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PHL defies China’s reported ‘fishing ban’ in disputed WPS, including Scarborough

IN this April 27, 2021, file photo, Philippine Coast Guard personnel patrol beside ships said to be Chinese militia vessels at Sabina Shoal in the West Philippine Sea. PHILIPPINE COAST GUARD VIA AP

By Rene Acosta

EFENSE and military authorities are bracing for a possible escalation of tensions anew between China and the Philippines amid the raging territorial dispute in the West Philippine Sea (WPS) that could raise the specter of a confrontation if neither side backs down. This, following Beijing’s declaration of the start of a “fishing ban” in the territory that it claims, including the Scarborough Shoal.

The government through the National Task Force for the West Philippine Sea (NTF-WPS) chaired by National Security Adviser Hermogenes Esperon Jr. said recently that it will not recognize China’s fishing ban, thus openly challenging for the first time Beijing’s fishing prohibition in the waters of Scarborough. “The announcement of China that it will impose a unilateral fishing ban on Chinese fishing vessels in the areas of the South China Sea north of the 12th parallel, from 1 May to 16 August 2021, is noted,” the NTF-WPS said, which strongly condemned the Chinese Coast Guard’s (CCG) shadowing, blocking and even dangerous maneuvers against two Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) ships near the shoal. “This fishing ban does not apply to our fishermen and the NTF-WPS opposes China’s imposition of the same over the areas within the territory and jurisdiction of the Philippines. The NTF-WPS reiterates that our fisherfolk are encouraged to go out and fish in our waters in the WPS,” the task force added.

‘Defiance’

THE country’s official declaration of a policy of defiance, especially

in the case of Scarborough Shoal, was the first under the Duterte administration, and it came amid the standing demand of the government for China to remove from the Kalayaan Island Group (KIG) and WPS all of its vessels, including its maritime militia. The waters of Scarborough have been a traditional fishing ground for Filipinos. It is located near Zambales, but has been occupied by China since 2012. It continues to deny or, at the least, regulate the presence of Filipino fishermen while allowing the unhampered activities of Chinese fishermen, including the harvesting of giant clams, locally known as taklobo. There were cases in the past when Filipino fishermen were harassed, intimidated and even attacked with water cannons by CCG vessels as they attempted to enter and fish within the shoal’s waters, which even prompted the government once to call on Filipino fishermen to temporarily shun fishing at the shoal.

Aggressive behavior

MARITIME law expert Jay Batongbacal previously reported 29 cases of attacks, intimidation and harassments committed by China against

PESO EXCHANGE RATES n US 47.9790

THIS satellite image shows a Chinese fishing vessel in the Whitsun Reef located in the disputed South China Sea, March 23, 2021. MAXAR TECHNOLOGIES VIA AP

Filipino fishermen in the WPS, and most of these cases were perpetrated by the CCG in Scarborough. As the prohibition covers Scarborough’s fishing waters, it affects every fisherman of any nationality as shown by the previous clampdown that was imposed by China. The government’s statement that the ban will not cover Filipinos—whom it even encouraged to fish in the waters that are subject of China’s claims and where it already exercises de facto control through the constant presence of Chinese navy and coast guard ships—was supported by the increased patrols and additional deployment of Philippine naval assets. According to the NTF-WPS, not only the Philippine Navy, Philippine Coast Guard and BFAR vessels would be deployed in the KIG and WPS, but even assets of the Philippine National Police-Maritime Group for seaborne law-enforcement operations. This was fol-

on a rotational basis over the waters of the Municipality of Kalayaan and our Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ),” the NTF-WPS said. “This is pursuant to our exercise of sovereignty, sovereign rights and jurisdiction over the West Philippine Sea, consistent with the government’s commitment against illegal unreported and unregulated fishing, and to enforce our laws on maritime security and safety and environmental protection,” it added. “The Philippines is not deterred from defending our national interest, patrimony, and our dignity as a people with all that we have. Thus, the conduct of law-enforcement patrols and maritime exercises in the WPS and Municipality of Kalayaan by the PCG and the BFAR will continue as directed by the President. The government is firm in its resolve to protect what is ours for the benefit of the Filipinos,” the NTF-WPS added.

lowed by the pronouncement more than a week ago that maritime policemen will be initially deployed on military ships as “riders.” “The government maritime patrols will be joined by the Philippine National Police-Maritime Group (PNP-MG) Regional Maritime Units, which will be assigned to the Area Task Forces (ATF) West and North for involvement in seaborne operations,” it said. The ATF West is under the military’s Western Command, while the ATF North is under the Northern Luzon Command, which watches the waters of Batanes, the Philippine Rise and the rest of the country’s eastern seaboard.

Protect what is ours

“THE Philippines maintains the deployment of law-enforcement patrols and maritime exercises of the Philippine Coast Guard and Department of Agriculture-Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources vessels

n JAPAN 0.4399 n UK 66.6524 n HK 6.1766 n CHINA 7.4236 n SINGAPORE 35.9960 n AUSTRALIA 37.3277 n EU 57.8819 n SAUDI ARABIA 12.7948

Source: BSP (May 7, 2021)

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More support for easing vaccine patent rules, but hurdles remain

By Jamey Keaten | The Associated Press

ENEVA—France joined the United States on Thursday in supporting an easing of patent and other protections on Covid-19 vaccines that could help poorer countries get more doses and speed the end of the pandemic. While the backing from two countries with major drug makers is important, many obstacles remain. The move to support waiving intellectual property (IP) protections on vaccines under World Trade Organization (WHO) rules marked a dramatic shift for the United States—and drew cheers from activists, complaints from Big Pharma, and a lot of questions about what comes next. Washington had previously lined up with many other developed nations opposed to

the idea floated by India and South Africa in October. Attention is now turning to those richer nations, notably in the European Union— and France was the first to voice its support. “I completely favor this opening up of the intellectual property,” French President Emmanuel Macron said Thursday on a visit to a vaccine center. But he also expressed

doubt—as the pharmaceutical companies have—that the measure would be the panacea some hope. Even if patents are waived, he said, drug makers in places like Africa currently are not equipped to make Covid-19 vaccines—so donations of doses should be prioritized instead. Another key hurdle remains: Any single country could block a decision at the WTO, a Geneva-based trade body of 164 member states, to agree to a waiver. The EU Commission president, Ursula von der Leyen, said the 27-nation bloc was ready to talk about the US proposal—but remained noncommittal for now. “We are ready to discuss how the US proposal for waiver on intellectual property protection for Covid vaccines could help” end the crisis, she said in a video address. “In the short run, however, we call upon all vaccineproducing countries to allow exports and to avoid measures that disrupt supply chains.”

Simple wrong answer

THAT echoed the position of the global

IN this April 8, 2021, file photo, a Northwell Health registered nurses fills a syringe with the Johnson & Johnson Covid-19 vaccine at a pop-up vaccination site at the Albanian Islamic Cultural Center in the Staten Island borough of New York. The Biden administration on Wednesday, May 5, joined calls for more sharing of the technology behind Covid-19 vaccines to help speed the end of the pandemic, a shift that puts the US alongside many in the developing world who want rich countries to do more to get doses to the needy. AP/MARY ALTAFFER

‘W

e believe that when the history of this pandemic is written, history will remember the move by the US government as doing the right thing at the right time.”—Africa CDC director John Nkengasong pharmaceutical industry, which insists a faster solution would be for rich countries that have vaccine stockpiles to start sharing them with poorer ones. The industry insists that production of coronavirus vaccines is complicated and can’t be ramped up by easing IP protections. Instead, it insists that reducing bottlenecks in supply chains and a scarcity of ingredients that go into vaccines are the more pressing issues for now. “A waiver is the simple but the wrong answer to what is a complex problem,” said the International Federation of Pharmaceutical Manufacturers and Associations. “Waiving patents of Covid-19 vaccines will not increase production nor provide practical solutions needed to battle this global health crisis.” The industry also says an IP waiver will do more harm than good in the long run by reducing the incentives that push innovators to make tremendous leaps, as they did with the vaccines that have been churned out in a blistering, unprecedented speed to help fight Covid-19. Supporters say a waiver would be important because it would allow manufacturers around the world to get access to the recipes for making the life-saving vaccines as well as the ingredients. They point to unused capacity—factories that could churn out vaccines but can’t because of the intellectual property protections. Some critics say developing countries have been seeking to water down those protections for years—long before the pandemic—and say it’s not clear that there are any manufacturers standing by that are ready or able to produce Covid-19 vaccines. They note that the vaccines currently on the market can be incredibly difficult to make, and the know-how is a bigger obstacle to ramping up manufacturing.

Technology transfer

MANY experts and advocacy groups say any such waiver would need to be followed up by transferring the required technology to developing countries, too. IP expert Shyam Balganesh, a professor at Columbia Law School, said a waiver would remove “a lot of the bureaucracy” around WTO rules, but it would only go so far because of other bottlenecks in the manufacturing and distribution of vaccines. In closed-door WTO talks last month, the EU, Britain and Switzerland said upending or undermining IP rights was a “no-go” because those rights helped contribute to expanding production of Covid-19 vaccines, according to a Geneva trade official, who spoke on condition of anonymity because he was not authorized to discuss the matter publicly. Norway’s Foreign Minister, Ine Eriksen Soereide, last month warned against “this type of experimental trade policy” during the

pandemic when “we should rather be concerned with practical solutions that give us more vaccines.” After the Biden announcement, Eve Geddie, Director of Amnesty International’s EU Office, called on Europe now to “put everyone’s health and human rights before private profit” and add its support to the waiver idea. “Today, Europe wakes up to a new political reality that its position on hoarding the rights to make Covid-19 vaccines is now untenable,” she said. She was but one voice among civil society, progressive groups and international institutions that were euphoric about the Biden administration’s stance, which marks a nearly complete reversal in US policy under the Trump administration that was critical of both the WTO and the World Health Organization. “A waiver of patents for #COVID19 vaccines & medicines could change the game for Africa, unlocking millions more vaccine doses & saving countless lives. We commend the leadership shown by South Africa, India & the United States, & urge others to back them,” WHO Africa chief Matshidiso Moeti tweeted. Just over 20 million vaccine doses have been administered across the African continent, which counts some 1.3 billion people. Gavi, the vaccine alliance that is co-leading the UN-backed effort to get shots to countries where they are needed, also welcomed the US decision and an American commitment to also boost production of the raw materials that go into vaccines and are in short supply.

Right thing at the right time

DOCTORS Without Borders, an advocacy group also known as Médecins Sans Frontières (MSF) that sends health workers to countries in need, said many low-income countries where it operates have only received 0.3 percent of the global supply of coronavirus vaccines. “MSF applauds the US government’s bold decision to support the waiving of intellectual property on Covid-19 vaccines during this time of unprecedented global need,” said Avril Benoît, executive director of MSF-USA. She said any waiver should apply not just to vaccines, but other medical tools for Covid-19, including treatments for infected people and testing systems. There is precedent. In 2003, WTO members agreed to waive patent rights and allow poorer countries to import generic treatments for HIV/AIDS, malaria and tuberculosis. Many hope for a historic replay to fight Covid-19. The Africa CDC director, John Nkengasong, told reporters: “We believe that when the history of this pandemic is written, history will remember the move by the U.S. government as doing the right thing at the right time.”

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Manufacturing output drops 73.4 percent, PSA data show

he country’s manufacturing industry performance contracted in March, marking its sharpest decline since August last year, according to data released by the Philippine Statistics Authority (PSA) on Friday. Based on the latest Monthly Integrated Survey of Selected Industries (MISSI), the Volume of Production Index (VoPI) contracted 73.4 percent in March. This was the lowest since August when the VoPI declined 82.2 percent. “The drop in VoPI was brought about by the contractions in the indices of five industry divisions. Among these, the top contributor was manufacture of coke and refined petroleum products with an annual rate of -97.4 percent,” PSA said. The data also showed average capacity utilization rate for the sector rose to an average of 61 percent in March from 60.4 percent in February. However, the disaggregated PSA data showed 114 establishments comprising nearly a third of firms or 27.3 percent of those who responded to the survey, operating below 50 percent capacity. PSA said 17 of the 22 industry divisions had at least 50-percent average capacity utilization rate, which was led by manufacture of furniture at 80 percent. Other manufacturing and repair and installation of machinery and equipment operated at an average of 73.5 percent and manufacture of electrical equipment, 72.5 percent. “Meanwhile, among industry divisions that rose during the period, the fastest growth was recorded in manufacture of fabricated metal products, except machinery and equipment at 85.5 percent,” PSA said. The MISSI is now termed the Production Index and Net Sales Index. It is a report that monitors the production, net sales, inventories, and capacity utilization of selected manufacturing establishments to provide flash indicators on the performance of the manufacturing sector. Cai U. Ordinario

Meralco adjusts May electricity rates

By Lenie Lectura

lectricit y rates for the month are up by P0.1853 per kilowatt-hour (kWh), from last month’s P8.4067 to P8.5920 per kWh, mainly due to the completion of the refund of over-recovery in pass-through charges. The Manila Elec tric Company (Meralco) said Friday that the slight upward adjustment is equivalent to an increase of around P37 in the total bill of a residential customer consuming 200 kWh. This month’s overall rate is still lower than last year’s rate by P0.1548 per kWh. Meralco said this month’s rate increase was tempered as it continues the implementation of the Distribution Rate True-Up refund that began in March this year. It can be recalled that the Energy Regulatory Commission (ERC) provisionally approved Meralco’s proposal to refund around P13.9 billion over a period of 24 months or until the amount is fully refunded. This amount represents the difference bet ween the Ac tual Weighted Average Tariff and the ERC-approved Interim Average Rate for distributionrelated charges for the period July 2015 to November 2020. For residential customers, the refund rate is P0.2761 per kWh and appears in customer bills as a line item called “Dist True -Up.” With the completion of the ERC-approved refund of over-recoveries in pass-through charges, the corresponding deduc tion for the refund will no longer appear beginning with the May bill. The ERC direc ted Meralco to refund over-recoveries in transmission and other charges. Meralco implemented the ERC-approved adjustments star ting Januar y 2021 and completed the refund of over-recoveries last April. The impac t to residential customers, from the months of Januar y to April 2021, was a refund of around P0.15 per kWh. Generation charge for May is stable at P4.5474 per kWh, a slight P0.0104 per kWh increase from last month’s P4.5370 per kWh. Charges from the Power Supply Agreements (PSAs) increased by P0.2541 per kWh due to low dispatch of San Gabriel as a result of the ongoing restriction of Malampaya natural gas supply. Wholesale Electricity Spot Market (WESM) charges also remained high due to tight supply conditions in the Luzon grid as capacity on outage stayed above 3,300 MW and Luzon peak demand in April still exceeded 10,400 MW. However, these were offset by lower charges from the Independent Power Producers (IPPs), which decreased by P0.1921 per kWh. PSAs provided 52 percent of Meralco’s energy requirement while WESM share was down to 7 percent this month. IPPs share this month was 41 percent. Transmission charge for residential customers increased by P0.0933 per kWh due to completion of transmission refund coupled with higher ancillary service charges. Taxes and other charges also registered a net increase of P0.0816 per kWh. Meanwhile, collection of the Universal Charge-Environmental Charge amounting to P0.0025 per kWh remains suspended, as directed by the ERC. Meralco’s distribution, supply, and metering charges, meanwhile, have remained unchanged for 70 months, after these registered reductions in July 2015. Payment for the generation charge goes to the power suppliers, while payment for the transmission charge goes to the National Grid Corp. of the Philippines (NGCP). Taxes and other public polic y charges like the Universal Charges and the FiT-All are remitted to the government. Meralco reiterated its call for energy efficiency, as historically, the summer season may bring an increase in residential electricity consumption by 10 percent to 40 percent versus average consumption during the cool months of January and February. As temperature increases, appliances that have compressors, like airconditioners or refrigerators, will have to work harder. Electric fans are also used longer than usual, and often at “high” setting to beat the summer heat. According to Meralco First Vice President and Chief Commercial Officer Ferdinand O. Geluz, “This summer, you have the power, as Meralco encourages its customers to continue practicing energy efficiency initiatives at home to be ready in managing their consumption.” Geluz added “these simple everyday activities include cleaning your air-con filters every two weeks to ensure optimal performance, setting your air-con’s thermostat to 25oC to maximize efficiency, making sure you use the right air-con size for your room, making sure your refrigerator’s air vents are not blocked to keep its compressor from working harder, unplugging appliances when not in use to avoid phantom load, using a power strip to make it easier and more convenient to turn appliances off simultaneously with just one switch, and maximizing natural light during daytime.” Last May 5, the NGCP placed the Luzon grid on yellow alert due to insufficient operating reserve brought about by high system demand, forced outage and deration of generating power plants. The power plants that went on forced outage are Sual 2 (647 MW), Calaca 2 (300 MW), GNPower 1 (316 MW), GN Power 2 (316 MW), Malaya 2 (130 MW), SLPGC 1(150 MW), SLPGC 2 (150 MW), SLPGC 3(25 MW) and SLTEC 2 (123 MW). In all, these plants failed to deliver 2,157 megawatts (MW). De-rated Plants: Masinloc 1 at 305 MW(315 MW) and Masinloc 2 at 310 MW(344 MW) (Total deration= 44 MW). While Ilijan CCPP was limited to 767 MW(1200 MW) due to SPEX Malampaya Gas supply restriction. The Sual 2 (647 MW) remains out, same with GN Power 1&2 (316 MW each), SLPGC 1&2 (150 MW each) and Magat 1&2&3&4 (95 MW each). Ilijan’s output is still reduced by 433 MW due to the ongoing SPEX gas supply restriction. A yellow alert is raised when a power grid’s power reserve, the difference between supply and demand, is below the required level, according to NGCP. The NGCP recently conducted a virtual blackout simulation drill to test the grid’s reliability in the event of a major power disturbance. T he presentations for the area and regional control centers for Luzon, Visayas, and Mindanao were done via videoconferencing and the actual blackout simulation drills were conducted a week after the virtual meetings. “By discussing our plans and procedures with key industry players, we will be able to improve the resiliency of the grid and ensure the continuous and unhampered transmission of power in the new normal,” stated NGCP. The grid operator could not stress enough the importance of the annual exercise, particularly at this time of the year when demand is at its peak and a number of power plants are still on prolonged outage. “We need to be constantly prepared for any and all challenges the grid may face. The stability of the country’s power transmission rests on the expertise of our team, and our ability to navigate through critical incidents.” Workshops included blackout scenarios occurring in different areas of the country, power system blackout restoration guidelines, and the power restoration highways. This ensures that in case of any major power disturbance or blackout due to any calamity or emergency, NGCP’s regional and area control centers, as well as the power generators, know their specific roles in restoring power in their area of responsibility.

Saturday, May 8, 2021

PHL exports, imports recover in March By Cai U. Ordinario

h e co u nt r y ’s ex p o r t s a n d i m p o r t s recovered in March with double - digit growths, according to data released by the Philippine Statistics Authority (PSA) on Friday. Based on the data, the country’s export earnings grew 31.6 percent to $6.68 billion, while impor ts grew 16.6 percent to $9.1 billion in March.

In the first quarter, PSA data showed exports grew 7.6 percent to $17.56 billion, while imports grew 3.2 percent to $25.56 billion. PSA data showed that in March, the top 10 major commodity groups in terms of value of expor ts, recorded annual increases led by other mineral products, which grew 195.8 percent. Chemicals followed this at 159.8 percent and other manufactured goods at 115.7 percent. By major trading par tner, expor ts to

People’s Republic of China (PROC) comprised the highest export value amounting to $1.07 billion or a share of 16 percent to the total expor ts during the month. Co m p l e t i n g t h e to p 5 m a j o r ex p o r t t ra d i n g p a r t n e r s w i t h t h e i r ex p o r t va l u e s a n d p e rce nt s h a re s to t h e to t a l ex p o r t s we re t h e U n i te d St ate s o f Am e ri ca w h i c h a cco u nte d f o r $ 9 9 2 . 9 3 m i l l i o n o r 1 4 . 9 p e rce nt o f t h e co u nt r y ’s to t a l ex p o r t. Data showed exports to Japan reached

$984.18 million or 14.7 percent of the total; Hong Kong, $835.07 million or 12.5 percent; and Singapore, $347.01 million or 5.2 percent. Meanwhile, the growth in imports was driven by eight of the top 10 major commodity groups led by other food and live animals, which posted a 30.9-percent growth. This was followed by telecommunica tion equipment and elec trical machiner y, w h i c h gre w 2 8 p e rce nt a s we l l a s m i n e ra l fuels, lubricants and related materials that

gre w 2 1 . 4 p e rce nt. PROC was also the countr y’s biggest supplier of imported goods valued at $2.13 billion, or 23.4 percent of the total imports in March 2021. Completing the top 5 major import trading partners were Japan, which reached $887.15 million, or 9.8 percent of the total; Republic of Korea, $663.24 million or 7.3 percent; Indonesia, $656.64 million or 7.2 percent; and USA, $618.01 million or 6.8 percent.

D.O.T.: Establishment of mega-vaxx center in Parañaque ‘above board’ By Ma. Stella F. Arnaldo

Special to the BusinessMirror

& Butch Fernandez

HE Department of Tourism (DOT) on Friday assured the public that the steps taken to establish the megavaccination center at the Nayong Pilipino Foundation (NPF) property in Parañaque City was above board. I n a n e w s s t a t e m e n t o n F r i d a y, DOT said the facilit y, which will offer drive -through and walk-in ser vices, is designed to inoculate at least 12,000 individuals a day. “This capacit y will be beneficial in the efficient administration of vaccines once more supplies arrive,” the agenc y said. “As the facility is temporary, the DOT guarantees that decisions concerning its use took into account legal, environmental, health and public welfare considerations. Moreover, the DOT supports the NPF in its mission to celebrate cultural heritage, Filipino diversity, and creativity, and is one with the foundation in championing green and open spaces.” On Thursday, the NPF management led by its Executive Director Lucille Karen E. Malilong-Isberto, issued a news statement questioning the use of their property for the mega-vaxx facility, which would be developed by the ICTSI Foundation with no cost to the government. (See, “Megavaxx site at Nayong Pilipino stalled,” in the B usiness M irror, May 7, 2021.) The NPF is a corporate agency under the DOT, which it does not chair.

NPF official resigns

A s t h i s d e ve l o p e d, M a l i l o n g - I s b e r to tendered her resignation on May 5 as a n N P F t ru s te e, b u t f a i l e d to gi ve a reason for her action. “I am tendering my resignation as trustee of Nayong Pilipino Fo u n d a t i o n e f f e c t i v e i m m e d i a t e l y. I wish to thank you for the oppor tunit y to ser ve the countr y,” she said in her letter addressed to President Duter te through Executive Secretar y Salvador C. Medialdea, a copy of which was obtained by the B u s i n e s s M i r r o r . Earlier that day, the board had received

M e d i a l d e a’s m e m o r a n d u m d i re c t i n g them to “under take any and all ac ts necessary to allow the DOH [Department of Health] or the NTF [National Task Force Against Covid-19] to use the NPF property in Parañaque City for Covid-19 i n t e r v e n t i o n m e a s u re s , p a r t i c u l a r l y as a site for vaccination center and/or quarantine facility, including the issuance of a Resolution for such purpose and the execution of the corresponding agreement, in a manner that conforms with existing laws, rules, and regulations.” To enable the DOH/NTF takeover of the proper t y, however, the NPF B oard has to sign a memorandum of agreement w i t h t h e N T F. A s o f Th u r s d ay, w h e n another board meeting was again held, the NPF B oard failed anew to deliver a signed MOA.

Submitting to a higher goal

S ource s disclosed that it was MalilongI s b e r t o h e r s e l f w h o re q u e s t e d t h a t t h e I n te r -Ag e n c y Ta s k Fo rc e f o r t h e M a n a g e m e nt o f E m e rg i n g I n f e c t i o u s Diseases to endorse and approve the mega-vaxx center. The IATF did so, and included their approval of said projec t in Resolution 109 dated April 10. “While the DOT’s mandate is the recovery of the tourism industry, it must submit to a higher goal—that of saving the lives of Filipinos. It will continue to find ways to aid the country in its overall fight against the Covid-19 crisis, ever aware that the recovery of the tourism industr y depends on the successful solution to the pandemic,” the agency’s news statement said. Aside from the NPF proper t y, R izal Pa r k a n d a p o r t i o n o f t h e Q u i r i n o Grandstand are also being temporarily c o n ve r te d a s a m o b i l e h o s p i t a l a n d vaccine center. Said Luneta proper ties are under another DOT-attached agency, the National Parks Development Committee, and are being developed by the Manila Cit y government for free. A n o t h e r N P F B o a rd m e e t i n g wa s to be held on Friday to decide on whether to accept the Malilong-Isber to’s re s i gn at i o n . A l aw ye r by p ro f e s s i o n ,

Malilong-Isber to is a “forest and cultural h e r i t a g e a dvo cate,” a cco rd i n g to h e r LinkedIn page. She graduated from the Universit y of the Philippines School of Economics and its College of Law.

P110B for vaccination drive

T h e D u t e r t e a d m i n i s t r a t i o n’s Co v i d vaccine czars told senators on Thursday t h a t Co n g r e s s m a y n e e d t o a l l o t a separate P110-billion budget to buy and inoculate Filipinos against the deadly virus in a massive anti-Covid vaccination drive to be carried out this year, which is expec ted to ex tend until 2022. This was conveyed to Senate President Vicente Sotto III and Senator Panfilo Lacson in a meeting with vaccine czar Carlito Galvez, testing chief Vince Dizon and contac t tracing chief Mayor B enjamin Magalong. L a c s o n s a i d t h e t h re e p a n d e m i c co nt a i n m e nt o f f i c i a l s p a s s e d o n t h e Executive’s request for Congress to allot fresh funding for Bayanihan 3 amounting to P20 billion to buy the vaccines, apart from an additional P90 billion to be set aside to buy the vaccine supply for next year. The Executive officials were also repor ted to have conveyed a request for a separate P90-billion funding in advance to buy additional vaccine s u p p l y f o r n e x t y e a r. Sources said it was suggested that the advance funding be inser ted in the regular budget of the D epar tment of Health (DOH) to ensure its availabilit y, instead of parking the allocation under the so - called unprogrammed fund. Lacson, in turn, adviced the Duter te administration’s pandemic czars to first verify with the D epar tment of Budget and Management if there are available funds in the Executive depar tments that can be realigned to Bayanihan 3 to buy additional vaccine supplies. Apart from the funding request, the hearing also tackled the urgent need for remedial legislation to do away with reported “red tape” at the Food and Drug Ad m i n i s t r at i o n s a i d to h i n d e r q u i c k government response to contain the deadly pandemic.

Crew of Covid-stricken ship from India get medical help

rew members of the MV Athens Bridge , a container ship with several Filipino personnel infected with Covid-19, have been given medical assistance upon arriving at the Port of Manila. In a Facebook post on Friday, the Department of Transportation (DOTr) said the maritime sector has aided the vessel’s crew of 21 Filipinos, 12 of whom have tested positive for virus. Two crew members, who are both Filipinos, are in critical condition and were brought to a medical facility, while the rest of the crew are quarantined in the vessel and provided with medical supplies, such as oxygen tanks. The vessel, which flies the flag of Panama, has secured clearance from the Bureau of Quarantine (BOQ) and the Department of Health (DOH) on Thursday and was directed to its quarantine anchorage area by the port. Health Undersecretar y Maria Rosario Vergeire said that samples of the crew members of the ship, which was allowed to dock in Manila after it was denied entry to Vietnam, will be sent to the Philippine Genome Center (PGC) for whole genome sequencing.

The vessel, which was reported to have had travel history to India, has been allowed to dock in Manila. Vergeire said that the two afflicted crew members were already experiencing difficulty in breathing and were immediately extracted to a hospital. “They [all the crew members] were immediately checked. They were tested,”Vergeire said in an online media forum, adding that they will be all transferred to a quarantine facility after DOH, through the BOQ secure the necessary assistance to the crew members. “Considering the growing concern of this recent variant first detected in India, we were made aware that the vessel have had travel history to the country. But in deciding our action steps, our guiding principle was that those were our hard-working kababayans aboard and we would never leave any Filipino behind,” Health Secretary Francisco T. Duque III said. The two Filipinos needing immediate medical attention were transferred to a hospital in Metro Manila . PNA with Claudeth

Mocon-Ciriaco

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ESTABLISHMENT / ADDRESS NO.

FOREIGN NATIONAL / NATIONALITY

ESTABLISHMENT / ADDRESS POSITION

8 STONE BUSINESS OUTSOURCING OPC 5-10/f Tower 1 Pitx Kennedy Road Tambo Parañaque City

NO.

FOREIGN NATIONAL / NATIONALITY

ESTABLISHMENT / ADDRESS POSITION

DELONE-PHILIPPINE CORP. Unit A&b 20/f Rufino Pacific Tower 6784 Ayala Ave. Cor. V.a Rufino St. San Lorenzo Makati City

NO.

FOREIGN NATIONAL / NATIONALITY

MANDARIN SPEAKING ACCOUNTS SPECIALIST

MANDARIN ACCOUNT MANAGER

76.

HUANG, YIHUA Chinese

IT TECHNICAL MANDARIN

118.

WAN, FANGYAN Chinese

MANDARIN SPEAKING ACCOUNTS SPECIALIST

77.

LIN, YUYING Chinese

IT TECHNICAL MANDARIN

119.

YAO, DANGSEN Chinese

MANDARIN SPEAKING ACCOUNTS SPECIALIST

78.

XU, TING Chinese

IT TECHNICAL MANDARIN

79.

XU, YOULIN Chinese

IT TECHNICAL MANDARIN

80.

YANG, XIANGKAI Chinese

IT TECHNICAL MANDARIN

81.

ZHENG, HONGBIN Chinese

IT TECHNICAL MANDARIN

82.

SHEN, JIANCONG Chinese

QA (QUALITY ASSURANCE) SPECIALIST

83.

CHEN, YI Chinese

QA(QUALITY ASSURANCE) SPECIALIST

MARKETING STAFF MANDARIN SPEAKING

WANG, LE Chinese

MARKETING STAFF MANDARIN SPEAKING

WEI, NING Chinese

MARKETING STAFF MANDARIN SPEAKING

DING, QINGPENG Chinese

MARKETING STAFF MANDARIN SPEAKING

FU, TING Chinese

MARKETING STAFF MANDARIN SPEAKING

FU, LIXING Chinese

MARKETING STAFF MANDARIN SPEAKING

GUO, XUFANG Chinese

MARKETING STAFF MANDARIN SPEAKING

HU, CONGCONG Chinese

MARKETING STAFF MANDARIN SPEAKING

42.

FANG, PENGCHENG Chinese

CHINESE CUSTOMER SERVICE REPRESENTATIVE

84.

10.

JIANG, BOWEN Chinese

MARKETING STAFF MANDARIN SPEAKING

43.

LIU, SHUISHENG Chinese

CHINESE CUSTOMER SERVICE REPRESENTATIVE

LI, RUI Chinese

85.

WANG, CHAO Chinese

MARKETING STAFF MANDARIN SPEAKING

44.

QI, FAN Chinese

CHINESE CUSTOMER SERVICE REPRESENTATIVE

WEI, QIAO Chinese

MARKETING STAFF MANDARIN SPEAKING

45.

WEN, HUAYAO Chinese

CHINESE CUSTOMER SERVICE REPRESENTATIVE

YOON PO PO Myanmari

MARKETING STAFF MANDARIN SPEAKING

46.

YANG, LIANG Chinese

CHINESE CUSTOMER SERVICE REPRESENTATIVE

47.

AUNG NAY THAR Myanmari

MYANMARI CUSTOMER SERVICE REPRESENTATIVE

48.

MAW HWAR YONE Myanmari

MYANMARI CUSTOMER SERVICE REPRESENTATIVE

49.

THEIN ZAW HTWE Myanmari

MYANMARI CUSTOMER SERVICE REPRESENTATIVE

50.

WIN MYINT Myanmari

MYANMARI CUSTOMER SERVICE REPRESENTATIVE

51.

WU KYIN KITE Myanmari

MYANMARI CUSTOMER SERVICE REPRESENTATIVE

AMAZON OPERATION SERVICES PHILIPPINES, INC. B21 Three E-com Moa Complex Harbour Drive Cor. Bay Shore Brgy. 076 Pasay City 14.

JIN, ENCHENG Chinese

15.

NGUYEN HUU QUOC CUONG Vietnamese

INVESTIGATION SPECIALIST I INVESTIGATION SPECIALIST I

AMUSETECH BUSINESS OUTSOURCING 2/f Rivergreen Residences 2217 Pedro Gil St. 096, Bgy 880 Santa Ana Manila 16.

YEN, CHING-HUI Taiwanese

CUSTOMER SERVICE REPRESENTATIVE MANDARIN SPEAKING

ANOC99 CORPORATION 5/f To 10/f Ayala Malls Manila Bay Building D. Macapagal Blvd. Cor. Aseana Street Tambo Parañaque City 17.

MA THI NOI Vietnamese

CHINESE CUSTOMER SERVICE

18.

PHAM THI THIN Vietnamese

CHINESE CUSTOMER SERVICE

19.

SONG, PIANPIAN Chinese

CHINESE CUSTOMER SPECIALIST

20.

SU, FULAI Chinese

CHINESE CUSTOMER SPECIALIST

BAYER BUSINESS SERVICES PHILIPPINES, INC 10 Floor Science Hub, Tower 2 Mckinley Hill Cyberpark Fort Bonifacio Taguig City 21.

ASGHARIAN, SHIMA Iranian

LPC EXPRESS OPERATIONS MANAGER- APAC REGION

BIG EMPEROR TECHNOLOGY CORP. Eastfield Center Cbp1, Macapagal Blvd. Brgy. 076 Pasay City 5f-13f, Jiaxing Tower Building Aseana Avenue, Aseana Business Park Tambo Parañaque City

EASTERN GOLD CORPORATION 503 Nueva St Binondo Manila 38.

CHEN, YUKANG Chinese

MARKETING AND SALES AGENT

39.

LI, JIANAN Chinese

MARKETING AND SALES AGENT

40.

ZHENG, GUIJIA Chinese

MARKETING AND SALES AGENT

41.

ZHU, LEI Chinese

MARKETING AND SALES AGENT

FLYING DRAGON NETWORK PHILIPPINES INC. 4th-11th Floor Aseana 3 Building Aseana Avenue Corner Diosdado Macapagal Tambo Parañaque City

GATEWAYSOLUTIONS CORP. Unit 2306 Antel Global Corporate Center Julia Vargas Ave. Ortigas Center, San Antonio Pasig City 52.

LO, HOI POR Chinese

CUSTOMER SERVICE REPRESENTATIVE

GLOBAL B2B CONSULTANCY, INC. 50/f Pbcom Tower 6795 Ayala Avenue Bel-air Makati City 53.

TIEN, PING-FENG Taiwanese

CUSTOMER SERVICE CHINESE SPEAKING

GLOBAL PACIFIC KNOWLEDGE CONSULTANCY INC. Unit 905 9/f The Pearlbank Centre, 146 Valero St. Bel-air Makati City 54.

QU, SHAN Chinese

CUSTOMER SERVICE REPRESENTATIVE (MANDARIN SPEAKING)

GLOBALLGA BUSINESS PROCESS OUTSOURCING 2nd, 3rd & 6th Flr. Ortigas Technopoint 2 Ortigas Home Depot Complex #1 Doña Julia Vargas Ave. Pasig City CAO, LINWEI Chinese

CUSTOMER SERVICE REPRESENTATIVE MANDARIN SPEAKING

56.

CHU VAN CONG Vietnamese

CUSTOMER SERVICE REPRESENTATIVE MANDARIN SPEAKING

57.

LI, JINRONG Chinese

CUSTOMER SERVICE REPRESENTATIVE MANDARIN SPEAKING

58.

LI, XIAOXIAO Chinese

CUSTOMER SERVICE REPRESENTATIVE MANDARIN SPEAKING

MA, FUDONG Chinese

CUSTOMER SERVICE REPRESENTATIVE MANDARIN SPEAKING

55.

POSITION

SU, XIAOHUA Chinese

HWAY HWAY Myanmari

13.

FOREIGN NATIONAL / NATIONALITY

117.

12.

NO.

IT TECHNICAL MANDARIN

MARKETING STAFF MANDARIN SPEAKING

11.

POSITION

HU, PENGFEI Chinese

HE, YONG Chinese

LI, HUOJIN Chinese

ESTABLISHMENT / ADDRESS

75.

37.

www.businessmirror.com.ph

MINDSCAPE CREATIVES INC. Unit 19-o, Burgundy Corporate Tower 252 Sen. Gil Puyat Ave. Pio Del Pilar Makati City 120.

LI, FUSHU Chinese

MANDARIN TECHNICAL SUPPORT

MOA CLOUDZONE CORP. 4th-11th Flr. Nexgen Tower C4 Rd. Edsa Ext. Brgy. 076 Pasay City 121.

CHEN, XIBIN Chinese

CHINESE CUSTOMER SERVICE

122.

FAN, BINGBING Chinese

CHINESE CUSTOMER SERVICE

QA(QUALITY ASSURANCE) SPECIALIST

123.

HAW FU SHOE Myanmari

CHINESE CUSTOMER SERVICE

LU, HUABIN Chinese

QA(QUALITY ASSURANCE) SPECIALIST

124.

HUANG, CHONG Chinese

CHINESE CUSTOMER SERVICE

86.

SHI, HUA Chinese

QA(QUALITY ASSURANCE) SPECIALIST

125.

HUANG, SANGNI Chinese

CHINESE CUSTOMER SERVICE

87.

ZHANG, ZICHENG Chinese

QA(QUALITY ASSURANCE) SPECIALIST

126.

JIN, YAO Chinese

CHINESE CUSTOMER SERVICE

127.

KHIN MAUNG HTWE Myanmari

CHINESE CUSTOMER SERVICE

128.

LI, YUNGE Chinese

CHINESE CUSTOMER SERVICE

129.

LI, SHIYONG Chinese

CHINESE CUSTOMER SERVICE

130.

LIU, XIANGPENG Chinese

CHINESE CUSTOMER SERVICE

131.

LYU, ZHIFEI Chinese

CHINESE CUSTOMER SERVICE

132.

NGUYEN NGOC TINH Vietnamese

CHINESE CUSTOMER SERVICE

133.

PEI, DONGLIN Chinese

CHINESE CUSTOMER SERVICE

ITECHNO SPECIALIST INC. 7/f Aseana I Bldg. Bradco Avenue Aseana Business Park Tambo Parañaque City 88.

YANTI Indonesian

IT SUPPORT SPECIALIST

J-NA ALLOUT TECHNOLOGY SOLUTIONS CORP. 3/f Lipams Bldg. #48 President Avenue Bf Homes Parañaque City 89.

LI, QIANG Chinese

CHINESE CUSTOMER SERVICE REPRESENTATIVE

JELLYFISH EDUCATION PHILIPPINES INC. Unit 902-a, East Tower Psec Exchange Road Ortigas Center, San Antonio Pasig City 90.

NAKANO, MASASHI Japanese

JAPANESE BILINGUAL (DOCUMENT SPECIALIST)

KONGANBUDDIES MARKETING INC. 48/f Lower Ground Pbcom Tower 6795 Ayala Ave. Cor. V.a. Rufino St. Bel-air Makati City Rm. 201/202 2/f Rci Bldg. 105 Rada St. San Lorenzo Makati City 91.

EFENDI WIJAYA Indonesian

INDONESIAN CUSTOMER SERVICE REPRESENTATIVE

134.

PHAM THAI CHAU Vietnamese

CHINESE CUSTOMER SERVICE

92.

JENLY REINALDY HENDRIE ULUS Indonesian

INDONESIAN CUSTOMER SERVICE REPRESENTATIVE

135.

QIN, XIAOFEI Chinese

CHINESE CUSTOMER SERVICE

93.

LIANG, ZHANTU Chinese

MANDARIN CUSTOMER SERVICE REPRESENTATIVE

136.

QIN, YINGGANG Chinese

CHINESE CUSTOMER SERVICE

94.

LI, ZONGLIN Chinese

MANDARIN SPEAKING ACCOUNT MANAGER

137.

SHEN, RUI Chinese

CHINESE CUSTOMER SERVICE

95.

HA PHUNG LY Vietnamese

MANDARIN SPEAKING ACCOUNTING SPECIALIST

138.

CHINESE CUSTOMER SERVICE

96.

NHAN TUYET YEN Vietnamese

MANDARIN SPEAKING ACCOUNTING SPECIALIST

TANG, JINLONG Chinese

139.

CHINESE CUSTOMER SERVICE

97.

MA, WENLEI Chinese

MANDARIN SPEAKING CUSTOMER SERVICE SUPPORT

TONG, DEYIN Chinese

MANDARIN SPEAKING CUSTOMER SERVICE SUPPORT

140.

TRUONG XUAN LUU Vietnamese

CHINESE CUSTOMER SERVICE

98.

SEEDALONG, NATTHA Thai

MANDARIN SPEAKING CUSTOMER SERVICE SUPPORT

141.

VU THI THUY Vietnamese

CHINESE CUSTOMER SERVICE

99.

WANWATTANAKUL, SIRIKATE Thai

MANDARIN SPEAKING IT MANAGER

WANG, LILI Chinese

CHINESE CUSTOMER SERVICE

100.

WANG, DUO Chinese

142.

101.

YANG, WANGYI Chinese

MANDARIN SPEAKING IT SPECIALIST

143.

WU, YUJUAN Chinese

CHINESE CUSTOMER SERVICE

102.

HUANG, YUEYONG Chinese

MANDARIN SPEAKING IT TECHNICAL SUPPORT

144.

YANG, CHAOJIONG Chinese

CHINESE CUSTOMER SERVICE

103.

LIN, EN-TZU Taiwanese

MANDARIN SPEAKING SERVICE DESK SUPPORT

145.

YU, YANG Chinese

CHINESE CUSTOMER SERVICE

22.

LI, ZIHENG Chinese

COMPUTER TECHNICAL SUPPORT SPECIALIST

23.

GUO, YIXIN Chinese

MANDARIN CUSTOMER SERVICE

24.

TAN, BIYI Chinese

MANDARIN CUSTOMER SERVICE

25.

XIAO, HONGTIAN Chinese

MANDARIN CUSTOMER SERVICE

26.

XU, ENQIANG Chinese

MANDARIN CUSTOMER SERVICE

60.

PHAM THI MAN Vietnamese

27.

DENG, ZHENGYANG Chinese

MANDARIN LANGUAGE SPECIALIST

CUSTOMER SERVICE REPRESENTATIVE MANDARIN SPEAKING

61.

ZHANG, CHUN Chinese

28.

62.

QU, SHUO Chinese

MANDARIN LANGUAGE SPECIALIST

MARKETING STAFF MANDARIN SPEAKING

THAI MARKETING SUPERVISOR

CHINESE CUSTOMER SERVICE

XIE, YUQING Chinese

CHAYWONG, SATHAKA Thai

146.

MANDARIN LANGUAGE SPECIALIST

MARKETING STAFF MANDARIN SPEAKING

104.

FANG, SHUANG Chinese

LOU, ZHIGUO Chinese

105.

PORMSILA, RATCHADAPORN Thai

THAI MARKETING SUPERVISOR

147.

CHANG, YUNLONG Chinese

CHINESE CUSTOMER SERVICE REPRESENTATIVE

106.

NUKUNTHONPRAKIT, PANCHIWA Thai

THAI TELEMARKETING SALES SPECIALIST

148.

CHEN, LONGFEI Chinese

CHINESE CUSTOMER SERVICE REPRESENTATIVE

149.

GUO, YANHONG Chinese

CHINESE CUSTOMER SERVICE REPRESENTATIVE

150.

KOU, WENXING Chinese

CHINESE CUSTOMER SERVICE REPRESENTATIVE

151.

LAI, YOU Chinese

CHINESE CUSTOMER SERVICE REPRESENTATIVE

152.

LI, PENGCHENG Chinese

CHINESE CUSTOMER SERVICE REPRESENTATIVE

153.

LI, QIANG Chinese

CHINESE CUSTOMER SERVICE REPRESENTATIVE

154.

LIANG, JUNSONG Chinese

CHINESE CUSTOMER SERVICE REPRESENTATIVE

29.

BIGCAT SOFTWARE SOLUTIONS, INC. 18/f Pbcom Tower, 6795 Ayala Avenue Cor. Rufino Street Salcedo Vill. Bel-air Makati City 30.

31.

32.

YENNY THAMIDA Indonesian

BAHASA INDONESIAN LANGUAGE-OFFICER FUND MANAGEMENT

CHOONG KENG LOON Singaporean

MANDARING LANGUAGEHEAD OF DEPARTMENT CUSTOMER SERVICE

LUU XUAN TRI Vietnamese

VIETNAMESE LANGUAGESUPERVISOR CUSTOMER SERVICE

C’EST LA VIE EVENT MANAGEMENT INC. 230 Narra Street Marikina Heights Marikina City 33.

BYWATER, DAVID GEORGE British

FIELD SALES CONSULTANT

CAPSLOCK INC. 7th & 8th Flr. Y Tower Bldg. Coral Way Drive Cor. Macapagal Ave. Brgy. 076 Pasay City 34.

ZHU, JIANAN Chinese

CHINESE IT SUPPORT SPECIALIST

CINATECH LIMITED CORP. 10-1 One Global Place 25th St., Cor. 5th Ave. Bgc Fort Bonifacio Taguig City

59.

INFOSYS BPM LIMITED - PHILIPPINE BRANCH 19th-23rd Flr. Bgc Corporate Center 11th Ave. Corner 30th Sts. Taguig City 63.

CORREA, LOUIS FRANKLIN Indian

LEAD -CLIENT OPERATIONS & SERVICES

INVECH TREASURE PROCESSING CORPORATION 2nd, 3rd, 4th, 5th Floor Six West Campus Mckinley West Fort Bonifacio Taguig City

MEGA-WEB TECHNOLOGIES INC. 6,7,8,9,10,11/f Met Live Bldg. Edsa Cor. Macapagal Blvd. Brgy. 076 Pasay City 107.

CHEN, JIAOHUA Chinese

MANDARIN SPEAKING CUSTOMER RELATIONS SERVICE PROVIDER

108.

HUANG, PINGHENG Chinese

MANDARIN SPEAKING CUSTOMER RELATIONS SERVICE PROVIDER

NGUYEN THI HIEN Vietnamese

VIETNAMESE SPEAKING CUSTOMER RELATIONS SERVICE PROVIDER

64.

HOANG THI LIEN Vietnamese

COMPUTER SYSTEM ANALYST

65.

TANG BOON PIANG Malaysian

COMPUTER SYSTEM ANALYST

66.

YULIANI Indonesian

COMPUTER SYSTEM ANALYST

109.

67.

HO VAN PHONG Vietnamese

COMPUTER TECHNICAL SUPPORT SPECIALIST

68.

CHENG, JINGRAN Chinese

INFORMATION SECURITY ANALYST

MERAKI SILVER SOLUTIONS CORPORATION Unit 1107,11th Floor, One World Place 32nd Bonifacio Global City Fort Bonifacio Taguig City

KONG, YINGXUE Chinese

INFORMATION SECURITY ANALYST

70.

WANG, HONGCHAO Chinese

INFORMATION SECURITY ANALYST

71.

ZHU, JIULONG Chinese

INFORMATION SECURITY ANALYST

72.

CAI, JIANQUN Chinese

IT TECHNICAL MANDARIN

69.

110.

LIU, YANG Chinese

MANDARIN SPEAKING ACCOUNTS SPECIALIST

155.

LIN, PINGMU Chinese

CHINESE CUSTOMER SERVICE REPRESENTATIVE

111.

LUMY AN Vietnamese

MANDARIN SPEAKING ACCOUNTS SPECIALIST

156.

LIU, LEI Chinese

CHINESE CUSTOMER SERVICE REPRESENTATIVE

112.

LY THI ANH Vietnamese

MANDARIN SPEAKING ACCOUNTS SPECIALIST

157.

LIU, ZHENNI Chinese

CHINESE CUSTOMER SERVICE REPRESENTATIVE

113.

MA, YIXIN Chinese

MANDARIN SPEAKING ACCOUNTS SPECIALIST

158.

MANDARIN SPEAKING ACCOUNTS SPECIALIST

CHINESE CUSTOMER SERVICE REPRESENTATIVE

114.

QI, LIYANG Chinese

PAN, KAI Chinese

159.

SU, DINGGUI Chinese

CHINESE CUSTOMER SERVICE REPRESENTATIVE

160.

SU, MINGHUANG Chinese

CHINESE CUSTOMER SERVICE REPRESENTATIVE

35.

WANG, ZHANAO Chinese

BUSINESS DEVELOPMENT OFFICER

73.

GONG, XIAN Chinese

IT TECHNICAL MANDARIN

115.

RICKY SUWANDI Indonesian

MANDARIN SPEAKING ACCOUNTS SPECIALIST

36.

ZHANG, MINGYU Chinese

BUSINESS DEVELOPMENT OFFICER

74.

HE, CHUANXU Chinese

IT TECHNICAL MANDARIN

116.

SHI, YU Chinese

MANDARIN SPEAKING ACCOUNTS SPECIALIST

The World

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

Saturday, May 8, 2021

China’s trade surges on strong global demand, commodity boom

hina’s exports rose more than expected in April and imports climbed, a reflection of strong domestic and international demand despite the pandemic and surging commodity prices. Exports grew 32.3 percent in dollar terms in April from a year earlier, while imports soared 43.1 percent, the customs administration said Friday. That left a trade surplus of $42.85 billion for the month. Economists had forecast exports would increase 24.1 percent, while imports would gain 44 percent. Global appetite for Chinese goods remained strong in the month, thanks to stimulus

packages introduced by developed economies and China’s status as the world’s biggest exporter. “The export figure clearly reflects a recovering and expanding global economy,” said Hao Zhou, an economist at Commerzbank AG in Singapore. “Robust imports and exports also mean that China’s manufacturing industry is still outperforming the services sector to lead the economic rebound.” The US was the biggest export market last month, accounting for 15.9 percent of Chinese goods sold abroad. Southeast Asian nations bought 15.6 percent of

exports, while the European Union purchased 15.1 percent. Soaring commodity prices and China’s strong recovery helped to boost imports, which grew at the fastest pace since January 2011. The low base from a year ago also helped to underpin the strong growth figures. At the Communist Party’s Politburo meeting last week, China’s top leaders pledged to accelerate the recovery in domestic demand and reiterated there would be “no sharp turn” on economic policy. That should help support the rebound and import demand in coming months. Bloomberg News

Merkel pushes back on vaccine patent waiver in row with US

Seafarer crisis seen worsening amid India virus outbreak

undreds of thousands of seafarers risk being stuck at sea beyond the expiry of their contracts because of India’s surging coronavirus outbreak, according to one of the world’s largest independent crude ship owners. The situation suggests that a maritime labor crisis sparked by the pandemic is continuing into 2021, as a growing number of major por ts around the world restric t entr y to Indian crewmembers, which constitute about 15 percent of the world’s total. “Those people are restricted from being rotated, and have to stay on board for a much longer time period than their contract is for,” said Hugo de Stoop, chief executive officer of Euronav BV, in a Bloomberg Television interview Thursday. “We fear that we’re going to see the scenario that we saw in the first wave and some part of the second wave” of the pandemic. Last August, about 250,000 mariners of all nationalities who were overdue for crew changes had their contracts extended, according to the International Chamber of Shipping (ICS). As of March this year, about 200,000 seafarers were past the expiry of their contracts and unable to be repatriated, according to the International Maritime Organization. A number of important stop-over ports including Singapore, Hong Kong and Dubai have closed their borders to Indian seafarers, according to the ICS. Fujairah, a key crewchange destination located in the United Arab Emirates, has also placed restrictions on Indian crew joining ships, as well as those signing off from vessels that have previously called at India, according to Singapore-based ship manager Synergy Marine Pte Ltd. Mariners already onboard shouldn’t present Covid risks, as they are in de facto quarantine typically lasting more than two weeks, said de Stoop. “Unfortunately, the people who have to replace them have to travel to those countries that the ship will stop at,” he said. “That’s the real problem. That’s what we’re scared about.”

erman Chancellor Angela Merkel weighed in against a US proposal to waive patent protections for Covid-19 vaccines, casting doubt on whether the idea has enough international support to become a reality. The US plan would create “severe complications” for the production of vaccines, a German government spokesman said Thursday in an e-mail. Without the incentive of profits from research and development spending, drugmakers might not move as aggressively to make vaccines in the future, the industry has argued. Pharmaceutical stocks that had sunk on the news of the US proposal rebounded on Merkel’s stance. Moderna Inc. was down 2.1 percent after falling as low as 12 percent earlier. CureVac NV fell 5.4 percent, an improvement from its earlier 13-percent decline, while BioNTech SE was down 3.5 percent after earlier dropping 15 percent. The US, Germany and other countries will take up debate over the idea in the coming weeks via the World Trade Organization (WTO), pitting the idea of sharing proprietary know-how against the need to boost global supplies, especially in developing countries that have struggled to get their populations inoculated. Merkel’s position shows she’s sympathetic to the argument of drugmakers such as Mainz, Germany-based BioNTech, whose vaccine with Pfizer Inc. uses cuttingedge messenger RNA technology. “The limiting factor for the production of vaccines are manufacturing capacities and high-quality standards, not the patents,” the German government spokesman said. “The protection of intellectual property [IP] is a source of innovation and this has to remain so in the future.” Officials and diplomats in Brussels cautioned that such discussions will take months and will likely result in partial waivers only, as there’s little chance the EU and the US will agree to cede IP for the revolution of its mRNA technology with China. In any case, most poor countries in the world have neither the capacity

nor the expertise to produce such advanced treatments. A more immediate solution to the problem, the officials said, would be for the US, the UK and others to follow the EU’s lead and export more vaccines to those who need it. The head of the EU executive arm, Ursula von der Leyen, had earlier on Thursday backed Biden’s proposal, though she added that the priority should be to ramp up production. EU leaders will discuss the issue over a summit in Porto on Friday evening. The US and Europe have been strong supporters of IP protections at the WTO, particularly as a way to enforce problems like Chinese patent infringement. As the pandemic leads to some of the world’s more monumental and lucrative scientific discoveries, defenders of IP rights are warming to some exceptions on ethical grounds even though the drug companies argue it’ll do more harm than good.

Under pressure

As the US inoculations advanced and outbreaks diminished in recent weeks, the White House came under pressure from progressive Democrats and public-health advocates to take a stance while India in particular suffers from surging deaths and infections. “In terms of how soon the WTO can deliver—that literally depends on the WTO members, collectively, being able to deliver,” US Trade Representative Katherine Tai said in an interview Wednesday. “I am the first one to admit that what we are leaning into is a process that is not going to be easy.” WTO Director General Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala welcomed the US decision to support the waiver and wants countries to come to a decision by the time of the organization’s ministerial meetings in December, spokesman Keith Rockwell said. Many WTO members see the issue as important, and the US and EU have “taken note” of US support, Rockwell said in an online press briefing Thursday after the second day of a general council meeting in Geneva.

Bloomberg News

Man charged with stabbing two Asian women in San Francisco

AN FRANCISCO—A man who allegedly stabbed two elderly women without warning at a San Francisco bus stop was charged with attempted murder in an attack that follows a number of others against Asian Americans nationwide, authorities announced Thursday. Patrick Thompson, 54, of San Francisco also was charged with assault with a deadly weapon and elder abuse for Tuesday’s attack, with sentencing enhancements for great bodily injury, great bodily injury on elders and personal use of a deadly weapon, the district attorney’s office said in a news statement. Thompson, who has a history of mental illness, could face a potential life sentence if convicted. He was scheduled to be arraigned on the charges Friday. A message left for the San Francisco public defender’s office seeking comment about the case wasn’t immediately returned after hours Thursday. A witness told KGO-TV that the man was carrying a large knife with knuckles on the handle and without warning attacked the women as they waited for a bus on Market Street. “The knife punctured one victim’s lungs, requiring extensive surgery,” the district attorney’s office said. “A knife had to be removed from another victim at the hospital.” Authorities initially said the women were 65 and 84 years old and didn’t immediately identify them. But a family member said the elder victim

was 85-year-old Chui Fong Eng. Victoria Eng said her grandmother was stabbed in the right arm and the blade entered her chest. She underwent successful surgery. “We were able to visit grandma today! It was so emotional walking in and seeing her,” Eng posted Thursday on a GoFundMe page that had raised more than $98,000 to cover medical expenses. “The staff have been providing exceptional care to her and extremely supportive to our family. She wants to thank everyone for their generosity and well wishes!” Some of the fund-raiser money raised was offered to the family of the other victim, “but they politely declined,” the post said. Both women were expected to survive, authorities said. Authorities haven’t said whether the women were targeted because of their ethnicity. But the District Attorney’s office said prosecutors were working with police to determine whether there was evidence to support hate crime allegations. Police Chief William Scott initially said the attack appeared to be “totally random.” On Thursday, the FBI’s San Francisco office launched a publicity campaign to encourage the victims of hate crimes to come forward. The effort comes amid a wave of attacks against Asian Americans—many of them elderly—in San Francisco and across the country. Thompson has a criminal background that includes assault with a deadly weapon likely to

cause great bodily injury, according to KGO-TV. He was arrested in 2017 and sent to a state mental hospital after being found incompetent to stand trial, the district attorney’s office said. In 2018, Thompson was sent into a state Mental Health Diversion program that provides “intensive, court-monitored treatment and services,” the District Attorney’s office said. A judge allowed him to be released from the program after nearly two years. He wasn’t charged with any new offenses. But he was arrested on warrants for missing court dates, including in April 2020, when he also was found to be in possession of a drug pipe, prosecutors said. “What happened is a devastating tragedy, and we will use the full force of our office’s resources to prosecute this case. We also need to work hard to stop the next crime from happening, and that involves prevention and treatment,” the District Attorney’s office statement said. “Mr. Thompson needed intensive supervision and services—which he received during Mental Health Diversion and which prevented new criminal behavior.” “We also must implement stronger responses to addressing the mental health crisis in our streets in order to keep our community safe,” the statement said. “For over 40 years, we have failed to invest resources into treatment, supportive housing, and other necessary services for those who are mentally ill and their families. We are all less safe as a result of that legacy.” AP

A6 Saturday, May 8, 2021

ExportUnlimited BusinessMirror

DA keen on expanding agri exports to Germany

GRICULTURE Secretary William Dar is looking to expand the country’s agricultural exports, particularly coconut products, to Germany. In a virtual meeting on Wednesday, Dar met with German Ambassador to the Philippines Anke Reiffenstuel to discuss agricultural cooperation and trade between the Philippines and Germany on the latter’s food import situation. “Balance of trade is in favor of the Philippines, with tuna, banana chips, pineapples and desiccated coconut as the Philippines’s top 4 agri exports to Germany,” Dar said.

AGRICULTURE Secretary William Dar explores the expansion of agricultural exports to Germany. In a virtual meeting with German Ambassador to the Philippines Anke Reiffenstuel, he mentioned Philippines’s coconut products as valuable export. PHOTO COURTESY OF DA COMMS GROUP

The agri chief encouraged Germany to expand its importation of Philippine agricultural products, specifically mentioning coco sugar, ready-to-drink coco milk, coco water, and organic extra virgin coconut oil. This, as the Department of Agriculture (DA) has revived the Philippine Coconut Authority board of directors. The new set of directors lays out the coconut development plan to help boost the economy. Germany, he said, is one of the country’s leading partners in agricultural exports. In a January 2020 report of the Philippine Statistics Authority, Germany is

next to the Netherlands as the major tradingpartnerinexportamongtheEuropean Union (EU) member-countries. Exports of agricultural goods to EU member-countries in the third quarter of 2019 amounted to $265.39 million or a share of 12.5 percent to the country’s total exports which was $5.06 billion. Among the EU member-countries, Netherlands was the country’s top buyer of agricultural commodities. Germany followed with exports value of $30.07 million and UK and Northern Ireland with $25.14 million. Dar, likewise, expressed his gratitude to Germany for continuing

trade relations with the Philippines despite the ongoing pandemic. Apart from coconut products and by-products, the DA chief also mentioned heirloom rice, pili oil (for cosmetic use), pili nut, pineapple concentrate, and cashew nuts as potential export champions. He also requested Germany’s support on the country’s application to export pili nut to the EU as a novel food. In previous reports, the EU has categorized Bicol’s pili nut as traditional food, per the European Food Safety Authority regulations, and as such, should undergo market access application. PNA

DTI to European firms: Invest Corn tops $7 a bushel for 1st in PHL electronics and IT-BPM time since ’13 on supply worry By Tyrone Jasper C. Piad

HE Philippines is seeking investments from European firms in electronics and Information Technology-Business Process Management (IT-BPM), the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) said. In a recent virtual investment road show, DTI Undersecretary Ceferino Rodolfo urged European investors to venture on said investment areas given their potential business opportunities. Rodolfo noted that electronics accounted for the bulk or 62 percent of the exports, amounting to $39.7 billion last year. The Philippines has about 500 semiconductor and electronics firms that have capacities in electronics manufacturing services and original design manufacturing, among others, he noted. “As for IT-BPM, we are first in the world in voice-related services,

second in non-voice services with 13 percent of the global market share,” Rodolfo said. The DTI official stressed the country also has become an “alternative destination for low-cost services” in finance and accounting, human resources, IT and software development, engineering services outsourcing, data analytics, procurement and supply chain management. Trade Secretary Ramon Lopez said it is still a “good time” to invest in the Philippines despite the pandemic, especially with the recent enactment of a measure that lowered corporate income tax (CIT). The Corporate Recovery and Tax Incentives for Enterprises Act, which was signed into law in March, reduced the CIT to 20 percent from 30 percent for domestic corporations with net taxable income of P5 million and below and have total assets of P100 million and below effective July 1, 2020. All other local firms and resident

foreign companies are imposed with 25-percent income tax. “There is still much room for growth considering the level of consumer demand from respective markets and the supply chains that can be developed from complementary industries...[T]he nature and quality of investments from European companies and business partnerships formed with our companies have helped move the Philippines up the value chain,” Lopez said. DTI noted that European companies invested P23.4 billion in the Philippines last year. The top European investors include the United Kingdom, the Netherlands and France. Bilateral trade between the Philippines and Europe, meanwhile, reached $13.8 billion last year. Europe is the country’s fifth-largest trading partner with exports and imports amounting to $7.3 billion and $6.5 billion, respectively.

ORN futures surged above $7 a bushel for the first time in more than eight years as lack of rainfall in Brazil added to supply concerns. Corn climbed as much as 3.6 percent to $7.04 a bushel on the Chicago Board of Trade, the highest since March 2013. The futures for July delivery pared gains to close the day with a 2.5percent advance at $6.9675. Soybeans and wheat also rose. The rally across grain markets prompted major crop trader Bunge Ltd. on Tuesday to raise its earnings outlook for 2021 by as much as 25 percent above its previous forecast. The St. Louis-based company, which posted first-quarter earnings that were double analyst projections, is betting on strong demand for crops as the world emerges from the pandemic, China scoops up American supplies and the renewable diesel industry expands. China has been buying massive amounts of American soybeans and corn to rebuild the world’s largest hog

herd. That’s helping lift prices just as dry weather hits crop yields in South America and Europe. The tailwinds have also lifted Bunge’s rival ArcherDaniels-Midland Co., which last week reported its best-ever earnings for its traditional crop-trading business. Bunge Chief Executive Officer Greg Heckman said that even with the surge in prices, he’s seeing “no demand destruction” right now, with livestock operators showing profitability and willing to pay the higher prices. “We are optimistic that the favorable demand environment in the first quarter will continue through 2021,” Heckman said Tuesday. Dryness is hampering Brazil’s key second crop corn, and rain in the coming week will fail to reach some key growing areas, according to Somar. That could further hurt yields, and analysts including Safras and StoneX Brazil have cut estimates for the coming harvest. A production shortfall there would compound stretched global grain supplies

and risk further stoking food inflation.

‘Critical’ situation

“THE situation is critical in Brazil,” Paris-based adviser Agritel said in a report. “This should further strain the global balance sheet, while the US will have to partly compensate for the drop in South American exports.” Corn futures in Brazil rose to a record high this week on Sao Paulo’s B3. The most-active contract headed for a third straight gain on Tuesday as weather conditions deteriorate in key areas of the second corn crop. The futures have jumped 140 percent in 12 months on the B3. There are signs of better conditions in other major shippers, which could help cool the market. US farmers are planting corn at the fastest pace in years, with sowing almost halfway complete, government data show. Early signs also point to a record-large crop in Ukraine, consultant SovEcon estimates. Bloomberg News

White House backs Pfizer’s move to begin vaccine exports T HE Biden administration is supporting Pfizer Inc.’s move to begin exporting US-made doses of its coronavirus vaccine, as the White House starts to unleash production for shotstarved nations abroad. “We are glad to see that they are working with other countries to help them meet their supply needs,” Jeff Zients, President Joe Biden’s Covid-19 response coordinator, told Bloomberg News in a statement. He said the company is ahead of schedule in its commitments to supply the US. The governments of Mexico and

Canada said last week that they expected to begin receiving doses of Pfizer’s vaccine from the US, the first time the company’s Americanmade shots are known to have been delivered to any buyer other than the American government. Zients’s statement is the first indication that the administration won’t stand in the way of exports of Pfizer’s product that doesn’t pass through their hands directly. Pfizer said in a statement that it has started exporting US-made vaccine, but declined to specify when or to which countries. “We will continue to use our global supply chain to ship

vaccine doses to governments, delivering on our commitments and ensuring a continued reliable and equitable rollout,” according to the statement. Pfizer rose 3 percent in New York trading on Monday, while its vaccine partner, BioNTech SE’s American depositary receipts rose about 11 percent. Vaccine shortages worldwide have spurred some countries and blocs to impose export restrictions, limiting the ability of manufacturers to send their product across borders in some cases. Early US production wasn’t subject to an export ban but was gobbled up entirelybythegovernment,whichused

wartime powers to prioritize its orders, cornering the market on domestic production. That allowed the US to race ahead of peers, but spurred calls to do more to distribute doses in countries without their own production. Demand for shots in the US has begun to wane, falling to 2.4 million injections a day for the last week, according to the Bloomberg Vaccine Tracker. With about 40 percent of the adult population fully vaccinated already, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, supplies of shots are abundant enough that pharmacies have begun to advertise their availability. Bloomberg News

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Editor: Angel R. Calso • Saturday, May 8, 2021 A7

DSWD releases P239-M aid for Caraga’s 79,000 elderly

By Alexander Lopez

UTUAN CITY—At least 79,925 indigent senior citizens in Caraga region have received over P239.7 million in social pension in the first four months of the year, the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) said Wednesday. “The 79,925 indigent senior citizens already received P3,000 each during the period,” Marko Davey Reyes, of the DSWD-13 information office, told the Philippine News Agency. Under the social pension program, indigent senior citizens are entitled to P500 monthly pension. “The P3,000 they received represents the pension they are entitled to the first six months of this year, that is from January to

June 2021,” Reyes said. Inaseparate statement Wednesday, DSWD-13 said that as of April, a total of 23,134 senior beneficiaries were already served in Agusan del Norte; 34,808 in Agusan del Sur; and 21,983 beneficiaries in Surigao del Norte. The distribution of the social pension, the agency said, is being conducted in coordination with the local government units (LGUs) in Caraga region. The 79,925 seniors served during

the period represent 53 percent of the 170,000 targeted beneficiaries for the social pension program in the region, DSWD-13 said. Conception Cordita, 87, a resident of Dapa town in Siargao Island, was elated upon receiving her P3,000 pension. “I cannot contain the happiness I felt. We depend on the pension we get from Social Pension since our children are already living far from us. Thank you DSWD for your thoughtfulness to us seniors,” Cordita was quoted in the dialect as saying. Another beneficiary from Barangay Cabawa, Zenaides Solana, recognized the sacrifices of the DSWD personnel in reaching out to indigent senior citizens. “Thank you so much DSWD for all your sacrifices to give me my pension. We do not have any source of income to sustain our daily needs. To get through the day, I would sometimes borrow money or get some goods from neighbor’s store then pay them once I receive my pension,” Solana said. PNA

SENIOR citizen Zenaides Solana, 75, of Cabawa, Dapa, Surigao del Norte, and her husband Pacito, thanked the Department of Social Welfare and Development for the P3,000 pension they received in April 2021. Solana is among the 79,925 indigent senior citizens in Caraga who received their pension during the first four months of the year under the Social Pension for Indigent Senior Citizens Program of DSWD. PHOTO COURTESY OF DSWD-13

Senior housing residency keeps falling despite vaccine rollout 557 indigent senior citizens in Pagudpud receive cash aid

THE coronavirus, especially lethal to the elderly, has made the senior-living industry the riskiest segment of the $3.9-trillion municipal-bond market in the US. BLOOMBERG NEWS

ENIOR housing occupancy reached a record low in the first quarter in the US, even as vaccination rates rose and coronavirus infections ebbed. Residency at assisted and independent-living facilities fell to 78.8 percent in the first three months of 2021, down 1.8 percentage points from the prior quarter and 8.7 per-

centage points from a year earlier, according to a poll of for-profit and nonprofit managers by the National Investment Center for Seniors Housing & Care. The trend is a potential concern for investors in the industry’s debt. Although senior housing residents have largely been vaccinated against Covid-19, there’s a “natural

The star of your own biopic By Nick Tayag

MY SIXTY-ZEN’S WORTH

NE good thing I like about this pandemic is that it has dimmed the spotlight on the “self.” The obsession with “I, me, myself” is being put into the background, albeit for the moment at least. Although I wish that it would be part of the new better future after this whole thing is over. Only recently, we had an American president who lost the elections because he was the star of a movie in his mind. He couldn’t step aside. Everything about what was happening was all about himself. After all, his whole life was about being the star of his reality TV show. Good riddance! An irate viewer who got exasperated with a camera hogging television journalist

commented: “Spin the camera toward the furious crowd— there’s the real story.” Our small group of senior retirees dreads the presence of one member because when he starts talking about his past achievements he always manages to magnify his role in incidents he relates. Like a good film editor, he would edit each story, prune out the unflattering scenes, leave only scenes where he has speaking parts, delete other characters to give himself more scenes and in the end, he is the one who wins it all, in spite of the odds, whether it’s a girl, a project, or a business deal. As another friend puts it: “A legend in his own mind.” The said friend is OK otherwise but he is just one of the list of

lag” between when someone inquires about entering a facility and when they actually move in, the group’s chief economist, Beth Burnham Mace, said in a news release Thursday. More than 29 million people aged 65 and older are fully vaccinated in the US, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. The Census Bureau pegged the number of people in that age group at more than 54 million as of July 1, 2019. “Data from the next two quarters will signal whether consumers have moved beyond the pandemic and are again considering senior housing properties,” said Mace. The coronavirus, especially lethal to the elderly, has made the senior-living industry the riskiest segment of the $3.9-trillion municipal-bond market. Muni defaults are extremely rare because states and cities have broad power to raise taxes to cover their debt. But it’s also open to nonprofits, including those that run retirement communities that can sell bonds through local government agencies. Amid the pandemic, these facilities have faced increased costs for staff and people I know and met who are always performing as the star in their own biopics. Such individuals remind me of Norma Desmond’s classic line in Billy Wilder’s film Sunset Boulevard: “You see, this is my life! It always will be! Nothing else! Just us, the cameras, and those wonderful people out there in the dark!... All right, Mr. DeMille, I’m ready for my close-up.” A few months ago I chanced on this story in a recent Fr. Jerry Orbos column. The scene was a vehicular accident and a woman brusquely pushed aside a man attending to the victim to make way because she announced she took a short course on first aid, only to learn that the man she was pushing aside is a fullpledged doctor. I believe it was T. S. Eliot who once acerbically commented: “Half the harm that is done in this world is due to people who want to feel important.” This is exactly the problem we have as we fumble our way out of this pandemic. Many in the government who ought to know better don’t want to get out of the spotlight. Everybody has been screaming “leave it to the experts.” But no matter what, two non-expert Laurel and Hardy are suddenly claiming they have just the medicine to prevent

protective equipment, as well as move-in restrictions from state health agencies. As a result, many are unable to repay what they’ve borrowed. The coronavirus pushed $765.8 million of municipal bonds issued for senior living communities into default last year, and this year assisted living facilities and continuing-care retirement communities—which offer independent housing, assisted living and skilled nursing on one campus—have defaulted on $425.1 million of munis, according to data compiled by Bloomberg. Continuing-care retirement communities, known as CCRCs, and assisted living facilities comprise half of payment defaults in the state and local bond market this year. The survey released Thursday includes CCRCs, which make up about 85 percent of the roughly $42 billion of municipal bonds issued for senior housing. The data for the first quarter show that assisted-living occupancy fell 2 percentage points to 75.5 percent and independent-living occupancy fell 1.6 percentage points to 81.8 percent. Bloomberg News

Covid or to lessen the length of convalescence. And they brag about the anecdotal evidence to prove it, even to the extent of undermining the credibility of institutions and the profession that rely on scientific evidence. The more they hog the headlines, the louder they get. Foolhardy or not, they get the close-ups they want on the evening news. Come election time, they’re hoping people will remember them as “heroes” who saved the day for all of us. Oh, it’s not really whether the medicine they are giving away with complete disregard for the law is really effective. It’s really about themselves. Just a few days ago, the local twitterverse was aghast by the sight of a well-known toady posing for the camera, appearing to be consoling victims of a helicopter accident before being rushed to the hospital. Based on the several shots distributed on social media, the ambulance must have been held from leaving immediately, wasting precious minutes, so the poseur could be seen to be at the center of the action. But these are just the exceptions. Over all, people seem to be content to give the spotlight to others who deserve

By Leilanie Adriano

AOAG CITY—At least 557 indigent senior citizens happily received on Wednesday their six months’ worth of social pension from the national government. Frail and bedridden, Lourdes Ritamal of Barangay Poblacion 1, Pagudpud town was among the beneficiaries who received P3,000 from the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD). With the assistance of the local government unit of Pagudpud, the DSWD personnel went house-tohouse to personally distribute the social pension fund. Under the Social Pension for Indigent Senior Citizens (SPISC) program, qualified indigent senior citizens receive a monthly stipend of P500 to help augment their daily subsistence and other medical needs. At present, the DSWD is releasing the six months pension to 3.5 million the attention. I see celebrities and known personalities who are now applauding the efforts of medical frontliners, volunteers, do-gooders in playing valued roles during the pandemic. We who have always craved being heard for our opinions, we need to tone down our volume. Let us learn to listen and give the megaphone to others who know better, for the sake of the greater good. After all, we are all in the same clinic, rich or poor, powerful or powerless, and we need to have the humility to listen to what the doctor is saying. Watch, observe and reflect. This plague continues to cut down doctors, politicians, executives, wealthy individuals, and media personalities. Many used to be in the spotlight, relishing the status of being the center of attention, playing a central role in their respective fields. It’s time to shut down the lights and the camera on our selves. It’s time to move them to where the real story is. The real story is other people. Think about the famous quote attributed to the writer Maya Angelou: “I’ve learned that people will forget what you said, people will forget what you did, but people will never forget how you made them feel.”

beneficiaries nationwide. In Ilocos Norte, “the social pension fund distribution to qualified senior citizens are now ongoing,” said Provincial Social Welfare and Development Officer Lilian Rin on Wednesday. She said senior citizens can avail themselves of the social pension from the government under the following conditions: They are frail and sickly, not receiving pension from the Social Security System (SSS), Government Service Insurance System (GSIS), and other insurance companies; they are not receiving assistance from their immediate family members; and they do not have resources to buy their basic needs. Should there be senior citizens in the province who are eligible but not included in the list, Rin said they can still appeal to the Office of the Senior Citizens Affairs (OSCA), their local governments, and the nearest field office, which has jurisdiction over their areas, for assessment. PNA

It’s not how much “I” have achieved. It’s how much people have been changed by what “I” did to them. Who were the people who got us to where we are now? How are the people who are supposed to be in our care? Did we thank them enough? Did we help them enough in their hour of need? Do we think about how they’re doing during this pandemic? Shakespeare likened our world to a stage where we are all players. If indeed living is just like performing in a play or film, be guided by the great Russian theater director and theater mentor: “Love art in yourself, and not yourself in art.” Consumed by delusion, Norman Desmond at the sunset of her career acclaims: I am big! It’s the pictures that got small! Well I have a message for people with delusions of being the big star in the narrative of their own lives. Take the moment to get yourself out of the biopic of your life now. See the big picture. Focus on thePIEDAD small things, those seemingly trivial things that need our attention right now. For small things in this surging pandemic can spell the difference between life and death.

Education BusinessMirror

A8 Saturday, May 8, 2021

DepEd, PNU seal professional devt pact for teachers, school leaders

Editor: Mike Policarpio

PHL-India educational collab to enhance disaster resilience

URTHER supporting the professional growth of educators, the Department of Education (DepEd) has partnered with the Philippine Normal University (PNU) to enable job development of teachers, academic supervisors and school leaders. In a virtual ceremonial signing of the memorandum of understanding on April 14, Education Secretary Leonor Magtolis Briones highlighted that the collaboration with PNU is part of the department’s commitment to upskill and reskill teachers nationwide. “It is...appropriate that we finally formalize this friendship, this partnership, this professional exchange of knowledge and ideas as we face the challenges of education,” Briones remarked. Under the memorandum, DepEd and PNU will work together in the following areas: preservice teacher education; teacher education and teaching standards; researches and case studies; inservice continuing professional education of teachers, school leaders and academic supervisors; and database of education policies. [This] is to primarily identify areas of cooperation between DepEd and PNU pursuant to their respective mandates toward upgrading the professional development of teachers and school leaders,” Educa-

tion Undersecretary Nepomuceno A. Malaluan said. As one of the areas of cooperation, select DepEd teachers and school leaders will be offered customized graduate degree and diploma programs approved and recognized by the National Educators Academy of the Philippines (NEAP). An authorized learning-service provider of NEAP, the PNU will offer customized programs called Linking Standards and Quality Practice (LiSQuP)—a two-year assistance to DepEd to develop and deliver differentiated and standards-based professional development programs, with focus on making quality practice common practice among education personnel. LiSQuP will have 12 Master’s degree programs in various specializations, eight Doctorate programs in various specializations, and two executive programs. At least 2,800

Radenta, Lithan now provide higher digital learning courses

UST Pharmacy launches memorial lecture, unveils activities for 150th foundation year

AJOR local information-technology (IT) solutions integrator Radenta Technologies recently formed a partnership with Lithan Singapore through the latter’s subsidiary eduCLaaS PTE. Ltd. to introduce cutting-edge higher digital learning courses to Filipinos. Lithan is a digital learning platform which is EduTrust-certif ied by the Council for Private Education, and is a Centre for Continuous Education and Training appointed by SkillsFuture of Singapore. It is an accredited international training center for Pearson-United Kingdom— one of the oldest and biggest education f irms in the world. “Digital transformation is also applicable on an individual level,” Radenta Technologies President Randall Lozano said. “We are trying to help people adjust, embrace and accommodate [changes that are] going to happen in the local and international corporate world.” eduCLaaS PTE. Ltd., Lithan's international subsidiary, hosts the Pan-Asia eduCLaaS platform that connects higher-education students, working adults, enterprises, employers and higher-education institutions for digital upskilling, digital career progression, digital transformation, and work force development. Individual students who f inished K-12 basic education, enterprises that wish to offer courses as part of their human-resource program for employee development, as well as colleges and universities that can choose the courses they want to include in their curriculum, can avail themselves of the Radenta and Lithan courses. To date, both offer the following courses for qualified students: Pearson Level-3 (L3) higher national certificate programs, Pearson BTEC International L3 foundation diploma in business, and Pearson BTEC International L3 foundation diploma in IT. For international degrees, Pearson BTEC Level-5 higher national diploma in computing (application development) and Pearson BTEC L5 HND in business (marketing) are available. For enterprises, the following skills-certificate programs for certification are available: digital transformation, digital workplace management, digital business development, digital marketing, business analytics, data science, enterprise resource planning and customer-relationship management (both under Microsoft), enterprise resource planning (by SAP), full-stack software development, full-stack software implementation, artificial intelligence development, IT systems support, IT systems management, cloud administration and cyber security. Rizal Raoul S. Reyes

TOP row, from left: Tata Institute of Social Sciences’ Prof. Shalini Bharat, Ambassador Shambhu S. Kumaran, Ateneo de Manila University’s Fr. Roberto C. Yap; (bottom row, from left:) ADMU’s Fr. Jose M. Cruz, TISS’ Prof. Janki Andharia and Col. RM Joshi EMBASSY OF INDIA

teachers, school heads, and supervisors will benefit in the initial run of the program. “This shows that PNU—as the national center for teacher education—is committed to whole-

heartedly uphold its mission [of] nurturing innovative teachers and education leaders in our schools, and safeguarding the quality of education in the country,” PNU President Dr. Bert J. Tuga said.

HE University of Santo Tomas Faculty of Pharmacy (FOP), in partnership with Mercury Drug Corp. (MDC), launched a memorial lecture with the theme: “The Sustainable Advocacy, Initiatives and Legacy of Dr. Mariano Que” on March 9 to commemorate the founder of the nationwide drugstore chain. The inaugural online program was attended by faculty members, students, and alumni of the FOP, as well as employees and partner institutions of MDC. In her message, FOP Dean Prof. Aleth Therese L. Dacanay, PhD recognized the contribution and legacy of Dr. Que, who is the founder of MDC: “[He] personifies greatness in the real and true sense of the word.” MDC President and Pharmacy alumna Dr. Vivian Que-Azcona announced that the memorial lecture would be held annually every August 15 to commemorate the birth date of the founder, who is her father: “Let this Dr. Mariano Que [MQ] Memorial Lecture be our compass to reach our goal of ensuring that the best health-care service is within reach of all people.” FOP Secretary Assoc. Prof. Renz Kenneth G. Cadiang explained that the Dr. MQ Memorial Lecture aims to enrich the community pharmacy practice in the Philippines by contributing to a deeper and more

focused understanding on the important issues and innovations in the practice of community pharmacy today. Future lectures, Cadiang said, would dovetail with or meld into the academic, research, civic and social responsibility programs of the faculty and MDC supportive of efforts in taking a more in-depth look into community pharmacyrelevant courses and practices. In commemoration of the legacy of the MDC pioneer, members of the Que family gave a tribute to their late grandfather. Elena Anne Que-Andrada quoted Dr. Q’s life motto: “Please remember that no matter how rough life may seem, it is always important to say, ‘On! Sail On!’” A day earlier, a Holy Mass was presided over by FOP’s Regent Rev. Fr. Pompeyo F. de Mesa OP at the Santisimo Rosario Parish Church (UST Chapel). Afterward, a virtual program to open the sesquicentennial, or the 150th year of foundation, of the FOP was streamed on-

line through its official Facebook page. Its theme: “Dreaming Beyond our Seeing,” is a renewal of the faculty’s commitment and goals for the pharmacy, medical technology, biochemistry, and botany programs. The activities and flagship projects of the different departments include, among others, the 2021 Grand Alumni Homecoming on December 5, and a coffee-table book being prepared in cooperation with the FOP Alumni Association Foundation Inc. entitled: The Luminaries of the Faculty of Pharmacy. It will feature the history of the faculty, its pillars, and its 150 distinguished alumni. The virtual program concluded with the launch of the FOP Sesquicentennial Hymn, composed by Rev. Fr. Carlo Rey C. Canto OP, who is an alumnus of the BS Medical Technology degree. It was arranged by Carl Marius Uy and John Arman Navarro from the Conservatory of Music, and sung by the Pharmacy Glee Club, as well as the Pharmacy Glee Club Alumni Association.

Israel launches first Hebrew-Filipino book

HE Embassy of Israel in the Philippines recently launched the first Hebrew book translated into Filipino: Bigla, May Kumatok sa Pinto (Suddenly, a Knock on the Door) by revered Israeli author Etgar Keret. The book is known for its English version as a collection of short stories by Keret—a leading voice in Israeli literature and cinema, according to the embassy. His five best-selling story collections

have been translated into 46 languages. During the book launch on April 26, Keret ex pressed his hopes that Filipino readers will be able to relate more to the short stories, now that they are translated in their local language. He also encouraged the Filipino caregivers working in Israel to read the book. “This is another milestone that demonstrates the strong relations

between Israel and the Philippines. This book is one of the many areas of cooperation bet ween our countries in literature, culture and [the] arts,” Ambassador Rafael Harpaz said. “We hope.... many Filipinos—especially the young generation—will get a copy and read [it as] a product of good friendship.” The Filipino translation of Bigla...was done by U Z. Eliserio of the University of the Philippines’s

OP-R ANKING Indian lear ning institution Tata Institute of Social Sciences (TISS) and Ateneo de Manila University (ADMU) signed a memorandum of understanding on May 4 to promote exchanges in the field of disaster studies. With the understanding, TISS and ADMU will enable the exchange of students, faculty members and researchers; placement of students within the university or with industry partners for internship; exchange of information and academic resources of mutual interest; and activities such as collaborative researches, joint symposia and guest lectures. T he memorandum was sig ned by Prof. Sha l ini Bharat, who is TISS’ v icechancellor and director; as well as Fr. Roberto C. Yap— ADMU’s president, with Ambassador of India to the Philippines Shambhu S. Kumaran as w itness. TISS’ Jamsetji Tata School of Disaster Studies and ADMU’s School of Social Sciences and the School of Science and Engineering will be the principal partners. With more than seven decades in the field of disaster response, TISS was among the first institutions in Asia to offer a full-f ledged Master’s in Disaster Studies in 2007. The program covers both social sciences and technologies for disaster-risk reduction. Its faculty consists of experts on economics, law, environmental sciences, social work, community organization, gender studies, geographic information system and remote sensing, as well as hydrology. For its part, ADMU committed to a high degree of educational excellence and professional competence. It played a significant part in t he Phi l ippines’s develop ment through its social development programs and has extended assistance countrywide with its Disaster Response and Management or “DReAM” team. T he universit y, through its educational programs like Master’s degree in disaster-

risk and resilience, as well as projects like “Coastal Cities at Risk: Investing in Climate and Disaster Resilience,” has been advancing interdisciplinary and transdisciplinary approaches in addressing risk and building resilience. The increasing intensity a nd f requenc y of n at u ra l disasters across the globe, and the developmental, financia l and humanitar ian challenges that they present, call for greater international cooperation in disaster prevent ion, management and mitigation. Disaster Studies is emerging globally as a fullf ledged academic discipline that demands specialization, academic education, training and sharing of best practices. According to the embassy, the memorandum is an effort to encourage wide-ranging, development- or iented and forward-looking educational collaboration between entities from India and the Philippines, as part of a vibrant bi l atera l pa r t nership t hat addresses the future needs of both countries. “ T h is engagement be tween two leading academic institutions…ref lects both our shared resolve to work and also a sense of confidence in each other’s abilities as learning and growing institutions that can contribute meaningfully in response to emerging challenges,” Kumaran said in his address during the virtual signing ceremony. “ This is very timely, very opportune and very welcome.” For the embassy, the educational partnership in the field of disaster studies is also a ref lection of the importance attached by India to adopt a multidisciplinary approach to building disaster resilience. India seeks a cooperative approach to build resilience in geographies susceptible to natural disasters with leading global initiatives, especially that of the Coalition for Disaster Resilient Infrastructure, where the Philippines was formally invited to join. College of Arts and Literature. “Dur ing t his pandemic, and with many of us staying at home, books have been a g reat source of enter tainment, comfort, and escape. Keret’s stories provide these,” Head of National Bookstore and Anvil Publishing Alexandra Ramos-Padilla said in a video message. Anvil is the official publisher and distributor of the book. It is available in National Bookstore branches, as well as online shopping platforms, for only P395.

Education BusinessMirror

A8 Saturday, May 8, 2021

DepEd, PNU seal professional devt pact for teachers, school leaders

Editor: Mike Policarpio

PHL-India educational collab to enhance disaster resilience

Radenta, Lithan now provide higher digital learning courses

UST Pharmacy launches memorial lecture, unveils activities for 150th foundation year

teachers, school heads, and supervisors will benefit in the initial run of the program. “This shows that PNU—as the national center for teacher education—is committed to whole-

heartedly uphold its mission [of] nurturing innovative teachers and education leaders in our schools, and safeguarding the quality of education in the country,” PNU President Dr. Bert J. Tuga said.

Israel launches first Hebrew-Filipino book

Tourism&Entertainment BusinessMirror

Editor: Carla Mortel-Baricaua

Saturday, May 8, 2021 A9

Efforts boost Sustainable Tourism amid the pandemic Dr. Mina T. Gabor

THE bm traveler

he tourism sector is one of the hardest-hit industries by the Covid-19 pandemic, as it ground to a halt with the imposition of the nationwide quarantine in 2020. What could have been another promising year became a struggle to stay afloat for many tourism-related establishments. But for us at the International School of Sustainable Tourism (ISST), it was an opportunity to tap the virtual world in reaching out to learners locked down in their homes. The school was prepping for its 10th founding anniversary in May last year, but, consequently, was compelled to navigate cyberspace to pursue thrusts on sustainable tourism during the pandemic. We used the early months of the enhanced community quarantine to record YouTube video series, titled Changing Landscapes to provide practical pointers and laid out the groundwork for our online learning offerings. The ISST is a Silang, Cavitebased academy that specializes in education and training. When the quarantine was relaxed in the subsequent months, we proceeded with the conduct of its Sustainable Tourism Opportunities for Entrepreneurship

webinar series for stakeholders sidelined by the crisis. A collaboration with the Philippine Small and Medium Business Development Foundation Inc. (Philsmed) and Philippine Exporters Confederation Inc. (Philexport), the virtual educational programs explored the livelihood opportunities in farm tourism, urban gardening, with eminent local and foreign experts as resource persons. We also conducted a Lifestyle Health and New Consciousness webinar with former health secretary Jaime Galvez Tan, Dr. Albert Jo and Liz Mehta of HM Design to address emerging issues and concerns in the new normal. To support undertakings on food

ISST Strategic Planning and Development

Int’l Institute of Rural Reconstruction Integrated Farm

Cathy Turvill

Dr. Jaime Galvez Tan

Dr. Theresa Mundita Lim

Hitesh Mehta

security, the ISST conducted an Edible Landscaping forum with the University of the Philippines-Los Baños (UPLB) to provide a garden model for homes, commercial and other available vacant spaces as a source of healthy food source during the community quarantine and beyond. The said initiative, along with urban gardening, will be replicated in key local government units in Metro Manila and suburbs to help provide stable food supply. First to implement the program is Parañaque led by Mayor Edwin Olivares, to be followed by Pasay City. As part of its diversification, ISST launched its Food Travel series last July which put the spotlight on the rich culinary traditions and food resources of the different provinces. Pampanga, acknowledged as the country’s culinary capital because of its diverse gastronomic offerings and cultural heritage, is first to take center stage in the program. A joint effort with former President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo and

the Provincial Government, the two-day event featured restaurant stalwarts who helped transform Pampanga into a haven for food tourism with its unique blend of cooking traditions and innovations. Founded in 2010, the ISST is acclaimed by National Geographic Traveller Magazine global editor Costas Christ as the “first sustainable tourism school in the AsiaPacific region educating a new generation of leaders.” In pursuit of our vision, we opened in 2018 a field campus in collaboration the International Institute of Rural Reconstruction (IIRR) in Silang, Cavite. The strategic partnership with this prestigious global institution brings synergy to our shared mission and advocacy. As part of our belated 10th anniversary celebration, ISST will hold a series of events and trainings to sustain the momentum we have generated last year. Among these are the Global Faith-Based Tourism Conference in line with the Quincentennial Commemorations in the Philip-

pines, and the 7th National Farm Tourism Conference in Bohol, and the adjunct 4th Lakbay Bukid Award which will recognize the industry’s leading personalities. Fringe events include courses on event management certification, tour guiding/eco-guiding, effective customer service, mushroom growing, and bamboo production. Concluding the year is the Dine For A Cause for the benefit of the Indigenous Literacy Program for the Mangyan Hanunuo Tribe in Oriental Mindoro. We are also pleased to announce that the Philippines will host the International Ecotourism Travel Mart (IETM) at the IIRR which will gather global players and stakeholders. Set last year, the event will include new technologies and products which were developed as a response to the pandemic. Despite the logistical and resource challenges, we are confident that more partners, both foreign and local, will step forward to collaborate with the ISST in the fulfillment of its vision.

We may continue to encounter rough sailing, but the ISST is committed in its pursuit of being Southeast Asia’s premier sustainable tourism school by 2025. Author Mina T. Gabor was the founder and president of the Center for International Trade Exhibitions and Missions Inc. (CITEM) of the Dept. of Trade and Industry, and the Dept. of Tourism secretary from 1996 to 1998. She is the recipient of the Philippine Legion of Honor Award as reserved officer, Lt. Colonel, of the Philippine Army for her exemplary contributions for the development of tourism in the Philippines and her performance as Tourism secretary. She continues to work on her passion of promoting the Philippines through trade and tourism as the president of the International School of Sustainable Tourism (ISST), as founder and president of the Philippine Small and Medium Business Development Foundation Inc. (PHILSMED), and the president of the Automobile Association of the Philippines Travel Agency.

Bike and plant at Sarangani Bay B

Bikers plant mangroves at Sarangani Bay.

Coastal cleanup at Sarangani Bay

each bums have regarded Sarangani Bay as the Boracay of Mindanao, and for good reason. With its white sand, crystalline sea and endless sun, it was included in the Asia’s Top 50 Beaches in 2018 in the prestigious Australia-based Flight Network. But beyond the enticing beaches which span across a 230-km coastline, it is among the archipelago’s richest bodies of water being a hive of water sports, tourism, fishing, aquaculture, shipbuilding, and a host of economic activities. Because of its remarkable marine biodiversity, the bay was declared a Protected Seascape in 1996 by virtue of Presidential Proclamation 756 to protect its aquatic resources. The lush bay was later listed by the Department of Environment and Natural Resources as a Key Marine Biodiversity Area, with its 2,293-hectare coral resources, 60 live hard coral genera, 411 reef species, and 11 seagrass species. Spanning 215,950 hectares in Sarangani province and Gen. Santos City, it is habitat to dolphins, killer whales, dwarf and pygmy sperm whales, attesting to

the bay’s marine health. To mark the 25th proclamation anniversary of the Sarangani Bay Protected Seascape, over 500 bikers from the Soccsksargen region pedaled from General Santos City and planted propagules at mangrove forests along Sarangani’s seashore villages. Spearheaded by the DENR Region 12, through its Protected Area Management Office and Protected Area Management Board, the event was held to raise public awareness on the protection and conservation of the bay’s ecosystem. Dubbed Bike and Plant Activity, the 60-km environmental sports event ran through the province’s charming countryside, making pit stops and planted mangroves in the municipalities of Alabel, Malapatan and Glan. Situated on Sarangani’s east coast, the road is being primed as a drive tourism destination in southern Mindanao because of its scenic and culturally rich highways. Cyclists, motorcycle riders and road trippers drive through this touristic highway, which loops around the bay and the adjacent Davao Occidental province. Glan, also called as the Tour

Town, is home to scenic coves and white-sand shores, notably Gumasa Beach, site of the most-awaited Sarangani Bay (SarBay) Festival of wellness, sports, entertainment, and environmental activities. The sought-after beach party will be put off for the second year due to the Covid-19 pandemic. The bay’s western portion in Maasim, Kiamba and Maitum boast of amazing dive spots, which have earned it the Department of Tourism’s declaration as the Soccsksargen region’s diving capital. Sarangani Governor Steve Solon said the biodiversity-rich bay needs to be nurtured in the next 25 years, and pledged the provincial government’s support to ensure the bay’s sustainability. Wrapping up the modest celebration was a bay-wide cleanup along the 68 coastal barangays in cooperation with the village councils to rid the shores of solid wastes. Despite the low-key observance, the nurture of marine resource was never lost among stakeholders who consider the Sarangani Bay their home, marine resource, and proverbial pound-for-pound champ among the country’s bodies of water.

A10 Saturday, May 8, 2021 • Editor: Gerard S. Ramos

BusinessMirror

Chinese streaming platform presents new Korean drama

NANA and Lee Min-ki star in the iQIYI Original Oh! Master

HINESE streaming platform iQIYI is one of the biggest online video sites in the world. Founded in 2010 by Baidu, one of China’s largest online search engine, iQIYI has the streaming rights to many Asian titles and claims to have more than 500 million active users. iQIYI started producing original content in 2011. Oh! Master is the latest iQIYI Original and Korean drama that can be viewed on the iQIYI app. The romantic comedy features singer and actress Nana and actors Lee Min-ki and Kang Min-hyuk. Oh! Master is about the relationship of comedian Oh Joo-in (played by Nana) and Han Bi-soo (played by Lee Min-ki), a critically acclaimed thriller drama writer. The two characters seem to find it difficult to fall in love until they had to live together in the same house. “One of the unique things about Oh! Master is its cohabitation-romance genre. A man and a woman who are complete opposites live together, they grow on each other and draw comfort from each other. The story about the family members is heartwarming to watch,” said Nana on why she thinks the story is unique. Nana describes Oh Joo-in as a beginner when it comes to romantic love. “She’s very filial to her mother, they share a special bond. Her cheerfulness and kindheartedness are what we have in common,” said the actress. Lee Min-ki’s character Han Bi-soo is a man with Obsessive Compulsive Disorder. In real life, the actor said he also likes things to be in their proper places. He likes Oh! Master because it tackles not only romantic love. “The fact that this drama is filled with optimism and warm-heartedness attracted me to take up the role,” he said. “In the drama, Oh Joo-in expresses love for different people. There is romantic love between a man and a woman. She is also a loving daughter to her mother. I believe that the two different perspectives of love shown by Joo-in will give you the chance to rediscover the warmth of human relations,” said Nana. Viewers can access Oh! Master for free on iQIYI

International’s web site at www.iQ.com or on the platform’s free mobile application that can be downloaded from the App Store or Google Play Store. For access to new episodes as they drop, viewers have the option to sign up for weekly Standard VIP subscription at P49, or monthly Standard VIP account at P99 or a Premium VIP account at P249.

NEW LOOK FOR FOODPANDA

A POPULAR on-demand food delivery service, foodpanda now sports a brand-new look as it continues to expand its business verticals beyond food delivery and into quick commerce (q-commerce). The iconic pink panda will still be highly visible, but it gets a fun new treatment that will soon be seen on foodpanda customer’s everyday touchpoints, including the app, web site, the easy-to-spot rider bags and jackets, packaging and the brand’s marketing campaigns and social media pages. The new color enhancements serve to emphasize the foodpanda culture, which is friendly, caring, smart, and a little bit rebellious—not afraid to change the status quo or take risks. This refreshed identity

is part of the foodpanda commitment to continue offering q-commerce based solutions that will bring excitement, ease and convenience to more customers. The refreshed home screen on the foodpanda app, dubbed the “bento,” now allows users to seamlessly choose the foodpanda service they need while making it easier to explore top restaurants and promotions available in their location. The brand’s managing director Daniel Marogy said this refreshed look characterizes the super app’s enhanced experiences. “We want to communicate through design how seamless our services are, where we incorporate many of the delivery needs of our Filipino customers in our convenient app, especially as we are all trying to stay safe and stop the spread of Covid-19. The design direction is meant to bridge the gap between our tech and the real-life experience of millions of customers by offering a more user-friendly look that encourages them to better explore what foodpanda can offer.” Catch foodpanda’s new exciting look and feel. Visit www.foodpanda.ph or download the app on Google Play Store and the App Store. ■

Huawei says sales down 16.5 percent amid US sanctions BY JOE MCDONALD The Associated Press BEIJING—Embattled Chinese tech giant Huawei said on Wednesday first-quarter revenue fell after it sold its lower-priced Honor smartphone brand, but profitability improved. Sales declined 16.5 percent from a year earlier to 152.2 billion yuan ($23.5 billion) due in part to lower revenue for its consumer unit, the company said. It gave no earnings but said its profit margin improved by 3.8 percentage points to 11.1 percent. Huawei Technologies Ltd., China’s first global tech brand, is struggling to hold onto its global market share following US sanctions that devastated its smartphone sales, once among the world’s highest. The company also is the biggest maker of network gear used by phone and Internet carriers. Washington says the company is a security risk and might facilitate Chinese spying, an accusation Huawei denies. The sanctions bar access to US processor chips and services including Google’s music and other popular apps. Huawei designs its own chips, but manufacturers are barred from using US technology required to produce them. Honor was sold in November in hopes of reviving sales by separating it from the sanctions on the parent company. Wednesday’s announcement gave no details of sales by network gear, consumer and other business lines. “Twenty twenty-one will be another challenging

year for us, but it’s also the year that our future development strategy will begin to take shape,” Eric Xu, one of three executives who take turns as Huawei chairman, said in a statement. Huawei has responded by emphasizing its sales in China and for electric and self-driving cars, industrial networks and other technology that is less vulnerable to US pressure. Huawei has a stockpile of US chips for high-end smartphones but executives have said those were being used up. Wednesday’s announcement gave no details of sales by its network equipment or other business lines. Huawei, headquartered in the southern city of Shenzhen, says it is owned by the Chinese employees who make up half its work force of 197,000 in 170 countries. The company began reporting financial results a decade ago to try to defuse Western security concerns. Huawei’s founder, Ren Zhengfei, suggested in a letter to employees the company might considering having one of its business units join a stock exchange for the first time, The South China Morning Post of Hong Kong reported on Wednesday. Ren warned employees not to falsify accounting numbers, saying that might be a legal issue “if one of our businesses gradually enters the capital market in the future,” the Post reported. It said Ren gave no indication the company has such a plan. The company said it had no official statement on the report. Ren in the past has ruled out

selling shares to outsiders. He said that would distract management from serving customers and making long-range plans. Huawei reported earlier its sales of phones, network gear and other technology rose 3.8 percent in 2020 over a year earlier to 891.4 billion yuan ($135.8 billion), but that growth was down from 2019’s 19.1 percent.

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COLOROS UPDATE MAKES IT MORE INTUITIVE, CUSTOMIZABLE

RECENTLY, popular smartphone brand OPPO launched the newest addition to the Reno Series and the ultimate smartphone photography and videography powerhouse—the Reno5 series. But beyond the flashy industry-first camera features, the series also boasts of the global smart device brand’s latest operating software, ColorOS 11.1, which is designed to make life flow easier and smoother. Thanks to highly personalized features, ColorOS 11.1 allows users to tailor-fit their experience around the way they intuitively use their smartphone. Here are just some of the ways ColorOS 11.1 makes that happen: ■ GREAT CUSTOMIZATION. The latest iteration of the OS allows the user to unleash their creativity and make the system work for them with customizable home screens, icons, wallpapers, color schemes, and even dark modes. With three contrast levels available, the user can adjust their viewing experience during the day and at night. ■ NEW WAY TO RELAX AND RECHARGE, WHEREVER. Having trouble sleeping at night or needing a break from a stressful day? ColorOS11.1’s OPPO Relax 2.0 is the ticket. Apart from the free selection of sounds available to help them stay calm and breathe, Relax also comes with Sound Mix, a feature that allows you to create a true-to-life white noise mix of natural, urban, ASMR, and other everyday sounds. ■ INSTANTLY TRANSLATE TEXT WITH JUST THREE FINGERS. Powered by Google Lens, ColorOS 11.1 now allows the user to translate text in apps, webpages, and images by taking a three-finger screenshot to activate Google Translate on the smartphone. ■ ACCOMPLISH MULTIPLE THINGS IN JUST ONE HOME SCREEN. ColorOS 11.1 is a multitasker’s dream thanks to FlexDrop—the user can now take that important call, reply to messages, schedule delivery, and even play games on the same screen as FlexDrop allows the user to do that through resized windows. ■ CHARGE SAFELY FOR BETTER, LONGER BATTERY LIFE. Preserve the phone’s battery life with the OS’s Battery Guard, a smart feature that learns the user’s daily charging habits and controls the charging speed at night, ensuring the phone’s fully charged and ready to go at 100 percent by the time they wake up. When running low on juices in the middle of the day, the Super Power Saving Mode helps extend the phone’s battery life, even at 5 percent. ■ SHARE FILES SEAMLESSLY. Mobile data, network speed, and even mobile phone compatibility are no longer a problem when sharing files in between Android phones. With Nearby Share, the user can share images, videos, and other files without consuming any data. More information can be found at www.oppo.com.ph.

ENABLING PROFESSIONALS TO OWN THEIR WORK DAY

DELL Technologies recently introduced the world’s most powerful, secure and serviceable business detachable device for enterprise to help today’s work force power through their work from anywhere. The Latitude 7320 Detachable is designed for mobile professionals that are driven to grow their business and want a thin and light device. “We are living in a ‘do-from-anywhere’ world—one where we’re not pinned down to any one location for any one activity, where collaboration or connection happens in many forms and from anywhere,” said Meghana Patwardhan, vice president of Dell Latitude and Mobility Products, Dell Technologies. “This new Latitude detachable device is the result of our commitment and investments in connectivity, collaboration and sustainability, as well as security initiatives to enable different mobile work cases.” The Latitude 7320 Detachable packs more power in a new 12-inch form factor. It is the first Intel EVO-verified detachable, and with up to the latest 11th Gen Intel Core i7 vPro processors, it offers built-in security features, manageability, and the stability IT needs, while offering 54 percent more performance than its predecessor. For the most mobile workers who cannot afford downtime, the embedded Express Sign-In feature makes it possible for this device to sense their presence and automatically sign them in. Latitude 7320 Detachable is the only commercial detachable in the world that has this technology. In a world where video conferencing becomes essential to connect with colleagues and family, this device is equipped with advanced 5 MP front-facing and 8 MP rear-facing camera with Temporal Noise Reduction (TNR) to bring brighter, sharper visuals to video calls even while on-the-go or in low light. It also offers multiple connectivity options with Intel Wi-Fi 6, 4G LTE or eSIM capability with an integrated WWAN. Now available from authorized partners, more information about the Dell Latitude 7320 Detachable can be found at www.dell.com/en-us.

BusinessMirror

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Editor: Gerard S. Ramos

• Saturday, May 8, 2021 A11

Investing in people-first start-ups GCASH, GERWEISS PARTNER FOR SUSTAINABLE TRAVEL IN BORACAY

GCASH continues to deliver on being a sustainable payment solution for the travel industry by forging a partnership with GerWeiss, a homegrown sustainable transport provider with a nationwide presence. The partnership, which started in Boracay, focuses on cashless payments for GerWeiss’ fleet of electric tricycles—or e-trikes as they’re more popularly known. GCash users can now pay for their travel when they scan the QR code on a GerWeiss e-trike. GCash QR codes are reusable, ultimately reducing energy and resources spent in producing bills and coins. The partnership stands to benefit e-trike drivers and passengers as cashless transactions help protect them from the virus by allowing them to observe social distancing through contactless payments. GCash also provided financial literacy education and training to the drivers, including how to accept payments via GCash’s QR code. GerWeiss is an award-winning sustainable transportation company recognized by international institutions, such as the United Nations and the Asian Development Bank, with the goal of meeting growing transportation demands in a cost-conscious and environmentally responsible way. GCash is constantly pushing for the adoption of cashless payments as it supports the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas’s Digital Transformation Roadmap, where the agency aims to shift at least 50 percent of retail payment transactions to digital, and to have at least 70 percent of Filipinos have their own e-wallet by 2023. GCash currently has over 33 million users nationwide. Globe Fintech Innovations Inc. (Mynt), which operates GCash, is part of the portfolio companies of 917Ventures, the largest corporate incubator in the Philippines wholly-owned by Globe Telecom Inc. GCash is available for download on the App Store and Google Play. More information is available at www.gcash.com.

AN e-trike driver displays his GCash QR code

N 1996, Renato and Babie Sio established Sanitary Care Products Asia Inc. (SCPA) with the noble goal of creating 10 jobs for 10 people. Fastforward 25 years later, the Sio couple together with son Ven and daughter Lea now run an enterprise that has grown to over a thousand employees with 23 sales offices and seven plants nationwide. “Great love for what we do and the people we do it for” has been the running mantra of the Filipinoowned, Christian family business. SCPA is the company behind homegrown brands Sanicare, Femme, Tisyu, Cheers, Naturale and Jade. This motivation and great love for people is why the SCPA has partnered with the Asian Institute of Management-Dado Banatao Incubator (AIM-DBI) to find the next big start-up and enable Filipino dreams. Human Investment x Impact Grant for Entrepreneurship and Empowerment, or HIIGENE, celebrates SCPA’s silver anniversary with an initiative that empowers the new breed of Filipino business leaders. For SCPA, there is no better way to celebrate 25 years of success than giving back—not only because it is the right thing to do—but because it shares and honors a philosophy that allowed them to attain this accomplishment: Putting people first. HIIGENE is a social impact accelerator program that emphasizes and celebrates the principles of people management in starting, running and sustaining a Filipino enterprise. This is the first time that AIM-DBI will emphasize people management philosophy as their top criterion, fully integrating SCPA’s DNA in the program. It will be anchored in the Sio family’s legacy of a people-first philosophy, inspiring entrepreneurs to put up a trailblazing company built on their peoples’ loyalty, trust and respect. Through HIIGENE, SCPA will award P500,000, equity-free, to as much as three startups from AIM-DBI that show human investment and social impact infused in their business models, operations, or organization. “Human investment isn’t that expensive when you start reaping its returns—they may come slower than the margins, but are definitely still powerful.” The Sio family was quick to recognize in those seemingly insurmountable odds the return on their human investment. “Witnessing how your people would want to stay with you and for you is quite fulfilling, to say the least.” Prim Paypon, AIM-DBI executive director and founder of non-profit organization called The Dream Project PH, shared, “HIIGENE is the only time a local company is collaborating with a business school incubator work with start-ups as a pioneering

business-academe-start-up partnership. When you talk about financial grants or competition grants here and abroad, we always talk of the innovation of the product or the technology; you rarely come across—and probably this is the first of its kind in the Philippines—where the focus of the grant is going back to the people who keep the company thriving and growing. The winning start-up[s] will be mentored by the founders themselves through the HIIGENE Mentorship Program crafted by SCPA and AIM-DBI.”

THE SOUND OF PREMIUM

BEFORE buying anything, I often suggest two things to consider: purpose and price, that way you could narrow your choices to a more manageable level. There’s no use thinking about getting a pair of P10,000 earbuds if you only have half the budget, just as you can’t limit yourself to a price point if you want advanced features like active noise cancellation (ANC), battery life and superb sound quality. Jabra is one of those brands that target more advanced users and discerning audiophiles. The Danish audio brand is also known for its innovation with its cutting-edge designs and compact form factor. Both the Elite 65 and Elite 75 series of earbuds have proven why they deserve the “Elite” branding. The series’s latest iteration, the Elite 85t, furthers that reputation with some enhancements making it a compelling case for your upgrade. However, the P11,999 price tag might seem to be out of reach— unless you are willing to stretch your pocket a bit. Included in the box is the pair of the Elite 85 earbuds, a charging case, a short USB-C cable, and three sets of different-sized silicon EarGels to suit each and every ear size. The Jabra Elite 85t earbuds distinguishes itself from the competition because of its ergonomic design, effective noise cancelling, and Grade-A microphone array. Exploring the device, you’ll find the Jabra logo on each earbud and you can control playback commands by clicking either panel. You can reconfigure and make other adjustments via a much improved Jabra Sound+ app. The cluster of tiny holes at the tip of the earbud housings is for the six-microphone array which are used for calls and noise canceling. Instead of those circular ear tips of previous generations, the Elite 85t comes with oblong ear tips which are supposed to fit more comfortably within the ear canal. I suggest you spend some time trying out those eargels to get the best fit. The Jabra Elite 85t now has 12mm speakers— that’s twice the size of its predecessor, allowing it

to produce bigger sound, better balanced soundstage and more powerful bass. One of the best things I liked about the Elite 75 I reviewed last year was its booming bass, and it gets even better with the 85t. Bass reproduction is amazing and if you love listening at high volumes (which I strongly advise against, although I am guilty myself sometimes), it won’t be problem with the Jabra Elite 85t buds as audio doesn’t distort even at max volume. Listening at loud volumes outside might be a problem and could even be downright dangerous but with the Elite 85t’s HearThrough feature—Jabra’s take on passthrough technology—you can quickly be aware of your surroundings with just a tap of a button. HearThrough allows you to hear surrounding sounds through the earcups/earbuds while you are wearing them. Ambient sounds are picked up by the microphones and transmitted to the speakers. HearThrough works when listening to music, when on calls (product-dependent), and also when there is no speaker sound. As we continue to work in this “flexible” or “hybrid” work setup, it comes with the demand for the ability to take calls anywhere. The Jabra Elite 85t bring outstanding call quality for the user and the person on the other end, thanks to the 6-mic technology (three on each earbud, two on the outside, one on the inside). ■

fill out a detailed form with personal information. In some cases, the attackers asked for payment of a token amount for delivery. Last, Kaspersky experts found spam letters offering services on behalf of Chinese manufacturers. The emails offered products to diagnose and treat the virus, but the emphasis was on the sale of

vaccination syringes. “In 2021, we saw a continuation of 2020 trends. Cybercriminals are still actively using the Covid-19 theme to entice potential victims. As coronavirus vaccination programs have been rolled out, spammers have adopted the process as bait. It is important to remember that though such offers may look very favorable, the likelihood of a successful deal is zero. The user can avoid losing data or, in some cases, money if they remain vigilant to the supposed lucrative offers distributed online,” comments Tatyana Shcherbakova, a security expert at Kaspersky (www.kaspersky.com). In order to avoid falling victim to a scam, Kaspersky also advises users: ■ To be skeptical of any unusually generous offers and promotions; ■ To verify that messages are coming from reliable sources; ■ Not to follow links from suspicious e-mails, instant messages or social network communication; ■ To check the authenticity of websites they visit; and, ■ To install a security solution with up-to-date databases that include knowledge of the latest phishing and spam resources.

The vaccination cyberthreat SCAMMERS are constantly searching for new ways to steal users’ data. Last year, a completely new category of opportunity became one of the most profitable scams for fraudsters. They extensively used Covid-19 related spam letters and phishing pages to benefit from the year’s most alarming and highprofile news story. According to a new Kaspersky report, “Spam and Phishing in Q1 2021” scammers are continuing to exploit this epidemiological challenge—this time, focusing on the vaccination process. Kaspersky experts discovered various types of phishing pages distributed all over the world. As well as spam letters, recipients are invited to get a vaccine, take part in a survey, or diagnose Covid-19. For instance, some users from the UK received an email that appeared to come from the country’s National Health Service. The recipient was invited to be vaccinated, having first confirmed their desire to be vaccinated by following the link. To make a vaccination appointment, the user had to fill in the form with their personal data, including bank card details. As a result, they handed their financial and personal data to the attackers. Another way to gain access to users’ personal data has been through fake vaccination surveys. Scammers

sent e-mails on behalf of large pharmaceutical companies producing Covid-19 vaccines, inviting the recipient to take part in a short survey. All participants were promised a gift for their participation in the survey. After answering the questions, the victim was redirected to a page with the “gift”. To receive the prize, users were asked to

THE Jabra Elite 85t

Sports BusinessMirror

A12

| Saturday, May 8, 2021 mirror_sports@yahoo.com.ph Editor: Jun Lomibao

Nievarez Olympic dream fades in Asia, Oceania rowing qualifiers

RIS NIEVAREZ saw his Tokyo Olympics dream get washed away at Tokyo Bay after crashing out of the men’s singles sculls semifinals at the World Rowing Asia and Oceania Olympic and Paralympic Qualification Regatta at the Sea Forest Waterway in Japan on Friday. Nievarez did better over the 2,000-meter race with a time of seven minutes and 37.55 seconds—he clocked 8:11.40 in Thursday’s heats—but his effort was not enough to gain qualification for Tokyo. “We started training only last January and we did our best, but we are very happy to compete here,” the 21-year-old Nievarez of Atimonan (Quezon) told BusinessMirror. “We will just accept our fate for now, and then prepare for Paris [2024].” Only the top five rowers will earn tickets to Tokyo. “It’s too bad that Cris faced the world’s strongest rowers. But lessons learned, we look forward to Paris 2024,” said Philippine Rowing Association President Patrick “Pato” Gregorio said. Nievarez’s time was good for fifth place in his side of the semifinals, but ranked ninth in the 12-athlete penultimate race. Japan’s Ryuta Arakawa (7:01.59) won the gold medal for an Olympic slot, along with silver medalist Iran’s Bahman Nasiri (7:08.98), bronze medalist Kazakhstan’s Vladislav Yakovlev (7:09.85), fourth placer India’s Jakar Khan (7:10.42) and fifth placer Uzbekistan’s Mehkrojbek Mamatkulov (7:17.96). “We really need to train

harder and our opponents are very competitive here. Maybe in the next Olympics,” Head C oach Edgardo Macabitas Maerina said. “Cris is very young and he’s still going to improve.” The country’s doubles sculls bets— Melcah Jen Caballero and Jonie Delgaco and Zueriel Sumintac and Roque Abala Jr.—were eliminated early in the tournament. Josef Ramos

TOKYO Olympic organizing committee President Seiko Hashimoto addresses Friday’s weekly briefing.

HIDILYN DIAZ (center), her Chinese coach Kaiwen Gao and conditioning coach Julius Naranjo pose with their vaccine certificates.

FREE VACCINES FOR TOKYO BETS L

AUSANNE, Switzerland—Vaccine developers Pfizer and BioNTech will donate doses to inoculate athletes and officials preparing for the Tokyo Olympics, the International Olympic Committee (IOC) said Thursday. Delivery of doses is set to begin this month to give Olympic delegations time to be fully vaccinated with a second shot before arriving in Tokyo for the games, which open on July 23. It’s the second major vaccination deal for the IOC. An agreement was announced in March between the IOC and Olympic officials in China to buy and distribute Chinese vaccines ahead of the Tokyo Games and next year’s Beijing Winter Games. The new Pfizer offer gives the IOC greater coverage worldwide ahead of Tokyo with most countries yet to authorize emergency use of Chinese vaccines. “We are inviting the athletes and participating delegations of the upcoming Olympic and Paralympic Games to lead by example and accept the vaccine where and when possible,” IOC President Thomas Bach said in a statement.

The Pfizer donation followed talks between the firm’s chairman and CEO, Albert Bourla, and Japanese Prime Minister Yoshihide Suga. “Following this conversation, the Japanese government had a meeting with the IOC and now the donation plan has been realized,” Pfizer said in a statement. The IOC said any vaccination program must be done “in accordance with each country’s vaccination guidelines and consistent with local regulations.” The IOC-China vaccine deal includes two doses being made available to the general public for each dose received by an Olympic participant in that country. The Spanish Olympic Committee said Thursday the nearly 600 members of its delegation traveling to Japan will start being vaccinated with Pfizer doses this month. Other countries, including Australia, South Korea and Italy, have also been making arrangements to vaccinate their teams. Tokyo Olympic organizing committee P resident Seiko Hashimoto, meanwhile, said Friday that a visit to Japan this month by Bach seemed unlikely with a state of emergency order being extended by the government to Tokyo and other areas until May 31. Canceling the trip could be embarrassing for the IOC and local organizers who say they can hold a “safe and secure” Olympics in the middle of a pandemic as cases surge in Japan—

particularly in Tokyo and Japan’s second metropolis of Osaka. The postponed Olympics are to open in only 11 weeks, on July 23, followed by the Paralympics on August 24. “Frankly speaking, I personally think it would be quite tough for him to come now,” Hashimoto said at a weekly briefing, adding that “nothing had been decided.” “But the extension of the state of emergency and having him visit during that time will mean that President Bach will be visiting in a quite a difficult time,” Hashimoto said. “I think that would be a very difficult thing for him.” Bach said recently he hoped to go to Hiroshima to meet the torch relay—and presumably to Tokyo—on May 17 and 18. But he has said his plans were not finalized. Coincidentally, powerful IOC member Sebastian Coe is in Tokyo for a track and field test event on Sunday at the new $1.4-billion national stadium. Coe is the president of World Athletics, the governing body of track and field, and was also the head of the 2012 London Olympics. He is seen as a potential successor to Bach when the German’s term ends in 2025, and is also a twotime Olympic gold medalist in the 1,500 meters. Coe has been laudatory about a half marathon test event run earlier this week in Sapporo. He’s also sympathetic with Hashimoto trying to pull off the Olympics. AP

IATF okays Fiba Asia tourney in Clark

RESIDENTIAL Spokesman Atty. Harry Roque said the Inter-Agency Task Force for the Management of Emerging Infectious Diseases (IATF) has granted the Samahang Basketbol ng Pilipinas’s (SBP) request to host the International Basketball Federation (Fiba) Asia Cup qualifier next month in Clark. But Roque stressed that based on IATF Resolution 114, the setup of the June 16 to 20 tournament “should be under a very strict bubble environment as recommended by the IATF technical working group.” “Testing and quarantine protocols of arriving foreign participants shall be subject to the Fiba-required protocols,” Roque said. The IATF also approved the request of the Philippine Basketball Association teams to hold 5-on-5 scrimmages in areas under modified general community quarantine or general community quarantine. SBP President Al Panlilio thanked the

IATF for approving the event and extended his gratitude to Philippine Sports Commission Chairman William Ramirez and Deputy Chief Implementer of the National Task Force Against Covid-19 Secretary Vince Dizon. “The SBP has been working with Fiba, government agencies, and other partners to ensure a successful and, more importantly, a safe bubble,” Panlilio said in a statement coursed through his special assistant Ryan Gregorio. We’re looking forward to hosting our friends from Groups A, B, and C and showing them the kind of hospitality that the Philippines is known for,” Panlilio added. The Philippines, 3-0 won-lost in the first two windows, will face South Korea on June 16 and Indonesia on June 19 before playing South Korea again on June 20 in Group A that also includes Thailand. The No. 1 and No. 2 teams at the end of the qualifiers from each group will move into the tournament proper. Josef Ramos

Nadal: Retirement’s not in my mind at all RAFAEL NADAL is turning 35 next month. AP

Hidilyn receives 1st AstraZeneca dose in Malaysia

ADRID— Less than a month from his 35th birthday, Rafael Nadal is not thinking about retirement at all. Speaking by video conference Thursday after winning his fourth Laureus Award, the 20-time Grand Slam champion was asked how many more years he wants to play. “Well, thanks for the question, but no idea,” Nadal replied. “I can’t predict my future. I am not worried about that. When the day arrives, I’m going to know.” And what might that day be like? It’ll be, Nadal explained, when he no longer feels that he “can keep fighting or keep enjoying the competition at the level I am used to.” His honor as Sportsman of the Year during

By Josef Ramos

IDILYN DIAZ got her first shot of the AstraZeneca anti-Covid-19 vaccine on Friday morning in Malaysia, becoming the second Tokyo Olympics-bound Filipino after boxer Eumir Felix Marcial to get inoculated 10 weeks before the Games open. Diaz, a silver medalist in women’s weightlifting at the Rio 2016 Games, got her vaccine along with her Chinese coach Kaiwen Gao and conditioning coach Julius Naranjo at the University of Kebangsaan Malaysia Health Facility in Selangor. “I would like to thank the Malaysian government for confirming our registration [for vaccination],” Diaz, who will be seeing action in her fourth consecutive Olympics, told BusinessMirror minutes after leaving the health facility. Diaz thanked her Filipino friends in Malaysia, Gina Frias and Andrew Jackson, for helping her team get the vaccines. Diaz will be competing at a heavier weight class in Tokyo at 55 kgs—she was in the 53-kg category in Rio. She got her official qualification at the Asian Weightlifting Championships in Tashkent late last month. Asked of if she experienced any adverse effects, Diaz said: “So far I feel nothing unusual.” The gold medalist at both the Jakarta 2018 Asian Games and 2019 Southeast Asian Games is focusing on building strength. “I still came from a tournament last month that’s why I am not pushing myself yet so hard maybe around 70 to 80 percent,” Diaz said. Marcial got the Pfizer vaccine in March in Las Vegas, Nevada. Philippine Olympic Committee President Rep. Abraham “Bambol” Tolentino, meanwhile, said they are figuring out a way how to inoculate the other qualified Filipino athletes who are training abroad. Tolentino said one option is to coordinate with the national Olympic committees where the athletes are based and the second option is to obliged the athletes to come home. Pole vaulter EJ Obiena is in Italy, gymnast Carlos Yulo is in Japan and the other boxers—Nesthy Petecio, Irish Magno and Carlo Paalam—are in Thailand. Moderna vaccines, courtesy of ports tycoon Enrique Razon, intended for the Philippine Olympic delegation are in transit to the country, according to Tolentino.

Batangas City offers gyms to PBA teams

LL 12 Philippine Basketball Association (PBA) teams could start 5-on-5 scrimmages as early as May 18 not in Metro Manila but in Batangas City instead, according to PBA Commissioner Willie Marcial. Marcial told a virtual press conference on Friday afternoon that Batangas City would be willing to host the PBA teams. The city and Batangas province is under modified general community quarantine. “We were told by the local government unit leaders to shore up our protocols, but we assured them that we actually have stringent measures,” Marcial said. “But we are looking to adopt new testing protocols. All the practice venues are good.” Marcial said the Batangas Coliseum and Batangas State University and Lyceum gyms meet the league’s standards, adding each could accommodate three teams a day for practice. But Marcial didn’t hint on the league opening its 46th season in any of those facilities. Batangas City is 92 kms away from Metro Manila, equivalent to a two-hour drive. He added that teams could also hold bubble training camp in Batangas City. “Hopefully, practices can begin the earliest on May 18, but I will meet next week all team representatives, including managers, players and coaches, to let them know of the protocols,” he said. “We have a new system of swab testing, that everyone should be tested seven days prior to returning to practice.” Josef Ramos a digital ceremony from Seville, Spain, was not the only Laureus Award for someone from the world of tennis: Naomi Osaka was selected as Sportswoman of the Year and Billie Jean King got the Lifetime Achievement Award. Among the other recipients Thursday were Formula One world champion Lewis Hamilton, the first winner of the Athlete Advocate of the Year for his work against racism; Kansas City Chiefs quarterback Patrick Mahomes, Breakthrough Award; Canadian snowboarder Max Parrot, Comeback Award; Bayern Munich, Team of the Year; and Liverpool star Mo Salah, Sporting Inspiration Award. Nadal, who is competing this week at the clay-court Madrid Open, adds this latest Laureus recognition to his 2006 Breakthrough Award, 2011 Sportsman Award and 2014 Comeback Award. This one arrives after he won his record-extending 13th French Open championship last October, allowing the Spaniard to equal Roger Federer’s men’s record of 20 major singles trophies overall. Nadal can break that mark by winning another title at Roland Garros, where main-draw play begins May 30. He’ll turn 35 on June 3. “The titles or the numbers never distract [from] my goal, and my goal is just to keep going.... I am still motivated,” Nadal said. “I would love to give myself a chance to win another time in Paris. Let’s see.” AP