BusinessMirror November 12, 2021 by BusinessMirror

BSP bullish on PHL trade amid global rebound By Bianca Cuaresma @BcuaresmaBM

HE Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas (BSP) expressed optimism in the country’s trade performance this year, forecasting goods exports to sustain its “better-than-expected” performance towards the end of 2021. In a virtual briefing on Thursday, BSP Governor Benjamin Diokno said they expect a favorable trade outlook in 2021 as the economy continues to recover from the pandemic. “This is due mainly to the broadening recovery in global economic activity amid extensive vaccine

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rollouts and hefty policy support in key economies,” Diokno said. “Goods imports are also expected to pick up as domestic demand bounces back and as the government fast-tracks its major infrastructure initiatives,” he added. In their latest balance of payments (BOP) projections in September, the BSP expects exports to grow by 14 percent from a 9.8percent contraction in 2020. This is alongside an acceleration of goods imports by 20 percent for 2021 from a 20.2-percent decline in 2020. “Goods exports for the first half of the year have already reached prepandemic levels, driven main-

ly by manufactures, headlined by electronics and mineral products, among others,” the governor said. Despite the optimism, the governor said their outlook on goods trade remains tentative as it continues to be clouded by uncertainty over the pace of global and domestic recovery, including that of the country’s major trading and investment partners. According to Diokno, among the downside risks to watch for the country’s exports and manufacturing prospects include the emergence and spread of more virulent Covid-19 variants and prolonged supply chain disruptions and logistical bottlenecks.

The governor said the emergence and spread of potentially new Covid-19 variants may result in renewed mobility restrictions, dampened consumer, and business sentiment. The prolonged supply chain disruptions and logistical bottlenecks, meanwhile, can cause further delivery delays, raw material shortages and elevated shipping rates. The governor also said slower growth in China is a downside risk to the Philippines’s trade outlook. “Notwithstanding these risks, the Philippine economy has sufficient buffers against external headwinds as its external sector remains healthy,” the governor said.

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TO LEAD GLOBAL REBOUND’

COVID isolation booths at the Caruncho Stadium at the Rizal High School in Pasig City are disinfected before being dismantled. As the number of Covid-19 cases continue to decrease in Metro Manila, some local governments are scaling down their quarantine facilities. NONOY LACZA

By Cai U. Ordinario

@caiordinario

IVEN the current trajectory of the economic crisis caused by the pandemic, the global recovery will be driven by the United States and Asian economies, excluding China, according to an expert. In a plenary session at the Ph i l ippine Econom ic Soc iet y (PES) Annual Meeting and Conference, Professor of Finance and Director of Central Banking at the Malaysia-based Asia School of Business Eli Remolona said China’s real-estate issues will prevent it from becoming a major growth driver in the global

recovery at this time. Remolona sa id t he Evergrande issue in China is just the tip of the iceberg and that there is actually “widespread speculation in apartment housing” in China, especially among the middle class.

PESO exchange rates n US 50.0680

See “U.S.,” A2

PCCI SEES TOURISM RECOVERY BY SUMMER By Tyrone Jasper C. Piad

@TyronePiad

HE tourism sector may be able to recover the next summer as vaccination continues to roll out in the regions, the Philippine Chamber of Commerce and Industr y (PCCI) said. PCCI President Benedicto V. Yujuico, in a press briefing on Thursday, expressed his optimism for the industry, which has been severely affected by the pandemic due to implementation of mobility restrictions. Since the past year, numerous flights have been canceled amid the pandemic, affecting

the travel and tourism sector. In addition, many have been opting to stay home not only because of the restrictions but for safety purposes as well. “With a more aggressive rollout of vaccination in the provinces, by summer, domestic tourism should already begin picking up,” he said during the launching of the 47th Philippine Business Conference & Expo (PBC&E). “I know many families are already gearing up to go to the beaches, and this will be good for many of our small enterprises,” Yujuico added. See “PCCI,” A2

Duterte signs order for nationwide ALS By Samuel P. Medenilla

@sam_medenilla

HE A lert Level System (ALS), which was initially pilot-tested in Metro Manila, will soon be rolled out nationwide. The expanded implementation of the scheme, which focuses on isolating Covid-19 cases in granular lockdowns, is expected to allow more businesses to operate as well as generate more employment opportunities. President Duterte on Thursday signed Executive Order 151 approving the nationwide implementation of the ALS for Covid-19 response.

Under the issuance, the implementation of the ALS will be divided in four phases. The first part of the enforcement will cover the areas where the ALS is currently being piloted like the National Capital Region (NCR) as well as regions 3, 4A, 6, 7, 10 and 11. Phase 2 includes Regions 1, 8, and 12, while the third phase will apply to Regions 2, 5 and 9. The final part of the rollout covers the Cordillera Administrative Region (CAR), Regions 4B, 13, and the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (BARMM).

n japan 0.4396 n UK 67.1262 n HK 6.4263 n CHINA 7.8357 n singapore 37.0134 n australia 36.6798 n EU 57.4881 n SAUDI arabia 13.3497

See “Duterte,” A2

Source: BSP (November 11, 2021)

News

BusinessMirror

A2 Friday, November 12, 2021

Duterte... Continued from A1

“The shift to Phase 2 may begin at any time after the effectivity of this Order, as may be determined by the IATF [Inter-Agency Task Force for the Management of Emerging Infectious Diseases], but not later than the end of November 2021,” Duterte said in his fourpaged EO. “The succeeding phases shall then commence every week thereafter until full nationwide implementation,” he added. Until an area is covered by the ALS, it will continue to adhere to the Community Quarantine guidelines stipulated under EO 112, Series of 2020. EO 151 will take effect immediately upon its publication in the Official Gazette or a newspaper of general circulation. ALS allows almost all establishments and activities in areas under Alert Level 4 to 1, except for some deemed highrisk for spreading Covid-19 infections. These will have restricted venue capacity, which may range from 10 percent to as high as 70 percent. Duterte authorized the IATF to amend the said IATF guidelines for ALS without the need of his authorization.

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Amid food security worries, govt extends meat labeling rules halt By Jasper Emmanuel Y. Arcalas

@jearcalas

HE government has extended indefinitely its moratorium on strict labeling requirements for imported meat products following appeals from stakeholders that the measures are detrimental to the country’s food security as they hamper the movement of goods. The Bureau of Animal Industry (BAI) and the National Meat Inspection Service (NMIS) issued Joint Memorandum Circular (JMC) 03 on November 4, extending the moratorium for the strict implementation of the minimum labeling requirements for imported meat. Both BAI and NMIS are attached agencies of the Department of Agriculture (DA), which oversees the country’s meat value chain. “In consideration [of] the appeal of stakeholders, along with the global impacts of Covid-19 on

food security, an extension of the moratorium for strict implementation of the minimum labeling requirements is hereby extended indefinitely until existing guidelines are reviewed and amended,” the document read. This is now the third extension made by the government of the moratorium, with the previous one scheduled to expire on December 31. The previous extension was granted following appeals from meat importers and the Embassy of the United States, based on BAI-NMIS JMC 02 issued on August 20.

T he f irst morator ium was made on August 10 through BAINMIS JMC 01, and lasted until September 30. The moratorium is for the supposed implementation of NMIS MC 07-2021-018, which reiterated the strict implementation of minimum labeling requirements for imported meat. With the moratorium, the government will not seize, confiscate and dispose any meat shipments that do not comply with the labeling requirements. The BAI-NMIS JMC 03 noted that all meat import arrivals shall be guided by NMIS MC 08-2021024, which bears rules on the rectification of noncompliant meat labels upon arrival of shipments. “This flexibility, however, is already noted in Section XI.B of Administrative Order No. 26 [2005],” the United States Department of Agriculture Foreign Agricultural Service in Manila said of the moratorium extension. The BusinessMirror first broke the story in August that the sudden implementation of NMIS MC 07-2021-018 led to the seizure of meat shipments, catching importers off-guard. In fact, less than a week after its implemen-

U.S....

tation, at least 2.5 million of imported meat products were held in cold storage facilities pending resolution of the labeling issue. Meat importers and processors have lamented that the issuances made by the NMIS on meat labeling requirements have put the country’s meat supply at risk since they have caused confusion within the industry and among exporters, resulting in hesitancy to ship products to the Philippines. Just last week, the government rescinded its supplemental guidelines on labeling of imported meat products following concern raised by certain industry groups that the new rules may cause shortages in the days leading up to the holidays because exporters were reportedly reluctant to ship to the Philippines on account of these. (Related story: ht t p s: // b u s in e s s m i r ror.co m . ph /2021 /11 /01 /gov t-recallsnew-imported-meat-label-rulesamid-furor/). Industry players pointed out that the issuances made by the NMIS were done without proper and extensive consultation with stakeholders, both local importers and representatives of the country’s trade-partners.

Continued from A1

“China is the only major economy that has seen two quarters of decline. The scar here is its own real estate balance sheet problems. The most notorious example is Evergrande but the problems go well beyond Evergrande,” Remolona said. “By allowing these problems to fester, China has made these problems politically harder to resolve. So the good news is the strong global economy, the bad news is China,” he added. Remolona admitted that while the current crisis is much deeper compared to the Global Financial Crisis (GFC) in 2008-2009, it will be easier to get back to prepandemic growth, possibly mid-2022. He explained that unlike the GFC and despite the current crisis, the balance sheets of banks remain healthy. He said despite t he r i se i n Non-Per for m i ng Loans, capital adequacy ratios still exceeded regulatory requirements. Most banks, Remolona said, remained “flush with liquidity” and many of the banks are keen on lending. Given the low interest rates, borrowers paid off their debts, leaving banks with high liquidity. Remolona added that unlike in the GFC, both fiscal and monetary policy were moving in the same direction. Many governments, including those in Europe, also did not employ austerity measures unlike during the GFC. “First, we’re observing an unprecedented economic policy response. Second, the scarring this time is actually not so bad. When it comes to economic policy, what we now see is monetary policy and fiscal policy are pushing together, they are pushing in the same direction. You may recall that this wasn’t really the case back [then],” Remolona said. The question that the Philippines needs to answer now, Remolona said, is whether it will become a leader or a follower of the global recovery. Economists believe that one of the ways for the country to recover strongly

is through the MSMEs.

Alternative credit info

Part of this means providing financial support. UnionBank of the Philippines Chief Finance Officer and Treasurer Jose Emmanuel Hilado said at the same plenary that banks need to employ alternative credit information by using big data to help MSMEs and the unbanked get access to loans. Hilado said admittedly, areas where loans were in high demand also encounter a stricter credit process given the banks’ “ f iduciar y responsibi l it y” to their depositors. “W hat the banks should be doing is to experiment with alternative credit information. So we have to go beyond the usual credit process and use alternative credit information. W hat’s alternative credit information? Using telco data, transaction history, social behavior,” Hilado explained. “You therefore have to create credit models or algorithms that would predict the probability of clients paying. But it’s a new process, a new frontier so banks need to invest more to lend aggressively to SMEs and the unbanked,” he added. Hilado lamented that one of the drawbacks of the current crisis is that many SMEs, who had credit information, were not willing to borrow from them because of the economic uncertainty caused by the pandemic. LandBank President and CEO Cecilia C. Borromeo said many borrowers were afraid to borrow from the bank because they did not know if they can repay their loans. Borromeo explained that this has caused the decline in the loan portfolio of banks in the past few months. This was not because of the lack of funds but due to the low demand for loans. “So it has become challenging. The market that does not want to borrow has the credit information. The market that wants to borrow [does not have credit information],” Hilado said.

PCCI...

Continued from A1

Caution

Despite the positive outlook, the PCCI chief stressed the need to maintain health and safety protocols when reopening the establishments. “While we must be more proactive than reactive, we should be more cautious so as not to revert to the strict lockdowns. There must be better risk management in the safe reopening of businesses,” he said. Trade Secretary Ramon Lopez said in a separate briefing on Thursday that establishments must secure personnel tasked with monitoring and observing the minimum public health standards to ensure safety. This is a reminder, especially for malls, as the mobility restrictions ease, he noted. In relation to reopening, Jeffrey Ng, chairman of the 47th PBC&E, said the business group is renewing its call for the government to aim at achieving herd immunity or about 80-percent vaccination rate. “We think that it is possible to do this in the next six or seven months. The government should make available already tens of millions of vaccines, make it accessible to... our countrymen, especially in rural, remote areas of the country,” he said. Moving forward, Yujuico stressed the need to strengthen the health systems of the country. “ We are an archipelago of 7,000 plus islands, which makes the rollout of vaccination a challenge. But this also serves as a natural break against the spread of the virus as it creates self-contained bubbles, thereby granting our public health systems more space to be battle-ready to deal with any future pandemic,” he added.

Malampaya transaction

Asked about the group’s stand on the Malampaya stake sale, Yujuico said they have yet to make one. But he agrees that a closer examination of the transaction is warranted. “Malampaya involves a lot of questions that need to be resolved so that the transaction becomes transparent and understandable to everybody,” he said. “Yes, we should really look into it and let us really find out what is going on.” Yujuico said the organization does not want to comment on the matter until they have gathered pertinent data regarding the matter. “PCCI is a very careful organization. Until such time that we have all of the data and we have the facts, I believe it is premature to say, to comment on that transaction,” he said. On Wed nesd ay, severa l business groups urged the Senate and concerned agencies to continue looking into the sale transaction of Malampaya stake. They also asked the government to “fully explore why the government did not exercise its right of first refusal over Chevron’s and Shell’ shares in Malampaya” gas field project. The parties told the government to assess the buyer’s financial and technical capabilities and interests. Shell Philippines Exploration B.V. sold its 45-percent stake in Malampaya to Malampaya Energy XP Pte Ltd., which is a subsidiary of Dennis Uyled Udenna Corp. It is yet to be approved by the Department of Energy.

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SC junks ex-solon’s bid to bar 3 justices from ₧35-M pork-barrel case By Joel R. San Juan @jrsanjuan1573

HE Supreme Court has junked the plea of former Ilocos Sur First District Rep. Salacnib Baterina to remove the three justices of the Sandiganbayan’s Second Division from handling the graft case and other criminal cases filed against him involving the alleged misuse of his pork-barrel fund amounting to P35 million. In a 13-page decision penned by Associate Justice Henri Jean Paul Inting, the Court’s Second Division held that the Sandiganbayan Associate Justice Michael Frederick Musngi, Oscar Herrera Jr., and Lorifel Pahimna “acted well within the scope of their jurisdiction” in denying Salacnib’s petition for their inhibition. “There is no showing of bias or prejudice on the part of respondents that will necessitate the grant of the extraordinary writ of certiorari and prohibition.... As things stand, petitioner failed to sufficiently show in the present petition that respondents gravely abused their discretion denying his request,” the SC ruled. Baterina sought the inhibition of the said anti-graft court justices following the release of a resolution on December 18, 2017, that erroneously contained a dispositive portion implicating his name. The resolution pertained to the joint omnibus motion of his co-accused former Department of Budget and Management Undersecretary Mario Relampagos and several others seeking judicial determination of probable cause; to hold in abeyance the issuance of warrant of arrest; for Bill of Particulars; and motion for reduction of bail. Baterina argued that the re-

spondent justices had already prejudged the case against him because the Sandiganbayan resolution dated December 18, 2017, wrongfully included his name in the dispositive portion even if he was not one of the parties who filed the joint omnibus motion being resolved. The Sandiganbayan justices denied his request in a resolution issued on March 13, 2018, and his motion for reconsideration on April 23, 2018, prompting him to elevate the matter before the SC. In denying his petition, the SC held that Baterina failed to substantiate his allegation of bias and partiality on the part of the justices. “However, in the case before the Court, petitioner failed to satisfy the burden and merely imputed bias based on conjectures and speculations. In other words, petitioner did not show strong and compelling evidence to establish that there was actual bias and partiality on the part of respondents,” the SC said. It explained that its reading of the assailed resolution dated December 18, 2017, showed that the Sandiganbayan meticulously discussed the issues raised by accused Relampagos and the other accused in their Joint Omnibus Motion. It added that it was also clear that what the Sandiganbayan ordered the denial for lack of merit of the issues raised therein. “Therefore, the dispositive portion of the Resolution dated December 18, 2017, which pertained to petitioner was a mere act of inadvertence on the part of respondents and does not in any way qualify as proof of respondents’ bias or partiality against petitioner,” it added.

Domagoso vows staunch defense of Philippine sovereignty in WPS

OTOL A N, Zamba les— Aksyon Demokratiko presidential bet Manila Mayor Francisco “Isko Moreno” Domagoso on Thursday vowed to be “fearless” in defending the country’s sovereignty in the West Philippine Sea (WPS). In a media interview with the WPS as background, Domagoso said he will assert the Hague Ruling and build the country’s capacity to defend its waters in securing unimpeded access for small fisherfolk to abundant fishing grounds. “We will be fearless in fighting for what is ours. We will insist the Hague Ruling. But at the same time as being fearless, we are going to be fair with our discussion and management of the situation on both sides,” said Domagoso. “We will be faithful to our farmers and fisherfolks. Ang mga mangingisda, dapat makapangisda sa loob ng ating teritoryo sa dagat. At iyon ang magaganap: undeterred, peaceful, and productive fishing opportunities under our rules. Filipino fishermen first,” he explained. Domagoso, his running mate Dr. Willie Ong and senatorial bets Samira Gutoc, Dr. Carl Balita and Jopet Sison met with 100 fisherfolks and their families in this town to hear their plight as a result of Chinese vessels’ presence in Panatag (Scarborough) Shoal. Loca l ly k now n as Panatag or Bajo de Masinloc, the shoal serves as the traditional fishing ground of Filipino fishermen as it is situated inside the country’s 370-kilometer exclusive econom-

ic zone (EEZ). Almost all fishermen in this province have stopped fishing at the shoal since they experienced harassment from the Chinese coast guards and due to the depletion of the fish population. “Chinese fishermen have been overfishing, depleting our marine resources. They even sell their catch to our fishermen at higher price,” Domagoso said quoting stories from Zambales fishermen. Aside from diplomatic negotiations, the 47-year-old mayor promised to modernize the Philippine Navy and Philippine Coast Guard and improve the country’s lines of defense on its western coast. “I w il l reinforce our Nav y and Coast Guard. We will invest more on the western side of the country, so that we can protect our sovereignty and territorial jurisdiction as recognized by [the] UN and all other nations,” Domagoso said. The Chinese Coast Guard had used water cannons and sometimes rammed the boats of Filipino fishermen to drive them away from the shoal. China, which claims nearly all of the South China Sea, seized control of Panatag in 2012, prompting the Philippines to seek UN arbitration. In 2016, the arbitral tribunal invalidated China’s sweeping claims, but China continues to ignore the ruling. The Chinese vessels are moored within the 370-kilometer EEZ where the Philippines has the sole and sovereign right to fish and exploit the marine resources.

Editor: Vittorio V. Vitug • Friday, November 12, 2021 A3

Experts push media literacy to ‘deweaponize’ social media By Samuel P. Medenilla @sam_medenilla

FFORTS to “deweaponize” social media are already under way, but are still moving at a slow pace according to communications experts and practitioners. At an online forum organized by the Philippines Communication Society and the University of the Philippines’s Internet TV Network, Agents International Public Relations President Alan German disclosed how social media like Facebook “cleaned house” by introducing algorithms, which restricted “inauthentic behavior” from its users. A seasoned public relations practitioner, he likened dealing with social media in 2016 polls to a “zombie apocalypse” when it was used to spread disinformation against candidates.

“It is so hard to make a Facebook account right now. Facebook policed its ranks,” German said. But he said the said reforms are “kicking in more slowly” than what he would prefer.

Media literacy

ADVERTISING Standards Council Legal Counsel Rejie Jularbal said educating social-media users—an endeavor that would likely take time —should complement reforms. “Educating the users on social media can be used to counter those which use it for negative purposes,” Jularbal said. Polytechnic University of the Philippines College of Communication faculty member Earl Jaynus Guzman agreed with Jularbal on the crucial role of media literacy to combat a “weaponized” social media. He noted how such subjects on

using communication technology in public discourse were seldom taught in schools before. “Now, we can see that even at the high school level, there are subjects on media literacy. I think that is a positive step for us because we are informing and educating students. Yes, we have access to these tools. But we need to be mindful, not just careful on how we use these tools,” Guzman said.

Government intervention

FOR his part, Philippine Daily Inquirer columnist Manuel Luis “Manolo” Quezon III stressed the role of both the private sector and the government in addressing the issues on social media. “The providers or the makers of social-media apps have to be responsive to two pressures: public pressure and government pressure.

Both self-interest of politicians and the public are driving government pressure. That is the interplay that manages to drive efforts to improve and make it [social media] a safer and more positive experience,” Quezon said. All of the four resource speakers pointed out the importance of deweaponizing social media since it plays a crucial role in influencing public discourse, especially during elections. During the weekend, the Commission on Elections (Comelec) said it would soon be releasing within the month its new guidelines for using social media in campaigns. Among the said provisions of the guidelines is the regulation on how candidates send and boost their posts and, at the same time, the free campaign streaming from Comelec’s own social-media platform.

French envoy pays courtesy visit on Navy chief Bordado By Rene Acosta @reneacostaBM

ANILA and Paris have agreed to collaborate further in the areas of defense and maritime security following a meeting between French Ambassador Michele Boccoz and Navy chief Vice Admiral Adeluis Bordado. Boccoz paid a courtesy visit on Bordado at the Navy headquarters in Manila on Wednesday wherein she was accorded a warm welcome prior to the formal discussions on bilateral defense and maritime security cooperation. According to Navy spokesman Cdr. Benjo Negranza, Bordado discussed with Boccoz various collaborations and partnerships between the Philippine Navy and the French Navy, including port calls, naval exercises and training. On the other hand, the French ambassador conveyed her pleasure for being at the Navy headquarters as “maritime is an area where France and the Philippines collaborate very closely.” France is seen to play a big role in

FRENCH Ambassador to the Philippines Michele Boccoz (left) pays a courtesy visit to Navy chief Vice Admiral Adeluis Bordado at the Navy headquarters in Manila on Wednesday. PHOTO COURTESY OF PHILIPPINE NAVY

the capability upgrade program of the Philippine Navy by topping its modernization through its possible supply of the Navy’s much-sought submarines, which are already on the development stage. While other countries have expressed their interests to supply the

pair of submarine that the Navy initially eyed, Defense Secretary Delfin Lorenzana said that the Navy might just go for the French-made Scorpene class underwater craft. In fact, early this year, the French Navy has already offered to help the Philippine Navy develop its subma-

rine force, especially in the areas of training and project management, an offer that was followed up by a visit of a team of French submariners to the Philippine Navy. In March this year, a contingent from the Philippine Navy led by then Navy chief Vice Admiral Giovanni Carlo Bacordo went to Paris for a bilateral dialogue wherein the discussions focused on naval cooperation and other areas of mutual interests. Both sides agreed to the regular conduct of “navy-to-navy” talks, visits of senior navy officials and their participation in multi and bilateral naval exercises. Negranza said that during the meeting between Bordado and Boccoz, rules-based order and the observance of international law and freedom of navigation were discussed, an apparent reference to the South China Sea problem. “Building a relationship with France and the Philippine Navy through future engagements, training, and capability development were also among the highlights of today’s courtesy call,” Negranza said.

DENR chief pushes local ecotourism sites as ‘alternative’ to dolomite beach By Jonathan L. Mayuga @jonlmayuga

EPARTMENT of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) Secretary Roy A. Cimatu on Thursday urged the public to consider visiting other local ecotourism sites in the country for relaxation while the controversial dolomite beach along Roxas Boulevard is temporarily closed to give way for other rehab works in the area. The DENR chief even prodded the public to try visiting equally captivating ecotourism sites in protected areas (PA) near them. In a news statement, the DENR chief said those living in nearby provinces who wish to rejuvenate their minds and bodies need not go to Manila just to see the dolomite beach. “ There are many ecotourism sites available in your localities for your enjoyment,” Cimatu said, as he encouraged the public to explore and discover these areas. Protected areas are established under the National Integrated Protected Areas System (NIPAS), through Republic Act (RA) 7586, as amended by RA 11038 or the Expanded NIPAS Act of 2018. The DENR chief, however, reiterated, “Health protocols must be observed while visiting these sites to ensure the safety of the visitors while

enjoying the tours.” “Those visiting PAs should expect to undergo the screening process and adhere to existing Covid-19 safety guidelines,” Cimatu added. PAs are managed by their respective Protected Area Management Boards (PAMB) through the PA Management Offices (PAMO). The rules and regulations issued by the concerned local government units for the safety of the tourists are also implemented in ecotourism sites within the PAs. With the enactment of RA 11038, 94 PAs were added to the roster of legislated PAs, bringing the number to a total of 107. This means prospective travelers have “a vast array of places to choose from,” according to the DENR chief. However, most protected areas remain closed because of Covid-19 quarantine restrictions imposed by the government. PA managers said they are still waiting for the quarantine restrictions to be relaxed aside from the fact that they need the approval of local government units to reopen and start accepting visitors. The DENR is aware of the situation but is looking forward to the reopening of PAs, which also means generating much-needed revenues for the management of these areas set aside for conservation.

A4 Friday, November 12, 2021 • Editor: Vittorio V. Vitug

Economy BusinessMirror

NCR mayors to mandate vaccination for Christmas bazaar, ‘tiangge’ sellers By Claudeth Mocon-Ciriaco

@claudethmc3

ETRO Manila mayors have agreed to implement a unified standard that would, among others, require all traders, salespersons, exhibitors, organizers, and other personnel to be fully vaccinated prior to their actual conduct of Christmas bazaars, tiangges, and pop-up stores.

Metropolitan Manila Development Authority (MMDA) Chairman Benjamin “Benhur” Abalos Jr. revealed the mayors’ consensus as more establishments and activities are already allowed to operate un-

der Alert Level 2. This developed as the MMDA inked a memorandum of agreement with the Philippine Dental Association and Rotary Club of Manila for the National Capital Region’s (NCR)

“We Vax As One” initiative aimed to increase the inoculation rate in NCR and the neighboring provinces of Rizal, Bulacan, Cavite, and Laguna towards attainment of population protection or herd immunity at the soonest possible time. Dentists will now serve as vaccinators, complementing doctors and nurses who have already inoculated 90 percent of Metro Manila’s eligible population. Abalos said that the Metro Manila mayors have prepared the guidelines for sellers and personnel of Christmas bazaars and other seasonal markets in NCR as the holiday nears and shoppers start to increase in numbers. “These will help reduce risk of transmitting the virus since they are seasonal in nature and sellers come from various parts of the country making contact tracing difficult on

the part of the local government units,” Abalos said citing MMDA Resolution 21-27, stating that all traders, salespersons, exhibitors, organizers, and other personnel are required to be fully vaccinated prior to their actual conduct of Christmas bazaars, tiangges, and pop-up stores. “We want to avoid a repeat of the polio outbreak in the country which happened last September 2019 where these seasonal stores are identified as significant contributors in its spread,” he said. Abalos added that Covid-19 virus is equally deadly as polio, “so in order to guard against exposure to the virus, we should make sure that our economic frontliners have their own protection since they are exposed to many.” The Inter-Agency Task Force on the Management of Emerging Infectious Diseases placed the NCR under Alert Level 2 last November 5.

Abaca yield jumps 10.4 percent to 51,372.51 MT in last 9 mos By Jasper Emmanuel Y. Arcalas @jearcalas

AVOR ABLE weather conditions drove the country’s abaca production from January to September to 51,372.51 metric tons (MT), which is 10.4 percent higher than last year’s volume, latest government data showed. Latest Philippine Fiber Industry Development Authority (PhilFida) showed that the output during the nine-month period grew by 4,822.16 MT from 46,550.35 MT recorded in the same period of 2020. PhilFida data showed that the expansion of production in seven regions (mostly in Mindanao) carried the country’s total abaca output amid a contraction in the output of Bicol region, the top producer of the natural fiber. “We again pray for less weather disturbances and other major calamities up to the end of the year for our farmers to reap its full harvests and benefits,” PhilFida Executive Director Kennedy T. Costales said. Abaca production in the Bicol region during the nine-month period contracted by 7.3 percent to 16,236.26 MT from 17,511.03 MT recorded in the same period of last year. PhilFida data showed that the abaca output in four out of the five provinces in the Bicol region declined, including Catanduanes, the country’s major producer of the natural fiber. Abaca output in Catanduanes declined by 5.4 percent year-on-year to 13,520.35 MT while output in Albay fell by 11.7 percent on an annual basis to 1,910.85 MT, based on PhilFida data. PhilFida data showed that abaca production in Western Visayas grew by 65.4 percent to 3,016.29 MT from last year’s 1,823.62 MT. Abaca output in Eastern Visayas expanded by 37.1 percent year-onyear to 3,618.71 MT, while production in Northern Mindanao grew by 78.8 percent to 6,118.06 MT. PhilFida data showed that Davao region’s abaca output expanded by 6.7 percent to 10,215.24 MT from 9,575.34 MT recorded in the January-

to-September period of last year. Abaca output in the Caraga region grew 12.6 percent year-on-year to 7,287.18 MT, while production in ARMM expanded by 11 percent to 3,993.42 MT, from last year’s 3,597.01 MT. The BusinessMirror earlier reported that barring strong typhoons, the country’s abaca output this year might expand to a 3-year high due to robust output in the above-mentioned regions. Costales earlier told the BusinessMirror that domestic abaca production might grow by 18.33 percent to 70,000 MT this year, particularly if the sector can sustain its double-digit growth rate in the past months. The last time Philippine abaca production breached the 70,000-MT level was in 2018, when output reached 76,259.38 MT, based on historical PhilFida data.

Discrepancies

HOWEVER, Philippine Statistics Authority (PSA) data showed a contrasting picture in terms of the abaca sector’s performance during the nine-month period. Latest released PSA data showed that abaca production from January to September declined by 12.5 percent to 46,660 MT from 53,330 MT recorded last year. Costales said they have been having concerns with the data being released by PSA, noting that they are far from the realities on the ground. He revealed that they had engagements and dialogue with PSA in the past to discuss the discrepancies in data. However, the past discussions did not yield any positive results, Costales said. “We do not know where the PSA is getting their figures and they have not given us any proper explanation how they get their data on abaca production,” he said. “Our production data comes straight from the ground, which is based on the permit to transport abaca fiber. We hope that the discrepancies in the data will be resolved soon,” he added.

PHL vows to reverse forest loss by ’30

HE Philippine government formalized its commitment to reverse forest loss and land degradation by 2030 as stated under the Glasgow Leaders’ Declaration on Forests and Land Use. In his letter to UK Prime Minister Boris Johnson, President Duterte said the action areas expressed in the Leaders’ Declaration are consistent with the targets and goals of the Philippines in attaining sustainable forest management. Over 100 countries, including,

China, Russia, and Brazil had signed the Leaders’ Declaration, Johnson earlier said. The Philippines was also among the countries on the list. The Philippines’ support for the Leaders’ Declaration came after the recommendation of Finance Secretary Carlos Dominguez III, who is the chairman-designate of the Climate Change Commission (CCC) and head of the country’s delegation to the 26th United Nations (UN) Climate Change Conference of the Parties (COP26) held in Glasgow, Scotland. Bernadette D. Nicolas

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DTI: PHL open to discussion on expansion of Apec EG list By Tyrone Jasper C. Piad @TyronePiad

HE Philippines is open to tackling the possibility of expanding the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (Apec) List of Environmental Goods, a move seen to improve trade in green technologies and other related products in the region. Trade Secretary Ramon M. Lopez, in an interview with the BusinessMirror, said that adding more items to the said list is “worth exploring” amid the urgent calls to address the climate crisis while promoting sustainability. “The Philippines may be able to agree to commence exploratory discussions for an expanded Apec EG [Environmental Goods] list,” he said. Endorsed in 2012, the Apec list of EG seeks to bring down tariff rates of 54 goods to 5 percent or less by the end of last year. Among these are solar panels, wind turbines, bamboo flooring, and environmental monitoring, analysis and assessment equipment. The Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) chief, however, stressed that the said list should be used only for reference purposes because Apec is a non-binding and non-negotiating forum. “Any other discussions that will involve greater commitments, such as tariff reduction or liberalization, should be undertaken in the WTO [World Trade Organization] where negotiations bear legal binding commitments,” Lopez explained. He noted that some Apec economies have proposed to include renewable-energy (RE) sources and energy storage and integration, among others, in the EG list. “In terms of the products to be included, this is something that the Philippine interagency process will need to further consider,” he explained. “The initiative will provide the opportunity for the Philippines to nominate additional environmental goods where the country has ex-

port potential.” The trade chief said that the Philippines is doing its part in producing environmental goods and components locally, even expecting to ramp up production as the market expands. Of the 54 items on the list, Lopez, citing government data, noted that the country’s production includes environmental goods in RE and clean technology; environmental monitoring, analysis and assessment equipment; and management of solid and hazardous waste and recycling systems. Carlos Kuriyama, a senior analyst at the Apec Policy Support Unit, recently suggested the need to add new products to the list to boost environmental protection and resource management. “Exploring an expansion of the list makes sense. On the one hand, technology is changing faster than ever and new environmental products are appearing. On the other hand, developing economies could benefit more by taking a global value chain approach to environmental goods,” he explained. The senior analyst said that developing countries could take part in the global value chain for environmental goods by supplying components, such as steel, copper, silica and molten salt for developing concentrated solar power systems. The Apec EG list has allowed an increase in trading of said products. The exports and imports of these 54 items improved by 5.7 percent and 13.5 percent between 2012 and 2019, respectively. “International trade allows lower-cost access to environmental technologies and promotes competition to spur the development of environmental goods and services,” Kuriyama said. “In addition, international trade could empower communities that produce those goods, and benefit communities that need to utilize those goods to address issues of environmental degradation.”

Recto bill on vapes poses danger to minors, health group warns By Manuel T. Cayon

@awimailbox Mindanao Bureau Chief

AVAO CITY—For merely wanting to align the vape law on existing cigarettes law, Sen. Ralph Recto is opening a wider door to minors to access e-cigarettes, a pediatrics association said. Dr. Rizalina Gonzalez of the Philippine Pediatric Society branded as “irresponsible” Recto’s Senate Vape Bill 2239, which she said, “Attempts to reverse restrictions by lowering access to vapes to 18, allowing more flavors, and even providing looser policy on use of vapes in public.” “Even with existing regulations, we already found that almost 11 percent of students at the age of 10-15 years old have already tried vapes. It will be highly irresponsible to even lower the age of access specially with the experience of other countries,” she said. A study conducted by the Philippine Pediatric Society in partnership with the Department of Education, confirmed that among Filipino youths, the e-cigarette flavors was also one of the top reasons why they tried vapes, the advocacy group, Philippine Legislators’ Committee on Population and Development (PLCPD), said in a news statement. In the US, PLCPD added, flavored e-cigarettes were blamed for the epidemic on youth’s use of vapes as declared by the US Food and Drug Administration. Currently, some US States have banned flavored vapes amid the growing number of users among their youth. The PLCPD said the “strong stand” of President Duterte against vape use led to two laws “strictly regulating e-cigarettes by raising the age of access to vapes from 18 to 21,

restricting vape flavors to menthol and tobacco, and putting regulatory power over the product under the Food and Drug Administration.” However, Recto’s bill lowering access to 18 years old to align it to existing cigarettes law may trigger wider proliferation of its use among minors. Gonzalez said the youths are easily influenced by friends who were also using vapes. “Our children who are below 18 usually have friends in their social circle who are 18 years old and above and are able to access vapes,” she added. She said current regulations “should actually need to be strengthened by even increasing the age of access to vapes and even cigarettes to 25 years old and ban menthol flavors which were also proven to attract the youth.” The PLCPD said Sen. Pia Cayetano, “on the other hand, filed a bill increasing the age of access to cigarettes to 21 also to align the almost 20-year old Tobacco Regulation Act to current evidence supporting the need to increase the age of access to cigarettes.” Toni Flores, coordinator of the Child Rights Network (CRN) said it was “lamentable” that Recto “would even consider weakening existing policies despite the local and global evidence showing the danger to a possible youth-use epidemic happening in the Philippines.” “If the Recto Vape Bill is passed, we should expect more young people to be lured into this harmful vice and eventually lead to the fatal addiction to cigarettes. This is against the best interest of the child and compromises children’s rights to survival and development. We must not leave anything to chance when it comes to the protection of our children,” she added.

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DENR outlaws transport of bamboo poles for aquaculture use to Cavite By Jonathan L. Mayuga @jonlmayuga

HE Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) outlawed the transport of bamboo poles for aquaculture purposes in Cavite’s aquaculture hubs in a bid to prevent the illegal construction of fish cages and pens. Sought for reaction, the fisherfolk group Pambansang Lakas ng Kilusang Mamamalakaya ng Pilipinas (Pamalakaya) criticized the move and chided the DENR for the policy, likening it to an act of “economic em-

bargo” targeting small fisherfolk in Cavite province. DENR Undersecretary for Field Operations and Environment Juan Miguel T. Cuna issued a memorandum dated November 8, 2021, indefinitely suspending the processing and issuance of bamboo transport permits in Bacoor City, Cavite City, Kawit, and Noveleta. These are known aquaculture hubs in the province of Cavite. In a news statement, Cuna said the suspension is in light of the need to continuously rehabilitate and restore the marine and coastal ecosystems in

Manila Bay pursuant to Section 3 of Administrative Order 16 signed by Executive Secretary Salvador Medialdea under the authority of President Duterte on February 19, 2019. “The entry and movement of bamboo for other purposes, including but not limited to construction materials for houses, scaffolding, bridges, fences, and buildings and for furniture shall be allowed,” Cuna said in his memorandum. Per initial data given by the respective local government units, there are a total of 370 illegal aquaculture structures in Cavite waters:

271 in Cavite City, 97 in Kawit, and 2 in Noveleta. However, per data gathered during the actual marking conducted from September 15 to 22, 2021, a total of 949 structures had been marked: 789 in Cavite City and 160 in Kawit. Most of these structures are made of bamboo. On November 4, 2021, the Manila Bay Inter-Agency Task Force-Cavite Cluster started the clearing/dismantling of 32 sapras in Cavite City. DENR Calabarzon Regional Executive Director Nilo Tamoria said that the demolition is part of the Manila Bay Rehabilitation Program of the DENR.

HNP confirms Mayor Sara’s resignation from party DOH logs 1,974 By Manuel T. Cayon

@awimailbox Mindanao Bureau Chief

AVAO CITY—Mayor Sara Duterte-Carpio has officially resigned from the Hugpong ng Pagbabago (HNP) political party. Davao del Norte Governor Anthony del Rosario, who also serves as HNP spokesman, told the BusinessMirror on Thursday that Duterte-Carpio transmitted via e-mail a scanned handwritten note in two paragraphs to the headquarters of the HNP at 9:30 a.m. on Thursday about her resignation. Del Rosario said that Mayor Sara’s resignation came as a surprise to him, even as he admitted that he was aware of online discussions about the Davao City mayor likely taking the presidential campaign route through the Lakas-CMD party. Del Rosario cautioned, however, that “everything is not confirmed.” He also admitted that HNP was surprised with themayor’s withdrawal of her certificate of candidacy for the mayoral post in Davao City on November 9. Del Rosario said he spoke to Duterte-Carpio on October 8 when he was told that the latter would run for mayor. He said he followed this

up a few days later when he was told again that she was sticking to the mayoral candidacy. “I was surprised,” he said. Del Rosario said he had already informed members of HNP and that the party is expected to convene anytime. Duterte-Carpio is the chairman of the HNP.

Hoping for the best–Bong Go

SEN. Christopher “Bong” Go said that he does not want to speculate on plans of the Duterte family following the withdrawal of Mayor Sara Duterte from the Davao City mayoral race in the 2022 elections. He, however, stressed that he is “hoping for the best.” “Ayoko munang mag-speculate ‘no kung ano ‘yung plano ng pamilya at ako naman po ay may partido kasama si Pangulong Duterte, desisyon niya po ito, at desisyon ng partido na tumakbo po ako na bise presidente,” said Go in an ambush interview after delivering aid to struggling residents of Antipolo City on Tuesday, November 9. “So, ibig sabihin, 39 days na po since I filed my candidacy as a vice president last October 2. Binoto po ako ng tao [noong 2019], mahigit 20.6 million Filipinos ang bumoto

sa akin,” he added. Whatever the decision of the Duterte family and his party PDPLaban is, Go said that he is “the least of their concerns.” He also advised the public to wait and see what might happen in the next days. “Unang-una, mahal na mahal ko po si Pangulong Duterte, may utang na loob po ako sa kanya, at mabigat po sa amin mga Bisaya ‘yung utang na loob, diyan ko po natutunan sa kanya ’yan, at ayaw ko po siyang bigyan ng sakit ng dibdib dahil lang sa pulitika,” said Go. “Sabi ko, I’m the least of their worries. Basta isa lang naman ang layunin ko, nabanggit ko kanina ang layunin ko lang naman po ay magserbisyo sa kapwa ko Pilipino kahit na anong kapasidad po, patuloy po akong magseserbisyo. Antayin nalang po natin sa mga susunod na araw kung ano po ‘yung magiging desisyon ng pamilya Duterte at ng partido namin, ng PDP,” he added. Sara Duterte revealed on Tuesday that she has officially dropped her reelection candidacy for Davao City mayor. Vice Mayor Sebastian Duterte, her younger brother, abandoned his reelection candidacy and may run for the city’s top post as his sister’s replacement candidate.

Covid-19 cases as total infections hit 2,811,248

HE Department of Health (DOH) logged a total of 1,974 additional Covid-19 cases on Thursday, bringing the total number of infections in the country to 2,811,248. There were also 2,388 recoveries and 142 deaths. Of the total number of cases, 1.0 percent (28,660) are active, 97.4 percent (2,737,722) have recovered, and 1.60 percent (44,866) have died. Thirty-seven duplicates were removed from the total case count. Of these, 33 are recoveries and a single death. Moreover, 104 cases that were previously tagged as recoveries were reclassified as deaths after final validation. All laboratories were operational on November 9, 2021, but 2 labs were not able to submit their data to the Covid-19 Document Repository System. Based on data in the last 14 days, the two non-reporting labs contribute, on average, 0.4 percent of samples tested and 0.3 percent of positive individuals. Claudeth Mocon-Ciriaco

Natl action plan pushes fair, ethical recruitment of OFWs By Samuel P. Medenilla @sam_medenilla

HE Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE) is anticipating a decline in the number of abused overseas Filipino workers (OFW) with the full implementation of the National Action Plan for Fair and Ethical Recruitment (NAP-FER). Labor Secretary Silvestre H. Bello III issued the assessment last Thursday with the virtual launch of the NAP-FER of the International Organization for Migration (IOM) and the Blas F. Ople Policy Center (BFOPC). During the event, Bello expressed his support to the NAP-FER and lauded its timely launch, which co-

incides with the reopening of the traditional labor markets for OFWs amid the pandemic. Likewise, he said they would be using the provisions of the NAP-FER as inputs for the forthcoming review of the Global Compact for Safe, Orderly and Regular Migration of the United Nations. “This will further enhance and strengthen the measures and the policies in place on the deployment of OFWs through ethical recruitment processes,” Bello said in his brief speech. NAP-FER focuses on the following strategic objectives: creating a code of ethical standards for the socalled ethical recruiters; creation of

self-assessment tools and capacity building for the ethical recruiters; promote ethical recruitment practice through information dissemination; setting up reporting, monitoring and redress mechanism for abused OFWs; and creating incentives for ethical recruiters. Philippine Overseas Employment Administration (POEA) Administrator Bernard Olalia said the incentives would complement their enforcement of regulation for Philippine recruitment agencies (PRA). He noted the proposed incentives include the automatic extension of the validity of the license of PRAs with good track records. BFOPC head Susan Ople said the

measures, which focuses on respecting the dignity of workers, was a result of their consultations with private recruitment agencies, nongovernment organizations, and concerned government agencies. “By mainstreaming fair and ethical recruitment standards, we believe that more agencies would be encouraged to take on the role as guardians of our workers’ rights and dignity from Day 1 of the recruitment process,” Ople said. Ople said it might take three to five years before the NAP-FER is fully realized since it will still need to go through regular private sector consultations as well as amendment on some policies of POEA.

Senate brings to SC suit vs Palace memo The Senate argued before the Court that the memorandum is unconstitutional because it was issued in defiance of the Court’s ruling in Senate v. Ermita which invalidated Executive Order No. 464 issued during the term of President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo. The latter required officials to secure the President’s consent before attending legislative inquiries in aid of legislation. The Court’s ruling in the Ermita case also established substantive and procedural requirements before officials may invoke the proper privilege. The petitioner noted that the Court held in the said case that although “the Executive branch is a coequal branch of the legislature, it cannot frustrate the power of Congress to legislate by refusing to comply

with its demands for information.” In the current standoff, the senators’ petition said, “the subject Memorandum does exactly what Senate v. Ermita said the Executive department could not: it directed ‘all officials and employees of the Executive department to no longer appear before or attend’ the Subject Hearings. There has been no greater, more blatant disregard of a categorical ruling of the Honorable Court in recent memory.” The petitioners told the Court that the Duterte-inspired memorandum poses a threat to the Senate as it hampers the institution’s mandate and ability to obtain, in a timely and effective manner, information necessary to prevent future irregularities on the Covid-19 pandemic.

Furthermore, the Senate said the memorandum violates the principle of separation of powers between the three branches of government. It said public statements of the President against the ongoing probe by the Senate clearly shows the Executive department’s intent to interfere in—if not obstruct entirely—the hearings. “In this light, to allow the Executive to dictate how Congress should conduct legislative queries is no different from allowing it to tell the Honorable Court how the latter must conduct its deliberations,” the Senate said. “The Senate—as well as the House of Representatives—possesses these powers as auxiliaries to its lawmaking function. And their independence in the conduct of their powers must re-

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main uninfringed, considering that inquiries in aid of legislation are expressly granted and guaranteed by the Constitution itself,” it added. The Senate also argued that the memorandum, if not declared unconstitutional, would weaken rule of law as it undermines the implementation of writs, processes, and warrants. “To uphold the excuse of the Executive is to remove governmental malfeasance, misfeasance, and nonfeasance—including the prevention of a scandalous waste of public funds— from the Senate’s otherwise plenary power to prohibit via legislation. That certainly would not be an outcome consistent with the constitutional emphasis on the accountability of public officers,” it said.

Friday, November 12, 2021

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China’s Xi warns against ‘Cold War’ in Asia-Pacific

ELLINGTON, New Zealand—Chinese President Xi Jinping warned Thursday against letting tensions in the AsiaPacific region cause a relapse into a Cold War mentality. His remarks on the sidelines of the annual summit of the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation forum came weeks after the US, Britain and Australia announced a new security alliance in the region, which would see Australia build nuclear submarines. China has harshly criticized the deal. X i spoke in a pre-recorded video to a CEO Summit at Apec, which is being hosted by New Zealand in a virtual format. Xi is scheduled to participate in an online meeting with other Pacific Rim leaders including US President Joe Biden on Saturday. In his speech, Xi said attempts to draw boundaries in the region along ideological or geopolitical lines would fail. “The Asia-Pacific region cannot and should not relapse into the confrontation and division of the Cold War era,” Xi said. X i also said the region shou ld ma ke su re to keep sup ply l ines f u nct ioning a nd to

continue liberalizing trade and invest ment. “China will remain firm in advancing reform and opening up so as to add impetus to economic development,” he said. The most pressing task in the region is to make an all-out effort to fight the pandemic and to emerge from its shadow as soon as possible, he said. Human rights law yer Amal Clooney also spoke at the CEO summit, saying she believed that liberal democracies could improve global human rights by pressuring autocratic nations. She said businesses also needed to play a role. In all, Apec members account for nearly 3 billion people and about 60 percent of the world’s GDP. But deep tensions r u n through the unlikely group of 21 nations and territories that include the US, China, Taiwan, Russia, and Australia. Many of the countries in Asia endeavor to balance Chinese and

In this photo released by Xinhua News Agency, Chinese President Xi Jinping delivers a keynote speech for the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (Apec) CEO Summit via video, from Beijing on, November 11. Xi warned Thursday against letting tensions in the Asian-Pacific region cause a relapse into a Cold War mentality. Li Xueren/Xinhua via AP

US influences on the economic and geopolitical fronts. China claims vast parts of the South China Sea and other areas and has moved to establish a military presence, building islands in some disputed areas as it asserts its historic claims. Both Taiwan and China have applied to join a Pacific R im trade pact, the Comprehensive and Progressive Agreement for Trans-Pacific Partnership, with Beijing saying it will block Taiwan’s bid on the basis that the democratically governed island refuses to accept that it’s part of communist-ruled China.

And it remains unclear whether all Apec members will support a bid by the US to host the 2023 round of Apec meetings. New Zealand’s Foreign Minister Nanaia Mahuta said Wednesday that Apec was founded on consensus and that there was not yet a confirmed host for 2023. Officials say they have made significant progress during some 340 preliminary meetings leading up to this week’s leaders’ meeting. Apec members have agreed to reduce or eliminate many tariffs and border holdups on vaccines, masks and other medical products important to fighting the pandemic. AP

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Climate finance isn’t charity, says Indian minister at COP26

LASGOW, Scotland—India’s environment and climate minister says rich countries have “an obligation, responsibility, duty and a vow” to provide climate finance to developing nations and should deliver on an unfulfilled promise to raise $100 billion a year. In an interview Wednesday with The Associated Press, Bhupender Yadav said addressing the shortcomings on finance was paramount to making the UN climate summit in Glasgow, Scotland, a success. “I believe the biggest responsibility...lies with the developed countries,” Yadav said. “Because if there is any gap that remains it is in the action for climate finance.” Yadav heads the Indian delegation at the two-week talks scheduled to end Friday. A draft deal under negotiation noted “with regret” that rich nations had failed to meet their promise to provide $100 billion each year in climate finance to poor nations as of 2020. Currently, rich nations provide an estimated $80 billion annually, which poorer nations say isn’t enough to develop clean energy systems and to adapt to worsening climate shocks. India alone said it needs $2.5 trillion, in a 2019 finance ministry document. “Climate finance isn’t charity,” Yadav told AP on the sidelines of the conference. “This is an obligation, responsibility, duty and a vow.” He said helping the developing world cope with climate change is a call of conscience that “should be in the heart of every person. But especially in those who’ve a

Thai court: Calls for royal reform may be seditious

A N G K O K —T h a i l a n d ’s Constitutional Court ruled Wednesday that three prodemocracy activists who called for

reform of the monarchy were attempting to overthrow the nation’s system of government with the king as head of state.

The ruling banned any similar activities in the future by the activists and their organizations. It also appeared to broadly deter calls for reform of the monarchy by highlighting legal liabilities beyond a royal anti-defamation law under which more than 150 activists have been charged in the past two years. The ruling came in response to a complaint by a royalist lawyer who accused the activists of attempting to overthrow “the democratic system of government with the king as head of state.”

The decision has broader application beyond the three defendants, said Piyabutr Saengkanokkul, a legal expert and prominent progressive activist. “This decision has drawn a line and creates a ‘red zone,’ meaning that if you don’t want to get charges or punishment, don’t touch the monarchy,” he said. The court also implied that the authority of the royal palace supersedes other institutions. The king’s role since the absolute monarchy was abolished in 1932, at least according to conventional wisdom,

has been to reign but not rule. However, since King Maha Vajiralongkorn took the throne after the death in 2016 of his father, King Bhumibol Adulyadej, the palace has steadily accumulated power and has downplayed the historical significance of the 1932 revolution, which established a constitutional monarchy. The three activists are key members of a student-led protest movement which last year began staging well-attended street demonstrations. The protests demanded the resignation of Prime Minister Prayuth Chan-ocha, who came to power in 2014 by staging a coup as army commander; amendment of the constitution to make it more democratic; and reform of the monarchy to make it more accountable. The demand for reform of the monarchy is the most radical and controversial because the royal institution has rarely faced public scrutiny and is considered by many to be a sacrosanct pillar of Thai identity. Its reputation is fiercely guarded by the country’s ruling elite, including the courts and the military. The Constitutional Court is seen by legal scholars as the conservative Thai establishment’s bulwark against change, with a particular devotion to the monarchy. Its ruling Wednesday represents the latest defense of the royal institution, which has come under pressure due to sharp political divisions in the Southeast Asian country over the last two decades. An earlier military coup forced Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra out of office in 2006, but set off years of sometimes violent conflict between his supporters, who were attracted by his populist policies, and his detractors, who believed he was challenging the monarchy’s standing. AP

greater historical responsibility than others.” The minister said India—a country with nearly 1.4 billion people or almost one-fifth of the global population and yet accounting for just 5 percent of its emissions—is among the few countries in the world on track to meet its climate targets before 2030. However, emissions analysts say India should have more ambitious targets to help put the world on track to limit warming to 1.5 degrees Celsius, the goal of the UN climate negotiations. India recently announced it would stop adding greenhouse gases to the atmosphere by 2070— two decades after the “net zero” target set by the US and 10 years after that of China. It has also promised to get half of its energy from clean energy and rein in its emissions growth by 2030. But to achieve those goals, developing nations like India need financing. India has been reluctant to commit to phasing out coal-fired power plants—the largest single source of human-caused emissions. The dirty fuel is crucial for producing electricity in the country where millions still don’t have access to it, and energy is crucial for development. The draft on Wednesday also called for accelerating the phasing out of coal—the largest source of emissions—but didn’t set a timeline. Asked about coal phaseouts, Yadav said “we are not phasing anything out completely right now. We will move towards our green energy, as per our national needs.” AP

Indonesia, Malaysia leaders urge army to end Myanmar violence

AKARTA, Indonesia—The leaders of Malaysia and Indonesia on Wednesday urged military-ruled Myanmar to resolve its internal conflict and help stem the flow of Rohingya refugees fleeing to Malaysia. Malaysian Prime Minister Ismail Sabri Yaakob, on an official visit to Indonesia, expressed concern about “the emergency situation” in Myanmar following the Feb. 1 military takeover that has led more minority Muslim Rohingya to leave the country. More than 200,000 Rohingya have resettled in Malaysia in recent years. If the Rohingya could settle peacefully in Myanmar, it would “definitely decrease the number of Rohingya refugees leaving Myanmar for Malaysia,” Yaakob said after meeting with Indonesian President Joko Widodo in Jakarta. More than 700,000 Rohingya have fled Myanmar since August 2017, when the military launched a clearance operation in response to attacks by a rebel group. The security forces have been accused of mass rapes, killings and the burning of thousands of homes. Most of those who fled went to neighboring Bangladesh. Indonesia and Malaysia, both Muslim-majority nations, expressed concern about the Rohingya after the Myanmar army seized power in February. All three countries are members of the Association of Southeast Asian nations, which called for an immediate end to the violence in Myanmar between the military-installed government and opposition forces, and the start of a dialogue to be mediated by a special Asean envoy. But the military has repeatedly refused to allow the envoy to meet Aung San Suu Kyi, Myanmar’s democratically elected leader who was overthrown by the military, and other political detainees. AP

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Friday, November 12, 2021

Germany reports new daily record of Covid infections

ERLIN—Germany’s nationa l disease control center reported a recordhigh number of new coronavirus cases Wednesday as one of the country’s top virologists warned that another lockdown would be needed if vaccinations do not quickly accelerate. Chancellor Angela Merkel said that action needs to be taken quickly. “In Germany, I must say unfortunately that our vaccination rate isn’t high enough to prevent the fast spread of the virus,” she said. The 39,676 cases registered by the Robert Koch Institute surpassed the previous daily record of 37,120 new cases reported Friday. The institute said Germany’s infection rate rose to 232.1 new cases per 100,000 residents over the past seven days. “We have a real emergency situation right now,” Christian Drosten, the head of virology at Berlin’s Charite Hospital, said regarding the situation at many hospital intensive care units across the country. “We have to do something right now.” Government officials have repeatedly said they do not intend to impose lockdowns and have instead appealed to residents to get vaccinated. Germany currently has a caretaker national government following a September election. The parties that are expected to form the next government plan to introduce legislation this week that would allow a declaration since March 2020 of an “epidemic situation of national scope” to expire at the end of the month

and provide a new legal framework for instituting coronavirus measures. As during other periods of the pandemic, the country has a patchwork of regional rules. Most places restrict access to many indoor facilities and events to people who have been vaccinated against the virus, have recovered from Covid-19 or recently received negative test results—with the latter category now excluded in some areas. However, the rules are often laxly enforced. Merkel pushed for a meeting between the federal government and Germany’s 16 state governors, who are primarily responsible for imposing and lifting restrictions, “as quickly as possible” in order to ensure “harmonious” measures across the country. She said those include stepping up booster shots. “The coronavirus pays no regard to whether we have a caretaker government, whether we have coalition negotiations— we need an effort by the whole state,” she said. Several hospitals have said in recent days that they are again working at their limits and have ICUs so full of Covid-19 patients that they cannot admit new patients at the moment. Berlin’s Charite said Tuesday it had to cancel planned surgery due to the number of staff members caring for people with Covid-19. Authorities have said most of latest patients are unvaccinated. About 67 percent of Germany’s population of 83 million is

fully vaccinated, according to official figures. Unlike in some other European countries, the government has balked at making vaccines mandator y for any professional group. Merkel noted that health officials have said a rate of below 75 percent means “ex ponentia l grow th with too much occupancy of intensive care beds.” “We probably need to control infection activity again through contact measures— not probably, but certainly,” Drosten said. “We’re in a bad situation: we have 15 million people who could have been vaccinated and should have been vaccinated,” he said, adding that at least another 100,000 people could die of Covid-19 if vaccinations don’t pick up quickly. Since the start of the pandemic, 96,963 deaths related to Covid-19 have been reported in Germany. The country’s standing committee on vaccinations published a new recommendation Wednesday advising that all people under age 30 received only the Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine. The Stiko said the recommendation was based on recent analyses showing that a rare side effect, heart and chest inf lammation, was observed more frequently in under-30 recipients of the vaccine made by Moderna than those who had the Pfizer-BioNTech shot. The side effect appears to be rare, and in most cases people recover w ithout any problems. AP

China and US pledge to increase cooperation at UN climate talks

L A SGOW, Scotland— The world’s top carbon polluters, China and the United States, agreed Wednesday to increase their cooperation and speed up action to rein in climate-damaging emissions, signaling a mutual effort on global warming at a time of tension over their other disputes. In back-to-back news conferences at UN climate talks in Glasgow, Chinese climate envoy Xie Zhenhua and US counterpart John Kerry said the two countries would work together to accelerate the emissions reductions required to meet the goals of the 2015 Paris Agreement on climate change. “It’s beneficial not only to our two countries but the world as a whole that two major powers in the world, China and the US, shoulder special international responsibilities and obligations,” Xie told reporters. “We need to think big and be responsible.” “The steps we’re taking ... can answer questions people have about the pace at which China is going, and help China and us to be able to accelerate our efforts,” Kerry said. China also agreed for the first time to crack down on methane leaks, following the lead of the Biden administration’s efforts to curb the potent greenhouse gas. Beijing and Washington agreed to share technology to reduce emissions. Governments agreed in Paris to jointly cut greenhouse gas emissions enough to keep the global temperature rise “well below” 2 degrees Celsius (3.6 degrees Fahrenheit) since preindustrial times, with a more stringent target of trying to keep warming to 1.5 degrees Celsius (2.7 degrees Fahrenheit) preferred. Both sides recognize that there is a gap between efforts taken globally to reduce climate

pollution and the goals of the Paris deal, Xie said. “So we will jointly strengthen climate action and cooperation with respect to our respective national situations,” he said. A US-China bilateral agreement in 2014 gave a huge push to the creation of the historic Paris accord the following year, but that cooperation stopped with the Trump administration, which pulled the US out of the pact. The Biden administration brought the US back in to that deal, but has clashed with China on other issues such as cybersecurity, human rights and Chinese territorial claims. “While this is not a game changer in the way the 2014 US-China climate deal was, in many ways it’s just as much of a step forward given the geopolitical state of the relationship,” said Thom Woodroofe, an expert in US-China climate talks. “It means the intense level of US-China dialogue on climate can now begin to translate into cooperation.” The gesture of goodwill comes just days after President Joe Biden blamed Chinese President Xi Jinping’s and Russian President Vladimir Putin’s failure to attend talks in person for the lack of more progress in climate negotiations. The US and China will also revive a working group that will “meet regularly to address the climate crisis and advance the multilateral process, focusing on enhancing concrete actions in this decade,” the declaration said. Both Washington and Beijing intend to update the world on their new national targets for 2035 in 2025—a move that is particularly significant for China. The declaration also said China will “make best efforts to accelerate” its plans to reduce coal consumption in the second half of this decade. T he announcement came

as governments from around the world were negotiating in Glasgow about how to build on the Paris Agreement to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and protect vulnerable countries from the impacts of global warming. UN Secretary General Antonio Guterres called the move “an important step in the right direction.” Some experts noted the deal was short on commitments that would significantly reduce heattrapping gases. “It’s a good sign that the world ’s two biggest emitters can actually work together to face the biggest crisis of humanity but there’s not a lot of meat there after the methane stuff,’’ said Byford Tsang a China policy analyst for the European think tank E3G. Earlier Wednesday, a draft of a larger deal being negotiated by almost 200 countries in Glasgow called for accelerating the phasing out of coal—the single biggest source of manmade emissions—although it set no timeline. Setting deadlines for phasing out fossil fuels is highly sensitive to countries that still depend on them for economic growth, including China and India, and to major exporters of coal such as Australia. The future of coal is also a hot-button issue in the US, where a spat among Democrats has held up one of President Joe Biden’s signature climate bills. Greenpeace International director Jennifer Morgan, a longtime climate talks observer, said that the call in the draft to phase out coal would be a first in a UN climate deal, but the lack of a timeline would limit the pledge’s effectiveness. “This isn’t the plan to solve the climate emergency. This won’t give the kids on the streets the confidence that they’ll need,” Morgan said. AP

Friday, November 12, 2021 • Editor: Angel R. Calso

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Be a hero, get a jab

lthough Covid-19 has so far killed 5 million people globally, it is not the deadliest disease. American historian Michael Willrich said the worst killer in human history is smallpox. He said smallpox has been eradicated globally, so most people don’t know much about it, but it is estimated to have killed some 300 million people around the globe in the 20th century alone. “It was truly a hideous disease; even people who survived it were very likely to be disfigured. It was the most feared disease in 19th century America because the virulent form killed roughly 30 percent of the people who contracted it. Even by the early 20th century, when vaccination existed and there were powerful efforts to eradicate it or hold it in check, it occupied a very large place in people’s imaginations,” Willrich said. Willrich said there were also antivaxxers in the US when smallpox was raging nationwide. He narrated how a skilled public health communicator and surgeon named C. P. Wertenbaker traveled between smallpox-infected southern towns to talk candidly about vaccine science and safety. “Often, what made his visits effective is that respected townsfolk rolled up their sleeves and got the smallpox shot in front of the crowd,” Willrich said. “On a really successful visit, Wertenbaker could get people to be vaccinated where previously they were very resistant.” As the government prepares to launch its national vaccination drive from November 29 to December 1, authorities should realize that persuasion and public education could succeed in achieving widespread immunization. While it is true that vaccination is by far our best tool for preventing death and severe illness from Covid, it is also true that millions of Filipinos are unwilling to get vaccinated. A recent Social Weather Stations survey finds 18 percent of the respondents are still unwilling to get the jab, and another 19 percent said they are uncertain about getting a shot. Among the 18 percent who were unwilling, 14 percent said they would “surely not” get a shot, while 4 percent said they “probably” would not to get vaccinated. Although these figures are much lower than an earlier survey made by OCTA Research Group, which showed that 29 percent of respondents belonging to class E and 22 percent of those in class D are not willing to get vaccinated, vaccine hesitancy still poses a challenge for government plans to vaccinate 90 percent of the population. Sen. Joel Villanueva views the Duterte administration’s three-day nationwide anti-Covid vaccination drive from November 29 to December 1 as the awaited “booster shot” needed to ramp up inoculation and hit the 50-percent target nine months after the first shot was administered. “This ‘one time-big time’ approach is what we need,” Villanueva said, adding he expects the yearend mobilizations to “draw the hesitant and the unreached to vaccination centers.” He suggests that one way of reaching unvaccinated people who are “outside the digital wall” is for the Duterte government to launch vaccination caravans that will sweep through workplaces and neighborhoods “with no or poor broadband connectivity.” (See, “3-day Covid vaccination drive seen to reach millions of ‘jabless’ workers,” in the BusinessMirror, November 9, 2021). How to should government address vaccine hesitancy among the people? In an article published in The Atlantic, Yasmin Tayag said: “Often, the people who are vaccine hesitant are our own family, friends, and colleagues. That’s worth remembering, because it reminds us who is at risk if we alienate the unvaccinated. If there’s any chance of persuading them to get a shot—and ample evidence shows that doing so is possible—it’s not going to happen if we only enforce policies that exclude them, foster resentment, and make them feel like their fears and concerns are being dismissed. Compassion, not coercion, is what’s going to get us through this pandemic together.” Getting vaccinated is something each of us can do to help protect not just ourselves, but also our families, our friends, and our communities. Let’s convince our unvaccinated friends and relatives by focusing on the benefits of getting vaccinated—that Covid vaccine is safe and they can help fight the pandemic by getting the jab.

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N the past week, we sponsored the Senate Finance Committee’s version of the proposed national budget for 2022. Interpellations on the different agency budgets have since started and are expected to wrap up within the coming weeks. Notably, what we’re debating is the last budget proposed and to be implemented by the administration of President Duterte. And we’re working hard to ensure that what gets approved will help fast track the return to normalcy away from the ongoing Covid-19 pandemic.

Fundamentally, this is what the proposed P5.024-trillion national budget for 2022 aims to fund—the desire to jumpstart our reconstruction and recovery, underlined by an optimism that the virus is defeated and that the pandemic is on its way to being conquered. But if the virus mutates again, in its lethal form, the budget we’ve proposed is also ready for that contingency. In short, we are working to ensure that the 2022 budget properly supports our health sector. For instance, at least P6.282 billion has been set aside for the emergency hiring of human resources for health (or HRH) across the country, which includes vaccinators. These are the medical frontliners—the

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doctors, midwives, nurses, and other health-related workers—who have tirelessly fought against the virus. Furthermore, appropriations were also included for the upgrading of nurses’ salaries and the retention of currently hired nurses. To further support our frontliners to continue fighting against the virus, we also appropriated significant amounts for them to receive proper Covid-19 benefits. This includes the Special Risk Allowance (SRA) for all public and private health care workers involved in the Covid-19 response (P3,000 for low risk, P6,000 for medium risk, and P9,000 for high risk). There shall also be funding to compensate any public or private health worker who contracted or died

from Covid-19 in the line of duty (P15,000 for mild or moderate case; P100,000 for severe or critical case; and P1 million if the Covid-19 case results in death). To further widen our pool of health care workers we’ve also proposed additional funding of certain state universities and colleges (SUCs), including the University of the Philippines, to increase the carrying capacity of their respective schools of medicine. Then for SUCs that are looking to start their own medical schools, a seed fund will be lodged in the Commission of Higher Education (CHED) alongside funds for the Medical Scholarship Program that has a return service component, according to the Doktor Para Sa Bayan law. More investments have also been proposed to enhance healthcare facilities across the country and augment the operations of Department of Health (DOH) hospitals in Metro Manila and in the different regions. The Committee had also proposed increases to the operations budget of the One Hospital Command Center (OHCC), the network of service providers, hospitals, quarantine facilities and medical transportation that was set up for faster, more efficient Covid-19 case referral. The Epidemiology and Surveillance Program of the Department of Health will also receive a boost in its budget for the different sur-

Challenges in meeting the SDGs

Lourdes M. Fernandez

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Strengthening our Covid-19 response

EAGLE WATCH

N October 31, 2021, the 26th United Nations Climate Change Conference, known as COP26, commenced in Glasgow, the United Kingdom. Many governments, civil society groups, and independent observers believe that the conference may be one of the best opportunities for nation-states to finalize their pledges in reducing carbon emissions and keep the global mean temperature rise to the 1.5-degree Celsius target set in previous agreements. Given the ambitious goals set by previous conferences, it would be incumbent for the Philippines to assess its ability to meet these sustainable development goals, especially those related to climate change. The UN Sustainable Development Solutions Network, the global organization of universities and research organizations set up under the United Nations Secretary General, released the 2021 Sustainable Development Report in June. This is one of the more comprehensive reports on the achievements of the

sustainable development goals being undertaken each year. The Report says the Philippines has fallen in the ranking of countries, from 99th in 2020 to 103rd this year. The Report also indicates that the country continues to face significant challenges in achieving nine of the 17 SDGs, including SGD 1 (ending poverty),

The coming national and local elections is an opportunity to ensure that we meet our sustainability and resilience plans. Clearly, the progress, or lack of it, in terms of the SDG measures illustrates that the Philippines has still a long way off in meeting its 2030 commitments. SDG 2 (zero hunger), SDG 3 (good health and well-being), and SDG 4 (quality education). The Report notes that the Philippines must make significant progress, for it has slid by 18 ranks from 85th place in a span of just four years (2018 to 2021). The Report also provides information on a traffic light color indicator for each of the 17 goals: “SDG achieved” in green, “challenges remaining” in yellow, “significant challenges” in orange, and “major challenges” in red. The depth of the challenges is based on the progress that each of the 165 countries has made in comparable indicators and how far each country is from achieving a particular goal. At the same time, each goal is as-

veillance units across the regions to better track if, where, and by how much the virus continues to spread. Such biosurveillance efforts would be ineffective, however, if our testing and contact tracing efforts are not equally vigorous. This is why the Senate still allocated funds under the DILG to hire up to 25,000 more contact tracers. We also raised the items for the procurement of FDA authorized test kits and the efficient operations of our network of testing laboratories. All indications, however, point to the virus becoming endemic. As such, significant funds are being set aside for the purchase, logistical requirements, delivery and storage of booster shots next year. And this will be done, even as the country has already in its possession up to 110 million doses of Covid-19 vaccines and was recently able to vaccinate up to 1 million people in one day. These are just among the items that the Senate Committee on Finance has proposed to ensure that the 2022 budget rightly strengthens our healthcare systems and bolster our Covid-19 response.

Sen. Sonny Angara has been in public service for 17 years. He has authored and sponsored more than 200 laws. He is currently serving his second term in the Senate. E-mail: sensonnyangara@yahoo.com| Facebook, Twitter & Instagram: @sonnyangara

sessed on whether current performance is significantly progressing faster toward it. These are indicated by upward, rightward, and downward arrows associated with each goal. An upward arrow shows that the country is quickly advancing toward the goal, while a downward arrow means the opposite. The Report notes that the Philippines has a red “traffic light” for nine of the 17 goals: SDGs 2 (Zero Hunger), 3 (Good Health and WellBeing), 8 (Decent Work and Economic Growth), 9 (Industry, Innovation, and Infrastructure), 10 (Reduced Inequalities), 11 (Sustainable Cities and Communities), 14 (Life Below Water), 15 (Life on Land), and 16 (Peace, Justice and Strong Institutions). Nevertheless, while the index may not capture the entire situation of a certain country, it provides some indication of progress or lack thereof. In the Philippines, while there is significant progress on SDGs 12 (Responsible Consumption) and 13 (Climate Action), having nine out of the 17 SDGs marked red as of 2021 (which is a worse situation compared See “Eagle Watch,” A9

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Farewell, PGen. Guillermo T. Eleazar

Friday, November 12, 2021

Testing Theories of Change in the Troll Age Tito Genova Valiente

annotations

Manny F. Dooc

TELLTALES

omorrow, November 13, is Police General Guillermo Lorenzo Tolentino Eleazar’s 56th birthday anniversary, the mandatory retirement age for Director General of the Philippine National Police. General Eleazar, fondly called “Guillor” or “Gimo” by his friends and peers, will leave his post after 34 years of service with the Philippine National Police. He’s the 6th PNP Chief to be appointed by President Duterte, after Generals Ronald “Bato” de la Rosa, Oscar Albayalde, Archie Gamboa, Camilo Cascolan, and Debold Sinas. He serves as the 26th PNP Chief since the civilian police force was formally reorganized pursuant to RA 6975, otherwise known as “An Act Establishing the Philippine National Police” in 1991. General Eleazar was born in Tagkawayan, Quezon. The municipality of Tagkawayan borders the provinces of Quezon, Camarines Norte and Camarines Sur. It is rich in agriculture and fishing and is surrounded by dense forest, which covers a wide expanse of areas. Its thick forest and porous borders make it, as well as the adjacent places, an ideal lair of the communist rebels. Thus, it’s not uncommon when we read news of encounters between the government troops and the NPAs in the place. The Eleazars are an old and revered family in Tagkawayan. Over the years, their family has produced successful professionals that brought honor to their hometown. His ancestors served in the government in various capacities with distinction. Judge Guillermo Eleazar, his namesake, was memorialized by naming the fisheries school, the Judge Guillermo Eleazar Memorial School of Fisheries, and the Southern Luzon State University-Judge Guillermo Eleazar Polytechnic College, after him. Gen. Eleazar’s father, Victor, was a feared guerilla fighter during the last war. His elder brother, Carlo, an engineer, is the incumbent mayor of his hometown. Public service is in Gen. Eleazar’s DNA. He is a folk hero and a well-loved native son of Tagkawayan, Quezon. Gen. Eleazar was a member of PMA Class Hinirang of 1987. He graduated Cum Laude of his class. His immediate predecessor as Chief PNP, Gen. Sinas was his classmate. He elected to serve in the PNP as a Police Inspector. He went up the ladder and reached the top hierarchy through dedicated service and exemplary work. During the past five years, he has held all the critical positions required of any officer aspiring to become the Chief PNP. Consider his record: District Director of Quezon City Police District in 2017; Regional Director, Region 4A (Calabarzon) in 2018; Regional Director, National Capital Region Police Office, 2018; Chief of Directorial Staff, 2019; and Deputy Chief for Administration, 2020. During the pandemic, he also served as the Commander of the Joint Task Force Covid Shield in 2020 to 2021. As chief enforcer during our severest and longest lockdowns, he won the respect and admiration of the public by strictly implementing the protocols and regulations. He did not tolerate police abuses by enforcing stern disciplinary actions against those who violate the SOPs. As Chief of the NCRPO, the most challenging assignment in the entire police force, Gen. Eleazar focused his efforts on fighting against all forms of criminality, illegal drugs, abusive police scalawags, and terrorism. During his watch, the crime index rate in Metro Manila dropped to a historic low. He had been unforgiving in dealing with errant officers. He replaced poorly performing district directors and police chiefs of Pasay, Taguig, Las Piñas and Caloocan. He filed over 5,000 cases against erring cops, causing the dismissal of 364 officers from the service. As QCPD chief of police, his district won the highest trust ratings among all police districts in a survey conducted by Chief PNP Oscar Albayalde. Cognizant of his accomplishments, President Duterte acknowledged that under

Gen. Eleazar’s leadership, NCRPO “has become one of the most trustworthy and reliable units of the PNP.” Gen. Eleazar was awarded the “Presidential Lingkod ng Bayan Award in 2019” by the Civil Service Commission for his sterling service as NCRPO Chief. When Gen. Albayalde left his position, Gen. Eleazar was already among those considered for the appointment, but the post went to General Archie Gamboa who was his senior at the PMA. Again, he was edged out by Gen. Camilo Cascolan who took over the Chief PNP position when Gen. Gamboa retired. Everyone believed that Gen. Eleazar would succeed Cascolan as he was already the second highest police officer before Cascolan retired, but he would be denied the honor. It went to his controversial classmate and subordinate, Gen. Debold Sinas. But the roster of Chief PNP would be hollow unless it includes the name of Gen. Eleazar. He would not be denied the glory. Finally, when Sinas reached his mandatory retirement, President Duterte designated Eleazar on May 8 as the next Chief PNP. DILG Secretary Eduardo Año cited that Eleazar was appointed “based on seniority, merit, service, reputation and competence.” Many commented that Eleazar should have been appointed earlier. On his first major interview with anchorwoman Karen Davila, Eleazar proved that he would be the nemesis of scalawags in uniform. He vowed to clean up the PNP and rid the organization of the rotten and corrupt eggs. His first order was for the police officers to wear body cams when they effect search warrants and warrants of arrest. He asked for more budget to procure more body cams to be distributed to the police stations around the country. He’s a believer of the so-called “brokenwindow theory,” which was popularized by former New York Mayor Rudy Giuliani. It simply means that there are visible signs of disorder, incivility and antisocial behaviors such as broken windows that should alert the authorities to act. In other words, Eleazar wants to arrest the problem before it becomes big and insoluble. Gen. Eleazar is a strong advocate of police-community collaboration. He said that “the fight against criminality is not only on the shoulders of the police. We also need the cooperation and support of the public and the local government.” He definitely puts to good use his Master’s Degree in Public Administration, which he earned from the Philippine Christian University. Eleazar has served the PNP for 34 years. He has received a total of 266 medals during his entire career, making him one of the most bemedalled police officers of our country. If you visit the Manila Police district headquarters in UN Avenue, Manila, you can read this memorable quote inscribed in a stone: “Go spread the word, tell the passers-by that in this little world men knew how to die.” Dead police officers are not our only heroes. It’s more difficult to be a living hero like Eleazar. His life is studded with acts of heroism, big and small, which have marked his more than three decades of service in the police force. Long live, Gen. Eleazar!

here were no trolls yet when the Jesuit sociologist, John J. Carroll, SJ, began writing on social theory and social change. Certainly, there was no Internet yet when I started reading those theories on change and politics. There were trolls in my mind, but they were those ugly dwarf, which, in turn, came from the Old Norse word that meant giant or, some say, demon.

Given the altered landscape, could I still employ the thoughts of the sociologist on how to bring about social change in the Philippines? There is a gamut of theorizing when it comes to changes and development—from the grand paradigms to small, simple frameworks—but I am personally fond of Carroll’s approaches. One reason is in his thoughts where I find processes that are different from mine. This alerts me to be critical, which is the right way to appraising constructs. As my old friends used to tease me for my tendency to intellectualize many things, “mauunawaan ba ito ng taga Quiapo?” Will those in Quiapo understand this? Meaning: Will the regular citizen understand what I am talking about? There is another trait in how Carroll rethinks social phenomena and that is, any change is never easy. Speaking about the way to change people’s mind and driving them to action is difficult. Immediately, it is clear to us (me) that social theory is as agonizing as the change it purports to bring to reality. In his paper, Social Theory and Social Change in the Philippines, a common reading in the social science subjects of Jesuit educational institutions in the country, Carroll writes plainly: “Social theory is not a reality, but a measuring instrument or a set of eyeglasses for looking at reality.” As for reality, he says it is “out there” and “it is always more complex than our formulations.”

He confronts us at the opening of the paper with a question about the two contrasting views of society: the consensus model or the coercion model? We are familiar with both these models. The consensus, by the name itself, proposes that we, “as members of society” are “united by a common culture, a common understanding of what the world and society are all about…” This is as close to what political scientists envision as a nation. Carroll goes on to articulate the other model, the coercion theory, which “pictures society as primarily a structure of power, and views inequality as simply the outcome of power relationships over time among individuals and interest groups.” In the paper, it is clear which model is favored by Carroll. It is the coercion theory. Given the inequalities around us and given the fact that these imbalances are produced and nurtured by structures we assume to be working for us all, the theory paints society as “a structure of power, with power determining who gets what.” So far, this old paper still resonates with what is happening at present. Listen when the sociologist enumerates the structures we envision should work for the people: “Meanwhile, national institutions such as the electoral process, the separation of powers, free public education and the mass media, and labor

and peasant organizations, which in theory should have served to exercise control over the use of power, in the name of the whole society, have either been subverted or have proven unequal to the task.” In the late ’80s, when this paper was first read, mass media then was composed of newspapers and magazines, radio and TV, and to a certain extent, music and cinema. In this present age, how has the mass media evolved into a subverted social media? Of course, we know the answer. It is all over the Internet; it is not the lack of information that has made us dumb but the abuse of too much information that is making us informed but ignorant. What can we propose therefore faced as we are with social media necessarily and efficiently exploited to favor one side or distorted to prop up the heinous and unscrupulous? Would values have roles to play when facts are not distinguished from opinions? I go back to what I have said about John J. Carroll’s paper: the solutions he proposes are not easy because

politics and change do not tread on the facile and the painless. In what he defines as the central argument of the paper, Carroll underscores the curative powers of society as including both pressure and moral suasion. “Pressure” would come from the “organized poor, aided by those of the middle class who are committed to genuine social and not merely political change.” Not just a change in the faces of those who will occupy the Palace and the city halls and the municipio. As for moral suasion, he sees it as coming from the media and the churches as “custodian of society’s values.” Figure that scenario in a world where we—the intelligentsia and the educated, the witty writers and deep thinkers, the owners of shiny laptops and fast Internet connections, the techies—gloat as we correct the grammar and spelling of those whose existence (how evil to be paid as trolls; so yucky and fu--ingly dumb) we have not cared about for hundreds of years.

E-mail: titovaliente@yahoo.com

Climate change: Blah, blah, blah and boom, boom, boom

also a 40-year span, the world’s population soared from 4.45 billion to 7.79 billion. Again, you don’t need to be a rocket scientist to be able to break down the impact of a population explosion on our environment, triggering the extent of climate change that powerful nations have been promising to address since the first COP in Berlin, Germany in 1995. How much of our forests would need to give way to provide food and water, clothing, and shelter—just the most basic needs—to nearly 8 billion people in the world? How much timberland do we

need to clear for subdivisions, recreational facilities, crops, roads, and other infrastructure to support life, as we know it? How much fossil fuel do we need to burn every second to provide energy to the things needed by your 7.79 billion neighbors? My basic premise is, if we need to address climate change, the blah, blah, blah of our world leaders should also include solutions to the boom, boom, boom of the world’s population, and ensure their implementation. Population explosion exemplifies depletion and emission, as you can glean from the examples I’ve cited above. Controlling population growth is one program that the Philippines and other developing nations can participate; not just the big nations. In fact, population growth is one area where we Filipinos may have outdone ourselves—from 47.36 million in 1980 to 109.6 million in 2020. Quite a feat, indeed. Are Filipinos, being predominantly Catholics, still of the belief that they must follow the Biblical injunction to “go forth and multiply”? Taken literally, being fruitful and multiplying is no longer apt in today’s setting—we are now overpopulated that we are having a re-

carbon emissions that the country is producing compared to developed and large developing countries, the country has no room to be complacent. A recent discussion paper on the challenges of global warming to the Philippines by Dr. Toby Monsod of the University of the Philippines School of Economics and Sarah Jane Ahmed and Golda Hilario at the Institute of Climate and Sustainable Cities show that the country should exert a more significant effort in terms of climate resilience and action. This can be done by tackling

reforms in power generation, including strengthening competition in the industry, greater investments in renewable energy, and modernization of the electricity grid, integrating sustainability concerns in the national transport system, and improving coastal management practices. The coming national and local elections is an opportunity to ensure that we meet our sustainability and resilience plans. Clearly, the progress, or lack of it, in terms of the SDG measures illustrates that the Philippines has still a long way off in meeting its

Dr. Jesus Lim Arranza

MAKE SENSE

t’s true, and I agree with the young Greta Thunberg, that all we’ve been getting from world leaders on the issue of climate change are mere words—rhetorics—and nothing really substantial were gained from the years that we’ve had the Conference of the Parties (or UN Climate Change Conference), which is now on its 26th edition.

Yes, it’s been all “blah, blah, blah.” But allow me to put in my two cents’ worth on this serious matter. Watching Greta Thunberg lambast powerful leaders in her viral videos made me see clearly another mistake that mankind has been guilty of for the past several decades —it’s population boom, boom, boom. Consider these: Earth’s temperature has risen by 0.14° F (0.08° C) per decade since 1880, and the rate of warming over the past 40 years is more than twice that: 0.32° F (0.18° C) per decade since 1981. Meanwhile, from 1980 to 2020,

Eagle Watch. . . continued from A8

to 2020 and 2019) and three marked as orange is still more than those SDGs mark in green. While there is good progress in some SDGs such as those mentioned above, there are also other targets that should be given more attention, especially if the trend is decreasing. While the Philippine has a yellow indicator in the SDG on climate action due to the relatively low level of

ally difficult time feeding and taking care of our people. It was different, of course, when God gave this commandment to Adam and Eve and the family of Noah. I’m calling for a review of policies related to population growth in the next Congress under a new president who may—or may not be—cowered by religious dogma and influence. This is one reason I’m joining the senatorial race in the 2022 elections. These critical matters should be ventilated and discussed extensively in all fora, from the campaign period up to the august chambers. I may be there at the Senate’s session hall come July 2022 with the people’s help, or maybe not. But at the minimum, I’ve accomplished my goal of bringing to the people important issues—which policy-makers should discuss as part of their platform—at every opportunity I will get during the campaign period. This is how the battle should be won.

Dr. Jesus Lim Arranza is the chairman of the Federation of Philippine Industries and Fight Illicit Trade; a broad-based, multisectoral movement intended to protect consumers, safeguard government revenues and shield legitimate industries from the ill effects of smuggling.

2030 commitments. Unfortunately, the past few years have not been very fruitful in ensuring that we have been able to keep our promises. Thus, it is critical that we elect leaders that would be able to meet both our short- and long-term challenges and ensure that we have a better life for all citizens in the country. Dr. Philip Arnold P. Tuaño, Chairperson of the Department of Economics of Ateneo de Manila University, and Mr. Joaquin Ignacio D. Campos are associates at the UN Sustainable Development Solutions Network.

BusinessMirror

A10 Friday, November 12, 2021

ESTABLISHMENT / ADDRESS NAME OF FOREIGN NATIONAL , POSITION AND BRIEF DESCRIPTION ACCENTURE, INC. 7f, Robinsons Cybergate Tower 1, Pioneer St, City Of Mandaluyongd

No.

KIM, TAEYOUNG Customer Service Analyst 1.

Brief Job Description: Provide customer service for Korean and English merchants (voice, email or chat) DE GUZMAN, FERLYN Technical Writing And Translation Senior Analyst

Brief Job Description: Provide language translation support service across technology programs and projects using strong verbal and written communication skills THARAKANDIYIL, MITHUL RAJ Workforce Services Associate Manager Brief Job Description: Responsible for delivery on all contracts/ SLAs

ACE VELOCITY CONSULTANCY INC. 37/f Lkg Tower, 6801 Ayala Ave., Bel-air, City Of Makati YIN, HAO Chinese Speaking Marketing Consultant 4.

Brief Job Description: Assist/help customers, give customer information about product and services ZHANG, YUNYUN Chinese Speaking Marketing Consultant

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

ASIAN TECHNOLOGY SERVICES, INC. 11/f Tower 2, Double Dragon, Macapagal Blvd., Brgy. 076, Pasay City CHA, HYUNDO Customer Service Representative 6.

Brief Job Description: to assist customers regarding their queries, complaints, and promotions GWON, CHEOLUNG Customer Service Representative Brief Job Description: to assist customers regarding their queries, complaints, and promotions KIM, HYEONGSU Customer Service Representative

ESTABLISHMENT / ADDRESS QUALIFICATION AND SALARY RANGE Basic Qualification: Bachelors degree preferred. Minimum 1-2 years customer service experience (voice, email or chat) Salary Range: Php 60,000 - Php 89,999 Basic Qualification: 1-2 years experience in an analytical or customer service role. Strong, effective written and oral English/ Language communication skills Salary Range: Php 60,000 - Php 89,999 Basic Qualification: Strong sense of personal stake and urgency in day-today management 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: 21 years old and above, fluent in Korean language Salary Range: Php 30,000 - Php 59,999 Basic Qualification: 21 years old and above, fluent in Korean language Salary Range: Php 30,000 - Php 59,999 Basic Qualification: 21 years old and above, fluent in Korean language

Brief Job Description: to assist customers regarding their queries, complaints, Salary Range: and promotions Php 30,000 - Php 59,999 BIGCAT SOFTWARE SOLUTIONS, INC. 18/f Pbcom Tower, 6795 Ayala Avenue Cor. Rufino Street, Salcedo Vill., Bel-air, City Of Makati Basic Qualification: MICHAEL SAMUEL ADRIAN HONGES Degree holder, must fluently Bahasa Indonesian Language-marketing Officer speak and write Bahasa Indonesian language to cater 9. Brief Job Description: foreign market Create specific promotions for affilities promote business and products Salary Range: Php 30,000 - Php 59,999 Basic Qualification: degree holder, must VALENTINE fluently speak and write in Bahasa Indonesian Language-officer Customer Service Indonesian to cater foreign 10. market Brief Job Description: initiate conversation to uncover customer needs Salary Range: Php 30,000 - Php 59,999 Basic Qualification: degree holder, must fluently UDOM, MAYYANEE speak and write in thai Thai Language-officer Customer Service language to cater foreign 11. market Brief Job Description: initiate conversation to uncover customer needs Salary Range: Php 30,000 - Php 59,999 BRENPRO INC. 6f & 7f Nexus Center, 1010 Metropolitan Ave. & Kamagong St., San Antonio, City Of Makati TRAN THUY DIEM PHUONG Basic Qualification: Technical Support Degree in computer science or information technology 12. Brief Job Description: Installing and configuring computer systems, diagnosing Salary Range: hardware and software faults and solving technical and Php 30,000 - Php 59,999 applications problem CAPSLOCK INC. 7th & 8th Flr. Y Tower Bldg., Coral Way Drive Cor. Macapagal Ave., Brgy. 076, Pasay City GU, XIUHUI Basic Qualification: Chinese IT Support Specialist Must be fluent in Chinese language (writing and Brief Job Description: 13. speaking) The Chinese IT Support Specialist shall answer incoming phone calls from clients and troubleshoot customer Salary Range: technical problems with computer software and Php 30,000 - Php 59,999 hardware. WEI, YUELAN Basic Qualification: Chinese IT Support Specialist Must be fluent in Chinese language (writing and Brief Job Description: 14. speaking) The Chinese IT Support Specialist shall answer incoming phone calls from clients and troubleshoot customer Salary Range: technical problems with computer software and Php 30,000 - Php 59,999 hardware. XIA, JUAN Basic Qualification: Chinese IT Support Specialist Must be fluent in Chinese language (writing and Brief Job Description: 15. speaking) The Chinese IT Support Specialist shall answer incoming phone calls from clients and troubleshoot customer Salary Range: technical problems with computer software and Php 30,000 - Php 59,999 hardware. ZUO, SHUAI Basic Qualification: Chinese IT Support Specialist Must be fluent in Chinese language (writing and Brief Job Description: 16. speaking) The Chinese IT Support Specialist shall answer incoming phone calls from clients and troubleshoot customer Salary Range: technical problems with computer software and Php 30,000 - Php 59,999 hardware. KHOR CHEAN LIANG IT Support Specialist 17.

Brief Job Description: The IT Support Specialist shall answer incoming phone calls from 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

No.

NAME OF FOREIGN NATIONAL , POSITION AND BRIEF DESCRIPTION

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ESTABLISHMENT / ADDRESS QUALIFICATION AND SALARY RANGE

CHINA COMMUNICATIONS SERVICES PHILIPPINES CORPORATION 12/f One/neo Bldg, 26th St. Cor 3rd Ave., Bgc, Fort Bonifacio, City Of Taguig Basic Qualification: College Graduate outstanding LIU, HUI leadership skills, fluent Mandarin Speaking Project Supervisor in mandarin and English preferably with 5 years of 18. Brief Job Description: experience as a project Acts as communication liason between low-level supervisor employees and senior management Salary Range: Php 60,000 - Php 89,999 CHINA GEO-ENG’G (PHIL.) CORPORATION Unit No. 801-b, Flr. No. 8/f, Biopolis Bldg. Macapagal Blvd., Barangay 76, Pasay City Basic Qualification: ZHANG, ANHUI Well experienced in Assistant Project Manager project management and 19. administrative assistance Brief Job Description: Handle projects assigned by the project manager Salary Range: Php 30,000 - Php 59,999 Basic Qualification: HUANG, WEICHENG Knowledgeable in Project Manager construction site 20. management Brief Job Description: Responsible for over-all project construction & Salary Range: coordination with the employer & consultants Php 30,000 - Php 59,999 COCOPIG DIGITAL TECHNOLOGY INC. Unit F 20/f Marajo Tower, 26th Avenue, Bonifacio Global City, Fort Bonifacio, City Of Taguig Basic Qualification: ZHANG, YANHONG Able to speak and write in Customer Support Representative MANDARIN and at least college level with related 21. Brief Job Description: BPO experience. Supports customers by providing helpful information, answering questions, and responding to complaints. Salary Range: Php 30,000 - Php 59,999 COGNIZANT TECHNOLOGY SOLUTIONS PHILIPPINES, INC. 2nd, 3rd, And 4th Floors, Science Hub Tower 4 Bldg., Mckinley Hill Cyberpark, Fort Bonifacio, City Of Taguig Basic Qualification: BA or BS degree holder; JEAMTHAVORN, PIMSIRI minimum 2-year(s) Senior Process Executive customer service support experience (voice, e-mail, or Brief Job Description: chat), working with direct 22. Service support solution includes diagnosis, resolution consumers preferably in a and reporting of customer issues and questions relating b2c environment; native Thai YouTube paid content products. Service is tier 1 end user speaker support with escalations to Google in Thai language Salary Range: Php 90,000 - Php 149,999 Basic Qualification: BA or BS degree holder; TANAPHAN, CHIDNUPONG minimum 2-year(s) Senior Process Executive customer service support experience (voice, e-mail, or Brief Job Description: chat), working with direct 23. Service support solution includes diagnosis, resolution consumers preferably in a and reporting of customer issues and questions relating b2c environment; native Thai YouTube paid content products. Service is tier 1 end user speaker support with escalations to Google in Thai language Salary Range: Php 90,000 - Php 149,999 CRONYX INC. No. 4th-10th Flr. Yinhope Bldg., Dela Rama Cor. Zoili Hilario St., Seascape Village, Ccp Complex Subd. Zone 10, Barangay 076, District 1, Pasay City Basic Qualification: TANG, SIRUO With atleast 6 months Chinese Speaking Admin Associate customer service experience / Good in oral 24. Brief Job Description: communication and written Assist/help customers, give customers information about product and services Salary Range: Php 30,000 - Php 59,999 DEXIN 999, INC. Red Hotel No. 345, Edsa Cor. Don Carlos Revilla St., Barangay 147, Pasay City Basic Qualification: XIA, DALIN Able to speak and write in Mandarin Customer Support Representative MANDARIN/FUKIEN and at least college level with 25. Brief Job Description: related BPO experience. Supports customers by providing helpful information, answering questions, and responding to complaints. Salary Range: Php 30,000 - Php 59,999 DL MANILA BRANCH 12th Flr. Menarco Tower, 32nd St., Bonifacio Global City, Fort Bonifacio, City Of Taguig Basic Qualification: OH, DONGHYEON Bachelor’s degree with 7 Cost Control Manager years of experience in the 26. related field Brief Job Description: Develop and implement proactive solutions and costSalary Range: cutting measures. Php 60,000 - Php 89,999 Basic Qualification: SON, CHAN HO Bachelor’s degree with 7 Precast Yard (pcy) Site Manager years of experience in the 27. related field Brief Job Description: Ensure effective operation of installation/construction Salary Range: procedures. Php 60,000 - Php 89,999 Basic Qualification: KWON, HYUNSUNG Bachelor’s degree with 7 Technical Director years of experience in the 28. related field Brief Job Description: Plan, coordinate and manage all business operations to Salary Range: achieve corporate goals. Php 90,000 - Php 149,999 DYNAMIC STUDIO TECHNOLOGY INC. 5th To 10th/f Platinum Tower Building, Aseana Ave. Cor. Fuentes Street, Baclaran, City Of Parañaque Basic Qualification: HUANG, WENWEN With atleast 6 months Chinese Speaking Admin Associate customer service experience/ good in oral communication 29. Brief Job Description: and written Assist/help customers, give customers information about product and services Salary Range: Php 30,000 - Php 59,999 Basic Qualification: SUN, MINGHUI With atleast 6 months Chinese Speaking Admin Associate customer service experience/ good in oral communication 30. Brief Job Description: and written Assist/help customers, give customers information about product and services Salary Range: Php 30,000 - Php 59,999 EAST WEST BANKING CORPORATION Podium Of The Beau Fort 5th Ave., Bonifacio Global City, Fort Bonifacio, City Of Taguig Basic Qualification: Must have 15 years of work PATEL, DHARMESH experience in analytics Head Of Business Intelligence applied in banking industry; degree in statistics and Brief Job Description: 31. economics and must possess Provide leadership and direction to the business leadership and people intelligence unit. Identify analytics initiatives, design management. analytics frameworks and guide through completion of analytics. Salary Range: Php 500,000 and above FIRST GREAT COMPUTER TECHNOLOGIES INC. Lot 5, Sta. Agueda Cor. Queensway Pagcor Drive, Sto. Niño, City Of Parañaque

No.

32.

NAME OF FOREIGN NATIONAL , POSITION AND BRIEF DESCRIPTION YEONG ZHEN FONG Computer System Analyst Brief Job Description: Configure and maintain system networks

QUALIFICATION AND SALARY RANGE Basic Qualification: Knowledgeable in computer applications Salary Range: Php 30,000 - Php 59,999

GLOBAL DIMSUM FOOD CORP. 7th/f, One Corporate Central Bldg., 768 Boni Ave. Cor. San Roque 28, Brgy. Barangka Ilaya, City Of Mandaluyong Basic Qualification: LIM TIEN PHAU Can perform other task that Sous Chef - Dimsum (Malaysian Speaking) may assigned by the Superior 33. from time to time Brief Job Description: Responsible to assist the Executive Chef to manage and Salary Range: lead designation culinary team Php 30,000 - Php 59,999 HC CONSUMER FINANCE PHILIPPINES, INC. 15th Floor, Ore Central, 9th Ave. Cor 31st. Bonifacio Global City, Fort Bonifacio, City Of Taguig Basic Qualification: KROTOSZYNSKI, WOJCIECH ANTONI With 7 years and above Head Of Collections experience in analytics management, master’s Brief Job Description: 34. degree in statistics Delivering on the strategic underwriting initiatives developed in line w/ credit risk management policy of the Salary Range: company Php 150,000 - Php 499,999 IBM BUSINESS SERVICES, INC. 8th Floor, 1800 Bldg., Eastwood City, Libis, Quezon City Basic Qualification: At least 5 years experience MAHESHWARI ANAND, SHAILY in Staffing, Recruiting, or Client Services Manager Account Management in a corporate or professional Brief Job Description: services environment. At Overall responsibility for the recruitment service line least 3 years experience of the account and for meeting required SLAs and managing recruitment teams delivery commitments. They have people management in a matrix management 35. responsibility (training, on the job performance and environment. At least 2 coaching). They are accountable for ensuring legal and years experience with regulatory compliance of the recruitment process in Microsoft office (word, the US, in collaboration with the account’s SMEs. They Excel, PowerPoint). At least are accountable for meeting compliance and control 1 year experience in change requirements for their respective process as required by management the center. The employee focuses on individual/ team/ department operational objectives. Salary Range: Php 150,000 - Php 499,999 IDNPLAY CORPORATION 8/f Burgundy Corporate Tower, 252 Sen. Gil J.puyat Ave., Pio Del Pilar, City Of Makati Basic Qualification: ABIGAIL BELLY Fluent for both native and Indonesian Speaking Customer Service English languages, Computer literate 36. Brief Job Description: Serves customer by providing product and service Salary Range: information and resolving product service problem Php 30,000 - Php 59,999 Basic Qualification: DEWI OKTAVIA Fluent for both native and Indonesian Speaking Customer Service english languages, COmputer 37. literate Brief Job Description: Serves customer by providing product and service Salary Range: information and resolving product service problem Php 30,000 - Php 59,999 Basic Qualification: YADHI Fluent for both native and Indonesian Speaking Customer Service english languages, COmputer 38. literate Brief Job Description: Serves customer by providing product and service Salary Range: information and resolving product service problem Php 30,000 - Php 59,999 INFINITECHNOLOGIES VENTURES INC. Room 506 Estuar Building, #41 Timog Ave., South Triangle 4, City Of Makati Basic Qualification: WANG, PENG Excellent leadership & External Research & Development Consultant For Chinese managerial skills and the Clients ability t communicate well 39. with customers Brief Job Description: Perform quality assurance & integration of multiple data Salary Range: streams for research studies Php 30,000 - Php 59,999 INNOVAWISE CONSULTANCY INC. Unit 2901, 29/f One Corporate Center, Meralco Ave. Cor. Julia Vargas Ave., Ortigas Center, San Antonio, City Of Pasig ZHANG, FULONG Basic Qualification: Mandarin Speaking Customer Service Representative Good communications skills Mandarin speaking and basic Brief Job Description: English, must be good to 40. Will be in-charge of helping the customers with handle clients and customers complaints and questions, give customers information about products and services, take orders, and process Salary Range: returns. Php 30,000 - Php 59,999 MEGA-WEB TECHNOLOGIES INC. 6,7,8,9,10,11/f Met Live Bldg., Edsa Cor. Macapagal Blvd., Brgy. 076, Pasay City Basic Qualification: TIN WIN AUNG Proficient in speaking, Burmese Customer Service Representative reading and writing in 41. Burmese Brief Job Description: Responsible for handling service support calls Salary Range: Php 30,000 - Php 59,999 Basic Qualification: LI, BAXIA Proficient in speaking, Mandarin Speaking Customer Relations Service Provider reading and writing in 42. Mandarin Brief Job Description: Responsible for handling service support calls Salary Range: Php 30,000 - Php 59,999 Basic Qualification: TANG, ZHONGXIAO Proficient in speaking, Mandarin Speaking Customer Relations Service Provider reading and writing in 43. Mandarin Brief Job Description: Responsible for handling service support calls Salary Range: Php 30,000 - Php 59,999 MINDSCAPE CREATIVES INC. Unit 19-o, Burgundy Corporate Tower, 252 Sen. Gil Puyat Ave., Pio Del Pilar, City Of Makati JI, CI-SYU Mandarin Marketing Specialist 44.

Brief Job Description: Conducting research and marketing strategies to develop areas of business YU, RONGTAO Mandarin Marketing Specialist

45.

Brief Job Description: Conducting research and marketing strategies to develop areas of business REN, ZHENG Mandarin Operation Specialist

46.

Brief Job Description: Committed to improving customer experience and operational efficiency

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

BusinessMirror

www.businessmirror.com.ph

ESTABLISHMENT / ADDRESS No.

NAME OF FOREIGN NATIONAL , POSITION AND BRIEF DESCRIPTION ZHENG, QI Mandarin Operation Specialist

47.

Brief Job Description: Committed to improving customer experience and operational efficiency CHEN, YU Mandarin Technical Support

48.

Brief Job Description: To troubleshoot, maintain and monitor the computer system

ESTABLISHMENT / ADDRESS QUALIFICATION AND SALARY RANGE Basic Qualification: Proficient in speaking, reading and writing in Mandarin Salary Range: Php 30,000 - Php 59,999 Basic Qualification: Proficient in speaking, reading and writing in Mandarin Salary Range: Php 30,000 - Php 59,999

MITSUBISHI CORPORATION 14/f L.v. Locsin Bldg., 6752 Ayala Cor., Makati Aves., San Lorenzo, City Of Makati TANAKA, SHUNSUKE Basic Qualification: Division Head For Urban Development Division Confidential employee appointed by the principal 49. Brief Job Description: office in Japan Manages the Urban Development Division business strategy in accordance to the direction of the Salary Range: headquarters in Tokyo Office Php 150,000 - Php 499,999 MOA CLOUDZONE CORP. 4th-11th Flr. Nexgen Tower, C4 Rd. Edsa Ext., Brgy. 076, Pasay City Basic Qualification: CHENG, YANG Able to speak, Read, and Chinese Customer Service Write Chinese Language 50. Brief Job Description: Salary Range: Managing Incoming calls and customer service inquiries Php 30,000 - Php 59,999 Basic Qualification: DAI, FANGGANG Able to speak, Read, and Chinese Customer Service Write chinese language 51. Brief Job Description: Salary Range: Managing incoming calls and customer service inquiries Php 30,000 - Php 59,999 Basic Qualification: FU, XIAOHU Able to speak, Read, and Chinese Customer Service Write Chinese Language 52. Brief Job Description: Salary Range: Managing Incoming calls and customer service inquiries Php 30,000 - Php 59,999 Basic Qualification: GAO, KOUSHUAI Able to speak, Read, and Chinese Customer Service Write Chinese Language 53. Brief Job Description: Salary Range: Managing Incoming calls and customer service inquiries Php 30,000 - Php 59,999 Basic Qualification: HOANG THAI PHONG Able to speak, read and write Chinese Customer Service Chinese language 54. Brief Job Description: Salary Range: Managing incoming calls and customer service inquiries Php 30,000 - Php 59,999 Basic Qualification: LI, TING Able to speak, read and write Chinese Customer Service Chinese language 55. Brief Job Description: Salary Range: Managing incoming calls and customer service inquiries Php 30,000 - Php 59,999 Basic Qualification: LI, YUNHAN Able to speak, Read, and Chinese Customer Service Write chinese language 56. Brief Job Description: Salary Range: Managing incoming calls and customer service inquiries Php 30,000 - Php 59,999 Basic Qualification: LIU, JIJING Able to speak, Read, and Chinese Customer Service Write Chinese Language 57. Brief Job Description: Salary Range: Managing Incoming calls and customer service inquiries Php 30,000 - Php 59,999 Basic Qualification: NGUYEN CONG NHIEU Able to speak, read and write Chinese Customer Service Chinese language 58. Brief Job Description: Salary Range: Managing incoming calls and customer service inquiries Php 30,000 - Php 59,999 Basic Qualification: NING, HUI Able to speak, read and write Chinese Customer Service Chinese language 59. Brief Job Description: Salary Range: Managing incoming calls and customer service inquiries Php 30,000 - Php 59,999 Basic Qualification: NING, XIN Able to speak, read and write Chinese Customer Service Chinese language 60. Brief Job Description: Salary Range: Managing incoming calls and customer service inquiries Php 30,000 - Php 59,999 Basic Qualification: SUN, CONGFA Able to speak, Read, and Chinese Customer Service Write Chinese Language 61. Brief Job Description: Salary Range: Managing Incoming calls and customer service inquiries Php 30,000 - Php 59,999 Basic Qualification: SUN, LIHUA Able to speak, Read, and Chinese Customer Service Write Chinese Language 62. Brief Job Description: Salary Range: Managing Incoming calls and customer service inquiries Php 30,000 - Php 59,999 Basic Qualification: WANG, XIAOPENG Able to speak, Read, and Chinese Customer Service Write chinese language 63. Brief Job Description: Salary Range: Managing incoming calls and customer service inquiries Php 30,000 - Php 59,999 Basic Qualification: WANG, ZHIKUN Able to speak, Read, and Chinese Customer Service Write Chinese Language 64. Brief Job Description: Salary Range: Managing Incoming calls and customer service inquiries Php 30,000 - Php 59,999 Basic Qualification: XIAO, YAO Able to speak, Read, and Chinese Customer Service Write chinese language 65. Brief Job Description: Salary Range: Managing incoming calls and customer service inquiries Php 30,000 - Php 59,999 Basic Qualification: YANG, KAI Able to speak, read and write Chinese Customer Service Chinese language 66. Brief Job Description: Salary Range: Managing incoming calls and customer service inquiries Php 30,000 - Php 59,999 Basic Qualification: YANG, SHIHUA Able to speak, read and write Chinese Customer Service Chinese language 67. Brief Job Description: Salary Range: Managing incoming calls and customer service inquiries Php 30,000 - Php 59,999 Basic Qualification: ZHANG, HAO Able to speak, Read, and Chinese Customer Service Write Chinese Language 68. Brief Job Description: Salary Range: Managing Incoming calls and customer service inquiries Php 30,000 - Php 59,999 Basic Qualification: ZHANG, YUSHUANG Able to speak, Read, and Chinese Customer Service Write Chinese language 69. Brief Job Description: Salary Range: Managing incoming calls and customer service inquiries Php 30,000 - Php 59,999 Basic Qualification: ZHUANG, GUANXIONG Able to speak, Read, and Chinese Customer Service Write Chinese language 70. Brief Job Description: Salary Range: Managing incoming calls and customer service inquiries Php 30,000 - Php 59,999

71.

72.

ZOU, QIANKUN Chinese Customer Service Brief Job Description: Managing Incoming calls and customer service inquiries PENG, TAO Chinese Customer Specialist Brief Job Description: Managing Incoming calls and customer service inquiries

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

No.

73.

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

Brief Job Description: Managing incoming calls and customer service inquiries

QUALIFICATION AND SALARY RANGE

No.

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

MODAIR MANILA CO., LTD. INC. 3/f & 4/f 223 Salcedo Bldg., 223 Salcedo Cor. Gamboa Sts., San Lorenzo, City Of Makati Basic Qualification: Extensive experience DOI, YASUHIRO in multi-disciplinary Project Manager construction projects with multiple interfaces and 74. Brief Job Description: acts as a point contact for Coordinate the schedule, budget, issues, and risks of the Japanese clients project Salary Range: Php 30,000 - Php 59,999 Basic Qualification: Extensive experience NAKAMURA, SEIZO in multi-disciplinary Project Manager construction projects with multiple interfaces and 75. Brief Job Description: acts as a point contact for Coordinate the schedule, budget, issues, and risks of the Japanese clients project Salary Range: Php 30,000 - Php 59,999

SAKURAI, SHOTA Chief Representative 76.

Basic Qualification: Knowledge of a Japanese language is a must.

Brief Job Description: Represents the company in terms of coordination, Salary Range: promotion and dissemination of information about the Php 150,000 - Php 499,999 business and the corporation. NANTAI TECHNOLOGY SOLUTIONS INCORPORATED 3rd Floor Net One Center Building, 26th Street Corner 3rd Ave., Fort Bonifacio, City Of Taguig Basic Qualification: With bachelor’s Degree LEE, PO-HONG in Computer Science or IT Technical Support any related course with a minimum of 1 year IT 77. Brief Job Description: experience and able to speak Maintains the computer networks of all types of and write in MANDARIN. organizations, providing technical support and ensuring the whole company runs smoothly. Salary Range: Php 30,000 - Php 59,999 NEO INCORPORATED North Tower Centrum Bldg., Aseana Avenue, Entertainment City, Baclaran, City Of Parañaque Basic Qualification: CUNG THI BICH LOAN with at least 6 months Chinese Speaking Admin Associate customer service experience/ good in oral communication 78. Brief Job Description: and written assist/help customers, give customers information about product and services Salary Range: Php 30,000 - Php 59,999 Basic Qualification: HE, HUAJIE with at least 6 months Chinese Speaking Admin Associate customer service experience/ good in oral communication 79. Brief Job Description: and written assist/help customers, give customers information about product and services Salary Range: Php 30,000 - Php 59,999 Basic Qualification: LI, SHUAI With at least 6 months Chinese Speaking Business Development Associate customer service experience/ good in oral communication 80. Brief Job Description: and written Assist/help customers, give customers information about product and services Salary Range: Php 30,000 - Php 59,999 Basic Qualification: SHANG, TINGQI With at least 6 months Chinese Speaking Business Development Associate customer service experience. Good in oral communication 81. Brief Job Description: and written. Assist/Help customers. Give customer information about product and services Salary Range: Php 30,000 - Php 59,999 NEWBAY INTERNATIONAL TECHNOLOGY INC. 2/f Mezzanine Tower 1, The Enterprise Center, 6766 Ayala Ave. Cor. Paseo De Roxas, City Of Makati Basic Qualification: LEE, WAN-YU Proficient in speaking, Mandarin Technical Support reading, and writing in mandarin 82. Brief Job Description: Monitoring and maintaining computer systems and Salary Range: networks Php 30,000 - Php 59,999 PHILIPPINE PLAZA HOLDINGS, INCORPORATED Ccp Complex, Roxas Blvd., Brgy. 076, Pasay City ATTHASARN, PHAITHOON Sous Chef - Thai Cuisine 83.

Brief Job Description: Responsible to run the Asian Cuisine Section including the Korean and Filipino Stations.

Basic Qualification: Minimum of five (5) years CDP experience on relevant working experience Salary Range: Php 60,000 - Php 89,999

PHILIPPINE TRAILBLAZERS TECHNOLOGY CORP. 8/f Co Ban Kiat Bldg. Ii, 231 Juan Luna Street, 027, Barangay 287, Binondo, City Of Manila Basic Qualification: 2 years experience in managing and directing sales SHI, YAWEN team, expert in language Sales Manager translation in mandarin 84. to English, can speak and Brief Job Description: write mandarin and English Planning and implementing sales strategies and customer fluently. relations. Salary Range: Php 30,000 - Php 59,999

PINOY PROPERTIES INVESTMENT CORPORATION G06 Monarch Parksuites, Aseana Business Park Bradco Avenue, Tambo, City Of Parañaque Basic Qualification: CHEN, BAOCHENG Able to Speak Mandarin, can Mandarin Speaking Marketing Officer understand customer needs and develop plans to address Brief Job Description: 85. them. Facilitating sales enablement activities, working closely with clients/management to create an effective marketing Salary Range: strategy Php 30,000 - Php 59,999

89.

86.

Brief Job Description: Delivers performance that meets or exceeds the revenue and payroll margin goals while protecting existing market share.

Basic Qualification: Minimum 5 years progressive management and leadership of project and implementation teams Salary Range: Php 150,000 - Php 499,999

QIU, LEI Operation Manager 87.

Brief Job Description: Ensure all operations are carried on in an appropriate, cost-effective way.

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

SHANG PROPERTIES, INC. Shangri-la Plaza Edsa, Cor Shaw Boulevard, Brgy. Wack Wack, City Of Mandaluyong TAN HUA PHONG Senior Projects Director 88.

Brief Job Description: Direct and lead several project team in planning and developing design, cost and strategies in line with management directives

Basic Qualification: 20 years of relevant work experience and 12 years in a senior management role Salary Range: Php 500,000 and above

Basic Qualification: Must fluently speak and write and the follow languages, A. Chinese B. Bahasa indonesia C. Bahasa Malaysia D. Vietnamese E. Thai to cater foreign markets

TENMAN PROJECT MANAGEMENT INC. Unit 805-808 The One Executive Office Bldg., #5 West Ave., Nayong Kanluran 1, Quezon City TOMS, JONATHAN KEITH Major Project Director 90.

Brief Job Description: Overall responsibility for the successful implementation of construction managements projects up to its successful completion

Basic Qualification: University degree holder, must have handled international projects Salary Range: Php 500,000 and above

THE JIANGSU MUYANG GROUP CO., LTD.-PHILIPPINE REPRESENTATIVE OFFICE Unit 2005, 20/f Jollibee Plaza Cond., Don F. Ortigas Jr. Rd. Ortigas Ctr., San Antonio, City Of Pasig GUO, ZHIHENG Account Manager 91.

92.

93.

Brief Job Description: Establishes and maintains an effective system of communication. XIE, YINGQI Feedmill Designer Brief Job Description: To advise and guide the design of Asia Pacific companies.

Basic Qualification: 2 years feed mill work experience Salary Range: Php 30,000 - Php 59,999 Basic Qualification: 2 years feed mill work experience Salary Range: Php 30,000 - Php 59,999

HUANG, XU Project Specialist

Basic Qualification: 2 years feed mill experience

Brief Job Description: On-site Construction Management

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

TOTAL CREST BUSINESS SUPPORT, INC. 26/f & 27/f Alphaland Corporate Tower, Ayala Ave. Extn. Cor. Malugay St., Bel-air, City Of Makati LOW YI CHING Mandarin Customer Service Specialist 94.

Brief Job Description: Prepare product or service reports by collecting and analyzing customer information

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

VERTEX DIGITAL ENTERTAINMENT TECHNOLOGIES, INC. 1439 Adriatico Cor. Sta. Monica St., 072, Bgy. 669, Ermita, City Of Manila

95.

96.

97.

98.

MA, DONGGAO Chinese IT Specialist Brief Job Description: Maintain the operation of electronic gaming device

SU, WEIQIN Chinese IT Specialist Brief Job Description: Maintain the operations of electronic gaming devices

WANG, XIAOLING Chinese IT Specialist Brief Job Description: Maintain the operations of electronic gaming devices

WU, QUAN Chinese IT Specialist Brief Job Description: Maintain the operations of electronic gaming devices

Basic Qualification: 300 vacancy/college graduate with experience in maintain gaming devices, fluent in Mandarin and English speaking Salary Range: Php 30,000 - Php 59,999 Basic Qualification: 300 vacancy/college graduate with experience in maintain gaming devices, fluent in mandarin and English speaking Salary Range: Php 30,000 - Php 59,999 Basic Qualification: 300 vacancy/college graduate with experience in maintain gaming devices, fluent in mandarin and English speaking Salary Range: Php 30,000 - Php 59,999 Basic Qualification: 300 vacancy/college graduate with experience in maintain gaming devices, fluent in mandarin and English speaking Salary Range: Php 30,000 - Php 59,999

VPC CORPORATE SOLUTIONS INCORPORATED 11/f 100 West, Sen Gil Puyat Ave. Cor., Washington St., Pio Del Pilar, City Of Makati Basic Qualification: HE, ZHIHUI Excellent in writing, reading Bilingual Technical Support Specialist and speaking in bilingual laguages 99. Brief Job Description: Evaluates expansions or enhancments by studying work Salary Range: load capacity pf computer system Php 30,000 - Php 59,999 WANFANG TECHNOLOGY MANAGEMENT, INC. U-3501/02 35/f Pbcom Tower, Cor. Ayala Ave. & V.a. Rufino St., Bel-air, City Of Makati LOW FU LUNG Malaysian Customer Service Representative 100.

Brief Job Description: maintains financial account; recommends potential product and services; attract potential to a customers

Basic Qualification: atleast 19yr old, ability to speak and communicate in malaysian Salary Range: Php 30,000 - Php 59,999

ZTE PHILIPPINES INC. Unit 1201 & 1202 12th Floor Fort Legend Towers, 3rd Ave. Corner 31st St., Bgc, Fort Bonifacio, City Of Taguig

101.

102.

103.

RUBRIKLABS INC. 3201a, 3201b, 3201c West Tower, Psec Exchange Road, Ortigas Center, San Antonio, City Of Pasig Basic Qualification: Needs to be an expert in the specific business processes that he or she is expected to perform.

Brief Job Description: Ensure that all price changes and deliver of events are timely and accurate

QUALIFICATION AND SALARY RANGE

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

RESULTS MANILA, INC. Silver City, Frontera Verde, Ugong, City Of Pasig GRACE, CHRISTOPHER DARNELL Director, Relationship Management

NAME OF FOREIGN NATIONAL , POSITION AND BRIEF DESCRIPTION

TAN TIAN SHOW Malaysian Language - Trade Specialist

MYNAVI CORPORATION - PHILIPPINE REPRESENTATIVE OFFICE 30/f Yuchengco Tower, Rcbc Plaza, 6819 Ayala Ave., Bel-air, City Of Makati

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

ESTABLISHMENT / ADDRESS

NAME OF FOREIGN NATIONAL , POSITION AND BRIEF DESCRIPTION WANG, BANGHONG Chinese Customer Specialist

Friday, November 12, 2021 A11

104.

DUAN, JIE Logistics Manager

Basic Qualification: Graduate of business course

Brief Job Description: Manages Logistic team and delivery team

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

GENG, TIAN Solution Manager

Basic Qualification: Graduate of any four-year course

Brief Job Description: Take charge of technical exchanges with technical line

Salary Range: Php 60,000 - Php 89,999 Basic Qualification: Graduate of any four-year course

YIN, XU Solution Manager Brief Job Description: Take charge of technical exchanges with technical line

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

LI, YE Technical Support

Basic Qualification: Graduate of any course

Brief Job Description: Draw up project maintenance

Salary Range: Php 30,000 - Php 59,999 *Date Generated: Nov 11, 2021

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

ATTY. SARAH BUENA S. MIRASOL REGIONAL DIRECTOR

A12 Friday, November 12, 2021

SENATE BRINGS TO SC SUIT VS. PALACE MEMO By Joel R. San Juan

@jrsanjuan1573

HE Senate headed by Senate President Vicente “Tito” Sotto III on Thursday filed a petition asking the Supreme Court to declare null and void, for being unconstitutional, the memorandum issued by Malacañang Palace prohibiting officials and employees of the Executive branch from appearing in hearings in aid of legislation conducted by the Senate Blue Ribbon Committee. Executive Secretary Salvador Medialdea issued the memorandum upon the directive of President Duterte, who in recent weeks has attacked the Senate for allegedly using its inquiry powers for political mileage. In a 67-page petition, the Senate also asked the Court to issue a temporary restraining order and/or a status quo ante order that would compel Executive department officials to attend the ongoing Blue Ribbon hearing on the 2020 Commission on Audit report on alleged questionable procurement of pandemic-related supplies like face masks, shields and Co-

vid-19 test kits. The petitioner is also asking the Court to prohibit respondent Medialdea and other officers of the Executive branch from issuing and implementing directives to law enforcement agencies suc h as t he Philippine National Police and the National Bureau of Investigation that would obstruct the proceedings of the Senate and withhold assistance in the enforcement of the Senate’s compulsory processes. The Senate is also asking the High Tribunal to prohibit Health Secretary Francisco Duque III and other officials of the government from complying with the memorandum, issued on October 4, 2021. The memorandum was issued by Medialdea after the President accused Sen. Richard J. Gordon and some members of the Blue Ribbon Committee of conducting the ongoing probe not in aid of legislation but for political mileage. Duterte said the inquiry was being prolonged needlessly, taking time of Executive officials away from urgent work. Continued on A5

Lorenzana, BBM rue ₧24-B reduction in ’22 budget of NTF-Elcac By Rene Acosta

@reneacostaBM

UTTING the funds of the Barangay Development Program (BDP) will hurt poor Filipinos the most and not the National Task Force, which is implementing it through local officials, Defense Secretary Delfin Lorenzana said on Thursday. This, as presidential aspirant Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos, Jr. expressed worry that the successful campaign of National Task Force to End Local Communist Armed Conflict (NTF-Elcac) may be put to waste after the Senate slashed the agency’s budget for 2022 by P24 billion. The defense chief issued the statement in response to the move by the Senate Finance Committee to cut the BDP budget due to what its chairman, Senator Sonny Angara, said was an issue over proper accounting. Lorenzana said the senators’ move “shows their lack of appreciation of the plight of our folks in the remote barangays..” “Their act was supposed to punish the NTF, but in effect they are punishing the poor people who would have benefitted from the infrastructure and social services projects under the BDP. The previous BDP funds were all disbursed through the LGUs,” he said in a statement issued by Defense spokesman Arsenio Andolong. Instead of the proposed P28.1 billion, the Senate committee just gave a budget of P4 billion to the NTF-Elcac and its BDP project. The NTF is a body implementing the anti-insurgency program of the government. In slashing its funds, Angara said the task force has failed to report to the Senate on how it spent its budget for this year. Others proposed that instead of appropriating money to the NTFElcac, the senators should defund it, which Lorenzana objected to. “The proposal by VP Robredo to

abolish NTF-Elcac because it could be used like Tokhang is misplaced,” he said. The NTF has been implementing its mandate for the past two years and we have not received any complaints from the target barangays.” “Likewise, the NTF is already implementing a whole-of-nation approach to address the ‘root causes’ of insurgency. VP Robredo may consider inviting the NTF-Elcac for a dialogue so she can be enlightened on the interagency body’s mission,” the defense secretary added. In a statement, Marcos, the standard-bearer of the Partido Federal ng Pilipinas (PFP), said he was saddened by the Senate’s decision to reduce the budget of NTF-Elcac to P4 billion for next year. “The good things begun by the agency may all just go to waste. We know that funds must be sufficient to defeat the insurgency that we have been fighting for five decades,” noted Marcos, in whose father’s term the communist party was set up. A lthough Marcos acknowledged that the government funding should be focused on the fight against Covid-19, he stressed that the country must also prioritize the fight against any government threat and insurgency led by the Communist Party of the Philippines, New People’s Army, and National Democratic Front (CPPNPA-NDF). Records from the task force show a total of 882 barangays in the country have been cleared from NPA presence from 2016 to 2019. According to NTF-Elcac, from its P16.44 billion budget this year, most went to its flagship program —the Barangay Development Program (BDP)—where they provided development package incentives of P20 million to each barangay cleared of communist influence, including the construction of farm-to-market roads, health stations, classrooms, water sanitation systems, rural electrification and other livelihood programs.

House panel okays 6-month fuel excise taxes reduction T By Jovee Marie N. dela Cruz

@joveemarie

HE House Committee on Ways and Means approved on Thursday a substitute bill reducing the excise taxes on petroleum products for six months. Albay Rep. Joey Sarte Salceda, panel chairman and principal author of the bill, said the proposal will reduce excise taxes on diesel, kerosene, and liquefied petroleum gas to zero. He said the excise taxes on lowoctane gasoline, used primarily by tricycle drivers, will also be reduced to P4.35 from the current P7, while taxes on premium gasoline will be retained at P10. “The excise tax suspension will be for six months. It’s immediate relief for Filipino families, especially affected sectors. The bill will cost the government around P45 billion, but what the government loses, the consumer gains,” Salceda said. The committee approved the substitute bill following the recommendation and amendments of the technical working group members, including the chief of the House Committee on Economic Affairs Rep. Sharon Garin, Baguio Rep. Mark Go, Marikina Rep. Stella Luz Quimbo, and PBA party-list Rep. Jericho Nograles. Salceda said there is a self-correcting mechanism in the bill. “We embedded a mechanism for reverting it back to TRAIN rates if the prices normalize. If it goes back to 65 dollars per barrel of crude oil, then the excise tax rates will also

normalize,” Salceda added. “The premise of this tax relief bill is that the situation is not normal. If inflation weren’t so high, we would be discussing other matters. But now, consumers are hurting. Inflation is high. Incomes are depressed. So, immediate relief is obviously necessary,” he said.

Social impact fund

MEANWHILE, Salceda said the measure also creates a special fund devoted explicitly towards ayuda for affected sectors whenever oil prices go up. Called the Social Impact Stabilization Fund, the mechanism will be funded by a charge of P2 per liter of diesel and gasoline when global prices reach lower than 45 USD per barrel of crude. “The government manifested in our hearings that the problem with asking for a subsidy that is larger than their P1-billion fund for PUVs is the lack of sources. This one answers it for future oil price problems.” “The 30-year average for crude is at around 48 USD per barrel. So, the prices will have to be abnormally low for the system to kick in. Basically, it addresses the cyclicality of prices. When they are too low, we can charge more so that we have funds in reserve for future ayuda.

When the prices are high, we can release these funds to the public,” Salceda said.

Certify as urgent

HOUSE Deputy Minority leader and Bayan Muna Rep. Carlos Isagani Zarate strongly urged Malacañang to certify the bill as urgent to expedite its passage by both houses of Congress. He said the six-month suspension of the excise taxes on oil products is a partial victory for consumers. “The suspension of the excise tax on oil products would be a welcome reprieve for struggling public transportation drivers and operators, farmers, fisherfolks and consumers from the still continuing oil price hikes. Though we maintain our strategic position to repeal the anti-people provisions of the TRAIN law, the approval of this urgent bill is a step at the right direction and reflects the true and dire situation of our people on the ground, who are still coping with the pandemicaggravated crisis,” said Zarate. “The bill will effectively place most fuel prices to pre-TRAIN law levels, specifically for regular gasoline, diesel, LPG and kerosene, oil products mostly used by consumers. As proposed, the excise taxes for these products will be zero, except for regular and premium gasoline, for six months once the law becomes effective,” said Zarate. According to Salceda, the House hopes to turn the bill over to the Senate by the third or fourth week of November, as “this is a priority measure of Speaker Velasco. I have explicit instructions from my

Speaker to get this done.”

Opposition

MEANWHILE, Department of Finance Director Arvin Quiñones maintained the agency’s opposition to the proposal. “The DOF does not support the various proposals to lower or suspend the TRAIN fuel taxes because these translate to significant forgone revenue, these will be detrimental to our recovery and long-term growth, and these will be inequitable,” he said. “The better and more equitable way to address the impact of the increasing fuel prices is to provide swift and targeted support to the vulnerable sectors,” he added. According to Quiñones, the government has already committed to support the transportation sector amid the increasing oil prices, so the suspension of the fuel excise tax may no longer be necessary. He said the government will release P1 billion to the Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board (LTFRB) to provide cash grants to around 178,000 bonafide PUV drivers for remaining months of the year. “Providing a targeted cash subsidy system to the transportation sector will be more equitable than suspending the fuel excise taxes, which may only subsidize the consumption of higher income households,” he added. However, lawmakers and transportation groups reiterated that the P1-billion fuel subsidy for public utility vehicles is not enough to address the impact of the soaring prices of oil.

A SECURITY officer makes his rounds at the reopened Paco Park in Manila, a recreational garden that was once Manila's municipal cemetery. The government has allowed the reopening of recreational and entertainment venues under a more relaxed Alert Level 2 quarantine classification starting November 5 until November 21. ROY DOMINGO

PRC warns vs scammers preying on delivery riders By Claudeth Mocon-Ciriaco Correspondent

FTER receiving reports from delivery service riders being scammed to pay for the blood processing fee through a convenience store, the Philippine Red Cross (PRC) on Thursday issued a fresh reminder to the public that it does not require payment for the blood processing fee through any convenience stores.

It strongly advised the public to go directly to their Blood Centers if there are requests and need for blood. The PRC said the scam is done thus: the scammer issues a booking to pick up blood through the PRC Blood Center. The scammer will then ask the unsuspecting delivery service worker to pay the processing fee through a convenience store. After the victim transfers the money successfully, the person will no longer

be able to contact the scammer. “Marami na ang nahihirapan dahil sa pandemya, huwag niyong samantalahin ang sitwasyon upang makapang loko ng tao [Many continue to experience difficulties because of the pandemic, please don’t take advantage of the situation],” PRC Chairman and CEO Sen. Richard Gordon said. PRC, which has over 99 blood facilities as of October 2021, provides 50 percent of blood needs in the country, making it the top provider

of quality blood in the Philippines. Gordon encourages everyone, especially the youth, to donate blood every three months, as the need for blood does not stop in this time of the pandemic. To donate blood, the PRC said that the National Blood Center (PRC TOWER) on No. 37 Edsa corner Boni Avenue, Mandaluyong City Tel: (02) 790-2330; (02) 790-2382; (02) 7902383 may be contacted or the PRC Chapter.

Companies BusinessMirror

Editor: Jennifer A. Ng

Friday, November 12, 2021

Easing of tough quarantine curbs fails to boost car sales in October–report

By Tyrone Jasper C. Piad

@TyronePiad

ar and truck manufacturers saw their sales fall by nearly 10 percent in October despite the easing of mobility restrictions.

The automotive industry sold 22,581 units in October, which is 9.8 percent lower than last year’s 25,023 units, according to a joint report by the Chamber of Automotive Manufacturers of the Philippines Inc. (Campi) and Truck Manufacturers Association on Thursday. Comparing this from the previous month, however, sales grew by 5.1 percent from 21,493 units. Campi President Rommel Gutierrez said that “based on the October 2021 sales performance, the auto industry remains strong and will certainly surpass last year’s overall performance.” Year-on-year, passenger car (PC) sales for the month dropped by 15.2 percent to 7,626 units from 8,988 units in 2020. Sales of the commercial vehicle (CV) segment slipped by 6.7 percent to 14,955 units in October from 16,045 units last year. As of end-October, the total industry sales rose by 23.8 percent to 214,186 units from 173,035 units last year. A chunk of the vehicles sold were CVs, which grew by 21.3 percent to 145,578

units for the 10-month period from the previous year’s 119,968. PC sales rose by 29.3 percent to 68,608 units in January to October from 53,067 units a year ago. Toyota Motors Philippines Corp. contributed nearly half of the total industry sales for the period. The local dealer of the Japanese car brand registered a 38.2-percent year-on-year sales growth after selling 103,475 units as of end-October. This is followed by Mitsubishi Motors Philippines Corp. and Ford Motor Company Phils. Inc., which sold 29,565 units and 16,294 units, respectively. “Likewise, we continue to discuss relevant issues with the government aimed at ensuring full recovery of the industry as the country’s economic growth outlook is upgraded,” Gutierrez said. Tough quarantine curbs were also responsible for the poor performance of local vehicle manufacturers in September. Campi and TMA reported that car sales in September fell by 12.4 percent to 21,493 units from 24,523 units sold in the same month last year.

San Miguel triples profit in Jan-Sept By VG Cabuag @villygc

onglomerate San Miguel Corp. (SMC) on Thursday said its income for January to September tripled to P34.15 billion from last year’s P10.74 billion as it continued its steady recovery from the economic impacts of the pandemic. Compared with the pre-pandemic figures, however, the company’s income was still 13 percent down from the P39.65 billion it posted in January to September 2019. Consolidated revenues for the nine months of the year rose 22 percent to P650.6 billion from P531.13 billion last year, driven by volume growth across its major businesses. Operating income reached P87.73 billion, or double from last year’s P41.56 billion as it continues to manage costs and enhance supply chain efficiencies. “ The operating environment remains ver y challenging, but we’ve managed to stay resilient, focus on our goals, and quickly adapt to changing conditions. We’re determined to keep this momentum going, especially with the easing of quarantine restrictions,” company president Ramon S. Ang said. Ang said work continues for the company to help the economy recover better through its investments in strategic projects that generate jobs. “We are committed to finding innovative ways to shape a more sustainable future not only for SMC but for our country. At the same time, we recognize the

need to continue supporting the most marginalized communities and sectors that have yet to recover and rebuild from the impacts of the pandemic.” San Miguel’s major businesses, particularly Petron Corp. and power, delivered quarter on quarter volume and revenue growth. San Miguel Brewery Inc., Ginebra San Miguel Inc. and San Miguel Foods Inc. all continued to grow volumes, even at a slower pace, due to mobility restrictions and liquor bans implemented in July and August. SMC Global Power Holdings Corp. recorded off-take volumes of 20,533 gigawatt hours, up 3 percent from last year, driven by longer operating hours for the Masinloc, Limay and San Roque power plants. Consolidated revenues increased by 7 percent to P93.86 billion from last year’s P87.86 billion, while operating income declined by 14 percent to P24.9 billion from the previous P28.98 billion due to higher spot purchases and rising coal prices. Net income fell 5 percent to P13.69 billion from the previous P14.48 billion as the company’s performance was partly affected by ongoing gas restrictions at the Malampaya field, and the extended outage of the Sual plant. SMC Infrastructure, meanwhile, generated revenues of P13.27 billion for the period up 29 percent from the previous year’s P10.27 billion, as average daily traffic volumes grew by 35 percent at all operating toll roads. Operating income rose doubled to P4.3 billion from last year’s P2.14 billion.

Companies BusinessMirror

Friday, November 12, 2021

Manila Water income rises despite lower billed volume

By VG Cabuag

@villygc

anila Water Co., the East Zone concessionaire, on Thursday said its income for the nine months of the year grew 6 percent to P3.38 billion, from last year’s P3.19 billion on the back of the significant increase in the contribution of its units. Revenues fell 5 percent to P15.27 billion from last year’s P16.07 billion due to lower billed volume in the East Zone concession and in several domestic subsidiaries, with the continuing impact of Covid-19 restrictions being felt across the company’s customer base. Company president and CEO

Jocot de Dios said the company is optimistic of the gradual recovery of billed volume to pre-pandemic levels with the easing of quarantine restrictions and the opening up of the economy. “As commercial and industrial establishments begin to expand their operations as a result of the

downgrade of alert levels, we are hopeful that consumption will show an upward trajectory especially with the coming holiday season,” de Dios said. “Despite the challenges brought about by the pandemic, we are also extremely excited with the addition of the Pangasinan bulk water project to our local ventures as well as the second water contract for the Eastern Cluster in Saudi Arabia. These twin developments are perfectly aligned with Manila Water’s vision of being recognized as a global Filipino company in the field of water and wastewater services.” Manila Water’s cost and expenses for the period stood at P6.2 billion, up 7 percent from a year ago, driven by the catch-up of business and operating activities which were suspended during the enhanced community quarantine last year. The company said its concession area registered a 4-percent decline

in billed volume for the period, driven largely by lower consumption in the commercial and industrial segments with the continued impact of Covid-19 restrictions. Manila Water continued with its mandated capital expenditure program and spent some P7 billion for projects, mainly for wastewater expansion, network reliability and water supply projects in line with the fulfillment of service obligations, it said. The growth in Manila Water Asia Pacific and improvement in Manila Water Philippine Ventures helped offset the decline in the East Zone concession. The company said it had a higher equity share in the net income from East Water (Thailand), Thu Duc Water (Vietnam) and Kenh Dong Water (Vietnam), while there were additional contributions from the management, operations and maintenance contract with the National Water Co. in Saudi Arabia.

Construction of VEC power plants to start in 2022

ivant Energy Corp. (VEC) and Gigawatt Power Inc. (GPI) will start next year the construction of two power projects in Pampanga and Palawan worth almost P2 billion. GPI President Walden Tantuico said construction of the 3 x 5.76-megawatt (MW) diesel-fueled power plant in Porac, Pampanga is scheduled to commence in the first half of next year while the hybrid plants in Culion and Linapacan Islands will begin sometime during the first quarter of 2022. “For the Pelco 2 [Pampanga II Electric Cooperative] project, I think construction will already be starting soon, first half of 2022. The same goes for Culion and Linapacan projects as well, within the first quarter of next year. Those two are in the immediate pipeline,” said Tantuico. VEC and GPI each own 50-percent equity in the power plant proj-

ect. Once operational, the power plant will supply 15MW to PELCO 2 for 15 years. VEC and GPI earlier won the bidding for PELCO II’s power supply contract. VEC Executive Vice President and Chief Operating Officer Emil Andre Garcia said the project cost is “around P800 million for Culion and PELCO should be around P1.1 billion.” “We’re also looking at the power needs of PALECO and Puerto Princesa as well. Another project I’d like to highlight is Culion with BISELCO [Busuanga Island Electric Cooperative]. We’re hoping to break ground by early next year. That plant really excites us because that’s a hybrid plant that we’re developing in Culion and Linapacan,” he said. The P800-million power project will also have a battery component of 2.3MWh. For the solar and diesel components, Garcia said the

capacity is close to 3 MW for both diesel and solar. GPI and Vivant Integrated Diesel Corp. (VIDC) have just turned on their P1.6-billion power plant in Barangay Kabangbang Bantayan Island, Cebu. The testing and commission-

ing of the 23.2MW diesel power plant was done last month. Both firms formed Isla Norte Energy Corp. (INEC) to operate and maintain the plant, which will supply power to Bantayan Electric Cooperative Inc. (BANELCO) for 15 years. Lenie Lectura

mutual funds

November 11, 2021

NAV

One Year Three Year Five Year

per share

Return*

Y-T-D Return

Stock Funds ALFM Growth Fund, Inc. -a

234.64

3.61%

-0.74%

-1.36%

3.27%

ATRAM Alpha Opportunity Fund, Inc. -a

1.7005

45.88%

7.66%

3.85%

29.51%

5.5%

-4.03%

-4.1%

4.61%

-3.87% n.a.

-6.96%

ATRAM Philippine Equity Opportunity Fund, Inc. -a 3.2774

Climbs Share Capital Equity Investment Fund Corp. -a 0.7562 -2.54% First Metro Consumer Fund on MSCI Phils. IMI, Inc. -a 0.8092 10.59% First Metro Save and Learn Equity Fund,Inc. -a

5.2557

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

1.08% n.a.

9.12%

7.27%

2.18%

0.5%

6.36%

0.7895

3.09%

0.19%

-3.2%

-2.72% n.a.

-1.51%

MBG Equity Investment Fund, Inc. -a

100.33

10.86%

PAMI Equity Index Fund, Inc. -a

48.4155

4.72%

1.36%

0.21%

Philam Strategic Growth Fund, Inc. -a

504.09

3.48%

1.26%

-0.48%

3.1%

Philequity Alpha One Fund, Inc. -a,d

1.1817

12.85% n.a. n.a.

7.69%

Philequity Dividend Yield Fund, Inc. -a

1.3224

15.56%

3.38%

1.6%

13.2%

Philequity Fund, Inc. -a

36.8513

8.34%

1.83%

1.06%

5.99% 4.3%

3.36%

Philequity MSCI Philippine Index Fund, Inc. -a

0.9523

4.84% n.a. n.a.

Philequity PSE Index Fund Inc. -a

4.9875

5.56%

2.17%

0.93%

4.1%

Philippine Stock Index Fund Corp. -a

832.84

5.37%

2.18%

0.89%

3.9%

Soldivo Strategic Growth Fund, Inc. -a

0.7665

8.13%

-2%

-2.2%

6.62%

Sun Life Prosperity Philippine Equity Fund, Inc. -a 3.7913

5.93%

-0.76%

-0.69%

4.62%

Sun Life Prosperity Philippine Stock Index Fund, Inc. -a 0.95 4.94%

1.81%

0.67%

3.52%

United Fund, Inc. -a

1.62%

1.58%

4.94%

2.38%

1.39%

3.4827

6.95%

1.69%

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

112.0041

5.42%

4.14%

Primarily invested in foreign currency securities $1.1663

2.33%

6.39%

5.97%

-3.04%

Sun Life Prosperity World Voyager Fund, Inc. -a $1.885

ATRAM AsiaPlus Equity Fund, Inc. -b

18.21%

15.33%

12.96%

12.69%

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

1.6985

3.96%

1.89%

-0.19%

1.79%

ATRAM Philippine Balanced Fund, Inc. -a

2.2654

1.39%

1.87%

-0.04%

-0.88%

First Metro Save and Learn Balanced Fund Inc. -a 2.7213

4.3%

3.88%

1.74%

3.59%

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

0.203

2.63% n.a. n.a.

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

2.0205

3.44%

4.15%

2.07%

2.71%

PAMI Horizon Fund, Inc. -a

3.7778

0.28%

3.75%

0.83%

-0.32%

Philam Fund, Inc. -a

16.9049

0.28%

3.46%

0.76%

-0.21%

Solidaritas Fund, Inc. -a

2.129

2.22%

2.05%

0.82%

1.81%

Sun Life of Canada Prosperity Balanced Fund, Inc. -a 3.6628 3.51%

1.2%

0.31%

2.5%

Sun Life Prosperity Achiever Fund 2028, Inc. -a,d 0.9937

-1.93% n.a. n.a.

-2.83%

Sun Life Prosperity Achiever Fund 2038, Inc. -a,d 0.9498

0.96% n.a. n.a.

0.06%

Sun Life Prosperity Achiever Fund 2048, Inc. -a,d 0.941

1.81% n.a. n.a.

0.85%

Sun Life Prosperity Dynamic Fund, Inc. -a

8.35%

6.88%

0.9488

1.81%

0.42%

2.47%

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

$0.03804

-2.91%

3.17%

1.39%

-2.71%

PAMI Asia Balanced Fund, Inc. -b

$1.0767

-2.51%

4.33%

3.54%

-4.72%

Sun Life Prosperity Dollar Advantage Fund, Inc. -a $4.8783 12.87%

11.22%

9.19%

8.1%

Sun Life Prosperity Dollar Wellspring Fund, Inc. -a $1.2329 5.49%

6.37%

4.9%

2.55%

0.45%

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

372.78

0.95%

2.92%

2.52%

ATRAM Corporate Bond Fund, Inc. -a

1.9226

1.44%

1.29%

0.25%

1.17%

Cocolife Fixed Income Fund, Inc. -a

3.2426

1.11%

3.18%

4.05%

0.85%

Ekklesia Mutual Fund Inc. -a

2.242

-2.45%

-2.07%

1.85%

1.48%

First Metro Save and Learn Fixed Income Fund,Inc. -a 2.4177 -1.14%

2.99%

1.75%

Philam Bond Fund, Inc. -a

4.3869

-5.07%

4.67%

1.41%

-5.25%

Philam Managed Income Fund, Inc. -a

1.3155

0.16%

3.83%

2.59%

-0.44%

-1.45%

Philequity Peso Bond Fund, Inc. -a

3.953

-0.19%

4.44%

2.49%

-1.2%

Soldivo Bond Fund, Inc. -a

1.0163

-1.84%

4.98%

1.79%

-2.61%

Sun Life of Canada Prosperity Bond Fund, Inc. -a 3.1779

-0.09%

5.03%

3.28%

-0.88%

Sun Life Prosperity GS Fund, Inc. -a

-1.12%

4.2%

2.52%

-1.89%

1.7218

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

$488.82

1.67%

3.08%

2.26%

ALFM Euro Bond Fund, Inc. -a

Є220.12

0.92%

1.1%

0.87%

ATRAM Total Return Dollar Bond Fund, Inc. -b

$1.2014

0.99% 0.41%

-4.41%

2.33%

1.51%

-6.13%

First Metro Save and Learn Dollar Bond Fund, Inc. -a $0.026 -1.89%

1.59%

0.95%

-2.26%

PAMI Global Bond Fund, Inc -b

$1.0247

-6.06%

0.16%

-1.04%

-5.99%

Philam Dollar Bond Fund, Inc. -a

-1.53%

$2.5012

-0.53%

5.49%

2.44%

Philequity Dollar Income Fund Inc. -a $0.0624387 0.81%

3.16%

1.96%

0.22%

Sun Life Prosperity Dollar Abundance Fund, Inc. -a $3.179

-1.11%

3.43%

1.36%

-1.38%

2.54%

0.85%

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

130.92

1.14%

2.89%

First Metro Save and Learn Money Market Fund, Inc. -a 1.0565 0.97% n.a. n.a. Sun Life Prosperity Peso Starter Fund, Inc. -a,1

1.3129

1.51%

2.68%

2.54%

0.8% 1.23%

Primarily invested in foreign currency securities Sun Life Prosperity Dollar Starter Fund, Inc. -a $1.0599

0.84%

1.51% n.a.

0.6%

Feeder Funds Primarily invested in Peso securities Sun Life Prosperity World Equity Index Feeder Fund, Inc. -a,d 1.3694

27.11% n.a. n.a.

21.23%

Primarily invested in foreign currency securities ALFM Global Multi-Asset Income Fund Inc. -a,d

$0.98

2.08% n.a. n.a.

www.businessmirror.com.ph

PSE STOCK QUOTATIONS

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

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

44.1 130 91 25 9.9 51.55 8.5 21.15 56.3 20.6 121.4 91 1.7 4.05 1.09 0.31 970 0.65 217.2

5,300 235,945 1,547,170 201,096,119 1,104,860 100,376,585.50 968,800 24,924,880 203,600 2,018,434 4,027,970 208,387,956 102,800 848,276 163,100 3,436,545 320 17,999 55,800 1,177,725 301,920 36,722,842 62,890 5,704,688 270,000 453,400 14,000 57,400 13,000 14,580 20,000 6,200 10 9,700 170,000 119,000 200 43,380

-182,355 70,788,356 -9,230,132.50 626,370 700,794 -19,154,400 158,050 317,690 81,450 -11,964,393 701,580.50 -85,000 20,500 -1,150 3,100 -

INDUSTRIAL AC ENERGY 12.26 12.28 12.14 12.28 12.12 12.28 31,834,300 389,196,152 1.11 1.14 1.12 1.14 1.12 1.14 218,000 244,360 ALSONS CONS ABOITIZ POWER 32.3 32.35 32.7 32.7 32.1 32.3 2,342,300 75,636,635 BASIC ENERGY 0.7 0.71 0.71 0.72 0.7 0.7 7,230,000 5,109,560 30.95 31 31.4 31.4 30.7 31 1,553,200 48,042,280 FIRST GEN FIRST PHIL HLDG 75 75.5 75.1 75.5 75 75 13,860 1,040,440 MERALCO 298 298.8 297.6 298.8 295.4 298.8 169,420 50,455,018 24.45 24.5 24.95 25.05 24.45 24.5 1,570,300 38,966,860 MANILA WATER 3.55 3.56 3.64 3.64 3.5 3.55 2,831,000 10,067,320 PETRON PETROENERGY 4.28 4.4 4.28 4.4 4.28 4.4 31,000 132,960 11 11.2 11 11.2 11 11.2 31,000 345,970 PHX PETROLEUM 21.9 21.95 21.85 22.3 21.85 21.95 87,300 1,919,270 PILIPINAS SHELL SPC POWER 14.1 14.2 14.28 14.32 14.18 14.2 146,000 2,074,196 15 16 15 15 15 15 400 6,000 VIVANT 4.5 4.55 4.6 4.75 4.46 4.55 425,000 1,929,270 AGRINURTURE AXELUM 2.75 2.76 2.8 2.8 2.75 2.76 352,000 970,630 CENTURY FOOD 26.85 26.9 27.6 27.6 26.85 26.9 595,400 16,093,775 14.82 14.84 14.88 14.98 14.7 14.82 18,200 270,306 DEL MONTE DNL INDUS 8.7 8.71 8.65 8.79 8.65 8.71 1,494,700 13,027,413 EMPERADOR 18.34 18.38 18.24 18.38 18.04 18.38 3,382,300 61,476,498 75.85 75.9 75.8 76.15 75.8 75.9 183,710 13,953,710 SMC FOODANDBEV ALLIANCE SELECT 0.59 0.61 0.59 0.62 0.59 0.6 57,000 34,160 1.26 1.27 1.33 1.35 1.25 1.27 20,774,000 26,755,590 FRUITAS HLDG 106.5 106.9 108 108 105.9 106.5 19,540 2,079,502 GINEBRA 251.4 253.6 253 253.6 248.6 253.6 431,220 108,175,090 JOLLIBEE MACAY HLDG 6.3 6.69 6.4 6.4 6.4 6.4 800 5,120 7.3 7.31 7.5 7.5 7.31 7.31 365,100 2,694,273 MAXS GROUP 0.176 0.183 0.178 0.178 0.176 0.178 650,000 115,260 MG HLDG MONDE NISSIN 16.56 16.6 17.1 17.18 16.5 16.6 24,443,900 411,522,682 SHAKEYS PIZZA 8.33 8.6 8.48 8.6 8.33 8.6 236,700 2,000,667 0.7 0.72 0.7 0.73 0.7 0.72 248,000 173,800 ROXAS AND CO ROXAS HLDG 1.25 1.29 1.25 1.29 1.25 1.29 17,000 21,330 SWIFT FOODS 0.116 0.117 0.118 0.118 0.114 0.116 760,000 88,500 131 131.3 133.8 133.8 130.4 131 4,136,060 543,886,564 UNIV ROBINA VITARICH 0.75 0.76 0.75 0.76 0.75 0.75 215,000 161,770 VICTORIAS 2.26 2.4 2.26 2.26 2.26 2.26 298,000 673,480 47.05 48 46.35 48 46.35 48 260 12,397.50 CONCRETE A 1.21 1.22 1.23 1.23 1.21 1.21 5,994,000 7,261,120 CEMEX HLDG EAGLE CEMENT 14.3 14.46 14.3 14.46 14.28 14.3 58,200 832,712 6.66 6.75 6.78 6.78 6.63 6.66 181,800 1,212,662 EEI CORP 5.86 5.88 5.88 5.88 5.86 5.88 504,700 2,965,939 HOLCIM MEGAWIDE 6.12 6.15 6.32 6.32 6.11 6.15 511,000 3,150,399 14.7 15.3 15.2 15.3 15.2 15.3 54,900 837,220 PHINMA 0.85 0.9 0.85 0.86 0.85 0.86 133,000 113,550 TKC METALS VULCAN INDL 1.22 1.24 1.25 1.26 1.2 1.22 4,263,000 5,246,780 CROWN ASIA 1.81 1.82 1.68 1.81 1.68 1.81 572,000 1,007,420 1.54 1.6 1.55 1.65 1.52 1.52 254,000 392,970 EUROMED PRYCE CORP 5.74 5.75 5.67 5.75 5.65 5.75 22,100 126,135 CONCEPCION 22 22.8 22.9 22.9 22.75 22.8 2,200 50,170 2.48 2.52 2.51 2.53 2.45 2.52 6,613,000 16,519,780 GREENERGY 8.67 8.68 8.7 8.7 8.52 8.66 1,412,000 12,217,954 INTEGRATED MICR IONICS 0.82 0.84 0.81 0.85 0.81 0.84 63,000 52,890 6 6.05 6.04 6.05 6 6.05 15,300 92,370 PANASONIC 1.1 1.11 1.07 1.11 1.07 1.11 250,000 275,220 SFA SEMICON CIRTEK HLDG 4.28 4.29 4.26 4.31 4.25 4.29 420,000 1,797,180

111,366,416 -26,626,440 997,290 -47,064 20,706,966 -5,242,765 683,360 141,115 -6,000 -1,425,710 306,460 1,052,725 -20,842 167,297.00 -1,066,734 -3,743,384 1,398,290 157,550 2,717,112 -248,089 -75,816,442 301,119 70,000 -6,250 -298,605,195 -18,750 468,240 -636,560 -168,526 -146,781 -183,000 74,740 50,490 10,903 -4,456,630 1,018,584.00 -8,720 47,150

ABACORE CAPITAL ASIABEST GROUP AYALA CORP ABOITIZ EQUITY ALLIANCE GLOBAL AYALA LAND LOG ANSCOR ANGLO PHIL HLDG ATN HLDG A COSCO CAPITAL DMCI HLDG FILINVEST DEV FORUM PACIFIC GT CAPITAL HOUSE OF INV JG SUMMIT JOLLIVILLE HLDG LODESTAR LOPEZ HLDG LT GROUP MJC INVESTMENTS METRO PAC INV PRIME MEDIA SYNERGY GRID SM INVESTMENTS SAN MIGUEL CORP SOC RESOURCES TOP FRONTIER ZEUS HLDG

1.13 5.42 883 51.3 11.14 5.56 7.35 0.92 0.48 5.4 7.95 7.82 0.285 561 3.75 59.05 5.1 0.64 3.12 9.97 1.12 4.01 1.49 13.2 975 117.2 0.66 126.1 0.177

1 - Renaming was approved by the SEC last July 8, 2021 (formerly, Sun Life Prosperity Money Market Fund, Inc.).

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."

44.5 129.5 91.7 25.5 9.9 52.1 8.8 21.15 56.2 20.65 123 91 1.66 4.1 1.14 0.31 970 0.7 214

45 130.3 91.75 26.5 10 52.2 9.08 21.4 56.25 21.8 123 91.5 1.7 4.1 1.15 0.31 970 0.7 219.8

44.5 129.5 90.1 25 9.88 51.5 7.9 20.85 56.2 20.55 121.3 90.1 1.66 4.1 1.09 0.31 970 0.7 214

45 130 91.35 25 9.9 51.6 8.5 21.4 56.25 21 121.5 91.5 1.7 4.1 1.09 0.31 970 0.7 219.8

1.14 5.88 884.5 51.4 11.18 5.58 7.5 0.94 0.5 5.41 7.96 7.99 0.3 564.5 3.8 59.25 5.39 0.66 3.19 9.98 1.2 4.02 1.53 13.22 979 118.1 0.73 131.9 0.188

1.17 5.88 883 51.75 10.98 5.5 7.49 0.92 0.5 5.36 8.02 8.05 0.285 570 3.8 61 5.39 0.64 3.13 10.04 1.12 4.02 1.56 12.7 975 117.2 0.66 126 0.188

1.19 5.88 886.5 51.75 11.2 5.65 7.55 0.94 0.5 5.44 8.2 8.05 0.285 575 3.8 62 5.39 0.66 3.13 10.18 1.2 4.03 1.56 13.34 981 119.5 0.66 132 0.188

1.14 5.88 872.5 50.65 10.9 5.48 7.45 0.9 0.49 5.36 7.9 8.05 0.285 561 3.8 58.95 5.39 0.64 3.13 9.94 1.12 4 1.49 12.54 975 117.2 0.66 126 0.188

1.14 5.88 883 51.3 11.18 5.56 7.55 0.94 0.49 5.4 7.96 8.05 0.285 561 3.8 59.05 5.39 0.64 3.13 9.97 1.2 4.02 1.53 13.2 979 117.2 0.66 126.1 0.188

17,768,000 300 267,040 1,144,380 2,392,900 2,293,100 163,800 334,000 204,000 2,596,700 5,525,500 5,100 300,000 208,030 12,000 3,368,200 100 35,000 4,000 6,758,500 2,000 15,964,000 1,845,000 60,105,400 216,660 65,150 20,000 100 700,000

20,462,140 1,764 235,648,240 58,763,628 26,610,074 12,758,486 1,224,315 309,430 101,990 14,027,402 44,240,548 41,055 85,500 117,671,160 45,600 201,555,819.50 539 22,510 12,520 67,721,104 2,320 64,109,700 2,768,950 777,993,494 211,834,980 7,673,272 13,200 12,962 131,600

PROPERTY ARTHALAND CORP 0.64 0.66 0.63 0.67 0.63 0.67 658,000 423,610 36.9 37 37.5 37.9 37 37 4,576,900 170,091,250 AYALA LAND AREIT RT 44.2 44.8 45.5 45.5 43.6 44.2 1,045,700 46,471,955 BELLE CORP 1.39 1.4 1.4 1.4 1.4 1.4 10,000 14,000 0.83 0.85 0.85 0.85 0.85 0.85 2,000 1,700 A BROWN CITYLAND DEVT 0.76 0.77 0.76 0.76 0.76 0.76 166,000 126,160 0.104 0.113 0.113 0.113 0.104 0.113 49,590,000 5,157,860 CROWN EQUITIES 6.28 6.46 6.28 6.28 6.28 6.28 7,400 46,472 CEBU HLDG 2.86 2.87 2.87 2.9 2.86 2.87 4,993,000 14,330,950 CEB LANDMASTERS CENTURY PROP 0.45 0.46 0.465 0.465 0.445 0.455 4,830,000 2,187,200 10.08 10.14 10.08 10.2 10.08 10.14 180,700 1,832,308 DOUBLEDRAGON 1.8 1.81 1.8 1.81 1.79 1.8 3,396,000 6,113,520 DDMP RT DM WENCESLAO 6.97 6.98 6.99 6.99 6.96 6.97 70,700 492,973 0.325 0.33 0.34 0.345 0.32 0.325 22,120,000 7,246,600 EVER GOTESCO 7.39 7.4 7.36 7.4 7.34 7.4 3,873,600 28,650,235 FILINVEST RT FILINVEST LAND 1.12 1.13 1.13 1.14 1.12 1.13 1,594,000 1,801,080 GLOBAL ESTATE 0.9 0.91 0.88 0.91 0.88 0.9 59,000 52,990 10.4 10.56 10.44 10.64 10.44 10.56 55,200 582,712 8990 HLDG PHIL INFRADEV 1.23 1.27 1.22 1.27 1.22 1.27 2,078,000 2,610,570 CITY AND LAND 0.94 0.97 0.93 0.95 0.93 0.93 100,000 94,000 3.26 3.28 3.3 3.3 3.23 3.26 9,930,000 32,390,790 MEGAWORLD MRC ALLIED 0.295 0.3 0.3 0.3 0.295 0.3 5,360,000 1,590,600 18.14 18.16 18.2 18.22 18.16 18.16 2,104,500 38,278,364 MREIT RT 0.49 0.5 0.49 0.5 0.49 0.49 1,990,000 978,000 PHIL ESTATES 1.77 1.8 1.75 1.83 1.75 1.8 54,000 96,290 PRIMEX CORP RL COMM RT 7.18 7.19 7.18 7.2 7.17 7.19 1,923,000 13,825,564 18.96 18.98 18.74 19 18.5 18.98 1,845,300 34,930,724 ROBINSONS LAND 0.219 0.225 0.224 0.227 0.224 0.227 130,000 29,210 PHIL REALTY ROCKWELL 1.55 1.59 1.59 1.59 1.51 1.59 90,000 142,220 SHANG PROP 2.62 2.63 2.63 2.63 2.62 2.62 53,000 138,890 2.86 2.93 2.91 2.92 2.91 2.92 100,000 291,900 STA LUCIA LAND SM PRIME HLDG 35.25 35.4 35.7 35.7 35.1 35.4 5,946,600 210,389,270 VISTAMALLS 3.83 3.9 3.9 3.9 3.9 3.9 7,000 27,300 1.44 1.46 1.47 1.47 1.45 1.46 289,000 420,410 SUNTRUST HOME VISTA LAND 3.8 3.84 3.8 3.85 3.78 3.84 275,000 1,050,290 SERVICES ABS CBN 14.04 14.1 14.16 14.18 14.02 14.1 62,300 879,610 14.6 14.62 14.8 15 14.6 14.6 2,120,200 31,108,692 GMA NETWORK MANILA BULLETIN 0.405 0.42 0.42 0.425 0.42 0.425 60,000 25,350 3,470 3,490 3,490 3,504 3,422 3,470 27,120 94,235,130 GLOBE TELECOM 1,681 1,685 1,677 1,700 1,661 1,685 84,665 142,131,850 PLDT APOLLO GLOBAL 0.081 0.082 0.08 0.081 0.079 0.081 139,600,000 11,210,800 CONVERGE 34.9 35 34.05 35.1 33.2 35 16,249,000 562,869,625 3.1 3.12 3.09 3.18 3.09 3.12 483,000 1,503,510 DFNN INC 6.7 6.71 6.7 6.73 6.65 6.7 3,009,700 20,149,571 DITO CME HLDG IMPERIAL 1.42 1.5 1.42 1.42 1.42 1.42 3,000 4,260 1.82 1.94 1.95 1.95 1.9 1.9 30,000 57,130 JACKSTONES 1.81 1.82 1.83 1.83 1.81 1.82 945,000 1,721,730 NOW CORP TRANSPACIFIC BR 0.36 0.37 0.375 0.385 0.36 0.36 13,220,000 4,821,650 2.2 2.26 2.26 2.26 2.26 2.26 27,000 61,020 PHILWEB 7.92 8 8.1 8.1 7.9 7.91 7,500 59,772 2GO GROUP ASIAN TERMINALS 14.5 14.8 14.8 14.8 14.8 14.8 10,200 150,960 1.95 1.96 1.94 1.95 1.9 1.95 1,041,000 2,012,180 CHELSEA 47.15 47.4 48.2 48.3 46.9 47.4 718,800 34,100,825 CEBU AIR INTL CONTAINER 192 192.2 192.6 193 191.2 192 798,660 153,429,921 LBC EXPRESS 20.1 22.55 20.05 20.05 20.05 20.05 3,000 60,150 6.11 6.12 6.17 6.29 6.04 6.12 1,797,500 11,033,723 MACROASIA METROALLIANCE A 1.51 1.58 1.5 1.5 1.5 1.5 69,000 103,500 1.02 1.05 1.04 1.05 1.01 1.05 25,000 25,390 HARBOR STAR 2.18 2.2 2.26 2.37 2.1 2.2 1,821,000 3,978,950 DISCOVERY WORLD 0.495 0.51 0.51 0.51 0.495 0.495 123,000 61,715 WATERFRONT FAR EASTERN U 547 600 590 600 590 600 120 71,000 6.87 7.19 7.2 7.2 7.19 7.19 600 4,315 IPEOPLE 0.35 0.36 0.35 0.36 0.35 0.35 460,000 161,350 STI HLDG BERJAYA 6.44 6.45 6.19 6.5 6.1 6.45 331,500 2,090,114 7.91 7.92 7.8 7.92 7.6 7.92 2,608,400 20,483,079 BLOOMBERRY 1.56 1.59 1.59 1.6 1.55 1.59 258,000 402,770 LEISURE AND RES PH RESORTS GRP 0.83 0.85 0.81 0.86 0.81 0.85 972,000 814,580 PREMIUM LEISURE 0.46 0.465 0.46 0.47 0.46 0.46 3,340,000 1,548,900 0.74 0.75 0.71 0.75 0.71 0.74 196,088,000 144,739,410 ALLDAY ALLHOME 10.06 10.1 9.98 10.3 9.85 10.1 694,900 6,957,071 METRO RETAIL 1.38 1.39 1.43 1.43 1.39 1.39 156,000 219,080 42.8 43 43.1 43.2 42.8 43 344,300 14,795,365 PUREGOLD 64.9 65.05 66.75 66.75 64.55 64.9 531,260 34,513,249 ROBINSONS RTL PHIL SEVEN CORP 91.3 95 93.95 96.95 93.95 95 24,780 2,362,251.50 1.26 1.28 1.28 1.29 1.26 1.28 702,000 892,270 SSI GROUP 30.3 30.35 30.15 30.75 30.15 30.3 620,200 18,805,455 WILCON DEPOT APC GROUP 0.24 0.247 0.248 0.248 0.248 0.248 310,000 76,880 4.21 4.65 4.7 4.7 4.7 4.7 1,000 4,700 EASYCALL 503.5 540 502.5 540 502.5 540 1,050 562,575 GOLDEN MV IPM HLDG 7.06 7.1 7.1 7.1 7.08 7.1 11,000 78,040 2.1 2.38 2.1 2.1 2.1 2.1 3,000 6,300 PAXYS 0.68 0.69 0.63 0.7 0.63 0.69 17,414,000 11,712,710 PRMIERE HORIZON MINING & OIL ATOK 6.25 6.29 6.37 6.37 6.12 6.29 500 3,102 APEX MINING 1.43 1.44 1.43 1.44 1.43 1.44 1,223,000 1,751,150 ATLAS MINING 6.25 6.27 6.26 6.27 6.24 6.25 1,169,000 7,315,525 6.08 6.15 6.18 6.19 6.1 6.15 39,600 243,481 BENGUET A BENGUET B 6 6.08 5.96 6 5.96 6 5,600 33,508 0.28 0.29 0.28 0.28 0.28 0.28 20,000 5,600 COAL ASIA HLDG 2.7 2.72 2.6 2.72 2.5 2.72 252,000 640,070 CENTURY PEAK 2.16 2.18 2.19 2.19 2.14 2.16 1,215,000 2,631,720 FERRONICKEL GEOGRACE 0.213 0.225 0.215 0.215 0.215 0.215 50,000 10,750 0.132 0.133 0.131 0.133 0.131 0.133 12,190,000 1,600,380 LEPANTO A 0.0093 0.0094 0.0094 0.0094 0.0094 0.0094 14,000,000 131,600 MANILA MINING A MARCVENTURES 1.04 1.05 1.05 1.12 1.02 1.05 4,838,000 5,183,890 1.06 1.08 1.06 1.06 1.06 1.06 22,000 23,320 NIHAO 5.6 5.61 5.68 5.68 5.61 5.61 2,816,100 15,882,009 NICKEL ASIA OMICO CORP 0.33 0.34 0.33 0.33 0.33 0.33 7,010,000 2,313,300 ORNTL PENINSULA 0.82 0.83 0.83 0.83 0.83 0.83 51,000 42,330 5.07 5.08 5.12 5.18 5.08 5.08 903,200 4,626,456 PX MINING SEMIRARA MINING 23.4 23.5 23.8 24.05 23.1 23.4 4,465,200 104,509,210 UNITED PARAGON 0.0065 0.0066 0.0064 0.0066 0.0064 0.0065 36,000,000 234,500 18 18.4 17.4 18.8 17.4 18.4 292,500 5,329,810 ACE ENEXOR ORNTL PETROL A 0.01 0.011 0.011 0.011 0.01 0.01 80,600,000 842,700 0.0091 0.0093 0.0092 0.0092 0.0091 0.0091 33,000,000 302,400 PHILODRILL 6.27 6.28 6.27 6.29 6.21 6.27 149,700 935,531 PXP ENERGY PREFFERED HOUSE PREF A 101.2 101.7 101.2 101.2 101.2 101.2 100 10,120 104 108 107.9 108 107.9 108 1,740 187,870 ALCO PREF C CEB PREF 47.7 47.75 48.25 48.25 47.7 47.7 54,500 2,612,325 DD PREF 100.8 101 100.8 101 100.7 100.7 15,790 1,590,484 105.4 105.8 105.4 105.4 105.4 105.4 73,570 7,754,278 FGEN PREF G JFC PREF A 1,015 1,020 1,040 1,040 1,015 1,015 1,085 1,102,750 1,047 1,048 1,047 1,048 1,047 1,047 2,795 2,926,580 JFC PREF B 101.3 102.5 101.3 101.3 101.3 101.3 50,000 5,065,000 MWIDE PREF 2B 100.7 100.9 100.9 100.9 100.9 100.9 170 17,153 MWIDE PREF 4 PNX PREF 3B 104.6 106.5 104.6 106.5 104.6 106.5 340 35,602 1,007 1,012 1,007 1,012 1,006 1,012 3,210 3,236,220 PNX PREF 4 1,110 1,115 1,105 1,105 1,105 1,105 1,440 1,591,200 PCOR PREF 3A PCOR PREF 3B 1,163 1,187 1,187 1,187 1,187 1,187 15 17,805 79.4 79.45 79.3 79.4 79.3 79.4 28,990 2,300,107 SMC PREF 2F 76.05 77 77 77 77 77 60 4,620 SMC PREF 2H SMC PREF 2J 76.4 76.5 76.5 76.5 76.4 76.4 70,700 5,401,525 75.7 76 76 76 76 76 14,230 1,081,480 SMC PREF 2K PHIL. DEPOSITARY RECEIPTS GMA HLDG PDR 13.7 13.72 13.8 13.8 13.7 13.7 34,100 468,464 WARRANTS TECH WARRANT 1.1 1.12 1.1 1.15 1.08 1.1 995,000 1,096,310

1,021,310 27,994,595 15,161,993.50 -1,865,026 499,294 33,855 4,789,954 3,920,599 805 -26,397,845 -24,730,720 -34,574,871 22,735,960.00 -2,669,820 -211,083,304 20,755,780 -3,197,379 2,520 105,800 -32,947,970 -2,299,885 -14,000 -46,472 63,380 -45,500 30,694 -534,580 -40,426 186,650 3,043,146 133,340.00 23,270 821,990 -6,595,880 -12,756,552 -14,070 1,004,311 6,937,458.00 -20,190 49,075,490 565,750 45,318,480 -43,121,055 253,400 -363,797,290.00 110,730 2,869,755 50,200 62,000 -7,543,730 -11,279,241 -105,591 107,500 -90,900 -1,701,896 113,150 17,690 41,550 -195,230 4,827,112 4,686,675 -6,491,725.50 349,836.50 45,720 -3,933,515 -104,100 116,240 714,300 4,926,696 413,870 -8,670 277,350 242,332 636,900 -2,007,239 9,430,330 -57,790 125,600 1,906,960 -

SMALL & MEDIUM ENTERPRISES

0% ALTUS PROP 17.8 1.78 ITALPINAS KEPWEALTH 3.8 3.24 MERRYMART

"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

45 130.1 91.35 25.55 9.94 51.6 9.08 21.4 57.65 21 121.5 91.5 1.74 4.1 1.14 0.335 1,030 0.7 219.8

HOLDING & FRIMS

a - NAVPS as of the previous banking day. b - NAVPS as of two banking days ago. c - Listed in the PSE. d - in Net Asset Value per Unit (NAVPU).

November 11, 2021

17.92 1.82 3.9 3.25

EXHANGE TRADE FUNDS FIRST METRO ETF

111.7

112

18 1.83 3.9 3.68

18.6 1.84 3.9 3.68

17.86 1.78 3.9 3.23

17.9 1.78 3.9 3.25

30,700 76,000 5,000 4,029,000

556,264 137,090 19,500 13,248,880

- -11,000 -28,990 700,770

112.6 112.7 111.7 111.7 18,790 2,106,601 341,488

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Banking&Finance

House panel rushes bill reorganizing LandBank By Jovee Marie N. dela Cruz

@joveemarie

HE House Committee on Banks and Financial Intermediaries is now finalizing the passage of a bill reorganizing the Land Bank of the Philippines, including privatization of a third of its common shares. Quirino Rep. Junie Cua, the panel chairman, said House Bill 10440 will further redefine the roles of the LandBank in supporting the government’s sustainable development agenda. This, he said, requires a standalone legal and operational framework for the bank. “This policy initiative seeks to amend the LandBank Charter that will place the bank in a stronger position to pursue further the policy thrusts of the NG [national government] especially on countryside development, while sustaining its institutional viability amid a highly competitive banking industry,” said Cua following the recent filing of the bill . The House Banks committee on Wednesday started deliberating the proposal. The committee targets to approve the bill next week. According to Cua, this policy reform will also bolster its existing corporate and risk governance mechanisms that will drive greater operational efficiencies and enhance the bank’s organizational agility to elevate its financial inclusion initiatives. “In the exercise of the LandBank’s mandates, certain powers and functions shall be modified that would allow the bank to boost its capitalraising capabilities, sustain and foster a competitive manpower pool, and streamline its banking processes to keep pace with the developments in the market,” he said. “The proposed amendments are imperative to reinforce not only the benefits of all agricultural stakeholders across the entire agribusiness value chain and all other economic segments, but also the advantages at the national level to help promote fiscal sustainability and reinvigorate the country’s financial system,” he added. Cua said this initiative will also address the change in the bank’s role in agrarian reform. To date, he noted, LandBank plays a crucial role in economic recovery efforts from the Covid-19 pandemic through various policy interventions such as Bayanihan I and II laws. Relatedly, Cua said the bank has consistently complied with the Agri-

Agra Law, which requires all banking institutions to allot 15 percent of their total lending portfolio for agriculture loans and 10 percent for agrarian reform credit. As of December 2020, he said the bank’s compliance reached 76.95 percent and 11.52 percent for agricultural and agrarian reform loans, respectively. Also, the bank’s agriculture lending has consistently grown from P222.05 billion in 2018, to P236.31 billion in 2019, and P237.62 billion in 2020. At the Banks committee hearing on Wednesday, LandBank President and CEO Cecilia Borromeo said this landmark legislation will elevate the bank’s mandate to bring the unserved and underserved into the national economy. “Amending the LandBank Charter to institute a standalone legal and operational framework for the bank will place it in a stronger position to pursue further the developmental objective of the bank while keeping up with a constantly shifting financial landscape, sustaining its institutional viability amid a highly competitive banking industry,” Borromeo said. “The proposed amendments to the Charter shall enhance its function to allow the bank to boost its capital-raising capabilities, sustain a competitive workforce and streamline its banking processes,” she added. The bill says the capital stock of the bank shall be P200 billion divided into P2 billion common shares with a par value of P100 per share, which shall be fully subscribed by the national government. The bill said the board, upon the recommendation of the Secretary of Finance and with the approval of the President of the Philippines, may increase the capitalization of the bank up to such an amount necessary to attain the objectives of the Charter. The bank shall have the power to offer and issue common and preferred shares of stocks in such manner and in such quantities as approved by the Finance secretary upon the recommendation of the Board of Directors and aligned with applicable laws, rules and regulations. However, the national government shall maintain, at all times, at least two-thirds ownership of the total outstanding common voting shares of the bank. Outside of the national government, no individual or group shall vote more than 5 percent of the total outstanding capital stock.

BusinessMirror

Editor: Dennis D. Estopace • Friday, November 12, 2021

IFC invests $100M in Ayala foreign arm’s social bonds

By Cai U. Ordinario

‘Underinvestment’

@caiordinario

HE World Bank Group’s private sector arm, the International Finance Corp. (IFC), invested $100 million in a new social bond to be issued by a foreign subsidiary of the Ayala Corp. The proceeds from the issuance of the social bond, to be issued by AYC Finance Limited, will support Ayala’s wholly owned subsidiary Ayala Healthcare Holdings Inc. (AC Health). AC Health will be refinancing the development of a new cancer hospital; expanding its network of primary care and multispecialty clinics; and accelerating its digital technology initiatives. “We are delighted to continue our impactful partnership with the Ayala Group through our investment in the Philippines’ first-ever healthcarefocused social bond,” said Jean-Marc Arbogast, Country Manager, Philippines at IFC. “This important project will help improve healthcare in the Philippines at a critical time and strengthen the country’s human capital, which are important drivers of inclusion and economic growth,”

Arbogast added. Social bonds, IFC said, tie the use of proceeds to projects that aim to achieve positive social outcomes in everything from health and education to gender, affordable housing, and food security. These bonds also offer an avenue for investors to generate returns while helping address social issues. Ayala’s social bond, IFC said, is the first ever to be issued in the healthcare sector in the Philippines. It will support AC Health’s strategy to build an integrated health ecosystem designed to provide quality and affordable healthcare for more Filipinos. AC Health’s strategy has the following key areas of focus: retail pharmacy; pharmaceutical importation and distribution; primary care and multispecialty clinics; tertiary hospitals; and health technology platforms.

“The pandemic exposed the massive underinvestment in the country’s healthcare system, reinforcing our thesis for entering the sector six years ago,” said Fernando Zobel De Ayala, President and CEO of Ayala. “The Social Bond supports our strategic priority to scale up AC Health as a new growth platform, underpinned by its commitment to uplift the quality and access to preventive care in the country,” he added. IFC said the investment also marks a catalytic step in the development of a real-sector social bond market in the Philippines. Previously, IFC also helped promote the country’s green bond market after subscribing to the first two local issuances, creating a new asset class that is now being adopted by companies across sectors. In light of Covid-19 and the social challenges borne from it, IFC said social bonds are now front and center of the thematic bond market, and demand is higher than ever. Most social bonds issued this year have been related to funding for issues related to the pandemic. Social bond issuance reached US$165 billion in 2020. As of June 30, 2021, IFC has issued 63 social bonds, raising $3.8 billion in total. “Addressing health gaps in the Philippines is a critical challenge that has been amplified by the Covid-19 pandemic,” said Rana Karadsheh Haddad, Regional Industry

Director, Manufacturing, Agribusiness and Services, Asia and the Pacific at IFC. “Our investment in this social bond from our long-standing client, the Ayala Group, will help strengthen the Philippines’s healthcare system at a crucial time while also helping to develop the market for social bonds, which is becoming an important tool for helping the private sector to manage the socioeconomic impacts of the pandemic and build resilience against future shocks,” she said. The Social Bond is being issued under the new Ayala Health Social Bond Framework. Apart from IFC, it was also developed with assistance from the International Capital Market Association (ICMA)’s Social Bond Principles. ICMA is an internationally certified institution whose guidelines are designed to promote integrity in the social bond market. IFC said cancer is the third-leading cause of death in the Philippines, where cancer incidence and mortality are expected to grow steadily over the next 20 years. Roughly half of patients are diagnosed at later stages, when results are less promising for patient survival. An existing shortage of medical facilities, beds, physicians, and nurses has been exacerbated by the Covid-19 health crisis, which has put additional strain on the health system and resulted in overcrowding of hospitals.

CENTRAL BANKS OF PHILIPPINES AND SINGAPORE PURSUE SEAMLESS CROSS-BORDER PAYMENTS

Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas Governor Benjamin E. Diokno and Monetary Authority of Singapore Managing Director Ravi Menon present the signed cooperation agreement (CA) aimed at facilitating interoperable payments between the two countries. Since Singapore is a key trading partner and major source of remittances, pursuing seamless e-payments is seen to benefit overseas Filipinos and local export, import and tourism businesses. The CA is also seen as a first step towards linking the domestic payment system with the rest of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations members.

Race to relevance: The challenges for associations BIR probes pandemic item suppliers Part One

RECENTLY attended a webinar presented by American association management expert and consultant, author, and professional speaker Mary Byers, entitled “The Race for Relevance in Post-Pandemic Times.” The webinar was organized by “Answers for Associations,” an Australian online community of associations headed by Angela Shelton. The topic was based on Mary’s 10th anniversary edition book, “Race for Relevance: 5 Radical Changes for Associations,” which she coauthored with Harrison Coerver. Here are the six challenges for associations that Mary presented: 1. Time famine: Associations require members to take time to attend events, read their newsletters, serve in the board, committees and task forces, among others. In short, membership in associations has become time-intensive, contrary to what members expected. There are ways to deal with time famine such as shortening programs and content sharing like using videos, social media snippets, bullet points, as well as offering micro-volunteering opportunities, e.g., research, literature reviews, data analysis, background information for regulators and press, review of proposals, or teaching and mentoring. 2. Value proposition or ROI: When members ask what they are getting for

Association World Octavio Peralta their membership dues, many associations reply by showing them a big list of things that they do. Mary says it’s like throwing “spaghetti on the wall and seeing what sticks!” For associations to succeed in today’s crowded marketplace, they need to focus on value and not the things that they do; not features but benefits, outcomes and results. A clear and succinct value equals easier member acquisition and retention. 3. Specialization and consolidation: Because of the reality of the marketplace, associations should be aware of industry specialization and consolidation. For industry specialization, for example, there are 147 medical specialties and as many associations. For consolidation, mergers in the financial, homeowners and airlines, for instance, are trends that affect their respective associations. 4. Generational differences: Millennials now represent half of the US workforce and the way they participate in associations is much different from the generations before them. Thy are “digital natives” and are more comfortable using technology, such as using apps for membership journey and education. So instead of an “either-or”

strategy (either in-person or virtual, either digital or printed publication), associations should instead adopt an “and” strategy. 5. Increased competition: More than ever, associations face competition from within, i.e., associations like themselves or from vendor-members that they have, as well as from consultants and for-profit organizations that offer free content. Associations thus need to be alert, creative, and innovative. 6. Technology: Research shows most associations have been slow in adopting technology on behalf of their members. Compared to forprofit organizations which spend 8 percent of gross revenue on technology, associations only spend 1-2 percent. Associations need not only strategic plans but also technology plans. The pandemic has been both an accelerant and a tailwind. It has accelerated the six challenges above but associations, despite time constraint and limited funding, have made things work. It has also been a tailwind for associations to be able to do now what they were supposed to do many years ago.

The column contributor, Octavio ‘Bobby’ Peralta, is Founder & CEO of the Philippine Council of Associations and Association Executives. PCAAE is holding the Associations Summit 9 (AS9) on November 24 and 25, 2021. The two-day virtual event is supported by the Tourism Promotions Board. Email inquiries@adfiap.org for more details on AS9.

By Butch Fernandez @butchfBM

HE Bureau of Internal Revenue (BIR) is investigating 45 suppliers that bagged contracts from the Procurement Service of the Department of Budget and Management (PS-DBM) for pandemic supplies, senators were told at the agency’s budget hearing. The investigation, done by regional offices of the premier tax agency, falls short of Minority Leader Franklin M. Drilon’s call for the formation of a special task force, but Sen. Panfilo M. Lacson said this at least debunks President Duterte’s claim that Senate inquiries in aid of legislation amount to nothing but publicity stunts of politicians. Lacson on Thursday listed solid findings as basis for charging erring officials found accountable for misuse of public funds—not to mention the laws that may be crafted thereafter. “Whatever comes out of the subsequent criminal and administrative investigations being undertaken by the Bureau of Internal Revenue [BIR] and the prosecutors,” Lacson affirmed that “one thing is clear: Contrary to the President’s earlier assertions, Senate inquiries definitely serve the purpose of making those abusing public funds accountable and liable for their misdeeds—not to mention the laws that may be crafted thereafter.” He suggested that both the BIR and the Bureau of Customs (BOC) pursue

their mandate under existing laws to run after all wrongdoers, for tax liabilities, including those who violated Customs rules on the importation of supplies—as well as of luxury cars that went to officers of the biggest supplier Pharmally Pharmaceuticals Corp. “That said,” Lacson added, “it remains to be seen how the Executive Department will act on the findings of the investigation.” It was learned that 44 other listed suppliers contracted by PS-DBM were also placed under investigation by the BIR, besides Pharmally, which cornered an estimated P10 billion worth of pandemic supplies out of the P42billion Department of Health funds that DOH turned over as lump sum to PS-DBM without a memorandum of agreement. Sen. Juan Angara, chairman of the Senate Committee on Finance, the order to investigate was based on an “internal memo,” as told to him by BIR Commissioner Cesar Dulay. The latter was present at Wednesday’s Senate plenary deliberations on the 2022 national budget. It was learned that the 45 suppliers are being probed for penalties based on their records covering taxable years from 2019 at 2020. For his part, Senate Minority Leader Drilon conveyed disappointment as he had pressed for a tax audit by a “special task force or special team of the BIR,” saying expects nothing will happen if the case was passed on to regional offices, adding that no law is

violated if this was done. However, Commissioner Dulay affirmed that regional offices are the ones tasked to investigate suppliers under their jurisdiction. Dulay promised to give senators a report by December 31. From documents submitted by BIR to the Blue Ribbon committee chaired by Sen. Richard J. Gordon, Drilon had calculated the total tax liabilities of Pharmally and another major supplier, the Chinese-led Xuzhou Construction Corp. However, Drilon’s efforts to have the Blue Ribbon obtain related documents from Pharmally were rebuffed by the company’s executives, prompting the Senate to cite in contempt and order the detention of siblings Mohit and Twinkle Darghani. Also at the budget hearing, Customs Commissioner Leonardo Guerrero said the Bureau of Customs had no record of the luxury cars that Blue Ribbon probers found to be named under Pharmally officials, based on Land Transportation Office (LTO) documents. The 2021 Porsche 911 Turbo-S of Mohit Darghani and the 2021 Lexus RCF named to Pharmally director Linconn Ong did not pass through Customs scrutiny, and there is no record of these cars in the agency. However, the other vehicles went through Customs and taxes were paid. These were a 2021 Lamborghini Uris in Twinkle Darghani’s name; and 2021 Porsche Carrera, and 2019 Porsche Cayenne, in Ong’s name.

Relationships BusinessMirror

Friday, November 12, 2021 • Editor: Gerard S. Ramos

Today’s Horoscope

❶ GO on a

healthy food crawl at Station X: (From top left, clockwise) Shrimp Salad (Laud); Beyond Meat burger with vegan cheddar in a soymilk bun (Supermagic); Tempeh Kare-Kare (Nonie’s); and coconut and pandan ice cream(Coco Mama). PHOTOS BY

By Eugenia Last

❶

HAPPY BIRTHDAY: Memories will point you in a unique direction. Reach out to someone who has influenced you in the past, and you’ll get an inkling of where you want to go and what you want to pursue. It’s time to follow your heart and be responsible for your happiness. Map out a course that offers peace of mind and happiness. Your numbers are 6, 14, 17, 24, 29, 32, 40.

❷

ARIES (March 21-April 19): Pay attention to detail regarding shared expenses and responsibilities. Be open and honest about the way you feel, and it will help you avoid a misunderstanding. A change will turn out to be more beneficial than anticipated. HHH

❸

TAURUS (April 20-May 20): Put an emphasis on looking your best, staying healthy and fit, and spending time with someone who brings out the best in you. Explore possibilities, and consider making a positive lifestyle adjustment. HHHH

GEMINI (May 21-June 20): Focus on what you can do. Research, preparation and promotion are essential if you want to get ahead. Leave nothing to chance or in someone else’s hands. Once you take care of business, relax with someone or something that eases your stress. HH

❸ HEALTHY

beverages: flat white with coconut milk from Cha-Cha’s Restaurant at Coast Boracay (left) and Mango Kombucha from Nonie’s.

CELEBRITIES BORN ON THIS DAY: Raymond Ablack, 32; Anne Hathaway, 39; Ryan Gosling, 41; Megan Mullally, 63.

STELLA ARNALDO

FROM top left, clockwise: A therapist sprinkles flowers and salt into a wooden basin with warm water for a foot bath and scrub, the initial step in the Shodhana Karma ritual; a therapist shows the way to the spa villa for the body treatments; and Mandala Spa takes advantage of the natural healing surroundings of Boracay Island.

www.businessmirror.com.ph

❷

CANCER (June 21-July 22): Mingle, enjoy life and indulge in pastimes that pique your imagination and bring you in contact with interesting people. Take a pass on joint ventures or costly investments. Self-improvement projects will pay off, and romance is encouraged. HHHHH

Restore body and soul on your next getaway A

MASSAGE is one of the best gifts you can treat yourself with if you’ve finally found the time (and courage!) to go on vacation amid this persistent pandemic. So during my recent trip to Boracay, I entrusted my Covid-weary carcass to the expert hands of Lorna, COAST Boracay’s therapist, who works at the resort’s Tala Spa. For 90 minutes, Lorna, using Swedish-

Shiatsu massage techniques, kneaded the knots on my shoulders and back, and found a few cold spots to focus on and stoke away. At the end of the session, I was somewhat in a daze, as the endorphins were released throughout my body, replacing the tension that compressed my shoulders, my back, and my spine. I was fast asleep even before midnight. “We find that massage helps break down the pain cycle,” said Danny Barnes, director of SB Sports and Rehabilitation, to The Guardian. “If someone’s coming in and they are very tense or they’ve got pain, manipulating the tissue doesn’t necessarily make it heal straight away, but it breaks the pain cycle, and the client feels better at the end of the session.” Such “pain” has been especially more significant during the pandemic, as many of us are somewhat touch-deprived. We keep our social distance from others, and clamp down our mouths beneath our masks and face shields. In my case, as I was locked

LEO (July 23-Aug. 22): Let things unfold naturally. You cannot change the inevitable, but keep a positive mindset, and focus on personal growth and acquiring information that will help you get ahead. The lessons learned will be valuable, and success will follow. HHH

down, away from my family, I was unable to hug or cuddle my precious nieces, the newborn baby, even the dog. As we realize now, touch is an important aspect of human relationships. Boracay thus is the perfect destination for that missing healing touch. The island is famous for its beachfront massage therapists, aside from popular spas. SHODHANA KARMA RITUAL I HAVE been a frequent visitor to Mandala Spa, one of the very first spa resorts in the country, since it opened in 2001. The spa takes advantage of the natural healing surroundings of the island, having built low-impact structures among its dense foliage. In my latest visit, I had the award-winning threepart Shodhana Karma ritual, which has roots in Ayurvedic medicine. After a relaxing foot bath

Continued on B5

VIRGO (Aug. 23-Sept. 22): Unleash your creativity and see what happens. Changing your beliefs and lifestyle will stabilize your life and get you moving in a direction that excites you. A new look or an adjustment to your living arrangements will be promising. HHH

LIBRA (Sept. 23-Oct. 22): Explore possibilities. Attend events that encourage networking and connecting to people who share your interests. Learn from your mistakes, and you’ll avoid a repeat performance. Don’t waste time or money on nonessentials or someone looking for a handout. HHH

SCORPIO (Oct. 23-Nov. 21): Maintain a simple lifestyle, and refuse to get involved in the drama that goes on around you. Stop wasting time and start making a point to use your strengths and wisdom to do what you do best and love most. HHHHH

SAGITTARIUS (Nov. 22-Dec. 21): Guard personal information. Sharing too much with others will end up costing you. Take care of your responsibilities before you move on to recreational activities. Budget for the future, and refrain from overspending. HH

Being mindful of your health AMID the global pandemic we find ourselves today, taking care of our health has become more important than ever. Unfortunately, with everything we have on our plates now, it can be challenging to always put one’s health first. Leading life insurance company AIA Philippines recently introduced Total Health Solution, its ecosystem accessible through a single touchpoint platform that allows customers to access all of its services that can help them live better, protect better and get better. “We at AIA Philippines understand the importance of staying healthy, especially during the pandemic,” AIA Philippines Chief Marketing Officer Leo Tan said. “We all have different health needs but we have the same goal, which is to be the healthiest we can be. The Total Health Solution ecosystem will help our customers achieve this. Insurance companies used to be just about providing protection

products. With Total Health Solution, we are there to help them live better so they are able to maintain a healthy lifestyle, protect better so they have peace of mind that they are prepared for life’s uncertainties, and get better by giving them access to health-care needs should they find themselves unwell.” Consumers can find the support they need to sustain a healthy lifestyle in the company’s Total Health Solution ecosystem. It houses the AIA Vitality program, a gamechanger that incentivizes customers with rewards for knowing and improving their health. It’s also where healthcare partners such as EZ Consult can be easily accessed, allowing customers the means to consult nutritionists with a few clicks of a button. “As a life insurance company, our mission is to race against risk to protect more Filipinos. And at the end of the

day, that is at the core of what we do. Through Total Health Solution, we are able to fulfill this mission by providing them the means to be protected and, more importantly, stay protected,” Tan explained. Within the ecosystem, customers have clear visibility on their policies, and allows them to make changes. With these details on hand, customers can be reminded regularly when their premiums are due, helping them avoid missing their payments. This journey to helping Filipinos live better began in 2017 and with Total Health Solution, AIA Philippines has come full circle. “This is one of the many innovative solutions we have developed to take care of our customers as part of our transition to AIA Philippines,” said Kelvin Ang, AIA Philippines chief executive officer. More information can be found at www.aia.com.ph.

CAPRICORN (Dec. 22-Jan. 19): Tidy up unfinished business. The freedom to follow your heart and do what makes you happy is priceless. Self-improvement and romance are favored and will encourage you to have the confidence to take a bold move. HHHH

AQUARIUS (Jan. 20-Feb. 18): Listen carefully, plan precisely and leave nothing to chance. Take on essential tasks, and handle matters personally to avoid setbacks and opposition. Don’t be afraid to do things by yourself if it makes sense. Ideally, you want to accomplish your goal. HHH

PISCES (Feb. 19-March 20): Pay attention to detail and budget. If you have your finger on the pulse, you’ll know what’s required of you to get what you want. Change begins with you and how determined you are to finish what you start. Romance is encouraged. HHH BIRTHDAY BABY: You are intuitive, creative and appealing. You are charitable and independent.

‘comings and goings’ BY JON PENNINGTON The Universal Crossword/Edited by David Steinberg

ACROSS 1 Agcy. that approves vaccines 4 Florida’s second-largest city 9 Neighbor to a Serb 14 Acronym for a deep sleep stage 15 “Sounds likely” 16 ___ cuisine 17 Gorilla or gibbon 18 Is abundant (with) 19 Did something 20 Started by banging a gavel, say (In this answer, see letters 8-11) 23 Opera’s “Toreador Song,” e.g. 24 Single man’s last statement? 25 Absurdist art movement 28 “Baby” or “dance” follower 29 Subject of a spelling bee contestant’s query (...letters 2-5) 32 A-listers 34 Unreactive 35 Knee tear site: Abbr. 38 Flattering poem 39 Chasing game 41 Actress Ruby or Aisha 42 Trojan War story

44 Reef substance 46 Villain who fights the Fantastic Four (...letters 6-9) 49 Recedes 53 Detect 54 Charged atom 55 Healing plant 56 What rotates sequentially in 20-, 29-, 46- and 56-Across? (...letters 10-13) 61 Signal-to-___ ratio 63 Disappointing used car 64 Most popular article? 65 True statements 66 R&B singer Baker 67 Pro’s opposite 68 Colgate alternative 69 Extend a membership 70 Tilling tool DOWN 1 Noisy fight 2 Leave 3 2001 title role for Audrey Tautou 4 Tiny pest 5 Recognized, for short 6 Assist in crime

7 Priyanka Chopra’s Unfinished and Michelle Obama’s Becoming 8 “How peculiar” 9 Neighbor to Libya 10 Entered quickly 11 Furious 12 Sat for a meal 13 Fictional coach Lasso 21 Pool exercises 22 Kanga’s child 26 Urgent 27 Add a little something to the pot? 29 Crumpled piece of paper 30 Fool’s gold, e.g. 31 Capital of Latvia 33 Type of list 35 Assists 36 Hoofbeat sound 37 Candy that’s often twisted 39 As well 40 Upper line on a stick figure 43 Bears witness (to) 44 Have a meeting 45 Be in charge 47 Home of Brazil’s Sugarloaf Mountain

48 50 51 52 57 58 59 60 61 62

Currency in Liberia or Canada Irregular stain Insincere crying sound Untroubled Waistcoat’s American equivalent “Sign me up!” Jot down Nibble like a rodent Sports org. with Lions and Bears Rowboat steerer

Solution to today’s puzzle:

Show BusinessMirror

www.businessmirror.com.ph

RESTORE BODY AND SOUL ON YOUR NEXT GETAWAY

Editor: Gerard S. Ramos

• Friday, November 12, 2021

Kosovo’s ‘Vera Dreams of the Sea’ takes the Tokyo Grand Prix

Continued from B4 and scrub, my therapist gently pressed and rubbed my body tissues in long, broad strokes (Mandala’s Signature Massage) using cold-pressed sesame oil with calamus powder. Calamus is an aromatic herb that, when absorbed by the body, helps restore the proper function of our lymphatic system. Sesame oil, the molecules of which are as minuscule as red blood cells, ensures deep penetration into our blood stream, further removing the toxins from our body. After the massage, I rinsed off the powder and proceeded to the sauna. For 15 minutes, with every pinprick drop of sweat, more toxins are flushed from the body. Ideally, the sauna treatment is for 30 minutes in 15-minute intervals, but I chose to cut it short due to the extreme heat. The last part of the treatment was the Ubvartan body scrub using more Ayurvedic ingredients to exfoliate the skin. While achieving a healthy glow after, the scrub’s essential oils and herbs also help balance one’s emotional and physical well-being. The final touch is a shower to rinse away all the oils and powders, as I lay face down on the massage table covered in banana leaves. The entire treatment takes about two and a half hours, and it is worth every minute; it calms the soul and frees it of stress. FOOD CRAWL AT STATION X AS part of my pursuit of wellness on the island, the Department of Tourism encouraged me to try its food crawl at Station X for lunch. I am currently on a keto diet to ease my fasting blood sugar to a more normal level, but I realized, there are very few restaurants on the island offering keto meals. Instead, I dined on seafood, vegetarian, and non-meat dishes for this food crawl. For appetizer, I headed to Hue Hotel’s Laud restaurant for a shrimp salad, which had a refreshing citrusy dressing. Next was at Supermagic, where I feasted on a Beyond Meat Burger with a vegan cheddar cheese in a soy milk bun, which was light and tasty. (Although personally, the Supermagic Classic with Kitayama beef would have been more my regular vibe with its hearty and sincere take on cheeseburgers. Throw in a vanilla milkshake and the dining experience becomes close to divine.) At Sunny Side Pizza, another health-friendly dish is the Vegan Three “Cheese” Pizza using a medley of vegan mozzarella, smoked “cheese,” and pepper jack. In the past, I’d abhor the thought of eating vegan cheese, as it felt fake, disparaging what cheese actually is, i.e, made from goat’s or cow’s milk. But in truth, I couldn’t tell the difference between real or vegan cheese in this dish. Each bite tickled my palate with waves upon waves of melty, earthy goodness. For my mains, I transferred to Nonie’s Restaurant, one of the more popular vegetarian restaurants on the island. I was served a delicious vegetarian sisig (with tofu and mushrooms), which made me crave for an ice-cold beer, but I accepted a Mango Kombucha instead. It’s tempeh kare-kare was also an interesting take on the much-loved traditional Filipino dish. (Tempeh is basically fermented soybean cake.) Capping off the food crawl, was a visit to Coco Mama for a taste of my favorite dessert—coconut and pandan ice cream. I have been savoring these treats since the kiosk opened on the island. It certainly is the most perfect, joyful ending to any meal. n Station X is located at Hue Hotels and Resorts, Main Road at Station 2. Check out the restaurants on their respective social-media pages.

T was a glorious night of awards as the 34th Tokyo International Film Festival ended last November 8. Kim Yunsoo with Sunday & Calm Sea was the winner of the Amazon Prime Video Take One Award; and Sangoumi Midori’s Under the Bridge became the recipient of the Amazon Prime Video Take One Award Special Jury Prize. For the Asian Future section, the three jury members admitted to having a wide range of opinions, and after a discussion that was “as long as a feature-length film,” they decided to give the Best Film Award to the “most honest film”— Hossein Tehrani’s World, Northern Hemisphere. In the Competition section, Just Remembering by Matsui Daigo was the winner of the Audience Award. The award for Best Artistic Contribution was handed to Crane Lantern by Hilal Baydarov, a feat with the director doing all the technical work by himself. Most interesting was the result of the competition for Best Actor—a four-way tie for Amir Aghaee, Fatih Al, Baris Yildiz, Onur Buldu of the Turkish film The Four Walls. Sebu Hiroko, one of the jurors, had this to say about the actors: “We were impressed with the energy and the charm of the four leading cast members in this film. Although they were displaced from their homes due to modernization and capitalism, through their passion for music, they find comfort in and friendship with each other. Their chemistry is endearing and elevates the film above loss and grief.” Julia Chávez (The Other Tom), was this year’s Best Actress. Of Chávez, Jury President Isabelle Huppert said: “It is always very moving when you hear an actress with a voice of her own, a body language of her own, something unique.” According to Huppert, the actress “delivers an unsentimental as well as deeply touching performance. A kind of non-acting performance which makes her so true, so evident. In fact, she doesn’t act, she does better than this: she just is.” Kazakhstan’s Darezhan Omirbaev Poet (Akyn) was declared the Best Director. The jury chose him, in the words of one of the jurors, Chris Fujiwara, “because we were so impressed by the artistic personality that he expresses so vividly in this film, with the freedom of narrative that he allows himself, and the great mastery and maturity with which he reflects on the situation of cinema among the other arts in contemporary society.” To La Civil, directed by Teodora Ana Mihai, was given the Special Jury Prize. Explaining the special prize, Lorna Tee, another juror, spoke of the filmmaker “having masterfully crafted a narrative that gives us complex characters and everyone is complicit in the unending cycles of violence and loss. It is an accomplished first feature by a director not afraid to give us a film based on true stories that had taken many lives in a country torn apart by drugs and violence.” Tee expressed the jury’s hope “that the film will shed more urgency on the situation and that the conflict will find resolution and redemption for everyone involved.”

Great victory for the night went to Kosovo’s Vera Dreams of the Sea, which received the Tokyo Grand Prix, The Governor of Tokyo Award. It was Isabelle Huppert who gave the most eloquent description of the winning film: Vera Dreams of the Sea is simultaneously a touching portrait of a woman grappling with the death of her husband and a commentary into the structures of patriarchy that strangle those who do not participate in the deep-set rules of the game set by men. The director deftly navigates the story of Vera, who is saddled with the baggage of history of a country that allows for a quiet but insidious threat of violence to be inflicted upon individuals who are seeking for change in the society that they live in. Huppert summed up the power of the film: “The personal and the collective collide in a confident and profound manner in the film, brought forth by an assured direction and powerful performances in a film that adds to the amazing array of films by a courageous new generation of female filmmakers from Kosovo.” Kaltrina Krasniqi, director of the winning film, admitted to “screaming, laughing and crying from joy” after having been informed that her film had just won the Grand Prix no less. This is the first time that Kosovo had joined the Tokyo International Film Festival. Arber Mehmeti, Charge d’Affaires ad interim, Embassy of the Republic of Kosovo in

Tokyo, appeared onstage to accept the award for Ms. Krasniqi. Ushioda Tsutomu, Vice Governor of Tokyo, presented the award on behalf of Tokyo Governor Koike Yuriko. In her closing comments, Isabelle Huppert, on behalf of the jury, noted how they were “confronted with works by both established artists and new voices, representing various communities in different countries of the world.” The actress observed “the modernity of the images of society that the films offered” where before, “a folkloric view of cultures has often been prevalent in world cinema.” She talked about the entries under The Competition, which “gave us many portrayals of women. The protagonists of Vera Dreams of the Sea, La Civil and The Other Tom all face overwhelming difficulties: corruption, crime, violence, abuse and neglect. Each film shows that these problems belong to an entire social system and the legacy of a past that continues to oppress people.” She underscored how “none of the three protagonists is shown as a victim,” with the women possessing the ability “to recognize and confront her enemy.” TIFF chairman Ando Hiroyasu, true to the formality of the Japanese, waxed poetic and pragmatic about how we “were fortunate to be blessed with beautiful autumn weather except for the second day” and announced: “The 34th Tokyo International Film Festival is hereby closed.” n

John Lloyd Cruz happy to make TV comeback on GMA VERY exciting times are ahead as John Lloyd Cruz makes his showbiz comeback through a special GMA series soon. The multi-awarded actor, bankable leading man and top-drawer endorser is rightfully one of the biggest names in entertainment. Aside from receiving multiple accolades from local and internationalaward giving bodies, he also has a string of certified blockbuster movies to boot. On November 9, John Lloyd signed a partnership agreement with GMA Network for his highly anticipated program. “Maraming salamat sa pagbibigay ng tahanan sa aming munting pamilya at programa. Napakalaking bagay ho na nakahanap kami ng tahanan sa GMA. Sa lahat ng mga nagpaabot ng pagbati...sana talaga lahat tayo ay mabigyan ng pagkakataon na magkatrabaho. Kung may time kayo sana madalaw ninyo kami sa aming programa. Iwi-welcome namin kayo sa aming munting pamilya,” said John Lloyd. GMA Network executives showed their full support and excitement to John Lloyd via Zoom, video messages and their presence at the Edsa Shangri-La Hotel. Present during the contract signing were the media giant’s top executives led by GMA Network

Films Inc. president and programming consultant to the chairman and CEO Atty. Annette GozonValdes, senior vice pesident for GMA Entertainment Group Lilybeth G. Rasonable, first vice president for program management Jose Mari Abacan, first vice president for drama productions Redgie A. Magno, first vice president and head of Regional TV and Synergy Oliver B. Amoroso, and GMAAC consultant Johnny Manahan. Wacky Solutions director and line producer Edgar “Bobot” Mortiz, Crown Artist Management (CAM) CEO Rambo Nunez Ortega and COO Mikki Gonzalez were also present for the occasion. GMA chairman and CEO Atty. Felipe L. Gozon expressed his delight over the partnership and hopes that the milestone deal paves the way for more future projects: “John Lloyd is one of the most sought-after actors of his generation. That’s why I’m very happy he chose to partner with GMA for his TV comeback. I’m sure all our Kapuso viewers are excited to watch and support him as he begins a new season in his life. May we continue to work on more projects in the future.” Executive vice president and CFO Felipe S. Yalong echoed the excitement: “We’re very grateful that

John Lloyd is making his much-awaited comeback through GMA. No doubt, this partnership will open more opportunities for us to collaborate in the years to come.” Gozon-Valdes is equally pleased to have John Lloyd be part of such an amazing project: “I’m delighted that John Lloyd will be working with us and not just as the lead actor of his show, but also as part of the creative team. We are excited to see more of what he can bring to the table off-cam. These are indeed exciting times for us.” Meanwhile, Bobot Mortiz promises to do his best for GMA: “Nais ko lang magpasalamat sa GMA management. Nagpapasalamat ’yung buong team namin na binigyan niyo kami ng opportunity na makagawa ng programa dito. We will do our best na makagawa ng isang magandang programa para sa GMA.” Nunez, John Lloyd’s manager, also expressed his excitement for the partnership: “The management is excited in many ways because this is a first between JLC, CAM and GMA. Just the idea of putting together a project that his fans have been waiting for is something that is really worth anticipating. We are looking forward to a fruitful relationship and help each other produce quality projects together.”

JOHN LLOYD CRUZ

B6 Friday, November 12, 2021

Celebrate joy in the unexpected the Starbucks way

GAC Motor PH launches its LazMall flagship store; raffles off all-new GS8

AC Motor Philippines officially launches its LazMall flagship store, in partnership with leading e-commerce platform Lazada Philippines. Through GAC Motor Philippines’ LazMall flagship store, online shoppers from various parts of Southeast Asia can now purchase a vehicle through reservation vouchers, order spare parts and accessories, and avail of other car services at their own convenience. It does not only minimize a customer’s need to visit the showroom, thereby reducing the risk of acquiring the virus, but it also allows them to easily transact with GAC's sales and aftersales representatives. Online shoppers may also take advantage of the exclusive deals and discounts offered by GAC Motor Philippines

during Lazada’s super sale events. GAC Motor Philippines is kicking off its flagship store through Lazada’s biggest signature 11.11 Super Show, which was aired on November 10 on GMA 7 and LazLive at 9:30 PM. It hosted by regional Lazada Happiness Ambassadors; and with performances from K-Pop group SEVENTEEN; local celebrities Bea Alonzo, Alden Richards, Maine Mendoza, Mimiyuuuh, and SB19. Apart from Lazada’s 11.11 Super Show, GAC Motor Philippines will be raffling off one All-New GAC GS8 2.0 6AT 4x2 Sport. To join, customers must follow and shop at GAC Motor Philippines’ LazMall flagship store from November 11 to December 12, 2021 to earn one e-raffle entry. The raffle draw will be held

on December 16, 2021 and the grand winner will be notified through a phone call, registered mail, to be announced via Lazada’s and GAC Motor Philippines’ official social media accounts. “We are delighted to announce this partnership with Lazada. Through our flagship LazMall store, GAC Motor Philippines will be able to offer its vehicle line-up and services in the comfort and safety of our customers' homes, as well as boost the brand’s presence on the digital platform,” said Wilbert Lim, president and CEO of GAC Motor Philippines. Visit and follow GAC Motor Philippines’ LazMall flagship store at www.lazada.com.ph/shop/gac-motorphilippines/ to know more about the exclusive deals and promos.

Save the Children PH celebrates children’s month, leads end-hunger project with Mayani and Aboitiz

N line with the National Children’s Month and its theme of “New Normal na Walang Iwanan: Karapatan nang Bawat Bata ating Tutukan”, Save the Children Philippines - part of the world’s leading independent children’s organization – affirms its commitment to tackle one of the most fundamental issues affecting the Filipino children: hunger. During the pandemic, involuntary hunger is prevalent among 4.8 million families, or at least 8 million children in the country. Since one of the children’s rights is the right to basic needs, including a balanced diet, the circumstances around hunger indicate that this basic child right is not yet met. By joining hands with homegrown farm-to-table platform Mayani and the Aboitiz Group’s social arm Aboitiz Foundation, Save the Children expanded its ecosystem of “Save the Children from Hunger” campaign proponents through an online giving drive to counter under-nutrition while also empowering our Benguet smallholder farmers. “One of the causes of hunger among children is their lack of access to a nutritious diet, and this campaign helps address this gap by also supporting smallholder farmers, one of the pillars of our country’s food security. By ensuring that food supply, particularly rice and vegetables, quickly reach poor families at reasonable prices, our team-up with Mayani and Aboitiz lessens hunger among children,” said Naida Pasion, Chief Business Development Officer

of Save the Children Philippines. Over 500 nutritional boxes have been digitally donated via the Mayani platform so far since the kickoff last October, and the outpouring of support still continues. The food components will be sourced to the Aboitiz-assisted farmers in Bakun, Benguet through a market-directed social procurement process, then the boxes will be delivered by Mayani to the target communities of Save the Children under the objective of “no children goes to bed hungry and learns at home hungry.” Mayani has been building sustainable smallholder agri-value chains in the country through its grassroots network of over 70,000 rural farmers across four regions: Ilocos, Calabarzon, the Cordilleras, and Cagayan Valley. It deepened its community engagement in Benguet Province by onboarding the farmers in Barangay Sinacbat – a community capacitated by AboitizPower subsidiary Hedcor. “Having a reliable offtake for their harvested crops after months of

production remains to be a recurring challenge among our rural farmers. Not only are they remote to urban centers where demand is huge, their digital quotient and access to alternative digital channels to sell their produce are two areas that require continuing attention,” said Ochie San Juan, Co-Founder and Chief Farmer of Mayani, who has been in organic farming for over three decades and personally met the Sinacbat farmers. The “Save the Children from Hunger” campaign continue to leverage the shared channels of Aboitiz Group and Mayani, including the latter’s omni-channel routes to generating awareness and calling up support in the fight against children’s hunger. Mayani’s strategic out-of-home advertising partner also joined the collaboration mission. “Our core is all about giving equal opportunities for busineses and individuals. We believe that by supporting Mayani through our platforms, we help empower and give the opportunities our local farmers deserve,” remarked Raoul Buencuchillo, President of HDI Adventures.

HIS holiday season, Starbucks uplifts customers with the Starbucks Traditions Promotion. Starting November 2 to January 3, customers will earn a sticker for every purchase of a Tall, Grande, or Venti handcrafted beverage. An exclusive Starbucks Traditions merchandise may be redeemed every eighteen (18) stickers collected. While staying true to a tradition of almost two decades, this year debuts a never-beforeseen collection and new ways to join. The 2022 Starbucks Traditions Planner comes with a matching Organizer. Perfect to pen unplanned wins and pleasant surprises, this year’s edition comes with an intricate yet subtle embossed Siren and scale design. The organizer consists of built-in pockets to keep a pen, Starbucks Cards, and other essentials in one place. Inside the planner, there are 12 exclusive monthly artworks featuring Starbucks’ commitment to coffee heritage, partners (employees), communities and customers it serves, and our planet. New this year with the same modern monochromatic design of the Planner with Organizer, the 2022 Starbucks Traditions Mug and Tumbler with Pouch is an unexpected but welcome addition to the Starbucks Traditions collection. The sets highlight what Starbucks does best: coffee. Each set includes a sleek stainless steel matte black 12oz tumbler or a classic pristine white 12oz ceramic mug, both paired with a pouch customer can carry all day. For the first time, customers can now collect stickers digitally in two ways: (1) get the new QR promo card in stores and collect a digital sticker every handcrafted beverage in store, or (2) use the Starbucks app by opting

in to collecting e-Stickers every handcrafted beverage purchased using a registered Starbucks Card. Starbucks has also made it easier to earn stickers from the comfort of home. Customers can now earn digital stickers through their favorite delivery app. Every purchase of four (4) eligible handcrafted beverages on GrabFood or food panda will be issued a QR promo card loaded with its corresponding digital stickers. Starbucks also released a series of videos celebrating little sparks of merry in our day-today lives. Whether it’s achieving fitness goals, getting pets to learn new tricks, or turning a small setback into a moment of opportunity, the 2022 Starbucks Traditions Promotion is our companion in finding the star of every day. “Our customers are creating new memories in different ways, and we wanted to celebrate the joy of experiencing unexpected moments of merry in our holiday campaign.” says Jamie Silva, Senior Marketing Manager of Starbucks Philippines. To have a closer look of the 2022 Starbucks Traditions and for the full mechanics, visit https://starbuckstraditions.ph.

Heart experts ensure efficient emergency cardiovascular care

ONG before COVID-19 came, cardiovascular disease (CVD) has been a worldwide burden. Since the ‘80s,Philippine Heart Association (PHA) pillars have embarked on the relentless campaign to curb CVD, harping on the advantages of preventive cardiology and co-managing your cardiac issues with a heart health expert. The CVD upsurge was caused by poor lifestyle and bad health genes which contribute to the progression of heart disease, high blood pressure and stroke which are all classified as CVDs and lifestyle diseases. The November 10 edition of the Philippine Heart Association (PHA) Usapang Puso sa Puso tackled COVID-19’s impact on the CVD healthcare delivery system; and aptly titled: “Cardiovascular Disease (CVD) and COVID: A Toxic Mix and ensuring efficient emergency hospital preparedness and CVD care amid the pandemic. Moderated by Dr. Luigi Pierre Segundo, co-chair, PHA Communications Committee, head, Electrophysiology, The Medical City, the guests were Dr. Eric Oliver Sison and Dr. John Daniel Ramos, both PHA members from the NCR and NW Mindanao chapters. Sison, who heads the UP-Philippine General Hospital Cardiac Catheterization Laboratory, is the current secretary of the Philippine Society of Cardiac Catherization and Interventions and chairs its STEMI Committee. Interventional procedures like angiogram (x-ray of an artery using iodine to check the extent of the blockage) and angioplasty (unblocking a clogged verssel or artery with a balloon catheter) are performed in the Cathlab. Meanwhile, Ramos is a consultant at the Mercy Community Hospital and Iligan City COVID-19 Quarantine Treatment Facility. Both doctors allayed most people’s fears about hospital’s not being ready to treat and admit emergency CVD patients because they are either full or a breeding ground for the corona virus. CVD remains the number one killer in the world. “Time is of the essence. Kung emergency at kinakailangan mag-attend sa pasyente, kahit hindi pa identified kung COVID or non-COVID may ibang paraan pa para hindi madelay ang treatment,” Segundo said.

Competent Emergency Cardiovascular Care

MOST hospitals have enough full beds. The country has a total of 48 hospitals that are equipped with a Cath lab and other cardiac facilities. “We have 48 Cathlabs (in the country) and we’re continuing to update, Sison. Heart attack comes like a thief in the night. Sison said that “one of the most common and serious cases of heart disease is heart attack. A myocardial infarction Heart attack can be classified as an acute MI (AMI) or an ST-elevated myocardial infarction (STEMI) type, AMI is the death of a myocardial tissue when some parts of your body don’t get sufficient blood. While STEMI is a total or nearly total blockage of a coronary artery. The heart doctors stressed that CVD, specially a damaged heart muscle or blocked heart arteries increases your risk of severe COVID-19. With this condition, the body is weak to survive the stress of the illness.

You don’t catch the heart menace overnight.

SEGUNDO said “it pays to know your numbers. Go for regular check-ups. If you are due for an elective procedure, don’t keep on rescheduling it. Have it done now that it is much safer to go to the hospital before it’s too late.” “The expanded Philhealth STEMI package, particularly the cost of coverage, is being fine-tuned by a team of interventionalists from different hospitals with Catheterization labs around the country. Hopefully, it will be pilot tested next year, “ according to Sison. Using the free STEMICONSULT APP, heart attack patients can be directed to a hospital with a Cathlab nearest them wherever they are in the country because of its GPS-based functionality. “In case of a heart attack, early recognition and prompt and effective treatment can mean the difference between life and death. The STEMI Consult app is a free application for Android and IOS that peole can use to learn to recognize if they or their loved ones are having a heart attack,” according to Sison. It is a mobile consult application for remote referral and dia,gnosis of patients with suspected STEMI. There are 3 steps to using the STEMIConsult app: registration, referral and diagnosis. You can watch PHA STEMIConsult App video on youtube.

Sports BusinessMirror

mirror_sports@yahoo.com.ph | Editor: Jun Lomibao

Friday, November 12, 2021 B7

HARD-EARNED VICTORY S

UNSHINE BARAQUIEL soared to her first pro victory the hard way in the International Container Terminal Services Inc. (ICTSI) Tagaytay Highlands Ladies Challenge which she won by three strokes over two of the country’s top players at one of the toughest courses under severe conditions. Baraquiel recovered from a faulty finish in the final round then flashed the form she flaunted late in the second round to stay in firm control, hitting clutch shots and putts on her way to a 72 and a spot in the elite circle of winners in only her fifth tournament on the Ladies Philippine Golf Tour (LPGT). “The tournament was mine to win, so I just hit the shots that I had to hit and made the putts that I had to make,” said Baraquiel, a lady pilot who never finished higher than seventh in her previous stints at Eagle Ridge’s Aoki, Sherwood, Eagle Ridge’s Norman and back at Aoki won by Harmie Constantino last week. “Basically, I just breathed and slowed things down when I get nervous and my decision-making was on point—I made some crucial putts and made good pitch and chip shots,” added the 30-yearold shotmaker, who turned pro

Davao Occidental winning run ends

URLINGTON EOG Sports snapped Davao Occidental Tigers-Cocolife’s five-game winning run with a 76-69 victory in the FilBasket Subic Championship at the Subic gym Wednesday. Burlington bucked a slow start and turned back its 36-27 halftime deficit to a triumph to tie with Nueva Ecija Bespren at third with five wins in eight matches. James Castro and Byron Villarias spearheaded Burlington with 19 and 14 points while combining for nine rebounds and seven assists. Davao Occidental remained at second despite absorbing its second loss against six wins. In other matches, Nueva Ecija Bespren edged 7A Primus, 95-92, while Medical Depot crushed FSD MakatiArmy, 81-68. Emil Renz Palma exploded for 30 points while James Martinez contributed 15 points for Nueva Ecija, who erased a seven-point deficit in the last four minutes of the game. 7A Primus fell to 2-6 despite Diego Dario firing 21 points and AJ Coronel finishing with 13 points. Medical Depot, meanwhile, leaned on Simon Camacho and Patrick Cabahug’s double-double performances to hike its win-loss tally to 4-4 in the middle standings. Camacho scored 22 points and 12 rebounds while Cabahug had 17 points and 10 boards. Kevin Villafranca and Andrey Armenion also took charge of Medical Depot’s defense by combining for 23 rebounds. Jopher Custodio, Jac Macasaet and Jan Colina teamed up for 34 points in a losing effort for Makati, who slipped to 1-7.

because of Covid-19. While at home, she said she realized that her heart was in golf and not in flying. With an 11-over 221 total, Baraquiel landed P101,250 in earnings, beating Chihiro Ikeda and Daniella Uy, who pooled identical 224s after a pair of 73s, for the top honors at Highlands. The margin of victory didn’t actually reflect the manner by which she and the rest of the field struggled trying to survive the harsh wind conditions at the upand-down layout in all three days. The outcome remained unclear as they made the turn with Baraquiel, who grabbed a two-stroke lead over Ikeda and Uy in a wild second round chase Wednesday, hanging tough despite a two-over 36 after a fierce frontside battle. Ikeda threatened to within one with a 35 while Constantino closed to within two after a best 34 output in a tie with Uy and amateur Mafy Singson, who also carded 36s. But Baraquiel, 30, proved steadier at the back. While her rivals stumbled one after the other in their frenetic attempt to hunt for birdies, the former Southwoods mainstay in various Interclub championships kept her poise and stayed focused, birdying the 10th for a two-stroke cushion then

hitting another on No. 15 against two bogeys, including on the last hole that however hardly impeded her rise to the LPGT throne. Ikeda fell farther back with three bogeys from No. 11, fought back with birdies on Nos. 14 and 15 but bogeyed the next for a 73, which Uy matched with her own version of a three-over closing card marked by two birdies but marred by five bogeys. They each received P63,750. Constantino pressed her bid for back-to-back victories following her one-shot escape over Singson at Eagle Ridge’s Aoki last week with a two-birdie, two-bogey game after 12 holes. But she bogeyed two of the last five holes and wound up with a 72 in second-to-last flight to end up fourth with a 15-over 225. Singson, whose 76 in brutal conditions netted her the first round lead but slipped to fourth with a second six-over card Wednesday, bounced back despite a 35 start. But she groped for a double-bogey and two bogeys in a birdie-less backside 40 for a 75. She finished fifth with a 227 but claimed the low amateur honors for the second straight LPGT leg. Chanelle Avaricio

likewise wilted in harsh conditions at the back as she limped with a 41 and finished with a second straight 75 for sixth at 231 while amateur Laurea Duque carded a 76 for seventh at 233 and Lovelyn Guioguio faltered with a 78 for eighth at 234. Korean Jane Jeong wound up ninth in her pro debut as she turned in a 79 for a 237 while Burberry Zhang, another amateur, placed 10th with a 239 after an 82. The touring ladies take a break this week after back-toback tournaments at Eagle Ridge and Tagaytay Highlands with the circuit making a return to the Riviera Golf and Country Club, which hosted the first restart of the LPGT last year after an eightmonth hiatus, at resumption. The ICTSI Riviera Ladies Challenge will be played November 24 to 26 while the ICTSI Riviera Ladies Championship will be held December 1 to 3 at the Couples and Langer courses, respectively, in Silang, Cavite.

SUNSHINE BARAQUIEL wins by three strokes over two of the country’s top players at one of the toughest courses under severe conditions.

HE Philippine Sports Commission (PSC) will celebrate “World Kindness Day” with a special episode of the online “Rise Up Shape Up” series on Saturday. “Sports may be competitive, but there is kindness always present,” PSC Commissioner Celia Kiram said. “This we see in players who picks up a fallen opponents or opposing teams cheering and congratulating each other after a tough match.” “Outside of competitive games and playing fields, our athletes exercise kindness by giving back to their communities,” she said. “Sports

ARLOS YULO glittered on the men’s vault at the World Artistic Gymnastics Championships in Kitakyushu to emerge as the country’s toast for the month of October. Yulo fell short at the Tokyo Olympics last August but made up for that shortcoming with the vault gold medal that also offset his missed performance in the floor exercise which he ruled in

CARLOS YULO sparkles with a men’s vault gold medal and parallel bars silver at the world championships.

Mikey Williams showed he was a veteran rookie by running away with the PBA Press Corps Finals Most Valuable Player trophy in the allFilipino conference. October didn’t end without another triumph overseas as Jonas Sultan snatched the vacant World Boxing Organization intercontinental bantamweight crown. Sultan scored a unanimous decision victory over erstwhile unbeaten Carlos Caraballo of Puerto Rico in a 10-round fight at the Hulu Theater at the Madison Square Garden in New York City. It was Sultan’s 18th win in 23 professional fights.

LYMPIA, Greece—What would it be like to walk around the ancient religious sanctuary of Olympia when the Olympic Games were held? An unusual partnership between Microsoft and Greece’s Ministry of Culture and Sport is offering visitors the answer, launching an immersive tour Wednesday at one of the world’s major archaeological sites. The program at ancient Olympia harnesses augmented reality

build on good characteristics, including kindness.” Kiram will feature the history of “World Kindness Day” in her “K-Isport” segment. Grace Eleazar, author of The Soul Speaks and A Gift: A Spiritual Journey on Love, will speak about kindness in building better connections. She will be joined by the chief of the Philippine Army’s Operations Research Center Col. Harold Cabunoc, who will share insights on how kindness is being practiced in sports. Also in the episode are athletes Coline Biron of muay thai and Aina Nicole dela Cruz and Shara Julia Jizmundo of pencak silat, as well as Col. Honey Royse Tubino, Sgt. Jovelyn Gonzaga and TSgt. Usman Anterola.

By Josef Ramos

AMON FERNANDEZ gathers his team on Tuesday to start the ball rolling for the country’s preparations for the Hanoi 31st Southeast Asian Games that the Vietnamese organizers finally scheduled for May 12 to 25 next year. Philippine Olympic Committee President Rep. Abraham “Bambol” Tolentino named Fernandez, a commissioner of the Philippine Sports Commission, as chef de mission to the Hanoi SEA Games, but his work was shuttered by Vietnam’s cancelation of the biennial event which was originally scheduled for next month. “We’re starting from zero,” Fernandez told BusinessMirror on Thursday. “I still don’t have an idea if we’ll stick with our original entry by numbers or we’ll have to revise everything.” Tolentino pegged a 626-athlete team to the Games month’s before the Vietnamese government canceled the Games because of the surge of Covid-19 infections in the region. These athletes will compete in 39 of the 40 sports on the program. Fernandez said Tuesday’s CDM meeting will include his deputies Atty. Alberto Agra of obstacle sports and Pearl Managuelod of muay thai and Tolentino. Their agenda includes discussion on the Games’ key dates, sport technical handbooks distributions in December, a new entry by number deadline in January, accreditation application forms submission in February and the deadline of sports entry by names forms in March. Fernandez said he will hold the meeting online because he will be in Dubai for the world karate federation congress on the invitation of its president, Antonio Espinos of Spain. He also said that the PSC would be allocating P200 million for the SEA Games preparation and participation in 2022. “Most of this year’s budget for the SEA Games preparations was already spent for the athletes’ foreign training and competitions that started early or middle of this year,” Fernandez said. Fernandez also said that the Rizal Memorial Sports Complex in Manila and the PhilSports Complex in Pasig City could welcome the national athletes back now that the pandemic is waning. Both facilities were used as quarantine facilities since March last year.

Manuel hopes to bag 1st PBA title at SMB

IC MANUEL is a nineyear Philippine Basketball Association (PBA) veteran who hasn’t won a single championships. He hopes to end that drought with his new team San Miguel Beer (SMB). “SMB is a champion team, a very strong one,” Manuel, 34, said. “I still don’t have a PBA title and I think San Miguel could give me one.” Manuel found himself wearing a Beerman uniform in the Governors’ Cup—which opens later this month—after he was traded by NorthPort for twotime Most Valuable Player Arwind Santos. The trade came as a surprise with Ramos leaving a team that was his home in the PBA for the last 11 seasons.

Augmented reality project brings Olympics’ Greek birthplace to life MUSEUM supervisor Xenia Vlahou watches a video projection of Ancient Olympia temple at the Olympic Museum in Athens. AP

World Kindness Day on ‘Rise Up’

FLAVOR OF THE MONTH

Stuttgart, Germany, in 2019. A silver medal in the parallel bars laced Yulo’s impressive performance in the Japanese prefecture that punctuated his goal of catching the one that got away in the Olympics. Yulo’s 14.916 was enough for him to beat Japan’s Hidenobu Yonekura for the gold in the vault and his 15.300 in parallel bars was good for second place overall behind Hu Xuwei of China who posted 15.466. The floor exercise wasn’t in his elements and could only finish fifth with 14.566 points after losing points for landing out of bounds. Back home, the TNT Tropang Giga topped the Philippine Basketball Association Philippine Cup for its first championship since 2015. The Tropang Giga finished off the Magnolia Pambansang Manok in five games, allowing the Manuel V. Pangilinan-owned franchise to end a streak of 11 straight championships by teams from San Miguel Corp.

CDM Fernandez buckles down to work for SEAG

technology that designers say has the potential to transform education, business and entertainment. Critics warn it will extend the invasive power of US tech giants. The culture ministry helped Microsoft map and build virtual representations at Olympia, a site used for nearly a thousand years to host the games in ancient Greece that served as the inspiration for the modern Olympics. “It’s a milestone...that helped

VIC MANUEL wants to win a championship with San Miguel Beer.

us bring technology and culture and history together so we can preserve it,” Microsoft President Brad Smith said in a video message at the launch event. Users can tour the site remotely or in person with an online presentation and an augmented-like mobile app at Olympia, seeing a virtual re-creation of temples and competition areas as they walk through the ruins. At the Olympic Museum in Athens, they can use Microsoft’s mixedreality HoloLens headsets that overlay visual information on top of what the viewer sees. AP

“But I really need to be in good condition and stay healthy to contribute to San Miguel Beer’s campaign,” said Manuel, a burly 6-foot-4 product of the Philippine School of Business Administration. He is recovering from a groin injury but is good to go for the second conference that is expected to overlap 2022 in February. Manuel came so close to winning his first PBA crown but Alaska squandered a 3-0 series lead in the 2015-2016 Philippine Cup Finals to the team he will play for starting this year—SMB. There were five other close calls for Manuel, plus one against Rain or Shine in the 2016 Commissioner’s Cup where he was injured and another against Magnolia in the 2018 Governors’ Cup. Manuel averages 11.5 points and 4.5 rebounds in nine years he capped with a breakthrough season with Alaska in 2017 when he posted a 16 points per game norm. In the last conference, he tallied 12.8 points, 5.2 rebounds and 1.4 assists in a brief stint with Phoenix. Manuel said he is willing to sacrifice his old role as go-to guy at crunch time with his previous teams at SMB. “There are many great and talented players at San Miguel Beer, but I’m okay to be a role player,” he said. “I will contribute the best way I can.” The Beermen brought back the 6-foot-6 Brandon Brown as their reinforcement. Josef Ramos

Motoring BusinessMirror

Henry Ford Awards Best Motoring Section 2007, 2008, 2009, 2010 2011 Hall of Fame

Friday, November 12, 2021

All that grip W Story & photos by Randy S. Peregrino

HEN Suzuki Philippines finally brought in the New Vitara AllGrip, it earned back its known reputation as a compact SUV capable of tackling off-road terrains. Nevertheless, that is not to undermine the model’s two-wheel-drive variant. Because its resurgence in the local market in a smaller platform further validated the Japanese manufacturer’s expertise in producing compact vehicles. Suzuki did a great job reshaping the latest generation to a platform that would cater to a broader range of consumer preferences.

Experiencing the two-wheel-drive variant was an absolute pleasure and a realization of the brand’s expertise in compact vehicles. Now that we test the AllGrip Select edition, we had nothing but amazement for what the intelligent drivetrain system could do while utilizing the same powerplant. Certainly, Suzuki was right when they said that “This car will encourage people to drive and bring more fun into their lives.”

Expressive exterior and superior interior Keeping with Vitara’s authentic design, Suzuki chose to keep the traditional clamshell bonnet. The rear end, meantime, the new model is stout and stable with trapezoidal lines toward the ground while the flanks have smooth rooflines for better aerodynamics, and a kicked-up character line hints at the flared fenders. Some upgrades to the body include front and rear skid plates, a front lower bumper garnish, chrome and black grained accents on the body’s side, and an improved rear edge spoiler. Also, this model now has energysaving LED headlamps for low-beam, uniquely

designed DRLs, and a vertical chrome grille for a more modernized look suitable for the current times. Inside, the arrangement of the new model is a combination of Suzuki’s muscular contours and sporty design. While everything inside is the same with the 2WD variant, the 10-inch infotainment system now has a Clinometer function, which displays the vehicle’s position regarding pitch and roll angles, plus a range of personalization options. Of course, there is the iconic panoramic sunroof consisting of two glass panels. The Cargo area is still superior, with a total of 375 liters of space (rear seats folded) at your disposal. Additionally, there is an automatic wiper, illumination, dimming rearview mirrors, rear camera with parking sensors, and Push-Start System.

system allows the driver to choose from AUTO, SPORT, SNOW, and LOCK drive modes. All that in an easy-to-operate electronically controlled dial switch. Every quick push-and-turn of the dial swiftly provided various changes in driving dynamics matching road surfaces or conditions. Retaining the thrifty1.6-liter, fourcylinder with VVT mill was undoubtedly not a detriment. This engine is a smooth operator but at the same time loves to rev whenever there is a need to push for a quick spurt. Even the torque registration was unceasing towards the midrange while the output down low was not lacking. Employing a more petite, lighter, yet rigid frame was brilliant to match the engine output. Meanwhile, the coupled six-speed automatic transmission shifts smoothly and well in synced with throttle changes. Those paddle shifters also aided in maintaining engine revs in optimum range while also applicable to occasional engine braking. For long drives, the cruise control system with a speed limiter was bliss. For the most part, we opted to rely on Auto mode. Here, the system does all the work in determining how much traction to throw at the rear whenever the driving situation calls for it. Amazingly, that needed additional traction at the rear was always present at times when the vehicle needed momentum to accelerate. Suzuki did a great job here on proving that their proprietary all-wheel-drive system still works well with the engine, generating 115 horsepower and 156 N-m of maximum torque. Even when playing around with other drive modes, at times, particularly in Lock mode, there was no

Editor: Tet Andolong

The new Suzuki Vitara AllGrip in two-toned Solid Bright Red and Cosmic Black Pearl Metallic

Same sporty layout but with integrated Clinometer function in the infotainment system significant drag at all. In Sport mode, it certainly was fun as the system added another level to the vehicle’s agility. Driving through winding roads has never been this fun and worry-free. However, the overall ride quality was composed as expected when it comes to the vehicle’s road manner. Despite the lower series tires, the minimal rebounds from road imperfections felt more subdued, much more than everything else turned out

AllGrip, all fun and all about safety

Indeed, not all-wheel-drive systems are created equal. Suzuki’s proprietary AllGrip Select system is all about providing fun to drive, added reliability, and impressive fuel efficiency. This intelligent all-wheel-drive

Styling upgrades upfront, flanks and all the way to the rear provided that bolder look

smooth and steady on highways. Of course, the new Vitara AllGrip has a plethora of safety features needed, such as six SRS airbags, hill descent and hill hold control, and brake assist function. It also comes standard with the Electronic Stability Program and the pedestrian protection through impact-absorbing structures, which mitigates injuries.

Thumbs up, thumbs down

We thought that the extra weight and additional traction did not adversely affect the fuel efficiency. Impressively, theoretical average fuel consumption remained at more than ten km/l throughout the test duration, even with drives mostly on gridlock-stricken routes. Now we see why employing the same engine is still the best move. Great job there, Suzuki. The less muffled engine noise inside the cabin and lack of rear air-con vent would be the slightest concern for passengers. The panoramic sunroof is there to enjoy the sky view apart from the large screen and tablet-like infotainment system. Safe to say, the additional price tag mainly for the AllGrip Select drive system, along with the styling and feature upgrades, is worth every penny. Because if all that translates to fun in driving, peace of mind, impressive fuel efficiency, and whatnot, why not?

SeaOil’s amazing LFG—and more

T is always a whiff of fresh air whenever we see a company stepping forward and offering something to help ease the hardships of both our toiling motorists and plain riders as well. And in a grand way yet. I refer to the latest gig of SeaOil, the country’s leading independent fuel provider, unfurling anew its much admired promotional platform in a much-awaited renewal of vows. The company’s one-of-a-kind promotion, unleashed on November 8, resumes its enviable program of giving a lifetime free supply of fuel to its lucky raffle winners. This is again to cap its flurry of freebies to mark SeaOil’s fifth year of helping uplift the plight of the motoring public. Three SeaOil customers, one each from Luzon, Visayas and Mindanao, are again about to win a lifetime free supply of fuel in the company’s continuing “Lifetime Free Gas” (LFG)

promo. Aside from the LFG prize, SeaOil is also offering four Yamaha NMAX motorcycles, with winners getting each a year’s supply of free gas and 4T motor oils. Also, a monthly draw for a oneyear supply of free gas is up for grabs. Other giveaways include P3,000 worth of SeaOil gift certificates, PriceLOCQ vouchers, and over P2million worth of instant prizes like discounts on SeaOil fuels, free oneliter gasoline, diesel, and motor oils through coupons at stake. “This is SeaOil’s way of thanking its customers for their continued support through the years,” said SeaOil CEO Glenn Yu. “Our grand prize of a lifetime free gas supply seems unbelievable but that’s simply true. To us, our customers always come first.” To qualify for the promo ending on February 7, 2022, motorists 18 years and above with a valid Philippine driver’s license are given one entry coupon for every P500 purchase of SeaOil products, or for every liter of gas from any SeaOil station nationwide. Past winners are still profuse in praise of SeaOil’s awesome LFG promo.

They include working moms Monica Poliquit and Roma Anne Pinera; Grab and Lalamove drivers Ernie Linarez and Antonio Goze, Jr.; jeepney drivers Jidy Detuya and Habib Abo; and, entrepreneurs Jeffrey Olasa, Tony Baysa and Joel Dinque. Criminology teacher Larry Lopez from Iloilo uses his fuel bonanza to visit his only child living in Kalibo, Aklan. And look at this: Davao del Sur’s Bhea Quebral, a college student and, at 19 the youngest LFG winner to date, owns the rare luxury of enjoying her free fuel for life. For promo details, visit www. lifetimefreegas.com.

PEE STOP The Honda 21YM City

1.5S CVT priced at 888k can be had through an All-In DP of 126k; it also entitles the buyer to a fivemonth free monthly amortization at 20-percent DP with a 60-month payment term. Check www.hondaphil. com for details…Cheers to Isuzu’s D-MAX for being chosen the best pick-up for 2021 during the 17th annual awards of C! magazine…MG Philippines has given away an MG-5 Core MT sedan to Shopee’s 11.11 Big Christmas Sale promo on November 11. Mabuhay!