BusinessMirror May 11, 2022 by BusinessMirror

Biz groups upbeat, but flag risks for new govt By Andrea E. San Juan

HE Philippine Chamber of Commerce and Industry (PCCI) said on Tuesday the incoming administration must be given time to draw up their plans to accelerate economic growth. For its part, the Joint Foreign Chambers (JFC) hailed the successful conduct of Monday’s national and local elections, and expressed hope of continuing to work with government officials all over the country to recover from the pandemic. “Let’s give the incoming administration time to draw up and share their plans in making our country more progressive. Let’s stay positive,” PCCI President George Barcelon said in a news statement on Tuesday. Barcelon emphasized that presidential frontrunner Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr. will be faced with the same financial challenges due to the prolonged Covid-19

pandemic and the ongoing conflict in Eastern Europe. The PCCI president thinks the incoming government should watch out for debt and inflation issues, as these indicate signs of an economic downturn, which is similar to other countries. He also gave credit to Finance Secretary Sonny Dominguez for a smooth transition from the outgoing to the new administration. “There will be blips in rating and downward trend,” he said, but added that, “our macroeconomic fundamentals are intact” and President Duterte’s administration’s economic reforms are in place. He praised Finance Secretary Dominguez, “who provided a sound takeoff point for the new administration.” Just last week, Dominguez, the designated representative of President Duterte to the Philippines’ Climate Change Commission, met with Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) outgoing president Shinichi Kitaoka

and current president Akihiko Tanaka in Tokyo, Japan, following the signing of the 30-billion yen loan agreement for the second phase of the Covid-19 Crisis Response Emergency Support Loan (CCRESEL 2) facility. Dominguez and the JICA president also looked forward to the implementation of the Subic Bay Regional Development Master Plan after it was finalized recently with the JICA survey mission team’s assistance. The masterplan will serve as a blueprint to maximize the economic development potential of Subic Bay and its surrounding areas. On the recent enactment of the amendatory laws to the Public Service Act (PSA), Retail Trade Liberalization Act (RTLA), and Foreign Investments Act (FIA), Dominguez noted: “These three forward-looking measures widen the horizon for investments. They create numerous opportunities for synergy between local and international firms.”

“There is now enough space for international firms, especially those at the cutting edge of information technologies, to form joint ventures with Filipino companies,” he added. Through the amended PSA, public services in the country such as telecommunications and airlines are now open to 100 percent foreign ownership, while public utilities are retained as majority Filipino-owned, subject to the 60-40 rule. The finance chief noted that the amended RTLA lowered the minimum paid-up capital requirement for foreign corporations and simplified the qualification requirements for foreign retailers. Dominguez, in April, urged the foreign retailers to expand and establish their retail trade operations in the Philippines following the loosened market entry barriers in the retail industry. See “Biz,” A2

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OF MANILA JOURNALISM AWARDS ROTARYROTARY CLUB OFCLUB MANILA JOURNALISM AWARDS

2006 National Newspaper the Year 2006 National Newspaper of theofYear 2011 National Newspaper the Year 2011 National Newspaper of theofYear 2013 Business Newspaper of the 2013 Business Newspaper of the Year Year 2017 Business Newspaper of the Year 2017 Business Newspaper of the Year 2019 Business Newspaper of the Year 2019 Business Newspaper of the Year 2021 Pro Patria Award 2021 Pro Patria Award PHILIPPINE STATISTICS AUTHORITY 2018 Data Champion PHILIPPINE STATISTICS AUTHORITY 2018 Data Champion

EJAP JOURNALISM AWARDS EJAP JOURNALISM AWARDS

BUSINESS NEWS NEWS BUSINESS SOURCESOURCE OF THE YEAR OF THE YEAR

(2017, 2018, 2019,2018, 2020)2019, 2020) (2017,

DEPARTMENT OF SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY DEPARTMENT OF SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY 2018 BANTOG MEDIA AWARDS

2018 BANTOG MEDIA AWARDS

broader look atattoday’s today’s business AA Abroader broaderlook lookat today’sbusiness business

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Wednesday, May 11, 2022 Vol. 17 No. 213

P25.00 nationwide | 2 sections 24 pages | 7 days a week

BBM SEEN COMPLETING DUTERTE GOVT REFORMS n

By Cai U. Ordinario

Key Cabinet appointments will be focus of investors

@caiordinario

MARCOS JR. administration would pave the way for the completion of the “unfinished business” of the Duterte administration, according to local economists. Economists such as Ateneo Center for Research and Development (ACERD) Associate Director Ser Percival K. Peña-Reyes said this means the passage of the remaining tax reform packages as well as other reform measures. The Duterte administration has been undertaking reforms such as the amendments to the Retail Trade Liberalization Act, Foreign Investment Act, and the Public Service Act, which the National Economic and Development Authority (Neda) considered as achievements of the outgoing administration. “We would probably have more of the same, status quo. He [Marcos Jr.] cannot drastically change the course of the economy right now. And even if he wanted to promise all of these things, P20 rice, subsidies here and there, where will these come from? What he can do really is to keep the reforms being done by the current administration,” PeñaReyes said. “These reforms are outwardoriented and geared toward attracting more FDI [Foreign Direct Investments] because we are internally constrained, we cannot promise spending because of very limited income and revenue generation,” he added. See “BBM,” A2

PESO exchange rates

By Bianca Cuaresma @BcuaresmaBM

IN this image from video posted on the Bongbong Marcos Facebook page, presidential candidate and former senator Ferdinand Marcos Jr. issues a statement to the media on Monday, May 9, 2022, in Manila. The namesake son of late Philippine dictator Ferdinand Marcos appeared to have been elected Philippine president by a landslide in an astonishing reversal of the 1986 “People Power” prodemocracy revolt that sent his father into exile after two decades in power. Bongbong Marcos Facebook page via AP

COMELEC EXPLAINS ‘FASTEST’ TRANSMISSION OF RESULTS By Samuel P. Medenilla

@sam_medenilla

T was an election of many firsts. Following the fastest transmission rate of election returns (ER) of the Commission on Elections (Comelec) in the last decade, former senator Ferdinand “Bongbong” R. Marcos Jr. is now expected to win the 2022 presidential race. After just four hours following the end of the voting period

for the May 9, 2022 National and Local Elections (NLE), over 80 percent of the election results from the 106,175 clustered precincts were already transmitted to Comelec’s main server. A s of 4 pm on Tuesday, 104,717 or 98.62 percent of the clustered servers already sent their respective ERs. Likewise, 820 or 58.32 percent of the 1,406 overseas ERs were also transmitted. See “Comelec,” A2

ELECTION 2022 PARTIAL RESULTS* PRESIDENT 1 2 3 4 5

BONGBONG MARCOS LENI ROBREDO MANNY PACQUIAO ISKO MORENO PING LACSON

31,038,027 14,791,754 3,626,674 1,887,923 880,808

VICE PRESIDENT 1 2 3 4 5

SARA DUTERTE KIKO PANGILINAN TITO SOTTO WILLIE ONG LITO ATIENZA

31,484,298 9,213,814 8,173,249 1,843,684 266,958

*Partial and unofficial results as of 8:02 pm, May 10, 2022, representing 98.11% of the nationwide election returns.

NVESTORS will be closely watching developments in the political scene, including the early policies of the incoming president and the credibility of the latest election results, a local economist said on Tuesday. In a note on the effect of the latest national elections on the economy, Rizal Commercial Banking Corporation (RCBC) chief economist Michael Ricafort said: “Investors would be closely monitoring the elections if it would be clean, honest, credible and peaceful, as an important first step/part of democracy.” Ricafort said investors’ next step would be to evaluate the incoming president’s actions for the first 100 days, especially the appointment of the members of the Cabinet and economic team. Some of them, he added, are adopting a wait-and-see attitude as a matter of prudence, while waiting for details in the coming days/weeks. A day after the elections, the Philippine Stock Exchange (PSE) index was down 0.58 percent, with declines seen across all sectors except holding first. See “Investors,” A2

n US 52.4850 n japan 0.4026 n UK 64.7245 n HK 6.6862 n CHINA 7.7960 n singapore 37.7427 n australia 36.4561 n EU 55.4189 n SAUDI arabia 13.9927

Source: BSP (10 May 2022)

BusinessMirror

Wednesday, May 11, 2022

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Locsin flies to Washington DC for Biden-led US-Asean summit Historian pitches hiking funds

OREIGN Affairs Secretary Teodoro L. Locsin Jr. has left Manila to attend the highly-anticipated United StatesAssociation of Southeast Asian Nations (Asean) Special Summit in Washington D.C. on May 12 and 13. The Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) said this participation reflects the

Philippines’s commitment to working with its Southeast Asian neighbors and the US for a sustainable post-pandemic recovery and a peaceful and secured region. Locsin is expected to join Asean leaders in a number of events hosted by President Joseph Biden Jr. and other US government officials during the two-day summit that aims

to enhance and chart the future of Asean-US cooperation, focusing on areas like pandemic recovery, health security, maritime security, climate change, clean energy transformation, digital economy, trade, and sustainable infrastructure, among others. President Duterte designated Locsin as his representative, with the President being

quoted earlier as saying it is hard for him to leave the country just a day after the national and local elections. The special summit is the second of its kind hosted by the US since it became Asean’s dialogue partner in 1977, making it a momentous occasion celebrating 45 years of US-Asean partnership. With PNA

Investors. . .

day’s close. The total volume of trade was lower at $691.6 million from the $878.5 million in the previous trading day. Ricafort said the key “success factors” that investors are looking at from the new Philippine president in 2022 are policies that would help sustain the country’s economic recovery and development, as well as attract more investments into the country. Among these factors are the appointment of a credible and competent economic

team, stronger institutions and rule of law, and whether there will be continuation of economic and fiscal reforms. Ricafort said investors will also look out for whether the next president will have a focus on economic recovery measures from the pandemic such as the re-opening of the economy, creation of more jobs, improving the government’s fiscal position, increased infrastructure spending, among others. It will also be crucial for investors that the

next president has a more effective response against the Covid-19 pandemic, has policies that promote environment, society, governance (USG) to help attract more investments, and will improve diplomatic relations with the country’s biggest trading partners and sources of foreign investments. Investors are also looking at whether the president will have strong support from lawmakers needed to pass more reform measures that require legislation.

groups said in a statement on Tuesday. The JFC is a coalition of the American, Australian-New Zealand, Canadian, European, Japanese, Korean chambers and Philippine Association of Multinational Companies Regional Headquarters Inc. (Pamuri). The group of foreign chambers represents over 3,000 member companies engaged in around $100 billion worth of trade and some $30 billion worth of investments in the Philippines. JFC supports and promotes open international trade, increased foreign investment, and improved conditions for business to benefit both the Philippines and the countries the JFC members represent. The Philippines held its first ever National and Local Elections (NLE) during a pandemic on May 9, 2022. Over 65.83 million voters were registered to vote in 106,174 clustered precincts nationwide. Comelec Commissioner Marlon S. Casquejo, however, said on

Tuesday that based on their partial data, there was a 80.38-percent voter turnout for the 2022 local polls but this could increase

since there are still 1,000 vote counting machines, which have yet to transmit their election results.

Comelec. . .

which they implemented for the AES for the 2022 polls. “We conducted [an] extensive study of our transmission mode after the 2019 elections. We then enhanced it and also made some additions,” Casquejo said in a press conference on Tuesday. “So we are confident we will have high transmission [for the 2022 polls],” he added. He also disclosed that they performed Pre-Logic Accuracy Test and stress test for each of the vote counting machines (VCM), when sending ERs.

Continued from A1

Peso stable

Data from the Bankers Association of the Philippines (BAP), meanwhile, showed the peso performing relatively stable against the dollar on Tuesday at P52.37 to a dollar from the P52.5 to a dollar in the previous

Biz. . . Continued from A1

Foreign investors

Meanwhile, foreign investors have lauded the Philippines for showing again the strength of its democracy during the campaign period and elections. The Joint Foreign Chambers (JFC) also looked forward to working with government officials all over the country in a postpandemic recovery. “As business chambers, we hope to continue to work closely with government officials at all levels throughout the country for the recovery from the pandemic and to maintain high levels of GDP growth, infrastructure development, job creation, and foreign direct investment [FDI] inflows best achieved by continuing the governance and policies of the current and previous administrations,” the foreign business

Continued from A1

Fast transmission

Comelec Commissioner Marlon S. Casquejo said it was the fastest transmission rate they recorded since the start of the implementation of Automated Election System (AES) in 2010. In 2010, it took the clustered precincts 11 hours to transmit 70 percent of the Ers; while for the 2016, the last presidential elections, it took them 6 hours to breach the 80-percent mark. Casquejo attributed this year’s record transmission to the comprehensive tests and upgrades, including the transmission package for vote counting machines,

Partial and unofficial

Aside from the Comelec main server, the ERs were also sent to the transparency server, which is then used by the Parish Pastoral Council for Responsible Voting (PPCRV) and other media firms for their parallel quick count. Based on the “partial and unofficial” count of the concerned media entities with access to the transparency server, Ferdinand “Bongbong” R. Marcos Jr. is leading by a wide margin in the presidential candidate with around 31 million votes. He is followed by Leonor “Leni” G. Robredo with 14.78 million votes and Emmanuel “Manny” D. Pacquiao with 3.62 million votes. For vice president, Sara Duterte-Carpio got the most votes with 31.44 million. Francis “Kiko” N. Pangilinan came in second place with 9.2 million votes and Vicente “Tito” C. Sotto is in third place with 8.17 million votes. Comelec guaranteed the accuracy of the results presented in their transparency server, which is supposed to mirror the results received by their main server. Casquejo noted that the partial and unofficial votes will not serve as basis for the proclamation of the winning president and vice president candidates by the National Board of Canvassers (NBOC). Instead, the NBOC will rely on the Certificates of Canvass (COC), which are consolidated ERs from the Provincial Board of Canvassers (PBOC) and the City Board of Canvassers (CBOC). With the record-breaking pace of the transmission of results, Casquejo said they hope to complete the proclamation of winning senators within the week.

Concern: ‘47 percent’ lead

Some netizens, meanwhile, flagged the consistent 47 percent lead between Marcos and Robredo in the “partial and official” count, which they claim may be a sign of irregularity. Casquejo was quick to allay such concern stressing that the percentage difference was statistically probable and a result of the real-time transmission of polling precincts. Furthermore, he noted that their AES went through stringent certification and local source code review to ensure it does not include any suspicious codes. He added that election watchdogs could also counter check the results in their transparency server with the election results in polling precincts to check if there is any cheating the poll results. “We can do our own quick count and then we can demand or ask for the VVPAT [Voter-verified paper audit trail],” Casquejo said. As an additional safeguard, he said the Random Manual Audit (RMA), which will start soon, will also help test the accuracy of the VCMs.

for marketing heritage tourism Continued from A16

In the Philippines, Silva mentioned that Bataan Death March markers are often vandalized or destroyed, and cites the demolition of the Jai Alai art deco building built in 1939, as examples of government neglect and the lack of “heritage consciousness” among Filipinos in general.

‘Training isn’t easy’

He urged government and the private sector to look into the prospects and financial benefits of heritage tourism, and provide more support into the area. He added that heritage tourism must receive an increase in marketing funds. “This is not to diminish, the cash cow that is Boracay, El Nido, Bohol and other beach experiences. However, visits to monuments historical sites, heritage homes and buildings, indigenous and ethnic enclaves, gardens and estates, and all the elements that

BBM. . . Continued from A1

Build, Build, Build

Other economists such as Victor A. Abola from the University of Asia and the Pacific (UA&P) said continuity may also come in the form of the Build, Build, Build (BBB) program. Abola said this would benefit sectors such as construction. Focusing on infrastructure would also be consistent with the infrastructure legacy of Marcos Sr. The late dictator, in power for two decades, oversaw the construction of major Philippines highways and bridges, as well as popular landmarks such as the Cultural Center of the Philippines, Folk Arts Theater, and the controversial Manila Film Center in Pasay City. Specialty hospitals that are still being used, such as the three hospitals in Quezon City—the Heart, Kidney and the Lung Center—were also built. Abola said the only difference, this time around, would be the focus on the source of funding. He said given the country’s financial position, the Marcos administration may have to resort to Public Private Partnerships (PPPs) to finance these projects. “Construction would be a winner, since he will pursue BBB, just like his father focused a lot on infrastructure spending,” Abola said in an email to BusinessMirror. “However, due to constraints arising from high public debt, he will probably adopt more PPP projects.”

Fiscal space

Among the main challenges that will be faced by the incoming administration is the country’s debts, according to former Dean of the University of the Philippines School of Labor and Industrial Relations (SOLAIR) Rene E. Ofreneo. In an email to BusinessMirror, Ofreneo said the Duterte administration will be leaving debts of P13 trillion which may be “too big to manage” and prevent the Marcos Jr. government from having sufficient fiscal space to attain balanced and sustainable economic growth. This is worrisome, Ofreneo said, because the world is “changing radically and ominously” since the pandemic and the war in Eastern Europe, there is little room for the incoming administration to adjust its economic policies. “Essentially, [his administration will be] a continuity, with some cosmetic changes here and there. He’ll try to bring in some old policies of his father but these are not yet fully defined,” Ofreneo said. Due to the strain in the country’s finances, economists believe the Marcos Jr. government will have no choice but to increase taxes. Among these economists are National Scientist Raul V. Fabella who told this newspaper that raising taxes and reducing spending are inevitable if the country is to continue growing in the next six years. Fabella said given the growth of the fiscal deficit and high level of debt, borrowing will no longer be an option, especially if the incoming administration wants to continue the infrastructure investments of the Duterte government. “When Duterte came to power in 2016, the government had money flowing out of its ears that together with easy foreign borrowing could finance government investment called BBB. Government infra spending sucks in private investment,” Fabella said. “Now the till is empty and further borrowing backdropped by a growing fiscal deficit and faltering credit rating is limited. To mobilize resources through foreign borrowing, the government has to present a credible recovery program including raising taxes and reducing spending,” he added.

amplify our rich past, could use such an increase in apportionment.” Silva, a former consultant of the National Museum, admitted the task is not easy as the training alone of heritage tour guides are more demanding in terms of language fluency, deportment, as well as skills that can anticipate the needs of these well-educated, wealthy tourists. In the Department of Tourism’s National Tourism Development Plan for 2022-2028, it advocates for the promotion of culture tourism, which includes visits to heritage homes and historical sites. Aside from Spanish-era heritage buildings and churches, the Philippines is also home to six Unesco World Heritage Sites such as Baroque Churches (San Agustin in Intramuros, Paoay Church in Ilocos Norte, Miag-ao Church in Iloilo), as well as the Tubbataha Reef National Park, Puerto Princesa Subterranean River National Park, and the Rice Terraces of the Cordilleras.

Tax collection

One key question, Fabella said, is whether ordinary citizens would be willing to “surrender more money” to a government led by a “convicted tax evader.” Former candidates for President such as Francisco “Isko” Domagoso, Vice President Leni Robredo, Senators Panfilo Lacson and Manny Pacquiao, and Leodegario “Ka Leody” De Guzman earlier said that if elected, they would go after the estate taxes owed by the Marcos family, which some quarters had projected would have swollen from P23 billion to P203 billion due to penalties. Lacson noted that the P203 billion is bigger than the projected income from the Tax Reform for Acceleration and Inclusion (TRAIN) Laws 1 and 2 passed under the Duterte administration. Peña-Reyes admitted that because of this, the Marcos Jr. administration may lack the moral ascendancy to collect taxes, making the BIR chief’s job all the more difficult in the coming years. Nonetheless, this is where Filipinos patriotism comes in. He said that if Filipinos really loved their country, they would make sure that the Philippines would not suffer by paying their taxes. “Definitely, it’s going to be problematic. It’s going to be a dilemma, a moral dilemma. It’s a fact that he [Marcos Jr.] has cases like that. So it’s going to be problematic all the more now,” Peña-Reyes said. “Remember, we had 30 plus years to get that in order to collect the P203 billion, but what has happened? So all the more now. But, this is where the sincerity, patriotism of Filipinos will be tested because if you decide to do that [not pay your taxes], that will lead the country to ruin,” he explained.

Investments

Another major challenge of the incoming administration would be attracting foreign direct investments. While existing investors may choose to stay in the country, new ones may shy away. University of the Philippines School of Economics Director for Research Renato Reside said investors who are already in the country have factored in the risk of elections and the change in administration when they decided to locate in the country. But investors who may not be familiar with the traits and policies of the MarcosDuterte administration may not be expected to bring their investment to the Philippines. “I’m talking about foreign investors who are out of this country and who may not like the tandem that’s ahead right now [and] will avoid the country; but those who are already here are...the ones who are experienced to begin with in dealing with the risks of this country. This country has a history of having political risk, it’s one of the biggest risks that investors need to deal with,” Reside said in a phone interview. The former president of the Philippine Institute for Development Studies (PIDS), Josef T. Yap, said in an email that because of this, the country could find itself overtaken by its Asean neighbors Vietnam, Cambodia, Lao PDR, and Myanmar. This, Yap said, is not only because of Marcos Jr. but other winners in the elections such as action stars and members of dynasties. He said these election winners could put the country in last place among its neighbors. Based on World Bank data he shared, the country’s per capita GDP in 2020 is pegged at $3,270. Its neighbors who had lower per capita GDP in the 1970s are now ahead, with Singapore leading with a per capita GDP of $58,057 as of 2020. “It is high time that others are given a chance,” Yap said. “Perhaps that is what many politicians lack nowadays: a dose of humility. What will bring that about? Being overtaken by Viet Nam? Or suddenly waking up one day to find out that Cambodia, Lao PDR, and Myanmar have surpassed us? But I am not holding my breath waiting for change to happen. Till 2028 then.”

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The Nation BusinessMirror

Editor: Vittorio V. Vitug • Wednesday, May 11, 2022 A3

Comelec junks 2 MRs on DQ cases vs BBM By Samuel P. Medenilla @sam_medenilla

HE Commission on Elections (Comelec) has thrown out two of the four pending motions for reconsideration (MR) on the cases, which seek to disqualify presidential candidate Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr., who seems headed for a landslide victory based on partial unofficial election returns. As promised, the Comelec en banc on Tuesday finally promulgated its decisions on the consolidated MR of Bonifacio Ilagan et. al., Akbayan Party, and Abubakar Mangelen as well as the separate appeal of Fr. Christian Buenafe. In a 14-page decision, the Comelec en banc denied the consolidated MR, saying its petitioners failed to raise new matters concerning their case, which was previously denied by its former First Division. “Stripped of non-essentials, the instant Motion for Reconsideration merely contains rehash of Petitioners’ assertion and arguments before the Commission [Former First Divi-

sion],” the Comelec en banc said. The Comelec en banc also dismissed the claim of Akbayan that the Former First Division decision on their case was invalid as it has a missing third member, and this is contrary to their rules and therefore erroneous. It noted that a division has a quorum as long as it has at least two members as in the case of the former First Division. “In view of the foregoing, the Commission [En banc] Denies the following motion for reconsideration. Accordingly, the Commission [En banc] Affirms the Resolution of the Commission [Former First Division] promulgated on February 10, 2022,” the Comelec en banc said. Likewise, the en banc denied the MR of Buenafe, also for failing to raise new matters or issues “that would warrant reversal” of the Comelec Second Division decision to dismiss their petition seeking to cancel the candidacy of the former senator. “We find no cogent reason to dis-

SUPPORTERS of Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr. wait outside the campaign headquarters of the presidential frontrunner in Mandaluyong City, eager to greet their candidate, who is expected to become the 17th President of the Republic of the Philippines. ROY DOMINGO

turb the findings of the Commission [Second Division],” Comelec en banc said in a 10-page decision. It also thumbed down the appeal of the petitioners to the Automatic and Mandatory Inhibition of the members of the Comelec Second Division for being baseless.

“In view of the foregoing, the Commission [En banc] Denies respondent’s Motion for Reconsideration dated 20 January 2022 and Affirms the Resolution of the Commission [Second Division] promulgated on January 17, 2022,” the Comelec en banc ruled.

The members of the Comelec en banc voted unanimously to dismiss the two cases. Comelec Commissioner George M. Garcia inhibited from the decision of both cases. Comelec Clerk of the Commission Genesis M. Gatdula said petitioners of the two dismissed MRs may still appeal their case before the Supreme Court. “Parties may file petitions of certiorari at the Supreme Court within 30 days from today, upon receipt of the decision,” Gatdula said in a news conference. He noted, however, they will only have five days from receipt of their respective Comelec en banc decision to stop the orders from being executed by getting a temporary restraining order from the High Court. “If there is no temporary restraining order, these resolutions then these cases shall be deemed final and executory on the Commission on Elections level,” he added. Currently, the Comelec en banc has two remaining MRs related to Marcos: the Danilo Lihaylihay group’s petition to have Marcos de-

clared as a nuisance candidate and the Ilocano group led by Margarita Salandanan, seeking to disqualify the former senator.

‘Win for truth, justice’–BBM camp

THE Marcos camp was gladdened by the development. In a news statement, Atty. Vic Rodriguez, Marcos’s Chief of Staff and Spokesman, said: “We are happy to receive the news that the Comelec En Banc has dismissed all the Motions for Reconsideration on the DQ cases which the First and Second Divisions have earlier ruled in favor of frontrunner Bongbong Marcos. “We have always believed that the poll body will stay true to its mandate to deliver a fair, honest and credible elections, including the dismissal of unmeritorious and politically-motivated petitions such as these. “The unanimous En Banc decision has proven, once and for all, that no amount of undue political pressure can weaken the resolve of the honorable Commission to be on the side of truth and justice.”

Indian nabbed for engaging Koronadal City female cadet tops PMA’s Bagsik-Diwa Class of ’22 in illegal money lending biz By Marilou Guieb

By Joel R. San Juan @jrsanjuan1573

HE Bureau of Immigration (BI) has announced that it has arrested an Indian national for allegedly illegally engaging in an illegal “5-6” money-lending business in Cavite. The suspect was identified as Bahg Singh, 48, who was arrested by operatives of the BI Intelligence Division Regional Intelligence Operation Unit 4A and 4B on Friday in Barangay Inchican in Silang, Cavite. BI Intelligence Division Chief Fortunato Manahan Jr. said Singh was arrested pursuant to a mission order issued by BI Commissioner Jaime Morente, after receiving a formal complaint on the suspect’s illegal activities. He was reported by the complainant to be running a 5-6 lending business, and was said to be always drunk and would commit violent acts.

The Department of Justice (DOJ) earlier said that the interest rates in the 5-6 lending business is legal after the repeal of the Usury Law and the removal of the interest ceilings. However, the DOJ stressed that operating a lending business requires a permit and other requirements. The BI said Singh was caught in the act of collecting money from a store inside the said barangay and was later found to be undocumented and have overstayed in the country. “Reporting illegal aliens in your area would allow our intelligence agents to initiate an investigation against them,” Morente said. “We remain relentless in our drive to deport foreign nationals who blatantly disregard our laws,” he added. The Indian national was detained at the BI’s facility in Bicutan, Taguig, while he is awaiting the resolution of the deportation case lodged against him.

For presumptive VP Duterte, it’s time for thanksgiving, gift giving

Correspondent

21-YEAR-OLD woman from Koronadal City, South Cotabato, CADET 1CL Krystlenn Ivany G. Quemado, topped the Bagsik-Diwa (Bagong Sibol Kinabukasan Didigma Hanggang sa Wakas) Class graduating as Valedictorian and Cum Laude. Quemado will be awarded the Presidential Saber and the Philippine Navy Saber as the number one cadet who will join the Philippine Navy. Quemado, an Ilongga, joined the PMA as a fresh high school graduate, and is finishing her PMA degree now at the age of 21 receiving the Academic Group Award, Humanities, Management, Social Sciences Plaques, Leadership Plaque, Spanish Armed Forces Award, having achieved being the number one in all these courses and services. She will also be awarded the JUSMAG (Joint United States Military Assistance Group) Saber as the top graduate and the AGFO (Association of Generals and Flag Officers) Award, also having topped in the Military Leadership line. The announcement was made by PMA Superintendent Lieutenant General Ferdinand M. Cartujano at the Longayban Hall on May 10.

THE topnotchers of the Philippine Military Academy Balik-Diwa Class of 2022 led by Valedictorian and Cum Laude female CADET 1CL Krystlenn Ivany G. Quemado.

The PMA Bagsik-Diwa Class of 2022 is composed of 165 males and 49 females. Among them were 104 Army Cadets, 57 Midshipmen and 53 Aero Cadets. The cadets will join their respective branches of service as Lieutenants or Ensigns after the Commencement Exercises on Sunday, May 15, 2022. While from diverse backgrounds, the Top 10 graduates reflect gender equality with five females and five males within the ranks. Graduating along with Cadet

Quemado as top graduates and their respective awards are the following: Cadet 1CL Kevin John O. Pastrana, Salutatorian, from Irisan, Baguio City Cadet 1CL Ian Joseph V. Bragancia from Pototan, Iloilo Cadet 1CL Faith H. Turiano, Cum Laude from Nabua, Camarines Sur Cadet 1CL YYoni Xandria Marie M. Tiu from Bago Aplaya, Davao City Cadet 1CL Jake Anthony E. Mosquera, Magna Cum Laude from Pigcawayan, North Cotabato

Cadet 1CL Jesie Mar L. Frias from Antipolo City, Rizal Cadet 1CL Elvin John L. Oyo-A from Butuan City, Agusan Del Norte Cadet 1CL Nerfa A. Minong from Upper Calarian, Zamboanga City Cadet 1CL Crissele Jane Rico from Cabatangan, Zamboanga City Athletic Saber awardees are Cadet 1CL Vince Jon Philippe S. Cabagnot (male category) and Cadet 1CL Catherine V. Talosig (female category). Both from the Cordillera region, Cadet 1CL Maryknoll A. Rhea Cuis of Tanudan, Kalinga will get the Aguinaldo Saber Award and the Department of Tactical Officers Plaque; while Cadet 1CL Dirk Kirl A. Davalan, Baguio City, is the Chief of Staff Saber Awardee. Cadet 1CL Nico Ali O. Caceres will receive the Sports and Physical Development Plaque and Cadet 1CL Ian Van G. Gammad will be given the Journalism Award. Three lady cadets will be getting the following awards: Cadet 1CL Precious Anne M. Vergara for the Superintendent’s Saber Award Cadet 1CL Elaine Marey N. Paasa for the Starwoman Distinguished Cadet Award Cadet 1CL Janella Rose D. Espejo also as the Distinguished Cadet Awardee (Starwoman).

2-story PNP building to rise at Camp Olivas in Pampanga

HE Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) recently started the construction of a 2-story building inside the Central Luzon headquarters of the Philippine National Police (PNP) in Camp Olivas in San Fernando City, Pampanga. Public Works Secretary Roger G. Mercado said the project, which is

PRESUMPTIVE Vice President Sara Duterte casts her vote in Davao City on Monday morning. MANUEL T. CAYON By Manuel T. Cayon @awimailbox Mindanao Bureau Chief

AVAO CITY—Vice Presidential-elect Sara Duterte said on Monday would spend the rest of the weekonthanksgivingbashtoher political parties and support groups. She would be in Manila early in the week for thanksgiving activities, which wouldincludeavisittoLakas-Christian MuslimDemocrats(Lakas-CMD)headquarters in Mandaluyong City. “Unang una po pupunta kami sa headquarters para magsalamat sa mga tao doon dahil for the past 90 days as well, merong mga support groups na nagtatrabaho sa Lakas headquarters, so kailangan ko pumunta doon and personal na magpasalamat sa sakripisyo nila,” she said. She also announced to hold an

online thanksgiving on May 13 via her official Mayor Inday Sara Duterte Facebook page. Her regional party, Hugpong ng Pagbabago, said Duterte has scheduled a gift-giving activity for Dabawenyos after her thanksgiving in Manila. “Meron tayong scheduled na pasasalamat, actually gift giving for Davao City. And whether manalo or matalo, naka schedule na ’yung gift giving natin sa mga depressed areas and less fortunate natin na mga constituents dito sa Davao City,” she said. The HNP said the gift giving would allow Duterte’s local slate to pay tribute to local leaders who helped her during the campaign. “There will also be a thanksgiving for leaders sa Davao City. Inaantay lang po namin kung sino ang mananalo sa Congress and sa party-list since we already discussed that,” she said.

being implemented by the DPWH Pampanga 1st District Engineering Office (DEO), is intended to be the new and improved Regional Internal Affairs Service (RIAS) Building for the hundreds of law enforcement agents and police officers of Camp Olivas. The planned 771.58-square-meter building is both structurally and aesthetically designed in accordance

INITIALIZATION PROCESS COMPLETED

with modern resilient building standards that will ensure a more conducive working environment for all PNP personnel who will utilize it. According to DPWH Pampanga 1st District Engineer Almer C. Miranda, the project has an estimated cost of P35 million with P20 million already released under the 2022 General Appropriations Act (GAA).

DPWH Pampanga 1st DEO has already requested for the remaining P15 million funding to facilitate completion of the building in 2023. The DPWH has recently turned over to the management of Camp Olivas two newly constructed buildings for its Regional Headquarters Support Unit and Rektang Konek— Aksyon Agad (RKAA) operations.

Senate President Vicente C. Sotto III and House Speaker Rep. Lord Allan Velasco lead the initialization of Consolidation and Canvassing System (CCS) at the House of Representatives in Quezon City on Monday, May 9, 2022. During the process, Sotto and Velasco confirmed that both chambers of Congress are now ready to canvass the votes for the presidential and vice presidential candidates. Under the 1987 Constitution, the Senate and the House are mandated to canvass the votes for the presidential and vice presidential race and proclaim the winning candidates. Photo on the right shows the Secretariat officials of the two chambers. LOUIE MILLANG/OFFICE OF SENATE PRESIDENT VICENTE C. SOTTO III

A4 Wednesday, May 11, 2022 • Editor: Vittorio V. Vitug

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Dar sees ‘bigger’ budget for DA under BBM presidency By Jasper Emmanuel Y. Arcalas @jearcalas

GRICULTURE Secretary William D. Dar on Tuesday said he sees the budget of the agriculture department doubling or even tripling to a level beyond P100 billion under an administration led by former senator Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr. In a virtual news briefing, Dar said he “believes” that the next administration has the political will to provide “top-most” priority to the agriculture sector, which includes hiking the budget of the Department of Agriculture (DA). Marcos Jr., the namesake of the late strongman and former President Ferdinand Marcos Sr., is poised to become the country’s 17th president as he maintained a commanding lead against all his rivals with a total vote of 30.986 million based on partial, unofficial results as of May 10 (at 97.87 percent of

election returns processed). “I believe that the next administration will have that political will, that ability to give the top-most priority or one of the top-most priority areas to the sector of agriculture. And the budget for the agriculture sector would be at the level of double the present budget or tripling the present budget of the department,” Dar said. Dar has congratulated Marcos Jr. as electoral “indicators” have shown that the former senator’s presidency is “in the offing.” In a separate social media post, Dar also recognized Davao City Mayor Sara Duterte as the incoming Vice President of the republic. “Let’s all unite and support the incoming 17th President of the Republic of the Philippines Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. Likewise, the same support must be extended to the incoming Vice President Sara Duterte!” he said in his Facebook post in the late evening of May 9.

Under the Duterte administration, the DA has been proposing a budget of a low of P100 billion to beyond P300 billion to be able to boost domestic production, improve farmers’ income and reduce the country’s dependency on importation. For next year, the DA is eyeing a budget of at least P250 billion, more than triple of its current budget of P85.5 billion. Under the recently approved 10-year modernization and industrialization plan of the agriculture sector, the sector would need a budgetary support of P2.5 trillion from the government and another P2.5 trillion from the private sector. In previous statements and public fora, Marcos Jr. expressed his willingness to support agriculture and even described the sector as a “poor cousin” in the government’s priority areas. He emphasized that there is a need

DEPARTMENT of Agriculture Secretary William Dar FILE PHOTO COURTESY OF DA

to “reprioritize” the agriculture sector to its “proper place,” and vowed to allocate more funds for the DA should he become the next president of the country. In a roundtable discussion with the ALC Media Group in January, Marcos Jr. pointed out that agricul-

ture is one of the sectors “that give the most ‘bang for the buck’ to investments,” and it is time to finally give priority to an area that was “neglected through so many administrations.”

P20 rice possibility?

SOUGHT for his comment regard-

ing Marcos Jr.’s plan to bring down the price of rice to P20 per kilogram, Dar said he “surmised” that the former senator was referring to palay and not rice. “I surmise that the P20 per kilogram of rice is for palay, not for rice,” he said. “We have a present farm-gate price of palay which is P19 [per kilogram]. And increasing that to P20 [per kilogram] is very viable,” he added. State-run National Food Authority (NFA) currently buys palay (clean and dry) from local farmers at P19 per kilogram while present buying prices from private traders are fetching from P18 to P20 per kilogram. Based on reports, Marcos Jr. vowed to bring down the price of rice to a range of P20 to P30 per kilogram by subsidizing the staple during the first year of his administration if elected president.

Salceda: I will continue giving best economic advice to next President

LBAY Rep. Joey Salceda on Tuesday said he would submit to the next President a comprehensive plan for fiscal and economic recovery to help the Philippines emerge stronger from the coronavirus disease (Covid-19) crisis. In a news statement, Salceda said he will keep his promise to continue offering the best advice on how to help the country get through the country’s economic woes, regardless of who gets elected as president in the 2022 elections. “When the final outcome becomes beyond doubt, I will be submitting to the Presidentelect a comprehensive plan for fiscal and economic recovery—so that what we build out of this crisis is a stronger, more resilient, and more equitable economy. I have a tax plan and a public and private investment plan that I will submit to the next President in the coming days,” he said. He said there are three all-important concerns for the first 100 days of the next President: Inflation, unemployment, and economic growth. “We will have to halt the momentum in price increases, create strong and well-paid jobs, and maximize our GDP [gross domestic product] growth potential. Having been reelected to Congress, I will advise the next President on these issues. I also hope to continue helping the government with crucial

economic reforms,” he said. Salceda urged the public to respect the outcome of the polls, which is a “resounding choice” of the Filipino people. The partial and unofficial count based on the transparency server of the Commission on Elections (Comelec) showed that former Senator Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr. and his running mate Davao City Mayor Sara Duterte are leading the presidential and vice presidential races, respectively. Marcos is poised to win the presidential election by a landslide, while Sara is leading by a wide margin of votes, according to the partial results. Salceda said his presidential candidate was “good for confidence” in the Philippine economy and that he spared no effort in making that message widely heard. Salceda endorsed the presidential bid of Vice President Ma. Leonor “Leni” Robredo. “But we are all part of Team Philippines— and I will do my utmost so that foreign investors and Philippine businesspersons alike will feel confident about the new President,” Salceda said. “As it appears that former Senator Marcos will become the next President, I wish him the very best. A successful Marcos presidency will be the success of the country as well,” he added. PNA

Surigao del Sur farmers grow small consumer store into a thriving money lending business By Jonathan L. Mayuga

@jonlmayuga

FARMERS’ cooperative in Surigao del Sur is gaining popularity for successfully growing and slowly transforming itself into a microfinance lending institution. A DAR-assisted farmers’ organization, the Ugoban Multipurpose Cooperative (UMPC), started with a capital of P1,500, which was the contribution of its 15 original members. Today, it has a total capital of P1.4 million and earns P500,000 a year. UMPC now has a total of 302 agrarian reform beneficiaries members—and all are farmers of rice, corn, and coffee. UMPC has come a long way. It has responded to the needs of the community, even if the cooperative is in a remote area. With its successful operation, buying the daily requirements of the people in the area becomes much more convenient because of the reliable consumer store run by the cooperative. More importantly, access to credit for its members is no longer a problem anymore. “Managing a co-op is a big challenge, various problems can be experienced. Through hard work, continuous work of its officers, and the cooperation of each member, UMPC achieved its success,” UMPC manager Maryjane Magamayo said. UMPC is a primary agrarian reform beneficiary organization (ARBO) in Tagbina, Surigao del Sur, whose central business is the consumer store and the microfinance lending. The UMPC was organized by the Philippine Paper Industry Corporation of the Philippines in 1990 within their Community Development Organization Program.

In 2004, due to the formation of an agrarian reform community in the municipality of Tagbina province of Surigao del Sur, UMPC became one of the cooperatives assisted by the Department of Agrarian Reform. “Poverty, no accessibility to the market, and expensive prices of basic needs were the reasons that motivated us to venture in consumer store and microfinance lending business,” manager Magamayo recalled. Microfinance was introduced by DAR in 2016. It started when UMPC officers attended the training on microfinance conducted by the DAR through Agrarian Reform Beneficiaries Development Sustainability Program (ARBDSP) program under the Enterprise Development and Economic Support (EDES). Lending money to UMPC members has made it possible for them not to go to banks anymore to get loans for their farming and other needs. Most importantly, members earn a patronage refund compared to other lending institutions. As of December 2021, 145 members have already availed of its loan services amounting to almost P5 million. “To increase the business and income of our co-op, and help our fellow farmers, we started informal microfinance lending. The DAR conducted free training on microfinance lending so we could make the business run properly. They introduced to us the correct system on how to operate this kind of business. From then on, it has grown from a small capital investment of P180,000.00 to P6.2 million within five years. Until now, our co-op has successfully sustained the microfinance lending business,” said Magamayo.

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Familiar faces, names win seats in Metro Manila cities, districts By Claudeth Mocon-Ciriaco @claudethmc3

EWLY proclaimed reelectionist Pasig City Mayor Vico Sotto vowed to continue the “change” he has initiated in the city and vowed to intensify whatever good the local government has been doing under his term. “Malinaw ang tinig ng Pasigueño. Malinaw ang tinig ng buong Pasig,” Sotto said during the flag raising ceremony on Monday after he won by a large margin. Sotto garnered 335,851 votes while his opponent Vice Mayor Iyo Caruncho Bernardo got 45,604 votes. Sotto’s running mate Robert “Dodot” Jaworski Jr. also won after getting 205,250 votes, while reelectionist Congressman Roman Romulo won against former Congressman Ricky Eusebio, with 304,157 votes. “Ilalayo ang serbisyo publiko sa politika. Basta magtrabaho lang kayo ng maayos,” Sotto told city government’s employees.

Marikina

REELECTIONIST Marcelino Marcy Teodoro won by a landslide against Congressman Bayani “BF” Fernando after garnering 183,878 votes. Fernando got 40,149 votes. Teodoro’s wife, Maan, also won the congressional race in the 1st District of Marikina after getting 68,572 votes. Her closest rival had 24,584 votes. Teodoro’s running mate, Marion Andres, also won and all of the councilors under the banner of Team Marcy.

PNP chief: ’22 polls a ‘shining chapter in our nation’s rich, colorful history’ By Rene Acosta @reneacostaBM

HE Philippine National Police (PNP) declared on Tuesday that the recently concluded local and national elections are generally peaceful and orderly as it wrapped up the final stages of its security operations at the polling precincts and voting centers with the start of the canvassing and transmission of results on Monday night. “At this time when national canvassing is now underway, we can safely say with utmost certainty that the 2022 National and Local Elections is now a shining chapter in our nation’s rich and colorful history, and a moving-up point to a new beginning. This outcome should encourage everyone to bring this political exercise to a close,” PNP Officer-in-Charge Lt. Gen Vicente Danao Jr. said during a news briefing. Still, Danao ordered regional directors to ensure that all PNP security personnel will “remain in

their posts until after all election equipment, documents and personnel have been withdrawn from the polling centers.” “Let me extend the sincerest gratitude to all who comprise security personnel that compose the 214,485 law enforcement muscle of Comelec [Commission on Elections] for a job well done, especially to all gallant PNP members. Further, the PNP also mobilized a total of 178,531 Force Multipliers from all over the country and we thank them also for their crucial role of linking the PNP to the community and supporting the management and neutralization of election-related conflicts on the ground,” he said. “But the mission of the PNP does not end there. From here, the PNP is moving on to the unfinished business of implementing the requirements of the criminal justice system particularly to violations of law committed during the election period,” he added. According to the PNP Directorate for Investigation and Detective Man-

LT. Gen. Vicente Danao (center) PHOTO COURTESY OF PNP

agement (PNP-DIDM), 16 validated election-related incidents and 19 suspected related incidents were recorded from January 9 to May 9, 2022. Danao has ordered unit commanders to ensure the immediate resolution of the cases and file appropriate charges against suspects. The PNP said the 16 validated and

MANILA Vice Mayor Honey Lacuna (left) and Councilor Yul Servo Nieto PHOTO COURTESY OF ASENSO MANILEÑO FACEBOOK

ANILA Vice Mayor Honey Lacuna will make history as the first woman mayor of the country’s capital. As of 5 p.m. Tuesday, Lacuna was enjoying a wide margin of at least 360,000 votes over Alex Lopez. As of posting time, she has garnered 515,605 votes while Lopez

has 150,699. Both are scions of Manila’s political families. Lacuna is the daughter of former vice mayor Danilo Lacuna. She is married to fellow doctor and Manila Health Department chief Arnold Pangan. Lopez’s father is the late former mayor Mel Lopez.

The Commission on Elections has tallied about 97 percent of election returns but would defer proclamation until all results are in. Lacuna’s running mate under Asenso Manileño/Aksyon Demokratiko and long-time councilor, Yul Servo Nieto, also leads with 562,333 votes over actor Raymond Bagatsing of Kilusang Bagong Lipunan (175,684 votes). Bagatsing’s uncle, former Manila Fifth District congressman Amado Bagatsing, and Christy Lim, daughter of the late Manila mayor Alfredo Lim, are the other contenders for the post to be vacated by losing presidential aspirant Francisco “Isko Moreno” Domagoso. Lacuna vowed to continue the programs of Domagoso like housing, financial support for the elderly and students of city-run Universidad de Manila and Pamantasan ng Lungsod ng Maynila, improvement of the health-care system, and modernization of public school buildings. PNA

REELECTIONIST Makati City Mayor Abigail Binay garnered 338,819 votes or over 95 percent of the total votes cast. Commission proclaimed Binay on Elections officers Atty. Kimberley Alzate-Cu, election officer for District 1, and Atty. Jehan Lidasan Marohombasar, election officer for District 2. The lady mayor won against Joel Hernandez, who got 16,640 votes.

Taguig City

SECOND District Representative Lani Cayetano garnered 272,876 votes defeating his opponent Arnel Cerafica who got over 87,164 votes. Cayetano’s running mate Arvin Alit also won with 231,646 votes.

Mandaluyong City

YOUTH RALLY IN MANILA

Students and militant groups say they had originally planned to commemorate the death anniversary of the Great Plebian and Philippine Revolution leader Gat Andres Bonifacio (monument in background, in front of the Post Office Building in Manila).But they turned their gathering into a rally to dramatize their protest against alleged irregularities in the recently concluded May 9 national and local elections, which Presidential and Vice Presidential forerunners Sen. Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr. and running mate Mayor Sara Duterte are winning by a landslide per partial unofficial count. BERNARD TESTA

PRC renders medical services to 5K patients on election day By Claudeth Mocon-Ciriaco @claudethmc3

HE Philippine Red Cross (PRC) reported on Tuesday that it had provided emergency medical and welfare services to more than

FILE photo shows Gov. Jun Ebdane (left) with Vice President-elect Sara Duterte and Congressman-elect Jay Khonghun of Zambales First District during the 2022 election campaign. CONTRIBUTED PHOTO By Henry Empeño Correspondent

Makati City

FORMER Comelec Chairman Benjamin Abalos Sr. will return as the mayor of Mandaluyong City after he won in the mayoral race. Abalos got 136,849 votes, defeating his opponent Florencio Solomon.

19 suspected election-related cases were lower compared to the 2010 and 2016 elections where it tallied 166 and 133 validated election-related incidents respectively. “Let me point out that the more important aspects of law enforcement and public safety have been given utmost priority throughout

the election period. Rest assured that the PNP Security Task Force for the 2022 National and Local Elections, through the constituted Task Groups, are taking action on the said several cases arising from non-election related incidents as well as election-related violent incidents and prohibited acts,” Danao said. Danao also said that the PNP would continuously conduct aggressive proactive measures to prevent any post-election related incidents and issues from happening. “Likewise, aside from the PNP’s case tracking of election related incidents, various activities are ongoing with the Comelec, Armed Forces of the Philippines, Coast Guard, DILG [Department of the Interior and Local Government] and other component pillars of the criminal justice system to include risk and threat assessment, focus operations against lawless elements, Comelec checkpoints and other law enforcement operations, information operations on election prohibited acts, among others,” Danao said.

Honey Lacuna set to be 1st woman mayor of Manila Landslide win for Ebdane’s Sulong Zambales party

San Juan

MEANWHILE, reelectionist Francis Zamora thanked San Juaneños for their support after he and his team won in the city. “Maraming salamat po mga minamahal naming San Juaneño sa 15-0 na pagmamahal, suporta at tiwala na ibinigay po ninyo sa amin!” Zamora posted on his Facebook account. Zamora garnered 66,883, while his rival Jun Usman got 9,413 votes. Vice Mayor Warren Villa also won after getting 55,920 votes, while former cager Philip Cezar got 16,608 votes. Atty. Bel Zamora garnered 49,334 votes against Jana Ejercito’s 27,133 for the local congressional post.

Wednesday, May 11, 2022 A5

5,000 clients and patients on Monday, election day, in various polling places across the country. “Ang Philippine Red Cross ay mananatiling laging una, laging handa, at laging nandyan para sa ating mga kababayan kapag sila ay may medical

emergency, eleksyon man o ordinaryong araw. [The Philippine Red Cross will continue to be the first, always ready, and always there for our fellowmen whenever they have medical emergency, whether it’s an election day or

ordinary day],” PRC Chairman and CEO Sen. Richard J. Gordon said. As of 8:00 a.m. on Tuesday, May 10, 2022, 35 percent of PRC chapters across the country have submitted their report to the PRC’s operations center.

BA, Zambales—Governor Hermogenes Ebdane Jr. and political allies under his homegrown Sulong Zambales Party (SZP) handily won the local elections here on Monday, defeating foes from rival camps and taking most key positions in the province with overwhelming majority votes. The re-electionist Ebdane, who already has three three-year terms as Zambales governor tucked under his belt, crushed the gubernatorial ambition of three-term Congresswoman Cheryl Deloso-Montalla of the Nationalist People’s Coalition (NPC) with a total of 199,874 votes against the latter’s 133,479. Ebdane’s running mate Jaq Khonghun (Nacionalista Party), a political neophyte from the formidable Khonghun political clan of Subic, Zambales, also emerged victorious in the vice-gubernatorial contest with a 215,668 win over independent candidate Ramon Lacbain’s 90,098. Meanwhile, Ebdane ally Bing Maniquiz (SZP), formerly the mayor of Botolan town here, trounced former Zambales governor Amor Deloso (NPC) for the congressional seat in the Zambales first district, 144,060 against 76,906. In the Zambales first district, Jay Khonghun (NP), who was Ebdane’s running mate in 2019, also won as congressman with 156,561 votes against the 40,262 total of Mitos Magsaysay (PDP-Laban), a political veteran who had served three terms as representative of the first district. Ebdane and the other winners in the local election were proclaimed by Comelec Chairman Lydia FlorentinoPangilinan here on Tuesday morning.

Sulong Zambales Party candidates, likewise, dominated the competition for seats in the provincial council, taking eight of the 10 elective positions. Those who won the three council seats allotted for the first district are King Gutierrez (SZP), with 59,125 votes; John-John Felarca (SZP), 55,870; and Ike Delgado (SZP), 53,156. In the second district, the winning candidates are Rundy Ebdane (SZP), the governor’s son and former mayor of the capital town of Iba, with 118,219 votes; Reena Mae Collado (SZP), 110,922; Jun Pangan (SZP), 101,287; Sam Ablola (WPP), 82,536; Reynaldo Tarongoy(SZP),70,801;SanchoAbasta III (PFP), 66,414; and Lugil Ragadio (SZP), with 61,075 votes. Ebdane’s allies also wrested executive control of eight of the 13 municipalities in the province. These are Billy Aceron (SZP), who won as mayor of Palauig town with 13,124 votes; Irene Maniquiz (SZP) of Iba, 17,424; Omar Ebdane (SZP) of Botolan, 14,774; Ronald Apostol (SZP) of Cabangan, 8,538; Hart Jeresano (SZP) of San Felipe, 5,942; Elmer Soria (SZP) of San Marcelino, 17,420; Jeff Khonghun (NP) of Castillejos, 16,505; and Jonathan Khonghun (SZP) of Subic, with 43,214 votes. The elected mayors from other parties are Consolacion Marty (Ind) of Santa Cruz town, with 10,904 votes; Nik-Nok Edquilang (Promdi) of Candelaria, 7,324; and Arsenia Lim (PRP) of Masinloc, with 24,213 votes. Before Ebdane’s victory over former Congresswoman Cheryl Deloso in this election, the former defense and public works secretary had won over the Deloso patriarch Amor in 2010, 2013 and 2019. Deloso only beat him once—in the 2016 gubernatorial contest.

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Wednesday, May 11, 2022

ESTABLISHMENT / ADDRESS No.

NAME OF FOREIGN NATIONAL , POSITION AND BRIEF DESCRIPTION

ESTABLISHMENT / ADDRESS QUALIFICATION AND SALARY RANGE

ANOC99 CORPORATION 5/f To 10/f Ayala Malls Manila Bay Building D., Macapagal Blvd. Cor. Aseana Street, Tambo, City Of Parañaque ZHANG, QIKANG Chinese Customer Service Representative 1.

Brief Job Description: Managing incoming calls and customer service inquires. ANG KAH SIANG Malaysian Customer Service Representative

Brief Job Description: Managing incoming calls and customer service inquires. HUYNH NGOC KHANH Vietnamese Customer Service Representative

Brief Job Description: Managing incoming calls and customer service inquires. TRAN VIET PHUONG Vietnamese Customer Service Representative

Brief Job Description: Managing incoming calls and customer service inquires.

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

No.

13.

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

14.

SASIKALA AKILAN Business Intelligence Senior Executive Brief Job Description: Analyze and collate data and trends

15.

16.

MICHAEL HANAFI Marketing Executive Brief Job Description: Conduct and analyse market research

PHAN HOANG MINH TAM Operations Executive 7.

Brief Job Description: Serves as liaison between the customer and various departments & ensures that basic CS functions are performed.

Salary Range: Php 60,000 - Php 89,999 BETUR, INC. (COINS.PH) 30/f Union Bank Plaza, Meralco Ave. Cor. Onyx Road, Ortigas Center, San Antonio, City Of Pasig IRKHINA, IRINA Technical Hr Business Partner 8.

Brief Job Description: Build pipeline of candidates through variety of sourcing channels

17.

BOTA ENTERTAINMENT CONSULTANCY SERVICES INC. Chuan Hong Tower Unit 602, 434 M. De Santos St., 025, Barangay 270, San Nicolas, City Of Manila

TU, WEI-CHIN It Support Specialist (mandarin Speaking) Brief Job Description: IT support for mandarin speaking client

Basic Qualification: With knowledge in computer application

TIAN, YE Chinese It Support Specialist 10.

Brief Job Description: Shall answer incoming phone calls from Chinese clients and troubleshoot customer technical problems with computer software and hardware.

Basic Qualification: Must be fluent in Chinese language (writing and speaking). Salary Range: Php 30,000 - Php 59,999

CHINA NATIONAL TECHNICAL IMPORT AND EXPORT CORPORATION U-901, 9/f West Tower, Pse Centre Exchange Rd., Ortigas Ctr., San Antonio, City Of Pasig

LI, ZHENWEI Mandarin Deputy General Representative 11.

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

Basic Qualification: Proven experience as Mandarin Deputy General Representative, excellent communication, interpersonal and presentation skills.

LE DIEM QUYNH Vietnamese Speaking Customer Service Representative Brief Job Description: Immediately escalating serious complaints or issues that you are not equipped to deal with. TRUONG KIET NGHI Vietnamese Speaking Customer Service Representative Brief Job Description: Immediately escalating serious complaints or issues that you are not equipped to deal with.

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

WU, ZHIPING Marketing And Sales Agent 18.

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

Basic Qualification: Proficient in speaking, reading and writing in Vietnamese.

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

12.

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

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

CREATIVEHOPE PH INC. 5/f Phinma Plaza, 39 Plaza Drive,, Rockwell Center, Poblacion, City Of Makati

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

26.

DU, FANGYIN Senior Sales And Accounting Manager 5g Network Construction Project In Philippine Market Brief Job Description: Ensure operational compliance of the project and its delivery in line with.

LIU, YIXI Chinese Speaking Graphic Designer 27.

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

NGUYEN THI PHUONG DIEM Chinese Speaking Graphic Designer 28.

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

Salary Range: Php 30,000 - Php 59,999 SONG, SUPENG Chinese Speaking Graphic Designer Basic Qualification: Can contributes information, ideas and researches to help develop marketing strategies; Can help to detail, design and implement marketing plans for each product or service being offered.

CUI, YAO Mandarin Speaking Customer Service Representative 19.

Brief Job Description: Recommends potential products or services to management by collecting information and analyzing customer needs DONG, PEI Mandarin Speaking Customer Service Representative

20.

Brief Job Description: Recommends potential products or services to management by collecting information and analyzing customer needs

Basic Qualification: Proficient in speaking, reading and writing in mandarin

29.

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

ZENG, JINGZHONG Chinese Speaking Graphic Designer 30.

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

CHONG JEW SANG Chinese Speaking Program Designer 31.

Salary Range: Php 30,000 - Php 59,999 Basic Qualification: Proficient in speaking, reading and writing in mandarin

32.

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

21.

Brief Job Description: Monitor, review and report on all Marketing activity and result.

Basic Qualification: Analyze the productivity of the Marketing plans and projects recommend to Senior Management

22.

Brief Job Description: Oversee management projects carried out by EDCOP. Represents EDCOP for opportunities in the Asia pacific region

33.

23.

Brief Job Description: Assist in determining pricing quotes for customers.

GAO, LIANG Customer Service Representative Mandarin Speaking 24.

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

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

Salary Range: Php 30,000 - Php 59,999 YII SZE CHIN Chinese Speaking Program Designer

Basic Qualification: Master’s degree

34.

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

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

FLYING FUTURE SERVICES INC. 3/f Salcedo One Center, 170 Salcedo St., San Lorenzo, City Of Makati LIEW ANNIE Mandarin Accounts Staff

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

XU, HENGFENG Chinese Speaking Program Designer

ENGINEERING AND DEVELOPMENT CORPORATION OF THE PHILIPPINES 10f/jelp Business Solutions Ctr., 409 Shaw Blvd., Addition Hills, City Of Mandaluyong RICHARDS, BRYAN ARTHUR Vice Chairman And Director For Power/energy

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

CHOO CHO MING Chinese Speaking Program Designer

EFINANCING INC. Unit 11d-2 Ety Bldg., 484 Quintin Paredes St., 027, Barangay 289, Binondo, City Of Manila YANG, RUOYUN Marketing Staff Mandarin Speaking

Basic Qualification: Can speak Mandarin

YU, FENG-JUI a.k.a. YU, CHIH-MIN Chinese Speaking Program Designer 35.

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

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

Basic Qualification: Proven experience as mandarin operating system supervisor, excellent communication, interpersonal and presentation skills. Salary Range: Php 30,000 - Php 59,999

Basic Qualification: Proficient in speaking, reading and writing in Mandarin. Salary Range: Php 150,000 - Php 499,999

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

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

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

QUALIFICATION AND SALARY RANGE

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

EASYTECH SUPPORT INC. 9-11/f, 14/f Capella Bldg., Asean Drive Filinvest, Alabang, City Of Muntinlupa

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

Basic Qualification: Proven experience as Mandarin General Representative, excellent communication, interpersonal and presentation skills.

25.

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

GLOBALLGA BUSINESS PROCESS OUTSOURCING, OPC Ground Level, Level 2-5 Floor, Silver City 4, Ortigas East, Ugong, City Of Pasig CHEN, XIAOYI Mandarin General Representative

WU, XIAOFENG Mandarin Operating System Supervisor

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

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

Basic Qualification: More than 2 years’ experience in Accounting & related management experience. Expertise in SAP. Proficient in Chinese both written & spoken (close to native)

NAME OF FOREIGN NATIONAL , POSITION AND BRIEF DESCRIPTION

HECTECHURE CORP. Units A&b 20/f Rufino Pacific Tower, 6784 Ayala Ave. Cor. V.a. Rufino St., San Lorenzo, City Of Makati

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

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

Basic Qualification: At least 5 years’ experience in sourcing through multiple channels Salary Range: Php 30,000 - Php 59,999

Brief Job Description: Use the expertise on Mandarin language to complete/provide T&E analysis to leadership team. Make sure Balance Sheet GL reconciliations are completed & reflected the changes in the business.

HUANG, ANFU Chinese Speaking Business Development Associate

Salary Range: Php 90,000 - Php 149,999 Basic Qualification: Must be native Malaysian/ Taiwanese/ Indonesian/ Thai/ Singaporean/ Vietnamese/ Korean, fluent in English and mandarin; with at least 2 years relevant experience in similar functions.

Basic Qualification: College Degree/Japanese Translator

No.

DYNAMIC STUDIO TECHNOLOGY INC. 5th To 10th/f Platinum Tower Building, Aseana Ave. Cor. Fuentes Street, Baclaran, City Of Parañaque

Salary Range: Php 60,000 - Php 89,999 Basic Qualification: Must be native Malaysian/ Taiwanese/ Indonesian/ Thai/ Singaporean/ Vietnamese/ Korean, fluent in English and mandarin; with at least 2 years relevant experience in similar functions.

QUALIFICATION AND SALARY RANGE

DIGICHROM INC. Unit 2602 & 2603 26/f Pbcom Tower, 6795 Ayala Ave., Bel-air, City Of Makati

AVANTICE CORPORATION 19/f Pbcom Tower, Ayala Ave., Bel-air, City Of Makati Basic Qualification: Must be native Malaysian/ Taiwanese/ Indonesian/ Thai/ Singaporean/ Vietnamese/ Korean, fluent in English and mandarin; with at least 2 years relevant experience in similar functions.

Brief Job Description: Manage, supervise and coordinate to all Engineers

XU, ZHUOJUN Financial Accountant (mandarin Speaking)

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

SHIODA (MASUKO), CHIE President/general Manager

ESTABLISHMENT / ADDRESS

DIAGEO ASIA PACIFIC SHARED SERVICES CENTRE LIMITED, INC. 10th Floor, Commerce & Industry Plaza Bldg., Mckinley Hill, Fort Bonifacio, City Of Taguig

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

NAME OF FOREIGN NATIONAL , POSITION AND BRIEF DESCRIPTION

www.businessmirror.com.ph

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

Basic Qualification: With at least 6 months customer service experience/good in oral communication and written. Salary Range: Php 30,000 - Php 59,999 Basic Qualification: With at least 6 months customer service experience/good in oral communication and written. Salary Range: Php 30,000 - Php 59,999 Basic Qualification: With at least 6 months customer service experience/good in oral communication and written. Salary Range: Php 30,000 - Php 59,999 Basic Qualification: With at least 6 months customer service experience/good in oral communication and written. Salary Range: Php 30,000 - Php 59,999 Basic Qualification: With at least 6 months customer service experience/good in oral communication and written. Salary Range: Php 30,000 - Php 59,999 Basic Qualification: With at least 6 months customer service experience/good in oral communication and written. Salary Range: Php 30,000 - Php 59,999 Basic Qualification: With at least 6 months customer service experience/good in oral communication and written. Salary Range: Php 30,000 - Php 59,999

J-NA ALLOUT TECHNOLOGY SOLUTIONS CORP. 3/f Lipams Bldg., #48 President Avenue, B. F. Homes, City Of Parañaque

CHOI, PILWON Korean Customer Service Representative 36.

Brief Job Description: Track main industry trends in korea through blogs, micro blogs and forums.

Basic Qualification: College graduate, speaks and write fluently (korean and english). Salary Range: Php 60,000 - Php 89,999

KAMAL OSMAN JAMJOOM SERVICES PHILIPPINES INC. 41/f Gt Tower International, 6813 Ayala Ave. Cor. H.v. Dela Costa St., Bel-air, City Of Makati

BusinessMirror

www.businessmirror.com.ph

ESTABLISHMENT / ADDRESS No.

NAME OF FOREIGN NATIONAL , POSITION AND BRIEF DESCRIPTION BISSET, SCOTT BRIAN Finance Director

37.

Brief Job Description: Pre-requisite to have an IPO proficiency and actual work experiences across listed Middle East Countries (United Arab Emirates/Saudi Arabia/ Bahrain/Qatar/Kuwait/Oman).

ESTABLISHMENT / ADDRESS QUALIFICATION AND SALARY RANGE Basic Qualification: Open for Finance Degree Holders. CA/ACCA Minimum of 10 years post Management experiences. Salary Range: Php 150,000 - Php 499,999

No.

QIU, HEZHU Chinese Customer Service Representative 58.

FORD, DAVID KIM Vice President Of Facilities And Growth 38.

Brief Job Description: Responsible for the sourcing of all future builds for taskus in Asia.

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

59.

39.

40.

Brief Job Description: Managing incoming calls and customer service inquires.

60.

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

Brief Job Description: Managing incoming calls and customer service inquires

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

Brief Job Description: Managing incoming calls and customer service inquiries MI MI AUNG Burmese Customer Service Representative

42.

Brief Job Description: Managing incoming calls and customer service inquiries MYINT MYINT KHAING Burmese Customer Service Representative

43.

Brief Job Description: Managing incoming calls and customer service inquiries MYO ZAW Burmese Customer Service Representative

44.

Brief Job Description: Managing incoming calls and customer service inquiries NAING NAING Burmese Customer Service Representative

45.

Brief Job Description: Managing incoming calls and customer service inquiries. NAN MYA MYA WIN Burmese Customer Service Representative

46.

47.

Brief Job Description: Managing incoming calls and customer service inquiries

61.

Brief Job Description: Managing incoming calls and customer service inquiries.

Brief Job Description: Managing incoming calls and customer service inquiries. SU SU SAN Burmese Customer Service Representative

51.

Brief Job Description: Managing incoming calls and customer service inquiries. YAN KWAN LAWY Burmese Customer Service Representative

52.

Brief Job Description: Managing incoming calls and customer service inquires YAN PAING OO Burmese Customer Service Representative

53.

Brief Job Description: Managing incoming calls and customer service inquiries.

ZIN MAR LWIN Burmese Customer Service Representative 54.

Brief Job Description: Managing incoming calls and customer service inquiries.

DENG, ZHONGYUAN Chinese Customer Service Representative 55.

Brief Job Description: Managing incoming calls and customer service inquiries. LIU, FAHUI Chinese Customer Service Representative

56.

Brief Job Description: Managing incoming calls and customer service inquires MENG, FANJUN Chinese Customer Service Representative

57.

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

Brief Job Description: Managing incoming calls and customer service inquiries

63.

64.

65.

66.

67.

68.

69.

70.

71.

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

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

75.

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

Brief Job Description: Managing incoming calls and customer service inquiries

Brief Job Description: Managing incoming calls and customer service inquiries.

Brief Job Description: Managing incoming calls and customer service inquires

Brief Job Description: Managing incoming calls and customer service inquiries. HOANG THI HOP Vietnamese Customer Service Representative

76.

Brief Job Description: Managing incoming calls and customer service inquiries. HOANG VAN DUNG Vietnamese Customer Service Representative

77.

Brief Job Description: Managing incoming calls and customer service inquiries. LAI THE LOI Vietnamese Customer Service Representative

78.

Brief Job Description: Managing incoming calls and customer service inquires LANG THI THUY Vietnamese Customer Service Representative

79.

Brief Job Description: Managing incoming calls and customer service inquiries. LE THI THU HIEN Vietnamese Customer Service Representative

80.

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

Brief Job Description: Managing incoming calls and customer service inquiries

HO THI YEN Vietnamese Customer Service Representative

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

Brief Job Description: Managing incoming calls and customer service inquiries.

Brief Job Description: Managing incoming calls and customer service inquiries. LE VAN DUC Vietnamese Customer Service Representative

81.

Brief Job Description: Managing incoming calls and customer service inquiries

No.

NAME OF FOREIGN NATIONAL , POSITION AND BRIEF DESCRIPTION NGO QUANG HOANG Vietnamese Customer Service Representative

82.

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

Brief Job Description: Managing incoming calls and customer service inquiries

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

NGUYEN HOANG PHUC Vietnamese Customer Service Representative

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

83.

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

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

84.

85.

86.

87.

88.

89.

90.

91.

92.

93.

94.

95.

96.

97.

98.

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

99.

100.

WANG, NAN Chinese Speaking Data Entry Clerk 101.

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

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

Brief Job Description: Managing incoming calls and customer service inquires

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

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

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

Brief Job Description: Managing incoming calls and customer service inquires VO VAN BINH Vietnamese Customer Service Representative

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

Brief Job Description: Managing incoming calls and customer service inquires. VANG VAN HUY Vietnamese Customer Service Representative

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

Brief Job Description: Managing incoming calls and customer service inquires TRAN RAT LIL Vietnamese Customer Service Representative

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

Brief Job Description: Managing incoming calls and customer service inquiries. TO VAN VUONG Vietnamese Customer Service Representative

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

Brief Job Description: Managing incoming calls and customer service inquiries. SU CHAN SANG Vietnamese Customer Service Representative

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

Brief Job Description: Managing incoming calls and customer service inquiries. PHUNG THI HONG DAO Vietnamese Customer Service Representative

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

Brief Job Description: Managing incoming calls and customer service inquiries PHAM TIEU HAN Vietnamese Customer Service Representative

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

Brief Job Description: Managing incoming calls and customer service inquiries PHAM NGOC BAO Vietnamese Customer Service Representative

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

Brief Job Description: Managing incoming calls and customer service inquires NGUYEN VAN THI HAO Vietnamese Customer Service Representative

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

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

Brief Job Description: Managing incoming calls and customer service inquires NGUYEN VAN NGOC Vietnamese Customer Service Representative

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

Brief Job Description: Managing incoming calls and customer service inquiries. NGUYEN THUY HA Vietnamese Customer Service Representative

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

Brief Job Description: Managing incoming calls and customer service inquires. NGUYEN THI THUY TRANG Vietnamese Customer Service Representative

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

Brief Job Description: Managing incoming calls and customer service inquires. NGUYEN THI THANH Vietnamese Customer Service Representative

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

Brief Job Description: Managing incoming calls and customer service inquiries NGUYEN THI THANH Vietnamese Customer Service Representative

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

Brief Job Description: Managing incoming calls and customer service inquiries. NGUYEN THI MINH NGUYEN Vietnamese Customer Service Representative

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

Brief Job Description: Managing incoming calls and customer service inquiries. NGUYEN THI HONG Vietnamese Customer Service Representative

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

Brief Job Description: Managing incoming calls and customer service inquiries ` NGUYEN THI BAN Vietnamese Customer Service Representative

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

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

DUONG THI THU THUY Vietnamese Customer Service Representative 74.

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

SOO HUI CHING Malaysian Customer Service Representative

DAU QUANG TIN Vietnamese Customer Service Representative 73.

QUALIFICATION AND SALARY RANGE

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

NYEIN NYEIN THAWE Myanmari Customer Service Representative 72.

ESTABLISHMENT / ADDRESS

Brief Job Description: Managing incoming calls and customer service inquires

NAY MIN KO Myanmari Customer Service Representative

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

Brief Job Description: Managing incoming calls and customer service inquires OOI YEONG JIE Malaysian Customer Service Representative

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

Brief Job Description: Managing incoming calls and customer service inquiries OOI MING KHAN Malaysian Customer Service Representative

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

Brief Job Description: Managing incoming calls and customer service inquiries LOH WAI HOONG Malaysian Customer Service Representative

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

Brief Job Description: Managing incoming calls and customer service inquiries. LIAN CHIA LUN Malaysian Customer Service Representative

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

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

Brief Job Description: Managing incoming calls and customer service inquiries SRI MARYATI Indonesian Customer Service Representative

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

Brief Job Description: Managing incoming calls and customer service inquires LINA MARDIANA Indonesian Customer Service Representative

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

Brief Job Description: Managing incoming calls and customer service inquires ZOU, XIUFENG Chinese Customer Service Representative

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

SAI MAINE HSAI Burmese Customer Service Representative 50.

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

Brief Job Description: Managing incoming calls and customer service inquiries

Brief Job Description: Managing incoming calls and customer service inquires

62.

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

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

SAI AIKE NAING Burmese Customer Service Representative 49.

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

Brief Job Description: Managing incoming calls and customer service inquires ZHANG, DUO Chinese Customer Service Representative

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

NAN PHOO PWINT HTET Burmese Customer Service Representative

PYAE PHYO HTET Burmese Customer Service Representative 48.

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

Brief Job Description: Managing incoming calls and customer service inquires XU, CHAOQUN Chinese Customer Service Representative

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

KYAW THU NAING Burmese Customer Service Representative

MAW LE SAW Burmese Customer Service Representative 41.

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

Brief Job Description: Managing incoming calls and customer service inquiries. WANG, WEI Chinese Customer Service Representative

MOA CLOUDZONE CORP. 4th-11th Flr. Nexgen Tower, C4 Rd. Edsa Ext., Barangay 76, Pasay City KHAING CHAW SU HLAING Burmese Customer Service Representative

Brief Job Description: Managing incoming calls and customer service inquires SHAN, WENPENG Chinese Customer Service Representative

LIZARDBEAR TASKING INC. 17th To 20th Floors, Twenty Four Seven Mckinley Building, 24th Street And Seventh Avenue, Fort Bonifacio, City Of Taguig Basic Qualification: With strong analytical skills to decipher large amounts of demographic data.

NAME OF FOREIGN NATIONAL , POSITION AND BRIEF DESCRIPTION

Wednesday, May 11, 2022

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

WANG, QIAN Chinese Speaking Data Entry Clerk 102.

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

Basic Qualification: With at least 6 months customer service experience/good in oral communication and written Salary Range: Php 30,000 - Php 59,999 Basic Qualification: With at least 6 months customer service experience/good in oral communication and written Salary Range: Php 30,000 - Php 59,999

NEW ORIENTAL CLUB88 CORPORATION 1331 Pearl Plaza Bldg., Quirino Ave., Tambo, City Of Parañaque

BusinessMirror

Wednesday, May 11, 2022

A6 A8

ESTABLISHMENT / ADDRESS No.

NAME OF FOREIGN NATIONAL , POSITION AND BRIEF DESCRIPTION CAO, LUJIE Chinese Customer Service

103.

Brief Job Description: Knowledgeable in computer application with good oral and written communication skills CONG, JIANING Chinese Customer Service

104.

Brief Job Description: Knowledgeable in computer application with good oral and written communication skills CUI, ZHENLAI Chinese Customer Service

105.

Brief Job Description: Knowledgeable in computer application with good oral and written communication skills FU, LONG Chinese Customer Service

106.

Brief Job Description: Knowledgeable in computer application with good oral and written communication skills LI, YINQIONG Chinese Customer Service

107.

Brief Job Description: Knowledgeable in computer application with good oral and written communication skills LIN, QUAN Chinese Customer Service

108.

109.

110.

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

LUO, JIEXIN Chinese Customer Service Brief Job Description: Customer support and data base services

LUO, XIAOTONG Chinese Customer Service Brief Job Description: Customer support and data base services

NIE, WEILONG Chinese Customer Service 111.

Brief Job Description: Knowledgeable in computer application with good oral and written communication skills QI, ZHANJU Chinese Customer Service

112.

Brief Job Description: Knowledgeable in computer application with good oral and written communication skills QIN, MINGXIN Chinese Customer Service

113.

114.

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

SHA, XIANDAI Chinese Customer Service Brief Job Description: Customer support and data base services

SONG, ANNI Chinese Customer Service 115.

116.

117.

118.

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

WANG, YUNJIE Chinese Customer Service Brief Job Description: Customer support and data base services

WANG, ZHENG Chinese Customer Service Brief Job Description: Customer support and data base services.

WEI, QIANG Chinese Customer Service Brief Job Description: Customer support and data base services

WU, CHUNTAO Chinese Customer Service 119.

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

XIAO, XIANG Chinese Customer Service 120.

121.

122.

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

XU, YONGDONG Chinese Customer Service Brief Job Description: Customer support and data base services

YAN, TONG Chinese Customer Service Brief Job Description: Customer support and data base services

ESTABLISHMENT / ADDRESS QUALIFICATION AND SALARY RANGE Basic Qualification: Customer support and data base services

No.

YIN, PENGFEI Chinese Customer Service 123.

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

124.

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

NAME OF FOREIGN NATIONAL , POSITION AND BRIEF DESCRIPTION

125.

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

ZHANG, TINGTING Chinese Customer Service Brief Job Description: Customer support and data base services

ZHANG, YUHANG Chinese Customer Service Brief Job Description: Customer support and data base services

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

126.

Basic Qualification: Customer support and data base services Salary Range: Php 30,000 - Php 59,999 Basic Qualification: Knowledgeable in computer applications with good oral and written communication skills

127.

Brief Job Description: Knowledgeable in computer application with good oral and written communication skills ZHAO, ZIHAO Chinese Customer Service

128.

Brief Job Description: Knowledgeable in computer application with good oral and written communication skills ADITYA KRISTIANTO TJIA Indonesian Customer Service

129.

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

Brief Job Description: Customer support and data base services

ZHAO, JING Chinese Customer Service

Salary Range: Php 30,000 - Php 59,999 Basic Qualification: Knowledgeable in computer applications with good oral and written communication skills

ZHAO, HENG Chinese Customer Service

130.

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

ANDRI Indonesian Customer Service Brief Job Description: Customer support and data base services

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

131.

BUDIANTO Indonesian Customer Service Brief Job Description: Customer support and data base services

132.

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

133.

Basic Qualification: Knowledgeable in computer applications with good oral and written communication skills Salary Range: Php 30,000 - Php 59,999

134.

Basic Qualification: Knowledgeable in computer application with good oral and written communication skills. Salary Range: Php 30,000 - Php 59,999

135.

Basic Qualification: Knowledgeable in Computer Application With Good Oral and Written Communication Skills Salary Range: Php 30,000 - Php 59,999

136.

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

137.

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

Basic Qualification: Knowledgeable in computer applications with good oral and written communication skills

138.

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

139.

QUALIFICATION AND SALARY RANGE

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

DAVID STEVEN Indonesian Customer Service Brief Job Description: Customer support and data base services.

DESWANI Indonesian Customer Service Brief Job Description: Customer support and data base services.

ERIC EDISON Indonesian Customer Service Brief Job Description: Customer support and data base services.

FERNI Indonesian Customer Service Brief Job Description: Customer support and data base services.

HARSONO Indonesian Customer Service Brief Job Description: Customer support and data base services

HERMAN Indonesian Customer Service Brief Job Description: Customer support and data base services

141.

Basic Qualification: Knowledgeable in Computer Application With Good Oral and Written Communication Skills Salary Range: Php 30,000 - Php 59,999

142.

Basic Qualification: Knowledgeable in computer applications with good oral and written communication skills Salary Range: Php 30,000 - Php 59,999

143.

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

144.

NAME OF FOREIGN NATIONAL , POSITION AND BRIEF DESCRIPTION

IVONNY Indonesian Customer Service Brief Job Description: Customer support and data base services.

KENNY RINOVI Indonesian Customer Service Brief Job Description: Customer support and data base services

LINDAWATI Indonesian Customer Service Brief Job Description: Customer support and data base services

LISA Indonesian Customer Service Brief Job Description: Customer support and data base services.

MELINDA Indonesian Customer Service Brief Job Description: Customer support and data base services.

Salary Range: Php 30,000 - Php 59,999 Basic Qualification: Customer support and data base services Salary Range: Php 30,000 - Php 59,999 Basic Qualification: Knowledgeable in computer applications with good oral and written communication skills Salary Range: Php 30,000 - Php 59,999 Basic Qualification: Knowledgeable in computer applications with good oral and written communication skills Salary Range: Php 30,000 - Php 59,999

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

Brief Job Description: Customer support and data base services.

140.

Basic Qualification: Knowledgeable in computer applications with good oral and written communication skills

Brief Job Description: Customer support and data base services.

CARLES Indonesian Customer Service

No.

Basic Qualification: Customer support and data base services

BUDIYONO Indonesian Customer Service

Salary Range: Php 30,000 - Php 59,999 Basic Qualification: Knowledgeable in computer applications with good oral and written communication skills

ESTABLISHMENT / ADDRESS

Basic Qualification: Knowledgeable in computer application with good oral and written communication skills.

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

www.businessmirror.com.ph

Basic Qualification: Knowledgeable in computer application with good oral and written communication skills.

145.

146.

147.

148.

149.

Salary Range: Php 30,000 - Php 59,999 Basic Qualification: Knowledgeable in computer application with good oral and written communication skills. Salary Range: Php 30,000 - Php 59,999 Basic Qualification: Knowledgeable in computer application with good oral and written communication skills. Salary Range: Php 30,000 - Php 59,999

150.

151.

152.

153.

Basic Qualification: Knowledgeable in computer application with good oral and written communication skills. Salary Range: Php 30,000 - Php 59,999 Basic Qualification: Knowledgeable in computer applications with good oral and written communication skills

154.

155.

Salary Range: Php 30,000 - Php 59,999 Basic Qualification: Knowledgeable in computer applications with good oral and written communication skills Salary Range: Php 30,000 - Php 59,999

Brief Job Description: Customer support and data base services.

NADYA ARIANI Indonesian Customer Service Brief Job Description: Customer support and data base services

NG KHONG MIN Indonesian Customer Service Brief Job Description: Customer support and data base services

NOVIA VERNA DIN Indonesian Customer Service Brief Job Description: Customer support and data base services.

RENDRA METTA Indonesian Customer Service Brief Job Description: Customer support and data base services.

RIO GUSTAMA Indonesian Customer Service

Basic Qualification: Knowledgeable in computer application with good oral and written communication skills. Salary Range: Php 30,000 - Php 59,999

MERI Indonesian Customer Service

156.

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

RUDI HARTONO Indonesian Customer Service Brief Job Description: Customer support and data base services

SUSANTO Indonesian Customer Service Brief Job Description: Customer support and data base services.

ALVIN LEE YUAN SIONG Malaysian Customer Service Brief Job Description: Customer support and data base services.

CHAN WAI YEE Malaysian Customer Service Brief Job Description: Customer support and data base services.

CHUNG SHU HA Malaysian Customer Service Brief Job Description: Customer support and data base services

QUALIFICATION AND SALARY RANGE Basic Qualification: Knowledgeable in computer application with good oral and written communication skills. Salary Range: Php 30,000 - Php 59,999 Basic Qualification: Knowledgeable in computer applications with good oral and written communication skills Salary Range: Php 30,000 - Php 59,999 Basic Qualification: Knowledgeable in Computer Application With Good Oral and Written Communication Skills Salary Range: Php 30,000 - Php 59,999 Basic Qualification: Knowledgeable in computer application with good oral and written communication skills. Salary Range: Php 30,000 - Php 59,999 Basic Qualification: Knowledgeable in computer application with good oral and written communication skills. Salary Range: Php 30,000 - Php 59,999 Basic Qualification: Knowledgeable in computer application with good oral and written communication skills. Salary Range: Php 30,000 - Php 59,999 Basic Qualification: Knowledgeable in Computer Application With Good Oral and Written Communication Skills Salary Range: Php 30,000 - Php 59,999 Basic Qualification: Knowledgeable in Computer Application With Good Oral and Written Communication Skills Salary Range: Php 30,000 - Php 59,999 Basic Qualification: Knowledgeable in computer application with good oral and written communication skills. Salary Range: Php 30,000 - Php 59,999 Basic Qualification: Knowledgeable in computer application with good oral and written communication skills. Salary Range: Php 30,000 - Php 59,999 Basic Qualification: Customer support and data base services Salary Range: Php 30,000 - Php 59,999 Basic Qualification: Knowledgeable in Computer Application With Good Oral and Written Communication Skills Salary Range: Php 30,000 - Php 59,999 Basic Qualification: Knowledgeable in computer application with good oral and written communication skills. Salary Range: Php 30,000 - Php 59,999 Basic Qualification: Knowledgeable in computer application with good oral and written communication skills. Salary Range: Php 30,000 - Php 59,999 Basic Qualification: Knowledgeable in computer application with good oral and written communication skills. Salary Range: Php 30,000 - Php 59,999 Basic Qualification: Knowledgeable in computer application with good oral and written communication skills. Salary Range: Php 30,000 - Php 59,999 Basic Qualification: Knowledgeable in computer applications with good oral and written communication skills Salary Range: Php 30,000 - Php 59,999

BusinessMirror

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ESTABLISHMENT / ADDRESS No.

157.

NAME OF FOREIGN NATIONAL , POSITION AND BRIEF DESCRIPTION

KONG WAI GUN Malaysian Customer Service Brief Job Description: Customer support and data base services.

KUAN SOO YEN Malaysian Customer Service 158.

159.

160.

161.

162.

163.

164.

165.

166.

167.

168.

169.

170.

171.

172.

173.

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

LAI KAH MEI Malaysian Customer Service Brief Job Description: Customer support and data base services.

LEE SIEW LIK Malaysian Customer Service Brief Job Description: Customer support and data base services.

SEEW JOE HAN Malaysian Customer Service Brief Job Description: Customer support and data base services

TAN YUAN SHENG Malaysian Customer Service Brief Job Description: Customer Support and Data Base Services

TEOH TIEN CHEN Malaysian Customer Service Brief Job Description: Customer support and data base services.

YAP ZHEN WEI Malaysian Customer Service Brief Job Description: Customer support and data base services.

HTET HTET KHAING Myanmari Customer Service Brief Job Description: Customer Support and Data Base Services

LI FAN Myanmari Customer Service Brief Job Description: Customer support and data base services.

YE NWE TUN Myanmari Customer Service Brief Job Description: Customer Support and Data Base Services

YIN YIN WIN Myanmari Customer Service Brief Job Description: Customer Support and Data Base Services

CHEN, HSIANG-JUI Taiwanese Customer Service Brief Job Description: Customer support and data base services

LO, CHENG-WEI Taiwanese Customer Service Brief Job Description: Customer support and data base services.

ZOU, ZONG-RONG Taiwanese Customer Service Brief Job Description: Customer support and data base services

CHI VINH DIN Vietnamese Customer Service Brief Job Description: Customer support and data base services

DINH THI TRANG Vietnamese Customer Service Brief Job Description: Customer Support and Data Base Services

ESTABLISHMENT / ADDRESS QUALIFICATION AND SALARY RANGE Basic Qualification: Knowledgeable in computer application with good oral and written communication skills.

No.

174.

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

175.

Basic Qualification: Knowledgeable in computer application with good oral and written communication skills. Salary Range: Php 30,000 - Php 59,999

176.

Basic Qualification: Knowledgeable in computer application with good oral and written communication skills. Salary Range: Php 30,000 - Php 59,999

177.

Basic Qualification: Knowledgeable in computer applications with good oral and written communication skills Salary Range: Php 30,000 - Php 59,999

178.

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

179.

Basic Qualification: Knowledgeable in computer application with good oral and written communication skills. Salary Range: Php 30,000 - Php 59,999

180.

Basic Qualification: Knowledgeable in computer application with good oral and written communication skills. Salary Range: Php 30,000 - Php 59,999

181.

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

182.

Basic Qualification: Knowledgeable in computer application with good oral and written communication skills. Salary Range: Php 30,000 - Php 59,999

183.

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

184.

Salary Range: Php 30,000 - Php 59,999 Basic Qualification: Knowledgeable in computer application with good oral and written communication skills.

DUONG BICH PHUONG Vietnamese Customer Service Brief Job Description: Customer Support and Data Base Services

HA CAM HUE Vietnamese Customer Service Brief Job Description: Customer support and data base services

HOANG COONG PHUNG Vietnamese Customer Service Brief Job Description: Customer support and data base services

HOANG THI THU PHUONG Vietnamese Customer Service Brief Job Description: Customer support and data base services.

HOANG VAN CUONG Vietnamese Customer Service Brief Job Description: Customer Support and Data Base Services

HUYNH TONG BINH Vietnamese Customer Service Brief Job Description: Customer support and data base services

LE VAN THAI Vietnamese Customer Service Brief Job Description: Customer support and data base services

ME THANH DAT Vietnamese Customer Service Brief Job Description: Customer support and data base services

NGUYEN DINH DAT Vietnamese Customer Service Brief Job Description: Customer Support and Data Base Services

NGUYEN DUC ANH Vietnamese Customer Service Brief Job Description: Customer Support and Data Base Services

NGUYEN MINH QUE Vietnamese Customer Service Brief Job Description: Customer Support and Data Base Services

185.

TRAN THI NGOC THANH Vietnamese Speaking Customer Retention Specialist Brief Job Description: Deal with all customer queries / complaints should be fluent in Vietnamese & English speaking

Salary Range: Php 30,000 - Php 59,999 Basic Qualification: Knowledgeable in computer applications with good oral and written communication skills Salary Range: Php 30,000 - Php 59,999 Basic Qualification: Knowledgeable in Computer Applications with Good Oral and Written Communications Skills Salary Range: Php 30,000 - Php 59,999

QUALIFICATION AND SALARY RANGE Basic Qualification: Knowledgeable in Computer Applications with Good Oral and Written Communications Skills

LUO, ZEMING Mandarin Technical Support 186.

Brief Job Description: Monitoring and maintaining computer systems and networks

Basic Qualification: Knowledgeable in computer applications with good oral and written communication skills Salary Range: Php 30,000 - Php 59,999 Basic Qualification: Knowledgeable in computer applications with good oral and written communication skills

Basic Qualification: Knowledgeable in computer application with good oral and written communication skills.

187.

Brief Job Description: Customer support and data base services

189.

Salary Range: Php 30,000 - Php 59,999 Basic Qualification: Knowledgeable in computer applications with good oral and written communication skills

190.

191.

192.

193.

194.

195.

196.

Brief Job Description: Responsible for the trade product P&L within the country and for driving investment business cases and the business operating model for the product line, product pricing and management of assets, contingents and the allocation of RWA

Basic Qualification: Proficient in speaking, writing and reading in foreign language.

Brief Job Description: Manage large amount of calls, handle customer concerns.

Salary Range: Php 30,000 - Php 59,999 Basic Qualification: Proficient in speaking, writing and reading in foreign language.

Brief Job Description: Manage large amount of calls, handle customer concerns.

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

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

LE THI HA Chinese Speaking Admin Associate 197.

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

NGUYEN THI LIEU Chinese Speaking Admin Associate 198.

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

NGUYEN THI PHA NY Chinese Speaking Admin Associate 199.

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

NGUYEN THI THUY AI Chinese Speaking Admin Associate 200.

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

NGUYEN THUY THUY NHI Chinese Speaking Admin Associate 201.

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

TRAN THANH VY Chinese Speaking Admin Associate 202.

Basic Qualification: Experience in banking and finance, fluency in Bahasa Indonesia Salary Range: Php 150,000 - Php 499,999

TENMAN PROJECT MANAGEMENT INC. Unit 805-808 The One Executive Office Bldg., #5 West Ave., Nayong Kanluran, Quezon City

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

Basic Qualification: With Atleast 6 Months Customer Service Experience/Good in Oral Communication and Written Salary Range: Php 30,000 - Php 59,999 Basic Qualification: With Atleast 6 Months Customer Service Experience/Good in Oral Communication and Written Salary Range: Php 30,000 - Php 59,999 Basic Qualification: With Atleast 6 Months Customer Service Experience/Good in Oral Communication and Written Salary Range: Php 30,000 - Php 59,999 Basic Qualification: With Atleast 6 Months Customer Service Experience/Good in Oral Communication and Written Salary Range: Php 30,000 - Php 59,999 Basic Qualification: With Atleast 6 Months Customer Service Experience/Good in Oral Communication and Written Salary Range: Php 30,000 - Php 59,999 Basic Qualification: With Atleast 6 Months Customer Service Experience/Good in Oral Communication and Written Salary Range: Php 30,000 - Php 59,999 Basic Qualification: With Atleast 6 Months Customer Service Experience/Good in Oral Communication and Written Salary Range: Php 30,000 - Php 59,999 Basic Qualification: With Atleast 6 Months Customer Service Experience/Good in Oral Communication and Written Salary Range: Php 30,000 - Php 59,999

APO CEMENT CORPORATION SOLID CEMENT CORPORATION BEDROCK HOLDINGS, INC. EDGEWATER VENTURES CORPORATION TRIPPLE DIME HOLDINGS, INC. SANDSTONE STRATEGIC HOLDINGS, INC. ECOCAST BUILDERS, INC. ENERHIYA CENTRAL INC. ECOCRETE INC. ECOPAVEMENTS INC. NEWCRETE MANAGEMENT INC. 203.

188.

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

DANG THI MAN Chinese Speaking Admin Associate

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

STANDARD CHARTERED BANK 6788, Ayala Avenue, San Lorenzo, City Of Makati ADRYANTI TRESNANINGRUM Asean Trade Product Manager

Brief Job Description: Manage large amount of calls, handle customer concerns.

Basic Qualification: Can speak Mandarin

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

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

Basic Qualification: Proficient in speaking, writing and reading in foreign language.

DANG THI HUYNH MAI Chinese Speaking Admin Associate

Basic Qualification: Preferably with 6 months - 1year experience with customer service representative

Basic Qualification: Knowledgeable in Computer Application With Good Oral and Written Communication Skills

Basic Qualification: Excellent in writing, reading and speaking in bilingual languages.

ZX-PRO TECHNOLOGY CORPORATION 16/f Robinsons Cybergate 3, Pioneer, Barangka Ilaya, City Of Mandaluyong

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

Salary Range: Php 500,000 and above

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

THELA FIORENTIN Indonesian-speaking Customer Service Officer

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

Brief Job Description: Manage large amount of calls, handle customer concerns.

STEVEN Indonesian-speaking Customer Service Officer

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

Basic Qualification: Bachelor’s degree in business, project management or other related fields; proficient in speaking, writing & reading

Basic Qualification: Proficient in speaking, writing and reading in foreign language.

KATHARINE NOVEBRIANI Indonesian-speaking Customer Service Officer

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

Brief Job Description: Evaluates expansions or enhancements by studying work load capacity. BILLY HADIYANTO Indonesian-speaking Customer Service Officer

Salary Range: Php 30,000 - Php 59,999 Basic Qualification: Knowledgeable in Computer Application With Good Oral and Written Communication Skills

Brief Job Description: Responsible or leading teams to deliver project(s) that span across one or more business units

XU, MING Bilingual Technical Support Specialist

Salary Range: Php 30,000 - Php 59,999 Basic Qualification: Knowledgeable in Computer Application With Good Oral and Written Communication Skills

QUALIFICATION AND SALARY RANGE

VPC CORPORATE SOLUTIONS INCORPORATED 11/f 100 West, Sen Gil Puyat Ave. Cor., Washington St., Pio Del Pilar, City Of Makati

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

NAME OF FOREIGN NATIONAL , POSITION AND BRIEF DESCRIPTION

MARINOVICH, BRIAN FRANK Senior Project Manager

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

SA RIVENDELL GLOBAL SUPPORT, INC. 2741, P. Zamora St., Barangay 97, Pasay City

SUN, WEILIN Customer Service Representative

No.

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

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

Salary Range: Php 30,000 - Php 59,999 Basic Qualification: Knowledgeable in Computer Application With Good Oral and Written Communication Skills

ESTABLISHMENT / ADDRESS

NOVATECH (PASAY) LIMITED, INC. 4th Flr. W Mall Bldg., Diosdado Macapagal Ave. St., Zone 10, Barangay 76, Pasay City

Salary Range: Php 30,000 - Php 59,999 Basic Qualification: Knowledgeable in computer applications with good oral and written communication skills

NAME OF FOREIGN NATIONAL , POSITION AND BRIEF DESCRIPTION

Wednesday, May 11, 2022

WU, KUANSHENG A.K.A STEVE KUANSHENG WU Director, Business Service Organization (BSO) *Date Generated: May 10, 2022

Any person in the Philippines who is competent, able and willing to perform the services for which the foreign national is desired may file an objection at DOLE National Capital Region located at DOLENCR Building, 967 Maligaya St., Malate Manila, within 30 days after this publication. Please inform DOLE National Capital Region if you have any information on criminal offense committed by the foreign nationals.

A10

BusinessMirror

Wednesday, May 11, 2022

www.businessmirror.com.ph

Name and Address of Employer: MITSUBISHI MOTORS PHILIPPINES CORPORATION No. 1 Auto Park Ave., Greenfield Automotive Park, Special Economic Zone, Sta. Rosa, Laguna

Republic of the Philippines

DEPARTMENT OF LABOR AND EMPLOYMENT Regional Office No. IV-A 4th Flr. Andenson Bldg. II, Brgy. Parian, Calamba City Telefax No.: (049) 545-7362

May 11, 2022

Name and Citizenship of Foreign National

Position and Job Description

Monthly Salary Range

12.

TARO SOGA Japanese

EXECUTIVE VICE PRESIDENT Manage the activities of the Manufacturing Division.

Php150,000.00 – Php499,999.00

13.

MITSUHIRO MORI Japanese

SENIOR EXPERT Provide advice for Vehicle Quality Engineering Section.

Php90,000.00 – Php149,999.00

Name and Citizenship of Foreign National

Position and Job Description

Monthly Salary Range

14.

SUNGJOON HEO Korean

CONSTRUCTION MANAGER Completes engineering projects by organizing and controlling project elements.

Php30,000.00 – Php59,999.00

15.

JUNG HOON SHIN Korean

PLANNING MANAGER Develop a suitable work breakdown structure for the project.

Php30,000.00 – Php59,999.00

MIN SOO KIM Korean

ASSISTANT CONSTRUCTION MANAGER Maintain project schedule by monitoring project progress, activities and resolving problems.

Php30,000.00 – Php59,999.00

Name and Citizenship of Foreign National

Position and Job Description

Monthly Salary Range

17.

GUO-SI YOU Taiwanese

LOGISTICS/MATERIALS MANAGER Strategically plan and manage logistics, transportation, materials and customer services.

Php30,000.00 Php59,999.00

18.

SHUN WANG Chinese

TECHNICAL ADVISOR Provide technical advice as well as expertise to systems development technical project groups.

Php30,000.00 Php59,999.00

NOTICE OF FILING OF APPLICATION FOR ALIEN EMPLOYMENT PERMIT (AEP)

Notice is hereby given that the following employers have filed with this Regional Office application/s for Alien Employment Permit/s. Name and Address of Employer: HRD SINGAPORE PTE LTD B3 - CEZ 2, General Trias, Cavite Name and Citizenship of Foreign National

Position and Job Description TECHNICAL ADVISER - FRAME WINDOW GLASS Knowledge in house plans and construction.

MASAFUMI YAMAMOTO Japanese

Monthly Salary Range Name and Address of Employer: HANJIN HEAVY INDUSTRIES & CONSTRUCTION CO., LTD. Madison South, Batino, Calamba City, Laguna Php90,000.00 Php149,999.00

Name and Address of Employer: KARUMONA NAGANO SEIKO, INC. Blk. 3 Lot 1, PTC-SEZ, Carmona, Cavite

Name and Citizenship of Foreign National

Position and Job Description

Monthly Salary Range

HIROKI TAKADA Japanese

QUALITY EDUCATION MANAGER Over-all in-charge on the quality of the products.

Php60,000.00 – Php89,999.00

Name and Address of Employer: MEC ELECTRONICS PHILIPPINES CORPORATION CEZ, Rosario, Cavite

16.

Name and Citizenship of Foreign National

Position and Job Description

GANG LIAN Chinese

ASSISTANT TO THE GENERAL MANAGER Manage the entire company to meet the company’s mission, vision & goal.

Monthly Salary Range

Php30,000.00 Php59,999.00

Name and Address of Employer: OHGITANI PHILIPPINES INC. #10 Binary St., LISP 1, SEZ, Brgy. Diezmo, Cabuyao, Laguna

Name and Citizenship of Foreign National

Position and Job Description

TOMOYO ICHIMURA Japanese

SALES SECTION MANAGER SALES DEPARTMENT Direct and coordinate all sales activities in local and regional.

Monthly Salary Range

Php90,000.00 Php149,999.00

Name and Address of Employer: SMART WIN TECHNOLOGY INC. 4-12th Flr., Southwoods Mall, Tower 2, Halang St., Brgy. San Francisco, Biñan, Laguna, Philippines

Name and Address of Employer: SIIX LOGISTICS PHILS., INC. CIP1-SEZ, Canlubang, Calamba City, Laguna

Name and Address of Employer: CYBERPOWER SYSTEMS MANUFACTURING, INC. GGBP, Buenavista II, General Trias, Cavite

Name and Citizenship of Foreign National

Position and Job Description

Monthly Salary Range

SATOSHI DOKE Japanese

LC ASSISTANT MANAGER Responsible for the development and supervision of all related project management activities.

Php90,000.00 Php149,999.00

Name and Citizenship of Foreign National

Position and Job Description

Monthly Salary Range

ZHIQIANG JIN Chinese

CHINESE CUSTOMER SERVICE REPRESENTATIVE File income help request from end user from the People’s Republic of China via both telephone and work orders in a courteous manner consistent with Chinese standards.

Php30,000.00 Php59,999.00

LIFEI LI Chinese

Php30,000.00 Php59,999.00

LEI ZHANG Chinese

Php30,000.00 Php59,999.00

Name and Citizenship of Foreign National

Position and Job Description

Monthly Salary Range

22.

AUNG ZIN HTAY Burmese

BURMESE CUSTOMER SERVICE REPRESENTATIVE Manage incoming calls and customer service inquiries.

Php30,000.00 Php59,999.00

23.

ELI Indonesian

INDONESIAN CUSTOMER SERVICE REPRESENTATIVE Manage incoming calls and customer service inquiries.

Php30,000.00 Php59,999.00

24.

HOANG THI HONG Vietnamese

VIETNAMESE CUSTOMER SERVICE REPRESENTATIVE Manage incoming calls and customer service inquiries.

Php30,000.00 Php59,999.00

25.

SUSANTI Indonesian

INDONESIAN CUSTOMER SERVICE REPRESENTATIVE Manage incoming calls and customer service inquiries.

Php30,000.00 Php59,999.00

26.

THANT ZIN AUNG Burmese

BURMESE CUSTOMER SERVICE REPRESENTATIVE Manage incoming calls and customer service inquiries.

Php30,000.00 Php59,999.00

27.

TAMBLING Indonesian

INDONESIAN CUSTOMER SERVICE REPRESENTATIVE Manage incoming calls and customer service inquiries.

Php30,000.00 Php59,999.00

28.

TAN HSING HOW Malaysian

MALAYSIAN CUSTOMER SERVICE REPRESENTATIVE Manage incoming calls and customer service inquiries.

Php30,000.00 Php59,999.00

29.

TUN WIN AUNG Burmese

BURMESE CUSTOMER SERVICE REPRESENTATIVE Manage incoming calls and customer service inquiries.

Php30,000.00 Php59,999.00

30.

THANH HUYEN VU Vietnamese

VIETNAMESE CUSTOMER SERVICE REPRESENTATIVE Manage incoming calls and customer service inquiries.

Php30,000.00 Php59,999.00

19.

Name and Address of Employer: IPEX PHILIPPINES INC. 103 North Science Avenue, Laguna Technopark, Biñan, Laguna

Name and Citizenship of Foreign National

Position and Job Description

Monthly Salary Range

MASAHIRO YAMADA Japanese

ADVISOR IN TECHNICAL AND ENGINEERING DEPARTMENT Design, develop and test the cost justify various tools, machinery and equipment for recommended manufacturing methods.

Php90,000.00 Php149,999.00

20.

21. Name and Address of Employer: DAIWA SEIKO PHILIPPINES CORPORATION LIIP, Mamplasan, Biñan City, Laguna

Name and Citizenship of Foreign National

Position and Job Description

Monthly Salary Range

KOHEI IKEDA Japanese

GENERAL MANAGER FOR PRODUCTION, SUPPLY CHAIN MANAGEMENT AND QUALITY CONTROL DEPARTMENT Assist the President in the over-all management of DSPC’s operation.

Php90,000.00 Php149,999.00

Name and Address of Employer: MOA CLOUDZONE CORPORATION Covelandia Rd., Binakayan Pulvorista, Kawit, Cavite

Name and Address of Employer: HWA RYOUNG CORP. Bet 16&22, P4, Main Ave, PEZA, Rosario, Cavite Name and Citizenship of Foreign National

EUN JUNG LEE Korean

Position and Job Description

VICE PRESIDENT Assist the President in managing the company.

Monthly Salary Range

Php30,000.00 Php59,999.00

Name and Address of Employer: HWA SIN PRINT CORPORATION Bormaheco Bldg., L1 & 3 Blk 18, Phase 3, Cavite Economic Zone, Rosario, Cavite

Name and Citizenship of Foreign National

Position and Job Description

Monthly Salary Range

KYONG YOONG MIN Korean

FINANCE MANAGER Report to management status of the financial reports related to budgets, accounts payable and receivable and expenses.

Php500,000 and above

Name and Address of Employer: JMS HEALTHCARE PHL, INC. Lot 2-B-1, Phase 1B, First Philippine Industrial Park SEZ, Tanauan City, Batangas

10.

Name and Citizenship of Foreign National

Position and Job Description

YUJI SHINGAKI Japanese

DEPUTY GENERAL MANAGER FOR PRODUCTION MANAGEMENT AND PRODUCTION Ensure administrative efficiency, proper standard operating procedures and implementation.

Monthly Salary Range

Php60,000.00 – Php89,999.00

Name and Address of Employer: PHILLIPINE NAKAMURA CORPORATION CEZ, Rosario, Cavite

11.

Name and Citizenship of Foreign National

Position and Job Description

SAORI JINGU Japanese

EVP-FINANCE Assist the president in overseeing all financial matters of the company.

Monthly Salary Range Php90,000.00 – Php149,999.00

BusinessMirror

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31.

DINH HANG TRAN Vietnamese

VIETNAMESE CUSTOMER SERVICE REPRESENTATIVE Manage incoming calls and customer service inquiries.

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Wednesday, May 11, 2022

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A11

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A12 Wednesday, May 11, 2022

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Shanghai disinfects homes, closes all subway lines in Covid-19 fight

EIJING—Teams in white protective suits are entering the homes of coronavirusinfected people to spray disinfectant as Shanghai tries to root out an Omicron outbreak under China’s strict “zeroCovid” strategy.

City official Jin Chen said Tuesday that in older communities with shared bathrooms and kitchens, the homes of anyone else who uses those facilities will also be disinfected. He tried to address public concern about damage to clothing and valuables, saying residents can inform the teams about anything that needs protection. Shanghai also suspended service on the last two subway lines that were still operating Tuesday, marking the first time the city’s entire system has been shut down, according to The Paper, an online media outlet. The latest measures come as Shanghai has ordered people in some districts to stay in their homes again after letting some out for limited shopping in recent weeks. The latest steps have further frustrated residents, who were hoping a more than month-

long lockdown was finally easing as the number of new cases in the city falls. Most of the city of 25 million people appear confined to their apartments or residential complexes, though there has been some easing in outlying suburban areas without new cases in their communities. AP video shot Monday showed a silent and deserted city, with only a very occasional vehicle and a few food delivery drivers on scooters moving down empty roads. The daily number of new cases in Shanghai fell to about 3,000 on Monday, down from a peak of 26,000 in mid-April. Authorities have kept most of the city bottled up as they try to stop the spread of the virus, even as many other parts of the world are loosening restrictions and trying to live with it. Six more Covid-related deaths were reported in China’s largest

A delivery man waits in a quiet mall area with closed retail shops and restaurants only offering takeaway on Tuesday, May 10, 2022, in Beijing. China’s capital began another round of three days of mass testing for millions of its residents Tuesday in a bid to prevent an outbreak from growing to Shanghai proportions. AP/Ng Han Guan

city, raising the toll from the outbreak to 553. Beijing, the capital, began another round of three days of mass testing for millions of its residents Tuesday in a bid to prevent an outbreak from growing to Shanghai proportions. The city, which recorded 74 new cases on Monday, has locked down individual buildings and residential compounds, shut about 60 subway stations and banned dining at restaurants, allowing only takeout and delivery. Shanghai initially ordered mass testing along with a limited lockdown, but extended that as case

numbers rose. Thousands of residents have been forced into centralized quarantine centers after testing positive or having been in contact with an infected person. Notices issued in several districts in recent days said residents were ordered to stay home and barred from receiving nonessential deliveries as part of a “quiet period” lasting at least until Wednesday. The measures could be extended depending on the results of mass testing, the notices said. The sudden tightening, after some initial opening up, took residents by surprise. AP

Taiwanese rights activist released from China says global help worked

AIPEI, Taiwan—A Taiwanese human rights activist who served five years in jail in China said that international pressure and the tireless advocacy by his wife worked to ensure his safe return to Taiwan. “I know that my life’s safety and security was defended by many people, thanks to everyone, I have never felt abandoned or alone,” Lee Ming-che said at a press conference Tuesday in his first public appearance since being released from prison. Lee Ming-che was arrested by Chinese authorities in 2017 and charged with subversion of state power. His arrest was China’s first criminal prosecution of a nonprofit worker since Beijing passed a law tightening controls over foreign nongovernment organizations in 2016. His arrest marked a turning point as China showed that it would not hesitate to prosecute Taiwanese individuals for political activism, regardless of the harm it would bring to crossStrait relations. It also raised public awareness in Taiwan of the

tangible consequences of China’s authoritarian rule on individuals as relations between Taiwan and China worsened with the election of President Tsai Ing-wen. China claims Taiwan is a part of its national territory and has not ruled out force to bring the island under its rule. Taiwan is, in practice, self-ruled. Lee had given online lectures on Taiwan’s democratization and managed a fund for families of political prisoners in China that some friends had set up. “I did what I could do, using my credit card to buy some books,” he said, which he would send to friends in China. He would also give donations to the families of political prisoners. “This is not to interfere with the country’s internal affairs. All of this was simply a way of humanitarian caring.” Lee is the son of parents who were both born in China and had come to Taiwan with the ruling Nationalist Party. He had always thought of himself as a Chinese person growing up. That changed in high school with a history teacher who taught the students to learn

about local history. Instead of focusing on the Yangtze or the Yellow River, the two major rivers in China, the history teacher showed them documentaries about Taiwanese local history. Lee said he learned to appreciate what was around him. That message was hammered in during his time in China, where he realized that he was a foreigner. Lee now identifies himself as Taiwanese, saying that his ethnic identity, as a Chinese person, is separate from his national, political identity as a person born in Taiwan. “Real revolution, as evidenced by history, must come from the land itself,” Lee said. “I know that how China democratizes and comes to value human rights, that’s the Chinese people’s responsibility and work.” While Lee was able to come home, another prisoner, Lee Mengchu, remains trapped in China. Lee Meng-chu has been accused of being a spy by Chinese authorities and is now serving the two years as part of his sentence which deprived him of “political rights.”

Meng-chu had been in Hong Kong in 2019, during the massive anti-government protests that rocked the city, according to the semi-official Central News Agency. He disappeared after crossing the border into Shenzhen. It’s uncertain how many Taiwanese are being held in Chinese prisons, as many families have chosen to remain quiet in the hopes of getting their loved ones’ release. This stands in contrast with Lee, the human rights activist’s case. In the last five years, Lee’s wife, Ching-yu worked with local nonprofit organizations to raise awareness about her husband’s case. She also sought help from foreign democratic governments from the United States to the United Kingdom. Lee gave interviews in the press about whether she could send letters to her husband while in jail and how his health was. That continued effort, both said, paid off. “International support can truly have a concrete change on the treatment of a political prisoner in China,” said Lee Ching-yu. AP

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

Rare cases of Covid returning pose questions for Pfizer pill By Matthew Perrone AP Health Writer

ASHINGTON—Asmore doctors prescribe Pfizer’s powerful Covid-19 pill, new questions are emerging about its performance, including why a small number of patients appear to relapse after taking the drug. Paxlovid has become the go-to option against Covid-19 because of its at-home convenience and impressive results in heading off severe disease. The US government has spent more than $10 billion to purchase enough pills to treat 20 million people. But experts say there is still much to be learned about the drug, which was authorized in December for adults at high risk of severe Covid-19 based on a study in which 1,000 adults received the medication.

Why do some patients seem to relapse?

Doctors have started reporting rare cases of patients whose symptoms return several days after completing Paxlovid’s five-day regimen of pills. That’s prompted questions about whether those patients are still contagious and should receive a second course of Paxlovid. Last week, the Food and Drug Administration weighed in. It advised against a second round because there’s little risk of severe disease or hospitalization among patients who relapse. Dr. Michael Charness reported last month on a 71-year-old vaccinated patient who saw his symptoms subside but then return, along with a spike in virus levels nine days into his illness. Charness says Paxlovid remains a highly effective drug, but he wonders if it might be less potent against the current Omicron variant. The $500 drug treatment was tested and OK’d based on its performance against the Delta version of the coronavirus. “The ability to clear the virus after it’s suppressed may be different from omicron to delta, especially for vaccinated people,” said Charness, who works for Boston’s VA health system. Could some people just be susceptible to a relapse? Both the FDA and Pfizer point out that 1 percent to 2 percent of people in Pfizer’s original study saw their virus levels rebound after 10 days. The rate was about the same among people taking the drug or dummy pills, “so it is unclear at this point that this is related to drug treatment,” the FDA stated. Some experts point to another possibility: The Paxlovid dose isn’t strong enough to fully suppress the virus. Andy Pekosz of Johns Hopkins University worries that could spur mutations

that are resistant to the drug. “We should really make sure we’re dosing Paxlovid appropriately because I would hate to lose it right now,” said Pekosz, a virologist. “This is one of the essential tools we have to help us turn the corner on the pandemic.”

How well does Paxlovid work in vaccinated people?

Pfizer tested Paxlovid in the highest-risk patients: unvaccinated adults with no prior Covid-19 infection and other health problems, such as heart disease and diabetes. The drug reduced their risk of hospitalization and death from 7 percent to 1 percent. But that doesn’t ref lect the vast majority of Americans today, where 89 percent of adults have had at least one shot. And roughly 60 percent of Americans have been infected with the virus at some point. “That’s the population I care about in 2022 because that’s who we’re seeing—vaccinated people with Covid—so do they benefit?” asked Dr. David Boulware, a University of Minnesota researcher and physician. There’s no clear answer yet for vaccinated Americans, who already have a hospitalization rate far below 1 percent. That may come from a large, ongoing Pfizer study that includes high-risk vaccinated people. No results have been published; the study is expected to wrap up in the fall. Pfizer said last year that initial results showed Paxlovid failed to meet the study’s goals of significantly resolving symptoms and reducing hospitalizations. It recently stopped enrolling anyone who’s received a vaccination or booster in the past year, a change Boulware says suggests those patients aren’t benefitting. At a minimum, the preliminary data should be released to federal officials, Boulware said. “If the US government is spending billions of dollars on this medicine, what’s the obligation to release that data so that they can formulate a good policy?”

Can Paxlovid be used to help prevent Covid infection?

Pfizer recently reported that proactively giving Paxlovid to family members of people infected with Covid-19 didn’t significantly reduce their chances of catching it. But that’s not the end of the story. Pfizer is studying several other potential benefits of early use, including whether Paxlovid reduces the length and severity of Covid-19 among households. “It’s a high bar to protect against infection but I’d love to see data on how Paxlovid did against severe disease because it may be more effective there,” said Pekosz.

Sri Lanka’s prime minister quits after weeks of protests C

OLOMBO, Sri Lanka—Sri Lanka’s prime minister resigned following weeks of protests demanding that he and his brother, the country’s president, step down for dragging the nation into its worst economic crisis in decades. Prime Minister Mahinda Rajapaksa said on Twitter that he submitted his resignation to President Gotabaya Rajapaksa, a move that followed a violent attack by government supporters on the protesters, prompting authorities to deploy armed troops in the capital, Colombo. Four people, including a ruling party lawmaker, died in Monday’s violence, police spokesman Nihal Thalduwa told the Associated Press. President Rajapaksa imposed a countrywide curfew Monday evening lasting until Wednesday morning.

For more than a month, protests have spread across the country, drawing people across ethnicities, religions and class. For the first time middle-class Sri Lankans also took to the streets in large numbers, marking a dramatic revolt by many former Rajapaksa supporters, some of whom have spent weeks protesting outside the president’s office. The protests underscored a dramatic fall from favor of the Rajapaksas, Sri Lanka’s most powerful political dynasty for decades. The brothers were once hailed as heroes by many of the island’s Buddhist-Sinhalese majority for ending the country’s 30-year civil war, and despite accusations of war atrocities, were firmly entrenched at the top of Sri Lankan politics until now. The prime minister’s resignation

comes as the country’s economy has swiftly unraveled in recent weeks. Imports of everything from milk to fuel have plunged, spawning dire food shortages and rolling power cuts. People have been forced to stand in lines for hours to buy essentials. Doctors have warned of crippling shortages of life-saving drugs in hospitals, and the government has suspended payments on $7 billion in foreign debt due this year alone. President Gotabaya Rajapaksa initially blamed Sri Lanka’s economic woes on global factors like the pandemic battering its tourism industry and the Russia-Ukraine conflict pushing up global oil prices. But both he and his brother have since admitted to mistakes that exacerbated the crisis, including conceding they should have

sought an International Monetary Fund bailout sooner. Sri Lanka has been holding talks with the IMF to set up a rescue plan but its progress depends on negotiations on debt restructuring with creditors. Any long-term plan would take at least six months to get underway. Sri Lanka was in financial trouble even before the Ukraine war drove up food and oil prices. The Sri Lankan government has been running big budget deficits after cutting taxes in 2019 and struggling to collect taxes during the Covid-19 pandemic. It also has piled up massive foreign debt—much of it owed to China—and has scant foreign exchange reserves to pay for imports and to defend its embattled currency, the rupee.

Sri Lanka is at the top of a list compiled by Liliana Rojas-Suarez of the Center for Global Development that ranks the countries most exposed to financial shocks. Those most vulnerable rely on commodity imports and have low foreign exchange reserves compared to what they owe other countries. Monday’s violence triggered widespread anger, with people singling out Rajapaksa supporters and attacking them in many parts of the country. Ruling party lawmaker Amarakeerthi Athukorale and his bodyguard were killed in Nittambuwa, some 30 kilometers (20 miles) north of Colombo after the car they were traveling in was intercepted by an angry crowd, the police spokesman said. Athukorale or his bodyguard had

fired gunshots at the protesters, who chased them and trapped them inside a building where their badly beaten bodies were recovered by police several hours later, the spokesman said. Three people were hospitalized with gunshot wounds from the shots fired from the lawmaker’s vehicle, he said. Separately, in the Rajapaksas’ hometown of Weeraketiya, a crowd that tried to set fire to a local politician’s home was fired upon, killing two protesters, he said. Protesters tried several times to break into the prime minister’s official residence Monday night forcing police to fire tear gas. Homes of government ministers and politicians supporting the Rajapaksas were also attacked and some set on fire. The memorial for the brothers’ parents was vandalized. AP

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Wednesday, May 11, 2022 A13

Biden inks Ukraine bill, seeks $40 billion in military aid to help war against Russia By Zeke Miller & Lisa Mascaro

The Associated Press

ASHINGTON— Washington sought to portray a united front against Russia’s invasion of Ukraine as President Joe Biden signed a bipartisan measure to reboot the World War IIera “lend-lease” program, which helped defeat Nazi Germany, to bolster Kyiv and Eastern European allies.

The signing Monday came as the US Congress is poised to unleash billions more to fight the war against Russia—with Democrats preparing $40 billion in military and humanitarian aid, larger than the $33 billion package Biden has requested. It all serves as a rejoinder to Russian President Vladimir Putin, who has seized on Victory in Europe Day—the anniversary of Germany’s unconditional surrender in 1945 and Russia’s biggest patriotic holiday—to rally his people behind the invasion. “This aid has been critical to Ukraine’s success on the battlefield,” Biden said in a statement. Biden said it was urgent that Congress approve the next Ukraine assistance package to avoid any interruption in military supplies being sent to help fight the war, with a crucial deadline coming in 10 days. “We cannot allow our shipments of assistance to stop while

we await further Congressional action,” he said. He urged Congress to act—and “to do so quickly.” In a letter delivered to Capitol Hill on Monday, Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin and Secretary of State Antony Blinken urged Congress to act before May 19, when the existing drawdown funds run out. The Pentagon has already sent or committed all but $100 million of the $3.5 billion in weapons and equipment that it can send to Ukraine from its existing stockpiles. And that final $100 million is expected to be used no later than May 19, they said. “In short, we need your help,” they said in the letter, which was obtained by The Associated Press. “The ability to draw upon existing DoD stocks has been a critical tool in our efforts to support the Ukrainians in their fight against Russian aggression, allowing us to quickly source equipment and ensure a sustained flow of security assistance to Ukraine.”

President Joe Biden signs the Ukraine Democracy Defense Lend-Lease Act of 2022 in the Oval Office of the White House on Monday, May 9, 2022, in Washington. Witnessing the signing are Ukraine-born Rep. Victoria Spartz, R-Ind., right, and Sen. Ben Cardin, D-Md. AP/Manuel Balce Ceneta

The resolve from Biden and Congress to maintain support for Ukraine has been lasting, but also surprising. Still, as the months-long war with Russia grinds on, the bipartisan showing for Ukraine will be tested as the US and allies are drawn closer toward the conflict. The House could vote as soon as this week on the bolstered Ukraine aid package, sending the legislation to the Senate, which is working to confirm Biden’s nominee Bridget Brink as the new Ukrainian ambassador. The House’s Tuesday schedule mentioned the Ukraine legislation, but it was unclear how firm that was. With the president’s party holding only the slimmest majorities in the House and Senate, Republican cooperation is preferred, if not vital in some cases, for passage of the president’s strategy toward the region. “I think we will be able to do

it as quickly as possible,” House Speaker Nancy Pelosi said over the weekend about an emerging aid package. “We have great bipartisanship in terms of our support for the fight for democracy that the people of Ukraine are making.” Despite their differences over Biden’s approach to foreign policy and perceived missteps in confronting Russia, when it comes to Ukraine the members of the House and Senate have held together to support the president’s strategy. The lend-lease bill that Biden signed into law Monday revives the strategy to more quickly send military equipment to Ukraine. Launched during World War II, lend-lease signaled the US would become what Franklin D. Roosevelt called the “arsenal of democracy” helping Britain and the allies fight Nazi Germany. Before signing the bill, Biden said “Putin’s war” was “once more

bringing wanton destruction of Europe,” drawing reference to the significance of the day. Flanked by two Democratic lawmakers and one Republican, Biden signed the bill, which had widespread bipartisan support. It sailed through the Senate last month with unanimous agreement, without even the need for a formal roll call vote. It passed overwhelmingly in the House, drawing opposition from just 10 Republicans. “It really matters,” Biden said of the bipartisan support for Ukraine. “It matters.” One of the bill’s chief Republican sponsors, Sen. John Cornyn of Texas, said in a statement the measure will give Ukraine “the upper hand against Russia, and I’m glad America could act as the arsenal of democracy for this critical partner.” Other measures, including efforts to cut off Russian oil imports to the US and calls to investigate Putin for war crimes, have also gained widespread support, though some lawmakers have pushed Biden to do even more. “While President Putin and the Russian people celebrated Victory Day today, we’re seeing Russian forces commit war crimes and atrocities in Ukraine, as they engage in a brutal war that is causing so much suffering and needless destruction,” said White House press secretary Jen Psaki. She said Putin was “perverting” history to attempt to “justify his unprovoked and unjustified war.” Biden acknowledged his request for more in military and humanitarian aid for Ukraine would have to be separated from money he also

sought from Congress to address the Covid-19 crisis at home. Decoupling the two funding requests would be a setback for the president’s push for more Covid-19 spending, but a nod to the political reality of the Congress. Republicans in Congress are resisting spending more money at home as the pandemic crisis shifts to a new phase, and Biden did not want to delay money for Ukraine by trying to debate the issue further. Biden said he was told by congressional leaders in both parties that keeping the two spending packages linked would slow down action. “We cannot afford delay in this vital war effort,” Biden said in the statement. “Hence, I am prepared to accept that these two measures move separately, so that the Ukrainian aid bill can get to my desk right away.” As the now bolstered Ukraine package makes its way through the House and Senate, with votes possible soon, lawmakers are showing no signs of flinching. Countless lawmakers have made weekend excursions to the region to see firsthand the devastation of the war on Ukraine and surrounding countries, as more than 5 million refugees flee the country. Rather than fight the spending overseas—as had been an increasingly popular viewpoint during the Trump era—some lawmakers in both parties want to boost the amount of US aid being sent to Ukraine. The Associated Press writers Alan Fram, Lolita C. Baldor and Will Weissert contributed to this report.

Russia fires hypersonic missiles at Odesa after biggest holiday Washington Post wins Pulitzer Prize for January 6 coverage By Elena Becatoros & Jon Gambrell The Associated Press

APORIZHZHIA, Ukraine—Ukraine’s vital Black Sea port of Odesa came under repeated missile attack, including from some hypersonic missiles, after Russia marked its biggest patriotic holiday without giving new information about the war. Also, a Ukrainian official said the bodies of 44 civilians were found in the rubble of a building destroyed by Russia in March. The civilians were inside a five-story building that collapsed in Izyum in the Kharkiv region, said Oleh Synehubov, the head of Kharkiv’s regional administration. “This is another horrible war crime of the Russian occupiers against the civilian population!” he said in a social media message announcing the deaths. Izyum is an eastern Ukrainian city that Russia has been holding as a key front-line node. Synehubov did not say specifically where the building was. Earlier, the Ukrainian military said Russian forces fired seven missiles from the air at Odesa, hitting a shopping center and a warehouse. One person was killed and five were wounded, the military said. As part of the barrage, a Russian supersonic bomber fired three hypersonic missiles, according to the Center for Defense Strategies, a Ukrainian think tank tracking the war. The center identified the weapons used as Kinzhal, or “Dagger,” hypersonic air-to-surface missiles. The Kinzhal can fly at five times the speed of sound and has a range of 2,000 kilometers (1,240 miles). Using advanced guided missiles allows Russia to fire from aircraft at a distance without being in Ukrainian air space and exposed to potential anti-aircraft fire. But Ukrainian, British and American

officials warn Russia is rapidly expending its stock of precision weapons and may not be able to quickly build more, raising the risk of more imprecise rockets being used as the conflict grinds on. That could result in more civilian deaths and other collateral damage. The strikes came after Russian President Vladimir Putin marked his country’s biggest patriotic holiday without being able to boast of major new battlefield successes. He watched troops march in formation and military hardware roll by in a Victory Day parade on Moscow’s Red Square in a celebration of the Soviet Union’s role in the 1945 defeat of Nazi Germany. Many Western analysts had expected Putin to use Victory Day holiday to trumpet some kind of victory in Ukraine or announce an escalation, but he did neither. Instead, he sought to justify the war again as a necessary response to what he portrayed as a hostile Ukraine. Putin has long bristled at NATO’s creep eastward into former Soviet republics. Ukraine and its Western allies have denied the country posed any threat. “The danger was rising by the day,” Putin said. “Russia has given a preemptive response to aggression. It was forced, timely, and the only correct decision.” Intense fighting also raged in Ukraine’s east. And Russian forces sought to end the resistance of Ukrainian defenders making their last stand at a steel plant in Mariupol. One of the Ukrainian fighters holding out at the steel plant said they were still defending the city. Valeri Paditel, who heads the border guards in the Donetsk region, said the fighters were “doing everything to make those who defend the city in the future proud.” The Ukrainian military warned Tuesday that Russia could target the country’s chemical industries. The claim wasn’t immediately explained in the report. But

Russian shelling has previously targeted oil depots and other industrial sites during the war. Also, satellite pictures analyzed by The Associated Press showed two ships off Ukraine’s Snake Island on Monday afternoon. One of the ships seen in the images from Planet Labs PBC appeared to be a landing craft. Ukraine has repeatedly struck Russian positions there recently, suggesting Russian forces may be trying to re-staff or remove personnel from the Black Sea island. After unexpectedly fierce resistance forced the Kremlin to abandon its effort to storm Kyiv over a month ago, Moscow’s forces have concentrated on capturing the Donbas, Ukraine’s eastern industrial region. But the fighting there has been a backand-forth, village-by-village slog. Some analysts suggested Putin might declare the fighting a war, not just a “special military operation,” and order a nationwide mobilization, with a call-up of reserves, to fight an extended conflict. In the end, he gave no signal as to where the war is headed or how he might intend to salvage it. Specifically, he left unanswered the question of whether or how Russia will marshal more forces for a continuing war. “Without concrete steps to build a new force, Russia can’t fight a long war, and the clock starts ticking on the failure of their army in Ukraine,” tweeted Phillips P. O’Brien, professor of strategic studies at the University of St. Andrews in Scotland. Nigel Gould Davies, former British ambassador to Belarus, said: “Russia has not won this war. It’s starting to lose it.” He said that unless Russia has a major breakthrough, “the balance of advantages will shift steadily in favor of Ukraine, especially as Ukraine gets access to growing volumes of increasingly sophisticated Western military equipment.” As Putin laid a wreath in Moscow, air

raid sirens echoed again in the Ukrainian capital. But Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy declared in his own Victory Day address that his country would eventually defeat the Russians. “Very soon there will be two Victory Days in Ukraine,” he said in a video. He added: “We are fighting for freedom, for our children, and therefore we will win.” A Zelenskyy adviser interpreted Putin’s speech as indicating that Russia has no interest in escalating the war through the use of nuclear weapons or direct engagement with NATO. In Washington, President Joe Biden signed a bipartisan measure to reboot the World War II-era “lend-lease” program, which helped defeat Nazi Germany, to bolster Kyiv and Eastern European allies. Russia has about 97 battalion tactical groups in Ukraine, largely in the east and the south, a slight increase over last week, according to a senior US official, speaking on condition of anonymity to discuss the Pentagon’s assessment. Each unit has roughly 1,000 troops, according to the Pentagon. The official said that overall, the Russian effort in the Donbas hasn’t achieved any significant progress in recent days and continues to face stiff resistance from Ukrainian forces. Satellite photos showed intense fires in Russian-held territory in southern Ukraine on Monday. A cause for the fires wasn’t immediately clear. However, Planet Labs images showed thick smoke rising to the east of Vasylivka, a city that is flanked by nature preserves.

Gambrell reported from Lviv, Ukraine. Yesica Fisch in Bakhmut, David Keyton in Kyiv, Yuras Karmanau in Lviv, Mstyslav Chernov in Kharkiv, Lolita C. Baldor in Washington, and AP staff around the world contributed to this report.

By Deepti Hajela The Associated Press

EW YORK—The Washington Post won the Pulitzer Prize in public service journalism Monday for its coverage of the January 6 insurrection at the US Capitol, an attack on democracy that was a shocking start to a tumultuous year that also saw the end of the United States’ longest war, in Afghanistan. T h e P o s t ’s e x t e n s i v e r e p o r t i n g , published in a sophisticated interactive series, found numerous problems and failures in political systems and security before, during and after the Jan. 6, 2021, riot in the newspaper’s own backyard. The “compellingly told and vividly presented account” gave the public “a thorough and unflinching understanding of one of the nation’s darkest days,” said Marjorie Miller, administrator of the prizes, in announcing the award. Five Getty Images photographers were awarded one of the two prizes in breaking news photography for their coverage of the riot. The other prize awarded in breaking news photography went to Los Angeles Times correspondent and photographer Marcus Yam, for work related to the fall of Kabul. The US pullout and resurrection of the Taliban’s grip on Afghanistan permeated across categories, with The New York Times winning in the international reporting category for reporting challenging official accounts of civilian deaths from US airstrikes in Syria, Iraq and Afghanistan. The Pulitzer Prizes, administered by Columbia University and considered the most prestigious in American journalism, recognize work in 15 journalism categories and seven arts categories. This year’s awards, which were livestreamed, honored work produced in 2021. The winner of the public service award receives a gold

medal, while winners of each of the other categories get $15,000. The intersection of health, safety and infrastructure played a prominent role among the winning projects. T h e Ta m p a B a y Ti m e s w o n t h e investigative reporting award for “Poisoned,” its in-depth look into a polluting lead factory. The Miami Herald took the breaking news award for its work covering the deadly Surfside condo tower collapse, while The Better Government Association and the Chicago Tribune won the local reporting award for “Deadly Fires, Broken Promises,” the watchdog and newspaper’s examination of a lack of enforcement of fire safety standards. “As a newsroom, we poured our hearts into the breaking news and the ongoing daily coverage, and subsequent investigative coverage, of the Champlain Towers South condominium collapse story,” The Miami Herald’s executive editor, Monica Richardson, wrote in a statement. “It was our story to tell because the people and the families in Surfside who were impacted by this unthinkable tragedy are a part of our community.” Elsewhere in Florida, Tampa Bay Times’ editor and vice president Mark Katches mirrored that sentiment, calling his newspaper’s win “a testament to the importance of a vital local newsroom like the Times.” The prize for explanatory reporting went to Quanta Magazine, with the board highlighting the work of Natalie Wolchover, for a long-form piece about the James Webb space telescope, a $10 billion engineering effort to gain a better understanding about the origins of the universe. The New York Times also won in the national reporting category, for a project looking at police traffic stops that ended in fatalities, and Salamishah Tillet, a contributing critic-at-large at the Times, won the criticism award. AP

A14 Wednesday, May 11, 2022 • Editor: Angel R. Calso

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PHL’s opportunity to diversify exports

he conflict in Eastern Europe has upended the global commodities market, which has been putting pressure on inflation in many food-importing countries like the Philippines. The disruption caused by Russia’s invasion of Ukraine has exacerbated the food and fuel situation in many countries that have been grappling with supply and price issues caused by the reopening of the global economy. The Philippines, for one, is now seeing higher fuel prices and paying more for imported food products (See, “Prices seen rising still; April inflation at 4.9%,” in the BusinessMirror, May 5, 2022). However, the crisis also gives nations a chance to take a step back and determine their strengths, which will allow them not only to survive but also to come out of the difficult situation much stronger than before. For many decades following the formation of the World Trade Organization, food-importing countries, such as the Philippines, have been given many options as to where they could source cheap raw materials and food. For example, the opening of global markets and the subsequent reduction of tariffs enabled the country to buy cheaper food items, even those that are produced in the Philippines. The war in Ukraine reinforces the imperative for most countries to put in place more resilient supply chains. Governments play critical roles in promoting supply chain stability. Currently, circumstances in the global supply chain have exposed vulnerabilities due to inefficiencies and failure to spread the risk across the supply chain. For instance, many countries are now scrambling to look for alternatives to commodities, such as sunflower oil and wheat— two crucial commodities that are globally consumed in huge quantities. The Philippines is a rice-eating nation, but those in the bottom 30 of the population patronize instant noodles, which are cheap and filling. There is also a huge demand for imported palm oil, which is used by Philippine food manufacturers. The spike in wheat prices has resulted in the search for more costeffective alternatives to wheat. For one, African consumers are now ditching wheat from their diet and are incorporating alternatives, such as rice and manioc flour. Economists said global supplies of wheat could shrink even more as India is seen limiting exports after severe heat waves damaged its crops, according to a Bloomberg report. The Philippines is one of the countries that have the potential to step up their production of alternatives to wheat, such as coconut flour. The Philippine Coconut Authority noted that there is an increasing demand for coconut-based products, such as coconut charcoal and coconut flour given the spike in fuel and wheat prices (See, “War boosts demand for PHL coco products,” in the BusinessMirror, May 9, 2022). The country can easily boost the output of these products, as coconut is a major cash crop planted by millions of Filipino farmers. Russia’s invasion of Ukraine may have given us a lot of headaches, but it has also opened new opportunities for agricultural countries like the Philippines. The key is the willingness and resolve of policymakers to make the necessary investment that would allow the Philippines to finally diversify its sources of export receipts. Sans a commitment to stop depending on electronics, export diversification would remain a pipe dream. Since 2005

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Crucial Nato decisions expected in Finland, Sweden this week

By Karl Ritter | The Associated Press

TOCKHOLM—To join or not to join? The Nato question is coming to a head this week in Finland and Sweden where Russia’s invasion of Ukraine has shattered the long-held belief that remaining outside the military alliance was the best way to avoid trouble with their giant neighbor. If Finland’s president and the governing Social Democrats in both countries come out in favor of accession in the next few days, Nato could soon add two members right on Russia’s doorstep. That would be a historic development for the two Nordic countries: Sweden has avoided military alliances for more than 200 years, while Finland adopted neutrality after being defeated by the Soviet Union in World War II. Nato membership was never seriously considered in Stockholm and Helsinki until Russian forces attacked Ukraine on February 24. Virtually overnight, the conversation in both capitals shifted from “Why should we join?” to “How long does it take?” Along with hard-nosed Ukrainian resistance and wide-ranging Western sanctions, it’s one of the most significant ways in which the invasion appears to have backfired on Russian President Vladimir Putin. If Finland and Sweden join the alliance, Russia would find itself completely surrounded by Nato countries

in the Baltic Sea and the Arctic. “There is no going back to the status quo before the invasion,” said Heli Hautala, a Finnish diplomat previously posted to Moscow and a research fellow at the Center for a New American Security in Washington. Finnish President Sauli Niinisto, the Western leader who appeared to have the best rapport with Putin before the Ukraine war, is expected to announce his stance on Nato membership on Thursday. The governing Social Democratic parties in both countries are set to present their positions this weekend. If their answer is “yes,” there would be robust majorities in both parliaments for Nato membership, paving the way for formal application procedures to begin right away. The Finnish Social Democrats led by Prime Minister Sanna Marin are likely to join other parties in Finland in endorsing a Nato application. The situation in Sweden isn’t as clear. The Swedish Social Democrats have always been staunchly committed to nonalignment, but party leader and Prime Minister Magda-

lena Andersson has said there’s a clear “before and after February 24.” The party’s women’s faction, led by Climate and Environment Minister Annika Strandhall, has come out against Nato membership. “We believe that our interests are best served by being militarily nonaligned,” Strandhall told Swedish broadcaster TV4. “Traditionally, Sweden has been a strong voice for peace and disarmament.” Neither Finland nor Sweden is planning a referendum, fearing it could become a prime target of Russian interference. Sweden and Finland have sought—and received—assurances of support from the US and other Nato members in the application period should they seek membership. Both countries feel they would be vulnerable in the interim, before they’re covered by the alliance’s onefor-all, all-for-one security guarantees. The Kremlin has warned of “military and political repercussions” if the Swedes and Finns decide to join Nato. Dmitry Medvedev, the former Russian president who is deputy head of Russia’s Security Council, said last month it would force Moscow to strengthen its military presence in the Baltic region. However, analysts say military action against the Nordic countries appears unlikely, given how bogged down Russian forces are in Ukraine.

Many of the Russian troops stationed near the 1,300-kilometer (830-mile) border with Finland were sent to Ukraine and have suffered “significant losses” there, Hautala said. She said potential Russian countermeasures could include moving weapons systems closer to Finland, disinformation campaigns, cyberattacks, economic countermoves and steering migration toward the Russian-Finnish border, similar to what happened on Poland’s frontier with Belarus last year. There are signs that Russia already has increased its focus on Sweden and Finland, with several airspace violations by Russian military aircraft reported in recent weeks and an apparent campaign in Moscow with posters depicting famous Swedes as Nazi sympathizers. Putin used similar tactics against Ukraine’s leaders before launching what the Kremlin called its “special military operation.” After remaining firmly against membership for decades, public opinion in both countries shifted rapidly this year. Polls show more than 70 percent of Finns and about 50 percent of Swedes now favor joining. The shocking scenes playing out in Ukraine made Finns draw the conclusion that “this could happen to us,” said Charly Salonius-Pasternak, a researcher at the Finnish Institute of International Affairs. See “Crucial,” A15

Earth given 50-50 chance of hitting key warming mark by 2026 By Seth Borenstein | AP Science Writer

he world is creeping closer to the warming threshold international agreements are trying to prevent, with nearly a 50-50 chance that Earth will temporarily hit that temperature mark within the next five years, teams of meteorologists across the globe predicted. With human-made climate change continuing, there’s a 48 percent chance that the globe will reach a yearly average of 1.5 degrees Celsius (2.7 degrees Fahrenheit) above preindustrial levels of the late 1800s at least once between now and 2026, a bright red signal in climate change negotiations and science, a team of 11 different forecast centers predicted for the World Meteorological Organization late Monday. The odds are inching up along with the thermometer. Last year, the same forecasters put the odds at closer to 40 percent and a decade ago it was only 10 percent. The team, coordinated by the United Kingdom’s Meteorological Office, in their five-year general outlook said there is a 93 percent chance that the world will set a record for hottest year by the end of 2026. They also said there’s a 93 percent chance that the five years from 2022 to 2026

will be the hottest on record. Forecasters also predict the devastating fire-prone mega drought in the US Southwest will keep going. “We’re going to see continued warming in line with what is expected with climate change,” said UK Met Office senior scientist Leon Hermanson, who coordinated the report. These forecasts are big picture global and regional climate predictions on a yearly and seasonal time scale based on long-term averages and state of the art computer simulations. They are different than increasingly accurate weather forecasts that predict how hot or wet a certain day will be in specific places. But even if the world hits that mark of 1.5 degrees above preindustrial times—the globe has already warmed about 1.1 degrees (2 degrees Fahrenheit) since the late 1800s—that’s not quite the same as the global threshold first

set by international negotiators in the 2015 Paris agreement. In 2018, a major United Nations science report predicted dramatic and dangerous effects on people and the world if warming exceeds 1.5 degrees. The global 1.5-degree threshold is about the world being that warm not for one year, but over a 20- or 30-year time period, several scientists said. This is not what the report predicts. Meteorologists can only tell if Earth hits that average mark years, maybe a decade or two, after it is actually reached there because it is a long term average, Hermanson said. “This is a warning of what will be just average in a few years,” said Cornell University climate scientist Natalie Mahowald, who wasn’t part of the forecast teams. The prediction makes sense given how warm the world already is and an additional tenth of a degree Celsius (nearly two-tenths of a degree Fahrenheit) is expected because of human-caused climate change in the next five years, said climate scientist Zeke Hausfather of the tech company Stripe and Berkeley Earth, who wasn’t part of the forecast teams. Add to that the likelihood of a strong El Nino—the natural periodic warm-

ing of parts of the Pacific that alter world weather—which could toss another couple tenths of a degree on top temporarily and the world gets to 1.5 degrees. The world is in the second straight year of a La Nina, the opposite of El Nino, which has a slight global cooling effect but isn’t enough to counter the overall warming of heat-trapping gases spewed by the burning of coal, oil and natural gas, scientists said. The five-year forecast says that La Nina is likely to end late this year or in 2023. The greenhouse effect from fossil fuels is like putting global temperatures on a rising escalator. El Nino, La Nina and a handful of other natural weather variations are like taking steps up or down on that escalator, scientists said. On a regional scale, the Arctic will still be warming during the winter at rate three times more than the globe on average. While the A merican Southwest and southwestern Europe are likely to be drier than normal the next five years, wetter than normal conditions are expected for Africa’s often arid Sahel region, northern Europe, northeast Brazil and Australia, the report predicted.

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South Korea’s new leader offers support if North denuclearizes

By Hyung-Jin Kim & Kim Tong-Hyung | The Associated Press

EOUL, South Korea—Yoon Suk Yeol, a conservative political neophyte, took office Tuesday as South Korea’s new president with a vow to pursue a negotiated settlement of North Korea’s threatening nuclear program and an offer of “an audacious plan” to improve Pyongyang’s economy if it abandons its nuclear weapons.

Yoon’s starts his single five-year term during one of the most challenging situations of any recent new president, facing a mix of significant security, economic and social problems that beset the world’s 10th largest economy. There’s widespread skepticism that an increasingly belligerent North Korea will give his offers much consideration, and South Korea’s deep political and social divides, as well as a growing worry about the state of a pandemic-hit economy, are reflected in a recent poll: Yoon faces lower popularity numbers than the departing liberal president, Moon Jae-in. Yoon had promised a tougher stance on North Korea during his campaign, but he avoided a tough stance during his inaugural speech amid growing worries that the North is preparing for its first nuclear bomb test in nearly five years. North Korea has rejected similar past overtures by some of Yoon’s predecessors that link incentives to progress in its denuclearization. “While North Korea’s nuclear weapon programs are a threat, not only to our security but also to Northeast Asia, the door to dialogue will remain open so that we can peacefully resolve this threat,” Yoon told a crowd gathered outside parliament in Seoul. “If North Korea genuinely embarks on a process to complete denuclearization, we are prepared to work with the international community to present an audacious plan that will vastly strengthen North Korea’s economy and improve the quality of life for its people,” he said. Yoon also addressed South Korea’s growing economic problems, saying decaying job markets and a widening rich-poor gap are brewing a democratic crisis by stoking “internal strife and discord” and fueling a spread of “anti-intellectualism” as people lose their sense of community and belonging. He said he would spur economic growth to heal the deep political divide and income equalities. North Korea’s advancing nuclear program is a vexing security challenge for Yoon, who won the March 9 election on a promise to strengthen South Korea’s 70-year military alliance with the United States and build up its own missile capability to neutralize North Korean threats. In recent months, North Korea has test-launched a spate of nuclearcapable missiles that could target South Korea, Japan and the mainland United States. Pyongyang appears to be trying to rattle Yoon’s government while modernizing its weapons arsenals and pressuring the Biden administration into relaxing sanctions. North Korean leader Kim Jong Un recently warned that his nuclear weapons won’t be confined to their primary mission of deterring war if Kim’s national interests are threatened. In a policy briefing earlier Tuesday, South Korea’s military chief Won In-Choul told Yoon that North Korea can conduct a nuclear test soon if Kim decides to do so. Yoon then ordered military commanders to maintain firm readiness, saying that “the security situation on the Korean Peninsula is very grave.” Analyst Cheong Seong-Chang at the private Sejong Institute said there’s little chance North Korea will accept Yoon’s conditional support plan because the North believes South Korea must first abandon its hostile policies, by which it means regular military drills with the United States, before talks can resume. Yoon must also deal with a de-

stabilizing US-China rivalry and history disputes with Japan. South Korea is also bracing for the fallout of Russia’s war on Ukraine in global energy markets. South Korea must accept that it cannot force North Korea to denuclearize or ease the US-China standoff, according to Chung Jin-young, a professor at Kyung Hee University. He said South Korea must instead focus on strengthening its defense capability and boosting the US alliance to “make North Korea never dare think about a nuclear attack on us.” He said South Korea must also prevent ties with Beijing from worsening. Yoon didn’t mention Japan during his speech. During his campaign, Yoon repeatedly accused his liberal predecessor Moon of exploiting Japan for domestic politics and stressed Tokyo’s strategic importance. But some experts say Yoon could end up in the same policy rut as Moon, considering the countries’ deep disagreements over sensitive history issues such as Tokyo’s wartime mobilization of Korean laborers and sex slaves. Some of Yoon’s major domestic policies may face an impasse in parliament, which will remain controlled by liberal lawmakers ahead of general elections in 2024. Yoon must also rebuild South Korea’s pandemic response, shaken by a massive omicron surge in recent months. He’s been also been denied a honeymoon period. Surveys show less than 60 percent of respondents expect he will do well in his presidency, an unusually low figure compared to his predecessors, who mostly received about 80 percent to 90 percent before they entered office. His approval rating as a president-elect was 41 percent, according to a survey by Gallup Korea released last week that put then President Moon’s rating at 45 percent. Yoon’s low popularity is blamed in part on an acute divide between conservatives and liberals and on contentious policies and Cabinet picks. Some experts say Yoon also hasn’t shown a clear vision for how to navigate South Korea past the foreign policy and domestic challenges. Yoon won the election by a historically narrow margin after largely catering to public frustration over Moon’s setbacks in economic policies, which were criticized for letting house prices and personal debt soar out of control and failing to create enough jobs. Yoon focused much of his message on young males who resented the loss of traditional privileges in a hyper-competitive job market and their dimmed prospects for marriage and parenthood, although his campaign was criticized for ignoring the plight of women. “The challenges that Yoon has at the start of his presidency are the toughest and the most unfavorable ones” among South Korean presidents elected since the late 1980s, a period viewed as the start of the country’s genuine democracy after decades of dictatorship, said Choi Jin, director of the Seoul-based Institute of Presidential Leadership. In recent weeks, Yoon has invited criticism—even from some of his conservative supporters—by moving his offices from the mountainside Blue House presidential palace. Yoon said moving to the capital’s center is meant to better communicate with the public, but critics question why he has made it a priority when he has so many other urgent issues to tackle. Yoon, 61, was prosecutor-general for Moon before he resigned and joined the main conservative opposition party last year following internal feuding with Moon’s political allies.

Wednesday, May 11, 2022 A15

As Putin marks Victory Day, his troops make little war gains By Elena Becatoros & Jon Gambrell | The Associated Press

APORIZHZHIA, Ukraine—Russian President Vladimir Putin marked his country’s biggest patriotic holiday Monday without a major new battlefield success in Ukraine to boast of, as the war ground on through its 11th week with the Kremlin’s forces making little or no progress in their offensive.

The Russian leader oversaw a Victory Day parade on Moscow’s Red Square, watching as troops marched in formation and military hardware rolled past in a celebration of the Soviet Union’s role in the 1945 defeat of Nazi Germany. While Western analysts in recent weeks had widely expected Putin to use the holiday to trumpet some kind of victory in Ukraine or announce an escalation, he did neither. Instead, he sought to justify the war again as a necessary response to what he portrayed as a hostile Ukraine. “The danger was rising by the day,” Putin said. “Russia has given a preemptive response to aggression. It was forced, timely and the only correct decision.” He steered clear of battlefield specifics, failing to mention the potentially pivotal battle for the vital southern port of Mariupol and not even uttering the word “Ukraine.” On the ground, meanwhile, intense fighting raged in Ukraine’s east, the vital Black Sea port of Odesa in the south came under repeated missile attack, and Russian forces sought to finish off the Ukrainian defenders making their last stand at a steel plant in Mariupol. Putin has long bristled at Nato’s creep eastward into former Soviet republics. Ukraine and its Western allies have denied the country posed any threat. As he has done all along, Putin falsely portrayed the fighting as a battle against Nazism, thereby linking the war to what many Russians consider their finest hour: the triumph over Hitler. The Soviet Union lost 27 million people in what Russia refers to as the Great Patriotic War. After unexpectedly fierce resis-

tance forced the Kremlin to abandon its effort to storm Kyiv over a month ago, Moscow’s forces have concentrated on capturing the Donbas, Ukraine’s eastern industrial region. But the fighting there has been a back-and-forth, village-by-village slog, and many analysts had suggested Putin might use his holiday speech to present the Russian people with a victory amid discontent over the country’s heavy casualties and the punishing effects of Western sanctions. Others suggested he might declare the fighting a war, not just a “special military operation,” and order a nationwide mobilization, with a call-up of reserves, to replenish the depleted ranks for an extended conflict. In the end, he gave no signal as to where the war is headed or how he might intend to salvage it. Specifically, he left unanswered the question of whether or how Russia will marshal more forces for a continuing war. “Without concrete steps to build a new force, Russia can’t fight a long war, and the clock starts ticking on the failure of their army in Ukraine,” tweeted Phillips P. O’Brien, professor of strategic studies at the University of St. Andrews in Scotland. Nigel Gould Davies, former British ambassador to Belarus, said: “Russia has not won this war. It’s starting to lose it.” He said that unless Russia has a major breakthrough, “the balance of advantages will shift steadily in favor of Ukraine, especially as Ukraine gets access to growing volumes of increasingly sophisticated Western military equipment.” Despite Russia’s crackdown on dissent, antiwar sentiment has seeped through. Dozens of pro-

testers were detained around the country on Victory Day, and editors at a pro-Kremlin media outlet revolted by briefly publishing a few dozen stories criticizing Putin and the invasion. In Warsaw, antiwar protesters splattered Russia’s ambassador to Poland with what appeared to be red paint as he arrived at a cemetery to pay respects to Red Army soldiers who died during World War II. As Putin laid a wreath in Moscow, air raid sirens echoed again in the Ukrainian capital. But Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy declared in his own Victory Day address that his country would eventually defeat the Russians. “Very soon there will be two Victory Days in Ukraine,” he said in a video. He added: “We are fighting for freedom, for our children, and therefore we will win.” A Zelenskyy adviser interpreted Putin’s speech as indicating that Russia has no interest in escalating the war through the use of nuclear weapons or direct engagement with Nato. Speaking late Monday in an online interview, Oleksiy Arestovych pointed to Putin’s statement that Russia would honor the memory of those who fought in World War II by doing “everything so that the horror of a global war does not happen again.” Instead, he predicted Russia would make “a sluggish attempt” to take control of the Donbas, including Mariupol, and a land corridor to the Crimean Peninsula, which it seized from Ukraine in 2014. Arestovych said Russia would drag out the war while bleeding the Ukrainian economy with the aim of getting Ukraine to agree to give up that territory. Russia has about 97 battalion tactical groups in Ukraine, largely in the east and the south, a slight increase over last week, according to a senior US official, speaking on condition of anonymity to discuss the Pentagon’s assessment. Each unit has roughly 1,000 troops, according to the Pentagon.

The official said that overall, the Russian effort in the Donbas hasn’t achieved any significant progress in recent days and continues to face stiff resistance from Ukrainian forces. The Ukrainian military warned of a high probability of missile strikes around the holiday, and some cities imposed curfews or warned people not to gather in public places. More than 60 people were feared dead over the weekend after Russian bombardment flattened a Ukrainian school being used as a shelter in the eastern village of Bilohorivka, Ukrainian officials said. Russia is perhaps closest to a victory in Mariupol. The US official said roughly 2,000 Russian forces were around Mariupol, and the city was being pounded by airstrikes. As many as 2,000 Ukrainian defenders were believed to be holding out at the steel plant, the city’s last stronghold of resistance. The fall of Mariupol would also deprive Ukraine of a vital port, free up troops to fight elsewhere in the Donbas and give the Kremlin a badly needed success. Odesa, too, has increasingly been bombarded in recent days. The Ukrainian military said Russian forces fired seven missiles from the air at Odesa on Monday night, hitting a shopping center and a warehouse. One person was killed and five were wounded, the military said. The war in the country long known as the “breadbasket of Europe” has disrupted global food supplies. “I saw silos full of grain, wheat and corn ready for export,” Charles Michel, president of the European Council, lamented in a tweet after a visit to Odesa. “This badly needed food is stranded because of the Russian war and blockade of Black sea ports. Causing dramatic consequences for vulnerable countries.” Gambrell reported from Lviv, Ukraine. Yesica Fisch in Bakhmut, David Keyton in Kyiv, Yuras Karmanau in Lviv, Mstyslav Chernov in Kharkiv, Lolita C. Baldor in Washington, and AP staff around the world contributed to this report.

US calls UN council meeting on North Korea tests

By Edith M. Lederer | The Associated Press

NITED NATIONS—The United States scheduled an emergency meeting of the U.N. Security Council on Wednesday following North Korea’s latest test of a ballistic missile that was likely fired from a submarine as it presses for new sanctions on the reclusive northeast Asian nation. The test was the latest sign of North Korean leader Kim Jong Un carrying out a recent vow to speed up development of nuclear weapons. The United States holds the rotating presidency of the council this month and set the open meeting for Wednesday afternoon to discuss the North’s latest launches, a spokesperson for the US Mission to the U.N. said Monday, speaking on condition of anonymity ahead of an official announcement. “The DPRK continues to destabilize the region and threaten international peace and security through its missile launches,” the spokesperson said, using the initials of the North’s official name, the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea. So far this year, North Korea has fired missiles 15 times. They include the country’s first test of an intercontinental ballistic missile since 2017 in March that demonstrated a potential range to reach the entirety of the US mainland. The launch on Saturday was apparently North Korea’s first demonstration of a submarine-launched

Crucial. . .

continued from A14

During the Cold War, Finland stayed away from Nato to avoid provoking the Soviet Union, while Sweden already had a tradition of neutrality dating to the end of the Napoleonic Wars. But both countries

The council originally imposed sanctions after the North’s first nuclear test explosion in 2006 and tightened them over the years. But last fall China and Russia called for lifting various sanctions on their neighbor, and in January they blocked the Security Council from imposing sanctions on five North Korean officials.

ballistic missile system since October 2021, when it fired a new shortrange missile. The latest launch came just ahead of the inauguration on Tuesday of South Korean President-elect Yoon Suk Yeol, who has vowed to take a tougher approach over the North’s nuclear ambitions. U.N. deputy spokesman Farhan Haq said Monday that the United Nations has expressed concern at all missile tests and “we want to call, once again for a return to dialogue among all the parties on the Korean Peninsula so that we can proceed with the peaceful denuclearization of the Korean Peninsula.” The United States has circulated a draft resolution to the Security Council seeking additional sanctions on North Korea for its spate of tests this year. US Ambassador Linda Thomas-Greenfield told reporters last Tuesday that “it is our plan to move forward with that resolution during this month” while the US holds the council presidency. But diplomats, speaking on condition of anonymity because discus-

sions have been private, said the resolution faces an uphill struggle because Russia and China, which have veto power in the council, want to see sanctions on North Korea eased—not increased. The council originally imposed sanctions after the North’s first nuclear test explosion in 2006 and tightened them over the years. But last fall China and Russia called for lifting various sanctions on their neighbor, and in January they blocked the Security Council from imposing sanctions on five North Korean officials. The US Mission spokesperson said Monday that “the US will continue to work with council members to move forward with a resolution that will update and strengthen the DPRK sanctions regime,” saying that updates are critical to keep sanctions effective. “The DPRK’s pursuit of weapons of mass destruction and its ballis-

built up robust conscription-based armed forces to counter any Soviet threat. Sweden even had a nuclear weapons program but scrapped it in the 1960s. The threat of a conflict flared up in October 1981 when a Soviet submarine ran aground off the coast of southwestern Sweden. Eventually the sub was tugged back out to sea, end-

ing a tense standoff between Swedish forces and a Soviet rescue fleet. As Russia’s military power declined in the 1990s, Finland kept its guard high, while Sweden, considering a conflict with Russia increasingly unlikely, downsized its military and shifted its focus from territorial defense toward peacekeeping missions in faraway con-

tic missile delivery systems poses a threat to every member of the global community,” the spokesperson said, stressing that updating sanctions isn’t a bilateral or regional issue but “an issue for all of us.” Observers say North Korea’s unusually fast pace in weapons development this year is aimed at advancing its dual goals of modernizing its missile programs and applying pressure on the United States over a deepening freeze in nuclear negotiations. They say Kim eventually aims to use his expanded arsenal to win an international recognition of North Korea as a nuclear state that he believes would help force the United States to relax international economic sanctions on his country. There are signs that North Korea is preparing for a nuclear test at its remote northeastern testing facility. If a test is conducted it would be the seventh explosion of a nuclear weapon by North Korea and the first since 2017. Kim warned again in late April that he will continue to develop North Korea’s nuclear-armed military so it could “preemptively and thoroughly contain and frustrate all dangerous attempts and threatening moves, including ever-escalating nuclear threats from hostile forces, if necessary,” according to the North’s official Korean Central News Agency. flict zones. Russia’s annexation of Crimea in 2014 prompted the Swedes to reassess the security situation. They reintroduced conscription and started rebuilding defensive capabilities, including on the strategically important Baltic Sea island of Gotland. Lorne Cook contributed to this report from Brussels.

A16 Wednesday, May 11, 2022

FIRB approves tax perks for Subic’s ₧17-B ‘Project Agila’ T

By Bernadette D. Nicolas

@BNicolasBM

HE Cabinet-level Fiscal Incentives Review Board (FIRB) approved tax perks for the P17-billion Project Agila for the redevelopment and operations of Hanjin shipyard in the Subic Bay freeport zone. Finance Secretary and FIRB Chairman Carlos G. Dominguez III supported the approval of tax incentives for Project Agila, which is funded by United States-based private equity firm Cerberus Capital Management. The rehabilitation of the Hanjin shipyard presents economic potential given its strategic location near the West Philippine Sea, the Department of Finance said in a statement on Tuesday. Tax incentives granted to the project include special corporate income tax (SCIT), value-added tax (VAT) exemption from importation, VAT zero-rating on local purchases, and duty exemption on importation. “We expect the project to create jobs in the adjacent communities, increase economic activity as well

as support the national government’s economic recovery efforts,” Dominguez said. “The resumption of operations in the shipyard will also prompt development and productivity in the area, which can attract more investment opportunities into the country,” he added. The project is also expected to cater to both the Philippine Navy (PN) and potential export locators and is seen to benefit specifically the Navy as it will involve the safety and efficiency of the Philippine government ships’ performance and, consequently, strengthen national security. According to reports, New York City-based Cerberus Capital Management, a private equity firm specializing in distressed investing, will acquire the debt-laden ship-

yard for approximately $300 million. Dominguez earlier said Cerberus Frontier’s acquisition of the former Hanjin shipyard is expected to further stimulate the country’s economic growth as many displaced workers in the facility will be retained and an average of additional 300 jobs annually will be created. With the conclusion of the agreement for the buyout of the shipbuilding facilities, Dominguez said the deal will allow five of the Philippines’s largest banks to book a profit from their written-off loans with Hanjin Heavy Industries and Construction Philippines (HHICPhil). The Subic Bay Metropolitan Authority (SBMA), where the shipyard is located, will get a better tenant in Cerberus. After the US Navy pulled out from Subic Naval Base in the 1990s, the shipyard inside the Subic Free Zone was converted into a commercial shipyard. In 2006, a subsidiary of South Korea’s Hanjin Heavy Industries started building the shipyard facilities in the Redondo Peninsula. The Hanjin shipyard was for a while listed as one of the Top 10 shipbuilders in the world in terms of overbook; 35,000 workers were employed by

Hanjin at its peak in 2016. However, Hanjin ceased operations in 2019 after defaulting on $1.3 billion in outstanding loans, including $400 million due to Philippine banks, and $900 million in loans from South Korean lenders. It went into court receivership, laid off 10,000 workers, and retained 300 local workers. Since the enactment of the Republic Act (RA) 11534 or Corporate Recovery and Tax Incentives for Enterprises (CREATE) law last year, the FIRB also earlier approved applications for tax incentives for five big-ticket projects. These projects involve manufacturing activities and the construction of mass housing units with a combined investment capital of P119.5 billion. The CREATE law has expanded the FIRB’s powers and functions to include approval of tax incentives to registered business enterprises. The FIRB is tasked to review and approve fiscal incentives for projects with a total investment capital of more than P1 billion. The granting of tax incentives to projects amounting to P1 billion and below is delegated to investment promotion agencies.

PANDEMIC-ERA LEARNING GAPS MAY NEED 2 YEARS OF REMEDIAL LESSONS By Cai U. Ordinario @caiordinario

TUDENTS may need to take remedial lessons in the next two years in order to catch up with the learning losses caused by the pandemic, according to an ADB expert. In an Asian Development Blog, ADB Economic Research and Regional Cooperation Department Senior Economist Paul Vandenberg cited a need to accelerate the learning process to make up for the losses caused by remote schooling. “A pupil entering grade 5 must first catch up on grade 4 material and then also complete the grade 5 syllabus. That might be done by the end of grade 5,” Vandenberg said. “It depends on how much learning was lost and how much acceleration is possible. It may take to the end of grade six or seven to fully catch up,” he added. Vandenberg said solutions for getting more learning into a given semester or year can be done through effective teaching; more hours for learning;

consolidating the curriculum; and adopting a hybrid approach. Effective teaching and learning per class hour, Vandenberg said, can be done by groupings and adding teaching assistants in the classroom. Schools should also provide computer-assisted learning. The ADB Senior Economist said school days may have to be extended by using Saturdays for remedial classes or adding summer school. The curriculum also needs to devote more time to core subjects. “Where students can learn remotely, a hybrid approach can couple in-person learning during school hours with remote learning afterwards,” Vandenberg also said. Further, there is a need to help teachers “teach at the right level for each student.” These tools involve education technology such as the use of artificial intelligence. This is part of a “build back better” approach in addressing both the learning losses and learning crisis which many developing countries already had prior to the pandemic.

PPCRV-UST HUB Volunteers, including nuns, help in the tallying of votes on Tuesday (May 10, 2022) in their central command inside the UST gym during the PPCRVKBP Election 2022 parallel voting. The PPCRV houses the Comelec transparency server that receives election returns electronically from all parts of the country. BERNARD TESTA

Historian pitches hiking funds for marketing heritage tourism By Ma. Stella F. Arnaldo

@akosistellaBM Special to the BusinessMirror

ERITAGE tourism can bring in the much-needed tourism dollars for the country, but somehow doesn’t get the respect it deserves from government and the private sector. In a recent talk on Revenge Tourism by the Liveable Cities Challenge PH, historian of the Ortigas Foundation Library John Silva, said, “Heritage tourism brings in wealthy tourists. The sites we visited were historical, architectural and towns.” Speaking of his experience in tour guiding in the Philippines and other Southeast Asian countries, he noted these tours attracted the middle class, chief executive officers, wealthy informal groups of ladies, the Diplomatic Corps, or those with just a particu-

lar interest like art deco in Asia. He added, “We’d stay in five-star hotels, were driven around in limousines or at times were flown in helicopters and private planes. These guests were affluent, well-educated and desired to learn about Asia and it’s different facets…. It was a daunting job because these guests were not passive folks. They asked a lot of questions, but in the end, the hefty fees are charged, and [gave] generous tips. It was well worth the trouble.” While there are no Philippine statistics on heritage tourism benefits, in the US, heritage tourism brings in some $171 billion annually, according to The National Trust for Historic Preservation. In fact, 81 percent of US tourists are considered “cultural tourists.”

Second fiddle to sun and beach

HOWEVER, Silva noted, “In our country, heritage tourism does

not have that sort of gravitas that other parts of our country are being promoted, namely beaches and shopping malls. Heritage houses, buildings, walking tours of old sections of town, monument visits, museums, culinary events and others that focus on appreciating history and firming up our national identity somewhat play second fiddle to what seems the overall master plan of sun sand and malls, which is a current reflection of our identity.” He noted that in his trips to other parts of Southeast Asia such as Singapore, Bangkok, and Luang Prabang in Laos, or “in any Southeast Asian city or town, where there is a bustling heritage tourism plan,” their own citizens are very eager to conduct tours both personally or commercially about the historical importance and beauty of theses sites. Continued on A2

Companies

Editor: Jennifer A. Ng

Wednesday, May 11, 2022

SM Prime Q1 income rises on easing of mobility curbs By VG Cabuag

@villygc

M Prime Holdings Inc., the Sy family’s shopping mall operator, said its income in the first quarter rose 15 percent to P7.4 billion from the previous year’s P6.5 billion due to the easing of mobility restrictions. Revenues rose at the same pace to P23.9 billion from last year’s P20.8 billion, mainly as a result of the partial recovery of the company’s shopping mall business. SM Prime said its local mall business reported a 40-percent growth in revenues to P8.2 billion in the first quarter from P5.9 billion last year. It said the easing of community

quarantine levels in key areas in the country, which allowed more shops to operate, has provided it with P7.6 billion in rental income for the period, 34 percent higher than the previous P5.6 billion. The company said its cinema, event ticket sales and other revenues almost tripled to P600 million from P200 million last year. Jeffrey C. Lim, the company’s

president, said earlier foot traffic in the shopping centers remain below pre-pandemic levels, especially during weekdays. Weekend traffic in the malls are close to pre-pandemic levels, but this could go down drastically in an instant more stringent quarantine restrictions are imposed due to the surge in Covid-19 cases. Some of the large spaces in its malls were converted to other uses, including vaccination and sites where the public can apply for passport and national ID. “We believe that even if we’re not able to reach the pre-pandemic level before end of the year, at least we should target between 80 to 90 percent (of 2019 figures). So we are optimistic about the prospect for 2022,” Lim said. Meanwhile, SM Prime’s China mall business recorded RMB205 million in revenues for the period, almost flat from last year’s

RMB199 million. SM Prime’s residential business group, led by SM Development Corp. (SMDC), reported P12 billion in revenues in the first quarter, also flat compared to the previous year. SMDC’s sales take-up from January to March stood at P31.1 billion, mostly from the company’s vertical residential developments in Metro Manila cities such as in Mandaluyong, Parañaque and Makati. The company’s other key businesses, which include offices, hotels and convention centers, reported a 30-percent growth in revenues to P2 billion from P1.6 billion last year. The company’s office business segment recorded P1.4 billion, 11 percent higher from the previous year, while the hotels and convention centers business segment recorded P600 million for the period, double from the previous year.

Ayala Land unit, FLOW ink deal

yalaLand Logistics Holdings Corp., a unit of property developer Ayala Land Inc., has signed an agreement with Singapore-based FLOW Holdings I Philippines Pte Ltd., for the development of carrier-neutral data centers across the country. The initial rollout will target the delivery of a 4.5 megawatt-capacity facility ready for service by the fourth quarter next year. FLOW’s modular product deployment approach, combined with a strong focus on connectivity and sustainability, will help maximize design flexibility and accelerate timeto-market, the company said. The joint venture is pursuant to FLOW’s ongoing Asia-Pacific expansion, leveraging the team’s design, development and operation expertise in next-generation data centers. FLOW is a regional platform providing customized solutions to meet the growing demand for digital infrastructure in Asia- Pacific. The company was launched in 2021 by PAG Real Estate, an alternative investment firm focused on the Asia Pacific with $50 billion in assets under management, including $2 billion in data center assets. “This investment will contribute to the Philippines’s transition to a digital economy. Furthermore, we believe this partnership with FLOW

enhances the value of ALLHC’s industrial landbank,” Jose Emmanuel H. Jalandoni, president and CEO of ALLHC and senior vice president of Ayala Land, said. “We are pleased to partner with ALLHC as they prepare to make this significant contribution to developing digital infrastructure capabilities in the Philippines. The decades of design and operational experience of the FLOW team, combined with ALLHC’s established record in industrial real estate development, makes this an ideal partnership to meet the rising demand for digital infrastructure in the country,” said Amandine Wang, CEO of FLOW Digital Infrastructure. Discussions on the data center projects are ongoing, the company said. UBS AG Singapore Branch acts as sole financial advisor to ALLHC on the transaction. The Philippines is rapidly emerging as one of the preferred locations in the Asia Pacific region to host data centers due to its strategic location as a gateway from the Pacific to Asia, superior connectivity, and rich natural resources for renewable energy. The Philippines data center market is expected to experience double-digit annual growth, driven by a significant increase in data consumption, digitization, 5G connectivity and data localization trends, the companies said. VG Cabuag

EDC income dips in Jan-March By Lenie Lectura @llectura

nergy Development Corp. (EDC) reported a 19-percent decline in net income for the first quarter to P2.63 billion from P3.26 billion in the same period a year ago. “The decrease was mainly due to higher costs of sale (P1,049.9 million) and higher net provision for income tax (P194.6 million) partly offset by higher revenue (P497.8 million),” the Lopez-led firm said in a regulatory filing. Its net income is equivalent to 24.2 percent of total revenue for the period as compared to 31.4 per-

Sony to buy back stock

cent for the same period a year ago. “I think Typhoon Odette curtailed our output until mid-January. Our plants are operating but the transmission lines of NGCP [National Grid Corporation of the Philippines] were down. Lower wind this first quarter compared to the same period last year,” said EDC Chief Finance Officer Erwin Avante when asked about the factors that affected the company’s bottom line. EDC has set aside P17 billion in capital expenditures (capex) this year. Avante said around P10 billion is allotted for “growth projects” such as the Mindanao 3 project, which was completed last year; Palayan Bayan project, which EDC expects

to be completed in the first quarter of 2023; and a number of other projects, which could be issued a notice to proceed later this year. “We budgeted around P17 billion this year, if I’m not mistaken. About P7 billion of this pertains to drillings and other capex for existing operations. The P10 billion is for the growth projects,” he said. EDC’s over 1,480MW total installed capacity accounts for 20 percent of the country’s total installed renewable energy capacity while its 1,181MW geothermal portfolio accounts for 62 percent of the country’s total installed geothermal capacity and has put the Philippines on the map as the

3rd largest geothermal producer in the world. It recently inaugurated its 3.6MW Mindanao 3 (M3) binary geothermal power plant, expanding its existing Mount Apo geothermal facility with additional supply of clean, reliable, stable power in Mindanao. The P1.94-billion binary power plant, which started construction in the midst of the pandemic, will make use of existing brine from EDC’s 103-MW Mindanao 1 & 2 geothermal power facilities to generate additional energy without the need for additional drilling. Heat from the brine will be used to generate electricity by the new power plant before it is re-injected back to the reservoir.

MPTC units get nod to increase toll rates

ony Group Corp. said it would buy back as much as 200 billion yen ($1.5 billion) of its own shares after reporting earnings that missed analyst estimates. The entertainment group reported operating profit of 138.6 billion yen in the fourth fiscal quarter, falling short of consensus analyst estimates of 148.5 billion yen. The company forecast operating income of 1.16 trillion for the current fiscal year, also shy of estimates of 1.2 trillion yen. Sony said it would repurchase as many as 25 million shares over the next year, 2.02 percent of the total outstanding. It also announced a 200 billion yen buyback program a year earlier as it reported results. The company’s shares have dropped 27 percent so far this year, roughly in line with the tech-heavy Nasdaq index. Sony’s flagship PlayStation 5 game console has suffered supply constraints from component shortages and logistics disruptions. The company has said unfilled demand is strong enough to eventually bring the PS5 back on track to be its fastest-selling console generation, but data from outside firms such as U.S.-based NPD Group Inc. show Microsoft Corp.’s Xbox hardware began to outpace PlayStation in recent months. Bloomberg News

This BusinessMirror file photo shows the North Luzon expressway. By Lorenz S. Marasigan @lorenzmarasigan

etro Pacific Tollways Corp. (MPTC) said on Tuesday the Toll Regulatory Board (TRB) has allowed subsidiaries Nlex Corp. and Cavitex Infrastructure Corp. (CIC) to implement upward adjustments to their toll rates starting May 12. Nlex Corp., the operator of the North Luzon Expressway (Nlex) was given the go signal to increase toll by P2.00 in the open system and P0.34 per kilometer in the closed system. The open system is from Balintawak, Caloocan City to Marilao, Bulacan while the closed system covers the portion between Bocaue, Bulacan and Sta. Ines, Mabalacat City, Pampanga including Subic-Tipo. Under the new toll fee matrix, mo-

torists traveling anywhere within the open system will pay an additional P2.00 for Class 1 vehicles (regular cars and SUVs), P6.00 for Class 2 vehicles (buses and small trucks), and P8.00 for Class 3 vehicles. End-to-end, Nlex users will pay an additional P27.00 for Class 1, P69.00 for Class 2 and P82.00 for Class 3 vehicles. Nlex Corp. said the “adjustments, which followed regulatory procedures and underwent thorough review, were part of the approved periodic adjustments of Nlex due in 2016 and the completion of the new Subic Freeport Expressway in 2021.” It noted, however, that public utility jeepneys under the Nlex Passada and Tsuper Card discount and rebate program will continue to enjoy the old rates. Provincial buses will also be covered by a graduated rebate scheme for a period of three months.

For the Manila-Cavite Toll Expressway, CIC said the TRB allowed the increase of P4.62 VAT-exclusive rate per kilometer for Class 1 vehicles; P9.24 for Class 2; and P13.86 for Class 3 vehicles traversing the 6.48-kilometers R-1 Expressway. With the increase, motorists shall pay the following amounts based on the new toll fee matrix: P33.00 for Class 1 vehicles from the current P25.00; P67.00 for Class 2 from P50.00; and P100.00 for Class 3 from P75.00. According to CIC, the adjustments stem from its 2011 and 2014 petitions, as well as the add-on toll petition for the first and second phase of the enhancement works for Cavitex. Both expressway operators are allowed to increase their toll rates every two years under the concession agreements with the government.

2ND PCCI GENERAL MEMBERSHIP MEETING

Experts and stakeholders in the transport and logistic industry recently discussed the traffic congestion in Metro Manila and other issues affecting the transport sector in anticipation of the full reopening of the economy. Some recommendations presented include the shift to 4th IR (hybrid) work and school set-up and completion of the long-overdue infrastructure projects. The issues and recommendations generated from this meeting will form part of a policy paper that will be submitted by the Philippine Chamber of Commerce and Industry (PCCI) to the incoming administration. Photo shows (clockwise) PCCI president George Barcelon; honorary chair and committee-in-charge for membership Ma. Alegria Sibal Limjoco; Atty. Vincent Rondaris, president, Nagkakaisang Samahan ng Nangangasiwa ng Panlalawigang Bus sa Pilipinas, Inc., Engr. Rene Santiago, former JICA consultant on Urban Transport; Pierre Carlo Curay, president, Supply Chain Management Association of the Philippines; Dr. Henry Basilio, adviser for Transport and Logistics Committee; Christian Martin Gonzalez, evp and chief risk officer, ICTSI.

Companies BusinessMirror

Wednesday, May 11, 2022

Cost cutting, tax savings allow Cosco to post profit

By VG Cabuag

@villygc

osco Capital Inc., the listed retail holding firm of businessman Lucio L. Co, said its income in 2021 grew 5 percent to P10.5 billion from the previous year’s P10 billion.

The company said its income for the period is also 13 percent higher than the pre-pandemic consolidated core net income of P9.3 billion. It said revenues slightly fell to P174.4 billion, some 1 percent lower than last year’s P177.3 billion. The company said its business segments were able to navigate through the second year of the pandemic, by way of a better bottom line results from a combination of the gross margin enhancements thru stronger suppliers supports, sustained strategic cost and expense management as well as the income tax savings from the implementation of the Corporate

Recovery and Tax Incentives for Enterprises Act (CREATE). The group’s grocery retailing businesses, Puregold Price Club Inc. and S&R Membership Shopping Club, contributed 63 percent of total core net income, followed by the liquor distribution with 23 percent, commercial real estate segment with 13 percent and the group’s specialty retailing segment, Office Warehouse Inc., accounted for 1 percent. The grocery retail segment experienced a decline in its consolidated revenues by nearly 3 percent to P164.1 billion mainly driven by

a decline in customer traffic in its Puregold supermarkets due to the continuing impact of the pandemic. It managed to post a 1.4 percent growth in net income to P8.18 billion resulting from the improvement in gross profit margins as well as strategic cost reduction measures. “Despite the prevailing environment, the grocery retail group continued to implement its organic expansion strategy and opened a total of 30 new Puregold stores and two new S&R warehouse clubs in 2021,” the company said. Puregold currently has a total of 499 stores nationwide, of which 430 branches were its grocery chain, 22 S&R membership shopping warehouses and 47 pizza stores. The liquor distribution business, now under The Keepers Holdings Inc., has recorded a consolidated revenue amounting to P11.03 billion, a 35 percent growth versus a year ago on the back of a 32-percent growth in volume of cases sold totaling more

than 4.46 million cases in 2021. The commercial real estate segment posted flat revenues at P1.69 billion in 2021 as it continued to extend rental reliefs compared to the 9-month period starting in the second quarter of 2020. The segment managed to improve its net income by 30 percent to P915 million from the previous P700 million due to a combination of strategic cost efficiencies in the management of its cost of services as well as operating expenses coupled by the lower provisions for income tax pursuant to CREATE. Despite the pandemic, the group continued to expand its real estate assets portfolio through the acquisition of additional land banking assets for future development and initiated the development of two commercial assets during the year. Revenues of Office Warehouse fell 7 percent to P1.56 billion as it continued to deal with the effects of hard lockdowns during the year. Net income declined to P50 million from P56 million in the previous year.

Google sued over app store billing rules M

atch Group Inc. accused Alphabet Inc.’s Google in a lawsuit of acting as a monopolist with its app store billing rules, the latest escalation in a brawl over the mobile-app industry. Match Group, which operates dating apps such as Tinder and OkCupid, alleged that Google breaks federal and state laws and abuses its power with a requirement that app developers use its billing system on Android devices. “Ten years ago, Match Group was Google’s partner. We are now its hostage,” Match Group said in a complaint filed Monday in northern California federal court. “Blinded by the possibility of getting an evergreater cut of the billions of dollars users spend each year on Android apps, Google set out to monopolize the market for how users pay for their Android apps.” Google, like Apple Inc., has faced

enormous recent legal and political scrutiny over the commission fees and billing restrictions both companies apply to paid services in their app stores. Congress is currently weighing a bill to force Google and Apple to change their business models. In response to public pressure, Google has halved its 30 percent fee for some apps. But the company said it would tighten its rules that require the use of its billing system for in-app purchases, citing security concerns. Google gave a June 1 deadline to comply or be removed from its Play Store. In March, Google announced it was letting select apps offer their own billing service in addition to Google’s on Android devices. Spotify Technology SA, another app store critic, said it was using this option and Google suggested more companies would follow. Bloomberg News

mutual funds

May 10, 2022

NAV

One Year Three Year

Five Year

per share Return*

Y-T-D

Return

Stock Funds ALFM Growth Fund, Inc. -a

217.21

7.56%

-5.65%

-4.62%

-6.81%

ATRAM Alpha Opportunity Fund, Inc. -a

1.4718

16.6%

-2.6%

-0.98%

-11.56%

8.29%

-9.29%

-7.1%

-7.15%

ATRAM Philippine Equity Opportunity Fund, Inc. -a 3.0062

Climbs Share Capital Equity Investment Fund Corp. -a 0.7308 2.4%

-7.51% n.a.

-3.4%

First Metro Consumer Fund on MSCI Phils. IMI, Inc. -a 0.6832 1.52%

-7.33% n.a.

-11.38%

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

4.8904

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

9.66%

-3.2%

-2.09%

-5.64%

0.7275

14.53%

-5.48%

-5.43%

-12.07% n.a.

-10.98%

84.06

-11.15%

PAMI Equity Index Fund, Inc. -a

44.5575

8.06%

-4.55%

-3.27%

-7.42%

Philam Strategic Growth Fund, Inc. -a

466.28

7.36%

-4.44%

-3.3%

-6.87%

Philequity Dividend Yield Fund, Inc. -a

1.3239

23.51%

0.6%

0.17%

-2.39%

Philequity Fund, Inc. -a

34.2998

10.09%

-3.52%

-1.95%

-6.27%

Philequity MSCI Philippine Index Fund, Inc. -a

0.8806

9.54%

-4.78% n.a.

-6.46%

Philequity PSE Index Fund Inc. -a

4.6128

9.15%

-3.86%

-2.63%

-7.01%

768.1

8.71%

-3.93%

-2.7%

-7.29%

0.6954

7.8%

-8.81%

-5.34%

-7.6%

7.8%

-6.62%

-3.93%

-7.98%

0.8748

8.41%

-4.24%

-2.94%

7.56%

-4.26%

-1.77%

-6.24%

Philippine Stock Index Fund Corp. -a Soldivo Strategic Growth Fund, Inc. -a

Sun Life Prosperity Philippine Equity Fund, Inc. -a 3.4743 Sun Life Prosperity Philippine Stock Index Fund, Inc. -a United Fund, Inc. -a

3.2229

-7.12%

-7.38%

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

1.1257

Philippine Stock Index Fund Corp. -a

936.99 n.a. n.a. n.a. n.a.

11.8% n.a. n.a.

-3.18%

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

103.6597

9.35%

-3.68%

-2.26%

-7.01%

Primarily invested in foreign currency securities (shares) ATRAM AsiaPlus Equity Fund, Inc. -b $0.9451

-25.06%

-1.79%

-0.13%

-16.1%

Sun Life Prosperity World Voyager Fund, Inc. -a $1.576

-9.3%

7.23%

6.73%

-14.64%

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

1.5789

-2.1%

-2.45%

-2.47%

ATRAM Philippine Balanced Fund, Inc. -a

2.1674

2.49%

-1.73%

-1.77%

-5%

5.19%

-0.32%

-0.1%

-3.78%

First Metro Save and Learn Balanced Fund Inc. -a 2.5893

-6.68%

First Metro Save and Learn F.O.C.C.U.S. Dynamic Fund, Inc. -a 0.2014

9.28% n.a. n.a.

NCM Mutual Fund of the Phils., Inc. -a

3.74%

0.47%

1.9365

0.31%

-3.98%

PAMI Horizon Fund, Inc. -a

3.5663

2.47%

-0.74%

-1%

-5.28%

Philam Fund, Inc. -a

15.9854

2.42%

-1.01%

-1.05%

-5.11%

Solidaritas Fund, Inc. -a

2.0345

4.32%

-1.41%

-1.15%

-4.1%

Sun Life of Canada Prosperity Balanced Fund, Inc. -a 3.4396 3.89%

-3.44%

-1.88%

-5.69%

Sun Life Prosperity Dynamic Fund, Inc. -a

-2.86%

-1.42%

-5.85%

0.8984

10.75%

-3.64%

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

0.9254

-2.08%

-2.29% n.a.

Sun Life Prosperity Achiever Fund 2038, Inc. -a

0.8704

3.27%

-4.15% n.a.

-6.51% -7.85%

Sun Life Prosperity Achiever Fund 2048, Inc. -a

0.8593

4.23%

-4.47% n.a.

-7.99%

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

$0.03353

-11.88%

-2.65%

-1.12%

$0.965

-15.4%

-0.43%

0.33%

-9.57%

Sun Life Prosperity Dollar Advantage Fund, Inc. -a $4.1806 -9.83%

4.22%

4.45%

-12.94%

0.3%

1.16%

-11.86%

PAMI Asia Balanced Fund, Inc. -b

Sun Life Prosperity Dollar Wellspring Fund, Inc. -a,2 $1.0564 -10.73%

-11.62%

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

373.07

0.57%

2.32%

2.36%

ATRAM Corporate Bond Fund, Inc. -a

1.8891

-1.21%

0.03%

0.19%

0.23%

Cocolife Fixed Income Fund, Inc. -a

3.2394

0.5%

2.27%

3.51%

-0.14%

Ekklesia Mutual Fund Inc. -a

2.2022

-2.47%

0.58%

1.06%

-2.19%

First Metro Save and Learn Fixed Income Fund,Inc. -a 2.4155 -0.67%

2.08%

1.76%

-0.43%

Philam Bond Fund, Inc. -a

-0.33%

4.2524

-4.96%

1.52%

1.02%

-3.26%

Philam Managed Income Fund, Inc. -a

1.3147

-0.55%

3.08%

2.75%

-0.33%

Philequity Peso Bond Fund, Inc. -a

3.9103

-1.28%

2.65%

2.4%

-1.4%

Soldivo Bond Fund, Inc. -a

1.0124

-1.47%

3.15%

1.89%

-1.54%

Sun Life of Canada Prosperity Bond Fund, Inc. -a 3.152

-1.13%

2.81%

2.91%

-1.11%

Sun Life Prosperity GS Fund, Inc. -a

-1.93%

1.97%

2.19%

-1.42%

1.7061

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

$481.77

-0.48%

1.92%

1.94%

-1.59%

ALFM Euro Bond Fund, Inc. -a

Є213.55

-2.84%

-0.39%

0.28%

-2.94%

ATRAM Total Return Dollar Bond Fund, Inc. -b $1.0755

-8.52%

-10.67%

-2.75%

-0.77%

First Metro Save and Learn Dollar Bond Fund, Inc. -a $0.0246 -5.02%

-0.93%

-0.24%

-5.38%

PAMI Global Bond Fund, Inc -b

$0.9073

-13.85%

-5.23%

-3.19%

-11.29%

$2.2372

-10.05%

-0.49%

0.29%

-10.72%

$0.0609352

-2.87%

1.49%

1.33%

-2.18%

Sun Life Prosperity Dollar Abundance Fund, Inc. -a $2.7564 -12.41%

-2.73%

-1.41%

-13.76%

Philam Dollar Bond Fund, Inc. -a Philequity Dollar Income Fund Inc. -a

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

131.71

1.3%

2.37%

2.53%

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

1.0618

1.03%

1.67% n.a.

0.4%

Sun Life Prosperity Peso Starter Fund, Inc. -a,1 1.3227

1.52%

2.25%

2.49%

0.39%

0.54%

Primarily invested in foreign currency securities (shares) Sun Life Prosperity Dollar Starter Fund, Inc. -a $1.0629

0.6%

1.22% n.a.

0.22%

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

43.9619 n.a. n.a. n.a. n.a.

Sun Life Prosperity World Equity Index Feeder Fund, Inc. -a 1.2409

1.44% n.a. n.a.

-10.27%

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

$0.8633

-13.67% n.a. n.a.

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

c - Listed in the PSE.

-11%

d - in Net Asset Value per Unit (NAVPU).

1 - Renaming was approved by the SEC last July 8, 2021 (formerly, Sun Life Prosperity Money Market Fund, Inc.). 2 - Adjusted due to stock dividend issuance last November 25, 2021.

"While we endeavor to keep the information accurate, the Philippine Investment Funds Association (PIFA) and its members make no warranties as to the correctness of the newspaper’s publication and assume no liability or responsibility for any error or omissions. You may visit http://www. pifa.com.ph to see the latest NAVPS/NAVPU."

www.businessmirror.com.ph

PSE STOCK QUOTATIONS

May 10, 2022

Net Foreign Stocks Bid Ask Open High Low Close Volume Value Trade (Peso) Buy (Sell) FINANCIALs

ASIA UNITED BDO UNIBANK BANK COMMERCE BANK PH ISLANDS CHINABANK EAST WEST BANK METROBANK PB BANK PBCOM PHIL NATL BANK PSBANK RCBC SECURITY BANK UNION BANK BRIGHT KINDLE COL FINANCIAL FERRONOUX HLDG IREMIT MEDCO HLDG PHIL STOCK EXCH

298,095 525,129,126 1,743,514 594,758,241 9,807,290 1,771,174 163,981,920.50 171,280 12,684 7,024,556 50,421.50 207,910 54,327,744 11,546,411 4,642,270 240,350 62,160 790 113,100 1,599,630

16,457,614 327,230 -27,573,194.50 8,425 -358,230 -9,620,579 -2,606,404 -3,148,348 -8,255,546 -219,140 1,570,400

INDUSTRIAL AC ENERGY 7.2 7.22 7.38 7.38 7.04 7.2 18,718,900 133,898,256 ALSONS CONS 0.89 0.92 0.9 0.95 0.88 0.88 824,000 732,930 ABOITIZ POWER 31.55 32 31 32 30.2 32 2,361,100 73,392,785 BASIC ENERGY 0.35 0.355 0.36 0.36 0.345 0.355 9,150,000 3,227,100 FIRST GEN 22.75 23.8 23.1 23.8 22.3 23.8 336,500 7,705,875 FIRST PHIL HLDG 68.7 69 69.7 69.7 68.65 68.7 24,080 1,668,566 MERALCO 336.2 343 335 343 330 343 404,490 135,647,982 MANILA WATER 16.96 17 17.4 17.4 16.8 17 2,036,700 34,636,902 PETRON 3.29 3.33 3.39 3.39 3.21 3.3 1,124,000 3,694,040 PETROENERGY 5.06 5.1 5.09 5.15 4.99 5.1 438,500 2,227,810 PHX PETROLEUM 9.9 10.14 9.86 10.18 9.86 10.14 38,300 382,103 SYNERGY GRID 11.86 11.9 11.98 11.98 11.86 11.86 1,436,900 17,104,822 PILIPINAS SHELL 17.08 17.28 16.98 17.28 16.02 17.08 199,100 3,322,230 SPC POWER 13.44 13.48 13.9 13.9 13.16 13.48 490,000 6,586,760 SOLAR PH 1.54 1.55 1.52 1.58 1.51 1.55 63,913,000 99,147,050 AGRINURTURE 4.45 4.68 4.69 4.73 4.45 4.45 223,000 1,010,330 AXELUM 2.49 2.5 2.51 2.51 2.47 2.5 274,000 683,170 CENTURY FOOD 20.35 20.9 21.6 21.6 20.35 20.35 686,400 14,158,145 DEL MONTE 14.2 14.26 14.2 14.28 14.2 14.2 55,800 792,422 DNL INDUS 7.18 7.28 7.21 7.38 7.05 7.28 1,175,700 8,405,817 EMPERADOR 20.1 20.15 19.92 20.15 19.74 20.15 3,884,400 77,460,885 SMC FOODANDBEV 59.7 62 59.9 62 59.05 62 36,810 2,239,962 FIGARO COFFEE 0.5 0.51 0.5 0.51 0.495 0.5 6,609,000 3,301,580 ALLIANCE SELECT 0.59 0.62 0.61 0.64 0.61 0.64 62,000 39,380 FRUITAS HLDG 1 1.02 1.02 1.02 1 1.02 1,891,000 1,903,160 GINEBRA 103.6 105.8 103 105.9 103 105.8 4,350 449,805 JOLLIBEE 215.2 215.6 214.8 217 203 215.2 949,080 201,200,798 KEEPERS HLDG 1.17 1.18 1.21 1.22 1.17 1.18 4,763,000 5,637,150 LIBERTY FLOUR 20.75 20.85 20.8 20.85 20.75 20.85 1,800 37,495 MAXS GROUP 5.88 5.89 6.1 6.1 5.8 5.88 329,500 1,936,117 MG HLDG 0.128 0.129 0.125 0.128 0.12 0.128 1,960,000 238,740 MONDE NISSIN 13.28 13.4 13.1 13.64 12.8 13.4 11,628,800 154,837,688 SHAKEYS PIZZA 7.8 7.85 7.85 8 7.77 7.9 173,600 1,358,760 ROXAS AND CO 0.495 0.5 0.495 0.5 0.495 0.5 909,000 450,315 RFM CORP 4.05 4.3 4.05 4.1 4.05 4.1 23,000 93,700 ROXAS HLDG 1.13 1.25 1.13 1.25 1.13 1.25 48,000 59,120 SWIFT FOODS 0.1 0.103 0.101 0.101 0.1 0.1 1,320,000 132,140 UNIV ROBINA 114 114.1 108 114 106 114 2,051,140 229,648,995 VITARICH 0.63 0.65 0.63 0.65 0.6 0.65 380,000 241,280 VICTORIAS 2.7 2.79 2.71 2.79 2.7 2.79 22,000 59,540 CONCRETE A 45.1 45.45 45.05 45.45 45 45.45 2,400 108,145 CEMEX HLDG 0.76 0.77 0.8 0.8 0.75 0.76 2,862,000 2,190,430 EAGLE CEMENT 12.22 12.36 12.22 12.98 12.22 12.22 37,000 456,136 EEI CORP 4.25 4.3 4.31 4.31 4.21 4.3 367,000 1,563,770 HOLCIM 5.15 5.2 5.2 5.2 5 5.15 215,000 1,084,296 MEGAWIDE 5.1 5.11 5.04 5.14 5.03 5.11 775,400 3,944,095 PHINMA 19.9 19.92 19.7 19.92 18 19.92 80,900 1,585,242 TKC METALS 0.74 0.77 0.74 0.79 0.74 0.79 28,000 20,820 VULCAN INDL 0.84 0.85 0.86 0.86 0.84 0.85 1,126,000 956,560 CROWN ASIA 1.79 1.8 1.75 1.8 1.65 1.79 184,000 321,800 EUROMED 1 1.09 1.03 1.09 1 1.09 243,000 247,080 MABUHAY VINYL 4.03 4.4 4.2 4.39 4.12 4.39 26,000 107,790 PRYCE CORP 5.63 5.74 5.66 5.74 5.63 5.63 21,400 120,915 CONCEPCION 18.9 19 19.2 19.2 18.98 19 401,700 7,629,764 GREENERGY 1.45 1.46 1.48 1.5 1.45 1.46 8,513,000 12,451,160 INTEGRATED MICR 6.76 6.9 6.98 6.98 6.71 6.9 155,100 1,057,525 IONICS 0.68 0.69 0.67 0.68 0.65 0.68 165,000 110,140 PANASONIC 6.2 6.37 6.2 6.38 6.1 6.37 27,200 170,973 SFA SEMICON 1.07 1.1 1.1 1.1 1.06 1.1 169,000 184,690 CIRTEK HLDG 2.82 2.84 2.96 2.96 2.8 2.85 953,000 2,707,040

-2,322,225 -72,630 -16,500,310 17,500 -302,965 125,715 -8,954,512 -1,328,196.00 -222,630 -2,093,460 252,436 463,928 -556,270 137,810 -4,099,495 531,166 -7,594,132 515,065.50 76,500 35,140 7,926,562 414,530 2,080 17,471 -17,226,126 -1,074,615 12,150 90,894,518 192,430 -234,470 -165,600.00 45,565 2,811,789 -2,030 3,490 20,000 -3,799,000 -2,836,670 54,114 67,000 16,050 -

ABACORE CAPITAL ASIABEST GROUP AYALA CORP ABOITIZ EQUITY ALLIANCE GLOBAL ANSCOR ANGLO PHIL HLDG ATN HLDG A ATN HLDG B COSCO CAPITAL DMCI HLDG FILINVEST DEV GT CAPITAL JG SUMMIT LODESTAR LOPEZ HLDG LT GROUP METRO PAC INV PRIME MEDIA SOLID GROUP SM INVESTMENTS SAN MIGUEL CORP TOP FRONTIER ZEUS HLDG

26,642,120 -3,600,150 -11,260,678 6,597,890 743,925 -7,048,500 7,157,051 -33,764 4,173,626 -18,269,709 4,000 148,420 -2,571,183.00 29,114,490 105,600 -76,101,025 -4,315,443 -

HOLDING & FRIMS

43.75 129 11.72 93.75 27.75 7.51 52 8.3 15.94 18.1 55.4 19.58 100.8 76 2.21 3.52 2.22 0.79 0.29 208

1.2 3.56 732 50.5 11.5 9.15 0.87 0.455 0.46 4.64 8.1 6.76 502.5 53.6 0.51 2.91 8.29 3.79 2 0.87 841.5 101.2 112.1 0.152

44 129.5 11.74 94 28 7.55 52.9 8.8 17 18.24 56.35 20.3 101 76.5 2.22 3.6 2.57 0.89 0.3 209

1.21 4.5 740 51.25 11.98 9.21 0.88 0.46 0.495 4.7 8.2 7.12 503 54 0.52 2.95 8.44 3.81 2.03 0.88 845 102.5 116 0.159

43.8 126 11.74 94.4 28 7.65 50.5 8.8 15.86 18.6 57 19.64 102.1 75 2.1 3.65 2.22 0.79 0.29 208

1.16 4.11 720 49.8 10.8 9 0.88 0.48 0.46 4.8 8.41 6.93 500 52.8 0.5 2.91 8.45 3.74 1.5 0.9 836 105.6 116 0.152

44.4 130.4 11.92 94.55 28.05 7.65 52.9 8.8 15.86 18.6 57 20.3 102.1 76 2.21 3.65 2.22 0.79 0.29 210

1.22 4.11 754.5 51.25 11.98 9.2 0.88 0.48 0.47 4.8 8.57 6.93 505.5 54.8 0.53 2.95 8.45 3.84 2.07 0.9 855 105.6 116 0.152

43.75 125.1 11.7 92.9 27.7 7.5 50 8.3 15.84 18.02 55.3 19.6 100 71 2 3.52 2.22 0.79 0.29 208

1.15 4.11 708 49.4 10.5 9 0.87 0.455 0.46 4.63 8 6.74 495 52.5 0.5 2.9 8.03 3.6 1.5 0.88 810.5 100 112.1 0.152

44 129 11.74 94 28 7.55 52.9 8.3 15.84 18.24 55.4 20.3 101 76 2.21 3.6 2.22 0.79 0.29 210

1.21 4.11 740 51.25 11.98 9.15 0.87 0.455 0.465 4.7 8.2 6.76 503 54 0.52 2.95 8.44 3.81 2 0.88 845 102.5 116 0.152

6,800 4,102,790 148,500 6,344,320 352,700 234,000 3,193,370 20,600 800 386,500 910 10,600 539,490 155,540 2,146,000 67,000 28,000 1,000 390,000 7,690

32,545,000 2,000 365,540 1,122,940 4,441,400 90,100 580,000 1,780,000 190,000 1,965,000 12,187,800 258,800 176,980 1,859,770 191,000 242,000 5,077,700 22,269,000 8,318,000 161,000 692,470 237,160 1,020 200,000

38,516,560 8,220 267,805,440 56,745,233 49,328,262 823,125 509,810 821,100 88,100 9,243,180 99,226,441 1,767,106 88,874,363 100,401,296 95,810 702,840 42,368,827 83,460,020 15,364,520 142,100 580,718,630 24,086,446 117,852 30,400

PROPERTY ARTHALAND CORP 0.54 0.56 0.55 0.56 0.54 0.56 25,000 13,700 AYALA LAND 31.5 31.65 32 32.2 31.5 31.5 11,780,800 373,254,725 AYALA LAND LOG 4.06 4.1 4.19 4.19 3.9 4.06 2,498,000 10,118,600 ARANETA PROP 1.7 1.72 1.45 1.78 1.41 1.7 8,677,000 14,192,580 AREIT RT 37 37.55 38 38.05 36.1 37.55 1,419,000 52,640,380 A BROWN 0.8 0.81 0.81 0.81 0.8 0.8 184,000 147,600 CITYLAND DEVT 0.7 0.71 0.72 0.72 0.71 0.71 551,000 392,200 CROWN EQUITIES 0.091 0.096 0.091 0.099 0.091 0.096 530,000 48,550 CEB LANDMASTERS 2.56 2.57 2.71 2.71 2.5 2.57 2,325,000 6,035,970 CENTURY PROP 0.4 0.405 0.405 0.405 0.4 0.405 5,470,000 2,193,600 CITICORE RT 2.49 2.5 2.51 2.51 2.47 2.49 17,549,000 43,665,890 DOUBLEDRAGON 7.75 7.8 7.94 8 7.73 7.75 254,700 1,993,223 DDMP RT 1.52 1.54 1.54 1.55 1.47 1.54 5,010,000 7,555,290 DM WENCESLAO 6.88 6.9 6.9 6.9 6.88 6.88 15,600 107,552 EMPIRE EAST 0.216 0.219 0.219 0.219 0.219 0.219 150,000 32,850 EVER GOTESCO 0.243 0.246 0.24 0.247 0.24 0.246 5,820,000 1,433,650 FILINVEST RT 7.12 7.13 7.18 7.18 7.07 7.13 2,585,300 18,401,445 FILINVEST LAND 1.01 1.02 1.01 1.02 1 1.02 4,225,000 4,257,760 GLOBAL ESTATE 0.89 0.9 0.9 0.9 0.89 0.89 210,000 186,990 8990 HLDG 12.3 12.4 13.4 13.52 12.1 12.4 696,000 8,843,132 GOLDEN MV 613 675 670 675 670 675 450 302,250 PHIL INFRADEV 0.9 0.91 0.89 0.94 0.89 0.91 355,000 317,670 CITY AND LAND 0.78 0.8 0.78 0.79 0.77 0.78 193,000 150,520 MEGAWORLD 2.84 2.85 2.81 2.86 2.7 2.85 26,347,000 73,497,500 MRC ALLIED 0.204 0.205 0.21 0.212 0.203 0.205 9,780,000 2,032,040 MREIT RT 16.92 16.94 17.5 17.5 16.74 16.94 4,100,200 69,484,656 OMICO CORP 0.34 0.35 0.35 0.35 0.35 0.35 340,000 119,000 PHIL ESTATES 0.4 0.405 0.385 0.41 0.385 0.4 350,000 140,400 PRIMEX CORP 2.61 2.66 2.7 2.7 2.3 2.66 1,324,000 3,357,650 RL COMM RT 7.1 7.11 7.1 7.11 7 7.1 4,528,400 31,951,264 ROBINSONS LAND 18.7 18.78 19 19 18.6 18.7 2,315,800 43,396,076 PHIL REALTY 0.224 0.244 0.223 0.224 0.223 0.224 40,000 8,930 ROCKWELL 1.34 1.43 1.36 1.36 1.34 1.36 126,000 170,570 SHANG PROP 2.5 2.59 2.48 2.5 2.48 2.5 11,000 27,480 STA LUCIA LAND 2.78 2.89 2.9 2.9 2.9 2.9 5,000 14,500 SM PRIME HLDG 34.45 34.5 34.5 34.8 34 34.5 20,581,200 709,423,280 SOC RESOURCES 0.53 0.55 0.55 0.55 0.55 0.55 264,000 145,200 VISTAMALLS 3.16 3.26 3.2 3.29 3.2 3.26 10,000 32,340 SUNTRUST HOME 0.95 1 0.99 1.03 0.93 1 36,000 34,790 PTFC REDEV CORP 43.1 43.5 43.5 43.5 43.5 200 8,700 VISTA LAND 2.45 2.48 2.48 2.49 2.37 2.48 1,367,000 3,338,190 SERVICES ABS CBN 10.4 10.46 12.48 12.48 9.98 10.4 1,525,400 16,156,924 GMA NETWORK 11.16 11.18 12 12 10.32 11.18 6,806,100 76,114,490 MLA BRDCASTING 7.56 9.35 7.53 7.54 7.53 7.54 300 2,261 GLOBE TELECOM 2,370 2,392 2,380 2,510 2,306 2,370 102,160 245,250,430 PLDT 1,848 1,855 1,884 1,884 1,800 1,848 220,290 406,261,130 APOLLO GLOBAL 0.041 0.042 0.042 0.042 0.04 0.041 325,000,000 13,444,400 CONVERGE 27.6 27.7 28.6 28.7 27.1 27.6 12,487,500 348,539,090 DFNN INC 3 3.05 3.1 3.1 2.75 3.05 1,489,000 4,360,220 DITO CME HLDG 5.39 5.4 5.05 5.43 5.05 5.4 17,543,100 92,885,904 JACKSTONES 1.6 1.7 1.56 1.7 1.56 1.7 7,000 11,760 NOW CORP 1.43 1.44 1.38 1.49 1.37 1.43 5,989,000 8,479,000 TRANSPACIFIC BR 0.29 0.3 0.305 0.305 0.29 0.29 14,190,000 4,223,250 2GO GROUP 6.9 6.95 7.05 7.05 6.8 6.92 52,500 362,421 ASIAN TERMINALS 13.52 13.88 13.44 13.9 13.44 13.9 12,800 175,464 CHELSEA 1.59 1.6 1.48 1.6 1.46 1.59 1,202,000 1,875,860 CEBU AIR 44.35 47.9 44 47.9 43.8 47.9 252,200 11,335,595 INTL CONTAINER 218 219.8 206 220 203.2 219.8 2,885,570 626,061,144 LBC EXPRESS 22.15 22.3 22.25 22.45 22.1 22.1 69,000 1,525,940 MACROASIA 4.84 4.87 5.03 5.03 4.65 4.87 2,819,700 13,608,102 METROALLIANCE A 0.95 0.97 0.94 0.95 0.94 0.95 20,000 18,840 PAL HLDG 6 6.2 6.2 6.2 5.8 6.2 11,300 68,100 HARBOR STAR 0.65 0.66 0.65 0.68 0.63 0.66 125,000 79,620 ACESITE HOTEL 1.42 1.49 1.5 1.5 1.39 1.42 61,000 88,190 BOULEVARD HLDG 0.071 0.072 0.072 0.075 0.07 0.072 126,130,000 9,162,110 WATERFRONT 0.42 0.425 0.43 0.43 0.42 0.42 870,000 368,050 CENTRO ESCOLAR 6.61 6.84 6.61 6.61 6.61 6.61 1,900 12,559 STI HLDG 0.34 0.35 0.345 0.35 0.34 0.35 980,000 335,500 BELLE CORP 1.25 1.26 1.28 1.28 1.26 1.26 90,000 114,000 BLOOMBERRY 6.15 6.19 6.21 6.21 6.1 6.19 2,712,700 16,608,038 PACIFIC ONLINE 1.32 1.35 1.35 1.35 1.35 1.35 57,000 76,950 LEISURE AND RES 1.43 1.48 1.39 1.52 1.35 1.48 4,610,000 6,726,330 PH RESORTS GRP 1.31 1.32 1.24 1.45 1.24 1.32 18,418,000 25,234,440 PREMIUM LEISURE 0.465 0.475 0.475 0.48 0.455 0.47 36,600,000 17,028,400 PHILWEB 4 4.06 3.5 4.45 3.5 4.06 42,735,000 170,195,640 ALLDAY 0.41 0.42 0.405 0.42 0.4 0.415 19,150,000 7,831,100 BERJAYA 5.53 5.97 5.53 5.53 5.51 5.53 19,600 108,186 ALLHOME 7.4 7.51 7.6 7.6 7 7.4 380,900 2,789,374 METRO RETAIL 1.33 1.38 1.4 1.4 1.33 1.33 350,000 480,820 PUREGOLD 33.55 33.6 33.4 33.6 32 33.55 2,114,500 69,694,075 ROBINSONS RTL 52.65 52.7 53 53 51 52.65 567,240 29,567,574.50 PHIL SEVEN CORP 60.25 62 61 62 60.25 62 8,380 511,457 SSI GROUP 1.17 1.19 1.16 1.18 1.12 1.18 4,189,000 4,835,630 WILCON DEPOT 26 26.45 26.2 26.45 25.6 26 1,255,500 32,600,710 APC GROUP 0.218 0.22 0.217 0.218 0.215 0.218 930,000 201,410 EASYCALL 3.9 4.39 4 4 4 4 7,000 28,000 IPM HLDG 6.8 7 7 7 7 7 5,000 35,000 MEDILINES 0.74 0.75 0.75 0.76 0.71 0.75 939,000 686,530 PRMIERE HORIZON 0.45 0.455 0.475 0.475 0.45 0.455 10,220,000 4,676,350 SBS PHIL CORP 3.85 3.93 3.67 3.94 3.67 3.93 12,000 46,790 MINING & OIL ATOK 5.92 6.12 6.1 6.27 6 6.12 219,900 1,345,097 APEX MINING 1.48 1.49 1.55 1.58 1.47 1.49 3,233,000 4,831,730 ATLAS MINING 5.7 5.78 5.93 5.93 5.65 5.78 1,136,000 6,586,280 BENGUET A 7.34 7.35 7.2 7.39 7.1 7.34 139,300 1,018,694 BENGUET B 7.19 7.29 7.2 7.4 7.2 7.29 20,400 148,410 COAL ASIA HLDG 0.24 0.241 0.241 0.241 0.24 0.24 480,000 115,280 CENTURY PEAK 2.6 2.68 2.59 2.68 2.59 2.68 15,000 39,300 FERRONICKEL 2.42 2.45 2.6 2.6 2.28 2.42 9,181,000 22,200,210 GEOGRACE 0.177 0.199 0.177 0.177 0.177 0.177 10,000 1,770 LEPANTO A 0.133 0.14 0.137 0.146 0.129 0.14 9,740,000 1,314,160 LEPANTO B 0.137 0.14 0.137 0.137 0.137 0.137 50,000 6,850 MANILA MINING A 0.0092 0.0098 0.01 0.01 0.0098 0.0098 24,800,000 243,280 MARCVENTURES 1.56 1.57 1.6 1.6 1.45 1.56 5,349,000 8,231,860 NIHAO 0.91 0.96 0.93 0.94 0.9 0.93 238,000 220,000 NICKEL ASIA 6.6 6.63 7.48 7.5 6.32 6.6 52,015,000 346,681,514 ORNTL PENINSULA 0.87 0.88 0.88 0.88 0.85 0.86 507,000 440,880 PX MINING 4.61 4.68 4.8 4.8 4.59 4.68 2,809,000 13,101,100 SEMIRARA MINING 27.1 27.7 30 30.45 27.1 27.1 14,007,700 396,669,865 UNITED PARAGON 0.006 0.0061 0.006 0.0061 0.006 0.0061 12,000,000 73,000 ACE ENEXOR 13.7 14 14.68 14.68 13.12 14 574,000 8,092,218 ORNTL PETROL A 0.011 0.012 0.011 0.011 0.011 0.011 13,800,000 151,800 ORNTL PETROL B 0.011 0.013 0.011 0.011 0.011 0.011 1,500,000 16,500 PHILODRILL 0.0089 0.009 0.0091 0.0091 0.009 0.009 20,000,000 181,500 PXP ENERGY 4.21 4.24 4.3 4.3 3.99 4.24 788,000 3,190,430 PREFFERED ALCO PREF D 512 513 512 512 512 512 600 307,200 AC PREF B2R 495 505 499 500 495 500 2,800 1,392,230 BRN PREF A 105 109.8 105 105 105 105 2,500 262,500 CEB PREF 43.3 44 45.3 45.3 43 43.15 8,800 391,665 CPG PREF A 101.3 102 101.3 102 101.3 102 550 55,750 DD PREF 99.9 100.9 99.8 100 99.8 99.8 9,390 937,128 EEI PREF A 100.7 104 100.7 100.7 100.7 100.7 500 50,350 EEI PREF B 108.5 109 109 109 108.5 109 1,370 149,080 FGEN PREF G 102.8 105.5 102.8 105.5 102.8 105.5 180 18,774 GTCAP PREF A 1,010 1,015 1,010 1,010 1,010 1,010 775 782,750 GTCAP PREF B 1,006 1,010 1,005 1,005 1,005 1,005 75 75,375 JFC PREF A 970 990 970.5 970.5 970 970 330 320,105 JFC PREF B 960.5 998.5 960.5 960.5 960.5 960.5 50 48,025 MWIDE PREF 2B 96 98.4 95.65 98.4 95.5 98.4 2,900 277,640 PNX PREF 3B 100 100.9 98 100.9 98 100.9 780 77,165 PNX PREF 4 989 990 989 989 989 989 3,360 3,323,040 PCOR PREF 3A 1,057 1,070 1,070 1,070 1,070 1,070 100 107,000 PCOR PREF 3B 1,086 1,090 1,085 1,086 1,085 1,086 2,275 2,468,475 SFI PREF 1.47 1.96 1.47 1.47 1.47 1.47 4,000 5,880 SMC PREF 2F 77 77.9 78.1 78.2 77.95 77.95 3,250 254,127.50 SMC PREF 2H 75.2 75.3 75.05 75.3 75 75.3 61,630 4,624,850 SMC PREF 2I 78.5 79.5 78 78 78 78 130 10,140 SMC PREF 2J 74.8 76.1 74.6 74.6 74.6 74.6 60 4,476 SMC PREF 2K 74.4 75.75 74.6 74.6 74.4 74.4 16,900 1,258,130.50 TECH PREF B2C 52.75 52.95 52.95 52.95 52.95 52.95 1,000 52,950 TECH PREF B2D 54.45 55 54.5 54.5 54.5 54.5 4,430 241,435 PHIL. DEPOSITARY RECEIPTS ABS HLDG PDR 10 10.78 12.2 12.2 10 10.78 190,700 2,123,246 GMA HLDG PDR 10.76 11.2 11.5 11.5 10.24 10.76 227,700 2,465,756 WARRANTS TECH WARRANT 0.52 0.54 0.55 0.56 0.5 0.54 680,000 355,310

-111,406,590 -128,300 -3,608,720 -689,020 -12,000 -1,632,630 -342,688 852,400 -559,279 -894,750 -280,380 -14,530 104,520 -11,163,630 168,000 2,837,014 -1,074,300 -786,671 -2,857,136 -299,640,430 6,650 -275,390 -4,716,290 -76,992,485 -25,200 -130,325,610 10,491,973 349,560.00 58,500.00 13,600 27,200 3,711,025 -26,493,764 2,158,439 -42,000 21,250 -19,200 -5,327,128 -76,950 -22,500 -4,936,250 -8,034,850 -1,626,370 -148,550 -327,763 1,380 -9,237,010 -7,731,107 -282,950 3,378,420 -14,033,610 -14,400 -13,850 -184,162 -124,560 -430,461 39,300 2,585,350 69,400 -164,733,666 -503,910 -215,997,455 -2,181,862 -9,000 100,960 4,980 31,500 48,025 9,835 4,476 94,956 191,174 -

SMALL & MEDIUM ENTERPRISES

ALTUS PROP CTS GLOBAL HAUS TALK ITALPINAS MERRYMART XURPAS

16.16 0.95 1.01 0.83 1.53 0.3

16.2 0.96 1.07 0.84 1.54 0.31

EXHANGE TRADE FUNDS FIRST METRO ETF

102

103

16.22 0.99 1.08 0.86 1.58 0.3

16.28 1 1.12 0.87 1.58 0.31

16.16 0.94 1 0.81 1.5 0.3

16.2 0.95 1.07 0.84 1.53 0.3

64,400 35,341,000 440,000 892,000 3,102,000 840,000

1,042,628 33,978,430 461,520 742,800 4,774,140 252,950

-413,236 14,650 40,420 -23,270 -

102.5 103 98 103 148,680 14,930,651 488,874

www.businessmirror.com.ph

Entrepreneur

PSFI upgrades trade skills of underserved PHL sectors

ELIEVING that local enterprises are the lifeblood of the country’s economy, Pilipinas Shell Petroleum Corp. (PSPC), through its social arm Pilipinas Shell Foundation Inc. (PSFI), has opened livelihood opportunities to communities and provided training programs to equip and upskill Filipinos to become ready for their chosen career or establish a business on their own. “Maximizing Pilipinas Shell’s network and platform, we are taking a multi-sectoral approach to help uplift the lives of the underserved and disadvantaged sector here in the Philippines, especially those in Shell worksites and host communities,” said PSPC Vice President for Corporate Relations Serge Bernal. In Batangas City, PSFI tied up with the Silangan Ibabao Batis Bulihan Araneta Proper Multipurpose Cooperative to conduct its Maghanapbuhay sa Bahay training sessions with the community’s housewives. They were taught technical skills on sewing and given the resources to spur business initiatives while bringing them to a bigger socioeconomic ecosystem. The training sessions have also been opened to non-Ambulong residents and noncooperative members. It also supported the rehabilitation and livelihood needs of the women communities in Tacloban and Marawi, while promoting their indigenous styles of weaving through the production of facemasks that are essential to a health-conscious public coping with the pandemic. Agriculture-wise, the energy firm has initiated Project COCONUT (Collaboration for Coconut Productivity and Nurturing Farmers’ Trade) in Quezon Province, where it formed a cooperative among the planters, teaching them how to innovate the way they do business and improve their financial literacy. With two existing COCO Hubs, Shell makes sure that this project is adopted by other farmers in the region. Meanwhile, the Foundation launched the Palawan Eco Agro Park to introduce organic farming. As a result, farm productivity increased and food sustainability reduced the prices of vegetables. The oil giant has collaborated with Green Antz Builders for the establishment of the Ecobrick Hub in Cagayan De Oro to upcycle plastics which can then be used for the construction of other establishments. One notable project it produced is PSPC’s first Shell Mobility Station in the world that is made out of eco-bricks, upcycling over 1,200 kilograms of plastic waste. This effort is also being replicated in nearby communities.

For eco-tourism, the company’s community-based program TANDIKAN (Turismo at Negosyo Dulot ng Ingat Kalikasan) taps locals of Palawan as destination guides or in the production and marketing of tourist-related products like T-shirts and natural soaps. With PSFI’s Integrated Support for Indigenous People, these communities evolve at a pace that suits them, meeting their needs while not drastically changing their lifestyles. Shell’s Access to Energy program reaches out to far-flung and off-grid communities, like the Indigenous Peoples of Puerto Princesa who receive clean and reliable energy to support their livelihood, health, and education. The Batak tribe, known for their intricately designed baskets, were able to produce and sell more to resorts and other establishments there because electricity enabled them to work at night. PSPC’s efforts in nation building also include training and networking initiatives that empower various sectors, from entrepreneurs to students, to develop their own robust future. Through the Department of Trade and Industry’s One Town, One Product program, its vast mobility network nationwide has become a platform where entrepreneurs can sell their products like in Shell Mobility stations near their communities. What’s more, the Gas Mo Bukas Ko scholarship program for Shell retail station crews and dependents of workers in the public transport has already thousands to have graduated from technical-vocational courses. Shell LiveWIRE’s Acceleration program that helps spur Filipino ingenuity and resourcefulness among the younger, next-generation of talents is again searching for community enterprises and tech startups that leverage innovation and sustainable business models. It will provide them mentoring and coaching from local and international pool of business experts, additional capital funding support, and opportunities for their businesses to be integrated into Shell’s value chain. To know more about its programs, Shell’s Future Festival—a four-part series of public virtual conferences gathers leaders, stakeholders, and advocates to tackle issues crucial to national development, discuss best practices and create long-standing solutions for all sectors in Philippine society. Those interested can register now for the next episode to be part of the discussions about the future of Filipino communities and how it can further support their needs for livelihood. Roderick L. Abad

FRUIT OF THE SEASON Amid the summer heat, an enterprising fruit vendor sells watermelons on the sidewalks of Barangay Santiago, General Trias, Cavite. Watermelon is a popular fruit treat during dry season as they are juicy enough to quench a person’s thirst. PNA photo by Avito Dalan

BusinessMirror

Editor: Vittorio V. Vitug • Wednesday, May 11, 2022 B3

CPA Australia: Filipino small businesses bullish about 2022

iding high after a strong recovery from Covid-19 last year, Filipino small businesses are the most bullish in the Asia-Pacific about their growth prospects in 2022, according to CPA Australia’s annual Asia-Pacific Small Business Survey.

One of the world’s largest accounting bodies, CPA Australia, surveyed 4,252 small business owners or senior managers from November to December 2021. The survey was undertaken in 11 Asia-Pacific markets and included 302 Filipino small businesses. The survey also sought to understand small business conditions, challenges and confidence. Though Covid-19 continued to adversely impact Filipino small businesses last year, 65 percent of respondents reported growing and 41 percent increased employee numbers. Both results were the second highest among all the markets surveyed. Filipino small businesses’ relatively strong 2021 is likely rooted in strong customer satisfaction and business strategy. Over the past three years, respondents nominated customer loyalty and improved customer satisfaction as the top factors positively influencing their businesses. Mr. Leslie Leow, General Manager

—Emerging Markets, CPA Australia said, “To stand out from competitors and win more customers, it’s pivotal for micro, small and medium-sized enterprises (MSMEs) to adopt a customer-oriented strategy. This will assist them to provide the products or services customers’ demand. “Filipino small business owners are typically young, vibrant and skillful at using digital technologies in their businesses, and to engage with customers and potential customers.” Filipino small businesses are the most optimistic about their growth outlook this year of the markets surveyed. Ninety-one percent expect to grow, far outstripping the survey average of 62 percent. Forty-five percent stated they will introduce a new product, service or process to the market in 2022, while 62 percent expect to hire more employees. Both results are the second highest among all surveyed markets. In addition,

62 percent of respondents expect revenue from overseas markets to grow, outperforming the region. Leow said, “The Philippines is investing resources in revitalizing industries hard-hit by Covid-19, such as tourism and hospitality. With border restrictions set to relax this year, foreign tourists and opportunities from overseas markets should spur MSMEs’ confidence and expansion prospects. “One factor that is probably driving strong export growth expectations is the Philippines’s growing outsourced service center. These centers are attractive to foreign companies, many of whom are seeking to overcome labor shortages and find efficiencies. Such interest is creating opportunities for many local MSMEs.” Aside from the pandemic, “increasing costs” remains the biggest barrier to Filipino small businesses. Materials costs (42 percent) and utility costs (39 per cent) were the costs that caused the most detriment. Sixty-six percent of respondents sought external funds last year, while 80 percent expect that they will require additional funds this year. Covering increasing expenses was one of the major reasons for seeking finance. Financing conditions improved significantly for Filipino businesses in 2021. Thirty-eight percent of respondents found access to finance “easy” or “very easy,” up from 13 percent in 2020. However, this

result is still below the survey average of 46 percent. Leow said, “Easier access to finance is most likely due to the strong shift by local businesses to family or friends as their main source of finance, which was up from 21 per cent in 2020 to 45 percent in 2021. The survey shows that family and friends are typically the easiest source for finance to access.” “While the Department of Trade and Industry Philippines released a total of P5.9 billion this year to MSMEs, funding roadblocks are still hindering local MSME growth. “For those small businesses that can access external finance, we encourage them to seek professional advice before making a commitment, especially where the funding is to be used for short-term growth. Professional advisers can help such businesses determine whether taking on such debt is a wise decision. They may also be able to find other more effective ways to fund business expansion such as through internally-generated finance from improved efficiency.” CPA Australia recommends Filipino small businesses consider the following actions: n save costs by improving operational procedures or investing in productivity enhancing technology. n tap into new technologies to manage customer relationships and improve customer satisfaction. n seek advice from professional advisors to improve their business strategy.

Entreps advised on how to successfully trade online By Roderick L. Abad Contributor

More products on hand, faster delivery

@rodrik_28

ELPING buttress the country’s economy and level the playing field, the e-commerce sector is an enabler for businesses, especially the micro, small and medium enterprises (MSMEs) as well as start-ups, to build their direct-to-consumer channels. Following the industry’s further expansion in 2021, this democratization is seen to spur growth that could reach $24 billion or P1.2 trillion, representing 5.5 percent of the gross domestic product by end of this year. Locad Chief Executive Officer (CEO) and Cofounder Constantin Robertz gave tips on how business owners get ahead of the competition with their seminal whitepaper, dubbed “Key E-Commerce Trends of 2022.” “We are looking for four things. It starts with a great product and a great price. And then it’s about making people know about your product. And the third one is the customer experience, end-toend. Then the back-end work wherein you’re doing all these things. That is what e-commerce is,” he shared in a recent webinar, titled “E-Commerce Trends 2022: What Online Entrepreneurs Need to Know.” The top executive, likewise, hinted that e-commerce is important to SMEs by freeing them so that they focus on their main offerings. He said: “As a business, you always have to ask yourself what it is that really drives value to the core of my business? Because as entrepreneurs, as much as we work hard, the day only has 24 hours

CLOCKWISE, Locad Chief Executive Officer (CEO) and Cofounder Constantin Robertz, Manila Athletica CEO Aencille Santos, Etaily CEO and Cofounder Alexander Friedhoff, Nuprene Brand Manager James Fernando delve on the importance of having excellent customer service at “The E-Commerce Trends 2022: What Online Entrepreneurs Need to Know” online event. and the week only has seven days. How are you going to use that limited amount of time?” For Manila Athletica CEO Aencille Santos, delivery can “make or break” a business, wherein no matter how really good the product is, “if the delivery is horrible, it becomes a one-star rating.”

Public-private partnership

WITH digitalization, there is really a need to tech up the MSMEs in the country and, at the same time, build a secure and reliable e-commerce ecosystem that they can confidently tap, according to Department of Trade and Industry-Philippine Trade Training Center (DTI-PTTC) Executive Director Nelly Dillera. “The holy grail of e-commerce is to

trade beyond traditional borders, outside of the regular domain, starting locally, then moving nationally, regionally, and globally. These movements serve as the ultimate test of retail, digital, or online,” she noted. But it needs support from the public sector, Robertz pointed out, while citing their collaboration with government agencies such as the Department Trade and Industry-Philippine Trade Training Center (DTI-PTTC) in educating small business owners. “We believe that continuing with these partnerships, webinars, and capacity-building projects, together with the private sector, will be helpful for MSMEs to grow even further. Ultimately, we can grow individually, when we grow together,” he said.

GAINING customers and sustaining their patronage are among the big challenges to be faced by businesses this year. Considering that 42 percent of customers switch from one marketplace to another, they need to make their products more available and deliver them as fast as they could to gain their loyalty. From the six key e-commerce trends of 2022, Robertz emphasized that delivering outstanding customer experience to get clients and keep them is a lowhanging fruit for many MSMEs to bolster their operations. “By ensuring better product availability and faster delivery, an e-commerce business, no matter how small, can become a preferred shopping destination for customers,” he added. For Etaily CEO and Cofounder Alexander Friedhoff, “It’s all about meeting and exceeding the customer expectations, and authentically engaging with customers where they are.” Fulfillment, on the other hand, is pivotal in meeting the expectations of customers to drive growth of any size of business, per Nuprene Brand Manager James Fernando. He suggested that small players must provide a “good experience” for clients like ordering online to gain repeat purchases, otherwise it will be costly to acquire customers. In this very tough field where customers seek only the best, making online shopping a “full experience” for them—from logging in to the app to clicking, product browsing, checking out and delivery—enables a brand to stand out, Santos said.

Dealing with death? Two entrepreneurs are offering an app for that

efore the pandemic, entrepreneurs Liz Eddy and Alyssa Ruderman had trouble getting venture capitalists to invest in their end-of-life planning app Lantern. Potential business partners were skeptical as well. “We would hear, ‘Oh, this is really a niche issue,’ which I think is pretty hilarious,” Eddy says. “Death is quite literally the only thing on the planet that affects every single person.” The past two years have highlighted the importance of such preparation, even for younger people. Abigail Henson, a

31-year-old college professor in Phoenix, says she started using Lantern about 18 months ago to plan her funeral, tell her executor where to find her passwords and explain what she wanted to be done with her social media accounts. “I’m a planner, and I have control issues, so the idea of being able to have a say in what happens following my passing was appealing,” Henson says. Planning for death and navigating life after a loss can be difficult, complex and sometimes expensive. However, several apps—including Lantern, Cake, Em-

pathy and Everplans, among others— promise to help. Death-planning apps typically have free tools for consumers, and most have additional, premium services available for a fee. For example, Empathy’s free offerings include checklists, articles and collaboration tools for family members dealing with a death. Those who pay a subscription fee of $8.99 a month or $64.99 per year can access a document vault and automated tools to close accounts. Subscribers also get around-theclock access to “care specialists” who can

answer questions and help users search for specialized advisers, such as attorneys or tax pros. Everplans, a document-storage site and app, offers a free trial followed by an annual $75 subscription fee. Lantern’s free offerings include basic preplanning tools, an after-loss checklist, document storage and collaboration tools. A one-time $149 fee provides access to more resources and the ability to create additional plans. Cake’s free features include end-of-life planning, online memorials, a post-loss

checklist and document storage. A $96 annual subscription buys unlimited storage, a legal online will and one-on-one consultations with the app’s support team, says Suelin Chen, Cake’s co-founder. Some apps partner with employers, insurers, banks and other companies that provide the app’s features to employees or customers as a benefit. The apps also may earn referral fees for connecting users with service providers. Lantern has a “Funeralocity” tool to search for funeral homes, for instance, and Cake partners with Eterneva, which turns cremated

remains into diamonds. Henson says she chose Lantern because she wanted a digital solution that allowed her to complete preplanning tasks at her own pace and share them online with trusted people. That felt more manageable than tackling estate planning all at once and storing the documents in a locked filing cabinet, which is what her mother has done, Henson says. “It can be really overwhelming to think about it in one sitting, but the idea that every once in a while you can pop in and add more is helpful,” Henson says. AP

Banking&Finance BusinessMirror

Wednesday, May 11, 2022 • Editor: Dennis D. Estopace

www.businessmirror.com.ph

Investors stick to inflation-hedging position

By Bernadette D. Nicolas

@BNicolasBM

HE government raised P5 billion, only a third of its P15billion offering of Treasury bills (T-bills) on Tuesday as inflation concerns prompted investors to stick to their position to hedge against inflation and, hence, expected monetary policy tweaking.

The change we need

HESE days—which we consider as the modern age—we seem to have lost the values we knew in our youth: values that have slowly been replaced by consumerism; demand for all the “good” things in life in the easiest way without having to work hard for these—a culture of “having” instead of “being.” Somehow, eventually shunted to the side is the idea of being accountable for one’s actions, as the sense of “sin” became a medieval concept and totally unfashionable in a modern world that sought pleasure and making more and more money at all costs. There has to be a change in attitude, which is not merely a change in political processes, in merely reviving a world economy that has been seriously affected by Covid, an unexpected problem that is beyond the pitting of “mahirap” (poor) versus “mayaman” (wealthy). The change should really be about revisiting the values that shaped our nation until corruption reared its head with political ambition for power that sadly turned into an aphrodisiac leading to excesses that eventually cursed our way of life. In our own society, we have somehow been contaminated by this seductive dream of “having”—of creating a “utopia” where all material things could be had by every person, so that we too have come to embrace an acquisitive, consumeristic culture. For many of our citizens, the idea of hard work to obtain what we need has been suborned by finding an easy way to get what we want—the full-page ads and pictures of accoutrements of the “good life”—have infected our sense of propriety, our sense of balance. Juan and Juana dela Cruzes have been enticed by the magic of credit cards that allow them to get enmeshed in spiraling balances because of the ease of paying only 5 percent of their purchases each time the bill comes around. The change that we need is a change in perspective. Certainly, I am not advocating that modernity as such is anathema. Neither am I saying that our people should not aspire to better their circumstances. We need to change our attitudes towards mere possession of goods, so that the desire to have more of everything becomes our over-riding aim—an attitude shared by both rich and poor (for example, the “need” to possess a cellphone even to the

All tenors across the board capped at higher average yields compared to the secondary market benchmark rates, prompting the Treasury to fully award P5 billion in 91-day T-bills and reject bids for 182-day and 364-day debt papers. The auction was oversubscribed as total bids hit P19.98 billion. National Treasurer Rosalia V. De Leon said investors weighed in on the country’s rising inflation, especially for April. Inflation averaged 4.9 percent in April, the highest since December 2018 at 5.2 percent. The inflation

Mercedes B. Suleik extent of cutting down on nutrition to be able to buy “load”, or worse, to theft, on the one hand, and on the other, to various schemes to further enrich themselves such as engaging in corrupt business practices. The change we need is a return to what we used to call “Filipino values” but which indeed are Christian values, or surely, human virtues. Thrift, honesty, truthfulness, generosity, care for one’s fellow human being—in contrast to greed, duplicity, selfishness, a disordered “me first” attitude. Perhaps, if we were to consider these, we would have less corruption and rapacity in government and business, we would have more caring communities, we would enjoy economic well-being without excesses. We have just had elections. Hopefully we have elected a President with the foregoing values (which I don’t know at the time of this writing). One change that we need to do at this time is to stop our bickering, our self-styled holier than thou attitudes that paint everything in government as evil and corrupt—our penchant for “change,” which is merely a desire for one group to grab the reins for its own benefit, so that eventually disappointment sets in and another call for “change” is made. This is not the change we need. The change we need is that which provides opportunities and challenges for those who would improve themselves and their lot, one that ensures that one person or one group does not take advantage of another, one that recognizes the dignity of every human person in our land. And this change can only begin when each of us can honestly and truthfully look into our hearts and then be able to say: “I am a child of God, I have my faults, but I can and must rise above them by responding to the grace He provides.” The opinion expressed herein does not necessarily reflect the views of the BusinessMirror. Know more about #FINEXPhils through www.finex.org.ph.

day and 364-day T-bills would have averaged 2.165 percent and 2.329 percent, respectively, had the Treasury fully awarded the securities. These rates would have been higher by 54.1 basis points from BVAL rate of 1.624 percent for the 182-day T-bills and 34.7 basis points than the BVAL rate of 1.982 percent for 364day T-bills, respectively. For this month, the Treasury is targeting to raise P200 billion from the domestic debt market. Since the start of May, the Treasury has so far sold P52.6 billion in

government securities. Last month, it earned P164.4 billion from its auction of government securities out of its P200 billion programmed offering. The government is set to borrow this year a total of P2.2 trillion, of which around 75 percent is expected to come from domestic sources. As of end-March, the national government’s outstanding debt has hit a new record-high of P12.68 trillion as borrowings continued to pile up as headwinds continued to pummel the Philippine economy.

LandBank notes strong growth in digital transactions By Bianca Cuaresma @BcuaresmaBM

Finex free enterprise

rate in March was at 4.1 percent and 4 percent the month before. De Leon told reporters the surge in April inflation “continues to dampen market sentiment as analysts see inflation as a big headache for the next administration.” The 91-day T-bills capped at an average yield of 1.531 percent, jumping by 26.9 basis points from the Bloomberg Valuation Service (BVAL) Reference Rate of 1.262 percent. This is also higher by 25.9 basis points from previous auction’s 1.272 percent. Meanwhile, bids for the 182-

TATE-run Land Bank of the Philippines Inc. (LandBank) reported strong growth in digital transactions in the first three months of the year as demand for online services continued to grow amid the pandemic. In a statement, LandBank said it has facilitated a total of 39.14 million transactions amounting to P567.61 billion from its major digital banking channels in the first three months of 2022. This translates to a 36-percent growth in terms of volume and a 22-percent growth in value from its levels a year ago.

LandBank President and CEO Cecilia C. Borromeo was quoted in the statement as saying that the demand for the state-run lender’s digital services continued to rise as more customers shifted to digital banking solutions more than two years after government imposed lockdown measures. “LandBank’s digital transformation is geared towards providing accessible financial services to meet the growing needs of our customers,” Borromeo said. “We are also driven towards greater digital adoption to advance financial inclusion in the country, in line with our expanded mandate of serving the nation.” The bank has seen growth across

various digital channels. Its mobile banking application recorded 29.75 million transactions worth P47.18 billion for the first quarter of the year, representing growth of 37 percent in volume and 46 percent in value, from last year. LandBank’s corporate internet banking platform, meanwhile, recorded more than six million transactions worth nearly P143.19 billion. This translates to growths of 37 percent in volume and 25 percent in value. The bank’s web-based payment facility facilitated around 1.38 million transactions equivalent to a 42 percent increase with a corresponding total value of P3.41 billion or 58 percent growth rate.

The bank’s online retail banking channel also logged a 26-percent growth in ransactions value, at P4.46 billion compared to the P3.55 billion in the same period last year. For its electronic modified disbursement system for national government agency partners, transactions value hit P368.06 billion, up 18 percent from its level last year. “With the continuous increase in the use of digital banking channels, the state-run bank assures its customers that it maintains the highest level of security in all its systems, while also reminding customers to remain vigilant against online banking fraud and scams,” LandBank’s statement read.

GSIS extends condonation offer to inactive members

TATE pension fund Government Service Insurance System (GSIS) announced it is extending the condonation program for its former members until June 30. In a statement, the GSIS said the one-time condonation and restructuring program was launched to help members who are already out of the service to settle their outstanding loan obligations in full or in part. GSIS President and General Manager Rolando Ledesma Macasaet was quoted in the statement as saying

in Tagalog that they extended the program until June to provide convenience to more inactive members who want to apply for condonation or continue their repayment of loans under the program. Macasaet added thay removed penalties on the outstanding loans when they left the service. The one-time condonation program, according to the GSIS, covers various service loans, which include: salary loans; cash advance; consolidated loans; emergency loans; edu-

cational assistance loans; and, policy loans, among others. Through the statement, Macasaet encouraged inactive GSIS members to apply for the program, “which gives them the option to pay their loan balances on a three-year instalment basis at 10-percent interest per annum.” According to the GSIS, those who would avail the one-time condonation program may settle their loans by paying directly in GSIS offices or through “Bayad” centers. If the bor-

rower is a retiree who will receive the pension at age 60 or after five years, the payment may be deducted from his or her pension. If the loan will be settled by the legal spouse, he or she may have it deducted from his or her GSIS survivorship pension or pay through Bayad partner outlets nationwide. Macasaet was quoted in the statement as saying they are intensifying efforts to recover and collect outstanding loan accounts through the program.

Dollar rally spurs Asia to curb currency losses

HE dollar’s relentless advance to a two-year high is roiling Asian currencies and pushing policymakers into action to curb losses. From direct dollar selling to verbal intervention, authorities are deploying every tool from their armories to ward off currency threats. India and Taiwan have intervened in the market, while Japan has tried to talk up the yen. China tweaked policy parameters to slow the slide in the yuan and Hong Kong is likely to step in as its currency brushes near the lower end of its trading band. “Asian central banks are becoming more concerned about weaker currencies and higher inflation,” said Mansoor Mohi-uddin, chief economist at the Bank of Singapore

Ltd. He cautioned that intervention is unlikely to work while the Federal Reserve remains hawkish on interest rates. Here is a run-down of what Asian central banks have been saying and doing about their currencies.

China

THE People’s Bank of China in its latest quarterly monetary report issued Monday vowed to keep the foreign-exchange market operating “normally,” saying it would guide market expectations. It also reiterated that it would maintain a “managed” floating exchange rate system for the yuan against a reference basket of currencies based on market supply and demand. The yuan dropped to 6.7411 per

dollar on Tuesday, the weakest since November 2020. “I would expect the PBOC to continue to guard against sharp moves as shown by some attempt to restrain the daily onshore fixings,” said Eugenia Victorino, head of Asia strategy at Skandinaviska Enskilda Banken AB in Singapore.

India

THE Reserve Bank of India is intervening in spot and forward markets to defend the rupee, which slid to a record low on Monday, according to a person familiar with the matter. India’s FX reserves of about $600 billion offers the RBI plenty of room to manage a gradual decline in the rupee, according to Radhika Rao, a senior economist at DBS Bank Ltd.

Japan

A drop in the yen to a 2-decade low is causing headaches in Japan. The Bank of Japan is keeping the benchmark 10-year yield from rising above 0.25 percent to stoke sustainable inflation, and in doing so it’s adding to downward pressure on the yen. Any decision by the Ministry of Finance to intervene to prop up the yen would contradict the BOJ’s accommodative stance. Japan last bought yen against the dollar in 1998. Intervention remains unlikely until the currency pair reaches 145 per dollar, as long as the selloff is orderly, Bank of America strategists, including Shusuke Yamada, wrote in a research note last week. It traded around 130 on Tuesday. Bloomberg News

Singaporeans holding senior roles in financial sector almost double in 6 years

HE number of Singapore citizens holding senior roles in the financial sector has increased more than 80 percent compared to 2016, amid a push in the city-state to build up local leadership in the expanding industry. More than 3,000 citizens now hold senior positions in the sector, Tharman Shanmugaratnam, chairman of the Monetary Authority of Singapore, said in a written response to queries in parliament. Singapore has been moving to bolster the hiring and grooming of its local workforce, even as ministers stress that the country is open to talent from abroad. The subject of expats, or foreign talent, has sparked

fierce debate, with opposition politicians calling for closer scrutiny and the government recently tightening requirements for companies seeking to hire foreigners. At the end of 2021, about 71 percent of the financial sector workforce were Singapore citizens, 14 percent were permanent residents, and 15 percent were work pass holders, Tharman, who’s also senior minister, said in his response. For senior roles—referring to executives with more than 15 years of related work experience— about 46 percent were Singapore citizens, 21 percent permanent residents and 33 percent work pass holders, based on MAS’s survey

results for 2020. These proportions have remained stable over the years, with a “gradual increase” in the proportion of Singapore citizens holding senior roles, according to the response. The finance sector is a key one for the city-state, thriving during the pandemic even as other parts of the economy suffered. The MAS consults with senior management at financial firms on the makeup of their workforces and their plans to grow the “Singaporean core,” its managing director Ravi Menon said in 2020. The regulator has also been working with firms to develop a strong local leadership pipeline, he said. Bloomberg News

IN this September 6, 2021, photo, people walk on sidewalks at Singapore’s commercial and business district. According to Tharman Shanmugaratnam, chairman of the Monetary Authority of Singapore, more than 3,000 citizens now hold senior positions in the city-state’s financial sector. Bloomberg News

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Editor: Gerard S. Ramos

• Wednesday, May 11, 2022

Whatever happened to wanting to become a scientist? A doctor? A lawyer? RECKITT, CYNTHIA VILLAR EMPOWER HEALTH-CARE SECTOR

A REcKITT cleanliness and hygiene brand, Lysol has partnered with the Office of Senator cynthia Villar to distribute ₱800,000 worth of products to Las Piñas General Hospital (LPGH). comprising disinfectant sprays, multi-action cleaners, hand sanitizers and liquid hand wash, among others, the Lysol products will benefit more than 300 patients and healthcare workers to sustain cleanliness and safety from covid-19 as people return to their normal activities. Since the start of the pandemic, Reckitt has been a staunch supporter of the country’s healthcare sector by partnering with public hospitals and disseminating information that helps curb the spread of the virus. Now, as the alert level recedes to 1, Lysol continues with its commitment to be the gold standard of disinfection to keep Filipino families and medical frontliners safe and healthy. “We are very honored to partner with Senator Villar, the city of Las Piñas, and Las Piñas General Hospital which stand at the forefront of this community. It is through opportunities like this that we are able to reach out to more people and fulfill our mission to contribute toward breaking the chain of infection,” said Sachin Budhraja, general manager of Reckitt for the Philippines. “We are pleased and grateful that Reckitt chose to partner with our city hospital. Hygiene and health are truly crucial amid the continued presence of the virus, but through the allocated Lysol products in Las Piñas General Hospital, our beneficiaries—from patients to health-care workers—will be protected so that they may give and receive the best medical services,” said Senator cynthia Villar. The Las Piñas General Hospital received more than 6,000 Lysol products, aimed at helping increase its efforts in disinfecting and sanitizing its hospital units. Reckitt executives together with the Las Piñas public officials also outlined the proper process of handwashing. They amplified people’s hygiene education by performing the seven steps of handwashing promoted by the Global Handwashing Partnership. “Since the covid-19 pandemic, Lysol has been such an important product in our lives. We should carry on in our movement of keeping our surroundings clean not just during the pandemic, but even now that we are in relatively safer times, to avoid potential surges in the future as well as other health threats,” said congresswoman camille Villar.

PARTNERS FOR SAFETY Las Piñas General Hospital receives P800,000 worth of Lysol products from Reckitt.

HEN I was young, I was asked repeatedly what I would like to be when I grew up. I almost always told everyone I wanted to be a scientist because some days I also wanted to be a pilot or an astronaut. My sister wanted to be a doctor, but she discovered that the medical field was not for her, so she pursued becoming a lawyer. It was challenging for her to finish law school, but it was all rewarded when she passed the recent bar examinations. And no one could have been prouder than our whole family. Today, ask a kid what they would like to be when they grow up and you would still hear familiar answers, but several would also say they would like to be influencers or vloggers on YouTube or some other social-media platform. Not that there is anything wrong per se with these dreams, but it somehow reflects the kind of society that we have become. And I am bothered. The currency for influence is no longer based on reputation and credibility built over time, but on what is popular at the moment. And ad agencies encourage this kind of behavior by putting a premium on engagement rates and reach, more than integrity built over time. Is it wrong? Not entirely. But it begs to be reexamined in the face of the increasing number of kids dreaming of becoming the next influencer or famous vlogger. What happens when every kid’s anthem is the Pussycat Dolls’ “When I Grow Up?” What then becomes of our society? I know this is an exaggeration, but do we just let all our children become famous? Some people would say this is a generational issue and that Boomers pushed the Generation Xers and Millennials to a point where they had to fix what they have accused Boomers of having ruined. And in doing so, they became independent and self-reliant. So much so that they think they can do anything by themselves, that they forget they are part of a community beyond their age group. I am all for labels and defining generations but only insofar as it helps us understand how to work together. It should not be used to excuse bad behavior or unprofessional conduct. People today look at what is in it for them more than how they can help their group or their community. We seem to have forgotten that we are all in this together, and our actions have repercussions on our communities. This “me” mentality has permeated every facet of everyday life and has even seeped into other generation’s mindset. Think of the Karens in the US who defy socially accepted behavior and insist on what they want because they believe it is their right to do so at their own pleasure. Or the traditional politicians in the last election who used every

conceivable form of disinformation just so they can retain or regain their power. When people fall victim to these lies, the entire country suffers. Notice also that the Karens and the traditional politicians have one thing in common—they do everything they can to get what they want at whatever expense because they think they are entitled to it. Is this the kind of society we aspire to be? There is a popular story about Margaret Mead, an anthropologist who gave an interesting answer to a question of what she believed was the first sign of civilization. She answered that it was a thigh bone that was broken and then healed. In ancient times, if a person broke his leg, he would easily become food for other animals because he could not easily evade his predators. But a healed person indicated that someone took the time to take care of this person. She went on to say that “helping someone else through difficulty is where civilization starts.” What makes us civilized is our capacity and desire to help others. In a sense, this is similar to Jean Jacques Rousseau’s concept of the social contract where obedience is subsumed to the general will or the common good. In its simplest form, the social contract denotes being part of a community of shared values and interests. The common interest of the group is followed which also means that if a ruler usurps its power, people have the obligation to rebel and uphold the common interest. In this way, both the ruler and the ruled have

the duty to protect the social contract which upholds the common good. What bothers me is how individualism has corrupted the way some people see their communities. Instead of ways of building it up, they see their communities as a means to an end—to be more popular, richer, or more influential. And it pains me when I hear a kid say he wants to be an influencer or a vlogger because they think these people earn so much in so little time. They think that it is a shortcut to their dream of becoming famous and rich. But in reality, influencers come and go as soon as the next “best” influencer comes along. What would happen then to those who have arrived at their sell-by date in the blogging/vlogging landscape? What are we teaching our children that they aspire to be famous and influential more than to be productive members of the society? The values that we hold on to and the values we teach our children reflect the kind of people they want to be when they grow up. If we do not lay down a good foundation for the next generation, it will all come tumbling down. But if we build a community that depends on each other and enhance each other’s ability to help others, we form a base that can support the next generation of lawyers, teachers, nurses and other professionals who serve the common good. Your work now may not reflect your childhood dream but I hope it reflects the same childlike hope of making a difference to help others. n

What’s the Giving Pledge? A philanthropy scholar explains By Hans Peter Schmitz University of San Diego THE Giving Pledge is a commitment by billionaires to voluntarily give most of their wealth to charitable causes either during their lifetimes or in their wills as bequests to be made after death. More than 230 individuals and couples have made this commitment since investor Warren Buffett, Bill Gates and Melinda French Gates—who divorced the Microsoft co-founder in 2021—created the pledge in 2010. In 2013, the Giving Pledge was opened to members outside of the United States. By my own calculations, pledgers come from 28 countries, and slightly more than 25 percent were born outside of the United States. Everyone who signs on is encouraged to submit a letter elaborating their philanthropic philosophy, motives and giving preferences. I have been analyzing these letters as part of my research regarding the philanthropic activities of the superrich, including their motives and priorities.

MITCHELL RALES (right) and Emily Wei Rales signed the Giving Pledge in 2018

WHy tHe GivinG PledGe matterS SOME critics argue that the Giving Pledge is nothing more than a publicity stunt, because there is no enforcement.

It also does not require its members to disburse funds to nonprofits and other charitable causes. Even when donors do uphold their commitment,

they can simply transfer ample assets to a family foundation or a donor-advised fund—financial accounts in which donors reserve money they plan

to give away later. Despite those limitations, I see two main reasons the pledge matters. First, it could potentially increase charitable giving, which totals nearly $500 billion a year in the United States, if everyone who has signed on follows through. For example, Mitchell Rales, the coowner of industrial conglomerate Danaher Corp., and his wife, Emily Wei Rales, joined the Giving Pledge in 2018. They recently shifted $3.3 billion in shares to their charitable foundations. Second, it may have helped some very wealthy people articulate their ambitious philanthropic agendas. One example is MacKenzie Scott—a novelist who has given away more than $12 billion since her 2019 divorce from Amazon founder Jeff Bezos. Another is the former hedge fund manager John D. Arnold and his wife, Laura Arnold. They have committed to giving away at least 5 percent of their wealth annually. How many people could sign the pledge? While estimates about the wealth of the richest people in the world vary, it’s clear that the number of billionaires is rising, along with the value of their assets. Forbes, which has tracked them for years, estimates that there are about 735 US billionaires and a total of 2,668 worldwide. THE CONVERSATION

PHOTO BY AQVIEWS ON UNSPLASH

B6 Wednesday, May 11, 2022

Taste the World again with GrabFood Signatures this summer

Nayong Pilipino, DOH team to promote mental health through green space

HE Nayong Pilipino Foundation (NPF) has partnered with the Department of Health (DOH) in a tree planting activity onMay 6 to bring mental health benefits to all. The noise, pollution, overcrowding, and the series of lockdowns appear to be taking a toll on our mental health. Thus, continuing tree planting activities will help our communities to stay afloat during and after the COVID-19 crisis. Through the NPF’s project “Sambayanihan” a series of activation activities for the physical development of the 9.5-ha property in the Entertainment City in Paranaque City, the agency spotlights the need for community involvement. Since its launch in 2021, NFP has partnered with both private and public institutions in multi-sectoral activities to establish the future NPF Cultural Park and Creative Hub, which is one of the last remaining green spaces in the middle of Metro Manila. “When we launched our tree planting drive last year, our purpose was to help improve the mental health of the COVID-19 patients and the frontliners stationed in the quarantine facility inside this property,” said NFP Deputy Executive Director for Marketing and Operations Dr. Jovertlee Pudan “Additionally, people who come here to get inoculated could appreciate nature and what it means for our well-being. Trees and green spaces have helped

SPEARHEADING THE GREEN SPACE PROGRAM WERE, FROM LEFT: NPF Deputy Executive Director for Marketing and Operations Dr. Jovertly Pudan; DOH Health Promotion Bureau Director Dr. Beverly Lorraine Ho; DOH Senior Program Officer Francis Paule improve both our physical and mental health throughout the pandemic and will continue to do so in the new normal” he added. “The project of the Nayong Pilipino Foundation is aligned with what DOH wants to do, which is to encourage people to go out and do physical activities and protect their mental health. They can only do that if we have open spaces,” said DOH Health Promotion Bureau Director Dr. Beverly Lorraine C. Ho.

As an attached agency of the Department of Tourism (DOT), the NPF continues to serve its stakeholders by fulfilling its mandate of providing Heritage Preservation even amid the pandemic. The agency hopes to build the future Nayong Pilipino Foundation Cultural Park and Creative Hub to provide the public with the much-needed open, green, and creative space, thereby contributing to the restoration of our cities while promoting our rich culture and heritage.

HIS summer, Southeast Asia’s leading super app Grab adds more cuisines to its GrabFood Signatures roster. GrabFood welcomes new merchantpartners with tried and tested flavors from all over the world: 24 Chicken, Sunnies Cafe, ILYStew, KraVerse Food Hall, Kam's Roast, Hawker Chan, Tim Ho Wan, TeaLive, Pound, PoundxFlatterie, Pizza Telefono, Llaollao, Pound x Flatterie, Mesa, and Bench Cafe. Representing the rich tastes of Asia, America, Europe, and the Philippines, these restaurants will take Filipinos around the world through exciting options for a food trip that will surely satisfy your gasto-lust! Launched in 2021, GrabFood Signatures gives customers a variety of well-loved restaurants that are exclusive for delivery only with GrabFood, along with exciting in-app promos. Trip Around Asia. With GrabFood Signatures, access an exclusive collection of Asian flavors that will surely make you feel like you’re traveling: Pair your K-drama marathon with 24 Chicken’s Half Half Boneless Chicken or Sunnies Cafe’s Beef Kimchi Rice bowl. The Korean options don’t stop there. Be one of the first to try these Galbi jjim creations from ILYStew, with their Spicy Galbi Jjim Set and KraVerse Food Hall with their Galbi Jim set. Have a Chinese-style feast with Kam’s Roast Roast Duck Rice or a Singaporean one with Hawker Chan’s Roasted Pork Noodle. For a snack, consider Tim Ho Wan’s cult-favorite baked buns with Hong Kong Style BBQ Pork. Or why not try a Malaysian take on milk tea with TeaLive's Aren Palm Sugar Pearl Milk Tea? American Classics. If craving for the comfort of American Food, only in

AMCHAM Project Manager Daisy Palor and Jojo De Jesus from Jesus Bukidnon Mission pose with the boxes of laptops. The organization currently have 100 Lumad scholars who will benefit greatly from thes PCs from Chevron.

CSC reminds gov’t employees of SALN deadline on May 30

HE Civil Service Commission (CSC) reminded government employees to prepare and submit their 2021 Statements of Assets, Liabilities, and Net Worth (SALN) with their respective departments, agencies, or offices, and urged them not to wait until the 30 May 2022 deadline. CSC Resolution No. 2100339, circularized via Memorandum Circular No. 6, s. 2021, specifies the guidelines for the filing and submission of SALNs during exceptional circumstances or when the country is placed under a state of calamity and/or emergency. It allows online oathtaking and online filing of the SALN by all public officials and employees. “Given that the declaration of a State of Calamity due to COVID-19 has not yet been lifted, the rules issued by CSC extending the deadline of filing of SALN and allowing electronic oath-taking, filing, and submission of the same will still apply,” explained CSC Chairperson Karlo Nograles. “I urge all concerned public officials and

employees to comply with the mandatory filing of SALN as part of our commitment to the Filipino people to uphold the principle of public office as a public trust,” Chairperson Nograles added. For online oath-taking, the Administering Officer and Declarant may interact through communication technology, provided that the identity of the Declarant is verified, the Declarant affirms the contents of his or her SALN to be true and correct, and the signing of the SALN is done within sight of the Administering Officer. The Declarant has the option to affix his or her signature on an electronic SALN, or use wet ink signature on a physical document and scan it. This should then be transmitted electronically to the Administering Officer on the same day. The Administering Officer also has the option to sign electronically or use wet ink signature on the SALN, then transmit the same back to the Declarant. The Declarant may then send his or her SALN electronically to the human resource

department/office of the concerned department, office, or agency in Portable Document Format or PDF. This shall be considered as a “duly executed SALN”. This shall also be considered “original”, and the printout thereof shall be considered as a “duplicate original”. All public officials and employees are required to file the SALN except:  Those serving in honorary capacity – persons who are working in the government without service credit and without pay;  Those whose position title is laborer – persons whose work depends on mere physical power to perform ordinary manual labor, and not one engaged in services consisting mainly of work requiring mental skill or business capacity, and involving the exercise of intellectual faculties;  Those who are casual or temporary workers – persons hired to do work outside what is considered necessary for the usual operations of the employer's business.

GrabFood Signatures can you find these burgers that will surely hit the spot. Try Pound’s Pound Burger for their take on the classic American burger. Or take a bite from PoundxFlatterie’s Backyard Cheeseburger for a sumptuous meal Selections from Europe. Some more exclusive delights from GrabFood Signatures will indulge you like a European, guaranteed. Pizza Telefono’s Two to Tango Pizza combo of Pepperoni Pizza and Creamy Margherita Pizza make for a great Italian pizza party. And Llaollao’s iconic yogurt in a Take Home Pack offers a gastronomic trip to Spain Quality Filipino Renditions. Because there’s no place like home, GrabFood Signatures also allows you to no doubt enjoy the tastes from hand picked selections from the Philippines: Try Mesa’s Baby Squid in Olive Oil for a seafood dish for lunch, dinner, or whenever you please. Then try Bench Cafe’s Ube Halo-Halo, a twist to the classic halo-halo with its coconut ice cream that’s perfect for the summer heat! Find the “Only with GrabFood” icon to explore the variety of cuisines and enjoy exclusive discounts this summer when you use the promo code SIGNATURES to get P80 off and 300 GrabRewards Points.

Sourcing safe drinking water through subscription

Chevron, AMCHAM donate laptops to Lumad scholars ALTEX, marketed by Chevron Philippines Inc (CPI) in partnership with the American Chamber Foundation Philippines, Inc. (AMCHAM) recently donated 93 refreshed laptops to various scholars and beneficiaries including the Jesuit Bukidnon Mission (JBM). JBM which is currently supporting 100 Lumad youth scholars in Mindanao, received 50 laptops: 40 units will be distributed for common use at JBM’s high school dormitories and one college dormitory. The remaining 10 units have been allocated to Tagbanua Ministry under the auspices of the Loyola College of Culion (LCC) in Palawan. “Through our Energy for Learning initiative, Caltex continues to find ways to support education specially these days where distance learning is the norm in order to ensure the continuity of learning even amidst the pandemic,” CPI Country Chairman Billy Liu shared. Chevron believes in helping communities prosper and continues to invest for the long-term in education especially in the fields of STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering and Math). “With much gratitude, we acknowledge the donation of fifty (50) Lenovo ThinkPads provided by Chevron Philippines, Inc. in partnership with the American Chamber Foundation, Inc. (AmCham). We also thank Business Process Outsourcing International, Inc. (BPOI) for generously providing the needed operating system and Microsoft Office for the computers.” said Fr. Ambrosio (Bros) Flores, SJ, Bukidnon Mission Superior and Indigenous People Ministry Coordinator.

TAME your wanderlust for this summer with new tried and tested global menu items from GrabFood Signatures

N the Philippines, the subscription business model has expanded from its initial base in the mobile phone sector into TV and video and now streaming music and related services and even physical goods. With many Filipinos still preferring to rent, the concept of subscribing to access products and services is not really far-fetched. A subscription business model requires a user to pay a recurring fee, which can be weekly, monthly or yearly, for regular and continued access to a product or service. For many consumers, the biggest advantage of this setup is the convenience. Upon registration, a user can expect to get the product or service they signed up for at the agreed schedule or frequency. For busy homemakers, professionals and business owners, this means being able to focus on all tasks and not have to worry about forgetting to buy or get a thing or two for the home or office. The subscribed for product or service can be expected to be delivered on time each time. Access – not just in terms of products and services but also as regards payment options

— is another reason why subscriptions are the smarter choice. The growing range of streaming services is proof. Users subscribed to a streaming platform can access a broader selection, be it music, video or games, and not at a prohibitive price at that with some denting the pocket only by less than P500. Waterlogic, the leading global provider of home and workplace hydration solutions, hopes to address the need for safe, clean and hygienic drinking water at home and the office with ease through its subscription service. The Aqua SmartGuard, the company’s most recent line of water units, allows homeowners and businesses to lease water units for Php1,490 a month, inclusive of a Total Care package covering maintenance and replacement of filters. The one-time installation fee is Php5,900. Besides being a reliable source of clean and safe drinking water delivered right at the user’s home or office, Aqua SmartGuard water units use new technology such as the patented UV Firewall and BioCote to prevent germs, bacteria and viruses from contaminating the water and the unit’s surface. The UV Firewall has been tested against the COVID-19, making Aqua SmartGuard the first COVID19-safe water unit in the market today. Further, the Aqua SmartGuard fits any home or office aesthetic with its sleek cube design. The compact unit also takes very little space so it can be placed in any corner. Waterlogic accepts payments through debit or credit cards, PesoPay, bank transfers, payment gateways auto-debit or GCash. To learn more, visit its website or Facebook page.

Amiya Raya offers outdoor cinema this summer

MIYA Raya has given another meaning to living at the top when it mounted another outdoor cinema activity held in the breathtaking view of San Mateo,Rizal. Amiya Raya's outdoor cinema came back with another round of blockbuster movies to the enjoyment of lot owners and guests. The event was held at the open area of Club Vihara, Amiya Raya’s amenity center. Club Vihara, Amiya Raya’s top caliber clubhouse

CLUB members and residents enjoy the outdoor cinema viewing

area and sports facility offers residents access to indoor badminton court, a gym, crossfit area, boxing ring and wall climbing facility. Be part of this exclusive residential community in San Mateo, Rizal that is only a 15-minute drive from the city, making it close to places of interests such as schools, churches, malls, and government offices. For inquires, www.amiyaraya.com.ph or @ AmiyaRayaOfficialPage on Facebook.

BusinessMirror

Editor: Tet Andolong

Wednesday, May 11, 2022 B7

Demand for second home still growing By Rizal Raoul S. Reyes

he excruciating experiences caused by several months of lockdown resulted in the emergence of a new market segment which was a shot in the arm in the property industry.

As the residential segment begins to bounce back with clearer outlooks due to decreasing coronavirus positivity rates, Horizon Terraces Garden Suites continues to rise to the occasion to meet transformed demands for suburban living amid signs of economic recovery.

The second home market, focused on gated resort communities in Batangas province, has been showing a great demand since 2020. R e a l - e s t ate s e r v ice s f i r m Leechiu Property Consultants (LPC)obser ved that high network families who were confined in their homes for more than 10 years were responsible for such growth. Real estate services firm LPC pointed out that affluent buyers are on a purchasing frenzy in Tali Beach, Kawayan Cove, Peninsula de Punta Fuego and surrounding

areas aiming to live in healthier environments to avoid the pressures living in the concrete jungle. “At least 40 properties have changed hands in the past few months in Punta Fuego alone. I haven’t seen this volume of transactions in 20 years,” LPC CEO David Leechiu explained. Moreover, the introduction of high speed internet connectivity and the completion of several expressways have motivated this elite group to move outside Metro Manila. Therefore, Leechiu pointed out there was a rise in property values

in these areas by 20 percent to 46 percent from 2020 to the 2021 dominated cash-led transactions. “And bids for properties in these markets do not look like they will slow down any time soon. In some areas, there are many offers but no homes to buy,” Leechiu said. Global real-estate management firm Jones Lang LaSalle (JLL) Philippines pointed out in its recent findings that affluent home buyers now prefer functional property features, such as allocations for a home office and study area—and health- and

At Horizon Terraces Garden Suites, one gets a daily dose of mountainview as garden units inspire one to mindfully commune with nature.

wellness-related amenities. With its low-density residential condominiums offering oneto two bedroom units, the 5-story Horizon Terraces Garden Suites’ has been thoughtfully designed out to accommodate resident families’ varying needs, be it for work- and study-from-home setups or for lavish rest and relaxation opportunities. It has living spaces featuring large windows and sliding doors providing natural light and ventilation in. “This means constantly indulging in the morning sun and the fresh mountain breeze, with

the midrise’s higher floors offering stunning vistas of Taal Lake and Volcano, Mount Makiling, and distant mountain ranges. Those who prefer the garden units have immediate access to verdant greenery and the chance to commune with nature,” the company said. Wealthy Filipinos will find Horizon Terraces a very good choice as alternative primary homes. Seventy percent of the community’s land area is dedicated to recreational and open garden space. Its Central Garden will encourage owners to take leisurely walks at

its Garden Courtyard and have fun checking the time with the SunDial. As a matter of fact, the expansive Central Garden is only a few steps from Horizon Terraces Garden Suites. In fact, the World Health Organization’s recommendation that every resident should have 0.5 to 1 hectare of green space of no more than 300 meters from their homes. This bolsters the notion that open green spaces enhance the physical and mental health of community members, who also benefit from reduced air and noise pollution.

ALL ROADS LEAD TO SM CITY ROXAS Cebu tower completion timed to catch rising economic activity A D ll roads recently led to Roxas City when SM City Roxas opened its doors, bringing great shopping, leisure, and entertainment to this beautiful and bustling city in the island of Panay. SM City Roxas is SM Prime Holdings Inc.’s 79th supermall and the third in the Western Visayas region after SM City Iloilo and SM City Bacolod. Roxas City is the capital of the province of Capiz, which is known as the Seafood Capital of the Philippines for its rich bounty of crabs, fish, shrimps, mussels and the famous diwal or angel wings clams. It is also known for gifts from the seas like the internationally renowned capiz shells from the windowpane oyster, which are made into exquisite lampshades, trays, windows, doors, and other decors. Capiz captivates with its breathtaking beaches, enchanting caves, and historical landmarks. Roxas City is a tourist’s paradise with its scenic Baybay Beach and Palina Eco Greenbelt Park with its bright green mangroves and bamboo rafts floating on a river. The birthplace of Manuel Roxas, the 5th President of the Philippines also has a storied past in the City Plaza’s neoclassical buildings and the baroque Sta. Monica Church with its coral stone walls and the biggest Catholic Church bell in Asia. Strategically located in a 102,309 site at Arnaldo Blvd. Brgy. Baybay, Roxas City, SM City Roxas will serve customers in Capiz as well as nearby provinces like Aklan and Antique. More than that, it will be a catalyst for employment and business opportunities in the area. The two-level 41,000 square meter mall’s façade features geometric bands in varying shades of blue, tying it to the river behind the complex and the nearby Jintotolo Channel. The concept is vibrant but serene, with visually distinct patterns highlighting the modern exterior. The canopied entrance along the façade’s perimeter and across the terminal creates a cohesive and unified concept; while integrated planters bring greenery and welcome visitors to the mall. The interiors of the shopping center are organized in a linear atrium and concourse, with a clerestory at

At the ribbon-cutting ceremony are Capiz Governor Esteban Evan B. Contreras (Third from right), first District of Capiz Congressman Emmanuel A. Billones (Third from left), Roxas City Mayor Ronnie T. Dadivas (Second from left), and Archdiocese of Capiz Administrator Rev. Msgr. Cyril B. Villareal (center), joined by SM Markets Chairman Mr. Herbert T. Sy (right), SM Prime Holdings Inc. President Mr. Jeffrey C. Lim (left), and SM Supermalls President Mr. Steven T. Tan (second from right).

SM City Roxas serves customers in Capiz, as well as the nearby provinces of Aklan andAntique. the second level bringing natural light into the spaces. The atrium is accentuated by timber and greens which enliven the interior space. The SM Store and SM Supermarket are SM City Roxas’ major anchors, along with SM Appliance Center, ACE Hardware, Watsons, Surplus, Our Home, Miniso, and Sports Central. It will also have fashion boutiques, jewelry stores, sports stores, bookstores; as well as a Cyberzone and service and wellness centers. Eating out options include a Food Court; specialty restaurants Pepper Lunch, Monster Wings, Mr. Kimbob, Persian Avenue, Kusina Tsina and Zabroso; and local and international food chains like KFC, Yellow Cab, Macao Imperial Tea, Chatime, Breadtalk, Gerry’s Grill, and Bigby’s. SM City Roxas will have four state of the art regular cinemas and one private cinema with a modern industrial look. Urban materials such as brick and metal are highlighted against

bright contemporary colors, and new design elements like steel and wood canopies create intimate seating spaces next to illuminated custom poster frames. It will also have amusement centers for kids of all ages. Well-loved Capizeno brands have found a home at SM City Roxas. These include family foodie favorites like Bread Basket, Ocean Catch, Lloydie’s Café, and Piyesta Ilonggo. One can also enjoy wellness services from Beauty Getaway Spa, Dental District, and Zensuals; and great techie time at Clip Data and JNG Gadget Repair. For the customer’s convenience and enhanced malling experience, SM City Roxas has 961 parking slots including regular car slots, PWD car slots, and motorcycle and bicycle slots. SM City Roxas’s project team includes DSGN Associates Inc., Design Consultant; WCY Architects, Architect on Record; DA Abcede and Associates, Construction Management; and Sonyu, General Contractor.

espite setbacks in Q1 2022 due to the Omicron Covid variant, the IT-BPM sector is expected to continue expanding in 2022 to 1.8 million Full-Time Employees (FTEs) from 1.69 million FTEs in 2021—with both Metro Manila and provincial locations benefiting from the sustained growth, according to a recent study of Leechiu Property Consultants (LPC). Keenly anticipating that growth are building owners like Johndorf Ventures Corporation, a leading developer in the Visayas-Mindanao region all set in 2023 to complete its LEED- certified Johndorf Tower at the Cebu Business Park, a preferred destination for both IT-BPM, multinational and local firms on expansion mode. Firms operating in VisMin observe that 2021’s Covid lockdowns had less of an impact on economies in the South where most workers have already returned to the office. They are thus better prepared to make the most of opportunities such as a high projected demand for office spaces in the next six months throughout the country. The LPC study notes that live requirements for office spaces likely to be completed in the next two quarters are among the highest they have ever been in any quarter since the pandemic began. Johndorf Tower’s unique attraction is that it will be the first building to be completed from now up to 3Q 2023 in the prestigious Cebu Business Park, the most established masterplanned business district in the Visayan metropolis. It will offer a gross leasable area of 17,860 sqm. and floor plates which typically measure 1,400 sqm. Both IT-BPM, multinational and expanding local firms are further attracted to Cebu among other provincial capitals because of its rich labor pool and infrastructure including an efficient electric grid independent of Metro Manila’s. Moreover, Cebu’s proximity to well- known tourist destinations like Mactan, Bohol and Dumaguete make it more attractive to executive decision-makers. Johndorf Tower is located on CBP’s main thoroughfare, Mindanao Avenue,

Cebu-based developer Johndorf Ventures Corporation anticipates the continued growth of the IT-BPM and other sectors in the Visayas. It recently topped off the Johndorf Tower at the Cebu Business Park, the first office building to be completed in the metropolis’ premier business destination from now up to its 3Q 2023 opening.

Leading the topping off ceremony were: Johndorf officers Frances Abegail Lim, Norma Tan-Lim (first and second from left), CFO Patrick Lim, Raymond Lim, Genevieve Lim, Frances Dominique Lim ( seventh to 10th from left). Also at the ceremony were: David Leechiu of Leechiu Property Consultants, Jonn Aldo Ling of JSLA, Manuel Mendoza of Monocrete Construction Philippines Inc., Franz Zeiebert of Design Coordinates, Inc. and is easily accessible to transport lines servicing all the major residential areas of the city. It is also a short stroll away from all the retail and dining choices of Ayala Center Cebu regional mall. Both local and foreign firms currently competing for the loyalty of employees can count on Johndorf’s location as an added factor towards employee retention. Moreover, Johndorf Tower offers a healthy work environment. Its LEED silver certification assures employers that its building design maximizes natural lighting and minimizes the

need for air-conditioning. Building occupiers can further look forward to lower operating costs due to building features that ensure efficient energy and water consumption. Developer Johndorf Ventures Corporation established its real estate track record through the sales of over 15,000 residential units in cities like Iligan, Cagayan de Oro and Davao. It also has a township in Cebu. Johndorf Tower is its first office project, timed to make the most of opportunities offered by post-pandemic economic recovery.

Sports

Do-or-die for San Beda, Mapua in ‘NC’

BusinessMirror

| Wednesday, May 11, 2022 mirror_sports@yahoo.com.ph Editor: Jun Lomibao

WILL ALL OF DILIMAN REJOICE TONIGHT? By Josef Ramos

ILL University of the Philippines (UP) bring home only its second men’s basketball title in the University Athletic Association of the Philippines (UA AP), a league it help found in 1938? The Fighting Maroons, from prolific guard Ricci Rivero to head coach Goldwyn Monteverde, aren’t bordering on that mindset. “It doesn’t really. For me, I don’t want to think about if you’re up by one, one game or not or whether we’re up, and during the games we’re down. It’s not really matter.” “It’s better to think that we’re 0-0 again,” said Rivero, who was in

his elements with 19 points on 11 of 11 shooting from the foul line with three steals in Game 1 of the Finals series that UP won behind its now trademark never-say-die stance, 81-74, in overtime on Sunday. “If we ignore that we’re up 1-0, we’ll be able to have that right mindset coming into Game 2,” he said. Monteverde, too, doesn’t look at a 1-0 advantage that much of an advantage. “We have a 1-0 advantage, but it doesn’t mean anything,” he said. “What’s important is we have to prepare and see what

happens for tomorrow [Wednesday].” The Blue Eagles are the champions for the last three seasons, a reputation the Fighting Maroons couldn’t take for granted despite winning two consecutive games, including a similarly relentless stoppage of the De La Salle Green Archers duel that was pushed to the limit. “We have to see what our lapses are and focus on what we need to improve,” Monteverde said. “We have to be consistent.” Game 2 is set at 6 p.m. before another expectedly big crowd at the Mall of Asia Arena. Coach Tab Baldwin acknowledged UP’s stifling defense that cost them Game 1—the Blue Eagles were

FOR prolific Fighting Maroon Ricci Rivero, a proper mindset is not to think about their 1-0 advantage in the Finals. this result around, and it’s a threegame series for a reason, so we intend to work our tails off, and get this thing in a third game and do the very best we can to win the championship,” said Baldwin, who’s hoping that Dave Ildefonso gets his rhythm after an atrocious 2-of-6 shooting from the field for only six points in Game 1.

‘BATA’ REYES, POOL ACES DUE IN HANOI WEDNESDAY

Lady Maroons go unscathed in 3 matches

NIVERSITY of the Philippines (UP) booked its first 3-0 start in five years after the Lady Maroons handed the Eya Laure-led University of Santo Tomas Golden Tigresses their first loss, 25-21, 23-25, 25-21, 25-22, in University Athletic Association of the Philippines Season 84 women’s volleyball action on Tuesday at the Mall of Asia Arena in Pasay City. Jewel Encarnacion took charge with 16 points built on 13 attacks, two aces and a block for her best outing so far this season. She also had 14 excellent receptions and 11 excellent digs. Alyssa Bertolano also remained consistent with 15 points on 10 attacks, three blocks and two aces to help the Fighting Maroons go unscathed early in the season. “The credit goes to the players, they played their hearts out,” UP head coach Godfrey Okumu said. “Our plan worked—but I cannot share with you at this moment.” Ahead by only two points in the fourth set, Nina Ytang scored against UST’s blockers before Jum Gayo aced to give the Fighting Maroons a 23-19 advantage. Eya Laure kept the Tigresses alive with two consecutive hits, but a drop from Bertonalo put UP at match point. Eya Laure again rose to the occasion to trim the lead back to two but was blocked by Lorie Bernardo and Bertolano giving UP the win. Bernardo, Ytang and Jaila Atienza each had nine points for UP while Marianne Sotomil dished out 10 assists. EJ Laure’s 28-point outing on 25 attacks, two aces and a block went for naught as the Tigresses—who haven’t dropped a set until Tuesday—absorbed their first loss in three games. No other player from UST scored in double digits as Donna Tuazon and Camille Victoria added nine and seven points, respectively. Janel Delerio had 16 excellent digs and 15 excellent receptions while Magi Mangulabnan recorded 14 excellent sets for UST. UP takes on Adamson University at 4 p.m. and UST faces De La Salle at 6 p.m. on Thursday.

outscored in the fourth period of regulation only to be limited to only four points as against their rivals’ 11 in the extra period. “It was all UP’s defense, but we have to be better than that, they certainly disrupted our rhythm with their defense,” Baldwin said. “They did a great job, particularly late in the game, they showed no signs of tired legs, and they kept their intensity.” Ateneo was forced to the limit in the best-of-three Finals only once on its three championships runs—by De La Salle in Season 80. The Blue Eagles went 2-0 over UP in Season 81 and again over University of Santo Tomas in Season 82 to highlight a 39-game winning streak snapped by, yes, the Fighting Maroons two weeks ago. Yet Baldwin’s unfazed. “We believe that we can turn

JEWEL ENCARNACION takes charge for University of the Philippines.

Constantino in harness for Malarayat Challenge

N search of the form that launched a successful pro career last year, Harmie Constantino hopes to recall it on a course where she nailed her biggest triumph as an amateur as the International Container Terminal Services Inc. (ICTSI) Mount Malarayat Challenge reels off Wednesday in Lipa City. Alhough she has posted two top four finishes in the first three legs of this year’s Ladies Philippine Golf Tour (LPGT), the former national champion never had the chance to contend for the title at Hallow Ridge and Caliraya but is brimming with confidence heading to this week’s 54-hole championship at Mt. Malarayat’s composite course. Constantino humbled an international pro field to win here by eight over a Thai rival

in 2016. She would dominate the amateur ranks the next four years before joining the big league last year, marking it with victories at Eagle Ridge-Aoki twice in March and November. But a crack at a third LPGT crown proved elusive for the 21-year-old former national champion, who settled for fourth at Midlands won by Sunshine Baraquiel after her second win, tied for

second at RivieraCouples ruled by Chanelle Avaricio and posted another joint fourth effort at Riviera-Langer topped by Daniella Uy.

HARMIE CONSTANTINO is brimming with confidence heading to this week’s 54-hole championship at Mt. Malarayat’s composite course.

UP’s date with history WIN it today (Wednesday) or University of the Philippines (UP) faces the specter of an abyss too deep and too dangerous to slog. That’s how crucial Wednesday’s Game 2 is for the Maroons when they battle the perennially dangerous Ateneo Blue Eagles. The 6 p.m. game at the MOA Arena in Pasay City is practically UP’s most opportune time to nab it to nail the University Athletic Association of the Philippines basketball crown and end a title drought spanning almost four decades. It would be an achievement for UP that is liberally laced with history—and more.

A win would hand UP the rare honor of halting Ateneo’s fourth straight title in five years, which started to take form when the Blue Eagles quickly toppled foes like bowling pins from the get-go. But when the Maroons butted in to end the Eagles’ 39-

ORLD pool champion Carlo Biado and dozens of potential gold medalists from various sports arrived in Hanoi early morning of Wednesday, enough window for the athletes to join the parade of nations in Thursday’s opening ceremony of the 31st Southeast Asian Games at the My Dynh Stadium. Pool aces Chezka Centeno and Rubilen Amit and the legendary Efren “Bata’’ Reyes joined Biado on the flight from Manila that carried the main bulk of Team Philippines competing in 38 of 40 sports programmed by the Vietnamese organizers. Also expected to be in Hanoi are potential medalists in athletics, bowling, cycling’s mountain bike, esports and jiujitsu led by world titlists Margarita “Meggie’’ Ochoa and Annie Ramirez. The Philippine Sports Commission was tasked to facilitate the trouble-

free departure of the athletes as well as a warm welcome in the Vietnamese capital. “So far, so good,” PSC Commissioner Ramon Fernandez, the country’s chef de mission to the Games, said. “The arrivals have been going on smoothly. We are preparing for the opening ceremony and we have been continuously providing assistance to our athletes.” Biado is the reigning US Open 8-ball champion and last year’s US Open 9-ball champion. He struck gold at the 2017 World Games in Poland. Athletes in men’s and women’s football, beach handball, kickboxing, rowing and diving of aquatics have started vying for medals in various venues in Vietnam. Also set to kick off their campaign

Blackwater targets Barefield as No. 1 pick in PBA Rookie Draft

LACKWATER eyes FilipinoAmerican combo guard Sedrick Barefield as its top overall pick in Sunday’s Philippine Basketball Association (PBA) Rookie Draft at the Robinson’s Place Manila. And to add more emphasis on its privilege to pick ahead of the blue chip teams, the Bossing are also eyeing either big man Justine Baltazar or Brandon Rosser-Ganuelas in the draft. Blackwater head coach Ariel Vanguardia disclosed the

possibility of the Bossing picking the 25-year-old, 6-foot-2 former Oklahoma City Blue playmaker first because of his “superb talent, great skills set, leadership and experience playing overseas.” “We are considering picking Sedrick [Barefield], Justine Baltazar and Brandon Rosser in the first round,” Vanguardia told BusinessMirror on Tuesday. The Bossing own the top, as well as the ninth and 11th first-round picks, and also the first pick in the second round. Baltazar, who stands at 6-foot-7, played his final year with De La Salle University in the University Athletic Association of the Philippines last week. He averaged 12.6 points, 10.8 rebounds, 3.07 assists, 1.0 steals and 1.0 block in 15 games.

game winning run starting in 2018, not only did the bubble burst for Ateneo—it also unmasked kinks in the defending champion’s armor. The Blue Eagles would panic when confronted by UP with an airtight defense, especially at crunch time. The Blue Eagles would prove vulnerable when using their zone defense, a fact that Ateneo coach Tab Baldwin himself had acknowledged—grudgingly. “I was too stubborn not to admit it,” said Baldwin after losing to UP twice already this season. Yes, the Eagles had appeared too unwilling to adapt to situations, becoming virtual captives of Baldwin’s bookish style of coaching that’s too textured it tends to succumb to unchartered patterns. Thus, in a manner of speaking, Ateneo’s crown courts outright disaster today as UP is out to grab it with a mindset that says it’s now or never.

APUA and San Beda University dispute the remaining Finals berth today in the Final Four decider of the NCAA men’s basketball tournament at the Filoil Flying V Centre. Coach Boyet Fernandez reminded his Red Lions to watch out for the Cardinals’ outside snipings in the 3 p.m. knockout match. “We all know that Mapua is the No. 1 team in three points and they are really the number one team whose starters make the most points,” said Fernandez after San Beda kept its season alive with a 73-67 overtime win last Sunday. The winner will face back-to-back title-seeking Letran in the best-ofthree series starting at 3 p.m. on Sunday in the San Juan venue. The Cardinals struggled from beyond the arc, going 3-of-25 that kept them from closing out the Final Four right away. “I was thankful Mapua also missed its 3s,” Fernandez said. With its quest for its 15th consecutive Finals appearance on the line, San Beda will leave everything on the floor to stave off elimination. “We haven’t won anything, we just tied it,” Fernandez said. “It gave us another chance to live and really thank my players for stepping up.” The Knights remain untouchable in the season with a 10-0 record. But they had to teeter before beating the University of Perpetual Help System Dalta Altas, 77-75, to secure another championship stint.

before the opening ceremony are teams pencak silat and chess. The PSC funded the 980-strong (athletes, coaches and officials) Team Philippines’ participation in the Games that end on May 23. The Philippines was the overall title when it hosted the Games in 2019 with a haul of 149 gold, 117 silver, and 121 bronze medals in 56 sports. Hurdler Clinton Bautista, javelin thrower Melvin Calano, decathlete Aries Toledo, marathoner Christine Hallasgo and heptathlete Sarah Dequinan are also upbeat about their chances to retain their gold medals before leaving Manila. Joining the 50-man athletics team are medalists Mark Harry Diones, Janry Ubas, Francis Medina, Edgardo Alejan Jr., Anfernee Lopena, Eloiza Luzon and Marestella Sunang. Cyclists Ariana Dormitorio, John Derrick Farr, Lea Belgira and Eleazar Barba Jr. will also begin their hunt for medals in mountain bike, as well as Merwin Tan, Lara Posadas and Alexis Sy in bowling. The men’s basketball team of led by June Mar Fajardo, Robert Bolick, Kiefer and Thirdy Ravena, the women’s basketball squad and teams from boxing, muay, taekwondo, wrestling and shooting are due in Hanoi on Friday. Rosser-Ganuelas, on the other hand, will miss draft day because of his commitment in the 3x3 event at the 31st Southeast Asian Games in Vietnam. Arellano University’s 6-foot-5 center Justin Arana, Vanguardia said, has been practicing with the Bossing. “If we get a guard in the first round, we’ll get a legitimate big in the ninth and 11th, then choose the best available talent in the second round,” Vanguardia said. After Blackwater, Terrafirma follows at No. 2, Converge at Nos. 3 and 4, and then Rain or Shine, NorthPort, NLEX, Governors’ Cup champion Barangay Ginebra San Miguel, Rain or Shine again at 10th and Magnolia at 12th. Josef Ramos

Amazingly, Goldwyn Monteverde has been giving Baldwin the headache he’s never had in ages—and Goldwyn is a mere rookie coach of UP. If Goldwyn must splash UP’s locker room walls today with the words, “This is for Year 1986, the last time the Maroons won the UAAP basketball championship,” I will agree 100 percent. That’s a battle cry too powerful to ignore. It can move mountains, stop a tsunami. It can definitely goad the Maroons to win the Game 2 title-clincher because a deciding Game 3 might prove to be UP’s street of no return aka funeral. Almost always, experience prevails in a no-moretomorrow decider. THAT’S IT The election is over. When things don’t go our way, continue to trust God. Believe that God is sovereign over all things. Let’s move on.