth for Maggi enabled us to decode how consumers make purchasing decisions. This was pivotal to make our approach more personalized and data-inspired,” said Arcilla.

Indonesia is one of the largest mobile markets in the world and it is characterized by the high degree of competition in the industry with new launches practically every month.

For the launch of vivo’s X series in 2021, vivo Mobile Indonesia explored the possibilities of further

IT specialist GoTo (www.goto.com) has announced its Southeast Asia expansion with a channel-first approach focused on Singapore, Malaysia, and the Philippines. The announcement follows the recent news in early February of LogMeIn rebranding to GoTo. Together with its established international presence in North America, South America, Europe and APAC, GoTo demonstrates its commitment to supporting small- and mid-size enterprises (SMEs) globally and across the region with their changing flexible work collaboration and IT support needs.

It is estimated that there are more than 70 million SMEs in Southeast Asia as of 2020. They account for 99 percent of all businesses in the region, employing over 140 million people and form the backbone of Southeast Asian economies. With the Covid-19 pandemic creating a shift in the way employees prefer to work, many are now working largely remotely. A recent study by EY found only 15 percent of the Southeast Asian workforce indicating that they prefer to work from the office full time. The majority would prefer to work anywhere (32 percent), work remotely full time (29 percent), or in a hybrid work arrangement (23 percent). Despite the obvious increase in organizational reliance on digital tools for employees, the study found that only 42 percent of organizations are utilizing productivity tools.

“At GoTo, we understand the unique challenges faced by SMEs, and we are dedicated to focusing our resources to address these pain points. We want to bring this set of knowledge to better serve Southeast Asia together with our ecosystem of partners, and best-in-class collaboration and support products,” said Lindsay Brown, vice president and general manager, GoTo Asia Pacific. “Expanding our footprint into this region with a channel-first approach means our customers can benefit from product expertise and local support provided by skilled partners.

With the importance of channel as part of our expansion strategy, I’m pleased to announce Yvette McEnearney’s promotion as channel director, Asia Pacific where she’ll now lead our channel sales team across Asia Pacific.”

GoTo also announced the release of a new IT management and support (ITMS) product, GoTo Resolve. The product modernizes IT support by bringing together all the tools small- and mid-size businesses (SMBs) need to manage and support employees in a flexible, secure and conversational way. The launch of GoTo Resolve coupled with the continued evolution and enhancements to GoTo unified communications and collaboration (UCC) solutions with products like GoTo Webinar, GoTo Meeting and more, allow SME IT teams to seamlessly manage their systems and communicate with their employees to get the right information and fix issues quicker through a single provider and application.

GoTo’s unified administration center brings together these products, giving IT leaders a single app from which they can manage their users, entitlements, and configurations.

maximizing their presence in the market.

“We wanted to be there throughout the consumer journey starting from teaser phase then launch phase to post-launch. We also wanted to see which channel is actually contributing the most to our total conversions during the campaign,” Ferzy Ferlian, Digital Marketing Director at vivo Mobile Indonesia.

Vivo Mobile Indonesia decided to partner with Google by running Google Blast for high impact during the campaign period. They also activated tracking using Campaign Manager to identify the efficiency of each channel. Campaign Manager 360 is an ad management and ad serving solution that helps agencies and advertisers manage the entire scope of digital advertising.

The results, said Ferlian, were “fantastic.”

About 46 percent of total conversions were contributed by Search campaigns.

“This has enabled us to use Search effectively to drive impact across our business. We know that our customer was exploring and evaluating whether our smartphone was right for them, and when they choose to purchase, Search was crucial. It turned that purchase intent into sales. Advertisers need to think about digital traffic now, not only physical store or offline traffic,” said Ferlian.

Vivo Mobile Indonesia further optimized its campaigns by adapting Image Extensions and this led to an increase to a 15 percent mobile CTR (click to rate) while reducing their CPC (Cost Per Click) by 4 percent.

Other speakers during the Decoding Decisions event were journalist, author and public speaker Malcolm Gladwell and Sapna Chadha, vice president for marketing-Google India, Southeast Asia and South Asia.

“In a world where decision-making is more difficult than ever before, people are searching for answers. That’s why we are humbled that billions of consumers turn to Google to search for answers every single day. This pushes us to continuously improve to provide people with the most relevant and helpful information from the most trustworthy and authoritative sources to help them make better decisions,” said Sapna Chadha.

LINDSAY BROWN, vice president and general manager, GoTo Asia Pacific

Basas said Smart also tapped global eSports company LEET Entertainment and mobile game developer Moonton, the company behind Mobile Legends: Bang Bang among its featured mobile games.

Basas said Giga Arena will also serve as a training ground for Filipino mobile gamers who want to levelup their skills and enhance their gameplay.

“Through Giga Arena, we are giving mobile gamers a venue to showcase their skills and talents, which many of them devote time and effort to hone.

This is aligned with our commitment to enable our subscribers to pursue their passions and live the Giga Life,” Basas said.

“We have designed Giga Arena to be as dynamic

as the eSports scene, so our subscribers can expect more innovative features aimed at delivering the best mobile gaming experience,” she added.

In time for the launch of Giga Arena, Basas said Smart has also introduced the enhanced Giga Games, which now includes data for PUBGM, on top of Mobile Legends and Facebook Gaming.

Smart has also been a big supporter of Sibol, the Philippine national eSports team, its own PLDTSmart Omega eSports team, and many other eSports players and mobile gaming content creators.

Smart is also a founding and active member of the Philippine ESports Organization (PESO), the country’s National Sports Association for E-Sports.

Smart enhances position in mobile gaming

BY RIZAL RAOUL S. REYES SMART Communications, the mobile unit of PLDT Inc., on March 7 launched the Giga Arena to bolster its position in the lucrative mobile gaming business.

Giga Arena is the country’s first all-in-one eSports platform that aims to attract more Filipinos to mobile gaming through a seamless and simple process.

Jane J. Basas, SVP and head of consumer wireless business at Smart, told reporters and bloggers that Giga Arena allows all Smart and TNT subscribers to compete with fellow players in daily, weekly, and monthly tournaments on gigaarena.smart for

prestige and cash prizes. Registration began on March 9.

In their launch, Basas said Giga Arena will feature four most popular mobile games in the country, such as Mobile Legends: Bang Bang, League of Legends: Wild Rift, Call of Duty Mobile (CODM), and PlayerUnknown’s Battlegrounds Mobile (PUBGM).

Aside from enabling users to compete in live tournaments, Basas said Giga Arena will also have innovative features that allow mobile gamers to set-up tournaments, stream live competitions, play arcade games, purchase e-load, and conveniently link their e-wallet to secure their tournament winnings via GigaPay with PayMaya, among others.

BusinessMirror

www.businessmirror.com.ph

INTERNATIONAL HAPPINESS DAY: SPREAD THE HAPPINESS THE last few weeks have seen Filipinos easing into the new normal, with Covid-19 cases on a steady decline.

Workers are back in their offices. Families are free to go out to weekend lunches. Friends are reuniting in sorely missed nights out. People are walking their dogs in parks.

Even with masks still on when they go out, there is no denying the smiles on Filipinos’ faces as they experience, for the first time in two years, a sense of normalcy after the challenging and limiting times of the pandemic.

As the world marks International Happiness Day somehow free from the shroud of a prolonged pandemic, the Globe Group offers to help Filipinos spread cheer even better. How? Here are just a few ways: ■ SEND A SURPRISE CASH GIFT OR ‘PASALOAD’: Maybe you want to cheer up a friend or sibling with prepaid load or some cash for a milk tea treat or a special snack. You can do this without hassle via GCash. To send load, open your GCash app, click the “Buy Load” icon, select the network of your recipient, and in the space “Buy Load For,” type the number to whom you wish to send load.

To send cash, just tap “Send Money,” click on Express Send, and type in the recipient’s number.

Make sure the person you wish to send cash to also has the GCash app on his phone. Otherwise, you may go another route and send money via bank transfer, which requires the recipient’s bank details.

■ SHARE HAPPINESS TO THE NEEDY BY DONATING REWARDS POINTS: If you’ve been a Globe user for a while, chances are you have been accumulating rewards points, and some of them may be expiring

by March 31. With those points, you can send help to those in need through Globe of Good, a platform that aims to harness technology to create social impact.

Through Globe of Good via the GlobeOne app, you can support family feeding activities, microentrepreneurship training and vocational courses, microfinancing for startups, and job opportunities for skilled workers.

■ SEND DOCTOR CONSULTATIONS TO LOVED ONES: Did you know that you can purchase doctor consultation slots for loved ones through KonsultaMD? The telehealth platform, which saw stellar rise during the pandemic, provides an option for users of the KonsultaMD app to “Give the Gift of Health.”

Registered users can easily purchase a Fast Pass video consult or a Mental Health Support video consult.

■ SPEND THE DAY IN WITH FAMILY AND ENJOY A BLOCKBUSTER FILM: Haven’t heard of UPSTREAM yet?

You’re missing out on major blockbusters online. Save up on cinema tickets and access critically-acclaimed and top-grossing films via UPSTREAM at prices starting at P150. It’s an affordable and convenient way to share a happy day at home.

Editor: Gerard S. Ramos

• Saturday, March 26, 2022 A11

Nova 9 SE: Slay in style H

UAWEI has always set the bar when it comes to product launches, and after more than two years of being stuck on Zoom, the company finally held its first live event last week at Shangri-La The Fort for its newest smartphone, the nova 9 SE. According to one of my colleagues who was at the venue, with the number of guests, the setup, and the lineup of celebrities, you’d think they were unveiling one of their flagships instead of a mid-range device. If my memory still serves me right, the previous nova launches I attended were either held in malls or some trendy new hangout place, because the nova series is targeted more toward the youth I guess Huawei wanted to make a statement that big events are back with its “Super nova, Super camera,” themed launch. As its newest “novastar” aims to spark creativity and celebrate authenticity, several experience hubs at the venue designed to evoke the feeling of an outer-space journey, as well as visual demonstrations of technological talent—Julia Barretto, Kylie Verzosa and Bella Racelis were also on hand to provide star power—highlighted the different features of the nova 9 SE. Did the nova 9 SE really need several other stars to make it shine brighter?

On paper, it already has a pretty impressive spec sheet: a 108MP AI Quad camera system designed for vlogging, a big and clear 6.78 display, a Snapdragon 680 octa-core processor, with 8GB RAM + 128GB of storage, a 4,000mAh battery with super-fast charging, and of course an otherworldly design that trumps the competition.

I’ve been testing out the nova 9 SE for the past few weeks and for a smartphone that’s priced at P13,999, does it live up to the hype about its headline features?

DESIGN AND DISPLAY

NOW, if we were basing everything on how a phone looks, then hands down the nova 9 SE would be the runaway winner in its segment. Huawei has been great at making its smartphones stand out from the rest of the competition and the nova 9 SE is proof yet again.

The design of the nova 9 SE is said to be inspired by star trails and features simple geometric shapes to highlight the cosmic motif. As it is designed to grab

the attention of younger users, the three colorways— Crystal Blue, Pearl White, Midnight Black—should satisfy their needs in the areas of fashion, color and coordination. I doubt they’d have a problem matching it with any of their OOTDs. These colorways are crafted from 3D glass, which has a glossy effect and crystal clear texture. The Crystal Blue variant, which I have, is coated with dualfilm dual-plating nano-texture technology to give it a beautiful, dazzling finish. The back cover’s surface gives the glass a subtle luster and iridescent, glowing quality—though it also makes it a fingerprint magnet.

The phone is made of a glass front, glass back, with a polycarbonate frame that feels more flagship than a mid ranger. It measures 164.64 x 75.55 x 7.94 mm and weighs 191 grams. It is surprisingly lightweight for its size making it comfortable to hold, but unless you slap on that jelly case, it can also get quite slippery in your hands.

For the display, the nova 9 SE has a 6.78-inch, full HD+ IPS display, along with a 90Hz refresh rate 270Hz touch sampling rate, and P3 color gamut coverage.

Around the display are super slim bezels—the top bezel measures just 1.1mm thin while the two on the sides measure 1.05mm wide each. Display quality is good, though an AMOLED display would have been more ideal. The 90Hz refresh rate does make scrolling feel smooth. The nova 9 SE has a single speaker that does the job if you are alone in a small room, but the sound quality is nothing to rave about.

it does struggle when there’s a bright light source.

Portrait-mode selfies have okay edge detection but the bokeh effect is often a miss. The front camera by default shoots with a FoV of 78°, but if you turn the phone sideways, it automatically zooms out to capture with a 90° FoV, making it easier to take groufies.

As for video, aspiring vloggers will enjoy using Dual Video mode that allows you to film yourself with the front camera as well as what’s happening in front of you with the rear camera. Alternatively, you can use the rear camera to capture a close-up view and a wide-angle shot simultaneously. Another neat feature is the continuous front/rear recording that lets you take videos from different perspectives and switch from front and back cameras while recording. The nova 9 SE can record up to 1080p at 30fps and doesn’t have any kind of stabilization.

Perhaps the best thing I liked about the camera is its easy video editing. The nova 9 SE lets you search for photos and videos using keywords. Simply key in the keywords that describe the media you’re looking for in the search bar and the smartphone will automatically fetch them for you. For those who are new to video editing, there’s a One-Click Video Compilation feature to easily combine multiple clips together to form a social-ready video. For more advanced users, the nova 9 SE comes pre-installed with the Petal Clip app, which provides a variety of video templates and themes. Thanks to Huawei Music, there are also lots of great soundtrack options.

108MP CAMERA

PERFORMANCE AND BATTERY

THE nova 9 SE is Huawei’s first smartphone to have a 108MP camera and that AI Quad camera setup is complemented by an 8MP ultra wide-angle lens, a 2MP Bokeh lens, and a macro lens. With this high megapixel count, it’s supposed to capture high-quality images with crystal-clear details. I know Huawei has had a great track record when it comes to their phone cameras, but remember this is a sub-P15,000 phone, so don’t expect the photo quality to match those taken by the Huawei P50 or Mate series.

That said, shots taken using the 108MP camera come out pretty good most of the time with nice colors and enough details. What I did notice is that it struggles more under bright light resulting in a lot of overexposed shots. Indoor shots and those taken with just enough lighting turned out even better. For food photos, it had difficulty capturing those small details that make the dish look yummy and as for portraits, shots often have that uneven blur especially when you have a busy background.

Night mode, however, was such a joy to use, provided you have steady hands or use a tripod.

Photos come out vibrant and sharp with enough detail as long as you stick to 1x zoom.

The front camera located in that punch hole on the top of the screen is a 16MP f/2.2 selfie shooter. In daylight, the front camera takes okay shots but again

THE nova 9 SE uses a Qualcomm Snapdragon 680 octa-core processor with an Adreno 610 GPU and paired with 8GB of RAM and 128GB storage. Do note that it is only a 4G phone. Performance is okay and you’ll have no problems running apps smoothly— just be aware that this phone is not made for heavy gaming. The nova 9 SE’s 4000mAh battery is enough to last you a day’s use and if you do need to recharge, Huawei’s 66W SuperCharge tech can get that battery topped up to 60 percent in 15 minutes and just over 30 minutes for a full charge.

The nova 9 SE I have has the latest EMUI 12 update, and it is clean, intuitive and comes with with plenty of customization options. The Celia keyboard even offers different sound effects you can use when typing including a typewriter, space gun, or even a rubber duck. By now, you know that Huawei phones don’t have Google Play but the AppGallery continues to grow and probably already has most of the local apps you need. For those you can’t find, there’s also Petal Search.

FINAL WORD: The Huawei nova 9 SE is a great choice for those who prioritize style and want to have the best-looking phone they could buy for P13,999. The cameras are versatile enough for those who want to start vlogging while its powerful internals ensures a smooth and reliable user experience. ■

Instagram to allow users to see most recent posts first

BY ILENA PENG & SARAH FRIE� Bloomberg News INSTAGRAM will let users switch their feeds so they view the most recent posts first, relenting after years of complaints about the photo app’s current ranking that chooses the order of posts based on a user’s behavior.

Meta Platforms Inc.’s Instagram is introducing two options for its feed, “Following” and “Favorites,” according to a blog post on Wednesday.

Following works the way Instagram did up until

2016: it shows posts in reverse-chronological order.

Favorites allows further curation, letting users list up to 50 accounts they wish to see higher in their feeds.

“We want people to feel good about the time they spend on Instagram, by giving them ways to shape their experience into what’s best for them,” the company said in a statement on Wednesday.

Instagram introduced an algorithmic ordering for its feed because professional users, such as influencers and brands, had started posting so

frequently and strategically that they would drown out content from regular users, people familiar with the matter have said. Regular users started to think their friends weren’t using Instagram. The 2016 algorithm was trained so that it showed people whatever content would inspire them to post more, the people said.

While the change did help increase visibility for content from users’ friends and family, it drew backlash from professionals, whose follower growth started slowing, as well as regular users, who didn’t like the decrease in control.

In recent years, Instagram has started introducing more content into people’s feeds that the app’s algorithm suggests, even if users haven’t followed it. That has increased users’ desire to have more control over what they see.

Even if people claim to hate the algorithm, Instagram’s internal research shows they’re more satisfied with that ordering, “so we are not defaulting people into a chronological feed experience,” Instagram said in its statement. Users will have to specifically decide to see posts in mostrecent order.

Sports BusinessMirror

Cool Smashers-Crossovers duel in quarterfinals match to watch

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O many things have changed seven months after Chery Tiggo upended Creamline in a thriller of a finale to crown itself the country’s first pro volley champion.

But one thing will stick around when they face off again next week— the competitive fire—although this time, they’ll be dueling not for the crown but for the chance to stay on track for a title crack.

The Crossovers and Cool Smashers clash in one of the four exciting matches marking the quarterfinal round of the Premier Volleyball League Open Conference back at the league’s home at the FilOil Flying V Arena in San Juan on Monday with fans expected to come in droves.

But for Chery Tiggo’s scrambling stint coupled with Creamline’s solid campaign in the two-group preliminaries, odds are stacked against the defending champions, whose title-retention drive was stymied by the absence of reigning Most Valuable Player Jaja Santiago, who is currently playing in the Japan V.League.

“Despite Jaja’s absence, I trust my teammates that we can overcome the challenge,” said Mylene Paat, now Chery Tiggo’s leading player, whose recent stint in Thailand as an import has further enhanced her spiking skills and firmed up her resolve. “Rest assured, we will give Creamline a good fight.”

But the Crossovers, who also boast of Dindin Santiago-Manabat, Roma Joy Doromal, Ej Laure, Shaya Adorador, Justine Dorog, Joy Dacoron and ace setter Jasmine Nabor, will need to dish out their best to neutralize their arch rivals’ twice-to-beat edge, their reward for sweeping and topping Group B. “We really need to prepare and analyze their edge, weaknesses and at the same time work out where we will be effective,” added Paat, whose team dropped its first three games to Group A mates Cignal, F2 Logistics and Choco Mucho before surviving Army Black Mamba to clinch the last quarters spot.

In contrast, Creamline swept its three matches in Group B, including a tough five-setter over Petro Gazz, with Coach Sherwin Meneses expecting his power-packed wards to get stronger, better as the tournament wears on.

“Given the three-day break, we expect to recover and improve.

But we have to study and check our lapses [against the Angels],” said Meneses. “That win was important, if only for the momentum as we head to the quarters.”

“But even if we have the twice-to-beat advantage, we need to play solid,” added Meneses, who has been drawing superb games not just from his starters, led by Alyssa Valdez, Jema Galanza, Risa Sato and Tots Carlos, but from the rest of the squad.

“Everybody has been contributing. For as long as they’re playing within the system, I don’t see any problem,” he added while noting ace playmaker Jia’s (De Guzman) key role in their title drive.

ALYSSA VALDEZ (left) and Tots Carlos are Creamline’s 1-2 punch.

| Saturday, March 26, 2022 mirror_sports@yahoo.com.ph Editor: Jun Lomibao

TABUENA WINS VIA PLAYOFF

THE victory extends Miguel Tabuena’s winning run at the Robert Trent Jones Sr.-designed layout to four, including the Philippine Open in 2015.

M

IGUEL TABUENA showed firm resolve in the clutch and staying power in debilitating heat as he foiled Clyde Mondilla’s scorching rally with a 6-foot birdie putt on the second extra hole to capture the International Container Terminal Services Inc. (ICTSI) Luisita Championship in Tarlac on Friday.

Both birdied the tough closing par-four hole in regulation in separate flights with Mondilla doing the feat first off a superb 56-degree wedge shot from 96 yards to within 5 feet to spike a closing 65 highlighted by four straight

bogeys from No. 4.

Tabuena, on the other hand, bounced back from a disastrous bogey on the 17th with a birdie putt from close range off a near-perfect drive to save a 70 and tie Mondilla at nineunder 279.

But after both matched pars on the first playoff hole, also on No. 18, Tabuena proved steadier in the end, drilling a delicate putt back on the 18th after Mondilla flubbed his own bid from 10 feet and ending up on top in the P2-million championship that kicked off the new Philippine Golf Tour (PGT) season after a year-long break due to global health crisis.

The victory, worth P360,000, also extended the ace shotmaker’s winning run at the Robert Trent Jones Sr.designed layout to four, including the Philippine Open in 2015.

“I struck the ball better compared to the first three days but I didn’t putt as well that’s why I didn’t have as many birdies,” said Tabuena, who had five birdies against three bogeys in his closing pair of 35s.

“But I’m pretty happy with the outcome, obviously. But a win is a win and it’s my first win as a married man, so thank you Lord,” added Tabuena, who married his long-time girlfriend Lauren Nocum in the US last month.

Despite his big lead following Michael Bibat’s early meltdown, Tabuena knew someone very familiar with the tight, challenging course would step up and mount a charge.

“Congrats to Clyde, he played the best round, but I wasn’t so shocked [of his comeback],” he said of Mondilla. “I was expecting someone to chase me and I had very good feeling it would be Clyde, who basically practiced and lived here for few months before the

pandemic so he really knew the course.”

Mondilla missed duplicating his feat at Pradera Verde two years ago but admitted he yielded to a better player.

“Getting to the playoff was something, considering that I was down by five. My putting just clicked and I was in the hunt,” said Mondilla, who actually fell by as many as seven with a bogey on No. 2 which Tabuena birdied in a flight behind.

“But I misread my line of putt [on the second playoff hole]. But that’s okay, me mas magaling pa kesa sa akin [there’s someone better than me],” said Mondilla, who had hoped to match his feat at ICTSI Pradera Verde where he also rallied from five down in the final round and best four others in the playoff in the most crowded playoff cast in PGT history in January 2020 before the circuit took a long break due to global health crisis. He received P236,000.

Earlier, Tabuena pounced on Bibat’s early stumble to build up a big cushion, only to find himself faced with a tougher task of stopping a hotfinishing Mondilla on his tracks.

As the Del Monte native strung up four straight birdies from No. 4 to launch his fightback and sustained it with four more birdies in the last 10 holes, Tabuena went on a rollercoaster ride, mixing two birdies with two bogeys from No. 4 to the 14th, enabling Mondilla to force a tie at eight-under overall.

He birdied the 16th to regain the lead but stumbled with a bogey on the 17th and needed to produce a birdie on the 72nd hole to force a playoff.

Amateur Perry Bucay also proved to be a revelation, finishing a strong joint third with third round joint leader Michael Bibat at four-under 284 total after a 70 in sweltering heat.

COLLEGE HOOPS BACK IN ACTION

‘Mystery’ shrouds UAAP opening day

T

A12

Letran opens NCAA title bid vs Benilde

T

HE will to win is evident but the capability to fight coming off a two-year hiatus is suspect among National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) men’s basketball teams which take the floor beginning on Saturday under strict health protocols.

“My players conditioning are still below par to how they were when we won the championship two years ago,” said Bonnie Tan, referring to the Letran Knights who open their title-retention bid against the College of Saint Benilde at 3:30 p.m. at the fenced La Salle-Greenhills Gym. The Blazers’ new coach, Charles Tiu, finds the new normal NCAA Season 97 as a level playing field with all teams going through the rigors of the lockdowns.

“There’s a lot of things to do and we’re rushing everything,” Tan said. “The players still need to jell with each other.”

“I think it will be an even playing field this season but all the schools will be tough to beat,” Tiu said.

Only two games will be played on Saturday

with San Beda University taking on Lyceum of the Philippines University at 7:05 p.m.

For Red Lions Coach Boyet Fernandez, playing Lyceum will be a “mystery.”

“Lyceum is a mystery. I don’t know what type of team they are [now] although some of their players are from their high school team,” Fernandez said. “We’ll adjust in the game and that’s all we can do.”

Former Philippine Basketball Association player Gilbert Malabanan, now Lyceum’s head coach, said he is concerned on his team’s execution of plays in a compact tournament.

“We’re playing a single-round robin format here, and then ‘step-ladder’ before the Final Four, and then Finals,” Malabanan said.

“Every win counts and we have to keep our winning tradition and hopefully be on top.”

The NCAA will have its traditional opening ceremony at 2:30 p.m. but will not accept fans or students at the venue. Games will be played every Tuesday, Wednesday and from Friday to Sunday starting at noon each day. Josef Ramos

HE University Athletic Association of the Philippines (UAAP) returns from a two-year pandemic absence with a compact Season 84 men’s basketball action starting with four games on Saturday at the Mall of Asia Arena in Pasay City.

The league did away with the traditional opening ceremony but will still usher in the league with a pre-recorded program starting at 9 a.m.

Action on the hard court begins at 10 a.m. with the clash between Far Eastern University (FEU) and University of Santo Tomas (UST), followed by the 1 p.m. tussle between Adamson University meeting National University (NU) at 1 p.m.

Reigning three-time champion Ateneo de Manila University clashes with University of the Philippines (UP) at 4 p.m., and De La Salle University and University of the East (UE) cap the day in a 7 p.m. game.

And to make sure everyone’s safe from the virus, neither fans, students nor a cheering squad are allowed in the playing venue.

Two years without the league and all eight teams are bordering on playing hesitant or reluctant basketball. The pandemic are making

them grope for form and neither do they get the feel of one another.

“Two years away in any organized sports activity feels very challenging and uncomfortable,” Ateneo coach Tab Baldwin said. “They’ll come into this game a complete mystery for us, and we do not know how prepared they are.”

“In terms of fitness, game condition and execution, we still don’t have that feeling, it’s still uncomfortable,” he added.

Host De La Salle University’s returning Coach Derrick Pumaren also is experiencing issues on how unfamiliar all the teams have become of each other.

Shares the same sentiment of being “unfamiliar” with their counterparts after a two year absence.

“Yes it’s true, it’s a mystery as we go to our first game,” Pumaren said. “There are going to be a lot of surprises, bad news and others. We do not know what teams are able to prepare.”

“We do not know what to deal with this season,” Pumaren added.

The UAAP played last in March 9, 2020— Game 2 of the juniors finals between NU and FEU at The Arena in San Juan City. Josef Ramos

S

Finis partners with BCDA for use of New Clark City sports facilities

WIM gear company Finis Philippines has partnered with the Bases Conversion and Development Authority (BCDA) to jumpstart sports activities and deliver grassroots competitions at New Clark City in Capas, Tarlac.

BCDA OIC President and Chief Executive Officer Atty. Aristotle Batuhan and Finis Philippines Managing Director Vince Garcia signed on Friday a memorandum of understanding

(MOU) signaling the start of collaborative efforts to promote New Clark City and to hold various events in the sports facilities in the area.

Under the MOU, both parties are eyeing sustained cooperation over a one-year period and renewable for another year.

BASES Conversion and Development Authority OIC President and CEO Atty. Aristotle Batuhan (fourth from left) and Finis Philippines Managing Director Vince Garcia (third from left) lead the signing ceremony witnessed by (from left) elite swimmer Kyla Soguilon, Finis Philippines Director Marieta Herranz, BCDA SVP for Corporate Services Arrey Perez and elite swimmer Jasmine Mojdeh.

“We at the BCDA would like to thank Finis Philippines for choosing New Clark City as their venue of choice for its competitions and training camps,” Batuhan said. “With the country now shifting to the new normal, the BCDA is looking forward to opening its doors to more swimmers and athletes in New Clark City, giving them access to world-class sport facilities.”

The BCDA and Finis also signed a letter agreement for the hosting of the 2022 Short Course Swim Competition Series-Luzon leg set this weekend and the first Kids of Steel (KOS) Triathlon on Sunday at the New Clark City Aquatics Center.

To protect the health of the staff and participants, BCDA and Finis assured that minimum health and safety protocols will be strictly implemented during the events.

BOSS Chairman Aris Cuevas and President Tey Usis and MOHS Analytics Inc. CEO Mike Hortaleza and Chief Technology Officer Dondi San Jose pose with the signed contracts.

His confidence boosted by a fiery 66 Thursday that lifted him from joint 15th to joint fourth, Bucay snapped a one-birdie, one-bogey game with three birdies in a four-hole stretch from No. 12 and could’ve claimed solo third if not for a bogey on No. 17.

Still, it was impressive stint for the rising amateur star, who turned in a pair of so-so 74s in the first two rounds but went on a birdie-spree in the third day before closing out with another under-par card.

He nearly upstaged Bibat, who sparked hopes of ending a long title spell after forging ahead with Tabuena with a second 68 in three days Thursday. But the 2013 ICTSI Pueblo de Oro champion failed to recover from a bogey and double bogey stumble on Nos. 1 and 3, respectively, and yielded two more strokes on the first two holes at the back.

BOSS Ironman XVI challengers get free Covid tests

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HE more than 1,500 registrants in the 16th edition of the BMW Owners Society of Saferiders (BOSS) Ironman Challenge will get free antigen tests before the start.

This was agreed-upon during the recent contract signing attended

by BOSS. Ironman Chairman Aris Cuevas and President Tey Usis and MOHS Analytics Inc. CEO Mike Hortaleza and Chief Technology Officer Dondi San Jose.

The BOSS Ironman Challenge XVI will take riders around North Luzon in a more than 1,200-km route starting and ending at Laus Group Event Center in San Fernando City in Pampanga with checkpoints in Vigan City, Sanchez Mira and Tuguegarao City in Cagayan and Dipaculao in Aurora.

The challenge kicked off at 9 p.m.

Friday with the riders being allowed to finish the challenge between 16 to 24 hours. The event will culminate on Sunday at 9 a.m. when finishers will be recognized and special awards given.

“Because we weren’t able to hold a BOSS Ironman Challenge in 2021 due to the pandemic, there has been overwhelming response to the 16th edition this year with registration almost doubling,” Cuevas said. “We thank MOHS Analytics Inc. for their donation of antigen test kits as this will help ensure the health and wellbeing of participants.”

MOHS Analytics Inc. is the exclusive Philippine distributor of Getein SARS-CoV-2 Antigen Self-Test which has been approved by the Food and Drug Administration for home use.

It can be bought without need for prescription from leading drugstore chains like Mercury drug.

“We are happy to support the BOSS Ironman Challenge as our contribution to its advocacy of safe riding,” Hortaleza said. “Covid-19 is a health issue that we need to learn to live with as part of our daily lives.

Being vaccinated, practicing social distancing, wearing masks when interacting with outside people and continuous testing are keys to stopping the spread of the virus.”

“BOSS was founded on a mission to promote safe riding. With the pandemic, safety must include protection from health risks,” Usis said. “Covid-19 testing of participants prior to the Ironman Challenge will help ensure the safety of its participants.

Getein SARS-CoV-2 Antigen SelfTest gives results in 15 minutes, with highly accurate results. San Jose said that Getein Self-Test’s 100 percent specificity and 96.43 percent sensitivity has enabled it to get approval for home use in Europe, Malaysia, and Thailand. It is the first antigen selftest kit (nasal swab) to get Coronavirus Test Device Approvals (CTDA) approval from the UK.

BusinessMirror

www.businessmirror.com.ph

ESTABLISHMENT / ADDRESS No.

NAME OF FOREIGN NATIONAL , POSITION AND BRIEF DESCRIPTION

ESTABLISHMENT / ADDRESS QUALIFICATION AND SALARY RANGE

8 STONE BUSINESS OUTSOURCING OPC 5-10/f Tower 1, Pitx Kennedy Road, Tambo, City Of Parañaque HAI, XIAODONG Customer Service Representative Mandarin Speaking 1.

Brief Job Description: Build sustainable relationship of trust through open and interactive communication in mandarin speaking.

No.

Basic Qualification: Knows how to recommend potentials products or services to management by collecting customer information and analyzing customer needs Salary Range: Php 30,000 - Php 59,999

12.

2.

Brief Job Description: MANDARIN ACCOUNT MANAGER - Serve as the lead point of contact for all customer account management matters. Clearly communicate the progress of monthly/quarterly initiatives to internal and external stakeholders. Collaborate with sales team to identify and grow opportunities within territory. Maintain all reports in Mandarin file.

3.

Brief Job Description: Assist on the work of the contract administration team for the system and rolling stock packages.

Representative for commercial and contractual negotiations and discussions with the contractors.

Basic Qualification: Educational background: bachelor of surveying or similar fields general working experience: more than 10 years Salary Range: Php 500,000 and above

Brief Job Description: Converse and interact with the customer

RAMOS, DAVID JEAN-ROBERT Consultant 13.

AECOM PHILIPPINES, INC. 23f Fort Legend Tower, 3rd Ave. Cor 31st St., Bonifacio Global City, Fort Bonifacio, City Of Taguig NUR SARI SHARMIMI BINTI MOHD AMRAN A073 Contract Manager (E&M, RS)

Brief Job Description: Entertainment and Multimedia Computing, Animation, Film Making and Photography

4.

Brief Job Description: Set up the infrastructure and systems to transform the agency into the standard advisor archetypes customized per tier including but not limited to: advisor & leader programs, agency related policies, agency related platforms

Basic Qualification: Candidate must possess at least a bachelor’s/ college degree in business studies/administration/ management, economics, marketing, commerce, mass communications, advertising/media, psychology or equivalent Salary Range: Php 500,000 and above

14.

15.

5.

Brief Job Description: Communicates Effectively Via Live Video Call with our Customer Base- Third Party Seller Who Want to Sell on Amazon in its Various Market Place

Basic Qualification: Fluency In Vietnamese Language

XIE, YUE Chiinese Cargo Office Agent Brief Job Description: Prepare online and chinese documentation SU, CHENGHUI Chinese Cargo Office Agent Brief Job Description: Prepare airline and custom documentation

ZOU, QUANYIN Marketing And Sales Agent 16.

EKTARE, SAURABH Solution Architect 6.

Brief Job Description: Lead solution design throughout the project lifecycle and be accountable for solution integrity

YERGUDE, PRASHANT TULSHIRAM Technologies Manager 7.

Brief Job Description: Overall accountability for translating business and account needs to technical level

Basic Qualification: Bachelor’s degree with extensive knowledge in products and business process, telecom industry knowledge Salary Range: Php 150,000 - Php 499,999 Basic Qualification: Bachelor’s degree with experience in defining planning IT strategy and managing E2E production architecture Salary Range: Php 150,000 - Php 499,999

BEE INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY PH INC. 12th Floor, U1206 The Trade And Financial Tower, 7th Avenue And 32nd Street, Bonifacio Global City, Fort Bonifacio, City Of Taguig LAI, MING HO Chief Finance Officer 8.

Brief Job Description: Perform effective risk management and plan the organization’s financial strategy.

BAEK, JANGHYUN Business Development Associate 17.

Brief Job Description: Conduct market research, develop business strategies, build client relationships

NGUYEN PHAN HOANG LONG Business Development Associate 18.

Brief Job Description: Conduct market research, develop business strategies, build client relationships

TRAN THI KIM LOAN Marketing Associate 19.

Brief Job Description: Planning and implementing marketing and advertising activities

XIE, SIYUAN Mandarin Speaking Trading Manager 20.

Brief Job Description: Review and asses necessary documentation for Chinese speaking customer issues.

9.

10.

Brief Job Description: manage day-to-day recruitment activities and ensure hiring timelines are met DELA DEALIF Bahasa Indonesian Language-officer Fund Management Brief Job Description: Must ensure their funds reporting requirements are met.

CAO THI KIM LOAN Vietnamese Language- Officer Fund Management 11.

Brief Job Description: Must ensure their funds reporting requirements are met.

Basic Qualification: bachelors/college degree in HR, Psychology or relevant filed Salary Range: Php 60,000 - Php 89,999 Basic Qualification: Bachelor’s degree in Accounting, Finance, Management or any business course.

Salary Range: Php 30,000 - Php 59,999 Basic Qualification: Bachelor’s degree in Accounting, Finance or any business course. Must frequently speak and write any of the ff. languages (Bahasa Indonesian, Vietnamese, Thai) to cater foreign market.

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

24.

Basic Qualification: Masters Degree in IT or Game Dev, at least 15 years exp in game development and AAA games

21.

CHANG, SHIH-MING Customer Service Representative Brief Job Description: Customer Service

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

Basic Qualification: Knowledgable in chinese documentation

25.

26.

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

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

Basic Qualification: College graduate, fluent in English, preferably 6 months to 1 year to the same field Salary Range: Php 30,000 - Php 59,999 Basic Qualification: College graduate, fluent in English, preferably 6 months to 1 year to the same field

Brief Job Description: Attends to Customers Inquiries and Complaints Regarding Philips Via Phone Calls And Emails.

Respond to Consumer Inquiries Regarding Philips Products

BOISDRON, LAURENT JEAN Vice President & General Manager 27.

Basic Qualification: Proficiency in English, Chinese and other multilingual language Salary Range: Php 30,000 - Php 59,999

Basic Qualification: At least High School Graduate Strictly Follow Procedures and Requirements Outlined in Address Customer/Issues Request Salary Range: Php 90,000 - Php 149,999

Basic Qualification: College graduate, fluent in English, preferably 6 months to 1 year to the same field Salary Range: Php 30,000 - Php 59,999

Basic Qualification: Proficiency in English, Mandarin and other multi-lingual language.

VENTURA GONZALEZ, JOSE GUADALUPE Crane Maintenance Advisor 28.

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

Brief Job Description: Ensure all crane maintenance and repair activities are performed to schedule, in accordance with all associated standards

29.

30.

HU, YIFAN Mandarin Speaking Customer Service Representative Brief Job Description: Provide the customers of an organization with guidance and information ZHANG, JI Mandarin Speaking Customer Service Representative Brief Job Description: Provide the customers of an organization with guidance and information

Brief Job Description: Support and manage existing customer accounts

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

Basic Qualification: Japanese; degree in business administration, economics or related course Salary Range: Php 90,000 - Php 149,999

Basic Qualification: Proven professional experience Salary Range: Php 150,000 - Php 499,999

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

MACH 86 TECHNOLOGIES CORP. 5th-13th Flr. Workspace Bldg., 1419 Industry St. Corner Finance St. Mbp Ayala, Alabang, City Of Muntinlupa

31.

32.

HU, YINGYING Customer Service Representative Brief Job Description: Interacting with customers queries

YANG, RONGHAO Customer Service Representative Brief Job Description: Interacting with customers queries

Basic Qualification: Fluent in Chinese dialect (Mandarin, Folkien, Cantonese) Salary Range: Php 30,000 - Php 59,999 Basic Qualification: Fluent in Chinese dialect (Mandarin, Folkien, Cantonese) Salary Range: Php 30,000 - Php 59,999

MARINA SQUARE PROPERTIES, INC. 5/f Ag New World Manila Bay Hotel 1588, 1588 Mh Del Pilar Cor. P Gil., 076, Barangay 699, Malate, City Of Manila YU, YUE Mandarin Finance Assistant

Basic Qualification: Can speak mandarin

Salary Range: Php 500,000 and above

INTEGRITY GLOBAL GROUP, INC. 2/f-3/f Ayala Malls Circuit, A.p. Reyes Ave., Carmona, City Of Makati

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

Basic Qualification: College graduate/level and Fluent in Mandarin/ Basic English

Brief Job Description: Direct management of the property, develop and implement the strategic plan, marketing plan, budget and goals programme

Basic Qualification: Must have recognized degree in hotel/ hospitality management or equivalent

ICTSI LTD. - ROHQ Ictsi Bldg., South Access Rd Mict Cmplx, North Harbor, Barangay 83, Tondo I/ii, City Of Manila

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

LAN, XING Mandarin Accounts Staff

Brief Job Description: Assist the president in achieving company financial goals and objectives

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

HOTEL SPECIALIST (MANILA), INC. Conrad Manila, Moa Complex, Seaside Blvd. Cor. Coral Way, Barangay 76, Pasay City

Brief Job Description: Producing financial reports related to budgets, account payables, account receivables, expenses etc.

CHEN, YEMING Mandarin Finance Supervisor

34.

FUJIFILM PHILIPPINES INC. 25th Floor Sm Aura Tower, 26th St. Cor. Mckinley Parkway, Fort Bonifacio, City Of Taguig

23.

Brief Job Description: Responsible in assisting customer on products and services of the company

SOONTAROT, ANGSUMALIN Thai Speaking Associate

33.

KASHIWABARA, SHOTA Assistant To The President

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

HINDUJA GLOBAL SOLUTIONS LIMITED 7th Floor Aeon Prime Centre, North Bridgeway Avenue Corner Alabang- Zapote Road, Northgate Cyberzone, Filinvest Corporate City, Alabang, City Of Muntinlupa

Salary Range: Php 30,000 - Php 59,999 Basic Qualification: Have skills in chinese documentations

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

WANG, YI-HUA Multilingual Customer Service Representative

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

22.

QUALIFICATION AND SALARY RANGE

HEIGH IT SOLUTIONS AND SERVICES CORP. Ub Paseo De Roxas Bldg., 111 Paseo De Roxas, San Lorenzo, City Of Makati

FLYING DRAGON NETWORK PHILIPPINES INC. Ri Rance Ii Bldg., Block 2 Lot 3 Aseana City, Tambo, City Of Parañaque

BIGCAT SOFTWARE SOLUTIONS, INC. 18/f Pbcom Tower, 6795 Ayala Avenue Cor. Rufino Street, Salcedo Vill., Bel-air, City Of Makati VENNY PRAJNAWATI Bahasa Indonesian Language- Human Resources Supervisor

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

FEI XIAN SHENG TRADING INC. 5460, Gen. Macabulos St., Bangkal, City Of Makati

Basic Qualification: At least two (2) years of working experience in the related field.

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

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

NAME OF FOREIGN NATIONAL , POSITION AND BRIEF DESCRIPTION

WANG, YANG Chinese Speaking Customer Financial Officer

EVERLOUNGE INC. 27th/f Robinsons Summit Center, 6783 Ayala Ave., Bel-air, City Of Makati

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

AMDOCS PHILIPPINES INC. 23rd, 25th, And 26th Floors Eco Tower, 32nd St. Cor. 9th Ave. Bonifacio Global City, Fort Bonifacio, City Of Taguig

Basic Qualification: Fluent in Chinese writing and speaking language

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

AMAZON OPERATION SERVICES PHILIPPINES, INC. B21 Three E-com Moa Complex, Harbour Drive Cor. Bay Shore, Brgy. 076, Pasay City TRAN THI LAN HUONG Seller Support Associate

No.

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

DEXIN INTERNATIONAL IMPORT AND EXPORT CORP. 534 Tomas Mapua St., 029, Barangay 298, Santa Cruz, City Of Manila

AIA PHILIPPINES LIFE AND GENERAL INSURANCE COMPANY INC. 17/f Net Lima Bldg., 5th Ave. Corner 26th St., Bonifacio Global City, Fort Bonifacio, City Of Taguig

NG YUNG KANG Chief Agency Officer

QUALIFICATION AND SALARY RANGE

DE LA SALLE – COLLEGE OF SAINT BENILDE, INC. 2544 Taft Avenue, 079, Barangay 728, Malate, City Of Manila

Basic Qualification: Can speak, write, type in Mandarin language.

Technical skills in software as stated above Salary Range: Php 30,000 - Php 59,999

NGUYEN VAN QUE Customer Service Officer

A13

ESTABLISHMENT / ADDRESS

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

ADVANCE BEYOND INTERNATIONAL CONSULTING, INC. Unit 511 Campos Rueda Bldg., 101 Urban Ave., Pio Del Pilar, City Of Makati SUN, XIAOFANG Mandarin Account Manager

NAME OF FOREIGN NATIONAL , POSITION AND BRIEF DESCRIPTION

Saturday, March 26, 2022

Brief Job Description: Producing financial reports related to budgets, account payables, account receivables, expenses etc.

KONG, BILI Mandarin Hr Assistant

35.

Brief Job Description: Administer timekeeping. Conduct employee onboarding and help organize training & development initiatives. Provide support to employees in various HR-related topics such as leaves and compensation and resolve any issues that may arise.

Basic Qualification: At least three years of experience in Finance Salary Range: Php 60,000 - Php 89,999 Basic Qualification: At least three years of experience in Finance Salary Range: Php 60,000 - Php 89,999

Basic Qualification: With experience in HR related matter Salary Range: Php 60,000 - Php 89,999

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

BusinessMirror

A14 Saturday, March 26, 2022

ESTABLISHMENT / ADDRESS No.

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NAME OF FOREIGN NATIONAL , POSITION AND BRIEF DESCRIPTION APRIL SUSANTO Chinese Customer Service Brief Job Description: Customer Support and Data Base Services

ARIF ATMADI Chinese Customer Service Brief Job Description: Customer Support and Data Base Services

CAO THI LANH Chinese Customer Service Brief Job Description: Customer Support and Data Base Services

CHONG YING KWANG Chinese Customer Service Brief Job Description: Customer Support and Data Base Services

CHOR JIA XIANG Chinese Customer Service Brief Job Description: Customer Support and Data Base Services

DANG THI VAN Chinese Customer Service Brief Job Description: Customer Support and Data Base Services

DANG TIEN HUY Chinese Customer Service Brief Job Description: Customer Support and Data Base Services

DANUPON, DAMRONGCHUSAP Chinese Customer Service Brief Job Description: Customer Support and Data Base Services

DAO KHAC TRONG Chinese Customer Service Brief Job Description: Customer Support and Data Base Services

DIEP CHI BAN Chinese Customer Service 45.

Brief Job Description: Managing incoming calls and customer service inquiries DIEP CHI PHONG Chinese Customer Service

46.

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

47.

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

48.

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

49.

Brief Job Description: Managing incoming calls and customer service inquiries HARRIS LING HOW MING Chinese Customer Service

50.

Brief Job Description: Managing incoming calls and customer service inquiries HO KIEU OANH Chinese Customer Service

51.

Brief Job Description: Managing incoming calls and customer service inquiries HO THI GIANG Chinese Customer Service

52.

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

53.

Brief Job Description: Managing incoming calls and customer service inquiries HUYNH HUE LIEN Chinese Customer Service

54.

Brief Job Description: Managing incoming calls and customer service inquiries

IWAN LIM Chinese Customer Service 55.

Brief Job Description: Managing incoming calls and customer service inquiries

ESTABLISHMENT / ADDRESS QUALIFICATION AND SALARY RANGE Basic Qualification: Knowledge in Computer Applications with Good Oral and Written Communication Skills

No.

JACKY Chinese Customer Service 56.

Salary Range: Php 30,000 - Php 59,999 Basic Qualification: Knowledge in Computer Applications with Good Oral and Written Communication Skills Salary Range: Php 30,000 - Php 59,999

Basic Qualification: Knowledge in Computer Applications with Good Oral and Written Communication Skills

57.

58.

Salary Range: Php 30,000 - Php 59,999 Basic Qualification: Knowledge in Computer Applications with Good Oral and Written Communication Skills Salary Range: Php 30,000 - Php 59,999 Basic Qualification: Knowledge in Computer Applications with Good Oral and Written Communication Skills

59.

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

60.

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63.

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

64.

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

Brief Job Description: Managing incoming calls and customer service inquiries LE TIEN HUNG Chinese Customer Service

65.

Brief Job Description: Managing incoming calls and customer service inquiries LIM SZE JENG Chinese Customer Service

66.

Brief Job Description: Managing incoming calls and customer service inquiries LINH THU HIEN Chinese Customer Service

67.

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

68.

Brief Job Description: Managing incoming calls and customer service inquiries MONG CHEE SIANG Chinese Customer Service

69.

Brief Job Description: Managing incoming calls and customer service inquiries NGUYEN CANH CUONG Chinese Customer Service

70.

Brief Job Description: Managing incoming calls and customer service inquiries NGUYEN CONG THANH Chinese Customer Service

71.

Brief Job Description: Managing incoming calls and customer service inquiries NGUYEN DUY THANG Chinese Customer Service

72.

Brief Job Description: Managing incoming calls and customer service inquiries NGUYEN PHI LONG Chinese Customer Service

73.

Brief Job Description: Managing incoming calls and customer service inquiries NGUYEN QUANG DAI Chinese Customer Service

74.

Brief Job Description: Managing incoming calls and customer service inquiries NGUYEN THANH LONG Chinese Customer Service

75.

Brief Job Description: managing incoming calls and customer service inquires NGUYEN THI DA THAO Chinese Customer Service

76.

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

77.

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

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

Brief Job Description: Managing incoming calls and customer service inquiries LE THI THUY HANG Chinese Customer Service

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

Brief Job Description: Managing incoming calls and customer service inquiries LE THI HOA Chinese Customer Service

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

Brief Job Description: Managing incoming calls and customer service inquiries LE DUC ANH Chinese Customer Service

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

Brief Job Description: Managing incoming calls and customer service inquiries LE ANH TUAN Chinese Customer Service

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

Brief Job Description: Managing incoming calls and customer service inquiries LA THANH PHUONG Chinese Customer Service

Salary Range: Php 30,000 - Php 59,999 Basic Qualification: Knowledge in Computer Applications with Good Oral and Written Communication Skills

Brief Job Description: Managing incoming calls and customer service inquiries KONG CHING YUAN Chinese Customer Service

Salary Range: Php 30,000 - Php 59,999 Basic Qualification: Knowledge in Computer Applications with Good Oral and Written Communication Skills

Brief Job Description: Managing incoming calls and customer service inquiries KAM SOON YANG Chinese Customer Service

Salary Range: Php 30,000 - Php 59,999 Basic Qualification: Knowledge in Computer Applications with Good Oral and Written Communication Skills

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

Basic Qualification: Knowledge in Computer Applications with Good Oral and Written Communication Skills Salary Range: Php 30,000 - Php 59,999

NAME OF FOREIGN NATIONAL , POSITION AND BRIEF DESCRIPTION

78.

Brief Job Description: Managing incoming calls and customer service inquiries

NGUYEN VAN DIEP Chinese Customer Service Brief Job Description: Customer Support and Data Base Services

www.businessmirror.com.ph

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

No.

PHAM NAM PHUONG Chinese Customer Service 79.

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

80.

Basic Qualification: Able to speak, read, and write Chinese language 81.

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

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Basic Qualification: Knowledge in Computer Applications with Good Oral and Written Communication Skills Salary Range: Php 30,000 - Php 59,999

Brief Job Description: Managing Incoming Calls and Customer Service Inquiries

Brief Job Description: managing incoming calls and customer service inquires

Brief Job Description: Managing Incoming Calls and Customer Service Inquiries TANG NGOC SANG Chinese Customer Service

99.

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

Brief Job Description: managing incoming calls and customer service inquires

TANG HOANG GIANG Chinese Customer Service

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

Brief Job Description: Managing Incoming Calls and Customer Service Inquiries

TAN THI CUI Chinese Customer Service

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

Brief Job Description: Managing incoming calls and customer service inquiries

TAN BOON PIN Chinese Customer Service

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

Brief Job Description: Managing incoming calls and customer service inquiries

STEFEN Chinese Customer Service

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

Brief Job Description: Managing incoming calls and customer service inquiries

SOONG CHANG FUNG Chinese Customer Service

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

Brief Job Description: Managing incoming calls and customer service inquiries

SOO SIANG TEIK Chinese Customer Service

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

Brief Job Description: Managing incoming calls and customer service inquiries

SIU CHAN SAU Chinese Customer Service

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

Brief Job Description: Managing incoming calls and customer service inquiries

SILVIANI Chinese Customer Service

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

Brief Job Description: Managing Incoming Calls and Customer Service Inquiries

SELLY SILVIA FIRDAOS Chinese Customer Service

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

Brief Job Description: Managing incoming calls and customer service inquiries

SAN SAN MYINT Chinese Customer Service

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

Brief Job Description: Managing incoming calls and customer service inquiries

RUDI HENDRI YANTO Chinese Customer Service

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

Brief Job Description: Managing Incoming Calls and Customer Service Inquiries

RISWANTO Chinese Customer Service

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

Brief Job Description: Managing Incoming Calls and Customer Service Inquiries

RIKO TAMPATI Chinese Customer Service

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

Brief Job Description: Managing Incoming Calls and Customer Service Inquiries

PHAN TRONG DONG Chinese Customer Service

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

Brief Job Description: Customer Support and Data Base Services

PHAM VAN HUONG Chinese Customer Service

Basic Qualification: Able to speak, read, and write Chinese language Salary Range: Php 60,000 - Php 89,999

PHAM THI HONG NHUNG Chinese Customer Service

PHAM THU HANH Chinese Customer Service

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

Brief Job Description: Managing incoming calls and customer service inquiries

PHAM THI THU PHUONG Chinese Customer Service

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

Brief Job Description: Managing incoming calls and customer service inquiries PHAM THE ANH Chinese Customer Service

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

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

NAME OF FOREIGN NATIONAL , POSITION AND BRIEF DESCRIPTION

Brief Job Description: managing incoming calls and customer service inquires TEH YEONG FOONG Chinese Customer Service

100.

Brief Job Description: managing incoming calls and customer service inquires THAN THAN HTAY Chinese Customer Service

101.

Brief Job Description: managing incoming calls and customer service inquires

QUALIFICATION AND SALARY RANGE Basic Qualification: Able to speak, Read, and Write Chinese language Salary Range: Php 30,000 - Php 59,999 Basic Qualification: Able to speak, Read, and Write Chinese language Salary Range: Php 30,000 - Php 59,999 Basic Qualification: Knowledge in Computer Applications with Good Oral and Written Communication Skills Salary Range: Php 30,000 - Php 59,999 Basic Qualification: Able to Speak, Read and Write Chinese Language Salary Range: Php 30,000 - Php 59,999 Basic Qualification: Able to Speak, Read and Write Chinese Language Salary Range: Php 30,000 - Php 59,999 Basic Qualification: Able to Speak, Read and Write Chinese Language Salary Range: Php 30,000 - Php 59,999 Basic Qualification: Able to speak, Read, and Write Chinese language Salary Range: Php 30,000 - Php 59,999 Basic Qualification: Able to speak, Read, and Write Chinese language Salary Range: Php 30,000 - Php 59,999 Basic Qualification: Able to Speak, Read and Write Chinese Language Salary Range: Php 30,000 - Php 59,999 Basic Qualification: Able to speak, Read, and Write Chinese language Salary Range: Php 30,000 - Php 59,999 Basic Qualification: Able to speak, Read, and Write Chinese language Salary Range: Php 30,000 - Php 59,999 Basic Qualification: Able to speak, Read, and Write Chinese language Salary Range: Php 30,000 - Php 59,999 Basic Qualification: Able to speak, Read, and Write Chinese language Salary Range: Php 30,000 - Php 59,999 Basic Qualification: Able to speak, Read, and Write Chinese language Salary Range: Php 30,000 - Php 59,999 Basic Qualification: Able to speak, Read, and Write Chinese language Salary Range: Php 30,000 - Php 59,999 Basic Qualification: Able to Speak, Read and Write Chinese Language Salary Range: Php 30,000 - Php 59,999 Basic Qualification: Able to speak, read, and write Chinese language Salary Range: Php 30,000 - Php 59,999 Basic Qualification: Able to Speak, Read and Write Chinese Language Salary Range: Php 30,000 - Php 59,999 Basic Qualification: Able to speak, read, and write Chinese language Salary Range: Php 30,000 - Php 59,999 Basic Qualification: Able to Speak, Read and Write Chinese Language Salary Range: Php 30,000 - Php 59,999 Basic Qualification: Able to speak, read, and write Chinese language Salary Range: Php 30,000 - Php 59,999 Basic Qualification: Able to speak, read, and write Chinese language Salary Range: Php 30,000 - Php 59,999 Basic Qualification: Able to speak, read, and write Chinese language Salary Range: Php 30,000 - Php 59,999

BusinessMirror

www.businessmirror.com.ph

ESTABLISHMENT / ADDRESS No.

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NAME OF FOREIGN NATIONAL , POSITION AND BRIEF DESCRIPTION TRAN THI HOAI THU Chinese Customer Service Brief Job Description: Managing incoming calls and customer service inquires TRAN VAN HUNG Chinese Customer Service Brief Job Description: Managing incoming calls and customer service inquiries TRAN VAN Y Chinese Customer Service Brief Job Description: Managing incoming calls and customer service inquires TRINH XUAN THANH Chinese Customer Service Brief Job Description: Managing incoming calls and customer service inquires TRUONG VAN DAI Chinese Customer Service Brief Job Description: Managing incoming calls and customer service inquiries TRY, SONGKHEANG Chinese Customer Service Brief Job Description: Managing incoming calls and customer service inquires TUNG XUAN CHUNG Chinese Customer Service Brief Job Description: Managing incoming calls and customer service inquires VO THI BICH TRANG Chinese Customer Service Brief Job Description: Managing incoming calls and customer service inquires VONG HUU DUC Chinese Customer Service Brief Job Description: Managing incoming calls and customer service inquires VONG HY CONG Chinese Customer Service Brief Job Description: Managing incoming calls and customer service inquiries VU THI HUYEN Chinese Customer Service Brief Job Description: Managing incoming calls and customer service inquires WONG LUN FOUNG Chinese Customer Service Brief Job Description: Managing incoming calls and customer service inquires YE WIN AUNG Chinese Customer Service Brief Job Description: Managing incoming calls and customer service inquiries BAO, DEKAI Customer Service Representative Brief Job Description: Customer service

CHAN KIM WAH Customer Service Representative Brief Job Description: Customer service

LI, XUENA Customer Service Representative Brief Job Description: Customer service

LIN, JINGXIANG Customer Service Representative Brief Job Description: Customer service

QU, BOYI Customer Service Representative Brief Job Description: Customer service

TING TUNG SENG Customer Service Representative Brief Job Description: Customer service

WAN EE KHEE Customer Service Representative Brief Job Description: Customer service

XU, GANG Customer Service Representative Brief Job Description: Customer service

YAN, YUCHAO Customer Service Representative Brief Job Description: Customer service

ESTABLISHMENT / ADDRESS QUALIFICATION AND SALARY RANGE

No.

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

124.

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

125.

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

126.

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

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135.

136.

Brief Job Description: Attracts Potential Customers by Answering Product and Service Questions Suggesting Information about other products and Services NGUYEN MINH MAN Vietnamese Customer Service Representative

137.

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

Brief Job Description: Attracts Potential Customers by Answering Product and Service Questions Suggesting Information about other products and Services

NGUYEN QUANG MANH Vietnamese Customer Service Representative 138.

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

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

Brief Job Description: Attracts Potential Customers by Answering Product and Service Questions Suggesting Information about other products and Services NGU NGOC LIEN Vietnamese Customer Service Representative

Basic Qualification: College graduate/level and fluent in mandarin/basic English

Basic Qualification: College graduate/level and fluent in Mandarin / basic English

Brief Job Description: Attracts Potential Customers by Answering Product and Service Questions Suggesting Information about other products and Services LE CONG SON Vietnamese Customer Service Representative

Basic Qualification: College graduate/level and fluent in mandarin/basic English

Basic Qualification: College graduate/level and fluent in mandarin/basic English

Brief Job Description: Attracts Potential Customers by Answering Product and Service Questions Suggesting Information about other products and Services HOANG TRUNG DUNG Vietnamese Customer Service Representative

Basic Qualification: College graduate/level and fluent in Mandarin / basic English

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

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

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

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

Brief Job Description: Attracts Potential Customers by Answering Product and Service Questions Suggesting Information about other products and Services DUONG TRI TOAN Vietnamese Customer Service Representative

Salary Range: Php 30,000 - Php 59,999 Basic Qualification: College graduate/level and fluent in mandarin/basic English

Brief Job Description: Serves as primary contact for problem resolution and information gathering regarding customer complaints and work assignment

DANG THI MY Vietnamese Customer Service Representative

Salary Range: Php 30,000 - Php 59,999 Basic Qualification: College graduate/level and fluent in Mandarin / basic English

Basic Qualification: College graduate/level and fluent in mandarin/ basic English

140.

Basic Qualification: 5+ year experience in planning, coordination and delivery of projects and program

141.

Salary Range: Php 30,000 - Php 59,999 Basic Qualification: a native speaker of the Burmese language (spoken and written) Salary Range: Php 30,000 - Php 59,999 Basic Qualification: a native speaker of the Indonesian language (spoken and written) Salary Range: Php 30,000 - Php 59,999

Brief Job Description: Attracts Potential Customers by Answering Product and Service Questions Suggesting Information about other products and Services

NGUYEN THE MY Vietnamese Customer Service Representative 139.

Brief Job Description: Attracts Potential Customers by Answering Product and Service Questions Suggesting Information about other products and Services

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

142.

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

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

KISHIMURA, KYOGO Assistant To The President 143.

Brief Job Description: Assist the President in the overall implementation of the Corporation’s procedures and guidelines

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

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

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

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

Basic Qualification: College Graduate and experience in Business Finance.

Salary Range: Php 500,000 and above

Basic Qualification: Atleast Two years of working Experience in the elated Field Fluent in Mandarin Chinese Language

MOORE, RYNE PATRICK Software Development Specialist 144.

Brief Job Description: Develop Create and Modify General Computer Applications Software or Specialized Utility Programs

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

TELEPHILIPPINES INCORPORATED Edsa Central It Center 2, United Street Corner Edsa, Greenfield District, City Of Mandaluyong

DALA, IDALINA ROSARIA Customer Service Representative 145.

Brief Job Description: Highly Proficient in oral and written English and Portuguese , Capable of communicating effectivity with internal and external customers

Basic Qualification: learn client’s we site policies procedures and back end systems that may be used for email product awareness shipping back order information Salary Range: Php 30,000 - Php 59,999

TOTAL GAMEZONE XTREME INCORPORATED #172, C Raymundo Ave., Maybunga, City Of Pasig HE, YISHAN CSR - Mandarin Speaking Translator 146.

Basic Qualification: Can speak Mandarin.

Brief Job Description: Help customers with complaints; Give customer assistance

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

VICCI BUSINESS CONSULTANCY CORP. 10/f Liberty Plaza, 102 H.v. Dela Costa St., Bel-air, City Of Makati HU, YINGYING Customer Relation Representative (Mandarin Translation) 147.

Basic Qualification: Through, extensive & fluency in mandarin language and characters

Brief Job Description: Handle service support calls, emails and chats related to inquiry from clients and/or customers through mandarin to English translation

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

Y HOTELS AND RESORTS GROUP INC. 27/f Citybank Tower, Valero St., Bel-air, City Of Makati PENG, KUN Chinese Speaking Marketing Executive 148.

Brief Job Description: Conceiving and developing efficient and intuitive marketing strategies

Basic Qualification: Bachelor’s degree in any related field Salary Range: Php 30,000 - Php 59,999

YISON SIGNAGE, INC. (YISON) 1761 Jose Abad Santos At, 022, Barangay 235, Tondo I/ii, City Of Manila LIAO, WEISONG Procurement Special Consultant 149.

Brief Job Description: Work out procurement agreements with suppliers.

Analyzes product reports

Basic Qualification: Fluent in Mandarin/other Chinese language Salary Range: Php 30,000 - Php 59,999

ZTE PHILIPPINES INC. Unit 1201 & 1202 12th Floor Fort Legend Towers, 3rd Ave. Corner 31st St., Fort Bonifacio, City Of Taguig Basic Qualification: Responsible for project technical delivery, project plan, implementation, and management, responsible for major network analysis.

LI, YUQIN Communication Manager 150.

Brief Job Description: Responsible for project technical delivery, project plan, implementation, and management, responsible for major network analysis.

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

LI, WEIMING HR Manager 151.

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

Basic Qualification: Fluent in Vietnamese (Verbal and Written Skills)

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

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

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

Basic Qualification: Fluent in Vietnamese (Verbal and Written Skills)

Basic Qualification: Fluent in Vietnamese (Verbal and Written Skills)

SUMISHO MOTOR FINANCE CORPORATION 12/f Psbank Centre 777, Paseo De Roxas Cor. Sedeno Sts., Bel-air, City Of Makati

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

Brief Job Description: Attracts Potential Customers by Answering Product and Service Questions Suggesting Information about other products and Services

TO TUAN TIEP Vietnamese Customer Service Representative

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

Basic Qualification: a native speaker of the Burmese language (spoken and written)

QUALIFICATION AND SALARY RANGE

TANG THUY HANG Vietnamese Customer Service Representative

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

Basic Qualification: Analyze the progress of solving management issues and the effect of capital investment, Provide strategic advice to NTT Communications Headquarter on their business activities in the Philippines.

NAME OF FOREIGN NATIONAL , POSITION AND BRIEF DESCRIPTION PHAN BAO AN Vietnamese Customer Service Representative

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

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

Salary Range: Php 30,000 - Php 59,999 Basic Qualification: College graduate/level and fluent in mandarin/basic English

Brief Job Description: Serves as primary contact for problem resolution and information gathering regarding customer complaints and work assignment JULI NOVERA Indonesian-language Customer Support Staff

Salary Range: Php 30,000 - Php 59,999 Basic Qualification: College graduate/level and fluent in Mandarin / basic English

Brief Job Description: Serves as primary contact for problem resolution and information gathering regarding customer complaints and work assignment NYI NYI SAN Burmese-language Customer Support Staff

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

Brief Job Description: To lead, manage and grow company business unit within a region by providing strategic and operational leadership

KHAING SU THITSAR Burmese-language Customer Support Staff

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

No.

RUNNINGMAN CORPORATION 8/f Techzone Bldg., 213 Sen. Gil Puyat Ave., San Antonio, City Of Makati

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

Brief Job Description: Observe business activities of NTT Communications shareholding companies.

KEOWN, PAUL JOHN Country Director

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

Brief Job Description: Customer service

Basic Qualification: College graduate/level and fluent in mandarin/ basic English

PURE PROJECTS (PHILIPPINES), INC. 12/f Net Quad Bldg., 30th St. Cor. 4th Ave. Bonifacio Global City, Fort Bonifacio, City Of Taguig

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

ZHENG, RENJIE Customer Service Representative

QUALIFICATION AND SALARY RANGE

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

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

Brief Job Description: Customer service

TSUCHIYA, MASAHIKO General Manager

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

YIN, ZHIYAN Customer Service Representative

A15

ESTABLISHMENT / ADDRESS

NTT COMMUNICATIONS CORPORATION 9/f Mgo Bldg., Legaspi Cor. Dela Rosa Sts., San Lorenzo, City Of Makati

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

NAME OF FOREIGN NATIONAL , POSITION AND BRIEF DESCRIPTION

Saturday, March 26, 2022

152.

Brief Job Description: In charge of recruitment, hold the employees’ KPI assessment each month, design the activity for important festival, organize communication for team leader and employees, deal with HR system process.

Basic Qualification: In charge of recruitment, hold the employees’ KPI assessment each month, design the activity for important festival, organize communication for team leader and employees, deal with HR system process.

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

MU, YUNKAI HR Manager

Basic Qualification: Recruitment skills

Brief Job Description: In charge of HR related staff

Salary Range: Php 30,000 - Php 59,999 *Date Generated: Mar 25, 2022

Any person in the Philippines who is competent, able and willing to perform the services for which the foreign national is desired may file an objection at DOLE National Capital Region located at DOLE-NCR Building, 967 Maligaya St., Malate Manila, within 30 days after this publication.

Please inform DOLE National Capital Region if you have any information on criminal offense committed by the foreign nationals.

ATTY. SARAH BUENA S. MIRASOL REGIONAL DIRECTOR